I own nothing—thanks for the reviews.
Sorry that this took forever, but I had finals and you know the deal. I'm on break now though, for a month and a half! lol . . . I'll do better with the updates. I hope lol.
Seventeen is just a test,
Yeah and I would recommend,
That you live with no regrets,
And even if it seems,
Like the world is crashing on you,
You shouldn't let it hold you down,
Shouldn't hold you back,
Oh no, woah.
It was Friday afternoon and the five seniors had made it through their first week back to school, almost completely unscathed.
Lucas and Peyton walked into the school; it was Tuesday and they were both optimistic about the rest of the week. The doctor had told her that she only needed to use one crutch for now; her free hand was clasped in Lucas's calloused one.
"So, what do you want to do tomorrow?" Peyton asked as they continued their walk. Lucas didn't answer, instead he stopped in his tracks causing Peyton to jerk back a little. She furrowed her brows and followed his gaze; her breath instantly hitched.
"Let's just go to class okay?" her voice pleaded with him. He dropped her hand and walked over to the locker. She watched with baited breath. Before Lucas reached the locker Mouth had placed a small microphone in the floor. She knew this wasn't going to end well.
He dropped his backpack to the floor and reeled his leg back before bringing it, full force, forward; causing everything that had been laid out to either shatter or fly around the halls. He ripped the picture of Jimmy Edwards off the locker and faced the crowd that had gathered.
Peyton shuddered at the eerie look in his normally calm blue eyes. She didn't know where Brooke came from, but she was thankful that her protective arm was wrapped around her shoulder.
"Lucas . . ." they heard Mouth trail off.
"He doesn't deserve this", Lucas spat out.
"He was our friend."
Lucas shook his head and smiled bitterly. "That friend took away the only father I ever knew."
Before it could escalate Nathan interfered.
They still hadn't talked about that day in school. It had rocked Peyton emotionally and she knew it affected Lucas a lot more then he had let on. She watched him as he slept. She was in her computer chair and he was flat on his back on her bed. Brooke was at cheer practice; Peyton had felt like skipping and Brooke understood. They still didn't know where Lucas was at when it came to basketball and she knew she needed to be around for him. She was putting the finishing touches on her drawing when she heard the knock on her bedroom door.
"Mouth", she said in shock, "hey", she whispered and hoped Lucas didn't wake up.
Mouth looked from Peyton to the sleeping Lucas, "Can I talk to you?" he whispered. Peyton nodded and placed her sketchpad on her desk before attempting to stand.
"Here", Mouth whispered as he walked over and held out his hand. Peyton blushed; she hated feeling like an invalid.
"Thanks."
"So, what brings you by?" she asked as they walked into the hallway and down the stairs.
"I wanted to talk about Luke", he said softly. She nodded her head and they walked into the kitchen, "I'm sorry for everything that happened the other day. I shouldn't have even said anything, but I couldn't stop myself."
"I'm sorry", Peyton emphasized, "Lucas shouldn't have acted the way he did. He's hurting and we all know that, but it doesn't give him any right to be disrespectful", she said firmly.
"Everyone has their own ways of dealing", Mouth tried to reason.
"He's not dealing though. He's bottling it all up and plastering a smile on his face because he doesn't want me to have to deal with it. He's always the protector", she said in admiration, but the look on her face gave off anything but that.
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Open your eyes, Luke
Lucas woke up with confusion clouding his mind. He had no idea where that type of dream came from. He wished it would stop coming. He had been having them the entire week, but he still didn't know what they meant.
"Hey you."
Lucas smiled instantly at the familiar voice.
"What are you doing all the way over there?" he asked as he stretched his still tired muscles.
Peyton smiled. "I was watching you sleep", he raised a brow.
"Well, that's not creepy at all", he laughed as he caught the marker that she playfully threw at him.
"Like you don't watch me", she muttered, "you used to watch me all the time . . . remember", she said sweetly while smirking at him.
Lucas nodded his head and grinned. "I'm never going to live that down am I?"
"Not as long as I can help it", she agreed. A moment of silence went by before she spoke again, "Mouth came by a little while ago", Lucas furrowed his brows, "he wanted to apologize, but you were sleeping."
"I don't really wanna talk to him anyway", Lucas said as he folded his arms over his chest.
"Luke", her voice pleaded with him and she closed her eyes, "he's sorry okay. Jimmy was his friend and he feels horrible that everything played out the way it did. Please talk to him", she begged with a pout.
"I just need time Peyt. Jimmy was my friend too, this whole thing just sucks", he sighed in frustration and Peyton knew the conversation was over.
"We have to get going", she said as she grabbed onto the desk and stood herself up.
"Last appointment", Lucas said with a smile.
The entire week after school he and Peyton headed over to the hospital. The doctor checked Peyton and thankfully everything had been fine at every appointment.
"I know! I'm pretty sure my days of the crutch are over", she smiled back, "I'll be in the car", she said softly.
Lucas stared at her. She was putting on a brave for him and he loved her for it. He knew the fact that he wasn't opening up to her about this was upsetting, but until he figured out what everything meant he didn't want to get her involved. He felt like a hypocrite. He was always telling her to open up to him and here he was, completely closed off.
"Hey", he called out as she reached her doorway, "I love you, you know that", she smiled at him and nodded her head.
"I know, I love you too", she smiled at him again before walking out the door.
Lucas sighed as he got out of the bed. He ran his hand through his hair and made his way to the door.
"Luke!" Peyton yelled from downstairs, "keys", her voice echoed through the house.
He chuckled and walked over to her desk. He grabbed the keys and was about to turn around when he noticed her sketchpad. He checked over his shoulder before carefully opening it and turning to her newest drawing. It was of him and her. They were standing face to face, but he was in a box of some sort. They were speaking to each other. She was asking him if he was okay and he was saying he was fine. The caption at the bottom is what really caught his attention.
True Love?
------------------------------
"Haley James Scott", the gray haired nurse called out into the waiting room.
The small brunette jumped up and grabbed Nathan's hand in the process.
"Let's go hubby", she cheered as they followed the nurse.
Nathan chuckled and squeezed her hand. He never knew someone who was so excited to be in a doctor's office. Granted, this was a pretty awesome experience and he knew everything would be fine; he just couldn't stop the nerves that crept into him.
"You okay?" his eyes snapped to meet Haley's. She was already on the table with her shirt half up.
"I'm great", he smiled and leaned down to kiss her. "I might have to talk to the doctor about this whole shirt up business", he mumbled without breaking contact.
"Oh please", Haley muttered as she rolled her eyes, but smiled up at him.
"Young love", Dr. Robert's commented as he entered the room. Haley blushed and Nathan smirked.
"How's it going doc?" Nathan asked as he shook the older man's hand.
"Not bad. The Raven's are pulling out a good season."
"We're pulling out a great season", Nathan corrected him confidently.
Dr. Robert's chuckled. "Excuse my husband", Haley apologized as she glared at Nathan.
"Oh please, I remember what it was like to be a Raven. It's good that he has so much pride", Nathan grinned and Haley scoffed.
"Anymore compliments and we won't be able to breathe because Nathan's head will take up air space", she teased. Nathan's mouth hung open and the doctor simply smirked.
"Then let's take a look at your baby", the doctor proceeded to slip on a pair of gloves and prepped Haley.
"This will be a little cold", he reminded the young mother to be. She sucked in a breath and goose bumps formed.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that", Nathan grabbed her and brought it to his lips; kissing it sweetly. Soon enough a heartbeat enveloped the room.
"Alright, everything seems to be developing fine. There's strong heartbeat and all the vitals are fine. Would you like to know what you'll be having in a few months?" he questioned with a smile.
Nathan turned to Haley with hopeful eyes. He had told her that he wanted to know the sex and Haley stubbornly disagreed; needless to say the married couple went through a good set of arguments.
"Yes", Haley said as she squeezed Nathan's hand.
"Okay," Dr. Robert's moved the sonogram device around Haley's swollen stomach until he found what he was looking for, "can you guys see that?" he asked as he pointed to the screen.
Nathan grinned, "Is that a . . ."
"Yes, in five months you will both welcome a guaranteed star Raven to the world."
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"Lucas, can you drop it please?" she begged as she walked into her house.
"No Peyton, I will not drop it", he mocked, "What the hell is that drawing supposed to mean?" he questioned in anger.
She sighed in frustration. The entire car ride home had been based on that drawing. All she wanted to do was enjoy the rest of the night with her boyfriend. Maybe go out dinner or the movies. But no, sometimes he needed to learn when to let a sleeping dog lie.
"You shouldn't even have seen that! Those are private," the volume of their voices continued to rise; causing the brunette that had been sleeping to carefully seat herself atop the staircase.
"It's a good thing I did see it. Were you ever going to tell me that this was how you felt?"
"Are you ever going to tell me what's going on in there?" she asked as pointed to his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Luke, that day in the school scared the hell out of me", he instantly knew she wasn't talking about the shooting; she meant the scene that played out earlier this week.
"I'm sorry okay? I wasn't thinking and I was angry. I told you I'll talk to Mouth."
"This isn't even about that", she said exasperatedly. Brooke could hear the absolute desperation in her friend's voice and knew she needed to calm this whole thing.
"Peyt—"
"I need you to let me in. Stop holding back", she begged as she grabbed his hands, "the doctors said the baby is perfectly fine. I'm not a gimp anymore", he smiled at her, "Don't hold this all in . . . please", she begged once more.
Before he could answer the front door opened and Nathan and Haley walked in, at the same time Brook stepped onto the hardwood floors of the hall.
"We're having a boy!" Nathan's voice boomed. Peyton dropped Lucas's hands and rushed over to Haley; Brooke followed her lead.
"Congrats little brother", Lucas seemed to yell over the girls screams.
"Thanks", Nathan beamed. Peyton rushed over and threw her arms around Nathan. Lucas let out a breath.
The moment was gone.
He looked over at Peyton and could see the pain behind her eyes. Yes, that moment may have been gone.
But it definitely wasn't forgotten.
Don't worry you'll show them,
There's a fire in your eyes,
And I hope you'll let it burn.
There's a scream in your voice,
And I hope you will be heard.
There's a fire in your eyes,
And I hope you'll let it burn until you're heard,
You're heard.
Let me know what you think. Problem's in Leyton land? We will have to see what the future holds.
