No More Than This Chapter 9

Peyton's POV

It has probably been one of the best weeks of my life- it's the day before thanksgiving and Lucas and I are hosting the holiday at our house, and yes Karen is helping me cook the Turkey. But the thing that has made this past week so enjoyable would be the fact that Lucas and I are getting along really well. It's like he's my first real friend; he hasn't had to work at all this week so we spend our days down at the river court- he plays basketball and I draw, we laugh and joke around. It's like we have a real relationship now, it's like he doesn't see me as Derricks little sister any more, or the girl he married out of obligation; he sees me as Peyton Sawyer- his friend.

It's really nice not to feel so alone in the world any more. For a moment in my life I lost everything, I had no one and I didn't know how to move forward from there. Then Lucas storms into my life, turns it upside down and now he's slowly helping me put it all back together. Yes it was hard to begin with- he was such a jerk when we first got married but I guess he was just afraid, afraid and broken just like me. Were healing each other and we're both stronger now, then we have been in the past.

I now have a family , I have Lucas, I have Karen and Lilly, I even have Mouth; and tomorrow Luke's brother and his wife will be coming back home, and hopefully I'll have them too. I guess I have a lot to be thankful for this year- who would have guessed this smile on my face would have come from a marriage out of obligation.

Karen just left about ten minutes ago, she came so she could help me prepare the marinade for the Turkey that must go in the oven at precisely 5.45 am the next day- who knew there was a 5.45 in the morning, maybe I'll make Lucas get up and put the bird in the oven.

Once Karen left I went back to my cooking. The one thing I love cooking more than anything is deserts. It's something that I used to always do with my mum on a Sunday. Actually she would cook and I would lick the spoon and be the first one to taste whatever we made. I tried to keep the tradition up as I got older but soon there was no one to eat what I made so I just stopped and only baked when I really felt like it.

I am making an apple and pumpkin pie (not mixed together), chocolate and hazelnut cookies, and a black forest cake- Karen's really making everything else. I hear the front door open and figure Lucas is back from the river court

"Hey Peyt, you hear" he yells out from the front door

"Yeah I'm in the kitchen" I yell back

He walks through the house and pokes his head through the kitchen door "hey I'm goanna jump in the Shower- Jake's is here so he'll keep you company until I get back."

Lucas winks at me before he disappears up the stairs and out of sight. I couldn't help a shiver run down my spine at the thought of being left alone with Jake- whom I met only three days ago. I guess he is one of Luke's close friends but he still really creeps me out, always staring and smiling at me; Yuck.

I'm standing at the counter spooning out the cookie dough and I don't even realise Jake come into the kitchen- let alone come up behind me. He placed his arms on either side of me, trapping me between him and the counter top.

"Hi Peyton, I can't stop thinking about you"

He whispers this into my ear, his hot breath making me more, and more uncomfortable.

"Jake, seriously step back" I say as I try to push my way away from him

"c'mon baby I know you like this, you just don't want Lucas to see- I don't understand why you're in this loveless marriage any way, he can't satisfy you the way I can. C'mon baby no one has to find out"

All the while I'm struggling trying to get out of his grip

"Jake, let me go, I don't like you, or want a relationship with you. Just let go of me"

I continue struggling and then manage to elbow Jake in the stomach- unfortunately it had no effect on him. Suddenly to my utter relief I feel Jake being lifted away from me.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

Lucas Yells as he hold's Jake up against the wall and starts to throw punches to his face

"You don't try and hit on your best friends fucking wife, get out of my fucking house now and you're uninvited to thanksgiving, Christmas and any other damn gathering Peyton or myself go to."

Lucas says full of Anger. Jake is pissed and yells back
"you're goanna trust that whore over me, she came onto me, offered herself to me."

Lucas just looks at Jake disgusted in his friend "Just get the fuck out of my house."

Jake storms out the front door and lets it slam on his way out, whilst Lucas just walks to the back door through the kitchen not even giving me a second glance. I watch him leave the house and wonder if he believes Jake, if he really thinks that I would do that to him. I turn towards the door just as it opens once again and Lucas heads back inside.

"Lucas" I say. He stops on his way to his study

"I..."

I try to continue but he cuts me off

"Don't Peyton, just don't."

That's all he says as he walks out of the room and locks himself in his office for the rest of the evening, no doubt drinking himself to sleep- whilst I try to finish preparing everything for tomorrow. What a horrible day that is going to be... "God help me."