A Father's Love

Chapter 17 Big Plans

Lucas and Peyton had caught the first bus out of town, and ended up in Charlotte, North Carolina. It had only taken Lucas about ten minutes to pack his things. He hated leaving his family, but he knew that Peyton needed him, and truth be told he needed her too.

They had ended up in a dumpy motel room, but that was okay with both of them as long as they were together.

"Luke do you think I should call Haley?" Peyton asked. "I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye." It broke her heart that she had to leave without telling Haley that she was leaving.

"You have to do it on a pay phone. We have to ditch our phones," Lucas informed her. They were running away, and they didn't need to leave a trail if they wanted to stay hidden.

"Right, I um so one outside. I'm just gonna go. I won't be long." She walked outside and dialed her best friends number.

It was like seven in the morning, and Haley hadn't even woken up yet. She was groggy when she heard her phone going off. "Hello."

"Hey," Haley could tell that there was something wrong with Peyton just by the way that she said hey.

"What's wrong?"

"I have to tell you something, but you have to promise not to say anything."

"Peyton I always keep your secrets. What's wrong?" Haley was extremely worried about her best friend.

"Lucas and I ran away last night."

"Ha, ha Peyton....You didn't run away." The silence on the other end made Haley realize that she was telling the truth. "You ran away?"

"I had to get away Haley. I miss you already, and I'll call you as soon as I get settled."

"Peyton you are never going to get settled. You are on the run, and you will always be on the run. Come home and work out your problems with your dad." She begged her friend to come home.

"He was going to send me to New York Haley. I can't do that. I won't go to New York. I love Lucas and I've got to be with him. I should probably go. I trust you Haley," Peyton sighed.

"I love you Peyton, and please be careful," Haley had tears in her eyes. She never expected to lose her best friend.

..........................................

Larry knocked on Peyton's door. He didn't get an answer. "Peyton we've got to go." He opened the door to see her bed made, and her bag gone. "Damn it."

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Karen had fixed Lucas breakfast. She wanted him to know that she loved him, and she was there for him. She opened his door to find him missing, but there was a note.

Dear Mom and Keith,

Don't worry about me I'm fine. I love both of you. I am so sorry that I have to do this, but it really is the only way.

Love Lucas

Karen's heart dropped into her stomach. This had to be some kind of sick joke.

......................................

It hadn't taken Larry long to get to Haley's house. "Mr. Sawyer," Haley knew exactly why he was there.

"Where's my daughter?" he asked angrily.

"I don't know," Haley was honestly telling the truth.

"I know damn well that she's here," he pushed through the door.

"She's not here, and I have no idea where she is."

"Yeah right," he yelled at her. "Where is she?"

"My guess is she went where ever she could be as far away from you and your overbearing rules," Haley yelled back and stood her ground. "She ran away Mr. Sawyer, and you have no one but yourself to blame." Haley walked to the stairs. "You can show yourself out because I have no idea where Peyton is."

......................................

Keith was reading the note, "You think this has to do with Peyton?"

"I know damn well this has to do with Peyton. He wouldn't just leave to leave Keith." To say that Karen was upset would have been an understatement.

They heard a knock at the door. Karen answered, and it was Larry. Before she could even think she had slapped him as hard as she possibly could leaving everyone in the room shocked.

....................................

Peyton was lying in Lucas' arms. "We should probably only stay here for one night. We have to continue to move all the time now."

"We'll never be able to stop running Lucas. Is this a mistake?" She was worried that running away wouldn't solve any of their problems.

"Your dad left us no choice Peyton. I want to be with you, and if I have to run every single day for the rest of my life it will be worth it because I will have you in my life." Lucas kissed her forehead.

"I just wish there was some other way Luke," she said sadly.

They sat in silence for a few minutes and then Lucas finally spoke up. "I think I might have away for us to be together."

"How?"

He got off of the bed and looked into her eyes. "I love you Peyton, and I know that you are my future. I don't want anything else, but we don't need run for the rest of our lives." He bent down on one knee. "I don't have a ring or anything but I love you and I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"

Peyton's green eyes grew wider than she could ever have imagined. "Are you sure?" was her response.

"I'm positive."

"Then yes Lucas I'll marry you." She smiled and kissed him. Apart of her knew that they were rushing things, but she loved him and wanted to be with him.

..................................

"Damn why the hell did you do that?" Larry yelled.

"Because this is your fault," she yelled back. "You made them leave. If you would have given Peyton her space then none of this would be happening."

"I was protecting my daughter."

"She's sixteen Larry. She doesn't need protecting from everything. You needed to give her some space, and when you didn't she ran away. If something happens to either one of them it will be on your hands no one elses." She was absolutely furious, and Larry Sawyer was number one on her list.

................................

Haley and Nathan were sitting in his truck. "I can't believe that they ran away." Nathan was shocked.

"Me either.... I think they should come back." She sighed. "Running away isn't going to solve anything. They should just face their problems."

Her phone rang, "Hello."

"Haley," Peyton said in an excited voice.

"Peyton are you coming home?" she asked hopeful of a yes.

"Yes we're coming home, but not before we get MARRIED," she almost screamed through the phone.

Haley's mouth dropped. Peyton couldn't be serious. She would just be throwing her life away, and Haley didn't want that for her best friend.

AN: Alright so there it is. Almost all of you that guessed were right. I think there are going to be two or three more chapters, and I hope to have them up by the end of the weekend.

Thanks for the reviews, and let me know if you have any last suggestions.

As always you guys rock!