Chapter Four
Peyton picked up the phone, under the vigilant surveillance of her best friend, "Just dial, Peyton. Ask him out to Trick, or something. You've got someone covering for you tonight, right? So you have a break, ask him to Trick, ask him to hang out. You've got this, P. Sawyer." Brooke flashed a smile, giggling lightly, "Oh man, I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees you. I'll make sure to appear right when he's going in for a kiss, or something. That'll make him decide!" Brooke chuckled.
Peyton laughed – it was a good idea! "Sounds like a plan, you scheming bitch." Peyton smiled, "One problem – what if he finds out we planned against him?"
"All the more reason not to screw with us." Brooke muttered, obviously satisfied, "If this doesn't get him to choose, then I don't know what will."
Peyton started to dial the number she knew oh, too well. Waiting for a reply, amid Brooke's silent snickers, she tapped her foot on her hardwood floor.
"Hello?" Lucas answered curiously.
"Hey, Luke." Peyton attempted to pretend as though nothing happened beforehand – as though they were 'cool', "I was thinking-"
"-About how impetuous you were earlier?" Lucas cut in brusquely.
"No, not at all." Peyton smiled nervously, "About how I'm bored, and how I want to hang out."
"In spite of everything you said before?" He seemed shocked – hell, anyone would have been at this sudden change at heart. To him, it was like a loving mother – say, Karen – deciding to kick a sweetheart of a son – say, Lucas – out of the house without reason. That's what it sounded like, what it seemed like.
"In spite of everything I said before." Peyton said affirmatively, "Now, don't get me wrong Luke – I still want you to choose, but nobody can hang out tonight, so I guess you're like-"
"Your last resort." Lucas sighed, nodding on the other end, "What do you have in mind?"
"I was thinking Trick. I haven't ever been there as a guest – I've always been the hostess. Good idea?" Peyton said, glancing up at Brooke, who was entirely enthralled with the escalating conversation.
Lucas seemed to think for a while – tossing matters up in his head, "Yeah, okay."
"Okay? You're up for it?" Peyton made an excited face at Brooke, "Seriously? Cool!"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" Lucas chortled lightly, "So what, I'll pick you up in about a half an hour?"
Peyton's eyes widened, "Um, how about you hold on for a minute-" covering the receiver, she hoarsely whispered to her friend, "How are we getting there? He wants to pick me up!"
Brooke, the exceptional conspirator, soon replied, "Tell him we'll meet him there – well, you'll meet him there, and I'll hide out. We'll get there earlier, and yeah. Hurry, Peyt! He's going to suspect something!"
"Sorry, Lucas – my dad wanted something," she bit her lip, hoping Lucas wouldn't remember that her father was out for the weekend on some sort of business. Little did she know, he did remember. He remembered quite clearly, when she said: yeah, I'll be so lonely all weekend, I think I might shoot something.
Lucas kept silent for a moment, "You're a really bad liar, Peyton Sawyer."
"He stopped by, Luke. I'm not lying – but, whatever you want to believe." Peyton said coolly, glancing at Brooke tensely.
"I still think you're a really bad liar. But I guess I'll see you there." Lucas said, "Bye, Peyt." He said, before hanging up. Peyton slammed the phone down, sinking into the rolling chair.
"Okay, I am totally, totally not stealth. He is so going to suspect something!"
"Like, what Peyton? That I came back home, and we're going to do him so good that he'll finally make up his mind? Please, Peyton. Like he'd think of that!" Brooke dismissed the thought almost immediately, "Just be flirty, have a few drinks – get him to kiss you, Peyton, okay?" Peyton was barely able to believe that Brooke, her arch enemy in this matter, was actually encouraging her to kiss him. She shrugged and nodded, "I'll be watching out for you guys, so once you guys actually kiss I'll be sure to come by."
"And you're just going to bitch?" Peyton chuckled.
"Like never before." Brooke grinned slyly, as she got up from the bed, "Now, problem number one – what are we going to do with you so that you look, well, kissable."
"Um?" Peyton said, wondering what about her wasn't kissable, "Elaborate?"
"Nah, nothing, P. Sawyer. I just want you to look drop-dead-gorgeous. He won't be able to refuse you, which totally enforces our plan. If you look stunning, he's going to want to kiss you – do the math, errr, if there's any math to do. Just whatever. If you look hot, there is going to be some action. If there's some action, this plan is going to rock." Brooke clapped excitedly, as she went over to Peyton's closet, waiting to dissect it. "If only dissecting frogs in Bio was this easy." She shuddered at the thought, as she quickly scanned the clothes, "Thisis too desperate," she said, throwing it aside, "whereas, this is too… mine!" Peyton mouthed an apology, "You're wearing this," she said, as she tossed her a flimsy little shirt, "and this." She grinned, as she pressed a tiny skirt onto her. "You are going to look so hot!" Brooke squealed, "Now, hurry up! And get dressed. Sorry, Peyt, but not everyone can be as hot as me. Some people have to actually try." She shrugged, sighing lightly after which she giggled, pushing Peyton towards the bathroom playfully.
"Ha, ha, ha." Peyton said dryly, as she took the clothes from Brooke, escaping into the bathroom next-door. Minutes later, she came out in the simple, yet oddly striking attire.
"I told you you'd look amazing." Brooke smirked, "Alright, well – put on some makeup, tons of perfume; there will be dancing." Brooke winked, "This night is going to be incredible, Peyt! He's finally going to choose. Aren't you excited?"
Peyton, thinking thoughtfully for a moment, shrugged, "Brooke," she started unsurely, "you mind promising me something?" Brooke looked over her shoulder, from behind the mirror, saying she didn't mind at all. She even encouraged Peyton to continue, "Brooke, he's going to choose one of us." Yeah? "Either you, or either me." Well, no duh, Brooke said simply, asking Peyton to get on with it. "Promise me, that no matter who he chooses, we'll still be friends? Like, if he ultimately chooses you, I'll have no right to intervene or be jealous, or envious – or vice versa. We'll be best friends; the only difference will be that one of us will no longer be single. That's all. Promise?"
"Sure, Peyton." Brooke laughed, "That's why we're doing this, right? So we can quit the fighting, and finally leave it up to him? Peyton, you know that no matter how many times we've superficially put Luke above our friendship, it's never really meant more – not to me, anyway. But sometimes I wonder, why he likes you and why he likes me simultaneously. If I do say myself, I think we're a little different, no?"
"He explained this to me earlier on today – he said that with you, he feels different, and with me, he feels different. It's like he's two different people." Peyton said, opening her mouth a little as she put on some mascara.
Brooke exhaled, "Peyton, is that love to you?"
"What? Being two different people?" Brooke nodded, "Not at all, but what can you do? This boy's got his mind set, and he thinks it's love and whatever, right?"
"Don't you kind of wish he didn't choose either of us?" Brooke said minutes later. Peyton pressed her lips together, and shrugged. It was her way of saying, who knows? "Life would be so much clearer if Lucas Scott stayed at the Riverside courts. I mean, we wouldn't even know him, right? And that would totally salvage our friendship – and I mean totally."
"Brooke, there'd be other boys – if not Lucas, then another Nathan. Trust me, the Scotts have a way of finding you." Peyton, unsure of whether that was a comforting thought, shook it off.
"Peyton, we've just been through so much." Brooke said, looking at her best friend sincerely. "So much drama, anger, tragedy. There were the good times, but I'm terrified that our problems outweigh everything. Please tell me I'm wrong?"
"You're wrong, Brooke." Peyton said, laughing a little, "Everyone has their tough times – it's how you get through them that counts. I think we've gotten through them pretty well, don't you? I mean, we're still friends."
"Oh, Peyton." Brooke said, walking over to her friend, burying her head in the Blonde's shoulder, "If I've allowed you to think that Lucas Scott means more to me than you do, Peyton, I am so sorry." Brooke pulled away, "You're my BFFL, okay? No matter what."
"No matter what." Peyton echoed, with a sugary smile. "I think we just had a moment, Brooke." Peyton laughed quietly, "I think we'd better go, before Lucas Scott discovers our little scheme." Brooke nodded with assent, showing her agreement boldly. "So we're going in my car?"
"Yeah, why not." Brooke said, her gentle voice interrupted by the ringing of a doorbell. Peyton shot Brooke a timid glance, both afraid that Lucas had grown oddly curious of Peyton's earlier actions. "You'd better go check." Brooke said, raising her eyebrows in anxiety. I'd better, Peyton muttered faintly. She bolted out of the door, the doorbell ringing once more.
"Okay, okay," Peyton said, knowing that the intruder could hear her very well. Peyton swung open the door, nothing short of shocked when she saw Lucas beaming at her, "Uhhhhh…"
"I wasn't sure what you were planning, but I knew it wasn't anything good – so, I decided to come by and pick you up on my own." Lucas smirked, realizing he'd intervened perfectly.
"Way to keep me on a short leash." Peyton grumbled, "I guess we'd better go then?" Peyton glanced at her watch nervously, not quite knowing how Brooke was going to maneuver out of this one. "Okay, Dad! Lucas is here! We're going to Trick, okay? Call me if you need me! Bye, Dad!" Peyton said, loud enough so that Brooke could hear from upstairs.
Lucas stared at her bizarrely, "I just saw your dad coming from the café," he said lightly.
"Oh, then I probably didn't hear him leave. You know how I listen to by music so loud?" Peyton laughed nervously, before brushing passed Lucas. He was driving by this situation so smoothly… so peculiarly.
"Are you sure it's the music?" Lucas asked, laughing at Peyton's stunned face. What? "Nevermind." His eyes glittered, as he opened the front passenger seat for her – like a true gentleman. "You're very strange, Peyton." He commented smugly when he got into the driver's seat.
"Oh yeah?" Peyton smirked gently, cocking an eyebrow, "And you're very indecisive. But I guess we can't change either." Peyton looked straight ahead of her, avoiding his painful stare.
"Indecisive? And what if I were to tell you my decision right now?" Lucas said, his voice oddly serene.
Peyton's eyes widened viciously, as she jerked her head, coughing a mere, "What?" in response to his statement.
"I think I'm sure." Lucas said, laughing lightly in harmony with his laughing eyes. Peyton didn't know if he was serious – he had that sort of mystery hovering around him.
"If you think you're sure, then you're not sure at all." Peyton shrugged, "But hey, if you're sure, go for it. You wouldn't want to keep me waiting?" Peyton sighed uncomfortably.
"Sure, I would." Lucas grinned widely, as though that were the center of the point.
"Right." Peyton said simply, knowing he was bluffing this time.
"Maybe I'll tell you, if you tell me your little plot?"
"You are so grade two." Peyton huffed broadly, "You think bribery is going to get something out of me? Well, what if I was to tell you that there is no scheme."
"Then I'd tell you, you were lying. Again." Lucas said, adding with a smile.
"Then I'd tell you, that you are way too cocky for your own good, Lucas Scott, and I can easily just go home." Peyton said, after which Lucas stopped the car, challenging her.
"It's not a far walk from here – Trick is plenty fun solo." Lucas smirked confidently, knowing that Peyton probably wouldn't get out of the car.
"Like I said, waaaaaaaaaaay too cocky." Peyton said, glaring at him, "But if you're so keen on letting me go, then I'll just, go." She shrugged, touching the knob curiously.
"I'm kidding, Peyton. Remember when we used to just joke around? Yeah, that? Well, I'm kidding." Lucas said seriously this time, realizing that Peyton was actually considering a long walk home. "Peyton?" She looked up, "Why is it that we can no longer have just one fun night?"
There were many answers to this question. Because Lucas was an ass that couldn't make a concrete choice. Because they're no longer "just friends" – they stopped being friends that time they started to date. Because Peyton is in love with him. Because Peyton is hoping that he is still in love with her. Because, even though Peyton hoped that things won't be distraught with Brooke, she knew they would be regardless of the choice. Because Peyton has lost practically everyone important in her life, and she doesn't want Lucas to be one of them.
"I don't know." Was all Peyton said, notwithstanding all the options. Lucas nodded, continuing the drive in silence. He didn't want to force a discussion Peyton clearly didn't want to have.
"So have you talked to Brooke?" Lucas said, turning his head so as to study her vivid expression.
Peyton shrugged in a rather reserved, yet relaxed, manner. "Brooke? Nah, why, have you?" Peyton quickly turned the tables, pressing him with her stare.
"I wish I could." Lucas said lightly, "I kind of feel guilty about today." He nodded at Peyton.
"Guilty good, or guilty bad?" Peyton asked dumbly.
"Is there a guilty good?" Lucas made a face.
"No, I mean like – guilty, because what you're guilty for was good, or guilty, because what it was, was bad."
"You barely make sense, and yet I still understand you." Lucas smiled, comprehending that their wordless bond was unique. "Guilty good, definitely. But then I feel guilty bad, as well, because I know I shouldn't have done this good thing, because it's hurting these two girls."
Peyton nodded, "Oh yeah? Since when have you cared?"
"Since I've realized what's at stake." Lucas replied earnestly.
"What's at stake, Luke?" Peyton pushed further.
Lucas sighed, "It took me a while to figure it out – I think it's only fair that you think about it as well."
"Luke, I know what's at stake." Peyton said, scrunching up her forehead in thought, "I'm just curious to see whether you've got it, or whether you just have this silly idea that you've got it."
"Who's being so grade two, now? I remember, when I'd tell Hayley I knew something – but I really didn't – and I would make her tell me just so I could make sure she knew." Lucas laughed, "It worked every time." He smiled attentively.
"It's not like that at all." Peyton muttered, "And you know it, too."
"Maybe I do, maybe I don't." Lucas said, driving up to Trick, searching for a parking spot lazily.
"Lucas, for one time in your life, can you hold on to something without any doubts?" Peyton demanded after a second.
"What?" was all Lucas said this time.
"There are so many good things in your life, Lucas, but you're too absorbed in it all to realize how good they really are." Peyton pressed her lips together, "Maybe you need to re-evaluate some friendships, some relationships. Maybe some relationships are better left friendships. Maybe some friendships shouldn't become relationships. Maybe some relationships should just be lost, and drowned away in time."
"Peyton, and one thing you have got to stop doing is judging me. I'm not absorbed with anything, and ultimately, the choices I make are my own. Things aren't so easy in my shoes, and I would show you if I could."
Peyton rolled her eyes, "Lucas, how hard could things possibly be? You've got two girls that would do anything to be your 'choice', okay?" Peyton barked, "It's like you don't even notice, sometimes."
"It's not my fault that the tables have turned, Peyton. You think I would have expected that these two amazing cheerleaders would ever befriend me? Please! Can you say out—of—my—league?"
"Out of my league-" Peyton said, "See, I can say it, but don't you dare make me say what's on my mind."
"Do it, Peyton. We're already in a loud brawl, why shouldn't we continue? What, you going to throw a punch next?" Lucas smirked, "All I'm saying Peyton, is that you seem to have me figured out. I'd like to think I'm not exactly as easy to read as a book, okay?"
"Oh, but you are Lucas Scott. Now, we either drop this and we have a good night, or we continue fighting and get to Trick all fussed up." Peyton said, swallowing her pride for a moment. The plan practically whisked her off of her seat, as it approached her mind.
"We're not done here." Lucas said, biting down on his tongue hard, "We can't have a good night, if you don't tell me everything on your mind, okay? You are going to tell me everything, and I'm going to tell you why you are so incredibly wrong."
"Okay." Peyton said, "You first."
"I don't think we'll get to Trick for a while." Lucas said, gathering his thoughts thoroughly. "Okay. So let's start here. The amount of times I've wanted to tell one of you, or the both of you exactly how I feel is numerous, and practically uncountable. It's a shame you two have never given me the opportunity. You've always made me choose one, or the other – always in a relationship. I either had to be good friends with you, and bad with Brooke, or the other way around. It is what you two expected of me." Lucas spoke slowly, "Yes, this situation is difficult. Yes, sometimes I wish I could untie it all. Yes, it's overwhelming, Peyton. But would I ever wish you two away? No. I wouldn't, only because I know how much you mean to me-"
"But-"
"Ah, ah!" Lucas quickly hushed her, "It is my time to speak. You can contradict whatever I say when I'm done. Did I ever tell you how amazing you were?" Peyton nodded, "Did I ever tell you how amazing Brooke is?" Peyton kept silent, looking away unintentionally, "I don't mean to hurt you, Peyton. Not now, not ever. But you girls are really ragging on me, this time, you know that?" Lucas sighed, "And I wish I could tell you both how much I care about you, but it's impossible, right? I wish I could tell you both to go find yourself someone worthy. But then, I can't imagine how depressed I'd be, because I'd be losing both of you. I'm not worthy for either of you – you deserve someone who is going to love you unconditionally, someone who is going to be there for you always."
"Is this a way to tell me that I'm not your choice, and that Brooke is?" Peyton said feebly.
"I don't know, yet." Lucas replied.
"That's just it, Luke." Peyton grunted, "It's always like this. Stop doing this to me, okay? Stop leaving everything hanging! Let's just go – I don't have enough words in my mouth to express anything at all right now." Peyton said, getting out of the car quickly. She wiped a bead of sweat from off of her forehead, looking out onto the entrance. She saw a car slowly begin to pull in, "Oh, Jesus!" Peyton said, recognizing the face in the driver's seat. She quickly got back into the car, "On the other hand, how about I tell you everything right now." Peyton smiled peculiarly, as she stared at Lucas' inquisitive face, "Yeah, everything. The air, it got to me, what can I say?" Peyton felt her phone vibrating in her back pocket, as she pulled it out. "Hello? Dad? Hi."
"Peyton, why the hell are you still outside?" Brooke hissed into the phone.
"I'll be home soon, Dad. Don't worry, okay? You can go out with your buddies, though, I'll be fine. We haven't even gotten into Trick yet – bad traffic."
"When the hell are you getting in, Peyt? I don't exactly want him to see me!"
"We'll probably get inside in about ten minutes, don't worry, Dad. I'll see you later, okay?"
"Has he kissed you yet?"
"No." Peyton smiled at Lucas lightly.
"Okay, I'm going in. I'll be by the, uh, by the crusty bathrooms – nobody goes there anymore. Plus, it's a rather good view of the entire place."
"Sounds good, Dad." Peyton said.
"Plan in action?"
"Yeah, definitely." Peyton said smoothly.
"Thanks for almost blowing it, skank!" Brooke said before hanging up the phone.
"Since when does your Dad call you when you're out?"
"Since he figured out I was going out with you." Peyton chuckled, as she tucked her phone back into her pocket.
"So, how about we go now?" Lucas said, ready to get out.
"How about we don't." Peyton said rather quickly, "You still have my side of the story to hear."
And so, after a solid ten minutes had passed, they were already well on their way to Trick. "You want a drink?" Lucas said, as the music hollered in their ears. Peyton nodded with a grin, thinking – perfect. "Okay, stay right here." Lucas said, walking over to the bar. Peyton felt her phone vibrating again, this time announcing a text message.
I see you, Peyt. He's getting drinks? – Brooke.
Peyton quickly wrote back, yeah. After which Brooke replied:
OK. So everything's good. I'll be watching. Get him to kiss you soon, OK? I don't like the smell of these bathrooms. Ewww.
Peyton chuckled, writing back: Haha. OK. Speedy plan, no worries. I've got this.
"What are you laughing at?" Lucas said, as he came back with a drink.
Peyton hid her phone again, retrieving the drink that he was extending for her, "Nothing much."
"Oh, being all secretive are we?" Lucas smirked, "'Cause that doesn't make me feel like you've got anything planned against me. Not at all."
"Baby, what I've got planned for you is none of your beeswax." Peyton deadpanned, soon shedding a slight grin.
"Well, baby, I think it's my business considering it concerns me."
"You think everything's your business." Peyton cooed – this couldn't be easier.
"Ouch." Lucas pretended to look hurt, "Are you telling me I'm nosy or something? Because I'm not getting the brain-wave."
"How about you make dancing your business." Peyton smirked, taking a comfortable step closer to Lucas so that their bodies were mere millimeters away. She could feel Lucas' strained, yet hot breath against her cheek. She could see him gulping, his Adam's apple shifting slightly.
"You know I don't dance." He choked finally, placing his fingertips on the hem of her little silk top. Its smoothness tickled his fingertips, as he gazed into her captivating, sea-green eyes.
"And you know I don't take no for an answer." Peyton cocked an eyebrow, as she took his palms into her own and dragged him onto the dance floor. "I'm not saying we actually have to you know, boogie. Just," she said, guiding his hands towards her lower waist, pulling him closer, as the music boomed rhythmically around them, "Dance." She said, smiling up at him. Slowly, they began to rock ever so slowly to that rather fast-paced music. "See? You're getting the hang of it." She said, snaking her arms around his neck. "You're not even that bad, you little liar. Did you think you could get out of dancing with me?"
"Apparently not." He shrugged, and grinned, his two left feet feeling a little awkward as they shuffled at Peyton's tempo. Peyton gracefully shifted side to side, easing their pace down so that he could feel composed. "So what made you change your mind, Peyton?" Lucas said, his eyes thoughtful, yet serious.
"About?" Peyton questioned moments later.
"About coming out with me tonight."
"Oh." Peyton said, racking her brain for a suitable answer, "Call me crazy, but I was bored." Peyton said. Evidently, it didn't convince the charming dirty-blonde jock in front of her. "Okay, then I wanted to see you."
"You didn't want to see me before." Lucas remarked, "Try again."
"For Pete's sake, I wanted to see you, that's all!" Peyton said defensively, nearing her face to his ear, as she began to whisper, "It's not my fault I'm so attracted to you. I don't know how you do it, but you lure me every time – even if it's just to hear your voice." She pulled away, studying his stunned expression.
"Peyton, we're here to hang out." Lucas warned, "No fuzzy stuff, remember? We promised each other."
"Luke, loosen up! Who's going to see us here? We're just friends dancing, having some fun, letting things happen as they come." Peyton said gently, "Earlier today was no mistake, Lucas Scott. If anything it was a sign."
"A sign? Since when do you believe in signs?" Lucas asked curiously.
"I do, sometimes." Peyton said quietly, "Sometimes, when they come and they're easy enough to see, I believe in them. Just like I believe that that kiss wasn't a mistake. If we had enough love to kiss…"
"Then nothing, Peyton. Nothing was supposed to happen, nothing did." Lucas opposed.
"Don't deny it." Peyton said, her eyes troubled and cloudy, as though he had genuinely hurt her. "Lucas, ever since forever what I've been feeling for you, was well, undeniable. The only problem is that I've tried to deny it so many times. I can't anymore. It's either I love you, you love me back, or I love you, and you love Brooke. The latter hurts, you know? It hurts more than you'd ever know. I just wanted this summer to be special."
"It will be special…" Lucas muttered, "We don't need to hook up for it to be special."
Peyton shrugged, and smiled, "But what if I want to?"
"We can't." Lucas said straightforwardly.
"One kiss."
"One kiss, what?"
"One kiss to either make or break the deal, Lucas Scott. One last kiss, or depending how it goes, one first kiss. Just one."
Without further ado, their lips collided in a luscious and wild kiss. Lucas tightened his grip around her waist, pulling her as close as he could. A million thoughts were rocketing around his head – did this feel right? God, this feels amazing. I like her – but do I love her? She means so much to me…
"What the fuck is this?" A shrill voice interrupted the magnificent kiss. The shrill voice belonged to no other than Brooke Davis.