Lucas walked out of Whitey's office and ran right into someone almost knocking them down. Lucas had his arm wrapped around the young woman and the two of them didn't move just looking at each other.
"I'm so sorry." Lucas pulled his arm up some so she was standing upright now.
"What ever you can let me go now." Lucas took a few seconds before moving his arm from around her back making sure to run his hand over her back. He noticed her letting out a breath when his hand was finally off her back. Lucas leaned down and picked up the sketchpad and books that were on the floor. She reached for them and touched his hand both again were just looking at one and other. She finally pulled her books from his hand before walking away from him.
"Hey, what's your name?" She turned around and Lucas thought he almost saw a smile on her lips.
"Peyton." She turned back around and walked outside.
Lucas was telling Haley about what happen earlier after coming out of Whitey's office. Haley noticed the way that Lucas was talking about the girl and she knew that Lucas liked her. She noticed that Lucas was looking over at the table that Nathan, Brooke, and Peyton were sitting at. Haley reached her hand put and stopped Lucas from walking into the lunch table. Lucas looked over at Haley and laughed at what almost happened. Haley followed his eyes and saw him looking at the blonde hair girl.
"Who the blonde girl who hangs out with Nathan and what's her name?" Haley asked as Lucas nodded while sitting down his lunch tray. "Come on Luke you can't like someone who is friends with the ass." Lucas took a drink of his water.
"I don't know Hales just something about her is different." Lucas looked over at Peyton as she sat down beside Nathan and Brooke.
"Who does the boy have eyes for now?" Lucas looked up and saw Skills and Junk sitting down beside him.
"Peyton something I don't know her last name." Haley laughed as Lucas pointed at her.
"Peyton Sawyer is way out of your league Luke." Everyone was looking over at Junk as he took a bit of his sandwich. "What I hear things and from what I hear about her your sorry ass has no chance." Lucas looked over and caught her looking at him. "She doesn't really date anyone she might hook up with them for a few months and then they are out the door." Lucas saw Brooke smack Peyton's arm and she turned her head away from Lucas.
"Don't think I didn't see that P. Sawyer." Brooke was right behind Peyton as they walked down the hall. "You were looking at the bastard spawn. You're lucky I caught you and not Nate." Peyton stopped and looked at Brooke.
"Why would I care if Nate saw me looking at Lucas? Not saying that I was looking at him." Brooke pulled Peyton into the restroom and blocked the door.
"One he's your friend. Two he's dating your best friend and I will never hear the end of it if you two were to hook up. Three it's Lucas Scott granted he is kind of hot with the outsider vibe going on for him, but." Peyton rolled her eyes before walking to the door. "Where are you going we are not done talking?" Peyton opened the door and walked away from Brooke.
Drawling was always Peyton's release from the stress of school and from the fact, her dad was away again. Today she had found a new spot to draw at a basketball court by the river. Some days she would, just drive all over town looking for inspiration and this is where she was getting it today. Peyton who was so caught up in her drawling she didn't hear the six boys talking and dribbling a few basketballs.
"Look Luke your girl friend is here." Skills starting to make kissing noises as Lucas pushed him.
"Shut up man." They all laughed which caught Peyton's attention. The six of them stopped as Peyton started to put her things away. Lucas walked over to her and she paused for a minute. "You don't have to go anywhere me and the guys are just going to play a few games before dinner." Peyton was trying to figure out what to fighting with her self. She looked into Lucas's eyes and saw he was almost pleading with her to stay.
'Ok just until I get this finished." Lucas smiled at her before walking back onto the court.
"Come on guys shot for teams." Peyton noticed that only four of the guys were playing the other two sat down on the picnic table.
Peyton surprised her self when she stayed until the guys were done playing. The guys all slapped hands before they all went their own way. Peyton stood up and walked over to her car when she noticed Lucas was still shooting his basketball. The ball rolled towards Peyton and she picked it up. Lucas walked over and held out his hands.
"Why didn't you leave with all your friends?" Lucas smiled some as he took the ball from Peyton.
"Because you were still here I didn't want to leave you alone." Peyton looked over at Lucas with a little smile on her face as she opened her car door.
"You need a ride anywhere?" Lucas nodded and walked over to the passenger side of the Comet. They both got into the car as Peyton started it. "Where to?"
"The old building down on Marshall Street please." She nodded as she pulled onto the road.
Brooke was sitting on Peyton's bed waiting for her friend to come home. Her best friend had a few more questions to answer before she was satisfied that nothing was or is going to happen with Lucas. Brooke heard the front door close and footsteps coming up the stairs.
"Brooke what are you doing here?" Peyton stopped at the door looking at Brooke.
"We are going to have a little heart to heart." Peyton sat down her sketchpad on the nightstand. "Where have you been?"
"You know me Brooke I drive around town and find someplace to do some sketching then I come home." Peyton sat down beside Brooke on the bed. "What's this really about?" Brooke leaned her head on Peyton's shoulder.
"It's just with everything going on at school with all the new kids. Nathan is on edge about basketball and having to spend more time with." Brooke stopped short of saying Lucas's name. "I just need to know that something is still normal around here. I need to know that nothing is or ever will be going on with you and him." Peyton closed her eyes not knowing what to say to her best friend.
"Brooke." Brooke moved her head and was now looking at Peyton in the eyes.
"No come on Peyton out of everyone at school and you choose to like him."
"No I'm not into him Brooke. I promise, why do you care so much?" Brooke stood up and walked over to Peyton's closet.
"It's always been the three of use Peyton. If something does happen between you and Lucas it might ruin everything that we have." Peyton didn't know why she was getting angry for but she was. Peyton stood up and walked over to the door.
"I'm not going to listen to this Brooke. You are happy with Nathan, I." Peyton just left the room not waiting to say anything that she would regret later. Brooke walked after her before she stopped and looked down at Peyton's sketchpad. Brooke opened it up and saw the drawings that Peyton had been working on. One saw of the sun setting at the river court. The next one was of a boy shooting a basketball to a hop. Brooke couldn't tell who it was. The last one was obviously of Lucas and Peyton looking at each other while a basketball was between them. Brooke grabbed the last drawling and left Peyton's house.
Lucas and Skills were carrying a table as Karen was telling them where to put everything.
"So what's up with you and goldilocks?" Lucas just looked over at Skills. "I saw the way you were looking at her today dawg." Lucas just smiled at his friend.
"Nothing I didn't know she was going to at the river court." Skills just looked at his friend.
"Just be really careful Luke." Lucas nodded as the sat the table down and went to grab another one.
Nathan walked into his house and saw his dad was watching the state championship game from last season. Nathan never noticed until now that Dan was watching Lucas more then he was watching him play.
"So the other son wins the championship and now you want him as your son instead of me." Dan turned the game off and looked over at Nathan.
"Son it's not like that. He means nothing to me you are my only son. I'm just getting notes down so you can bet him at tryouts so you can stay at the two and he can ride the bench."
"If that's your story I'm not going to be home I'm staying over at Brooke's house tonight." Dan opened his mouth but Nathan was already gone.
Haley was sitting at the table with her math book opened when Keith sat down beside her.
"Hales how is Lucas dealing with going to school with Nathan?" Haley sat her pencil down.
"I think it's going to be a little difficult for him." Keith nodded.
"How are you holding up with everything that is going on at school little girl?" Haley smiled at Keith he might not be her real father but she was sure glad that he was her father now.
"I'm doing good Keith." Keith rubbed her arm before getting up
"Look after Lucas will you?" Haley just smiled as Keith walked out of the kitchen.
"Brooke what's wrong?" Nathan walked into Brooke's room and saw her looking at something.
"Nathan I have something to show you but you have to promise not to do anything stupid." Nathan sat down at the foot of her bed. "I was at Peyton's house and talked to her about something. She got mad and left and I opened her sketched pad and found this." Brooke handed Nathan the drawling that Peyton had done of her and Lucas. Nathan just sat on the bed looking at the drawling not knowing what to say or do.
