A/N: Update time! So umm, I had a little trouble with this one. I didn't really know what I wanted to get accomplished with it. I think the second to last chapter is always like that though because you're always afraid it'll become like filler. Anyways, I think I managed to avoid a filler chapter though. I gave it subsidence. So yeah as always, enjoy! And if at all possible, review! It makes my day a little brighter.
Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill or Stolen by Dashboard Confessional (lyrics used in honor of 4.17 hehe)
Chapter Eight: I Love You…I Promise
Watch you spin around
In your highest heels
You are the best one
Of the best ones
She had been to his house before. Or she should probably call it a mansion. Because the Hopps Estate was the size of at least three normal houses. All white Italian marble. The front porch was covered in columns. It was three stories, maybe four stories, she had only been up to the third though. It gave off that creepy southern grotesque vibe, and she found herself pulling her jacket closer to her body and pushing off a shiver that ran up her spine.
"This place was probably a God-damn plantation," Haley muttered ringing the doorbell. Her irritation was a direct result of lack of sleep and a painful headache. Being hung over really sucked. She was sure of that now.
"Hello, Ms. James." The voice awoke her from her angry musings and she quickly plastered a smile on her face.
"Hi Mr. Hopps," she said in her sugar coated voice.
"What can I do for you, miss?"
"I'm here to see A.J., sir."
"Well it's a little early for visitors. I'm sure he's not up," Mr. Hopps looked at his wrist watched, "Then again, he probably has a terrible hangover so head on up."
"Are you sure? I don't want to be a bother for him."
"No please. It can be part of his punishment for breaking that window."
"He broke a window?" Haley blurted out.
"Brutish strength. He sent two guys out the McClaskey's window. He was defending some girl, but still…he should know better."
"Should? Yes. Does? No."
"Touche, Ms. James," Mr. Hopps chuckled, letting the auburn haired girl into the house. He looked at her for a moment before continuing, "So, A.J.'s in his room…I trust you remember where that is?"
"Yes, sir," she said, before she charged up the first flight of steps. Another winding flight of stairs later she came face to face with the ACDC poster that marked A.J.'s room.
"Knock, knock," Haley said loudly before barging into the room. She sat on the edge of his bed bouncing up and down to make it shake.
"Go away," a voice from beneath the quilt muttered.
"Aaron James, rise and shine. It's a beautiful morning." Even though Haley felt like it was the exact opposite, she loved to tease A.J.
"Haley?" A.J. groaned, peeking over the covers to see the auburn haired girl grinning back at him, "This is fucking déjà vu."
"Hey! Watch your language! You're in the presence of a lady."
"Really? Where?" he smirked, as she sat up a little in bed, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and stretching his thick arms over his head.
"Okay just for that smartass, I'm not sharing this coffee with you." Before she even had a chance to put behind her back, he swooped in and took it from her. "Hey! That's not fair."
"Life's not fair," he said taking a sip, "Aww, decaf! I'm touched you remembered."
"I have the memory of a fox."
"I didn't know foxes had good memories," A.J. mused, "Anyways, what brings you to my lair? Have you finally given up the whole crazy 'sex before marriage thing?' Because while it's early, I'm always up for-"
"Finish that sentence and you'll be eating out of a tube for the rest of your life."
"Kinky, Ms. James," A.J. said, wiggling his eyebrows. He sat up entirely in his bed, "So mind tell me why you're not here if it's not to ravage my hot body?"
"Oh Lord," Haley muttered, rolling her eyes. She took a deep breath and sipped her coffee. After swallowing the hot liquid, she continued, "Well I don't know if you know this but I'm good friends with Peyton."
"Yeah sure, and Lucas and I hang out every Friday chasing skirts," A.J. said rolling his eyes.
"Ouch! I'm serious, A.J. After Lucas started getting close with Peyton and I started to…well…"
"Shack up with ogre?"
"His name is Nathan, and we're not shacking up."
"Minor detail," A.J. said waving it off, "Continue."
"Anyways after Nathan and I kind of started dating, we got close. So yeah, umm I just came to say thank you for treating her with respect and for sticking up for her."
"The pleasure was all mine," A.J. said seriously, "Rapists deserve to go through glass windows. In fact, that should be a law somewhere."
"How much damage did that do to your record?" Haley asked.
"Umm," A.J. said scratching the back of his head, "I have community service and I'm grounded for the month. I have to spend time after school with my brother Bobby so I can learn how to uphold the Hopps family name."
"I'm sorry, A.J.," Haley said quietly. She knew how much he hated being around his perfect older brother.
"It was worth it."
"Do you love her?" Haley blurted out.
"No," A.J. said, shaking his head. A small smile graced his lips. "She's just a friend."
"I thought you didn't have female friends. Isn't that what you told me when we stopped tutoring? Or was that just because I'm a total nerd-"
"I was into you."
"What?" Haley said, almost falling off the bed.
"It's simple, Hales. You're a cute, smart, funny girl. You liked me as a person including the fact that I was a jackass. It wasn't a turn on but it also wasn't a turn off and that's a rarity. But unlike the ogre you're dating now, I wasn't gonna change for you."
"A.J., I never-"
"I would have charmed you into dating me because lets face it, all you've ever wanted was someone to notice you and treat you like you deserve. For a few weeks, I would have been the perfect gentleman. You would have let down your walls and began to trust me. Soon enough though, I would have strayed. You would have been heart broken and I'd probably feel guilty and ashamed for the rest of my life." He finished and took another sip of his coffee.
"You think too much," Haley said simply.
"Being cautious was never part of my vocabulary before you came along."
"You're probably right about all of that though. You have to want to change not just change for someone else."
"Exactly, and right now, I like being me. I like the life I live. The constant flirting and the games I play with women."
"Were you playing with Peyton?"
"No. She was playing with me, and I didn't mind. I had a feeling it would work out well for both of us."
"Go on."
"She got Lucas. I got to make out with the hottest Tree Hill cheerleader."
"And you got that."
A.J. looked over his shoulder where the picture Peyton had drawn him was clipped to his bulletin board.
"Yeah," he smiled, "I got that."
"Are you sure you don't-"
"No. I don't. She's just a friend and I'd like to keep it that way."
"Good because Lucas wasn't going to go down without a fight."
"I would have broken him in two if I had really wanted her," A.J. said seriously.
"Well," Haley sighed, "I wanted to go check up on her. How would you like to come with me?"
"So much for that memory of a fox, I'm grounded, remember?"
"I have my ways," Haley said deviously.
----------
"I can't believe that worked," A.J. said in disbelief as he and Haley walked up the path to Peyton's house.
"Your dad likes me. Don't be so shocked."
"Yeah, but he also likes punishing me."
"He must like me more than that," Haley said opening the door to Peyton's house.
"Maybe he's crushing on you."
"Eww, your dad's like fifty."
"Well I'm just saying. That's the only way I can justify him listening to you."
"Right because everything with you is about sex."
"You just implied there's sexual tension between my father and you."
"Oh my God! I did not!"
"Whatever you say."
They both came face to face with Peyton's room. Haley led the way in, but A.J. stayed close behind. They found the blonde girl in question cuddled up on the bed. She was clutching a pillow so close to her frame she was nearly wrapped around it.
"Well Lucas is gone," Haley whispered as they both approached the bed.
"He stayed the night?"
"Jealous?" Haley smirked.
"For the last time, I don't have feelings for her."
"Good to know, Hopps," Peyton muttered opening her eyes.
"I'm guessing you're awake, Sleeping Beauty?"
"I was always more a fan of Snow White," Peyton said as she sat up, stretching her arms over her head.
"So when did Lucas leave?"
"Umm," she glanced over at the clock, "an hour ago."
"And…" Haley led.
"Can we not talk about Lucas, please?" Peyton groaned. "Besides, I need to talk to A.J."
"Ooh I sense a private conversation coming! I'm gonna head elsewhere."
"But you just got here."
"Yeah but I just wanted to make sure you were okay and pester you about Lucas, and since you're not in the mood for the latter and I already know the former, my work here is done."
"Right. I think I got that," Peyton nodded. Haley reached over and hugged her friend.
"Okay I'll see you two later." She exited the room, a bounce in her step.
"So…" Peyton began, "You've been pretty quiet over there."
"I'm just thinking," A.J. shrugged, as he perched on the end of her bed.
"Dangerous territory."
"Funny, bitch."
"Aw, I missed that nickname. Here I thought you got all soft on me."
"Oh the innuendo running through my mind right now."
"The old A.J. is thriving right now!" Peyton giggled.
"He is. Throwing two guys through a window definitely brought him back."
"Yeah about that," Peyton said, rubbing the back of her neck, "Thanks for fighting those guys for me."
"Don't mention it."
"No seriously, A.J. I know you like to pretend like it's no big deal, but to me, it's huge. I hate to think what could have happened to Lucas or me if you hadn't shown up. I mean Lucas is strong-"
"He's not. Your boy's a lover not a fighter, but when it comes to you, he'd probably fight until his death."
"Right," Peyton said uncomfortably. It was odd to talk about Lucas with A.J.
"But you clearly don't want to talk about Lucas. This is about me and my brutish strength and gorgeous-"
"I give up with you!"
"You're welcome, Peyton," A.J. said seriously, "Even though I got arrested, grounded and forced to do community service, I'd do it again in a heart beat."
"Really?"
"You're my friend."
"Really?"
"Is that the only word you know?" A.J. smirked. Peyton rolled her eyes and smacked his head.
"You're my friend too."
"So I'm new to this 'friendship' thing. Do friends get to have sex?"
"No."
"Make-out?"
"No."
"Not even a little kiss?"
Peyton eyed him for a second before reaching over and pecking him quickly on the lips.
"Thank you for saving me, Aaron James Hopps."
"You're welcome, Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer."
"Hey! How'd you know my middle name?"
"My dad."
"What?"
"It's a long story."
"I've got time."
"Well you see it all starts with my grandfather, Robert…"
Peyton smiled as he launched into his family history. A.J. Hopps, arrogant and smug jackass, was her newest friend. Who would have guessed it one month ago?
------
Lucas lay on his bed, staring up at the ceiling of his bedroom. He had been home for a couple hours now, trying to catch up on his sleep. However, he couldn't seem to will his eyes to shut. He was still worried about her, even though he knew he didn't have to be. Peyton Sawyer had become his whole world in such a short period of time. He often wondered how much of a hold she had over his heart. How much she could hurt him if she really tried. How much she could make him smile with the smallest things. How much he wanted to kiss her again…
Bad thought, Lucas. Remember last time you did that? His conscience was right. He needed to take this slowly. Like they did before Dan's party. With Peyton, a snail's pace was necessary. He'd have to be cautious and prudent. Every move had to be planned out two steps ahead. It would be a challenge, but one he was willing to face.
"Hey loser," a voice from his door interrupted his musings.
"Hey Hales."
"You look like you got the crap beat out of you."
"That would be because I did."
"So I heard."
"How's the hangover?"
"Totally gone."
"You're kidding me, right? It's not even noon."
"I swear it must be something in the James' family genes. Taylor is the same way when it comes to hangovers. There gone by lunch."
"You suck."
"Thanks," Haley said hitting him with a pillow.
"So what brings you here?"
"What? I can't check up on my oldest and dearest friend?"
"You have that look in your eye that tells me this is a visit with a hidden agenda."
"Nonsense," Haley grinned.
"Okay then." They fell into a comfortable silence as Haley laid back on Lucas's bed. He glanced over at her. She was dying to ask him something. He just knew it. Whenever she wanted to, she always fidgeted and tried to keep her eyes focused on his ceiling. They had been in this position many times before. A few moments passed before Haley finally gave in.
"So, how are things with you and Peyton?"
"Ha! I knew it!" Lucas said bursting into laughter.
"Shut up!" Haley said shoving his shoulder, "I'm your best friend. I'm entitled to ask."
"Things are fine," Lucas said when his laughter had finally died down, "Well, as fine as they're gonna be. We have to start from the beginning."
"That sucks."
"It's worth it."
"I'm starting to realize Peyton Sawyer is worth a lot. I mean A.J., who by the way only sees her as a friend-"
"-Well, that's a relief-"
"Right, well, A.J. said she was worth the trouble he got into and now you're saying she's worth a do-over courtship. I'm guessing Peyton's really special, huh? I mean, she's my friend and know she's a good person, but I never-"
"She's everything," Lucas said. He shrugged his shoulders. "There's not much more to say then that."
Haley looked at him in awe. She saw how sincere his eyes looked when he said it, and it blew her away. Peyton Sawyer was no longer a silly childhood crush or high school cheerleader fantasy. She was the girl her best friend loved.
"Wow," she whispered.
"My feelings exactly."
----------
Later that night…
Peyton Sawyer exited the shower, a large grin settling on her face. She felt good. The hangover had all but disappeared. The guilt and fear from last night had dissolved as well. She was more focused on the friendship she had established with A.J. and the relationships she was building with Lucas. Both were on the right track. For now.
God, how true that thought was. It seemed whenever things were going right something would pop up to throw a wrench in it. How long before A.J. realized he wasn't cut out for friendship with the broody girl? How long would it take Lucas to stop fighting for her, to stop putting up with her mood swings and her two steps forward, one step back approach to relationships? How long before she got her heart broken again?
It was with those depressing thoughts circling her head that she signed online. She hardly ever talked to anyone online after she had her falling out with Brooke and subsequently, the entire cheer squad, but it had become a habit for her to do so anyways. She immediately noticed that Lucas was on, and part of her itched to IM him. She was nervous and had no idea what she would say to him. It just seemed necessary to talk to him. She needed reassurance.
As her mouse lingered over his screen name, a box popped up.
"DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282 wishes to talk to you," Peyton muttered. It only took her a second to figure out who that was.
PunkEmochic44: Mr. Hopps, I presume?
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: Does the screen name really give it away?
PunkEmochic44: Yeah. How'd you get my screen name?
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: My father. He knows all.
PunkEmochic44: Really????
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: God no…I asked Haley.
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: So, what's up, bitch?
PunkEmochic44: Umm, just debating whether to IM Lucas or not.
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: Do it.
PunkEmochic44: Easy for you to say.
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: What are you like five? He doesn't have cooties.
PunkEmochic44: Shut up! God you're even infuriating online…
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: You know you love me.
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: And you love stalker boy.
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: So just fucking IM him.
PunkEmochic44: Nice transition.
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: I thought so.
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: Shit my dad is coming…
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282: I g2g. IM stalker boy!
DiSoRdeRlyCoNdUcT282 has signed off
Peyton chuckled at his speedy departure. She hadn't even gotten a chance to say goodbye to him. However, his words had made an impact. She definitely had to talk to Lucas. She took a deep breath before clicking on his name.
PunkEmochic44: Hey
There…The worst part was over.
CellarDoor579: Hey you.
Okay maybe not the worst part…
PunkEmochic44: Whatcha up to?
CellarDoor579: Umm, working on our English essay.
PunkEmochic44: Isn't that due in like two weeks?
CellarDoor579: Yeah, I figured I'd get it done with. Plus I already read the book a couple times now.
PunkEmochic44: Nerd.
CellarDoor579: Ouch. That hurt.
PunkEmochic44: Well if it helps, you're my nerd.
Peyton bit her lip as she pressed enter. Flirting with Lucas online was almost as tough as doing it in person.
To say Lucas was shocked would be an understatement. He never expected her to IM him so soon after slightly pushing him away. Then, she flirted, blatantly, and he didn't know exactly how to respond to it. Did he flirt back? Did he ignore it? He decided to go with what he knew best. Honesty.
CellarDoor579: If that's the case, you can call me whatever you want as long as I'm yours.
Peyton immediately felt herself blush reading the lines. He always knew how to make her heart melt, even with the smallest gestures and words. Lucas witnessed her reaction on her webcam and smiled to himself seeing that he had done the right thing.
PunkEmochic44: That was incredibly cheesy.
PunkEmochic44: But cute nonetheless.
CellarDoor579: It's the truth though.
CellarDoor579: Cheesy as it was.
Peyton stared at the keyboard. She figured now was as good a time as ever to get that reassurance.
PunkEmochic44: Lucas…
CellarDoor579: Peyton…
PunkEmochic44: I need to ask you something.
CellarDoor579: Ok.
PunkEmochic44: I know you said that you were going to wait for me, but are you really? I mean you know how I am. My emotions run hot and cold. I get freaked out easily and I shut people out. I'm not exactly the easiest girl to court. Do you really think you can handle that? Last time you couldn't and it broke my heart. And I think both of us need to know what the deal is with the other before we try again.
CellarDoor579: Peyton, I've been infatuated with you since I was twelve years old and I first caught a glimpse of your curls. And when you finally gave me a chance to get to know you that infatuation turned into something much more. I wanted so much more with you. I saw you as more than just a gorgeous girl I had pined for. So when you pushed me away, I had never felt pain like that before and after that, I admit I made some pretty stupid decisions, but the feelings I had for you never went away.
CellarDoor579: You can push me away as many times as you feel like. You can run hot and cold and freak out on me as much as you want. I'll wait for you.
Lucas waited with baited breath for her response, knowing he had poured his heart and soul into that IM. He wondered if it was good enough.
PunkEmochic44: I'm afraid.
Those two timid words nearly broke his heart in half. And he found himself, feeling the exact same way.
CellarDoor579: I am too.
PunkEmochic44: What if we just wind up hurting each other again?
CellarDoor579: We can't live our lives in fear, Peyt. There are risks all around us, and this is a chance worth taking.
PunkEmochic44: …I don't know…
CellarDoor579: I'm not gonna hurt you again.
CellarDoor579: I love you
CellarDoor579: I promise
There was a long pause where Lucas just stared at the screen waiting for her to say something. And finally he got his answer.
PunkEmochic44: I love you too.
PunkEmochic44 has signed off.
----------
You have stolen my heart
------------
To answer questions you may have….
Lucas's screen name (CellarDoor579) is based off the theory of a famous linguist that the most beautiful combination of two words in the English language is Cellar Door. The reason I know that: I'm an English major in college. You pick up fascinating things. lol. Anyways, it seemed like something Lucas would use for his screen name.
A.J./ Haley: I thought that making A.J.'s feelings for Haley part of the story might make him more 3D…I kinda alluded to it when Haley talked to Peyton, but didn't really touch upon it. I figure this explains more of A.J.'s motivations in my mind. Btw, I don't plan on making A.J. and Haley get together for the reasons A.J. mentioned.
P.S. I totally hate writing online conversations in stories, so I'm sorry if it sucked. I tried to make it realistic despite the perfect grammar. I just can't stand have grammar errors no matter what the context. And yeah…I'm done rambling now lol.