Chapter 20

Exhausted from spending the entire day at the beach and promenade, Peyton collapsed on her bed. The teen didn't even bother to change out of her beach wear and into her pajamas. She was even too tired to pull the covers over her body. But with a smile on her face, Peyton closed her eyes, remembering her day and welcoming sleep.

Flashback

Peyton kicked off her sandals and unbuttoned her jean skirt. Lucas watched as the skirt fell down to her ankles. She removed her shirt and turned around. Finally she noticed that Lucas wasn't paying attention to anything to what she was saying.

Peyton rolled her eyes and flung her shirt into his face, "Pay attention, Luke," she laughed.

Her shirt fell from his face, revealing his smirk, "I was…just not to what you were saying,"

"I said," Peyton sat down on the beach blanket beside her boyfriend who was clearly enjoying his view of his girlfriend in a bikini, "it's actually nice to come to the beach during the day," Although they had walked miles on the beach during that summer, they had not once set foot on it when the sun was out.

"Definitely," Lucas agreed eagerly, "I mean if I knew we'd be wearing fewer clothing…"

Peyton elbowed him before he could finish talking, "Anyways…did you bring the sunblock?"

Lucas rummaged through his bag. Instead of pulling out the sun block, he pulled out her cell phone, "Here…I think you left it at my place the other night,"

"I knew I didn't lose it," Peyton took the phone as he continued to search through his bag; "The battery is dead. Guess I'll check my messages when I get home," Peyton tossed the phone into her bag.

End Flashback

Their day together was perfect. They didn't worry about anything. Nothing or no one even crossed their minds. Not Brooke, Nathan, Haley, Jake or their parents. It was just about the two of them. Although they didn't want the day to end, they also knew they had another two weeks of summer left. That meant another two weeks before they had to face everything.

Just before falling into a deep slumber, a loud knock at the front door jolted her awake. "Go away," she mumbled, hoping in some way that the person at the door would hear her. They didn't. Instead the pounding got louder and more frequent.

All the way down the stairs, she cursed the person at the door. Whoever it was at the door better have a good excuse for disturbing her sleep. Peyton flung the door open. Her annoyed eyes grew wide in surprise. She wasn't supposed to be home for another two weeks, but there she was, "Brooke,"

Flashback

He had only gone into the water for a few minutes before he got bored. It just wasn't fun swimming on his own. Lucas trudged through the sand back to Peyton, who was busy making a sandcastle.

She had three walls already up when he plopped himself beside her. Peyton was too busy detailing her castle to see his pouting face, but she didn't have to see it. She knew he was pouting. Before he went in, he had begged her to go in.

"Peeeeyton," Lucas tried to get her attention.

Without looking up, Peyton replied, "I told you I don't want to get my hair wet. These curls take a long time to look like this, ya know,"

His tone wasn't playful anymore. It was quiet and serious, "Even without the curls, you'd still look beautiful,"

It was only a simple compliment, but it was the way he said it that made her accidentally knock down half a wall before she froze. She bit on her bottom lip when she tried to conceal her smile but she couldn't hide her blushing cheeks. She couldn't figure out how he always managed to make her feel like that.

End Flashback

Peyton could still feel it. The sensation in her gut tingled every time she merely just thought about him. But seeing Brooke standing right there on her front steps extinguished the feeling – a feeling she never wanted to let go.

"P. Sawyer," Brooke began angrily, "You have some nerve. I go away for three months and you forget all about me. What kinda best friend are you?"

Peyton shifted uncomfortably.

"Well…aren't you going to invite me in? You're just lucky I need a place to stay for a few nights, otherwise I just wouldn't let you off the hook that easily,"

Still speechless, Peyton moved out of the way so Brooke could enter.

"You know, you had me scared to death. I thought you died or something. I mean you wouldn't return my phone calls. You didn't come pick me up at the airport and then when I get here, you wouldn't answer the door, not to mention the fact that I almost broke a nail pounding on it…and what the hell happened to your hair? Did you switch hair products again?"

Peyton had gotten her hair wet at the beach – or rather Lucas did when he tackled her in the water. Nonetheless, Peyton let out a breath as she was somewhat relieved. At least Brooke wasn't mad about her relationship with Lucas, yet.

Flashback

Peyton shivered as the sun began to set over the water. After grabbing a quick meal at a diner near the beach, the couple had returned to the sands to watch the sun go down.

"Cold?" Lucas asked.

"Just a bit," she wrapped her arms around her, trying to trap in her body heat.

"Come here,"

Peyton moved towards him and sat down in front of him. Gently she leaned into his chest as his arms wrapped around her. Her head lay comfortable against his shoulder. Lucas smiled down at her.

"Better?" he asked.

"Much," Peyton answered as she nestled closer to his body, feeling his body heat.

"Good," Lucas leaned in and placed a lingering kiss on the side of her forehead. He could smell the ocean mixed with her strawberry scented shampoo in her now frizzy hair.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked when he finally noticed that Peyton wasn't really watching the end of a beautiful day.

Peyton sighed, "That I wish this day could last forever…I know it's a stupid girly thing…"

"It's not stupid," Lucas said, "And it's definitely not girly…cause I'm wishing the same exact thing,"

She shifted her gaze from the stars to his eyes. For the hundredth time that day, her heart pounded quickly in her chest and her cheeks blushed. The smile across her face lit up. Finally, her lips reached up and met his.

End Flashback

As Brooke lugged her suit cases into the Sawyer residence, Peyton ran straight into her room. She scoured every wall for any sketches or photos that detailed her summer spent with Lucas.

"P. Sawyer," Brooke yelled from the middle of the staircase as she struggled with an enormous suitcase, "A little help would be nice,"

"Um…just a second," Peyton yelled back. With sketches and frames piled in her arms, she quickly scanned the room for a hiding spot. Quickly she made her way to her sacred albums and randomly shoved pictures anywhere she could. Her album collection would be one place where Brooke wouldn't touch.

Taking a deep breath, Peyton closed her closet doors and took one last look around the room. Satisfied that there wasn't anything else, Peyton went to help Brooke move in.

Peyton lay nervously beside her best friend. She was wide away now. Scenarios of how Brooke would react when she found out about her Lucas wouldn't let her sleep. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe a summer a way from Tree Hill made Brooke forget about Lucas…

"Peyton, do you think Lucas still wants a chance with me?"

…or not, Peyton thought.

Brooke sat up, "Peyton, I think that I want a serious relationship now. I'm tired of one night stands and flirting with a different guy every night. I don't wan to be that party girl anymore,"

"Brooke…" Peyton was riddled with guilt.

"You know, this summer, I thought I could have that but…" the moon's rays that entered the room through the lone window, lit up Brooke's fallen tears.

Seeing that something was wrong, Peyton sat up and put her hand on Brooke's shoulder, "What happened Brooke?"

Brooke shook her head, "I met this guy and over the summer we talked and become friends…I tried so hard not to fall for him, but I did…and…God, how can I be so stupid,"

"Brooke…you're not stupid…ok, those guys are stupid. You Brooke Davis are a beautiful girl who knows how to have fun in life and if they're not man enough to keep up with you, then they're not worth it...they're just not the right guy for you,"

"I guess," Brooke thought, "I'm just glad to be home, P. Sawyer. By the way where have you been the past few weeks? I've been calling and calling but you where never around,"

"Yeah…sorry. I um, lost my phone for a while and I just got it back today but the battery was dead,"

"Whatever. I'm just glad I'm back with my best friend…ho's over bros," Brooke stuck out a fist.

Peyton uneasily looked at the fist and then at Brooke. Hesitantly, she quickly knocked her knuckles with hers, but refused to nod or agree with the pact. Guiltily, Peyton sank back down into her bed. She didn't want to lose her best friend again but she didn't want to give up Lucas either.

The next morning Peyton awoke alone in her bed. Was Brooke coming home just a dream? Lazily, the blonde got out of bed and headed towards her bathroom.

"Ow, damnit," Peyton yelled when she painfully stubbed her big toe. Hopping on her uninjured foot Peyton saw what hit her toe; a black Gucci suitcase. Brooke coming home early wasn't a dream – it was a nightmare.

Repeatedly on her fully charged cell phone, Peyton tried to call Lucas to warn him. There wasn't any answer each time she called, "Get your ass out of bed and answer the phone, Luke," she muttered.

Screeching to a halt, she finally pulled up to Lucas's house.

With just a towel around his waist, Lucas entered his room. He was about to pull the towel off to get dressed for the day when he saw the grinning face. It nearly gave him a heart attack.

Somehow he managed to keep the towel up, covering the appropriate place with his two hands. Brooke let out a laugh, "Are you happy to see me?"

"Brooke, wh…what are you doing here?" he gulped.

Brooke got up from the bed and slowly walked towards him. Lucas quickly retied his towel on tight and grabbed the closest shirt he could find.

"You know about three months ago, in this very room, you asked me to stay…and just right over there," she pointed to the middle of the room, "You kissed me,"

"Ah, Brooke…it,"

"Shh…"she put her finger on his lips, "I made a mistake Lucas. I shouldn't have left,"

Lucas took a step back, but Brooke walked forward.

"Brooke, I really think we should talk,"

"I'm tired of talking,"

Brooke had him trapped against wall. Before he knew it, her lips were on his. His lips only responded one way – and that was to immediately to pull away. But he wasn't fast enough to catch sight of the curly blonde who was running away from his doorway.