-1A/N: Thank you so much for all the positive feedback! It really keeps me motivated. And for those of you who are reading my other OTH story, not to worry, I've working on the next few chapters of it as well.
Disclaimer: I own nothing!
Peyton's mind was reeling as she left Jake's. Could she really lie to her daughter about something as important as this? She sighed as she flipped open her cell phone. She needed to talk to Karen and Lauren was starving so Peyton told her to be ready when she pulled up and they would go to the café.
When they finally arrived Lauren jumped out of the car and ran inside. Peyton followed her slowly. When Peyton finally snapped out of daze she saw Lauren already sitting at the counter talking to Karen and another customer.
"Hey Karen." Peyton said, greeting the woman.
The man that was sitting next to Lauren turned around to see who had spoken. 16 years of hurt shone in his eyes as he looked at her.
Lucas.
Peyton felt like she was going to be sick. What was she supposed to say? "Oh hi Lucas, did you know you were sitting next to your daughter?" Yeah, like that would happen.
"Um, hi Luke. So, uh glad to be back?" She asked brightly. She knew she sounded fake when Lauren spun around and looked at her as if she had three heads.
Luke, this is Lauren, Peyton's daughter. Lauren, this is my son, Lucas." Karen said making the introductions in hopes of cutting some of the tension.
Lucas turned to face Lauren and shook the hand she extended.
"Nice to meet you." Lucas said politely.
"How old are you?" He asked, his head swinging to look at Peyton who couldn't meet his eyes.
"I'll be 16 in December." Lauren said with a smile.
Lucas nodded. It was evident he was trying to do the math in his head.
"C'mon Lauren come back to the kitchen and get you something to eat. And you still haven't told me if you made captain." Karen said herding the girl towards the back.
"And I think you need to talk to my son." Karen said pointedly at Peyton.
Peyton sighed and took the seat beside Lucas that Lauren had been in.
"Is she mine or did you cheat on me?" Lucas asked her point blank when Lauren and Karen were out of earshot.
Peyton turned to meet his gaze. He was giving her an out. All she had to do was say that she had cheated on him with Jake and she was home free. She could marry Jake and the four of them could finally be happy.
"She's yours." Peyton said softly. She had realized after speaking to Jake that she couldn't lie to Lauren. It wasn't fair to her. And she hadn't been fair to Lucas. She only hoped he would understand why she had lied and not try to take Lauren as some twisted way to punish Peyton.
Lucas kept opening his mouth as if to speak and then closing it again. Finally he closed his eyes and dropped his head into his hands.
"Why?" He asked weakly, still cradling his head.
Peyton spun her chair around to face the doors. She couldn't look at him. He was hurting and she had caused it and she couldn't face it.
"I loved you too much. I found out I was pregnant in March, right after you had accepted your scholarship to UNC. You were so happy Lucas. I knew you would have stayed and helped me with Lauren and I couldn't do that to you. I wanted more for you. I actually wanted to tell you when you came home that summer but you were married to Brooke and expecting Charity and Karen said you were happy. I didn't want to ruin that for you." Peyton said with tears running down her cheeks.
"I can't do this right now. Not here. I'll uh, I'll call you." Lucas said grabbing his jacket and walking straight out the door.
Karen had been watching the scene transpire from the doorway.
"I'm proud of you Peyton. I know it was hard but he deserved to know and so does Lauren." She said carefully.
"Jake and I are getting married. I, well we, had planned to tell her that she was his. I just couldn't lie to him again though. I should have, he hates me now." Peyton said bitterly.
"I'm Jakes daughter?" Lauren said incredulously having heard Peyton's words.
"No, you're Lucas's." Peyton said. This was not exactly how she had pictured telling Lauren about her father.
"So you were going to lie to me?" Lauren asked angrily. She grabbed her jacket off the chair and started to walk out the door.
"Lauren, wait!" Peyton commanded as her daughter pushed open the doors and walked on without looking back.