AN: Sorry for the late update (again). I had so many stuff to do with graduation and now I have been, and still am, abroad in Asia. Working, riding on elephants stuff like that. It was fantastic but you see I had other stuff on my mind. I will be back in Germany the next week though but I am not sure when I will be working again on the next chapter. I hope soon but I can't promise you anything.

I hope there are still some people reading my story. I need your reviews to see how I am doing. So please review. Every time after I posted a new chapter I am checking my emails frankly to see if I got a review, a story alert anything that tells me you are still reading my story. It makes me so happy. So, again, please review whether it's good or back. I need you feedback guys.

RJMoonspell4: I am glad you liked it and I look forward to see what you think about this new chapter. Please let me know.

Kylielink, HighQueenDofNarnia: Thanks for the review. Maybe I get another review(*hint, hint*)

lukepeyton4ever: Thank you and let me know your opinion after reading this chapter.

MyAimIsTrue: Thanks a lot. Nobody paid attention to the songs yet, or as far as I know, they did not. This means a lot since these songs keep me inspired.

OTHGirl24: So what do you think about this development? Let me know as usual;-)

IcyGold: Well how did I do capturing Lucas inner struggle here? Good or bad? Tell me so I can get better. Reviews like yours always encourage me. So keep on letting me know.

A special thanks goes to lalez my beta-reader who helps me even when she is busy, very busy. Thanks a lot!

So enjoy this chapter. And as usual give me some feedback, preferably some mentioning of the plot. I hope you like it.

Moments like this

by Reamonn

Lucas

Lucas stared blankly at his display and shook his head. It was as if he had been in a trance.

What had just happened?He was with Lindsay for good' s sake! He had just told her that nothing was going on between him and Peyton and here he was thinking who knows what contrary to that.

He was confused. He needed to clear his head. He heard his phone still ringing and Peyton watched him concerned, her head was leaned sideways.. He looked undecided from Peyton to his phone and tried to compose his face.

He led the phone to his ear and pushed the answer button while being very aware of Peyton surveying him.

"Hi Luke. Is everything alright. It took you quite some time to pick up.", Lindsay said, concern obvious in her voice.

He shot glance at Peyton, hoping she didn't recognize it, and tried to sound calm.

"Everything is fine. I was just listening to some music and didn't heard my phone.", he answered.

He heard her sigh and he was relieved that she didn't seem to notice the irritation in his voice.

"Well I just called to tell you that I have to go to NY. My bosses are getting impatient but I am sure they will be happy to hear that you are back on track. So I am confident that I will be back soon. I just won't be able to go to Brooke's store opening, though.", she explained.

"I am sure she will understand that. Don't worry. When are you leaving?", he asked.

"My flight goes in an hour and the taxi should be here soon. I guess in 10 minutes.", she said after a moment of thinking.

Lucas shifted uneasy where he sat. So he would have more time to deal with this numb feeling in his stomach without her being here. Maybe it was good that he wouldn't see Lindsay for a few days. This gave him more time to figure out what to do.

"I probably won't be back home in time. Could you give me a call when you have landed?"

"Sure. I will tell them about your new novel and this should lift some pressure of your shoulders. I believe in you. This is gonna be a great book.", she reassured him.

He felt confidence return and he was remembered why he loved Lindsay. She was the first one to believe in him and his novel and she proofed this again. She would never give up upon him no matter how strong her doubts were.

"Thanks. Talk to you later.", he finished and looked sideways at Peyton.

She didn't say something but he knew she wanted to know what it was about. He could see the curiosity in her emerald green eyes.

"Lindsay has to go back to NY so she cannot be at the store opening.", he summarized their conversation.

He saw something flicker in her eyes. Was is hope? No why should it be. They weren't together anymore. So why was this strange feeling returning?

"Oh", she said, "Then who are you going with? I would ask you to go. I mean as friends. I don't want this to be awkward or something."

He was happy about this proposition of hers even when it hurt a little when she said 'friends'. But on the other hand that is what they were, right. Just friends. And as friends they could go to another friend 's party together. Completely normal. Nothing awkward.

She sensed his hesitation and added:

"It's fine if you don't want to. I wont blame you if you say no. I just thought it could be like old times you know."

'Old times'. He smiled at her response and nodded. She obviously thought this was a no because her shoulders slumped and was about to turn around when he spoke up.

"You got me wrong. Of course we can go together. Just like old times", he said smirking and he saw her lighten up immediately. Her smile was even visible in her eyes. Something he had not seen in a long time. It warmed his heart to see her happy.

"When does the opening start?", he asked even though he already knew it. He just wanted to hear her say it.

"8 pm.",she answered.

"Let's say I pick you up at 7.30 pm.", he suggested.

"OK I will be ready.", she said still smiling.

"I gotta go home. Could you give me a ride?"

"Sure my comet is right over there. Didn't you got here by car?", she asked wondering.

"No I needed some fresh air so I walked.", he told her while walking beside her.

They chatted the rest of the walk to the car and the whole ride until she dropped him off and drove home.

-0-

Lucas was walking up and down his room nervously. The clock showed 6.50 pm. He wore a blue shirt and black pants. He stood still for a second staring at his phone lying on his bed.

Lindsay has called 10 minutes ago. She landed in New York and excused herself again for having to leave on such short notice. He could hear regret in her voice and he reassured her that it was fine, again.

If he was honest to himself he was glad that she would not be here. Ever since hearing that song he had that numb feeling in his stomach that was somehow connected to Peyton. He couldn't think straight right after it had started but after talking to her and it got better. This feeling was still there but it was as if it ebbed up. More even, he felt kind of light-headed.

He had not felt this way since...since high-school. It felt like a lifetime ago. What had happened that he had lost it? Sure it had not been easy then and it surely was not easy now but... He had his friends and the security that they would always be there. After graduation he had not keep in touch with all of them. Nathan, Haley and Jamie were his family and Brooke and Peyton? They had gone off to pursue their dreams. Somewhere he had lost them. Peyton rejecting his proposal had hurt so much. She had shown him that she didn't love him as much as he loved her and all of his hopes had been shattered. After this devastating night in LA a part of him had been lost.

But they were back and he had regained faith over the last few days that she would stay. It was another Peyton. She had changed just like everyone else, including himself.

It would never be like it was before but at least they could be friends again. It was better than not having her in his life at all. He felt incomplete. And he had a feeling like things would get better now that everyone was back home, in Tree Hill.

He turned his head left and saw that it was already 7.10 pm.

He went up and rushed to the door, grabbing his keys on the way and starting his car.

-0-

Lucas pulled up in front of Brooke's new house. It looked welcoming. He had not been in there yet but he knew Brooke never would have chosen it for her and Peyton if it wasn't.

He checked his watch. It was 7.25. He had almost driven in the wrong direction. He had automatically drove towards Peyton' s old house when he remembered that they lived at another part of town now. So he had to turn around but he made it in time.

He pulled the key out of the ignition and got out of the car. He walked to her front door and when he was about to knock on the door it opened and Peyton stood there.

She wore a short dress in a dark green color that hugged her thin figure and had a deep, yet small neckline. It emphasized her bright, emerald green eyes. Her hair was all curly and she did not wore any other accessory. Not that she needed any.

She was so natural yet breathtaking gorgeous. This strange feeling had returned making his stomach all fluttery. He could not stop staring at her and then he realized he had been holding his breath. He took a sharp intake of breath to make his mind and body work again. Or so he hoped.

Peyton looked at him and he could swear he saw a small smile tug around her lips. She noticed his look go up and down until it rested on her face and their eyes met. He saw her eyes sparkle. He held their. It filled him with warmth and he would not want to miss this. It had been long, too long since he had felt like this and he wanted to hold it as long as possible.

Wait! What was he doing? He was held in this trance-like state again where he could not stop looking at her. What was wrong with him? This was Peyton. He knew her. So why was it that he kept staring at her as if he had seen her for the very first time. He was behaving like some love-struck teenager. This was so confusing and weird. This was not him. Not anymore.

He opened his lips and said:

"Hi."

`Hi`? Here he stood in front of a `friend` unable to say anything but `hi`? He was behaving like a total moron but when he looked at Peyton that she felt similar because she said.

"Hi."

Great way to get out of this weird situation. He cleared his throat which made her look up.

"You look nice." She smiled at his compliment a little uncomfortable yet he could see that she was happy about it.

"Yeah, um you don't look so bad yourself.", she said and he shrugged as response out of a lack of words."So...should we go?"

He nodded and they went to his car and drove to Brooke's store.

-0-

When they arrived at Brooke's new store Lucas looked over at Peyton who sat next to him. She looked nervous and as if she felt his gaze she turned her head to him with a small half-smile on her lips. It was not her usual reassuring smile but he could still see her nervousness because she was fidgeting with her hair.

He was about to take her hand in a calming gesture when he slapped himself mentally.

No that would be good. He was already confused enough. It would only make the situation more awkward.

So instead he just asked:

"Are you ready?", she blinked and nodded.

So he got out of the car and he intended to get around it to open her door for her but she was already outside.

They walked the short distance to the store. He found himself sending glazes at her every now and and then even though he tried to keep himself from doing so. He could swear he caught her looking at him, too.

Through the glass windows he could see that most people were already there. He even saw Haley and Nathan. Nathan was walking again. Hesitantly but still. Brooke stood a the bar talking to people he didn't know. Mouth was talking to a pretty brunette with glasses. She was kind of familiar to him but he could not pinpoint who she was.

He looked at Peyton and she turned her to the door which he took as a wink to go inside. He nodded and reached for the door knob. He pulled the door slowly to let her in and followed behind her.

Peyton went over to Brooke Lucas following on her tracks. Brooke spotted then and after sending both of them a surprising look and raising an eyebrow at Peyton, which led to her looking down giving both of them a hug.

"I see you two finally made it. What took you so long?", she asked speculatively eying them as if they were hiding something.

Lucas felt caught. Great so his feeling were written all over his face now? That was just what he needed. All this chaos in his head revealed. He almost sighed when Brooke grinned like this was a game and they had just fallen right into her trap hole.

"Just kidding. I swear you two had so guilty expression on your faces it was as if I had caught you on something I was not supposed to know. Wait is there?", she asked them both this question but looked at Peyton for an answer.

Peyton looked Brooke straight in the eye and said:

"No it was nothing. Luke over here just happened to pick a way with way to many traffic light and also there was some old car driving in front of us that decided to be really slow, like 40 per hour. Can you believe it?" she said in a cocky voice.

"Yeah so it was. Sorry that we are late. But looks like half of Tree Hill showed up."He said feeling like a topic change would be good.

"Yeah it's great, isn't it? I knew coming home would be good and now even Victoria can't say something." , she said with a grim smile on her face.

Her mother's pressure really got to her. He could sympathies with that. Had it not been for Keith raising him it would have been a lot more difficult for him. The thought of Keith made him sad and Peyton seemed to see it because she looked at him tentatively.

"Well I saw Haley and Nathan. I will go over to them.",he said and turned around.

"Hey P. Sawyer I got something for you. Come over here.", he heard Brooke say.

A few minutes later he had found Haley. He walked over and tapped her on her shoulder. Haley turned around and pulled him into a hug. She pulled away and that was when saw Nathan a few feet away chatting with Skills. He nodded in his direction and said:

"He is better, huh? Good to see. It suits him better.", he said.

"Yeah. It has not been easy lately but it's getting better. Nathan is better, Jamie feels it too.

Nathan is playing basketball with him. You know I wish I could bring him to play a guitar but all he wants to do is play basketball. Basketball here, basketball there."

Even though she was complaining he could see her smile. Her body was also a lot more relaxed than the last time he had seen her.

"You seem better, too.", he said.

She looked at him at he could see her brown eyes sparkle.

"Well enough about me. Where is Lindsay? I don't see her anywhere." , she said searching the room.

"Well That's probably because she is not here. She had to go to New York for a few days.", he explained.

"Oh so you came alone?", she asked sending him a questioningly gaze.

"No I came with Peyton and before you ask", he said holding up a hand because he could see that she was about to interrupt him."We are here as friends nothing more. Because that's what we are."

She looked at him with doubtful eyes as she knew exactly that he was not telling her everything but then she looked behind him and something she saw must have confirmed his words because he saw the doubt get less.

He turned around and saw Peyton leaning on the bar. She waling with a tall, dark haired guy. She was leaning back her head and smiled at him. His eyes where all over her body, well except her face.

He wanted to walk over there and pull her away from him. Telling this guy, this bartender, to go to hell and never come back. He was not worth her attention. Why was she smiling a him like that, flirting. This guy didn't deserve it.

Wait what was going on?Why was he so angry? They were not together anymore. Hell, he was with Lindsay. He was happy with Lindsay. So why was this bothering him so much? Peyton could do what she wanted.

But this guy was only staring at her boobs. He bet he didn't listen to a word she said. Well this was going to stop. Now.

He said Haley that he was going to search for Mouth. He was almost sure that she didn't buy his excuse. So he went around, not taking the direct way to the bar to make it less oblivious.

He reached them to stand beside Peyton. She tensed a little but avoided his gaze. So Lucas graped her forearm. She looked up into eyes and he could feel the warmth of her body. She flinched a little back feeling the anger, the tension radiate from him. Yet he could see something else also. It was like she waited for him to lean in closer to close the distance between them. He could feel her pull.

He leaned but his lips brushed her cheeks sending shivers through both of their bodies.

His mouth then was close to her ear. He could feel her curls on his forehead and whispered barely audible, only for her to hear.

"He is not good enough for you."

Her body tensed and could feel her get stiff. When he leaned back he saw confusion in her emerald green eyes. He held her gaze. This tension was just too much.

He had to get away. Just get away. That was all he knew.

Then he leaned back further loosening his grip on her arm and turned around heading to the door.

He was only out the door for for about 10 seconds, or so it felt like when he heard the door go open again and close noisily.

Peyton stood there glaring at him. Her whole body was shaking and her hands were balled into fits.

Also she looked like she was close to tears.

"Really?`He is not good enough for you`? How, Luke? How can you say that? How can you do that to me? That's not fair to me. That's not fair to Lindsay either.", she yelled and sounded like she was starting to cry every second.

He stood there paralyzed. He wanted to go over to her and hug her but as he just took a step in her direction she said in a very low voice, yet he could hear it "No don't."

But every pore of his body told him not to listen to her pleading. He wanted to comfort make her stop crying. He continued to move towards her and when they were only inches apart he pulled her into a hug. At first she tried to pull away from him but when he did not let go of her she stoped fighting it and leaned into him letting her tears fall and cried into his shirt. He dragged her along to a bench a few feet from the store and helped her sit down. She was still crying but her tears got less and less. Her eyes were swollen but at least she had stopped crying.

She looked up a him with her puffy green eyes. All madness and anger had vanished. Instead they held trust and confusion. She blinked a few times to dry her eyes and saw the mess she had made of his shirt.

"I'm sorry.", she said in a broken whisper.

She was apologizing? He was responsible for all of this and she was apologizing? This just felt wrong. He had been behaving like a jerk. What was he thinking telling her `he is not good enough`?

Was he jealous? No that could not be. He was with Lindsay for goods sake.

He shook his head and said with a smug expression on his face, hoping to sound normal and not let too much of his confusion show in his voice.

"It's OK. I didn't like it anyway.", he said, throwing his hand over his shoulder.

She sniffled a laugh and leaned on his shoulder. It felt good to her close to him.

They sat there for a while in silence enjoying each others company.

So how was it? Good or bad? Did you expect this? It does not follow the show but this is what fanfic is about, right? Please read and review. I can only improve if you give me your feedback.