Okay so first of all before you guys read this chapter I want to clear up a little of the confusion. Owen is not Owen the bartender from the show. I am so sorry for the confusion. I didn't even think about him when I made this character up for the story. I have mentioned him a few times. He is Preston and Riley's friend, and they are all the same age. I am so sorry. I guess I did that because I didn't really like Owen from the show so I didn't even think about him when I chose the name. Sorry.
I hope you guys enjoy, and I hope I have cleared some of your questions up. If not leave me a review, and I will try again.
My Saving Grace
Chapter 3 Moving Forward to Our Happy Ending
We have to take charge of our lives and get what we want.
It had been a week since Karen had come back to Tree Hill and welcomed Peyton into the family with opened arms. She loved Peyton, and she was so happy that Lucas finally found someone that made him a better man.
Andy had helped Lucas and Riley move all of their belongings into Peyton and Preston's house. They had gotten to know each other through the move, and Lucas really liked Andy. He thought he was a decent guy, and it didn't hurt that he was very rich and could take care of Karen forever.
Preston had started his art class down at the community center. He loved it, and Sophie really took a liking to him. She offered to help him anytime with no extra charge. He had learned a little more about her while doing her class. He realized that she was a good bit older than him, and he wasn't sure why she was so nice to him. He was way too young for her.
Riley hadn't told Preston that she was going to go on a date with Owen. Owen and Preston had been friends ever since Preston moved to Tree Hill. Riley didn't want things to be weird for them. She wasn't exactly lying to him because they hadn't gone on a date yet. She knew that she would tell him eventually especially since they were going on their first date that night. That was if her dad let her.
Lucas was in his new office putting all of his books on his book shelf. He had a huge book collection as did Peyton. They both loved to read which was a plus. Lucas loved reading to her at night when they couldn't sleep.
Peyton walked in. "Are you almost done in here?" She asked with a smile.
"Just about," Lucas turned around. "You here to help?"
"No," she smiled. "I was going to tell you that you are going to be on your own tonight for dinner."
"And why is that?"
She walked closer to him. "Because your mother and your sister-in-law invited me to dinner. They said it was like a pre-bachelorette party or something."
"Oh but we're not getting married for another month." He smiled and took her into his arms.
"I think they want to make sure that I'm positive that you are the man for me because you never know. There could be someone out there that I like more." She laughed.
"Oh okay fine….you go find someone else, but they will never be able to kiss you the way I do."
"Oh is that right, well why don't you show me. I think I need to refresh my memory."
He leaned in and kissed her. His kisses always seemed to send chills up and down her spine. They were incredible, almost as incredible as he was.
"Oh my God get a room," Riley said as she walked into his office with her hands on her hips.
Lucas and Peyton pulled apart. "We did. This one," he told her. Peyton laughed.
"Oh, well whatever. I came to tell you I won't be here for dinner." She said it kind of fast and started to walk out of the room.
"Whoa, whoa, hold up." He stopped her. "Why?"
"I have other plans."
"Like what?"
"Um," she didn't really want to tell him she had a date. He didn't like the fact that she was dating. "I'm hanging out with Owen. You know mine and Preston's friend."
"Oh okay, is Preston going with you?"
"No," Riley told him.
"Actually Preston has art class tonight." Peyton informed both of them.
Lucas sighed, "So it really is just me for dinner. I'm gonna be all by myself."
"Awe poor baby," Peyton mocked him.
"Do you think I could go with you guys on your little dinner thing?"
"Luke it is a girl's dinner. I'm sorry. No boys are allowed." Peyton laughed. "Unless you know something I don't that counts you out."
Lucas was disappointed. "I'm sure I can find something to do."
"So dad you don't care if I hang out with Owen, right?"
"Right just be home by eleven."
"Eleven," she complained.
"Yes, eleven, that is your curfew after all."
"Fine," she stomped out of the room.
"Teenagers," Lucas sighed.
"Yeah," Peyton rubbed his shoulders. "Where were we?"
He turned around and kissed her neck, "We were right about here and oh yeah here," he kissed the other side of her neck and worked his way to her lips.
……………………………………………………………..
Owen's parents did a lot of traveling so he and Riley would have the entire house to themselves. Riley felt bad for Owen because his parents were always absent. She had never even met them, and neither had Preston. She could kind of relate to him, but at least when her dad was not apart of her life she had her mom.
Owen had promised to cook her dinner. He had boasted about being an incredible cook, and she was going to put him to the test.
"Hey I'm so glad you're here," Owen greeted her when she walked into his house.
"Wow, this house is awesome," it really was huge. It was much bigger than the house she was living in. "Do your parents rob banks for a living?" She asked kidding.
"Yeah, and I get to help sometimes too. You should try it sometime. We'll split the loot with you."
"I might have to take you up on that. I really want a car." Riley really liked that she could joke around with him and it didn't hurt that he was really cute. He was tall with light brown hair and brown eyes. He was an athletic build and most definitely her type.
"I'll call you next time."
"You better."
He walked to the kitchen, and she followed. There were actually pots and pans out. "Wow I'm surprised."
"Why are you surprised?"
"I thought that you might just order take-out or something."
"I'm not liar. I promised you that I would cook for you, and I'm not going to let you down."
"I'm impressed. Is it almost done?"
"I think it needs to be taste tested. You want to taste?"
He held out a spoon for her. "I know what you're doing. You want me to taste it because it is poisoned."
"Just taste it," he held out the spoon, and she took a bite.
"Oh wow this is really good." She smiled, "I want another bite."
"You have to wait until it is finished."
"Oh come on you can't tease me like that."
"I'm not teasing you. I'm getting you ready for dinner. Does it need anything?"
"No I think that is the best spaghetti sauce I have ever tasted. Nice work Mr. Braxton."
"Thank you very much Miss Scott."
They both laughed.
"You need any help?"
"Yeah can you stir this?"
"You bet I can. I'm the best stirrer ever."
She smiled. He loved her smile. It was able to light up the entire room.
……………………………………………..
Karen, Haley, and Peyton decided to eat Italian and then later they were going to go to the local club, TRIC.
"So I think this was a brilliant idea," Haley told them.
"Well it was all Karen's idea."
"I wanted to get to know my future daughter-in-law, and I have missed my Haley."
"I've missed you too Karen. I really needed this night out."
"Me too," Peyton agreed. "I love being with Luke and the kids, but sometimes I need my space."
"So tell me a little more about how you met Lucas?"
Peyton smiled, "When I first met him I didn't like him very much. We didn't agree on the way he was raising Riley."
"Most people don't like Lucas when they first meet him." Haley noted. "Well that was until you came along. Now Lucas is very lovable."
Karen laughed, "I'm so happy that he has become a better father with Riley. She really needed him."
"Yeah well he is great with her, and he is great with Preston."
"Is Preston's father in the picture?" Karen asked. Haley tried to get her attention without making it noticeable. Peyton had confided in Haley about her horrible past.
"It's okay Haley. I don't mind answering. Preston's father is in prison."
Karen looked concerned. "Oh my God, do you mind me asking what happened?"
"All you really need to know is that he wasn't a very good man, and he is right where he belongs." It was still very hard for her to talk about, and it took her back to the day that she found her daughter's dead on the bathroom floor.
"I'm sorry Peyton."
"It's okay. Lucas has really been my rock."
"I'm glad to hear that my son is someone's rock." Karen laughed. "I never thought I would hear that."
"So Karen give us the details on Andy," Haley changed the subject. She could tell that it was hard for Peyton to talk about.
Karen smiled at the mention of Andy's name. "I never thought that I would ever meet someone after I lost Keith, but Andy he makes things so easy."
"He's a little younger than you, right?" Peyton asked.
"Yeah but that makes it even more fun."
They all laughed. "I wish Nathan was younger than me sometime. I always wanted a younger man." Haley joked, "But I guess he'll do. I mean he has to do, right?"
…………………………………………………….
Lucas was sitting alone at home with a beer and pizza. He was very bored and not used to Peyton not being at home. He heard a knock at the door. He laughed when he saw Nathan standing at the door with beer and pizza.
"What are you doing here?"
"My wife is with your wife and mom, and my kids all had other things to do. I was lonely."
"Yeah me too, come in."
A few minutes later Lucas heard another knock at the door. He laughed again when he saw Andy standing at the door with beer and pizza.
"Come on in and enjoy the party."
The three men sat on the couch and watched a basketball game together. "I can't believe all three of us had the same idea. We are so boring." Andy laughed.
"Yeah well we are used to the women we love being around."
"Do we even know where they went?"
"No, they could be at a male strip club or something." Nathan suggested.
"Dude it's mom," Lucas was disgusted. Their mother would never go to a strip club, and he was pretty sure Peyton wouldn't either.
"I just miss your mother. I love spending all the time I can with her."
"You're good for her. I can really tell." Nathan said. "I'm glad that she found you."
"I'm glad I found her."
"I think we all pretty much hit the jackpot when it comes to women."
Andy and Nathan both agreed. They all had women that loved them and were always there for them.
………………………………………….
Preston stayed late after class to finish his painting. He was trying something new. He was putting a dark and twisted spin on his work. It was something he never did, but it worked for his mom, and he wanted to see if it could work for him.
"Wow this is really good Preston," Sophie said as she walked up behind him.
"Thanks," Preston smiled.
"What exactly is it?"
"It's a picture of my dad in jail, and he is standing on my little sisters tombstones," Preston said sadly.
Sophie looked a little upset.
Preston could tell, "I know it's a little depressing, but my mom thinks that since I can't really talk about what happened it will help to draw it."
"Your dad must have been a horrible person."
Preston nodded his head, "He is the worst kind of person, but I guess I'm lucky because my mom is the best mom a kid could ask for."
"Oh really," Sophie smiled slightly.
"Yeah she's not my birth mom, but she saved me from my father. If it wasn't for her I would probably be dead right now."
"Oh," Sophie was getting uncomfortable with the situation.
"I'm sorry to bring it up. I don't even know why I just told you all of that."
"No it's okay. You can talk to me about anything. You are one of my most promising students. I bet you get your talent from your mother. I know she's really proud of you."
"How did you know my mom was an artist?"
"Just the way that you talk about her, and only an artist would know that drawing can relieve stress."
"Right," Preston smiled as he started to put away his things. "I got all my talent from her."
"Yeah," Sophie touched his shoulder. "Anytime that you want to stay late or need any help at all you just let me know, okay."
"Okay," he was a little uncomfortable. "Thanks a lot for all the help. I'm so glad my mom let me take this class."
"I think that you are going to make it big someday."
"I just hope that one day someone can look at my paintings and my drawings and they can find meaning in their lives. That's what happens to me every time I look at one of my mom's drawings."
Sophie smiled. "So do you need a ride home?"
"Well I was gonna walk over and get some food first, and my house isn't too far away. I can just walk."
"You know what why don't we grab some food together. I'm kind of hungry."
"I don't want to keep you from your family."
"It's just me alone in my apartment. I promise you I would rather grab some dinner with you than go home and be lonely. Besides we can talk about art and stuff."
He didn't want to say no. "Okay sounds good to me."
Sophie smiled, and they walked out together.
……………………………………………………………………….
Owen and Riley finished dinner, and he took their plates into the kitchen. "That was amazing Owen. You really should be chef someday."
"I guess you never know."
"You need some help cleaning up?"
"I was just going to leave it for the maids."
"What? No way," she put her hands on her hips. "You're not gonna leave our mess for someone else to clean up."
"It is their job."
"No it isn't. We're gonna clean up this mess together. Please tell me you know how to use the dishwasher?"
"Um I know how to put dishes in there kind of." He admitted.
She gave him a look of disgust. "Watch and learn Mister."
She helped him load the dishwasher, and clean up the mess he had made in the kitchen. She walked over to sink and smiled. "Hey Owen come here. I want to show you something else."
"What?"
He walked over and was shocked when she sprayed him with the hose that was on the sink.
"Oh no you didn't," he was soaking wet.
"Oh yes I did," she laughed.
"Give me that," they continued to make a mess as he tried to pry the hose out of her hand.
By the time they finished they were both soaking wet and sitting on the wet floor laughing.
"How am I going to tell my dad about this one?" She laughed.
"Tell him it was raining at my house and only my house."
"He might fall for that one if he was stupid. I'm sure I can think of something."
"This has been so much fun." He smiled.
"I know."
"I've liked you a long time Riley." He finally told her. "Wow, I've wanted to tell you that for a long time."
"I like you too Owen." She admitted. "This night definitely proved that we can have fun together."
He started laughing.
"What?" She was confused.
"You're hair is sticking up. Here let me fix it." He swooped it out of her face. They locked eyes, and Owen leaned in slowly and kissed her. It was a simple kiss, but Riley thought it was perfect. After they broke apart she smiled.
"This was a great date."
He leaned in and kissed her one more time.
"And it just keeps getting better."
……………………………………………………………….
Peyton, Haley, and Karen had made their way to TRIC. Peyton stepped away to the bar. Haley could tell that she was upset, and she followed her.
"Hey girly are you okay?"
"I'm fine," she lied.
"No you're not. What's up?"
"I can't believe after all these years it still kills me to talk about what happened. I couldn't even tell Karen. I'm marrying her son, but I couldn't tell her about my life."
"Hey it's okay," Haley consoled her. "And besides it hasn't been that long, and you are going to carry around that pain forever."
"I know, but I should be able to talk about it. I feel like sometimes Jason still has control over my life, and I don't know how to get over that."
"You have to focus on the good things in your life. I mean after all he gave you Preston."
"I know," Peyton sighed. "You know I think I'm ready to go home to the man that I love."
"I think I am too." Haley gave her a hug. "If you ever need to talk Peyton I want you to know that I am here for you."
"I know that. I am so lucky to have you in my life."
Karen walked over to the two women. "I know I said I wanted to have a night of fun, but I really just want to go home to Andy."
"We want to go home to our men too," Haley told her.
"Well let's go then."
…………………………………………………….
Lucas, Andy, and Nathan were still sitting on the couch drinking beer and watching the game. Preston came in. "What's going on here?"
"We're having a guys night."
"Oh well I brought you a burger. I knew mom wasn't going to be home."
Lucas followed Preston to the kitchen. "Thanks Preston that was nice of you."
"You probably aren't hungry though. I should have asked you first."
"No you shouldn't have. And I'm a man. We are always hungry. You should know that."
Preston smiled, "There are extra pickles on it just like you like."
"You are too good to me. How was your night?"
"It was weird."
Preston thought back to Sophie bringing him home.
"This is my stop." He told her.
"Oh wow this is a nice house."
"Yeah my Aunt Brooke bought it for us. She said that we deserved something nice."
"That you do."
"Well better get in. I want to give Lucas his hamburger."
"Who's Lucas?"
"Oh my mom's fiancé, he is a great guy."
"That's nice that she found someone after the last guy. Sometimes it is hard to find love after someone beats you and hurts your family." Sophie told him. He had explained the story a little better while they ate dinner.
"Yeah," Preston nodded. "I guess I'll see you next week."
"Yeah," Sophie smiled, and then reached over and gave Preston a huge hug. After a few minutes Preston was a little confused to why she hadn't let him go. It was kind of creepy. Sophie took in the moment and finally released him from the hug.
"Goodnight," she smiled.
"Yeah, goodnight."
"What happened?"
"Um how do you know if a girl likes you?" Preston was sure that he knew, but he thought that Sophie was way too old to like him. He was only sixteen, and she had told him that she was thirty-one almost thirty-two. That was almost the same age as his mom.
Lucas smiled. He liked having these kind of conversations with Preston. It made them closer. At least he thought so. "They flirt a lot."
"Do they hug you very tightly?"
"Yeah."
"Do they tell you that they will help you in anyway they can?"
"Yeah."
"Okay thanks."
"Is there a girl?"
"Yeah I think so, but I'm nervous. I don't really feel the same way about her. It's kind of weird for me."
"Well give it time. Get to know her, and you may find that you like her more than you think. I didn't like your mom at first either and look at us now."
"You're saying this woman could be my future wife?"
"No, I'm not saying that. I just think you should give it sometime and see where it goes. You know if things don't change you could always ask her if she has feelings for you."
"Yeah I guess I'll wait and see. Thanks Lucas, you're the best."
Lucas smiled. He really liked hearing that.
"I'm gonna go upstairs. You guys have fun with your man night."
"I think I'm going to send them home, and wait for your mom. I've missed her."
Preston shook his head and made his way upstairs.
Nathan and Andy walked into the kitchen. "Hey Luke we're gonna head home. We want to see our wives."
"Good because I was about to kick you guys out," Lucas laughed.
"We see how it is. We don't feel the love brother."
Nathan and Andy both walked out of the kitchen, and Riley walked in the back door. She was still wet from her kitchen mess with Owen.
Lucas looked at her, "Why are you wet?"
"We decided to go swimming. Owen has a huge swimming pool," she lied because she didn't want to tell him that they kissed.
"Oh well next time take a bathing suit."
"I will."
Lucas shook his head and went into the living room. Riley was relieved that he didn't say anything else.
Lucas started cleaning up the mess that they had made in the living room. Peyton walked in the front door. "Hey you're home early." He smiled as he set the stuff down and gave her a hug.
"Yeah well we all missed you guys too much. We like having a night out to ourselves, but we like being with our guys way more." Peyton kissed him. "Did you have a party without me?"
"Andy and Nathan came over for a guy's night, but we decided that we missed our girls too much." He kissed her again. "I'm gonna go throw this stuff away. I'll meet you upstairs."
"Okay, I'm just going to be a few minutes. I need to call Brooke. She called me, and I didn't answer."
"Okay," he gave her a quick kiss before grabbing the trash and heading into the kitchen.
Peyton walked into the office where no one could hear her. She dialed Brooke's number. "Hello," Brooke answered.
"Hey Brooke," Peyton sighed.
"What's wrong? Did that jackass finally prove me right?"
"No, Brooke, Lucas is fine. I'm a mess though."
"What's going on?"
"I keep thinking about Jason, and how I never talked to him about what he did to the girls. I have to have some closure where he is concerned."
"What do you have in mind?"
"I need to visit him in prison."
"I thought that you didn't want to do that."
"I think I have too."
"Okay well when? I'm gonna go with you."
"I don't want Lucas to know I'm going, and he'll be on his book tour next week."
"Okay we can go together."
"Thank you so much for this Brooke. I need to see that he is as miserable as he should be."
Brooke felt for her best friend. "Don't worry P. Sawyer we'll get you the closure that you need."
"I love you Brooke."
"I love you too Peyton, goodnight."
Peyton had tears rolling down her face. She had to get the man that destroyed her out of her life so she could be happy with the man that helped her with the pain.
……………………………………………………….
Preston was in his room with his drawing. On another piece of paper he had drawn a picture of Lucas. On the picture it said dad, and on the picture of Jason it said monster. "I have to show you what you have lost." Preston said as he ripped the picture of Jason and kept the picture of Lucas.
Okay so this chapter was extremely long. I know there wasn't a lot of drama, but this chapter was needed to set up future events especially for the next chapter. I'm sure you can almost guess what the next chapter is going to be about. I can warn you that it is going to be emotional, but if I can write it how it is playing in my head then it will be good and very needed for this fic.
THanks for all the reviews. You guys are awesome, and I hope you continue to review. I really enjoy reading what you have to say, and you guys help me when I make mistakes.
So what did you think of the chapter? What do you think of Sophie? And what do you think is going to happen next? Oh and what would you like to happen? (I always like to ask that question because sometimes I do use your ideas.)