Thanks everyone for the reviews! Keep 'em coming! hahahaha:)
So here's the next chapter, hope you like it! Sorry for not updating sooner.
Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Later that evening at Haley and Nathan's place, they were having a graduation party, and everyone was there. Well, at least almost everyone.

"I can't believe it. I just really can't believe that we graduated!" Haley said as she looked over all their classmates who were having the time of their lives.

"Well you better believe it, because in just a few months we'll be starting college soon, but not before we have this little one here." Nathan said transferring his attention to that not so small lump on Haley's belly. She kissed him and they remained in his arms as they watched the rest of their friends. They were so happy, they knew things would get tough, but they were willing to face anything as long as they were together, they just hoped that the rest of the gang would be as fortunate.

A few minutes later, Lucas arrived but not with Peyton. Peyton was already there with Jake, not that it meant anything, it was even actually Lucas himself who told her to go with them. He said that she really missed them so she should at least make the most of their time here, but deep inside, he just really wanted to be alone for a while just to think about stuff. He actually didn't want to go, he really didn't feel like it, but he felt that Brooke might be there. She did say that she was going to tell everyone else before she left, and everybody else was in the same room, so he kind of hoped to see her there.

He let his eyes wander trying to spot the beautiful brunette he came here to see, but she was nowhere to be found. He wanted to ask Haley and Nathan if they've seen her but was stopped in his tracks by Peyton.

"Hey Lucas, you're here! Look, can we go somewhere where we can talk? It's just a bit urgent."

"Peyton, I don't think this is a very good time 'cause…" Lucas tried to tell her why but she took his hand and stopped him before he could finish.

"Please Luke, it's important." He saw that she wasn't fooling around, and knew that something serious was up so he simply nodded and let himself follow her as she led him to the guest room.

Once they got inside, Peyton locked the door and faced him.

"Sit!" She pushed him softly on the bed but still remained standing.

"Peyt, what are we doing here? I'm not in the mood for this right now." He said as he was about to stand up and leave.

"I saw you with Brooke today." She said with a smile trying to act as casual about it as possible.

When he heard this, he suddenly fell back to his seat.

"Look, we were just talking."

"Yeah talking, hugging, and, oh yeah, kissing." She said sarcastically.

"It didn't mean anything Peyton. It was just a friendly goodbye kiss."

"First of all, a kiss always means something Lucas, but even if the kiss didn't mean anything, everything else did. I heard you, I heard everything." She said this in a harsh tone but looking hurt not angry.

"Peyton, she was leaving! What did you want me to do?"

"I wanted you to go after her."

"What? Why?" He was shocked with what she said. He thought that they were fighting because she saw him kissing Brooke and heard him tell her that she loved him, but never did he expect to hear anything even close to what she just said.

"I wanted you to go after her Lucas, she deserved at least that. We've hurt her so many times. We were the only people she could lean on, and we let her down. You're the only one who can save her Luke."

"How can I save her when she keeps pushing me away?"

"It doesn't matter. If you love her you'd do anything for her."

"Peyton, I don't love…" was all he could say, he couldn't continue it. He knew whatever he was going to say was just going to make things worse because no matter how convincing he may seem, Peyton could see right through him especially when he was talking about Brooke.

"Oh come on Lucas! Stop lying to me! Stop lying to yourself! You know what? I am so tired of this. You told me it was me that you wanted beside you when all your dreams came true, and maybe somehow that may be true, and I thought that that meant that I was the one you wanted to be with for the rest of your life, but you know what? When I saw the two of you this morning it suddenly struck me. I may be the one beside you when your dreams come true, but the only time that would happen is once you are finally together with her because Luke, no mater how much you deny it, I know she's the one you dream about. Your dream is to spend the rest of your life with her and that's the dream you want to come true some day. All your other dreams are mere aspirations. I on the other hand, will be the girl who will be standing beside you, watching you take your vows for the woman that you truly love, Brooke."

Lucas was stunned, he never looked at it that way, but he knew that everything that Peyton was saying was true. He couldn't say anything; he just kept his head down while he waited for Peyton to speak.

"Look Lucas, I love you, and I know that you love me, but maybe we're just not meant to be like this. Honestly, we were so much happier when we weren't together. I always thought that you kept saving me for a reason, that you kept coming back to me because we were meant to be together, but you know what, I was wrong. You keep coming back to me because you never left me in the first place. You kept saving me because you were the one I turned to for help. Then I thought to myself, if this was the case, what made you different from all the rest? What you did for me Lucas were the things that anyone could have done, it just so happened that you were the only one I thought I could trust. You were the only one I could turn to, so you felt compelled to do them."

"Peyton, I did that because I wanted to, not because I had to! I chose you Peyton, not Brooke!"

"Really? Were you even given a choice Luke?"

He didn't say anything, but from the way his eyes could not meet hers, she could already find the answer that she was looking for.

"See? I'm the one you keep saving because I'm the one who needs it. Why can't you ever save Brooke for once?"

"What do you want me to do? I tried, she didn't want my help! She was the one who pushed me away! How can I fight for her if she didn't even fight for us?"

"It's not a matter of want Lucas; it's a matter of need. She didn't want your help because she was scared, just like you, but that didn't mean that she didn't need your help. When you love someone, you become vulnerable to pain, and Brooke didn't want that, but she did it, she opened her heart for you. She was fighting for you. Her mind kept telling her no but her heart kept telling her to love you. She fought her fears and took that risk for you! Isn't that enough? All she needed you to do was help her fight when she was battling against herself, but you let her down! You were the one who turned on her when you yourself gave her reasons not to trust you. You couldn't even let her in! So can you blame her if she pushed you away?"

Lucas felt confused at that moment. He always thought that Brooke never really needed him since she always showed that she could handle herself. He always thought that her insecurities were caused by what happened between him and Peyton long ago. She did fight for him, but because he didn't help her, it was always her insecurities that took over. Every time she would question him wasn't simply because she didn't trust him, it was because she didn't trust herself to trust him. He was never really the problem; he was just so self-centered to notice that.

He buried his face in his arms in shame and started to cry. He really wasn't the type who liked to cry, especially not in front of anyone else, but he just felt so screwed up. He just wanted to kill himself then and there.

"Oh my God Peyton, I screwed up big time. I don't know what to do anymore. I can't believe I didn't even notice this! I loved her so much but I didn't even take the time to listen to her. She was there when I needed her but I was never there when she needed me. What am I going to do?"

"Save her. I also made a mistake, and I owe her a lot, but I'm not the one who can save her this time Luke. She needs you. I'm just here to make you realize that. So go and save her before it's too late."

"But what about you? I can't just leave you."

"People say that your soulmate is the one who's like your twin or other half, the companion who will help you achieve your goal, and a karmic teacher who will teach you important lessons in life. I think that's what we are, soulmates, but soulmates don't always end up with each other in the end. I'll always be you're other half, but I can't be your significant other. We were meant to be, but only as friends and nothing more. You're not leaving me Lucas; you're even actually helping me regain part of myself which is my loyalty to my best friend, but if you skip town and decide not to show up again, I am so hunting you down Scott!

Both of them shared a brief moment of laughter. Then Lucas stood up and nodded trying to tell assure her that he had understood every word she has said, as he rushed to the door, but before he reached for the doorknob, he turned to face a teary eyed Peyton smiling at him.

"I love you Peyt, and thanks."

"I love you too Lucas, and remember, I'll always be here by your side no matter what. Now go get her!"

Lucas that that was his cue to leave, and as the loud noises slowly take over the room through the now opened door, Peyton was left alone. Sure she was alone, but somehow, she never felt more relieved, but not yet satisfied, there was more one thing she knew that she had to do.

I just tried to show you in this chapter that even if Lucas thinks he's inlove with Peyton now in the previous episodes, it still doesn't mean that he really is or that he loves her to the point that he doesn't love Brooke anymore. I don't really hate Peyton, that's why I kind of made her like this here because we know that she really does love him and Brooke too, and as long as it's still Brucas in the end, I'm cool! hahaha:) So all you fellow Brucas fans out there, just keep the faith! Sometimes, things don't always mean as they seem, sometimes, you just have to think of why things are before you draw any conclusions! Hint to Mark Schwan and all the writers of OTH! hahahaha:) Please don't disappoint us, but just in case you do, well, this is what this story is for! Brucas forevah!:)

So anyway, hopefully I will be updating soon, so please keep reviewing! Review, review, review!:) Thank You:)