AN: Hello all! Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. I promise I haven't forgotten you, even though it's been a while since I updated. I've had this chapter written for a while, but trying to find a song that would go with it nicely proved difficult. The song chosen is Hope You're Happy by Dashboard Confessionals. It's an awesome song that I thought fit perfectly. Basically the lyrics fit more to what Peyton's thinking and what Lucas is feeling from her, just so you understand why, unlike most chapters with lyrics, the entire song is at the end rather than throughout.

I will try to post another update as soon as possible, but work is bombarding me this time of year and with the time of year that it is, it's just a busy time, which I'm sure most of you understand.

Anyways, on to the story. Please enjoy and don't forget to review!

J


Hope You're Happy

Lucas guessed that he'd been wondering around town aimlessly now for around two hours. Initially, he had made his way to the river court to shoot some hoops and stare down the basket as if that were the cause of all his problems.

He had certainly made a mess of his life this time. Well, his life and Peyton's as well. The only thing he could seek solace in, was knowing Peyton was better off without him. He honestly hoped she would move on with her life and admit to herself that Lucas was not the man she was in love with.

He on the other hand, was another storey. He left a girl he'd been stable with, for a girl he could never make it work with in high school. He had no idea how she was doing or if she was even available. The only things he really knew about her was that she still talked to Nathan and Haley, that Nathan was extremely over protective of her – especially when it came to Lucas, and that she was a successful fashion designer. Looking at the facts now, he wavered with whether or not he had made the right decision in letting Peyton go. Just another everyday internal struggle in the life of Lucas Scott.

Every once in a while, he'd think back to life when it was him and Haley against the world. His entire world was just so much simpler then and occasionally he'd wish everything had remained that way. Wished that he'd never stepped foot on the high school court. Shortly after his thoughts would drift in that direction, he'd snap himself out of it, knowing that of course, things wouldn't be better. Haley wouldn't have Nathan and James, or maybe she would but then they wouldn't have remained best friends, he wouldn't know his brother, at least not the man Nathan had turned into since meeting Haley and last but definitely not least, he would never have fallen in love with Brooke Davis, the Brooke Davis. Even if he never got the opportunity to be with her again, if she would never even speak to him again, he knew that just as the old saying said, it was better to have loved and lost then to have never loved at all.

As Lucas continued his directionless walk around the small town, he walked past the high school, although empty as school was out for the day, there on the front steps sat a lonely figure. Lucas was about to continue walking until he heard the small, yet distinct sniffle of tears. Always the hero, he couldn't just walk away, however as he moved closer, he recognized the head of curly blond hair and the skinny figure it belonged to. Beginning to think twice about what it might stir up if he spoke to her, in the end, he decided he couldn't just walk away. After all, he was the reason that she was crying in the first place.

As he sat down beside her, she was the first to speak which surprised him as she hadn't even looked up to see who was sitting next to her.

"Go away Luke." She spoke the words with finality.

"But how –" He was in shock that she knew it was him without even looking, was there connection really that strong?

The curly blonde cut him off before he could finish asking his question. Was he serious? How could she not know it was him? He had ended things between them, and now she couldn't even clear her head without him popping up out of nowhere. Damn this town! She thought silently to herself. "How could I not know Luke, I could hear you brooding from a mile away. Just go away." Did she honestly just say that? Was that not a complete Brooke line? Peyton sat there, waiting for the blue eyed blonde to just up and leave her to her thoughts, but he wasn't moving. She could never understand his hero complex, even if it was usually her that he was saving.

"I don't want us to be this way Peyt... please, just try to understand?" Lucas was pleading with her and he knew it. He also knew exactly what she was like and in reality, there was no point in this. He'd betrayed her love with yesterday's decision and by admitting he loved someone else. The girl in front of him was currently a bitter shell of herself and he knew she would need time, but he himself needed to be forgiven.

"Try to understand what Luke?" Her voice seethed in anger. He couldn't possibly be serious. Understand? Honestly? He was asking her to understand. "Understand how you've once again yo-yo'd back to Brooke? That you never truly love one of us, because as soon as you have me you want Brooke, but when you have her you want me? Is that what you want me to understand?"

The girl sitting there looking at him, the girl he once thought was the love of his life, the second girl he stated was the one he wanted there when all of his dreams came true, was looking at him with a fury that made the fires of hell sound like a picnic in the park. Why couldn't he just have left her to work through her anger and back to the point where they could be friends. Every time he tried to help, he just ended up making things worse, infuriating the people he loved even more.

"I'm sorry Peyt… I can't help my heart, I don't know what else to say to you. " He almost told her that he knew her heart was somewhere else too, almost being the key word. For once in his life he'd actually managed to keep his foot out of his mouth, it was truly a first.

"Then leave Luke, leave me alone, stay away from me and don't ever talk to me again." Once again her voice carried that finality. She really did hate him at that moment in time. As he stood up to leave, she gave him a glimmer of hope as she started to speak once more. "Oh and Luke…" He looked up at her as she said his name softly. "Stop calling me Peyt. You've lost that right." As fast as the glimmer of hope in him had appeared, it had fled. Slipping in his earbuds to his ipod not realizing Peyton had just completed the same action, he looked back down to the ground and walked away, no more words to be spoken between the two and heavy hearts on both ends, music in a way holding true to both of them filling their ears.

Which of the bold face lies will we use?
I hope that you're happy
You really deserve it
This will be best for us both in the end


But your taste still lingers on my lips
Like I just placed them upon yours
And I starve
I starve for you
But this new diets liquid
And dulling to the senses
And its crude
But it will do


Which of the standard lines will we use?
I've been meaning to call you
I've just been so busy
We'll catch up soon
Lets make it a point to


But your taste still lingers on my lips
Like I just placed them upon yours
And I starve
I starve for you
But this new diets liquid
And dulling to the senses
And its crude
But it will do