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Trashed and Scattered

Chapter Eighty-Six: Deep Inside, I'm Not Insane

Peyton and Jimmy stepped out into the bustling street, a black duffel tossed over his shoulder. His fingers wrapped around the strap as Peyton instinctively stepped off the curb to hail a cab. A yellow taxi pulled to its right, screeching its brakes to allow them opportunity.
“Come on,” she grinned, grabbing Jimmy’s wrist to pull him into the backseat.
As the car sped around the busy New York streets, Jimmy’s blue eyes ran rampant with wonder. Around every corner, he could imagine Peyton hurrying with her book, a coffee in hand. At every read light, he could imagine her fixing her makeup in a compact mirror. This place was drenched in all things Peyton Winchester and Jimmy was hungrily eating it up.
After a few minutes, Peyton instructed their driver to pull promptly to the left. She paid the man and pushed at Jimmy’s shoulder to get him moving once more. He tumbled out from the car, feeling entirely lost in the sea of pedestrians swarming about.
Peyton pointed lazily to a building resting on the corner, smiling as she wrapped her fingers around his and pulled him down the street.
“This is me,” she told him happily, thrusting a glass door wide open and ushering him indoors.
They climbed four flights of stairs, Jimmy admittedly winded after the second set. For all the stamina his drumming had provided, the smoking had labored to reverse it. His lung capacity was absolute garbage, a notion he tried his best to suffocate.
As they landed outside a door marked with a five, Peyton pulled a set of keys from her pocket. She fidgeted with the key in the lock, her nerves getting the best of her as her hand trembled with anxiety. She was about to twist two halves of her life into one, a collision of planets to end separated galaxies. With a click and a push, Peyton clanked Venus and Mars together.
“We’re home,” Peyton smirked, kicking at the door to latch it behind them.
Jimmy’s eyes wandered as she led him into her life. Floor to ceiling windows littered the living room, a small television tucked neatly beneath the blinds. A beige sofa lay centered, a series of pillows scattered along the cushions with a wool blanket hanging carelessly over the top. Paintings lined the brick walls, undeniably Peyton’s handywork.
“The kitchen’s around here,” Peyton spoke, leading Jimmy around a corner where a series of chestnut cupboards lay strewn into a cramped cutout. “And I’m down here.”
He followed her down a small hallway, her apartment tiny in comparison to the home he’d recently moved into in California. Even with little working knowledge of New York real estate, Jimmy could only imagine how much his love was paying for such a small space.
As she stepped into the room, in all its disorganized glory, Jimmy’s heart fluttered. A coyote hung above her bed, living in a series of sunset reds and yellows hung neatly within a frame. Her bed was pushed against the corner, a table cluttered with dishes and a powerless clock. Against the furthest wall, a television and a table sat. Her artwork was scattered absolutely everywhere. Paints, pencils, shavings, and debris.
The entire room screamed Peyton.
“The bathroom’s at the end of the hall,” she explained limply, scanning her space and scolding herself for not summoning her psychic abilities to have the forethought to give her room a quick tidy.
Jimmy nodded, surprised as Peyton snaked his duffel from his hand. She tossed it against the loose closet door, replacing its existence with her own. She slid her arms around his waist, pulling him into her as she breathed in his scent.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” she mused, her green eyes beating against his oceanic blues. “This is a dream, right?”
He smiled, “A really good one.”
“You should probably kiss me,” Peyton grinned. “That’s what you’d do in my dreams, anyway.”
Jimmy laughed sharply, wasting no time as he bent down to press his lips to hers. She melted beneath his touch, the electricity sparking between them turning both their hearts to mush.
“Okay,” she sighed, pulling out from his reach. “It’s time to wake up, unfortunately.”
Jimmy pouted theatrically, jutting his bottom lip out as far as it would go. Peyton giggled, swatting as his chest before disappearing behind her closet doors in search of something clean to wear.
“You can hang out here,” she told him, her voice carrying over her shoulder as his eyes continued to wander. “Joanna should be home soon…Not sure where she fucks off to, but she’s not usually gone long.”
“Okay,” he shrugged, perching himself at the edge of her mattress.
She straightened out, a Misfits tank hanging off her arm, “Or you can come down to the shop with me. I have a few pieces to do today, especially after playing hooky for the last few days…I’m in back pedal mode today.”
Jimmy smirked, feeling somehow smug in his ability to steal Peyton from her life.
“You’ll probably die of boredom if you come down to the shop with me though,” she noted. “So…the choice is yours.”
“Being near you could never be boring, Lex,” he assured her fondly.
She smiled from ear to ear, “As adorable as that may be, I’ll be neglecting you…I don’t want you to feel put out.”
“I won’t,” he declared happily. “I want to see you in action.”
“You’ve seen me in action,” she reminded him with a laugh, prancing to his side and running her fingers along the cuff hanging off his neck.
He reached up, latching her fingers into his and pulling her hand to his chest, “That’s different. I want to see your shop! Your shop on Sullivan Street.”
Peyton’s cheeks burned red as she tried her best to play off her humiliation. Jimmy’s proud grin made it clear that she wasn’t getting off that easy though.
“Someone was pining,” he sang cockily. “And I want to see the fruits of that pining labor.”
She groaned, “You’ve already been there!”
“Again,” he smirked, “it’s different.”
“Fine,” she caved, leaning down to plant a kiss on his perfect lips. “I need to go and wash our sins off my body now.”
He wiggled his eyebrows up at her.
“No,” she snickered. “It’s not play time. I have a deadline today. You wait here and be a good boy. Hands to yourself.”
Jimmy pouted once more.
“I love you,” she smiled, stealing one more kiss for good measure.
“Yeah, yeah,” he waved her off. “You just love me for my body.”
She laughed, headed for the door, “That’s true!”
“Mean!” he called after her, giving himself a mental high-five for his declarative choice.
He found himself thinking about how he could have had this sooner, if only he’d had the moxie. He’d wasted years without her, all because he’d gotten stuck in his ways. He’d compromised his way out of finding her—a mistake he vowed to never make again. In her presence, Jimmy felt entirely sane for the first time in his life.
He grew bored quickly in the confines of Peyton’s space without her. He’d curiously poked through her sketchbooks, elated and smug as hell to find himself staring off the page. But after a few minutes of being nosy, he’d decided to meander out from the bedroom.
The living room shelves were cramped with movies. Jimmy poked through them, grinning as he landed on his favourite. Their collection was impressive—and it worked to fuel his adoration of the brunette that much more.
“Hey there!” Joanna’s voice cut through the silent apartment.
Jimmy spun around, waving sheepishly at the blonde as she dropped her purse onto the kitchen counter.
“I see you guys have crawled out of your love nest,” Joanna smirked. “Peyton still alive? Did she die from exhaustion? Did you totally wear her out?”
The drummer nodded, “Yes.”
“Knew it!” Joanna chuckled. “So, how are you liking New York in the wake of our dear Peyton’s death?”
“It’s…loud,” Jimmy laughed.
The blonde widened her eyes, “Is it? I hadn’t noticed!”
“Hilarious,” he smirked.
“I know,” she smiled, hopping up onto the counter and dangling her legs over the edge. “What’s on your agenda today? More gross canoodling? I can make myself scarce if you guys are going to get loud.”
Jimmy scrunched his nose up, “We’re headed out. Peyton has to work like a real adult.”
“She’s such a sucker,” Joanna giggled. “Are you going with her? We could go grab some breakfast if you’re hungry!”
“I’m tagging along,” he concurred. “But I’m always up for breakfast. Maybe I’ll take you up on that tomorrow morning.”
Joanna raised a suspicious eyebrow, “Morning morning? Or Peyton’s version of morning?”
“Peyton’s,” Jimmy laughed.
“Oh god,” she groaned. “Birds of a feather. You people…How can you seriously sleep until noon? It makes no sense. Don’t you feel bad? You should feel bad!”
Jimmy shook his head, “Absolutely not.”
“Tomorrow morning…ish it is,” Joanna smiled. “We can talk about how great of schemers we are. I feel that I deserve some serious back pats for my contribution to your happiness. I also accept fruit baskets and chocolate.”
Jimmy grinned, “I’ll see what I can scrounge up.”
Joanna had been instrumental in Jimmy’s planning. He’d stormed into Jonas’ shop, sure he’d have to convince the artist to hand over Joanna’s phone number. However, Jonas wasn’t so dumb—he’d happily volunteered the blonde’s digits, knowing fully well that she’d take care of Peyton’s stubborn abrasion to her own joy.
When Jimmy had called, Joanna was overcome with elation. She’d raced out of her apartment, busying herself around the corner as Jimmy unloaded his poorly planned efforts. She’d gently persuaded him into a productive direction, struggling to control her excitement.
For the following week, watching Peyton mope around the apartment had been maddening. Joanna wanted so badly to assure her friend that hope was on its way. Nevertheless, she’d reigned supreme over her own enthusiasm and Peyton had the fairy tale declaration she deserved.
Looking upon the drummer in the morning sun, Joanna had never been so sure of her instincts. She’d known just by the tone of Peyton’s voice that something about this man was different. Something about this man felt like home to her best friend.
“You know,” Joanna thought aloud, narrowing her eyes at the lanky man as her heels thumped against the cabinets. “I think it’s worth mentioning that I’ve never seen Pey this happy.”
Jimmy’s lips spread into a smile, “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “She’s been like a walking, talking zombie since I met her. She’s here…but she’s not. You know? And then when I got to California, it was like…It was like meeting someone entirely new. It’s pretty cool to be a part of.”
“I ruined that pretty quick,” Jimmy reflected sourly, internally pummeling himself for the way he’d dismissed Peyton.
The way he’d pushed her away.
“It doesn’t matter now,” Joanna assured him fondly. “Because here you are. And if my best friend is awake and showering before nine a.m., it’s because she finally had something worth waking up for. I’m totally smitten with you right now, Mr. Sullivan. You’ve pulled my Peyton out from her dreary sleepwalk.”
Jimmy grinned, feeling strangely bashful.
With expert timing, Peyton stepped out from around the corner, running a towel through her dripping locks.
“Woah,” she laughed. “What’s the tension in here?”
“We were fucking,” Joanna shrugged, hopping off the counter.
Peyton’s brows shot up, “Oh? Well, don’t let me interrupt.”
Joanna smirked, patting Jimmy’s chest as she sauntered passed him, “See? A real person now.”
“What?” Peyton caught amusedly.
“Nothing, Pinocchio,” Joanna laughed, disappearing down the hallway.
Peyton watched her friend’s back, her face rumpled with confusion. She looked to Jimmy for explanation, but he refused to give it up. Brushing it off, Peyton shrugged.
“I need ten minutes,” she told him coolly. “And then we can go.”
Jimmy nodded, “I’m ready whenever you are.”
Peyton let herself memorize the look of Jimmy standing front and center in her life. It was a spectacle she’d never imagined she could behold anywhere but within the confines of her dreams. His jagged black hair, his electric blue eyes…It was all surreal.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she smiled.
He smiled back, losing himself in the depth of her soul, “Me too.”

Notes

xx

Comments

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RamonaFoREVer RamonaFoREVer
6/18/19

@fyction
It is one of my favourite things. I melt every time!!

kiss my sas kiss my sas
6/11/19

@kiss my sas
I know! Isn’t it sweet?! Guh. Pellivan <3

fyction fyction
6/11/19

@fyction
BUT PELLIVAN IS TRUE LOVE!!!
I still get giddy when Peyton says 'I love you' to Jimmy... urgh! Such a long time coming!

kiss my sas kiss my sas
6/11/19

@kiss my sas
I mean.... Breyton could be revived... never say never ;)

fyction fyction
6/11/19