CHAPTER 5

Two weeks had passed and Peyton, surprisingly, was loving every second of it. She hung out with Lucas, Nathan, Haley and Brooke every day and couldn't imagine not doing so. Everyone loved having Peyton around, as Brooke said; it gave her a break from having to make small talk with 'Broody' while Nathan and Haley made out.

After two weeks of small hand grazes, late nights up talking and flirting Peyton started to develop a bit of a soft spot for Lucas, the way his eyes sometimes looked at her made her go weak at the knees.

Lucas, having realised at the beach two weeks previously, that he liked Peyton loved to simply watch her. She was off limits, he knew. But that didn't stop him watching and it didn't stop his imagination, particularly after walking in on her changing the day before. It had been one of the most embarrassing moments the two had shared; Lucas had gone bright red and just stared. In the end Peyton had to physically push him out of the bathroom so she could finish getting changed in peace.

They hadn't talked about it, thankfully, feeling that they should just forget about it. It was kind of hard for Lucas to forget though, when the image was constantly replayed in his head. Once or twice, when he watched her as she drew or listened to music, he wondered what it would be like to kiss her. To taste her. He quickly snapped out of it though, they hardly knew each other after all. They'd only met two weeks previously.

The funny thing was though that Lucas did feel he knew her, and pretty well at that.

Today they were to be found sitting in Lucas' bedroom, Lucas sitting on his desk chair with his feet propped up on his bed and Peyton sitting cross legged on the bed. He had his laptop open in front of him and iTunes lighting up the screen.

'Stolen.'

'Dashboard Confessional.' She replied fast as a bolt of lightening.

'Always lo-'

'Nada Surf!'

'She's a runner.'

'Billy Squire, and I'm very impressed you have Billy Squire on you itunes!' Peyton said and Lucas smiled.

'Running with the-'

'Van Halen!'

'-devil! God your good!' Lucas said in mock anger.

His door opened at that moment and Brooke walked in sitting on the bed next to Peyton.

'Hi boy and friend.' She said. 'You coming to the party Rachel's holding tonight? Wait, why am I even asking, of course you are!'

'Brooke, I won't know anyone there.' Peyton answered.

'Yeah, but you know me, and because you know me, pretty soon you'll know everyone else too. They'll be queuing up to talk to you.'

'Oh goody.' Peyton said rolling her eyes, Lucas laughed.

'Ok, ok we won't go, we'll go shopping instead!'

'Oh god no! I'll be there.' Peyton answered.

'Knew that would do the trick.' Brooke grinned getting up and heading back out of the door.

'Bye friends, see you later!'

Peyton rolled her eyes again, looking at Lucas.

'Are you going?' She asked.

'Yeah hey, I'm not a total dork.'

'Well you do read a lot.' Peyton teased.

--

'Peyton! We need to go to Nathan and Haley's before the party, so come on!' Lucas yelled through the bathroom door, he was wearing jeans and a dark blue T-shirt with a light blue shirt over the top. He'd taken a little more time choosing his clothes than normal and as he looked at himself after he was ready he wondered whether Peyton would like what he was wearing. Then he laughed at himself for being so utterly ridiculous. Firstly Peyton didn't look at him that way and secondly he was obsessing over what he was wearing…for a girl which he'd certainly never done before.

Lucas looked around as the door opened and practically felt his jaw hit the floor. Okay it was a slight exaggeration on his part but Peyton did look amazing. She was wearing ripped jeans with heels and a tight fitting black top with an equally tight fitting shirt over the top. He stuttered over something to say but thankfully Peyton didn't seem to notice, she was rummaging in her bag for something. When she looked up he quickly said,

'You look nice.' And felt relieved that his voice came out normal and not like how he was feeling at the moment, all jittery.

'So do you.' Peyton said smiling and Lucas stood up a little straighter and allowed himself a small grin. She walked past and he bounded after her the grin still firmly in place shutting the front door behind him.

'So I forgot to say everyone has a kind of- partner for this party.' Lucas said. 'Not a date, just like…'

'Oh that could be a problem.' Peyton said and Lucas frowned slightly.

'I don't know any other guys in this town apart from you and Nathan, and damn… Nathan's married.'

Lucas smirked. 'That's right. I guess you're stuck with me.'

'I guess so.' Peyton smirked back and he smiled. He stuck out his arm and she looped hers through it, they walked on in silence and although Peyton seemed completely calm to Lucas she felt like jumping up and down at this very moment. He was gorgeous, he was sensitive and he was considerate. Perfect, basically but she knew that nothing was ever going to happen, it couldn't and more importantly she wouldn't let it because it wouldn't be fair to either of them. She knew that,

People who were meant to be together always found their way in the end.

and she truly believed in that fact. But it didn't stop her laughing along with him, staring at him or wishing that they were standing a lot closer than this, preferably with his lips on hers… She pushed away the thought smirking slightly.

'What're you smirking at?' Lucas asked who'd of course non to discreetly been watching her.

She blushed a little as she looked at him, the image still stuck obediently in her mind. It was so vivid she was surprised he couldn't see it as well.

'Nothing.' She answered.

'All right Blondie.' Lucas said.

'Okay so that's my new nickname then?'

'Yep, that is what I'm going to call you.' He answered smiling down at her.

'And what shall I call you?'

'Well, I'm thinking something like… hot stuff.' He laughed then grimaced.

'Did I actually just say that?' He asked, but was cut off as Peyton burst into laughter.

'Oh my… you really did just say that.' Peyton laughed.

'Not much of a dork now right?' He asked still grimacing slightly. Hot stuff! What the hell had he been thinking?!

'Nope, more like…an idiot.' Peyton said still giggling slightly then he felt her let go of his arm and realised too soon that they were at the 'Naley' house.

He knocked the door then said quickly,

'Please do not mention that to anyone, they will torture me.'

Peyton smirked deviously and Lucas could see a little glint in her eyes.

'Well I can't promise anything.' She murmured but he heard and he pushed her slightly, she stumbled and nearly fell off the step, Lucas grabbed her quickly around the waist but was relieved to hear that she was giggling. The door opened.

'Have I interrupted something?' Nathan asked smiling a little as Lucas quickly looked around and Peyton stopped laughing but chuckled briefly.

'Don't worry, Luke just tried to throw me in your hedge.' Peyton said and Lucas removed his hands from around her waist rolling his eyes at her exaggeration.

'You want me to kick his ass?' Nathan smirked leaning in for a hug, Peyton reciprocated and laughed.

'That would be good actually yeah.' Then she winked and walked past Nathan into the house calling for Haley.

'You know if you weren't married, I'd say you had a teensy little crush on Peyton.' Lucas said shaking his head.

'She's cool yeah but you're right, I love Haley and I am married, but what's your excuse man?' Nathan smirked and Lucas rolled his eyes though not denying the fact.

Lucas knew Nathan didn't really like Peyton that way; he was way too devoted to Haley. Nathan did like Peyton though, he knew that much, just the way they were together sort of suggested that they got each other and that they had quite a special bond. A close friendship bond. He was actually really glad that his brother and Peyton got on so well, clearly Nathan saw the magic in Peyton that he, Lucas, saw. Though in a slightly different way. Whereas Nathan's bond with Peyton was strictly platonic Lucas would like nothing better than to grab her and…

He shook his head again, if he kept thinking about Peyton like this then he would need to go home pretty quickly before he did something stupid.

'Hales!' Lucas said walking into the apartment to see Haley and Peyton talking and laughing. She shushed him with her hand and finished her conversation topic with Peyton then came over to say hello.

'Oh so now I get your attention.' Lucas smirked. 'We've been friends since we were like, two, right but then Peyton comes into town and poof…'

'Poof?' Peyton asked sticking her tongue out.

'Poof! Lucas is pushed to one side.' He finished.

Haley laughed. 'Oh Luke you know you're my bestest buddy.' She flung her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.

'Okay I can't breath.' Lucas said.

'I'm just showing you how you haven't been pushed to one side!' Haley said holding him even tighter as Peyton laughed.

'Dude get your own wife.' Nathan said walking back into the room.

Haley and Lucas broke apart and laughed. Peyton watched the three of them; they looked so close that her heart almost ached. She wanted that, to be close to someone the way Lucas was to Haley and she wanted to be devoted to someone the way Nathan was with Haley. Haley James Scott was a lucky girl, Peyton decided, with a husband like Nathan and a best friend like Lucas. She watched as Lucas grinned at his brother and they bumped fists, Nathan also grinning. She smiled but the smile held a little sadness, she wanted to be like this. She wanted people to care about her like the three before her cared for each other. Her friends in LA weren't even friends if they were compared to the friendship of these three and Brooke. They shared something strong, a true bond of friendship and…love. Whereas all Peyton's friendships were just friendships, they weren't special…they certainly weren't anything like the friendships she'd encountered in Tree Hill.

'Peyt!' Haley practically yelled.

'W-what?' Peyton said startled coming out of her reverie.

'We're going to the party now, you coming?' Nathan asked. Lucas looked at her and there was a faint look of concern on his face.

'Sorry, yeah sure.' Peyton answered putting on a grin. Nathan and Haley grinned back and walked over to the apartment door. Lucas however walked over to Peyton; he seemed to sense that something was a little off because he placed an arm around her shoulders and squeezed gently. He didn't say a word but this simple gesture made Peyton feel a rush of emotion and feelings for him she didn't even believe existed. It really was funny how meeting a group of people could really change your life. It certainly had changed Peyton's.

Does a little dance Lucas picked Peyton! Wasn't that moment just amazing?! Ahh! Anyway right, again, I hope you liked this chapter and if you did you know what I would love… more LP kisses in the next episode! But unless Mark is reading this, and I highly, highly doubt that, then I would also love a tiny, little review. If you could spare one, of course (:

Oh and Thank you to those who keep reading and reviewing, it really means a lot!