The next morning, Nathan dropped off bagels at Brooke's apartment for him and the girls to eat for breakfast. Brooke told Nathan everything.

"I think you should call him Brooke. I spoke to him last night, he's a mess too." Nathan advised.

"Maybe you should go see him. Just work things out, or at least be on good terms." Haley added.

"Yeah, maybe I will after I eat." Brooke had been thinking... Lucas loved her, she trusted him, maybe nothing really happened between him and Peyton.

She finished eating her bagel.

"I'm gonna go see him," she said, determined. "I'll see you guys later and fill you in."

--------------------------------------------

Since Lucas and Peyton's living arrangement had been arranged on such short notice, Peyton had to sleep in Lucas's bed for the first night of her being back in Tree Hill. Lucas woke up to a knock at his door. Being careful to not wake Peyton up, he got up and went to the door.

Brooke immediately saw Peyton lying in Lucas's bed.

"Unbelievable," she said angrily. She began to turn around. "I must be so stupid to even think that you weren't lying when you said nothing was going on." She turned herself around and began walking out the door.

Lucas sighed and began after Brooke.

He grabbed her and turned her around. Without saying a thing, he just kissed her.

After a few seconds they both pulled away.

"You feel that?"

"Feel what?" Brooke whispered, tears in her eyes.

"That feeling when we kiss. Now, if you want to pretend it's not there, then run away. But we both know it's there. And you can doubt my trust all you want, but when I feel that when I kiss you, there's no other girl in the universe who could make me feel that way... Brooke, I..."

"I love you." she said, tears falling, and kissed him again.

He pulled away, "I love you too Pretty Girl." He smiled. He wiped her eyes and kissed her again.

"Can you just explain why she's in your bed Lucas?" Brooke said softly.

"She had no where to stay. She was gonna ask you to stay with you, but you're living with Rachel and so she asked me if I had room in my house. Since it was such short notice, we couldn't clear a room for her."

"Promise me Lucas, promise me that nothing happened."

"Not a thing happened." They began kissing again.

Peyton watched them from the door of Lucas's room. She realized how much she missed the comfort of having Jake all the time, and how she still had feelings for Lucas.

--------------------------------------------

Peyton was in Lucas's room later that day when Brooke walked in. Lucas had gone out to play basketball at the River Court with Nate.

"Hey." Peyton said shyly. She wasn't sure where her and Brooke stood.

"Listen here and listen good Peyton..." Brooke started slowly, and angrily, walking toward Peyton.

"Brooke..."

"No, you're gonna listen." Brooke started softly with a coldness like Peyton had only heard once before.

"I did you a favor by helping you while you were drunk, and you're lucky that I even did that after all you've done to me. But I've become more forgiving, and that's why me and Lucas are back together. I know you had your little thing with him, whatever it was, but it's my turn, again. I love him, and he loves me. And I also know how kind he is to be letting your skanky lying ass stay here, so if you dare to touch him, dare to flirt with him, dare to do more than say goodnight and good morning to him, I can garentee you will not be a happy girl. Got it?" Brooke looked like she was ready to attack Peyton.

"Well aren't you just in luck, I have no feelings for Lucas this time. But he can't help who he lusts... I mean, loves." Peyton said slyly.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Brooke muttered trying to keep her cool.

"I guess you can't control who you're attracted to, huh?" Peyton smirked. "I believe it's time for you to leave Brooke." Peyton gave her a wicked smile.

"You better watch your back blondie." Brooke stormed out of Lucas's (and now Peyton's) room.

--------------------------------------------

"Hi, it's Jake, you know what to do. Beep"

Peyton sighed as she flipped her phone closed again. Jake ignored all of her calls, and she memorized every word, breath and pause in his voicemail from hearing it so many times. She had never felt so alone in her entire life, at least since both her moms died. She was back in her hometown for the first time in months, and she had no friends. Well, one if you wanted to count Lucas although she was sure he didn't feel the same way.

Lucas was so kind to her, and genuine, and he looked really good. He always seemed happy now that him and Brooke were together. He used to smile in a way similar when they were together...

"Hey." Lucas said interupting her thoughts. He walked into 'their' room, sweat dripping from his forehead, basketball in his right hand, waterbottle and iPod in his left.

"Hey... you look hot." Peyton said flirtaciously.

"What?" Lucas said choking on the water he had just sipped.

"I said you look hot, as in you're sweating." Peyton said as she touched his chest. She hadn't meant that he looked sweaty and hot, but she might as well be slightly discreet.

"Oh, I thought you meant... Never mind." Lucas laughed nervously.

"So what are you up to tonight?" Peyton patted the bed beside her and signaled him to sit.

"Well," he said lowering himself, "Brooke is studying for her calculus test tomorrow, so I'm probably just gonna stay home and read."

"Why don't we go see a movie or something?" Peyton suggested.

"Sure," he replied. He knew Brooke wouldn't like this, but what Brooke didn't know wouldn't hurt her right? It was just an innocent movie.

"Alrighty, I'm gonna go get ready and I think you should shower yourself." Peyton suggested laughing.

"Yeah," Lucas examined himself, he was a mess. "That is a good idea."