Shut Up and Let Me Go

Peyton and Jake, at a local cafe

"I still can't believe that you're the skinny blonde I watched run into a pole!" Jake laughed, taking a sip of coffee. "But I'm really glad that it was you."

"Well I'm glad that you ended up being the guy trying to help me up" Peyton said relieved. "And not one of the scary, psycho stalker types I tend to attract."

The two sat together in silence for a while before Jake finally spoke up, "I know that you…that you've been going through a rough time. My mom…she had told me what had happened…with your son. Peyton I—I'm so sorry. I really wanted to call you…to see how you and Lucas were doing. But, it had been so long…I—I didn't really know what to say."

Jake paused briefly before asking, "So how are you doing?"

Peyton sighed. "I'm hanging in there. Taking things slowly, one day at a time. It's easier to do that away from Tree Hill...so that's why I'm here in San Fran staying with my dad. Being in Tree Hill...it's just too hard right now, you know?"

Jake nodded. "Yeah, I get that. So you're here with Lucas and Anna?"

Peyton shook her head "No...I brought Anna with me, but Luke's in Tree Hill. Things haven't been going all that well. We're not really on the best of terms right now."

"I see. But you two are going to be ok though, right?"

"I hope so" Peyton answered honestly. "I really hope so."

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Lucas and Peyton's house back in Tree Hill…

Nathan took the key from under the flower pot and walked into his brother's house. He scanned the living room briefly before he finally saw Lucas in his writing office. He headed toward the room.

"So here you are. Weren't you suppose to meet me at Skills's apartment over an hour ago so the three of us could go over plays for next week's game?"

Lucas, who had been diligently working at his desk and hadn't noticed his brother come into the room, was extremely startled by the unexpected visit and jumped up in a slight state of shock. "Gosh Nathan, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"You didn't here me come in?"

"Obviously not." Lucas shook his head. "You can't just let yourself into my house whenever you feel like it and creep up on me like that."

"I didn't mean to. I just wanted to know why you didn't come when you said you'd be there."

Lucas dropped his pencil and looked up at Nate. "It wasn't intentional, I got sidetrack with some work. You know you could have just called me first."

"Oh like you would have answered" Nathan said sarcastically.

"Probably not" Lucas responded honestly. "Look, that key under the pot is for emergencies. Unless its an emergency, ring the doorbell alright? That's all I'm saying."

Ding! Dong!

Lucas got up from his chair. "Kind of like that. Can you go and see who that is? I need to use the bathroom."

Lucas then headed toward the bathroom and Nathan headed toward the door. He opened it and there standing before him was a beautiful blue-eyed redheaded woman.

"Hello, would this be the Scott residence? I'm here to see Lucas."

Nathan eyed the woman suspiciously. "This is the Scott residence and Luke…he's here."

"Oh good" the woman said relieved. "I was afraid I might have the wrong house."

Nathan looked at her with curiosity. "And you are?"

"My name's Kate, Kate Ryan. I have a meeting here today with Lucas. We're working together on an upcoming literary criticism book on Southern Gothic literature."

"Sounds like a really interesting project you two will be tackling" Nathan lied.

"It really is a great genre" Kate said before changing the subject. "I don't think I caught your name. You are…"

"Nathan Scott, I'm Lucas's brother."

Kate extended out her right hand to Nathan and the two shook hands. "Well it's a pleasure meeting you Nathan."

"Likewise."

It was at that moment Lucas had come to the door and was slightly surprised to see Kate with his brother. "Hey Kate, what are you--"

A light bulb suddenly went off inside Lucas's head. "Our meeting is today, isn't it?" Kate shook her head yes.

"You know if it's a bad time, we can reschedule."

"No, its ok. We really need to get started compiling a list of the authors and stories for the book. It shouldn't take us too long. Please come in." Lucas motioned for Kate to enter and he quickly shut the door behind her and Nathan.

"You have a lovely home" Kate said in awe looking around the house.

"Thank you" Lucas said. "Hey Nathan, Kate and I will be in my office. Once we're finished we can head over to Skills's."

"Alright, I'll be out in the living room watching the game."

As Lucas and Kate headed toward the office, Nathan couldn't help but to continue to grill Kate suspiciously. "And people thought Lindsey might have missed her calling as a model. Good thing Peyton's not here to see her."

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"Alright Jake, so enough about me. Do you live here in San Fran now? Is Jenny with you?"

Jake took a quick gulp of his coffee. "No, I still live in Savannah and no, Jenny's not with me. She's at Disneyworld with Nikki and her parents."

"How is Jenny these days? She's gotta be what, eight now?"

Jake nodded. "Yeah. She was just a little one the last time you saw her. She's in the second grade now. She's a great student and an even more amazing drawer. You're going to have to see some of her drawings sometime, you would love them."

Peyton smiled. "I'm sure I would."

"Yeah. Anyways, the reason I'm in town? Well it's right there." Jake said pointing across the street.

"Oh, that club over there? The Ruby Slippers?"

"Yeah. I'm a co-owner; a silent partner. It's just a small little jazz/indie rock lounge. My buddy John is the one who actually runs it but I try and come out a couple of times a year to see how everything's going…play a couple sets."

"Wow that's really great Jake."

"I'm actually playing tomorrow night. If you don't have anything going on, I would love for you to come and watch the show."

"Well I would love to come. What time are you playing?"

"9:30."

"Ok, I'll be there." Peyton took a glance at her cell and noticed the time. "I should really get going. I told my dad I'd be home over an hour ago."

Jake took a glance at his watch and got up from his chair. "Yeah, I gotta go too. But I'll see you tomorrow?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

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"I really think we should include some more Flannery O'Connor." Kate said while looking down her list. "How about 'Good Country People?' It's one of my favorites."

"I always forget about that short story" said Lucas as he quickly scribbled the title on his own list. "It's one of her better ones too. It definitely should be a part of this book."

The two remained silent for a moment before Lucas spoke "Now for Faulkner, how about 'A Rose for Emily' and As I Lay Dying?"

"Yes to 'A Rose for Emily,' but for novels I really think The Sound and the Fury is his finest work; a real masterpiece."

"Yes it is." said Lucas as he jotted down the title. "Maybe we could include both novels. Ok, now for plays, I really think A Streetcar Named Desire would be a great choice."

"You really think so?" Kate asked unconvinced. "I was thinking about maybe adding another novel, like Gone With the Wind.

"But Gone With the Wind isn't really southern gothic." Lucas said thinking out loud. "Besides, I happen to think that Blanche DuBois would be a much more interesting character to dissect than Scarlett O'Hara."

"I'd have to agree with you about that."

Lucas began to write hastily on his notepad, while Kate's mind started to drift. Her eyes began to scan around Lucas's office and stopped at a photo on one of his walls. She got up and walked to the wall to get a better look. "So this must be the Peyton I've read so much about in your books."

Lucas glanced up. "Yup, that's her."

"She's very beautiful." Kate said before looking at another picture. "And so is your daughter Anna. Too bad your wife's out of town, I would have loved to meet them both. Maybe next time.""Yeah, maybe." Lucas thought to himself.

"Well, I think we've got a lot accomplished today so I think I'll go. I don't want to hold you or your brother up any longer."

"You heading back to New Bern?"

Kate shook her head no. "London actually…for a couple of book signings. I'll be gone for about three weeks. Anyways, I checked on my house here in Tree Hill today. Hopefully it will be ready for me to move into by the time I get back. Won't it be so much easier to finish this book once we're both living in the same city?"

"Yes, definitely."

Lucas and Kate exited his office and he walked her to the door. "See you soon Lucas" Kate said smiling, and then she was gone. Just as he had started to close the door behind her, Skills coming out of nowhere, suddenly appeared before him.

"Skills what are you doing here?"

"I have a better question for you Lucas." Skills said walking into the house, taking a seat next to Nathan on the living room couch. "What was she doing here?"

"That's what I'd like to" said Nathan.

"You guys, she's my co-author!" Lucas said in raised voice as he slammed the door behind him and headed over to where his friends were sitting down. "That's all."

"Well that's the hottest writer I've ever seen." Skills said shocked.

"She's not that hot."

Skills raised his eyebrows. "Not that hot? Luke, that girl's a model in the making and you know it."

"You should get another author to help you with your book." Nathan said seriously. "Having a hot co-author is like having a hot nanny. Look how well that turned out for me."

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Kate is not psychotic like Carrie."

"So you think." Nathan said underneath his breath. "I mean, you really think her upcoming move to Tree Hill has nothing to do with you?"

"What were you doing Nate, listening at the door? Really guys this needs to stop" said Lucas loudly, with anger creeping into his voice.

"What needs to stop?" Skills asked confused.

"A lot of things. First of all, the Kate bashing…it's uncalled for. I asked her to write this book with me because she's the most qualified person for the job. She is a friend and colleague. A very happily married colleague I might add."

"I didn't see a ring" Nathan said underneath his breath.

Lucas chose to ignore his comment. "We met through Lindsey. She's her editor too. She didn't make a special trip out here just to see me. Kate's having a house built here and was coming to town because she had to meet with the builders. And she's not moving to Tree Hill because of me. Her husband's family lives here and they've been trying to move for over a year now…they just haven't had the opportunity to do so until now. Besides, Peyton knows about her."

"Really?" Skills asked sounding quite surprised. "Well has she ever seen her? I know Peyton doesn't mind you still working with the ex-fiancee, but she might with this girl. I mean, she even knocks Lindsey out of the ballpark."

"No she's never met her, but what does it matter? It's not like she's here to be pissed at me anyways!" Lucas paused for a moment and took in a deep breath. "I'm sure you two can go over plays without me. I need to take a walk."

"Lucas we can all go over the plays another time. Are you ok?" Nathan asked concerned.

"That's the other thing that needs to stop. I can't take the smothering…it needs to end!" Lucas said getting really fired up. "I know you're just trying to look out for me, but I can't take it anymore. You two are always around, you come over unannounced and you're driving me both crazy! I really need some space and I'd greatly appreciate it if you both would just back off. You're causing me to lose what little bit of sanity I have left."

Both Nathan and Skills sat quietly in shock as Lucas continued to snap.

"Now I'm going to go and take my walk and when I get back, you two won't be here."

"Luke wait—"

Lucas immediately cut his brother off. "Nathan, just shut up and let me go!"

I hope you guys liked this chapter. I really appreciate all the reviews! They keep me motivated. So anyways…Lucas finally snapped! Its about time, right? I can't say when I'll post the next chapter, but I will promise that it will be up as soon as I write it! Oh, and for anyone who may have been interested in the Naley subplot I was thinking about adding…I've decided not to do it. I do however, already have an idea for a sequel to this story, which would feature Naley heavily. Anyways, here are some previews until next time. I'm like 95 percent sure I know where I'm going with this story now, so I'm pretty sure these previews will be accurate, though as always, they are subject to change.

Next Chapter…

Peyton clashes with Dr. Johnson

Lucas joins Brooke and Jamie at the zoo and the two friends have a heart to heart

Peyton meets up with Jake at his club and the two have a night that neither one of them will likely ever forget