Chapter Ten: Just Friends

Two Days Later

Peyton got into her wheelchair on her own for the first time since her accident. She went to grab for her bag, but Lucas grabbed it instead.

"Dude your dad would kill me," Lucas said throwing the bag over his shoulder.

"I'm capable of carrying my own bags," Peyton said, throwing a bit of a fit.

"Well Peyt, that may very well be, but I don't feel like dying anything soon. So I am carrying you bags today. Think of it like I'm your very own personal bellboy slash taxi driver," he said, with a light laugh.

"So not funny Luke," Peyton said, smacking Luke on the arm.

Lucas stood in front of her wheelchair, and bent down so he was eye level with her.

"Look, when you called me last night, and told me you wanted me to pick you up. I called you dad and told him. Needless to say he was happy, and I had to get up extra early today, to meet your dad so I could learn the rules, but I told you I'm here for you. So I did it, because I refuse to let you down," he said.

"Aw, thanks Luke, your a great friend," Peyton said.

Friend, the word lingered in his mind as they made they're way out of the hospital. All he wanted was for her to remember, for her to realize her feelings for him. All he really wanted was to grab her and hold her close and kiss her. That was all he wanted, but life wasn't always fair, in fact in his and Peyton's life, it was never fair.

"Hey, why are you bein so quiet," Peyton said, as Lucas picked her up, and got her safely in the car.

"Just thinkin," He said.

"What about?" Peyton asked.

"Just stuff," he said, hiding the truth from her.

"Luke, please tell me," Peyton begged.

Lucas looked down at his watch, and saw that it was getting late.

"I'll tell you later, I gotta get you home," Lucas said, as he shut the passenger door.

"Well, how about I say you tell me on the way home?" she asked.

"I can't," he said, as a tear slipped down his face. He didn't think it would be that hard to hide his feelings from her but it was.

"Luke, your my friend of course you can tell me," Peyton said.

"I wish I could but I can't," he said.

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The rest of the drive was done in silence.

"Peyton," Lucas said.

But she didn't say anything.

"I'm sorry, it's just I really can't," Lucas said.

Peyton remained silent.

"Peyton please talk to me," Lucas pleaded.

She said nothing.

He turned into her driveway, and was met by all they're friends. Larry ran out, and opened the car door for Peyton.

"Dad, I can get into my damn wheelchair myself," she yelled.

"Okay, honey," Larry said, backing off from her.

"I'm sorry, just a little aggervated," Peyton said.

"It's okay, honey. Haley and Brooke, can you help her get settled in the house," Larry said.

"Yeah, of course," Brooke said.

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Larry grabbed Lucas's arm, and pulled him aside.

"What the hell did you say to her?" Larry said, his tone very dangerous.

"I told her, that I couldn't tell her what I was thinking," Lucas said, tears swelling up in his eyes.

"Yeah, what was that," Larry said.

"That I couldn't realize how I could love another human being as much as I love your daughter. Do you know how much it killed me to keep that in," Lucas said, as tears streamed down his face.

"Look son, I'm sorry, it's just my baby girl. My only baby girl," he said.

"I know, and I love that girl," Lucas said.