Archways and Endings

A/N: What kind of storyteller would I be if I confirmed Peyton's death in an author note? So for those who asked if Peyton died, well I'm not saying a word. Thanks for the awesome response last chapter, I've never written something like this, so I'm trying to give you guys the storyline in small increments without giving too much away. Reviews are awesome and they keep my going. This might not be my best work and I'm sorry if it doesn't meet you guys' expectations. I also am SO SORRY for not updating at the time promised, god I lost track of time with all the end of the school year mania. I hope you aren't too mad.

Team Sophia: I understand totally, I'm not trying to crush brucas fans, trick you, or convert you. I'm telling you a story, and I hope you continue to enjoy it. [We already talked about it, but I just wanted to say so again :)]

Lalez: Sabine, your right I'm a very silly girl aha. I'm so glad your enjoying this. Your support makes me smile.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed last chapter, I hope you like this chapter and just so everyone knows I have a sequel in mind, and I'm only on the third chapter. Laugh at me and encourage me, so hopefully I'll get to that point.

Chapter dedicated to: Empty eyes- You might just get your answer :)

-Kelsey

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Three: Hold Your Breath Till it's Over

May 19, 2016

Tree Hill, North Carolina

Paige

I thought that when I woke up this morning that some big change would have occurred, something so big, that when I arrived in the kitchen, the world would have stopped, or something. But what I found was my father sitting at the island drinking coffee, and my mother preparing breakfast. It seemed so normal, almost like yesterday never happened. But I knew yesterday happened, and so did they.

"Paige, morning." My dad says turning his attention toward me.

"Happy Birthday, baby!"

I smile at my mother and run my fingers through my messy morning curls. I walk over to her and kiss her cheek, taking a look at what she's making for breakfast.

"Pancakes," I whisper sadly disappointed.

"Thanks wifey," My dad says smiling. "My favorite,"

She looks back at him with a huge grin on her face, that's when I know they made up, and it pisses me off, because he gets sober for a day, plans to go to AA and it's all okay, but then it's my birthday and we are eating pancakes and I hate pancakes.

I choose to ignore him, I don't meet his eyes, and I don't want to. I'm not so easy to forget yesterday, I can't.

"Paige," My mother whispers knocking me out of my unconscious state.

"Hmmm…"

"Your dad was talking to you,"

"Sorry, what did you say?"

"Nothing, Paige. Happy Birthday, honey."

"Thanks Dad." He smiles a slim half glint smile at me.

I sit beside my dad and my mother places a plate of golden fluffy pancakes in front of me, I almost want to vomit.

"So baby cakes, is there anything special you want to do for your birthday? We have all day until we go to Hales and Nathan's for dinner."

"I don't know Mom,"

"Paige! Come on, there's nothing you want to do?"

"Yeah, I know the perfect thing! I'll go check the mail." I respond sarcastically and a tad bitter.

I get up and stomp toward the front door, and the anger in me is bursting out from every pore in my being, and I can't explain why.

"Paige!" My mother calls out to me. And with the sound of her voice in my ears I slam the door.

The seventy degrees of outside, hits me the second I step onto the porch. My bare feet burn underneath the concrete driveway. I reach the mailbox and turn around to see my Father running down the driveway to stand beside me.

"I'm sorry," he whispers. "I'm so sorry for yesterday."

"You are not,"

"Paige, I've made a lot of mistakes, but I want to rectify them, give me a chance to."

I'm so angry I loose control of my words and I sputter out, "Was Peyton one of those?"

He looks at me wild eyed and confused. "Who told you about Peyton, Paige?"

I look down on the ground at my bare feet. "I heard Aunt Haley and mom say something about her."

"No, she wasn't one of my mistakes. She's a friend of your mother's."

"Why haven't I ever heard of her?" I strike back.

"Paige, she's just a sore subject. Don't ask Mom about her okay, she'll get really upset."

"Fine," I whisper softly, a tad defeated.

I reach into our mailbox and grab the mail, handing the bundle back to my father.

"Can we go back inside now?" he asks holding his hand out to me.

I nod and place my hand in his, like I did when I was a little girl, and we travel up the driveway into our house.

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Later that Night

In this moment, I'm semi-happy. My family surrounds me, and Grandma Karen made it. I don't see her as much as I want, and now that she's here it seems like everything is falling into place.

"Cake, Paige?" Haley yells from the adjoining kitchen, diving out slices of her "vanilla-nilla" masterpiece.

"Sure, Hales."

"Paige, will you read to me?" I feel a tug on my shirt and look down to see my younger cousin, Sawyer. She smiles at me and pulls at her blonde pigtail.

"Soy, don't do that. C'mon…" I say patting my lap, inviting her on. "What do we have here?" She giggles in the way only a four year old could and scoots onto my lap.

"My favorite." Sawyer sniffs into her blanket, and rubs it up against her pale but rosy cheek. "Come back to Me," I say reading the cover. "By P. Sawyer,"

"That's my name," She giggles.

"Yep, Sawyer Quinn, that's your name."

I peel it back and look inside the on the dedication page, I've always been fascinated with the lives on authors, who spend their days crafting childhood dreams into well crafted words and pictures. If I only had that talent. To: PKS, my goddaughter. I'll love you always, no matter what, no matter how much time goes by. And LES, it's not over. It never will be. -PES.

"Hey Paigie," my grandmother says touching my leg. I look up and smile at her, she sits besides me. "You're so good with her." Grandma Karen reaches over and touches Sawyer's cheek.

"Thanks, I really love the sowing kit you got me."

"It's not everyday your granddaughter turns 14."

"My mom's been teaching me a lot, and I hope that I'll be able to make Sawyer a dress for her birthday."

"Can I go get cake?" Sawyer asks softly.

"Yeah, honey. Just go in the kitchen and get a piece from your mama." She hops off my lap and runs away her pink blanket dragging behind her.

"You will, you can do anything." I smile at my dad's mom, she's amazing. "You remember what I told you?" She asks.

"To always see the magic in the world."

Aunt Haley comes into the room, plopping down on the other side of the couch. She hands me a plate with cake on it and takes a bite of her own.

"I haven't seen Jamie or Dave too much tonight." My grandmother says.

"They've been outside with Lucas and Nathan playing basketball, what's new?" Haley chuckles.

I laugh and look over across the room, to see Sawyer sitting on my mom's lap eating birthday cake, they are both giggling.

It this small moment, watching as the littlest things unfold I truly see the magic in life, in the world, in the moment and I hold my breath until it's over, until it stops, until the change that's stood there, falls all the way through.

-TBC-

A/N: Question is when was the book published? And how and why did Peyton stat writing children's books? Hmmm. Hope you like this chapter. If you were wondering Haley and Nathan have three kids. (I mentioned them this chapter)

James Lucas Scott (Jamie) he's 13.

(I felt it was important to have Haley's pregnancy in senior year still stand, so Jamie He's only a few months younger than Paige.)

Davis Keith Scott (Dave) he's 10

and Sawyer Quinn Scott she's 4.

But that will be explained more later. Remember the rules 20 comments for next day update.

Have a good week.

This update is even later because well my internet got cut off and fanfiction is blocked at my school, but I will get it to you SOMEHOW if I get the reviews. I might even get one of my friends to post.

Good chance there will be a big time rewind next chapter and most likely a new point of view. :)

If your wondering what inspires me, it's THE FRAY! I love them and would like nothing more than to see them in concert for my birthday:)

Just thought I'd share. lol.