Chapter 1 - Facing the truth
Finally he thought to himself while he watched from a distance the love of his life draw, he watched her sketch with such concentration and he couldn't help but smile. It was lunch at school and he was just sat at a table watching Peyton draw. He had finally admitted to himself that it was Peyton that he truly loved. The only problem was that he hadn't told Peyton how he feels.
[Flashback
"Brooke, I've been looking everywhere for you, we really need to talk its important." Lucas said as he walked in to Brooke's apartment.
"Okay Lucas what is it?" Brooke said sounding a little concerned.
"I love you, you know that right?" Lucas said.
"Of course, I love you too."
"I do love you I care a lot for you but….. I'm just not in love with you, I'm sorry."
"What!" Brooke said sounding hurt and angry at the same time.
"I'm sorry I thought you were the one for me, all last summer I thought you were the one and I really wanted to be with you and I wanted this to work, but I was wrong. I didn't want to hurt you again Brooke you have to believe me"
"Well that just makes everything better doesn't it? You didn't want to hurt me but you did anyway AGAIN!" Brooke said sarcastically and angrily, but still with hurt in her eyes.
"I'm sorry Brooke, you have to believe me…. I don't know what else to say"
"I don't understand what has changed in a week since you told me that I was the one for you and that you were totally in love with me" said Brooke.
"I just realised that I was lying to myself and to you and I can't do it anymore….. I realised that you're not the one for me….. and I'm not the one for you cause you deserve more Brooke something I can't give you because my heart belongs and always belonged to someone else."
"I can't believe you its Peyton isn't it?"
"How did you…."
"Oh come on its always been there that connection you two have always had, that connection that I am so jealous of, that I thought would go away after you told me that you loved me."
"I'm sorry Brooke but I can't help it…..you can't choose who you fall in love with"
"I can't believe this is happening again…..I've lost my boyfriend to my best friend all over again and now I've lost my friendship with Peyton again"
"Peyton doesn't know how I feel I don't even know if she feels the same way. Please don't fall out with her because of me, I don't want to come between you two"
"Just leave I can't be around you right now!" Brooke said needing time to process all of what she had just heard.
Lucas stopped at the door. "I am sorry Brooke, but please don't blame Peyton and I still want us to be friends"
Brooke didn't respond so Lucas left thinking that if he said much more she would get too angry and he knew that she needed some time alone.
[End of flashback
How should I tell her? When should I tell her? Should I tell her at all? He thought to himself. He didn't know what to do all he could think about was Peyton, his mind felt like it was going to explode, so many questions but not enough answers. No one except for Brooke knew about his feelings for Peyton and Brooke isn't exactly known for keeping things a secret for too long. What if she tells Peyton? He thought to himself. She'd have every right to she might do it to spite me he thought. I need to speak to Haley he thought.
The school bell rang Lucas was headed out of the school when he heard a familiar voice calling his name. He turned around to see Haley.
"Just the person I wanted to see" Lucas said as Haley came towards him.
"Hey you've been acting a bit strange today Lucas is everything okay?" she asked.
Haley always seemed to know when something was bothering him and normally she'd have a good idea what it was too, but not this time she couldn't seem to figure out what was wrong.
"I've got a bit of a problem and I need to talk to you about it, but not here meet me at the Rivercourt at 5 o'clock"
"Okay" Haley said looking a bit concerned. "Its nothing life-threatening is it?"
"No" Lucas laughed. "I just need your advice, I'll see you at 5"
"Okay see you later Luke"
Lucas opened the door to his house he dropped his school bag off in his bedroom and went into the kitchen where his mother and Keith were talking. "Hey sweetie" his mom said "Did you have a good day at school"
"Well that depends on what you think is good" Lucas replied a little moodily.
"What's wrong Luke" Keith said noticing that something was bothering him.
"Yeah Luke you know you can talk to me about anything" his mom said.
"I've just got a bit of a dilemma that's all, I'm going to talk to Haley about it later"
"Its girl troubles isn't it?" Keith said.
"Am I that obvious?"
"I thought things were okay between you and Brooke" his mom said.
"Well I kinda broke up with Brooke yesterday"
His mom and Keith looked a bit shocked, "Why did you break up with her?" Keith said.
"I just realised I'm not in love with her and I don't want a relationship based on a lie" Luke responded.
"Well I'm proud of you Luke, for being a man about it and being honest" his mother said.
"So then what's the problem?" Keith asked.
"Peyton" Luke said.
"You're in love with Peyton?" his mom said.
"Am I like a book…..cause you both seem to be able to read me like one."
"Well you've always had a thing for her Luke" his mom replied.
"Yeah and its about time you admitted it to yourself" Keith added.
"So you're telling me you already know about my feelings for Peyton" they both nodded "Well then why didn't you say anything to me?"
"Because its something you had to figure out on your own" his mom said.
"Yeah and would you really have listened us?" Keith added.
"I suppose you have a point" Luke replied. "I'm going to go meet Haley and then maybe Peyton I'll see you both later"
"Okay sweetie seeya later" his mom said.
"Bye mom, bye Keith, I'm glad you two are finally together"
"Thanks bye Luke" Keith said.
Luke was on his way to the Rivercourt, he couldn't stop thinking about Peyton. Why didn't I realise this sooner and then it wouldn't be so complicated with Brooke cause I would never have dated her, he thought. I can't believe my mom and Keith already knew, I wonder whether Haley already knows he thought to himself.
Meanwhile back at Nathan's house Haley and Nathan were sat in the living room in each others embrace watching a movie.
"Crap" Haley said jumping to her feet.
"What?" Nathan replied a little startled.
"I'm meant to be meeting Luke at the Rivercourt." she responded.
"What are you meeting him for?" Nathan asked.
"He wants to talk to me about something, he said he needs some advice and I'm gonna be late at this rate, where are my shoes?"
"Calm down Hales your shoes are upstairs and if you want I'll drive you to the Rivercourt and then you won't be late" Nathan offered.
"Okay that'll be great, what would I do without you?"
"I know I am pretty great" Nathan responded.
"Don't push it" she said jokingly "When we get there you can't stay cause when he asked me to meet him I got the impression he wanted to talk in private, he sounded pretty serious."
"That's fine Hales I kinda figured I mean you are his best friend he's bound to confide in you" Nathan replied.
Lucas had just reached the Rivercourt things were so much simpler before he joined the Ravens, it was just me and Haley against the world, he thought to himself. He sat himself down and looked out at the river, his mind couldn't stop thinking about Peyton and the mistakes he made with her. Why did I give up on her? Why didn't I try a little harder? Yeah she pushed me away but she admitted she was scared and that she made a mistake. Why didn't I give her another chance back then? I would never have gotten involved with Brooke then, he thought to himself, things would be a lot simpler now, if I had tried a little harder back then. Where the hell is Haley? Its 5:15 she's hardly ever late he thought to himself. And with that thought he heard a car pull up, he turned around to see Haley getting out of Nathan's car.
"See you later Nathan" Haley said.
"Don't I get a kiss?" Nathan asked.
"Of course you do" She leaned over and kissed her husband.
"Do you want me to pick you up later?" Nathan asked.
"I'll call you if I do"
"Okay I'll see you later". And with that Nathan drove off.
"Hi Luke sorry I'm late I was watching a movie with Nathan and lost track of time" she said.
"Its okay Hales you're not that late, you're here now that's the main thing" Luke replied.
"So what's wrong?" Haley asked.
"Well I broke up with Brooke yesterday" and before he could say anything else.
"What! ….. well that explains why she wasn't at school today."
"But that's not the actual problem" Luke cut in.
"Sorry Luke carry on I was just a bit shocked, I mean you haven't been together long, what made you break up with her?" Haley asked.
"Well don't judge me but I realised that I wasn't in love with her, I was lying to myself and I couldn't continue the relationship when I knew this and it wouldn't be fair to her because my heart belongs to someone else" Luke responded.
"Peyton" Haley said.
"Seriously does everybody know about my feelings for Peyton" He said shocked that everybody seemed to know before he did.
"Well you have to admit Luke you two have always been so close and you did see her behind Brooke's back the last time you two dated….and"
"Don't tell me the connection we have" Luke interrupted.
"Yeah" Haley replied "There has always been that connection and I'm sorry but I never saw you and Brooke making a good match, I always thought you were meant to be with Peyton"
"Why didn't you say anything?" Luke asked.
"Cause its not really my place to tell you who you have feelings for and who you should and shouldn't date, plus its really something that you needed to realise on your own"
"Everyone keeps saying that" Luke replied.
"Well then it must be true" Haley said.
"So I need your advice on what I should do now"
"Well you've broke things off with Brooke, I take it you were honest with her about your feelings for Peyton"
Lucas nodded.
"Then the next step is to tell Peyton" Haley said.
"What if she rejects me, I don't think my heart could take it" Luke said.
"Well that's just a risk you'll have to take, think how she felt when you rejected her, you have to tell her, she deserves to know. Anyway I think she feels the same way as you deep down."
"Really?" Lucas asked needing reassurance.
"Do I have to talk about the connection thing again, or do you want me to go in to detail of how hurt she was when she missed her chance the last time and when you dated Brooke."
"No, its okay…..I guess you're right" Luke replied.
"You should tell her as soon as possible…..I mean you told Brooke how you felt about Peyton you can't let her hear it from anyone else……I can't see Brooke keeping her mouth shut for too long"
"You're right I've got to go see her now I need to tell her I just hope I'm not too late"
"I hope you're not too late either Luke, you deserve some happiness" Haley said.
"Do you want me to walk you home before I go to Peyton's?" Luke asked.
"No you need to get there as soon as possible I'll call Nathan he said he would pick me up" Haley replied.
"Okay thanks Haley you're always helping me with my problems, and you know if you ever need to talk about anything I'm here" Luke said as he got up to leave.
"I know, I'll see you tomorrow at school, hopefully you're with Peyton by that time"
"Hopefully" Luke said and then he left and started for Peyton's house.