A/N: You guys made it to 900 already! Awesome! Daily updates continue til Wednesday!
Simplyme1018- dont ever apologize for a long review. I love them. I make you read my author's notes all the time, so I have no problem reading your thoughts about the show. Nobody I know watches the show but me, so you guys are the only people I get to 'talk' to about what goes on.
So everybody! rant away if you want. I will listen and probably respond. By the way, simplyme1018- I totally agree with you on the double fault. She could've said yes and had a long engagement, she could have gone to the book signing anyway and been there even if he had a girlfriend, cause he asked her to come. So yeah.
Having gotten off-story, I now return and get back on story with...dun dun dun.....
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Chapter 29 Nothing left to Say but Goodbye
Peyton smiled as she stood waving to Wills as he walked into school; he had just met up with Jamie, and the two had linked arms over each others shoulders to walk in together. The only thing that was missing from the picture was the third musketeer- Andre, Quentin's little brother.
In celebration of Nathan making the D-league, tickets were reserved for the entire family for Nathan's first game wearing the jersey, scheduled the week before Thanksgiving. Quentin was also invited- it was thanks to his dedication and determination, and as Haley put it, bullheadedness, that helped Nathan get to where he was. First, by convincing Nathan to make the comeback in the first place, and second, by telling him the honest truth about his ability to play the two in the NBA, and working with him on learning the point. So when the tickets were handed out, Quentin was one of the first to receive one.
When he hesitantly asked for a ticket for his little brother, Nathan thought nothing of it, and had no idea what he had set into motion. From there it was all over. Andre, Jamie, and Wills bonded instantly, by the end of the night telling all the guardians that they were now the three musketeers- all for one, and one for all. Weeks later, Haley and Peyton now had 3 children- sleeping bags were brought for everyone's house so that the third musketeer could have a place to sleep after his busy days with either of the Sawyer- Scott cousins, filled with fighting crime and protecting princess Bella.
"Good morning, Haley," Peyton smiled brightly as Haley walked towards her, her smile falling when she caught sight of the troubled look on Haley's face.
"Hey Peyton," Haley said, finally reaching Peyton. "Do you have time to grab a cup of coffee with me? I have my first period free and I really need to talk to you."
"Sure, yeah. How about I meet you at the coffee shop in 15?" Peyton said, making her way towards her car.
"That sound's great." Haley said, taking a deep breath as she watched Peyton walk away. She knew things were going too well in Tree Hill. It was only a matter of time before the shit hit the fan.
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"So what's on your mind, Haley?" Peyton said, as they sat down, coffees in hand. "And don't say nothing, because your face is an open book, and it's got trouble written all over it."
"So, you know me. 'Haley, keeper of all secrets,' and everything. I swear, you guys should really stop sharing things with me." Haley said, shaking her head before taking a sip of coffee.
"First of all, stop beating yourself up about it. Everybody knows you're a bad refrigerator. Did you ever stop to wonder maybe we tell you things because we know they'll get 'spoiled?'" Peyton said, reaching out to rub Haley's arm.
"I hope you're right." Haley said, before taking a deep breath. "So I am telling you this, not to ruin the surprise, or to mess up your day, and I am not even sure I should be sharing this with you, but my gut is screaming at me to warn you before this goes too far…"
"Haley, you're scaring me." Peyton said, half-joking. "Just spit it out. Spill the secret already!"
"Lucas is planning to propose to you again on your next date." Haley rushed out, closing her eyes and wincing. When nothing happened, Haley peeked one eye open, then another. Peyton just sat there, staring at her coffee, unmoving.
"Peyton?" Haley said cautiously. "Peyton, did you hear me?"
Peyton sat, paralyzed. She wondered, back when Haley first asked her what her happily ever after looked like, how she would feel when this moment came. It was what she always wanted, right? Peyton Sawyer will be Peyton Scott.
But now that the moment was here, all she could think was that it was too soon. As much as she tried to fight it, the fear was still there. It had only been 2 months! She and Lucas had been together for much longer than that the last time he proposed, and he still was able to walk away when she didn't give him the answer he wanted. And as much as she wanted it to be different, if he proposed to her now, the answer would not have changed.
Someday, she did want to be Mrs. Scott. Someday. But with Lucas, what was an acceptable time to wait? Last time, a year was too much. What would happen if she asked for six months, or even three? Her mind couldn't even go there, because at this point, she didn't know how long it would take for her to believe that he would be there always, when she still had no long term proof of commitment from him. She could admit, waiting 3 years to make sure he would stay around that long was unreasonable, but what if that's what it took? She didn't want to marry him if she couldn't trust that he wouldn't revert to type and run if they ever disagreed on anything; when to have kids, or what to spend their money on, or whatever else it was married couples disagreed on.
"Haley…I…" Peyton shook her head, and began again. "What is he thinking? It's too soon! I'm not ready! We haven't even spent the night together and he's already ready to propose again. I can't…" Peyton put her cup down, and laid her head in her arms, shaking it back and forth.
Worried now, but more relieved that her hunch about where Peyton's head was at was correct and telling her was the right thing to do, Haley awkwardly patted Peyton on the shoulder, in an attempt to offer comfort.
After a while, Peyton sat up, a determined look on her face. "You know what? This is perfect. I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop, and here it is. The moment I've been waiting for."
She turned to Haley. "You know I can't give him the answer he wants, and you and I both know what that means, as much as I may wish it otherwise. In a way though, I'm kind of glad."
At Haley's questioning look, Peyton explained. "When I tell him I can't marry him yet, he'll leave again, and this weird state of limbo we're in will finally be over, and the question of Lucas and Peyton, True Love Always will finally be laid to rest. And I'll be able to move on without a completely broken heart, and Wills gets to keep a mother who is functional and sane. This actually works out well."
Coming to a decision, Peyton stood up and grabbed her coffee cup. "Haley, I'm sorry about running out on you like this, but there is something I have to take care of. Ill call you later, okay?"
And as Peyton rushed out of the door, Haley sat there in a stupor, wondering how it came to be that she lost control of the conversation she initiated, a feeling of dread in her gut. How exactly did Lucas proposing work out well? It had nothing but disaster written all over it!
She called Andre's mother, who agreed to pick up Jamie and Wills and watch all three boys after school, and even suggested a sleepover. Then she called Brooke and caught her up on the situation. She didn't know which way the wind would blow, but she knew there was going to be a storm, and she had to get the troops in place, ready for the fallout.
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Peyton knocked on the door to Lucas' office before walking in and closing it behind her. "Hey, are you busy?" she said quietly, as he looked up and smiled to see it was her. He walked around the desk and pulled her into a kiss. She sank into his embrace, soaking up the memories of what she knew would be the last time they would be this way.
They stood there, intertwined for several moments before Lucas lifted his head, licking his lips. "Now that's a greeting I could get used to," he said, his hands resting on her hips, where they had landed at the start of the kiss.
Peyton, with her arms around his neck and her hands laced in his hair, stood in the shelter of his arms with her eyes closed, savoring the sweetness of his kiss and committing it to memory. She guided his head back down, connecting her lips again with his once more.
Happy to oblige, Lucas sank into the kiss, only to pull back at the feel of the tears that were making their way down Peyton's face. "Peyton, what…?"
"I'm sorry Lucas, I don't want you to propose to me." Peyton said softly, looking down at his chest. "Don't be mad at Haley, she didn't want you to be hurt unnecessarily."
"I…I don't…" Lucas stuttered, caught off guard by her tears and the fact that she knew about his plans to fully comprehend that she was rejecting his proposal.
"I'm not ready to say yes, and I don't know when I will be ready. I just wanted you to know now, to save us both from an awkward proposal later."
Pulling out of his embrace, she wiped her eyes, and looked him in the eyes. "And since I can't say yes right now, I know how this is gonna end, since we've been here before." Grabbing his head, she pulled him into a kiss, pouring every bit of emotion she felt for him into it.
It was the most passionate kiss of his life, so much so that it was over and Peyton was at the door by the time he lost the feel of her lips on his and opened his eyes to discover where she had gone.
He was in such a daze, still reeling from the intensity of the kiss, that he could do nothing but stare as she smiled softly at him one last time, the unshed tears making her green eyes brilliant in the light. "Goodbye, Lucas." And with that, she was gone.
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Short chapter?! Cliffhanger?! I had to do it. You know that, and I know that. So go ahead and gripe. I deserve it, and it still counts as a review. You guys won daily updates so you'll find out tomorrow. :)
