CHAPTER 4

The next day Karen left again for work and it was just Lucas and Peyton. They wandered around the house carefully avoiding each other if possible, a bit intimidated by the connection they felt so early after meeting one another.

'Do you want to come to the river court?' Lucas asked after successfully avoiding Peyton for a full three hours, which was harder than it sounded giving how small the house was and then accidentally running into her, literally, in the hallway.

'The river- what?'

Lucas laughed; it was really weird that someone didn't know about the river court. It was practically his sanctuary, his place to let everything go, to think and to reflect. Basketball played a key part in that too. He beckoned for her to follow him and they walked out of the house and down the street, Lucas dribbling a basketball the whole time.

'So you're really into basketball then?'

'Yep, it's my escape route, and a way to take out all my frustrations. I just put all my feelings into the game and it sort of…takes you away from all of the drama for a while, you know?'

She nodded completely understanding what he was on about, sometimes she just longed for the release of emotion, to just get everything out.

'So what's your passion, your escape route?'

'I love to draw, that I guess. I find I can sort out my feelings a lot more on paper than in my head. Although I do love music too. You know, that feeling you get when a really great song comes on the radio, that rush of understanding to what the musician is feeling at the time and how it can relate to your life too.' Peyton blushed afterwards and looked at Lucas, feeling suddenly vulnerable. He, however, was totally calm; he was looking at her almost admiringly and interestedly. There was something in his eyes that she hadn't seen before, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

'Here we are.' Lucas said breaking the moment. Peyton looked around. They were standing on a basketball court with a river running along side it. It was simple but beautiful, Peyton decided. She went to sit down on the bleachers and watched as Lucas effortlessly dribbled the basketball and dunked it. He was a natural she could tell, the ball almost looked at home in his hands and he certainly looked at home on the court.

Peyton watched as his arm muscles rippled slightly as he took a shot, the ball falling effortlessly through the net and saw the self triumph in his face. Not arrogantly so, just a brief glimmer and smiled.

Lucas picked up the ball and turned towards the bleachers, Peyton sat there staring out at the river. She really was beautiful, her blonde curls blowing in the wind.

'Want a shot?' He called and Peyton turned back to face him, rising from the bleachers and walking towards him. She took the ball hesitantly and went to take a shot but stopped, turning back to Lucas.

'What?' He asked.

'I can just tell that you're itching to tell me I'm holding the ball wrong or something. So come on, what am I doing wrong?'

Lucas smirked. 'All right.' He walked closer to her and took the ball from her hands. 'Hold it flat on the palm of your hand, like this, and rest your other hand flat on the side of the ball, like this. Then just let it roll off your fingertips.' He shot the ball and it went straight through.

'Okay, so…' Peyton arranged her hands on the ball. 'Like this.'

'Uhuh.' Lucas said and Peyton rolled her eyes.

'I'm still doing it wrong aren't I?'

Lucas grinned and stepped forward. He placed his hand on top of hers, Peyton's mouth went instantly dry for no apparent reason, and carefully manoeuvred it to the right place.

'There.' He said, but not removing his hand from hers, he was surprised she couldn't hear his heart as it beat furiously against his ribcage. After a brief moment he removed his hand and cleared his throat.

She took the shot and to her great surprise it went in.

'Great shot, Sawyer?'

Lucas and Peyton looked around and Lucas grinned at his brother striding forwards and bumping fists with him.

'So you are Sawyer right?' Nathan asked looking at Peyton warmly.

'That's right.' Peyton smiled.

'Nathan Scott.' He said holding out his hand, Peyton shook it studying him. Nathan was the opposite of Lucas but still good looking. He had dark hair and was taller than Lucas, but only by a bit; he also had blue eyes, though not as piercing as Lucas'.

'Haley won't stop raving about you.' Nathan said kindly. 'Thinks your gonna be a good friend of hers this summer. At the very least she hopes you'll be able to tame Brooke with the shopping. Something she's being trying to do for years.'

'I like Haley, she's nice. And Brooke too, although she can be a little…'

'Crazy?' Lucas asked.

'Yeah.' Peyton answered smiling.

'Well that's Brooke for you.' Nathan said.

'What's Brooke for you?'

Peyton, Nathan and Lucas turned to see Brooke and Haley arriving at the river court.

'We were talking about you Brooke, not to you.' Lucas teased.

Peyton wondered how they'd ever dated. She could see the physical attraction, after all Brooke was pretty and Lucas was… yeah she really shouldn't be thinking about Lucas that way. But they seemed to have more enjoyment out of teasing each other.

'Good things I hope, Broody.' Brooke shot back.

'We were thinking we'd go to the beach for the day, you in?' Haley asked Lucas and Peyton.

'Sure.' Lucas answered.

'I'm in.' Peyton agreed.

Half an hour later they arrived on the beach. Peyton sat down on the sand to be joined by Lucas, Nathan, Haley and Brooke. As they fell into conversation Peyton couldn't believe how easy it was to talk to these people and how easily they'd just let her into the group when barely two days before she'd been a total outsider. She liked Nathan a lot too, he seemed to be on her wave length, he got her straight away and didn't push things if she grew uncomfortable, like they'd known each other for years.

'So what's the deal with the Broody nickname?' Peyton asked Brooke as she used the nickname once again.

'Well you might not have noticed yet but Lucas broods a lot.' Brooke answered as Haley and Nathan nodded.

'I do not.' Lucas defended.

'Oh! So that's the reason for the goofy brooding look you get.' Peyton answered as the other three burst into laughter.

Lucas looked at Peyton, his mouth open slightly showing mock hurt and shaking his head.

'I'm sorry.' Peyton said patting his arm.

'You will be.' Lucas answered darkly.

'But it is true.' She answered completely undeterred by Lucas' threat.

Haley and Brooke laughed again and Nathan clapped his brother on the back grinning. In one swift movement Lucas stood up and swooped down on Peyton half carrying, half dragging her into the sea screaming. The three on the beach watched amused as Lucas waited until he was waist deep in the water before letting go of Peyton so that she fell with a splash into the water. Minutes later they staggered out of the water, Lucas pushed Peyton lightly and Peyton sent a shove his way sending him nearly going headfirst into the sand.

'Don't mess with her.' Nathan said chuckling.

They sat down again panting for breath. Lucas, still smiling, stole a glance at Peyton. Even when her hair was wet she looked beautiful. A bead of water fell from her hair and he followed its process as it made its way down her cheek and neck, then down the front of her top disappearing underneath the fabric. He suddenly had an urge to remove it and see where the bead of water had gone…. He shook his head slightly trying to rid the image when Peyton looked up indignantly, thinking that she might have seen him looking he grimaced. But she wasn't looking at him, she was looking at Brooke.

'I do not brood.' She repeated indignantly.

'You do kinda have that look about you.' Nathan said fairly, when Peyton shot daggers at him he retreated quickly. 'But some people have to brood, I get it. It helps you, I mean, them and-'

'Ok honey, you're digging yourself a hole.' Haley said stopping Nathan, he smiled kissing her lightly.

Brooke and Peyton laughed, Lucas attempted to as well but with the image still stuck in his head and many more images now joining it as he looked at Peyton he couldn't concentrate all that well on the thread of the conversation.

He smiled slightly; It was going to be a long summer.

So who's hella excited for season 6? I am! And if Lucas doesn't pick Peyton i swear i am actually going to throw something at the TV but anyway lol i hope you liked the chapter, if you did then you know what to do! ;)