Lucas sighed as he walked up the path to the familiar house ahead. He didn't know whether she was going to go for this idea or not…She had barely left the house since the funeral and she just kept pushing him away. He just wanted her to let him in; he wanted to help her through this. But Haley had been right, she needed to get out and they needed to let her enjoy herself. If wasn't healthy for her to be cooped up in there all the time.
He just wished she would let him help her, that she would stop pushing him away…
Lucas frowned as he watched her sit there, pushing her food around the plate in a feeble attempt to make it look like she was actually eating. He sighed and she looked up briefly, meeting his gaze before looking away again.
"Are you okay?" He asked softly, his brows knitted in concern as he looked at her. She looked up at him, her normally expressive hazel eyes void of any clear emotion.
"Yes." She said almost robotically, he had asked her so many times and everytime it was the same answer. He just wanted her to open up to her, for her to talk to him about how she was feeling. He wanted to help her through this but she wouldn't let him. Not since Larry died..
"It doesn't look like it Peyton, you barely talk anymore, you don't eat…You can talk to me Peyt, I'm here for you." He said taking her hand. She drew it away quickly, her eyes cast downwards, unable to face him.
"I told you I'm fine Lucas!" She said knowing she wasn't convincing him, she wasn't even convincing herself.
"Peyton, I know you okay. I know when you're upset, when you're angry, when you're sad, when you're lying. I know YOU. Just let me in." He pleaded; he just wanted her to get through this.
"Just leave it." She said warningly before standing up and walking out of the room leaving Lucas alone at the table. He put his head in his hands and sighed…it wasn't supposed to be like this.
He reached the door and paused slightly, what if she just blew him off again? Then he'd be stuck as a third wheel to Nathan and Haley again. This was for the best, she needed to get out, get some fresh air and try to have some fun. He wasn't asking her to get over this because he knew she probably never would, he just wanted to make things better for her. To make things a little easier. He just wanted what was best for her. He knocked on the door with his special little knock that he always used for her and prayed that she would open the door…He waited for a few seconds, as each one passed he lost a little more hope until the door opened.
She stood there, her sleek blonde hair hanging loosely around her shoulders, her large hazel eyes staring up at him and her pale un-made face could not hide her beauty. Just looking into those eyes made his heart beat a little faster. She stared at him for a few seconds before opening the door a little wider and letting him in…a good start, he thought to himself.
She sat down on the bed and picked up the sketch pad and resumed drawing, letting Lucas sit on the end of her bed awkwardly.
"How are you?" He asked breaking the silence.
"Alright." She replied back, carefully sketching over the paper. He paused and swallowed….wondering how to phrase it so that she was likely to say yes.
"Um…I came to ask you something…you see Nathan and Haley had this idea…"
Haley slammed shut the locker and frowned as Lucas stood there, hands in his pockets and shifting from foot to foot awkwardly.
"Come on Lucas, you know this isn't right. She isn't grieving properly. You need to get her to open up, or at least out of that house." She said holding her folders under one arm.
"Don't you think I've tried Hales. I just want her to talk to me, tell me how she's feeling but it's like she's not there. The real Peyton's gone and she's…I don't know she's shut down or something." He said desperately. Haley's frown softened as she felt a stab of sympathy, she knew this was hard on Luke…he loved that girl and she was going through so much, all he wanted to do was help her.
"She's lost her last family member…just give it time." She said softly and Lucas nodded
"I know but…I have, like you said it isn't right."
She paused slightly, thinking before looking back up at Lucas.
"Why don't you guys come out with me and Nathan on Friday? We'll probably just catch a movie or something and grab dinner? If you can convince her to come it'll just be a fun easy-going night out, a night out of that house." She said and Lucas frowned slightly…he knew it was a good idea but could he get Peyton to agree?
"It sounds good Hales, I'll try but I can't promise you anything." He warned and Haley smiled
"Yes you can, if anyone can persuade a girl with words it's you."
So here he was, sitting in complete silence and driving through the dark streets of Tree Hill and looking for somewhere to park. Peyton had reluctantly agreed after much persuasion and now it had boiled down to them both sitting in silence for a complete car ride. A couple that had never had any problems with conversation, who had stayed up late into the night just talking couldn't even start a conversation…
It was sad actually, because he missed what he had had before Larry had died, the relationship he had with Peyton was the best he had ever been in, they truly loved each other and they could tell one another everything but now she wouldn't even let him in…
Peyton folded her arms as they drove around yet another block trying to find a parking spot, they were miles from the cinema now…just as well they were so damn early. She really didn't want to be here, she wasn't in the mood for having fun and watching movies and especially not a double date. She knew all her friends were worried about her but they had to understand this was the way she dealt with things…one day she would go back to normal but until then they had to ride things out. She knew she was being unfair to Lucas but she just wasn't ready to talk yet, when she was he would be the first person…but not now, not yet.
As Lucas finally pulled into a spot in a deserted parking lot a few hundred blocks from the cinema, he shut off the engine and the silence was deafening…
"Tonight should be good." He said breaking the silence. She turned and nodded silently.
"Hmm."
"It's for you, you know?" He said causing her to look back at him.
"What?"
"Haley wanted to cheer you up, make you feel a little better. She knows you've been down." As soon as the words left his mouth he knew he should have chosen them better. She glared at him.
"What do you expect? My Dad is gone, the only person I had left." She said her eyes full of pain as he swallowed guiltily.
"I know Peyton, I know how you feel." He said sincerely and she just scoffed, turning away.
"No you don't Lucas, you don't know what it's like at all." She said her voice wavering slightly.
"Don't I?" He asked his temper flaring, causing her to stare.
"So who was Keith then Peyt? You don't think I know what you're going through? I do…All I'm trying to do is help you and you keep pushing me away." He continued his eyes burning with unshed tears of frustration. Peyton looked away, swallowing guiltily.
"I love you Peyton." He whispered
Silence enveloped them both again, Lucas' heart hammering as Peyton just looked down at her hands unable to reply.
Lucas waited for a few seconds more before looking away, hurt by her silence. He swallowed hard and sighed shakily, opening the car door and stepping out, the cold night air hitting him with a blast against his hot face.
"I'm going to get a ticket from the meter." He mumbled, walking off into the darkness and leaving Peyton in the car.
She let out a deep breath and leant back against her seat, blinking tears from her eyes as she sighed heavily and closed her eyes. Why couldn't she just say it? She felt it, so then why didn't she say it? She stepped out the car and shut the door, her breath rising in smoky plumes into the night air. She knew she was hurting him and she needed to stop but she just missed her dad, he was all the family she had left and he had left…she didn't want to get close to Lucas again because she was scared, scared that he would leave too. She loved him, she did…
She squinted through the dark and could vaguely see Lucas standing by the machine…
Suddenly she felt a pair of hands grip her arms and yank them behind her back, a strong body was pressed against her and she could feel a hand closing over her mouth…she tried to scream but no sounds would come out as a face drew nearer her ear. Her whole body shaking with terror
"Give me your purse or I'll break your arm…now" A rough voice said sharply, his putrid breath was hot against her neck.
And that's when she felt the unforgettable feeling of the barrel of a gun being pushed into her back…
A/N Okay a cliffhanger already, what do you think? Is it worth continuing? Drop me a review and tell me what you think