Chapter Nine: The Places You Have Come To Fear The Most
Secretive grins were exchanged between Peyton and Lucas as they met eyes in the hallway. No longer was Peyton fazed by the fact that Brooke practically clung to Lucas' side. Peyton was getting everything she wanted, she was getting Lucas and even more than that she was getting his whole heart. Something she had dreamed of since they spoke their first words to each other. The deep intimate kiss they shared at the party sealed their fate, forever they would be Lucas and Peyton. Forever their hearts would be entwined. Soon enough life would be simple for them.
Class periods passed agonizingly slow for Lucas, but for other reasons today. In exactly five minutes he was to lay eyes on the girl of his dreams. And that girl was not of Brooke Davis but that of Peyton Sawyer. Already her name was scribbled over several pages within his notebook, sometimes coupled with his own name. The honeymoon phase in which they were in was nothing less than perfect to them both. However, there was one small, possibly huge problem that stood in their way. And that problem came in the form of Brooke Davis. It was not forgotten that she and Lucas were technically still dating. This also made Peyton feel like a horrible person, Brooke was her best friend after all. She would not be able to stand herself if she lost Brooke over something like a boy. But Lucas could never be anything but ijust/i a boy.
The bell rang; Lucas immediately rose from his seat, his belongings already gathered in his backpack. He was the first one out of class, practically running down the hallway. He very nearly ran right by Peyton but caught her around his waist as he turned around.
"Why hello." she giggled wrapping her arms around his neck. He wasted no time pressing his lips against hers in a gentle fashion raising her slightly off her feet. Peyton was left speechless as they parted, finding herself lost within the serenity in the blue of his eyes.
"Hey you." he whispered cornering her into a wall letting his fingers stroke the soft skin of her cheek. Peyton was completely in awe of the boy, she wanted nothing more than to reach up and press her lips to his. She committed the touch of his rough calloused fingers against her face to memory. She simply loved the feeling of it. He kissed her again cupping her cheek. This time, she broke away.
"Lucas Scott, we cannot do this here. People are bound to see. People are bound to talk. People are bound to tell Brooke that they saw us together." she finished her speech taking her hand within his, their fingers enlacing.
"What if I don't care?" he murmured diving in for another kiss, but Peyton moved out of the way looking back up to his eyes.
"I do. Brooke is my best friend, remember Luke?" He nodded pressing his hand against the wall his other finding her waist.
"I know. I'm sorry."
Peyton smiled kissing his brow lightly, "Speaking of, you need to find Brooke. Go." She gave him a reassuring nod. He left with a frown almost unable to leave Peyton. She watched him go, fighting back the tears as she slid down the wall. As she hit the ground she could no longer control them. They fell freely. She could not do this Brooke. She had been all she had before Lucas. How could she possibly live this life as a bad person?
Peyton skipped lunch knowingly she would not be able to handle watching the façade Lucas put on when he was with Brooke. She knew in her heart it was not completely an act. Eventually she had to come to terms with the fact that there had been a Lucas and Brooke before she came into the picture. Her heart seemed lighter as the minutes ticked by in obvious anticipation for English. It was the one class where she was completely alone with him. There would be no Brooke for exactly one hour. Yet when that one hour passed, reality would hit her with a full force.
They sat across from each other as usual, though today instead of a simple 'hello' Lucas leaned over the bar of his seat meeting his lips to hers. Her cheeks immediately turned a shade of light pink.
"Hello to you too." he smiled breaking away.
"I missed you at lunch." he said quietly raising his eyebrows at her. Deep inside he had been looking forward to seeing her.
"Yeah, sorry. I hid out in the library today. I managed to get some good sketching in." she replied shrugging her shoulders. Her response was half true. She had indeed hidden out in the library their lunch period. But drawing she did not. It was more of a combination of mopping, light crying, and analyzing every point of what she was doing wrong by keeping this up with Lucas. He, however, did not need to know those details.
Lucas moved back to sit correctly in his seat when their teacher started the lesson. Lucas slipped low in his seat raising a seductive brow at Peyton before falling into his silent daydreams. He could not think, he could barely breathe when he was around her. His heart would thump against his chest as he felt the warmth spark between them like a raging inferno.
His thoughts finally snapped back into focus as the bell rang. He immediately stood up smiling at Peyton. An idea popped into his head.
"Peyton, you should come over tonight. Just you and me." he put much emphasis on his last sentence hoping she would understand.
She shook her head causing Lucas' face fall. "Sorry Luke, Brooke and I are having a girl's night. We've been planning it forever. Before, you and I."
He understood then, their friendship had to come before him and Peyton. He never wanted to be the other way around. He knew in his heart that eventually he would have to end things with Brooke and he would dread that moment even when it came at him with full force.
"Okay." he murmured pressing his lips to his before he was swept into a whirlwind by Brooke.
--
Brooke sat on Peyton's bed flipping through carious teen magazines while Peyton sat at her computer replying to her e-mails from her father. Brooke sighed absently glancing up to Peyton. the last thing she wanted to do now was bring her problems on to Peyton but she had no one else to turn to.
"I think Lucas has been acting weird lately." Brooke blurted out, startling herself at her sudden outburst.
Peyton wheel around in her chair instantly staring at Brooke with both eyebrows raised in confusion. "How do you figure?" she asked simply.
"I don't know really. He just seems out of character lately. Like I've barely seen him that much lately. And, I love you to death but he's been getting really close to you lately."
Peyton took her friends hands within hers. "Brooke, Lucas and I are just friends. I promise you."
Brooke nodded; she knew her friend would never betray her in that way. "I know P. But did you ever think he may be using me for purely anything physical, and then you for the art and music thing you have going on? I mean he is a guy."
Peyton looked Brooke directly in the eye. She was about to do the hardest thing in her life. She was going to convincingly lie to her best friend. "I promise you Brooke. I would never hurt you like that, or let Lucas hurt you like that. I know he's the best thing you have going."
Brooke smiled pulling Peyton into a hug. "Thanks. P. Sawyer. You really are my best friend."
Peyton gave a light chuckle feeling the guilt rise within her stomach, eating at her. She felt so dirty the way she had just lied to Brooke it felt so wrong. Peyton knew what she had to do then.
