A Father's Love

Ch. 4- You'll Never Be Good Enough

Peyton had spent most of the weekend in her room thinking about Lucas, and she had never been more excited about going to school before. Larry dropped her off and gave her some money to go shopping after school. He had thrown a lot of her short skirts and midriff baring tops away. He told her to buy some new things but to remember that he would be inspecting all of them.

"Hey girly...how's grounded life?" Haley said tapping her best friend on the back.

"I'm not grounded anymore, and we've got to hit up the mall this afternoon." Peyton said happily. Her dad had only punished her for the weekend, thank goodness.

"Ok sounds good to me." They walked into the hall, and there he was the most beautiful boy on the planet. "Go talk to him" Haley insisted pushing her friend forward.

Peyton walked over to Lucas smiling. He smiled back "Hey blondie"

"Hi" They stood there for a moment without saying anything.

"I tried to call you this weekend, but your dad wouldn't let me." Lucas said disappointed.

"Yeah I know. I was grounded" Peyton was a little embarassed

"Were you grounded because of the party?"

She shook her head no "It was something else. I told you my dad is pretty strict."

"Well do you think he would let us hang out tonight" Lucas asked subtly

"Um you know what why don't you come shopping with me?" Peyton said smiling.

Lucas raised his eyebrows, "Shopping"

"Yeah, My dad gave me money to go shopping. I might even buy you a snack." Peyton said playfully.

"Ok we don't have practice this afternoon, and I really want to spend some more time with you."

"Well I want be the only one there. Haley's coming too"

"Oh ok" He was a little disappointed. He just wanted to spend time with her. The bell rang.

"We better get to class. I'll meet you after school" Peyton said as she walked off. He watched her walk away in amazement. She was absolutely breath taking. Brooke had seen their whole conversation, and she wasn't happy about it.

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Haley was walking into class when Nathan caught up to her. "Um..I um..hi" Nathan did not know why this girl had this affect on him.

"Hi...you're Nathan Scott, the weird boy" Haley commented.

"Um yeah" she made him so nervous

"Ok well I've got to get to class. Maybe you should go to the nurse and get your little problem checked out." Haley suggested as she walked away.

Nathan shook his head "Damn it"

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Peyton was walking to class when Brooke pulled her into the bathroom. "What the" Brooke grabbed her and pushed her up against the wall.

"I see you're hanging out with my leftovers best friend." Brooke said coldy

"We aren't best friends. We haven't been best friends since we were twelve." Peyton shouted back trying to leave but Brooke kept stepping in front of her.

"Because you are not good enough to be my friend. Your dad was always such an ass"

"He cares about me unlike your non loving parents" Peyton tried to leave again but Brooke kept steeping in front of her.

"You were never good enough to me by friend, and you will never be good enough to be with Lucas either. You'll never give him what he wants." Brooke shot her a look. "He's the star of the basketball team, and your nothing and you will never amount to anything. You are loser Peyton and Lucas needs so much more than that." Peyton had tears in her eyes.

"At least I'm better than the slut he use to date" Peyton wasn't going to back down. "Now if you will excuse me I actually go to class." Peyton pushed Brooke out of the way and exited the bathroom.

Brooke thought to herself "She's not going to get away with this"

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Lucas was in the library reading a book. Nathan came in, and set down next to Luke. "I didn't know you even knew where this place was"

"I've been looking everywhere for you" Nathan was having major issues with Haley.

"Ok what's up?"

"There is this girl that is off the hook"

"Ok" Lucas was confused "Why do you need my help?"

"I get nervous when I'm around her, and I can't speak"

Lucas started laughing.

"This isn't funny. You have to help me"

"How can I help you?"

"She's friends with your new girl"

"Haley"

"That's her name." He smiled "That's a beautiful name"

Lucas laughed again "You've got it bad"

"Yeah man...you got to help me"

"Alright, I think I have the perfect idea" Lucas smiled.

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Peyton was waiting outside for Haley and Lucas when Haley got there first. "Is something wrong?"

Peyton looked up and lied "No of course not. You know I'm not a big fan of shopping"

"Yeah well since your dad threw away all of your clothes"

"Yeah" Peyton nodded. She then saw Lucas coming out of the building, but he had Nathan with him.

"Oh no that boy cannot come with us. He has some major talk issues"

Peyton smiled and nudged her friend "You like him"

"Nuh huh"

"Yuh huh...You think he's totally cute, and he is totally coming with us" Peyton laughed. "Hey Luke"

"Hey blondie. I hope you don't mind, but my brother needs to go to the mall so I told him he could go with us"

"No problem we would love to have him, right Haley?" Peyton nudged her again.

"Yeah...At least he won't talk that much" Haley said as she got into her car.

At the mall Peyton was trying on clothes while Haley, Nathan, and Lucas waited on her. She would come out every now and then and model the very modest clothes. She was sure not to get anything to risque or else her father would kill her.

Nathan kept staring at Haley. "Do I have something in my teeth?" Haley asked Nathan.

"No"

"Well then stop looking at me" Nathan turned his head.

Peyton came out of the dressing room. "Ok guys all I have to do is pay for these, and then we can get out of here"

"Good, hey Nate why don't you and Haley go get that thing from the sports store that you need"

"Hold on wait a minute why don't you go with him" Haley did not want to go with Nathan although she did think he was cute.

"Because Peyton and I are going to go get the snacks." Lucas looked at Peyton. He was trying to tell her that he wanted some alone time.

"Yeah Hales its a good idea."

Haley leans over and whispers to Peyton "I will kill you later" Haley and Nathan walked off.

Peyton looked at Lucas "You do realize that was really random"

"Yeah, I wanted to spend sometime with you, and he really likes her"

"Seriously" Peyton smiled "I think she likes him too"

Haley and Nathan were walking to the sports store in silence.

"Are you always this quiet and weird?" Haley asked

He shook his head no.

"Is there something wrong with me"

"No...um there..." He took a deep breath. "There is nothing wrong with you Haley, you are perfect"

"Perfect"

"I get tongue tied around you, and I don't even know why."

"I'm not even nervous around you, and I don't even know why. Most guys make me really nervous but you, you make me feel comfortable." Haley smiled. She hadn't told anyone that but it was the truth.

"I think um this might um be the beginning to a um beautiful friendship"

"Ya if we could get you over your fear of talking to me it would be really beautiful" They both smiled and continued to the sports store.

Peyton and Lucas were holding hands by the fountain. "This is nice" He said

"Yeah really nice." He was holding her bags for him and she thought it was the sweetest thing. "I'm glad that you got rid of Nathan and Haley. I have been thinking about you all weekend"

"Yeah me too. I mean I was thinking about you of course" Lucas smiled and held her hand tigther.

While they were still at the fountain Lucas decided to take the opportunity to kiss her. He leaned in but before they could kiss someone ran into Peyton and knocked her into the fountain. It was none other than Brooke. "What the" Lucas helped Peyton up. She was soaking wet and looked really called. "I'll kill her"

Peyton was embarrassed "Lucas just leave it alone. Let's find Nathan and Haley and get out of here."

Peyton couldn't believe that Brooke had ruined yet another moment between her and Lucas. She was beginning to think they were never going to get their first kiss because of Brooke.

Lucas was not going to let Brooke Davis ruin whatever he had with Peyton because it already meant to much to him.