The next day had passed by quickly and I found myself standing around the gym after school with the cheerleaders and some of the guys from the varsity basketball team, including Lucas. "So, who's throwing the party this weekend? Nathan? Brooke?" Tim asked, looking around at the normal party people. Brooke spoke up, "I will if Peyton helps me." "Oh, you know I'd totally be there, but I'm driving to UNC for the weekend..." "You are?" Lucas spit out before he could catch himself. Since Lucas and I had decided not to tell anyone that we were friends yet, I tried to quickly recover, "Whatever Lucas," I emphasized his name, "Don't act like you care." He rolled his eyes, "Well, I'll see you there." "What!" I asked as if shocked. Seeing a perfect way to get out of this date of Friday night with Meagan, he took it, "Yeah, I have a tour scheduled for Friday evening, so I'm getting a head start on the weekend." Meagan, who was pretending not to pay any attention, betrayed her facade, "Wait, I thought we were going out," she whined. I rolled my eyes, then looked around to see if anyone had seen me. "Oh yeah," Lucas said as he started dribbling a ball back and forth between his hands, "I forgot, sorry. Rain check?" I stepped closer towards Lucas and waited until the ball was mid-bounce, then I kicked it away from him. "Peyt, what's your deal?" I glared at him wordlessly letting him know that I wasn't happy. Meagan looked between Lucas and me finally asking, "Well, then when?" Lucas looked around at all of the people waiting for his answer, "I don't know," he shrugged, "We'll talk when I get back."
While everyone started having their own conversations amongst the group, I walked over, bent down and picked up the basketball I had kicked earlier. I started lazily dribbling it in the corner of the gym, with my back to the group of people. Lucas walked over to me and leaned his back against the wall. He was looking over at the guys flirting with the girls. "So, about that tour," I started. "Huh? Oh, I made that up; I just wanted to have an excuse to go with you. That is, if you want me to?" I chuckled, "Actually, we really are taking a tour this weekend." He looked over at me confused, and then looked back at the other people making sure to keep our conversation private. "Daddy scheduled one before he left." Lucas looked back over at me with sympathetic eyes, "Peyt, I'm sorry..." I shrugged and smiled sadly, "At least I have you back." There was silence. "I really want to hug you right now," Lucas admitted not moving from his place against the wall. I held the ball against my abdomen between us, not trusting his restraint. He looked down, then back up at me, "Can I spend the night?" I shook my head 'yes.' He studied my features, "OK, well then, I'll see you later?" I shook my head 'yes' again. While we walked back to the rest of the group side-by-side, I twisted my leg and playfully kicked his butt.
After practice in the locker room, I got dressed back into my jean skirt and green shirt, hoisting my bag on my shoulder. "Hey, Peyton," Brooke said accusingly as she grabbed my arm harshly pulling me into the empty shower room. "What's going on with you and Lucas?" "Wh," I laughed nervously, "What?" "Don't." "Nothing," I denied. "Meagan likes him." "Well, maybe he doesn't like her back." Brooked stared at me pointedly. "OK, but you can't tell anyone. I trust you." Brooke stepped a little closer. "I don't know! I don't know what's going on. We're just, we're trying out friendship again." "Nothing more?" I shook my head 'no.' "Are you going to UNC together?" I looked down and shook my head. "Peyton!" Realizing how loud she just said my name she hushed, "Are you staying all weekend?" "Yeah, my dad wants us to." "Does he know Lucas is going?" "Yeah, it was his idea..." "Does he know you're sleeping together?" "No." I felt the weight of my answer when I saw the look on Brooke's face. "OMG!" She hushed again, "You're sleeping together!" "No!" "But you just said--" "I know what I said!" I looked away guiltily. "Listen, I have to get home." "Peyton, I don't know about this. Someone is going to find out." "Look, it was only one time. He's probably forgotten all about it." "Don't say I didn't warn you." "Thanks, best friend," I said condescendingly pushing the door open to the parking lot as hard as I could, being suddenly blinded by the sunlight.
I pulled out my mother's sunglasses. "Wow, haven't seen those in a long time," Lucas gestured towards the glasses. "Yeah, I just found them," I pinched the side of them re-adjusting where they sat on my nose. "Can I walk you home?" I looked back towards the door I had just come out of to see Brooke glaring at us. "She knows." I started walking towards the road. "What! You told her?" He caught up with me. "It was an accident! Besides, she was a really good friend when someone," I made sure Lucas knew who I was talking about, "started being an ass to me." I smiled. He opened his mouth to protest, but decided against it. "So, dad really gone?" "Yep! Left a note and some money." "I'm sorry." "Nothing I shouldn't be used to by now... which reminds me," I paused, "thank you." "For what?" "All of those times." Lucas nodded understandingly.
Sometimes, even after Lucas and I had quit being friends, my empty house would get the better of me and I'd jog down the street in my pajamas to Lucas', slipping silently in his door and then next to him in bed. He never questioned it, even after fights. He knew why I was there. We had a routine. I'd leave in the morning and we'd act like it never happened, only about a month later it'd happen all over again.
"I didn't really have a choice," Lucas finally said. "Yes, you did." "No," he looked at me and insisted, "I didn't. I loved you and I needed to be there for you."