Authors Note: If anyone is disappointed with the pairings in this chapter, don't worry, virtually everone in this story will be paired with everyone else, at least that is what I hope for. Let me know what you think, please read and reply!

Chapter 3
My Sweet Explosion

The water from the rain dripped off my body. I ran my fingers through my hair, ringing it out. I stood under the Karen's Café canopy and looked out at the street. The door swung open behind me. The girl leaving almost knocked me now. She turned around and put her hand on my shoulder.

"I'm so sor…"

"Hey Peyton."

"Hales," She glanced inside the café, "Hey."

"What's up?" I asked twisting my hair into a bun on top of my head. I wrung out my sleeves and looked in through the café window. There he was, sitting alone, tossing down a couple dollars onto the table.

Peyton put her hand on my back and pushed me in the door, "Go. Talk to him."

It was cold inside the café, much colder then the spring winds outside. As I glanced over at his table, his eyes met mine. I gave him a half smile and walked behind the counter. Deb handed me a cup of coffee and nodded toward Nathan, "Table 6," She said as she winked at me. I glared at her and she motioned for me to go.

I put the cup down onto the table and said, "Here's your coffee." As I turned to walk away, he grabbed my arm.

"I understand that you are mad at me and you can hate me if you want…"

"I don't hate you Nathan. I hate what you did and I hate that I fell in love with you, but I don't hate you."

"Then why can't your forgive me."

"It's not that easy. I can't just flip a switch and forget what happened."

"I just wish you would give me another chance, I sware I won't mess it up this time."

I threw my arms in the air and started to yell, "How can I believe you!" I looked around and notice everyone was staring, "How can I believe you?" I whispered. "We can't talk about this here because I have a feeling that for you to understand what I am thinking I am going to have to yell and I know that I can't get the appropriate amount of yelling done in here."

He stood up and said, "Then lets go outside."

"It is raining."

"You're already wet."

"And?"

"We have got to talk. Rain or shine, we have got to talk." He took my by the arm and led me outside.

I put my hands on my hips, "Okay, here we are, talk."

"Come on Hales, don't be like that." He put his hands on my waist. His touch sent chills up and down my body. The way the touched me made me feel a way I had never felt before.

"Nathan… please." I shook my head and removed his hands from my body. "I can't do this again. I just can't. I can't let you in again."

"I love you."

"And I love you." I reached into my pocket and pulled out his gold wedding band. "I carry this with me because when you left… I prayed that you would come back and you didn't. I knew, as soon as you walked out, that this time was going to be different."

"But it doesn't have to be."

"That is the problem Nathan. Things need to be different. Obviously something is going wrong! Something is not working."

"It was my fault."

I looked down at the ground and felt the rain start to fall again. "Well at least you know that now."

"I knew that all alone. I made a mistake. I missed up and I know that. But I also know that there has never been a day that I wasn't thinking about you. There was never a day that I wasn't dreaming about us being together again. I do know that." He wiped the rain and tears off of my face. "I also know that I only want to be with you." He put his hand on the back of my head and pulled me close to him.

I rested my head on his chest and took a deep breath letting the smell of him soak into my body. As I wiped my eyes, I looked up at him, "Please, Nathan, please, I don't think I can do this again."

He nodded his head and kissed me on the forehead, "I love you, always..."

Our lips met and in between kisses I replied, "…and forever."

Peyton walked through the door of Tric and stood at the bar. I didn't see her; I could only see her shadow on the dance floor of the club. She crossed her arms over her chest and I watched the shadow of her arms move as she breathed. The book in my arms slipped and fell to the ground. I peaked around the corner and watched her look around the club, searching for whatever had just made the noise.

"Hello?" She called out as she walked around the club. "Hello? Is anyone there?"

I dropped the book again, just to see her rattled. She continued to look around and yell out hello. She turned her back to the doorway I was standing in and I jumped out, "Ahh!" I screamed. She jumped and placed her hands atop her heart.

"Damnit Lucas," She hit me on the arm, "You scared me so bad. I thought I was in a bad teen movie and I was going to be the first to die."

"At least I wouldn't be the first."

"Haha, very funny." She rolled her eyes and looked around the club, "Where is your mom? She sent me a text this morning before school…"

"Oh," I dug my hands into my pockets, "About that." She had a confused look on her face. "I sent that this morning. That was me. She didn't need to meet you here."

"Why… what?" She crossed her arms again and leaned over the bar. "I'm kind of lost."

"I just felt like I hadn't gotten to see you…"

"Lucas come on… bad idea…" Peyton grabbed her bag off the counter and turned for the door.

"No Peyton, wait…"

She put her hands on her hips, "This is such a bad idea and you know it. Brooke just called me telling me how you were trying to get back together with her."

"What?" I asked, almost confused.

Peyton shrugged, "Well that is what she said."

"I don't know what I want Peyton." I walked toward her and put my hands on her shoulders, "When I am with you, I want to be with you…"

"But when you are with her you want to be with her." She shrugged my hands off of her shoulders. "I can't play this game again."

"No, it doesn't have to be like that this time."

She started to walk away, but in the process she tripped over a cord hanging from one of the strobe lights. Everything fell out of her purse. "Damnit." She said trying to gather her things.

I walked toward her, "Let me help." As I kneeled down, out eyes met and I got that feeling again. It was the feeling I always got when I was around Peyton. I always felt like we were the only ones in the room and this time we were. I leaned down and let our lips crash into one another. Peyton's cell phone lay on the floor vibrating. I glanced at it and watched the name, Brooke, flash. I paid no attention, it was just Peyton and I for now.