Lucas
Brooke stuck true to her word. Every day I would try to talk to her, and every day she would ignore me. I would stop her in the hallway and tell her I was sorry, only to be brushed off as though I weren't there. Every night I would dial her number only to get her voice mail or a parent telling me she wasn't home. She had the right to be angry, but she definitely could hold a grudge.
Peyton hadn't bugged me about the paternity of the child and was being extremely supportive of my feelings. She would let me cry on her shoulder or just sit in silence if that was what I needed. I would sit in her room every day after school and read books. There was no expectations for me, and I felt like I could just relax.
It had now been almost a month later as I sat on Peyton's bed, reading a book. The impending ultra sound wouldn't leave my mind as I tried to come up with ways to get Brooke to let me go. Like always there wasn't much conversation between the two of us, and I didn't mind that. Our silence was comfortable. Being around her was like being by myself, only with company. Every once in a while she would situate herself in her chair, and make a noise. That had been the only noise made in the last thirty minutes.
She turned around in her computer chair, causing me to look up. There was a weak smile on her face as she stood up and came and sat by me on the bed. Her lips pressed quickly against mine in a quick peck. "What's going on, Scott?" She questioned.
"Nothing," I gave her my most convincing smile. She returned my smile, and kissed me once again. With a swift move, she brought her leg over me and straddled my hips. "Mmm." I let a moan escape from my mouth. A smile appeared on her lips as she brought her face closer to mine and kissed me.
Peyton's hands found the back of my head and she held on, pulling me closer to her. Soft moans were coming from her lips between kisses. Each kiss she gave me would be more passionate than the last. My hands caressed her back. I trailed them from her shoulder blades to her pants line. Her kisses started to slow and become shallow. She pulled her head back, and looked me in the eyes.
"There's something going on." She placed her hand on the side of my face. "You've barely spoke since you've been here." Her blue eyes twinkled as she smiled. I could feel her finger outlining the shape of my ear.
"It's nothing. Really." I leaned in and kissed her, trying to deepen it again. She sealed her mouth, not allowing my tongue to enter, and pushed me back. Out of frustration, I turned my head to the side.
"Lucas, don't lie to me." Her hand came up to my face, and grabbed me by the chin. She gently turned my face towards her, forcing me to look at her. "You can tell me."
"There's nothing wrong, Peyton, and I don't really want to talk about." I turned my face from her, forcing it out of her grasp. My hands dropped from her back to my sides.
"So there is something wrong." Her hands once again found their way to my face. This time both of her hands were on each side of my face. "Lucas, please don't shut me out. We've always been able to talk. You've always let me vent, please vent to me." There was urgency and pleading in her eyes that made me feel guilty. "I love you, Lucas, you know that. You can tell me anything."
"I know, Peyton, and I love you too." I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. "I just don't want to talk about it. So please, let it go."
"Fine," She huffed, and pulled herself off my lap. Peyton indignantly shuffled back to her computer. Her arm reached up and turned her webcam on. I pushed myself up from the bed and went to stand behind her. My hand found her shoulder, and my thumb started making slow strokes against her bare skin.
"Please, just tell me what's wrong with you." Peyton started sniffling. She turned her body too look at me. There were a line of tears streaking each cheek. I reached my hand out and wiped the tears from her face with my thumb.
"Peyton, there's really nothing to talk about." I gave her a weak smile. "Don't get so upset over this, okay?"
"But, I'm worried Lucas." More tears ran down her face.
"Peyton, just let it go, please." I walked away from her towards the bed. Picking up the book I had left on the bed, I stood staring at her. "I don't want to talk about it, damn it."
"Why are you getting so mad, Lucas?" She stood up too, and started walking to the side of the bed I was on. "I'm just asking you what's going on. I'm not accusing you of cheating on me or something."
"Well I told you the first time there was nothing wrong. Why can't you just leave it alone?" My arms flew into the air with frustration.
Her face sank, and tears formed in her eyes. Anger started take over me. She came to me, and wrapped her arms around my neck. I let her stand there and embrace me. Peyton started sniffling, and I could feel her hot tears falling onto my shoulder. Guilt should have been taking over my emotions but instead, I was only getting angrier.
"I don't mean to push you, Lucas, I just want you to be able to talk to me." She had pulled her head back to look into my face. Her eyes were bloodshot, and there was make-up running down her cheeks. "I know you're frustrated over Brooke, but why do you have to take it out on me?" She went to the bedside to grab a Kleenex to wipe her face and nose with.
"I'm not really in the mood to go through this with you right now." I turned my back on her, ready to leave.
"Do not leave this room, Lucas." Her voice was low, and more like a growl. "Don't leave this room mad."
The urge to leave out of spite passed through my mind. "Excuse me?" I turned around to look at her. "Peyton, I don't want to fight. I'm sick of fighting." She chewed on her nails as she stared at me.
"Just tell me, Lucas." Her arms dropped to her sides. "Tell me what's wrong. If it's Brooke, I'll be okay with it. I promise." She knew she was defeated. "I know you think this is your child so you're probably frustrated she's not talking to you. It's okay, I won't be mad."
"Think, Peyton, think it's my child?" My body started to shake with anger. My jaw tightened, and I spoke through clenched teeth. "When are you going to get it through your head that it is my child?!"
"Don't get mad at me for thinking that." Peyton pointed her finger at me while she talked. Her face was now flush with anger. "I know Brooke. I know how she is. Much more than you do. Brooke gets what she wants, when she wants."
"If that's how it was, why would she be pushing me away?" My arms flew out in frustration. "Why would she be forcing me out of her life and the baby's life?!" I shoved my thumb in the direction I thought Brooke would be.
"It's just how she is, Luke." Frustrated, Peyton threw herself onto the bed. She stared up at the ceiling with her arms over her abdomen.
"You obviously don't know her very well." I turned to leave once again.
"You obviously don't know her very well." The sound of the bed squeaking indicated she was starting to sit up and I turned to look at her. "She's playing you like a fool, Luke. You're falling right into her trap." She had a nonchalant look on her face as she accused me of being Brooke's toy. It was as if she was accusing me of not having a brain.
"What are you talking about, Peyton?! If anyone is playing me, it's you! Trying to put all these ideas in my head about the baby not being mine!" My nostrils flared, and I could feel my ears getting hot. The vein in my forehead throbbed, as the blood rushed to my face. "You know she obviously cared a lot about you at one point and you're here slamming on her."
"ME?!" She stood up from the bed, and pointed her fingers at herself. "I'm trying to look out for you and all you're doing is defending the bitch!" Her body was tense and the veins in her neck were starting to show. "Are you still in love with her?" Peyton's tone softened with her question.
"Damn it, Peyton!" Once again I threw my hands in the air.
"What, Lucas?!" The blue eyes that were once sparkled when they saw me, were now beady and full of anger. The perfect blond curls that adorned her head, now seemed flat and frizzy. She was starting to look different to me.
"Why would you say that to me?" My eyes fell to the floor, avoiding her angered stare. I reached my hand up to the back of my neck, and started to rub the hair that was there.
"Why won't you just answer the question?" She reached her hand out, and touched my arm. I looked up at her, sadness in my eyes. Tears started to pool in them. Air caught in my lungs as I tried to answer her question the way she wanted to hear it.
"I can't." A whisper was all I could manage, before I turned around and left her room.
Brooke
My hand grazed the tiny bump that had formed on my belly as I laid on my bed, reading a pregnancy book. The phone ringing startled me out of my thoughts. Reaching across the bed, I picked up the cell phone that sat on my bedside table. I pushed the talk button and put it up to my ear. "Hello?"
"Brooke?" The voice sounded slightly familiar, but I couldn't place it.
"This is her." I responded.
"Yeah, hi," The woman sounded nervous and there was a long pause. "This is Karen."
"Oh hey, Karen." I smiled, forgetting she couldn't see me through the phone. "Thanks for calling."
"Yeah, look, Brooke, I know you don't want Lucas to know about this." She stopped for a moment. "But, um, if he asks, I have to tell him."
"I understand, Karen." My stomach seemed to drop into my stomach. "I really appreciate this."
"Well, I'm glad you're going to let me be a part of my grandchild's life, even though you are Lucas aren't getting along."
"Yeah." I rolled my eyes, and looked at my fingernails. "So, um, can you pick me up at say, around four tomorrow?"
I gave her some more details, and then threw the phone back on the bedside table. As I was about to sit back down on the bed, there was a faint knock at my door. My feet carried me to the door, where I looked out the window to see who it was. My temper flared when I saw Lucas standing there. I opened the door with force, ready to yell at the blond hair boy. Rage turned to pity when I saw his blood shot eyes staring back at me.
"Lucas?" I asked. He didn't respond. Without warning, he wrapped his arms around me and started crying into my shoulder. My arms wrapped around him out of reflex, leaving no time to talk myself out of it. "What's the matter, Lucas?" I knew I shouldn't give him another chance, but he had this sort of power over me I couldn't resist.
He pulled away from me, embarrassed. His hands wiped the tears from his eyes, and he tried to regain his composure. "I'm so sorry, Brooke." He broke down again, unable to control his crying. "I'm so sorry I screwed things up with you." I wiped the tears from his eyes. "I'm a dumbass."
This was a side of Lucas I had never seen. He had never been the type to have an emotional breakdown in front of people, especially me. It was relieving to see him breakdown right in front of me. It was something I had fighting for from his since we first met.