Archways and Endings
A/N: Hope everyone's having the best holiday! This is my Christmas and New Years gift to all of you. Can you believe Y2K was a decade ago? I remember that even though I was only six at the time. Haha, supposedly we were all going to die. I find it really funny now! Anywho I made out like a bandit this Christmas! I got sooo much money! Haha. I love being a kid it's freaking fantastic!
Let me know how ya did. Also I'm going to be trying to update a heck of a lot more. The reason I was away was I've been trying to bring up my World History II grade (My teacher is a Nazi) and My Spanish II grade (I'm not very good in Spanish) and I've finally started improving. So hopefully I can get back to business and continue writing.
Special Note: A just realized that the time stamp on Chapter 12 was messed up. I put the wrong year, it's suppose to be 2016 which I tried to change. I don't know if it worked or not. :)
P.S: I'm super proud of myself! A literary reference that I somehow remembered and looked up! It's now my opener! I see why authors love research/references.
Sabine: This Chapter is all for you! Enjoy it and I really hope you like the explanation.
-Kelsey
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Fourteen: Things We Don't Want To Speak
August 13, 2016
Tree Hill, North Carolina
Paige
What's in a name? William Shakespeare wrote, "That which we call a rose, by any other name would smell as sweet." Maybe your name is who you are. It graces on the tips of tongues with a different meaning, different dialects. Paige; a young servant. I don't think I'm a servant, but maybe I'm a servant of the heart. I think with mine, follow it all costs, and breathe with it. My heart guiding each inhale and exhale. Karin; for my Grandma Karen. Scott; a name with baggage, basketball, and early fatherhood attached. What does a name mean? And I don't mean the direct translation, "Young servant". What does it mean to Dad or Mom or even Aunt Haley and Uncle Nathan? Did they think I looked like a Paige? Or was it picked because they loved the way it sounded with Scott? You may be wondering why I care so much about my name these days. And I've just been thinking about them a lot lately. My baby brother, Kaden Nathaniel; For Uncle Keith and Uncle Nathan. My baby sister Hannah Rae; Aunt Haley and one of mom's friend's from college Rachel. James Lucas; Haley's last name, my dad. Davis Keith; my mom and Uncle Keith. Sawyer Quinn; well I don't know anyone named Sawyer, Quinn Aunt Haley's sister. But I remember the letter, the one that fell of mom's dresser that seemed to have a life of it's own. The one that I put back on the dresser, the one that Mom and Dad later argued about in hushed tones weeks later.
"This Letter….." My dad trailed off
"Is too little too late," My mother quipped.
"Don't you want to fix it Brooke?"
"I think the better question is do you want me to Lucas?" Mom said.
I could feel the anger rise up the walls; the grief welled up into the ceiling, spreading though the house like a wild fire.
"Because I think you still have this thing and you know what, fuck you!"
"Brooke, keep your voice down! Paige is asleep."
"Well, why not tell her Luke?"
"I," My father said strongly, it seemed to shake me to the core. The way he stated it.. "Never wanted this to be a secret. You kept her from Paige. Not me."
"I know that." My mother said bitter, her voice full of acid. "But I'm sure you never wanted to really tell her Lucas. To tell her what you've done."
It got quiet after that, the small the creaks and groans take over the house, my mother goes to bed, my father goes downstairs to nurse his wounds with a beer, and to go to sleep on the couch.
There was a name on the letter. One besides my mothers. It was Peyton Sawyer. Who ever she is, where ever she is, she seems to be tearing though the fault lines of already shaky ground. She also has the same initials as the writer, the one who's books Sawyer and Aunt Haley love. Sawyer's name is Sawyer. And my name is Paige, is it just a coincidence that Paige and Peyton both start with the letter P?
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I go to the school that morning to meet Aunt Haley. She stills go into her classroom sometimes during the summer. I bring her starbucks and decide today's the day I probe. Today's the day I try to fix whatever the hell mess is made. My heart wants me too. It's begging me too.
"Hey Paige," She smiles up from behind her desk and then notices the coffee. "Is that for me?"
I smile, "Yep!"
"What do you want kid?"
"Nothing…."
She laughs. "I know you, you know coffee's the key. Smart, you got that from me."
"Aunt Haley, we don't share any genes."
"Good you paid attention in Genetics."
I hand her the coffee and pop into a desk in the front row.
"So how are Brooke and Lucas?"
"The same as always. Tense, un-tense, in love, angry."
"Ahh I see." "Well if you want, you can sleep over, Sawyer would love it."
"I'd love to spend time with Soy Bean. In fact you and Uncle Nathan should go out. Relax."
"That'd be great. And payment? Cake, Money, Ice-cream, shopping spree?"
"How bout you buy me lunch?"
She smiles. "Well I am getting kind of hungry."
"In fact that's perfect, I love spending time with my favorite niece."
"Aunt Haley I'm your only niece."
"C'mon Paige! You couldn't just roll with it."
We both laugh, she gathers up her stuff, and we leave together.
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We've been going to the Dixie Grill for as long as I can remember. Maybe even longer. I'm not sure. I'm not sure why when we go out to eat, we always end up here. There have been talks about trying the new Mexican Restaurant or going to the old Chinese place. But somehow everyone decides against and we eat at the Dixie Grill. I always had this master plan that I'd decide to have my birthday party as a dinner party out and try going somewhere else, but somehow I've never convinced my mother that 'Dinner Out' was the perfect party.
And it's not like the foods bad. In fact it's pretty good. But I don't have really anything to compare it to besides McDonalds. Tree Hill is not really the center on culinary or anything.
I stir around my milkshake and peruse the familiar menu. Oh what to get this time.
"What are you feeling like Hales?"
"Hmmm maybe a salad."
"A salad?" I ask.
"What's wrong with a salad?"
"Nothing,"
She puts down her menu and looks at me. "What about you?"
"A burger."
"A burger?" She asks.
I laugh and so does she.
The waitress coves over and asks, "What can I get for you two?"
Haley motions for me. "I'll have the cheeseburger boat, with Swiss, no mayo."
"And you Ma'am?"
"I'm thinking… I'll also have a cheeseburger boat, with cheddar."
The waitress scribbles down our order and smiles as she takes our menus. "You've got it." And she leaves the table.
I stir my milkshake around Haley sips her water.
"Can I…Can I ask you something?"
She nods and looks at me serious as day. "Ask me anything."
"Did you name Sawyer after the writer. The one who's books you read to her."
Haley swallows deeply. "Why do you say that?"
"Because of Peyton."
Her jaw drops, she eyes me unsure.
"Oh honey,"
"Who is she?"
"An old friend," She says, fighting the urge to say too much. I can tell the look in her eyes says it all.
"Is that who you named Sawyer after?"
Haley nods. "Yes, she was a really good friend."
"Oh,"
Haley takes a gulp of water and shakes her head.
"I'm not the right person to…."
"Is she the same one who wrote the books?"
Haley smiles.
"Yes. Yes she is."
I realize that she's said things she wasn't suppose to say things she didn't exactly want to say. The word float in between us, solid yet detested. Then I remember the inscription in the book, the one I read to Sawyer on her birthday. : 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. Lucas Eugene Scott: It's not over, It never will be. Holy freaking crap.
-TBC-
So what did you think? Let me know please!
And again
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year:)