Trashed and Scattered

“Brian seems really happy, huh?” Natalie asked happily, sliding a sponge along the rim of a plate.
Jimmy looked up from his drying towel, reluctantly letting his gaze drift out the window. Peyton and Brian were still out there. They’d come in to forage sustenance but had quickly taken it back into the great outdoors.
“Yeah,” he replied simply.
Brian did seem happy—a little too happy. It was as if following their half-hearted talk, Brian had abolished all guilt from his system. He leaned into Peyton with a weight Jimmy resented. Though he wanted his best friend to be happy, he wasn’t thrilled that his happiness was with her.
He told himself that, in time, perhaps he’d come around to the idea. Natalie had been better; things smoother. They’d slowly begun trudging back into still waters and Jimmy was hesitant to murk their clarity.
After all, Brian did seem happy.
“It’s so nice,” she continued joyously. “He’s always been the bachelor…It’s his turn for a little love.”
Jimmy was distracted, letting his muscle memory work at his chore while his mind wandered.
“Don’t you think so?” Natalie pressed lightly, shifting herself around to Jimmy’s front. “Jimmy?”
He snapped from his daze, “What?”
She smiled, “Oh, nevermind.”
“Sorry,” he smiled back. “I’m tired from my lake bath.”
“It’s okay,” Natalie shrugged, passing him a clean plate to dry. “She’s beautiful. I get it.”
Jimmy flinched with confusion, “Get what?”
“Why you’re always staring at Peyton,” Natalie said flatly. “She’s beautiful. I’ve caught myself distracted by her on two separate occasions today.”
Jimmy smirked, “If this is your way of telling me you’re a lesbian, just know that I’m into it.”
She snickered, shaking her head at him, “Of course not.”
“You’re the only one I’m staring at, Nat,” he grinned over at her. “Just for the record.”
Her eyes rolled playfully, clinging to the shred of sincerity laced into his voice. She knew it was a far cry from the truth but appreciated the lie just the same.
“Do you know what I think?” Natalie thought aloud, enthused by the workings of her own mind. “I think we should all get very, very drunk.”
Jimmy laughed, “Now you’re speaking my language, lady!”
They finished the last of the dishes with a newfound inspiration, fueled by the luster and promise of intoxication. Jimmy’s anxiety spiked a little, worried about the various vessels of secrets spread out across their group. Alcohol had a way of loosening even the tightest lips; this wasn’t the place to start hashing out the web of misconception they’d all woven together. Nevertheless, a night of drunken antics was always on the top of Jimmy’s to-do list.
Sometimes his friends would worry about Jimmy’s sincere love for indulgence. He was known to get carried away once or twice, unable to help himself as temptation loomed over his conflicted soul. Brian, in particular, was worried Jimmy would develop a serious problem if he didn’t get his demons in check. Jimmy didn’t listen; Jimmy never listened.
“Go tell Brian and Peyton they have to come in,” Natalie instructed, wiping her wet hands against Jimmy’s jeans.
He didn’t notice.
“I’ll get the others,” she added with a smile.
Natalie bounded away to gather an army for her crusade. Jimmy worked up his courage, bouncing on the spot for a millisecond, making fists only to release them. He nodded to himself sharply before heading for the door and pulling it open, a thud sounded as it bounced off the interior wall.
“Hey fuckers,” he said in his most convincing excited voice. “The boss says you have to come in now.”
Brian scoffed, “For what?”
“She wants to get drunk,” Jimmy offered. “And that is a group activity, Brian.”
Brian looked to Peyton for response, surprised to find her already climbing to her feet. She gathered up their mess into her tattooed arms.
“I’m always down to get drunk,” she stated flatly, stepping around Jimmy and into the house.
Jimmy lingered in the doorway, his eyes tracing the clouds where the storm was manifesting its strength.
“Brian,” he said, cracking the tension that had bubbled up between them seamlessly.
His best friend looked up in response, taking a break from balling the blanket into something manageable, “Jimmy.”
“Are you happy?” he asked slowly.
Brian’s face contorted, “What do you mean?”
A ripple of light glimmered through the darkest cloud in the distance. It cast a halo along the lake, enveloping the surrounding trees in a deeper darkness than they’d ever known. The thunder sounded out, cracking the sky with damnation.
“Do you like her?” he asked more clearly.
Brian breathed the question into his lungs, letting it settle and burn.
“Yeah, man,” he replied cautiously. “I think I do.”
It was the honest response Jimmy had anticipated but wasn’t prepared for. He wasn’t sure why he’d even asked. It nibbled at his core, savoring each bite of his tormented soul. The blood bubbled beneath Jimmy’s skin, collecting in mats and clots marking themselves with Brian’s sincerity.
“Okay,” was all Jimmy could think to say.
“Is that okay?” Brian pressed.
He knew he was still dancing along the thin line of understanding and compromise. He was unwilling to trade his friendship with Jimmy for anything—anyone. It didn’t matter how allured Brian was by Peyton’s spell, if Jimmy wasn’t on the supporting team, Brian couldn’t be either.
“Like I said, dude,” Jimmy offered with a forced smile. “You do what you want.”
With that, Jimmy took his leave. It was hardly a blessing; it was hardly any sort of acknowledgement at all. Brian felt like he was being tested in a subject he wasn’t familiar with. But the stakes were high and he was expected to make the right choices. He hesitated, running choices over in his mind in hopes one might jump out at him.
The only logical notion that flowed freely from Brian’s mind was Peyton’s objection to romance. She’d been concerned about Jimmy’s feelings, at least partly. He wondered if he should have told Peyton about his talk with Jimmy—if he still could tell her. Did he want to put that sort of pressure onto her? Onto their friendship?
The past day felt like significantly more than friendship. He sincerely doubted Peyton couldn’t feel the longing pulling them together. The glimmer in her eyes as they met his was all the validation he’d needed. He checked out of his mental institution, decidedly abandoning the examination.
By time he ventured back indoors, the group had assembled itself. Peyton was nestled on the couch between Matt and an opening, which Brian greedily snatched up. Natalie rounded the corner of their sofa, Crystal on her heels. The women set glassware down onto the coffee table, both glasses and shot glasses alike. Zach hustled to catch up, shimmying a bottle of whiskey in one hand and a bottle of vodka in the other. Johnny brought up the rear with the mix.
“Now it’s a party!” Johnny proclaimed excitedly, just in time for every inch of light to die out.
Everyone exchanged confused glances through the blackness of the night. The hollow moon snuck a peak through the storm clouds, casting a heavy glance through the windows of the monstrous cabin. Natalie stole the opportunity, darting quickly into the kitchen in search for candles.
Even through the pitch black, Peyton could feel Jimmy’s eyes burrowing into her temple. She met his gaze with petulance, letting her soul guide the way to his. They lingered in a blind power struggle, each coaxing the other to ease or pursue.
Natalie returned with a candle reeking of mocha, illuminating the dueling friends. In the soft glow, their ridiculousness was made apparent. Peyton was the first to look away.
“Well shit,” Zach laughed, climbing back to his feet. “Guess we’re lighting this bad boy.”
The men suited up their armor, springing into action to work together to get the fireplace burning. It didn’t take long, and they were all swimming with pride as the fire cracked and burned. The cabin was restored of its light, now soft and dim. It took the edge off the immediate resentments that lingered like the clouds just outside.
When Brian returned, he fixed himself a drink.
“Whiskey?” he asked Peyton with just a hint of a grin.
His eyes were somehow darker, his back against the roar of the fire. Peyton admired the contrast of his eyes against hers. Something about their hollowed beauty left her leaning in, desperation drowning her reason. Perhaps it’s because they were opposite, not just to her own, but to Jimmy’s too. It seemed those days she was looking for anything to rid her system of all things Sullivan. She needed divine intervention of the highest order.
Queue Saint Haner, the ultimate patron for rehabilitation of the heart.
Peyton nodded, “Always.”
He promptly poured her the stiffest drink known to man, his hand trembling slightly as he passed it off to her. A group gathered around the alcohol just as Brian slipped away into his seat. Peyton took a swig of her Brian creation, wincing as it burned down her throat. She cringed, gasping for air to cleanse the acid trail.
“A little strong?” Brian snickered.
Peyton laughed, her raspy voice raspier than ever, “Just a tad.”
Matt collapsed back into the seat next to her, smirking like a fool, “Never let Brian pour your drinks. Him and Jimmy both—they have absolutely no idea what reasonable amounts of booze are.”
Brian and Jimmy locked eyes, their smiles matched point for point, as they raised their glasses to one another.
“Lesson learned,” Peyton chuckled, sipping more casually at the drink.
As the group got settled into the cushions, the idle chit chat wore itself out. Crystal leaned forward, holding her pristine glass in both hands. She let her eyes drift around the room, catching a few glances and moving passed unnoticed by others.
“We should play Never Have I Ever,” she pitched to the group.
Natalie scrunched her nose, “What is that?”
“It’s a drinking game,” Crystal said like it was obvious. “One designed to get you fuckin’ smashed.”
“I’m down for a game,” Zach smiled, nursing his vodka tonic.
Natalie smiled, leaning into Jimmy’s arm, “How do you play?”
“Someone says I’ve never…and then you, you know, say something. If you’ve done it, you drink.”
Her friend giggled, “Yeah, I don’t get it.”
“I’ll go first,” Crystal volunteered, purposefully leering over at her comrade. “I’ll walk you through it. I’ve never…played this fucking game.”
The room, save for poor Natalie, took a swig from their drinks. Natalie glanced around, her brain’s gears spinning and sputtering. She stared at Jimmy as he swallowed down his whiskey.
“You’ve played this?” she asked him seriously.
He grinned, “I think you’re the only one in the world that hasn’t, Nat.”
“Apparently!” she noted with a subtle laugh.
“My turn!” Johnny shrieked, leaning forward as the attention fell on him. “I’ve never...recorded an album.”
“Oh, come on,” Matt laughed, joining in the group of males as they all took swigs of their drinks.
Johnny grinned, “I want to get drunk!”
“I’ve got one!” Jimmy shrieked excitedly. “I’ve never been arrested!”
He happily took a long drink, scanning the room for other convicts. To his surprise, Peyton slammed a mouthful back.
“Really?” Brian caught with amusement.
She nodded, “Just once. I broke into a zoo.”
“A zoo,” he repeated in disbelief.
She laughed, “Yes. A zoo. They dropped the charges. No big deal.”
“Remind me to circle back to that later,” Brian smirked at her.
Peyton smiled at him, silently promising to give him all the gritty details in private. It wasn’t an entirely fascinating story but Brian seemed keen to hear it anyway.
Natalie piped up, “Okay, I’ve got one! I’ve never gotten stitches!”
A couple of them tossed their drinks back, Peyton sipped slowly from her glass. She nearly drowned as Matt reached over and held the bottom of her cup. He grinned at her, relieving her panic and replacing it with amusement.
“Don’t drown her!” Jimmy bellowed, a playful smile sprawled across his face.
Natalie squinted over at them just as Matt pulled his hand back and Peyton restored the oxygen to her lungs.
“Why are you doing that?” she asked, pointing in their general direction.
Matt laughed, leaning back into his memories, “Because Peyton—“
He trailed off so subtly no one seemed to catch it. But the glaring look in Peyton’s eye was meant specifically for him, and it matched perfectly with the desperation in Jimmy’s blues.
“Has that scar,” he finished quickly. “On her face. No way that thing didn't have stitches in it once upon a time.”
Natalie leaned forward, as if she might be able to make out the white line within the firelight. Peyton drew away, further into Brian.
“How’d you get it?” Natalie asked. “Did it actually need stitches?”
Peyton hesitated. It absolutely needed stitches; but two people in the room knew, for sure, that it hadn’t been closed at all. Perhaps why it had scarred so seriously.
“I fell,” she offered simply. “Three stitches.”
“Ouch,” Natalie winced sympathetically.
Peyton dared to look at Jimmy over her obligatory second drink. She was hopefully the alcohol might dull the discomfort. He looked back at her with as much concern as he’d shown when she’d turned up with the original gash. He knew it was hard for her to have her dirty laundry aired in such a public forum. He wanted so badly to jump up and whisk her away. He wanted to solve her problems, like he’d done so simply in their youth. But he sat in his place and offered his support to Peyton in hers.
“I’ve never seen New York,” Matt volunteered.
Peyton leered at him, angrily taking another drink before muttering at him, “Starting to feel like a witch hunt.”
He laughed, nudging at her the way only old friends can do. The Avenged boys all took their drinks, Crystal closing out the group without Natalie.
“I’ve never sang karaoke,” Zach offered.
The entire group obliged him.
Brian smirked, “I’ve never been kicked out of school.”
Jimmy gasped at his friend as he took a swig, “Rude, man.”
Natalie squeaked up, “I’ve never lived in Huntington Beach.”
The group exchanged confused glances with her as they reluctantly sipped their drinks. Natalie’s eyes were fixated on Peyton as she mulled over whether or not to drink. Ultimately, committed to a shred of honesty, she did.
“You live in New York,” Natalie noted immediately.
Peyton shrugged, “An extended stay is as good as living here.”
Natalie didn’t particularly care for the explanation but she accepted it anyway.
“I’ve never seen Europe,” Jimmy volunteered, sadness bellowing out from his icy blues.
As Peyton abstained from her drink, she knew his suggestion was pointed. No one in the room took a drink. He didn’t seem to notice any of that; just Peyton. She pouted at him as subtly as she could manage while still passing along the message. It wasn’t the time for digs and digging.
“I’ve never—“ Natalie started but Crystal cut her off.
“Peyton hasn’t gone yet,” her friend said hurriedly.
The room focused to the brunette, awkwardly shifting her glass around in her palm.
“I, um,” she faltered helplessly. “I’ve never...gotten a tattoo.”
The group laughed, everyone but Crystal and Natalie taking long drinks. It felt only right to chug the remainder of their beverages, which Zach and Brian both chose to do swiftly.
“I’ve never dated a musician,” Crystal pitched.
The women drank as Brian fixed himself a new mix. He reached back only to mimic Matt’s earlier action, pushing Peyton’s drink to her lips. She’d seemingly forgotten her role.
“I’m so satisfying, I’m worth two drinks,” Brian grinned smugly, attempting to smooth the save with narcissism.
“I’ve never cheated on my significant other,” Natalie stated, curiously watching Peyton instead of her own spouse.
Zach snickered, “Woah, Nat. That’s a bit of a swipe.”
Nevertheless, he took a drink and Johnny followed. Crystal gasped, which only made Johnny laugh.
“You should drink up too,” he called to her. “How do you think we started dating?”
Crystal’s eyes widened with the memory, “Oh, shit.”
Jimmy refused to drink, although he deserved to. He wasn’t going to break that news over some childish drinking game. He maintained his innocence.
“I’ve never moved away from my hometown,” Natalie continued.
The entertainment laced into the group began to fizzle out, everyone trying to understand the origin of such strange statements. Peyton felt a kick of terror ignite inside her chest; Jimmy felt that same sharp jolt.
Peyton refused to drink.
Crystal leaned forward to get a good look at her friend, doing her best to rationalize her thoughts. Something about Peyton had threatened Natalie from the beginning, this Crystal knew. She just couldn’t quite figure out why. Sure, Peyton was a little quieter than the girls Brian typically brought around—a bit more colourful too. But she’d stepped into the chaos with a can-do attitude that Crystal couldn’t help but respect. It seemed in that moment, though, that Natalie was looking for something. Crystal wanted to help her in her quest but had no vantage point to work from.
“I’ve never called in sick for no reason,” Johnny said to the group, trying his best to break the building tension.
The room drank.
“That’s universal, dude,” Jimmy snickered.
“I’ve never broken a bone,” Natalie cut in.
Peyton knew then it was a witch hunt. She was willing to give Natalie enough to suffice her curiosity but refused to sell herself out.
She drank.
“I’ve never let a relationship get me paranoid,” Jimmy mumbled.
Natalie turned to him, “What?”
“I’ve never not been in a relationship,” he spoke louder, losing his nerve under her withering stare. He pointed to Brian with a grin, “This one’s for you, dude.”
“Thanks,” Brian chuckled, taking a sip from his new drink.
“I’ve never been around a drug addict,” Natalie squeaked again.
This time, Jimmy was catching on. He spun around to her with the world’s most perplexed expression.
“What the shit kind of statement is that?”
Natalie shrugged, “You guys are all well on your way. We should probably all drink. Right, Peyton?”
Peyton pled the fifth, “What? I guess?”
Her genuine confusion tipped Natalie’s suspicions in the opposite direction. Natalie thought to herself that maybe she was paranoid after all. But something about Peyton didn’t sit right. Something about Peyton had done something to Jimmy that Natalie couldn’t quite work out. The timing had eluded her for a while, but watching them exist near each other had embedded suspicion deep into her skull.
She looked at Peyton and wondered who exactly it was staring back at her.
“I need to pee,” Natalie announced, slamming her glass onto the table with a frustrated sigh.
Crystal climbed after her, “Me too!”
“We’ll break until you get back,” Matt suggested but Natalie rejected it quickly.
“I’m a lightweight, go ahead and keep playing,” she smiled as she disappeared down the dark hallway with her phone as a flashlight.
It was times like these that Peyton wished she was a smoker. It would have been the perfect opportunity to whisk Brian away and regroup. She wondered if he was as unnerved by Natalie’s sudden line of thinking as she was. He reached over and squeezed her thigh in reassurance. He had definitely caught the pointed thought process.
“I’m going to smoke,” Zach announced, reading Peyton’s mind unknowingly. “Anyone else?”
Johnny raised his hand, but the others maintained their positions. With four out, the remaining four sat awkwardly in the tension Natalie had left in her wake.
“My turn,” Jimmy spoke. “I’ve never abandoned my friends.”
Matt hissed quietly, “I think she’s getting enough of that shit from your girlfriend.”
“What shit?” Jimmy shrugged. “Go on, Peyton. Drink up.”
She wanted to mutter a ‘fuck you’ his way, but decided quietly that she deserved the sentiment on some level. However, she knew right away that any forgiveness Jimmy had feigned was long expired and forgotten.
“I’ve never brought up shit that doesn’t matter just for the sake of being a dick,” Brian shot back.
Jimmy drank up without shame.
“I’ve never fallen in love,” Jimmy retorted.
Everyone but Brian drank.
“Before age twelve,” Jimmy added through grit teeth.
Peyton was horrified to find Jimmy take a long swig of his drink. He looked to her for reciprocation.
“I don’t want to play anymore,” Peyton breathed, setting her drink down onto the table.
“I’ve never lied to my girlfriend,” Brian grunted, raising his glass to Jimmy.
“You don’t even know, dude,” Jimmy scoffed, downing the rest of his drink.
Matt looked to Peyton for some sort of reassurance. She had none to give. It appeared that they’d been caught on the outskirts of a pissing contest. The best they could do was work to stay upwind.
“I’ve never stolen something that wasn’t mine to steal,” Jimmy stammered.
Brian furrowed his brows, “That doesn’t even make sense.”
“I’ll rephrase,” Jimmy said flatly. “I’ve never stolen someone’s fucking soul mate.”
Peyton was reeling. This wasn’t the way to confess some undying love she wasn’t sure existed. This was callous and cryptic. She wanted to jump from the window to her death.
“I’m not fucking drinking to that,” Brian retorted. “You don’t even believe in soul mates, you fuck.”
Jimmy swallowed that down, letting his gaze fall to panicked Peyton as he took a slow sip, “I used to.”
Brian was caught in a trap he didn’t know how to get out of. His limbs tore from each side, his loyalty drawn out for questioning throughout the torture.
Peyton snatched her drink and held it high, growling, “I’ve never not had a soulmate.”
She downed her drink in one fell swoop, leering at Jimmy as she wiped her lip dry.
He matched her, his glass sparkling in the firelight as Zach and Johnny merged back into the toxic atmosphere, “I’ve never fucking hated anyone.”
He finished his drank, looking to her cockily. But, to his surprise, Peyton folded. Her face contorted with despair as his words hit her right in the chest.
“Excuse me,” she mumbled, slamming her glass back down and bailing through the back door.
“Fuck, Jimmy,” Matt groaned, rubbing at his temples as the lost twins tried to stumble through what had happened.
Jimmy raced after her before Brian had the chance. Another lie to be woven in the never ending quest to cover up the Wiley and Lexi show. Their reactions to one another hung lowly in Brian’s gut, ripping him to pieces.
Jimmy slammed the glass door behind him.
“Peyton,” he sighed as she frantically tore down the stairs.
His long legs made it a breeze to catch up to her. He grabbed at her shoulders just as she neared the bottom, a shrill screech escaping her lungs as she nearly toppled down the remaining steps. It was horrifically similar to another fall she’d had, which had panic pumping through her system.
“Don’t touch me!” she cried instinctively, shoving his hands off her skin.
“Lexi,” he barked, firmly setting his fingers into her once more. “Stop!”
She let her pain well up, “What is wrong with you?”
“With me?” he challenged.
“Yes” she replied louder than she’d meant to. “What are you trying to do to me?”
“I hate seeing you with him,” he told her coldly. “I fucking hate it.”
She pursed her lips to keep from crying, “And you think I like watching you with Natalie? You think that’s a good time for me?”
“I don’t fucking know,” he replied emotionally. “You told me to stay with her! You told me to forget it! You’re leaving, remember? I don’t know what you want me to do. So I did what you said.”
Peyton was at a loss.
“I’ve said lots of shit, Wiley,” she frowned. “But I’ve never said I hate you.”
Jimmy fell silent.
“We’re not destined,” she told him. “You can’t keep saying shit like that while you’re with her.”
“You’re telling me you don’t feel this?”
“Feel what?” she grunted. “Disdain? Pain? I feel those things.”
“No,” Jimmy growled. “Like we’re soul mates.”
“We’re not soul mates. Stop saying that. We’re not ... we’re not anything.”
“I feel it,” he said lowly. “And I know you do too.”
She shook her head, “I don’t know what I feel. But right now, I’m feeling hurt. And confused. And...fuck, I don’t know.”
“You don’t want to be with Brian,” he told her. “I know you don’t.”
She scoffed, “You don’t know anything.”
He gasped subtly, “...Do you? Don’t you think that’s something we should talk about?”
“Do you love Natalie?” Peyton asked blankly.
Jimmy sank, “You know I do.”
Peyton nodded, “Then there’s nothing to talk about.”
“Lexi—“
“Stop fucking calling me that,” Peyton instructed callously. “I’m not that girl anymore. And you are obviously not Wiley anymore.”
“What do you want from me?” Jimmy asked, defeated and enraged.
“I want you to live your life,” she sighed. “And I want to live mine.”
“Why can’t it be one? One life?”
Peyton bit at her lip angrily, “Because it can’t! You made your choice.”
“Only because you made yours,” he hissed.
She challenged him entirely, “And what the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“You left me,” he rehashed. “I didn’t leave you.”
“I was eleven!” she shouted, annoyed to repeat herself for the millionth time.
He shook his head, “No, Lexi. You leaving back then wasn’t your choice. I get that. But every fucking day of the next thirteen years? That was your choice. The night we shared? You pushed it away. That was your choice. It’s always been your choice.”
She breathed, “I thought we’d moved passed this...”
“How can I move passed it?” he asked her seriously. “You fucking ruined me, Lexi. It took me years to get over you. And then you came back and you ruined me all over again!”
“I...” she tried and failed.
Jimmy pulled his hands back firmly, locking his eyes onto hers.
“What do you want me to say, Jimmy? You made your choice too. You went back to her. You’re with her. I don’t want this—and you fucking bullying me isn’t going to change that.”
His face fell, “I’m trying to figure this out.”
“What you need to figure out, Jimmy,” she croaked. “Is if you can forgive me. For what’s happened now, what happened back then...You said you did. But...But I don’t see it.”
“I really want to,” he said quietly. “But I also really fucking hate you.”
She swallowed it down, “You don’t mean that.”
“I do, Lex,” he assured her coldly. “I really do. You’re fucking me up and I really fucking hate it.”
Peyton tried not to die, “And yet you can’t let me be happy with someone else? You hate me that much?”
“Maybe,” he shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Fuck you,” she finally managed.
He nodded, “Maybe it’s better this way. I don’t want to keep lying.”
“To me or to the world?” Peyton growled.
Jimmy shook his head, tearing his feelings from the equation, “We never should have slept together, dude. It was the biggest mistake of my life.”
There were only so many bullets Peyton could take before she’d surely bleed out. She swallowed down the acidic metal with a whimper.
“Finally something we can agree on,” she forced from her pained soul.
“Brian can have you,” he grunted. “Not that you deserve him. Try not to break his heart like you did mine. And when you leave, which you will, don’t bother calling. That should be easy for you.”
With that, Jimmy climbed the stairs without looking back. He blinked hard to keep his feelings in check. If nothing else, he could protect her one more time—now she could hate him too.
Peyton took a minute to digest every ounce of poison Jimmy had forced into her system. With every fiber of learned control, she wrapped away any feelings left for Jimmy. Using the tip of her foot, she dug a hole just big enough for her heart. Out with the old, in with the new.
She left it behind, tearing up the wooden stairs to replace it with someone that could beat stronger. The old one was so weathered and broken it could never be repaired.
“Where’s Brian?” she asked Matt, the only soul left in the big living room.
“Went to bed,” he told her softly.
She nodded, waving subtly as she made haste to her bedroom door. She pulled the door open, surprised to find Brian standing at the foot of the dresser, his phone lit up in one hand and his other buried in his bag.
“Are you okay?” he asked her, shifting the light to her presence.
She pressed the door closed and with three steady steps, she closed the gap between them.
With her chest pressed against his, she reached up to cup his face with both hands. He tilted his head a little, wrapping his free hand around her slim wrist.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “That will never happen again.”
Brian appreciated the apology she didn’t need to give. He felt himself falling all over again.
As she neared her lips to his, he drew back ever so softly.
He objected quietly, “But Jimmy said—“
Peyton shook her head, “I don’t care what Jimmy said.”
“It seemed like you want—“
“I want you,” she told him sternly, running the tips of her fingers through his brown hair. “I want you.”
Brian breathed as much air as he could into his heavy chest. He dropped his phone onto the top of the dresser, grabbing Peyton up into his grip as he finally closed the final gap. She met his lips with an inspired hunger neither had known could exist. As he pulled her into his chest and they fumbled their way backward to the bed, all thoughts vanished into thin air.
Just outside the darkness, the storm clouds broke.

Notes

Shit, that was long.
And heavy.

Oh, Pellivan. Poor, poor Pellivan.

An important moment for Team Breyton though!

xx