Just to those who keep complaining about Lucas and Peyton, and Brooke. I am planning on having a little Brucas action going on in the story, but you have to remember that this is Gemma's story, about her life. So it will mainly be centered on Gemma and her friends. If you want me to start writing chapters in the pov of Brooke or Lucas, let me know.
Four Months Later:
Mornings in the Davis house were starting to become a routine, but I'd be lying if I didn't say it was a fun routine. "Gemma!" Brooke called from downstairs, "Breakfast is ready!" I put the finishing touches on my carefully selected outfit. A long sleeved burgundy colored cotton dress, with brown tights and ankle boots. I cinched the matching brown belt around my waist, and for jewelry I decided on a necklace with the words 'Gemma' in rose gold. A gift from Brooke, for winning my last soccer game a week ago. I'd decided to leave my hair down, and in its usual waves.
I waltzed into the kitchen, and was met by the pleasant smell of blueberry pancakes. Brooke was standing in the kitchen, dressed to the nines. "You have another meeting today?" I asked, sitting down at the table. Brooke set the orange juice down in front of me, and piled three pancakes on my plate. I poured us both a glass, then proceeded to smother the pancakes in syrup.
"Something like that," she smiled, mischievously.
"What's going on?" I asked.
"I've been thinking a lot about what you said, about how I'd be happier if I had my old clothing line back." She began, "So today I'm having a meeting about selling Baker Men."
"What?" I sputtered, almost choking on my orange juice.
"Relax," she grinned, "I could retire with the money I've mad off it. Even though I wish it were possible to get Clothes over Bros back, I've decided I need to leave that in the past as well. I want to start fresh, start a new label, with you."
"Me?" I said uneasily, "are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure, you're my daughter, and clearly the style gene didn't skip you. I even have a name picked out: G. Davis."
"G. Davis…"
"It has a part of you and a part of me in it, isn't it perfect?" She beamed from across the table. I wanted to nod, to smile or something, but I couldn't. All I could think about was what Clothes over Bros had done to Brooke and Victoria's relationship, and I desperately didn't want that to happen to Brooke and I.
"Aren't you scared though?" I pushed, "You and Victoria didn't get along very well, and it was all because of a label."
"Victoria and I didn't get along because she's a terrible parent, not because of my clothing line. Besides, Gem, we're nothing like that, right? You and me, we're besties."
"Ok, I'll do it as long as you don't say that word again." I giggled.
"Shut up and eat your pancakes," She laughed, rolling her eyes.
Something was up with Lennie. The whole day she'd hardly spoken three words to me, and I couldn't understand why. When the final bell rang, and we all filed out into the hallway, I grabbed her elbow before she could disappear. "What's with you?" I asked, adjusting the strap of my Raven's Athletics duffel.
"Nothing, I just have to go." She said quickly, trying to pull away.
"Are you not coming to cheer practice?" I demanded, finally letting her go. She didn't answer, just turned on her heel and made a beeline for the doors. Scrambling after her, I had to fight the urge to yank that auburn colored ponytail of hers. Why was she being such a bitch? This isn't the Lennie I know… "Hello? Earth to Leanora Vreeland! You're the captain! And the only reason I joined the stupid thing."
"If you think it's so stupid why don't you just quit!" She snapped, turning around to face me. I stepped back, stunned. Lennie's face softened and she turned to glare at the random people who had stop to watch our argument. "Get a life," she spat, they all hurried away.
"Lennie, what's wrong?" I couldn't take seeing her like this. If anyone in this friendship was considered the bitch, it was me, not Lennie. She was the sweet one, the understanding one, the one you went to when you felt bad about yourself and she was there to remind you how great you are. She was probably the best friend I'd ever had, but maybe five months wasn't long enough to truly get to know somebody.
Lennie bit at her bottom lip, and looked away. "I'm a terrible person, Gemma." She said quietly, and for a moment I thought she was about to cry.
"My god, Lennie…" I grabbed her hand, and pulled her into an empty classroom. She sat down in a desk at the front, and I hoisted myself up onto the teacher's desk so I was facing her. "You are anything but terrible, don't you know that?"
"You don't understand." She said, putting her face in her hands.
"Nothing you say would make me think you're a bad person, Lennie. You're my best friend."
Lennie looked up at me, her blue eyes dull and vacant. She gave me a tiny smile, and looked back down. "I don't deserve you as a friend, Gem. Trust me."
"Ok, now you're freaking me out," I said hopping off the desk, "look you go home and rest. I'll tell the squad you weren't feeling well. Just please come to school your normal self tomorrow, I can't take sad Lennie." She nodded and I left her there in the classroom and made my way to the gym.
Practice was annoying, as always. I don't know why I really joined, part of me did it for Lennie, and the fact that since soccer had ended I didn't have anything to do. I guess the other part of me did it for Brooke, knowing she loved cheerleading and couldn't stop talking about how proud she was that I'd decided to join. Since Lennie was captain, and Brooke was, well, Brooke, I didn't even have to try out.
I was gulping down some water when Delia came up next to me. "Hey I have to run to my car to grab the new music for the routine, can you get the extra mats from the weight room?" I nodded sure, and headed off for the other side of the school where they had the old gym that the boys often use for basketball practice when the cheerleaders and dance team were practicing. I was surprised to find nobody in the gym, I reached the back part of the gym where a small hallway led to an old weight room. When I stepped through the door, I suddenly realized I wasn't alone.
"What do you want from me?" A voice said. Is that Mather? The voice was deep and rich, and I had no doubt that it belonged to my boyfriend.
"I want you to admit that you miss this, that you miss us." Another voice said, and I felt panic rise in my chest. I knew that voice too, and it made me want to vomit. What the hell are Mather and Piper doing in here?
"Piper, I told you that night was a mistake. I was drunk, and if Gemma was there it never would have happened."
"That night?" She scoffed, "We slept together, Mather, a few times if I'm not mistaken. What happened to you? To us?"
Mather let out an exasperated sigh, "We were never right for each other, Piper, you know that. It was a mistake, I love Gemma, you don't understand."
"I understand exactly what it means when you love somebody, especially because you used to say it to me, all the time, until that little French girl showed up." I wanted to throw something at her, at him, at both of them. I knew the night they were speaking of, it was a month ago, when I was out of town with Peyton and Lucas, and couldn't go to this big beach party. I'd told Mather to go, I'd pushed him right into her slutty little trap.
Lennie knew. That must have been why she was acting so weird, she'd kept it a secret, but why? She was friends with Piper, but not like she was friends with me. We told each other everything, how could she keep this from me? I couldn't bare another word, I flung open the door and walked in. Mather looked up, his face went pale. Piper just stood there, a smirk on her flawless face. I grabbed the mats off the ground, and headed for the door. "Do. Not. Follow. Me." I said, not bothering to turn around. I knew he was there, and I knew he wanted to go after me, but for his sake I hoped he didn't.
When I got back to the new gym, I through the mats on the floor and stormed out. I didn't stop, I kept walking all the way to Lennie's house. Banging on the door, I let the first tear break the surface, and didn't bother to wipe it as it rolled down my cheek. Lennie opened the door, and her eyes went wide when she saw me. "You know." She whispered, then she began to sob. "I wanted to tell you Gemma," she cried, "I hated lying to you, but Piper, she threatened me."
"With what?" I said coolly, even though on the inside I was breaking.
"I-I," Lennie stopped, and looked as if she might pass out right there in her ridiculously fabulous doorway. "I cheated on Jamie, a year ago at this stupid frat party, Piper said if I told you, she'd tell Jamie. God, Gemma, I should have never listened to her. I should have thought of you first I'm so so sorry. Please forgive me, please."
I stood there, stunned, hurt, and on the verge of a mental breakdown. I'd convinced myself that everything was falling into place, that I didn't need to be afraid of things going wrong anymore. I'd left myself vulnerable, all because I fell in love with a boy I hardly knew. As I watched Lennie cry, and beg, all I wanted to do was turn around and never speak to her again. But if there was one thing I took away from moving to Tree Hill, it's that you can't hold grudges against those you need the most. And I needed Lennie.
"Stop," I said, stepping into the door, and wrapping my arms around her. "I don't blame you," I whispered, as she cried, "I forgive you."
"Wh-what? How can you?" She asked, pulling away, and wiping the tears away from her face.
"Hoes over bros," I said, trying not to let my voice break. I meant it, too. Someday I might be able to forgive Mather, but right now Lennie was all I had room for.