A/N: Not really sure how I feel about this chapter. If it comes off as rushed or ham-fisted, I apologize, but this story is winding down and I'm itching to move on. The next chapter will be the last.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed.;)
Chapter Thirteen: Making Amends
"Well, Mr. Scott," Peyton purred. "You certainly have a way with words."
Lucas let out a deep-throated laugh, the first in years. "Well, I did write a novel, even if no one wanted it."
"That's not true," she amended, shifting her nude body beneath the covers slightly as she brought her elbow to rest on the mattress, propping her head up with her hand. "That book was everything to me."
"'Was?'"
"Well, now I have you, so I don't really need it anymore." She giggled, and Lucas's heart melted at the sound. "Besides, being here with you, now, is all that matters." With that, she leaned over and gave Lucas a smoldering kiss, only one of countless he'd received over the past few hours.
She wrapped her arms around his torso, snuggling into him, her head resting near the crook of his neck. The feeling of her warm, impossibly soft skin nestled against his between the covers was like an opiate. Lucas still couldn't believe she was actually here, in his arms and in his bed.
Hours ago, he'd poured his heart out to her on the Rivercourt all while standing shakily on his neglected feet, Peyton's hands bracing him, holding him up. Halfway through his speech, she'd silenced him with a kiss, and this time, he hadn't pulled away.
Her kiss had knocked him right back into his chair and after that, the two of them had come back to his house and the rest, as they say, was history.
For the past several hours, they'd made love over-and-over again. Lucas had been seriously out of practice, having been celibate since they'd broken up, but it hadn't taken long for him to get back into the swing of things and Peyton had been more than happy to reacquaint him with her body.
They'd also talked, about everything. Well, not quite everything. Peyton still didn't know that the reason he'd never gotten Ravens published was because he'd been too bitter to answer the call of opportunity. He knew she'd be devastated if she found out and though it probably wasn't a good idea to start out their newly reformed relationship with a secret, Lucas just wasn't ready to tell her yet.
A deep, contented sigh seeped out of him as Peyton snuggled into him. Neither of them said anything for a few minutes, they simply basked in the comfortable silence like they'd always used to do. Lucas couldn't remember the last time he'd felt like this: light, content, happy. The girl of his dreams was back by his side and it didn't matter that he was still in a wheelchair because he knew it was only a matter of time before he'd be out of it.
Last night, on the Rivercourt, even if it had only been for a short time, he'd felt something in his legs and he'd actually stood under his own power. It may not have been much, but it was something, and Lucas couldn't help but think he had the green-eyed beauty in his arms to thank for it. Somehow, seeing her about to walk away from him, possibly forever, had awakened something in him and for the first time in a long time, he'd had a compelling reason to stand on his own two feet. Maybe the mind had more power over the body than most people realized.
As Lucas stared up at the ceiling above him, his euphoria began to fade. He had Peyton now, and that was what was most important, but he also had a ton of other relationships he had to repair. Friendships he'd tarnished and family bonds he'd forsaken out of his own inability to deal with his injury. Lucas missed them all; Nathan, Haley, his mother, Skillz, and everyone else he'd pushed out of his life.
Peyton placed a feathery kiss on the nape of his neck. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Lucas turned to her, amazed. "How'd you know?"
"You seriously have to ask me that?" She had one eyebrow cocked and her emerald eyes held gentle consternation in them.
Lucas chuckled. "Yeah, stupid question."
"Really stupid," she agreed, voice filled with mischief. "So, what's bothering you?"
He sobered up. "I've really screwed up, Peyt. Not just with us, but with everyone. Nathan, Haley, Skillz, my mom. I wouldn't blame any of them if they never talked to me again."
"You didn't mean to hurt them, Luke." She stroked his cheek lovingly. "You were scared and hurting. I would've been the same way."
Lucas shook his head. "I love you for saying that, but it's no excuse. I was a complete bastard." He looked away from her. "God, the things I said to my mom…I'll never forgive myself."
"Luke," Peyton whispered, placing her hand on his forearm and massaging it gently. "Stop doing this to yourself. Your mom loves you, and so do Nathan and Haley."
He turned his head back to her, back to her imploring and inviting gaze. "Why? Why would they after I treated them like trash?"
Peyton sighed as she sat up, the sheets falling from her body, exposing her nakedness. Her dark-blonde curls were like soft, organic gold in the dim glow emitted by the candles on the nightstand. Lucas marveled at this gorgeous creature in front of him. Desire threaded its way through him and he felt a discreet tightness in his exhausted manhood.
She stared at him hard. "Luke, Brooke and I talked to Haley on the phone. She was broken, Luke, but not because of anything you said to her. It was because she knew how much pain you were in and she couldn't help you. You're her best friend, Luke, and all she wants is for you to be happy and healthy."
Lucas had cried more in the past twenty-four hours than he had his whole life, so his tear-ducts were spent, otherwise, Peyton's words would've unraveled him yet again.
"And Nathan, he loves you, too," she asserted. "He thinks you hate him because of what happened to you."
Lucas felt his stomach drop at that. "What? I don't hate him. I never blamed him in the first place."
"Well, he blames himself." She looked at him severely. "You have to talk to him, Luke. And Haley, and everyone else. They all love you, and so do I."
Lucas leaned upward and kissed her, relishing the taste. "I love you, too, Peyton. So much."
Peyton's face lit up with a thousand-watt smile. Not soon after, that smile faded and was replaced with what could only be described as a look of boiling lust. "Are you tired?" she asked, her tone of voice setting off hundreds-of-thousands of goose bumps.
"Definitely not," Lucas replied, his mouth suddenly dry.
"Good." She threw herself on top of him and was attacking his neck, collar bone, and face with frantic kisses before he had the chance to warn her to be careful with his back.
At this point, though, Lucas didn't really care about the pain in his back anymore, since the pleasure Peyton was bestowing on him was infinitely greater.
Besides which, his manhood was no longer just discreetly tight or exhausted.
Rays of sun splashed through the windows on either side of the bed, thoroughly baking Peyton into the sheets, but she couldn't care less. She wasn't going to move for anything.
In Lucas's bed, laying on her right side, less than an inch from the boy she loved, Peyton watched the rise and fall of his chest. His head had drifted to the side slightly and his right arm was acting as a cushion between him and the pillow. The comforter was draped over him at chest level, giving her only a small peek at his lean torso, though she'd certainly gotten a full view last night.
She reached out, gently, with one arm and smoothed the hair from his brow. She'd have to cut it for him when she got the chance, not that Peyton didn't love the scruffy, longish do. Her ministration didn't wake him and she was grateful since she wanted to watch him a little while longer.
The expression 'pinch yourself' was terribly cliché and Peyton hated clichés, but she couldn't think of anything else that fit. All yesterday she'd been on the verge of a mental breakdown at the thought of having to let Lucas go for good. And now here she was, snuggled up beside him, fresh from a night of incredible lovemaking and whispered 'I love yous' and it all seemed like a dream to her. That she was actually still in her room in Brooke's house, and it was still yesterday, and she might wake up at any second and discover that none of this was real.
Lucas took in a shallow breath and his eyes opened. Even after all this time, he still did that whenever he woke up. He sniffed and turned towards her, blues eyes warming. "Hey blondie."
"Hey you."
He leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the lips, and she swooned; she couldn't help it. This was real.
He glanced over at the alarm clock, slightly obscured behind the now extinguished candles, which said 7:10am, and turned back to her, perplexed. "Wow, it's just a little after seven and you haven't bitten my head off. Things have changed."
"Shut up," she chided playfully. "I still might, so watch it."
He laughed and the sound made her heart sing. Here was the boy who'd fixed her car and her heart. He was back, and Peyton knew right then that everything was going to be alright.
His hand cupped her cheek and he pulled her in for a kiss. Memories of last night flashed through them and their kissing became full on making-out. Full on making-out was on the verge of becoming much more until the outside door to Lucas's bedroom exploded—not really—with enough force to shake the house as a human typhoon by the name of Brooke Davis blew in.
"Well, well, I knew it was only a matter of time," the redhead exclaimed, her brown eyes devouring the sight before her.
Peyton had never truly hated her best friend until this moment (not really.) But she was incredibly agitated at the interruption of what was going to be great morning sex, and she let Brooke know that via a smoldering glare. "Great timing as always, Brooke," she gritted out.
Brooke shrugged innocently before plopping herself down on the foot of the bed, causing the box-spring to jump slightly. "Well excuse me, but I was worried when you didn't come home. Obviously, you found another bed to sleep in."
"Brooke," Peyton huffed. She turned to Lucas, cheeks burning, only to be greeted with a bemused expression.
"Good morning, Brooke," he greeted. "Here to kick my ass some more?"
Brooke laughed at that while Peyton furrowed her brow. She looked at Lucas, then at Brooke. "What are you talking about?"
"Brooke gave me a little pep-talk yesterday afternoon," he explained vaguely.
"Let's just say Broody and I had a heart-to-heart," Brooke added even more vaguely.
"Really." Peyton really wanted to know what they'd talked about but she had a feeling neither of them would share. Oh well, she'd 'coax' it out of Lucas later.
"Anyway, I'm glad you two idiots have finally gotten your acts together." The brunette rose from the bed. "Now all is right with the world again. So, on that note, I have business to take care of. You two do whatever it is you were about to do before I walked in. Bye!" She was gone, the door slamming behind her before either Lucas or Peyton good get a word in.
For a few seconds, they just looked at each other. Then they burst out laughing. It felt great to cut lose like that, to just open herself up to a good laugh. Peyton's chest hurt and, by the time they settled down, so did her face as she couldn't keep the wide smile off it.
With long sighs, they laid back down. And then they finished what Brooke had interrupted.
Lucas had never actually been to the apartment complex that Skillz lived in. He'd been wheelchair-bound when his friend had moved back to town and Skillz had always picked Lucas up at his house whenever he'd driven him to physical therapy, so this was his first time seeing the place.
Four stories of red-brick stood before him, like a giant tooth with dried blood crusted on it protruding from the ground. It didn't look run-down per say, certainly heads above some of the seedier places on the edge of town, but it couldn't compare to the apartment building on Oakmont Terrace that Nathan and Haley had once lived in. Lucas just hoped there was an elevator; otherwise, his apology to Skillz would have to be shouted from the street.
There was. A rusty, grimy, sardine-box that screeched like a dying bird whenever the doors opened or closed. As the car rose, carrying Lucas up to Skillz's floor, all he could think was that he hoped there wasn't a power outage. Fortunately, there wasn't and the elevator deposited him onto his desired floor without incident. The interior here actually wasn't that bad. His wheels navigated dark-grey carpet that seemed to have been vacuumed recently and he was surrounded by wonderfully coated white walls and a white ceiling.
As Lucas neared Skillz's apartment, a vibrant nervousness nested in his stomach. He didn't know if his friend—if he could still be called that—would hear what he had to say or slam the door in his face. Lucas wouldn't blame him for doing the latter considering how they'd left things. What Lucas had done was inexcusable. He'd taken his anger and heartbreak out on Skillz when all his friend had been trying to do was help him. Worse, he hadn't been there for Skillz when he'd needed him. His uncle had died and Lucas hadn't even attended the funeral. He had no clue how he was going to dig his way out of this.
He nervously brushed a hand through his newly trimmed hair. Peyton had insisted on cutting it for him this morning after they'd dragged themselves out of bed. For Lucas, the entire experience had been flooring. Not because of any particular talent Peyton had with scissors, though she had done an impressive job, but because of the very act itself. Peyton, calmly giving him a haircut in his bedroom after an entire morning of enjoying each other in bed. That was something Lucas could get used to for a lifetime.
He was head-over-heels for the woman and there was no denying it.
And now, he was currently face-to-face with the door of Skillz's apartment. Sucking in a deep breath, Lucas reached out and knocked. A few seconds later, the door opened to a shocked looking Antwon Taylor. Skillz's eyes narrowed, the shock giving way to suspicion.
"You need something?" he bit out.
Lucas didn't begrudge him his tone. "Yeah, I do." He looked Skillz directly in the eye. "I need to apologize."
Skillz looked taken aback slightly, but he opened the door completely and retreated into the apartment. Lucas took that as an invitation and followed the former Raven, closing the apartment door behind him. The apartment in question was surprisingly spacious for a bachelor pad. A row of blind-covered windows decorated the wall directly in front of him, letting flat shafts of sunlight in through each slot.
To his right was the kitchen area where Skillz was currently eating a bowl of cereal on the marble counter. He stared at Lucas expectantly. "So, you just gonna' sit there ogling? Thought you had that apology you owe me."
"I owe you a lot more than that, man." Lucas sighed, shame burning his cheeks. "I'm really sorry. I don't know what came over me the other day. I was mad and you were in the line of fire, but that's not an excuse and I know that."
Skillz methodically slurped his cereal, eyes boring holes directly into Lucas. He said nothing.
"Look, I'll do anything to make up for what I did," Lucas continued. "And if that's not good enough for you and you tell me to get the hell out, I will, but I need you in my life, man. You've been one of my best friends since we were five and I don't want to see that end. I was a dick and you didn't deserve that."
Skillz paused, the spoon full of milky cheerios frozen a few inches from his mouth. "Go on."
"And…did I mention I was a jerk?" Lucas swore he saw the corners of Skillz's mouth tug upward slightly. "And, I'm really sorry about your Uncle Russell and that I wasn't at the funeral. I just figured you needed some space and I didn't want to barge in. Can you forgive me?"
Skillz gave him a long hard look and Lucas was afraid that he'd failed. But then Skillz let out a long sigh and dropped the spoon and its contents into the bowl. "Me and my Uncle Russell weren't even that close, we only saw each other a couple times a year. Plus, the funeral was pretty low-key and private; just blood family. You probably woulda' been out of place."
Lucas still held his breath, watching his friend. But then Skillz came out from behind the counter and stopped a foot from Lucas. He held up his fist and Lucas let out a sigh of relief as he bumped it with his own fist.
"We alright, man. You still my boy."
"Thanks Skillz. I promise that that version of me is gone," Lucas assured him. "Things are going to be different now."
"Hey, I said that if the ol' Luke came back I'd be here waitin'." He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "And from the looks of things, he back in the sack, too."
Lucas eyes squinted. "What?"
"Man, don't play dumb with me!" Skillz exclaimed, a gleeful expression on his face. "You got some action last night!"
Lucas snorted.
"And don't lie and say you didn't, because I know these things." Skillz jutted his chin out smugly.
"I don't what you're talking about."
"You don't-man, forget all that 'you my boy' stuff! You owe me the juicy details!" he asserted, sporting a Cheshire-grin.
"Whatever," Lucas laughed, slapping hands with his friend. For the next hour, he and Skillz chatted and shot the breeze like old times. Past indiscretions were forgotten and before long, things were back to the way they always had been.
Lucas only hoped it would be this easy with everyone else he'd hurt.
The next few weeks were a whirlwind of change. Gradually, Lucas's legs began to recover and he made more progress during this month than he had the three months preceding it. Feeling started to return, bit-by-bit, to his lower limbs and he went from being able to only wiggle his toes to being able to move his feet.
Peyton drove him to all his therapy sessions, and she joked about how sexy it would be if they got stuck in the elevator again. There would be no arguing, or talk of any kind, this time, she'd said. Lucas had just laughed and told her that they could pretend his bedroom was an elevator. In the meantime, his rehabilitation went incredibly. He no longer strained that much while navigating the bars and the watershed moment came when Lucas officially graduated from his wheelchair to crutches.
Needless to say, he'd been thrilled. So had Peyton, who'd given him a lingering kiss right in front of Dr. Capshaw, much to the older man's amusement. But the doctor also warned him that although it would be easier for him to get around, while on crutches, he was at a greater risk of falling and injuring himself. After exiting the clinic and adjourning to Peyton's car (she'd opted to bring him in the Comet this time) Peyton had turned to him and told him point blank that she was moving in with him; no objections. She didn't want to risk him being at his house alone and accidentally slipping and falling with no one nearby to help him.
Far from objecting, Lucas had kissed her and told her he loved her. "I would've asked you to move in even if I wasn't crippled."
So it was settled. The next day, Skillz and Brooke had helped schlep Peyton's stuff into Lucas's house, the latter complaining all the way. In preparation for her arrival the night before, Lucas had taken all of the contents of his Peyton-drawer, including the ring, and stored it in a sealed box which he hid beneath his bed. He hadn't been ready for her to see all that quite yet.
He still hadn't found the courage to have a proper sit-down with Haley or his brother yet, and certainly not his mother. Basketball season was just starting for Nathan, and he was going to be away at practice for weeks at a time. Lucas wanted to wait till he had some time off so he could speak to him and Haley together. As for his mother, she was still at sea with Andy and his little sister, and while he still spoke to Haley and Nathan in passing on the phone, he hadn't talked to his mother since he'd chased her out of his house all those months ago. He had no clue what he was going to say to her when he finally did work up the nerve to call her.
Peyton was supportive, comforting him when he needed it, and they would stay up for hours talking about it all while the music of The Veils or NOFX drifted from her vintage record player. She always seemed to know just what to say to calm his nerves. He did the same for her when she voiced her anxieties about the fact that she still didn't know what she was going to do with her life. She was tending bar at Tric for now, but her real passion was music, and she was scared she would never get another chance to pursue it.
"You will," he'd told her. Lucas wasn't sure why, but he'd decided it was the perfect time to confess to Peyton about how he'd let his own dream slip through his fingers. So he'd told her about how someone had called him saying they'd wanted to publish "An Unkindness of Ravens" right when he'd been at the airport the morning of their break-up. He'd then told her how he'd ignored the call and kept ignoring the calls until finally he'd gotten his manuscript back with a red, angry rejection notice stamped on it.
Lucas hadn't wanted to make her feel guilty but he hadn't wanted to keep things from her, either. However, the horror on her face and the tears in her eyes had instantly made him regret his choice of conversation topics. Peyton had hopped from the bed, dashed down the hall, and locked herself in the bathroom.
Feeling like a complete ass, Lucas had followed on his crutches and awkwardly camped out in front of the bathroom door. From there, he'd tried to talk to her; told her he loved her and that it wasn't her fault and that he just wanted her to come out so they could talk about it. Finally, he'd gotten through to her and she emerged from the bathroom…and then slapped him; hard.
All curls and fury, Peyton had told him in no uncertain terms that if he ever threw away an opportunity like that again she would never forgive him. Message had been received loud and clear, and the two had returned to the bedroom and proceeded to talk all night and then romp in the morning. It had made Lucas late for work but it had been more than worth it, especially since the air between him and Peyton had finally been completely cleared.
Peyton Sawyer was now living with him and Lucas got to wake up next to her every morning; life couldn't get much better.
But there were still things missing, things he had to face.
Bursts of frantic wind assaulted them as they drove, fluttering Lucas's shirt and imbuing Peyton's curls with a life of their own. Illuminated by the sunlight and animated by the wind, Peyton's mane of dark-blonde curls was like an eternal flame that mesmerized those that stared at it too long. Then again, Lucas could stare at any part of her and end up trance-like for hours, but that was just him. In any event, he was grateful to be able to lose himself in the sight of his girlfriend since it helped him control the crushing apprehension that was currently seizing him.
A cloudless, sun-streaked sky, screaming down open highway in the Comet with the top down, Peyton behind the wheel, and a great road mix blaring from the radio; one wouldn't think he'd have anything to be apprehensive about, and normally, this would've constituted the ideal day, but for Lucas, it was anything but.
It did, however, provoke a certain feeling of nostalgia in him. Years ago, he and Peyton had taken another ride just like this one to a place called River City, so she could confront her birth mother. It's not that she'd needed Lucas there with her when she'd spoken to Ellie, her birth mom, but that she'd simply needed him to make the trip with her, which Lucas had been more than happy to do, even if he had just gotten back together with Brooke the night before.
Things were different this time around. Ellie was long dead, he and Brooke were ancient history (as a couple anyway), and they weren't headed to River City but to Charleston, and it wasn't Peyton who needed support, it was Lucas. That, plus Dr. Capshaw had told him it'd be another week before he was clear to drive again.
But even if he had been able to drive himself, Lucas didn't think he'd have been able to do this without Peyton by his side. 'This' being the sojourn to Nathan and Haley's place.
It was the first Thursday of October and Lucas happened to know that Nathan had the day off today. And since Jamie would most likely be at school, it was the perfect time for him to drop in on his brother and Haley and sort things out (or at least try to). He needed Peyton here with him because it scared the hell out of him.
Throughout the drive, they hadn't spoken much. Peyton knew there were no words she could say to ease him so instead she simply drove, occasionally placing her hand on his and favoring him with a reassuring smile. Those simple gestures did more for Lucas than any words of comfort could have.
The 'Welcome to the City of Charleston' sign flashed past them and Lucas was once again struck by a bout of nostalgia. The last time he'd passed by that sign, he'd been with Keith. His junior year of high school had just concluded, he'd missed the game-winning shot of the State Championship game, and he'd royally fucked things up between him and Peyton and Brooke, so at the time, Lucas had thought it a good idea to get away from the hotbed of his mistakes.
Keith, stung after Karen had rejected his proposal, had opted to start his life over in Charleston and Lucas had decided to go with him, partly because he'd wanted to look after Keith but mostly because he'd wanted his own fresh start. To be clear, 'fresh-start' had been code for 'hidey-hole,' which Lucas had used to duck his problems instead of facing them. He really wished he could say he'd learned from that mistake but recent events proved he hadn't.
Peyton's hand found his once again and gave a comforting squeeze. Lucas turned to her, their eyes meeting, and he could tell she knew exactly what he was thinking about, which was kind of freaky but also heart-rending. It occurred to him that he was the luckiest guy on the face of the planet.
The Comet cruised through various side-streets, its passengers searching for 1423 Old Stage Road, Nathan and Haley's address. They finally located Old Stage and eventually came upon 1423, which belonged to an impressive, two-story, modern Victorian home with a lengthy driveway and a well-tended lawn that wrapped around the property.
"Wow," Peyton whispered, slowing the Comet down to a crawl as she approached the asphalt driveway.
"Yeah, they're obviously still benefiting from that shoe contract money," Lucas quipped.
Peyton flashed him a grin and then pulled the Comet into the driveway. They came to a stop behind a trio of automobiles that were parked in front of the attached garage. There was a silver Range Rover that Lucas had seen a few times before, a cherry-red Audi sports car that he could only assume belonged to Nathan, and a jet-black Chevy Equinox. Lucas didn't remember hearing about them getting a third car, but then he had to remind himself—with great shame—that he really hadn't spoken to either of them at length for the past three months, so of course he wouldn't know something like that.
After engaging the parking break, Peyton cut the engine, silencing the Comet. For a while, they just sat there staring at the house in front of them, before Peyton finally broke the silence. "You ready for this?"
Lucas sighed. "No, but if I wait any longer, I'll lose my nerve."
Peyton smiled sadly at him and then leaned over to kiss him. For an instant, Lucas lost himself in her taste and the feel of her lips entwined with his, but soon the spell ended and they broke apart. "You can do this, Luke," she soothed. "Just remember that they love you no matter what, and they just want to be part of your life again, and you deserve to have them in your life."
Peyton peppered his cheek with one last kiss. "I'll be right there beside you," she assured him.
"Always?"
"Always."
Lucas reached back and retrieved his crutches, opening the passenger door. Using the crutches as support, he pulled himself into a standing position. Crutches secure between his armpits, he closed the passenger door with his weight and propelled himself toward the house, Peyton flanking him. The nervous bubble in his gut expanded as they navigated the walkway and all but burst as they ascended the porch steps.
Peyton looked at him expectantly. Swallowing hard, Lucas rang the doorbell. A two-toned chime sounded from within the house. The side-windows were frosted glass so Lucas couldn't spot any movement inside. A part of him hoped that maybe they'd gone out for a walk or something, but the point was made moot by the click of the lock and turning of the doorknob.
The door opened and Lucas's best friend of fifteen years stood in the threshold, gaping at him and Peyton. Haley James Scott's small, delicate mouth made a near perfect "o" as her hazel eyes took in the sight before her. Her chestnut-brown hair was chin-length short and somewhat poufy. A white, fluffy top hugged her petite frame and she sported a pair of dark-blue jeans.
"Lucas? Peyton?" she breathed, practically in awe.
"Hi Haley," Peyton greeted, giving a bashful wave.
"Wh…how…why…" Haley stuttered. It was actually kind of funny. Then, Haley seemed to take note of Lucas's crutches. "Luke! You're not in a wheelchair anymore!"
"Yeah, I've moved up in the world," he joked, hoping to break the ice. Haley just continued to stare at him, her eyes full of hope and hurt and so many other emotions that pained Lucas to see so he had to look away. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I wanted to surprise you. Do you think we could…?"
"Oh God, of course, come in!" Haley hustled them inside. Her face still registered shock and Lucas didn't miss the way her eyes scanned both him and Peyton, as if they were a pair of aliens whose starship had broken down and needed to use their phone to make an interstellar long distance call.
Making his way inside Nathan and Haley's house for the first time, Lucas couldn't deny being impressed. Like the exterior, the interior was also modern Victorian, with polished hardwood floors, European-style wallpaper, and an imposing staircase with a finely crafted baluster. Furnishings that clearly hadn't been purchased at a dollar store decorated the foyer and Lucas couldn't help but wonder if they'd been included with the house when the couple had bought it.
Haley ushered them into the den and Lucas and Peyton sat down on a plush, leather couch, one of two that were adjacent to each other. The two couches formed a right angle that encased a glass coffee table. Across from them, a large plasma screen television was mounted on the wall and complemented by a DVR box, Blu-Ray player, and Nintendo Wii. This room definitely had a lot of Nathan's and probably Jamie's touch to it.
"Do you guys want anything?" Haley asked nervously. Her eyes were darting every which way and her hands were rubbing one another furiously.
"No thanks," Peyton said.
"Actually, I was hoping to talk to you and Nathan together," Lucas explained.
"He's upstairs," Haley told them. "I'll go get him." She whisked out of the room like a stray breeze and the thud-thud-thud of her frantic footsteps on the stairs resounded through the den.
Lucas turned to Peyton and she covered his hand with hers, stroking his knuckles with her thumb. The look in her eyes told him he was doing great, and, unable to resist, Lucas captured her lips with his. The kiss was deep and warm, and just what he needed at the moment. They broke apart and rested their foreheads together, nose-to-nose, pupil-to-pupil.
The clump-clump of two sets of feet coming down the stairs caused them to separate and straighten up. Haley returned with Nathan behind her. Lucas got a good look at his brother for the first time in months. Dressed in a short-sleeve polo shirt and a pair of black sweat pants, Nathan Scott looked every bit the professional basketball player in training.
"Luke," he greeted somewhat cautiously, and then turned to Peyton. "Good to you see you again, Sawyer."
"Likewise," Peyton replied, giving him a smile. "How's basketball going?"
Nathan shrugged. "Hard work, but worth it." He and Haley sat down on the other couch and exchanged furtive glances that didn't go unnoticed by Lucas.
He didn't blame them for being cagey. Lucas had treated them like crap and they probably expected him to start hurling abuse any second. He wished he could take it all back, every word he'd ever said to them in anger, and he hoped that now would be his chance to do just that. Problem is, he didn't quite know how to go about saying it, and for a minute, all four of them sat there in an oppressive silence, no one really knowing what to say.
Fortunately, Nathan broke the stalemate. "Luke, what happened to your chair?"
"Oh, I don't need it anymore. I can actually sort of walk now, but I need crutches to support myself. Dr. Capshaw said that in another week, I might even be able to drive again." Lucas actually felt a little bit of pride in telling them this. Back in the beginning, when he'd been disgruntled and inconsolable, Nathan and Haley had always tried to reassure him that if he worked hard at it, he'd get his mobility back, but Lucas had been having none of it. Now, they'd been proven right.
"Luke, that's awesome, man," Nathan congratulated.
Haley followed suit. "God, I'm so glad, Luke."
Lucas was touched by their genuine delight and he realized in that moment, much to his chagrin, that they'd always been on his side. He just hadn't been able to see that.
"So, anyway…" Lucas began, but his voice trailed off and he found himself tongue-tied. He decided to pad the conversation with a lighter topic before things got serious. "I noticed you guys got a new car."
Nathan and Haley looked at one another quizzically, and then turned back to him. "What do you mean?"
"That black Chevy in your driveway? It looks nice."
"Oh! Oh, right, yeah, the Chevy…umm.." Nathan didn't finish his sentence, but instead glanced at Haley apprehensively and then the both of them glanced at the foyer with unmistakable anxiety.
Lucas wondered what was up. Were they late for some appointment? Did they have company? Whatever the case, Lucas figured he'd better cut to the chase, but before he could, Haley jumped in.
"I'm a little surprised to see the two of you here together. Are you two…?"
Holding their intertwined hands up, Lucas couldn't help smiling. "Yeah, actually, we're together."
Haley's face lit up. "That's great! I'm so happy for you two."
"Thanks Hales," Peyton said.
"Yeah, it's about time you two got your acts together," Nathan remarked.
"You're right," Peyton agreed. "I spent three years out in L.A. completely lost and searching for something I already had waiting for me back home." Her green eyes caressed him lovingly and Lucas couldn't stop himself from planting a gentle kiss on her temple.
For an instant, it almost felt like old times. Like the accident had never happened and there was no estrangement. But when Haley favored him with a burdened smile and told him it was good to see him smiling again, Lucas remembered why he'd come here.
"Listen, I don't want to beat around the bush any longer." Sucking in a mouthful of air, Lucas took the plunge. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the way I've acted and for the person I've been, and for the way I treated you two. And I'm sorry for cutting you out of my life for the past four months. I know there's no excuse and I'm not going to try and offer one. You were just trying to help me and I was completely blind to that."
He blew out a shuddery breath and felt Peyton's hand squeeze his. Nathan and Haley looked completely taken aback, and Lucas continued to force out his confession, not ready for them to speak just yet. "I know I can't make up for what I did and I'll understand if you don't want anything to do with me, but…but, I guess what I'm trying to say is that I miss you guys and I miss the way things used to be. Nathan, you're my brother and Haley we've been best friends since we were eight, and I know I've taken all of that for granted, but I don't want to do that anymore. Can you forgive me?"
The silence that followed was nerve-wracking and Lucas couldn't keep his heart rate under control. Peyton continued to cradle his hand, seemingly imbuing strength directly into him. In the meantime, Nathan and Haley still hadn't said anything and Lucas wondered if he blew it. But then, Haley's eyes misted over and she launched herself at him. Bracing himself for a hard slap, he was instead completely shocked when she threw her arms around him and collapsed into his lap, engulfing him in a warm hug as she buried her face into his chest.
"Welcome back, buddy. I missed you so much," she whispered.
Lucas could only hug her back, afraid that he might choke up if he tried to speak. He glanced at Peyton, who had let go of his hand and was also looking like she was fighting back tears. "I missed you too, Hales."
Over Haley's shoulder, Lucas noticed Nathan looking at his feet. "What about you, Nate? Can you forgive me?"
His brother looked up. After several agonizing seconds, he finally spoke. "Only if you can forgive me."
Haley pulled away and shifted herself onto the seat cushion next to Lucas, hastily wiping at her tear-rimmed eyes. Lucas, now free of his best friend's embrace, grabbed his crutches and pulled himself to his feet. Nathan also stood up, shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants.
"Nate, I've already told you that I don't blame you, and I'm sorry if I made it seem like I did, but if forgiveness is really what you need then you can have it," Lucas told him. "It's water under the bridge, little brother."
Nathan didn't reply. Instead, he gave Lucas a manly hug and a playful pat on the shoulder. "It's good to have you back, Luke."
"It's good to be back." Lucas felt the invisible chain that had been suffocating him the whole way here break apart and fall away.
"Luke, you're family. We'll always be there for you," Haley soothed. She turned to Peyton. "And so are you." Peyton stood up and the two women embraced. "I'm sorry for the way I acted on the phone the other day."
"No, Hales, I'm sorry," Peyton countered. "I should've kept in touch more. I really did miss you guys like crazy all these years."
"Well, we missed you, too."
"Yeah," Nathan cut in. "It wasn't the same without you and Brooke around."
"Well, I'm just glad to be back," Peyton said.
Lucas smiled at her, and then turned back to Nathan. "So are we good?"
"Of course," Nathan assured him. His eyes still held some apprehension, though. "I'm just glad you don't hate me."
Lucas cocked his head. "I never hated you. If there was anyone I hated, it was myself."
"Luke." Peyton placed a hand on his shoulder, her eyes radiating sympathy.
"Don't say that," Haley reprimanded.
"Yeah, Luke," Nathan followed suit. "Don't be so hard on yourself. If it'd been me, I probably would've been just as angry and confused as you were. You're a great guy, Luke, and you just lost your way. It happens, hell, it's happened to me too many times to count."
Lucas just shook his head. "I appreciate it, but it doesn't change what I've done. Especially to my mom. The things I said to her I'll never be able to take back."
"You just did," a voice spoke.
Everyone turned toward the person that had just entered the room.
"Mom?"
~Chapter Thirteen End