Chapter 10: The Nearness of You

Peyton walked along the school's hallway as she headed to her class. She kept scanning the area for one person. She felt the need to see him, she just knew she had to. Suddenly she heard someone calling her.

"Peyton," Sean called out as he went over to her.

Peyton knew it wasn't the guy she wanted to see, but she turned around and greeted him nevertheless, "Hey Sean, what's up?"

Sean took a piece of paper out of his bag and handed it to her, "Well, I just wrote this song and I thought you might 'wanna check it out.

Peyton smiled as she nodded, "Alright, I don't think I'd have much to say about it though. I have absolutely no idea what makes a good song."

Sean just laughed, "Hey, no problem...music is subjective anyway."

Peyton just laughed. Although she admits that Sean may be coming to her too strong, she also couldn't help but admire that. "He's not scared..." she thought as she looked at him.

Meanwhile, Lucas was hurriedly making his way to class. He was determined to keep his jealousy at bay. He had a critical basketball practice later and he needs to be fully concentrated into the game. "Stop thinking about her," he ordered himself as he hastily made his way to class. The last thing he needed was trouble with grouchy, old Ms. Wringley.

Suddenly, something made him stop dead on his tracks. He stood in silence as he caught sight of a girl that has been on his mind all morning. On the other side of the hallway was Peyton with her golden curls carefully tucked behind her ears. She was laughing, apparently enjoying a conversation. "Who is she with?" he asked himself as he tried to look at he person she was with.

His heart sank when he saw it was Sean that Peyton was laughing with. He knew it wouldn't be right but somehow, he felt like punching the guy. He felt even more terrible when he saw Sean handing her a paper. "He gives her a love letter now?" he wondered as he found himself staring at them in silence. Suddenly, he realized he would not want Peyton to see him. He took a heavy sigh. "I guess I'll see you in class," he said to her in his mind. With that, he immediately ran off...

From the corner of her eyes, she continued to search the crowd for a guy she's been hoping to meet up with. "Where is he?" she asked herself as she tried to pretend she was listening to Sean by giving him constant laughs. Soon, she said good-bye as she rushed herself to class. She started walking towards her class again when felt the need to do something. She stopped and turned around once more as she tried to look for him for the last time. Sensing he won't be there, she sighed as she kept walking. "I guess I'll see you in class," she thought to herself as she slowed her pace down in disappointment.

Haley was fixing her stuff in the locker when she heard a familiar voice. "Hey Hales," greeted Nathan as he walked over to her.

Haley looked up and smiled when she saw Nathan, "Hey Nate, what's up?"

Nathan just shrugged as he returned the smile, "Not much, I was 'gonna head to the library. You 'wanna come along?"

Haley's eyes widened with disbelief, "Nathan Scott going to the library? Since when did this happen?"

Nathan just laughed, "Since I realized that my coach is serious about keeping our grades up."

Haley just smiled, "Well, it's good to know you're taking care of your academics."

Nathan nodded, "Am I making you proud?"

Haley gave him a very sincere smile, "More than you know."

"Nathan Scott," called out a man who was walking towards Nathan and Haley.

Nathan turned to see his coach approaching them. "Oh, hi Coach!"

Coach Fowler stopped beside the Haley and Nathan. He looked at Haley and immediately realized something, "Weren't you the girl..."

Haley just laughed as she looked down in embarrassment, "Yeah, that was me. I'm Haley, by the way."

Coach Fowler smiled at her, "And I'm Mr. Fowler, Nathan's coach. Looking at the uneasy look on Haley's face, he realized he shouldn't bring up what he saw during practice the other day so he didn't bother to ask anymore. He then turned his attention to his player,"Son, I need you and your brother to show up to practice a bit earlier."

Nathan looked at the man curiously, "Sure coach, something wrong?"

Coach Fowler shook his head with a grave expression on his face, clearly something was wrong. He let a heavy sigh, "Two of my best players were stupid enough to go swimming in the lake on a cold night. They caught the flu and wouldn't be able to play. So, we need to rework the play."

Nathan nodded as his coach went on, "I was thinking you could work on doing fade-aways..."

Haley suddenly laughed quite audibly that both guys just turned to look at her, "I'm sorry...it's just that Nathan isn't really good at shooting a fade-away, Lucas is. If this guy right here can have things his way on court, he'd be doing lay-ups."

The coach stood there looking stunned, "I'm quite impressed by your observations, Haley. How did you know that?"

Haley laughed, "It's quite simple really....I am...I mean, I was Nathan's girlfriend." She felt quite embarrassed by her slight mistake and couldn't look at Nathan.

Nathan just grinned at her. "I guess there's still a chance for us," he excitedly said to himself.

Lucas couldn't think of anything else but what he just saw. It bothered him so much he wasn't paying attention at all to his class. Brooke was seated right beside him, feeling completely bored. "Hey Luke, do you think Ethan's parents will like me?" she asked Lucas who was trying to scribble something on his paper.

Lucas looked at her and smiled, "What's there not to like?"

Brooke looked at him with a serious expression on her face, "Well, I don't know..." She let out a heavy sigh, "I love him so much, Luke. I don't 'wanna screw it with his parents."

Lucas grinned at her, "Then just keep your eyes off his dad."

Brooke playfully poked him in the arm as she laughed, "I would never think of screwing up his dad!"

Lucas just laughed as Brooke grinned at him, "At least now, there's a smile on your face. I was beginning to think you lost someone when you walked in."

Lucas' smile faded slightly as he sighed, "You know, I'm starting to feel like I just might."

The day felt like a drag to Lucas. The image of Peyton with Sean has been running in his mind all day. Before he knew it, it was time for his literature class. He wasn't sure if he wanted to see Peyton anymore. "What am I 'gonna tell her? Hi Peyton, guess you're with Sean now!" he told himself in his mind.

Luckily, Peyton wasn't around yet when he stepped into the classroom. He found himself an empty seat by the window. "If I feel uneasy, I'll just look out the window...maybe even jump off it," he thought as he tried to find calmness in the serenity of the view outside.

He was beginning to admire the green field surrounded with big trees and a colorful array of flowers, when he heard someone talk to him. "Hey Luke, mind if I sit next to you," Peyton asked with a smile on her face. She's been looking forward to her literature class all day.

Lucas looked up and was immediately lost in Peyton's smile. "Uhh..sure," he stammered as he smiled back sheepishly.

Peyton started to read a book once she settled onto her seat. Meanwhile, Lucas kept stealing glances at her. Finally, he felt the need to ask her something. "So, are you hanging out with Sean a lot?"

Peyton laughed as she turned to him, "Um, no...I ran into him this morning though. Now, I have to critique a song!"

Lucas looked pretty relieved, "Oh...I didn't know you're a song critique now too."

Peyton smiled at him, "Nah, I still would just rather draw."

Lucas was about to comment when their professor walked in. Professor Jennings walked to his desk and settled a pile of papers on his desk. Clearing his throat, he began his class, "I have an assignment for you that will be due by next week. I need you to find a poem by a famous poet that gives an idea as to how you feel about something or someone."

There were a lot sighs from the class, but soon, they have all gone silent as he began his lesson. Lucas listened intently and so did Peyton. From time to time, however, she would steal a glance at the boy whose face has been etched on her mind for the longest time...