A/N: OK, since you guys are amazing and wanted me to continue this, I've come up with a few things...It'll probably be 4 - 5 chapters total when it's done. Here's Chapter 2!
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Two weeks had passed since her strange run-in with Andrea, and her conversation with Lucas. She spent those two weeks in a whirlwind of emotion. Fear. Anger. Anticipation. Unrest. Stress. Love. Nostalgia. She felt it all - intensely. Her and Andrea had met a couple times to talk, and Peyton's original assumption had been correct. They had a lot in common. Andrea was into music, and her firm represented a lot of people in the industry. They talked about their favourite albums and artists and, of course, their romantic histories.
The two weeks had crawled by, but now she was on a plane to North Carolina. She'd taken a Friday off and was headed 'home' for a weekend, if she could even call it home any more. She and Lucas had traded a few emails, both protecting their hearts and hopes by keeping contact minimal until they were face-to-face. He'd refused to let her stay at a hotel, though that's what she had originally proposed. She insisted that she at least sleep in a separate room. She wanted this time to talk about their issues - really talk. She knew that if they were sharing a bedroom - and a bed - that they wouldn't do much talking. She also hadn't wanted him to tell anyone she was going to be there, for fear it would raise too many questions, but he told her that Nathan and Haley would know something was up, and she knew he was right. Truthfully, she wanted to see them. It had been too long and she missed them desperately, especially lately.
Sitting on the plane, even in first class, was uncomfortable for her. She just wanted to be there. 5 hours was too long to wait. She tried listening to music, sleeping, watching a movie. Nothing worked. She was restless the entire flight and worried and anxious about seeing him again. She was completely unsure of what was going to happen. Would they fall back into 'them' immediately? Would it be awkward at first, or entirely?
She tugged at the cord of her earphones and turned off her iPod as she exited the plane. She saw him through the crowd before he saw her. She wasn't sure why she was surprised, but he looked damn good. He was just in a white tee shirt and dark jeans, but he somehow made something that simple look amazing. She noticed the stubble on his face and remembered the weekend they spent together before she left, when she told him he wasn't allowed to shave - she liked him to look a little rugged.
His eyes fell upon her and he felt his breath catch in his throat. Her hair was the first thing he noticed. The curls he'd come to love were gone, but the soft wave of her now longer hair suited her and made her look more womanly. She wore a basic black tank top and tight jeans tucked into a pair of black boots. She looked incredible, and he wondered how she could have spent the entire day traveling and still look that way.
He smiled as she walked towards him with a nervous look on her face.
"Hey," she managed. The confidence she'd carried in L.A. for the last 5 years had all but disappeared as she stood in front of him.
"Hi," he said. He pulled her into a tight hug, not because it was a fitting greeting, but because he wanted to. He needed to feel her in his arms again. "You look beautiful."
She pulled away and offered a smile. "You too. I mean...not beautiful, but...good."
He laughed and took her bag from her as they began walking through the airport to leave. Her nervousness was radiating and he knew he had to calm her. She walked a few paces in front of him, so he leaned forward and whispered in her ear. "Just breathe, Peyton."
His words, and the sensation of his breath on her skin calmed her immediately. He could still read her every emotion, she was sure. When he placed his hand on her back to guide her through the doors of the airport, she felt herself revert back to the girl she knew she was. It was just Lucas. The boy - now man - who'd seen her cry countless times and knew her better than anyone. She relied on their unspoken connection and just...relaxed.
Once they were in the car, he just sat and looked at her for a few moments before turning the key.
"What?" she asked with a laugh.
"Nothing! Just...this is kind of crazy," he pointed out.
"I know. I had a 5 hour flight to think about it," she joked.
He steered the car out of the parking lot and onto the road. He couldn't help but feel like this was how it was supposed to be - her next to him as they drove with the windows down into the town they grew up in.
"You should see the room you have," he said with a grin. "It's better than any hotel in town."
"Oh yeah?" she asked, smiling in return.
"Yup. If you're lucky, it might even come with breakfast." She laughed that spirited laugh of hers and he felt his blood run a little warmer.
"I know I just got here, but would it be terrible if I had a little nap?" she asked timidly, scrunching her nose as she made the request. She was worried he'd be disappointed.
"Of course, Peyt. You can have anything you want," he said vaguely. He meant it. He'd give her anything.
They chatted about her flight and their last few days since the last emails they'd exchanged as they drove to his house. When they pulled into the driveway, she was flooded with memories of the house in front of them. Good and bad instances that had taken place years before.
He jumped out and grabbed her bag from the trunk as she stepped out of the car and made her way up the steps to the door to his room. He unlocked it and turned the knob, signaling for her to enter first.
"Wow. This is different," she said with a smile, her eyes surveying the space.
"Well, the mural of the River Court and Tar Heels posters don't exactly scream 'I'm a semi-successful author'," he pointed out, making her laugh. "Come on, I'll show you to my mom's room." He paused for a moment, prompting her to look at him with confusion. "OK, that just sounds weird."
"Yeah, well, as long as she's not in there, it's not weird," she teased.
He lead her down the hall to where she already knew they were going. She knew this house like it was her own. The bed was made up with darkly coloured linens and perfectly placed pillows. He'd clearly put a bit of effort into making the room comfortable for her.
"Well, I'll leave you to get some rest. I'll be in my room if you need anything," he said.
She placed her hand on his arm just as he was about to turn and leave. She put her arms around him again in an embrace that was much less awkward and more personal than the one they'd shared at the airport.
"It's really good to see you, Luke," she said softly. She felt him take a deep breath, and she wondered if he, too, was relieved that the discomfort of her visit was fading.
"You too, Peyton," he said, pulling away and smiling at her.
He left and closed the door behind him, leaving her in the empty room. She sat on the bed and looked around again before unzipping her boots and pulling them off her feet. She pulled back the covers and slid her legs beneath the material, laying her head back on the pillow and closing her eyes.
She lay for a while, unable to sleep. She tried her hardest to fall into a slumber, but knowing Lucas was in the next room made it impossible. She wanted to be near him. She wanted him to nap with her. It had been something they both loved - falling asleep in their clothes and in each others' arms.
She finally stood from the bed and walked quietly towards his room. She leaned against the door frame and watched him as he lay on his bed, holding a book in front of his eyes. He didn't notice her there until she spoke.
"Whatcha doing?" she asked quietly. He lowered his book to see her standing there, looking adorable with a little grin playing on her lips.
"Just reading," he replied with a smile. "You're clearly not napping."
"Couldn't sleep," she admitted. "I thought maybe I'd lay in here with you...if that's OK."
He smiled and closed his book to place it on his bedside table. He patted the spot next to him and said, "Of course it's OK."
She walked lightly to the bed and lay down on her back, throwing him a smile before turning her back to him and closing her eyes. He just watched her for a few minutes until he convinced himself that it would be alright if he curled up to her and draped an arm over her. When he did, she sighed her contentment and he leaned forward to kiss her cheek.
"Not wasting any time, huh Scott?" she teased.
"You're the one who couldn't stay away," he pointed out. They chuckled together and she intertwined her hand with his. She wasn't sure why she did it - they should have been taking things painfully slow. But somehow, this felt too right.
They fell asleep together for the first time in years, and when they awoke, he was laying on his back with her curled into his side. He ran his hand over her hair and turned his head to look at the clock.
"What time is it?" she asked groggily. Her hand ran up his stomach to rest on his chest.
"Almost 7:30," he said with a chuckle. "We slept for like, three hours."
"What can I say?" she said. "You make a good pillow."
He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "What happened to separate bedrooms?"
"We still have them," she informed him as she sat up. "I just felt bad leaving you all alone so soon after getting here."
"Whatever you say," he chided, making her roll her eyes. She pulled her hair up and quickly slipped the elastic from her wrist to hold it in place. He just stared at her with a grin as he watched her.
"What?" she finally asked.
"Nothing," he started. "I just can't believe you're here right now."
"I know it should be kind of crazy, but it really doesn't feel like it, does it?" she asked.
"No. It feels...nice," he said with a smile. She responded in kind.
"You know what else is nice? Food," she said, making him laugh. "Does Nat's still have the best pizza around?"
"Yes, and I have them on speed dial!" he said excitedly, reaching for his phone.
"You are such a bachelor!" she teased. He dialed and placed an order for delivery and she sat there, impressed that he still remembered her favourite toppings. Since when are pizza toppings romantic? She wasn't sure, but it was true. Something about his memory for the details made her smile. No one since him had bothered to notice.
"So listen, I told Haley and Nate that we'd go there for dinner tomorrow night. I hope that's OK," he said.
"Oh, yeah, for sure. I want to see them," she insisted, putting his mind at ease. "What did you tell them about this weekend?"
"I um...I said that you were coming for a visit and after extensive questioning by my best friend, I finally convinced her that no, we're not back together, but that we wanted to see each other."
"And Haley settled for that answer?" she joked.
"I know. It's a miracle that she didn't beat more out of me," he laughed. "So, what does Peyton Sawyer want to do for the rest of the evening?"
"She's thinking this is kind of nice, actually," she admitted.
"Wow. Here for only a few hours and you don't want to leave my bed," he said with a grin.
She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow. "Actually, I was thinking of putting on my pajamas and we could just talk."
"Depends on what kind of pajamas you're slipping into, how much talking we actually do," he said suggestively.
"Lucas!" she shouted.
"I'm kidding!" he insisted. "Unless I'm right..." She slapped his arm and he raised his hands to surrender. "OK! Talking it is."
She shot him another look before standing and heading back to 'her' bedroom. She pulled out a pair of black pajama pants and the satin camisole she'd packed, and changed quickly. Just as she pulled the shirt over her head, a photo on Karen's dresser caught her eye, so she want to take a closer look. She picked up the wooden frame and held it in her hands, smiling as she remembered the day that had been captured in the photo. It was a couple weeks after Lily was born, right before Peyton left for L.A. She was holding the little girl in her arms and staring down at her sleeping face, while Lucas looked at Peyton longingly. She wondered a few things: why had Karen framed the photo, and why had Lucas left it out for her to see?
Still clutching the frame, she walked out of the room and saw him in the living room with two wine glasses in his hands.
"Lucas," she said softly as she walked towards him.
"Hey," he said, as though he hadn't just seen her 5 minutes earlier. He'd just set down the glasses when she put her arms around him. "What's this?" he asked.
"What's this?" she echoed as she pulled away, gesturing to the frame in her hands.
"Oh. Yeah. I just love that picture," he said with an innocent smile.
"Me too," she said quietly. He tucked a loose lock of hair behind her ear and she looked up at his face again. She should have known that if she was alone with him, that she would want to kiss him. When his hand rested on her cheek, she moved closer to him and he placed his other hand on her hip. They were only inches apart when the doorbell rang, and Lucas cleared his throat as if trying to rid himself of the thought of what they were about to do.
She breathed deeply as he payed for their dinner and walked to the couch and sat down. She took a seat on the floor across from him, leaving the coffee table between them as he doled out a couple slices for her.
"Sorry about that," she said, pouring them each some wine.
"Peyton, you do not have to apologize," he said with a chuckle. "I'm just sorry the delivery guy interrupted us."
She could feel the blush creeping to her cheeks. What was it about Lucas that made her feel like she was a teenager again? She secretly liked that feeling. It made her feel young and alive and less cynical than she really was. It made her feel like love might just be enough, even though so much had happened in the last 5 years to prove to her that it wasn't.
They ate and talked and spent the next hour sitting with a few feet of space between them. The tension was palpable and they were both anticipating what was going to happen later in the evening. Or what could have happened if they hadn't been interrupted.
When they were done their dinner, she got up to clear their plates, and her head. She walked to the kitchen and placed the dishes in the sink, then rested her hands on the counter and hung her head. She felt like things would be so much easier if their connection had faded over the years.
It hadn't.
He walked up behind her and when she didn't move, he knew she was stuck somewhere in her thoughts. He snaked his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly.
She turned in his arms. "Nothing. Just...I feel like I'm 18 again."
"In a good way, right?" he asked, taking her hands in his.
"Yeah, in a good way," she said with a smile.
"So, if you're 18, that means that we're dating and I can kiss you any time I want, right?" he asked, smirking, thinking he was clever.
"Right," she said. "But if I'm 18 and you're still 23, then that makes you a really creepy old guy."
"Ouch," he said with a laugh. Before he could protest or come up with a witty remark of his own, she'd pressed her lips to his in the first kiss they'd shared in years. She pulled away and rolled her eyes at the grin that was plastered on his face. "Guess you like older guys, huh?"
"I think I want to be 23 again," she said with a laugh.
"And why's that?" he asked. He'd stepped away from her for no reason other than being so close to her was just too difficult. With the proximity they'd had, he knew things would go a lot further than a semi-innocent kiss.
"Because if we're 18, that means that your mom is in the next room and we have to follow Karen's rules," she said, taking another step towards him.
He was shocked. He wasn't sure why. Maybe it was because he'd spent two weeks trying not to get his hopes up or expect for this to happen. He hadn't wanted to rush anything or have her feel like he was pressure her. But if she was willing, he wasn't about to say no. He'd only spent a few hours with her, but he now knew for certain what he'd thought for the past couple months, and what everyone around him had told him. He was in love with her.
She was standing in front of him waiting for a response. When she didn't get one, she took it as a rejection.
"Or, I could just head to bed and see you in the morning," she said, walking past him. She wanted to close the door and forget she'd said anything, because clearly the words she'd used were not the right ones.
"Wait." He grabbed her elbow and pulled her towards him. Their bodies crashed together clumsily and he wrapped his arms around her waist. "Peyton," he whispered, looking into her eyes. He kissed her like he'd wanted to kiss her all day. The kiss was full of want and passion and need. He needed to kiss her. He was sure that if he hadn't kissed her like that, that he wouldn't have been able to sleep.
They stumbled into his bedroom together, with his arms around her and her hands on the back of his neck, before they finally pulled apart. They were both breathing heavily and his lips had found their way to her collarbone. He gently slipped the strap of her camisole off her shoulder. Her hands tugged at the bottom of his tee shirt and he moved away from her so she could pull it over his head. He pushed her backwards toward the bed and they lay down with him on top of her.
"Peyton," he said softly, pulling back from her so he could look into her eyes.
"What?" she asked, worried that he'd changed his mind.
"I love you." He said it as though he'd just realized it. Maybe he did. He knew he loved her. He knew he always had. But in that moment, he realized just how truethe statement was.
She looked up at him and he noticed her eyes soften. She could only stare. She couldn't bring herself to say the words back, but she knew that hearing them from him made her feel incredible. She couldn't say them back because she knew how much it hurt the last time she'd said them. Suddenly it felt like all that pain, all that hurt that she'd felt for the last 5 years, couldn't be erased by hearing those words. She always thought that it would all just go away if he told her he loved her.
"Lucas," she whispered. His lips were on hers before she could say another word.
He didn't want to hear the rest, either way. If she said she loved him, everything would get way more complicated than it already was, with her based in L.A. and their history and all the problems they hadn't even thought of discussing yet. And if she said she didn't...well, he didn't know what he'd do. He needed her to love him.
So he kissed her.