Chapter Two: Truly Madly Deeply

The summer soon ended and the school year began. I was one of few who was actually excited to go back to school. I figured that whenever I was at school, I would have a chance of seeing her at least once a day. I had tried my hardest to keep my crush on Peyton a secret, but it didn't take long for some of the people close to me, like my best friend Haley and my mom, to figure that out.

"So Lucas," my mom started one night at dinner. "Haley tells me that you're interested in one of the girls at your school. What's her name?" I glared over at Haley.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I replied, taking a bite of the chili my mom had made.

"Oh come on. You know what she's talking about, Mr. Lucas Sawyer." Haley replied, laughing as she patted my shoulder lightly. I ran my hands over my face. I knew I couldn't keep the charade up for much longer.

"Alright, can we please not talk about this at the dinner table? And Haley, shouldn't you be heading home?"

"Ooh...obviously the Peyton Sawyer subject is a touchy one for Lucas Scott." Haley said, grinning over at Karen.

"So, what is she like?" my mom asked.

"She's perfect..." I whispered. Her image immediately slid into the center of my mind.

"I told you Karen, he's head over heels in love."

"Head over heels, huh?"

"Actually...maybe not head over heels. Maybe he's just truly, madly, deeply in love with her." Haley said, smirking in my direction.

"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm truly, madly, deeply in love with Peyton Sawyer."

I never really had a chance to talk to Peyton in middle school. She was always surrounded by crowds of girls and boys. During the rare moments when she was alone I could never work up enough courage to go and talk to her. Every now and then her eyes would meet mine. I lived for these moments and I dreamed of the day that I could hold her in my arms and stare into her perfect green eyes forever. Throughout my middle school years, I made absolutely no progress in my pursuit of Peyton Sawyer. My first two years of high school I didn't get very far either. I figured that since I was in high school, I would work up enough courage to at least talk to her...and I was wrong. However, during my junior year of high school, everything changed.

Author's Note: So here's chapter two, short, I know. But the next chapters will be a lot more detailed. And no more huge time jumps. R&R!