Author's notes: Yep, I know it has been ages since I updated but here's the thing – I find that now Leyton are together on the show I don't feel the need to create my own realities. But I tried since I get so many good reviews for this fic and I couldn't just leave it hanging

So enjoy!

Lucas awoke the next morning to find himself in an empty bed. While he was confused at the emptiness since he definitely remembered falling asleep with the blonde in his arms last night, he couldn't say he was surprised that she had run after what had happened between them.

Sighing, Lucas pulled himself into a sitting position as he swung his legs onto the floor. He wasn't going to deny that last night had been a dream come true as he finally showed Peyton how he really felt, but he wasn't going to jump right into big romantic gestures either. The quickest way to make Peyton hide how she felt with those damn walls of hers was to bombard her with grand declarations. He figured he would let the whole thing play out and see what her reaction was. With this in mind, Lucas made his way to the kitchen for some coffee after throwing on jeans and a t-shirt that he found lying on his bedroom floor.

Rounding the corner, Lucas expected to find Peyton leaning against the sink nursing a cup of coffee just like the position he had found her in for the last couple of weeks. However, the kitchen was empty and a quick scan of the living room proved it was empty as well. Listening to the sounds of the apartment, he could hear no water running or other distinguishing sounds from the bathroom, so Lucas decided either Peyton had gone back to her room for some more sleep or she had left early. Noticing a handwritten note propped near the coffee pot, Lucas decided she had done the latter.

Sure enough the note she had left him confirmed that she had run out early this morning to follow up on some errands she needed to finish and she didn't know when she would be back. Just as he suspected, Peyton hadn't mentioned anything about last nights' activities. Deciding he had nothing better to do, Lucas turned on the tv to some random chat show and settled himself on the couch.

Peyton sat alone at a table at a nearby coffee shop, mindlessly stirring her coffee as she stared blankly out the window. Last nights' storm had passed quickly, leaving only a few clouds in the sky and the streets glistening with still drying rain. If only everything else from last night would pass that quickly, she thought wryly, as the images of her kiss with Lucas rolled through her head, as they had been doing since she woke up.

She had been nothing but pleased when she woke up that morning in Lucas' bed, to find his arm wrapped protectively around her waist. She knew that was how she wanted to wake up every morning for the rest of her life, but as she snuggled closer to his warmth, she couldn't shake the feeling everything was happening just a little too quickly. Why she couldn't just let herself be happy she would never know. Either way, as she watched Lucas sleeping next to her, his chest rising and falling softly with each breath, she felt the all too familiar instinct to run. Before she fully comprehended what she was doing, she had carefully extracted herself from Lucas' hold and quietly tiptoed out of the bedroom before quickly changing and leaving the apartment.

The time alone had done nothing to ease Peyton's mind, so she decided to call her best friend and unload all of her problems, with the hope someone else could solve them. Pulling out her cell phone, she scrolled through her contact list before hitting send.

"Hey bestest friend! To what do I owe the pleasure?" Brooke's raspy voice greeted as she noticed the caller id.

"Not much." Peyton answered. "Actually, that's a lie. I have something to tell you."

"O-kay" Brooke dragged out. "You can tell me anything. What's going on?"

"Lucas and I... kind of... maybe... sort of... kissed." Peyton finally got out.

"And?" Brooke asked, her tone indicating she wasn't surprised at all.

"And it's a big deal!' Peyton exclaimed trying to keep her voice down as a few patrons looked her way. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Do you want the 'Lucas is hot' answer or the 'supportive best friend' answer?" Brooke questioned.

"What's the difference?" Peyton asked confused.

"Well the 'Lucas is hot' answer is along the lines of you going back to the apartment and getting laid – finally. While the 'supportive best friend' answer is along the lines of asking you how you feel and what you really want and blah blah blah." Brooke answered easily.

"Okay well seeing as I am not going to go and 'get laid' as you so eloquently put it, how about we go for the 'supportive best friend' answer."

"Damn I knew you would pick that one." Brooke sighed. "Okay, so what's going on in that pretty little head of yours? Isn't this what you wanted?"

"Well yes and no. I mean yes I couldn't imagine anything better but no because now it's going to be awkward."

"Why does it have to be awkward? Now you can both finally admit what everyone has been trying to tell you for the last few years and just get back together." Brooke reasoned.

"What if it was a one time thing? What if it didn't mean anything?"

"You're kidding right?" Brooke rolled her eyes even though Peyton couldn't see her. "Peyton, the boy is madly in love with you, has been for as long as I can remember. I would be willing to bet everything I have to say he is jumping for joy at this new turn of circumstances. By the way, what did he say about it?"

"Pretty much nothing. I mean it happened late last night, so we just fell asleep and then I kind of left first thing this morning before he woke up."

"Peyton!' Brooke admonished. "Just go home and you'll see it will all work out. As soon as you two are together in the same room – conscious – it will all fall into place."

Peyton started to protest, but was interrupted by Brooke's demand.

"No. Get back home right now missy. Call me later."

With that Brooke hung up, leaving Peyton holding onto her cell phone as she contemplated if she should listen to her best friend. Sighing, Peyton threw her cell phone back into her bag as she gathered her things to leave the coffee shop. She figured she might as well face the music and see what Lucas' reaction to all of this was.

Author's Note:

I think just one more chapter to have the Leyton conversation...