Chapter three

One year before.

"Congratulation man!" Nathan patted Lucas' shoulder "Have any plan to celebrate…" Leaning towards his ears, he whispered "…with Peyton?"

Lucas shook his head at his best friend's manner with big grins on his face. Their fathers were best friends since high school that made Lucas and Nathan knew each other since they were still in their mothers' tummies. Together they went to high school and became hot boy of Tree Hill high. Their first love was basketball. After graduating, Nathan went to Duke to fulfill his dream as a professional basketball player. But Lucas had to stop his dream there due to his HCM, so he decided to be a basketball coach because of his love for the game. Nathan had just become coach assistance beside Lucas in Tree Hill high for nearly a month. They were more than best friend, actually they were like brothers, and due to Nathan and his sister's relationship, which made them would be real brothers soon. "Well, I'm thinking about a quiet dinner with red wine, candles and soft music."

"You're such a dork." Nathan laughed at his bff's dreamingly voice.

"Yah said a dork number two. Don't argue man, Haley told me about your gooey tendency." Lucas laughed out loud. "By the way, I want to be the first one to tell her the news, so do not tell Haley ok? You know girls; they can't keep secrets unless you're one." He said, passing Nathan to his new office.

"Hey I do can keep secrets." Nathan yelled after him.

Nathan was one of the only two beside his sister in Tree Hill high knew about him and Peyton. It wasn't that he didn't want to public their relationship; he just didn't want their private life became hot topic for everyone to talk to. Especially they had to set a good example of their students.

Their life had changed so much for the past 4 years, Nathan was now play for Bobcats and part time basketball coach assistance, Haley was an English teacher, Lucas was a basketball coach since about 30 minutes before and part time writer for Tree Hill weekly magazine, and Peyton was an art teacher, all in THHS.

While basketball was Lucas and Nathan's first love, drawing and music were Peyton's. It was her own way to express her feelings to the world. After 6 months working as an assistance of the assistance for a record label Peyton realized that there was a huge difference between love and reality so she decided to take an Art and Music course in a local college and became an art teacher. It was good that Lucas and she worked together but they really couldn't take any advantage of that because of the situation. They both were teachers, so they had to consider every single of their actions, after hearing Lucas' reasons she agreed that they should keep their relationship secret. But it sometimes became hot subject of their arguments. Peyton couldn't get rid of the thought that he might be too ashamed of her to show her off. Especially when girls were always around him and a certain girl was ready to throw her at him. And that was the exact reason of their last night argument.

Sitting in his new office, he gazed lovingly at her picture on the screen of his cell phone for a few minutes before clicked number 2. After a few rings, a cold voice was heard from the other line.

"What's up Luke?"

"Hey you too baby!" He smirked at her tone. "Nothing special, just want to hear your voice, that's all." He replied dramatically.

"Skip that and go to the point, I'm still mad at you remember?" She said sharply.

"Baby, I think we were fine when you screamed my name and begged for more." He knew it was a bad joke but he couldn't help it, she was so cute when she got mad.

"So do not the point. If you have nothing to talk, then bye." She was about to put her phone down.

"Peyt, I'm sorry ok, but I have a really good news to share with you…I'm an official coach of Ravens…" He was interrupted with her scream.

"God Luke, that's great. Wow, I'm so proud of you." Peyton's reaction made his heart sore, she was proud of him, she believed in him and that was all he asked for.

"Thanks babe. Are you ready for home?"

"Nah, I still have some drawings to mark, I'll meet you about two hours then we'll celebrate about the great news of yours, Coach Scott." She replied seductively, stretching the word 'celebrate'.

"Oh boy. You're such a devil." He groaned.

"Tonight, I'll be anything you want babe. But I have to get back to work now. See you home Luke. Love you."

Only Peyton could be evil and innocent at the same time. Smiling as he closed his phone after saying 'I love you too.' to her. Life was so good with her by his side.

"All done" Lucas talked to himself, placing carefully two glasses onto the table. After the call with Peyton, he immediately went home to repair dinner. He knew that he was the one to blame for their argument, but he couldn't help the fact that girls found him attractive right? As long as he still loved her then what's the problem? He thought that girls overreacted sometimes; it was just a kiss that he was taken by surprise. And out of all of the time she chose that moment to appear and became the witness to his "cheating". He had to explain till blue in the face to make her calmed down for the time being. He knew that she felt insecure, but God…she had nothing to worry about; she was the only girl he saw. In order to show her that, their dinner of the night must be perfect.

After checking again for everything, he went for a quick shower. Sitting on the couch, he looked at the clock, 'She must be home any time soon' he thought as he heard the sound of her comet became louder then died into the thin air.

"Luke, I'm home" Peyton's beautiful southern accentwas heard as the door opened.

"Hey baby" Lucas was already stood at the door to welcome her. "I miss you." He said dramatically, pulling her to him for a passionate kiss. As much as he didn't want the kiss to end, the night was still young for them. Pulling slowly from her, he looked lovingly at her. "You always have a way to make my heart skip a beat when I'm with you."

"Then I'll give you some minutes to steady your heartbeat." She said playfully, pushing him aside and walked into the living room "I made dinner reservations for tonight if you want. But let me have a hot bath first, it's been a long day. Anyway, your good news really made my day, babe." She turned around and gave him a proud smile.

"I was thinking maybe we could just stay in and have a quiet dinner." He said, taking her into his arms again by the waist and kissed hard onto her smiled lips "Actually, I made us dinner." He ran the pads of his thumbs over her cheeks and slowly leant his forehead against hers. "Now, go enjoy your bath. Everything will be done by the time you back."

"Wow, I mean this is about you right? I must be the one cook you dinner not vice versa though I'm a horrible cook." She said half joking.

"No, you're wrong, this is not just about me, it's also about us. You are the one I want next to me when all my dreams come true, and please never doubt that." Taking her hand and placed it on top of his heart, he continued "You're always here, despite where I'm or who I'm with, you are the only one I love."

"Hey, who do you want to be with?" She hit his chest, trying to hide her embarrassed face for being insecure.

"No, no, no don't you dare to put my words into my mouth. You know it's just an example right?" He asked her hopefully with his puppy eyes.

"I know, but it's funny teasing you." She replied, playing with his short blonde hair at the back of his head. "And you're the only one for me too." She said, pulling his head down to meet her lips. And to his dismay, it ended as quickly as started.

"You know what? As much as I enjoy this, I love my dinner more." She whispered, walking out of his embrace.

"God Peyt..." He groaned.

"Later babe." She gave him a meaningful wink, walking into their bedroom.

"Put on something "nice", will you?" Lucas yelled after her. That made her laughed out loud, she knew so well the meaning of his 'nice'.

His hands gently set on her hips while her hands put around his neck with eyes closed and forehead touched each other as they swayed slowly along the music.

"What are you thinking, blondie?" He asked, breaking their quietness.

"This is nice isn't it? Just you and me." She replied softly, wishing that moment would last forever. She knew he loved her but she felt that it still wasn't enough. It wasn't enough to make him published their relationship and it wasn't enough for him to marry her. Yes, she thought about marriage…a lot, she also thought about the way he would propose to her and about their future kids with curly hair and blue eyes.

"It's perfect" He nodded above her head and kissed her brow. "So we're ok now?" He thought it was the best time to bring back their last night sore subject.

"What?" Peyton was startled from her thought.

"Uhm, are we ok?" He repeated, not sure for that second time.

"Of course we are." Then she remembered about their last argument. "You mean Lindsay? I don't know, I mean, she's crazy about you, you have to make her knows as clear as day that you're not into her. God she kissed you last time, I couldn't imagine what she would do next."

"Yeah, and I'll just lay there for her to do what she please!" He raised his voice at her, "I'm not stupid Peyt, and she was just so drunk last night." He said softly again, cupping her face in his hands. "Hey, look at me, I promise that I won't meet or stay alone with her for whatever reason. Since she's working at the same newspaper office with me, you know, I have to talk to her sometimes, right?" He asked her hopefully.

"How about you tell her that you already have a girlfriend?"

"Don't I know that, but her best friend is Nikki our school's loudspeaker. And I definitely don't want our relationship to become hot topic of their conversation." He tried to reason her.

Peyton knew that he wanted to keep their private life in low-key, but 'How I want to shout at their slutty faces to stay away from my man.' "By the way, how do you feel to be Ravens' coach, Coach Scott?" She changed the subject.

"It is good, and it's better with you here." He said, closing the gap between them to meet her lips.

Here's chapter 3.

The Lucas in a few first chapter really doesn't the best version of him. so please bear with me.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. It means a lot to me.