Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters!
Peyton paced nervously down the hallway. She'd gotten half-way to Lucas's door, fully intending to break things off with him, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. She had turned back towards her door, only to realize that she did need to end things with him. She couldn't continue the downward spiral she had been trapped in since his arrival back in Tree Hill. She needed to take some time to get right with herself first. Her heart and her mind were saying two very different things. It was up to Peyton to decide which to follow. Slowly she crept towards Lucas's door. It was slightly ajar. Curiously she leaned closer, hoping to tell if he was in his room or not.
"Brooke, I am so sorry. If I could do it differently I would, you have to believe that. I know I've been selfish and there is no excuse for it. If you would please just give me another chance.." Lucas trailed off sadly. Peyton felt the tears running down her cheeks as she listened for a response from Brooke. She assumed he was on the phone, when she didn't hear a reply. Quietly she crept away from the door. When she was far enough down the hallway, she let out a sob.
This was exactly what she had feared most. That the present would be too much like the past. Lucas could never resist Brooke for long in high school and he couldn't now either. She had been back for all of 24 hours and he was falling back under her spell. Slowly the anger built in her. Within seconds, anger replaced the sadness she had felt at losing Lucas yet again. Suddenly she turned around, heading back towards Lucas's room. Without knocking, she barged in.
"Where the hell do you get off? Do you think its fun to toy with people? To ruin peoples lives just because you can?" Peyton yelled angrily. Lucas quickly mumbled something into his phone and hung up. Slowly he got up from the bed and came over to where she stood, fuming.
"What are you talking about Peyton? Who's life did I ruin?" Lucas asked in confusion.
"Do you want a list? Mine, Jake's, Lauren's. Why would you put us all through hell just to change to your mind?" She asked, the hurt evident in her voice.
"How have I changed my mind Peyton? I watched you kiss Jake, I tried to reassure you every time you've had doubts. Who's the one changing their mind here, because it's certainly not me!" Lucas exclaimed.
"Lucas Scott, I can not believe you are going to sit here and lie to my face. After all we've been through, I thought that you had more respect for me than that." Peyton said softly. She couldn't believe that he was actually denying the conversation that she had overheard.
"I've not lied to you, Peyton. I don't know what you're talking about, but I've never once lied to you." Lucas stated quietly. Peyton shook her head in disbelief.
"So you're saying that the conversation you were just having with Brooke didn't take place? I just imagined you apologizing for being selfish and asking for another chance?" Peyton asked, her frustration coming through in her voice.
"You were listening at my door? You were eavesdropping on my private conversations and you think you have a right to be angry with me?" Lucas exploded. Peyton's eyes widened in shock at his reaction. Sure, she shouldn't have listened in but there were far bigger trust issues here than that.
"I will not stay here and let you throw all of this back in my face!" Peyton said angrily, slamming his door behind her as she fled into the hallway. She stormed back down to her room and angrily began slamming her clothes into her bags.
She absolutely could not believe that Lucas would do this to her. She had really believed that she meant more to him than this. That he would go running back to Brooke and then try to hide it from her, showed her that he still had a lot of growing up to do.
"Mom, are you ready?" Lauren asked, coming into Peyton's room. Lauren stopped in her tracks, watching Peyton slam her things around.
"Yeah, just give me a second okay?" Peyton asked, giving Lauren a small smile. She didn't want to scare the girl.
"Sure, I'll wait for you in the lobby." Lauren agreed, taking her things back out of the room.
Peyton sunk down on the bed, burying her head in her hands. After this weekend she deserved a vacation.