Chapter One
Chapter One
The Party
Music was blaring from the CD player into the substantially sized garden. A long table was against the little wooden fence that separated the field from the garden. On the table were plates piled with food, coolers full of drinks and one huge cake with chocolate icing.
From one side of the garden to the other was a banner, made by Peyton Sawyer, which read 'Congratulations Lucas and Nathan!' The banner drifted absently through the air, swaying slightly in the evening breeze.
To the outside observer it would be obvious why the garden was being used for a party this August evening. The garden was always used for parties or get-togethers, and this one was very special. Mrs. Roe's son Lucas, who had turned eighteen, was now--along with his best friend and half brother Nathan--going to boot camp to become U.S. Marines.
This was supposed to be a very happy time for Lucas, who put on a fake smile to please his friends and family
Why was Lucas putting on a show? Two words: Peyton Sawyer. Peyton was the only girl Lucas had ever truly loved. They had dated once a while back, and everyone thought they would be together forever.
Lucas thought so too.
Nevertheless, the fates have a way of changing people's lives. Three years would be a long time, especially for Lucas and Peyton. They had not been apart from each other for five years.
Lucas weaved between the guests in the garden in hopes that he would find Peyton. He hadn't seen her since the party had started and she had excused herself to check on the food in the kitchen with his mom. Lucas was becoming quite worried. Peyton hadn't left his side since he had been accepted into the Marines and now, with less than a day before he was to go, she was nowhere to be found.
Frowning, Lucas scanned the area in front of him, backing up for a better view of the garden. He bumped into something soft that muttered 'Oomph'; Lucas turned and saw that it was Mouth he nearly knocked over.
"Hey Lucas, congratulations," Mouth said, taking Lucas' hand in his own and giving a firm handshake.
"Thanks. Hey, I hear congratulations are in order for you too," Lucas said, referring to the fact that Mouth had been accepted as the new live broadcaster for a local news channel.
"Yeah thanks." Mouth said. "I never thought I would get it," he added bashfully.
Lucas then said he would see Mouth later, and continued searching for Peyton. Maybe she had left. He had heard her crying in the kitchen the night before; maybe this was all too much for her.
Lucas' thoughts of Peyton's whereabouts were disrupted when he noticed that the guests were all walking towards the food table, where he heard a faint cough. He also began moving towards the table, sliding past guests with an 'excuse me' as he passed the. Once he reached the front of the crowd, Lucas saw his mother standing there, beaming.
Ms. Roe, noticing Lucas' presence, pushed her graying hair out of her eyes and clapped once before beginning.
"Now I just wanted to say how very proud I am of my, Lucas and Nathan too," Ms. Roe said maternally. Lucas blushed slightly and turned to Nathan who was looking absently at the ground as though fascinated by it.
"I think what Karen is trying to say," Deb said loudly, "is that it's time for cake!"
"Hear, hear!" The crowd called.
Ms. Roe handed Lucas a slice of cake, which he thanked her for before making his way over to the willow tree. Lucas set himself down, resting the paper plate on his lap as used his plastic knife and fork to break into the dessert.
Just as he was enjoying his cake, a shadow cast over him. Looking up, he noticed Haley smiling sheepishly at him. She took a seat next to Lucas on the grass.
Licking her lips, Haley placed her finger in Lucas; cake, making sure to touch the sticky part and then touch Lucas' nose with it. Lucas grinned and looked at the ground, still smiling.
"Thank you," Lucas said, looking up. "Hey, I like your hair," he added, when he noticed that Haley's hair was shorter and styled differently.
"Thanks," Haley said, nonchalantly running her fingers through her hair.
"Are you all right?" Lucas asked, noticing Haley heave a small sigh.
Fine, it's just … it's going to be weird without you," Haley confessed.
"I'll miss you too, Hales, but I'll write all the time," Lucas replied.
"You promise?" Haley asked hopefully.
"I promise," Lucas swore. Haley smiled at Lucas and ran her finger along the icing again.
"Did you come over here to tell me that or because you wanted some cake?" he asked.
"Both," Haley said licking the icing off her finger.
The night sky was becoming dark; the stars were twinkling around the silver orb that was the moon. The candles around the garden were starting to die out, which signaled the end of the party.
Lucas furrowed his brow. He had spoken to nearly everyone who had attended and yet there was still no sign of Peyton.
Ms. Roe was clearing away empty paper plates from the food table with Deb, who was in charge of cups. Haley was helping take the banner down also.
Lucas leant against the back door, watching with an amused expression of his face. Nathan had come over and lifted Haley onto his shoulder to help her untie the banner from the tree. He even let out a loud chuckle as Nathan lost his balance, causing Haley to crash on top of him, banner in hand.
Haley then got up kissed Nathan gently on the check and made her way back over to Lucas.
"Are you all right?" she asked.
"Hmm?" Lucas asked, snapping back to reality. "Oh, yeah."
"You're as bad as Peyton," Haley said, pushing through the open door.
Lucas grabbed her wrist quickly. "Peyton? Have you seen her?" he asked frantically.
Haley, frowning, replied, "Yeah, she's in your room with a headache. I'm surprised you haven't been to see her yes." And with that, Peyton walked away.
His room! Why didn't he think of looking there? She had confided in him the previous year that she felt the safest in his room – in his arms.
Lucas raced too his room. Once he reached the corner, his pace slowed right down, and he quietly turned the doorknob, entering his room.
In all of the years Lucas had lived here; his room was the one thing that never changed. It stayed true to Lucas.
Lucas' breath caught in his throat as he saw Peyton sitting on his bed, facing the window. Her head was bowed and she was crying silently. Lucas coughed and she turned around. Peyton's eyes were red and her curly blonde hair was pulled back to keep out of her eyes.
"Oh, Lucas, hi," she said, very quiet.
"Hey, how are you?" Lucas asked, sitting net to her on the bed.
"I'm happy for you," Peyton said smiling a little too widely. "I really, really, am. I wish you all the – " Lucas put his index finger over her mouth to stop her from continuing. She closed her eyes and kissed her finger as tears formed in her eyes.
"It's okay, Peyton, three years isn't that long," Lucas said softly. He wasn't exactly lying, but saying it aloud gave Lucas a little more confidence about the new chapter in his life.
Lucas then said, "It does seem long, but you can come and visit and we'll write to each other!" He smiled at her hopefully.
"Everyday?" Peyton asked, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.
"Yes, everyday," Lucas answered.
Lucas smiled. "Yes," he whispered once more, brushing a kiss on Peyton's cheek. "I leave tomorrow morning. Let's make this night count."
He moved closer to her, placing his hands on her waist as she looped her own arms over his shoulders. Lucas leant in, kissing Peyton gently as she began to unbutton her shirt, sliding the garment off her shoulder and dropping in onto the floor.
Peyton moaned quietly and moved closer to Lucas, pushing her chest against him seductively. Lucas removed his own shirt quickly, as he laid her down on the pillows. He lowered himself onto her, moving against her as they kissed, causing them both to moan in unison.
Fireworks filled the sky with all the colors of the rainbow with the whole crowd whooping and cheering in the garden below. No one knew what Lucas and Peyton were doing in his bedroom. No one knew the consequences that would change the young lovers' lives forever.
