Episode 2: I Don't Want to Be
"This doesn't make any sense!, She was fine at the wedding."
Brooke, Haley, Chase, and Nathan just sat in the hospital chairs listening to Lucas.
"She'll be okay Luke. She's strong." Brooke said trying to comfort her best friend's husband.
That calmed him down a little. He stopped pacing as he remembered what happened moments ago in the airport.
"Peyton. Wake up. Please!" Lucas begged his wife.
The paramedics arrived in a few minutes and put his wife on a stretcher. Lucas was freaking out even more. He had to call someone. He called Haley and told her what was going on. Lucas called a cab to follow the ambulance to the hospital. When he got there, Haley and the rest of the gang were sitting in chairs.
Brooke was crying in Chase's arms, Haley was doing the same thing in Nathan's. Lucas wished anything but this. Anything but this. Anything but her being in the hospital. It killed him on the inside to know that there was nothing he could do. He wanted to see her. Lucas wanted to see her green eyes and let her know he's there.
"Family of Peyton Sawyer."
Lucas turned to face the doctor.
"Her name is Peyton Scott. I'm her husband."
The doctor looked at him strangely, so Lucas showed him his wedding ring. The doctor just nodded.
"Peyton has a severe case of pneumonia. She should be okay after a few weeks of being in the hospital."
Lucas sighed relieved. He figured it would be something really horrible.
"Thanks. Can I see her?" Lucas asked kind of impatient to see his wife.
The doctor nodded and said, "She's in room 301. She should be awake."
Lucas nodded and shook the doctor's hand.
"You can all go home. I'll call if she does worse. Go see the rest of the movie." Lucas told all his friends.
Reluctantly, Lucas' friends left the hospital with promises from him that he'd call. He walked quickly to room 301. He quietly knocked on the door. He saw her laying on the bed with her eyes open.
"Hey.. how you feeling?" Lucas asked as he walked inside the dull hospital room.
"Hey. I'm uh..", Peyton stopped to cough, "I'm better now that our here."
Lucas smiled and kissed her on the lips.
"What did the doctor say?"
Lucas took her hand in his and kissed it.
"He said you have a severe case of pneumonia. You have to be in the hospital for a few weeks.."
Peyton started to object, "no.. Lucas. Our honeymoon. I'm sorry, this is all my fault.."
Lucas took her face in his hands, "Hey..This is not your fault. We can always go after you get better."
Peyton looked at him and then turned her head to cough.
"Sorry.."
Lucas just smiled and kissed her again.
"You have no idea how much you worried me, Blondie."
Peyton smiled, "I'm sorry for worrying you. Uh.. can you hand me that bucket."
She pointed to a bucket behind Lucas. He got it as he watched her face turn pale and she stuck her head in the bucket. Lucas immediately stood up and rubbed her back.
"I'm so sorry baby." Lucas whispered.
Peyton came up out of the bucket and looked paler than ever. She gave him a small smile and laid her head down on the pillow. Lucas took the bucket and put it next to the bed. Peyton grew less pale as Lucas gently kissed her on the top of her head.
"Pneumonia sucks."
Lucas laughed. Peyton gave him a weak smile. Peyton yawned.
"I bet you're tired. Get some sleep."
Peyton didn't have to ask him to stay because he's her husband now and not her boyfriend. Husband.
"Okay…"
Peyton's eyes slowly closed and within seconds she was asleep.
Lucas kissed her forehead and sat down in the hospital chair with a smile planted on his face.
3 months later…
"I can't believe that within months we'll be seniors!" Brooke exclaimed as the girls sat down at a lunch table.
Haley smiled and said, "Yeah. I can't believe our high school days are almost over!"
"I can't believe Peyton has put up with Lucas for so long!" Brooke said with a laugh.
Peyton couldn't help but laugh. Haley laughed along with them.
"Guys, I have to tell you something before I tell Lucas. I don't want him to freak out."
Haley and Brooke looked very interested in this until Lucas and Nathan appeared.
"Hey. How's your day been?" Lucas said as he kissed his wife.
"Uh… Pretty good so far."
Lucas sat down next to her and put his arm over her shoulders. Brooke and Haley just glared at the boys, but with the boys being boys they didn't notice at all.
"Is everyone ready for summer like I am?" Nathan asked after he took a bite of a sandwich.
Haley said, "Yeah. I can't wait. I have this tutor program going on this summer and I'm really excited about it."
Lucas pretended to cough and said, "Nerd." Cough. Everyone laughed, even Haley.
"Shut up!" Haley said to her best guy friend.
"Hey, where's Chase?" Brooke asked looking around for her boyfriend.
Lucas just shrugged and took a fry of Peyton's plate.
"Hey!" Peyton said with a laugh.
Lucas gave her the puppy dog look and she just laughed.
"Stop doing the puppy dog look!.."
Lucas laughed as he took another fry from her plate. Everyone laughed along with Lucas.
Mouth came up to the table and said bluntly, "High school sucks."
Everyone looked at him.
"What's wrong mouth?" Peyton asked as she tried to keep Lucas away from her fries.
"I have to go.. tell ya later." Mouth said and disappeared as quickly as he appeared.
"That was odd." Brooke said with amusement in her voice.
"Not really.." Haley said as she spotted Shelly following mouth.
Everyone laughed a little. Peyton's phone started ringing and she jumped. Lucas laughed. Peyton playfully slapped him.
"Hello?"
"Peyton? This is Derek. Your brother."
Peyton dropped her phone on the ground in shock.
I don't want to be anything other than what I've been trying to be lately
All I have to do is think of me and I have peace of mind
I'm tired of looking 'round rooms wondering what I gotta do
Or who I'm supposed to be
I don't want to be anything other than me
-Gavin DeGraw: I Don't Want to Be