"I'm sorry," Jimmy Edwards cooed as he pointed his gun at Peyton Sawyer. His finger slowly pulled down the trigger. A bullet blasted out in complete silence, staring Peyton straight in the eye as it inched closer. A chill was sent down her spine as her blood froze, all she was able to feel was cold.
Peyton screamed as she woke up in the stiffness of a hospital bed. She whimpered and struggled to catch her breath when a sudden sharp pain surged through her leg. She yelped loudly once more before someone rushed to her side.
He stroked her cheek gently to calm her nerves. He ran his fingers through her hair trying his best to comfort her as he quietly whispered, "It's okay… You're okay…"
Looking up into his blue eyes, Peyton was able to breathe again. She slowly regained herself before she could say a word. "Thank you, Luke."
Lucas faintly smiled down to her, still stroking her locks. "You're always welcome," he muttered. He placed a soft and friendly kiss on her forehead before slowly pulling away from her. He sat back down in his seat, but brought it closer to the bed.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Peyton sniffled. "Everyone else..? Are they okay?"
Lucas shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "I have no idea… I've been here since we got out."
She was tired with heavy eyelids, but Luke's words woke her. Peyton turned her head and looked at him strangely. "You've been here the entire time?" she questioned.
Nodding, Lucas replied simply, "I made a promise to a lady… I told her I wouldn't leave her." Lucas' hand snuck onto her hospital bed and found its way to Peyton's hand. He held it gently in his own and intertwined their fingers.
Peyton blinked tears away. She managed to quietly state, "I don't know what I'd do without you, Lucas."
He took his free hand and wiped her tears away with his thumb. "You won't have to find out, Peyton. Not if I have anything to do with it."
For a moment, neither of them spoke, nor moved much. They simply stared into each others eyes and tried to find some sort of peace. And even though the previous event was definitely a live altering occurrence, they were able to stay strong because they had each other. The world was often working against them, but they still survived.
A soft knock on the open door broke their trance. Both of them glanced over to see Brook standing with a giant bouquet of flowers in one hand, and a bag of take-out food in the other. Standing in the doorway, her eyes teary, she rushed over to both Peyton and Lucas' side.
Dropping the bag of food onto the floor and throwing the flowers onto the nightstand, she lunged towards Peyton for a hug. "Pey, I'm so sorry!" she cried.
Peyton's grip on Lucas' hand was broken and the connection suddenly faded. Peyton hugged Brooke back, but was squeezed so tightly she was at a lack of oxygen. She pushed Brooke away slightly. "Hey, there's nothing to be sorry about," she stated to the guilt-ridden look on Brooke's face.
Brooke raised her hand to her chest and pouted sympathetically. "Are you kidding me? I lost you and didn't even stop to try and find you! I'm the worst best friend ever!" Brooke exclaimed. Her tears started falling harder. Her eyes froze, and both of them could almost feel Brooke reliving the moment in her mind.
Cradling Brooke's hand in her own, Peyton tried to bring her back into the present. She spoke softly, "I'd rather have you safe anytime, than stuck in that school, Brooke. I'm glad you didn't go after me." Peyton caught a glimpse of Lucas from Brooke's side and tried her best to smile and lighten the mood of the room. "Unlike that dumbass over there; always gotta be the hero…"
With a smile on his face, Lucas' jaw dropped playfully. "Well, thank you for that recognition, Ms. Sawyer," he joked. He continued to smile at her, almost as a thank you for the tension breaker. None of them could really stomach the seriousness of the situation at hand. It was like nothing else they have been through and all three of them have been pushed to the limit time and time again.
Brooke looked at both of them with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. "How-how can you guys act like that?" she asked. Brooke's look of shock quickly turning into disgust. "I feel horrible for not being a better friend and you two shrug it off because you two are bestest friends. And-and then you guys are acting like we're not in the hospital right now— Which is lucky since two others died…"
Peyton and Lucas glanced at each other with worry. Neither of them new anyone else was harmed, let alone dead. They couldn't even fathom what must've happened after they got out of the school.
With Brooke's words, Lucas' heart sunk into his chest. A rush of cold filled him as he remembered who he left with Jimmy. Both his friends and family were left in the building. All he knew was that it didn't feel right. He hesitated to ask, "Who was it, Brooke?"
Brooke stared at him with a touch of confusion. "You mean you don't know..? I thought you—"
"Brooke!" Lucas interjected with a fierce look in his eye. "Who?"
Peyton breathed deeply. She was exhausted, but the fear of death kept her awake and alert. She pressed her lips together and stared at Brooke, only making the bags under her eyes more apparent. Her chest heaved painfully as she continued to wait for possibly heartbreaking news.
Lucas swallowed hard and took a deep breath. It was killing him to think of who wasn't part of the world anymore. He knew that he had just snapped at Brooke for something that wasn't her fault, but he just wanted some answers. "Who?" he repeated in a softer tone.
"Jimmy…" Brooke stated, staring down at the ground. She couldn't stand to look neither Peyton nor Lucas in the eye. Brooke was choked up and unable to find her words. Never had she been the messenger in such a negative way. "It-it was… The other… W-was Keith," she finally managed to state.
"No," Lucas exhaled softly. "That's not even funny, Brooke," he bit back with a bitter undertone.
With a shocked expression on her face, she passed glances between Lucas and Peyton. "I-I'm not kidding, Lucas… Keith, he, uh—"
"No!" Lucas yelled out angrily. He rose to his feet, making his chair inch backwards loudly. He huffed for a moment, and then let his head fall into his hand. "This can't… He can't…" he mumbled as he massaged his forehead.
Peyton also flashed glances between Brooke and Lucas. She had no idea what to say or do. They were just joking around a moment ago, and now she could see Lucas' world crashing beneath him from his teary eyes. "Lucas," she called softly as she touched his arm gently.
With her touch, Lucas looked up and sniffled back. He knew how bad his heart was aching, but he also knew that he wasn't alone. Someone out there must've been hurting worse, and he loved that person with all this heart. Lucas pulled his arm away slightly until his hand reached Peyton's. He cradled it softly in his own and looked down at her. With apologetic eyes, and he started, "I know I promised, Pey—."
"Go Lucas," Peyton offered with a shake of his hand. One of the best parts of their friendship is that they often knew what each other was feeling. She knew what Lucas had to do, and she'd support him.
Lucas nodded once and quickly turned away. He started out of the room and down the hospital hallway at a fast pace. He needed to get to his mom and make sure she was alright. Truth be told, he knew she wouldn't be alright. All he could really do is be there for her. They needed to be there for each other now that one third of their family was gone.