I had slipped quietly out of Luke's arms about an hour ago…he had stirred slightly but settled down and fell back asleep when I tucked my pillow against his chest. I had showered and gotten dressed, and now it was just past seven, and I was downstairs pouring myself a cup of coffee. Don't get me wrong…coffee if great an all…it keeps me up on those longs days…but I can't help but hate the dependency I have on it now. Me without coffee in the morning…not a pretty sight. I laugh lightly to myself as I make my way upstairs with a hand wrapped firmly around the black ceramic mug.
"Hey…" I kneel down at the side of the pull-out couch, my hand resting gently on her shoulder. "Sweetie wake-up" I watch her open her eyes slowly, as she sweeps her blonde hair out of her face.
"Peyton…" her voice is still groggy, but the smile that graces her face warms my heart. I can't help but think back to my conversation with Lucas last night…when he told me she was excited about coming here…that she had asked about me.
"Morning Sam…sorry I missed you last night." She sat up slowly and Kristen stirred on the other side of the bed, but she didn't wake up. "I have to go out and run some errands… would you like to come with me?" She bobbed her head up and down, still smiling. "Alright…grab some clothes and get dressed"
"Okay…" She swung her small legs off the bed and walked quickly towards her suitcase, pulling out an outfit before retreating to the bathroom. I stood up and walked over to the sliding glass doors the lead to the terrace. I've always liked the way the city looked on Saturday mornings…during the weekday the sidewalks were usually a crowded mass of blue and black suits on their way to work…worse when it was raining because then it seemed like everyone that lived in this place had a black umbrella, myself included. But the scene changed on the weekends…people dressed down and everyone had a different style. I've spent hours looking out this window, just watching people and how they interact…sometimes I sat on the terrace with my sketch pad on my lap and just drew everything I saw. I nearly toppled over when something latched onto my back, hands flying around my neck.
"I missed you…seven months apart is way too long." I laughed as she slid off my back.
"You're right Hales…it is too long. I've missed you too" I threw my arms around her neck and pulled her into a tight embrace. "How have you been"
"Good…you're not working today are you…Luke said you were off." I watched her brows furrow as she pulled away from me, glancing at my clothes.
"I am off…but I've got some things to do, figured I'd get them done early." I shrugged as she nodded. "I'm also hoping to spend some time with Sam before …" I let the statement hang because I knew I had said too much. I was hoping she wouldn't pick up on it, but the sparkle that suddenly gleamed in her eyes told me otherwise.
"Before what…" her smile was wide as she eyed me suspiciously.
"Before you guys have to leave." She rolled her yes, but didn't press me. I'm not sure if it's because she actually believes me, or if it's because Sam just bounced back into the room. I'm 99 percent sure that it's from the latter, but I'm not complaining. "All ready" I gazed down at Sam as she bobbed her head up and down.
"So where are you two headed" I was about to respond but was cut off before I could even open my mouth.
"Where are you going…" I watched Brooke walk over to us.
"Just taking Sam with me to run some errands…pick up a few things from the grocery store, go to the bank, and I have to stop by the office really quick to make sure everything is still running smoothly. We should be back in an hour or two" I watched them both nod towards me, but Brooke's smile faltered when she realized I wasn't inviting her.
"Oh…" she still had a small smile on her face, but her eyes weren't nearly as bright as they were a few seconds ago. I really wanted to spend some quality time with Sam, and I wanted to do it before Lucas sat her down to talk.
"How fast can you get ready?" I look at Brooke, and just like that the gleam is back in my best friend's eyes. I have two weeks to get to know Sam, I don't have to do it right now. I haven't seen Haley in six months…and I owe Brooke big time for "P. Sawyer's Day Off", and even if it's only been two weeks, I've missed my best friend.
"I'll meet you downstairs in no time" she didn't wait for me to respond before taking off down the hall and back to her room. Haley watched her and turned back to me with small laugh.
"I don't think she's ever gunna change."
"Neither do I" we both laugh lightly. "So you're wearing your pajamas out in the street…stylish" I watched her lips part slightly, and it let me know that she thought I was only inviting Brooke. "I'll wake up Kristen for our girls' day out…now go get ready…unless you really are gunna wear that" I cock an eyebrow up and watch her blush a little.
"I'll meet you downstairs" She spins on her heel and disappears just as Brooke did a minute ago. I was about to go wake up Kristen but stop when I catch sight of the frown on Sam's face.
"What's wrong" I kneel down so that I'm eye level with her.
"Nothing…" She bites her lip a little and looks down towards the carpet.
"Sam…" I pressed and she eventually looked back up at me.
"I thought you were just taking me" My lips parted slightly as I sighed. When…how had this little girl grown so attached to me. Sure I spent a lot of time with her and Lucas…but that was six months ago…I guess I though she would've forgotten me by now…that she wouldn't have really known more than my name.
"Hey Peyton…I have some stuff to take care of…and I'm gunna need Brooke to help me, so why don't you two go ahead without us." I looked back at Haley, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth, she was trying to be serious, but I knew better. I watch Sam's face light up at the thought of it just being me and her again, and I can't deny that it warms my heart a little. "Hey kiddo, go grab a pop tart from downstairs…Uncle Nathan left them on the counter where you can reach them"
"Okay…" we both watched her leave the living room and head down the hall. Once she's out of sight Haley approaches me, the smile finally breaking through.
"She almost gave Brooke a run for her money when it came to who was most excited about this trip" Haley crossed her arms over her chest.
"Not Nathan…" I take sip of my coffee and listen to her scuff.
"You my husband who tired to pack his bags last year when you didn't answer the phone…yeah right…the only person who would've been able to be anywhere near as excited as Nathan was…he was already here….but Nathan still beats Luke." She stops and raises her eyes brows slightly. "I should be jealous…I mean he is my husband...yet when I went to bed last night…he chose to sleep on the couch to wait for you." She tried to look angry, but a second later she's laughing and I can't help but join her.
"Hales are you sure you don't wanna come…you were pretty excited when I invited you." I watch her shake her head no, but I still feel guilty.
"Peyton…Sam really missed you when you left." She watched my face reflect my confusion because I still don't understand who two weeks left this kind of impression on a six year old…actually she was still five then. "Lucas is a great father…he actually takes on both rolls because he has to. He's you're prime P.T.A parent…he goes to the meetings if he's off, helps out after school, chaperons the fieldtrips, does the fundraisers….even participates in the bake sales…I usually take Kristen to the store and buy her something she can bring…but every single time Lucas and Sam actually bake something…he sets up her play dates, and does the shuffling back and forth when there's some group activity. They have an amazing relationship…he's the father every kid wishes they had. But…it's getting to the point now, where Sam is questioning why everyone else has a mom that comes to pick them up after school, and he dad is the one that always does it. She can't play dress up with Luke…she only does that with me or Brooke…and lately it's been more so with Brooke because she's deemed me Kristen's mommy. But when you came down earlier this year…she got to do all that stuff with you. You danced around the room with her and took her shopping."
"Hales that was only for one day…" I countered…I'm still not seeing exactly where she's going. Deep down I know what she's trying to say…I'm just finding it a little hard to believe.
"Maybe so…but that day started with you picking her up from school because Lucas couldn't make it. Peyton for that day you were hers, and she's been dying to have that again. She's looking for a family Peyton." Those words hit me hard and I'm not exactly sure what to do with them because of the immense weight they carry. "When your mom died you were old enough to know that she was your mom and she wasn't replaceable. Sam was barely three when Amy passed…she didn't have the comprehension you did. Back then, and even more so now, mommy just means that person that's there for her. The person she can do special things with and not have to share with anyone else, except for Lucas. With all the time you and Luke spent together last time you were in Tree Hill…Sam put you in this role and…"
"She hasn't taken me out of it yet has she…" Haley gives me a knowing look and my eyes dart down to the floor. "Does Lucas know about this…" for some reason that seems to be one of the more predominant thoughts floating around in my head.
"She's only brought it up to Brooke and Kristen. She asked Brooke if you were gunna be her new mommy…that was a little bit after you went home earlier this year. She didn't know how to answer so she said maybe. Well Sam went and told Kristen that's who you might be now and Kristen asked if it was true and I had to go back and talk to Brooke and get everything straight. That idea's been in her head since then. No one's said anything to Luke about it…but I think he knows, because she asks about you…quite a bit. When I say she missed you Peyton…I mean she really missed you. She's got it stuck in her head…and no one really knows what to say to her because of the way you and Luke left things."
I know how close he is with Sam, how protective he is of her. He puts her ahead of everyone because that's what he's supposed to do. It suddenly makes perfect sense why he didn't hesitate to propose…this wasn't just something he wanted. They both want me in their lives. So what's the problem now…maybe the fact that we both reside in different states, we're both settled where we are…and we're living completely different lifestyles.
