I own nothing—thanks for the reviews. I'm not sure if all the times are correct. Math is by far my worst subject. If you know they are wrong, please correct me, with the right times lol.
Eighty Seven Thousand Six Hundred Seconds. Eighty Six Thousand Four Hundred Minutes. One Thousand Four Hundred and Forty Hours. Eight Weeks. Sixty Days. Two Months.
They had been friends for two months.
Much to Lucas's dismay. Don't get him wrong, he was thrilled to be spending any time with Peyton. It was just frustrating being so close to her and not being able to reach out and brush a stray curl from her face. Or lovingly wipe that small dab of cream cheese that often found its way to the corner of her mouth. To hold her hand when the three of them walked down the street.
He saw the way guys still looked at her. Sure they noticed the small four year old boy that resembled both of them. And he's assuming that they noticed that Lucas and Peyton weren't holding hands, or that he didn't have his arm around her, or that she didn't even walk on the same side as him. But, even those small indifferent details kept some at bay.
Once they saw her unoccupied ring finger on her left hand, they went in for the kill. It was like an alarm went off in the male populations head. She's single, yea she has a kid but, who cares, maybe it'll be a good lay. Now of course Lucas knew on some level he was being unfair. Maybe some men would have looked forward to a long meaningful relationship with her and maybe they would have loved Keith as their own. But he was willing to bet that more often then not they simply wanted one good night. He would not have any of that.
In fact, one of the first times they all went out together he nearly got into a fistfight because one guy couldn't take a hint.
Lucas and Keith were sitting at the table in the small deli that they hard hardly frequented. His mother's café was a thought but they had been there many times recently. He was half listening to Keith half watching the scene that was unfolding at the counter. Peyton had been approached by a man. Grated that wasn't uncommon; he'd noticed it a lot in the past few trips they'd all been out on. What was uncommon was the fact that this man hadn't taken Peyton's subtle hints.
"Listen, you seem really nice. I'm just not really looking for a date right now", Lucas heard her say politely.
"Who said anything about a date", the guy said crudely. Lucas could feel his blood boiling. When did Tree Hill acquire such creeps? He could imagine the look on Peyton's face.
"Well, in that case…definitely not", Peyton said in disgust. She began to walk away but the man pulled at her wrist and not gently.
"Get off of me", Peyton hissed. She was not in the mood to be in the middle of a scene, especially with Keith here.
"Come on now. Don't be such a tease", Lucas knew she could handle her own. But he had heard enough. He told Keith to stay put and he swiftly walked toward Peyton and the jerk.
"I think she said to get off of her", Lucas said as he stared the man down.
"Who are you?" He asked as he gave Lucas the same look.
"Just leave her alone", he said as he stepped closer.
"Or what", he challenged. He had dropped Peyton's wrist in the process. She rubbed it soothingly before checking to make sure Keith was still seated. Once she knew he was she returned her attention to the fight she was hoping wouldn't break out.
"Luke come on", Peyton begged as she stepped between them.
"Listen to your little tease. You don't wanna bother", he said threateningly.
"Tease", Lucas spat back, "Just because she doesn't want to be with you doesn't mean she's a tease. It means she has good taste", he said as he gently pushed Peyton aside. They were both now face to face and Peyton could see Lucas's curled fists.
"Luke, Keith is here", she spoke softly. Immediately he stepped back. He looked at Peyton and then at Keith.
"Your lucky my son is here", Lucas told him. He turned to Peyton and said that they should go over to the café, she adamantly agreed.
That was six weeks ago and even though it wasn't any easier to see guys hit on Peyton, he never had to threaten anyone.
The fact that they no longer held lingering gazes. That they no longer innocently touched. That they were both holding back because they were scared. Scared of their feelings. Scared of love. Scared of each other. Scared of loving each other. It always seemed to end in heart ache. All of that was beginning to make him want to throw in the towel. He was beyond frustrated but, he couldn't blame it all on her.
At the same time though, Peyton hadn't given any of those men the time of day. Some were even shot down before they talked to her. She would see them approaching and simply give them a look. They turned and walked away with their tails between their legs. That thought made his heart skip a beat.
He was sharing most of these thought with Nathan. He and Nathan had gotten closer, pretty much to right where they had left off five years ago. He was at that place with everyone now. Everyone except Peyton. They had made progress but they weren't anywhere near they were five years ago. This was another thing Nathan now knew.
When Nathan realized that Lucas had stopped talking he let out a breath.
"I mean, I don't really care or anything", Lucas said. He had tried to sound indifferent all afternoon but was failing miserably. There was so much emotion in his voice that Nathan felt like he was on a soap opera. He realized that in a way he was. This made him laugh to himself.
"What's so funny?" Lucas asked as he sipped his third beer. They were both seated in the bar they had often gone to as teenagers.
"Nothing. I just feel like I'm in high school again. You pining over Peyton", he watched as Lucas shook his head.
"I'm not pining. I just don't like that fact that guys hit on her while I'm there. It's blatantly disrespectful", he nodded his head for good measure.
"Luke, its okay", Nathan said softly.
"What's okay", Lucas asked. Suddenly nervous, his brother's serious tone had killed any chance he had at being buzzed.
"To want to be loved", Nathan said as he sympathetically put a hand on his older brother's shoulder.
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Across town Peyton and Haley were heaving a similar conversation. Pretty much all afternoon, they were having the same conversation.
"He doesn't even look at me that way anymore", Peyton was trying to sound like she had overcome an obstacle but in reality she sounded more hurt then anything.
"That's good?" Haley asked hesitantly.
Peyton paused for a minute. "Yes. That's good", she said confidently.
Haley resisted the urge to roll her eyes. They had been doing this dance for the past month now. Lucas had slowly started to show less interest in Peyton. At least when she was around. When it was just Haley and Lucas, Peyton was all he talked about. If they were all together for something and she wasn't looking, his eyes were fixated solely on her. It was undeniable that he wanted to be with her.
But she knew why he wasn't trying. Lucas had been burned by Peyton in the past and not just recent past but in high school too. He didn't want to risk the steady father/son relationship he had built with Keith. It was like Lucas had been around since birth. They were literally giving Nathan and James a run for their money. He also didn't to risk the friendship he had with Peyton. Haley knew he would rather be her friend then nothing.
"It's just a little odd I guess", Peyton said quietly.
"What is?" Haley asked. She knew what the answer was; she just wanted to hear Peyton say it.
"That he doesn't look at me that way anymore", Peyton said softly.
Lucas had been extremely attentive towards her in the first month that they decided to be friends. Over this past month however, he slowly started to pull back. He was still around for Keith. All the time in fact. But, when they had dinner, or lunch, or even breakfast together, it wasn't the same as it was over the month of July. He barely made eye contact. He hardly ever sent a smirk her way. He even seemed to make sure that they never grazed any body part. Ever. At first she blew it off. Then she quietly questioned it. Then she got angry about it. And now she was completely over it. At least that's what she told herself every time she saw him.
Besides, he had hurt her too much for her to ever really let him in again. In high school, after basically professing his undying love for her, he jumped into bed with Brooke when Peyton freaked out. He had told her that he had to be with her. That Brooke was great but she wasn't Peyton. And yet when she broke things off, he didn't try to stop her, he didn't beg her to re-think it. She even gave him the opportunity; she obviously paused at the end of his walkway, silently begging for him to call out her name. And then he didn't. Then when he came back from Charleston and the end of their junior year winded down, the three of them had began a peaceful coexistence. Until he told Brooke he wanted to be with her. Brooke told him about the Peyton Box. He called it a mistake. Another blow to add to the list.
That summer it was only them. She was nursing a broken because Jake had left. He was nursing his because Brooke had given him no insight as to how she felt. That summer was great. Just them. It was always going to be there…them. They had some really good times and it was as if the world had stopped. Then summer was over. He fought for Brooke. He told Brooke he loved her. He told Brooke he was the guy for her. They began a relationship. Even through all of this he kept his place in Peyton's life. The role of the protector. The confidant. The person she could always turn to. Always giving her false hope.
You see, many people looked at Peyton as the one who had hurt Lucas. Who had run when things got serious. Who had given him all these thoughts and then ripped them away. But that wasn't the case. Lucas was always there for Peyton, even when they both knew that Brooke was going to be less then thrilled. When she wanted to see Ellie. When they were in bed together at the Sparkle Classic. The school shooting. Nathan and Haley's wedding. She knew he was supposed to stay away. He knew he was supposed to stay away. But he still had some last parting words.
"Hey Peyton", he watched out of the corner of his eye as she stopped and faced him.
"You look nice", and again out of the corner of his eye, he saw her smile, only for a second but it was there.
Things like this were why she couldn't fall for him again.
"What about when you guys were finally together", Haley asks slowly. She was hoping to make some kind of headway. Peyton shook her head. That's even more of the reason that she couldn't fall for him.
They were finally together. After a year of turmoil. A never ending game of cat and mouse. They were together. They weren't stealing kisses in libraries. They weren't sneaking around behind Brooke's back. She wasn't hanging onto life by a string. They were really, honestly, together. In love and together.
The months flew by and they stayed steady and true. They got past his heart attack. They got past her sudden withdrawal. They got past the sex tape and the fact that he seemed to be siding with Brooke. They got past psycho Derek. They got past the big college decision. There was one thing they couldn't get past.
The fact that he had cheated on her. With Brooke.
"Peyton, if he did ask you out would you say yes", she asked tentatively.
Peyton paused again. "No", she said matter-of-factly.
"Well then what does it matter", Haley said. She could tell it came out harsher then she intended when she saw Peyton slouch. Peyton went to speak but Haley cut her off.
"It's okay Peyton", she said. Her voice now calm and soft.
"What is", Peyton asked hesitantly.
"To want to be loved", Haley said softly as she rubbed Peyton's back.
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Down the hall in his playroom another Scott was playing the role of a dutiful support system.
"I mean I don't really care either way", Keith said as he stacked some more Lego's.
"Of course not", James offered as he set up his own small town.
Keith had taken a notice to the sudden change in his parent's demeanor. They were the same towards him. It was when they were around each other that they acted different. Almost detached from everything, except Keith. He had tried to work things out but, there were only so many tactics a four year old had. He would start a conversation with "So momma, tell dad that really funny thing you told me before", of course there was no really funny thing but he was grasping at straws.
In a way it made him sad. He secretly enjoyed watching the silent exchanges between his mother and father. He may have been young but he knew what they meant. They had feelings for each other. The real kind of feelings. Not the 'platoon' ones she felt for Jake.
He was also sad because he wanted a sibling. Not right now but eventually. He was pretty sure that that wouldn't happen though. His mom had told him that people who were married had children. This led him to ask why he was born.
"You were born simply because God had other plans for me", Peyton said with a smile.
"Yea but you said", being a three year old he hung onto every literal word his mother said.
"Well, I thought I was going to get married", Peyton said sadly, "That's the exception", she said as she tapped the tip of his nose playfully.
He also slightly knew his parents history. They had been high school sweet hearts. That's what Aunt Haley told him when he asked for some information. When he asked Lucas or Peyton, they simply mumbled that it was a long time ago. But Aunt Haley, well she was always a fountain of information. Eagerly awaiting a chance to spill. They had a difficult time in their senior year. He didn't know what the difficult time was but he guessed it had something to do with Brooke. Aunt Haley never really wanted to talk about her. He knew from his mother that he would have called this Brooke woman 'Auntie Brooke'. He made a mental note to bring her up again at the right time.
He also knew that the Princess and the Prince belonged together. They had some rough times but in the end they rode off into the sunset or on a noble stead. They lived Happily Ever After. At least that's how it was in all his Disney movies. In his eyes his mother and father were a princess and a prince. That gave him hope.
"I mean it doesn't really matter", Keith stated, "As long as I have my mom and my dad its cool", he said. He was silently hoping that James didn't have his mother's instincts.
He was glad that he had both parents now. He just wished that Lucas was there when Keith woke up. Or that he could watch his parents make breakfast together. That he could crawl into bed between the two of them and feel completely content. Completely safe.
"Keith, it's okay", James said as he walked over to his cousin.
Apparently he does. "What's okay", he asked quietly.
"To want your parents to be loved", he said as he put his arm around his younger cousin.
Apparently the Scotts had all discussed the solution for this problem if it were to arise.
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It was later that night when Lucas was frantically knocking on the home he had been frequenting the last two months.
In between knocks he was desperately trying to catch his breath. He had ran—more like sprinted—all the way from his mother's house to here. He was going over what Nathan had said it's okay to want to be loved. It was okay, and he wanted to be loved by Peyton. The opening of the door tore him from these thoughts.
Peyton stood their wide eyed. It was obvious she was not expecting this nighttime visitor, let alone any visitor. Lucas thanked the mid-August heat. She stood before him in the tank top and sleep shorts he had had dreams about. He watched as she shyly tugged at her shorts in an attempt to make them longer. As she self-consciously folded her arms over her chest.
"Lucas", she half asked, half stated.
He went to open his mouth but nothing came out. He felt dizzy and his mouth was dry. He shook his head and walked off the porch. Peyton thought back to what Haley had said its okay to want to be loved. With this thought she followed closely after him.
"Lucas", she called out as they stood in the middle of the walkway. He turned to face her.
The past two months came flooding back.
Keith and Peyton's belongings had just been dropped off. Lucas insisted on putting together Keith's bed even though Peyton told him it was something she could handle. She was putting the rest of their home movies on the shelf when she heard a frustrated grunt come from upstairs. She smirked as she watched him from the doorway.
He had sweat dripping from virtually every pore on his body. His light blue shirt was now a few shades darker and he had an interesting amount of band-aids on his fingers.
"Can I try", she asked as she tried to stifle her laugh.
Lucas sighed as he got up.
"Fine, but I'm telling you it's impossible. We might have to hire someone", he watched in awe as she picked up the drill and went to work.
Not one drop of sweat was to be found. No angered grunts. No band-aid wrappers surrounded her. And he was sure she had done it in record time. When she finished she sent a knowing smirk his way.
"Told you I could handle it", she teased as she walked past him. Lucas Scott would be lying if he said he wasn't incredibly turned on at that moment.
They stood facing each other. Even in the dark they saw the other's eyes sparkling. It was something they hadn't seen in quite a while. An unspoken telling of how the other person was feeling.
Keith had just gone to bed. It had been a little over two weeks and Lucas and Peyton were finding a comfort zone with each other. It was getting late and they both knew that Lucas was going to leave soon.
"Do you want to watch something", she asked. It was a desperate attempt to get him to stay longer.
"Sure", he said while grinning.
They both sat on the couch and waited for the dimly lit room to brighten slightly more. When the screen first lit up the picture was fuzzy and slightly out of focus.
"Jake's not exactly a video camera person", Peyton said meekly. He smiled at her.
Slowly but surely the picture came into a better view. He realized it was Peyton and a small boy. That small boy was Keith. Lucas smiled immediately.
"Come on Keith", Lucas heard Peyton call out quietly.
Keith held onto the coffee table. His small pudgy legs wobbling as he tried to steady his actions. Lucas slowly leaned forward, as if trying to get a better view. Peyton smiled.
"Come on kiddo", she encouraged again. Lucas held his breath as he waited for Keith to complete the task at hand. Slowly but surely he freed his hands from the deep oak table and clumsily put one foot in front of the other. He made it about four steps before he fell on his bottom.
"You did it", Peyton shrieked as she picked him up and gently tossed him in the air. The television went black and then got that snow effect. Lucas turned to look at her.
"That was amazing", he said as tears brimmed his eyes.
Peyton Sawyer would be lying if she said she didn't want to take him right there on that couch in that moment.
He cautiously stepped closer to her. She didn't move, her legs had gotten her this far but now they felt like lead.
Another two weeks went by.
He slowly made his way out to the back porch. He told her he would do the dishes and put Keith to bed. After much debating Lucas won out. He had wanted to talk her. Talk about the past. He didn't know if it would do any good but he needed to tell her.
"Hey", he said quietly.
"Hi", she said without turning to face him.
"Can we talk", he asked hesitantly.
"Sure", she said with slight worry filling her veins.
"I know I hurt you when I slept with Brooke", she opened her mouth to stop him.
"Please, just let me", he begged. She reluctantly agreed.
"I need you to know that it wasn't an ongoing thing. It happened once and even that never should happened but I was weak and stupid and that's not me trying to make excuses. It's me letting you know that it wasn't done out of love or compassion", he said sincerely.
Peyton took a breath. "When", she asked but instantly regretted it. She wasn't sure she wanted to hear his answer.
"Do you remember when we had to do that English project? The one where we picked a name and had to find out five things about that person", he watched as she nodded, "well that night we talked about what we discussed with our partners."
Flashback-within-a-flashback
"Okay umm", Peyton nervously fidgeted with her hands.
"Peyt what's going on", Lucas asked. Suddenly nervous at her change in attitude. He was sure that he knew her secrets. Her demeanor was making him second guess this thought.
She took a deep breath. "Remember when I went to Savannah the weekend of Nathan and Haley's wedding", he nodded his head.
"Okay, well I want you to know that it really meant nothing. I was lonely and it was stupid of me to do", she rambled on. Lucas was assuming that she slept with Jake, which even though it filled him with jealousy he couldn't pass judgment. He had slept with Brooke many times. The word proposed snapped him back to reality.
"What", he said louder then he wanted to.
"I proposed to Jake", she said quietly. Without a word Lucas got up and walked out of her house. Ignoring her tear filled pleas.
He ended up in the local bar. He was going to drown his sorrows. He knew he should be with Peyton, talking about it but he honestly didn't want to talk. He was too furious. She had proposed. They would have been married. The thought to ask himself why they hadn't married, never entered his jealous filled mind.
"What brings you here", asked a raspy voice that he knew all too well.
"You know the class assignment today", he continued without waiting for an answer, "Well Peyton's big secret was that she asked Jake to marry her", he said as he stared straight ahead. He could feel Brooke's stunned response.
"What about you", he asked as he turned to face her.
"Chase dumped me", she said sadly, "Apparently I've got too many secrets", she said despondently.
The night went on and they drank their sorrows away. Lucas didn't answer any of Peyton's calls and Brooke hadn't answered any of Rachel's. When closing time came around Lucas insisted on walking Brooke home. She was far more inebriated then he was, and Lucas Scott was a gentleman.
"Thanks", she said as they came to the door.
"No problem", he said as he squeezed her shoulder. Then before he could think they were kissing. He didn't know who initiated it, but he did know that he didn't stop it. He needed to forget the night and somehow in his drunken state this made sense. They stumbled into the house. Tripped up the stairs, leaving a trail of clothes behind them. And soon enough they found her shared bedroom. Rachel wasn't home, Brooke assumed that was why she had called earlier.
They woke up the next morning with a huge hangover and a huge regret.
End-of-flashback-in-a-flashback
Peyton stood there completely shocked.
"Say something", he quietly pleaded.
She looked out into the lawn and then back at him.
"I'm going to bed. You can show yourself out", she said softly as she brushed past him.
He leaned in closer to her face. He watched as she bit her lip. Gently he cupped her face and lovingly caressed her cheek with his thumb. He continued to lean in. Both felt their pulses quicken, their hearts beating furiously in their ears. He watched as she closed her eyes and slightly puckered her lips. He smiled at her anticipation.
A week went by and they had yet to discuss the scene he had unknowingly burned into her brain. When she closed her eyes she imagined how that night played out. She would think of the worst case scenarios. Declarations of love being proclaimed as they moved together. The secret thought that they didn't really regret what they did but they felt they had to. If Lucas was in her mind he would have called her crazy.
Peyton smiled as she watched Keith and Lucas play in the pool. Okay, he cheated, okay he lied till the last possible minute but, he was an amazing father. She could never call him otherwise.
"Momma come on", Keith yelled from his tube, "The water's really nice", he added for good measure. She took a moment to think about. She watched him pout and knew her decision was made for her.
"I'm coming", she said. She slipped out of her jean skirt and old Ramones tee. Not noticing Lucas's blue eyes roam her body. She dipped one toe into the pool before she walked down the stairs. Lucas surveyed the area. Keith had paddled over to Peyton so he was close enough to her if he slipped out of the tube. Just for god measure, Peyton had him put on a child sized life jacket. Lucas seized the opportunity.
He smirked as he ran towards the pool. Basketball had given him the ability to be light on his feet. She never heard it coming. Keith gasped as he saw his father running in their direction.
As they both came up out of the water they smiled at each other. Lucas's arm was still wrapped around her waist but she made no effort to brush him off. That was pretty much the last time they had any contact. There was no glare. There was no argument later.
It was the simple fact that two people who are trying to be friends, shouldn't have felt what they felt when they touched.
They leaned into each other until their lips met.
Another week had passed since Lucas had told her of the night he cheated with Brooke and they still had yet to discuss it. Two weeks was a long time to let something like that linger.. He and Peyton were sitting in the kitchen, he looked up at her and then back down. Peyton stole a glance at him right after. Lucas cleared his throat and looked up at Peyton.
"Friends", Lucas offered dejectedly. He stuck out his hand for good measure.
"Friends", she said with a laugh as they shook hands.
Now, as it neared the Eighty Ninth Thousand Six Hundredth Second. The Eighty Seventh Thousand Eight Hundred and Fortieth Minute. The One Thousandth Four Hundred and Sixty Fourth Hour. The Beginning of the Ninth Week. The Sixty First Day. The Start of the Third Month.
They were finally something more.
Okay soo there's chapter 9…I'm pretty proud of it. I'm not sure if it's my favorite but it is definitely up there. Again if the times are wrong let me know but send me the right ones lol…there was a lot of info in here I hope it wasn't too much. I hope it was obvious that the paragraphs were everything they were saying to Nathan, Haley, and James…if it wasn't obvious; well then that's what they were lol. And I don't really remember what the exact question was for the 'Pictures of You' episode so I kind of brushed over it lol. I knew it was a secret of some kind lol..
