Chapter Three: Family Dinner
I sat at the table, picking at my food. Conversation was flowing, mostly between my mother and sister. Mom would ask Lucas questions, and Haley would answer for him. I couldn't help but wonder if it was annoying him as much as it was annoying me.
"So Haley, why didn't you tell me you had a sister?" Lucas asked. I looked up, surprised that he had interrupted.
"You just never asked." Haley replied with a shrug. "Besides, I didn't think it was that important." I rolled my eyes and took a bite of the chicken my mom had ordered.
"I'm just surprised that you didn't mention her...I mean, we have so much in common." Lucas smiled over at me and I felt my heart soar. I returned his smile before looking down at my plate.
"You do?" my mom asked, sounding beyond stunned. Lucas nodded his head, taking a sip of his lemon water.
"We listen to the same music, she's a cheerleader and I'm a basketball player, plus we're both artists."
"You're an artist?" Haley questioned.
"Kind of...he's a writer." I blurted out without thinking. "Oh, sorry." I said, stifling a laugh.
"It's okay." he replied, sending a reassuring grin my way.
"You write? Haley didn't mention that." my mom said, eating the salad she had prepared for herself.
"That's because I didn't know..." Haley mumbled. She was clearly upset that I knew something about Lucas that she didn't. It made me happy.
"My dream is to write the next great American novel. I just haven't found my inspiration yet."
"Do you even have an idea about what you want to write about?" I asked, intrigued.
"I've got a few ideas rolling around in my head but I haven't settled on anything yet." he replied.
"I can help...you know if you want to throw some ideas around." I tried not to melt in the powerfulness of his deep blue eyes.
"That'd be great!" I grinned as his smile widened. "I don't have that many but maybe you could help me think of more." I nodded my head.
"Maybe we can meet up after practice tomorrow."
"It's a date." Haley cleared her throat and Lucas glanced over at her, like he had almost forgotten she was there. "It's just a figure of speech honey bunny." he added, sliding his hand over hers on the table. She immediately brightened at the use of the pet name and took over the conversation. I glanced up at Lucas and he smiled softly. I felt shivers run through my body. My gaze fell back to my plate. I had to remember that he was with Haley. I mean, she's my sister so I should leave her be. Let her be happy with the guy of my dreams. Right? Wrong. I was given the opportunity to get closer to Lucas, and I wasn't gonna let it pass me by. Even if we just became close friends, I would be fine with that. Something was telling me that I needed to have him in my life.
"Are you finished Peyton?" The voice of my mother broke me from my thoughts.
"Oh, yeah. I'll clear the plates." She smiled appreciatively at me and I picked up my plate as well as my mom's and Haley's. I went to take Lucas's plate but he pushed my hand away.
"Let me help. It's the least I could do."
"You don't have to Broody. I can do them myself." I said, holding my hand out for his plate.
"Not happening Sawyer. I'm helping." He pushed my hand away, sending a jolt of electricity through me when his rough skin brushed against mine.
"Let him help honey. That way the dishes will get done faster." I stuck my tongue out at him playfully and he chuckled, pushing me gently towards the kitchen. I scraped the remnants of food into the trash, handing them to him to put in the sink.
"Offering to help me with the dishes won't get you in with my mom you know." I informed him..
"Maybe I'm trying to get in with someone else." I surprisingly managed to hide the smirk that blossomed onto my face. "Hopefully Haley will see me as a man that's not afraid to do a woman's chore." The smirk vanished.
"So washing dishes is a woman's chore?" I questioned, wanting to keep the playful banter going.
"As a matter of fact it is. Most things in the kitchen are women's chores. Cooking, washing dishes, cleaning."
"Spoken like a sexist pig."
"Hey, I resent that!" I laughed softly and put the stopper in the sink, filling it with soapy water.
"You can wash, I'll dry." I said, grabbing a small towel. He stuck his hands in the water and began washing the plates.
"So I was thinking we could go grab a bite after practice tomorrow...eat and pass around ideas. What do you think?"
"You paying?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. He nodded his head and glanced over at me. "Then I'm in." I said.
"So, you and your sister don't get along?"
"Not so much." I said honestly.
"Why not?" he asked, handing me a plate.
"We used to get along great. We would do everything together...but when my dad died, things changed. We stopped being friends and barely spoke, and it just continued into our teen years. But I'm fine with it." I said with a shrug. He put down the plate and turned to look at me.
"No you're not."
"Excuse me?"
"You miss your sister, the girl you used to be best friends with...don't even try to tell me I'm wrong. I can see it in your eyes." I had no idea what to say to that. I stood in silence, biting my lip nervously. No one had ever seen through me like that.
"Well, it doesn't matter. Things are never gonna change, and I've learned to face that fact." I blinked away the tears that were trying to escape. "I'll go get Haley and she can help you finish up the rest of the dishes."
"Peyton, I-" Before he could finish I had left the kitchen, handing Haley the small towel and going upstairs to my room. I couldn't let him see through me anymore. I needed to put my walls up, keep him out of my heart. Besides, he was with my sister, he wanted my sister, and there was nothing I could do to change that.
Author's Note: Okay, so I know, it took me forever and ever amen to update. School has only been in session for about 4 days, and its killing me!! I'm trying to update the rest of my fanfics and am trying to get into a patter. Reviews are great, keep 'em coming!