Strength Of The World

When Peyton arrived at the party with her parents, she noticed Jimmy and Brian's cars, but not Zack's. She fidgeted with her hands nervously as her dad parked the car. "Stop fidgeting, Peyton Elizabeth. You look beautiful and Zack will think so too." Her mom told her. "Mom." Peyton sighed and rolled her eyes. She got out of the car and waited for her parents. Her dad held his elbow out to her, and she grinned and hooked her arm in his. "Both my favorite girls on my arm looking so beautiful tonight," her dad said with a grin, "Damn I'm a lucky man!" Peyton laughed as they walked inside the building,

The music was loud, the drinks were flowing, and Peyton could hear Jimmy as soon as she walked in the door. He was standing in a group with Leana, Brian, and Michelle, who noticed Peyton before anyone and broke out into a huge grin. Peyton left her parents talking to. Matt's dad, and headed toward her friends. Brian saw her and smirked, "Wow P, who knew you were actually a girl." He said jokingly, earning a smack from Michelle. "Aw are you jealous that I'm more of a woman than you, Haner?" Peyton fired back. "OHHHHHHHHH SHE GOT YOU GOOD!" Jimmy shouted, lifting Peyton up into a hug. "Ignore him. You look beautiful Peanut!" He said brightly. "Thank you JimmyJam." She laughed, breaking apart from his hug and going to hug Michelle and Leana. "You girls look smoking." She said to her two older friends. "Girl we told you that dress was perfect! Zack is going to be drooling all night!" Leana said excitedly. "Oh my god you guys are as bad as my mom" Peyton sighed, rolling her eyes. "Brian, tell them, I just got home!" "Sorry sis," the guitarist said, "I kind of agree with him, Zack is going to lose his shit when he sees you," he pulled her into a hug and kissed her temple, "But the dress is a little short." Peyton laughed and rolled her eyes, "Where are Matt and Val? I mean this is their party." "We're right here, Pey!" Val said, walking up behind her. Matt had two drinks in his hand, and handed one to her. "Saw you come in and got your favorite, you look beautiful." "Aww thank you Matty!" She said, pulling him into a one armed hug, Soon Johnny arrived with his girlfriend Lacey, whom Peyton vaguely remembered from the last time she was home.

By by the time Zack arrived, Peyton was on her third Rum and Coke and was definitely a little tipsy. He walked in the room and immediately started looking for her. He saw his group of friends, but didn't see Peyton. He figured she must be running late, until he heard her laugh. He started walking toward the group when Jimmy moved to the side and he saw her. Drink in her hand, a huge smile on her face, and laughing her ass off at something Jimmy said. She looked absolutely gorgeous tonight in her dress. He loved it when she curled her hair and couldn't wait to get to her to see her. He was trying to give her space so she could heal, but who the hell was he kidding? He was so in love with her it's ridiculous. But he would wait for her as long as she needed. She saw him before he reached the group and squealed. She ran over toward him, as much as she could in her heels, and launched herself into his arms. "Hi best friend! You're looking rather handsome tonight." She said with a huge grin. "You don't look so bad there yourself, Peanut." He said with a laugh "Actually you look gorgeous." "Well thank you." She smiled, taking a sip of her drink. "Oh! You need a drink! Let's go get you one!" She said, hooking her arm into his and leading him over to the bar, Zack laughing the entire way.

After everyone had finished their dinner, it was time for dancing. Peyton had sobered up a bit during dinner, Val and Zack had made sure that she ate something before she got too drunk and made herself sick. All of the parents were getting ready to leave, when Peyton spotted Brian Haner Sr. and Suzy, and walked over to them grinning. "Holy shit! My favorite adopted daughter has FINALLY come home!" Brian Sr shouted, walking over to Peyton and scooping her up in a huge hug. "I missed you so much sweetheart, you doing okay?" He asked her, concern in his eyes. Peyton had figured that either her dad or Brian Jr had told him about what happened. "Yeah, I'm fine, taking it day by day. Some days are better than others." She explained. Suzy walked over and gave her a hug. "We missed you Peanut, you'll have to come over for dinner one night." She said to the younger girl. "Of course, mama! Just let me know when and I'll be there." She continued talking to the older Haner couple until she heard Jimmy yell, "Hey Peanut, get your tiny ass over here!" She laughed and hugged her "adoptive" parents before joining her friends on the dance floor.

They had been drinking and dancing for a while, and it was safe to say that Peyton was pretty drunk. She had been dancing in a group with Lacey, Johnny, and Leana when one of her and Johnny's favorite songs, Jump Around, came on. "Hooooooly shit Peanut, are you ready for this?" Johnny shouted at her, causing her to laugh. "You better watch yourself Seward, I've been practicing!" With that they jumped into rapping the entire song, Johnny losing his breath and Peyton repeating every single line of the song, while dancing goofily with Johnny and making everyone laugh. As soon as the song ended Bohemian Rhapsody came on, and Peyton squealed in delight. "OH MY GOD WHO PUT THIS ON THE PLAYLIST?" She shouted, looking toward Matt and Val who were grinning at her. They both knew it was her absolute most favorite song ever. The entire group belted out the words, and when the guitar solo hit, everyone was banging their heads, just like the scene from Wayne's World. Peyton looked around her group of friends and smiled. She was so happy to be home, she belonged here with these people. There was no where else in the world she would rather be.

A few hours later Zack and Brian had sobered up enough to take a very drunk Peyton and Michelle home. They were giggling and singing Bohemian Rhapsody again, very loudly. "Alright come on Freddy, let's get you home." Zack said, practically carrying Peyton out the door. They said their goodbyes to the rest of the group, Peyton squeezing everyone tightly and telling them how much she loved them, and when Zack finally got her in the car, she was almost passed out. He started the car and started making his way to her parents' house. "Hey Zee," she said quietly, grabbing his hand, "Hmm?" "Can I go home with you? I don't want the nightmares to come tonight, it's been such a good day." She said sadly. Zack felt his heart break a little for her and squeezed her hand. "Of course you can Peanut." They made their way to his house, where he gave her some of his boxers and a tshirt to wear. She went into the bathroom and changed into the clothes, washed her face, and used her finger to brush her teeth. When she walked out of the bathroom, Zack was laying on the bed watching tv. "I'm gonna take a shower really quick, make yourself comfortable. Watch whatever you want." He kissed the top of her head and walked into the bathroom. She sat down on his bed and looked around. She realized she had never been in Zack's room before, and noticed a few pictures over on his dresser. She walked over to look at them. One of them was the picture from her graduation party on the beach, another of him and the guys, one of him and his family, and the last one was of the two of them. It was taken the Christmas before they broke up, and they looked so happy. They had their arms wrapped around each other and were both smiling brightly. She missed those days, everything was always so easy with Zack. She always felt at home with him, and still does. She sighed and walked over to the bed. When she pulled the covers back and got in, she immediately smelled a mixture of his cologne and Jack Daniels. She smiled to herself, grabbed the remote, and turned on a movie. When Zack came out of the bathroom she could barely hold her eyes open, so he turned the tv off, climbed in beside her, and wrapped his arms around her. "Goodnight Zack" she whispered, falling asleep. "Goodnight Peyton. I'll see you in the morning." He kissed her forehead and quickly fell asleep, the girl of his dreams in his arms.

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