AN:

The confession, the break-up we've all been waiting for... A good ending, even if the show doesn't come back.

"Lucas, why!" she rambled on. "I have always been there for you. And you betray me like this?"

"Brooke­­––" he interrupted.

"Luke she's my best friend."

"And you have no right to treat her like this. I love Peyton Sawyer, not you. And I'm sorry, I'm so sorry that I had to make this mistake with you. But deep down in my heart, it's not you. That love is Peyton."

Brooke loooked up and down at her now ex-boyfriend. "Fine. I'll take all our pictures, all the memories, all the time we spent together and throw it all away!" She stomped over to the doorway and stopped, turning to him. "I hope you're happy now," she said, slamming the door behind her as a drawing fell down. It was the one Peyon had given him, with the three lost souls shooting at an empty heart.

He walked over and picked it up, holding his past close to him...

Peyton arrived the next day, after the fight died down. She knocked on his door, walking in when she didn't hear an answer. "Hey, Luke." She smiled, sitting next to him on his bed, as she found him deep in thought.

"I told her," he stated, hands clasped before him.

She just stared at him as her heart slowly sank.

"I had to, Peyton. We've been hiding from this for so long... I just, I needed to let it out."

Peyton stroked his hair back, an angel. "I thought it wasn't worth a friendship..." She felt the guilt knot up in her chest, as she remembered the words Brooke had spoken to her.

"This friendship is over..."

"But apparently, it is," she said, thinking about Brooke. Her arm fell from his shoulder, realizing this.

"Peyton, don't let her get to you. It was her decision," he said, trying to console her.

"I know, but I still feel guilty." She rested her head against his shoulder as he kissed her forehead, a tear falling down her face. "I love you, Lucas... I just never thought that it'd be this hard."

"I love you, too," he whispered, holding her close, wondering why it was so hard to be in love...