Chapter 3: The Past Catches Up With You
"Looks like it's just you and me this summer.." Lucas told her after he sat himself in the cool sand next to her.
Needing all the comfort that the world could give her at this time, Peyton pulled him into a hug.
A long moment later, Lucas pulled back from her, his hand lingering on her arm. "You okay?"
Not wanting to tell him about the woman that had just appeared at her doorway, claiming to be her mother, she nodded.
"Missing Jake?" Lucas asked her. Peyton was surprised at his tone- like he was disgusted with her missing someone else. Ignoring it for the moment, she nodded again.
"Yeah," she replied, her voice quiet.
Lucas shifted, stretching his legs out in the sand. "Wanna know what stupid thing I just did with Brooke?"
"Sure, it's always fun to hear about other people doing stupid things."
Lucas gave her a look. "Funny." He stayed silent for a moment.
"Come on, tell me."
"I kissed her," Lucas said with a cringe.
"You did what?" Peyton exclaimed.
"And then I told her I wanted to be with her."
Peyton was quiet for a moment. Her thoughts were on his box of stuff about her- his Peyton box. Guess Brooke was wrong about his feelings. For some reason, Peyton felt a twinge of hurt at this.
"What did she say?" Peyton finally asked.
"That she was sorry.. which I don't get."
"You don't get the word sorry? You use it an awful lot from what I remember."
"Peyton."
"Sorry," she said with a smile.
"Maybe I was wrong.. I just read things wrong.. but she does have feelings for me, doesn't she?" he asked boldly.
Peyton paused wondering if she should tell him things about Brooke. "I don't think you should be asking me," she replied.
"Right," Lucas said, looking uncomfortable.
They sat in silence for a few moments.
"We should do this more often," he said quietly.
"What- brood together?" Peyton asked, slighly flirtatous.
"Be friends."
Peyton looked at him with a smile. "We do have all summer..."
- ----
Back in the present day, Peyton was wracking her brain, looking for something to talk about, while Lucas was doing the same.
"You want a drink or something..?" he asked her as he went over to the fridge, throwing the door open widely. "We've got iced tea... water... soda... beer.. although that probably wouldn't be a good thing to have now.."
"I might need some," Peyton interrupted, earning a look from Lucas. "Joke. Soda's fine."
Lucas pulled out two sodas and they headed towards the couch, Lucas turning on a basketball game.
The uncomfortable silence plowed on. Peyton tried to think of something else, but her mind kept going back to him and Brooke. "So.. you and Brooke?"
Lucas nodded, keeping his eyes away from hers.
"How...?" Peyton pushed slowly.
"Did it happen?" Lucas finished and Peyton nodded.
"When she came back- the day after you left- she said that she had feelings for me. That she wanted to be with me.. we've been together ever since."
"And now you're married."
Lucas nodded slowly, still not making eye contact with Peyton.
"You really don't seem all that happy about that."
Lucas actually looked at Peyton with that remark. "Excuse me?" he asked coldly. Peyton had obviously hit a nerve.
"Sorry. Out of place," she defended quickly, putting her hands up in the air.
Lucas rose up of his chair. "You can't just come in her after what- three years- and just pick everything back up again like nothing happened, Peyton!"
Peyton remained quiet, watching him pace back and forth on the floor. He stopped suddenly. "You hurt me, Peyton. That's what I've been remembering of you for all these years. The hurt you caused me."
She blinked rapidly, her eyes filling with unwanted, yet uncontrolled tears. "Lucas-"
Just then the door opened and there stood another particular Scott, Nathan Scott that is.
A/N- thanks for the reviews