A/N This is the third and final part, unfortunately. I originally made this as a three part so i'm not coping out on you guys, i promise. I hope you've enjoyed reading it as much as i've enjoyed writing it.

And you can't fake it hard enough to please

I witnessed her attempt to function at school and in the public eye all week. She would zone out in the middle of a class discussion and fail to recall anything anybody had said. She would drop her things and leave things behind on her desks. I had to run to catch up to her one day to give her the calculator she'd neglected to pick up on her way out. When I pulled on her shoulder to spin her around I was frozen by the eyes of a shattered soul. She was jumpy and recluse; hardly speaking or looking at anyone.

Everyone or anyone at all

I worried that something was seriously wrong. It would creep in the back of my mind as I tried to get into Gatsby or something. Vivid thoughts of her sobbing and clutching at her sides in a secluded bathroom stall flooded my eyes. I rubbed at them only to have the image replaced with her wandering aimlessly out into the school parking lot and not seeing the oncoming car…

I was forced to shake myself from these thoughts before I snapped. Looking around frantically my gaze landed on her slumped over at her desk. I almost let out a sigh of relief.

Or anyone at all

A closer examination of her revealed that she was drawing on her signature sketchpad; hand in mid stroke, but stuck. The page remained blank and the frustration appeared to be boiling over as her eyes futilely held back tears. Her emotions granted her no clemency and I set my book down prepared for a breakdown. Nothing came; from her mouth nor onto the paper. She merely sat, cooping it all up inside trying stuff it into her hidden box that was much to full already.

And grave that you refuse to leave

I laid in bed that afternoon; while my mom went out shopping, and let the anger simmer. Why wouldn't she let me in? She had before and everything had turned out fine! I couldn't stand another day seeing her like this! Doesn't she know that it hurts me too? Can't she see she's tearing herself to pieces by keeping it all in? I didn't want her to suffer anymore. I wouldn't let her suffer anymore.

My mind was made but my tense body wouldn't budge from my mattress. What was I going to do? Waltz into her bedroom and demand that she give me her heart? I had neither the audacity nor the insanity to do such a thing. I was about to give up and let her wallow, although I knew that would last for about a day.

I heard a soft knocking at my door; so soft that I thought I'd just been hearing things. Since I didn't answer, the rapping returned again this time louder and more defined. Not missing a beat, I sprung up from my bed and nearly yanked the doorknob off in anticipation. My heart nearly jumped into my throat it was beating so intensely.

It was her! She seemed startled by my appearance at my own door but as soon as she locked eyes with me I saw her relax. She let me search her for any sign of what she'd come here for but her eyes were clouded by confusion and uncertainty.

The refuge that you've built to flee

Stepping backwards a foot, I cautiously made room for her to enter my room and still, with her heart on her sleeve screaming for help, she remained connected to my gaze. She crossed the boarder into my room languidly planting her feet inches from mine as her face held the same distance. I was unsure of what to do. All lines had blurred and I had no idea where I stood with her anymore. Fortunately she cleared that up for me.

Threading her fingers through my hair, she grabbed me and brought my lips down onto hers. I'd never felt as light headed or serene as I did when her sultry lips attached to mine. My hands had a mind of their own and they felt so at home on her hips as I pulled her closer to me. She pulled back for air and then dove in again; our lips crashing together.

Closing the door, I gently pressed her up against it and reluctantly pulled my lips from hers to move down her soft jaw line and drag across succulent slope of her neck. Her arms crawled up my back and clutched my shoulders as her mouth parted to let out a euphoric moan. My coarse fingers snuck up her slender sides and lifted her shirt up just enough to feel the silkiness of her sun kissed skin. I couldn't hold back anymore and the deepness that she dug her nails into my back told me she couldn't either.

The places that you've come to fear the most

I lifted my head from her neck and rested my forehead on hers. Upon opening my eyes I met hers with hooded lids. I was going to come out and say it but her eyes, dark with desire and want, were free of hesitation. I lifted her up and instinctively her sensuous slender legs wrapped themselves around my torso and rested on my hips. Colliding lips, I delicately laid her down on my unmade bed. She sucked on my bottom lip as I undid the laces of her sneakers and discarded them followed by every article of clothing we so foolishly planned on wearing that day.

She flipped me over letting her now heated body rest atop mine below her waist as the rest hovered over my torso. She swooped in capturing my lips and slipping her tongue inside my impatient mouth. She tasted so good I let out a low moan that reverberated in my chest. I felt her smile against my lips. She knew she was in control.

Flipping over again, I snagged a condom and looked down into her eyes that craved my touch and teemed over with lust. I attacked her sweet neck as she let me enter her. Her head flew back and she gasped deeply as the passion and fervor exploded her senses. The lines were no longer blurred; they were completely destroyed.

Is the place that you have come to fear the most

We laid in a mess of sheets as sweat laced our entwined bodies. Her curly mop lay contently on my chest an her hand traced circles on my pronounced abs. My arm was lazily draped over her exposed back. Every vein in my body felt as if it was about to burst with pleasure. She sighed and her hot breath tickled my torso.

For now, everything was okay. She'd let me in, in more ways than one, but the battle has just begun. After all, she was still Peyton with all her issues and walls and haunted pasts. To me, though, Lucas Scott, she was worth every heartache and heart-wrenching breakdown that was to come. I just hoped that she wasn't going to be afraid anymore. That I couldn't help her with.

The day dragged on but we stayed together in my room merely enjoying each other's consoling company. She eventually fell asleep, if I remember correctly, but I stayed up to watch her. She smiled when she slept and unfortunately that was the only time. Today, it would be different. When she woke up, for once in her life, that smile would still be there.