Lucas parked his car and got out. He walked to the front door and rang the doorbell. He shoved his hands in his pockets. His stomach twisted, and he couldn't deny the fact that he was nervous. Haley said that she still loved him but he wasn't sure. He prayed that she answered the door, although he had no idea what he would say to her when she answered.
The door opened to reveal Brooke.
He let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and was a little relieved that it wasn't her that answered, but disappointed too.
"Hey Lucas, come in," Brooke said as she opened the door wider and he stepped into their house. "How are you?"
He pushed his hands deeper into his pockets and glanced up the stairs, as if by some luck Peyton would suddenly appear.
"Peyton's not here," Brooke said and he looked back at her. She had a sly grin on her face that said she knew everything. "Come sit down," Brooke ordered as she sat down on the sofa.
Lucas glanced at the door, he should leave, but Brooke looked at him expectantly and he obliged.
"So why are you here? You're here for Peyton aren't you?" Brooke questioned him with that grin of her planted firmly on her face.
"Yeah," Lucas admitted, looking down at the coffee table, a little embarrassed to be admitting it to Brooke, Peyton's best friend.
"I knew it!" Brooke squealed and clapped her hands together. "So you finally figured out that you love Peyton. It took you long enough," Brooke playfully chastised him.
"Huh, yeah. Everyone seems to feel that way," Lucas said. He looked up suddenly, "She still loves me, doesn't she?" Brooke opened her mouth to reply, but he cut her off. "She's not out on a date?" he asked as he mentally cursed himself. Of course she was. Brooke was at home and Peyton was gone. He was too late.
Lucas started to get up, he needed something to get the terrible knot out of his stomach, but Brooke pulled him back down onto the couch. "She's not on a date, Luke. She's just out with Milly checking out a band."
Luke visibly relaxed at this news. "Why aren't you with them?"
"I Want them to be friends, so they need some alone time together," Brooke said. "So," her voice went into her prying-for-information mode, "what made you realize Peyton's the one for you?"
"It's a long story, but basically Jamie, Haley, and Andy made me realize that I was wrong. I'm still in love with Peyton, I was just angry at her for turning down my proposal. Haley said it was my fault we broke up in the first place, because I proposed too suddenly and quickly."
Brooke nodded, "Peyton usually doesn't react too well to surprises."
"I know, and I should've realized that."
"It's okay Luke. The important thing is that you realize that you two can work this out."
"I hope so. I hope she forgives me. I know I haven't been the nicest person to her lately."
"It'll be fine, Luke. She should be back soon, then you'll see."
"I want to prove to her that I'm with her until the end now. There's no one else for me but her," Lucas declared.
Brooke's grin returned. "I have an idea."
