Chapter Twenty-Six- Forgiveness, The Enviable Trait

Despite Lucas' pleas for Peyton to stay in bed for the rest of the day, there were things that needed to be taken care of. Things that needed to be mended, air that needed to be cleared. She very nearly caved into his wishes as his lips roamed the plain of her stomach. Eventually Peyton ordered him to stop and get her some clothes so she could take of the things that needed to be finished before the end of high school.

With reluctance he rolled off the bed with pouty lips and rummaged through the drawers of his dresser. He threw a pair of sweats and a hoodie at her and turned around while she dressed. She inhaled his sweet scent that clung to the fabric of the well worn hoodie, pushing up the sleeves that were far too long for her arms.

"Why don't you just stay another couple hours so I can have my way with you?" he murmured wrapping her tightly in a hug pressing sensual kisses to her lips.

Peyton giggled pulling away from his grasp. "That sounds very sexy and a lot of fun, but I've got things to do."

"These things can wait." he countered pulling her into a deep kiss.

Peyton did not fight him letting their tongues entwine as he immediately took advantage of the situation. "Nice try Lucas." she said her lips suddenly going rigid beneath his. "You think I'd let you get your way so easily?"

Lucas pouted letting his hands rest gently at her hips. "Peyton." he sighed meeting her soft gaze. A moment spent away from her was a moment wasted a moment in his life that did not matter. Now she was talking of leaving for a few hours at least, he was going to go crazy.

"Lucas." she replied stroking his cheek with his hand. "I would love to stay here with you the rest of the day. But the thing is Luke, if I don't get this done, I don't think I'll ever find another time to do it again. I love you Lucas, but I need to do this by myself."

Lucas dropped his head with sigh but understood. She would not always need him, he needed to learn distance. "Okay, I get it."

"Luke."

He raised his brow a light smile tugging at his lips.

"I'll be back later you can have your way with me then." Peyton said with a wink kissing him lightly and left him standing completely dumbstruck in the middle of his room.

--

Peyton inhaled deeply as she stood outside the door that led to Brooke's bedroom. She sighed tying her blonde curls into a simple knot. With three light knocks on the door she waited. It took only thirty seconds for Brooke to answer the door.

"Oh great, I get the pleasure of your presence the morning after the sex. Thanks." Brooke rolled her eyes turning to shut the door.

"No Brooke, wait." Peyton called catching the door with her hand before it slammed in her face. "Brooke she tried again finding herself in the of Brooke's bedroom. They had spent so many great times in here. It became hard to fight the tears and memories.

"What do you want Peyton? You show up here after you steal my boyfriend, punch me in the face and embarrass me in front of the entire senior class. So tell me Peyton what exactly do you want?" she rang off angrily. Brooke squared her shoulders to Peyton folding her arms over her chest.

Peyton heaved a deep breath bringing her eyes back up to Brooke. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry."

"Psh, yeah so you can clear your conscience and go sleep with Lucas without any guilt." scoffed Brooke.

"No Brooke, it is not so I can clear my conscience." Peyton said through gritted teeth ignoring the latter part of her comment.

She collected herself inhaling again deeply keeping her temper at bay. "I miss you Brooke. Our friendship was so strong before Lucas, nothing could come between us."

"Well Peyton, he did and you can't take it back." she said shortly narrowing her eyes.

"I know that Brooke. I know things can't and won't ever go back to the way they used to be. I never expected them to. I wanted to say I'm sorry again. I never intended to hurt and neither did Lucas. You're my best friend Brooke, even if you don't want to be my best friend, I'll still be yours." she finished feeling the tears brim at the corner of her eyes.

"Is that all?"

"Yeah I guess that's it." Peyton sighed turning her back on Brooke whose narrowed eyes remained fixed on Peyton. With one finally look Peyton shut the door behind her and never looked back again.

--

Lucas lay atop his bed staring up at the ceiling. He had not moved since Peyton left. He had tried to busy himself with writing but gave up after only a few minutes. She was his muse and without her he was completely blocked. He sighed listening to and waiting for her to return. The memories of the previous night came flooding leaving a slight grin on his features. She was absolutely perfect, the only fixture in his eyesight. If there had been a doubt before, it was completely erased. He was more than sure Peyton Sawyer was the only girl he would ever want to spend his life in bed together with. There was one obstacle though, something he needed to tell her, but that could wait. He just needed to hold her first.

Suddenly she came crashing and stumbling through his door tears running down her cheeks as she cried. Lucas immediately rose from his bed wrapping her harms around as she fell into his chest. No matter how hard she tried she could not fight the sobs and the tears, they came anyway.

"Peyton, baby what's wrong?" he coaxed stroking her hair pressing a kiss to the top of her bed burying his cheek into her soft curls.

Peyton finally stopped crying enough to gather herself and speak in coherent sentences. "I went to see Brooke, to apologize again for everything that happened this year and to tell her I'll still always be her best friend. But it's never going to be the same again Lucas. We're never going to be best friend again. I miss her Luke. I miss her so much." she whispered beginning to cry once more feeling her body sink into the warmth of his chest.

Lucas pulled her tighter to his body so there was a little space as possible between them. "I know baby. I know." he cooed holding her tight for fear if he left go she would be gone.

They stood in the middle of his room for what felt like and enternity completely comfortable standing as long as it meant they were able to hold each other. Finally Lucas helped her down on top of the bed and he soon joined her. She curled into his warm muscular chest leaving damp rings were she had previously buried her face and had been crying. He wrapped his arms around her pressing a kiss to her temple.

"I love you Lucas. Don't leave."

"I'm right here Peyton. I'm right here."