It is so easy to see
Dysfunction between you and me
We must free up these tired souls
Before the sadness kills us both
I tried and tried to let you know
I love you but I'm letting go
It may not last but I don't know
Just don't know
Today was the day. It was the day that Peyton Sawyer was going to become Peyton Scott. It was supposed to perfect. Both she and Lucas had been dreaming of this day since they were merely teenagers. Peyton smiled pulling herself out of bed. She and Lucas had agreed to not spend the night to together so they didn't curse their wedding. She had just assumed he was at Nathan and Haley's or Mouth and Skill's. Peyton decided she needed to go see Brooke. This was the most important day of her life and she needed her best friend.
Sunlight hit her face, blinding her vision as she blocked her eyes with her hand in attempt to see.
She smiled contently, stretching her arms out and she let out a scream as her hand hit the person next to her. She rolled onto her side and found herself staring at her ex-boyfriend, Lucas Scott. Holy fuck she thought. Then last night came flooding back to her, and today was his wedding to her best friend. She mentally slapped herself for sleeping with Lucas.
"Brooke!" a voice yelled echoing throughout her house and drifting up the stairs. She instantly recognized the voice. It belonged to Peyton Sawyer.
"Lucas," she yelled, nudging him.
"Must sleep," he groaned back rolling over on his side.
"Lucas!" she yelled again, hitting him this time.
He jolted awake and rubbed his sleepy eyes. "What the hell Brooke?"
"Peyton's here," she growled.
Lucas looked like a deer caught in the headlights. "Oh shit."
"Yeah so you'd better get going."
"Fine we can talk about us later," he smiled, leaning in and giving her a kiss. "I might be marrying Peyton today but just know that I'll be thinking of you," he winked.
Brooke gave him a disgusted look. "Last night was great and all but it was just an innocent night between two ex-lovers. It is never going to happen again."
"I thought you said you loved me," he argued.
"I do and that is why I'm letting you go. I want you to go marry Peyton because she is who you are truly meant to be with. And if it doesn't work out then just remember that people that are meant to be together always find their way in the end," she answered with a smile before shoving herself out the door, bath robe in hand.
She met Peyton at the top of the stairs and offered her a small smile. "Good morning bride to be."
"Good morning my maid of honor," Peyton smiled following Brooke down the stairs. Brooke put on a pot of coffee while Peyton rambled on and on about her and Lucas starting their lives together. "And we're going to have a bunch of kids and live in a huge mansion. And they are all going to be cute little brooders."
Lucas walked behind Peyton, who was seated at the kitchen table and snuck towards the backdoor. He made a fake gagging sound at Peyton's "wish" and mouthed "I love you" to Brooke before silently slipping out the door. Brooke giggled at this and Peyton looked at her questioningly.
"What?" she demanded.
"Nothing," Brooke smiled. "So what time should I be at the church by?"
"Well the wedding starts at two so probably like one."
Brooke nodded. "Sure, I have to go take a shower and get ready," she stated, glancing at the clock and noticing that it was already eleven thirty.
"Well I'll leave you to it. I'll meet you at the church. And wish me luck."
"Good luck," Brooke smiled with such fakeness because it should be her marrying Lucas not Peyton.
If you don't know
Then you can't care
And you show up
But you're not there
But I'm waiting
And you want to
Still afraid that I will desert you
Every day
With every worthless word we get more far away
The distance between us makes it so hard to stay
But nothing lasts forever, but be honest babe
It hurts but it may be the only way
"I can't believe I'm going to be Peyton Scott," Peyton giggled excitedly.
"I know it's going to be great!" Brooke squealed back, trying to be enthusiastic. Who knew she was such a great actress.
"You love him don't you?" Brooke asked after a moment of silence.
Peyton looked at her as if she were on crack. "Of course I love him. I wouldn't be marrying him if I didn't."
Well he's marrying you and he doesn't love you. Brooke forced a smile. "I was just checking that's all. I just want you to be one hundred percent sure of this. We don't need a repeat of the Lindsay wedding."
Peyton scoffed. "Well I don't have any competition seeing as I was the competition last time."
Brooke had to stifle her laughter. That's what you think, she thought.
"Did you ever picture yourself marrying Lucas?" Peyton asked suddenly and Brooke was taken aback by the abruptness of Peyton's question.
"Where did that come from?"
Peyton shrugged. "I just wondered that's all."
"I did but that was a very long time ago. We were still in high school and I thought we'd be together forever until he cheated on me."
Her comment cut like a knife. "I'm sorry," Peyton mumbled.
"It's okay. I shouldn't have pried open old wounds. I don't know what I was thinking," Brooke faked a smile, waving her off with her hand.
"It's not just that. We also grew distant. We stopped having meaningful conversations and that drove us apart. I felt like we were drifting away from each other so I let him go. I decided that it would be better if we split ways because we were only becoming more miserable. Nothing lasts forever right?" she added, her laugh bitter and cold.
"I'm sorry Brooke. I know it's hard because you haven't been able to find love but I promise you that you will find someone," Peyton encouraged her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Brooke shook it off. "I think I already have."
Peyton stared at her. "What?"
"Never mind, I have to go we will discuss it later. Bye P. Sawyer soon to be Scott," she smile sadly, exiting the room before Peyton could object.
A bed that's warm with memories
Can heal us temporarily
The misbehaving only makes
The ditch between us so damn deep
Built a wall around my heart
I'll never let it fall apart
But strangely I wish secretly
It would fall down while I'm asleep
Lucas heard a faint knock on the door and yelled out, "it's open. Come on in."
The doorknob turned and Lucas whipped his body around to see Brooke.
"Hey," he smiled, making his way towards her and wrapping his arms around her. "I really don't want to do this."
"I know you don't but you have to. And if it doesn't work out then I'll be here," she smiled, pulling herself out of his embrace.
"We need to talk about last night," he stated seriously, glancing into her hazel eyes. They looked sad and he wanted to take the pain away.
She nodded. "That's why I came."
"I meant every word that I said."
"I know you did but you can't change your mind. Not at a time like this. That's why I need you to marry Peyton and see how it plays out."
"She's not you and she never will be. I can't get you out of my head Brooke. Last night I truly realized how much I missed you. It brought back so many memories for me and I can't stop thinking about you," he admitted. "I know it's wrong but it's just how I feel."
"I know but you love Peyton too and maybe you just need to marry her to realize that."
He shook his head. "I don't think so Brooke. I never loved her like I loved you. It should be you I'm marrying today."
"Did you ever imagine yourself marrying me? I mean when we were younger?" she questioned suddenly and he looked surprised.
"Yes. Of course I did. I thought we'd be together forever. Can I tell you a secret and you have to promise not to tell anyone?"
She nodded. "I won't say a word."
"I was going to propose to you on graduation day. I had it all planned out, hoping we'd make it that far. I was going to use the ring Keith gave my mom. I still have it actually."
Brooke was at a loss for words. "Why didn't you give it to Peyton?" she finally asked.
"Because she's not you and I couldn't give her your ring. My mom told me to give that ring to the person I was sure I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. That ring was meant for you and giving it to Peyton would be a lie," he answered honestly.
When she didn't say anything he leaned in and kissed her. The kiss was chaste and passionate and he poured his heart and soul into it. She felt his tongue begging for entrance, which she gladly granted him. After what seemed like an eternity reality sunk in and Brooke pulled away. "I can't do this Lucas. You know that."
"Brooke…"
"No Lucas. You keep doing things like this but it's driving a wedge between us. We were such good friends and now you're ruining it. I wish I could let my walls fall down but I can't. I can't let you in again. I'm sorry. You're going to marry Peyton and pretend that none of this happened," she whispered. "Goodbye Lucas." And just like that she vanished out the door. "FUCK!" Lucas cursed, kicking at the air. Why did he always have to let her go?
If you don't know
Then you can't care
And you show up
But you're not there
But I'm waiting
And you want to
Still afraid that I will desert you, babe
Everyday
With every worthless word we get more far away
The distance between us makes it so hard to stay
But nothing lasts forever, but be honest babe
It hurts but it may be the only way
Lucas waited patiently at the altar and soon the music started playing and Peyton emerged from the back of the church. Everyone gasped at how beautiful she looked, in the dress Brooke had made for her. But Lucas's eyes weren't focused on her, unlike everyone else in the room. They were focused on her maid of honor, who looked absolutely breathtaking in her red bridesmaid dress. Red really was her color. She caught Lucas looking at her and sent him a glare. He quickly turned back to Peyton, who was making her way down the aisle with Larry at her side. He offered her a small smile but every so often he found his gaze trailing back to Brooke.
Lucas found himself thinking about Brooke and the many memories they had shared together as the minister spoke. Finally he heard the words, Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer do you take Lucas Eugene Scott, he cringed at the middle name, to be your lawfully wedded husband. Peyton erupted into a huge smile, tears rolling down her cheeks as she nodded her head and said "I do". She slipped the ring onto his finger and the minister turned to him. "Lucas Eugene Scott do you take Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
All eyes were on him but his eyes were on Brooke, who was looking at the floor. Finally she looked up at him, shot him a glare and mouthed the words "say I do" before looking back at the floor.
"I'm sorry. I can't," he mumbled, and the minutes those words escaped his lips the audience erupted into a series of gasps.
Brooke's head shot ups and tears fell from her eyes at the speed of a bullet.
He turned back to Peyton and noticed the look in her eyes. She was breaking. "Wha...what?" she stammered, glancing into his blue eyes, her green ones full of tears and hate at the same time. "Why?"
He gulped, "Because I'm in love with someone else."
The crowd erupted into another series of gasps and Peyton glared at him, "In love with someone else? Care to elaborate?" Brooke sent him a look that said don't you dare say it.
"Brooke," he mumbled.
"What about Brooke?" she asked annoyed.
"It's Brooke. She's the one," Lucas whispered quietly but loud enough that everyone could hear.
"How could you embarrass me like this Lucas? Why didn't you say something I don't know before you decided to marry me?" Peyton yelled clearly outraged.
"Peyton…I"
"Save it!" she yelled running off.
"I can't believe you," Brooke hissed, also running off.
"Brooke!" Lucas yelled rushing after her but she was already out of sight.
Though we have not hit the ground
It doesn't mean we're not still falling
Oh I want so bad to pick you up
But you're still too reluctant to accept my help
What a shame, I hope you find somewhere to place the blame
But until then the fact remains
Everyday
With every worthless word we get more far away
The distance between us makes you so hard to stay
Nothing lasts forever, but be honest babe
It hurts but it may be the only way
When he got outside, Lucas found Brooke slumped against the building, her head in her hands, uncontrollable sobs shaking her body in a violent tremor. Tears cascaded down her cheeks, pooling in her hands and her hair stuck to her face, where the tears had left wet spots on her cheeks.
"Brooke," he whispered softly, sitting himself next to her on the ground and wrapping his arms around her petit frame.
"How could you do this Lucas? How could you do this to Peyton and to me? You probably just ruined my friendship with Peyton and on top of that made us both look like idiots!"
"I'm sorry Brooke but I couldn't lie to Peyton. It's not right. How would you like it if the situation was reciprocated and it was Peyton that I loved but you that I was marrying? Would you want me to marry you and lie to you or tell you the truth?"
"Of course I'd want you to tell me the truth."
"Well then there you have it so you can't blame me for that."
"It's not that Lucas, it's how you did it. You just embarrassed both Peyton and I in front of a bunch of people and you just ruined my friendship with my best friend."
"I'm sorry Brooke," he mumbled quietly.
She nodded. "I have to go Lucas. I'll always love you but nothing lasts forever so I'm letting you go. I'm going back to New York for a little while to get my mind off things and have a fresh start. I hope you work things out with Peyton."
She got up and left. Lucas couldn't watch her walk away, not again.
"Brooke!" he called after her but she just turned around and glared at him. "Don't you dare think about coming after me. It'll just make me hate you even more."
As he watched her disappear he sunk back down. Why was watching her walk out of his life such a familiar feeling?
AN: YAY! I finally decided to update this story. Honestly, I sort of forgot about it but here it is! I decided to add another part to it so don't worry it's not over yet there's another chapter to go! Song is "Nothing Lasts Forever" by Maroon 5. Hope you like it and please review!