Recap:

Lucas looked down at his hand, and then brought his gaze to Peyton's. "Would you like to go on a date with me?" he asked giving her a little, unsure smile.

Peyton bit her lip. She couldn't deny the fact that she was attracted to Lucas. And they did have a connection, but she wasn't ready to go out and date again.yet.

"Not yet."

Part 8B

Lucas stood there looking confused. "Not yet?"

"Look, Lucas can't you just leave things the way they are for right now? Does everything have to be explained, have to be figured out? Can't things figure themselves out?"

"Peyton -"

"No Lucas," Peyton interrupted. "You always have to have an answer, a reason. Sometimes things just can't be explained. Don't ruin a good thing."

Lucas was unsure of what to say and what to do. He didn't understand what she wanted, or didn't want for that matter. Lucas moved to the bed and sat down next to her. "So *what* do you want?"

"Fun Luke. I want to have fun. Incase you didn't notice I did just come out of a serious relationship," she pointed out. "Look I don't want to argue with you, but I don't want what you want. Not yet, not right now."

Lucas was trying to take this all in. One day it seemed like going out was a realistic idea, and other, much like tonight, it seemed as if that would never happen.

"Look maybe I should just head home."

"Don't leave yet," Lucas spit out much too quickly. "I just.stay and just talk with me awhile?" he asked. "Come on. I could use a friend tonight."

"I've been meaning to ask you, what was up with you tonight?" Peyton questioned him. "You looked like you lost it out there on the court."

Lucas sighed in exasperation. "Nathan."

Peyton nodded. It was always Nathan with Lucas. And With Nathan it was always Lucas who made him act like this.

"What happened now?"

Luke shook his head. "It's stupid. I promised Hales that I would support her in this whole Nathan thing. But I guess I missed what she was trying to tell me."

"And that would be.?" Peyton trailed off leaving it for him to finish.

"That she likes Nathan."

"Ouch," Peyton said.

Lucas rolled his eyes. "That helps."

"Sorry. I understand why you're mad Luke, but Nathan isn't all bad. You and him don't even know each other. There is good in him Lucas, besides its Haley's life and Haley's choice. She didn't even *have* to tell you. She was trying to be a good friend by doing so," Peyton explained to him.

"I know she didn't have to.but Nathan? Why him? She knows how I feel about him."

Peyton sighed. 'Males,' she thought. "You can't expect her to pass up going out with a guy she likes because of your history with him. That would be like.Nathan expecting me not to be here right now."

"That's different," Luke insisted.

"No, not really," Peyton corrected him. "Nathan and me, we were friends in the beginning. Not like you and Haley but we were friends."

"I just don't like it Peyton. If he hurts her." he trailed off clenching and unclenching his fist.

"Give him a chance not to. And if he does than beat his ass."

Lucas raked his hands through his disheveled blonde hair, and Peyton's next question surprised him.

"You care about her don't you?" she asked.

Luke looked at her. "Well yea she is my best friend."

"No. Care about her. Really care about her?"

"Hales? I care about her. She's best friend and she's always been there for me. I've never thought of her as anything else."

Peyton nodded. She noticed he didn't say she was like a sister to him.

END Part 8