AN: I'm baaaaaaack! (Always wanted to say that :p)
First of all I have to thank my girl Ashton, who helped me rewrite the old chapters and gave me quite some ideas for the new ones - thank you, hon. I owe you! :)
Second - everyone who's left a review on the last chapter (which feels like I wrote months ago, which I did, of course :) ) - thank you!

I'm so excited about this new chapter & I really hope you'll like it... Please let me know what you think. Thanks!

I missed you all guys! It's good to be back, finishing this fic :) xox

"What's this I hear about you blaming Nathan for Keith's death?" Peyton said, entering Lucas' room without knocking. She leaned against the door and waited for a reply.

Lucas looked down "I'm sorry, Peyton. I didn't mean to say that, it's just-"

"But you said it anyway, didn't you?" Peyton shook her head "I can't believe you said that, Luke! You have no right blaming him."

"I know, I know. There's just this little voice in my head, you know, that keeps telling me 'what if'. What if Nathan had stayed in the library, you know, what if Keith hadn't gone into the school."

"What if I had died?" Peyton shot back "Do you really believe Jimmy wouldn't have shot Keith if Nathan hadn't walked in? Because I don't. Jimmy was desperate, he would have shot anyone who was in his way."

Peyton walked over to Lucas and sat next to him on the bed "I know it's hard, believe me, I've tried. I've blamed almost everyone after my Mom died, because it's always easier to find someone to blame for what has happened, but it's not getting you anywhere. It isn't Nathan's fault that Keith is gone."

She put her hand on Lucas' "In the end it was sad twist of fate that no one can be blamed for, except Jimmy."

"I know," Lucas nodded "But Jimmy's dead."

"Yeah, I know, but it doesn't change the fact that it was Jimmy who pulled the trigger, Luke." Peyton got up and looked at Lucas.

He got up as well "Yeah, you're right."

"I know," Peyton smiled at him "Now, since you agreed on going to apologise to Nathan, there's something else I want to talk to you about."

"I'm not going to-"

"Yes, you are, Lucas Eugene Scott." Peyton pushed him down, so he sat on the bed again "Because you'll feel so much better if you do and Nathan as well."

Lucas sighed.

"Just hear me out, ok?" Peyton looked at Lucas, who nodded "Good. Because the other thing I wanted to talk to you about is you taking Brook to prom."

"I've already told her, and Nathan for that matter, that I'm not going." Lucas closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"And it wouldn't be a problem if you had a good excuse, Luke, but not going because you feel like you're disrespecting Keith is nonsense."

Lucas hesitated "Peyton-"

But she interrupted him "No. Because it doesn't make any sense. My Mom died because she ran a red light and with what you're saying I shouldn't be driving in a car anymore, or having fun driving a car for that matter, because she died doing that. I'd be disrespecting her that way." Peyton shook her head.

"I know, Peyton and you're right. But it's difficult."

"Of course it is. But no one ever said life was going to be easy, right? And that's why you have friends and family, who want to help you through those difficult times. But you have to let them, Luke."

"I know. And you're right, I was stupid" Lucas got up and walked over to the door, opening it and looking at Peyton "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to make some arrangements so I can ask Brooke to go to Prom with me."

Peyton smiled and gave him a hug before she left "That's my boy."

"Peyton!" Lucas walked outside and gave Peyton another hug "Thank you."

"No problem, Luke." Peyton waved and got in her car.

"B. Davis!" Peyton knocked on Brooke's door and waited for a reply. Soon Brooke opened the door and let her.

"What's the rush?" Brooke sat down on her couch and got back to her ice-cream.

"We're going shopping, buddy!" Peyton walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a spoon. She sat down next to Brooke and took a scoop of ice-cream as well.

"Why?"

"Because I need a prom-dress." Peyton said with her mouth full, she leaned back and looked at Brooke.

"But that's no fun whatsoever!" Brooke pouted "I don't need a prom-dress."

Peyton laughed "Why not? We can dress up together, like we planned and then you can stay at home, with your freezer stuffed with ice-cream and no one to share with."

"You're such a bitch, Peyton." Brooke laughed.

"Oh well," Peyton got up and grabbed Brooke's hand, pulling her up "Let's get you decent, buddy," and dragged her to Brooke's bedroom.

Brooke shook her head, she didn't know why Peyton would want to drag her along today, she wouldn't be going to prom anyway. Lucas had made that very clear this morning. Brooke sighed and got out some clothes and changed "Alright, let's get this over with, Sawyer. I'm still on ice-cream mode here, so we better not take too long."

Peyton laughed "I'm sure they have ice-cream at the mall as well, friend."

"I wouldn't consider yourself my friend anymore, missy. Not if you keep giving me attitude." Brooke laughed and grabbed her purse. Peyton followed her outside and within seconds Brooke had started her car and was driving towards the mall.

"This dress is so gorgeous!" Brooke let the fabric run through her fingers as she admired the emerald green halter-dress. "Maybe you were right, P. Sawyer, maybe I should go with you and Nathan." She sighed "I'd do anything to wear this dress."

Peyton laughed "Why don't you just take it? It might come in handy one day."

"When? At your wedding? By that time I'll be designing my own dresses and they'll be even more beautiful that this one is." Brooke gave the dress one last look and followed Peyton to the other side of the store.

"Why are you looking at tuxedos? Are you and Nathan switching roles or something?" Brooke started laughing "Is he going to take me shopping for dresses later on?"

"You have one crazy way of thinking, Brooke Davis." Peyton laughed and shook her head "But actually, Nathan asked me to pick up a tux for him, he said I could choose one, so here we are."

"But don't you need a dress?"

"Nah," Peyton picked out a tux and walked over to the register "I'm wearing my Mom's old prom dress."

"So why are we-"

"Good afternoon ladies, how may I help you?" The man at the register turned around and smiled.

Brooke felt her mouth drop as she saw who was behind the desk "Lucas? What are you doing here?"

Lucas leaned over the desk and gave Brooke a kiss "I came here to help you pick out a dress, pretty girl."

"But," Brooke shook her head "You said you weren't going to prom." She looked at Peyton for help, but her friend just shrugged.

"Yeah, well, someone made me change my mind." Lucas nodded at Peyton and walked over to Brooke "Now, let's get you a dress."

"Are you happy with the dress, Brooke?" Lucas gave his girlfriend her kiss as they walked over to his car.

She nodded "It's beautiful. I'm so glad you decided to go to prom after all, Luke, even though I'm not sure why you changed your mind."

Lucas shrugged "Peyton gave me a piece of mind earlier today."

Brooke smiled, there really wasn't a thing her best friend couldn't do. She made a little mental note, to remind her to thank Peyton for this later.

"Is it ok if I drop you off at your place, Brooke? I have to go see Nathan." Lucas opened the door and let Brooke in.

"No problem, there's some ice-cream waiting for me anyway."

Lucas raised his eyebrow and shook his head, laughing. He got in as well and started the car. He looked at Brooke and smiled, glad he had changed his mind. She had been glowing all over from the moment she saw him at the mall.

Brooke opened her door when they arrived at her house and got out. She leaned in and gave Lucas a kiss "Good luck, pretty boy. Call me later tonight?"

"I will." Lucas gave her a wink and watched Brooke walk over to her house. He pulled up and made his way over to Nathan's, hoping his brother would accept his apology.