Archways and Endings
A/N: I so sorry this chapter is late! This is my last week before school starts so things have been mega-hectic. Let's all cross our fingers and hope this doesn't happen again. And just because I was late, I'm promising you this, along with my new P/Ju one-shot that's being posted tomorrow or Saturday, I'm also going to post chapter twelve. How I'll get that done. Who knows? But I will. Somehow.
Ivy: Hey that's okay! Don't worry about it. I think I mostly called him Dave anyway. :)
Charlotte: I can't believe you gave me a shot-out! Thank you so much:) You know your support means the world to me. No one speaks about Peyton, and Paige has no idea who she is or really the history/past. So whatever happened in the past, everyone is keeping really tight lipped about. But you know nothing ever really stays a secret in the hill. And this secret has been hidden gosh 14/15 years. Oh it's going to come out, and when it does I promise it'll be with a BANG! I'm going to miss you when you go on your little hiatus but I get it. The real world always comes back knocking. :(
Eleni- What's up with us always posting at the same time? Lol. For some reason Nathan/Paige in my mind just seemed to flow. I didn't really mean to focus on them so much. It just kind of happened.
Stagediva: Hey now! Don't make yourself Diet Tea. I think you should just drink the real stuff. Haha. I'm so enjoying developing Paige, because she's mine. So I can do whatever I want with her without restrictions or certain complexes that must be stuck to. So she's a lot of fun to write.
Stupid-cookie-cutter-popstar: Ahh that will come soon enough! After twelve, we are having a flashback chapter back to the high school days. :)
Cayt- Patience grasshopper! Great things come to those who wait. (Please do, it'll happen!)
ReeseHolden-You're on the money there! Yes, every little slip up about Peyton or things that seem like Peyton are so valuable and important. I'm so glad that someone caught on to that. :) I do think that sometimes if you're caught in such dysfunction day in and day out it's probably really refreshing to head to your Aunt and Uncle's where things are a little more "normal". This chapter is full of Naley family. So it's kind of like an introduction into the whole family. They've only been mentioned in passing thus far. So I'm glad everyone gets to "meet" them. And HEY I'm from the south too! Or kinda. I live in Virginia, born and raised. Though I live on the coast, and we are kind of military central. So I don't know if you could even consider me southern. (Though my ancestry is routed in the south, my grandfather was born in Wilmington, and somewhere down the line, I'm linked to Stonewall Jackson) Haha. And about the promo pic. I refreshed a whole bunch of times and googled it but still no picture. If you find a link, please PM it to me. It was bothering the mess out of me that I couldn't find it.
Sabine: Thanks for the coffee hun! I'll all pepped up and ready to go:) And btw I did make it a little cryptic about Paige's arrival but that'll be a tad more explained this chapter.
Othlvr16: YES! Got to be one of my favorite lines ever! I can't remember where I heard it. I think it's kind of a paraphrased version of something I heard on Gilmore Girls. I don't know if you ever watched it or not. But Lorelai says to Luke one day, If you don't give me coffee I won't love you anymore, or something like that or maybe it was Rory. I can't remember.
Jeeze I talk to you guys too much! Just kidding, I love it. Also loved hearing about y'alls caffeine issues! You all are amazing. By the way, I thinking of changing my penname, so head over to my profile and cast your vote. If by any chance you don't like any of my choices, send me a PM please. I'd love to hear your suggestions. I'm thinking new school year, new me, different pen name. I sign everything as Kelsey anyway. It's not like no one knows my first name. haha
-Kelsey
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Eleven: All You Ever Knew of Home
July 2, 2016
Tree Hill, North Carolina
Paige
Blueberry waffles are my favorite. And somehow each morning I'm invited over here they somehow make it on the list of breakfast specials. Everyone one is sitting at the square espresso finished table, waiting to be served. Haley is pouring juice and Nathan is placing food on serving dishes. Davis and Jamie bang their forks together, like in a sword fight and Sawyer spins around in her chair talking incisively.
"James Lucas Scott," Haley calls out as she makes her way to the table putting the pitcher of OJ down in front of her.
"What mom! It was Dave too."
"Jamie you should know better. You're almost 14 years old!"
"Dad!" My blonde cousin whines.
Haley sits down in between Sawyer and me and smiles weakly. This happens a lot.
"Not another word son." Nathan bellows, placing down serving platters of waffles, eggs, and sausage.
Davis sticks his tongue out at his older brother and I find myself busting out laughing. "Davis Keith Scott!" Haley warns.
"Sorry Mom, it'll never happen again." I laugh; he's the spitting image of Haley only with his father's darker hair and the trade mark Nathan Scott smug grin, the one he uses often. We all know this will happen again, it's per usual.
The platters began to move down the table and I nod and smile politely when Uncle Nathan passes something to me. I watch as each as the boys' hungrily and savagely place food on their plates across from me, Aunt Haley scoops small servings for Sawyer, and Uncle Nathan serves himself hardy portions. I love family meals, but I've never had one like this at home. Which is a little funny if you ask me?
"Hey Daddy!" Sawyer yells across the table to Nathan who sits at the head of the table.
"Yes princess?"
"Are we gonna play at da river count today?" She smiles, her hazel eyes gleaming.
"River court honey," Haley whispers softly.
"Daddy knows what I mean," Sawyer chuckles. "Right Daddy?"
"Yes baby girl I do." He looks up at Haley who I catch rolling her eyes. "You have to ask Paige over here. She's our guest of honor today."
"Oh please," I mutter.
"Can we Paige? Pleaseeee!"
"Hmm." I say licking my lips. "If Jamie and Davie want too."
"Pleaseee!" Sawyer pleads.
Jamie turns to Davis, catching on to the game. "I'd love to Saw, but only if Dave wants too."
"Daviee pleaseee! I'll line up all you shoes in da closet."
"I don't know." Davis says shaking his head, his brown eyes shining mischievously. "You should ask Mama. I'd hate to say yes, if she has some big plans for us."
Aunt Haley chokes on the eggs she placed in her mouth moments before.
"You alright Hales?" My uncle asks.
Haley clears her throat with a few coughs and wipes her mouth with her white linen napkin. "When did this become my decision again?"
"Pleasee Mama!" Sawyer says searching Haley's brown eyes.
"Oh alright. But only because I love you baby girl!"
"YAY!" Sawyer smiles. "I lofe cheering."
"Honey I think she's been hanging out with her Aunt Brooke too much." My Uncle adds, clearing addressing my aunt.
I take a bite of my waffle and laugh.
----
It's one of those days where it's not too humid and there's a breeze coming off the river, so it's not that bad. I'd say it's pretty beautiful to be July.
Jamie and Davis are goofing off on the court, jumping around, mocking their father about his days in the NBA. He's been retired for a few years now, Uncle Nathan say his family's most important. Aunt Haley and I sit on the bleachers, while Sawyer sits on the corner of the blacktop, doodling with chalk.
Aunt Haley looks at me for a moment and smiles a sad smile.
"There's something wrong with you,"
"What?" I ask, brushing my bangs out of face, it's pointless the wind is much too wild.
"You have your dad's eyes, they don't hide a thing."
I look down at my shoes and look up at her again.
"Why couldn't I have this?"
"Have what?"
"This. A real family, parents who loved each other, like really loved each other, bothers and sisters, a dad who was normal and cared about me more than he cared about his next drink."
"Paige," Haley frowns and looks over to Sawyer and back to me.
"I'm just so tired Aunt Haley. I've never been this tired."
She runs her hands through my hair and tucks it behind my ear. "Oh sweetheart. I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?"
"Because maybe I don't know. What here what you see in front of you, honey it took a lot of years of work."
"Why didn't my parents work this hard?" I ask. I wonder what it'd be like if Kaden or Hannah was here. I've always wondered what it'd be like if Dad didn't drink. I wonder what I could have done to make these things my reality.
"They tired," Haley said sadly. "They're just…They just aren't the same as your Uncle Nathan and me."
"They don't love each other."
Haley laughs. "Paige Karin they do. In their own way the do. How do you think you got here?"
"A broken condom,"
"Paige!" She scolds. "I can't believe you said that!"
"Sorry," I blush and readjust my ponytail.
"You are much too mature for you age."
"Maybe," I say though it's probably true. When stuff happens to you, you pick up on your own, and deal with it. You aren't just a teenager. You're so much more than that. This I know, so instead of growing up, I'll probably have to grow down.
"Paige-a-lot!" Sawyer calls out to me. She's sitting cross legged on the pavement, trying to keep her chalk from blowing away.
"Yes Soy beanie!"
"Can you draws with me? My chalk is flying away!" She yells her voice fighting the rough breeze.
Haley smiles and nudges me on.
"Okay,"
----
Jamie and Dave score another shot on their father, which seems to both excite him and piss him off.
"Haha Dad! We're so kicking your butt!" Jamie taunts.
"This isn't fair. You guys totally double teamed me!"
"Since there are two of us that would sound about right." Dave quips.
"Nice one son," Nathan says grabbing his son's shoulder.
"What about me?" Jamie asks.
"Oh son! You just like your Uncle Lucas. 'Kicking my butt' huh?" "And that hair?" He said Jamie's locks.
Nathan was right. Jamie looked just like my dad. Blonde, blue-eyed, people could mistake him as my father's son.
"Nate!" Haley called out from the bleachers. "Don't tease him about his blondness!"
"His middle name is Lucas for a reason," And on my dad walks on to the old river court.
"What are you saying Big Brother?" Nathan questions and shoots my dad a smile.
"Oh I don't know." My dad says shrugging his shoulders.
"What about Sawyer?" Jamie adds, he hate's being teased about his 'origins'.
"She's dirty blonde!" I laugh out loud, like it matters.
Sawyer finishes shading the cloud she was drawing and grins at me.
"Do you like it Paige?"
"Oh Soy Bean! I love it!"
And she goes back to her doodle, oblivious to the conversation of her father and uncle.
"Hey Paige!" My dad's yells out to me with a wave.
"Hey Dad!"
"So, do you wanna play two on two Uncle Luke?" Davis asks.
"Sure, if you don't mind getting your butts kicked!"
Davis and Nathan smile to each other.
"See!" Nathan yells.
Haley stands up on the bleachers and puts her hands on her hips.
"Nathan Royal Scott! You better stop teasing our son!"
My uncle looks down sheepishly and smiles.
"Two on two?" He asks.
And the game is begun.
The breeze continues to blow my hair around into a knotted crazy mess. And I can't help but still imagine growing up in a home like my cousins have.
-TBC-
A/N: I will update tomorrow or Saturday no matter what so be on the look out for twelve. It's cook out time guys! Haha. Please try to go and vote on pen-names. Please. Let me know what you thought of the chapter.
xo.