6. Work of fate

Lucas Scott has always been a sensitive guy, he's passionate, although as he grew older, he bottled up his feelings and allowed himself to show only his toughest side in facing the world, only those who closest to him would know his soft side, it has always been there showing unintentionally when he's being himself the most, and other than that, Lucas is always prepared for the worst, so, he'd know how to react when it happens.

But, right at that moment, even though it was a matter of seconds, something happened, something he has not planned or been prepared for, not only did his soft side take the lead, but he also found himself lost in a waterfall of memories running in front of his eyes bringing back young and naïve emotions he has forgotten ever existed in his system.

He remembered the first time he ever laid eyes on Peyton Sawyer, they were kids, he was playing with his brother and a few other kids and they were fighting about God knows what, but he remembers being mad while fighting for what he thought was his right at the time, until she showed up with her mother wearing a white dress and a happy smile while her curls bounced up and down with every step she took. The sun rays fell upon her golden locks making them shine even more, and her green eyes looked as greener as ever – bigger as ever, as she looked up at her mother. She looked like an angel right then and for a second he wondered if she really way as he fixed his eyes on her as she walked down the street completely forgetting whatever he was fighting over only seconds earlier.

He remembered how he secretly liked it whenever she went to the market, to the tailor, or just to take a walk with her mother, because it all meant passing on the street his mother's café was located and he'd have another look of her. He remembered once asking his mother who they were and she said it was Anna Sawyer, the widow of deceased merchant Larry Sawyer; apparently he died a couple of years ago leaving his wife and his little daughter a big wealth. It has flipped his stomach to come to this realization; she was rich and he wasn't, this explains the way she looks like she's from another world; because she really was.

He remembered watching her come and go down the street for years as a teenager, he has come to know her dresses and he noticed when she got a new one, he remembered the first time he saw her in a short skirt and how he lost himself there staring longer than usual at her long legs.

He remembered staring and watching and sighing with heartache, and he remembered the way Keith once caught him and how he smirked at him knowingly and after that whenever he tried to talk to him about it, Lucas changed the topic; there was no point of talking, was there? It lasted like that for years until the day he saw her mother talking with Dan and it looked like a civil conversation and then rumor has it they were business partners. Dan Shaw was the town's new villain at the time, he has showed up in Tree Hill all of a sudden and all of a sudden too he began taking control of everything and everyone, and giving whoever doesn't fall under his obedience hard time, and of course Karen and Keith never did, so, he specifically didn't lie the man for what he did to his family, they spent weeks without anyone stepping in Karen's café or Keith's workshop.

He remembered how he gradually stopped eyeing Peyton Sawyer as he started seeing more of her acquainting with Dan Shaw.

He remembered all of it and awakened the little kid inside of him whose wish was to just speak with the girl in the white dress, only when he was looking in the depths of her green eyes and she was looking back at the depths of his blue ones.

It was just a moment, a moment that felt like forever, a moment that was cut by Chris Keller's scream of pain.

XxXx

"Ow." Chris yelped and snatched his head away as Haley rolled her eyes trying to put the bag of ice on his face once again only for him to move once again.

"Chris, stay still." She complained running out of patience in front of his childish acts.

"It hurts." He whines.

"Fine, walk around with a black buff eye for the next few days."

"No, no, fine just put it." He said closing his eyes as she put the bag of ice on his eye, "Ow!" he moved once again.

"For God's sake, Chris."

"Don't be such a baby." Nathan said as he just walked into the room and walked over grabbed the bag of ice from Haley and held Chris' head in place forcing the ice on his eye while ignoring his complaints, "There." He said and held Haley's hand over the ice bag so she holds it in place and stepped away with a huff.

"It's your fault, anyway." Chris mumbled as Nathan turned around towards him fuming once again ready to fight but Chris closed his eyes and held his hands up ready for another hit.

"Coward." Nathan huffed once again.

"What did you do?" Haley asked.

"I was apologizing to Mr. Campbell… who doesn't seem bothered anyway."

"No?"

He nodded, "He is rather amused."

"Really!" she frowned.

"Of course he is, Haley, I just gave the whole town a show to talk about."

"Why did you do it, anyway?"

He looked at her, "Are you really asking that?"

"Yes," she looked at him, "Yes, I am." She said drawing her hand away from Chris' face.

"My eye!" Chris complained.

"Here, hold it for yourself." She said forcing the bag on his face once again as he yelped in pain. She stood up facing Nathan, "Why did you hit hi, Nate?"

"I can't believe you're asking this, Haley, would you have-"

"You're not answering the question." She frowned at his outburst forcing his eyes to fixate on hers, he was worked up.

"He was being a douche." He shook his head.

"Yeah, with me."

"Yes," it was his turn to frown, "with you, he fucking kissed you!"

Haley stood there looking at him not knowing what to say, she shook her head, "He's drunk, Nate, he-"

"Doesn't matter!" He threw his hands in the air, "He was forcing himself on you, and you wouldn't expect me to just stand there, would you?"

"Hey, punchy." Lucas chose that time to enter the room; he had a look on his face that was a mixture between curiosity and a classic Scott-smirk.

"Haley, are you okay?" Peyton asked her friend following right after Lucas.

"I'm fine."

"I'm not." Chris said from his place on the couch as everybody looked his way with a frown, "He is jeopardizing the business, Luke; I can't perform looking like this."

"What about evening it with a punch on the other eye?" Nathan threatened.

"He'd look like a panda." Lucas noted.

Chris was quiet for a moment, "Are you making fun of my pain?"

Nathan rolled his eyes and turned around to avoid hitting him once again, Lucas moved forward and took the ice bag from Chris' eye and frowned looking at the damage, "You'll be just fine." He said pushing it towards his face once again to earn another yelp of pain.

"Come on, Chris; you're fine." Haley snapped.

"You people are mean."

"What's with him?" Peyton whispered asking Haley who rolled her eyes.

"He's dramatic."

"So, you're okay?"

She nodded, "Yeah, I'm perfectly fine." She said, "In fact, I was about to find you, I think I'm going to take off."

"Yeah, I wanted to go too." Peyton agreed.

"Alright, let's go then." Haley said and gave Nathan an awkward look knowing there are still words unsaid, she wanted to thank him for what he did, but at the same time it scared her, she didn't know how to react to that just yet.

And yet again the two brothers were standing there watching as the two girls walked away.

"I think I'm gonna die." Chris said dramatically as Nathan gritted his teeth and Lucas nudged his chest silently telling him to follow as they both left the room, "Guys, are you still here?"

"What was all that?" Peyton asked Haley.

"I don't know. Chris was being a jerk,"

"He was drunk." Peyton noted remembering exactly how Chris was and where it got her.

"Yes, and he kissed me, and he tried to do it again, and all of a sudden Nathan hit him."

Peyton nodded, "I guess I noticed but wasn't sure."

"Noticed what?"

"Nathan!"

"What about him?"

She rolled her eyes, "He likes you, Hales." She said as if it was as obvious as sunlight.

"What? Impossible."

"Right!" she nodded playing along, "So, he punched Chris just out of despise."

"I… you… I don't know, and enough talking nonsense, what was that with Lucas?"

Haley successfully turned the wheel and Peyton's eyes lost the playfulness she had just a moment ago and instead looked alarmed, "Huh?"

"I looked all over for you; I saw you talking."

She let out a relieved breath; she thought Haley was talking about the last encounter, but thankfully she was talking about the first, well, at least Peyton now knows what it was unlike the shortly lived moment.

"He was apologizing."

"Took him long enough, but at least he did, right?" she asked earning a small nod from the brunette, "What did you say?"

She shook her head, "I don't know, he wasn't doing a good job doing it anyway." She said in a way that made Haley not ask anymore and for the rest of their walk, they were both lost in their own thoughts.

XxXx

It was three days since the New Year's party and all of its dramatic incidents, and Haley has come up with different excuses every night since to avoid Nathan, one her being too busy working on something to update her show, one being very tired and today she invited Peyton over so she'd sit with her and continue avoiding talking with Nathan who has been taking any chance to do so, it has been driving him insane how she's not talking, she's just being overly nice and before he knows it, she's running away and he was going crazy, the last they spoke, she wasn't so keen on the idea that he had hit Chris, and he didn't get to know what was really inside her head, and wither she now think less of him or even hate him… only why would she?

So, after she finished her show, she waved at Peyton who was sitting alone letting her know she'd be joining her soon.

"Peyton Sawyer."

She looked at the source of the voice and let a smirk creep to her lips, "Brooke Davis." She greeted back.

"So, you're here again."

"I'm here again."

"You know it's so easy to find you… one would just follow Lucas' stare." She whispered dramatically as Peyton's smirk vanished following Brooke's eyes and sure enough the man in question quickly averted his eyes.

"Has he always been so creepy?" she asked bringing her attention back to Brooke.

She shrugged, "Only when he likes someone."

"Why are you so persistent on this idea?"

She gave a laugh, "Because I'm right."

"I hate to break it to you, but you're wrong."

"What if I'm not?"

"What?"

"What if I'm not wrong? What if it turned out that he does like you? What would you do?"

Peyton frowned, "I… "

"In other words Peyton Sawyer, do you like him?"

"What? No! And besides, you can't just come up to me and ask me who I like!"

Brooke laughed, "True, but you answered me anyway." She shrugged and Peyton groaned, "He's attractive though."

Peyton unconsciously looked his way and he was talking to a friend of his, he had his hair brushed to the side and his face was shaved clean and his black suit looked as if made for his body; he was… neat.

"I take it you have nothing better to do, huh?" she spoke back to Brooke.

"No, not really, but speaking of, is Dan with you?"

"No, he left, why?"

"I avoid him." She shrugged now all her smirks and confident talk are gone.

Peyton nodded, "I figured. Why though?"

"I… I owe him money, and he hasn't been making it so easy." She said uneasily.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"No, honey, thank you though. Me and Dan are playing a game of hide and seek and I used to be the best as a kid." She said returning her smile back.

Although Peyton gave her a smile back, she wasn't entirely sure that Brooke Davis is winning at this game at all.

As Haley was changed in a simple dress, she walked through the busy hall and while trying to avoid the route to the bar at any cost, she didn't notice that the man she's hiding from was never at the bar, and instead was just planning to cut her way,

"I see you got sick of the cocktails." He said once he stood face to face with her.

She had her eyes big as she looked up at Nathan and shook her head plastering a smile, "No, not at all, you know I love them, I have just been-"

"-busy, yeah!" he finished for her with a nod as he looked away.

"Listen, Nathan, Peyton is waiting for me over there, can we catch up later?"

"Sure, yeah, run away, it's all you've been doing lately."

"What?"

"What, am I wrong?"

"Nathan, I'm not-"

"I just don't understand, Haley. Why are you upset with me?"

"I'm not upset; really, I just didn't have the time…"

He shook her head making her trail off, "You like him, don't you?"

"Excuse me? What are you talking about?"

"Chris! You like him; that's why you're upset ever since I punched him. That's the only explanation that would make sense."

"What are you talking about? Of course not."

"Then what, Haley?" he was almost pleading, "What is wrong, huh? Have I been reading the signs wrong? I mean sure I wasn't even reading anything at first but-" he stopped feeling uneasy, "I need to know…"

"Nathan," she shook her head, "you're not making any sense right now."

He opened his mouth trying to gather the right words, "Tell me you don't feel it too, Haley…"

"Nathan," she closed her eyes and shook her head.

"Because, you know I punched him for you."

"For me…"

"Of course for you… I… he, he was touching you and kissing you for God's sake!" he let out a huff, "And I, I couldn't –wouldn't take it."

He was putting everything out, wearing his heart on his sleeve as he stood in front of her, he wasn't planning to go there, and he wasn't planning to confess anything, hell he didn't even think he was ready to. But, just standing there, and thinking of losing her for the past few days, it all scared him, and the words just came out without thinking.

"Nathan, what are you saying?"

This was it, this was the moment his heart skipped a beat and he knew that once he said it, there's no going back, this is the moment his whole future relationship with Haley –if ever existed- will be determined.

He took a deep breath, "What I'm trying to say is" he paused doubtingly for a mere second, "I, I have feelings for you." His heart rate increased and he felt as if hearing himself say; on the inside there was a volcano of emotions erupting, but on the outside, he looked all calm and collected, "I like you, Haley." He confirmed and gulped seeing her staring at him with her mouth slightly opened.

She stared at him for a second but for him it felt like a decade, Haley was frozen, she wasn't prepared for any of this, she was taken by surprise, she hasn't even processed what she thinks of what happened at the party for her to have a saying in this, it was just overwhelming, she can't do this.

"I… I have to go." She said and quickly brushed past him before he gets the chance to stop her.

"Haley-" he sighed; she was gone in a heartbeat, "Please don't go." He spoke to himself. He screwed it up; he shouldn't have said anything, he shouldn't have just showered her with confessions like that. He should've just kept it all to himself.

It was about forty-five minutes since Haley has finished her show and normally she wouldn't take this long to get changed, so Peyton got up to look for her, she knew she usually go to the bar after the show, so, that was her first destination, only she found neither Haley nor Nathan. She asked the bartender but he had no idea of her whereabouts.

She looked around walking between tables, "Lost Lucas, have you?" Came the familiar raspy voice as Peyton rolled her eyes.

"Looking for Haley. And drop it already."

"Haley, I saw her leaving earlier."

"Leaving." Peyton frowned, "That's weird, we were supposed to meet."

Brooke shrugged, "Maybe she decided to give Lucas more ogling time, she works for him after all."

"You can just twist any topic to that, can't you?"

"It's a gift, yeah." Brooke laughed.

"Anyway, I'll get going."

"Goodbye, Cinderella."

Once again, Peyton rolled her eyes and left her alone.

"Brooke, Brooke, Brooke!" Brooke's smile dropped at the sound of the familiar voice as he sat down next her and offered her a glass which she took despite being unwelcome. "How's our job going?" Julian asked her.

"Fine, Julian. As if you don't watch my every move already."

"Just checking, doll." He said defensively, "Cheers, then." He said and clicked his glass with hers resulting in an eye-roll from her and a smirk from him as they drank together anyway.

Lucas Scott was standing by the door when Peyton rushed beside him out of the club. He couldn't help but following her with his eyes through the glass doors, much like he did as a kid. She walked towards her car and got in, she started the car but it then stopped, tried again and no luck.

He found himself walking towards her, "Is there a problem?" he asked approaching her as she got out of the car.

"What are you doing here?"

"I just saw you and thought you might need help."

Her face softened as she began debating accepting his help, "Do you know anything about cars?"

"Not much," he shook his head and she gave a huff, "But, Keith did… I, I might give it a try." He said and she looked at him doubtfully but caved in anyway. He looked at the motor for a while before looking back at her, "I honestly don't know, sorry."

"Great!" she huffed and started walking away.

"Where are you going?"

"Walking home!" she said as a matter of fact.

"By yourself? At this hour?"

She stopped in her tracks and turned around angrily, "What's wrong with you? First you keep looking and looking, and second you allow yourself to follow me out, and now you're getting into stuff that really isn't your business. What do you want?"

"I… I'm just trying to help."

"Don't!"

"Why?"

"Because I don't need your help!" she exclaimed, "And you don't have to feel bad, pity or guilty towards me."

"That's not what it is."

"Isn't it?" she challenged.

"Look," he started carefully trying to get her to calm down, "It's getting late, and it's cold, and… you, you don't even have a coat with you." It was true she has just assumed she'd hide in the warmth of her car, "Let me at least find you a taxi, it is about to rain." He said looking up at the cloudy sky and the fact that the thunder has been roaring every once and a while.

"It's not going to rain." She snapped.

Lightening flashed in the sky followed by the thunderous sound which was louder than any other time, and in the next second it was pouring rain over them.

"Say that again." Lucas said and smiled at how flushed she got, "Come on," he took of his suit and wrapped it over both their heads pulling her closer to him as they started running under the rain.

The streets were wet and slippery as it is and she was having troubles running in her heels in such circumstances. "Wait." She said and stopped in the middle of the empty street and took off her heels as Lucas looked at her examining her moves, "What? It's easier." She said and he smiled even though she wasn't looking at him anymore as they continued running under the rain with his suit barely being useful at all.

They never met a taxi on the way up to her house, and by the time they got there they were dripping wet already.

"That's me." She announced running up to the front door of her house. He walked her up to the front door and then stopped as she opened the door with her key, once the door was opened and she stepped inside he looked up at her,

"Alright then, I'll see you." He nodded.

"Don't be ridiculous, you can't go now." She said and pulled him inside closing the door, "You'll get sick." She shrugged answering his questioning look; he gave her a small smile before becoming aware of their situation. It was dark and they were alone and completely wet from head to toe. Her hair was sticking to her face and dripping on her bare arms.

She laughed and took a full turn around with her hands on each side of her head, "This was amazing." She gushed much to his confusion but definitely amusement.

"It was?"

"Yes! It felt… free. Running barefoot in the rain; I have never done anything like that." She admitted laughing happily which made him smile.

She cleaned her throat but was still smiling, "Excuse me, I think I'm a little drunk." She said and laughed once again.

"Really? I'd remember to get you a few drinks before having a conversation with you in the future."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she raised an offended eyebrow at him.

"Or not." He mumbled slightly scared as she sighed.

"I'll get you a towel." She said and left him alone. For the first time he took in his surroundings, it was a huge house, he wouldn't see the whole of it by just standing by the door, but the door was in front of the staircase and to his right he thought would be a reception while his left must be some sort of an office. However on the wall in front of him there were some frames alongside the staircase, he moved closer to have a better look,

He recognized the younger version of Peyton, the angelic version he waited to see years back, most of them were with her mother, there were only one that contained the father and it was the three of them as a family and Peyton was no more than four years old then. He couldn't help but notice there were no pictures of her current version, they were all of her younger, happier self.

"You know they say curiosity killed the cat." He jumped on hearing her voice.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry, it's just…"

She sighed handing him the towel as she stood in front of him, "What is it that you want, Lucas Scott?"

He stayed silent for a while just looking at her trying to figure out what she feels right now, what is going on inside her head but he couldn't find anything. He shook his head, "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For misjudging you before."

"Why do you keep apologizing?"

"Because you haven't forgiven me yet."

"So what? Does it matter?"

"It does, yeah."

"You have to be liked, huh? You can't stand it when someone doesn't like you, don't you?"

"No." he shook his head slightly with an intense look, "That's not the case."

"Then what? It's not like we have been friends before!"

"I know, look, I know you don't know me, but…"

She took a step closer with a slight frown, "But what?"

"I… I would like to change that… if you knew me; you'd know I wouldn't ever mean to hurt you like that."

She nodded and frowned, "But, I don't let anyone in my life."

"I think you deserve to."

"What?"

"You deserve people knowing you. The real you."

"How would you now that? You don't know the real me!"

"I think I'm looking right at her."

She was touched and Peyton Sawyer never let anyone's words affect her. Suddenly, she realized she was so close to the man and she didn't know what to do, she could actually feel his warm body despite being under wet clothes, she looked at his eyes after her new realization to find him smiling down at her; does he know what is in her mind? Can he?

He extended a shaky hand and brushed a strand of her wet her that was sticking on her face to the side with his fingertips slightly brushing against her skin.

She cleared her throat, "We need to get dry; bathroom is upstairs third door to the left." She told him stepping back and rushed upstairs herself towards her room. He stood still for a while processing what is happening. He knew what is happening; all of his forgotten feelings towards Peyton Sawyer are surfacing up once again and he can't help it.

Hi, here we go again, I know this chapter is shorter than others but personally I consider it linked to the previous one, so, what do you think will happen next? Please let me know wither you like it or even hate it, if you read let me know your opinion, it really means a lot! And if you want, I was thinking to update this story weekly in the weekends, so, let me know, please.

Also, I had another Leyton/Naley/Brulian story called The Long Lost Heiress it's old I know, but I'm continuing it and just updated it, if you're interested check it out.

And let me know what you think. Thank you.