Never Let Me Go

"You are my purpose, you're everything

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?

Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?"

*

A few days had passed since Jenny had been taken and Jake had left town. Brooke, Lucas, Haley, Nathan, and Mouth sat around a table in the school courtyard, uncertainty hanging like a raincloud over their heads.

Brooke, sipping at an iced coffee, spoke first. "Peyton hasn't been at school all week. I'm starting to get worried."

"Have you tried calling or texting her?" Nathan asked before taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"Oh my gosh, no. I hadn't thought of that," Brooke replied sarcastically. "Of course I have. She's been dodging my calls and my texts."

"Have you been to her house?" Haley chimed in, stealing the other half of Nathan's sandwich.

"We swung by a couple of times," Lucas started. "The door's been locked."

"I didn't think Peyton ever locked her door," Mouth stated. "That's weird."

"I knew she was gonna be upset but I can't leave her alone like this!" Brooke cried. "Not to mention it's Karen and Keith's wedding this weekend!"

"Did you check to see if her webcam is still on?" Haley asked. "Punk n' Disorderly is still up, right?"

"Hales, you're a genius!" Brooke exclaimed, turning to Mouth. "Can you get the website up, Mouth?" He nodded but told them they'd have to come with him to the computer room. Mouth got up, and Lucas and Brooke followed. Haley decided she was too pregnant for unnecessary journeys and Nathan stayed with her.

Once they got to the computer room, Mouth logged onto a computer and searched Peyton's website. Sure enough, there she was, sitting in her closet, listening to music and drawing. However, it was different this time. Peyton had a microphone set up and was talking to the camera. She was talking about having her heartbroken - how people always leave.

*

Soft, afternoon light shone through Peyton's window, putting a spotlight on the artwork she had on her walls. She had always loved this time of day - it's when she felt the most peaceful and creative. She was sitting on her bed, adding some finishing touches to a new sketch when she heard loud music. Confused, she went over to her vinyl player and stopped the record but she could still hear music playing. Wondering if it could be one of the neighbours, she walked over to her window and opened it. The music suddenly increased in volume. Looking down, she saw Brooke on her lawn holding up a stereo and blaring a Jack's Mannequin CD.

"P. Sawyer!" Brooke shouted. "Can I come inside?"

Peyton couldn't help but laugh at her best friend. "At least take me out for dinner first!" she shouted back.

"What?!" Brooke yelled in response, before putting the stereo on the ground and turning the music off.

"B. Davis, what the hell are you doing - besides pissing off my neighbours?" Peyton asked with an amused smile.

"You've been dodging my texts and calls. I just wanna see my best friend," Brooke replied with her cutest pout.

Peyton rolled her eyes and chuckled. "How could I ever deny that face? I'll be right down." Peyton jogged downstairs and exited her house, taking a seat on the porch. "You missed me?"

"So much," Brooke replied, embracing Peyton in a hug before sitting next to her. "How are you holding up?"

"Pretty shitty," Peyton admitted. "Sorry for shutting you out."