so much for my happy ending

Alice took a deep breath, composing herself in the hallway outside of Peyton’s flat. Meeting Peyton was probably the best thing to happen to Alice since she had moved here, but she was still an absolute mess of a person. She thought she was doing pretty well hiding her fears and her unhealthy coping strategies, but she still needed to take a moment to adjust her mask. Alice waited after knocking and when Peyton opened the door, she grinned. “Hi!” She slid off her jacket as she walked inside. “Pizza would be great. Maybe we could get some of those chicken strips on the side too?”

Peyton smiled. More like beamed, to be honest, which was embarrassing but it was nice to smile after everything. She hadn’t done a whole lot of that after Matt, or she supposed even before. “Oh, that sounds perfect.” She nodded, grabbing her phone so she could order. “I’m glad you could make it tonight.” She said, looking up at Alice and unable to stop herself from smiling again.

Peyton had thoroughly enjoyed her last date with Alice. She had no idea where the other woman’s head was at but she was eager to see her again, so she’d invited her over for a movie night. Peyton had been feeling quite down about her brother again this week and looking forward to spending some time with Alice was already brightening her mood. “Hey!” She smiled, opening the door to her flat and moving aside so the brunette could come in. “What do you feel like ordering? Pizza?” She asked as she closed the door.

Alice smiled too. Genuinely. It was so easy to forget all the bullshit when Peyton was around; it was nice, but it scared her a little too. For a moment, she watched Peyton’s lip as she bit down on it and had to quickly compose herself before her thoughts drifted back to the night they had. “Coming right up.” She ordered the vodka and coke and got herself a bourbon before turned back to the blonde. “Hey, listen.” Alice’s heart thudded against her ribcage, but she was just buzzed enough to ask. “I- Um… I don’t know if you just wanted a one night thing, or um… if you know, I’ve fucked around too long or-…” She took a breath, “Would you like to go out? Some time? With me?” Maybe Jackie could come back and interrupt this train wreck too…

Peyton liked being around Alice, it somehow felt easy. Nice. She’d needed that after the hell of the last months. Her thoughts drifted to Matt once more but she quickly pushed it to the side. Not today. She smiled, watching as she ordered their drinks. What came next was pretty unexpected, she wasn’t entirely sure what the brunette was going to say... but the more she spoke, the more Peyton felt almost like her insides were starting to fizz. She couldn’t help but let out a little chuckle as she listened to Alice fumbling through what she wanted to say, practically able to feel the nerves. “You know...” She started, moving to pick up her drink and have a sip. “I thought you’d never ask.” She glanced up. “I’d love that. Really.”

Alice’s eyes dropped to the floor as she smiled, grateful that her foundation was probably hiding the blush on her cheeks. “Thanks… And you’re looking absolutely stunning.” When she opened her mouth, Alice had intended on complimenting her outfit too, or maybe her hair, but it seemed the champagne was starting to hit her. “I-… Um… What can I get you?” She asked, making a move for the bar.

Peyton could feel herself beginning to blush at Alice’s words. God, what a girl she was being. She bet Matty would find her so ridiculously amusing. “Thank you...” She smiled softly, biting her lip lightly as she moved up to the bar. “Um, I think I’ll just have a vodka coke... thanks.” How generic.

Alice released a small laugh at Peyton’s response, feeling fresh tears form in her eyes, but she caught them with her tissue before finishing her eyeliner. Being such a small town, Alice had expected Peyton to be here, but seeing her with the Ford family, she couldn’t quite fathom how she hadn’t realised that she was a Ford too. She finished reapplying her lipstick and turned to Peyton. “Yeah… me too.” Gosh she was beautiful. “You want to get a drink?”

Peyton smiled lightly, looking back at Alice, studying her features briefly. She nodded, hopefully not looking too eager because that would be embarrassing, when Alice asked if she wanted to get a drink. “Yeah, sure. I’d love one actually.” She said. “Your dress is gorgeous, by the way..”

“I know you do. We all do.”

“It’s not fair. It’s always been me and Matty... I don’t know what to do.

Alice didn’t even realise the voice had been directed at her until there was someone sitting beside her on the bench. She immediately snapped out of her daydream and, despite everything, seeing Peyton beside her made her smile. “Hey.” Thank goodness she washed her hair that morning. “I-… Yeah. Yeah, I will be.” Alice shrugged one shoulder, not really sure if she should go into detail. They barely knew each other… Would that be okay? “Someone I dated a long while back, he- um… well, he died, so…” She shrugged again. 

Peyton frowned and shook her head. “Oh, I... shit.” She felt a bit like she’d put her foot right in it even though it’s not like it was her fault. “Shit, I’m really sorry.” She thought about Matt but quickly pushed it away since this wasn’t about her, it was just a stray thought. “Uh... do you want me to go or?” Sometimes people wanted to be alone in times like this.

“Oh! Hey!” Peyton found herself smiling as she noticed Alice, moving over to the bench and sitting down next to her. She wondered if that was even okay but she was feeling like she needed some social interaction to distract her brain from Matty and everything else, and Alice was the first person she saw that she knew. “...you okay?”

“Oh, my type of girl.” Amber teased lightly, she down her drink and ordered them another round. “Not as often as most people. Would you like to dance?”

Peyton manage to chuckle a little at that, looking up with a little shrug. “Yeah, sure.” Maybe it would help distract her damn mind. She picked up the new drink and downed it, wanting to be past buzzed.

“Well I can see what I can do. Start looking into it for you if you want me to do so. I don’t mind. Just need the guys name.”

“Josh Cox.”