(Peyton's POV)

I'm sitting here alone, looking at my drawing from earlier, still trying to figure out what to do. The vision that was triggered when I showed Alice the drawing did not inspire any epiphanies, though I wish that had been the case. If it was only as simple as a lightbulb flashing on for me to know the right thing to do. Or if it is that simple, and I'm making it harder, why can't that damned lightbulb just turn on already? I want all this inner turmoil to stop.

I wish it would be as simple as just giving into my desires, but that would end up with him dead, most likely, and I wouldn't be able to handle myself for the rest of eternity with that on my conscience. The other option was changing him, but I'm not sure I'd be able to live with myself for taking away his life that way either. Not to mention, if I changed him, I'd never get to see his blue eyes again. It was very abnormal for my eyes to stay green, even if they're not exactly the same shade as before, and Carlisle still hasn't figured out the reason my eye color didn't fade from red to gold instead.

Hah, abnormal. As if there is anything normal about being a vampire. My whole existence has been abnormal. Actually, I shouldn't have an existence. If there was anything normal about me, I'd be buried six feet under right now. I wouldn't be frozen, forever at eighteen. The only family I've ever really had wouldn't be the undead. I closed my eyes against the harsh memories of my past that threatened to overwhelm me. It's not a good idea to go down that road. I don't take trips down memory lane often. In fact, I really wish that memory lane would be roadblocked, so that I couldn't access it.

I took a deep breath as I heard wheels coming down the street outside my house. I heard the car pull in my driveway and wondered who it was. I knew Haley was still on her date with Nathan because she had just left not too long ago. I also knew that none of my family would drive to my house. So who could possibly be coming over? No one else in Tree Hill knew where I lived, or had any reason to come over.

I listened as the car door opened, and then shut, before the footsteps walked up my front walk, then up the porch steps, approaching my door. I heard a shuffling of feet and a deep breath before there were three quick, sharp taps on my door. I got up, slowly, and walked at a human pace to the front door. I heard a shuffle of movement, but I opened the door to meet the person who had come to a Vampire's house uninvited. As soon as I caught the scent on the other side of the door, I wished that I hadn't opened it.

(Lucas's POV)

I had just raised my hand to knock again when the door opened. I had spent the whole drive over preparing myself for this, and I had thought I was ready, but, I realised as I saw her standing there. Nothing would ever prepare me for being in her presence, even if I lived forever with her, I'd never be prepared. Every time I looked into her green eyes they would throw me off balance.

She stared back at me, seemingly as shocked as I was, unmoving. I was struck speechless by her perfect beauty, but it seemed that she was intent on waiting for me to break the silence. I had to believe that, because I find it hard to believe that she was as interested in me as I was in her. Especially considering last night. Well, that seems like as good a place as any to start.

Before I could even open my mouth, though, she changed her composure. She stood up straighter, rolling her eyes in a detatched way that seemed just a bit too practiced. "Lucas, what do you want? I told you, Rachel is your partner for the project now," she paused, eying me for a moment before adding. "I told you, we shouldn't be friends."

I shook my head adamantly, still unable to accept that. "Peyton, no, you can't honestly believe that," I protested. I knew my voice sounded weak, and I was pleading with a girl who obviously wanted nothing to do with me, but I couldn't help it. She had to feel at least some part of what I was feeling, didn't she? I couldn't be completely imagining the pull I felt toward her, could I?

She drew in a breath, then closed her eyes. It seemed almost like she was in pain. She was standing completely motionless, but the look on her face was the look of someone in intense pain. I couldn't understand why she would be in so much pain, though. Before I could really study her, to see whether or not I was imagining things, she composed herself, opening her eyes, once again making me speechless. "You have to go. You don't want me as a friend," she paused, her gaze searching mine. "Just believe me," her voice lost some of it's power and came out as almost a whisper as she added that last part.

I hesitated in the doorway, unable to think of anything to say. She took her chance, and started to shut the door in my face. I reacted on instinct, putting my foot in front of the door jamb so she couldn't close the door. With an exasperated sigh she tried to force the door closed for a minute, disappearing behind the door and, I'm assuming, pushing agaisnt it with all her force, but I wasn't budging. "Peyton, stop," I said, pushing back against the door.

Less than a second later the force behind the door stopped and the door moved so I could see her once more. "Just hear me out," I pleaded. She leaned easily agaisnt the door, once again immobile, waiting for me to speak. "What makes you think we shouldn't be friends? I do want you as a friend. I really don't care about whatever it is that's keeping you away from me," I said.

Peyton laughed, and I knew that it was a sarcastic laughter, but it still sounded light and beautiful, more light and beautiful than any other laugh I've ever heard. "You can't know that. It's not that simple," she paused, biting on her lip. "I wish it was that simple, Lucas, but it's not, okay? I can't tell you what it is, but if I could, you'd understand. We shouldn't be friends," she said forcefully.

I couldn't process what she was saying, or maybe I didn't want to. All I knew what that I wanted to touch the purpilish bags under her eyes. I reached out, before either of us knew what I was doing, and suddenly my hand was on her cheek. I was shocked at how freezing cold it was, but I didn't pull away. "Geez, Peyton, how long has it been since you slept?" I asked softly as I fingered the bruise-like bags under her eyes.

(Peyton's POV)

I only had a little bit of air left in my lungs, and I wasn't sure how to use it. He had shocked me into silence. I had hid behind the door earlier to get some air that wasn't saturated by his scent, but with him touching me I was afraid I would lose my control if I so much as moved. I stayed perfectly still under his touch for a moment, savoring it, because, although my throat burned and I was in pain because of the thirst, not to mention the fact that I desperately wanted to lash out at him, to taste his blood, his skin on mine felt amazingly good.

I must have stayed silent for too long, because his face flushed and his ears turned bright red with embarassment from his question, but he still didn't drop his hand. I still couldn't move away, though I knew I should. I needed to use the air I had left for one more sentence, and then close the door on him. The first time I had purposefelly left him time to put his foot in the way, and I had barely been pushing because I didn't want to hurt him, but this time I'd have to shut him out. He was getting too close.

I reached up and grabbed his hand, feeling a shock at his touch. It was so unexpected, I almost dropped his hand, but I kept my composure, only due to years of practice. I had never felt anything like that, though. Not in my years as a human, or in my years as a vampire. I gently moved his hand away from my face, forcing it to his side. "Trust me on this. We shouldn't be friends," I insisted, stepping back before he could realize what was happening, and successfully closing the door this time.

I had waited until the last possible second to break the eye contact. Not because I had wanted to keep his attention off of the door, though that was a good reason, but because I really had been unable to break my gaze away from his. I took a deep breath once the door was closed, and leaned against it, waiting for him to walk away. It took quite a while, but eventually he did, without comment. Good, maybe he'll stay away. That won't stop me from thinking about what I felt when I touched him, though.

(Haley's POV)

***The Next Monday***

I was just getting ready to start walking to school when there was a knock on the door. I grabbed my bag and headed for the front door, just a little surprised that someone would be stopping by so early. No one was home but me. I was surprised to find Peyton on my porch when I opened the door. "Hey, Peyton, I was just getting ready to leave. What are you doing here? You didn't lose or project, did you?" my mind immediately jumped to the worst.

She kind of laughed and shook her head. She was dressed in a pair of jeans and black concert tee shirt, with her leather jacket and she was standing with her hands in her jacket pockets and if she wasn't so annopyingly perfect she would have looked kind of awkward. "The project is fine. I was just wondering if you'd want a ride to school. I know you walk and everything," she offered.

It took me a couple seconds to process what she was saying. It really seemed like we were becoming friends. I mean, I didn't expect her to shun me at school or anything, but I hadn't really expected her to really befriend me either. She had a half-smile on her face as she looked at me expectantly. "I mean, if you don't mind being seen with me at school," she raised an eyebrow at me, a smirk on her face.

It was almost like she was reading my mind, and I felt a chill go down my spine, causing goosebumps to spring up on my arms. I had to admit, Peyton was someone I would have avoided, if she hadn't done all that she had done for me this weekend. I offered a friendly smile, leaving the house and closing the door behind me. "No that's not it. It's just-" I cut myself off, knowing I was about to stick my foot in my mouth. "I'd love a ride, thanks," I said instead.

Peyton rolled her eyes and without another word started walking toward her car. I wondered what was going to happen when I saw Nathan today. Would he recognize me? I thought about starting a conversation with Peyton as she drove, but she turned the radio up and we both seemed content to stay silent. "You want a coffee?" she asked as we passed the Cafe in town. "I'll buy," she added when she saw my reluctance.

She didn't give me a chance to reply. She was already pulling into a parking space. I guess she wasn't giving me a choice in the matter. Oh well, Karen's Cafe has the best coffee in town, and it wasn't like I didn't need the caffine. I had spent most of the night thinking about Nathan, and how we were going out again on Thursday, the only night of the week he didn't have practice, because the game was on Friday, and the coach wanted them take a day of rest before the game. I thought it was a weird philosophy, but, hey, at least I got to spend time with Nathan.

I noticed that we were early for school, because she was driving, so I got out of the car and followed her into the Cafe. I smiled at Karen as I saw the older curly-haired brunette behind the counter. I had known Karen almost my whole life, and had been spending almost all my free time at the Cafe since I was 8 and allowed out of the house on my own. My house was always loud and crowded because of so many kids, so I like to have some quiet time at the Cafe. "Hey, Haley, who's your new friend?" she asked.

I paused for a moment, trying to figure out what to say as we approached the counter. "This is Peyton. She's in my English class," I finally said. Peyton ordered a coffee. I turned to her. "You're not ordering anything?" I asked curiously as Karen made my coffee. Why did she stop at the Cafe if she didn't want any coffee? It was her idea to come and yet she didn't want anything.

Peyton shook her head. "I can't stand coffee. I just didn't want to get to school so early," she replied with a shrug. I studied her for a minute. Before I could reply, though, two things happened. Karen handed me my coffee, which wasn't really as important as the second thing. I took a sip of my coffee, and was about to open my mouth when the door to the Cafe opened and Lucas came in. Peyton didn't even turn to look at him, but I noticed her freeze as the open door blew cold air in from outside on us.

Karen looked past the two of us toward her son, kinking her eyebrows at him. "Hey, Lucas, why are you here?" she asked. I didn't look at Lucas for the answer. My eyes were on Peyton, and her eyes seemed to darken as we sat there. I couldn't be sure, though, because in the next moment she closed them, looking as if she were in pain.

I leaned toward her, so I could place my hand on her arm and ask her if she was alright, but she jerked away, shaking her head as she opened her eyes. "You ready to go then? We need to get to school," she stated through clenched teeth. I noticed that her hands were doubled up into fists and wondered if she was okay, but before I could say anything she was on her way out of the Cafe. She pushed past Lucas and I noticed that she went out of her way to avoid contact with him.

I smiled apologetically at Karen, then followed Peyton, sending Lucas a curious look as I walked past him. I heard him say something to his mother as the door swung shut, but then it opened again. "Peyton, wait," he called, hurrying past me to catch up with Peyton. He grabbed at her arm, but she spun to face him before he could touch her, her dark green eyes flashing angrily at him.

He took a step back because of her glare, holding his hands up in surrender, but still not completely backing off. "Damnit, Lucas. What part of 'we shouldn't be friends,' don't you understand? I get that your probably thankful I saved your life and everything, but you don't owe me anything, okay?" she spat at him and I was a bit shocked at the acid I heard in her tone.

Lucas's back was to me, so I couldn't see his face, but he stiffened, and I could only imagine the look of hurt on his face. Lucas and I weren't close friends, really, but being as I spent so much time at his mother's Cafe he and I did spend quite a bit of time together. "Fine," I could hear the hurt in his tone and he backed away, pushing past me and heading back into his mothers Cafe.

Peyton paused for a minute, staring at his retreating back, but her face was indiscernable. I had no idea what she was thinking. She turned and got into her car without another word. I silently followed her, trying to figure out what had just happened between them. She didn't acknowledge me the whole rest of the drive, and I couldn't think of one thing to say to break the silence. When we finally made it to school I mumbled a "See you later," and she responded in kind before we parted ways.

A./N: Hey, I did get this chapter up today. Go me! I wanted to add that part of Haley's POV becuase I thought it would be good to see a Lucas/Peyton interaction from the POV of someone else, seeing as they keep having these brief meetings somewhat like that. Anyway, tell me what you think. I think there will be some positive LP interaction in the next chapter. They should be getting together in a few chapters, although that doesn't mean that this fic is even close to over. Thanks for the reviews, and I would love some more.

Disclaimer: I don't own either One Tree Hill or Twilight. I'm just hopelessly obsessed and need something to do so I can put off doing my homework.