Strength Of The World

When Peyton got back to Zack's house she was still fuming. She got out of her Jeep and slammed the door, stomping up the driveway. She flung the door open and heard Zack call out for her "Peyton? Is that you babe?" She said nothing, but threw her bags in the foyer and shut the door. She followed Zack's voice up the stairs. "Baby what's going on?" He asked when he saw the look on her face. She still said nothing, but walked right up to him and looked up at him with tears in her eyes. She hated it that she cried when she got mad. She put both hands on his face and kissed him roughly, using her petite body to push him until his back hit the wall. Zack's eyes flew open in surprise, but he returned the kiss. They started stripping eachother's clothes off and eventually wound up in Zack's bedroom.

It wasn't until a little while later when they were laying in bed, Peyton's head on Zack's chest, until she finally spoke. "Are you happy?" She whispered, keeping her head on his chest. "Of course I'm happy baby, why would you even ask that?" Zack replied, wondering what was going on in his girlfriend's head. "I saw Gena today." She said quietly, tracing the deathbat tattoo on his chest with her finger, "She started running her mouth, saying I couldn't satisfy you...." she trailed off. "Peyton. Seriously? Do you not remember what happened like 15 minutes ago? I'd say I'm pretty damn satisfied. I love you more than anything in the fucking universe. Don't let the shit Gena says get to your head." He told her, rubbing her back. "Wait a second, I know you didn't just take that shit from her. What'd you say to her?" "I punched her in the nose and told her to never talk to me about you again." She said nonchalantly. "That's my girl." Zack said with a laugh. They laid there a little while longer until Peyton's stomach started growling. "Damn are you hungry?" He laughed. "Yeah I am actually. I haven't eaten since breakfast. Want to order pizza and see if everyone wants to come over?" She suggested, wanting to spend some time with her friends and to forget about everything that happened with Gena. "Yeah that sounds good, I'll text the guys." "Okay. I'm getting in the shower." She said, rolling over to get out of the bed. As she was walking into the bathroom she heard Zack say "Man I love that view." She smiled as she shut the bathroom door behind her, feeling much better about what Gena said to her.

Once she was finished with her shower she wrapped herself in a towel and walked out into Zack's bedroom. She could hear voices downstairs so she figured everyone had made it over. She threw on a pair of Zack's sweats and a Vengeance University tee and headed downstairs. "There she is! What up slugger?" Johnny asked with a laugh, pulling her into a side hug and ruffling her hair. "Shut up gremlin." Peyton laughed, "She got what was coming to her, I don't know who she thought she was talking to like that!" "I'm proud of you for sticking up for yourself kid. Just like I taught you." Matt grinned. "Uh are you guys forgetting that Peyton doesnt take shit from anyone? Especially when it comes to Zack." Brian said. "Oh yeah, remember that one time she punched Joe Norris in the mouth cause he said Zack sucked at baseball?" Jimmy asked, "Oh shit I remember that!" Val chuckled. "When the principal suspended her, her dad asked her why she hit him. And she proudly explained to him what Joe had said, and then told her dad he was wrong. She was so proud of what she did her parents couldn't even ground her." "What can I say? My girl's a badass." Zack said, pulling Peyton close to him. Peyton opened her mouth to say something but the doorbell rang, singalling the arrival of the pizza. "It's about time." She grumbled. "I'm starving."

The group sat around Zack's living room, talking and eating. They had the tv on but no one was really paying attention to it. "So Pey, when are you officially going to move into this place?" Brian asked with a knowing smile on his face. Peyton looked like a deer in headlights. "I, uh, um. Well. I don't know." She stuttered. "Whenever she wants to." Zack spoke up with a smile. "I mean she practically lives here anyway, it just makes sense." Michelle said. "I agree, but only if she's ready for that. If not, then I'm perfectly happy with our sleepovers." Zack said, reaching over to squeeze Peyton's knee, letting her know there was no pressure for her to move in.

After all the pizza and most of the beer was gone, everyone went home, leaving Zack and Peyton alone together. They worked as a team cleaning up boxes and plates and throwing away beer bottles. Once they were done they headed upstairs. "Hey P," Zack said once they were in bed watching Peyton's favorite channel, the food network. "Yeah babe?" "You know there's no rush for you to move in, right? I don't want you to think I'm pushing you." He explained, "I mean I'm not saying I wouldn't absolutely love it if you moved in tomorrow, I just want you to be ready to do it. I don't want you to do it because you feel like you have to." "I know Zack." Peyton sighed. "But I basically already live here. I spend most nights with you, and maybe two nights at home with my parents. It kind of just makes sense." She couldn't see it, but Zack had the biggest smile on his face. "Well then, you can move all your crap in whenever you want. I'll get the guys to help." "Okay. We will get to it eventually. Its mostly clothes and makeup though." She laughed and sat up to look at him. "You ready to give up some closet space, Baker?" "For you, babe, I would give up anything." He said with a cheesy smile on his face. She rolled her eyes and leaned over to kiss him. "I love you, cheeseball." "I love you too, Mayweather." He said, laughing as she smacked him on the chest. They laid there for the rest of the night watching tv, until they fell asleep wrapped in eachother's arms.

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