Home once more
***
Jake and Jenny meant so much to Peyton that she buried the anguish for quite some time, trying to deal with fact that maybe she will never see either of them again. Her heart continued to hope, however, and her feelings are boiling beneath the surface.
“Waking up from this nightmare. How’s your life? What’s it like there? Is it all what you want it to be? Does it hurt when you think about me and how broken my heart is?” was Peyton’s soundtrack for the rest of the summer. She wants to take a time-off chasing boys so she deleted the Lust Factor profile Brooke made for her. There’s so many things Peyton wants to search for but she doesn’t have a clue where to begin.
By 2x08- Truth, Bitter Truth, Peyton kept looking forward to Jake’s correspondences via online and Brooke even commented on the many messages she has sent but were never answered. It looks like she was about to give up altogether. She admitted that her life was good but she was looking for something to make it great. In a moment of weakness, she did a line of coke and was tempted to try again due to crippling loneliness. At first she didn’t want to deal with it, telling Lucas off when he asked her if she misses Jake. And then horrible rumors about her sexual orientation started to spread around school and she was able to face it with the grace and dignity she was always known for; but she still feels like everything is slipping from her grasp. She’s still able to relapse through Karen’s help, and that’s how she came up with the music club Tric. But there was still a hole in her heart where Jake used to be. She sought Brooke’s comfort, admitting that she does indeed miss Jake and Jenny and she’s still broken up about her mom’s death. In the end she was alone and desperate to feel safe again.
A surprising twist in 2x10- Don't Take Me For Granted made us jump in our seats when Jake appeared to rescue Peyton from herself as she was about to make a mistake of buying drugs. Her eyes lit up just by the sight of him and she completely submitted herself to him in a welcoming and long-awaited embrace. Jake held onto her as the rain started to pour in Tree Hill. He was finally home with her and it’s the only thing that matters.
Peyton woke up from a nightmare in 2x11- The Heart Brings You Back, it seems, but Jake was there on the corner of her room, waiting for her to wake up. She felt uplifted the moment he started talking to her and asking her how she’s been. And then she pats the left side of her bed so he could rest there. He obliged. When Peyton was awoken again, she noticed Jake was just sitting there and she asked what he’s been thinking about. He says he was just listening to her breathe. He then asked about what she was doing before, if that was a drug deal, that Lucas was worried so he called him up to get back as soon as he can. Peyton was warmed upon hearing this, claiming that it was stupid and that she promised not to do it again. Jake believed her. They stayed in her room until dawn. In the morning, they talked about the situation with Jenny and how Jake is making ends meet to make sure Nikki doesn’t intrude. When he was about to go, Peyton asked him to stay a while again, “just to sleep”, she says. He said he’ll be coming back after dinner. I have not forgotten the most genuine show of happiness and relief when Peyton launches into his arms in a very reassuring embrace. Jake looked surprised but he held onto her just the same, and Peyton has never felt safer since then.
Jake tells Peyton that she’s strong and she doesn’t even know it, considering she’s got him through some pretty dark days. He’s done running. With her, he can feel a sudden calm was over him. So he tells her that they’re going to bring Jenny back home. While inside the car, Peyton falls asleep in Jake’s shoulder and I have not forgotten that their hearts just merged right then.
Peyton shows Jake Tric in 2x13- The Hero Dies In This One, and Jake tells her she’s amazing and that he never doubted it for a second. Peyton lights up. She then got The Wreckers to play later that night and she sits contentedly beside Jake as they watched the performance.
2x14- The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows is where the tension is building up. Peyton was excited to be alone with Jake and she’s in a noticeable good mood ever since he came back. Jenny got sick, though, and Peyton lent him some money, saying Jake doesn’t need to pay her back. Later that night, as Jake tucked Jenny in her crib, he was going to sleep beside Peyton again when she suddenly stormed out, embarrassed, saying that she’s not sure that it’s right for them to be this way and she doesn’t want to make him uncomfortable. Jake was puzzled. When Peyton returned the next night, Jake was waiting for her. They had one of their most chemistry-driven conversations:
JAKE: You know I wasn't entirely honest with you before.
PEYTON: About what?
JAKE: The reason I came back.
PEYTON: You said you were tired of running.
JAKE: Yeah, but that's not the only reason. You see the whole time I was gone I kept thinking about all this stuff that I should have done when I had the chance, but didn't.
PEYTON: Like what kind of stuff?
JAKE: I don't know—mostly being with you…
And they share their first kiss. I have not forgotten how Peyton’s world just melted the moment their lips touched. They paused for a while and they noticed that Jenny stopped crying and that she was looking up at them in her crib, giggling. They also laughed and Jake kissed Peyton again as she couldn’t suppress her joy that she was also giggling between kisses.
They had their first date in 2x15- Unopened Letter to the World. I have not forgotten how easy it was for Peyton when Jake is around her, especially if he says things like, “you smell insanely good today.” They professed their feelings in a video recorder for the TH Time Capsule. Peyton was nervous about being with Jake physically even when she was aching to share herself to him like that. She claimed that sex was the easy part and giving your heart wasn’t. During the date, Jake walked her around the park as they were looking at the stars and listening to the sweet serenade in the background. Peyton held his hand and their compatibility began to run its course. They kissed each other with tenderness I don’t think I will ever see in any other couple.
Jake and Peyton continue to tease each other as their date ended, Peyton telling Jake that it wouldn’t be the last time they will see each other if only Jake is still staying at her place. When Jake complained that the only reason why he moved out is because they wouldn’t be able to stop—Peyton suddenly pulls him into a powerful kiss—and she just made his point. As they were getting hot and heavy, making out in Peyton’s bed, the candle dies and Jake stood up to light it. He accidentally found a long strip of condoms inside Peyton’s drawer. They started joking about it but Peyton told him she’s not that kind of girl and she wants to make it special between them. Jake agreed that they should wait until the moment feels right. This takes a load of pressure from Peyton and she announces in the video for the time capsule that she has gained hope even if she still has trust issues. Jake, on the other hand, says that despite that he and Peyton have different experience levels, he’s doing something with her he’s never done before: he’s falling in love.
In 2x16- Somewhere a Clock is Ticking, Brooke greets Jake and Peyton as they’ve just woken up and Jake was just telling Peyton that Jenny said her first word. Brooke comments on their state by teasing them as “Mr. and Mrs. Jagielski.” Peyton then tells Brooke as they were trying on clothes that she and Jake are taking things slow. Brooke concurs but claims that “fast is better.”
A few scenes after that, Jake was waiting for Peyton to put on her dress. When she walks out to let him see it, she was wearing the most breathtaking green gown there is that all that Jake could say was wow. They started to move closer to each other, their desire unmasked and can be contained no longer. They kissed as if they were breaking lips and then with an urgency that’s building up at an unstoppable rate, they peeled off each other’s clothes. I will never forget the first time they made love; the magic was strong and the timing was right. Everything that Jake and Peyton felt for each other burst into something undeniable and consuming, taking them for a wild spin. As they lay contentedly in each other’s arms, all the horrible things they have to go through just to get back to each other suddenly didn’t matter.
They got dressed up for the wedding again. They were hoping no one will notice but Brooke, being a sex-psychic (LOL), points it out: Oh my god, you guys totally did it! She then started pestering Peyton about it as they were waiting for the bride to arrive. She said: Blink once if it’s good and blink twice if it was really good. Peyton, to amuse her, turns to her and blinks several times. Brooke rejoices, saying she loves weddings as Jake unknowingly laughs along.
As Keith’s wedding ended in disaster, Jake and Peyton with Jenny were about to face the biggest obstacle yet in their blossoming relationship. And it might tear them apart once again and this time, the cut will be deeper.
To be continued…
THE SONG NEVER ENDS
Their love just seeps through holes and fills them with hope
