The next morning Peyton walked into the Tree hill High School building alongside her newfound best friend, Haley. She waved hello to her friends as they walked by, and waved goodbye to Haley as she was pulled away by Nathan.

She walked a bit further to her locker, only to find Brooke pressed up against it by Lucas. She cleared her throat, but they didn't notice. She tapped his shoulder, and he immediately pulled away.

"Hey, you're on my locker," she said with a grin. Brooke immediately felt awful.

"Oh, god, I'm sorry, Pey. We shouldn't have been doing this here anyways."

"It's alright, just let me get my biology book and you can continue."

"Actually, I should probably get to class too," Lucas said. "I'll see you later Brooke. Bye Peyton." With that he walked away, leaving a blushing Brooke.

"I am really sorry," she said again. Peyton just laughed.

"It's okay, Brooke, I'm over it, you know that."

"I know, but I still feel like a bitch."

"Well don't, you're the opposite. Don't worry about it, you can make out with Lucas wherever you want."

"No I can't," she pouted. Peyton just pulled her friend into a hug."

"I'm okay, Brooke. We've been over this."

"Yes we have, and you're right, but I still feel bad about it," Peyton had tuned her out by the last words as she watched a certain tall brunette gentlemen walk past them.

"I'll talk to you later Brooke," she said, she started off after Jake.

"Peyton, what about your biology book?" Brooke asked. But by then, Peyton was long gone.

"Jake," Peyton called as she ran to catch up the man. He turned and smiled in greeting.

"What's up," he asked. She smiled and fell into step beside him.

"I was just wondering if you were busy today after school. I've got this killer French project and I know you're really good at the subject," she said. He nodded.

"Yeah, I can help you. Can you come over around seven?" Peyton began to nod, but then shook her head.

"I have to go to the café with Haley to work on a Spanish assignment at 6:30."

"Oh, well, when are you free?"

"Right after school is about it, unless you want to work at like, 10:00," Peyton said.

"My parents are at work until about six, I'm with Jenny alone until then. If you don't mind watching her with me we can do it after school."

"That's fine, she's adorable," Peyton said. Jake just smiled.

"Yeah, she is. Okay, so I'll see you after school," Jake said as he began to walk away.

"Yeah, see you then," Peyton couldn't keep the smile off her face. For the first time in a long time she felt giddy. Her heart did a little leap as she turned around to walk to her biology class.

After school Peyton found Jake at his locker, shoving stuff into his already full back pack.

"Hey," she greeted.

"Hey."

"Do you have a ride?"

"I was going to walk."

"Well, we're going to the same place, so you up for it?"

"I need to get home alive, Peyton," he joked. Peyton playfully punched his arm, causing him to laugh, she joined a moment later.

"Why does everyone think I'm a horrible driver?"

"Because for those of us who haven't actually experienced it, we've heard stories, and I know what the people say who have experienced it."

"They're just stories come on, you should know better than to believe what everyone says."

"Like what?" he asked. The two started walking out of the building to Peyton's car.

"I don't know, just stuff. You can't believe everything you hear."

"Well I hear a lot of things, which ones do I believe and which ones don't I?" he was clearly teasing her now, which she found to be a mix of bothersome and adorable.

"You believe anything you hear about Brooke, because it's probably true. You don't believe anything you hear about Haley, because probably isn't true," Peyton explained jokingly. Jake looked on at her longingly.

"What about if I hear something about you?"

"Me? Well, you could always ask me. I'm a complex person, you just never know."

"Well, complex Peyton, lets get this show on the road. I need to be home in ten minutes so my mom can be on time for work."

Peyton and Jake were sitting on his porch, looking over the French project on the table in front of them.

"So what do you need to do for this?" Jake asked. He had just come out from putting Jenny down for a nap. He sat on the porch swing, a little closer to Peyton then necessary, but no one was complaining.

"I don't know, I cant read it," Peyton said with a pitiful laugh. Jake just smiled and set to translating.

"It says : Choose one person who inspires you and write an essay on why this person has this affect on you," Jake said.

"Okay, so- what does that mean?"

"It means choose a person who inspires you and write an essay on why this person has this affect on you," he teased. She just laughed lightly.

"Okay, so I need to think of a person who inspires me."

"That would be the general consensus, yes."

"Who inspires me?" she asked herself, thinking deeply.

"Who do you want to be like the most?"

"I don't want to be like anyone, I want to be myself."

"Well, I don't think you're supposed to write about yourself, so try again." Peyton thought for a moment.

"Well, my dad, I guess. He works really hard so we can have a good life," she said unsurely.

"But?"

"But he's never there. I don't want to be one of those mom's who isn't in her kids lives at all because of work."

"Okay, so not your dad."

"No, I guess not."

"Who else inspired you?" He asked. She looked at him longingly.

"You do," she said softly. He raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"Because you're so determined. You've managed to have a beautiful daughter and be a really great dad while staying in school, playing an amazing basketball game. You're so driven and responsible, I respect that."

"I also had unprotected sex and ended up with a baby," Jake said, feeling warmth and surprise that she felt this way about him.

"And the woman you had unprotected sex with is gone and you're still an amazing guy. Jake, you're probably the most inspiring person I know."

"Is there anyone else? Who inspires you, I mean."

"Just one."

"Who?"

"Lucas' mom. She's been through so much and managed to raise a really great son, despite everything that's been thrown at her."

"So, why don't you do your essay about her?"

"I don't know. Wouldn't that be weird?"

"How would it be weird?"

"Because of everything that's happened between Lucas and I this year. It doesn't seem right."

"Karen isn't Lucas. If you want to do your essay on her you should."

"You sure?"

"Positive, besides, Mme. Leger hates me, she would fail you for doing an essay on me," he said. Peyton laughed.

"Why does she hate you?"

"Umm, I was part of the whole gum on the chair incident last year," he said reluctantly. Peyton cracked up.

"That was you?"

"And Tim and Nathan, and a few other guys on the team. It's not like it was all me."

"Okay, well I think that throws you out of the running. Karen it is."

"Alright, so, what do you want to say in your introduction?"

"Umm, Karen is an amazing woman who inspired me because... blah," Peyton dictated. Jake just laughed.

"This could take some work."

Okay, so that's it for this chapter. I hope you like it. Please review if you do!

~~Critta~~~