BRIEF NOTES:
So So So So Sorry for the grave delay. I was caught up in a mess, plus writer's block got the best of me. Again, my apologies.
Here comes the proposal… And the second to the last chapter before the inevitable end. Sigh.
DISCLAIMER: I still own nothing.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The latest mp3 ringtone echoed from Brooke Davis's cellphone. She didn't even need to look at the screen to determine who her caller was, she had gotten three calls in less than 30 minutes from the same person.
"Seriously Lucas, you need to chill out on the persistent calls. Derek isn't even this clingy." She said with an exasperation he reciprocated.
"I just want it all to be perfect, Brooke."
Brooke sighed, there was no comforting this nervous wreck of a man. "I get it, Lucas. And if you know you did everything the way it was planned then you have nothing to be worried about." Inwardly, Brooke thanked the days she was able to watch Oprah.
But Lucas wouldn't relent. "You didn't see her face last night."
She flinched. The staged fight, how could she have forgotten that part of the plan. Concerns aside, she managed to ask, "Oh yeah, that. I take it that went well?" A pregnant pause followed, indicating Lucas's unhappiness at reliving the memory. "Oookay, wrong choice of words. Let me rephrase: I take it the plan got the desired reaction?"
"If, by desired reaction, you mean Peyton shutting the bathroom door in my face and not coming out until she thought I was asleep, then yes it worked out." He replied with sarcasm.
"Right. Okay." Was all that Brooke managed to say in response. She knew he never really did like that part of their plan, but it was all they could think of in order to let get Peyton to ignore him for a few hours. A short while later, she came up with a question. "So what did you pick a fight on, anyway? Or is that a little too harsh to ask?"
From Lucas's end, the memory he had been trying so hard to forget came rushing back.
"Wow. I've been home a whole lot lately and it hasn't been this quiet. What happened, babe?" Peyton jokingly inquired as she unceremoniously dropped off her purse at the nearest chair in their bedroom.
Game time, Lucas thought to himself. "Oh, hi. Mom took the kids. " He greeted, without so much as a glance above his laptop. He was pretending to write, pretending not to pay her any mind, and it was taking all of his strength to do so. For several weeks now, he had been planning this proposal with the help of his friends – and in everyone's opinion, tonight's event had to play an essential part in achieving the "Yes" that Lucas so desperately wanted from Peyton. He was dismayed at the thought, but he knew all too well that such a surprise would be impossible if Peyton was almost inseparable from his grasp.
"You're brooding, Luc. Is something wrong?" She broke into his thoughts, concern laced in her voice.
It made him want to confess. "What? Me? No. Everything's fine, I'm just a little caught up with the pages I'm writing, that's all." He was being nonchalant, or at least, trying hard to be.
She didn't buy it, but knew better than to pry. In his time, he would open up. "Okay. Well, tomorrow's appointment should make you feel better."
"Yeah, about that. I can't go with you." As he said the words, he saw her face fall almost immediately. This was it – the moment he had been bracing himself for.
"Why?"
"We set up an appointment for another book deal, and for discussions on the tour. I'm sorry Peyt, but tomorrow is all the time the publisher has. If I get this, we're gonna be set with enough for the family… We need this." He said, trying his hardest to keep his eyes on the screen because if he looked up at her, he might just start to retract everything he'd just said.
But he felt it. He felt her eyes widen with shock, darken with hurt, and narrow with anger. He felt her step back, not being able to believe that he had said what he did. Worst of all, he felt her rush to the nearest exit – which just happened to be their bathroom – only to lock herself there, knowing she would not come out until he faked sleeping.
Lucas sighed, closed his laptop as he put it at his bedside table, put out the light, and lay on his side. He couldn't stand it, he didn't like hurting her… but he knew tonight had been a necessity in his plan. Otherwise, he would never be able to separate himself from Peyton, especially because they had become attached at the hip ever since they had gotten back together. He hated himself at the moment, but he knew that with all the planning and with enough prayers, tomorrow would erase tonight completely. Tomorrow, the rest of their lives would be perfect.
"Lucas… Lucas, focus!" the female voice on the other end yelled, bringing Lucas back to the present. He chuckled to himself. "Sorry, Brooke. I'm just nervous. I need this to be perfect… for her… and me."
Brooke exaggerated a sigh in order for him to catch on. "Luc, it will be. Trust me."
He relented, knowing that Brooke was telling the truth. "You're right. Thanks, Brooke."
Finally, she thought. "Derek and I are almost at Tric. Is everything ready on your side of the world?"
"Yeah."
"Good. We'll be there in a half hour. Stay calm. Bye Luke!" She hurriedly said, thus avoiding any further questioning from the anxious hopeful groom-to-be.
"Nervous wreck?" A driving Derek inquired after Brooke hastily flipped her phone closed. His girlfriend sighed in return, "Even that would be an understatement."
Derek chuckled as he quipped, "Well, I'm sure his panties won't be in much of a twist for too long… Unless my baby sister makes her choice based on past incidences." Brooke slapped him lightly on the arm. "I'm kidding, babe!" Not long after their playful banter, Derek pulled the car into the Tric parking lot. They both looked towards the door as he pulled the vehicle to a stop. A moment of silence passed.
"This is it." Derek Sommers said somberly. His baby sister was going to get hitched… it wasn't even an "if"… a marriage proposal coming from Lucas Scott was definitely getting her approval, he knew that. He just didn't realize it was only sinking in now.
"Ready to let her become her own woman, D?" Brooke asked, half-jokingly.
Derek smiled as he put his hands on the car door's handle. "Yeah. It's about that time."
He opened Brooke's door and laced her hand in his. Together, the couple started for the door, ready to take Peyton towards what was truly meant to be.
"I need those posters in by tomorrow if we want a full house by the weekend, okay Amy? Thanks. Oh, and guys, beginning today I won't be around as much because… well, because I'm pregnant. I've asked Brooke and Derek to oversee the bar operations for a little while, and they've both agreed. But, for gig schedules and other music and business concerns, you have my number and you know where I live. Feel free to reach me anytime. Any questions?"
"Are you about ready to go?" An inquiring masculine voice came from behind, causing Peyton Sawyer to look in the direction. She smiled, just the people she wanted to see.
"Hey guys, I'll just be a minute." She greeted the couple, then quickly turned to her team. "Alright guys, if everything's clear, we're good to go. Good luck tonight, let's make things happen." As the crew and staff of Tric scattered and began their respective preparations for the night, Peyton picked up her bag and approached Brooke and Derek. To avoid the possibility of suspicion, Brooke thought it best to ask a question.
"How'd the doctor's appointment go, P.Sawyer?"
Peyton smiled, but her smile quickly upturned itself as she remembered the misery of Lucas missing it. "Fine" was all she managed before the hormonal tears started flowing. I hate this part of pregnancy, she thought to herself. She forcibly composed herself. "So, where are we going? You guys said you wanted to talk to me?"
It was Derek who spoke this time. "Quick pre-dinner meal before we officially start our first day as your stand-ins, just so we do everything according to your preference. We all know how you just want everything done perfectly… as in, your way." He joked, earning him a light shove from Peyton. "I only got that Obsessive-Compulsiveness from you, dear brother." She returned.
"Okay you two, let's get going. Preggers here needs to scarf down some food for my next godkid." Brooke interrupted as she simultaneously intertwined Peyton's arm with hers and led the three of them outside.
As Derek backed the car out of the lot, Brooke prepared herself. She looked at her boyfriend, and when their eyes met, she knew it was time to start the show. "Oh yeah, P. We just need to make a quick stop at the River court. It's baby Natalie's first day out. I thought we should go say hi."
From the backseat, Peyton responded. "Hmm? Sure. No problem."
It was said with a little less enthusiasm than she had meant, implying to the couple in front that last night's part of the surprise was indeed effective. If this was any indication, then everything the group had planned was definitely meant to go smoothly.
And it should, Brooke thought. It's about time these two had their happy ever after.
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Peyton silently wondered why the River Court was empty. Usually at this time of the afternoon, the 2 Scott brothers were out playing their usual predinner ball game. She was sure that Lucas's appointment with the publishers were finished by now, and even if it weren't… her thoughts couldn't go further. It had stuck to Lucas and that particular appointment. His demeanor yesterday upset and worried her at the same time. It was the first time in a long time that he had acted like that and it didn't sit well with her. If he was withdrawing from her again, if all the things that have been happening for them were causing him aggravation, she didn't know if she could handle it… if she could handle another heartbreak.
She was so deep in her thoughts that she hadn't noticed Brooke and Derek disappear. Just as well she had failed to notice the man in the tux standing behind her until he spoke, softly yet with enough clarity for her to hear.
"Peyt?"
Peyton froze. There was only one man who could call her that and cause chills to run up her spine. She closed her eyes as she turned around, then opened them… She was right. It was him. And, she thought to herself, he was wearing a tux.
Lucas's breath hitched as Peyton turned to face him. When she opened her eyes, he took a step towards her. She didn't retreat, he thought happily. He took a deep breath as he slowly approached her. Speaking as he moved.
"I'm sorry I upset you last night. I know I acted like a jerk, but there's a good explanation for that." He started, not breaking eye contact with her while doing so. "There was no meeting. I already finished that business with the publishers through email, but I told ou that so you wouldn't expect me at the doctor's. I was there, though, Peyt. Only I was outside…"
So that's what the receptionist was saying, she thought. She had since wondered why the Nurse had said that Mr. Scott was probably afraid of the sonogram which was why he chose to stay outside and leave ahead when she got out of the doctor's clinic. Her anger softened, and she turned her attention back to him.
"… I couldn't let you see me because I was already wearing this and it would have looked too suspicious. As for the tux, there's a perfect explanation for that too." He paused, his eyes alight with a mix of nervousness and excitement. He was barely three footsteps away from her now, and he had to get it all out before he made it to her side.
"A little less than five years ago, I left you standing in your doorway with tears streaming down your face. A little after that, I managed to pry open wounds that scarred you when you deserved none of it. Our friends kept telling you to get over it, find something better, something you deserved… but you remained steadfast. You stayed on… you kept believing in me, you kept believing that I would come out of the funk I was in. You stayed with that faith in me… even when they all lost theirs in me… even when I lost my faith in myself."
He was one step away, just enough distance to reach for her hand.
"…I hurt you deeply, and you forgave me. And through all of that, you still managed to take me back… to love me just as much, if not more so than before. And I love you for all of that."
He gently pushed her chin up with his other hand, causing her to stare directly into his eyes.
"…Those aren't the only reasons why I love you, Peyt. I love you for so much more… with all of me. And today, as I've thought of for so many days before, I know you and I are what's right and meant to be. I am, and I will be, the happiest man knowing that for forever, I belong only to you."
He put his hand inside his pocket and reached for the purple velvet box that contained the very object that was going to seal his future. He opened it and knelt on one knee. Looking up at those hazel green eyes that he so reverently adored, he continued to speak with hope thick in his voice.
"I love you so much, Peyt. There is nothing that I would want more in this world than to be yours for the rest of my life, in service to you and to our family. Would you be willing to make me the happiest man alive by making me Mr. Peyton Sawyer?"
She looked down at him. He was making her dream come true, right this very moment. She couldn't believe it. Fate was on her side this time, and now it was her chance, their chance, at happiness. She looked around her, and saw that the people she loved were watching them intently, even though they all knew what her answer was. Her eyes stopped to meet their son's, who was smiling at them. This was it… for her, for Lucas, and for Robby. This was their time. She looked back down and smiled. She was sure of her answer with every bit of her being. And so, Peyton spoke.
"No."
His face fell. Had he heart it right? Did she just say no? Was this her way of avenging the years when he had carelessly hurt her? What was this all about? In a matter of milliseconds a dozen negativities stung him. He felt like he was punched in the stomach. But she gently pushed his chin up and placed her palm on his cheek. She was smiling brightly. How could she smile like that? Lucas bitterly thought. The following second, his question was answered.
"I would rather be Mrs. Peyton Scott."