Chapter 2
...two weeks later
Peyton stared down at three opened boxes on her bed. She glances in one, picking up a snapshot of she and Jake with Jenny taken almost six months ago. She smiles, running her index finger over Jake's face. She missed him so much she couldn't breathe. She felt like there was this huge hole where her heart was supposed to be. She was almost surprised it hadn't stopped beating.
There is a knock at her open bedroom door. Peyton turns, startled, seeing Lucas standing in the doorway in his tuxedo.
" Ready to go?" says Lucas.
" Yeah, almost. Thanks again for taking me to the church." says Peyton.
" Peyton, don't worry about it. You shouldn't be worrying about anything today. Let people take care of you for once." says Lucas, walking over to her.
Peyton nods, looking back down at the picture.
" How're you holding up?" says Lucas.
" I'm, I don't even know Luke. I miss him so much." says Peyton.
" I know you do. So do I. Jake was a great guy." says Lucas.
" Yes, he was. And an amazing dad to Jenny. He did so much." says Peyton.
" I admired him. I don't think I ever told him that. The way he took care of Jenny, kept up with school, basketball, jobs.. I hope he knew." says Lucas, looking down at the floor.
Peyton feels a small smile spread across her face. She hadn't seen this side of Lucas in a long, long time. This was always her favorite side of him.
" He did, Luke. He knew. He always talked about how much he liked you. Despite our history. He was always cool like that." says Peyton.
Lucas nods, looking back up to Peyton who begins putting the boxes away in her closet.
" Did your dad get in yet?" says Lucas.
" This morning. He's already over at the church with your mom to help get things set up for the funeral." says Peyton.
" And?" says Lucas.
Peyton starts fixing her hair in the mirror, making sure it looked ok.
" And what?" says Peyton.
" Is he at least staying for awhile?" says Lucas.
" He's leaving on Sunday." says Peyton, almost emotionlessly.
Lucas sighs, walking over to the mirror.
" Peyton, did you ask him to stay? You shouldn't be alone right now. It's not right.. him just taking off when you actually need him." says Lucas, getting really upset.
It seemed like Larry was always abandoning Peyton when she really needed him. Sure, she put up a tough fisod front that he usually bought. But Lucas could always see through it.
" I'll be fine, Lucas." says Peyton.
" I really wish you would stop saying that, Pey. You're not fine. You're boyfriend just died for god sake's!" says Lucas, angirly.
" Don't you think that I know that?" says Peyton.
" I don't know with you sometimes. You always do this when things get bad. You shutdown." says Lucas.
" Don't do this, Luke. Not today." says Peyton, getting out of the chair and sitting on her bed to put on her shoes.
" Don't do what? Tell you the truth?" says Lucas.
" You don't know anything about me, or what I'm feeling!" shouts Peyton.
Lucas just stares at her, leaning down on the floor to her level.
" Look at me." says Lucas.
Peyton ignores him, continuing to put on the shoes.
" Peyton." says Lucas.
Peyton finally looks up at him after several seconds, with a tear stained face. Lucas could feel his stomach starting to tie in knots. He always hated to see her cry. Even more when he was the reason. But some things just needed to be said. And he was going to say them.
" You need to realize that you're not ok right now. Alright? You can't do this by yourself like you do everything else. Let me help you. Please." says Lucas.
Nathan appears in Peyton's bedroom doorway.
" Knock, knock. Sorry, the door was open.." says Nathan, watching Lucas and Peyton.
" What's going on?" says Nathan, stepping into the room.
" Nothing, nothing's going on." says Peyton, wiping the tears from her eyes, as she gets off of the bed and moves past Lucas.
" What are you doing here, Nate?" says Peyton.
" I came to see how you were holding up, and if there was anything I could do for you before the funeral." says Nathan, giving her a side hug.
" I'm holding. Lucas was just about to take me over." says Peyton, hugging him back.
" We'd better go. It's starting soon." says Lucas.
" Can you guys just give me like two minutes? I have to find something and then I'll be downstairs." says Peyton.
Lucas and Nathan nod as they leave Peyton alone in her room. Nathan eyes Lucas as they get downstairs into the kitchen.
" So, what was going on up there when I walked in?" says Nathan.
" I'm really worried about her, Nate. She's in complete denial over this." says Lucas.
" Give her a break. Her boyfriend just died, alright? She really loved him." says Nathan.
" I know. Believe me, I know. But it's like she doesn't think that she needs anyone. I don't even think that she's dealt with what happend to Jake yet. I really don't." says Lucas, getting more worked up by the second.
Nathan doesn't respond.
" What?" says Lucas.
" Maybe you're just upset because she doesn't need you. Think about it? Things between you two never really ended." says Nathan.
" This isn't about me and Peyton." says Lucas.
" Sure it is. How wierd do you think it is for her having you tell her how to deal with Jake's death? When you haven't even dealt with the feelings you still have for her. Even when she was with Jake." says Nathan.
" I don't have feelings for her. I just want to be here for her and help her through this." says Lucas.
Nathan laughs a little, rubbing his forehead.
" So, what? You have feelings for Brooke?" says Nathan.
Lucas just stands there, not really knowing what to say to that.
" Yeah, that's what I thought. It's always been Peyton for you, man. Anyone with half a brain can see that.I'm no expert, but I've never seen you look at Brooke even close to the way you look at Peyton sometimes. I think you're frustrated right now, not because you want to help her and be there for her, but because you still have feelings for her and you know that it's wrong because of Jake." says Nathan.
Lucas sighs, falling down in one of the chairs at the kitchen table.
" You're right. How.. what are you some kind of relationship counselor or something?" says Lucas.
" I guess I just see things clearer now that I'm on the outside looking in." says Nathan.
" Well, stop. Seriously, it's really freaking me out." says Lucas.
Peyton walks down the stairs, carrying her black purse.
" I'm all set. Nathan, you didn't have to wait." says Peyton.
" I figured I'd just follow you guys down there. With my luck I'd probably get lost." says Nathan.
Peyton lets out a laugh, but quickly stops herself.
" It's ok to laugh, Peyton." says Lucas.
" Let's just go, ok?" says Peyton, opening the front door and starting outside.