Chapter 15
AN: So it's like 2 months now. I have had absolutely no inspiration for this fic, until about now…I don't know why, but I have decided that I will finish this fic…
Disclaimer:…Everything goes to The WB…or should I say CW now?
California
"So, we haven't talked in forever, how are you?" the blonde asked into the phone.
"I'm pretty good. Things are kinda crazy around here, how are you doing?"
"Okay, I actually miss Tree Hill, and you. It's just not the same without you here."
"I know, but I'll be there in like, 2 days, and we can hang out, and gossip, and you can tell me about this boy of yours. And it's going to be so exciting. Peyton, where are you?" she asked after she heard a noise in the background that sounded like water.
"I'm on the beach, walking, it's nice this early in the morning, it's quite and just amazing. Oh Brooke, I can't believe you're not here."
"Don't rub it in," she said, you could almost hear her pouting. "Ok, Steph's up, I have to tell her about some stuff, so hold on."
"Okay, I'll be here," Peyton said, walking further down the beach. Noticing the attractive man running towards her. 'Hold it, he looks way too familiar. Holy S-…Jake?'
"Peyton? Wow, I forgot you were moving here." He said to her.
"Umm, I, um," she was cut off by the shrill voice in the phone.
"Peyton, who are you talking to?" Brooke asked excitedly, thinking it was her new boyfriend.
"No one, Brooke, I'll call you later," and with that she hung up the phone with rapid speed.
"Jake, what the HELL are you doing here?" She screamed at him.
"Things fell through in Florida, so I decided to move here."
"Wow, I never knew you had so much money to just hop all over the country," she said with a bit of sarcasm.
"Okay, fine, so I lied to Brooke. I never went to Florida, I stayed in Tree Hill, then I got a job, and they transferred me here. Are you happy now?"
"No, Brooke's coming in 2 days, if she sees you here, she's going to freak. And I mean not in a good way."
"So don't tell her I'm here."
"That's not possible, I was just talking on the phone with her, she's going to ask who I was talking to, and I'm not going to be able to lie to her. Unlike you apparently," she said raising her voice again, "Jake, the last time I lied to Brooke, she didn't talk to me for months, and I'm not about to do that again."
"I understand Pey, and I wouldn't make you do that to her, I know how much your friendship means to you guys, so don't lie to her, tell her you ran into me on the beach, which is exactly what happened."
"That would be way to easy. But she always was a bit slow," Peyton said, thinking about it. "Oh, wait that's right, that was Bevin, not Brooke," she said sarcastically. "Brooke will over react, and blow it out of proportion, she'll think I knew that you were here."
"Then tell her the truth. Tell her that I've been here for months, tell her that I never went to Florida, and while you're at it Peyton. Tell her I never stopped loving her," he said defeated, slowly walking away, and turning it back into a run. Leaving Peyton solemn behind.
New York
'Did Peyton just hang up on me?' Brooke asked to herself.
"Okay, Steph, I know that you and Adam, wanted to spend some time alone, while I'm in Cali, but I was wondering, if you wanted to come with. I mean, you could meet my friends, soak up some sun, and get out of this busy city. So what do you think? Will you come?"
"Brooke, it sounds awesome, but you're going to see your friends that you haven't seen in months, I don't want us to intrude on your weekend."
"Oh please, they will totally understand. Plus I just talked to Peyton, and she said it was okay. So please? I'm begging you," Brooke pleaded.
"Fine, but you only want the company so you won't be lonely on the plane," Steph said.
"You know me so well," she squealed and hugged her new best friend. "I have to go pack, this is going to be so much fun," she said, and skipped into her room.
After about an hour and a half, she hadn't come out of her room, and Steph was starting to get worried.
"Brooke, are you alive in there?" Steph asked, walking into the room.
She found Brooke sitting Indian style on the floor with a book open in her lap.
"What?" she asked, "oh, sorry, I just found this, going through my stuff. Senior Year book. Sometimes, these are so depressing, and right now would be one of those times," she said, whipping a tear from her eye.
Steph looked down at the page, seeing a picture of Brooke with some guy.
"That Scott?" she asked pointing toward the book.
"Hell no, that's Jake," she said, looking back down.
"You guys look happy," she commented.
"We were, or at least I thought we were. We broke up a week after it was taken. Apparently I was supposed to never talk to my ex again, and when I did, things got ugly."
"Scott?"
"Well that was his last name," she said.
Senior Year-Jake's room
"Luke, what are you doing here?" Jake asked, reaching for his shirt.
"I was wondering if you wanted to shoot some hoops, but it looks like you're a little busy," he said, referring to Brooke. "Brooke, hey."
"Hey, Lucas," she said, jumping from her current position on Jake's bed grabbing her shirt as well. "It's been fun. Jake, call me later," she said, kissing him on the cheek and running out the door.
"Sorry man, I didn't know she was here," Luke apologized.
"It's okay man, let's go."
"Are you sure you don't want a cold shower first?" he asked, jokingly.
"Funny, Scott, real funny."
The Next Day…
"Brooke," some one called.
"Hey Luke," she said, walking toward her locker.
"So I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't know you were there. I would've stayed away."
"It's okay Luke, besides, I caught you with another girl, so we're even, although we were dating at the time, but that's besides the point," she joked rambling on.
"Thanks Brooke, for reminding me what a jackass I was," he said sarcastically.
"Luke, I was just kidding."
"I know, and I'm sorry about how bad I treated you. I just fell in love with someone else," he said.
"I'm actually happy for you, she needed someone. I'm kinda happy it was you."
"Thanks Brooke, I'm happy for you too. Jake's a lucky guy. I'll see you around."
Jake's Car-Cali
'I can't believe she's going to be here, in town. I haven't seen her in months, haven't talked to her in months. What the hell is wrong with me? Why did I lie to her? Why couldn't I just tell her the truth?' Jake's thoughts were interrupted when a song came on the radio.
"We watch the season
Pull up it's own stakes
And catch the last weekend
Of the last week
Before the gold and the glimmer have been replaced
Another sun soaked season fades away
You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart
Invitation only
Grand farewells
Crash the best one
Of the best ones
Clear liquor and cloudy eyed
Too early to say goodnight
You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart
And from the ballroom floor
We are in celebration
One good stretch before our hibernation
Our dreams assured and we all
Will sleep well
Sleep well
You have stolen my heart
You have stolen my heart
Watch you spin around
In your highest heels
You are of the best one
Of the best ones
And we
All
Look
Like
We
Feel
You have stolen my heart"
And with that he took off, down the road.
2 days later…
"BROOKE!"
"PEYTON! HALEY! Oh my gosh, I've missed you guys more than you know," she said, hugging them both. The screams caused many people around them to flinch and send death glares her way, especially her guests. "Oh, right, Steph, Adam, this is Peyton and Haley. Guys, this is my roommate and her fiancé."
"It's nice to meet you. Brooke talks about you guys a lot. I personally can't wait to put faces to more of the names I keep hearing," Steph said, shaking both of their hands.
"Well, let's go get your luggage and we can do that," Peyton said.
"So Peyton, I want to hear about this guy of yours. Was he the one you were talking to when you so rudely hung up on me?" Brooke asked, ready to gossip.
"Actually, no it wasn't, that was an old friend. My guy is at home, sleeping, or something. I don't quite know what he's doing, but let's go," she said, avoiding the topic, grabbing Brooke's arm.
"Who? Because, I know all your old friends. And don't even think about changing the subject. I want to know who it was."
"Fine, I knew you were going to ask this, and I've been dreading this for the last 2 days. Brooke, it was Jake," she said, getting ready for the verbal attack.
"Who was Jake?"
"The guy."
"You're guy, you're dating Jake again, my Jake. Peyton how could you, and you didn't tell me. I can't believe this Peyton. I get Lucas, but you have to go after Jake again. What is with you and all the guys that I like?" she said, getting very angry with her.
"No Brooke, I'm not dating Jake. I haven't even spoken to him since he left Tree Hill," the blonde explained. When Hailey made a noise, sounding like her throat clearing Brooke knew there was more. "ActuallyheneverleftTreeHill, and he moved out here and I ran into him on the beach and he told me. I know how much you care about him, and I would never do that to you again, after seeing what it did the first time, hurting you like that, it would kill me."
"Wait, he never left Tree Hill, he lied to me. And now he's living here, and you ran into him on the beach. That ASS H-"she was cut off by Peyton's hand covering her mouth. Seeing as how they were still in the airport, Brooke yelling that would not have been the best thing.
"I can't believe this, he's here? Jake's here? What am I supposed to do?" she asked, after calming down.
"First we're going to get you to the apartment. Then, we'll play it by ear, okay?" Peyton asked.
All Brooke could do was nod.
Later that night…
"So are you going to tell her?" Haley asked.
"I couldn't do that to her, or him. He needs to be the one to tell her, and she has to get her act together. God, they both do. All this back and forth is driving me crazy. Either just get together forever or just stay apart forever."
"We at least know they love each other, right? So if they just got over the issues that they have it could work for them," Haley said.
"What are you girls talking about?" Came a voice from the hall.
"Nothing Nathan," Peyton told him.
"You can't keep secrets from me," he said.
"Jake still loves Brooke, he lied about going to Florida, and he's here, in LA. He knows Brooke's here, and he told me he never got over her."
Little did they know, someone was standing right outside the door. Listening to every little detail that was being said.
So that was the longest I think I've had a chapter. It was 6 ½ pages…
So sorry to the long wait. So much stuff has happened, and things have finally calmed down, although I still work almost every day. Anyway, hope you enjoy. The song is 'Stolen' by Dashboard Confessional; it's from their new CD…