Chapter 1 : Two words to remember
Peyton Sawyer couldn't help but stare at the two last words of the e-mail she had just received : Lucas Scott.
A mixture of feelings had just resurfaced and submerged her. She couldn't help but feel, all at the same time, sadness, regret, guilt, nostalgia, remorse and even love. She shook her head, trying to shake all those feelings, especially the last one. Love. No, it had been too long, they had hurt each other too much, she couldn't be thinking about that. Besides she was in love with Julian now and they were happy. Of course she still loved Lucas, but as a friend. « Who am I kidding? » she thought to herself « Lucas and I haven't spoken in 2 years, he can't even be qualified as a friend anymore. » She closed her eyes for a minute trying to think straight. She hated that a simple e-mail, that wasn't even addressed exclusively to her, could make her feel so lost and insecure.
« Hey, what you looking at? »
Peyton's eyes flew back open. She turned her head so she could see Julian standing there in the doorway, a warm, reassuring and loving smile on his face. That sight calmed her down immediately. She smiled back at him, reminded of why she loved him so much.
« Nothing » she said « just an e-mail »
« Mmmh..mysterious, secretive and oh, not to mention a bitch sometimes! I'm starting to wonder if I chose the right girlfriend » Julian teased while he entered the room.
Peyton laughed, getting up the computer chair. She went to him, put her hands around his neck and looking at him seductively she said:
« Oh really? Cause this girlfriend here was thinking about cooking a meal for her lovely boyfriend tonight, and maybe, just maybe, he would have been allowed some yummy dessert if you know what I mean » She paused and then said « But, I guess if he's having second thoughts, I could just find someone else who would appreciate my desert»
« Yummy desert huh? » Julian said taking her face in her hands and approaching his head so their lips would only be inches away from each other.
« Oh, very yummy » she smiled, also moving her head forward so their lips were now barely touching.
« I always knew you were the right girlfriend for me » he whispered before kissing her passionately.
Yes, she loved Julian, he made her happy and they were good together, away from all the drama. Being in L.A. meant she didn't have to constantly be reminded about what had happened two years ago. Of course, she thought about it everyday, but no one here knew what had happened. Not even Julian. This made it easier to avoid thinking about it, and helped her to ignore the void and the guilt she had been feeling ever since that day, when everything had changed.
With that, Peyton decided she was going to ignore the e-mail. She knew it would only cause trouble and force her to relive that terrible night and she was not ready for that.
Neither was she ready to face Lucas Scott again.