Disclaimer: I own nothing; it all belongs to the WB.

A/N: I wrote this fic after watching the first episode of One Tree Hill. It's just a short one parter focusing on Peyton.


Do you ever feel like you're settling for mediocre? Sure, you feel fine, but are you really truly happy?

That's the scary part. You don't know if this is it, or if there's another opportunity just waiting for you to take it.

Most people would consider me really lucky. I am a cheerleader, dating the high school basketball star.

Nathan Scott. He's everything you would expect of the perfect "All American" high school boy. He's good looking, charming when he wants to be, and appears to have no flaws.

In other words, he's my equal. Or so it may seem.

In school, I play a role. I am the popular cheerleader, stereotype and all. But that's not really who I am.

When I'm driving down the highway, with the breeze blowing through my hair, I feel that's the only time I can be myself. No trying to fool Nathan, the school, or even my parents. I'm just me, listening to my "loser rock".

Sometimes I think about what it would be like to be someone else without all the bullshit. Someone like… perhaps, Lucas, Nathan's half brother.

From what I know, Lucas lives with his mom, and I can't help but wonder if maybe Lucas got the better deal. Lucas lies low, and the spotlight isn't always on him. With Nathan, the whole town follows his every move, on and off the court.

So one day, driving along, my car broke down. Lucas works at the auto shop, and he was sent to fix it. While he was inspecting my car, I called Nathan to pick me up. We argued for a few minutes, and he finally agreed to come.

Lucas waited with me and tried to start a conversation. But, of course, I was being my school self, and preferred to ignore him.

Then, he told me about his father, and about the whole situation. In other words, he pretty much summed up his life story to a complete stranger.

I admire him for that. He doesn't care what other people think, which is something foreign to me. My music I listen to tells me the same thing, only I can't quite be myself.

Nathan never came, big surprise that was. Lucas offered me a ride, and I took it. I sit down and felt very content and I scold myself for doing so.

I need to face it, no matter what I do; I'll never be able to drop this façade. I've become a lost soul amongst all the others. Because, come on, not all of us can be Lucas Scott.

End