Disclaimer: I am far from Mark Schwann…

Last time:

"So Brooke called Mr. Sorenson with flight and living arrangements, and Lucas called planning our route for the day," at everyone's nod Jessie continued, "then who called you first? Brooke, Lucas, how do you even know who I am?"

"Lucas called me," Brooke said.

"I got a call as well. I was told that my number one fan wanted to meet me, and I would love this young lady when I met her. When I hung up the phone, I knew that I just had to make your wish come true. I knew Brooke could help me get everything together quickly, so I gave her a call."

"Well, who called you? Who did all of this for me?" she finished, looking around at all of the Tree Hill residents.

It was quiet for a moment as everyone looked back at her with knowing smiles.

"I did."

Chapter 7 - Explanations

Jessie spun around and saw Peyton standing behind her with a shy smile on her face.

"What…Why…How…Peyton?" she stuttered.

"Why," Peyton shrugged, "because you are a wonderful person Jessie. Our friendship has helped me realize everything that I thought mattered, didn't. I wanted to ensure everything you wished for came true, at least what I could."

"But…how?

Everyone chuckled at that. Peyton knew that for her usually sharp young friend to not understand, she must be entirely shocked or overwhelmed, probably both.

"Well Jessie, you seem to have made quite an impression on P. Sawyer over there. When she heard your wish, she called Luke which set everything into motion," Brook said, slinging her arm around Jessie's shoulders.

"P. Sawyer…" Jessie said faintly.

"Yeah Jess, that's me." At Jessie's slightly confused, slightly hurt look, she added, "do you want to go for a drive with me, we can talk and I can explain anything you need me to." Jessie just nodded her head in response. Peyton smiled at everyone assembled and led Jessie to her car. When they approached the Comet, Jessie paused and shook her head before getting in. They were silent as they drove, Jessie trying to absorb everything and Peyton giving her time to do so. When they arrived at the spot where Peyton broke down a few years previous, she got out knowing that Jessie would meet her in her own time. Eventually Jessie sat next to her on the trunk of the car.

"The first thing I want to know is why. Why didn't you ever tell me?"

"There were so many times I wanted to, but I just couldn't," Peyton replied with a sigh. Jessie just sat looking at her, waiting for more. "It was never meant to be a secret, but after meeting you that first day and hearing you describe the Peyton from the book, the girl you idolize, I knew that I could never live up to your expectations. I didn't want you to be disappointed in me."

"Why would I be disappointed you?"

"I was not exactly in a good place when I met you Jessie. My life was not exactly turning out how I wanted it to and you were so sure that Peyton's life was perfect and that everything was going to work out well for her; I didn't want to destroy your faith in that."

"What do you mean you weren't in a good place? How bad of a place do you need to be in to not tell me your last name? And how self-absorbed must I have been to never realize you never gave me one?"

"Eh, you're a teenager, you're expected to be," Peyton teased and nudged Jessie next to her.

"Ha-ha, but you still haven't answered my question."

Peyton sighed. "At the time I was the assistant to the assistant at the label, I hadn't spoken to Lucas, or really anyone from Tree Hill in months, except Brooke, and even those calls were few and far between. I was just feeling very lost, and far from the woman depicted in the novel. Far from the woman you expected Peyton Sawyer to be. The reason I volunteered for the program in the first place was to try to find some purpose in my life again."

"Did you find it?"

"I think so. If I didn't, I am certainly on a better track now than I was."

"What happened between you and Luke?"

"He proposed."

"Yeah, I hate it when guys do that, especially ones I love," Jessie responded sarcastically.

"Funny," Peyton responded. "It was just sudden and out of nowhere. He came for a surprise visit, and I got called into work half way through diner. By the time I got to his hotel room, he had fallen asleep and I found the ring in his hand. We were 19; I wasn't ready to be married. I still had things I dreamed of doing out in L.A. I asked him to give me a year, but he couldn't. When I woke up, he was gone. He left the mixed tape I made for him on the pillow, and that was the last time we spoke until I called him last week."

"That sucks, Peyton, I'm sorry."

"It is what it is," Peyton said with a sad smile.

"What were you going to do during the year?"

"I wanted to work my way up from the assistant to the assistant, sign an amazing band that had the power to change the life of someone like me, and show that my time in L.A. wasn't a waste. "

"But you quit."

"The label wasn't what I had hoped it would be. They wanted me to compromise my integrity, and I refused. Finally, I left. I just couldn't be there anymore."

"I'm glad you realized that. Life is too short to settle and to compromise who you are. It is also too short to give up on love so easily."

"Wise words for one so young."

"Dying will do that for you. You are an amazing person Peyton, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You are the one who can make your dreams come true."

"You are only saying that based on the fictional Peyton Sawyer in Lucas's book."

"No, I'm not, and she isn't fiction, she's sitting right here."

"Okay, that was Dr. Phil, Oprah, and Yoda all rolled into one, so I think it is time to leave; it is getting a little thick out here," Peyton said with a laugh. Jessie agreed and they got back in the car to head back to the River Court. The journey was much cheerier than the one they took there as they chatted away as they always did when they were together. Within a few minutes they were back among the large group of friends they had left an hour before.

A/N: Sorry for the long wait! I will try to be better, but as always I won't make any promises, as I am rubbish at keeping them when it comes to my writing. I hope you enjoyed it. I know it was a bit melodramatic at points, but Peyton had a lot to answer for and Jessie had to understand what Peyton was going through. Please let me know what you think!

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