Thanks to my reviewers. This chapter is dedicated to Tiff and Tara, because they bother me for an update more than anyone in the entire world.
Peyton's smile faltered slightly, but she tried keeping it firmly in place. This could work, right? She, Lucas, and Chris could all just be one big blonde family. Yeah, for some reason, Peyton didn't see that in their near future. Deciding that the silence, needed to be broken, Peyton took a step closer to Lucas, wrapping her arms around him in an only slightly awkward hug. Nothing with Lucas could ever be completely awkward.
Once the hug broke, Peyton smiled. "Thanks for the food, Luke.." She trailed off, nervously looking back towards Chris. "So, uhm, Chris is playing Tric tomorrow night." Peyton said, clapping her hands together in an attempt to lighten the mood. The look on Lucas's face told her that he was less than pleased. The whole entire time, Lucas's eyes never left Chris. It was as if he were gravitated towards the much skinnier blonde.
"Okay, this is awkward." Peyton admitted, looking down at the ground. Just then, she heard Chris speak. Since when was Chris sincere?
"Ya know what, Peyt? I'm gonna go. I'll see you tomorrow." Chris smirked over at Peyton, before turning his attention back towards Lucas. "Always good to see you, buddy." He spit out, sarcastically. Before Lucas got a chance to comment back, Chris was out the door.
Peyton felt Lucas tense up next to her. Why should she care? It wasn't like she and Lucas were actually dating. Okay, so that's a lie. Technically, they weren't, but..as always, Lucas and Peyton had that relationship that didn't need to be defined. Hell, it couldn't be defined even if you tried. They just were. They were always there for each other no matter what.
Lucas ripped his arm out of Peyton's grasp, and walked over towards the bar. He angrily banged his fists down onto the counter top, making Peyton jump at the sudden BANG that filled the room. He shook his head, looking over at her.
Peyton swallowed the lump in her throat, holding her heart as she prayed that it would regulate itself. "Luke..." She trailed off, knowing why he was angry. Chris was just a mere annoyance in
Lucas's life. Peyton felt his pain, and she believed that about Chris, too. At least..she did before. Before she actually got to know him.
"It was just dinner..." She stated, finally seeming to find her voice. "Just one stupid dinner that meant absolutely nothing to anyone." Peyton smiled faintly, before looking away. "What do you care, anyway? Aren't you and Brooke back together by now?" She spit out, surprised that Lucas and her best friend weren't off having sex.
Lucas shook his head, looking down at the counter. "I told her it wasn't going to work..." He began, his voice shaking from nerves. "I fell in love over the summer. Real love, too. Not the lust kind." He laughed a little bit from what he was saying, but stared Peyton directly in the eye.
How do you react to that? What was Peyton supposed to say? Of course she loved Lucas, but wasn't this rushing things a bit? Ten minutes ago, Peyton was thinking about her newfound friendship with Chris Keller, and now she had to think about Lucas's confession to being in love with her. How the hell did things change so quickly?
Without even thinking, Peyton grabbed her coat. Tears falling from her eyes, she tried her hardest to suppress the sob that seemed to be forming. "I gotta go..." She said, sadly. "I'm sorry, Lucas. I just..I need some time." She pleaded, practically running out of the club.
How could Lucas love her? Was it even humanly possible? Well, technically, I guess it could be possible, but why would Lucas want it to be? If he could have beautiful, smart Brooke Davis, what the hell was he doing with a nut job like Peyton? Couldn't he see that nothing good would come out of a relationship? He'd just end up hurting her again, and Peyton couldn't handle that.
She ran as fast and as far as her feet would take her. Realizing that she wasn't even near Tric anymore, Peyton stopped. She stopped running, and stopped crying. There she was, in the middle of the road, just standing. Completely, and totally numb? How did she get this way? Fear. Peyton could handle many things. Some would even say that she's one of the strongest people you'll ever meet. But Peyton could not handle rejection. The fact that her mother, and Ellie, and her father, and Jake all left her..it left such a mark on her. The fact that someone else might actually love her..it scared her to death.
Just then, a voice seemed to sound through her thoughts. "Peyton?" The voice asked, cautiously.
Without turning around, Peyton nodded her head. "Chris..." She trailed off, feeling his hand on her shoulder. Peyton closed her eyes, and then hugged him. She hugged him just because he was there. She needed someone, and he was making himself available to her.
"I followed you out of Tric." He explained, as she sobbed into his shoulder. "I know that suonds insanely stalkerish, but I can't help it. You've got me hooked." Chris joked, causing a tiny, tearful laugh to come from Peyton.
Peyton lifted her head, and smiled. "Thank you.." She whispered, still laughing slightly. "Thank you for following me." Peyton repeated, rephrasing her original statement.
Chris didn't need to know what happened with Lucas. All he knew was that she was upset, and that she needed a friend. Granted, less than three hours ago, they were shooting horrible coments back and forth in her car, but Chris was never one to judge. Right now, Peyton needed him, and he was going to be there. No matter what.