Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.


Overdose of Pain, Onslaught of Reality

Chapter 26

Lucas lay next to Peyton on the sandy beach, admiring her in the moonlight. Ever since the formal three nights ago, the two had been inseparable. They made out, shared jokes, and told each other that they loved him or her, but they really hadn't gotten around to the deep stuff yet. Peyton was waiting for him to open up, for she didn't want to scare him off just as they were getting back together.

"Peyton, these past few nights have been great," Lucas said. He looked troubled as Peyton took her eyes away from the crashing waves and settled them on him.

"But?" she asked gently.

"I don't think it's what you want. I really wish I could give that to you, but I need some time to think of what to say. I don't want to scare you off just as we're getting back together again," he said. He looked away from her as she smiled. Those were her thoughts almost exactly.

"Lucas, no matter what you say, I'll always be here for you. Nothing you can say or do at this point will scare me," she said softly. "Because frankly, I think I've seen it all."

"Peyton, what I went through in rehab, wasn't a picnic. I am not proud of the things I did, or the things that I've caused," Lucas said. Peyton didn't have to look at him to know that he was distressed.

"We've all done things we aren't proud of, Luke. But whenever you're ready to talk, I'll be here for you. I'll always be here for you," she said quietly. "That's what people do for the people they love."

"Peyton, I really wish I could take back all the things I've done, but I can't. I'm going to have to live with that guilt of what I did forever." Lucas's voice cracked. Peyton looked at him, but couldn't see his face. It was hidden in the darkness.

"I'm not asking you to take back the things you did. I wish I could take back some things I have done as well, but I can't. Part of making this thing between us work is being open and honest with each other. No lies."

"I know, and I sure as hell don't want to lose you again, but this… you're asking a lot, Peyton."

"I'm not asking anything less of you than you are of me." A hint of anger entered her voice.

"I know, I know. But I… Rehab was horrible. The nightmares, the pain… But that wasn't the worst of it."

"What was?"

"Knowing that if I hadn't done any of that crap, I wouldn't be in there. I would still be with you."

Lucas was staring at her, silently begging her to understand. But they both knew Peyton wasn't going to give up until Lucas had told her everything.

Peyton was staring at the water, speechless. Never in a million years did she think that she would hear that come directly from him. Sure, they were in love, but this was different.

"Luke, you don't know that."

"Yes, I do. I love you, Peyton."

"I love you too, Lucas, but…"

"But what?"

"I really wish you would just cut the theatrics already and tell me what's going on inside your head. Cause you're annoying the shit out of everyone, except me, by not telling anyone what happened. We want to help, Luke. We really do."

"What about you?" He didn't seem the least bit upset with her at the moment.

"I want to help. I just am extremely disappointed that you won't tell me of all people what happened."

"Why do you all want to know so badly?" A faint sound of defensiveness had entered his voice, making it brittle and hard.

"Because it's human nature to be curious. And because you looked like hell when you came back, even at the dance. None of us have ever seen you look that bad before. I also know that you still have damn nightmares. All you can talk about is how bad everything was, but you never actually tell us what happened."

Lucas fell silent, knowing that he was going to have to tell her sooner or later.

"I will tell you, but not tonight. I promise."
"Tomorrow night?"

"Maybe. I'll tell you when I'm ready. You'll be the first and probably only person to know. But I will tell you."

"Thank you, Lucas. This means a lot. It really does."

Lucas stayed quiet, not saying anything. Suddenly, he stood up, dusting the sand off of himself. He held his hand out for Peyton to help her up.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

Lucas just smirked, and pulled her up.

"It's a surprise."

"I hate surprises."

"You're going to love this one."


Haley stared blankly at the comedy in front of her. The movie wasn't even remotely funny; it was just a blur of images, sound, and bright lights. Beside her, Brooke and her new boyfriend made out, not even bothering to watch the movie or break off for Haley's benefit. Why did Nathan have to go to a winter cabin for the Christmas holidays with some of his friends? Didn't he know that this sucked? Being with Brooke and her boyfriend was all right, as long as they weren't making out or ripping off each other's clothes, which was pretty much all the time. Lucas and Peyton were still working things out, so she couldn't exactly crash their party. So she was either stuck with Brooke and her new boyfriend, or be stuck with the broody blondes who were more than likely doing almost the exact same things Brooke and her boyfriend were. Life sucked.

Ring… Ring… Ring… The phone went off beside the couch. Brooke didn't even look up, leaving Haley to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hales? Is that you?"

"Mom?"

"Yeah, honey. That's me. I was wondering if you would like to spend the holidays down here in Charleston with your dad and me. Taylor finally moved out and we are all alone in our new house. If you would like to, I can send Jimmy up to get you."

"Mom that would be great! I would love to come down there! When can I?"

"I'll send Jimmy up on Saturday. You can spend Christmas with us and then return home after New Years. How does that sound?"

"That sounds perfect. I can't wait to see you guys again!" Haley exclaimed.

They talked for a little while longer and then hung up. Haley grabbed the phone and dialed Nathan's number, knowing she should tell him the good news.


Peyton sat across from Lucas at a little known restaurant that Peyton had never been to before. It was a casual place, nearly empty, but Lucas promised that the food would be good. He told her that he had spent a lot of time here when he had been home the week before the formal.

"I love this place already," Peyton said, smiling and picking up a menu. "What do you usually get?"

"It is different every time. I think I've tried everything on the menu of this place by now," Lucas said, smirking at a memory that Peyton didn't know about.

"So what's good here?"

Lucas smiled mischievously and then pointed to some random item on the menu. Peyton strained her neck to see what he was pointing at. It was her favorite dish, soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. Simple, yet tasty.

"That is really good," he said honestly. Peyton smiled and nodded. A waitress came and took their order and came back a few minutes later with drinks. Then, for the next fifteen minutes, while the food was being cooked, Peyton and Lucas shared a silent moment in the middle of the empty café.

The food came straight from the kitchen. It smelled good. Its heavenly aroma alone was enough to make even the hardest food critic's mouth water. Though it was only grilled cheese and tomato soup, it tasted better than any expensive, foreign dish. And best of all, in Peyton's view, the company was much better than any rich snooty stuck up person anyways.

An hour went by, with the clang of spoons and the sounds of sodas being sucked through straws the only noise between the couple. The waitress returned and cleared their dishes away and refilled their sodas. Then, she left.

"That was the most amazing meal I think I have ever eaten," Peyton commented, stretching back like a cat. She was extremely sleepy now and wanted nothing more than to curl up with Lucas and sleep until winter was over.

"I'm glad you liked it," Lucas said. Peyton looked up at him, realizing that he looked twice as tired as Peyton felt.

"Are you okay?"

"Not really," he admitted. "I'm trying to find the right words to tell you about what I went through, but it's hard."

Peyton was quite, knowing that if she said anything, she would spoil everything they were working for. He wouldn't open up to her, like she was trying so desperately hard to get him to do.

"Can I promise you something?"

"What?"

"No matter what you say about what happened, even if it is truly horrible, it will not change the way I feel about you. I promise you that."

"I love you, you know that?"

"I love you too."

They sat in silence again, as the waitress came back with a desert menu and hot chocolate. Lucas apparently had saved a lot of money, to be able to pay for dinner and desert.

"I think I am going to be able to tell you what happened, but only if it's all at one time. If there are any interruptions, then I don't think I'm going to be able to start again," Lucas said finally. They had just finished their desert.

"I think that's fair."

"And if you promise never to repeat a word I tell you to anyone, not even Nathan or Haley."

"Or Brooke," Peyton added, already agreeing to his conditions without a second thought. Anything that would help him work through what he was going through she would do in an instant.

"All right, but not here."

"Where?"

Lucas thought for a moment and then got up. He disappeared for a moment and then came back. He picked his jacket up off of the back of his chair and took her hand again.

"Come with me. I know the perfect place."


Nathan limped to the phone on the wall, marveling at how quite it got when all of his friends from basketball were out skiing. He had played up his knee injury, saying it hurt too much to go skiing. Tim had offered to stay behind, but Nathan had urged him on. He wanted to be totally alone with absolutely no distractions when he called Haley to tell her that he was coming home for Christmas. Haley hadn't been able to reach him before, so he had no idea that she was leaving for Christmas to stay with her mom.

After three rings, the answering machine for Brooke Davis's house kicked in. Nathan hung up the phone and limped back to the TV set, disgusted with life at the present. He pressed the on button the TV and sat back and watched really old, boring Christmas movies that were as old as his dad.

Two hours later, Nathan's buddies came back from the ski expedition, carrying Tim fireman style. The newest star of the Ravens' basketball team had cracked his ankle on the ski slopes and had to be taken to the emergency room immediately.

"You coming, Nate? After all, it was your idea to bring along Dim," someone said. Nathan shrugged and exaggerated his limp as he stood up and walked over to the door. That made his knee feel worse than it already did, so he stopped.

"Only if you drop me off at my house," he said. "I don't think I'm going to be able to take this damn trip much longer."


Things at the Scott Mansion weren't exactly fun and loving, like it was supposed to be over the Christmas holidays. Instead, it was like World War III and IV had just broken out. Things were being thrown and broken, screams and shouts were exchanged, and there was a lot of door slamming to be heard.

Deborah Lee Scott had returned home from one of her many business trips and was tired and hungry. All she wanted to do was spend some time alone with her husband over dinner without the constant talk of work and money issues.

Speaking of Daniel Scott, he had just returned home from a meeting in Pennsylvania with a couple of other men that were talking about expanding Scott Motors. He was tired, fed up with everyone and everything, and really just did not want to talk to anyone. The expansion plans of the dealership had not gone well at all.

"WHY DO YOU ALWAYS NEED MY PARENTS' MONEY TO FUND YOUR DAMN PROJECTS? ISN'T THAT WHY YOU HAVE PARENTS?" Deb screamed at him. "PAY FOR YOUR OWN PROJECTS!"

"What the hell has gotten into you, Deb?" Dan demanded, barely raising his voice. Instead, it was low and menacing. "I come home from a hard day of work, and merely ask you if you could call your parents so I could talk to them and you blow up at me!"

"I AM NOT YOUR DAMN BANKING ACCOUNT! I AM ALSO NOT YOUR SECRETARY! IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE, YOU DO IT!"

"I expected more from you, Deb. I thought you loved me and therefore willing to do anything I asked."

"Don't play that card with me! Some days I have to wonder whether you married me for love or because my parents had more money than Karen's did."

"It all comes back to that, doesn't it? Every fight we have, every issue comes back to my choices as a seventeen year old!"

"Dan, you were not the victim back then! I was! And so were Karen, Lucas, and Nathan!"

"I wasn't the victim? I had to give up all my dreams and achievements for you and Nathan. I had to give up my life dreams for you!"

"And I didn't have to give up anything, Dan? I didn't have to give up my dreams and goals? To be what? A wife of a monster that everybody, including those who are his family, now hate."

"Be careful what you say, Deb. I might just use it against you. And Nathan."

"I want you out of this house, you sick bastard, or so help me god the sins I would commit. Now!"


Cheery ending, don't you think? Brooke and Peyton and Lucas and every other question you might have will be resolved in the next few chapters. I just got bored, heard people fighting, was watching season 1 of One Tree Hill, and started typing. Merry whatever you celebrate!