AUTHOR'S NOTE: Wow, I was surprised by the amount of reviews I received!!! I mean, five isn't huge, but I pretty much figured that everyone else had jumped ship and all of that. I mean Jake hasn't been on the show in three years. I only just started watching OTH this year (haven't seen current episodes) but I have to force myself to watch S4 and onward. I hate Peyton when she isn't with Jake!!! I hate her for what she and Luke did to Brooke… twice! Anyway, thanks everyone. Oh, and I don't own OTH!
Chapter Two:
A couple hours later, the restless cries of Jenny woke Jake and me up. I threw my messy hair into a ponytail while Jake went o let Jenny out of her crib. I stumbled into the kitchen to make some breakfast. Jake walked into the kitchen with Jenny just as the toast was finished. I quickly set the table while Jake found some breakfast for Jenny. "Morning, baby," I said softly, as I kissed Jenny on the head.
"Mama," she called, lifting her arms up to be held. I lifted her up, hugging her to me, before putting her in her highchair so she could eat. Jake and I joined her at the table a couple of minutes later.
"Ready to call your dad?" Jake asked. "We have about three hours before you need to be at the airport."
"Yeah, we should do that first."
"Hey, if you don't want to do this still, I'll understand," Jake said, hesitantly.
"No, I'm just not sure how he will take it, that's all."
"What if he says no?"
"Well, I turn 18 next month, and after that, I can do whatever I want… so, I guess if he says no, we just wait it out another month and then continue as planned."
"We could wait till you graduate. I mean, you only have another six months till graduation…"
"No, Jake, I don't want to miss you like I have been. I don't want to spend any more time without you. You and Jenny are my family now, and that is all that really matters. I thought I would die without you these past months, and now, I just want to be with you."
Jake took my hand in his. "I missed you too, Peyton."
We finished breakfast in silence, each wrapped up in our own thoughts. As soon as we finished eating, I pulled out my cell phone and scrolled through my phonebook till I found my dad's number. He answered on the third ring. "Hey, Peyton, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything is good. How is your trip going?"
"It is good. I'm sorry this had to be such a long one. I know I'll be missing your birthday, but I'll make it up to you."
"Yeah, so Dad, I actually wanted to talk to you about something…" I said, looking at Jake.
"What's up?"
"Remember when you told me to follow my heart? Well, I did, and, well, I ended up in Savannah… with Jake… and I love him, Daddy. And we want to get married…" Jake grasped my hand.
"What? Peyton, you're only seventeen…"
"Daddy, I love him, more than anything. He is my everything and I am going to marry him. Please, daddy…"
"And when do you want this wedding to happen?"
"In a week, actually…"
"A week? Peyton, you have to finish school! You can't just up and move to Savannah!"
"Well, I was thinking I could get my G.E.D. and eventually go to the Savannah School of Art and Design… it's a really good school, Daddy."
"Why now, Peyton? Isn't this too soon? Why can't you just date for a while… finish school and see if this is really what you want with your life?"
"Daddy, ever since Jake left the first time with Jenny, my heart has ached for him… He is the half that makes me whole and without him, I'm not really living. I could go back to Tree Hill and finish school and hang out with my friends, but without Jake and Jenny, it won't mean anything. I love him, more then I love anything. I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life. I know that he is the one that I am supposed to be with. He the love of my life, and for me, that is enough."
Dad let out a resigned sigh before he finally said, "Let me talk to him."
"Okay," I responded. I held out the phone to Jake. "He wants to talk to you."
I took Jenny from him and held her close to me, listening to one side of a conversation. "I will, sir… Yes, I love her with all of my heart… I will… Yes, I know… Thank you, sir."
Jake handed me back the phone. "Daddy?"
"I will be in Savannah in a week and a half and the wedding will be then. Just take this time, Peyton, to make sure that this is what you want… that this is the right thing. There is nothing wrong with backing out if it doesn't feel right… of waiting for a later time in your life…"
"I love him, Daddy!"
He sighed, "I know. I will see you in a week."
"Thank you, Daddy!" I said, before hanging up the phone. I hugged Jenny, kissing her cheeks, excited that I would get to be her Mama. I looked at Jake, happy tears in my eyes. "He said yes!!! We can be married! I love you, Jake!"
"I love you, too, Peyton!"
~*~*~
Two hours later, Jake and I stood at the departure gate at the airport. I hugged him tightly, not wanting to let go. "I love you, Jake."
"I love you, too, Peyton," Jake said, holding me tightly to him.
"I don't want to leave…"
"You'll be back in five days… We'll be fine."
"I know, but I miss you already…"
"Me too."
I pulled away reluctantly. "I have to go." I reached up and kissed him, wanting this moment to last for a lifetime.
"In thirteen days, we'll be together forever," Jake muttered. "Five days apart is nothing…"
A tear trickled down my cheek. "Call me later tonight, when you get off work…"
"I will. I promise."
"I love you!"
"I love you, too."
~*~*~
Brooke was there to pick me up at the airport. She had always been the best of friends, and it hurt a little bit to know that I wouldn't be seeing her that often from now own. My life was in Savannah now, but I sure would miss Brooke.
"Hey, buddy," she said, pulling me to her in a hug. "How was Chicago?"
"I didn't go to Chicago. Brooke, we need to talk…"
"Okay, well we have to go try on our bridesmaid dresses, so we can talk on the drive over. The wedding is in three days and there is so much left to do!"
"Yeah…"
We walked out the to the car, Brooke rambling on about everything to do with the wedding. When we got in the car she finally asked the question I had been waiting for. "So, P. Sawyer, if you didn't go to Chicago, where did you go?"
"I went to Savannah, to see Jake…"
"Oh Peyton, that is so great! I am so happy for you! Wait, this is a good thing, right?"
"Brooke, I'm moving to Savannah… Jake and I are going to get married!"
"Wait, what? When?"
I took a quick glance at her face before replying, "Next week…"
"What? But you have to graduate with me! We have to go to prom together! Jake can wait another six months, can't he?"
"I love him, Brooke…"
"But… I don't understand. Are you… are you pregnant? Wait, but Jakes been gone for six months…"
"Brooke, I'm not pregnant! But I've been miserable without him. I don't want to be sad anymore. You have Lucas, and Haley… you don't need sticking around…"
"No one could ever replace you in my life, Peyton. You're my best friend… But, I guess I understand. It hasn't been easy for you and Jake; with Nikki trying to steal Jenny all the time and everything… I just wish that this wasn't happening so fast, you know?"
"I know. You're my best friend too, Brooke and I am going to miss you like crazy!"
"So, you haven't given me very much time to plan your wedding. I finish with Haley's and then I will have to jump right into yours. What is the exact date? You're getting married in Tree Hill, right?"
"No, Brooke. We're getting married in Savannah. It is just going to be Jake, Jenny, my Dad, and me…"
"You can't be serious! I have to be at my best friend's wedding. Everyone will want to be there. All of your friends and everybody!"
"We can't, Brooke. Jake is trying to win custody of Jenny, so he can't take off time. And we can't afford a big wedding or anything. I mean, we have bills and child support for Jenny. I have to start looking for a job… It's just not possible…"
"Oh, P. Sawyer, you've given up so much for your man…"
"I love him, Brooke. And I love Jenny!"
"Well, we will have a lot to do in the meantime. You leave in a week. We will have to have a huge engagement party! I'll take care of everything."
"You don't have to do that, Brooke. You already have enough to do with Haley and Nathan's renewals. I don't need anything. Maybe just some help packing up."
"I'm going to miss you, Peyton. You've always been there for me!"
It's a good thing she doesn't know that I kissed Lucas in the library, I thought to myself. Otherwise she might not think me such a great friend…
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Do I dare do it? Do I let Brooke in on the secret that Lucas and Peyton kissed? Maybe yes, maybe no… What do you think?