First off, I want to apologize profusely for this wait. I have my senior exit presentation on Tuesday, that determines whether I graduate or not, so I've been working on that pretty much nonstop for the last month. But I'm finally finished with all the work so now since all I have to do is actually present, I can get back to updating regularly! So please keep reading and reviewing, because I haven't given up on this story. I have a pretty good idea of where I want to go with this story, and I might even split it up into 2 stories, cause I feel like it's going to end up being pretty long. So as always, thank you for reading, and please review!

Chapter 6

Lucas was finally back at school after two long weeks of bed rest. He was still recovering from his heart attack and became very tired and winded easily, so he wasn't ready for basketball just yet. But he was at least allowed to go watch practice, and sit on the bench during games so he would be up to speed when he did return, in only a few more weeks. Getting to be around his friends and teammates was really starting to lift his spirits and make him realize that all was not lost when it came to basketball. Brooke was right, he would be back, and everything really would be okay.

Whitey was going over a few new plays that the team would be running in this week's game, so Lucas took a seat on the bleachers to watch how it worked. He looked around the gym where the cheerleaders were practicing as well until he spotted Brooke among the cheer team. From the looks of it, Rachel was saying something to Brooke that she didn't like and they were once again getting into one of their petty arguments that were nothing but bad insults and glares. Lucas couldn't help but laugh at their relationship. Seeing Luke smirking at the two of them, Brooke looked up at him and kinked an eyebrow at him, which only made him laugh more.

Too busy looking at Brooke, Lucas didn't notice Peyton come up and sit next to him on the bleachers. "There's only so much I can listen to Brooke and Rachel bitch at each other over every little thing." She said smiling as she looked at Lucas.

"I know what you mean, Brooke always tells me insult for insult what the two of them fight about." He replied finally taking his eyes away from his girlfriend and looking at Peyton.

"So how've you been feeling since you've been back at school?' Peyton asked him. "Pretty good. I get a little tired every now and then, but it's a lot better than being confined to my bed all hours of the day. I swear between my mom and Brooke constantly taking care of me I never left my bed. I'd probably still be stuck there if they had any say in it." He said laughing at the thought of how over protective both Karen and Brooke had been over the past few weeks.

Peyton could see the look of love and admiration he wore on his face as he talked about Brooke, and felt a flash of jealousy course through her body. Her feelings and thoughts about the blonde haired boy sitting next to her had only been increasing over the weeks. At the mention of Brooke, she felt her face fell into a somber expression she couldn't help. Lucas noticed though and nudged her arm, "You okay, Peyt?" he asked with a concerned expression coming over his features. She quickly masked her hurt by smiling brightly, "Yeah I'm fine, I just totally forgot about this paper I have to write when I get home. So I should probably get going since practice is over. See you soon Luke." With that, she got up and left, heading for her car.

It was getting extremely hard for Peyton to be around Lucas and not share her feelings. It was even harder to live with Brooke, knowing she was in a way going behind her best friend's back. Her heart was so conflicted; she wanted to be honest with both Brooke and Lucas, so she would stop feeling so guilty. And she knew that if she confessed how she felt, maybe Lucas would realize he felt the same way. It seemed like there was no right answer. She couldn't stand the heartache she felt seeing them together, so she made the decision that she owed it to herself to find out what could be, if she told Lucas. It was only a matter of when.

Brooke dismissed the cheerleaders, eager to for practice to be over. She couldn't stand Rachel's presence, especially when it seemed Rachel was trying to take over the squad, the squad that Brooke had pretty much been building since her freshmen year. "Bye skank." She heard Rachel call to her. Brooke simply turned around and gave her the most sarcastic expression she could muster, and continued walking to where Lucas was sitting on the bleachers.

"Hey Broody." She said sitting down, placing a chaste kiss on his lips.

"Hey Cheery." He said smiling, "How was practice?"

"Don't even get me started on that stupid slut. She thinks that she's just going to wear me down till I give her the squad. She's got the rest of the team becoming like her little minions! I'm so close to bitch slapping her skanky ass again I swear I can't take her anymore." Brooke being frustrated like this was actually really funny to Lucas. "What is so funny about this Lucas?" she asked with a bewildered look on her face. Luke simply shook his head and stood up, taking her hand as he did.

"Nothing Pretty Girl, are you ready to go?"

Giving him one last playful glare, she got up with him, walking towards his car. They didn't talk much on the drive back to his house, but they were both content with the silence. That was one thing about their relationship that they both loved; they didn't always need to be talking. Sometimes they just enjoyed being in each other's presence, holding onto each other's hand, or when they lie down at night and simply hold one another in their arms.

Pulling up to his house, they each got out of the car. "Want to go for your walk Luke?" That had been their routine since his release from bed rest. She'd come over after practice, and they'd go for a walk so Lucas could build back up some strength and endurance. "Yeah. Let's try to go half a mile further than yesterday." "Luke are you sure you're up for that?" Brooke was still being super cautious when it came to how much physical activity they did.

"Brook, I promise you I'm fine okay? And if I get too tired, I promise we can turn around." She nodded, resigned to the fact that he couldn't be swayed. So, instead of arguing, she walked over to him and grabbed his hand in hers, and they set out.

It was a warm day for winter; almost 60 degrees and sunny. They had been walking for about thirty minutes when Lucas's breathing started to become ragged and he slowed down considerably. Brooke knew better than to ask him if he was okay, so she slowed down with him still holding onto his hand. Lucas was determined to make it further than the day before, so he kept quiet and kept trudging along.

Surprising them both, they made it back from their walk quicker than usual. It was about all Lucas could take though, as he collapsed onto his bed almost as soon as he walked through the door. Brooke couldn't help but smile as she followed close behind into his room. The whole walk she could tell he was absolutely exhausted, but he wouldn't admit it, even when she asked. "Not tired huh?" she said teasingly to Lucas who was practically asleep already. To that, he just opened his eyes to playfully glare at her, and mumbled something about how it wasn't the walk, but he'd been busy today. All she could was laugh. "Whatever you say Luke." She returned walking to the kitchen to get him some desperately needed water.

She waltzed back into his room and handed him his glass of water before lying next to him and snuggling up to him, resting her head on his chest. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close, not leaving any distance between them. Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her lips and one on her forehead. Brooke smiled and sighed contentedly at the feeling of his lips on her skin, and they both began drifting off into a peaceful sleep.

After spending the afternoon at home doing homework and waiting for Brooke, Peyton decided to go see Luke for a little bit, hoping to spend some more time with him. She changed her clothes, making sure she looked okay before grabbing her keys and heading out the door and into her Comet.

She made the familiar drive to Lucas' house. Pulling up to the driveway, she noticed Brooke's car wasn't there. That was weird. 'Where is she at?' Peyton thought to herself. She wasn't with Lucas, so she figured she was with Mouth or at the café with Karen. She even had come to envy Brooke's close relationship with Lucas' mother. Trying to put her jealous thoughts aside, she walked up to his door, and noticed the lights were off, so she quietly opened the door and peered inside.

What she saw broke her heart. Lucas must've driven Brooke home from practice, because here they were, snuggled close together in Lucas' bed. No, no, no. That was supposed to be her in Lucas' arms. A tear began to roll down her cheek as she quietly backed out of the room and shut the door. As she began crying, the only thing that was able to calm her down, was the decision to tell Lucas how she felt. She knew if she put it off any longer she might not have the courage, so she decided that tomorrow would be the day.

Okay, so I know this probably isn't all that great. I just felt so bad about making yall wait, so I wanted to get something out. This is mostly a filler chapter; the next update is where I promise you things will get real interesting. I promise! So as always, read and please give me feedback!