Thank you everyone for the review. I'm glad you're enjoying my interpretation of the story. About a group interaction scene, there will be one in the upcoming chapters. I still find Nathan and Peyton to be really interesting and though their relationship was dysfunctional by the time we saw it, I believe that at one time it was extremely passionate and I hope to capture that in this piece of work. Please review, they make me happy!

Not Our Song
Chapter 3

Peyton opened her eyes and was greeted by the bright sun streaming through her window and an empty bed. Nathan, whose arms she had fallen asleep in, was gone. It didn't surprise her though. They'd been doing this for months now, but it hadn't gotten any easier with time. For once in her life, she wished someone would stay and she really wanted that person to be Nathan.

It was almost ten and way too early to be up on a Saturday morning. Peyton pulled the covers over her head to block out the light and snuggled back into her rumpled sheets that still smelled like her boyfriend. She smiled.

"You're still in bed?" A husky voice called from the doorway. She felt the bed shift when he sat down. "You really are just another lazy artist," he teased. Nathan yanked the covers from his girlfriend's body, exposing her curled up, almost naked form.

"Nathan," Peyton grumbled. "I thought you had left."

"I did and then I went home, worked out, had a jog with dad and grandpa, then breakfast and now I'm back. I should have known your lazy butt would still be sleeping."

"It's your fault." Peyton stretched her arms above her head, exposing her taught stomach. Nathan smiled and grabbed her hips, pulling her to him.

"Is that right?" He kissed her belly button. "How about you brush your teeth and then we have that shower?"

"Is it that bad?" Peyton asked covering her mouth.

"It's always bad, Peyt. We're not in the movies." She shoved him and walked down the hall to her bathroom. Nathan walked in behind her and removed his shirt.

"Imnotshoweringwithyou." She mumbled, her mouth full of toothpaste. Nathan just smirked and turned the water on. Peyton rinsed her mouth out and then leaned against the counter to watch him.

He may only be fifteen, but he was gorgeous. She knew he worked out extensively because of his father, but she wasn't going to complain, at least not too much. She enjoyed the fruits of his labor on a daily basis. And now, watching the muscles in his back move as he turned the faucets, she was grateful once again.

Nathan turned around and caught her staring. He walked to her, trapping her body between his in the counter, his arms resting casually at each side of her. He looked into her eyes and just stared back. It unnerved most girls. His long, sometimes cold, stares. Peyton wasn't one of those people. She loved it about him. His intensity, his passion. Those were the things about him that attracted her, that drove her insane most of the time, but also made her stay around.

"I'm still now showering with you," she said several moments later.

The bathroom became foggy from the heat of the water and as Nathan lowered his mouth to her ear and spoke, his voice husky, "You're only denying yourself, Peyt. I can see it in your eyes." And he was right, it was written all over her face, just how much she wanted him. She always did. "But if you don't want to, you can just watch." He nipped lightly at her neck and then kissed her cheek before stepping out of the rest of his clothing and into the shower.

Peyton let out a low sigh, realizing she had been holding her breath the last few moments. She really hated what he did to her. Or not really what he did, she liked that. She just wished she had a bit more control over when it happened. Nathan had too much power for his own damn good. This was one of those moments where she undeniably wanted him, but in order to maintain even a little sense of control, she had to walk away. And that's just what she did.

Several minutes later, a now clean Nathan reappeared in her room. "I'm impressed." Peyton just smiled and walked to the bathroom to take her own shower.

----

"So where are we going?" She asked climbing into Nathan's SUV. He had gotten a hardship license several months early, something she was sure Dan arranged. It was nice to be able to come and go as they pleased.
"It's a surprise."

"A surprise that includes Tim and the rest of the team?"

"I told you, Peyton. It's just you and me for the day."

"And tonight?"

"You know tonight is …"

"Steve's party. I know and the whole team is going to be there. Yada. Yada. Yada." She whined.

"It's not going to be that bad and besides after the day I have planned, you'll be willing to do whatever I want."

"I wouldn't bet on it."

"I really think you're going to love it, Peyt."

"Just like I loved the UNC basketball game we went to last year."

"It's not basketball. Can you please stop bitching? This is supposed to be fun."

"I know. So, where are we going?"

"To Charleston."

"For what?"

"I'm not telling."

----

Almost an hour later, Nathan stopped the SUV in downtown Charleston.

"Where are we?" Peyton asked as she looked around for a clue as to where it was exactly he was taking her.

"Come on. It's a few blocks down." Peyton met Nathan on the side walk and he took her hand as they made their was to his destination. "Do you want to give me some clues?"

"You're really going to like it, Peyton."

"You've said that already."

"Right. You're going to like it and well, I'm probably not."

"Then why are we going? I don't want to listen to you gripe all day."

"You mean, like you've been doing. Come on, I want to do this for you and even though I wouldn't come here on my own, I would do this for you."

"I really hope this is all you're making it out to be."

"Well, see for yourself." He stopped and turned to the building in front of them.

"Are you serious?" Peyton asked, a smile already stretching across her face, as she turned to him.