So I hope everyone is enjoying my very first LAKE story. If not well I do. This chapter is completely and totally dedicated to CountryButterfly. Because they inspire me to write more, write better, and write faster.

Chapter 3: Ohmigod

I followed Peyton into her car and we sped off. I tried to figure out where we were going but I didn't know anyone who lived in the neighborhood we were driving through. She led me through streets lined ritzy houses until she stopped at a large two story beige house. It looked absolutely breathtaking. Looking from the side of the house you could see straight through to the ocean.

"Peyton, where are we?" I asked clearly amazed at the mansion standing before me.

"Home. Brooke and I live here. Come on in. I think I figured out your mystery." She said pulling her keys out of her pocket and opening the door.

"She bought this. She is something else."

"Yeah, come on. It's in my room." She said leading me down through the living room, then the dining room, and lastly down a hall. We came upon a jet-black door. A sure sign that one, Peyton Sawyer, lived beyond its confinement. She threw the door open in a more whimsical way than would seem befitting. She tore threw a box on her shelves full of records and flipped through a handful of photographs. I couldn't help but stare at her from the doorway. More like studying her than staring. She seemed different, not so much tortured but more like she had finally found her own skin. She was content, and almost happy.

"Found it." She said handing me a picture of Nathan.

"Nathan. I thought his only childhood toy was a black basketball named Dork."

"Dork, that's Nathan for ya. Sorry, this is the picture."She said waving it at me. "But, I am enjoying this torture, so you can have it piece by piece." Tearing the picture into three pieces.

"Peyton, come on. This isn't fair."

"Oh, come on, Luke. Beg for it. What are you going to do to get it?"

"Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer, please. This has been driving me crazy these past hours. This could potentially change my life."

"No, it won't change your life. Because change comes when something unknown enters your life. It is made better when something known reenters a person's life."

"Whoa, that was deep. Are you trying to tell me that I know the person"

"Yep." She said handing me the first piece. It showed the monkey and half of the owner's body.

"Can I have the second piece now?"

"You choose the piece." She said holding up the two pieces with the white back facing me. I chose the one in her left hand.

She politely handed me the second piece, a wicked grin adorned on her face. And in an instant I knew why. The piece of photograph that I held in my hand was a picture of me.

"Damn you, Peyton."

"Me. You chose the picture. And before you cry like a little girl. Here is the last piece."

I nabbed the photo from her hand and stared at the little blonde haired girl in staring back at me. A knot formed in my stomach and my eyes blinked rapidly trying to hold back tears. It was Jenny. Jake's Jenny…my Jenny. My knees buckled and I ended up on the floor in no time. Was he coming back? Was the man of my dreams finally returning to me? And was I ready to take him back?

"Luke, are you okay?"

"I…I…I think I need to go home. This is just too much for me right now."

"Luke, look at me." She said sitting on the floor and holding me tightly. "This is what you've wanted. He was all you could talk about. The person you wanted to stand next to you when all of your dreams came true. Trust me when I say this. Jake loved you and I doubt if anything will change that."

"Peyton, it's been almost six years. He's probably found someone to be a great guy for him and Jenny."

"You will always be her Papa. I made Jake at least promise me that."

I stood up less tearful and even more nervous. I wanted to read the email now. Now I was more curious than ever. "Mind taking me home, Peyton?"

"No. If I know you, you're anxiously waiting for the moment you put that password in."

"More like nervous now."

We walked back outside, me not saying a word, and Peyton glancing nervously at me every dew steps. She made sure to lock the front door and we returned to her car. I opened my door and slid in quickly and quietly. She turned the car over and we sped off the way we came. Was I really ready to deal with Jake?

"Luke, are you gonna be okay? You're really worrying me." She said stopping at a red light.

"I'm not going to lie to you. It hurts. When Jake left me it tore not just my heart but also my entire body into pieces. And I wish I had at least known why. I had spent so much time with him and Jenny that she felt like my own daughter. And he took that away."

"Then go home. Read that email and confront him. I don't how which angle he is taking in this email. He could be sweet and say that he misses you and wants you back. Or he could be sad and apologize and want to see you one more time to explain himself because he is guilt ridden. I don't know, but what I do know is that you need to know where you stand before you open that email." She advised pulling up in front of my house. I thanked her graciously and walked to my door.

I tried to put the key in the door when it opened by itself. I could have sworn that I locked it this morning when I left for basketball practice. I walked cautiously through the hallway. All of the lights were shut off except for the light in my office. I grabbed a baseball bat from the hall closet and proceeded toward the light. I peeked into the room and saw Jenny's purple monkey sitting atop the desk and no one in sight. I took the monkey in my arms and sat in my chair. I was so focused on the precious item in my hand that I never saw the shadow form behind me.

Countrybutterfly please don't hurt me. Everyone please review. I love them and they do help me write faster.