Chapter 10:

Brooke has decided to leave Tree Hill and no one stopped her. They all knew it would do her better. They all gathered at the airport to say goodbye to Brooke. At first, Lucas wanted to stay home, but he had to face Brooke whether she wants an explanation from him or not. Once they were all there (Nathan, Haley, Brooke, Peyton, Lucas), Brooke cried as she was about to leave the four.

Then, Lucas called out to Brooke, "Hey Brooke."

Brooke turned around with tears in her eyes and a little spark of hope inside, that Lucas would take her back. "Yeah?" she said smiling.

"I'm sorry…" Peyton, Nathan and Haley smiled at each other, then at Lucas. He did the right thing just in the nick of time.

Brooke wasn't that disappointed. She knew her hopes were more like fantasies… the unreachable ones. She felt lighter than disappointed. She smiled and nodded her head, "Thanks…I needed that… Good luck to you and my best friend. Don't hurt her or else." She jokingly threatened him, so she could find something to laugh about…they all laughed. Then, Brooke turned around and carried her bags. At least before she left, they were all laughing.

They all went to Karen's Café before heading home.

"I'm glad Brooke eventually took this well…" Haley started.

"Yeah… Isn't it last time… this wasn't really how it ended? I mean… she was really bitter…and…I dunno." Nathan looked at Peyton as if wanting her to get his point.

"Yeah… at least now, she accepted our apologies and she even called me her best friend." Peyton smiled as she ran her finger around her cup of coffee.

"And she accepts our relationship too." Lucas looked at Peyton and vice versa, then he kissed her forehead. Nathan and Haley couldn't help but smile at their happiness.

"Aww… Look at them Nate!" Haley said holding on to Nate's arm.

"Jealous? Cause I can do more than that." Nathan joked. They all laughed… In fact, they laughed so hard, the people in the café looked at them. Karen even heard them.

"You're all happy… Luke? Everything great?" Karen approached them and asked Luke.

"Everything's perfect mom… Just perfect." Lucas said, stroking Peyton's hair.

Karen smiled at how things turned out with them. Then, she put her hand on Peyton's shoulder. "Was all this worth the wait?"

"Of course Karen. I've got Lucas… and I love him…he loves me back… and I still got Brooke as my best friend." Peyton answered.

Karen was surprised and so happy to hear that. "Wow… Wow! That is perfect. Well… I'm gonna leave you four lovebirds here… Bye Nathan… Haley… Lucas and Peyton." Then, Karen went back to work.

"Hey you two… we have to go." Haley suddenly remembered about hers and Nathan's plans for the night.

"Oh yeah… Good you remembered." Nathan followed.

"Oh ok then… we're gonna go as well… See you two." Lucas said as they all stood up.

"Bye Hales… Bye Nate." Peyton said. Then, she and Lucas went to the car.

Driving home, Peyton and Lucas were speechless. Maybe it's because of the overwhelming feeling they both had from the rollercoaster ride they've just been on. They'd talk occasionally, saying how they're just in awe that they ended up together. What was clearly noticeable was the constant staring and smiling between the two. They'd laugh whenever they caught each other doing that (the smiling and/or staring). When they got to Peyton's house.

"So…here we are…Sure you don't wanna…like…go somewhere?" Lucas said. He didn't want Peyton to leave yet.

"Hmm… Depends… Where are we going?" Peyton didn't want to part with Lucas so soon.

"Anywhere?" Lucas was completely clueless… but he really wanted to spend every minute with Peyton.

"Hmm… Sounds good!" Peyton smiled at him and Lucas was happy with her decision. "I'll just get some stuff I forgot at home…" Then, Peyton got out of the car to get her phone, extra money, and she wanted to change into a better looking shirt too.

She opened the door, and got upstairs. She was really "panicking" on what to wear. Then, she laughed at herself, because she looked pathetic rummaging through her closet. Then, she just took out an army green tank top with a white slogan that said "What?" She didn't change her pants anymore. She just took her bag and her black jacket as she went downstairs cheerfully. Lucas was standing outside his car, waiting for Peyton.

"Did you change outfits for me?" He joked.

Peyton blushed because it was half true. Her other shirt was just something she saw laying around in her room, so it wasn't the freshest and cleanest top she had. "Maybe… Maybe not." She winked at him. Then, Lucas just laughed at this.

"Well…you look amazing…" Lucas complimented her. Then, they smiled lightly at each other.

Suddenly, Peyton caught sight of a surprising comeback. Her eyes widened, as she swallowed in nervousness. She stood at her porch, frozen.

Lucas noticed this, and looked at where Peyton was looking. He too, was shocked. His jaw dropped. Then, he shut his eyes in frustration. He looked down and shook his head slowly. He kept thinking 'Why now?'

Peyton cried at the sight of Lucas. She knew what he was thinking because she was thinking it too. She kept waiting for Lucas to look at her. She couldn't call out his name because she was just in such a state of shock.

Then, she looked at Jake, who obviously felt the intensity of the scene. He was already picking up the pieces of the puzzle. He knew he made a mistake, driving Peyton away. He saw Lucas shaking his head, and covering his eyes with his hand, as if scratching them. Maybe that was to conceal his tears. Then, the more heartbreaking sight was seeing Peyton cry over Lucas' reaction. He felt crushed at that moment and it could be seen in his eyes. He kept looking at Lucas, then at Peyton.

Peyton saw how Jake reacted to their (Lucas and her) reactions. She felt sorry for him too, and she did love him still, but that love won't ever amount to her love for Lucas. Still, she felt guilty and sorry for Jake too. Her tears doubled once she and Jake made eye contact. She just closed her eyes and turned around. This was too much.

Then and there, Jake was standing with the hurt and shock in his eyes. Just a couple of feet away from him was Lucas, with his hands on the roof of his car. His head was down and he was already crying. Not far from Lucas, was Peyton, with her hands in her hair. She couldn't face these two guys. She was just facing her house, head down, eyes closed, and tears streaming down her face.

END!

Hahahaha…I'm gonna make a sequel and an alternate ending… The sequel is for the Jeyton fans…The 11th chapter is for the Leyton fans… there! Hahahaha… I love you all! Thanks so much for the reviews!