A/N : here's the next chapter, I hope you like it!
Chapter 12 : Turning point
Lucas was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling. He'd been lying there for a while now, maybe an hour or more, he didn't know. He kept replaying in his head the scene at the Rivercourt and everytime he thought about it, there was that « idiot » light flashing above his head, telling him to say something or do something to stop her from leaving.
His phone was ringing but he didn't even bother to look at it. He knew it was Brooke. She had been trying to call him at least 10 times already. Surely to see how he was feeling. He wondered if Peyton had just left without saying goodbye or if she had told Brooke and the others that she was leaving. If she hadn't, that meant Brooke must be mad and that was why she was calling : to figure out if he knew she'd left.
He thought about movies that he'd seen where the hero races to the airport to stop the girl from leaving. He thought about doing so for a split second but this was real life right? These things only worked in movies.
Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his door. He didn't bother getting up to open, he figured it must be Haley or Nathan who'd heard the news and would be worried about him.
There was another knock. And again, more urgently this time.
The door opened, even as he yelled « Go away! »
He looked to his left, to see who had come in, and then -
« Peyton! » he said getting off the bed quickly, shocked and still not quite believing his eyes.
But the pretty Blondie was really standing there, in the doorway, smiling. He smiled faintly back, still confused at what she was doing here and scared to even believe it was real. He opened his mouth to ask but Peyton put her hand up to stop him.
« I was sitting there, in the waiting room » she started « And when they made the announcement for my plane I couldn't bring myself to get up. I was sitting there thinking that when the band called, my dream of having a record label, my dream of making it in the music industry shattered. » She paused « I realized it was a dream that didn't come true and I was reminded of the State Championship. That night you told me that I was the one you wanted next to you when all your dreams came true »
She paused to take her breath and Lucas smiled at the mention of that memorable night
« And then I thought » she continued « what about when your dreams don't come true? What happens then? Who would you have wanted standing next to you? And who do I want standing next to me » she paused again « And then I realized » she was now smiling and she started quoting him « It's you. When all my dreams don't come true. The one I want standing next to me, it's you. »
Lucas laughed at how she'd changed the words. His heart was now beating fast. He made a move to come closer but she hadn't finished talking
« And if my dreams are going to come true, then they should come true, here, in Tree Hill, with you. »
There was a silence
« Finished? » he asked
She nodded faintly
« Good » he said « cause I've been dying to do this » he took her head in his hands and kissed her softly.
She kissed him back, tears of happiness rolling down her cheeks.
They were now both lying on the bed, Peyton's head resting on Lucas' chest.
« I should really go see Brooke now » Peyton repeated for what seemed like the tenth time « she's going to be so mad at me that I just left a note to say goodbye! » she straightened up so that she could see his face
« Oh I'm sure she'll forgive you once you tell her you're staying for good » Lucas reassured
« Yeah but still, I should go and see her before she disowns me! »
« Oh come on just five more minutes, I only just got you back »
Peyton smiled « I guess five more minutes won't do any harm » she gave in before leaning in to kiss him.
However, just at that moment, there was a loud bang on the door. Lucas and Peyton jumped and got off the bed quickly. Before Lucas could even say 'come in' the door opened with a bang.
They heard Brooke before they even saw her. « I am going to kill that girl! » she snarled as she entered the room in fury.
And then the shock. Standing there were Peyton and Lucas, both grinning at her.
The two blonds waited for a reaction but the brunette was actually speechless which was unusual. Her eyes just travelled back and forth from Luke to her best friend.
« Say something! » Peyton implored, twisting her fingers « I'm sorry I left that stupid note but I changed my mind, I'm staying! »
« I am torn between the need to kick your ass and the need to hug you » she half smiled but was still clearly angry and a little hurt too.
« I know, I'm sorry I really wasn't thinking straight » she apologized
Just then, Nathan and Haley appeared in the doorway. Their concerned looks transformed into happy smiles when they saw Peyton.
Nathan looked at Haley « did we just land in L.A? » he joked
« You stayed! » Haley said overjoyed « We came to check on Luke, but I see there was no need to wo- » she stopped suddenly realizing the awkwardness that was in the air
« Okay why isn't there squealing and hugging? » she asked looking from Brooke to Peyton
« Brooke's still deciding if she's mad at Peyton or if she wants to hug her » Lucas explained
« Oh come on just kiss and make up already! » Nathan said rolling his eyes
Brooke looked at Peyton who smiled apologetically again
« Cheesy group hug? » Peyton suggested warily
Nathan and Lucas looked at each other as if she was mad « lame » they said at the same time.
Brooke looked severe for a moment but then she looked over at Haley and smiling she exclaimed « hell yeah! »
Both girls ran towards Peyton squealing and the three of them hugged while Nathan and Luke looked in amazement at each other. « Girls » they said, shaking their heads as if they would never be able to understand them.
Back at Brooke and Peyton's house, the gang were all sitting on the couch in front of the TV. Some of them really watching, some just staring. They had all came round to bid farewell to Rachel who'd just left for the airport. She was going back to New York, as planned. They were feeling a little sad but they knew that she would come and visit soon.
Brooke who was sitting next to Peyton told her « It's a good job you decided to stay ! If not it would have been two friends leaving me on the same day and I would have been sitting here alone eating ice cream »
Peyton smiled « Tree Hill is home. I don't know how I could have ever doubted that »
« Well you know what they say, 'home is where the heart is' » she winked « I'm glad Luke and you found your way back to each other »
Peyton smiled and looked over at Lucas who was laughing at something that had happened on TV. He noticed her looking over and smiled back. He then discreetly jerked his head in the direction of the balcony, trying to make her understand that she should make some sort of excuse so not to offend the others and come and join him in the balcony in a few minutes. She openned her eyes big, trying to make him understand that it would be really obvious. But of course they couldn't understand all that by just a jerk of the head and big eyes so they both ended up being confused as to if the other had understood what the other had meant.
Lucas was about to jerk his head again to insist when Nathan who was sitting next to him burst out « For God's sake! Peyton, Luke wants some alone time with you. On the balcony. » he sighed « Jeez, you two were driving me nuts! And no, Luke you weren't being discreet at all » he added seeing Lucas' shocked face at his outburst. The girls all laughed.
« No really you suck Luke. At least I was good at that! Peyton and I used to have a signal, didn't we Peyt? » he added raising his eyebrows dramatically at her
« Dude, shut up! » Haley and Peyton both said at the same time.
« Okay lovebirds just go already! We don't mind! »
Lucas got up and Peyton followed him out under the childish banter of the others, amused at teasing them.
As soon as her foot was on the balcony, Lucas grabbed her arm, pulled her close and kissed her « Man, I've been dying to do that all night » he said. Then he paused for a moment before saying «I love you»
Peyton looked touched and pleased but a little bit surprised too. Lucas noticed and said « It shouldn't really surprise you. I've never stopped loving you, even after all this time »
She nodded « I know, I just wasn't expecting it » she smiled « I love you too Luke. I really do »
« Good » he said « cause I'm not planning on letting you go, ever again »
« And I'm not planning on going anywhere, ever again »
They kissed again and stayed out a while until they decided they should go back to their friends.
« Did we miss anything? » Peyton asked when they came back
« Well we were talking and I realized something » Haley started « I want to sing again. With you. »
« You want to sing with me? » Peyton asked confused
« No, you goof! I want you to sign me, I want to be your first artist »
Peyton opened her mouth slightly in amazement « Really? Hales, that's amazing! » she went to hug her « Are you sure you want to sign with me? »
« I can't think of anybody else I would rather have signing me » she said smiling happily
Peyton grinned back and hugged her again, soon joined by Brooke who wanted to join in the hug too
« Oh no, here they go again with their cheesy group hug » Nathan teased.
Once the hug had broken up, they all started chatting about Hales and their plans for the next few days.
« Oh and Peyton? » Nathan said suddenly serious « No Chris Keller or I will hunt you down » he finished, breaking into a smile.
« Yeah and no Pete from Fall Out Boy » Lucas added raising one eyebrow at Peyton
They all burst out laughing again.
Peyton looked around the room. She smiled. Things were finally looking up for her.