"Hey Curly" I hear from behind me.
I turn around and see Chris leaning against his car staring at me, smiling slightly.
"Hey Keller, thanks for this."
"No problemo, never say Chris Keller never did anything for you."
"Haha, and the smugness is back"
I tape the note to the door, pick up my bags while Chris opens the trunk and takes them putting them in there and closing it while I hop in the car.
"So seeing as it's 4am, we're not going to drive all the way back to where i'm staying right now. We'll drive for about 20 minutes out of Tree Hill, get a motel room and sleep for a few hours before hitting the road again, sound ok curly cue?"
"Yeah, I haven't been sleeping much lately."
"It's the drugs. Which we'll talk about tomorrow."
"I guess that's only fair since I came to you for help."
"Which i'll never understand why, but i'm glad I can help you."
"My friends are pretty nonexsistent these days. Lucas and Brooke have each other. Nate and Haley have each other. I, on the other hand have noone."
"Well you have someone now."
"That sounds pretty sincere."
"Thats because it is."
"Thanks...Chris"
"Hey I think thats the first time you called me by my first name Peyton"
"There's always time for a first..Like I never thought i'd be sitting here having a decent conversation with you..Thats a first. Or that you wouldnt be sarcastic, that's a first. Or a jackass."
"Hey hey whats with insulting Chris Keller"
"Just speaking the truth"
"So what'd ya tell your friends?"
"I didn't. I wrote a short note saying I needed to visit someone"
"How do you think they'll react when they find out it's me?"
"Ahhh..I kinda left my cell phone hidden in my room"
"Maybe it's for the best."
"I thought so."
"Well here we are. Let's get a room and some shut eye"
As we check in and go into the room with two beds Chris plops down on one and shuts his eyes. I look from him to the other bed to him again.
"Chris?"
"Peyton?"
"Uh, um..I don't usually do this but uh.."
"Do you want to come sleep with Chris Keller"
"Yeah"
He pats the spot next to him and I walk over and climb in under the covers.
"Thanks Chris."
"Your welcome."
I close my eyes and fall right to sleep feeling safe next to Chris. I don't know why. I mean we never really got along much, he almost single handly ruined Nate's marriage to Haley, but for some reason I trust him. I think he..understands me. And these days I don't have anyone else to understand me like he does.