"Lucas…where are you taking me" I was blind folded and he had me by the shoulders, guiding me somewhere. I've never liked surprises and I still don't.
"Don't worry…we're almost there" he laughed as I sighed. He always loved to surprise me with things just 'cause he knew I couldn't stand it…he hadn't changed. A strand of hair fell into my face and he pulled it behind my ear. We had stopped by Brooke's earlier so that I could shower and get some clothes. I had straightened my hair before we left…not so much because I was trying to avoid people, but because I felt like I need some kind of change, at least for a little while. It still prevented people from recognizing me that easily and at the moment that's not a bad thing.
"Why did we stop" I asked suddenly as he lifted his hands form my shoulders. I could hear him moving…away from me. "Lucas…" I waited but he didn't answer me. I quickly undid the blind fold and looked behind me. He was leaning against some stage with his arms crossed.
"Well…" I was about to yell at him when I noticed where we were. The place was still the same exact way I left it.
"Tric…" I smiled as I turned and looked around the club. Everything was the same…the only things that had probably changed was the music selection and the food.
"Okay…I have to get to work but I'll be back later." Lucas walked towards the door and I watched him with wide eyes.
"What am I supposed to do until then" I walked towards him, he couldn't really be planning to just leave me here all day.
"I don't know…get to know the new manager…help set up for tonight...find out how the club's doing…you know, stuff like that. Have fun" I watched him walk out the door and I jumped slightly when it slammed behind him. He had just left me here, apparently with a complete stranger.
"Is someone out here" The voice was muffled behind and I watched some guy walk out from the back with three boxes piled in his arms.
"Ummm…" what was I supposed to say to this guy…sorry my friend had to go to work and I'm supposed to spend the day with you. "I'm sorry…I'll let myself out" I mumbled in a voice more high pitched then normal…that's what nerves do to me. I spun around and moved quickly to the door.
"You don't have to run off…you're not trespassing or anything. Were you looking for someone or something?" I turned around and my eyes once again grew wide and so did the guy's on the other side of the room.
"Peyton…" he walked closer to me.
"Nate…" I took my hand off the door my mouth still slightly open from shock. "What are you doing here…" I choked out and then it suddenly occurred to me that he should be the one asking that question.
"I'm the manager of the club now. I should be asking you that question…" I laughed as I walked back to the center of the room to meet him.
"As far as being in Tree Hill…I…don't really know…I came back with Brooke two days ago and now I'm just kind of here. As far as Tric…Lucas dropped me off a few minutes ago and left me here and now I get why he didn't hesitate to do so." We both laughed.
"Well come here" he opened his arms and I wrapped my arms around his neck. It felt good to be in his arms again…comforting…safe.
"It's good to be back" I whispered into his ear.
"It's good to have you back…new hair and all" he laughed as we broke apart "What happened to your wrist" he inquired as he swung his arm over my shoulder and guided me towards the bar.
"Would sore subject satisfy you…" I looked at him with hopeful eyes and he smiled.
"Yea it'll do…for now" I rolled my eyes as we took a seat at the counter. "So what's got you back home" He grabbed on of the boxes and slid it over so he could look through it. I peeked in and saw the numerous CDs.
"Ummm…will the same answer work." He raised a brow at me before going back to going through the music.
"I guess… it has to. So since your engagement ring's not on your finger I take it you and Stan are on a little break."
"You could call it that" I said slowly as I got up and walked over to the other boxes he had brought out earlier, they too were filled with music.
"I don't really like that response so sore subject doesn't really satisfy me for the first question anymore. What happened to you're wrist?"
"I got mugged one night coming home from work. I lost my bag and got a cast instead. Please don't go into a whole big spiel about how dangerous New York is and all that stuff."
"I won't…but do you know what I really would appreciate." He looked at me and I met his gaze.
"What's that" I asked with a small smile playing on my lips.
"Don't lie to me…" my smile faded and I looked back down into the box. "I'm not Lucas…I'm not just gunna ignore the fact that you just blatantly lied to my face and then wait for you to tell the truth. I'm not gunna leave you alone and you should know that already" I looked up when I felt his hand on my shoulder. "You mind telling me what really happened"
"I got into a fight with Stan and when I got tired of yelling I just walked away from him. Well he grabbed my arm to stop me and I twisted the wrong way and pulled before he let go and wound up with a hairline fracture." I rolled my eyes annoyed with Stan but mostly myself for just lying to Nathan's face…again. "So…I took off with Brooke and I haven't worn my ring since I got in the car. I guess we're on break because I know he didn't mean to do it…it was more like a freak accident kind of thing and he spent the entire ride to the hospital and the rest of the night apologizing for it. I forgive him and all I just don't know if I'm ready to go back there yet" I had just made myself out to be this strong girl…the one that everyone knew from high school. In reality I was weak and I knew it…I couldn't even face what had happened…I was coming up with every lie possible to keep my life a secret. It's pathetic and sickening, but I know that I'll keep doing it until I run out of options.
"Has he ever done something like this before." Nathan held a deadly glare in his eyes as he waited for me to answer…a glare that let me know he'd be on the next flight to New York if I ever told him the truth.
"No…we've argued and all…I mean that's normal. It's just that I have a tendency to walk off in the middle of him saying something because I don't want to hear it and I know he hates it. We never get to the point of talking things out because I walk away. I guess this time he just wanted to actually finish the argument and I think it shocked him more then it did me." It really is bad how quickly I can form a lie about this whole thing, how easily I find a way to defend Stan.
"I guess what really matters is that your okay" Nathan said with a sigh as he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me into his side. "Look Peyt…I don't know this guy that well…you do, so you have to make the decision whether you trust him or not. I trust your judgment and I trust that you'll find a way to make the right decision." I forced a smile. I'm glad he trust's my judgment because I sure as hell don't.
