Title: Waiting on Forever

Author: D Sollers

Subject: Post OTH episode 5x15 BL WITH SPOILERS!!. Brooke nods her head, yeah because she feels it too. She can't remember a time where it was just the two of them together, trying to be friends. But somehow, it feels right. BL, NH, maybe a little LP and JP.

Disclaimer: I own nothing to do with OTH and honestly, I don't really want to.

Author's Notes: So I was supposed to update yesterday but I got side tracked with unpacking. So here is yesterday's update with a promise of one for today as well. This includes spoilers for the finale of this years show. Do not read further if you don't want to know. Also!! This kinda has some LP in it, hopefully no one will be too angry.

Chapter Ten

Love Song

"No matter how far away, I will always love you

How ever long I stay, I will always love you."

When Lucas had arrived at the river court, he had thought it would be a place to escape his life. A way to forget about the problems with Lindsay and his book, Angie's surgery and the surprising ache that filled his heart by her leaving.

But as he walked across the pavement that once had felt like home to him, he was caught off guard. The art work displayed a comet, just like in his novel. As he turned around to take in the full effect of the drawing, he was stunned.

The lyrics to a love song that had held so much meaning was sprawled across the pavement, taunting him in a way that only Peyton could.

"Damn it," he said as he threw the basketball as forcefully as he could. He watched as the ball bounced across the court and landed in the water and he fell down to his knees.

What exactly was she trying to do to him?

Lucas was angry at her for so many reasons, many of which he couldn't understand. How was it possible for someone to love someone so much and yet continually hurt them?

There were so many times where Lucas had been there for Peyton, putting her thoughts and feelings above his and the people surrounding him.

So why couldn't she do the same?

What surprised him as he stared down at the drawing, was the feeling of regret that raged through him.

He should have fought harder.

Perhaps for Brooke, all those years ago.

Maybe even for his own piece of happiness. It was something you had to strive for, something you had to work for. He should have done it for himself and chosen the person that could have made him the happiest.

But most of all for Lindsay, who had come into his life and had accepted his love of the tortured artist. She learned to accept it because she trusted him, had faith in him.

And he had let her down.

Let them both down.

The sound of his phone ringing caught him off guard and he reached into his pocket. He was surprised to see Lindsay's name and he answered it, a hopeful smile spreading across his lips.

"Hey," he said as he sat down on the pavement and listened to her begin to speak.

She cleared her throat and he knew she was at a loss for words. Suddenly, she took a deep breath. "You asked if I missed you," Lindsay began. He didn't get a chance to say anything as she continued. "The truth is I miss you, everyday."

Her words make him smile, for so many reasons. There's a part of him that's hopeful she'll take him back and he can have the life they had planned. He wants to believe in his heart that Lindsay's the one for him because if not, he let that person get away.

"Lindsay I..."

His words get cut off as she continues and he can almost see her tears filling her eyes. "Don't Luke, don't make this harder than it has to be. I just wanted you to know that. But it doesn't change anything. It can't."

"I love you," he said honestly.

Her tears have stopped and he is surprised by her next words.

"Then let me go."

He wants to say no, that there is nothing she could do that would stop him from loving her but the pain in her voice breaks his heart. She's lost faith in him, perhaps she had always known they wouldn't end up together.

"How am I supposed to do that?" He asked, his question coming out in a small whisper. "Haley's one of your best friends, your office is here in Tree Hill..."

When he hears her voice, he can't believe that the emotions that had been so strong just moments before are gone and in it's place are small traces of anger.

Of disappointment.

"I'm going back to New York," Lindsay explained. "With them not publishing your book, I'll be able to return to my office there and when you're ready to write another one, there will be another editor assigned."

He shook his head and laughed, despite the pain that he was feeling. "So that's it, you're just going to give up on us."

"I love you Lucas," she said finally. "But I can't do this anymore."

Lucas was surprised at how the words fell from her tongue just as they had with Brooke and he couldn't help but feel to blame for either of the situations. He had promised both of them to fight for their love and then had watched them both walk out of his life.

"Goodbye Luke."

He didn't understand how easy it was for her, to turn her back on him and their love but as he hung up the phone, all he could do was look at the drawing Peyton had left.

The drive to Savannah had been relatively easy for Peyton, who had arrived into town a little bit after 9 o clock. She had driven throughout out the town, turning down a familiar street as she saw the school that she had once dreamed of going.

Her phone rang, startling her out of her thoughts of the past and she smiled as she answered it. "Hello Mia," she said with a laugh. She knew she needed to get gas before she went any further so as she pulled into the gas station she waited for Mia to talk.

"Are you almost to the hotel?"

The blonde nodded her head and began to get out of the car, rushing across the parking lot and inside the store. "Twenty on pump number six please," Peyton said with a smile and then turned her attention back to the phone call.

"Yeah, I should be there in like ten, twenty minutes." She began to go across the street once again but was stopped by a honking horn, who had almost run over her. "Learn how to drive ass hole," Peyton yelled at the driver before continuing to walk to her car.

The driver rolled down his window and called out to her. "Peyton?" He asked, causing her to stop in her tracks. She didn't turn around but her phone fell out of her hands as she bit her bottom lip in nervousness.

"Peyton," his voice continued as he quickly parked his car and moved towards her. "I can't believe it," he said honestly.

She turned around slowly, a small smile forming on her lips. "Me either," she said as tears began to enter her eyes. "It's nice to see you Jake."

"Wow," Haley said as she moved towards her best friend. He had yet to move from his spot on the river court and she sat down beside him and patted his knee. "This is amazing."

He finds himself chuckling and he knows he shouldn't because there's nothing funny going on. "When did things get so screwed up Hales?" He asked honestly, turning towards her. "I mean, senior year it was so clear. I had my whole life planned out. What happened?"

"I guess you lost sight of what you wanted," Haley said trying her best to understand what was going on with him. She wrapped her arm over his shoulders and brought him towards her, just as he had done for her so many times. "It's not too late to get that back, Lucas."

He can't help but think she's wrong, that what he wants is too far out of his grasp. "I don't even know what I want," he admits. "Maybe I never did."

"Do you remember those predictions we use to make?" Haley asked as she looked at her best friend. When he nods his head slowly, she continues never skipping a beat. "If you could make one now, what would it be?"

He thinks for what seems like forever and she sits there, waiting for his answer.

For a moment, he thinks about his past with Peyton and all the things he could have differently, of all of the things he would have changed.

Lucas thinks about Lindsay and the way they had ended things and his desire to make things better, if only to make her pain stop. He wanted her to know that he never meant to hurt her and for her to know that he really did love her and was willing to spend the rest of his life with her.

And then he thinks about Brooke and all the times he's let her down. He thinks about just how many times he's broken her heart and the painful realization that she was the only one that could fix his.

"She loves you, you know."

There's something about the way Haley says the words that makes Lucas know she's not talking about Peyton. Because honestly, after seeing the drawing on the river court there is no denying Peyton's feelings.

He's not even sure she's talking about Lindsay but he's hoping she is. Because if Brooke still had feelings for him, his life was about to get turned upside down.

And he couldn't do that again, not until he had everything else figured out. He needed to accept that it was over with Lindsay and apologize to Peyton for saying things he never really meant. He needed to focus on his friends and family and be there for Brooke so that she could get through letting Angie go.

But in the back of his mind, he couldn't help but remember his prediction from years before.

This year I'll try again with Brooke.

Haley leaned her head against Lucas' chest and sighed. "Whatever you want Luke, you'll figure it out. Sooner or later." He nodded his head as he dropped a kiss to her forehead.

Maybe she was right and he'd figure it out later on.

Or just maybe, he's already known.

TBC.