Strength Of The World

While Peyton was outside talking to Brian, everyone that was left inside was still fuming. "What the fuck man." Jimmy sighed as he ran a hand down his face. "Did you know?" Matt asked his fiancée, who looked just as upset as everyone else. "I did, but not until I got to her parents house. Becky told me what happened while P was still in the shower, I just didn't know the full extent of her injuries." She explained, "I don't even understand why he would do this, I thought things were good with them." "He hates us, Val." Johnny said. "He always has. He's been nice to our faces but once he thinks we aren't around or aren't listening he's completely different. Lacey asked me last time they were here together if any of you had noticed how he treated her. Apparently getting engaged made him turn into a possessive dick. And when she wanted to come home and see us he was gonna do everything in his power to make sure that didn't happen." "He's going to fucking pay for this." Zack seethed, "He will never put his fucking hands on her again. If she needs to go get her shit from her apartment I'm going with her." "She doesn't, apparently her neighbors helped her pack up all the shit she wanted to keep and loaded it in her jeep for her before she drove home. Honestly I'm not really sure if she has even slept in the past 24 hours." Val told them. "She probably definitely needs a good nights rest then." Matt suggested. They continued talking until Peyton and Brian came back inside "Okay, here's what's going to happen," Peyton said, getting everyone's attention. "We are NOT going to sit around all pissed off tonight. I haven't seen my family in two and a half months, and I miss them. So we are going to hang out, just like we would normally do. No more Jason talk, and no more looking at me with sad eyes. Got it Johnny?" Everyone laughed when she directed her statement toward Johnny, who threw his hands up with an "Okay, okay!" Once she sat down on the couch and asked what the plan for tonight was, Matt suggested "How about ordering some pizza and a movie? Pey you can pick the movie." "Aw come on," Jimmy groaned. "You know she's just going to make us watch Need For Speed!" "Aw Jimbo, you know me so well!" Peyton grinned at the lanky man, "But actually I was thinking we could watch a funny movie tonight. I need a good laugh."

Once the pizza arrived Val and Peyton grabbed everyone a beer while the guys picked a comedy to watch. They settled on 21 Jump Street, which had Peyton in tears from laughing so hard. When the movie finished they sat around and talked for a while, just catching up. Peyton had her feet in Jimmy's lap and her head against Zack's shoulder and kept dozing off. At one point her head dropped so far it fell off Zack's shoulder. "Okay there sleeping beauty, let's get you home." He said with a chuckle. "Zee, I'm fine. I just dozed off for a second." She argued, not wanting to go home to her parents and be alone in her room. "Pey, you have been dozing off for the last half hour." Matt said with a laugh, "We know you have to be exhausted. Go home, get some sleep, and we can all hang out tomorrow." He suggested "Nope! Tomorrow she's all mine, we have to get ready for the party tomorrow night!" Val said excitedly. "Oh, the party. I almost forgot. I'm gonna have to go find a new dress, I don't think the strapless one I have packed is gonna work with all these bruises on my arms." Peyton said sadly. "No worries sister! We can go find one tomorrow, I know Mich and Leana are going to be excited to see you." Val said, hoping that some shopping and girl time would cheer her friend up. "Okay, sounds good. Jim, Bri, will you please fill the girls in so they're not completely shocked when they see the shiner I'm rocking please?" Peyton said with a small chuckle. "You got it P.Smith. We'll tell them!" Jimmy said, walking over to hug her. "I love you dude, and I'm so glad that you're home." He said before squeezing her gently and pulling away. "Love you too Jim." She said with a smile. "Come on Pey, I'll drive you home." Zack said, standing up. After receiving hugs from the rest of the guys and Val, she walked over to Zack ready to go. "Be careful with my little sister Vengeance." Brian warned jokingly. "Don't worry Gates, I'll protect her with my life." Zack said, looking at Peyton with a smile on his face.

The ride home was filled with small talk, until Peyton asked about Gena. "Why didn't you tell me you guys broke up?" She asked the green eyed guitarist. "I don't know, I just didn't want you to worry about me I guess. I mean we were together a while but I wasn't really all that messed up when I caught her cheating. Yeah I was pissed, but she wasn't the girl of my dreams or anything, I knew it wouldn't last forever." He explained. "Why didn't you ever tell any of us that Jason was being a dick to you?" He asked her, turning the tables. "I don't know," she sighed heavily, "I was hoping it was just a temporary thing, that he would get better once stuff slowed down at his job. But it just kept getting worse and worse, first it started off as verbal abuse. Then one night we got into a fight while he was drunk and he spit in my face. The only time he ever hit me was last night, but obviously he felt my left hook the night he spit in my face." She said with a smirk, making Zack laugh when she told him she punched Jason. "I don't know. We tried to work things out but it just didn't work, especially since he hated you guys. I think he was always a little intimidated by you and our history." "He should have been jealous," Zack said with a smirk, "Our love was epic." She laughed loudly, "That it was, ZV." He pulled the car into her parents' driveway and put the car in park. "Thanks for the lift Zee, I'm sure I'll see you tomorrow at the party." She said, reaching over the console to hug him, only to jerk herself back into her seat when the pain in her ribs didn't like her leaning over that far. "You okay?" He asked, concern lacing his voice. "I'm fine, just forgot about my ribs is all," she said with a smile. "I'll see you sometime tomorrow P, call me if you need me." "Thanks Zee, I will." She said, squeezing his hand before she got out of the car and walked onto the porch. He waited until she was completely inside the house and shut the door before putting the car in reverse and driving home. He already knew he was going to have a hard time sleeping tonight, because all he could think about was Peyton.

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