A/N: This is pretty much my version of season 5. A little tidbit: after writing this fic, I had no idea what to call it. While re-reading the story, one of the chapters reminded me of Sarah McLachlan's song 'Push' and even more coincidently, it pretty much sums up this fic...so anyways that's where the title comes from.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. And song lyric at beginning of each chapter belong to Sarah McLachlan
Chapter 1
- Every time I look at you the world just melts away -
"Hey, Karen."
Karen smiled at the curly blonde girl who entered the kitchen, "Peyton, hi. You're here early."
"Yeah, I just thought I could help you set up for the party." Peyton helped herself to a baby carrot from the vegetable tray Karen had just put together.
"I would love your help, Peyton."
"By the way, thanks for throwing us the goodbye party."
"It's not a problem," Karen took a moment to smile at Peyton before continuing with her next task at hand, "It was Lucas's idea anyway. Besides it gives me one last chance to see all of you guys before you all head off for college. Could you pass the salt please?"
Peyton glanced over the counter top and picked up the salt container. "What are you making now?"
"My specialty, chocolate chip cookies. They're for tonight's party,"
"Oh, then I guess I should retract my help offer," laughed Peyton, quickly putting the salt down.
"What? Why's that?"
"I tried baking chocolate chip cookies for Lucas – twice actually. The first batch I nearly burned the house down and the second batch ended up being a little too salty. Who knew a dash meant just a pinch?"
Karen chuckled. "Well this recipe is foolproof. If you'd like, I'll show it to you."
"I don't know, Karen. I think it might be safer if I stepped aside and just kept you company instead."
"Oh don't be silly, Peyton. Although I enjoy your company, I think you'll be more helpful if you gave me a hand with Lucas's favorite cookies."
"Don't you think we should keep it that way?" joked Peyton.
"Oh come on, it's my grandma's secret recipe," Karen enticed.
"Well, I do love secrets." Peyton chewed on her bottom lip.
"And I've never told anyone."
"Really, now? Hmm…" Peyton was cracking.
"Not even Haley."
"Alright, I'm sold. What do I do?"
As the mother and teenager turned sugar, eggs, flour, salt, baking soda and chocolate chips into a mouth-watering dough, Peyton hung onto every word Karen instructed. It was a simple recipe but was too much for Peyton to remember.
"So how many cups of sugar was that again?"
Karen smiled to herself as she divulged the secret she had committed to memory. "One and a half."
Peyton repeated the measurement to herself, trying to memorize it. "Ok. And how many eggs was that again?"
"Here," Karen wiped her hands clean from the sticky dough on a red checkered dishrag and pulled a pen and ordering pad out from apron pocket.
She walked around the counter and sat down beside Peyton on the kitchen stool. It didn't take long for Peyton to realize that Karen was writing out the recipe for her with easy to follow instructions. Thankfully, Peyton smiled at Karen.
Peyton had always looked up to Karen. Karen had subtly taken Peyton under her wing ever since they met for the first time when Lucas was in the hospital. There was something in Peyton that Karen saw, perhaps the same thing her son saw – a young girl who was troubled and lonely, but full of potential and greatness. It was the reason why Karen took the time to let Peyton know she was there for her; giving her words of advice; giving her hugs when she needed comfort; or simply reminding her that her mother was proud of her. It was also the reason why Karen offered her a position at Tric. Peyton didn't just have a special place in her son's heart, but in hers as well.
Hours later, the party was in full swing, but Peyton was no where to be seen in the café with her friends. Instead, she stepped onto the rooftop of Karen's cafe and closed the door behind her. It was dark and she could barely see a thing. Carefully she crept away from the door in search of her boyfriend, who was also missing from the party.
Five minutes earlier, both Lucas and Peyton were seen in the café hanging out with their friends for the last time before everyone headed off for college. Lucas was on one side of the room, stealing looks to his girlfriend while she talked and laughed with Brooke, Haley, Bevin and Rachel. When Peyton's eyes finally caught Lucas', she mischievously raised her right brow and grinned. Then without raising any suspicion from the chatting girls, she began playing with her earring. It was the sign he was waiting for practically the entire night.
Lucas smiled, knowing that Peyton was ready for a little break from the group. He casually excused himself from the card game. This time his excuse was to help his mom clean up the kitchen.
"Take your time." Nathan quietly laughed as Lucas disappeared around the corner.
About a minute later, Nathan shook his head knowingly as he watched Peyton disappear from the room after claiming she needed to use the restroom.
"Lucas?" she whispered into the night.
With a flick of the switch, Lucas lit up the rooftop. The perimeter was tangled with white Christmas lights, creating just the right amount of romantic lighting. Peyton smiled at the set up when Lucas appeared before her.
"What's all this?" she was amused.
Lucas modestly shrugged, "I just wanted to spend some time alone with my girlfriend before she goes off to college tomorrow."
"Come here," she wrapped her arms around his neck. His hands slipped around her waist until they interlocked behind the small of her back.
"I'm going to miss you." she kissed him.
"I'm going to miss you too."
They stood in the middle of the rooftop of Karen's cafe, embraced in each other and never wanting tomorrow to come.
"It feels likes I just got back from interning in L.A. Being away from you all summer sucked and now, it's gonna be all school year long…I don't know if I want to go anymore."
"Yeah, you do," he laughed, "And like I keep telling you, as much as I want you to stay, you can't."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," she rolled her eyes and remembered their previous talks, "I'm destined for greatness…"
"You are, Peyton Sawyer," he told her seriously, "Believe that. I believe it."
"Thank you," she said gratefully, "But I don't want to leave you again. Are you sure you want to stay in Tree Hill? You can still come with me, you know,"
Lucas nodded. "I know, but I can't leave my mom and Lily. My mom doesn't say it, but raising Lily and two businesses is a lot of work for one person. Besides, I already accepted the coaching job with Whitey. It's a great opportunity. It lets me focus on my writing and it lets me watch Lily grow up too,"
Peyton smiled at her boyfriend while her hands played with the collar of his button-downed shirt, "Look at you, wanting to take care of your mom and baby sister. You're a great guy, Lucas Scott."
"I try," he shrugged.
"No, really, Luke. I'm proud of you. And I know Keith would be too."
"You think so?"
She nodded without hesitating. "I know so,"
Their foreheads touched, as they gazed lovingly into each others eyes. Their bodies swayed to the imaginary music that played in the background. It was their world they had become lost in and they cherished every moment of it.
As usual, reality was first to set into Peyton. Lucas quickly followed suit when he saw the worry and doubt in her eyes.
"Peyt, what's wrong?"
"You're sure about this long distance thing, right?" nervously she started playing with his shirt again, "I mean want us to work - more than anything – and I know we survived the last two months. But those two months being apart from you was hell. And now with school, it's like eight months, possibly more. And you know Brooke's Cosmo said nine out of ten long distance relationship don't work out," Peyton worriedly rambled.
"Well, then we'll just be that one in ten," he smiled before kissing her lightly on her forehead. "I know it's going to be hard, but we're going be ok because we're gonna make this work. I am committed to you, Peyton. I love you."
Peyton took a long breath in, believing him. "And I love you."
"But can you just do me one favor?"
"Anything."
"Stop reading Brooke's Cosmo."
Peyton laughed and exclaimed, "It was a long plane ride home!"
An hour later, Lucas and Peyton made their way back down to the café where the rest of their friends were causally hanging out. It was the last get together before everyone went on their separate college paths. Laughter, memories and well wishes were shared until one by one the Tree Hill High graduates left, leaving the owner and her only son behind to clean up.
"So where did you and Peyton disappear to earlier?" Karen asked.
"What do you mean? We were here the whole time."
"Right. So should I expect you home late or not at all tonight?"
"Mom!" Lucas exclaimed.
"Well, if you don't tell me, then your curfew still stands at its usual time." Karen lightly threatened.
"Mom, I'm going to be a published author. Published authors don't have curfews."
"No, but my published author does." she smirked.
"Funny. Real funny mom," Lucas finished wiping the countertop and took a seat on the stool in front of his mom, "But if it's alright, would it be ok if Peyton spent the night? She's coming over after she drops Brooke off at the airport and I'd really like to spend some time with her before she leaves tomorrow."
"Of course, it's fine."
Lucas smiled happily and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks, ma."
"Lucas, are you sure you don't want to go away for college? Cause you do know that I will be fine raising Lily and running the cafe and Tric. I've done it once before, you know."
"I know. You're a super mom. But like I told Peyton earlier, I want to. Besides, it's almost perfect."
"Almost perfect?"
Lucas laughed, "Yeah. It'd only be perfect if California was only an hour away."
"I'm sure Peyton feels the same," Karen, standing on the tip of her toes, kissed her only son on the cheek, "You're a good boy, Lucas Scott. I'm lucky to have you as son."
"Aw, shucks, mom." joked Lucas, trying to hide his blushing cheeks.
Karen tossed her rag at him and laughed, "Hey, I'm trying to have a tender moment with my son and all I get back is sarcasm?"
"I love you too, mom." Lucas, with his goofy grin, turned to his mother with arms outstretched.
She smiled gratefully and accepted his hug, "I love you too, kiddo."
