Chapter Five

Three months pass, and I'm miserable. I've been stuck at home, not being able to do much of anything all laid up in bed. Not much you can accomplish with a broken arm and a metal rod in your leg.

"You ready to get that thing off?" Lucas asks, referring to my cast.

"Uh...yeah." I laugh.

We get in the car and drive to the doctor's office. He takes the cast off my arm and my leg. It feels really strange not having them stuck to me anymore.

After we get out of the doctor's office, we go out to lunch. It feels so nice to be outside and with my boyfriend and be normal for a day. I've been seeing a psychiatrist ever since I got out of the hospital. Everyone thought that it would be a good idea if I saw someone to talk about what happened instead of just keeping it all bottled inside. My dad was in the middle of a job when he found out about what happened and I had to convince him that I was fine, and that Lucas was keeping me under lock an key.

"So you wanna do something tonight?" Lucas asks.

"Can it involve being outside? Because that would rock. I can't get enough of this." I say.

"I think that can be arranged."

Suddenly my cell phone rings and I answer it.

"Hey Brooke"

"Hey blondie. Me and Haley were wondering if you wanted to come to the mall with us. We figured you deserved a shopping spree in honor of getting rid of those horrid casts." Brooke says.

"You're on. Me and Luke are at Karen's. Pick me up there?"

"Yep. See you in a bit."

We hang up.

"Looks like we might have to push our plans back a little bit. Brooke and Haley want to take me shopping." I tell Lucas.

He smiles and takes my hand.

"It's okay. Just be careful." he says.

Half an hour later, Brooke and Haley come pick me up at Karen's and we head off to the mall.

Karen leans on the counter next to Lucas.

"How's she doing?" she asks him

"I think she's going to be okay. She hasn't been having nightmares as much, and I think she's going to be a lot happier now that she won't have to be stuck in the house." he tells her.

"You guys have been through a lot in these past few months. I'm proud of you guys for sticking through it like you have."

"Yeah. Well, I better get going. I had Brooke and Haley take her shopping so I could get started on tonight's events." Lucas says.

Karen raises an eyebrow and Lucas smiles.

"Oh come on! Please just try it on!!" Brooke pleads.

I look at Haley hoping for some backup, but she raises her hands in the air. "Don't look at me. You're at her mercy." she giggles.

"Fine." I take the black bustier into the dressing room just to appease Brooke.

I come out and twirl around.

"Okay that is hot." Haley says, her jaw dropped.

"That's it. I'm buying it for you." Brooke excalims.

After three hours and a few hundred bucks later, we leave the mall and head over to Brooke's. She begs to do my hair and makeup.

"Brooke, I'm just going home. I'm going to look ridiculous wearing a dress and makeup just to sit around at home." I complain.

"Shut up! Lucas will love it. It's been three months since you guys...you know." she explains.

"Fine, mistress."

When Brooke gets done with my hair and makeup they give me the once over.

"Yep. Hot." Haley says.

They drive me home. When we get to the apartment, it looks totally dark. Inside I start to have a minor panic attack. I've had a problem with the dark ever since that night.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow." I wave as I get out of the car.

I unlock the door and realize that it's not dark, just dim. There are lit candles all over the house.

"Lucas?" I call

I smooth out the red dress I'm wearing.

There are rose petals all over the floor and I follow them into the kitchen.

I see Lucas standing in the kitchen holding a bottle of wine with a smile on his face.

He puts the wine down and walks towards me. We kiss softly and wrap our arms around each other. "That dress is amazing." he whispers. "You should see what's underneath." I giggle softly.

I look at the table and see that dinner is ready.

We sit down and eat dinner which is steak and potatoes with vegetables.

After we get done eating, Lucas stands up and holds out his hand. I take it and he leads me up to the bedroom. I gasp as I see more candles lit, rose petals on the bed, and a plate of strawberries on the nightstand. "Lucas..." I whisper but he silences me with a kiss.

I unbutton his shirt as we continue to kiss. I shiver as he unzips the zipper of my dress, brushing his fingers over my spine. My dress falls to the floor, revealing the black bustier that Brooke bought me earlier in the day. His eyes widen and I laugh.

We fall on the bed, all tangled up in each other.

Lucas takes a rose petal and traces my entire body with it, despite my begging.

Finally he surrenders and we start making love. The air is filled with our gasps, moans, breathing, and soft whispers. Afterwards, we lay in each other's arms, tired but content. I snuggle closer to Lucas so every part of our bodies are touching. "I love you so much." I whiper. Lucas kisses me on top of my head. "I love you too." he says. He stretches and goes to get up. I whimper. "Don't worry, I'll be back." he says. He goes downstairs and I wrap myself up in the sheet. I turn over towards the nightstand and smile when I see the picture of us in the frame. I turn back over when I feel Lucas slip back into bed with me.

"I have something for you." he whispers.

"Lucas...this is too much. You didn't have to." I say.

He reaches under his pillow and pulls out a black jewelry box. I gasp. "Lucas..."

"I've had this for about four months. And I decided that tonight was the perfect opportunity. Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer, I love you. We've been through a lot together, and you never fail to amaze me with how strong you are. You are the best part of me, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Tears are streaming down my cheeks but I make no move to wipe them away.

"Will you marry me?"