The start: A simple touch
Sometime later Peyton managed to crawl out of the girl's bathroom her eyes bloodshot and swollen from crying. She dragged herself to a secluded corner in the library. It was not uncommon for her to miss class as regularly as she did. In fact it had become sort of a routine. Truth be told all she really wanted was solitude and all she wanted to hear was her quiet sobs and the silence pounding in her ears.
It was during his study hall that Lucas walked briskly into the library seeking quiet to enjoy a new book he had picked up. He sat at a table not too far from where Peyton sat crying and he began to read. It was not long though before he heard the quiet sobs of her crying. Closing his book he knelt behind a bookshelf to find Peyton curled in a ball sobbing.
She did not take to his presence or even acknowledge that he was there. The crying continued and he felt her pain as she sat there helpless. Eventually, a wave of fatigue hit Peyton and her head came to rest on the shoulder of Lucas, the darkness finally overtaking her. He sighed softly brushing back the curls from her face. Even in sleep she looked absolutely beautiful. Her face looked younger and less tired. Her youth captured in its purest form.
"Come on lets get you home." he whispered picking her up, cradling her in his arms.
In slumber Peyton felt a sudden calm wash over her and warmth spread through her body as Lucas held her tight in his arms. She nestled her cheek into his chest feeling light as a feather as if just maybe she could float away.
With ease he placed her gently in the passenger's seat of his car. He placed an arm around her shoulder as he drove. While he enjoyed the fact this was the most time the two had spent together he could not help but feel worried about Peyton. She was missing almost for the entirety of the school day and some days she completely missed. It was odd and completely out of character for Peyton. Somewhere in his heart he knew the real reason behind it, but the problem was actually bringing himself to say it.
Lucas stole a glance at Peyton still sound asleep. She looked so innocent in sleep, how could a face that seemed to hold no secrets be involved in such horrible things. After parking the car, he pulled Peyton from the passenger's seat again cradling her against his chest as he made his way inside.
Once inside her room he laid her softly on her bed she felt so fragile to him, so easy to break. He lay beside her listening to the gentle sound of her breathing, his eyes boring into the ceiling. It wasn't long before he too drifted off into sleep her breathing a serene lullaby that rocked him gentle to sleep.
When he awoke he turned over hoping to see Peyton still beside him sleeping peacefully. Yet what he saw was an empty bed. He pushed himself up with one arm the other he used to rub the sleep from his eyes. He saw her then sitting in her computer chair staring at him.
"How long have you been up?" he asked hoarsely stealing a glance to darkness outside the window.
"Not long." she replied never taking her eyes off of him. Normally, she would have wasted no time in shoving him out the door, cursing at him for lack of better things to say. Now, there was no one's company she wanted more than his.
"I won't ask about today. It's none of my business." he averted his gaze to the walls which were decorated with her various drawings and paintings. A few of them made him cringe.
"Good, because I wouldn't have told you anyway." The words sounded harsh though she did not intend them to be. If anything she was honest, she would never tell him the real reason.
Lucas gave a faint nod watching her as she gracefully made her way to the edge of her bed, hoisting herself up to face him.
"Listen, Peyton I'm sorry I haven't been here for you lately or been a very good friend. It's not my place to pry. Just know I'm here for you and I do still care about you." Their eyes locked if only for a moment. In that moment a spark was there as emotions rushed between them. The feeling of the emotions surge through her veins remembering this feeling all too well when she and Lucas were together. She averted her gaze back to her bed, her fingers playing with the hem of her shirt.
"It's not all your fault Luke. I've been distant myself lately. I just feel so alone." Stifled sobs rose in her chest. Suddenly she felt weak beneath the gaze of Lucas Scott. He wrapped his arms around her, shielding her away from the evils that plagued her. Consequences be damned, he would do whatever it took to protect her.
"You're not alone Peyton. I'm here can't you feel me?" he whispered into her hair burying his cheek there.
She nestled closer into her chest, her body seeming to mold into his. The touch from her fingertips was cold, shockingly cold as they ran up his arm causing a light jerk. Peyton thought nothing of it and returned to her ministrations. They lay there like that, letting the minutes tick by neither one of them dared to move for fear of losing the comfort in which they felt. One thing, however, could not be avoided and that was Peyton going to the bathroom.
She had promised just a moment but a moment turned into five minutes and then ten. Lucas sat wondering if he should go inside to check on her make sure everything was all right. It would be he assured himself and sure enough she came padding from the bathroom and fell into his arms once more. Yet something was different about her. Her eyes seemed out of focus and her voice slightly more airy. He held his tongue though, she had said it before, it was none of his business.
Listening to their gentle breathing eventually lulled the pair into a deep sleep their bodies spooned together. She felt his warmth as she slept and his arm wrapped protectively around her. Early afternoon arrived as Peyton's eyes snapped open only to see Lucas still sound asleep beside her. A smile began to play on the corner of her lips her fingers running along his arm feeling the muscles taut beneath his skin. She listened intently to rhythmic beat of his heart inside his chest, matching the beat to that of her own heart. It was there, everything was still there for them, but it could never work.
The idea of going to school seemed prominent; at least for Peyton had Lucas been awake to voice his own opinion. However, Peyton was content where she was and had no intentions of moving for the duration of the day.
Her fingers danced along his arm once more, though this time his eyelids fluttered open at her touch. He grinned broadly bracing himself as he sat up. Peyton sized him up making note of the tired lines in his face. He looked worn out his eyes did dance as brightly as they used to.
"What's wrong Lucas. You just slept for almost fourteen hours."
His head fell slightly and he heaved a deep breath, "Things are just complicated. There are things with Keith and my mom and Dan of course. It just keeps getting harder and more complicated and I'm not sure how to deal with it anymore."
Instinctually, she wrapped her arms around his muscular upper body feeling his head nestle into the crook of her neck. "You're only eighteen Lucas. You can't save the world and no one should depend on you to do so."
The light whisper of her voice and her soft touch of her fingertips running along his back was enough to comfort and calm him. He broke away with a smile, "Thank you Peyton."
He reared up from the bed ready to leave when he heard her speak again, "Lucas."
He turned around with a smile nodding his head towards her.
"Thank you for taking me home yesterday. I'm glad you did." a light smile played at the corners of her lips.
"You're welcome. I'm glad I did too."
She watched him leave with a smile playing across his own lips. In one swift movement she fell back onto her bed feeling lighter than she had in ages as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Idly she played with a frayed thread from her comforter. For better or for worse Lucas was back in her life he was always going to be there for her. Never again would she push him away like she had. It felt good to have someone close to her again. Comfort and security was all she wanted.