Frozen in Ink

Chapter 3: Rain

"When it rains of this side of town it touches everything…and when it rains will you always find an escape? Just running away from all of the ones who love you."

–Paramore (When It Rains)

Two Weeks Later

She was soaking wet, and definitely pissed off about it. Lindsey Strauss Scott had just finished her honeymoon. She spent two weeks pouncing on the beaches, having the sun shine play through her hair, and the temperature extremely warm. Now she sat in Haley James Scott SUV wet as a dog, hair a mess, and just in a bad mood. It had to be an omen that she and Lucas come home when Tree Hill floods over. After the plane had been delayed twice, she finally made it home only discover that Haley wasn't at the airport to pick her and Lucas up. She was late and Luke suggested that they wait outside. Lindsey now knew what a great idea that turned out to be. "I'm so sorry Lindsey, Luke. I feel really bad." Lindsey smiled a fake smile. "Hales. It's okay. Don't worry about it." Luke said reaching behind him to take Lindsey hand. "The rain never killed anyone."

You know how right before a downpour the color of the sky is that blue with the grey mixed all over? The temperature drops like ten degrees and the air smells better than any perfume, any flower. Peyton Sawyer stood outside, her tongue sticking out of her mouth, her hair curly and frizzy from the humidity in the air. If Brooke saw her like this she laugh at Peyton and tell her to get her crazy ass inside before she caught pneumonia. Peyton couldn't help it, she loved the rain. She used to go outside and dance it in. This was no exception. She had short-shorts on and an undershirt. That was another part of it too, she had to feel the water trickle down her skin. She smiled as she heard the roar of the sky as it opened up, and the rain began to fall down on Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer.

He's cleaning. Yes, Nathan is actually cleaning his brother's house up for him. It's not that he really wants to, but he feels bad. A man should come home to clean house. So he vacuums and can hear the gusting sound of the wind outside and the weather man on the TV talking about how bad this storm might be. Rain doesn't bother him, he likes to nap while it raining. But Haley, she freaks out. She'll go down to the basement and get all the emergency supplies out, light candles, turn on the radio. It's actually funny to him that she's the one picking up Lucas and Lindsey. She's probably having a fucking panic attack behind the wheel. He turns the vacuum off when he hears the front door open. "Hey there, big brother!" Nathan says running up to the front door. "Nate!" He says cheerily and they hug. The look on Lindsey's face to him is pretty astounding. She looks shocked and angry to find him in her house. Almost like she didn't know he was going to be there at all. "Hi. Nathan." Haley says as Lucas and Nathan pull apart from their hug. "Yeah Hi." Lindsey seconds. "Hi, Hales. How's Jamie?" "Good. You should stop by to see him, after the rain of course." Nathan nods. "Right. Don't worry Haley. It's only rain." She smiles softly. "Again, guys I'm so sorry for being late. But I had to go into the basement before things got too bad." Nathan laughs under his breath. "Bye." She says running out the door and back into her car. The front door shuts and Nathan smiles at an unhappy Lindsey. "You guys have a good trip?" He asks as Luke begins to pick up bags from their resting spot in the entryway. "It was wonderful." Lindsey answered. Nathan smiled at her and felt the air go icy. "Yeah Nate, you would really like Hawaii." Lucas called emerging from his and Lindsey's bedroom. "Hey, Luke?" Lindsey asked as he came to a resting place in front of her. "Yeah, Baby." "I need to talk with you, in private." Lucas nods his head. "Okay. Hey Nate we're going back to the room. Holler if you need anything." "I think I'm just going to nap. I did clean your whole damn house after all." Lucas laughed and followed Lindsey into their bedroom.

Brooke Davis laughed when she arrived home to find Peyton dancing outside in the rain. "Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer!" She yelled as she stepped out of her SUV. "What the hell do you think your doing?" Peyton laughed at loud and looked up to the sky spinning around. "Dancing. What the hell are you doing?" Brooke laughed and joined her best friend in the yard. The spun around and held hands and never stopped laughing. Then Peyton began to sing, "I'm singing in the rain just singing in the rain," Brooke joined and they both began to laugh harder. "Just singing in the rain. What a glorious feeling. I'm happy again. I'm singing. Singing in the rain."

"What's up, Linds?" Lindsey starred at Lucas eyes, both that brilliant blue, and hers were so cold. "Nathan, Luke. He's here." "So?" "You didn't tell me he'd be here Lucas! You didn't ask me, if it was okay if he stayed here!" Lindsey said raising her voice a little. "Him and Haley are going through some things. So I thought it best if he stays here for awhile and gets some help." "What could that problem be?" She asked annoyed. "Lindsey, I don't think it any of your business!" Lindsey looked at Lucas for a second; she was trying to make sure he said what she thought he did. "I'm your wife Lucas! Remember?" She said holding up her hand to him. "SO HELL YEAH IT'S MY FUCKING BUSISNESS TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL MY BROTHER-IN-LAW HAS GOTTEN HIMSELF INTO!" "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT!! HE'S MY BROTHER!!" Lindsey rolled her eyes. "I BET YOU'D TELL PEYTON!! I BET SHE WOULDN'T HAVE TO ASK LUKE! I BET HALEY WOULD HAVE TOLD HER!" Lucas looked at her, "What the hell does that mean, Lindsey?" "It means that I'm not your FUCKING PRECIOUS PEYTON! I'M NOT HER LUKE!" Lucas could believe his ears of course Lindsey wasn't Peyton. "I married you Lindsey! YOU! I DIDN'T MARRY HER! I MARRIED YOU! BUT YOU JUST KEEP DRAGGING HER IN OUR MARRIAGE! WHY?" "Because Luke, the boy saw a comet and suddenly his life had meaning." Lindsey began to cry, she felt so stupid, she knew Lucas still loved Peyton, and she married Lucas to hurt her, but really she only hurt herself. "It's just a story, Lindsey." He said touching her shoulder. "It's an epic love story Luke." "No Linds! It's about a scientist and a comet." Lindsey shook her head and looked into his eyes one last time. "No, Lucas. Peyton drives a comet! You waited years for her to come back to you." Lucas couldn't believe this, they'd only been married two weeks and this felt like their marriage was coming to a premature close. "Lindsey I…" Lindsey picked up her suitcase from the floor and began to stuff more clothes into it. "I'm going to go to New York for a few days, clear my head." Lindsey smiled a sad smile, and kissed the top of Luke's head.

"Goodbye Luke."

Peyton and Brooke sat in their living room wrapped in towels. "Eww. I feel so nauseous." Peyton said wrapping her arm around her middle. She was lying on the arm of the couch. Brooke was standing in the kitchen next to the oven. "It's probably from standing outside, you're developing a bug." Brooke said laughing "I felt like this for awhile though. Uhh!" Peyton said collapsing onto the couch. "Drama queen!" "Isn't that the kettle calling the pot black?" Peyton said giggling. "Moron! It's the pot calling the kettle black!" They both laughed loudly and Brooke walked in setting a cup of coffee in front of her. "Thank you!" Brooke sipped her coffee and sat on the arm of the couch. "I'm so glad God made coffee and rain." Peyton said taking a sip of her coffee. "Yeah and I'm so glad to have you P Sawyer." Brooke said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "Aww!" Peyton said and the thunder rumbled outside just as loudly as the girls' giggles.

"P. I want to talk to you about something." Brooke said walking into Peyton's bedroom. The rain was subsiding and Peyton was lying on her bed reading Rolling Stone. "What's up?" Brooke walked over to Peyton's bed and lay down beside her, pulling the covers over both their legs. "I've been thinking a lot about things, you know the store, my life, and stuff like that." Peyton nodded. "And I think I've figured out what's missing, I think I've always known… and I…" Brooke trailed off and Peyton held her breath. "What the hell! Peyton, I want to be a mom." Brooke looked up into her best friend's hazel eyes, which today were this deep olive color, and tried to read the expression on her face. "Is it mine?" Peyton asked and Brooke began to laugh. "Peyton, I really want to do this." The blonde exhaled and smiled, "Then I support you Brooke. You'll be a great mom." "Thanks!" Brooke said with a smile. "By the way, P, I got you something at the store while I was out." "OOOHH! What did you get me mommy Brooke?" "Well, I was looking at the calendar, and beside the usual stuff, I got you some chocolate chip chocolate ice cream, because I know that during your period, you get kind of moody." "What?" Peyton asked. "Yeah, this whole week was blocked out saying Peyton's period." "Shit," Peyton mumbled under her breath. She was going through the calendar in her mind, and the night with Nathan popped in her mind. "Peyton are you…" "Brooke, I'm late."

TBC

A/N: Comments are love, and dr. pepper is my drug. Ha-ha. Craziness huh? I know what your thinking, "Isn't this supposed to be a Lucas/Peyton story?" Yeah, well I have a twisted mind, I know this is short but it'll kind of be continued or at least the rain storm we'll be in the next chapter. It's a filler chapter because honestly I'm kind of in the mood to write in Peyton's point of view. I also know I kind of left all you Nathan/Haley fans hanging out to dry in this chapter but I felt that the Brooke/Peyton final scene was so IMPORTANT! I went a little crazy. :D

Please review and thanks to all of you who do! It means the world to me.

-Kelsey