Peyton looked nervously at the door. She then looked around to see if anyone was watching. When she was sure that no one was watching, she slowly began to walk towards the house. At the steps of the porch, Peyton cowered and turned right back down the path.
After a couple of steps, Peyton stopped again and looked back at the house. She debated with herself again. She wasn't sure of what to do because she had no idea what to say.
Lucas chuckled to himself from the window. He was watching Peyton from inside the house, hiding behind a thin curtain."Come on, Peyt. You can do it," Lucas encouraged.
He looked back at the clock on the wall. Twenty minutes. That's how long Peyton was outside for. When Lucas turned his attention back outside, he couldn't see Peyton anymore. He ripped open the curtain and craned his neck towards the window, trying to spot her.
Before he could panic, he heard a soft knock on the door.
Peyton knocked on the door gently. After she did, her nerves almost got to her. She nervously bit her bottom lip and shifted her feet on the wooden porch. She was about to walk away again when the door flew open, slightly scaring Peyton.
Quickly, Peyton regained her composure and began a nervous babble. "You know, I've spent the past nine years of my life alone and during those years, I pretty much raised myself. It was so hard growing up so fast and having no one to turn to…no one to come home to. My life was so lonely and I never wanted anyone to know that. I never wanted anyone to know how sad I was. So I got used to it and now….it's all I know….but then you come along and for some strange reason, you see through the smoke and see the how I feel. You see the real me. And that scares me Lucas," Peyton paused to see Lucas's reaction.
Lucas looked at Peyton intently. She had his complete attention and he waited patiently for her to continue.
"It scares me because I think that once I let you in my life, you'll just leave and I'll be alone again. So I push you away, but no matter how hard I pushed, you were always there. I kept telling myself maybe you're doing it because you're a nice guy…maybe it's because you feel sorry for me...or maybe, just maybe it's because you really do love me," Peyton's voice softened towards the end of her babble. She stopped and wondered if it made sense to Lucas. Peyton also felt vulnerable because for the first time in her life, somebody other than herself knew what she was feeling.
Taking in a deep breath, she continued, "What I'm trying to say is that I'm done. I'm tired of feeling alone and I'm tired of pretending that everything is ok. I want to stop pushing people away. I want to stop pushing you away. I don't want to stop us from happening…but the thing is I can't. I can't open it,"
Lucas didn't understand. He stood in the doorway with eyebrows furrowed.
"Lucas, I can't open the door like you wanted because I left my purse at Karen's. My keys are in the purse," Peyton smiled sheepishly. "So I was I wondering, since you already have to door open…"
"Yes, I'll let you in,"
Peyton shook her head, "No, I'm going to let you in,"
Lucas grinned and stepped out of the house. He wrapped his strong arms around Peyton's waist and pulled her body close to him. He buried his face into her neck and breathed her in. Peyton slowly wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. She closed her eyes and let herself get lost in his embrace.
Peyton Sawyer was no longer alone.