Lucas awoke to the sound of a gun shot ringing in his ears.

"Keith", Lucas murmured.

Lucas shifted his glance from the pourous ceiling tiles to the pretty little number all curled up in an uncomfortable looking chair. He'd recognize those blonde ringlets anywhere. She was squirming into a new position in the chair as she pulled an earbud out of her ear. She opened her eyes slightly, still expecting Lucas to be unconscious. She nearly fell out of the chair when she saw him staring into her eyes with that smug look on his face.

"Hey"

"Oh my god, Luke!"

Peyton's grip on her iPod loosened and it hit the floor. The song "Non-believer" by La Rocca panned across the illuminated screen. Lucas had so much to tell her, about Keith, about what he saw, his true feelings for her. She walked over to him and he patted the bed. He didn't even need to shift over, she fit perfectly in the bed and into his arms as if they were two matching puzzle pieces. They just looked into each other's eyes, taking it all in and making sure it was real. Peyton had the pattern of the chair's fabric cast into the right side of her face from falling asleep on it. Her eyes were bloodshot, it was obvious she'd been bawling. Lucas couldn't stand to see her like this - not physically, she was as beautiful as ever - but emotionally. He didn't ever want to give her a reason to be sad. They lied there for a few minutes, just happy to be in each other's company again.

"I saw Keith", he said with a pensive look in his eyes. "He showed me all these different worlds; various scenarios and what could have been."

Lucas explained briefly what he had saw and his gut feeling that Jimmy wasn't the one who murdered Keith. Peyton was genuinely intrigued by all this, especially when he said those three little words that meant the world to her. Lucas gave her a peck on the forehead where he then rested his chin and buried his nose into her hair,just breathing her in.

"I love you".

He pulled back from her fragrant hair and watched her jaw drop.

"Oh Luke, you're amazing. I love you!" she said as she wiped away a stray tear.

"It's been you all along. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize it. I want you next to me when all my dreams come true. And I want to be there with you and your dreams." He went on to tell her how he wanted to venture into the unknown and carry on with Keith, but something Keith said to him made him want to come back. To her.

Peyton was beaming, her radiant smile seemed to light up the room just a bit more.

"Now this is good, isn't it? Us." Lucas spoke with squinted eyes.

"Perfect" Peyton replied.

Peyton knew she had to go spread the news that Lucas was awake, but she had the urge to be selfish and keep him all to herself for a little while longer. She told Lucas this and he didn't argue. They shared a lustful kiss followed by Lucas softly whispering "I love you Peyt" into her ear as she rolled off the bed. She bent down to pick up her iPod when Lucas began humming "...and I promise to climb back again to you, waiting for this message coming through". Peyton flashed that brilliant smile once more before exiting the room. "And I love you Luke, with all my heart". She was happy to know that she had helped, even just a little.

Flashback: Peyton places the earbuds into Lucas' ears and chooses the song "Non-believer" by La Rocca, an album that Max had suggested to her. "I kind of always thought you were looking for a little faith, most days I think you still are... Peyton, you're way too young not to believe it's gonna be okay". Track 10 was the answer, as Max had suggested. "You're always saving me, please let me find a way to save you", Peyton said tearfully as she pressed play and held Lucas's hand, wishing he would open his eyes.

Watching Peyton gracefully exit his room, the words: "your heart isn't the only one that's breaking" appeared in Lucas' mind. He was so happy to be with Peyton, it was a long time coming. She was different; not like Brooke. He had never known this feeling could exist! He got butterflies in his stomach when he was around her, he was nervous and excited all in one. He was truly... in love.

Lucas had so many thoughts racing through his mind, but no thoughts of doubt. Keith; everything he showed him, he didn't just dream it up. Keith came to Lucas to show him those things. Lucas was thinking about the school shooting and who could have possibly wanted Keith dead? He was an astonishing person, practically raising Luke, and meant so much to Karen.

Whoever killed Keith must have done it on a whim. It had to be spontaneous, who would have known Keith was even inside the school?

Who would have been able to get into the school, Lucas thought. He had a hard enough time coming out of the school with Peyton, he was surrounded within a couple of seconds. His train of thought was interrupted by a flood of people waiting outside his door. A nurse in pale moss-colored scrubs carrying a chart with a thick folder, full of Lucas' medical history and information, walked in. She smiled and welcomed him back while checking his blood pressure.

"One-twenty over eighty, good." She wrote the results down and glanced out the door. "You've got admirers", she smirked. Lucas grinned. He watched as the nurse continued to scribble on his chart. He wondered why the hospital staff's attire was so, for lack of a better word, hideous. He thought of one who could pull them off. Peyton.

©Greene 2006-2007