A/N: Here's another one. Enjoy. P.S. This chapter brings Haley back and For a while it'll probably seem like the story should be called "Haley saves the day". But you'll see what I mean eventually.

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Peyton mentally kicked herself over and over again until she was sure she felt a twinge of actual pain as if she had started to physically kick herself.

But then she realized that the pain, growing ever stronger, was deep within the complicated depths of her soul.

She had wanted to kiss him. God had she wanted to.

But she was ruining that which she had worked so hard to achieve. After walking through her neighborhood, as far as she could go, up and over the large hill and towards the cliffs which looked over the small town, she collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.

She waited only a few moments, until she felt she'd been gone long enough for Lucas to have safely evacuated the premises of her home. Once satisfied with her choice, she stood to make the long journey back home.

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She entered her house somewhat carefully. She wouldn't put it past Lucas to stick around all night.

Once she was sure she was safe, she threw herself on her bed.

Anyone who might have walked in at that moment would have seen the same thing.

A fragile, broken, hurt, lost, little girl.

She had curled herself into a ball, legs drawn to chest, and let her blond curls fall over her face as she cried herself to sleep.

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Lucas entered his house quietly, hoping not to draw attention to himself.

"Hey freak." Lucas jumped as he heard a voice from the corner of his room. He looked over to see Haley sitting with an odd grin plastered on her face.

"Hales, what on earth are you doing in my room at..." He glanced at his clock. "...11:30 at night?"

"Too late for you Mr. Scott?" She laughed, but became surprised when Lucas didn't join in.

She was used to his mood swings. Those awkward little stretches of time where his eyes took on a dark gleam, and his mind set itself on auto-brood. But usually one of her quirky little quips snapped him right out of it. At least momentarily as it were.

But not this time. His face didn't lighten up one bit, and his eye's seemed glossy as if he were in deep thought.

"Gee who died?" Haley questioned him sarcastically. When Lucas' mood still didn't shift she became genuinely worried.

"Oh God who died!" She asked again, with which Lucas rolled his eyes in reply.

"No one in particular. My dignity perhaps but.."

"Wait, Lucas seriously whats wrong? It can't possibly be that bad."

"It sure feels like it" He added before he began to retell the story of his almost dream come true.

Haley listened intently, focused on the many emotions she heard conveyed in his simple story. She'd been his best friend long enough to decipher the meaning of his words. To any one else his issue seemed trivial. A simplistic girl issue common to the high school paradigm. But to Haley, she could tell that it meant more to him.

He was honestly falling for this girl. In the head over heels sort of way of which Haley wasn't accustomed to. In fact, Lucas was such a gentleman, she wasn't sure he'd ever talked of a need for a girl before at all. He respected them to much in most cases to bother, for Haley was the only person who knew that he was afraid of hurting another. Which Haley didn't understand because Lucas was one of the best people she knew, and probably would ever know in the course of her lifetime.

But the way he went about it now, showed Haley that he respected this girl above all previous interests. For he had decided it was worth it to take the risk. Especially with the time bomb that was Peyton Sawyer.

"...And I just don't know what to do any more. It's driving me crazy." He sighed, as he finished his tale.

"Lucas as much as your gonna hate to hear this, you're just going to have to let things happen naturally. She can't avoid you forever until the project is over. So you have till then to find a way to get through."

"I know Hales. Thanks for your help. You're always there when I need you."

"Well that why I'm your best friend isn't it?"

While the two shared a tender hug among friends, Haley's wheels were turning.

'I might be able to help.' she thought to herself.

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'Okay Hales, you've got this. You're friendly, intelligent and good with most people. You're doing this for Lucas.' She persuaded herself as she ascended the steps to the home of Peyton Sawyer.

She remembered from Lucas' stories that Peyton rarely answered her door. So when her three knocks and one ring of the bell failed to produce an answer, she tried the knob.

Unlocked.

Just as suspected. The home was beautiful and looked inviting, but Haley's stomach still proceeded to do back flips as she made her way up the stairs towards the only room with any light emanating from it.

About halfway up the stairs, a mellow sound meet her ears.

She kept going towards the sound and as she approached the doorway she realized it was a song she'd never heard of before.

"One may think
we're alright
But we need pills
to sleep at night"

The music was heartbreaking, yet strangely comforting to her ears. She stopped just before she reached the door, which was only slightly ajar, and took a deep breath, not knowing the effects her visit would soon produce.

"We need lies
to make it through the day
We're not ok"

She reached forward and lightly pushed the door open until the light flooded the hallway. Taking one last moment to muster courage, she stepped over the threshold into the room.

"I hope my smile
can distract you
I hope my fists
can fight for two
So it never has to show
And you'll never know"

What she saw, broke her heart.

"So you'll never have to see
What we've grown to be"

The broken girl laying on the bed looked absolutely and completely shattered. She appeared to be sleeping but very uneasily still. Her eyes were red and puffy, and a mixture of eyeliner and mascara sat, streaked down her cheek, now dried in its dripped form. Her hair clouded most of her face in a mess of tangled, tear soaked curls.

"One may think
we're doing fine
But if I had to lay it on the line
We're losing ground
with every passing day"

And to Haley one thing was now certain beyond all shadow of a doubt.

"We're not ok"

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Lyrics "Pills" by The Perishers.