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Her feet were bare, cold, as they touched the gray pavement. She had kicked off her shoes, leaving them to lay upon the dewy grass just moments before. There was a yearning to feel the earth beneath her. A yearning similar to that of which her heart did, for a boy.
That boy was Lucas Scott., and he was standing right in front of her.
What are you doing, Peyton?
She looked at him with a smile. He was shirtless and a bit sweaty. Although it was night time, Summer night's in Tree Hill could be just as smoldering as the days.
I thought maybe we could lay out here for a while.
Lucas kinked up his left eyebrow.
And do what?
He questioned her with more lustfulness than he probably should had. Just two days before, Lucas had revealed his feelings to a bouncy brunette, that happened to be Peyton's best friend.
Just talk. Look at the stars… I heard some comet was supposed to be visible tonight.
She inched closer to the boy, both hands in the pockets of her jeans.
I remember hearing something about that.
The orange ball that Lucas had been holding was now set aside, up against the rusted pole which the hoop sat upon.
He reached for his t-shirt which was below his feet.
Peyton thought he was going to put the shirt on, instead he lied down on the tar and used the shirt as a pillow of sorts.
Well, are you going to lie with me or not?
She chuckled, and settled her body just inches away from his. From this distance, she could feel the heat from his body irradiating out into the air.
Have you talked to Brooke since she yesterday?
Of course Brooke was on his mind. When he told Peyton what happened between the two of them, she was surprised and not surprised concurrently. More than anyone, she could understand why a guy would fall for Brooke Davis. She was beautiful and fun. Peyton often wondered how once upon a time, Lucas could have fallen for her, the complete opposite of her best friend. But he did.
She called me about an hour ago. Just to say hi.
Her eyes were fixated on the sky, but her mind was fixated on Lucas.
Did she say anything about me?
The phone call had been short. It consisted mainly of Brooke complaining about the flight attendant she had to ask four times for a diet pepsi, before she finally got her beverage. Peyton practically zoned out during the call. She had bigger problems on her plate than being without a diet pepsi.
No.
Although it was the truth, Peyton felt guilty for telling it.
We didn't talk for long though.
Her words were hanging in the air, without a response.
Lucas fidgeted and placed his hands behind his head. He thought Brooke would have wanted to talk to Peyton about the goodbye she and he shared days before.
Silence.
The two blondes were quiet as they watched the sky, waiting for a glimpse of the comet.
Minutes passed without any words spoken. Peyton was growing tired of the silence. She wasn't much for words, unlike Lucas, but the awkwardness was washing over her, and it was too much to overcome.
What time is it?
He brought his wrist up to his face and read the watch.
10:30
Peyton sat up.
I think they said it wouldn't be visible until after midnight.
Lucas grabbed Peyton's shoulder and pulled her back towards the ground, causing her to laugh.
Then you and I are going to be waiting quite a while.
Apparently Lucas wasn't feeling the awkwardness that Peyton had felt.
I wish I had known we'd be doing this sooner. I would have gotten us some sleeping bags.
He hadn't been camping in years, not since the summer he was twelve, when Keith and his mother took him out to the lake, upstate. They spent a whole weekend, fishing and sleeping underneath the stars.
I actually have one in my trunk. Peyton recalled.
Lucas scrunched up his face, a way of questioning Peyton's statement.
Larry Sawyer.
Peyton's father was hardly around, so he tried to make Peyton as prepared as she could be, for any situation. Which apparently included being stranded in her car.
With her car keys in hand, Peyton trotted off to her car to retrieve the blanket. Lucas chuckled at the skinny girl. Despite it being just he and Peyton, the summer was already better than the last one he spent.
The sleeping bag was larger than Lucas had anticipated. It was definitely big enough for two, not just to lie on, but to cover themselves up with as well.
Now all we need are s'mores. She chuckled.
Lucas helped Peyton set the blanket on the tar. When it was spread evenly out, the two got back in their original positions.
The air was hot and sticky. Both blondes were working up a sweat from just lying down.
The sleeping bag definitely added to the temperature, but it was more comfortable than lying out on the naked tar.
Have you talked to Jake lately?
The other significant other.
Peyton felt her stomach drop. It had been a couple of months since Jake left. Since then, she realized she was better at keeping her emotions at bay than she ever thought possible.
We don't have to talk about him if you don't want to, Peyton.
His blue eyes were soft and filled with concern.
No, its okay… I actually haven't talked to him.
Lucas had already anticipated that answer. Things were complicated for Jake. He couldn't even imagine how Peyton had been dealing with it all, especially now that a woman claiming to be her birth mother showed up. Everything seemed to fall apart all at once for the girl.
Hopefully you'll hear from him soon.
It was how he felt. Despite what feelings Lucas had harbored for Peyton in the past, he wanted her to be happy. Even if it meant that happiness was caused by another man.
When he realized that she needed Jake more than she needed him, he was hurt but he called Jake anyway. Lucas thought he let go of Peyton the day he called Jake. Right now, looking at her soft curls, and the way they framed her sad, green eyes, he wondered if he really had let go of Peyton, or if he had just hid his heart behind Brooke Davis.
Quickly he shook the thoughts from his mind, and turned his focus back to the night sky.
I honestly don't know if I want to. I think its over, and that's okay with me.
They both knew she was lying, but neither one was going to call her out on it.
Did you ever pick out your own names for the constellations? Lucas wondered.
Never, you?
Nope.
Peyton pointed up in the sky to a familiar constellation. Let's rename the Big Dipper.
The boy chuckled at the idea, but decided to go along with the game.
Luke! There it is! Peyton yelled out. She spotted the comet in the sky.
Oh wow. That's amazing.
The two watched the comet slowly crawl across the night sky. It wasn't particularly spectacular to view with a naked eye, but it grabbed their attention.
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Peyton awoke to find herself snuggled up against Lucas' bare chest.
It was still dark out, yet one could tell the sun was just on the horizon.
Lucas was still sound asleep, she noticed as she lifted up her head off of his skin to look at the boy's eyes. Even sleeping he was gorgeous, she thought.
He let out a snore, which was fairly loud. Seemingly loud enough that he woke himself up.
Quickly, Peyton removed herself from Lucas' body.
When did we fall asleep? He wondered aloud, rubbing his eyes, unaware to the fact that he and Peyton had been cuddling for the better part of their sleeping hours.
I fell asleep when you were yammering on about some scientist.
They both laughed.
You want to grab some breakfast?
Maybe when the sun rises. Peyton answered, causing Lucas to realize the day hadn't begun just yet.
I'll play you in a game of horse, get your appetite going.
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Two hours later, Peyton and Lucas were at the Café, which didn't have the same homey feel it always did. Both Karen and Haley were gone.
There was only three other people in the café that morning, which wasn't surprised since it was only 6:30, on a Saturday.
Let me have a bite of that.
They ordered the same thing, only with one difference. Peyton had gotten bacon instead of sausage, which was currently calling out her name on Lucas' plate.
No. If you wanted sausage you should have ordered it. Besides, you wouldn't let me have any of your bacon.
They were playful with each other. Peyton found herself feeling completely at ease with Lucas. Quickly they were becoming best friends.
So far, three nights of summer, and the blondes had spent them all with one another.
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Peyton went back to her house, alone. It was the first time she'd been alone there since Brooke left.
There was a queasiness in her stomach that she couldn't shake as she entered her bedroom, which was a mess.
Usually Peyton kept her room anally clean. But having Lucas over, she hadn't found the time to clean up, and she didn't mind the mess for once.
As she sets her purse down on her unmade bed, her phone rings.
Hello?
The voice on the other end is Lucas'.
I was thinking you should move in with me for the summer. He suggested.
The idea sounded crazy, but with Karen and Larry gone, both Lucas and Peyton were alone. Lucas knew how uneasy she was feeling about spending her nights alone, seeing as she'd spent the last three falling asleep next to him. He figured it was the simplest solution.
I like the way you think.
Peyton couldn't help but wonder whether or not she was going to be sleeping in Lucas' bed or not.
Pack your stuff and come over whenever. I'll be home all day.
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