Lucas was at the Rivercourt, shooting baskets when He heard a car pull up. He found himself wishing that it was Peyton and he had to force a smile when he saw that it was Lindsey instead. She walked toward him slowly, and he found himself dreading the conversation even more. She met him in the middle of the court and they silently walked together to the bleachers.

Lucas knew what was coming, and, somehow, he wasn't as upset as he would havae assumed he would be. He waited for Lindsey to speak though. He twirled the basketbeall between his fingers as he waited for her to break the silence. They both kept their eyes on the ball as she began speaking. "Lucas, you know I love you. We've been together so long, I can't help but love you," she took a deep breath. "I think that's our problem," she added.

Lucas looked over at her, letting the ball drop to the ground. Lindsey's eyes followed the ball, but his stayed locked on her face as she kept speaking. "I don't think I'm in love with you anymore. I love you, and I think I always will, but we're not in love. Things changeds between us, and you can't tell me you didn't notice," she spoke each word carefully, as if she weighed each on her tongue before letting them out of her mouth. "I think it's just become a routine for us, and we stay together because it's easy. I don't want to so that anymore. I can't do that anymore," she broke off, finally looking into his eyes.

She watched for his reaction as she spoke her next words. "I got offered a real job with the company. For the rest of the summer I'll be working full time, for full pay. When school starts again I'll have to work part time, but I'll still have a steady position. I think, in the end we were just too different. You ever supported how much I work, and I never really got how much you love basketball," she paused, as if unsure how to say what was coming next. "See, Peyton understands you. She gets how important basketball is to you, and I don't think I ever will," she said hesitantly.

Lucas shook his head, standing up. "You're breaking up with me and you bring up Peyton? When will you get it? How many times do I have to tell you? Peyton and I were just friends," he shot out her. The tone in his voice was not angry, however. It was frustrated, and though they both noticed, Lucas was in denial and Lindsey decided not to say anything about it.

She placed her hand on his forearm and pulled him back down onto the bench. "I didn't mean to sound bitter, or anything. I'm not even angry. In fact, I think maybe you should go for it. If you love her and she loves you back, go ahead," she paused for a second. "That's not what I came here to talk about, though, Lucas. Believe it or not, this is not about her. It's about you and me.

"I think it's best if I take this job, and we end things. I loved our time together, and I'll always have a place for you in my heart, but our time is over. Our lives are going to lead us in separate directions and I think it'll be best if we stop here before one of us hurts the other beyond forgiveness. At least this way things won't be so bad that we can't be friends at school next year," she said, her voice really calm for someone who was breaking up with her boyfriend. The truth was, she was dying inside, but she could tell his heart already belonged to Peyton, and she didn't want to be a bitter ex-girlfriend. She knew this was the besgt, for both of them.

Lucas took her hand, using his other hand to move her chin up so he could look into her eyes. "What if I don't want to move on? What if I only want to be with you, and if you want to move on, I'll let you, but I don't want to, and I'll do anything to convince you that you don't want to either?" he asked, his thumb lightly stroking her cheek. Some part of him knew she was right, but he wasn't ready to let her go yet, or the safety of their relationship.

His kindness brought tears to her eyes, but she knew he was wrong. That made the tears slip out of her eyes. He gently used the pad of his thumb to wipe the tears away. Lindsey pulled her hand out of his and leaned back, away from his other hand. She knew this had to be done, and he couldn't stop her. She stood up, nodding. "It has to be done Luke. I only hope that when school starts again we'll be able to be friends. I really mean that. I don't want to hate you. I just can't do this anymore," she said as she took a couple of steps back. She had to get out before she started bawling in front of him.

Lucas saw the convinction in her eyes and he stood up, standing in front of her as she backed away. "This is it? This is goodbye? After all we've been through, this is it?" he pleaded, trying to get her to reconsider. He had known they had differences, but he hadn't thought they they would break up over them. They had always been an easy couple. One of the easiest relationships he had ever had. He knew in his heart tht it was over, and the realization hit him suddently, even as the words were leaving his mouth.

Lindsey nodded, tears slipping out of her eyes. "Yeah, this is it. I think we should avoid each other for the rest of the summer. Then, maybe by the time school starts again, we can be friends. For now, though, I think staying away from each other would be best," she backed away a few more steps before stopping again, her eyes meeting his. "Goodbye, Lucas," she said softly before turning around and walking to her car.

Lucas watched her go, unsure of how he really felt. He needed to think. So he did the most logical thing. He picked up the basketball and started to clear his head.

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Peyton had just taped the drawing she had finished yesterday up on the wall. She had thought of the perfect caption for it. It now read, 'They're not YOU.' She stepped off the chair she had been standing on and looked around the room. She had put a lot of her drawings up on the walls and added a few other things that reminded her of her room at home. She liked staying with her grandmother because it reminded her of when she had been young and all the times she had stayed in this house.

Peyton was startled by a knock on her door. She moved the chair back to her desk and sat on it as she said, "Come in." The door opened and Rachel entered the room, grinning hugely. Peyton eyed her as she practically skipped into the room, prancing around in front of Peyton. Peyton suddently got a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach. Rachel looking at her with that smile never meant anything good. She knew from years of experience. "What is it?" she asked cautiously.

Rachel grinned and sat down on Peyton's bed, crossing her legs underneath her. "I have the best news for you. Guess what it is," she said excitedly. Peyton was about to exercise her sarcastic wit, but Rachel cut her off before she could say anything. "Don't even try to guess because you'll get it wrong," she paused for dramatic effect. "Lindsey broke up with Lucas," she squealed, then waited as if she expected Peyton to leap for joy, or something. "Why are you not happy about this?" she asked.

Peyton spun her desk chair around to face the wall, and she looked up at the drawing she had just put up. She couldn't be happy about this, right? Her best friend had just had his heart broken, so how could she be happy? There was no reason to be happy about this. She looked up at the drawing, trying to convince her heart that it wasn't about Lucas. Some obscure part of her knew it was, but she pushed that part away, choosing instead to live in denial. She turned back to face Rachel. "Why am I not happy about this? My best friend just got hurt, that's why. I have to go see if he's okay," she said as she stood, grabbing her keys and rushing to the door.

When she reached the door she stopped and turned back, grabbing one more thing before leaving. Rachel sat on Peyton's bed, wondering when Peyton was going to admit her feelings for Lucas. Rachel had seen Peyton with Jake, and she saw Peyton now and she knew. Peyton was over Jake, and had been since before Rachel had arrived in Tree Hill. She could tell Lucas wanted to be with Peyton, too. She just wished they would stop lying to themselves and just get together already.

Peyton got into her Comet and drove to the Rivercourt. She was surprised to find it empty. Then she looked down at the item she had taken from her room and placed in the passenger seat. She knew exactly where he was. She turned the caar back on and turned it around. She drove to the other side of town and parked at her destination. She had made a quick stop on the way, and she grabbed the two bouquets and the item from her room before getting out of the car. She walked a little way before spotting him.

Lucas was talking and she could tell now wasn't the time to disturb him. So she made a little detour. "Hi, Mom," she said as she put one of the bouquets on the headstone, picking up the one she had left the last time she had been here. They hadn't died yet, but they we're fresh anymore. Peyton heaved a sigh as she sat down. "Lindsey and Lucas are no longer together," she blurted out. She paused, glancing over at him on the other side of the cemetery before continuing. "Rachel has some insane notion that I should be with Lucas. I don't know if I can do that. I mean, say he does like me and I do like him, what then? What happened in a month when I'm supposed to go back home? What if I really fall for him? I can't do that," she paused, sighing. "I kind of wish I could see Jake right now, to know if I really am as in love with him as I think I am. I mean, feelings don't just disappear, do they? Maybe I should give Jake a second chance," she trailed off.

Peyton glanced up at Lucas and saw that he wasn't speaking anymore. She stood, grabbing the two items on the ground next to her. "Wish my luck, Mom, and please, help me make the right choice," she whispered as she started to walk over to Keith's grave. She stopped behind Lucas but she knew that, even with his back to her, he knew she was there. She cleared her throat in case he didn't. "I'm sorry," she spoke.

Lucas wasn't startled when she spoke up. He had seen her talking to her mom and, even if he hadn't, he had known she was there. He couldn't explain it, but he could always sense her presence. Whether it was because of the cucumber melon shower gel she used, or the sound of her footsteps, he always knew when she was near. He turned to look at her, a small smile on his face as he shook his head. He knew she meant she was sorry about Lindsey breaking up with him. "You don't have to be sorry. In fact, I've been thinking a lot about it. About you," he noticed what she was holding in her arms. "Why did you bring that?" he asked as he stood up.

Peyton placed the bouquet down and then handed him the sweatshirt. "I just thought you might like it back. It wa your favorite thing to remind you of Keith and I've been selfishly keeping it to myself for a month. I think it's time for it to comfort you again. You probably need it more than me now, anyhow. So I just thought you should have it back," she answered, her eyes on the grey, Keith Scott Body Shop sweatshirt. She had been sleeping with it for a while, because it had brought her comfort. It was almost as good as a hug from Lucas, which made her feel safe. She had been planning to give it back at the end of the summer, since he shouldn't really need it during the summer, but she decided he needed it now.

Lucas looked down at the sweatshirt then back up at Peyton. Blue eyes met green. "I was wondering if I was ever going to see this again," he joked, nudging her shoulder gently. He continued before she could say anything because he needed to say what he had been thinking about all day. "Listen, Peyt, we need to talk," he said.

Peyton grimaced. "I thought you have to be dating someone to hear those words. You're kind of jumping the gun, hotshot," she mumbled sarcastically, biting her lip as she brought her gaze down to the ground. She suddenly felt very nervous and she tried to build her walls up before glancing back up at him. She got the sudden urge to run as she saw the look in his eyes, but her feet stayed firmly planted on the ground. "So, what do you want to talk about?" she reluctantly asked.

Lucas reached out, brushing a lock out of her face and then moving her lip out from between her teeth. "You don't have to be nervous around me, Peyton. You can tell me anything," he reassured her, his thumb caressing her cheek. "I've been thinking about us today. I've realized that Lindsey was right when she broke up with me. I don't love her like I used to. Mainly because I have feelings for you. Ever since you walked back into my life, Peyton, I can't get you out of my head. Even when we were little, I had feelings for you I didn't even understand. I still don't understand them, but I want to spend every day trying to understand them, with you," he paused, looking at her for a reaction. "Say something," he added in a whisper.

Peyton let his words resonate through her mind. This was just too much. She took a step back, away from him. "I... I can't," she mumbled before turning and doing what she did best. She ran, all the way back to her car, and then she started driving. Peyton drove for hours before ending up at the Cafe. She only hoped that Lucas wasn't there as she walked in.

Peyton scanned the room and, finding no sign of Lucas, took a seat at the counter, waiting for someone to come ut from the kitchen. A few seconds later, Haley came out, grinning from ear to ear. As Haley apporached humming to herself, Peyton raised her eyebrows at her perky friend. "You wouldn't, by any chance, be happy today, would you Hales?" Peyton asked sardonically. Then she saw Haley's left hand, and the shimmer on it. "Nathan proposed?! No way!" Peyton exclaimed, grabbing her friends left hand and examining her ring finger.

Haley was still beaming from ear to ear. "We went out to this really romantic dinner last night and I stayed at his house," she broke off, noticing Peyton's look. "We just slept, Peyton, get your mind out of the gutter," she admonished. "Anyway when I woke up this morning he had been watching me sleep. He told me he could wake up next to me everyday for the rest of his life. Then he asked if I wanted to," Peyton's eyes widened. "Yeah, I know. I thought he was just kind of joking at first, but then he showed me the ring. It's an old family heirloom of his and he asked his mom if he could have it a while back. He said he was never intending to actually propose, at least not yet, but he knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me," she finished, tears of happiness forming in her eyes as she looked lovingly down at the ring.

Peyton was shocked. As far as she knew, Haley and Nathan had only been dating for a handfull of months. How could they know so quickly that they were forever? "How do you know he's the one? How do you know something isn't going to happen to tear you two apart? How are you sp ready to commit to forever? What if you go to separate colleges or something?" she asked.

Haley shot her a weird glance before she once again became lost in her happiness as she thought about her love for Nathan. "He's the only one I can picture beside me for forever. I would do anything to make him happy and I know he'd do the same for me. I just know that I could get through anything, as long as he's by my side. He brings a smile to my face every time I think about him, even when I've had the worst day ever. When I'm with him I'm completely content and when I'm not with him I'm waiting for the next time I get to see him. Even if we don't work out, I know I want to remember this moment, these feeling forever," she paused. "I know we are, though. I don't want to face the world with anyone else. I plan on going to the same college as him, but even if we don't, I know we could make it through long distance, because I trust in him, and I trust in us," she tried to answer all of Peyton's questions.

Peyton sighed, thinking over Haley's words. Many of the things Haley said made her think of Lucas. She always felt safe with him, like he would never hurt her. She knew he would do anything for her, and she would do anything for him. She often found herself smiling stupidly when she thought about him. Now that she had Lucas back in her life she didn't want to try to get through the next school year without at least being friends with him. Did that mean they were meant to be, though? Could she really let a new guy back into her life, and trust again, so soon? He wasn't just any guy, though, and she knew that. He was Lucas Scott. When she was young he had always been her rock, her shelter, her safe place. Even now, he was still all those things for her, even after all that time apart.

There was still the issue of Jake. What if Jake was her 'one' and she wasted it because she never gave him a second chance? What if his night with Brooke had made him realize how much he needed her? Part of her wished she could see Jake, so she could know. She felt like seeing him would give her a lot of answers to the questions running through her mind. If seeing him brought back all the old feelings she would know they had nexer gone away. If not, then she had made a big mistake running away from Lucas.

She couldn't see Jake, though, so she stood. Giving Haley a hug over the counter. "Congratulations, Haley, I really am happy for you. Happy that you've found love this early in life. I'm glad you seem so sure, too. Listen, though, I've got something I've got to do, so I'll talk to you tomorrow and we'll talk more about your wedding. I'm glad you're happy," she said sincerelyt before leaving the Cafe. Haley watched her friend go, knowing something was up, but knowing Peyton needed to deal with it on her own.

Peyton drove back to Grace's house. She had a phone call she had to make. Or maybe even a road trip. She had to go to her room first, though. Grace was in the kitchen, cooking when Peyton came in. "Is that you, Peyton?" she poked her head through the doorway. "Hey, you have some visitors. I told them you weren't here but they wouldn't leave, said they'd come a long way to see you and they didn't know anyone else in this town. They're waiting in your room," she said before pulling her head back into the kitchen.

Peyton felt a knot tie in her stomach. She walked cautiously to her room, wondering what was awaiting her. She slowly pushed the door open. Her stomach disappeared completely as two heads turned to look at her. Her breathing stopped, but she managed to get out one word. Well, a name really. His name. "Jake," she muttered under her breath.

A/N: I know it's a cliffhanger, but don't hate me. I've got to update Predestined first, but I'll get back to this as soon as possible. Your reviews would surely help. Hint, hint. So, anyway, what do you think? Let me know and please don't be mad at Peyton's actions. Oh, and I added Haley in there because there hasn't been as much Naley as I would've liked so far. Hope you like it. Reviews are always much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill, and I am very sad because there is no new episode this week. I can't get my weekly Leyton fix. I guess I'll just have to write some more.