Ten
Friday. The best day of the week. It was always prayed to be here faster than anything but when it was here, it went by so quick.
That's if you don't count the school point of the day. School always seemed longer, that's also if you didn't have friends.
In shorter words, time goes by faster when you're having fun, and it goes by slow when you're not.
Every since that night of the kiss. Life has been going fun for both Peyton and Gwen.
They had each other, and that was a lot to depend on seeing as both girl's were insanely stubborn to in some cases.
But they made it work.
Or at least they tried to.
"Big champion game coming up. And there's more scouts going to be there, we must be on A-game." The coach suggested. "You! Ali, I want you to show you to be on your best game! I don't have time for your daddy to be crying to me about why you weren't on the court all game."
"Well I'm better than everybody on this team so it's only right that I'm on the court." Ali assured as she crossed her arms.
Peyton rolled her eyes, "take it to the court then, princess, let's see how great you are." She crossed her arms before leaning against the locker. The team looked at her weirdly before she took a deep breath and sighed, "sorry, I've been hanging out with my girlfriend a lot." Peyton eyes widened and shook her head, "my friend that's a girl, obviously because-"
"Harper, save your relationship problems for out side of the court and out side of this locker room." The coach demanded, "Now I want everyone out there and stretching, you're in for a long practice today." He assured everyone before walking into his office.
Peyton sighed before opening her locker and grabbing her comfortable clothes for practice.
"Peyton, can I talk with you?" Vanessa asked before hinting over to the door.
Peyton nodded, "yeah, sure." She says before following Vanessa into the hallway. "So, what did you want to talk about?"
"My sister. Back there you seemed stuck on how to answer whether you were dating or not and I just think that maybe you guys should be dating."
Peyton smiled a bit before it dropped, "I want to be her girlfriend but it just comes with a lot."
"So you're saying that my sister is hard to handle?" Vanessa crossed her arms as Peyton shook her head.
"No of course not, I really like your sister."
Vanessa raised her eyebrow, "so she's not good enough for you to love her?"
Peyton frowned, "no of course not. She's amazing but I want to take things slow."
"I'm just teasing you, Peyton. I know you love my sister very dearly. Even if you don't want to admit that right now." Vanessa assured before looking up at the camera which was in front of the locker room. "I don't think we should talk here, these security cameras pick up everything."
Peyton looked at it and raised her eyebrow, "that's weird, I've never really noticed those."
"Yeah, well we should get to practice or coach is going to kick our asses."
Peyton nodded, "sure thing, maybe you can help me with planning a date for Gwen tonight, I'm thinking we start off with something nice like a movie." Peyton suggested as both her and Gwen headed into the locker room.
"That's basic. Do something out of the ordinary. Do something to wow her, maybe even wow her into your bed." Vanessa teased.
Peyton scratched the back of her head. "I already did." She muttered.
Vanessa scrunched her nose, "Ew, don't say that, I don't want to picture that." She says before Peyton chuckled. "After practice I'll help you your date. But you have to promise me you won't screw this up, when you see the chance, you take it."
Peyton sighed, "alright, fine. I think I just might ask her to be my girlfriend, for real this time." Peyton smiled as she felt her chest for her necklace. "But I need to get that ring back."
-
The raven haired girl basically fell out on the floor as practice ended. She never knew that something could be so painful and tiring.
Well, she did but this painful wasn't full of pain and enjoyment. It was full of dying and suffering.
Anyone that played basketball would know how bad it is for a practice day without basketballs being in sight.
It was hell.
"How you doing there, Harper?" Vanessa asked as she drunk a bit of her water from her water bottle.
Peyton looked at her and rolled her eyes, "die." She gritted through her teeth.
Vanessa smiled as she tossed Peyton one of her extra water bottles. "That bad huh?"
"Why can't coach have you guys do all those things? It's always me and Ali." Peyton ran her hands through her hair as she practically ate the whole water bottle.
—Vanessa shrugged, "maybe, just maybe, you and Ali are the best on our team and he really thinks that you can do it if you put your all into it. It's tough love."
Peyton gave her that look, "we are one of the best duos in all of River way's history. I think you should be working just as hard as me and Ali. You deserve the outcome."
Vanessa shook her heard, "No, I rather sit around and act as if I'm not a good player so when the scouts really get out there, I can show them how tough and good I am. Once they see that then I don't have to die from the whole suicide runs." She chuckled.
"That's a smart idea until colleges start making you do that."
Vanessa crossed her arms, "I haven't really looked at colleges like that. I guess I just thought that maybe I wouldn't go."
"But you what to do basketball? Life isn't free, V."
Vanessa rolled her eyes playfully, "I see what you did there. But I just haven't gave it much thought and I know that's a terrible mistake seeing as we are in our senior year, but I'm still holding onto my childhood. I don't want to grow up and face that scary world out there but then again I know I have to and some part of me wants to get as far away from my toxic family but then what if my life gets tough and I have to come right back to them?"
Peyton sighed, "I know how you feel, except my parents aren't toxic, just my twin sister and her dad."
"Her dad?" Vanessa questioned.
The raven haired girl chewed at her bottom lip, "don't worry about it. It's a really long story, and the day is about 5 hours from ending so we should get to the whole planning a date for me and your sister thing."
Vanessa nodded as she grabbed her bag, "just be careful with her, and patient. The last time I tried to come out to my dad, he sent me away to some catholic school, I can only imagine how hard it is once he finds out that his precious little girl is into other girls, or maybe she's just into you."
-
Flowers.
Gwen hates flowers.
Well she hates the smell of flowers so Peyton checked that off of her list.
But that was the least of her worries now because she had everything planned out. She might even say that this is the best effort she has ever put in. Especially for something she put together in an hour.
"This looks incredible." Vanessa looked around the place. "You must have tons of money to rent this out for the whole night."
Peyton shook her head and set up the rest of the food and drinks. "I didn't have much money, I'm not rich as everyone else at this school but I have been saving up after my summer job and I was just waiting for the moment to spend my money and I would buy Gwen anything." Peyton smiled as she lit candles.
Vanessa placed her hands on her hips, "How did you two meet anyways?"
Peyton smiled at the memory, "At a party. I use to have a thing for my old best friend and she invited me to play 7 minutes of heaven and I joined hoping deep down that I would get to kiss that best friend, but I winded up having to kiss Gwen, and it was moment of my life that changed." Peyton looked up at Vanessa before walking over to a box that she set aside. "Tonight I got her something."
"You know, you can't really buy her if that's what you are trying to do." Vanessa assured before running her hands through her hair.
—"I'm not trying to buy her. I don't want to buy her." Peyton moved a string of hair behind her ear. "Look." She says as she took out 2 things. "I brought this book a while ago. I was getting it printed out and made as a paper back. For Gwen. I heard the website that she reads all of her stuff on is getting taken down. So I printed out her favorite book so she can read it over and over again." Peyton assured before placing one book down and holding a box. "This contains every last letter I've written to her, every picture we've taken together, and every last little thing about us."
Vanessa sniffled, "you really love her. You two are cute." Vanessa assured.
Peyton ran her hands through her hair and nodded, "I guess we are. I know I'm ready to share this with her and that's a lot considering what's in these letters."
Vanessa looked in the box and saw a Patient Alert wristbands. "And why exactly would you need this as a memory?"
Peyton smiled at the memory of it. "She came to the hospital for me. This is also a memory of the first time that I realized I had feelings for her. So I kept this in here. There's also a used car scent package in there. That's from the time we spent in car after I was mad at her."
"Okay, you know what, forget that I asked, you kids just have fun. She should be here soon anyways." Vanessa says as she grabs her things and head for the door.
—Peyton smiled, "Thank you, V. You've been a big help."
"No problem."
And with that Vanessa left.
-
Finally showing up, Gwen. She walked into the pitch black arcade. "Hello? Peyton? You wanted me to come here?"The lights turned on as Peyton appeared behind her. She jumped from horror. "You scared the hell out of me."
Peyton smiled before she pulled the girl for a quickly peck on the lips. "You look amazing."
Gwen frowned as she looked down at her outfit. "I'm wear sweats, our school sweater and my hair is tied up in a ugly ass bun. You don't have to lie to me."
"You look amazing and I love a good messy bun." Peyton assured once again before pulling Gwen back in for another kiss. "As much..." she placed another kiss onto Gwen's lips. "As I love..." and another "this." And once more, "We have a date to get too."
Gwen eyes widened, "a date? Peyton! This is a date? But I don't even look good."
Peyton chuckled as she moved a string of hair behind Gwen's ear. "Aww baby, you look amazing. You always look amazing. I didn't tell you about this because I wanted it to be a surprise and we have a date ahead of us, so if you would stop pouting and let me make give you the best night of your life then that would be great." Gwen grinned as Peyton rolled her eyes. "Not like that."
"Aw, really? I was hoping that it was just like that." Gwen teased before looking at the cleared out Dave & busters. "When did you have time for all of this?"
Peyton smiled, "Well, I had help from your sister. She really knows how to plan a party."
"You and my sister? Don't tell me you two have something going on." Gwen teased before walking over to the decorated table.
"Never." Peyton chewed at her bottom lip as she stopped Gwen. "You shouldn't look over here yet. Let's go have fun with the arcade games." Peyton grabbed the blonde's hands and ran off to the first game.
Gwen smiled as she ran over to her favorite game. Skee-ball. "You know how to play this game?" Gwen asked as she flipped her hair over to the side.
Peyton rolled her eyes, "you think I don't know how to play some stupid game?"
Gwen scoffed, "it's not stupid! It's like the best game at any arcade. I would even go to Chuck E. Cheese for this game."
"I figured. You are very childish." Peyton smiled as Gwen picked up a ball.
"Let's play against each other. Loser has to go skinny dipping." Gwen grinned.
Peyton put her hands up in surrender, "oh baby, I would do that for free."
"How about, if I win you have to do something that I want and if you win then I have to do something that you want." Gwen negotiated.
"I can handle that." Peyton assured before picking up a ball and standing in front of the Skee-ball machine that's right next to Gwen's. "So how does this thing work?"
"Well you roll the ball up and you have to get it into the hole-"
"Oh, so practically us every five seconds but instead of a ball it'll be my lucky 2 fingers." Peyton says as she waved her two middle fingers back and forth as Gwen playfully hit her in the arm.
Gwen sighed, "you are such a horny person."
"You made me this way. It's kind of hard to stop when you start. It's like an-"
"Addiction. You're an sex addict, Pey." Gwen assured before hitting start on the machine. "Let's play this game, and be prepared to lose."
"You wish."
-
"I win! I told you." Gwen grinned before Peyton pinched the bridge of her nose. "Now you have to do what I say! Not that you don't already do that."
Peyton scoffed, "whatever."
"So now can we go eat at that fancy table you set up? Or do you want to lose your 10th time of this game?"
Peyton intertwined their fingers before walking Gwen over to the table. "This is where we will eat your favorite."
Gwen hummed, "if you wanted to have sex with me then we could have just snuck back to my place." She winked.
"And you say I'm the sex addict." Peyton groaned before handing Gwen the box "I think you should open it."
Gwen frowned, "I'm not the type to be ungrateful but a brown box? You can't be serious right now."
"Look what's in the box." Peyton pinched the bridge of her nose.
Gwen reached in and grabbed a smaller box, a few of Gwen's favorite things and the book. Gwen opened up the book and she skimmed through it. "No way, you...you did this, for me?" Gwen asked in disbelief as she looked up at Peyton. "Oh my gosh." She pulled Peyton into a long and heartfelt hug.
"This is not even the beginning, wait until I give you what I have for you later on."
-
After getting done with their food, they couldn't stomach the laughter leaving out if their mouths.
"You know you really are the best person anyone can ask for to be in their life."
"You're one to talk." Peyton squeezed Gwen's thigh. Gwen tensed up, "Hey, what's wrong? You seem really jumpy today."
Gwen smiled and shook her head, "Nothing. We need to talk."
Peyton smiled and nodded, "Yes, we do need to talk."
"Okay, so-" Gwen paused, "wait why do you want to talk?"
"I have something to tell you, but it can wait until after you tell me what you wanted to talk about." Peyton assured as she searched Gwen's eyes.
"No, you tell me first." Gwen suggested.
Peyton reached over and slowly placed her hands into Gwen's. "I've been unfair to you. I've been treating you like my girlfriend and leading you on but being a coward and not showing you how much you really deserve."
"Peyton..."
Peyton raised her index finger to Gwen's lips. "Let me finish like all those other times." Her face heated, "I'm the girl for you, and you're the girl for me. I don't care about anything or anyone else in the world and I'm done keeping you waiting, Guinevere Calloway. I want to be with you, I want to be your girlfriend and I want you to be my girlfriend." Peyton ran her thumb over Gwen's knuckles, "I love you, so much." Peyton muttered.
The blonde searched her eyes in worry. "Listen, Peyton-"
"Oh god, don't tell me you didn't like the speech. I tried to go for the most cliché speech but if want something over the top then I can redo this whole date-"
"No it's not that. I actually enjoyed myself all night. I really enjoy hanging out with you..."
Peyton nodded, "but...you don't love me?"
Gwen wanted anything more than to pull Peyton in and kiss her. Kiss her until they both break apart for air. She wanted to run her warm fingers through the loose waves of Peyton hair. She wanted to feel the raven haired girl's body so heatedly pressed on hers.
But she didn't do that. Instead she possibly made the worst decision in her life.
"No...I don't love you, Peyton. I don't think I could ever love you and this was a mistake." Gwen got up as she pushed the box over to Peyton. "I shouldn't have led you on but I'm a popular girl, that's what we do."
Peyton scoffed with a dry chuckle following after. "If this is about the whole loving you thing then I take it back. Not that I don't mean it because I do love you but if you're not ready for it then you don't have to say it back."
Gwen shook her head, "that's not going to help what is going on between us. We aren't meant for each other. I'm sorry, Peyton." She got up and started to make her way out of the arcade.
"GWEN! WAIT!" Peyton called after her as she got up and practically stormed after Gwen. When Peyton got outside it had began to rain, so her tears and the rain weren't noticeable because the mix. "GWEN! I'M SORRY!" Peyton yelled after her as she ran and jumped in front of her.
Gwen stood soaked from head to toe. "Why? Why, Peyton? Why the hell are you sorry when I'm the one hurting your feelings! I'm the one that's treating you like shit. Go be with someone who deserves you."
The taller girl shook her head, "No."
The rain dripped down as the raindrops bounced off of Gwen's lips. "What do you mean, no?"
"I mean that I'm tired of the going back and forth and I'm tired of things coming in between us. I'm tired of being Peyton Harper and if you accept this then I will be one step closer to being a Calloway so for the love of god, stop it. Stop with these mixed feelings and with all this drama. I just want to be happy without any toxicity because we both deserve that and it's longer overdue."
"Why can't you let it go, Pey? Just go back to your old life and forget about me. Go be with Jade or whoever you want to be with-"
Peyton looked around as the rain started to pour more. "I want to be with you! I love you, Gwen." Peyton cupped Gwen's face. "I sound like a broken fucking recorded. I'm in love with you and if you don't let me fucking love you then I will kick your ass everyday until you do." Gwen smiled with the rain still dripping down her face and her hair was soaked.
The blonde sighed, "you'll kick my ass?"
"Oh, you can bet." Peyton assured before stepping up to Gwen.
Gwen leaned up as her lips brushed against Peyton's. She leaned back as if she did a crime but the feeling in her stomach didn't feel right, so she leaned back up as she hooked her arms around Peyton's shoulder with their mouths pressing heatedly together.
The blonde's lips pulled at Peyton's as she tried pressing their bodies together but there wasn't any closer they can get.
Gwen pulled back as she smiled. "Now if you don't love me after that then I don't know what could make you love me."
"Peyton, oh my dear Peyton." Gwen searched Peyton's eyes as she exclaimed every feature on the younger girl's face. "I love you so much. And I'll love you until the last breath escapes my lips. God, Peyton I wouldn't trade you for anything. And every since I've met you, I've been a changed person, you've changed me and I can't thank you enough for that." Gwen rubbed her thumb against Peyton's cheek. "But I can't be with you, there's so much things that you don't know and-"
"Well, then tell me! I won't go anywhere and if you're not ready to tell me then I'll wait for you but don't push me away, Guinevere."
Gwen chewed on her bottom lip before reaching up to place a soft lingering kiss onto Peyton's. "I gotta go."
"Gwen..."
"I have to go." Gwen pushed back before running off to her car.
Peyton was left with the rain still pouring down on her. Her heart stung as she watched Gwen run off.
-
A knock was heard at Peyton's door as she groaned and stuffed her face in her pillow. "Go away!" She yelled from behind the door.
"Is that any way to talk to your mother?" Avery asked as she leaned against the door frame with the door opening up. "I was hoping that you would be a little more happy."
Peyton put on a fake smile, "I'm happy see?"
Avery sighed before walking over to sit next to Peyton. "What's the matter? Did you see Gwen all this week after I told you not to?"
Peyton nodded as she sniffled, "I did, mom. I love her too much not to see her but you don't have to worry about that now, cause apparently she doesn't want me anymore." Peyton palmed her face before historically crying. "Why doesn't she love me anymore, mom? I know that she used to but why now?"
Avery sighed, "maybe it's more to the story. I guess we don't really know until she tells you. Plus, it's her lost if she can't see how amazing and bright you are."
"Love sucks."
"You've been heartbroken once and now love sucks?" Avery asked with a small smile. "I know it hurts but love is always good. She'll come around."
Peyton signed before burying her face back into her pillow. "Mom, I miss her. I want to see her and hug her and apologize a million times. I don't know what I did to hurt her. I had this whole date planned and I thought I did something good but the look on her face when I told her that I loved her maybe my heart drop."
Avery leaned over and placed a kiss onto Peyton's head. "You will be fine, I can promise you that."
"We don't make promises that we can't keep, mom."
"Yeah, but in my heart I feel that something is wrong. I know Gwen, she's a sweet girl."
Peyton nodded, "yeah, that's how I know you're wrong. Sweet and Gwen don't mix."
-
"Did you do what I asked?" Jade asked as Gwen clenched her eyes shut and shut her locker.
"No, I couldn't do that to her."
The brunette nodded, "Does that mean I should start sending out that photo?"
"It means that you need to back off. If you loved her you would and if you think that for a second you can blackmail me then you're mistaken." Gwen gritted through her teeth.
Jade rolled her eyes, "Listen, I don't have time for you 50 different egos, just tell me when you did it. You have by midnight and if it's not done then you will see."
Gwen watched as Jade walk away before she scoffed. "Bitch."
The blonde was turned on her way as she needed to get prepared for school.
When she walked into her 1st period class she tensed up at the sight of her ex-boyfriend and then the sight of her possibly future girlfriend.
Gwen looked between both and she decided to sit in the empty seat right in the front.
Peyton looked at her frowned as Vanessa walked in and sat next to her sister. "So, how was your date on Friday?" Vanessa asked Gwen.
Gwen shook her head, "It was the worst and it's all my fault. I broke Peyton's heart." She muttered as she looked at her sister.
Vanessa raised her eyebrow, "What do you mean you broke her heart? What can you possibly do to break her heart?"
"I told her that I didn't want to be with her and that I didn't love her and then after planning that amazing date on Friday, I ran from it-" she was interrupted but a thud as Peyton dropped the box from yesterday right in front of her. "Pey, what-"
"Here's your things, Guinevere." Peyton turned to make her way back to her seat but Gwen stopped her.
—"Peyton, I'm sorry."
The raven haired girl nodded, "yeah, me too." Her voice was unsteady before she took her hand back as she turned away and walking over to her seat.
"You really messed up." Vanessa pointed out.
"Well, there's so much that I have to tell you."
And so she did. She told Vanessa about Steve, Jade and the whole plan that Jade wanted her to do.
"No way. You should go to the principal office and report her. If she tries to use a photo on you then that's just proof you were..." she leaned in and whispered, "Sexually assaulted."
"There's no proof for me. It's their word against mine."
Vanessa nodded, "and where did they corner you?"
Gwen ran her hands through her hair as the teacher walked. "In the girl's locker."
Vanessa grinned, "alright, I can help you. Steve's not supposed to be in the girl's locker room and apparently no one knows about the new built security system."
Gwen face lit up before she hugged her sister. "Oh my gosh! I love you so much."
Vanessa smiled before looking at Peyton who turned away from them. "You should have told her."
"It was too risky."
"CALLOWAYS! DO I HAVE TO SEND YOU TO THE PRINCIPAL OFFICE?" The teacher yelled.
Vanessa sat back and smirked, "actually that's exactly what I need you to do."