Strength Of The World

As she was stepping out of the shower, she heard the doorbell ring. "Peyton, Valary is here!" Her dad called up to her. "Okay, I'll be right down," She cleared the moisture off the mirror and sighed heavily as she saw her reflection. She was covered in bruises. Luckily there was only one on her face, covering her right eye, but the rest were on her arms, chest, back, and stomach. She dried off as quickly as she could, threw her clothes on and headed downstairs. As soon as Val saw her, tears sprung to her eyes. "Oh my god Peyton." She said as she gently pulled her into a hug, "I'm going to kill that little bastard. Then the guys are going to bring him back to life just to kill him again." She said, causing her brunette best friend to laugh. "Did you tell them?" Peyton asked quietly. "Not yet, they only know that you're back in town. They wanted to all come with me to see you, but I told them to let me come first so I could help you get settled. But they're going to want to see you as soon as they can, you know." The blonde told her, causing Peyton to nod. "Yeah I know. And if I don't go see them soon they'll all be over here busting down the damn door." "Well Pey, how about we go upstairs and I help you put some of your stuff away, then you can ride with me over to the house. We'll cover up the bruises if you want." Val suggested, "Okay, that's a good idea. I don't think we will be able to cover these things though." Peyton said with a shrug. "Plus if they find out later or from someone else they'll be so pissed." "You're definitely right about that." Val said with a chuckle, remembering how big of a fit the guys pitched, especially Zack, when Matt told them that Peyton was in town instead of Val. "Zack went into drama king mode when he found out I was coming over here after I had already left." Val rolled her eyes while Peyton laughed, remembering how dramatic Zack could be if he didn't get his way. "Okay," she sighed, "Let's get this shit unpacked so it looks like I'm actually staying a while."

After a a few hours of hanging clothes, unboxing shoes and makeup, and organizing CDs, the girls were finished. "Okay," Val said as she put the last pair of shoes in the closet, "I think we're done. You okay?" She asked, looking over at Peyton, who was sitting on the bed going through pictures. "Yeah, I'm fine. Do you remember this day?" She asked, holding up a picture for Val to see. It was of them, Val's sister Michelle, and the guys on the beach. Peyton had just graduated high school. Seeing as how she was a few years behind them, she was the last to graduate but the first to go to college. The gang threw a huge party on the beach for her, with everyone getting absolutely shitfaced. Zack's arm was around her, and he was kissing her temple as she grinned brightly for the camera. It was the night before she left for college. "Oh shit, we were so young. You and Zee were always so cute together." Val said, grabbing the photo out of her hand and smiling down at it. Zack and Peyton had a two year relationship, but decided they were better off as friends once they realized how much time they didn't have to spend together with the band just getting noticed and Peyton being in college. "Yeah, he was my first love." Peyton sighed, knowing that she has never really stopped loving Zack. "How's it going with Gena?" She asked, hoping that his love life was going better than hers. Last time she talked to Zack they were doing great, but that had been about a month or so ago. "I didn't tell you?" Val gasped, "They broke up, Zee caught her cheating. Of course she tried to lie her way out of it, but it's kind of hard to lie out of being caught red handed." She explained, rolling her eyes. "Holy shit. Poor Zack." Peyton mumbled, "I'm a little surprised he didn't tell me." She and Zack had managed to stay close even after their breakup. They talked to each other about everything, he was truly her best friend, other than Val. "Now I'm gonna have to kick his ass for hiding shit from me," she said with a laugh, causing her bruised ribs to ache a little. "You ready to get this show on the road? I miss my friends." She asked her blonde friend, who laughed excitedly. "Yes! Let me call Matt and tell him we are on our way while you change out of your pajamas." She said, knowing Peyton wouldn't leave the house in what she was wearing. Val stepped out of the room while she changed out of her sweats and baggy tshirt and into some jeans and a long sleeve black shirt, trying to cover as many of the bruises as she could. She ran a brush over her hair, slipped on some shoes, and put her aviators on. "Okay," she said, meeting Val downstairs, "I'm ready to go. I'll be back later, Ma." She said, hugging her mom. "Okay dear. Valary you be careful with my daughter!" She shouted as they were walking out the door, causing the girls to laugh. "You got it, mama!" Val shouted before closing the door behind her.

Peyton was jittery the entire way to Matt and Val's house. Val tried to distract her by making small talk about the engagement party and wedding plans she has made recently, but she knew it was no use. Peyton was anxious, she wanted to see the boys but was worried about their reactions. She knew they wouldn't be angry with her, but they would be ready to kill Jason. She would have to talk them out of going to LA, she was sure of it.

As Val pulled into the driveway, all five men came running out the door. Well, Jimmy and Johnny came running out the door, the rest of the guys just followed, laughing at the other two men arguing over who was going to get the first hug. "Get out of my way you short bitch!" Jimmy shouted, pushing Johnny into some bushes that were beside the driveway. "Hey what the fuck Rev! Watch out for my damn bushes!" Matt shouted with a laugh. As soon as Val put the car in park Peyton was being pulled out of the car. "MY GIRL IS HOME MY GIRL IS HOME," Jimmy shouted, picking up the much smaller girl and spinning her around. "I missed you so much P.Smith!" "I missed you so much too, J.Sully!" Peyton said with a laugh "But you're going to have to put me down because you're making me super dizzy." Jimmy quickly sat her down and ruffled her hair. The rest of the guys had finally reached her and she quickly received hugs from Brian, Johnny, and Matt; who squeezed her a little too hard, which caused her to make a pained face that didn't go unnoticed by Zack. "Hey best friend" he said with a big grin as he gently pulled her into a hug, "I thought you were coming in last night." He questioned, knowing something was up. "Yeah, I was, but some shit went down, which is part of the reason I came over. I need to talk to you guys." Peyton said nervously, looking around at her friends through her aviators. "Okay, well let's head inside so we can talk. Come on Pey." Matt said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. This is it, she thought, no turning back now, they deserve to know everything. She took a deep breath and walked inside the house with her six best friends.

Notes

Okay second chapter! Please let me know if this story sucks, I'm not 100% sure if I like it or not haha.

Peyton's outfit for this chapter: