Summery: Different take on life in Tree Hill. Peyton is a 16 year old in love with a guy who will never be good enough for her in the eyes of her father. Lucas has done a lot of bad things, living the life of a thug but is trying to change for love. Leyton all the way.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from One Tree Hill, just the situations they are in

Chapter 5: Lucas' POV

Did I just agree to do that? He stared down at his cell, knowing he had. Why do I do this? I have a job, I can do with just that right? No, I need more, I'm used to having a lot of money. I want to be able to treat Peyton, give her all of the things that she deserves but I can't, not unless I live my life as I did before. I'm trying, really I am but sometimes it's so hard. I mean who doesn't want to be able to buy things for the special person in their lives? Deep down I know Peyton doesn't care about any of that crap but I still want to give her everything she ever dreamed of and I can't do that on my salary. I promised her I wouldn't go back to all of that, should I break it? I don't know what to do.

I walk around this town, seeing all of the people with money, throwing it around like nothing. For a time I was one of them, not in the legitimate way but I still had it all, buying expensive things for my girlfriend, taking her places. I don't want to change that, to make her feel unappreciated. I just don't know what to do, I could disappoint so many people. Change is a difficult thing though. I'm a man of my word anyway and I've already promised Skills I'd help him out. He can't do it alone and I'm the one he's always gone to. He's in the same situation as me, poor family background just wanting some of what they all have. Is it really worth it though? I've been on the straight and narrow since I got out of juvy 6 months ago and it was alright at first. Being with Peyt is enough.

I shouldn't even be considering what I just agreed to do but now I can't let Skills down. I love Peyton, nothing will happen to me, we'll still be together and she'll never know. I can't lie to her though but I guess not mentioning it isn't really lying is it? I'm so confused. If she was here to tell me not to do it I wouldn't, I'd do anything to make her smile. Maybe this will be a good thing. I'll get paid for this and be able to treat her the way she deserves. I guess I just convinced myself. I'm doing this for unselfish reasons, I'm doing this for her. Besides, as long as I'm careful it'll be alright, right?

I guess I have four hours to perfect my plan, if I think it through there's less chance of getting caught. Me and Skills are good at what we do anyway, have been since we were 14. We can do this and no one will ever know. It's only a car anyway right? They can be replaced, besides we're only taking from the rich anyway. They can afford a new one with ease. Yeah, this will be alright.

Four Hours Later

So here we are, Skills and I hiding in a bush waiting to make sure everything is clear. We're wearing black as always, fade into the night and into the car. I slowly crawl to near the underside of the car and roll under to dismantle the alarm system. I know the workings of this car, one snip and the alarm will be disconnected. It's just doing it right, so many fools do this wrong and set all of the alarms off. Snip There we go, I swear this gets easier every time I do it. I feel a rush as Skills carefully opens the locks and we get in. This existence isn't as bad as everybody seems to think, it's full of excitement. The car starts and we're gone, heading for our destination.

Skills always drives carefully after car jacking. Most fools drive fast, scared as hell but not us. You only bring heat if you drive quickly. In this neighborhood it's a normal occurrence to see young people driving flash cars anyway so nobody would think anything of it seeing the two of us here. We finally arrive to where we're going and I see the guy who we're obviously working for. We get out and walk over to him. 'No trouble getting here then?' 'Naw dawg, not a problem'. He looks relatively satisfied and hands over money. That was easy money, too easy. Walking out it's clear to me, making money this easy is a good thing. Going back to this fully couldn't be so bad right? Only reason I got caught last time was because we made one stupid mistake and I was the one who got caught. That won't happen again. Peyton doesn't need to know, I don't want to worry her anyway.

'Dawg that was too easy.' Obviously he spoke too soon as we heard gun shots around us. What the hell? We did a job for this guy, why in the hell is he shooting at us? Right now I don't care, don't need to think about it just need to run. This guy double crossed us. I just keep running, images flashing through my mind. I have to get through this if only for Peyton. Suddenly I feel a sharp pain in my back. I know I can't stop running though, if I do that's it, we carry on going until we find somewhere to hide. I sit down and feel the spot where I feel burning. I bring my hand up to see blood. I can't go to the hospital, my mom would know straight away. I'm just going to have to wait this out. I've been shot before I know what to do, it's not a deep wound but it hurts like hell. I can't control it anymore, my eyes feel heavy and everything fades to black.