PPov

Our bedroom looked like a tornado had hit it.

The bed was unmade. The wardrobe doors were wide open and clothes, or more precisely my clothes littered the floor.

I didn't miss his eyes sweeping across the room. He tried to hide his cringe but I knew he was itching to start straightening out the mess that hurricane Peyton was in the midst of making.

He was tidy. I on the other hand was not.

I managed to control myself for the most part but not in situations like today. I was meant to be boarding a plane in just under two hours and was yet to have everything packed.

I wasn't the most organised of people either but hey, it was only a weekend, how hard could packing for three days be?

'Do you have to go?'

'Jake' I scorned. I was completely sick of his whining by this point. 'It's my best friends fucking Wedding. I cannot miss this' I reminded him for the hundredth time, slinging my heels haphazardly into the disaster zone that was my case before disappearing into the bathroom in search of essential toiletries.

'I know' He sighed 'But your boyfriend needs you' I heard him grumble under his breath as I past. I had to remind myself that he wasn't usually this selfish, that he'd got a hell of a lot on his plate right now.

'It's three days. I'll be back Monday. You don't hear back till Tuesday' I called as I rummaged through the cabinets above the sink in search of my razor.

In the last fourteen days my world had been turned upside down.

Jake was my high school sweetheart. We'd been together for six years and if you'd asked me a few years ago where I wanted to be in a couple of years I would have probably said married and maybe even thinking about starting a family. I'd wanted that, I'd wanted all of that so badly and I couldn't really pin point when I'd stopped wanting that. I still didn't know if I no longer wanted that altogether or if I just no longer wanted that with Jake Jagielski. We were different people to the boy and girl that had met at sixteen, we weren't teenagers any more, we were adults. And to make my confusion over my relationship worse, two weeks ago some girl had turned up at our door claiming Jake to be the father of her seven year old child.

I still hadn't come to terms with any of it.

We wouldn't know for definite until Tuesday when the paternity test was due back.

I was sure I was meant to feel immense anger or sadness.

I didn't. It wasn't as though he'd cheated on me. Nikki was a one night stand he'd had a year before we'd officially got together.

But I was meant to feel hurt, and aggrieved that he may have a child with someone that wasn't me.

I wasn't though. I was just confused. I'd been confused enough before this drama had bulldozed it's way into our lives. Before all this I'd been considering breaking up or discussing going on a break but now, now this paternity saga had taken over and Jake was a mess.

With a bag of girly products, I ventured back into the bedroom.

He'd moved away from the door frame and was now hovering next to the bed.

'I'm sorry' His hands slid round my waist, hindering my packing and my body stiffened in reply. 'I'm sorry this has happened Peyt-'

'It's not your fault' I dropped my wash bag into the case and admired my quick work, mentally checking I had everything.

'I know this is screwed up' He was kissing my neck now and my hand hesitantly found the pair at my waist, trying to ease from his embrace. I knew where he was headed. I wasn't in the mood for sex, nor did I have the time. It was another flaw in our seemingly perfect relationship. Well, to me anyhow, Jake always seemed more than satisfied, I on the other hand, wasn't. I'd only ever been with Jake and I was beginning to think my recent lack of desire to be with him intimately wasn't just a dry spell. I just didn't feel it. I hadn't felt it in a long while and it scared me. If I didn't get out now was I destined to never have a truly satisfying release again?

His hand circled my abdomen and the path it would then descend upon was so painfully predictable. I swear I could predetermine his every touch and movement.

But I wouldn't say no. I couldn't say no. I was his girlfriend and he wanted me and I was suppose to want him back.

I felt awful enough as it was, he had every right to be upset. I was leaving him to wallow in his own self pity, to dwell over the terrifying prospect of becoming a father to a seven year old over night. Who could blame him for wanting some company and support?

'You are invited too. You could still come with me?' I tried as he laid me down on the crumpled bed, my open suitcase beside me, taunting me with the nearing freedom that was just within my grasp. In several hours I would be sipping champagne in a five star hotel with my very best friend.

'No' He unbuttoned my plaid shirt. 'I can't be around people right now'

I was secretly happy by his answer. I needed a few days to myself to try and get my head around all of this.

'I'll miss you though'

I sneaked a look at the bedside clock as he lowered himself on top of me.

3.24 pm.

My flight was at 6.08 and I had to check in yet.

I didn't push him away though. I closed my eyes and made my body go through the motions, trying my hardest to comfort him in the way he needed. But his words proposed more questions in my conflicted mind.

Would I miss him? What if I didn't? I was excited to be away from him, what did that say?

'I love you' He muttered against my neck.

The reciprocating words of love and devotion that were meant to spill from my lips didn't come.

Instead I wove my fingers into his hair coaxing him on.

The worst part was, I was pretty sure I already had the answer to all my confusing questions. The answer was simple. I was pretty certain I was no longer in love with Jake Jagielski.


My smile was strained as the receptionist was finally done with her greetings and handed over the goods.

'Thank you' I took the key card, gathering my luggage back into my arms, not so smoothly tripping over my feet as I went. So I was a bit of a clutz. It wasn't my fault I'd been born with two gangly legs that frequently had me stumbling.

I'd managed to get here relatively unscathed which was a success in itself. Okay so I had missed my flight and then I'd proceeded to accidentally leave my bridesmaid dress in an airport cafe and then spent forty five painstaking minutes freaking over it's whereabouts. I'd been given strict instructions to make sure I boarded the plane with it as hand luggage. Thank god someone had handed it in to lost and found because I really would have been skinned alive if Brooke's one of a kind hand made concoction had been stolen under my watch.

I took an exaggerated breath as I reached the elevators, stupidly attempting to press the button without putting anything down.

My awkwardness had my eyes skittering around to see if anyone had caught me having an oh so blonde moment and that's when I saw him.

Mr dreamymcdreamy.

My mouth went dry and my heart raced and not for a second could I possibly understand my body's extreme physical reaction. I mean, he was a stranger. He was just a guy. Who was I kidding he was an angel. An angel that was openly staring at me. He didn't look embarrassed at all at being caught in the act, he just smirked and then he started to make the few paces over to me. I looked over my shoulder in true movie style, looking for the woman he was really goggling at.

No one.

And then he was before me and he was speaking.

'Let me'

His voice thrummed through me and his arm brushed mine as he pressed the button.

'Th-thank you' I was stuttering. Just wonderful.

'Here, let me help you with that'

'Oh I, It's alright I think I've got...' I trailed off as he confiscated the shoebox from my hands. Who said gentleman chivalry was dead? 'Oh... okay then' Was my awkwardly muttered response. Thank you is the word you're looking for Peyton. Thank you. 'Thanks'

He effortlessly juggled his own luggage along with Brooke's present as he stepped through the open doors and my eyes were quick to focus on his ass. As soon as they'd homed in on his perfect behind my head was jerking upright. What was I doing?

'What floor are you?' He smiled and god was it a pantie dropping smile.

I swallowed thickly. He raised his brow and I suddenly realised I'd just been ogling at him and he'd asked me a question. Kill me now.

'Erm' I cleared my throat. 'I'm not sure actually' I'd literally just been told which floor and room I was in by the receptionist but apparently I'd lost all ability to form any coherent thoughts in the last minute. I fumbled in my pockets. I'd just been issued the freaking key card and already lost it. The elevator doors opened and closed impatiently before I found it. 'Erm, 2-2-4'

'Ah, well look at that, I'm 2-2-5' He smirked, pressing the button for the second floor 'You're not here for the Davis/Baker wedding by any chance?'

What? How did he know about the wedding? I looked at him, fully surveying him this time. He had a weekend bag slung over his shoulder, a tux draped over his arm, a small white gift bag hanging from one hand and my box in his other. Everything about him screamed wedding guest.

'Er, as it happens, yes' My stomach rolled and I couldn't determine whether the cause was the jolting motion of the elevator or the way his delightfully chiselled face was looking at me, all squinting eyes and smile that was definitely bordering on dangerous.

'Well I'm Lucas Scott- best man'

Best man? My eyebrows went sky high. The best man. This couldn't be happening. I couldn't spend the next three days with Mr hansom at my side. How would I ever survive? I forced myself to look down.

'Are you a friend of Julian or Brooke's?'

'Er' I tucked a curl behind my ear. 'Actually I'm Brooke's best friend- maid of honour' I divulged with a unwelcome blush creeping up my cheeks. Why was I blushing? You're in a relationship. You have a boyfriend.

'Peyton?'

I bit my bottom lip with a small nod. He knew my name. He knew my name. That only meant one thing- Brooke had been talking about me and I really didn't know how I felt about that, she hadn't mentioned a Lucas to me once.

'It's nice to meet you Peyton'

'Likewise'

The elevator doors pinged open and he urged me to step out first.

'So, have you seen the Bride and Groom yet?'

'Not yet. I think Brooke was expecting me earlier though, I was meant to get here this afternoon, but I missed my flight' I rolled my eyes as I recalled my dreadful journey.

'It sounds like you've had a long day'

'Yeah. How about you? How was your journey?'

'It was okay actually. I flew in from from JFK'

'New York?' I found myself stupidly clarifying. Where else would he be talking about?

'Yes New York' He laughed at me.

Great. Now I really was giving off the impression that I was just another dumb blonde.

'I just, I guess we were on the same flight' I rambled, trying in vain to rectify my question. 'I'm from New York too'

'It's a small world huh?'

He'd stopped walking. Apparently we'd arrived at our destination. 224 on the left, 225 on the right.

'Well, here we are' I muttered lamely, wavering my key card around before slotting it into the groove. Nothing happened. Just my luck. After the third attempt he suggested switching the card around. The lock clicked instantly. 'Thanks' I shook my head at my utter incompetence. I just wanted to crawl into my room and never come out again.

'Erm, Peyton?'

His voice reigned me back in before I could vanish.

'Your box' He held out Brooke's present.

'Oh, yeah. Thank you'

'I guess I'll see you in a bit. Rehearsal dinner right?'

'Yeah'

He smiled that smile again and I half heartedly returned it, giving him an awkward wave before disappearing into the safety of my room.

I didn't embark on my usual hotel room inspection. It could have been a cardboard box for all I cared- it was anywhere but home and it was all mine for the next three days.

Total freedom. No work. No drama. No men.

My mind fluttered to the pretty face I'd just left outside my door.

Okay, so maybe not totally no men, no Jake.