"What Lies Ahead of Us" - Chapter Four
Peyton sat down on the couch, watching TV. Lucas was at the high school coaching, so she was alone for the night. She planned to watch movies and eat popcorn on the couch. Pausing the movie as soon as the phone rang, Peyton picked up the phone.
"Hello?" She asked into the phone.
"Peyton?" A man on the other end said. "Hi, It's Jake."
Peyton sat up from her postion from the couch. "Oh, Hi, Jake."
"I was wondering if you might want to have dinner with me tonight." He asked her, hoping that she might just say yes.
Peyton wondered about this. Lucas would be at the high school the entire night, so there really wasn't a reason that she couldn't go. "Umm. Yeah, sure. I'll go with you. When? And where are we going to go?"
"I'll surprise you. I'm coming to pick you up at seven."
Jake and Peyton sat down together at a resturant. The atmosphere wasn't too fancy, Jake didn't want this to feel like a date even though he was hoping that they might go farther than just being old friends. He wondered if they way he felt with Peyton was the way that Peyton felt about him.
"Are you okay, Peyton? You haven't been talking much during dinner." Jake asked, trying not to show any sign of worrying in his voice.
"Aw, Jake, I'm sorry. I'm just thinking about some things." She tried to change the subject. "I'll pay, we just have to wave down the waiter."
"Peyton, no, you're not paying. This is all me." He smiled, but Peyton frowned.
"Jake, that's too much for you to have to pay all by yourself. Let me pay for at least some of it." She begged, trying to make sure she wouldn't feel bad by the end of the night.
"No, it's fine, Peyton, really. It's all me." He repeated.
Peyton looked dissappointed, but then gave in. "Ugh! Fine." She whispered.
"Good." He smirked. "I'll take you home."
Brooke and Chase were walking through the streets of Tree Hill when they stopped at an ice cream stand that was in front of them. The ice cream stand was bringing back old memories for Brooke.
"Do you remember?" Brooke asked Chase, a smile on her face. She was scared that he had forgotten. "This was where our first date was."
"Of course I remember. How could I not?" He whispered to her. He brought her in his arms, and took her out where a small band was playing. He took her hand and started to dance with her like he did on their first date.
"Aww, Chase! Don't make me dance. I suck!" She laughed. He smirked, ignoring the comment and brought her hand to his shoulder. She blushed, looking down as she noticed that people were looking at them.
"I was tutoring you in Calculus on our first date, even though I was failing." She frowned, realizing she had ruined the moment. But, then she realized that it had to have been like that, or they probably wouldn't have met. "You kissed me at the end of the night." Brooke grinned, remembering.
"I remember that while we were dancing, I talked to you about my parents and how I would watch them dance like this." Chase smiled.
"And your footy pajamas." Brooke said, laughing. Chase let go of Brooke's hand, and she made a confused face towards him.
"Brooke.." Chase whispered softly. The way he talked to her sent shivers down her spine. The sound of his voice just melted her.
"You know I love you, right?" He whispered, and Brooke blushed again.
"Of course I know." She said, looking down at the ground beneath her. "What is this about?" Brooke whispered to him sweetly.
"Marry me." He exclaimed. Brooke's smile turned to shock, and she looked into his eyes.
"What?" She said, smiling. Tears were already streaming down her face, and she was in shock.
"I love you. I have never felt this way about anyone in my entire life. There's me, and there's you. You are all I want in this world, and if I can have you, then I will be happy for the rest of my life," He whispered, and she covered her mouth to restrain herself from sobbing. Her world was going to change in a matter of seconds. Chase got down on one knee, opening the box with the most gorgeous diamond ring that she had ever seen. "Brooke Davis, will you marry me?"
Brooke was so speechless. People all around her were staring and smiling, and she couldn't speak. The tears would not stop pouring from her eyes. "Chase.." Brooke whispered, showing him that she was so surprised.
"It's okay." He told her. "You don't have to answer me yet."
Peyton walked up to her door, and noticed that Lucas' car hadn't been parked. She guessed that they had a long night at the high school. Jake walked her to the door, and Peyton thanked him for the night.
"Oh, anytime, Peyton. It's really good to see you. I've missed you so much."
Peyton opened the knob to the apartment, but she hesitated. Quickly, she ran up to Jake and kissed him.
Brooke and Chase continued walking, but they both could sense that the silence between them was killing them. She turned to Chase, not realizing that she had stopped in the middle of the street. But the importance of this moment made them not realize.
"Chase," Brooke started, but then stopped. They both stared into each other's eyes. The light had turned green, and a car turned.. Hitting Chase.
The car hit Chase in the windshield, flipping him over and rolling him into the middle of the street. The car screeched, and turned, hitting a tree and crushing the front of the car.
Brooke screamed a sharp cry, running over to Chase. She dialed 911, but it couldn't because her fingers were numb. She couldn't even see clearly because so many tears were in her eyes. She finally called and the ambulance was on their way. She sat down next to him, her hands shaking as she saw all of the blood. She face was completely pale, and she was crying so hard. "Chase, you have to stay with me, okay. Please. Please, baby, just stay here with me." She whispered, barely being able to breathe.
She thought of losing him. This man that had brought such an influence on her life. The man that had just proposed to her less that five minutes ago. The man whose child she was carrying.
Brooke realized that she never got the chance to tell him. She was going to tell him the news tonight, but she never did. What if he died? What if he would never be apart of their child's life?
She sobbed, realizing that her life could go to hell in a matter of hours.
Peyton ran to Brooke's apartment, still shocked about what she had done. She was close enough to just run and not take her car. Her eyes were red, and her head was spinning. She had to tell Brooke. Brooke watched as the ambulance took Chase away, and she needed to go tell Peyton.
They both raced to each other's apartments, but then caught each other half way.
"Brooke." Peyton yelled, tears blurring her vision. She still couldn't believe this.
"Peyton," Brooke screamed. "Oh my god." She was in so much shock, she felt nausea.
"I kissed Jake." Peyton said, looking at Brooke hopelessly.
"Chase was hit by a car, right after he proposed to me." Brooke said, cradling her stomach as the sobs racked her body.
"Oh my god. Brooke."
"Peyton." Brooke cried, running into her arms. Peyton held on tight to Brooke, but still, the pain didn't go away.
Author's Note: Please let me know what you think of the story so far. Reviews are my world. ;) Thanks!