She had been sitting in her cramped office and scrounging around to keep herself busy,particularly over the last hour.Though she had different plans in mind,previously but she had to drop it due to his odd behavior,this afternoon.
Lately,he has been always preoccupied and keeping to himself.She wasn't the intruding type though,so she let him be on his own,with the hope that when its the right time he will say it himself.But one cannot keep their mind away from wandering,when specially its the matter about your 'boyfriend'.
Nathan and she had been dating for almost nine years now,on and off for years.She met him at high school and from then on they were close friends.They even went to same college and it was the prom night when he first expressed his true feelings,all thanks to the person who had spiked his drink that night.And from then on they had been steadily seeing each other.
He was the type who seldom bothered to conceal his emotions.So after his behavior this afternoon She knew something was definitely wrong.But she just couldn't make herself fit to confront him,at least not today!
Her mind was beginning to wander into forbidden areas,when suddenly her cell phone came to life.Pulling the phone from the belt clip,she eyed the LCD screen.Just as she had feared,it was him.Before flipping it open,she repeated to herself 'Peyton,not today!'
"Pey, where are you?" Nathan said,his voice wheezy and chuffed.
She knew he had been playing his favorite,routine game basketball.(and wandered how could he be so casual?)He seemed to go about his usual routine,but then she decided to pass and took a deep breath,resolved to eat crow and then replied
"At Office,what is it,Nate?"
"I have some important things to tell,could you come and meet me at The Ellis,at eight."
So finally,She thought...
"Okay..count me in!" and hung up.
She pulled on her jacket and started down the deserted hallway towards the elevator.Ten minutes later,she was driving on the route to uptown.The evening was glorious,with a golden glow suffusing the cityscape.Finally she could release her already build up tension about him.
She parked in a few steps away from the restaurant's entrance and walked into Ellis and entered the fray.The place was packed,particularly around the bar near the front door.
Peyton excused herself to those in front of her and squeezed sideways deeper into the restaurant.People juggled their drinks as she brushed by.She was looking for him,when suddenly someone tapped insistently on her shoulder.She turned to find herself looking directly into Nathan's dark-blue eyes.Even in the half-light of the restaurant,her skin glowed as if illuminated from within.
To Nathan,she looked terrific as usual,but there was a problem.Instead of the warm,fuzzy,happy expression he was expecting,she appeared more like amber and ice.But then he realized the reason behind it and thought to himself it was suppose to be that,after the act that he had put up for the whole day.But then he knew that it wasn't going to stay long that way.
Reaching behind him Nathan pulled Warren and Maya,Me(Brooke),Lucas and his fiance Haley followed.She was little surprised that he had invited us too,when she had actually assumed that it would be just both of them,alone.After the greeting were exchanged,the waiter appeared and got us a table to be seated.
After little chit chat,Nathan walked up to the podium and holding the microphone,he said
"Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,can I have your attention,pleaseeee..."
Everyone turned to face the podium and she narrowed her eyebrow and locked eyes with him.A smirk appeared on his face and she knew what was all this about.Her expression changed in a blink and her cheeks rather was beginning to turn pinkish.
"My Love,I'm sorry,about what you had to go through this afternoon,but it was all part of the plan.
I can see that you've realized now..So Happy Birthday Sweet p..Cheers to Peyton, Everyone!" (and loud applaud followed)
She thought,How could she not know it was all planned!That it was Nathan who loved giving surprises and sweeping her every time off her feet,that all this while she was uselessly filling up her head with meaningless worries.
Everyone cheered as Nathan and Peyton exchanged a self-conscious kiss and awkward hug.He then handed her the gift.
"Hey, come on!" Warren urged."What the hell is it? Open it up"
"Yeah, come on, Peyton," Haley urged too.
She removed first the tie and then the wrapping from the package.Its was a photo-frame.
"You like it? Love" Nathan asked
"Its beautiful, thank you.."
After sharing some gossip and giggles,when we were about to dig into the main course,Nathan's phone rang.He excused himself to take the call and was back after ten minutes.
Peyton whispered softly,"Nate, is everything okay...."
Nathan replied,asking our attention "Guys! you noh right that I had been trying for this job in Boston from past five years now"
Lucas asked "So what you got the job? Man!"
"Yes that's right,it was a call from Boston and I have to leave right away,this is my opportunity to grab the brass ring" hugging Peyton,"I'm so happy, you always is my lucky charm!"
I could make out from Peyton's expression that she wasn't all that amused,but she loved him too much,and we all knew that.She could see that spark of happiness in his eyes and moreover it was an opportunity of a lifetime which Nathan had been waiting for all long.She wouldn't take it away from him!
"So how long is this like?" Warren asked
"I don't know yet,but I have to leave tomorrow that much I know for sure.And its not going to be long, I guess, I should be back here in a month or so!" Nathan cheerfully replied.
As agreed,Nathan left off the very next day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(After a month)
Nathan had phoned and informed Peyton about his return,she was very happy.She then had phoned us and invited over for dinner to celebrate his arrival home.
It was twenty after seven,I glanced at the clock on the wall,and thought there was plenty of time to get dressed for the dinner.So to spend some time,I switched on the T.V. shuffling through the channel,I put it to news,and relaxed on the couch.When a news caught my attention.
I turned up the volume,to listen clearly..It was saying something about a plane crash.I searched for my glasses to see the flight no. and to my horror,it beeped in red bold A-A-1-9-4-6.I re-read to be confirmed and it was the same flight in which Nathan was to arrive in.
I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed.And Five minutes later,I was driving up to Peyton's house.I reached and parked my vehicle at a random spot and rushed through the front door.I saw Warren and Maya had already reached and Peyton was sitting on the floor with her sister Debby,by her side.
She got up and ran over to me and hugged me and began to cry out loud,and soon after fell unconscious.
Warren helped her to get to bed and phoned the doctor,and I,then left with Luke to the airport.
The news was confirmed,my brother Nathan was dead!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After the funeral,I went to pay a visit to Peyton.She wasn't okay.Her parents had come to live with her until she could get back to pull herself up,together.
I had something,that I wanted her to have.I handed her the small box that was covered with black crushed velvet.
She eyed me questioningly.
I knew this would only worsen her more,but it was necessary for her to know.He would have wanted her to know!
She snapped open the box with trembling hands.Gleaming back at her was a Tiffany solitaire diamond ring.She hardly spoke,tears rolled down her pale cheeks.
For a while,silence hung in the room,then she spoke softly,holding the empty photo-frame on one hand and the box on the other.
"So,this is how you have surprised me!" two drops of tears fell on the glass,and the light reflected on it,made it twinkle....
Lately,he has been always preoccupied and keeping to himself.She wasn't the intruding type though,so she let him be on his own,with the hope that when its the right time he will say it himself.But one cannot keep their mind away from wandering,when specially its the matter about your 'boyfriend'.
Nathan and she had been dating for almost nine years now,on and off for years.She met him at high school and from then on they were close friends.They even went to same college and it was the prom night when he first expressed his true feelings,all thanks to the person who had spiked his drink that night.And from then on they had been steadily seeing each other.
Her mind was beginning to wander into forbidden areas,when suddenly her cell phone came to life.Pulling the phone from the belt clip,she eyed the LCD screen.Just as she had feared,it was him.Before flipping it open,she repeated to herself 'Peyton,not today!'
"Pey, where are you?" Nathan said,his voice wheezy and chuffed.
She knew he had been playing his favorite,routine game basketball.(and wandered how could he be so casual?)He seemed to go about his usual routine,but then she decided to pass and took a deep breath,resolved to eat crow and then replied
"At Office,what is it,Nate?"
"I have some important things to tell,could you come and meet me at The Ellis,at eight."
So finally,She thought...
"Okay..count me in!" and hung up.
She pulled on her jacket and started down the deserted hallway towards the elevator.Ten minutes later,she was driving on the route to uptown.The evening was glorious,with a golden glow suffusing the cityscape.Finally she could release her already build up tension about him.
She parked in a few steps away from the restaurant's entrance and walked into Ellis and entered the fray.The place was packed,particularly around the bar near the front door.
Peyton excused herself to those in front of her and squeezed sideways deeper into the restaurant.People juggled their drinks as she brushed by.She was looking for him,when suddenly someone tapped insistently on her shoulder.She turned to find herself looking directly into Nathan's dark-blue eyes.Even in the half-light of the restaurant,her skin glowed as if illuminated from within.
To Nathan,she looked terrific as usual,but there was a problem.Instead of the warm,fuzzy,happy expression he was expecting,she appeared more like amber and ice.But then he realized the reason behind it and thought to himself it was suppose to be that,after the act that he had put up for the whole day.But then he knew that it wasn't going to stay long that way.
Reaching behind him Nathan pulled Warren and Maya,Me(Brooke),Lucas and his fiance Haley followed.She was little surprised that he had invited us too,when she had actually assumed that it would be just both of them,alone.After the greeting were exchanged,the waiter appeared and got us a table to be seated.
After little chit chat,Nathan walked up to the podium and holding the microphone,he said
"Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,can I have your attention,pleaseeee..."
Everyone turned to face the podium and she narrowed her eyebrow and locked eyes with him.A smirk appeared on his face and she knew what was all this about.Her expression changed in a blink and her cheeks rather was beginning to turn pinkish.
"My Love,I'm sorry,about what you had to go through this afternoon,but it was all part of the plan.
I can see that you've realized now..So Happy Birthday Sweet p..Cheers to Peyton, Everyone!" (and loud applaud followed)
She thought,How could she not know it was all planned!That it was Nathan who loved giving surprises and sweeping her every time off her feet,that all this while she was uselessly filling up her head with meaningless worries.
Everyone cheered as Nathan and Peyton exchanged a self-conscious kiss and awkward hug.He then handed her the gift.
"Hey, come on!" Warren urged."What the hell is it? Open it up"
"Yeah, come on, Peyton," Haley urged too.
She removed first the tie and then the wrapping from the package.Its was a photo-frame.
"You like it? Love" Nathan asked
"Its beautiful, thank you.."
After sharing some gossip and giggles,when we were about to dig into the main course,Nathan's phone rang.He excused himself to take the call and was back after ten minutes.
Peyton whispered softly,"Nate, is everything okay...."
Nathan replied,asking our attention "Guys! you noh right that I had been trying for this job in Boston from past five years now"
Lucas asked "So what you got the job? Man!"
"Yes that's right,it was a call from Boston and I have to leave right away,this is my opportunity to grab the brass ring" hugging Peyton,"I'm so happy, you always is my lucky charm!"
I could make out from Peyton's expression that she wasn't all that amused,but she loved him too much,and we all knew that.She could see that spark of happiness in his eyes and moreover it was an opportunity of a lifetime which Nathan had been waiting for all long.She wouldn't take it away from him!
"So how long is this like?" Warren asked
"I don't know yet,but I have to leave tomorrow that much I know for sure.And its not going to be long, I guess, I should be back here in a month or so!" Nathan cheerfully replied.
As agreed,Nathan left off the very next day.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(After a month)
Nathan had phoned and informed Peyton about his return,she was very happy.She then had phoned us and invited over for dinner to celebrate his arrival home.
It was twenty after seven,I glanced at the clock on the wall,and thought there was plenty of time to get dressed for the dinner.So to spend some time,I switched on the T.V. shuffling through the channel,I put it to news,and relaxed on the couch.When a news caught my attention.
I turned up the volume,to listen clearly..It was saying something about a plane crash.I searched for my glasses to see the flight no. and to my horror,it beeped in red bold A-A-1-9-4-6.I re-read to be confirmed and it was the same flight in which Nathan was to arrive in.
I quickly grabbed my phone and dialed.And Five minutes later,I was driving up to Peyton's house.I reached and parked my vehicle at a random spot and rushed through the front door.I saw Warren and Maya had already reached and Peyton was sitting on the floor with her sister Debby,by her side.
She got up and ran over to me and hugged me and began to cry out loud,and soon after fell unconscious.
Warren helped her to get to bed and phoned the doctor,and I,then left with Luke to the airport.
The news was confirmed,my brother Nathan was dead!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After the funeral,I went to pay a visit to Peyton.She wasn't okay.Her parents had come to live with her until she could get back to pull herself up,together.
I had something,that I wanted her to have.I handed her the small box that was covered with black crushed velvet.
I knew this would only worsen her more,but it was necessary for her to know.He would have wanted her to know!
She snapped open the box with trembling hands.Gleaming back at her was a Tiffany solitaire diamond ring.She hardly spoke,tears rolled down her pale cheeks.
For a while,silence hung in the room,then she spoke softly,holding the empty photo-frame on one hand and the box on the other.
"So,this is how you have surprised me!" two drops of tears fell on the glass,and the light reflected on it,made it twinkle....
