Lucas shut off his alarm, seconds before it was about to go off. His eyes burned for lack of blinking as he sat up in bed. The sun peaking through his windows, the sparrows chirping…it was all very unwelcome. The mere fact that he dreamt of Ms. Prissy Bitch Sawyer in some…ridiculous historical setting was disgusting. He shuddered at that thought. And even disgusted more so, that he was still rather hard over it. He shook his head and stood. He needed an ice cold shower. He grabbed a towel and headed for the bathroom.

Peyton couldn't really think this morning. She hardly slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Lucas. She felt his touch, his kiss.

"Sick," she muttered. Peyton stood in bed and walked towards her closet. What to wear? What to wear? She grabbed a fitted Def Leppard tee with a cut off neckline and a pair her favorite pair of comfy jeans. She was in desperate need of a Espresso Macchiato from Starbucks otherwise she just would not be able to function today. But first, a cold shower!

Tree Hill High was dismal as always. Both Lucas and Peyton wandered through out the day like zombies--Each deep within their own thoughts. By the time last period rolled around, they both found themselves in the library. Peyton perused books dedicated to Ancient Roman life while Lucas slid his fingers across old book spines looking for Leaves of Grass. And there, torn from use and age, was the book he was looking for. Bound in green, he gingerly opened it, leafing through the pages of a work he felt was genius. He smiled softly, as he stopped at 'A Woman Waits for Me.'

He paused a moment, before quietly reciting the first verse, "A woman waits for me, she contains all, nothing is lacking…" He flipped through the pages, reading passages aloud as he went along. "I love you, before long I die, I have travel'd a long way merely to look on you to touch you, For I could not die till I once look'd on you, For I fear'd I might afterward lose you."

Peyton had heard his voice from around the book stacks. She knew she should stay away, after the confrontation they had the night before. But his voice was like hypnotic serpent, beckoning her closer and closer still…

She peered at him, standing at the end of the book shelf, while he stood in the middle of the poetry aisle. He stopped then, almost like he slowly faded, and turned, looking at Peyton.

"What are you doing here?" He asked, almost gently.

Peyton blinked. "Oh, uh…research." Her eyes flickered to the book. "Whitman? I never would have guessed…"

"Guessed what? That I read? Or that I would read something so profound?"

"Neither actually. I never would have guessed you would be reading my favorite book of poetry," she closed her eyes as she read her favorite verse, "I will leave all and come and make the hymns of you, None has understood you, but I understand you, None has done justice to you, you have not done justice to yourself, None but has found you imperfect, I only find no imperfection in you…"

Lucas couldn't help but smile then and nod. "Under appreciated in his time, I guess…"

"Yeah…"

He paused, "Look…about yesterday…I guess I'm sorry."

"You guess?"

Lucas sighed and rolled his eyes, "The is the best as it's gonna get, Goldilocks."

"Well then I guess Ill accept it."

"Where do you get off anyways," Lucas could feel that familiar anger rising.

"What are you talking about," Peyton tried to keep her voice as low as possible.

Lucas grabbed Peyton's arm and dragged her through the bookcases, into a secluded far corner, away from everyone.

"I trusted you and you fucked everything up for me."

Peyton looked incredulous. "You dug your own grave, Luke. It wasn't Nathan's fault! He never even knew you existed! Just because his father was an asshole--"

"Was? I think you mean 'is.'"

"Whatever. Look--Maybe you are entitled to money or birthright or whatever it was you wanted. But you didn't need to use Nathan to get it."

"Yeah, and I didn't need you to actually pretend you cared…"

"I do…I did care."

Lucas looked up at her. "I never in my life trusted anyone. And I trusted you. With something so…so close to me. And you let me down."

Peyton couldn't help but ache for him, despite the circumstances. She grabbed his hand.

"Look...you just…" She trailed off, noticing how Lucas was staring at their entwined fingers…

Something was wrong. Lucas could feel his entire body tingling. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up as his eyes began to unfocus.

"I don't feel so…"

"…good?" Peyton finished for him. She was feeling an odd bout of vertigo at the moment. As she tried to let go of Lucas, she felt his grip tighten around her fingers.

"Don't let me go."

"What?"

"Don't…"

Peyton's breathing was labored. Her mind was fuzzy for a moment, and then…blank. She blinked, where was she? She turned and looked at who was holding her hand

She felt like crying just then. "…Luke?"

Lucas looked up to the sound of his voice. Was he really seeing this?

"Peyton?"

He moved forward, pressing her against a wall bookshelf. He was crying silently as his hand slid along the side of her face. "Peyton." His trembling hand traced her lips, curled in her hair.

Peyton tilted her head to his touch and kissed his wrist.

His face was a hair breath away from hers. His nose grazed over hers lightly, intimately. And all at once, his mouth captured hers. It was the most passionate, euphoric kiss either one of them ever experienced. There was this higher plane of need that neither one could truly comprehend.

"I love you…" He whispered.

Their kisses were getting more urgent and their hands desperately clung to each other. His tongue took possession over hers, leaving her sated yet drained. He pressed her harder into the bookcase, sending books flying to the floor.

They both blinked, stopping…

Peyton opened her eyes to see Lucas staring back at her, their mouths still lingering on one another. After a beat, they pushed each other away instantly. Peyton backed up, tripping over several books, before quickly leaving the library.

Lucas stood, stunned as he waited for his heart to stop pounding. What in the hell just happened. One minute they were talking Leaves of Grass and the next she was attacking him with her lips. Oh, God, it felt like his dream. Luca…Peyton…

He needed air. He just needed air. He rushed out, leaving behind his book of poems and Peyton's book on Ancient Rome.