She opened her eyes to the warm wind that blew into her window. She took a deep breath and flung her legs off the bed. She lazily pulled herself up and arched her back to stretch. She walked over to the computer and gazed down at the picture on her desk. She recalled the events of last night as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She flicked on her web cam secretly hoping that he would be watching. She walked lethargically into her bath room and turned on the warm water. She cupped her hands and splashed the water on her face. She opened her eyes and looked at her self in the mirror. She watched the water droplets play and dance around on her face and then slowly drip from her chin.
He pulled his shirt over his head as he watched her walk out the bathroom. He stared at her long scrawny legs. His eyes traveled up her body. He could make out every curve underneath her skin tight camisole. She ran her hands along the clothes in her closet, contemplating which one to put on. He watched her take out a bright red t-shirt and dark denim jeans. Her hands crossed and reached for the bottom of her camisole. She brought her hands upward and pulled the shirt over her head. Lucas looked at her standing there in a black laced bra and a pair of cotton shorts. His eyes caught hers and he knew that she knew he was watching. Suddenly the screen went black as she threw her shirt over the cam. "Damn" he whispered as he shook his head. He took one last look at the black screen in front of him and then went back to getting dressed.
She turned and looked in the mirror. She tilted her head as thought trying to understand her image. She took a deep breath and began to turn around but abruptly stopped. She looked back at the mirror and her heart broke at what she saw. Her hair was browner and it was straight. Her eyes were also brown instead of their usual hazel. She glared at the new face in front f her. The cheek bones were higher and much fuller. Her skin was creamier; the usual blotched and dark circle had vanished from under her eyes. She blinked and swallowed hard as her own face started back at her now. She spun around and walked over to her clothes for the day. She carelessly threw them on and walked back into her bathroom. She opened her makeup bag and scanned the various items. She pulled out her black eyeliner and mascara. She smoothly colored the edge of her eyes with the dark pencil and then combed through her lashes with the thick liquid. She looked at her mirror satisfied and reorganized her counter. She walked back into her room and straight over to her web cam. She removed her shirt from over the lens and crouched down. She plastered her best smile on her face cocked her head in front of the camera. 'All done' she mouthed, taking her time to pronounce each individual syllable. She rolled her eyes and stood up.
He laughed as he watched the seductive cheerleader replace the puck rocker. He loved both sides of her but he was more into the deranged girl. She was more interesting and real. He could relate to her and that's what he liked. He watched her make her bed and as usual the simple affair captivated him. The arc of her back as she bent over to pull up the sheets. The way she moved her hands to manipulate the sheet and fold it the way that pleased her. Each and every movement seemed to capture of fiber of him. A smile spread across his face as she fought with how to place her pillows. She would put them on the bed, step back to look at them, then get mad and remove them. 'Always a perfectionist' he rolled his eyes as she finally stopped rearranging her pillows.
She slid over to her full length mirror and started at herself hoping it was her own reflection that peered back at her. It was hers at first but the changes rapidly occurred again. Her hair straightened out and once again lightened. Her face filled itself out and her eyes slenderer and became dark brown. She gazed back at herself, and at the women she had suddenly become. She hated the person that looked back at her. "No I don't, I hate myself" she muttered between slightly cracked lips.
He frowned wondering where the sudden comment had come from. He stared at the back of the curly blonde head. He watched her face fall in the mirror. Her curtains swayed as another gust of warm air circled around her. She watched the strait hair fly around her face. Her face began to grow pale, like the ghost she was becoming. His face grew grave as she lost all color and her eyes glistened with tears. She couldn't move, her body was frozen in its place. She wanted so badly to not have to look at her. She had hoped with everything she had that she would be able to get through the day. But it didn't work, because here she was, insides churning. It was worse then it had ever been and all her emotions were eating away at her, slowly killing what life she had left. She forced her self to blink her eyes knowing that he wouldn't see her staring back anymore. When she opened her eyes nothing had changed, she was still there. Her mother was still looking back at her.
Lucas watched the first set of tears fall form Peyton's eyes. He couldn't figure out what had changed her mood so quickly. Peyton reached out and gently touched her hand to the glass. "I'm so sorry" she whispered. Lucas looked at her puzzled as to who she was talking to. Her face just seemed to lose more and more color. The life was literally being drained out of her. Everything inside her was twisting and screaming. She wanted to turn away and forget the day, she longed for it to be any other day, but it wasn't and she couldn't forget. She couldn't forget being mad at her for not keeping her promise. She couldn't forget the all the yelling and anger. She couldn't get past those three little words that tore her mother apart. 'I hate you'. She remembered them so clearly. She remembered the pained look eating away at her mother's face. She remembered the solemn way her mother left her room and walked out of the house. She remembered crying being so angry and crying herself to sleep, curled up under the covers. She remembered her dad coming in and shaking her gently. She remembered him saying that her mother was in a car accident, and that she had gone to live with the angels. Peyton remembered that day 7 years ago as of today. Everything was so fresh and clear in her head.
She looked at her mother's image in the mirror. Her face was so beautiful. Everybody always thought she looked like an angle on earth. Lucas watched as Peyton's fingers traced an outline on the glass. At first he thought she was tracing her face, but then the pattern changed. His stomach began to knot, somehow he knew something was wrong. "Lucas you going to be late for school. And remember, school, practice, and straight home." His mother yelled from the kitchen. "I'm about to leave" he responded not wanting to abandon Peyton. He didn't trust the situation. Peyton let her hand drop back down to her side. She closed her eyes praying once again for her own reflection to appear. She forced herself to open her eyes. When she did it was still her mother looking back. Her skin began to turn blue. A large cut slowly crept across her face. Her eyes became red as the cuts and gashes continued to appear. Glass formed in her hair. Suddenly she couldn't breathe. Her arms crossed and grasped her sides. Her stomach twisted itself in a million knots and she continued to gasp for breath, for life.
Lucas watched Peyton double over, hands clutching her sides for dear life. "Peyton" he whispered in a shaky voice as he watched her fall to her knees and then to her side. He grabbed his keys and saw he draw her thin legs closer to her chest. "Hold on Peyt." He whispered, closing the back door to his room. He ran to his car, tears threatening to escape his eyes. "She is going to be fine" he said trying to reassure himself. "She's strong" he mumbled as the first tear spilled over onto his cheek. He sped in the direction of her house, praying he would get there soon.
The warm tears streamed down Peyton's face. She could taste the salt as they danced around her lips. "Oh God, help" she clutched he stomach more then before. The pain was excruciating and all she wanted was for it to stop. She would be able to handle it if it were just one thing, but the emotional and physical pain were too much for her to bare at one time. She heard that wind knock something down in one of the outside rooms. The light from the window was making things worse. It was burning her eyes. She pulled her knees closer to her body and tucked her head. She heard her web cam sign off. She felt something heavy and warm against her back. It moved over her side, down to her stomach and then around to her other side. She tired to move but she quickly curled back up from the pain. She felt her body lift from the floor and begin to turn. When she was facing the person's body she buried her face in their shirt but not before seeing their face. His face. "Lucas" she mumbled.
"Shh. I'm here Peyt, I'm here." He could feel her whole body shaking. Each rib protruded from her slender frame. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her up so she was completely on his lap. She lifted her head and stared into his eyes. It was as though all the walls she put up had come crashing down. He could see the pain and guilt and sorrow that she kept so well hidden behind those hazel eyes he loved. She buried her face into his neck as a new round of tears escaped her eyes. He rubbed her back, searching for the words to make her pain go away. He couldn't find any. He kissed the top of her head because he didn't know what else to do other then let her know she wasn't alone.