Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Peyton directed the cabbie to drive her back to Tric. She had realized, moments after leaving The Hole, that in her haste to leave the house she had mistakenly grabbed her work keys instead of her house keys.
Peyton cursed to herself, as she noted Lucas's car in the parking lot of Tric. She tipped the cabbie and made her way into the unlocked building.
"Hello?" She called out, as she glanced around the empty room. Peyton sat her bag down on the bar and walked down the hallway to her office. She pushed open the door that was already slightly ajar.
"Lucas, what are you doing in my office…?" She trailed off, as the realization hit her.
"You." Lindsey said, accusatorily, as she sat behind the desk, almost as if she had been waiting for Peyton.
"Why are you in my office?" Peyton asked angrily, as Lindsey stalked towards her.
"Why are you trying to steal my boyfriend?" Lindsey replied, stopping just inches from Peyton.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Peyton shook her head, fervently hoping that Lindsey was just blowing off steam.
"Oh, you don't, do you? Hmm, let's see. I get home from New York tonight and Lucas tells me that he wants us to 'take some time'." Lindsey began, air quoting Lucas's words.
"You know, I never even saw it coming. Everyone always told me how lucky I was, that Lucas was such a good guy." Lindsey continued sarcastically, as she paced the floor in front of Peyton.
"Well, in my book, good guys don't kiss their exes." Lindsey finished, her eyes flashing angrily over Peyton. Peyton sighed, she should have known that Lucas would do the honorable thing and tell Lindsey about their kiss. Just six hours earlier, Peyton would be gloating and rubbing the kiss in Lindsey's face, but seeing Rachel had helped to remind Peyton that she was better than that.
"Lindsey, I'm sorry. I'm not going to lie to you, I kissed Lucas. It was stupid and juvenile, but there it is. I never meant for any of this to happen, and I never wanted you to get hurt." Peyton apologized. She was sure that her words had fallen on deaf ears.
"Wow, you never meant for me to get hurt? What the hell did you think would happen if you seduced Lucas away from me?" Lindsey replied, shaking her head incredulously. She didn't even give Peyton time to respond before she was out the door, the slam of it rattling the walls.
Peyton truly did feel badly for Lindsey. She had been in Lindsey's shoes and she knew how much she was hurting. That knowledge did little to counter the giddiness that she felt, knowing that Lucas had ended things with Lindsey. She wanted to call Lucas. She paused, remembering the promise she had made to herself, earlier in the evening. Peyton shook her head, rationalizing that since Lucas and Lindsey weren't together any longer, that she could safely make her move.
The phone rang only once before Lucas answered.
"Hi Lucas." Peyton said timidly, she was suddenly unsure of herself. The what-if's began to run through her mind. What if he hated her for ruining his relationship with Lindsey? What if he truly was over her?
"Peyton? Is something wrong?" Lucas asked quickly.
"Not really, why?" She replied, her drunken brain unable to keep up with the conversation.
"It's 2 a.m. Why are you calling so late?" He asked. Peyton smacked herself on the forehead. She glanced at the clock, noting that it was, in fact, 2:16 a.m.
"Uh, well, I just got finished talking to Lindsey, who was hiding out in my office, by the way." Peyton said quietly. She heard Lucas sigh. She suddenly felt guilty for everything that she had put him through. For the first time, since she had learned of Lindsey, she entertained the thought that it was possible that Lucas had actually had feelings for Lindsey. She had always imagined that Lindsey was just some sort of replacement, a stand-in, for Peyton. Peyton's cheeks grew warm as she realized how deluded and selfish she had been.
"I'm sorry Peyton, I never meant for Lindsey to come and attack you. I had hoped that she was above that." Lucas explained, tiredly.
"No, its okay, Lucas. I'm the one that should be apologizing. I've been so horrible, to everyone. I.." Peyton trailed off, pulling the phone away from her ear. She stared at it for a moment, before it grew blurry through her tears, and snapped it shut.