Luke and Peyton then hung out the rest of the day. After school was over, Brooke, Haley, and Nathan came over with Luke and Peyton's homework and class work from yesterday and today. The five of them then did their homework together and helped Luke and Peyton with the class work. Afterwards, they just hung out and talked. The night before, Nathan had talked to Dan and Dan told him that he was going to kill whoever tried to kill him, so Nate, knowing that Dan believed Lucas started the fire, decided to warn Lucas.
"Hey Luke. I wanted to warn you that Dan isn't done with you. He told me last night that he would kill you, well his words were whoever started the fire," said Nate.
"Didn't he basically all ready do that?" asked Lucas. "I can't play basketball for at least a year. Hasn't he already made me life worse enough?"
"Luke. Your life is not over because you can't play basketball for at least a year. You still have us, your mom, and school. Heck, you've got graduation to look forward to," said Peyton.
"Oh fun, just great, I have to walk across the stage on crutches. Oh, so much fun," said Luke.
"Luke, you need to look for the positives in this situation."
"Hard to do that right now."
Peyton went back to school the next day, but Luke was still stuck in bed for four days, including the weekend. On Monday, Luke went back to school. When he got out of bed, he was in a lot of pain. He had forgotten how much using the crutches with his broken ribs and bruised shoulder hurt. When Peyton got to Luke's house to drive him over to school early, Lucas was very happy to be sitting down again.
"Hey Luke, how are you feeling today?" asked Peyton.
"Honestly? Not that great. I forgot how much it hurt to use these crutches with my ribs," said Luke.
"Geez, I can imagine. Luke, are you sure you are okay to go to school today?"
"Yeah. I think I have stayed in my bed long enough. Have you gone into the gym yet?"
"No, I can't bring myself to go in there. When I even see the building, I start having a panic attack. I have trouble breathing and then I start shaking. I turn around and leave then."
"Geez, Peyton, I never realized how hard this was for you. I'm so sorry. How are you going to cheer once basketball season starts?"
"It's okay. I have a feeling I won't be cheering this year. I honestly can't imagine going back in there."
By this time, they had arrived at school.
"Come on, Peyt. We are going to try this."
"Okay, let's go."
"Ok, the gym is almost in sight."
'Okay, and remind me why we are doing this."
"Because even if I can't play, I am still a part of the basketball team and will therefore have to be in the gym occasionally and you love cheerleading."
"Okay."
When the gym came into sight, Peyton started to shake and have difficulty breathing like always. As they got closer and closer to the gym, Peyton was having even more difficulty breathing and was continuing to shake. Peyton soon started hyperventilating. There was a table right near them so Luke hobbled over to the table while Peyton walked over. They sat down while Peyton tried to settle her breathing down and stop shaking.
"How are you okay right now? Nothing really even happened to me," said Peyton.
"Yes, it did, Peyton. Dan choked me and beat me so hard that I don't remember any of what happened that night. All I know is what everyone has told me. You remember everything from Dan choking me to seeing me lying unconscious on the gym floor for hours. You are the bravest person I have ever known. I wish I could remember what happened in my own perspective because then I could help you through all this, but I can't and I feel like I have failed you," said Lucas.
"Lucas, you haven't failed me. It's better that you don't remember what that man did to you. You would be worse than me because everything actually happened to you. Knowing you, you would feel guilty for some part of what happened but you can't because you don't know what happened. I wish I didn't remember so badly."
Once she was calmed down a little, they got back up and tried it again. Peyton started hyperventilating again, but this time she managed to get to the door somehow. The moment she put her hand on the door, however, she had a flashback to that day and she turned around and ran from the gym. When she got back to her car, she fell to the ground shaking and sobbing. She was still hyperventilating as well. Lucas finally got to the car about five minutes later. He slowly got down next to Peyton and pulled her close to him.
"Peyt, shh I'm here. Calm down. You're okay. I'll protect you," said Lucas.
"Unlike I was able to do," said Peyton.
"Peyton, is that why you are so upset?"
"Yah, I failed you, Luke. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be on crutches."
"Peyton, you didn't fail me. You tried your hardest. This is completely Dan's fault."
"Yes, but if I had stayed conscious, I could have told him and therefore saved you from all this pain."
"Peyton, please do not feel guilty. I can't live with knowing that you feel guilty for something Dan did. You okay, Peyt?"
"I'm okay. Come on, Whitey wanted to see us at one of the tables since he realized that I was not able to go into the gym to get to his office," said Peyton.
"All right. Let's go," said Lucas. "Umm….A little help here please."
"Oh yeah sorry," said Peyton. She held Luke's crutches in one hand and his hand in the other. Luke then slowly got up off the ground.
"Okay no more sitting on the ground for a while. That hurt like anything. I could feel all my ligaments pulling and seeing as they were all surgically repaired, it hurt really badly. All right, let's go talk to Whitey."
"All right, are you sure that you are going to be okay?"
"Yeah, I mean my whole body hurts but that's a given seeing as Dan beat me up pretty badly. I have cuts and bruises all over my body plus my knee, shoulder, and ribs. But, let's go."
"All right."
Peyton and Lucas then slowly made their way over to where Whitey was sitting.
"Lucas Scott, good to see you up and about again," said Whitey. "How are you feeling?"
"Hey, Whitey. I've been better. I'm in a lot of pain right now," said Lucas.
"I can imagine. So Peyton, still can't go into the gym?"
"No but I'm trying," said Peyton.
"I know. I saw you guys try to go into the gym. Luke, you know that even though you won't be playing this year, I am still you your spot on the team, right?" asked Whitey.
"Of course, I know that. I was hoping so," said Lucas. "IIt would give me a reason to have to go into the gym."
"True, which is why I was hoping you would also help me coach a little this year. Last year with your shoulder, you told me you wished you could do your part to help the team. Since you can't play again this year, coaching is the next best thing. What do you say? I see how much you love being in that gym. If I can help you two get back into a place you guys love, I will be a very happy person."