The moonlight bounced off the lake, lighting up the darkened park. Silence filled the sweet, night air, crickets chirping being the only sound heard for miles. This was her favorite place to come and think. Somehow she always found some sort of clarity here. No matter how crazy things got in the real world, she always found her way back to sanity here.
A lonely musician crept up behind her, breaking the eternal silence. "Rachel?" he called, his tone filled with both surprise and confusion.
"What are you doing here, Chris?" the beautiful redhead questioned, not bothering to turn around to face him. "I thought I said we're done."
"I know you did," Chris replied, taking the empty seat next to her on the bench. "Does that mean we can't see each other at all?"
Rachel pulled her knees up to her chest, as the crisp night breeze blew their way. She removed the one ear phone from her ear, wrapping them around her iPod and tucking it in her hoodie pocket. "What's the point?" she asked, bringing her eyes to his. "It's over."
Chris took off his jacket and wrapped it around the slender girl next to him. "The point is, I love you." His baby blue eyes went soft as they locked with hers. "Why is that so wrong?" he asked, turning his body to completely face her.
Rachel looked down, breaking eye contact. "This wasn't supposed to be about that, Chris. We both agreed on no feelings and then," she paused, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, "you ruined it. You weren't supposed to fall in love. Not with me."
Chris shook his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "So what, I'm just supposed to forget about you? Because I can't do that, Rach." His arm extended toward her leg, his hand sliding up and down.
Rachel took in another heavy breath. "You have to. It's for the best," she nodded, trying hard to convince herself. It didn't matter if she loved him too. She could never be with the boy. She was apart of a world where Chris shouldn't exist. "Just go, Chris." Rachel removed his hand and placed it back in his lap. Chris immediately took her hand in his own, using his other hand to turn her chin towards him. "Rachel, I know that you care for me too. It's not just me that is feeling this way. Tell me I'm wrong."
Rachel locked her eyes on his, seeing him differently than she ever had before. There was a long silence between them, the two just gazing into each other's eyes. Finally the redhead opened her mouth, forcing out the words she so badly didn't want to say. "You're wrong, Chris. I don't feel the way you do." She took her hand out of his and stared back at the ground.
Chris nodded his head, pain taking over his chest. "Then I guess this is it. This is really going to end." Rachel brought her eyes back to his. "Something can't end if it never started," she shrugged.
They both stood, Rachel's green eyes glued on the ground. Chris took his jacket from her hands without saying a word. Rachel watched as the boy she loved walked away, a single tear falling down her cheek.
Tires screeched to a hault, as the pissed off musician pulled into his parking space in Tree Hill High's parking lot. After the night he had, he didn't wanna be spoken to, touched, or even looked at. The blonde made his way into the building, head down, and went straight to his locker.
"Aww what's wrong, Keller? No ass last night?"
Chris quickly turned around, ready to tell this chick off til his eyes met Peyton Sawyer's. All of the anger suddenly left his body, confusion now taking over. Why was Peyton Sawyer talking to him? She was the school's goddess and he was a nobody.
Rachel and Peyton weren't exactly the best of friends; they hated each other. The two were forced to be on the cheerleading squad together, both fighting to be head captain. After lots of deliberation, Peyton finally managed to take it away from Rachel. Peyton always seemed to get what she wanted, Rachel always coming second. This was why Rachel and Brooke had become so close lately. The two feeling as if Peyton couldn't give a shit about the two of them, as long as she got what she wanted.
"What do you want, Peyton?" Chris asked, leaning back against the lockers.
"Why the long, pouty face today, Keller?" The beautiful blonde questioned, dragging her fingers down the musician's lips and down his chest.
Chris's eyes watched her fingers run down his body, his hands grabbing hers as she reached the top of his jeans. "Seriously, Peyton. What do you want? You haven't said three words to me this whole semester and now you want to talk?"
Peyton propped her hands on her hips, acting offended. "What I can't talk to one of the hottest guys in school?" A smile graced her lips as she watched him raise his eyebrows. "Well, my sources tell me that you and Rachel aren't screwing around anymore so that means that you're available now."
Chris started to turn and walk off, when his eyes caught Rachel walking in with Lucas Scott. The two were laughing, Rachel clearly taking everything better than Chris was. The boy turned back to Peyton. "Your sources are right. She ended it. Whatever it was."
Peyton shook her head as she watched Rachel and Lucas kept on walking. "Damn Keller, she didn't even look at you. And it looks like she found somebody new to play with." The blonde pouted her lip, swaying from side to side.
Chris watched the duo pass by them. "What are you wanting, Peyton? I'm not really in the mood for your twisted mind games.
"Just walk me to class is all," the girl said simply.
Chris rolled his blue eyes, shutting his locker. "Fine, whatever."
"Excellent," Peyton replied, grabbing Chris's hand and pulling his arm around her waist. The two walked past Rachel and Lucas and heading into the classroom.