"The statistics on sanity are that 1 out of every 4 Americans are suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you"
-Rita Mae Brown.
-x-
I got off the plane feeling infinitely worse then I did when I got onto it. My hair was lank and dry, my face was oily, my make up was non existent and I had a serious head ache. To top it all off, my three best friends in the entire galaxy were back in Tree Hill.
And, LAX airport is a bitch.
"Stupid suitcase! Stupid baggage claim! Stupid mom!" I exclaimed frustratedly, waiting for my last suitcase to come off the conveyer belt of baggage. Staring at other people's suitcases makes you feel worse or better about your own. My Louis Vuitton luggage makes everything else look like crap but that doesn't ease me. The better your suitcase looks, the more someone would wanna steal it.
"Need help?" A masculine, and I dare I say SEXY, voice asked behind me. Too bad I looked like I had just come off a plane…
"Perfectly fine, thank you!" I said shortly, without so much as turning around.
I heard him shift closer, shouldn't I be more uncomfortable? "Well in that case, maybe you could tell me where I can find a Miss Brooke Davis?" He asked, forcing me to turn around so fast I think I have whiplash.
Turning around, bad idea because now I have to stare at this insanely gorgeous guy standing in front of me. Here's the cliffnotes description of McSexy. Tall (gotta be like at least 5'11), short sandy blonde hair, and his most striking feature, those deep blue eyes. He was just shaven enough to look smooth and bad ass at the same time and he had (and trust me I could already tell) the body of an athlete. God he was sexy…
"I, I'm Brooke Davis" I stuttered, So I'm all WTF!? Because since when does Brooke Davis stutter? Peyton, Haley and Rachel wouldn't be able to recognize me.
He grinned, god could he get any sexier? "Thought so, well Miss Davis, I'm here to escort you" He bowed jokingly, before retrieving my last piece of luggage. What is he superman?
My eyes widened, "You're the driver?" I asked, my mother did not usually employ the handsome, she usually employed the bald.
He shook his head, "Nope, just the errand boy" He said vaguely, loading my luggage onto one of those suitcase pushy thingies.
"What?" I asked confusedly, what did he mean by errand boy?
He smiled a small smile, "Let's go to the car, then I'll explain" He shrugged, pushing the pushy thingie with extreme ease.
Dazed and confused I followed him, that is until my phone began to vibrate. It was a text from Rachel:
Hey Cookie…hope you're flight went superb! Lol. We love you and already miss you, can't wait till it's us four again! Call at Peyton's when you can…we're slumming.
Miss you mucho,
Rachel
"Cookie?" guy with no manners/McSexy asked, his breath tickling my ear.
"You were reading my personal text message!" I exclaimed, hitting his chest (and what a well defined chest it was…insert sight here), "That's private" I exclaimed.
He just shrugged, for such a hot guy he sure was nosy, "So I repeat, cookie?" He asked, raising an eye brow at me while he load my things.
"It rhymes with Brookie" I said indignantly, "That's what my friends call me" I told him, sauntering towards the front seat of the Escalade. Oh how mad would my mom be if she saw me riding in the front.
A few minutes later errand boy was sitting in the driver's seat, "Ready?" he asked courteously, not that it mattered whether I was ready or not, no one asked me if I wanted to spend my summer with my mom and stupid step dad so why should it matter now?
"Mhmm, as ready as I'll ever be" I mumbled.
So 15 minutes in, I decided jumping in the front seat so eagerly (which I did mostly to mentally spite my mother) wasn't such a good idea, considering the fact that we (me and blondie) hadn't said a word to each other.
That is until I realized something, "I don't even know your name!" I exclaimed in amazement. His name couldn't legally be McSexy could it?
He chuckled, "Lucas Scott" He introduced, Lucas…hmm it fit, a sexy name for a sexy (but slightly annoying, since he read my text message!) guy.
"So Lucas, you owe me a story" I said, anything to settle the weird awkward air around us.
He looked confused, "Hmm?" He asked.
"You said "errand boy" what does that even mean?" I asked, kicking off my flip flops so I could put my feet up on the dash board. Had I been wearing a skirt or maybe shorts, you could say I was flaunting my killer legs but as it is I'm not, I'm wearing regular old jeans.
Lucas nodded, "Oh well, I don't work for you parents-
"Uhp, Mom and step dad" I corrected quickly. Quick insight: Mason (the alleged step dad) isn't skeezy or pervy or anything (coz I have a feeling that's how he's beginning to sound), he's perfectly fine. The thing is that I don't know him at all so I couldn't give you a real opinion, so I just stick to being indifferent or borderline disliking.
"Right, well Mason is one of my dad's best friends" Lucas started, "I'm staying with him this summer because I got into some "trouble" earlier this year and this is sorta Mason bailed me out, this is sorta like his "punishment" Lucas explained. So is it possible I was slightly more confused then I started out being.
But none the less I nodded, "So you're gonna be staying at the house the entire summer?" I asked carefully.
"Yeap, excited princess?" He asked raising an eye brow playfully.
I rolled my eyes, "Don't flatter yourself" I snorted, "But at least I won't be bored, I mean you live here you can show me the prime party spots" I winked.
He laughed as we pulled up to the golden gates (swear on my life their gold!) "Sounds good"
-x-
The three days after Brooke left went by in a haze of movies, packing and silent tears. Before I knew it, Haley and Peyton were dropping me off at the coach bus station and I was on a stupid bus.
To punch the stupid blonde slut or not to punch the stupid blonde slut…that is the question. So to add insult to injury, not only am I going to this Riker's camp for whatever's in the middle of nowhere, Idaho, I'm also currently sharing the same seat with one of the stupidest girls I met.
Exhibit A: The first thing that came out of her mouth; "Hi, hi, hi! I'm Bevin! You've got the prettiest hair, I love it I wanna dye my hair to match yours and we can walk around like sisters even though I hate looking like other people I guess until now because I love you hair…", And that was just the part of the babbling I can remember.
"Rachel" I grunted, thinking about how many "Clueless" references Brooke would've made by now.
"Mmkay, so this is Morgan Finch and Ashley Lynn Smirnoff" She introduced me to the girls sitting in the seat across from me and her, "Oh and she has no relation to the guy who made Smirnoff" Bevin added as an afterthought.
The girl, Ashley? Extended her manicured hand towards me, "It's just Ashlyn" She corrected, shooting a deadly look at Bevin.
Ashlyn seemed nice enough, she had long brown hair and pretty blue eyes and I do not use the word pretty lightly. "And this is Rachel" Bevin introduces me as if she's a model on "The Price is Right", what am I? A friggin' Refrigerator?
However the other blonde girl, Morgan, said absolutely nothing, chick's a bitch. She just sat there staring out of the window, acting as if the rest of us didn't even exist.
After I was sure I wasn't going to be asked any more questions, I put my head phones back in my ears and stared of the foggy window, if I could have one wish, in this entire world, it would be if Peyton, Haley and Brooke could be here with me. Or anywhere for that matter. Location, time or anything else never really mattered if we were together, whether it was at Riker's Camp for disorderly Teens, Houston, Texas, good old Tree Hill or even sunny Los Angeles, California.
The ride was uncomfortable and annoying but somewhere between cowland and grassland I fell asleep. I was woken up by a very annoying Bevin, poking me in the side with her stupid, acrylic wearing fingers.
"Holy shit!" I cursed, sitting up, I saw stupid Morgan snickering behind her hand as everyone was getting up to leave.
Ashlyn gave me a look of sympathy, she waited for me to grab my stuff, "We're gonna have to stick together if they wanna survive" She joked, playfully pushing me off the bus.
I smiled for the first time in what felt like ages, "I think so too" I agreed, adjusting my duffel bag on my shoulder and my stupid suitcase as it was rolling lopsidedly.
"Now, were can we find someone that would carry my bags to where ever it is we have to be" I smirked, as Ashlyn looped her arms with mine.
The more I talked to the girl the more she reminded me of Brooke, Haley and Peyton. She had the same taste in music as Peyton, she had a killer fashion sense like Brooke and she was the sweetest person, just like my little Haley bub. And it was so easy to get along with Ashlyn, so for the first time since the summer began, I could picture myself not being miserable at Riker's.
Me and Ashlyn reached the field where everyone stood for "roll call" I guess, I seriously feel like I'm at friggin' military school or something, and honestly I think my parents are officially crazy and they need some severe medication. But then my eyes fell on something that I was completely and totally thrown off by, "There are boys here!" I whispered eagerly, catching sight of a black haired head, and from the back he seemed cute.
"I know" Ashlyn whispered back excitedly.
And as the boring drill sergeant lady went on and on and on about the stupid rules I began to think about me and McSteamy over there. He definitely looked like he ran things, by the flock of other boys and girls surrounding him, but she had yet to see the face.
I heard the lady say no cell phones and my heart stopped, "No cell phones! No cell phones" I started hyperventilating, Ashlyn looked over in concern.
"Oh my God, Rachel are you okay?" She asked alarmedly, looking around for some sort of help.
"I'm fine!" I managed to say, trying to get over the shock of this entire "no cell phones" episode, "But Ash, did she really just say "No cell phones?" I asked fearfully, protectively placing a hand over my back pocket, where my phone currently laid.
Ashlyn nodded her head gravely but not even a minute had gone by when my phone began vibrating. Several people turned around, but thankfully she didn't notice. It was a text from Peyton:
Hoping you got there okay Rachie, we miss you all ready and I don't even know how I'm going to survive when Haley leaves 2mm. We love you!
-Peyton
I had to reply back, it would be rude not to right? I mean these were my best friends we're talking about here! I don't think anyone in this entire camp (or the world, for that matter) would ever be able to understand the bond between the four of us, so when Peyton texts me, I get tunnel-visioned, especially being like 90 bazillion miles away from the three of them.
However in my haste to reply back, I failed to notice Ashlyn's frantic hand gestures and her flailing arms, signaling that now was not the time. When I did notice, let's just say it was too late.
"Name!" That stupid woman barked in my ear.
I sighed out of exasperation, "Rachel Gattina"
She nodded with a smirk, it was one of those I know something about you kind of smirks, and it's creeping me out, "Gattina eh? Yeah, your parent put down a hefty sum of money for you to get extra special care" She laughed, god this woman was number one on my 'Can't wait to kill' list. "Apparently you're quite the discipline case huh?"
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, "Look lady, sorry about the phone"
"It's warden to you, and that phone goes away Gattina, I see it out again and you will never see it again" She said in a tone that would make hell freeze over.
"Whatever" I mumbled, turning to face a very pale Ashlyn.
"She's scary" Ashlyn laughed, once "the warden" was out of sight.
I nodded in agreement, if there was one person who scare the living daylights out of me it was that women. And Brooke if she had on her shoe sale face, all three of us knew not to get in her way then.
-x-
"I can't believe you came to see me off at 6 in the morning" I said, seeing Peyton at my front door.
She looked tired and everyone knew Peyton was NOT the morning person, but she waived her hand dismissively, "No way Hales, I had to"
I hugged her, "I'm gonna miss you Peyt, I don't wanna leave!" I whispered, feeling tears spring up into my eyes.
I heard her let out a small laugh, "Awh baby, it had to happen some day" She said softly, smoothing out my hair.
"You ready Haley bub?" My dad asked, dragging my suitcases to the door.
Gravely I turned to face him, "Yeah, now or never right?" I asked, wiping my tears.
"You good Peyton?" He asked the tall blonde.
Peyton nodded and smiled, the fake "I'm fine" smile that Peyton had perfected over the years, I could see right through it, "We're gonna write, hmm? And the pants! We've got the pants" I said, not sure who I was consoling at this point, myself or my best friend, but did it really matter?
Peyton smiled, "Take care of yourself bub" She said, "And for the love of god, have some fun!" She exclaimed, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
I laughed too, hugging her one more time, "Love you Peyton, and please don't brood this summer" I say, "Besides, there's no Brooke to force you out of your moods" And Peyton knows exactly what I mean, because if there's anyone who can make you do something you don't want to, it's Brooke Davis.
My Mom and Dad were both standing in the foyer now so I took that as a sign that it was inevitably time to go, "You're gonna be fine Peyton, actually you're gonna be great, don't ever doubt yourself" I told her honestly, pulling away.
"Time to go baby girl" My mom said, opening the front door.
I waited until my mom and dad got out the door before pulling Peyton with me, "Come with me P.Sawyer" I suggested, knowing it was impossible.
Peyton laughed, "Wish I could Hales, but you know my dad's gonna be here in two weeks and plus I got that job at the record store" Peyton tried to sound okay, she wasn't but neither was I. Neither was Brooke and neither was Rachel. But the important thing was that we would be. I could feel it, and the pants, would make sure of it.
I took in a deep breath, "Okay, I'll see you in six weeks Peyt" I said, getting into the back of the car.
"I'll be counting the days bub" Peyton joked, waiving to me.
I rolled down my window, and waived at her until we had to turn the corner. At that point I pulled out my iPod and listened to it, just to drown out the empty silence that was filling my heart. It was a bittersweet feeling, to be leaving…on one hand leaving the three people I loved the most and on the other hand I was finally doing something on my own.
I wasn't going to Brooke's best friend any more, or Rachel's tutor or Peyton's shrink, I'd be Haley James and that was someone I hadn't been in a very long time.
And just like that it hit me, that's what this summer was all about. Not feeling grief over the people that weren't going to be with you, but finding the person you are and doing it alone. I realized that this summer was going to be extraordinarily special, and for once I wouldn't have Brooke, Peyton or Rachel to rely on but I'd still have their support in the form of the glorious pants.
-x-
"All by myself…don't wanna be all by myself-
"Shut up Keller!" I growled at my boss, if you could call him that. Chris Keller the bane of my existence, the thorn in my side, the dog shit under my shoe. It's not even his record store, it's his daddy's record store but still the douche bag walks around like he's god in the flesh.
He grinned, "Just tryna ease your pain blondie" Did I mention I hate him?
I rolled my eyes, "Go fu-
"Customers!" Chris said pleasantly, opening up his arms and I prayed to God he wouldn't go up and hug them like he had done to me the first time I walked in.
The person that walked in however mildly surprised me, he was tall, with messy brown hair, definitely hot. But then I noticed the baby seat he had in one hand and the diaper bag he had over his shoulder. Why are the good ones either married or gay? And why can't the ones like Chris Keller be married or gay?
"Oh it's just you" I hear Keller say deflatedly, and I resisted the urge to smile. Keller being disappointed equals Peyton being slightly happier.
"Trust me I don't find any joy in coming to visit you" I heard the masculine voice say, god he had a nice one. Gurr. Did he have to be "with child"?
He took a couple steps into the store and I got a better view of him. He had this sexy, rugged quality about his face. His hair was unruly and unkempt, but he made it work so well and his light brown eyes looked determined, he obviously wanted something. And then to my embarrassment, hot/sexy/rugged guy caught me staring, but at least he was polite enough to flash me those pearly whites.
"Oh yeah, I have blondie!" I heard Chris say as if he had some sort of an epiphany. Whatever it was, I wasn't going to do it, I had already decided. "Sawyer! Bring that fine ass around!" He yelled, even though I was standing only a few feet away from him and McHottie.
I rolled my eyes at him but nonetheless complied, because I was the employee and he was the employer. Yayy for capitalism…
"Sawyer, Jake, Jake Sawyer" Chris did a crappy job of introducing, he should never be a game show host, I concluded.
"Actually it's Peyton" I corrected, extending a hand towards him, thanking god I had removed the chipped black nail polish today. I was also glad that I was wearing my cute cut off shorts (that Brooke said made my legs look a bazillion miles long) and black Clash t-shirt. However, if I'd know I'd have a McHottie on my hands, well then I would've opted for some eye liner and maybe doing my hair.
He smiled, he had a nice smile, "Jake Jegaslki, Chris' unfortunate step brother" And that's when my jaw hit the floor. McHottie, related (even if it's not by blood or choice for that matter) to KELLER! God, could this day be any more screwed up?
"Sawyer!" Chris' annoying voice brought me back from my musings.
"Huh? What?" I asked, dazed.
Chris sighed impatiently, god what does he have to be annoyed about? "You've gotta take care of Jen Jen here" He explained, gesturing his head towards the baby in the carrier.
So color me confused. Where was the baby's mother and a better question why did it all of a sudden become my job to play mommy? I quit babysitting for a reason…kids, just aren't my thing.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
Jake looked affronted, "She never promised she'd do this Chris, you did" He said accusingly, stabbing his index finger in to Keller's chest. Chris winced, and this made me inwardly smile. Any physical/emotional pain inflicted upon "The Keller" (don't you hate people who give them selves nicknames? I.e.: Chris Keller) by any said person(s) results in said person(s) going in Peyton's good books. Just the laws of Peytonology.
"Are you epileptic?!" Chris exclaimed, "God, why do you keep dazing off?" he yelled.
"Epilepsy, Keller, is a disease in which a person has chronic, unprovoked seizures" I laughed, and to my benefit, McHottie (who I now know is named Jake) looked impress.
Chris looked unphased by this tid bit of information, "Whatever, I'm not pre-med, what the hell do I care what epilepsy is" He shrugged, "Now, Me and Jake have to go to this meeting since we're both co-owners…
Everything after the word co-owners didn't register in my brain. McHottie…is a co owner. Which means, he must work here too…all of a sudden this summer didn't suck so much…
"Yea, yea" I waived off Chris, who to my amusement looked mad about the interruption, "You own this place too?" I asked, even the tiny baby thing was starting to grow on me.
Jake nodded, "Along with this ass-
"Jake!" Chris pretended to look offended, "Not in front of the baby!" he said haughtily, covering her tiny ears.
I ignored Chris, because let's face it, I usually do, "So wait you're his step brother by…" I know I was prying, but McHottie didn't seem to mind.
"My mom married his dad when I was 12-
"And I was 14" Chris jumped in eagerly.
"Right" Jake said stiffly, obviously Chris got on his nerves too, "Our dad opened up this record store and let us manage it for the most part" He explained carefully, setting the baby on the floor. I liked this baby, she never cried, that's good in a baby I think.
I nodded, McHottie had a way with words, "Until Jenny that is. I mean Chris does most of the managing these days" Jake said, he didn't sound bitter just honest. New Years Resolution (Or rather New July resolution): Be more honest.
I really wanted to ask about mommy dearest. Was she in the picture? Had she ever been? Were they married? Did he live at home. But those questions seemed rather forwards and let's face it, with the shortage of eligible boys left in Tree Hill, I couldn't risk scaring off the one that seemed almost perfect.
"What about you doogie? Are some teenage prodigy?" He grinned, it was a sexy grin the kind that made my knees wobble, but only slightly, Rachel would be so proud.
I shook my curls, "Nah, I just have this innate ability at making Chris look like an idiot" See, I can be witty too.
He chuckled, "Yeah and you do it well"
But of course Keller couldn't let me have my moment, he had to ruin everything right? "Can you guys have your "From Here to Eternity" moment some other time, because Jakey, we are officially late for a meeting" He interrupted. Curse you Chris Keller!!
"So do you mind?" Chris asked finally, and McHottie was now also staring at me.
So pros and cons: pro- I'd be helping Jake, con- I'd be helping Keller, pro- Jake would see me as his savior, con-I'd be helping Keller, pro- Jenny is one not annoying baby, con-I'd be helping Keller…
I sighed, "I'll do it" I said, looking directly at Jake, who looked mildly surprised.
"Really?" He asked, as if I was telling him he won the lottery or something.
I gave him the patented Peyton Sawyer smile, "Sure" I answered, how hard could it really be?
"Thank you Sawyer!" Chris said joyfully making me cringe, what he did next though made me wanna puke. He actually had the audacity to kiss my forehead!
"Keller!" I yelled loudly, "You ever do that again, I swear you will never procreate!" I screamed, startling Jenny. Poor baby, if I wasn't so disgusted, I'd probably feel worse.
Jake looked taken aback, but his frown settled into one of being impressed. I was surprising him left, right and center wasn't I?
"Dually noted" Chris said fleetingly, grabbing a file off the stereo. Who thought Chris Keller was capable of own paper let alone an entire file…
Jake looked grateful, "Thank you Peyton, I normally wouldn't ask a complete stranger but for some reason I feel like I can trust you" He said looking me over. Not in the sense that you'd think, I mean it wasn't the "I'm checking you out" kind of look over it was more of the "I'm trying to figure you out" kind of look over. And I think I like the second one better.
"Well I give off that vibe, woodland creature gravitate towards me, the sea becomes really calm in my presence, people tend to-
"Sorry to cut your monologue short blondie but we gotta go" Chris interrupted, grabbing Jenny's baby bag and thrusting it into my arms.
Jake now looked slightly apologetic, "It won't take long promise" he said quietly, bending down and placing a kiss on his daughter's forehead.
"Take your time" I sighed, waiving as they turned to leave.
Soon as Chris (and regrettably Jake) was out of sight, I turned on the computer glancing at Jenny. "I won't tell if you don't" I winked, but she didn't look amused. And then I saw her lower lip starting to tremble and I (and most of the time, Rachel) had babysitted enough kids to know what came after that. Right on queue Jenny let out an ear piercing wail that made my hands fly up to my ears of their own accord.
I hurried over to her, taking the little girl into my arms, "Hey Jenny, no more tears baby girl" I soothed in a voice I didn't even know I possessed. But she just kept on crying, very close to my ears I might add.
After 15 minutes of trying every baby trick in the book I decided it was time for drastic measures. So I put Jenny in to her seat and grabbed the keys that Chris kept hanging on a nail behind the register. They were all different sizes and shapes and looked utterly useless.
So the second I cloroxed those babies I handed them to Jenny and instantly she shut up. Whoa…I'm good.
She chewed, slobbered and ate those keys, occasionally jingling them and when I was sure she wouldn't scream again, I took the seat and put it on the counter in front of me. Now I could check my emails, Peyton have smiley face.
2 New e-mails:
From:
To:
Hey sweetheart! Just wanted to check in on my favorite girl, I hope you're good. I miss you whole heartedly and I have two surprises for you. One of them is that I'm coming home in 3 days instead of two weeks! I just couldn't not see you anymore. The second, is more of a present and I'll show it to you when I get there.
Love,
Dad
I'm inexplicably excited. I mean I'd do a happy song and dance if I didn't think it'd reduce my cool factor. My dad coming home early is just about the best news ever and any surprise he could have would probably pale in comparison but I'd look excited when he gave it to me.
What could get any better?
From:
To:
Peyton!
I've been here an all of 10 minutes (would've gotten to the computer sooner, but had to say the mandatory hellos) It's worst then I imagined, I wish you guys were here. I love Grama and Grampa but I can only take them in small doses, in anticipation of the 6 weeks I say: Gag me. If you find me on the back of a milk carton just know that it was Texas that did it.
Missing you way too much,
Hales
-x-
A/N: SO?? Reviews sustain me. So drop me one and consider it as you saving my life (insert your choice of smiley face here)!