Note: To say that this story has mixed reviews would be an understatement. I have had about half and half tell me they hate Nathan/Peyton and half say they are excited to read something different. I do know for sure this won't be a Nathan/Haley fic so if you're sticking around of that, fair warning get out now, haha.

Anyway, here's another chapter. It is shorter and also a flashback.

….

Peyton groaned as she felt someone shaking her awake. She opened her eyes to see her brown haired best friend giving her a dimpled grin. "It's prom day, P. Sawyer, why on earth are you still asleep?"

"Because it's 9 in the morning and I'm normal." she moaned rubbing her eyes before begrudgingly sitting up in the bed. "Why are you so chipper in the mornings? It's ridiculous."

"Well, if you must know, it's my wonderful personality." she shrugged her shoulders and hung her dress on Peyton's door. "We need to do face masks and mani pedi. Plus I want to go to the MAC store and see if I can't find a new blush."

"I need sleep and a shower, do the rest without me." Peyton absolutely hated waking up, almost as much as she hated organized school functions. "I don't even want to go."

Brooke rolled her eyes plopping in the bed beside her. "You're going first of all, and second of all you're definitely going because I'm going to be prom queen." she patted Peyton's curls sympathetically. "But, we can maybe sleep for another hour or so." Brooke snuggled herself down into Peyton's bed and closed her eyes.

…

It was only an hour before Nathan was supposed to pick her up and Peyton was still in her robe. Brooke was frantically moving around the room pinning and unpinning her hair. "You need to put on your dress."

Peyton rolled her eyes and went to her closet and pulled out her black prom dress. She did have to admit, she loved the dress. It was a simple black dress with sequins on the bosom, but still managed to be subtle, unlike Brooke's dress that was very, very Brooke-like.

"Zip me up, P." Peyton shook her head and walked over to Brooke and zipped up the back of her form fitting red dress. It was sequined at the top and had a split up the front.

"You look gorgeous Brooke."

"So will you if you would get that dress on your skinny ass." she turned around and tilted her head "annnnd if you would put on just a little eyeliner."

Peyton grumbled as she took her dress off the hanger and slid on her dress, and Brooke was immediately there to zip her up.

"Perfect." Brooke tilted her head and smiled at the reflection of the two of them in the mirror. "I think we need a selfie-"

"Ugggggh."

"Peyton, don't be dramatic, you knew this would happen. We are only young once, and this is our last stupid school dance." Brooke sounded nostalgic as she took out her cellphone. She had always lived for school functions and really enjoyed everything that came with it. "Smile, don't be depressed."

Peyton rolled her eyes and smiled for Brooke's selfie. It was the least she could do for her best friend, after all.

A long and loud honk came from outside Peyton's window and Brooke rolled her eyes and huffed. "Nathan is such an ass, why can't he walk to the door like a normal date?"

Peyton shrugged her shoulders and looked out the window to see Nathan's car in her driveway. She wasn't much on traditions but it would have been nice if he had at the very least, knocked on her door. "Do you want me to wait with you until Jake gets here?"

"Uh, no. I'm fine by myself. I'm just annoyed Nathan is such an asshole."

Peyton nodded and grabbed her bag, stuffing her lipstick and flask Nathan had given her last week for the occasion. "I'll see you there, prom queen."

Brooke gave her a dimpled smile. "You got it."

…

"It took you long enough." Nathan huffed as Peyton slid into the passenger seat of his car.

Peyton could already smell beer wafting from his side of the car and wrinkled her nose. She wasn't sure how much or how long Nathan had been drinking but his mood was typical. "Sorry, I thought you might come to the door for once."

Nathan shrugged his shoulder reaching into his tux jacket for his flask. "You know me and Brooke don't vibe." he took a slow sip from his flask before placing it back in his jacket. "You look nice."

Peyton's mouth twitched into a small smile as she buckled her seatbelt. "So do you."

"I know this." he leaned over and kissed her cheek before pulling out of her driveway and heading to the dance.

…

"Well, don't you look like a typical slut tonight, Brooke." Rachel Gatina looked Brooke up and down before she stepped closer. "I know you're gunning for prom queen but why wouldn't you have tried to dress a little more classy?"

"Rachel, I really can't wait to graduate so I never have to see your face again." she brushed past the redheaded girl to slide up next to her best friend. "I hate Rachel so much." she rolled her eyes and looked around. "Where's Nathan?"

"Where's Jake?" Peyton inquired looking around. "Isn't he your date?"

"Duh, he's parking the car and then saving us a place in line to take pictures."

"Of course." Peyton chuckled a little bit and nodded towards the large group of boys near the punch bowl. "Nathan and his team are spiking the punch bowl, supposedly."

Brooke noticed Rachel infiltrating the group of basketball players near the punch bowl and screeched dramatically. "Can't she just act even remotely classy!?"

"You're giving her a hard time. Rachel isn't that bad."

"Mm." Brooke bobbed her head to the music and raised her eyebrow looking to Nathan and his 'gang' as she referred to them. "Is Nathan already drunk."

"Of course."

"Dump him."

"BROOKE!"

"I'm serious, Peyton. This has went on long enough. We are about to be adults and you already turned down moving to LA with me because of Nathan."

Peyton nodded a little and sighed. "It's not because of Nathan it-"

"Just promise me you will think about it again. This ship doesn't sail till June." Brooke bumped her hip into Peyton's and pulled on her arm. "Let's dance!"

…

Nathan leaned against the brick wall outside of the school, letting the cold air hit his face. He was completely drunk. He could feel the cool air calming his stomach.

"Nathan Scott."

He turned his head and saw Rachel standing at the entrance of the gym. "You look awful."

"Thanks." he grinned a little watching Rachel light up a cigarette. "Those will kill you, you know."

"So will whiskey."

Nathan shrugged his shoulders and decided to take another swig from his flask. "Not quick enough, I'm sure."

"Dark. No wonder Peyton likes you so much."

Nathan shrugged his shoulders, again and closed his eyes. His head was starting to feel swimmy headed. He felt the ground start to spin underneath his feet. He was truly drunk.

"I'm sure there are other reasons…" Nathan opened his eyes and saw Rachel standing directly in front of him, and felt her hands creep up his chest. "Like this.."

Nathan smirked slightly and closed his eyes again. "Rachel…"

He felt Rachel's warm lips press against his cold ones. She kissed him softly at first, and then more intensely, giving Nathan a dizzying feeling all over his body. He could feel himself getting lost in the moment of nothingness. Just being. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer to him.

He felt like, in that moment he could just stay lost, forever. No expectations at all, just nothingness.

"Nathan?!"

He pulled away quickly and saw Peyton's face. She appeared to be a mix of hurt, anger, and disappointment. "Peyton, it's nothi-"

"Don't bother. Just leave me alone."

He could hear from her voice she was choking back tears. He wanted to follow her but he felt like his body was glued to the brick wall behind him. His stomach began to churn and before he knew it, he was throwing up on Rachel's expensive blue shoes.

"Oh my god, Nathan!?"

…

Peyton felt her phone vibrating in her bag continuously for the past 15 minutes, as she walked aimlessly away from Tree Hill High. She couldn't stop the tears pouring out of her eyes and finally decided to stop and sit on top of a picnic table at the Rivercourt.

She looked at her phone and had eight missed calls from Brooke as well as fifteen text messages. She shoved her phone back into her bag and buried her face into her hands. She knew she was being incredibly selfish not answering Brooke's calls right now, but she just couldn't.

Not right now.

"Hey, you alright?" Peyton looked up and saw a somewhat familiar face in front of her. Lucas Scott had a basketball underneath his arm and slowly approached her. She sniffled a little wiping furiously at her eyes and quickly nodded. "You sure?"

"I said I was ok." she snapped before taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry. It's just been a long night."

Lucas nodded like he understood and bounced the basketball beside him a couple of times before clearing his throat. "I can give you a ride home, if you're walking."

Peyton's first initial gut reaction was to say no and tell him to fuck off, but she also realized that it was late, cold and she was walking.

Lucas seemed harmless.

"Yeah, ok."

Lucas nodded a little and glanced back towards his truck. "You can sit here a minute if you want, I'll go warm up the truck."

Peyton nodded her head and rubbed her hands across her forearms, truly realizing how cold it was for the first time since she had left the school. She couldn't bare to think of Nathan kissing Rachel. While she had told Brooke the reason she wouldn't go to LA with her wasn't because of Nathan, deep down it probably was. Even though she had never wanted to be that person, who ended up with her high school boyfriend, she couldn't let go of the familiarity of Nathan.

Nathan and Brooke were the only two constant people in her life. As often and as much as she fought with Nathan, he was still there. It felt safe and comfortable.

She started to feel sick to her stomach when she heard Lucas' footsteps again. She looked up at him, before sliding off the top of the picnic table. "Thank you, Lucas."

He nodded and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. "No problem."

They walked to his truck in silence, Lucas opened the passenger side door and she slipped inside without a word. She closed her eyes and leaned back against the leather seat. She felt instant relief from the heater and sighed.

"You can pick the music if you want." Lucas said, jumping into the truck and slamming the door, rattling her from her thoughts.

Peyton smiled a little bit and looked over at him. "I doubt we like the same types of music."

Lucas shrugged his shoulders. "Still your choice."

Peyton fiddled with his radio until she found an alternative station. "This'll do."

Dashbaord Confessional hummed from the speakers for a few minutes, before Peyton decided to break the silence."You didn't want to go to prom?"

"Not really my thing." Lucas chuckled a little bit glancing over towards her. "Doesn't seem like yours either."

Peyton quirked her brow and looked out the passenger window. "You don't know me."

"I didn't say that. Just seems a bit...organized."

"Yeah...but Brooke's my best friend and she was nominated for prom queen, blah blah blah." She shrugged her shoulders dismissively.

"Gotcha."

They stayed in silence again for a few minutes before Lucas pulled into a gas station, which caused Peyton's eyes to dart to him quickly. "What are you doing?"

"I need gas." he chuckled a little before getting out of the truck.

Peyton shook her head at herself before finally look at her phone and sending Brooke a quick "I'm ok, enjoy your night."

It was bad enough Nathan ruined her night, she wasn't going to let him ruin Brooke's too.

Lucas returned to the car and handed her a water bottle. She looked over at him and smiled gratefully. "Thanks."

"I'm not an expert or anything, but I figured you probably needed water."

Peyton nodded and leaned her head against the passenger window. She took a long sip from the water bottle and closed her eyes. What only felt like seconds later, she felt Lucas shake her arm gently. She opened her eyes and sat up. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay, I figured you were tired." He looked at the steering wheel and cleared his throat a little bit. "You know...you really deserve better than that."

"You don't know me." Peyton dismissed him quickly. "I appreciate the ride, but it doesn't mean you get me or understand what I'm going through."

"No problem. Have a good night." He nodded a little bit, taking a sip from his own water bottle.

Peyton took a deep breath and looked towards her empty house and bit her lip. She had no reason to be a bitch. Lucas had been perfectly helpful to her and he didn't deserve her backlash. "Thank you, Lucas. I appreciate it. It's just...hard to see that sometimes."

"You're welcome."

Peyton got out of the car and walked to her door quickly and going inside. For the first time in years, she locked her front door.

From the window she saw that Lucas had waited until she was safely inside before backing out of her driveway.

All she could think of now, was sleep.

Note: Don't be too hard on Nathan just yet. Thank you guys for all the reviews! I'm hoping you will enjoy this chapter.