A/N: This is a sort of, rewrite of A Comet Pulled from orbit. Takes place around the same time as season 5. Will not drag, so the epilogue should cover most of what needs to get done, enjoy.
He rolled over onto his back, feeling the warm presence beside him. Her long brown hair lay across the pillow. She felt his eyes on her.
"Good morning." She whispered.
"Morning," Lucas said, leaning over to kiss her.
"How long have you been up?" The woman asked him.
"Ah… about 30 seconds." He said with a chuckle. "I'll go make breakfast."
"Sounds great." She whispered.
Lucas walked into the small kitchen of his tiny New York apartment that he shared with his girlfriend. They had been together about a year and a half. He loved her, he did. But he felt like his life was on repeat, despite the fact that he had an almost successful career, and a woman that he loved, his life was still incomplete.
Suddenly, he heard the jarring sound of his cell phone, he picked it up off of the counter.
"Hello? Yes… oh really. That's great, that's- yeah, I'll be down soon. Alright, thanks… bye."
He hung up and smiled. This was it, this was the day it would all be so real. Last month the fictional novel he had written had gotten a movie offer. Lucas graciously accepted, and after a long process, today was the day he would meet with everyone. From the director to the producer, the cast, makeup and wardrobe, music supervisors, etcetera. And he was excited.
Lucas was reluctant to do the movie at first, out of fear that his book would be turned into something completely different. But Lindsey convinced him after a while that it was a great opportunity, and he obliged. He was happy he did.
Lindsey strolled into the room, "Who was that?"
"Oh, that was John. I have a meeting today, like. An official one."
"Luke!" She exclaimed happily, "That's great."
"I know," He laughed, putting his arms around her. "But I have to be there as soon as possible, so I'm just gonna pick something up."
"That's fine." She smiled, "I'm capable of cooking on my own."
"Okay," He laughed.
** ** **
He pulled up outside of an office building maybe 40 minutes later. He saw John standing in the lobby.
"Lucas, hey. It's great to see you."
"You too." He replied shaking his hand, "This, this is a big day."
"I know it is." He said, two people walked up behind him. "Oh Lucas, this is Alex Fields, our director."
"Good to see you again." Lucas said, shaking the man's hand.
"And this is, Peyton Sawyer, our music supervisor."
Lucas looked at her, she seemed, timid, her emerald green eyes could radiate through a wall. But she was beautiful.
But he caught himself. "Good to meet you, Peyton." He said reaching out.
She hesitated, "You too."
There was a small pause as she let go of his hand. Lucas began to feel nervous for some reason.
"Well," John butt in. "Let's head upstairs."
"Right." Luke responded.
** ** **
The meeting was long, but fulfilling, on their lunch break, Luke went to a small restaurant downtown that was his favorite, Lindsey didn't like it their, so it was nice when he got to go.
A large crowd of people came in just as he was. He collided with another person.
They apologized simultaneously. Then he realized who it was.
"Peyton?"
"Yeah… Hi." She said, timidly, but slightly more upbeat. "You like it here too?"
"Yeah um, I don't get to come here a lot, but yeah."
She smiled, he was just standing there, "You going to order or what?" She asked him with a chuckle, seeing as he was next.
"Oh, right." He said blushing, Peyton smirked at him as he turned around.
** ** **
"What are you waiting for, a bus?" Peyton questioned him, stepping outside.
"Oh, no, I just figured we could walk back together, I would have felt rude leaving you."
"Oh really now?" Peyton asked, "Cause yes, after are glorious 2 sentence conversation, how could you ever leave me?" She finished, sarcastically.
He laughed, "You know what I mean…"
"Actually, I don't, But… I'll accept the offer."
"Good," He said, looking at her. They headed back.
"So umm… I gotta ask." He began. "Are you the same Peyton Sawyer who owns-"
"PS records?" She cut him off, "Yeah… but, how would you know about that?"
"I… uh, I'm from North Carolina, so I keep up with these things."
"No way." She said, a little bit awe-struck. "Where?"
"You wouldn't have heard of it-"
"Shoot, I know more than you think."
"Tree Hill?"
"How long did you live there?" Peyton asked him nonchalantly.
"Not long, probably, until I was six or seven, until my dad came around. And he and my mom have a, rocky history. It was just too hard for her. So we moved to Greensboro, once I graduated college I moved here."
"Big difference huh?" She asked, "There, and here. Just, the atmosphere, completely different. Do you ever go back?"
"Yeah, my girlfriend and I visit my mom and my sister on holidays and what not."
"Oh." she replied subtly.
"But you never answered my question." Luke retorted.
"Yes I did."
"You ever heard of Tree Hill?"
"Um… Oh look, we're here." She said, changing the subject. They both had been distracted to see where they were going.
"Yeah." He scoffed, "Look."
** ** **
"Hey Linds… Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. Some stuff came up, I'm heading home now. Okay? Love you, bye."
He hated coming home late, but he hated how she had trouble trusting him when things like this happened. He stepped outside to see Peyton sitting on the curb, waiting.
"Hey, what are you still doing here?"
"Oh, hey Luke. I usually just take a cab to these things because parking is hell. But um, looks like I'm walking now." She said standing up.
"Nonsense. I'll drive you, what's the address of you're hotel?"
"Lucas, I don't think that's very appropriate."
"What, you getting into my car?"
"Yeah, A; how do I not know you're some crazy guy who is going to kidnap me and B; It's not fair to her."
"Peyton, I write books, and as pretty as you are. No, and it's not fair to who?"
"You're girlfriend." She replied quietly.
"How did you know-"
"You told me earlier."
"Right." He replied, "Listen, just let me take you home. Besides, if something happened to you who would find the kick-ass music for my movie?"
She was flattered, but she couldn't go along with him, it wasn't fair. "Fine." She huffed, "Let's go."
He smiled and they headed around back towards the parking garage.
"Wow." She said, "For a big time author I figured you'd have some fancy pants, hybrid electric car that might as well fly."
He laughed, "No… this was my uncles, it's the sweetest ride you'll ever get."
"I bet I can top that." She said snidely, getting in.
"Oh really now?" He asked, "What kind of 'sweet ride' do you have?"
She laughed, "63, mercury comet. Convertible."
"Damn." He said, "Nice. Not what I pictured you in though?"
"I'll bet." She scoffed. "Just drive."
"Alright."
** ** **
"So um, stop me if this is inappropriate, but you're pretty, come off as smart, and probably talented in some aspect, someone got your heart?"
"Yes." She said in her head. "Um, sort of. I lived in LA for a while, that's how I got started. I dated this guy, but I think it was partially my fault we broke it off, I always would push him away in some sense. And after I moved back to North Carolina it just got harder, and eventually, the distance got to us. So, we… I, ended it."
"I'm sorry, Peyton."
"It's okay, just wasn't meant to be right?"
"Right." He replied quietly. "Well, is this the place?"
"It is."
"Okay. I guess I'll see you… soon?"
She smiled and got out of the car. "Soon, bye Luke."
"Bye Peyton."
He watched her until he was sure she had gotten in. A smile on his face, he drove off.
He was so glad that Lindsey had convinced him to go through with this.
Lindsey
** ** **
"Lindsey?" Lucas shouted, walking through the front door of their apartment.
"Luke." She threw her arms around him, "I missed you. What took so long?"
"Oh, John called me back, just to sort out a few more details, but I'm here now."
"So this is really happening isn't it?" She asked him excitedly.
"You bet."
"And you're not gonna go run off with some hot actress, are you?"
He groaned, leaning down to kiss her, "Never."
"Good." She replied.
** ** **
Peyton turned the key and walked into her hotel room, she hated hotels, they all looked the same, they all smelled the same, and had that feeling of travel, and not being home. It made her uneasy. But today, she wanted to be here. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed one of her closest friends.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Haley, hi."
"Hey," She said happily, "How's New York?"
"It's um, surprisingly nice, today was long, but, worth it."
"That's good, and how's the famous Lucas Scott?"
"Not what you'd expect." Peyton laughed. "He's not a money hungry business man, he's just. Lucas Scott."
"That's good." Haley laughed, "Anything else?"
"No, just, been a long day."
"Same here, I'll talk to you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, bye."
"Bye."
Peyton hung up and flopped down onto her bed, willing herself to go to sleep. She wanted it to be tomorrow. And maybe the next day. She picked up her ipod off of the night stand and turned on the song 'With or Without You" by U2, and let someone else say the words she was thinking.
Through the storm we reach the shore,
You give it all, but I want more.
And I'm waiting for you…
** ** **
Should I continue? Reviews are appreciated.