"So, do you think you'll miss LA?" he turned toward Peyton who was too consumed in her thoughts watching out the window to hear him.
He placed a hand gently on her shoulder to get her attention, "What's wrong. Ever since we decided that we were going to come back to Tree Hill you've been acting weird"
She sighed," It's just that I haven't been here in four years and the only person I had contact with was-", he cut her off and narrowed his eyes
"Lucas"
"No, well yeah I had contact with him, but other than him I've only had contact with my friend Haley and I don't know how everyone will react to this"
"Well" he grabbed her hands in his squeezing them gently" If they're really good friends, they'll be happy that your marrying someone as intelligent and handsome as me" she rolled her eyes at him as he chuckled
"Everything's going to be okay" he reassured her, when she shook her head he kissed her hand as she smiled at him affectionately
"I love you"
He tucked a stray curl behind her ear, "I love you too"'
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Nathan paced the terminal walking up and down in front of the arrival/departure boards every once and a while stopping and glancing at the board and then continually pacing.
Haley watched on with four year old James asleep in the chair next to her while Nathan enthusiastically waited for Peyton's flight to arrive. Ever since they had received the call from Peyton that she'd be returning to Tree Hill Nathan had been excited about the prospect for weeks. He had even kept a secret calendar that he thought Haley didn't know about counting down the days until Peyton arrived. Haley wanted to feel jealous but she couldn't because Nathan and Peyton had a friendship muck like hers and Lucas'. When Haley left for the tour they had bonded and Haley was thankful that Peyton was there to help Nathan out when she couldn't.
"Nathan can you stop pacing please, you're making me dizzy" She pleaded and was thankful when he stopped and came to take a seat next to her and James.
"I'm sorry Hales; I just want to be the first one to greet her"
"Well James is asleep, I'm to dizzy from your pacing to stand straight and unless some random stranger takes pride in hugging people they don't know, I'm sure you'll be the first one to greet her" she smiled reassuringly
As soon as that was said as mass of blonde curls caught Nathan's attention and he was up out of his chair and running towards them in a matter of seconds. Haley caught on to what he was drawn to and carefully picked up James and made her way over to them.
When Peyton had caught sight of Nathan she placed her carry-on on the floor and braced herself for the hug she knew was coming. She was engulfed in a hug and Nathan held her tight lifting her off the ground in the process because of their height difference. Someone clearing their throat broke their embrace and Nathan placed Peyton back on the ground looking over her head to see them being watched by a tall blonde haired man.
Kevin held out his hand, "Hey, I'm Kevin you must be Nathan" Nathan shook Kevin's hand furrowing his brows in the process
"Yeah, how did you-"
"Peyton told me that you'd be the first person to hug her" Nathan cast a sideways glance to Peyton and she smiled sheepishly
"Hi, I'm Haley" Haley appeared alongside Nathan with a sleeping Jamie on one hip, extending her hand to Kevin
"I'm Kevin, Peyton has told me a lot about you" He smiled politely at Haley
"All good things I hope" she smiled back at Kevin
"So let's get going, you're staying in our guest house Sawyer" Nathan threw an arm around Peyton and pulled her along with Haley, James and Kevin following
"Is he always like this?" Kevin asked Haley as they trailed behind
"Yeah, he's like her big brother and now that's she getting married you better get used to it, cause it only gets worse"
……………………………………………………………………………………………
"No, Lucas you're not going over there" Lindsey walked around the table picking up the plates from dinner
"Why not" he asked following
"Because, she's your ex-girlfriend"
He scoffed "So?"
Placing the dishes in the sink Lindsey turned around to face Lucas
"You love me right?"
"Yeah"
"So" she wrapped her arms around his neck, "I bet you wouldn't like it if I went to go see one of my exes"
She had a point, he probably wouldn't be too happy if he found out she was going to see one of her ex-boyfriends. This was different though, she didn't have a deep history with any of her exes and her friends probably weren't still rooting for them to get back together.
"No"
"Good, so it's settled you won't go?" she raised an eyebrow expectantly
"Fine"
"Thank You" she pecked his lips and turned back to the dishes
"I think I'm going to go to the river court"
"Lucas-"
"I'm just going to play some basketball; I'm not going to Nathan and Haley's I promise"
"Okay, don't stay out too late"
"I won't" he shut the door behind him and decided to walk to the river court to think. He hadn't been alone with his thoughts for a while, he was to busy spending time either trying to write his second novel, coach the basketball team, or spending time with Lindsey, Haley, Nathan and James. Dribbling the ball in his hands as he approached the river court he caught sight of two figures sitting on the bench. He recognized the woman with curly hair as none other than Peyton who was laughing at what the person next to her had said. He could walk over right? Lindsey said he couldn't go see Peyton at Nathan and Haley's house but she never said he couldn't see her if she was sitting on a bench at the river court.
"Peyton" he called as he approached content to see her again. He stopped mid stride seeing the person, better yet, man sitting next to her.
"Hi, Lucas" Kevin smiled and placed an arm around Peyton's shoulder
Lucas clenched his teeth but put on a fake smile nonetheless. Looks like there was going to be some competition.