Hello dear readers. I know it has been 1 ½ years since I've updated. Life has been crazy and I actually wrote half of this chapter last December.

I actually visited Wilmington this June. It was great to see 'Tree Hill'. It's a lovely town and I still can't believe the River Court isn't there anymore. But I got to see a lot. It was so worth it. I inspired me. Well that and a One Tree Hill marathon ;-)))

It still took a while but I didn't want to let you hanging with an unfinished chapter again. I had this chapter stuck in my head forever and I finally put it into words. So here it is.

As usual a few words to the people who left a review.

Danthorpe04 & hidolfr: yes the chapter was short. I hadn't written the rest until now. Here is the second, longer part. Enjoy.

OTHGirl24: Thanks for the review. I think you'll love this chapter.

RJMoonspell4: Thank you for the review.

I also got notifications that new people were following this story. Please leave a short review. I tells me you are patient enough and are stil interested in my story.

Disclaimer: I don't own OTH. It belongs to Mark Schwahn and the CW.

Anti-Hero

by Marlon Roudette

I run to you

by Lady Antebellum

Part 2

Peyton

Peyton was sitting in her house, anxiously starring at the clock. 8.42 am. She took a look around. Brooke had finished personalizing the house. Of course she had bought it fully furnished but until the last few days it had still looked like the house they had moved into. Not that it was bad. The furniture was nice. Plain and comfortable looking but nothing that spoke of her or Brooke. Now Brooke had decorated part of the living room with the pictures from High-school and pre-High-school. One picture didn't hung on the wall though. The one that had made her daydreaming, taken the summer before she left for her internship in Los Angeles. Sure it was part of her. But the reality was... that Lucas wasn't her boyfriend anymore. As much as she wished he was and recent events increasing this longing... he was with Lindsay. That was the reason she kept this picture and similar ones where only the two of them were in it in the cupboard in her bedroom.

There she would pull it every morning as a reminder of what used to be. What she deliberately refused though she knew it would make her happy like never before. If only she could be sure they would be together again in the future... she knew it wasn't entirely her fault. Lucas had said so himself even though he was only referring to the accident in her office. She somehow knew from his facial expression – in the look he had given her, reflected in his eyes – before he had fallen backwards and was unconscious that he had come to an understanding...

She shook her head. No she couldn't dwell on those thoughts. They were fleeting, impossible short and would help her overcome the grief of the what-if. The situation was as it was. No use wishing for something else. Not when she wasn't 100 %-sure. She couldn't bear the pain if she was wrong yet again. Her heart couldn't take it.

She looked at the clock again. It was 8.45 am. She sighed and got up.

-0-

Lucas

Lucas was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed, his backpack with some spare clothes he had needed sitting next to him. He was tapping his foot in a loose rhythm anything to make the time pass more rapidly. He wanted to leave the hospital as soon as possible.

Finally he heard someone approaching his door. He could hear Haley and Nathan talking to a nurse – presumably to ask potential warnings he hadn't wanted to tell them about- but his best friend and brother knew him too well. He sighed. Now they would watch him like a hawk. The doctor had explained to him that the concussion would remain for another few days and he had to take 4 pills each day. He dreaded this. Head injury and a writer? No that didn't suit him at all. His head was buzzing with ideas for his new book but if he listened to the doctor – and Haley watching whether he did – there was no chance to do so now.

He heard the door squeak as it opened. Haley appeared with Nathan following behind her.

"Hey Lucas", she said smiling, "How are you?"

"Fine, thanks.", he said smiling back.

"You ready to go, brother?", Nathan asked patting him on the shoulder.

"I've been ready for half an hour", he grinned.

"Do you have anything you need? Clothes?", Haley asked.

"Yes", Lucas said pointing at his backpack.

"Medicine?", Haley further inquired.

Gottcha, Lucas thought. Haley locked her gaze with his, knowing he preferred her not to know. "Yeah all ready for the next week."

"All right let's go. Are you sure you are fine on your own? You know you can always stay at our house. In case you need something.", she reminded him for the 100th time. Concern was evident in her eyes.

"Yes I am sure. And before you ask, please don't tell Lindsay, ok? I know she would return immediately if she knew but I don't want her to rush back. I'm fine.", he said reading her thoughts because she sighed.

"OK, Luke. I still think someone should stay with you but I won't tell her if you won't. I don't want to be the one explaining to her why you were in the hospital. That's something you should do." she said and in a tone that made it quite obvious she knew he had had kept part of the story to himself. In a way only she could read him.

"I know I should but I'll tell her. She will come back next week and what will happen until then, Hales?", he said with as much conviction as he could put into his voice.

He knew the true reason he hesitated to tell Lindsay what happened, the reason he was in the hospital, her involvement. He needed to figure out himself exactly what their status was. He longed for her to be there for her presence. It calmed him and made him anxious at the same time.

"Well with you I never know. But I'll leave the choice to you.", Haley said and with that they got up to leave the hospital. Nathan was walking a few steps behind them, carrying his backpack but saying nothing. As they were walking toward the entrance he saw Nurse Lena and as they passed she said. "Goodbye Mr. Scott. And send greetings to your blond friend."

Lucas cheeks reddened and he only nodded in acknowledgment, not trusting his voice while both Haley and Nathan exchanged a look. It was as if they were daring him to say something without prodding him to. They could well imagine who the nurse was referring to but knowing him they didn't ask.

-0-

A few days later Lucas was waiting in the living room. Haley would be there any minute now to take him to Tric. Honorary Title was playing tonight and he wanted to see them. It had taken some convincing to reassure Haley he could go. Because he was still on medication he wasn't allowed to drive himself. So he had asked Haley. She had reluctantly agreed.

He heard a car in the drive way and got up. As he opened the door Haley was approaching the porch. He smiled at her at she gestured him to come along.

"Hi Hales. Thanks for the ride.", he said as he opened the passengers door.

He just sat down and was about to buckle his seat belt when Haley sat down herself and asked: "Did you take your pills?"

Looking up he caught her gaze and said:"Yes, mom,I did." mockery in his eyes.

She caught on, nodded and started the engine. "Good. Well let's enjoy an evening with good music."

-0-

Peyton

Peyton was sitting in her office checking the last details for today's concert. The band should be arriving any minute now and they should start around 9.30 pm. So Mia was up at 8.30 pm. Not that Mia knew she was opening up Honorary Title yet.

Haley would join her when they would drop that bomb on her. Hopefully she wouldn't freak out. Peyton knew Mia could do it but she needed a little push to belief in herself. As if on cue Haley entered with Lucas trailing behind her, looking a little uncertain.

Her gut clenched inside... what was that supposed to tell her? Did he blame her after all? He had assured her repeatedly he didn't. But what if he reflected on the accident and got a different perspective?

No that wasn't him. He had the tendency to overreact but not if had a week to think about it. He wouldn't do that to her.

As is sensing the tension in the room Haley looked back and forth between them and after accessing the situation settled her gaze on Lucas and said: "Do you mind waiting outside, Luke? Peyton and I have some record business to talk over. We wouldn't want to bore you with it."

Lucas looked up and his blue eyes settled on Peyton' s emerald ones. She caught his gaze and spotted the confusion clouding them. Mirroring her own. She nodded barely visible but he caught it. He nodded back and looked at Haley who was obviously observing them and answered: "All right."

And with that he turned around, left the office and closed the door behind him.

Haley followed his movements and then settled her prodding gaze on Peyton. Approaching the desk. She seemed to contemplate asking the obvious question hanging in the air but decided against it. Instead she started the planned topic of Mia's debut by asking:

"So how do you think we should let Mia know she has to perform today?"

-0-

Lucas

Lucas was sipping in beer looking around Tric as people began to fill in. He was tapping his foot, expressing some of his nervous energy that was filling him. The new bartender was already giving him strange looks as if asking silently 'Do you want to tell me something?'

Lucas looked away giving the answer and the bartender turned to his other guests.

Lucas felt his phone vibrate in his jeans pocket and pulled it out, seeing that he received a message and opened it.

Lindsay: "Hi Luke I'll be coming back tonight. The briefing finished early so I got lease to return. See you after the concert. Lindsay."

He groaned and felt his headache return. He was hoping he would have a few more days to figure out what to do next. He still wasn't sure which tale to tell Lindsay.

He knew he ought to tell her the truth. As his girlfriend she had a right to know. But the thing was...he was still putting the pieces together that let to the book-throwing accident. A few times he knew what had happened and every time a new question popped into his head which caused doubts. Doubts that threw him back and rethink everything all over again.

He shook his head as if to chase the nagging thoughts away but it didn't work. Of course. Whenever he thought about Peyton it never did. It just crept back in uninvited.

He rubbed his sleeves, closed his eyes and tried to blend everything out. Little did Lucas know that Peyton had watched this gesture reading something completely different out of it.

-0-

Mia was playing her debut song and the crowd was cheering. Lucas was smiling. The young woman on stage was just the kind of artist Peyton would have discovered. So his faith in her instincts had proven right again. Maybe Peyton would start believing in her success now. Now they had both reached what they wanted. He had his novel and Peyton her record label. His novel... which was based on their history... he still didn't know if he should believe her. His heart told him she did but if that was the case now, was it also the case when he proposed? Was that why she refused him?

He shook his head. He wished Lindsay would return as planned so he had time to figure out what to do... Just as he was about to get up and look for Nathan the barkeeper approached him and set up a martini glass in front of him. He was about to protest and tell him that he wasn't allowed to drink when to his surprise he poured a piece of paper inside instead. It took him a second to see what it was. A check for "medicine" written in Peyton' s handwriting.

As if on cue the barkeeper nodded his head in Peyton' s direction and added:"From her."

Lucas looked up to meet her gaze across the room and saw guilt flash in her eyes. She turned around heading to her office, taking flight. So she was still blaming herself for the accident it seemed. His reassurance at the hospital wasn't enough. Seems like he had to talk to her again. Oh well... might as well do it now. What else could happen?

-0-

Peyton POV

Peyton was just about to sit down when she heard her office door open again seconds after she had closed it. Puzzled she looked up and saw Lucas enter, the check in his hand and a determined look on his face.

"What is this?Peyton, I already told you. It's not your fault.", he said exasperation evident in his voice.

"I know you think so Luke. But I know you are just trying to protect me. You always do. But I know things. Like when I was waiting at your hospital bed and saw your patient file and the pills your treatment would require you to take. I know you didn't drive here because I Haley dropped you off. And I saw you rubbing your head as if in pain. The nurse mentioned your concussion and I know you still suffer from it. Don't deny it.", she finished holding up her hand because he was about to protest.

He was watching her and sighed. He let out some air while rubbing his forehead. Then he looked up and locked eyes with her.

"Yes, I am not allowed to drive. Yes, I need some medicine but like I said in the hospital it takes two to fight and I didn't have my temper under control either. That's what I've been trying to tell you. I know you think you are to blame but you aren't. I am having a headache but for once it doesn't have anything to do with the concussion. I am confused Peyton! I don't know to think... about us."

He took a step closer. He reached out to her and she was about to step back. What did this mean? Did he actually believe her? She hadn't dared to hope. After all he was still with Lindsay and regarding their history that was never a good sign. But his girlfriend had been out of town as far as she could say. She hadn't visited him at the hospital and Lindsay surely would have come.

She had to know so she collected all her courage and asked: "What are you saying?" , she asked her voice still sounding broken despite her attempt to sound strong.

He answered calmly although she could still hear him struggle: "I mean all this time I've been trying to figure out why you refused me. I thought you didn't believe in me but I saw your 'Ravens'-collection and I heard what it meant to you. What I still don't get is why you said no... it broke my heart, Peyton. It shattered me and it took me two years to come to terms with it. Hell, I still haven't recovered fully from loosing you. So why?", he asked and all the pain he described reflected in his eyes.

With tears in her eyes and all her regret threatening to overwhelm her she said: "Because I should have said yes, Luke. I realized it after wards that I should have said yes. I didn't know in which direction I wanted to take my life but one thing I never doubted: That you were in it. And I realized too late that I wanted all the things that you wanted but by the time I knew that you were gone... And I knew I had lost you. I was broken, too. Why do you think I returned? I know I said I didn't come back here for you but I did. Of course I did. I was hoping for a chance to correct my mistake. To have another chance with you."

He was looking at her his eyes wide and his mouth half open. He was looking at her with such obvious affection she couldn't hold back anymore: "I still love you, Lucas."

And with that he closed the distance between them and kissed her. As if on autopilot she tugged him closer by embracing him around the shoulder blades and he did the same. He buried his hands in her curls and she moved her hands up to his neck. All the longing and desire that had crushed her since seeing him again she poured into the kiss and he did the same. She never wanted it to end. It felt like coming home.

After an eternity of bliss they broke apart. They were both out of breath but that didn't matter as their eyes locked, filled with happiness and a smile grazing Luke' s face. Her smile. The one she had seen on the pictures in her cupboard. How she had missed it. And by his look she knew she was smiling, too. She couldn't help it.

They stood there for a while, locked in an embrace they never wanted to end. Then Lucas kissed her forehead and loosened their embrace before saying: "I have to talk to Lindsay."

And with that he turned around and left her standing there dazed. Her knees gave in and she slumped into the chair right behind her.

Sooo... Did you expect that? Why is Lucas in a rush to see Lindsay? Suspense, suspense. Let me know what you think about this (now complete) chapter and what you think should happen next.