Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Peyton felt his heart beating contently through his bare chest. Sitting up, she grabbed her shirt from the edge of the bed.
Trying not to wake him, she carefully stood up, making her way over to the floor, where her pants were located. A creak in
the floor caused Chris's sleeping form to stir.
"Shit." Peyton whispered, more to herself than to him. Grabbing her jeans, she threw them on her body.
Chris sat up, and looked at the blonde who was eagerly putting her pants on. "Why do you always do this?" He asked, slightly angry.
Peyton turned to face him, her eyes full of sorrow. "Do what?" She asked, playing the innocent act.
Chris rolled his eyes as he threw a white wifebeater over his head. "You leave." He said simply, throwing his pants on.
Peyton avoided eye contact with him as she fiddled with the ring on her left finger. "Chris, I'm engaged." She said, almost desperately.
Chris crossed the room to her, so they were mere inches apart. "And I'm in love with you." He said in his usual raspy tone.
Peyton shook her head 'no', not allowing the tears escape her eyes. "But Lucas.." She began, but Chris gently placed a finger to her lips.
"Look, if you love Lucas, then I'm not going to stop you from being with him. But if you leave tonight, that's it for us. I'm not gonna play this little game anymore, Peyton." Chris said, giving the girl he had grown to love an ultimatum.
Peyton swallowed the lump in her throat. "So that's it? You're not gonna...fight for me?"
Chris shrugged his shoulders. "Nope. If you love, and want to be with Lucas, then I'm not stopping you." Chris swallowed as he tried to gain composure of his feelings. "I'm not Lucas, Peyton. I'm not some..white knight. I'm not going to sweep you off your feet, and tell you how wonderful you are. If you're looking for me to GROVEL for you, then just leave now." He pointed towards the door.
Peyton's eyes widened. She was furious. "You are a jackass." She said, shaking her head in disbelief as she made her way towards the door.
"Yeah. Maybe, but you're a spoiled, moody bitch sometimes. And I STILL love you." Chris said, regaining her attention.
Peyton stopped dead in her tracks. She reluctantly turned around to face the man she loved. "I can't hurt Lucas like that." She said weakly, almost sounding like a little girl.
Chris nodded his head as he softly stroked her cheek. "I'm not saying that Lucas doesn't love you. I'm not saying that he doesn't make you happy. I'm ASKING you if you love him MORE than you love me. And I'm asking if He makes you happier than I do."
Peyton let a single tear escape her eyes as she shook her head 'no'.
Chris let out a sigh of relief. "I won't be that other guy anymore, Peyton. I can't do it. I love you too much. I lived the first twenty years of my life without you. I know I could do it again. This is about what you want. If you want to walk out that door, then go. But don't look back." He pointed to the door again, causing Peyton to let out a tiny sob.
After what seemed like hours, Peyton reluctantly nodded her head. "You said that you could live without me, and I don't know
if Lucas can." Peyton said, almost in a sob. Stroking his cheek, she spoke. " I love you soo much. Never forget that, baby.
I gotta go." Was all she said as she rushed out of the tiny apartment.
Chris angrily grabbed the chair that was sitting by the table, and threw it at the now closed door. That was it. He lost her.
for good.
THE END