Set in Season 1, in the aftermath of "Suddenly Everything Has Changed," instead of Peyton and Lucas parting ways after Brooke finds out about them, they stay together.

Disclaimer: Just borrowing the characters.

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It's selfish I know. He and I together are ostracized by most of the school, because people think what we did was wrong, but we don't care. I know I'm supposed to care that I hurt my best friend and now she hates me for it.

But when you're in love, some things are just not meant to be.

Brooke and I were best friends until Lucas got between us, she and him dated, he and I were fated. He dumped her and she dumped me.

She was the loving devoted girlfriend while he was in the hospital and we can both respect that, but in the end, we were meant to be. I know I sound like a selfish bitch and sure I act like one. But hasn't there ever been anything that you've wanted so badly that you have to have it and nothing can stop you from possessing it.

Most times, once you have it, it loses its appeal, but that is not the case with us. We've been together for two years now, going into the midst of our senior year now. We aren't a Nathan and Haley but we are a Lucas and Peyton. We aren't happily ever after, we broke up and got back together, we fight and make up, people look at us with envy, hate, and want.

They envy what we have, they hate us for pursuing it and they want to be able to be that fearless.

Brooke and I haven't spoken in two years, we cross paths in the hallway and in classes, I'm no longer a cheerleader and Lucas is no longer a basketball player, his is more recent than mine. I dumped cheerleading when Brooke dumped me. I only did it to do something with her and for her. Brooke is still popular and goes through guys like Kleenex and she has a new best friend called Rachel.

I'm seventeen going on eighteen and when I was fourteen going on fifteen, Brooke said "bros over hoes." She was right, but can one say, love over like. I like Brooke but I love Lucas.

After his accident and the coming out of our relationship, most people treated us like lepers except the true few, who stuck by us. Situations like that tend to show a person's true colors. I can accept those who were insulted on Brooke's behalf, but it's not like any other person wouldn't do it if they felt what we felt.

Perhaps in the beginning, one could say that it was just the taboo of the stolen moments we shared that made our connection that much more powerful, but they're wrong. It was emotion, connection, involvement. Guilt and shame tried to rule us and for a time they did, but like a poltergeist they were exorcised.

In a real world, if we are not true to ourselves, then we're living a lie and maybe in a perfect world, we could've been together and had everyone be happy for us, but that doesn't exist in this world.

All that exists is the here and now, Lucas is going to the University of North Carolina to study literature and I'm going with him to study art, music and business.

Nathan is going to pursue basketball and Haley wants to pursue her music career. Brooke from a distance will probably pursue a career in fashion design and one day I hope we can talk without hate possessing her body.

If you'd like to see some of their time together during high school, review.