All We Will Never Know

Chapter 3 - Peyton

Peyton Ziegler put her right hand on her hip and her left arm around Cordelia's waist, smiling wide and bright as the camera flashed before them. "Take another!" Alexis squealed, squeezing from between Cordelia and Mia to hand her own phone to the poor freshman guy they had conned into being a photographer. He carefully sat Peyton's Dslr to the side and prepared for another photo. The girls got back into position, cocking their heads slightly to one side, their arms wrapped around each other as the light flashed again, documenting the moment in time.

Peyton's cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. When Alexis finally decided that they had taken enough pictures, Peyton was relieved. She tucked her camera back into her bag and slung it over her shoulder. She rubbed at her sore jaw and stared up at the awning hanging above the school doors while her friends continued bustling around her.

"This is it, guys," Cordelia said, pulling the girls into a group on the front sidewalk.

Mia smiled shyly, meeting Peyton's eyes across from her.

"Kass should be here, though," Alexis admitted, and the girls looked at one another and nodded in agreement. It was the first year since the five years they'd been friends that Kassidy wouldn't be joining them on the first day of school. Despite her absence, the girls were still the center of attention.

They were not the only people at school yet, but they might as well have been. Fellow classmates and underclassmen swarmed around them, entering the school or standing outside to conversate and take their own pictures. And almost every single person who passed by stopped for just a moment to stare at them.

It had been like this for several years, but Peyton still couldn't believe it when people stopped to admire them. They were just ordinary girls, five incredibly different people who had somehow come together in junior high, after the infamous slumber party at Kassidy Edwards' house, when she had single handedly chosen Peyton, Mia, Alexis, and Cordelia to stay the night. To be her friends. Suddenly, they were a group, and everyone around them was aware. It shocked Peyton to admit it, even to this day, that they were popular. Peyton Ziegler was popular.

"Pey, are you coming?"

Peyton looked up to see Mia, Cordelia, and Alexis several feet in front of her, heading into the school. She took a deep breath, smiled, and caught up to them. "Of course I am," she said exuberantly, locking arms with her friends.

As much as it amazed her to see where she had come from as the awkward, lonely girl in junior high to who she was now, she was truly happy. But not all of her happiness came from her friends. A majority of her smiles and excitement revolved around someone else; the handsome, curly-haired Swedish heartthrob who had stolen her heart.

Peyton saw him the moment the doors of the school swung open and the cool air hit her face. All at once, every part of her body turned to mush. Her heart ached, desperate to be near him again. Her lips tingled, impatiently waiting to kiss him. He had only been gone for the summer, visiting his family in Stockholm, but every inch of Peyton's body reacted just as it had the first time she ever saw him.

"There's your man," Cordelia cooed, spotting Sam from down the hallway.

Alexis nudged Peyton in the ribs. "Go get 'em, tiger," she whispered in her ear.

Peyton felt goosebumps rise on her skin, the butterflies in her stomach taking flight. She watched him from the other end of the hall, admiring the gentle movements of his body as he leaned against his locker and talked with his friends from the soccer team, the angular tilt of his head as he reared back and let out a laugh. He ran a hand through his curls, his other arm clutching a soccer ball to his hip. A moment later, he met her eyes, and even from fifty feet away, she noticed the way his face lit up when he saw her. Her heart lurched as Sam quickly passed his ball to Ethan, let his backpack slide to the floor, and ran toward her.

"Käraste," Sam mumbled into her hair, his strong arms embracing her the second they were close enough.

Peyton wrapped her thin arms around his neck and let him gently lift her in the air. She breathed in the salty, yet delicately sweet scent of his skin, like pretzels dipped in chocolate. She placed a hand in his hair, letting her fingers tangle in his sun-bleached curls. She felt the soft warmth of his lips on her neck, and a shiver ran through her entire body.

"I missed you," Peyton whispered into Sam's shirt.

Sam slowly pulled away, resting his forehead against Peyton's own. He had to bend at the waist to make contact, while Peyton stepped onto his toes to reach him.

"I missed you more, baby," Sam smiled, his hands falling to her small waist.

Peyton was lost in his bright blue eyes, the smile on her face widening at the sound of her name coming from Sam's lips. His accent was thicker than normal, after spending three months speaking in his native tongue. As much as he would complain about it later, Peyton found it sexy.

"Get a room!" Alexis bellowed from beside them.

Peyton jumped, coming out of her trance. She suddenly began hearing the noises around her; the slam of lockers, the vibrant laughter and conversation of her peers. She had been so transfixed on Sam that she forgot where she even was.

Sam kissed Peyton on the forehead and turned toward the other girls, his arm sliding around Peyton's waist. "Nice to see you, Carmichael," Sam nodded at Alexis.

Alexis nudged him as the group fell into step beside one another. "Right back at ya, Swede." She pulled her cell phone from her pocket and began scrolling through her messages while walking.

On the other side of Alexis, Cordelia and Mia were deep in discussion. Peyton peered at her friends from the other side of the hall, curious as to what they were talking about. There was so much going on today. It was the first day of senior year, Mia had just broken up with Jake, Kassidy was MIA, and Will Armstrong was getting out of jail. As much as it didn't involve them, in many ways, they were right in the center of the drama that could potentially unfold. Peyton held her breath, hoping and praying that nothing went wrong.

"Are you okay, baby?" Sam asked, peering down at her from under his thick lashes.

Peyton looked up at him. "Of course," she said as truthfully as possible.

Sam's expression was uncertain.

As they continued to walk, Peyton felt a knot tighten in her stomach. Instinctively, she looked back up at him. "Are you okay?" she asked quietly.

Sam tightened his grip on Peyton's waist. He slowed his pace until the rest of the girls were several feet in front of them, and Peyton's knees began to shake with nerves.

She looked at her feet. Something felt strange, and she couldn't get herself to look him in the eye. It scared her.

"Actually, no..." he said quietly. Peyton's heart dropped. "There's something I need to tell you."