-Lucas-
"So listen, dude, are we ever gonna talk about your therapy
appointment?" She asked.
I groaned. "Actually, I was kind of hoping to avoid that subject
altogether."
"Yeah, no chance of that. How'd it go?"
"To be honest, I hated it." I replied. "She made me talk about stuff
you know?"
"Ooh the horror." She laughed.
I laughed too, despite the situation. "Yeah, well. Talking about
regular things isn't so bad but when you have to talk about being
kidnapped, and nightmares, and..." I signed. "And Dan, it's a little
harder."
"Yeah. I can imagine." She replied. "Luke, do you think it would be easier if you talked things out with me? You know, before you talk it out with your therapist?"
"No." I said quickly. "That won't help at all. In fact, it might just make things worse."
"How so?" She asked.
I shivered. "The abuse I endured at the hands of my father is a lot more severe than you know ok? The flashbacks I told you about are just the tip of the iceberg."
A moment of silence followed.
"Luke, are you ok?" She whispered.
"Yeah." I replied. "I'll be ok."
"Is your therapist helping you?" She asked. "Is it helping you to talk it out?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. I just started talking with her. I'll let you know if it starts to help ok?"
"OK." She replied.
Silence again.
"Her name's Annie by the way. My therapist." I told her.
"Oh is it? That's a nice name."
"Yeah."
My phone made a noise. "Hang on."
I checked it. Peyton was beeping through.
"Hey, can I call you sometime later? I've got another call coming in."
"Sure. Ditch me for Peyton. That's cool." She replied.
"I never said it was Peyton." I replied.
She laughed. "Lucas, you didn't have to. You sounded excited. That was enough for me to figure out that your girlfriend was the one beeping through."
"OK, shut up." I replied.
She laughed.
I did too. "I'll call you later."
"You'd better." She replied.
I switched over to Peyton's call. "Hey beautiful."
"Luke, hey. How are you?"
I jammed my free hand into my pocket. "I'm ok."
"Are you really? Or are you just saying that so I won't worry?"
I sighed. "I'm really ok, Peyton. I think..."
"Great."
"Sorry." I replied.
"It's ok. Listen, I had an idea. Since you've been having problems with like...I don't know. Haley told me you've been having a hard time lately."
I groaned. "Remind me to kill her later. What's your idea?"
"Well, you remember after Nathan's accident we all threw him a movie night at Tric and let him keep the profits?"
"Yeah." I replied hesitantly. "What's up?"
"I was thinking we could do the same thing for you. Maybe with something other than a movie night."
"Why? I don't need any money, Peyton. I'm all right." I told her.
"I know. But money's still nice if you ever need it. Plus I know you have that hospital bill to pay." She replied.
I thought about it. "Ok. But...just keep it kinda small ok? Nothing like Nathan's night all right?"
She laughed. "All right, Luke. But hey, listen, would it be ok if I told you that I had already planned it?"
I laughed. "What would you do if I had said no?"
"Probably just dragged you to it anyway." She said.
I laughed. "Yeah, we kind of did the same thing to Nathan didn't we?"
"Yeah, we did." She laughed. "So what do you say? Tric at 7 on Friday?"
I sighed into the reciever.
"Please Lucas? Please, please, please? It'll be fun."
I groaned. "Fine, but if I want to cut out early, I'm leaving."
"Yeah, of course. Thank you, Lucas. Everyone just wants to do something nice for you. Help raise your spirits." She told me.
"I know." I replied.
My mom knocked on my door. "Hey Lucas, the pizza's here."
"Ok, mom, I'll be right off." I said.
Before I could say anything to Peyton, she asked. "So what kind of pizza are you having?"
I laughed. "You heard? Ham and pineapple."
"Ooh, sounds good." She replied.
"You could come over. I'm sure my mom wouldn't care. And afterwards we'd even study." I said.
"Really? And what would we study, Lucas Scott?" She asked.
"Chemistry." I said.
She laughed. "We're not even taking that class."
"Well then, I'll be the teacher." I said.
She laughed again.
"Come on, Pey. Please?"
She sighed. "I don't think that's a good idea, Luke. Maybe next time."
I swallowed. "Yeah, ok. I'll just see you tomorrow right?"
"Yeah."
We got off the phone and I went to the kitchen.