I've got two updates up this week because I'm taking a little vacation. So I won't be update till I get back (about three weeks). Anyways, hope you're enjoying the story so far and I hope that the timeline is now easier to follow. We're still about 4-5 chapters away till the heart attack actually happens. Read and Review!
Disclaimer: I don't own OTH or the characters.
Title of chapter is a song by Our Lady Peace
Chapter 5: (I'm Not) Made of Steel
To every story there is a hero. A hero is defined as a person who is able to overcome obstacles and achieve great things or who is able to demonstrate strength and courage. But every hero also has a weakness and in this story, I am a hero with a weakness; a weakness that was strong in enough to turn me into a villain…
About a month after college graduation, Peyton and I were married in Tree Hill. It was also a week before we went on our separate ways to begin our respective careers. It wasn't a typical marriage to say the least, but we were both ecstatic to officially become devoted to each other.
While Peyton moved to New York to work for a music magazine, I moved to Toronto, Ontario, where I was drafted in the first round to the Raptors. I gelled with the team quickly and helped the team make the playoffs for the first time in three years. We were one game away from the finals and that's when I started to falter…
Flashback: May 2011
"What do you mean you're not coming?" Lucas angrily asked into the phone.
"Lucas, I have a deadline to make,"
"But this game is important. We lose and we're out. We win and we're in the finals,"
"Yeah, I know how game sevens work," Peyton exhaled into the phone. "Lucas, if I could, you know I'd be there, but the magazine goes to press at midnight and I still have to piece out the lay out and re-edit all the rewrites,"
"You always do this," he whined.
"I'm sorry," Peyton was beginning to get tired of hearing Lucas complaining but tried to remain calm. Knowing Lucas was already under a lot of stress, she didn't want to upset Lucas any further.
"Every time I need you to be there for me you're never there. Ever since you got that promotion you've always been putting your work first,"
"You know that's NOT true,"
"No? Well, what about last month when you were supposed to visit?"
"That's not fair, Luke. My flight was cancelled,"
"Well, why couldn't you fly out the night before like we planned? Oh that's right, you had to work late,"
Her frustration began to build up inside her. She hated fighting with him, especially over the phone. She was on the verge of crying, "This isn't fair,"
"Fair? Peyton I haven't seen you in two months because YOU keep putting me off for work. You know for just this one time…one time only, I ask that my wife will be there with me, cheering me on,"
Peyton couldn't believe what she had just heard. "You know very well that I will always be right behind you. Just because I won't be there doesn't mean I won't be supporting you. I love you, Lucas,"
Lucas breathed heavily. He hated fighting just as much as she did. He actually didn't mean to pick a fight with her, but the importance of the game was getting to him. The fact that he missed Peyton didn't help much either. He rubbed his head and exhaled. Lucas knew he had to calm down and soon, "Yeah, I gotta go,"
The phone call left Peyton a little shaken. She felt as though her marriage was already on a one-way street to divorce. Could their long distance marriage really work? Her doubting mind told her no but her heart screamed yes.
A tear slid down her face. She replaced the phone back onto its cradle and cried softly as she put her head into her hands. She became lost in her own world and didn't hear the knock at her door.
Soon, a hand on her shoulder startled her back into reality. "Peyton, are you OK?"
"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine, Mike," she sniffed and grabbed a tissue from her desk.
"Something tells me that it had something to do with that phone call," He leaned onto her desk, hinting that he wasn't going to leave that easily.
Mike O'Dell was the magazine's editor in chief, also Peyton's boss. He was in his early 40's but was very attractive for his age. He kept himself in shape with morning runs and protein shakes. Although his hair was a salt and pepper colour, he still had a full head of hair and no indication that he was losing it any time soon.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked as he put his hand over hers.
Peyton shook her head, 'no'. She also slipped her hand from under his and began to flip through the pile of articles that were stacked on her desk, "no, it's okay, really,"
Mike took the hint, "K, if you say so. But if you need someone to talk to, I'll be here," Mike's intentions were gentlemanly. He was only concerned about Peyton. He had initially hired Peyton as a co-op student, but since she learned the ropes quickly and worked hard, he hired her full time after graduation. Six months later, he promoted her to editor. It was hard to find dedicated people who loved their job and Mike didn't want to lose Peyton.
"Hey, listen," he said before leaving, "I know Lucas's game is on tonight, so I'll send Robin and Michelle in to help you out so you can make it in time for the fourth quarter, at least,"
"No, Mike. It's alright, really. I just want to make sure this lay out is perfect, besides, they'll only slow me down," she said with a smile.
"Peyton, you work too hard. It's almost like this is your own magazine,"
She smiled politely as she walked Mike out of her office. To ensure her privacy, she locked the door behind him. She turned on her mini stereo and grabbed the layouts off her desk. After spreading them on the floor, Peyton pulled her curly locks into a ponytail and kicked her heels off before getting to work. Working on the magazine was the only escape Peyton had. It was almost like sketching. She didn't have to think about her problems. I was just her and the paper staring back at her, waiting to come to life. As she pieced the layout together, Lucas and Mike's words echoed in her head, suddenly, she knew what she had to do.
Peyton unlocked the door to the suite and let herself in. She dropped her suitcases and purse on the ground and shut the door behind her. Exhausted, she locked the door and left her bags at the door. She hadn't slept all night and the bags under her eyes proved it. Peyton had finished the layout of the magazine jus tin time for the midnight deadline. After leaving her office, she packed up her apartment in New York and then took the first flight out to Toronto.
Lucas was still sound asleep in his bed. Peyton stood at the foot of the bed and watched him sleep peacefully. She smiled. She missed her husband so much. Feeling the fatigue setting in, Peyton removed her jacked and skirt and joined Lucas in bed. She crawled under the blue covers on the left side of the bed.
Peyton gently cradled his face and kissed his forehead. Resting her head on a bare-chested Lucas, she listened to his steady heartbeat before falling into a deep slumber.
Later that morning, Lucas began to stir. He felt the warmth of the body lying beside him. Lucas didn't even have to open his eyes to know t was Peyton. Making sure he wasn't dreaming, Lucas opened his eyes and saw the infamous curly blonde locks. He wrapped an arm around her and stroked her hair with his other. Lucas couldn't feel any happier to have his wife back in his arms.
Feeling Lucas gently rubbing her head, Peyton awoke. "Hey," she said groggily as she lifted her head to see Lucas.
"Hey," he kissed her forehead.
Peyton rubbed the sleep away from her eyes and sat up. She pulled her tank top back down, covering her stomach. Lucas sat up and rested his back on the headboard. "You look tired," he said as he got a better look at her.
"Yeah, I didn't get much sleep last night," Peyton admitted.
"Right, the deadline," Last nights conversation came flooding back to him.
"Lucas, I don't want to fight anymore," she dejectedly said.
"I don't either. I'm sorry,"
"I'm sorry too,"
"Come here," Lucas offered, opening his arms to allow Peyton to cuddle up beside him.
"I watched the game while I worked…sorry,"
"Nah, don't be. It's just a game. I'm the one who should be sorry…I was a jerk. I didn't mean to get mad at you earlier about not being there…"
"Lucas, I need to tell you something,"
"What?"
"After I handed in the layout, I resigned. I quit my job,"
Although the news shocked him, he was more than thrilled to hear it. "But I thought you loved your job,"
"I did. But I love you more,"
"Peyt…"
Shaking her head, she told him that her mind was already made up, "Luke, our marriage isn't even a year old and seems like it's falling apart…we never see each other and all we do is fight. I want us to go back to the way things were,"
"Are you sure about this?"
Quitting her job was the last thing she wanted to do. She loved what she did but her marriage to Lucas was more important and if their marriage was going to survive, something had to give. Peyton also had another career plan in mind, but wasn't ready to share it was Lucas just yet. "Yeah, I'm sure," she answered with a fake smile.
Lucas knew the fake Peyton smile very well and knew that this wasn't what she really wanted. Usually Lucas would call her on it, but this time he never questioned it. He was getting what he wanted – he didn't have to give up his career and he was also getting his wife back.
