Lost in the Past
Chapter 28
A/N - Hey, I really was going to update Beach Girls but as it turns out I decided to get to work on this one first. After all this is a branch from my very first story and it's my pride and joy. So, for all of my loyal readers I still cannot find the words to express how much your thoughts mean to me. The only way to understand it is if you're also a writer. Also, the last flashback in the last chapter was not in the story previously but the others were from prior chapters. So, we've got some drama that I'm ready to add, and maybe the story will go on for a little longer...that's if you want it to. Tell me if you'd mind that it went on for a few more...if not I'll end it sooner. Enjoy:
Thirty days...a whole month. That's how long it's been since Peyton found her life changing again. Who has she told you may ask...well the truth is, she's told no one. Not one soul since Haley. She had to beg Haley to keep quiet again. Of course, she wanted and needed to tell Lucas but they were so happy. And who was she to ruin this idyllic fantasy world they were living in? Well, she would be a bitch to do that, but did she have another choice? She would've gladly taken any other option out of this situation that she seemed to be stuck in as often as the Mondays rolled around.
"I always get into these messes," she told the house while she made sure everything looked neat before she took the small notepad out from the drawer. The pen was poised in her hand, the ink just barely leaking onto the page when the doorbell rang. "Ugh."
She opened the door slowly trying to peer into the face of the pizza man, making sure he actually had a pizza. What could she say, she was a paranoid person, especially after the kids were born. She let a small laugh escape at her stupidness and yanked the money from her disorganized purse. She was never organized either, or at least not the way Lucas was. He needed everything to have a spot and it all had to be in that spot. It was one of those things that urked the hell out of her, but she put up with.
"Peyton?"
"Huh?" she was confused, but also somewhat scared and the fear nearly suffocated her. 'Stop it!' she yelled at herself.
"Um, you probably don't remember me, but my name's Jay and we met at the hospital when my girlfriend was having a baby. You were just leaving with your little girl and brother-in-law," he supplied and she let out a breath of air that she wasn't aware she was holding.
She smiled generously at him, "Oh ok. You scared me for a minute there. I had no idea how you knew my name. How much for the pizza?" she was breathing easy when she found how this boy knew her, he was only 16. An age she knew all too well.
"It'll be 10 bucks and I just wanted to thank you for that day at the hospital. You helped me out a lot with this whole thing my girlfriend was going through," he replied sincerely and she had to hold back the feelings of tears. He was so cute...for a teenager. 'Yea, like I'd ever go out with him if I wasn't with Lucas. I'd feel like I was robbing the cradle considering I have two kids already.'
She took the warm pizza from his hands and he winked at her. She crinkled her nose as she turned around and kicked the humongous door closed. The kids were with her father for the day as surprising as it sounded. It was one of the rare days he was home and he wanted the full advantage of spoiling his two grand kids. 'Well here comes another, dad' she thought.
She walked into the dim kitchen and flicked the lights on, but then squinted at the brightness. She set the pizza onto the table in front of her and began to gather the napkins and paper plates. Yes, it wasn't a glamourous dinner but Lucas had grown to love pizza just as much as she had.
The door slammed open and footsteps came slamming in. The blonde cocked her head to the side to see what all the commotion had been about but she found an icy look from her boyfriend. Her eyebrows raised in surprise and when she opened her mouth to speak she found him yelling.
"What the hell was that?!" he yelled to the terrified girl standing in the kitchen.
"What?" she asked timidly.
"That kid. He's 16 and your flirting with him. Not one pizza guy I've ever talked to has stood there that long and then winked at me. I thought we were ok!" he insisted before he got the true story. He turned on his heel and went to stalk back out the door.
"Lucas! Lucas wait! Please, just listen to what I have to say before you come in here and start jumping to conclusions," she demanded and he stopped but didn't dare turn to look at her. He could remember sitting in the café telling her the horrible news about his cheating and not daring to look in her eyes. So much pain had always ran through them that it crushed him to know he caused it.
He just nodded his head as if to tell her to continue on, but he had a feeling that if he didn't then it wouldn't have stopped the lecture he was about to receive.
"Number one I realize that he's 16 and to hell with you if you'd even dare think that I would be anything near flirting with him. I met him when Liz was born...his girlfriend was in labor and he asked me to talk to her and help her out. You would know if you hadn't cheated in the first place," she told him, but regretted it when his shoulders tensed. "I'm sorry. That was really low. I didn't mean that."
"Then what'd you say it for?" he asked still facing the door.
"Because I'm angry! I'm angry that you would even think I would do something like that to you. I would never! It just came out. Can I just tell you what happened?"
He nodded once more and listened to her continue from behind him when he wanted more than anything to just apologize.
"She was 16 too so I kinda knew what she was going through. Whatever reason he winked at me for is beyond me and I found it kinda nasty. How could you think I would cheat on you when I know exactly how much it hurts. If you want us to be ok, then you need to stop assuming and start trusting me. I love you, Lucas and not some delivery guy who thinks he's slick by winking at me," she concluded and he finally turned to look at her.
"I love you too," he replied and she met him in his arms before he dropped a kiss on her lips. He pulled away and licked the film off his lips.
"What?" she asked giggling at his obvious repulsed reaction.
"Lip gloss," he said with a smirk and she couldn't help but giggle before pulling him back once more. He began to work his way back towards the plush couch in their living room but she stepped out of his arms when she regained her bearings.
"Lucas, hold on," she said gently and his face became tensed and worried. Her eyebrows scrunched together some, and she began to pace in front of the couch he was now sitting on. His eyes were focused on her and did not leave her body until she began to speak and he fixed his concentration on her words.
"This isn't gonna be easy, but I can't hold this any longer," she said softly watching his facial expressions wearily. His eyes were fixed upon her eyes and he could envision them when they were happy but this was not it. This was not the look he wanted to see.
"You can tell me," he assured and she sat on the table in front of him. He held her small hands in the palms of his own. He couldn't even begin to tell someone how he lived for years without her, he couldn't even imagine it. Another girl in his arms just disgusted the hell out of him and he realized that she was it. No matter what she was going to tell him, she was the one for him and he wasn't leaving her side so easily next time.
"We're doing really good. I don't wanna do this again," she whispered as the tears pooled in her eyes. "Oh God," she said, standing up and taking strides towards the door. 'What am I doing to myself?' she asked mentally scolding her actions. She walked out the door and sat on the front steps in front of the orange sky.
"Peyt, what's wrong? What happened?" he asked watching her body tense as he closed the door behind him. A shiver ran down her spine at the use of her nickname. His husky voice held an emotion when his name came out of his mouth that chilled her. She knew he loved her. He slipped an arm over her shoulders but she still remained poised as though she were in school.
"Do you love me?" she question suspiciously and he was startled but recovered swiftly.
"Of course I do. I always have and you know that," he reassured the blonde in his arms and caught the first tear that fell rapidly.
"Yea...I don't know if we can do this but we don't really have a choice," she told the boy next to her and his face held a puzzled look.
"We're only 22, Lucas. I don't need this. I know people at 22 who don't even have one kid let alone 3," and there it was. She had just blurted out the thing that had been making her sick for the past month and a half.
"Three? We have two kids..." he trailed off as he stiffened a little. "Wow, are you serious?" he asked.
She shook her head and a few more tears ran down her pale cheeks. Peyton leaned into his body more before he recoiled his arm.
"Don't leave me," she pleaded with him. He looked at her as though she had two heads.
"What're you talking about?" he asked bewildered as to why she would ask him not to leave.
"Haven't you noticed? Every time I get pregnant you're never around...or you leave. I just need you there this once," she reasoned and he pulled her small body onto his lap.
"I'm not going anywhere. I'm excited. This maybe your third and biologically my third but really it's like my first baby. I'm actually gonna be here for the pregnancy and when you go into labor. I mean this is amazing!" he shouted to the outside world and she laughed a little at his giddiness.
"I don't believe you were this scared to tell me, I love you more than words. I would never leave again and what happened before..." he said awkwardly looking for the right words, "well what happened then was my own damn stupidity and we're past that. I'm 22 years old and I already know what I want for the rest of my life. I want you," he said sincerely and she let a sly, cocky grin escape.
"I want you too," she said huskily and he perked up. "But we have pizza waiting inside that I want more!" she exclaimed running inside with him on her heels. His hands hit her waist every 5 seconds and she scrambled to the kitchen even faster.
An hour later their bodies were intertwined on the couch while they each had a slice of pizza in their hands. Each talking excitedly about the upcoming baby. Well, more like 8 months if that's what one thinks of as upcoming, but never mind the technicalities.
"So, what do you want...a boy or girl?" he asked his girlfriend who was on the other end.
"Either one works," she responded with a laugh, "but I mean I could think of how I'd want both. I'd love for Liz to have a sister to confide in and all and for them to be close. I remember always wanting a sister, especially with my mom gone but Haley and Brooke managed to fill that void so if we don't get a girl then I hope Liz gets friends like them. I mean I'd love a boy too for Nate...he could use someone to play basketball with and just pal around with like you and Nathan."
"Well, I'm sure boy or girl the kids will love it. I know I will seeing as how I'm going to be around," he retorted playfully and she kicked his shoulder and he grabbed her foot to tickle her.
"Luke! No, you know...how ticklish I am!" she giggled and scrambled off the couch before he sat up and began to walk towards the steps. He couldn't help but tease her.
"Aww, did I hurt my poor, poor Lukie's feelings?" she said teasing and he turned to face her. 'The nerve of this girl' he thought.
"No, I thought I'd go get a shower so we could tell Nate, Hales, Brooke, and Jake," he stated and turned back to walking up the stairs.
"Ok, I was going to join you but I see how it is," she feigned anger and sat on the couch while picking up a nail file and concentrating on how long her nails appeared to be. She could tell he was contemplating his options but knew he was slowly caving. He never was able to resist her.
He arrived at the couch on his knees with a smirk on his face. "I'd like to formally apologize," he said with mock seriousness.
"You're such a dork," she responded standing and slowly pulling her shirt up over her head. She sensually dropped the shirt on his head and sauntered upstairs while he jumped to follow her. Quickly, he pushed her against the bathroom wall, but careful not to hurt her. He pinned her hands up against the thinning wallpaper with one hand while the other messed with the button to her jeans. She wasn't able to get enough of him while her tongue roamed the crevices of his mouth. She quickly ripped the shirt from his upper body and he helped unbuckle his belt and pull his jeans to his ankles.
"I can't stand it anymore," she whispered while pushing him backwards into the bathtub and he nearly tripped over the edge. Swiftly she hit one of the handles while the water came pouring out the shower head.
"Jesus Christ, Peyton! What the hell did you hit?!" he asked with swollen lips, standing out of the path of the antarctica water. She laughed hysterically while making sure the water was warm and he stepped back under. His hand found her lower back, pulling her closer than before while meshing their bodies together. His hands undid the bra on her body and she pulled the Victoria's Secret underwear from her waist. Her hands found the shaving cream and hit him in the cheek as untangled himself from his boxers.
He moved his foot to make sure he didn't fall but that plan backfired. He stepped into the excess shaving cream on the slippery floor and began the fall to the bottom of the bathtub, taking her with him. His legs had intertwined with hers on the fall, bringing her to the floor. She landed on his chest as his back hit the floor.
"Ugh," he grounded out from the pain. She wanted to smile, but had to try her hardest to keep a straight face at her boyfriend. That plan wasn't working. He cast his eyes downward to find her smiling, a smile that he had always loved when it was genuine.
"Yea, yea it's real funny, Peyt," he said sarcastically. Her hands ran through his ruffled hair watching the droplets off water fly into the air. Then there was that nickname again, she shivered under the water at it and he held her tighter. She gave him another searing kiss that left him smiling. They came up for air just in time to hear the front door opening. Peyton quickly jumped from her place in the bathtub to see what the commotion was about and when she looked towards the door she found her father standing at the door.
"Dad!" she shouted as her face flushed crimson. She grabbed the curtain and threw it around her exposed self.
"Uh, Peyton, um the door was open and..." Larry stuttered before leaving her to situate herself. He nearly laughed at the thought. He could vividly remember changing her diapers and giving her baths when she was a baby and now she was an adult in the shower with his former son-in-law. He knew Lucas hadn't shown himself and it made him miss his own wife even more.
"Hey dad," Peyton said trying to sound a lot more nonchalant about the whole situation than she let on. Her face was still beat red and she was giggling a little more than usual. Lucas was laying on the floor of the shower - trying to stay out of trouble - running his hand up and down the back of her leg. She was hitting his hand and trying to control all hormones to run back into the shower and jump him. But damn him, it could've been a killer at the door and he expected her to protect her naked self. Damn him.
"Peyton. I'm sorry about that it's just I was dropping the kids off and no one came to answer the door. They're next door with those kids and the door was open here so I just...where's Lucas?" he questioned abruptly changing the subject. He knew very damn well where the boy who had stolen his daughter's heart was at, but he loved to watch her squirm.
"Oh, um, well last time I checked Lucas was outside...he must've walked to Nathan's or something," she stammered, trying to keep her mind off of the pleasure she was getting from his electric touches. There was no way in hell she was telling her father, the man who raised her, that she was in the shower with her former husband. It was embarrassing enough being caught with any guy, let alone in the shower and - to over emphasize - her former husband. It brought back memories of time with another guy. She had been caught in a bit of a compromising position with none other than, Nathan Scott.
FLASHBACK
She had invited him over a few minutes before. At this point they had been together for about 8 months, losing her virginity two months prior. He had asked her out towards the end of freshman year and as a cheerleader she felt obliged to agree. Things were ok between them but she wasn't in love. She didn't get sweaty palms, butterflies, or her heart didn't skip a beat every time she saw him, but he was who she was supposed to be with. He was the star player with an ego the size of Texas and she was the passive tag along groupie who he fucked when he needed it. The arrangement wasn't something she had envisioned in her future but it worked for her. She got through school a little bit easier, and Brooke laid off...for the most part. But you have to know, it was all from the pressure.
The pressure became unbearable the beginning of sophomore year. They had been together for about 6 months already and this was the inevitable next step. The pressure of Brooke teasing that she was a prude, Nathan always commenting on the lack of orgasms in their relationship...typical asshole, and the rest of that crowd when Nathan informed them of their "safe" relationship. So, she had given in one night at the beach house and he was all smiles from there on out. That was their relationship, sex, and that's all it would ever be. Was she proud of that? Of course not, but this was the only way to keep herself on the right side of the social ladder. Besides, there was nothing else except for a loner, broody, street ball player who loved her from afar. She hadn't wanted him for years, and she didn't want him anymore...she thought. But that was a whole other story for a whole other day.
Anyways, she had invited the "basketball star" over to her empty house. She was well aware that her father was due home late that night. But the keyword there was late. So as soon as she opened the door for him, his tongue was down her throat and he had thrown her shirt up over her head. Her bra was discarded somewhere along the way and they had ended up on the couch as she tore his shirt from him. He scurried out of his jeans so he was left in boxers and she in her jeans. He had struggled with releasing the condom from his wallet and just gotten it out of the wrapper when her father burst through the door looking appalled at the situation. Needless to say, Nathan left a minute later after apologizing profusely to her father and collecting his things. He was more than embarrassed and sped off down the street a second later. She had to live with him though so after throwing a blanket around herself and receiving a mighty long lecture she ran up to her room, thinking that if she could be anymore humiliated her heart would've just given out.
She sat on the bed with the open condom in her hand and a blanket around herself to hear a tapping at the window. She looked over to find a blonde haired Scott standing on her roof. She was bewildered but nonetheless opened the window and let him walk in.
"Hey...um, look I know we don't talk much or anything and I know you probably don't even know me but you need to know that I saw Nathan with another girl last night at the River Court," he said gently watching her reactions. Tears stung the back of her eyes and he touched her hand as if to reassure her of things.
"Um, I'm not really sure why I came to tell you but I don't want you to go through that. I know you're not gonna dump him because of your whole social thing and I know you're gonna tell him that I was here and I'm gonna get the shit beat outta me tomorrow at school but I needed you to know. It's not gonna change anything and I don't expect anything from you or your friends for me because of this except for maybe not making fun of me so much in school and to stop picking on my friend, Haley. So, thanks for opening the window and all, guess I'll see ya in English," he said hurriedly before heading towards the window.
"Lucas?" she asked, terrified of the kindness of a stranger. He turned back and smirked at her, leaving her in a feeling of ecstacy. She could tell from the look on his face that she didn't need to say it but she did. "Thank you."
He knew as well as she that she was still going to go back to her world tomorrow and that she wouldn't say anything to him tomorrow. But it was enough for him, never enough for her but Nathan would have to keep her satisfied. And just as she pictured, Nathan was at her window four hours later looking for the condom and having his way with her on the bed and just before he left again she confronted him and his actions.
"Who told you that?" he questioned, his veins popping out of his neck, confirming her worst fears.
"I heard it at the store today from some of those girls who hang at all the games," she replied, not quite knowing why she was lying for him, but her heart wouldn't let her say his name. Her heart couldn't handle watching him get beat up tomorrow, she liked his smile too much to see that happen. She liked him too much.
END FLASHBACK
She smiled at her father and he smiled back, nearly laughing at her lie. It was an ok one, if she wasn't smiling so much. He loved his daughter, but she had always been a horrible liar and couldn't turn into one over night. He nodded, almost turning away from the door.
"Dad, come to the café in like an hour. Lucas and I have something to tell you," she said cheekily, full of smiles. He couldn't remember ever seeing her happier and he had to smile at it. After all she went through she was ok. He nodded again and turning back to his daughter, seeing her look into the shower, he knew she was looking at Lucas. She had a hazy look in her eyes, one that conveyed the quintessence of love.
"Peyton?" he said watching her turn back to him, smiling still, might I add, "Tell Lucas I said hi." He pointed to the bathtub and her face went even redder, appearing as though someone took red paint and ran it over her face. She waved once more, in humiliation, and disappeared behind the curtain.
Lucas took her into his arms when he pulled himself into standing position and laughed at her face. She put her hand behind his neck, pulling him in again while she smiled into the kiss. He pulled back, not thinking he could possibly love her anymore. He feared that if he did love her anymore he'd run out of heart. As corny as it sounded.
"I love you," he said more sincere than ever and she noticed it. She always noticed the little things he did for her, because they mattered to her.
"Do you remember the night you came over to tell me you saw Nathan at the River Court with another girl?" she questioned, watching his face fall that she hadn't responded to his 'I love you'.
"Yea...what about it?" he wondered, why would she be bringing this up now?
"We've always been comfortable with each other haven't we?" she asked, seeing a smile reappear. "We've never needed words to know...even then. I just needed you to know that. So when I can't tell you how much you mean to me I just need you to know that I do," she whispered, getting sappy and he smiled.
"I know," he stated, as she went to get out of the shower but he grabbed her waist to pull her back to him.
"We only have an hour," she breathed and his lust filled his eyes.
"Well, we'll just have to hurry up then," he said huskily and she melted into him, giving into her urges became so easy with him.
"I love you too."
OK THAT WAS ALL LEYTON FLUFF, BUT I LOVED IT. DID YOU LOVE IT? TELL ME!!! THAT WAS A LONG CHAPTER SO I NEED SOME LONG FEEDBACK!! ;-)
NEXT - Telling everyone! / Reactions / Some couple time...and surprises! / Some more drama if you want it bcuz I got it.
Ok I really really liked the flashback I threw in there and it was not previously in the story either. I'd like to thank Billyslilriotgirl and Jessica for all the reviews for every chapter. Also the other dedicated reviewers who have been helping. As of tonight I have 249 reviews for this. If you guys would like to help me out I really really wanna make it to 300 with a few more chapters. If you read this, review for me! Will update!
