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Chapter 3: The Nicest Thing— Junior Year

Look, all I know is that you're the nicest thing I've ever seen

And I wish that we could see if we could be something

Yeah I wish that we could see if we could be something

Lucas takes Brooke's advice. He apologizes to Peyton and he and Jake play a bruising game of basketball at the river court. Before he realizes it, he doesn't even remember a time before Peyton and Jake were Peyton and Jake. It forces him to get to know his sister in a way he never really thought about. Their relationship doesn't put a strain on his friendship with Jake and by the time they have been dating for a year, he spends more time with Peyton than anyone else.

He also finds himself in close proximity with Brooke on a regular basis.

It starts off with awkward conversations when they are trying to fill the silences that they are hit with when Jake and Peyton walk a few paces ahead of them. It only makes sense for them sit side by side at the movie theater so they have someone to laugh with when Jake and Peyton are too involved in each other to even begin to explain the plot.

When she stays over, he has a feeling Peyton isn't always there. He isn't sure why Brooke would okay staying over when she was sneaking out, but she did it graciously. He asked her once why she did it. She explained after her family moved into the large house they now resided in, she found herself looking for reasons to come to Peyton's. She explained his house held memories that her new house never could. By the time she asks to come over, Peyton usually has already made plans. Peyton understands it isn't always to hangout, but to just have a place to go.

He is silent as she explains it and by the time she says good night to him, he finds himself wanting to learn more about Brooke.

In the most unconventional way, they became friends. They talk to each other, finding comfort in each other when no one else is around. He gets to know and he finds himself wanting to know the mundane things. The things that aren't life changing, but what her favorite food is.

He learns she wants to be a fashion designer. She even showed him some of her designs.

She finds his notebook on the kitchen table once and he is shocked to know she didn't open it. She just pushed it to the side and waited until he opened an entry and pushed it towards her. They never discuss it, they act like he didn't even do it.

They don't go out of their way to talk each other. They allow themselves to find other, but they never seek. Until soon, he is steps away from staying up late just to see if she is around.

Her Christmas break during her junior year, she stays to celebrate her and Peyton's Christmas traditions. He never understood, he wasn't sure they even traded gifts. Usually they would stay up late, watch 80s movies and drink enough hot chocolate that they should be throwing up.

The next morning— as if to make up for the previous night where she was too sleepy to come see him— they stand in the kitchen while his family bustles around them.

"Benji is coming home today. He is actually picking me up."

Lucas feels embarrassment creep over him at the fact he didn't realize she had a brother. She talks about him so often, he wasn't really sure how he could have ever missed it. Maybe because he didn't really listen when she spoke at the dinner table, too involved his own thoughts.

Her excitement radiates off her as she talks about her big brother.

"He is bringing his boyfriend to meet us. They have been together for like a year and we are just now meeting him." Her tone is so annoyed by her brother's antics. "I mean, I have talked to Curtis over phone and through text so I know him. But now I get to see him in the flesh."

Lucas smiles as she rambles never noticing how often she uses her hands when she speaks. Or when she speaks a thought she isn't fond of, her nose scrunches in a quite adorable way.

He goes to respond but his dad coming into the kitchen saying it is time to go and thanking Brooke for locking up behind them.

Next thing Lucas knows, his family is in line to give hugs to Brooke. He stands awkwardly behind them, he even steps forward as though to fall in step and hug her as well. But as always, he stops—he hesitates because he isn't sure how to handle Brooke.

He doesn't know how to handle what he feels for her.

Though he isn't sure he even feels anything for her.

He shuffles between going and making a risky decision, but when his mom says it is time to go, he just gives her a smile and walks out.

He only slightly wonders what it would be like to pull her in close.

As Brooke watches the family leave, she finds herself feeling downtrodden. Just when she thinks Lucas might actually want something from her, he hesitates, he backs away and he leaves. This wasn't the first time he almost gave her a hug before he backtracked and left her high and dry.

She isn't sure why she allows herself to be set up for disappointment, but she does every time.

She pulls herself off the stool and lets out a loud sigh. She contemplates huffing at her frustrations, but before she even thinks about doing anything else, she hears the door opening up.

She turns to ask if they forgot something when arms are surrounding her and her hands fall limp at her sides. It takes only seconds to realize Lucas is hugging her goodbye before she is wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulder. She isn't sure where this was coming from and she can't help but ask him as he continued to hold onto her.

"What's this for?"

Lucas tenses in her arms and she mentally berates herself.

"Im not really sure. I just felt like you needed it—or maybe I needed it." He laughed awkwardly, stumbling over a reason to give her.

He wasn't sure what came over him, but he had the door to the garage closed when the words are tumbling out of him that he forgot his phone. He just needed to give her a hug because he saw the look she gave when she saw him step towards her. She wanted a hug from him—a hug so simple but so intimate between to the two.

She pulls away first and keeps her hands on his shoulders. "I can always need a hug. Have a good Christmas."

He nods before turning back and leaving her alone again.

Once she hears the garage closed, she does let out a loud frustrated groan. He never makes it easy for her.

All I know is that you're so nice

You're the nicest thing I've seen

I wish that we could give it a go

See if we could be something

I wish I was your favourite girl

I wish you thought I was the reason you are in the world

I wish my smile was your favourite kind of smile

I wish the way that I dressed was your favourite kind of style

I wish you couldn't figure me out

But you always wanna know what I was about

I wish you'd hold my hand

When I was upset

I wish you'd never forget

The look on my face when we first met

I wish you had a favourite beauty spot

That you loved secretly

'Cause it was on a hidden bit

That nobody else could see

Basically, I wish that you loved me

I wish that you needed me

I wish that you knew when I said two sugars,

Actually I meant three

I wish that without me your heart would break

I wish that without me you'd be spending the rest of your nights awake

I wish that without me you couldn't eat

I wish I was the last thing on your mind before you went to sleep

Look, all I know is that you're the nicest thing I've ever seen

And I wish that we could see if we could be something

Yeah I wish that we could see if we could be something

I would love to see some reviews! I love hearing what people think. This is story is a little weird for me, but I am enjoying writing it! I hope y'all enjoy reading it.