He said I do. That is all Peyton could think about. Peyton sat alone in an empty church wearing a gorgeous dress with tearstains down her eyes. She placed her head in her hands and sat for a while. Brooke had just left to go check on Jamie, but Peyton seemed to be glued to her chair. Peyton loved Jamie as much as anyone else, but right now she was in no right mind to help out.
She hated that Lucas still affected her so much. Brooke told her to go after "her" man. That was real funny she thought. Lucas Scott was not her man. He said I do. She didn't even had time to process the fact that five minutes ago Brooke told her she wanted a baby.
Peyton sat for another ten minutes just staring into space, lost in her thoughts. She took a deep breath and realized what she needed to do. She needed to see him. She had to talk to him.
She slowly walked out of the church to her car. Apparently now her car was going to be infamous. The comet. The boy saw the comet. She tried to put that out of her mind. Her car was just a comet. Lucas was just a boy. Just because he wrote that when the boy saw the comet his life had meaning didn't mean it was a metaphor to the day they met. She knew deep inside her heart she wanted it to be.
She thought back to that day. She knew she treated Lucas like crap when she met him, but she was so different then. She was guarded. She knew the moment she met him that he would be able to see past the walls she had spent so long building up. She knew he would be the one guy to get inside. She regretted everyday how their first year was together. Wouldn't it have been so much easier if that night at Nate's she had just admitted she wanted everything Lucas wanted too? Think of all the time they wouldn't have wasted if she just said she wanted to be in his heart as well. She couldn't think about the past anymore or she would go crazy.
She drove to Lucas' and pulled into the driveway. She sat for a while trying to think about what she was going to say. He might not even want to talk to her, which she understood. Peyton decided to take a chance and walked up to the door, took a deep breath, and lightly knocked.
She could hear footsteps coming towards the door and her heart started to race. She had a momentary urge to run, but instead she put on a brave face. Lucas opened the door, and her heart broke for him.
He looked horrible. His eyes were red and puffy meaning he must have just been crying. The pain in his eyes made her want to cry for him. Never in her life did she want to see the man she loved in this much pain. He stood there saying nothing, almost like he was not even there. She could tell he was still in shock over today.
"Luke", she said. Then Peyton did the only thing she could think of. She wrapped her arms around him. She stood there hugging him for a moment, and he finally put his arms around her, hugging her back. They stood there for a while. Peyton was whispering words of comfort into his ear while Lucas was softly crying.
They finally broke apart, and Lucas opened the door allowing Peyton to enter. He went over and sat on the couch putting his head in his hands. "She left me…she just left Peyton. I didn't have time to make her understand…", he said softly. Peyton went over to Lucas and sat down beside him. She took his hands in her hands. He looked up at her with tears shining in his eyes.
She wanted to say something amazing. She wanted to say something inspiring. She would do anything right now to make him smile again. All she could think was to say, "I'm so sorry Luke. I know how much you love her." She suddenly felt really awful for coming. Here she was going to tell him everything that was on her mind. She was going to demand some answers. She was going to demand to see that book, and her good friend; her true love was broken on the inside and outside.
At that moment she decided what she needed to do. She would be the good friend she promised him to be that day in the gym several weeks ago. She would help him recover. She had been there when he was broken up about Brooke, so she could do it again.
"Luke I am here for you. I want you to know that. Anytime you need a friend or someone to talk to, I will be there. We use to be there for each other, you know? I promise I will help you get through this", she said.
"I want her back Peyton. She left me, but I have to get her back", Lucas said. Peyton could only nod. If Lucas needed Lindsay in his life to be happy, she would do everything she could to help him. Man she thought, why do I put myself through this?
"Lucas I know you are hurting right now, but we should probably get over to Haley's. Everyone is over there waiting for news on Jamie", Peyton said. Lucas nodded and said, "Just give me a minute."
Lucas went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face. He needed to be strong for Haley. He looked at himself in the mirror and cringed. How could Lindsay say his heart was conflicted? I said I do he thought. He was really glad Peyton didn't come over to talk about the book or the comet thing. He was glad to have his friend back.
He let out a deep sigh and went back to the living room. Peyton was sitting on the couch staring off into space. He wished he knew what she was thinking. She was always a mystery. He shook off his thoughts about Peyton and said, "Alright let's go." Peyton stood up, and the two left for Haley's.
They arrived at Haley's, and the place was a madhouse. Karen immediately went to Lucas and gave him a hug. She didn't even ask how he was doing because she knew the answer. She wished her son could truly reflect on what his heart wanted. She knew Lindsay was right about his heart being conflicted, but she also knew he loved Lindsay.
Karen went over to Peyton and gave her a hug as well. "Peyton how are you?", Karen asked. "I am overwhelmed, but not surprised at the way things turned out", Peyton said. Karen gave her a look of surprise, and Peyton quickly responded with, "I didn't mean it like that Karen. It is well nothing ever goes right in Tree Hill does it. Every time we get together for a happy occasion it always ends in tragedy."
Karen gave her a sad smile knowing exactly what she meant. She hated that her son and friends had dealt with so much at such a young age. She secretly wished she could be back sailing around the world, but she knew her son needed her.
Peyton went to say her hellos to everyone, but kept an eye out on Luke. She could tell he was trying to put on a strong face. He turned to look at her, and she gave him a small smile. He smiled back a little, and it only broke her heart more. She had to keep telling herself he didn't love her. He said I do.
Everyone was silently talking when Peyton heard Haley scream. Jamie walked into the living room and ran into Haley's arms. Everyone started to crowd around Jamie confused, but overjoyed. The next minute was like a dream. Peyton heard Jamie say something about Grandpa Dan saving him, and then in a flash Dan was in front of everyone. Peyton immediately turned to Lucas. The man that had torn Lucas' heart apart had just walked back into his life. She realized Lucas needed her friendship now more than ever.