"How long have you been up?" A newly awake Peyton looked up at Lucas.
"About an hour or so" He didn't remove his eyes from her.
"I'm sorry. Why didn't you wake me, you must have been bored out of your mind." Lucas laughed lightly at the sympathetic look that briefly crept across her face.
"It's alright. I like watching you sleep" He leaned down and kissed her. The two smiled at each other. Lucas's smile faded as he watched Peyton grow serious.
"I hate to break the mood Luke, but I was thinking about the whole college thing. I think it's important for you to go. I mean you got into NYU, that's a really good school and I don't want you to pass that up for me. You'll regret it if you don't go and I don't wanna be the cause of you wondering what kind of life you had." Peyton bit her bottom lip not fully agreeing with what she said. She did want Lucas to go and live his life, but she also wanted to be apart of that life. She wasn't sure whether she was pushing him away again or if she really was sincere about her feelings.
"Peyton you're not getting rid of me that easily. I can always just start later in the semester or I could just go to a local university for the year and then go up to NYU later. If I go up there now I will regret it and I will be left wondering what kind of life I could have had with you." His smiled returned as his lips met her warm forehead.
"Lucas, why are you going to NYU anyway. I mean, I always pictured you playing professional ball or something like that and NYU isn't exactly known for their basketball team." She looked up him, the smile still on her face.
"Well I love basketball and all, but playing on varsity made me realize that I'd rather just play for fun. I don't really like the pressure and all, it's better to just go to the park and shoot hoops with the guys. Then we can all just laugh at each other and pull stupid stunts, ya' know. We can just have fun."
"Well that makes sense. I know that you said you don't like the whole varsity scene and all, but would I still be able to come and stand on the side and watch, be your own personal cheerleader." She looked at him seductively, a hint of defiance on her face.
"I wouldn't have it any other way" Lucas leaned down and kissed her passionately.
"Luke I have an idea." She said breaking the kiss. "Well when you go to New York, I could always go with you. They have some of the best art and design schools in the country. So then we could stay together and things would be okay." Peyton was shocked by the commitment she was suddenly making to Lucas. Somehow sharing everything that happened with him helped her to gain a sense of trust. She wanted nothing more to have him be the constant in her life. She couldn't dream of pushing him away at the moment. She just wanted them to be together for as long as possible.
"That sounds like a plane Miss Sawyer." She watched as he raised her eyebrows. She leaned in a kissed him again, feeling the joy wash over her body.
-Late that day-
Peyton was thrilled to be getting out of the hospital. She sat impatiently as the nurse removed the wire and needles from her arm. Lucas laughed as he watched Peyton fidget around on the bed. He quickly muffled his laughter as she glared in his direction. When they were finally done Peyton rushed to the bathroom and changed. When she emerged she ran to Lucas and hugged him tightly.
"What was that for" he asked, surprised by her sudden action.
"Because, you're the one that's rescuing me from this horrid place." She laughed as she pulled back and grabbed his hand, entangling their fingers. Lucas looked down at their hands and smiled before looking into her anxious eyes.
"I could get used to this" he commented before bringing her hand to his mouth and kissing it gently. A smile spread across her face. She didn't know why she felt so happy, but she didn't mind. It was a change for her and it was a change that she liked.
Haley and Nathan has dropped Luke's car off that afternoon so that they would be able to leave whenever they were ready. The ride to her house was amusing for both of them. They blasted music the entire way and danced within their seats. Peyton couldn't get rid of the smile and neither could Lucas. He couldn't remember the last time her had seen her happy. As they pulled into her driveway Peyton felt her stomach start to turn slightly, but she pushed the feeling aside, she didn't want anything to ruin her day. Lucas noticed her uneasiness and brought his hand up to her face. She cringed and pulled her body back instinctively out of fear. Lucas quickly removed his hand.
"Lucas I'm sorry. I just…" She let her statement hang. She how easily she got scared. She just wished she could really trust people again, especially Lucas. She hated the hurt look that flashed across his face.
"Peyt, it's alright, really. It's gunna take you time and I get that. I just want you to know that I will never hurt you." He smiled warmly at her, making her feel a little bit better, but not completely. She did return the smile however before opening her car door. Lucas followed her into her house and then up to her room. "So what do you wanna do with the rest of the day?" Luca asked her as he sat on her bed.
"I kinda just wanna relax" She said sitting next to him. A sudden wave of fear rushed over her as she recalled her conversion with Rick. However, her fear vanished as he agreed, causing her smile to return.
"Sounds good. We can go downstairs and watch movies or something. Order some pizza and curl up on the couch." He felt her small hands on his as she pulled him up.
"Let's go Scott. What are you waiting for?" she joked as she pulled him downstairs with her. They did just what they planned for the rest of the evening. After she made him sit through two chick flicks, he talked her into watching an action movie while they ate.
"Okay you got to watch your little war, bloodshed movie. Now we can watch some horror." She got up and put in another tape.
"For a second there I thought you gunna make me watch another sob story." He laughed as she sat back down. He wrapped his arms around her waist.
"Hey, Pretty Woman is classic" she argued as she broke away from him and looked into his eyes. He leaned over and kissed her.
"I suppose Kruger is a classic too." He raised his eyebrow as the movie started.
"Yep, all seven of em', well eight if you include New Nightmare." She rolled her eyes before laughing. She turned around and leaned back against his warm body.
"Well as classic as it may be do we have to watch it? There's gotta be something else on." He pleaded with her.
"Are you scared?" she teased.
"No…but there's a game on tonight and I think it's just as good as Nightmare on Elm Street." He grabbed the remote and switched to the regular screen and then began flipping channels.
"Lucas come on I really don't wanna watch basketball." She complained snatching the remote from his hands. Lucas was about to grab the remote back but had a better idea. He casually placed his hands on her hips, making her suspicious. "Lucas…what are you…" she was cut off by the laughter that escaped her throat. She moved like a snake as he tickled her. "Luke stop" she screamed between laughs.
"Are we watching basketball" he stopped briefly.
"No" her voice light because she was gasping for breath, but it was still stern.
"Your choice" he began tickling her again. Peyton couldn't suppress her laughter as she turned to face him hoping to break away.
"Luke please" she pleaded as she tossed her head back, her stomach starting to hurt.
"Fine fine fine" he laughed as he stopped. She lowered her head slowly, not fully trusting him. He leaned in quickly and joined their lips. She was tense at first causing him to pull back, but she brought him to her again as she made herself relax. Peyton was determined to trust Lucas. His hands roamed around her back, careful not to go too low so as not to frighten her. Lucas sat up as she straddled his legs, wrapping her slim arms around his neck.
"Peyton…" he questioned her actions, her readiness. He didn't want to push her or do anything she wasn't ready for.
"Shut up Lucas. If I'm uncomfortable I'll stop" she moaned quietly as his mouth trailed along her neck. Lucas was glad she didn't make him stop because he wasn't sure if he would be able to. He felt like he needed her, like her was addicted to her. Peyton made him feel whole and he didn't wanna give her up, he wanted her more then ever. He was broken from his thoughts as she pulled back much to his dismay. Lucas watched, confused, as she put her hand on his heart.
"I want this. You know? I want to be here. I want to have everything with you. I want it all. I want us, Lucas." He smiled as he remembered the night at Nathan's. She had rejected him then, but now he she was, wanting all the same things he did. He kissed her passionately, devouring every inch of her mouth, all sort of thought evading his mind. She broke the kiss and leaned into his neck. He pulled back suddenly and she looked at him confused. He moved from underneath her and stood in front of the couch. Peyton felt the tears burning the back of her eyes as Lucas stared down at her. She could feel her body start to shake as Lucas walked away from her. She couldn't lift her head to follow him. She just sat on the couch holding back tears, suddenly feeling lonelier then ever.