Yes, I know. I suck majorly. I havent updated in months. It seems like life has this annoying knack of interrupting my writing. Also, Ive been severely lacking inspiration since Leyton is getting me pissed off this season (mostly Luc-ass). I hope to be able to crank out updates faster.


--

Baby I know situation don't seem fair to us both.
But babygirl, she's an issue that I'm about to adjust.
Don't mistake the love we make for just lust,
You are my soul, mind, body, spirit all that I know

--

For the second time that week, Lucas awoke with Peyton in his arms. He looked down at her and felt himself falling more in love with her, if that was even possible. The thing about loving her was that he was always falling. Lucas looked at the clock and noticed they had slept the entire day. Thank god it was the weekend. Peyton moaned as she also awoke, squeezing him softly. Lucas smiled, hugging her closer and placed a kiss on her golden curls. "I could do this" he said against her hair. Peyton shifted a bit underneath his arms "Do what?" "Wake up like this, with you in my arms. I could do this for the rest of my life."

Gently, he ran his fingers up her arm and he felt her body become tense. He frowned, that was not the reaction he was expecting. "What's wrong?" Peyton sat up and pulled the sheet around her body "We need to talk." Lucas frowned "Okay." "The past two days have been the best of my life and it's because of you." A lopsided smile came onto his face "I feel the same way" Peyton looked down at her twisting fingers "What about Lindsay?" Lucas sighed and softly brushed her hair across her forehead. "When she gets back I'm gonna tell her I can't marry her"

Peyton crossed her arms and stared at the ceiling. She didn't want him to see the pain in her eyes "I hate this. I promised myself I would never be the other woman and here I am screwing someone else's fiancee." "Hey, " Lucas took her hands in his but she kept her eyes away from his face. "Don't say that. You're not just some other woman. You're the only woman. The woman I love." When she looked back at him, he felt his heart break seeing the tears on her face. "I'm sorry," She took a deep breath and wiped the stray tears on her cheek "I'm being such a girl" Lucas pulled a curl behind her ear and whispered words from a lifetime ago, "I have to be with you" Peyton tilted her head and gazed at him adoringly "I have to be with you too" she whispered softly. Lucas brought her into a gentle kiss and felt the hot tears against his cool cheeks.

Pulling back, Peyton whispered "What about Brooke? I live with her and she's going to figure it out sooner or later" He took a deep breath "Brooke's not the only one. I think Nathan knows something's up which means Haley will also suspect something's going on." Peyton groaned and fell back deeper against the pillows "Shit Lucas. Why didn't you tell me?" "Well someone kind of distracted me yesterday" She didn't smile "What are we going to do Luke?" Her lost expression made his fragile heart ache. "We just have to lay low and be more careful. At least until Lindsay gets back." Lucas then sighed and pulled her back into his arms, her body now on top of his. Peyton leaned into his chest and wrapped her arms tightly around his torso. "Do you trust me" Peyton placed her chin on his chest and looked into his eyes, "you know I do" Lucas caressed her cheek with his thumb "We'll be okay. I promise." Peyton leaned into his touch and smiled weakly; the smile not even reaching her eyes.

Her gaze turned to the clock "I've got to go, have to make an appearance at the house before Brooke notices I'm missing" "Stay," Lucas looked at her sadly as she began to move "just a little longer." Peyton matched his look and nodded. "Nowhere else I'd rather be." Lucas wrapped his arms tightly around her as if something were going to rip her away from him. Peyton hugged him back just as fiercely. Silently in their hearts, they could feel the black cloud coming. The black cloud called life that always tore them apart.

--

Brooke opened the front door and smiled "Didn't expect to see you Tutor Wife" Haley rolled her eyes as she walked into the house "You need to stop calling me that Brooke" Brooke grinned as she shut the door "So what do I owe this pleasure?" Haley rubbed her hands together "I''m just gonna get straight to the point" Brooke knit her eyebrows in confusion "Okay" "Have you noticed anything different about Peyton lately?" Brooke frowned "Not really, but..." "But what?" "Well she came to the boutique to help me out yesterday and she was grinning. Like that freaky cat from Alice in Wonderland." Haley nodded "Nathan said Lucas was in a great mood yesterday too." She then raised an eyebrow "You don't think?" Brooke shook her head "No. I don't think they're that stupid." Haley nodded, still unconvinced, "Yeah" They stood in silence as they both thought about the possibility of Lucas and Peyton going behind everyone's back.

Brooke broke the silence "Do you think he's making a mistake, marrying Lindsay?" Haley shrugged "I don't know. He seems happy with Lindsay but it's not like-" "when he was with Peyton" Brooke continued. Haley agreed "Yeah." A loud crash coming from above caused both brunettes to jump and with one look at each other, they rushed up the stairs.

Slamming the door open to the balcony, Brooke and Haley found Peyton on the floor, a potted plant shattered on the floor next to her. Peyton looked up at them from the floor "Hey guys. What's up?" Brooke rushed to help her up "What are you doing Peyton?" Peyton smiled nervously "I just wanted to see the view. It's a beautiful day isn't it?" Brooke looked at Peyton thoroughly "Are those the clothes you had on yesterday?" Peyton shrugged "No clean laundry?" Haley stayed silent as she watched from her spot at the door. She then looked into her hand at the object she had found next to Peyton's fallen purse.

--

Lucas jumped as the door slammed. Looking up from his writing he was faced with an angry Haley. "You son of a bitch." Lucas stood and frowned "What's going on Hales?" "You slept with Peyton didn't you?" Lucas gulped and felt his heart beat erratically. "Why would you think that?" Haley crossed her arms "I was just at Brooke's." "Okay, so what does that have to do with me?" "We caught Peyton trying to sneak back into the house. Apparently she's been out all night," Haley took a long look at him before continuing "Was she here Lucas?" Lucas slowly shook his head "No. I was here, alone, working on my book" Haley laughed bitterly "If that's what you're calling it. Lucas, I know Peyton was here and I know something is going on" Lucas shook his head "Nothing is going on Haley" "You swear?" Lucas felt like he was swallowing knives, he couldn't believe he was about to lie to his best friend "I swear." Haley nodded and reached into her pocket. "Wow, so then I wonder where Peyton got this."

His heart stopped as she held up his necklace. Involuntarily, he put his hand to his neck. He had just given it to Peyton a couple of hours ago. "Where did you get that" his voice cracked. Haley threw the necklace at him "While I was at Brooke's, Peyton was sneaking back in. We found her on the balcony and her purse had fallen to the ground. I picked it up and found your necklace." Lucas stood deathly still, clueless as to how to begin. "Haley-" She held up a hand "Stop right there. I'm not through being angry with you."

Haley took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair "Why are you doing this again? Lindsay's a good person, why would you hurt her like this?" Lucas sat down on the bed and ran a hand through his hair "I don't know" She threw her hands up in frustration "I don't know? That's not good enough Lucas! This isn't high school anymore! You can't just play around with other people's feelings like this!" "You don't think I know that Haley?" Lucas yelled back "I hate being in this position and I never meant for this to happen but it did." Haley stepped back, the amount of force in his answer was unexpected.

Lucas sighed dejectedly and continued softly "I'm not proud of how it happened but I'm not sorry that it did." Haley saw the pain evident in his eyes. "This isn't just some random girl Haley. It's Peyton." Lucas stared at his best friend "I thought I was over her Haley, I really did. I met Lindsay and I moved on but it all went to hell when she came back. Seeing her made me feel like I was eighteen again; blinded by her beauty and my love for her. I'm never going to love anyone like I love her."

Haley sighed and sat down on the bed next to him. Even after all these years, she could still see the look of love in his eyes. The look reserved for Peyton Sawyer. In her heart she knew they were meant for each other. She just hated the way they always hurt everyone around them. "I know" Lucas wrapped an arm around her shoulders "I still don't like it. It's not right." She looked up at him "I'm not going to lie for you." Lucas nodded "I wouldn't ask you to. I'm going to tell Lindsay as soon as she gets back. I promise." Haley stared at him before nodding "Okay."

--

Brooke casually leaned against the door frame and tapped her foot. It had been a couple hours since she and Haley found Peyton on the balcony and she had yet to get any answers. Peyton looked up from her sketch pad and rolled her eyes before looking down again. "There's nothing to tell so you can stop doing that." Brooke shrugged "Stop doing what?" "You know what."

Brooke rushed into the room and sat on the bed "Please Peyton. Just give me the tiniest little detail. Was the guy cute? Did he take you on a date or was this just a booty call?" She sighed when Peyton ignored her. "Please give me something! I can't believe I'm actually trying to live vicariously through your sex life!" Peyton smirked "Then maybe you should give Owen a call and get your own sex life" Brooke sighed and leaned back onto her hands "Owen's old news" Peyton pouted "Has Brookie been rejected by the hot older man?" Brooke glared at her "No, I'm just not interested in older guys anymore." "Oh please. This coming from the girl who constantly flirted with Nathan's Uncle Cooper, slept with her English teacher and had fantasies about my dad?"

Suddenly Brooke sat up with a look on her face that made Peyton uneasy. "You just said get your own sex life. That means you have a sex life which means you've been having sex!" "No Brooke" "Peyton-" "Brooke, I already told you. I was working late so I decided to just sleep in my office. End of story." Brooke frowned and walked towards the door "I know when you're lying P. Sawyer and I'm going to find out whatever it is you're hiding." Peyton sighed as she watched her leave the room. She was definitely in trouble. Whenever Brooke went on a "witch hunt", she could and would find anything she wanted.

--

Lucas opened his eyes and instantly felt the pain of the bright light on his face. Facing away from the window, he stretched his arms across the bed and suddenly felt the empty spot next to him. It wasn't unexpected, he just didn't think he'd miss her body next his after only a couple hours apart. After Haley's visit the day before, he decided that he and Peyton should slow it down. Brooke also began to question Peyton's absence from their house so they decided it would be best for Peyton to sleep in her own bed that night. Lucas brought the pillow to his face and inhaled deeply, her scent faintly lingering on the soft cotton sheet. He swore he could still feel the warmth of her body next to his. Thoughts of her warm and inviting flesh energized him. He jumped out of bed realizing he desperately needed to see her. Lucas flung his bedroom door open and almost collided with the blond standing behind it.

--

And I know you're waiting patiently for that day,
When we no longer have to lie about us

--


'Where Did You Sleep Last Night' by Nirvana & 'Lie About Us' by Avant feat. Nicole Scherzinger