Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill or OTH characters.
AN: Hey guys, sorry it's been a week or so since I last updated – I've been out of town and then working. But I love you guys for all the reviews – they really do brighten my day! And now, without further ado…..
Chapter 7
"Lucas, you really need to tell her," Peyton told Lucas for the tenth time. He was sitting on the edge of her bed, staring at the floor, while she sorted through her records.
Ever since Peyton had approached Lucas that day in class after the party, they had become fast friends. Something about broody-artist-meets-broody-athlete just clicked between them. They quickly became each other's confidants, and came to one another with their problems. Peyton's usually revolved around her father being gone all of the time and Lucas's were usually about Haley.
Peyton really liked Lucas, but she realized that what he needed right now was a good friend, not a relationship. Plus he was head-over-heels in love with Haley. Knowing anything more than friendship would be hopeless, at least for now, Peyton decided to offer him the one thing he really wanted: a friend to turn to.
So here they were, sitting in her room with her music playing softly in the background, going through the conversation they had already had at least a dozen times.
"Luke, I mean it. You really need to tell her how you feel. I bet she feels the same way you do."
"But what if she doesn't Peyton? What then? Then I'll lose the love of my life and my best friend, all in one moment. I'm not willing to risk that."
Peyton took a deep breath, then went out on a limb. She wasn't sure how he would respond to her next comment. "Then you'll just lose her to Nathan."
Lucas's head snapped up when she said his half-brother's name. "She's just tutoring him." He said icily, his eyes narrowing.
'Oh boy,' Peyton thought. 'I can't stop now though.'
"Lucas, you need to stop walking around with blinders on. I know you see them together the same way everyone else does. You just need to stop ignoring it and seeing what you want to see. They've become friends, good friends. And I think Nathan really likes her. So you can either pretend there's nothing going on and lose her to him, or you can actually do something about it and gain her love. It's your choice."
'There. What needed to be said was said,'Peyton thought grimly while she waited for the explosion to follow.
But instead of anger, Lucas only looked lost. Hanging his head in his hands, she barely heard his whisper. "I know, I see them too. Talking. Laughing. Flirting." He looked up at Peyton, his eyes mournful. "What am I going to do Peyton?"
Peyton's heart went out to Lucas. He looked so much like a lost little boy. And she hated that she didn't have the answers to all of his problems.
"I don't know Luke. I think the only thing you can do is tell her."
………………………………………………………………………………………………
"It's really getting to you, huh?" Nathan asked Haley when they were studying in the Tutor Center one afternoon.
Looking up from her book, she gave Nathan a confused look. "What's getting to me?"
"Don't play dumb Hales. I know Peyton and Lucas's friendship is bugging you."
"Oh, that." Haley sighed, then closed her book, figuring that she wouldn't be getting any studying done now anyways. "Luke can be friends with whoever he wants to."
"Don't give me that crap Haley. I know you're not okay with it. I see you watching them when they're talking in the halls."
Realizing Nathan wasn't going to let her keep denying it, she caved. "Okay, so it does bug me. But I don't know why. I mean, he has other friends besides me; it's his right. But I can't help but feel……jealous."
"Maybe you feel like you're losing him," Nathan suggested. He couldn't help but hear a small voice in his head, telling him that he knew exactly why she was jealous about Peyton, but he shoved it aside, not wanting to encourage that possibility.
"Maybe," Haley paused. "But it's not like we're spending a lot less time together. We still hang out almost everyday like we usually do. I just don't understand why it's getting to me though."
"You should probably talk to him about it then. If you don't, it'll probably just keep building up, and won't go away. At least find out where he and Peyton stand, ya know?"
"Yeah, you're right."
"You know I always am," Nathan smirked, trying to lighten the somber mood that had encompassed them.
Haley couldn't help but laugh at his joke. He was always trying to lift her spirits and make her laugh.
"Well, except for that one time…no wait, two times, heck it could have been three, when you thought that….." she pretended to concentrate hard on counting the times when he hadn't been right.
"Haley!"
………………………………………………………………………………………………
"What do you think about this band?" Lucas asked Peyton as they sat in his room one evening. "I just picked it up from the record store today."
"They're alright I guess, if you're into bad, wannabe-hardcore-rockstar music," Peyton teased. She laughed at his scowl and stood up to check out the rest of his albums. "I'm just kidding. They're not that bad. With my guidance and instruction, you'll be picking out good music in no time."
"Haha, very funny."
"What's this one?" She pulled out an unmarked CD, then placed it in his stereo.
"Oh, you don't want to listen to that. It's just-" he reached out to stop her but it was too late. He closed his eyes in embarrassment as Frank Sinatra's "All My Tomorrows" softly played through the speakers.
Peyton's eyes widened in surprise.
"Today I may not have a thing at all except for just a dream or two
But I've got lots of plans for tomorrow and all my tomorrows belong to you
Right now it may not seem like spring at all, we're drifting and the laughs are few
But I've got rainbows planned for tomorrow, and all my tomorrows belong to you"
Lucas leaned over and turned it off.
"Sinatra, huh? Wouldn't have taken you for-"
"It's from Haley, okay." He moved away and sat back down on his bed. "She gave me that a few years ago, saying that it was our song. That this song was us, because even with the good and bad times, we would still be together always. That tomorrow was for us."
"Wow, Lucas, I..I didn't know." Peyton felt awful for teasing him about it.
"Nah, it's fine."
"No, it's not." She sat down beside him on the bed. "I didn't mean anything by it, and I-"
"Peyton, it's really okay. No harm done, see?" He stood up and turned the song back on, smiling at her as he leaned against his wall.
Peyton stared at him a moment, as if deciding something, then stood up too.
"I'm really really sorry Luke," Peyton whispered as she moved the two steps it took for her to be standing in front of him.
"For what?" Lucas looked so confused she couldn't help but smile.
"For this."
Before Lucas knew what was happening, Peyton's lips came crashing onto his. His eyes widened, as he tried to process what was going on. He barely registered his door opening, and a gasp of shock before he managed to pull away from Peyton and turn to the figure at the door.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Duh-duh-duh! I'm sure you guys have a good idea as to who's at the door anyways, but oh well. You'll just haveta wait and see for sure next chapter. Sorry it's so short, but it was a good place to end it. Have a great day!
Until next time,
Western
