The Brilliant Dance

Summary: Lucas and Peyton decide what they really want in life is each other, and they won't let anything or anyone stand in their way. Set post "What is and never should be"

Author's notes: This is going to become my little side-project. The sequel to The Man… is coming along, I have the entire thing mapped through chapter seven but it's just taking some time to write it all out. So please just stick with me, and I hope all my awesome readers will show some interest in this new fic as well.

Chapter 1:

Two weeks had passed since the party at Nathan's house had gotten wildly out of control. Everything had been turned upside down in Peyton's already crazy world, the one guy she thought was different turned out to be like everyone else and that was a bitter pill to swallow. She'd been avoiding him and his messages left on her cell phone. She just wanted to be left alone, away from him and whatever pathetic explanation he would toss her way in an attempt to redeem his character.

Peyton's life was routine now. Her time was spent at school and cheerleading practice. Then she'd come home to an empty house every night and spend her time staring at her blank sketchbook. But there was something different about this day. She'd come home from practice to find Haley, sitting on the front steps of her porch. Peyton cut the engine to her car and climbed out, crossing the gravel driveway towards the porch.

"Hey." Peyton said as she took the empty spot near Haley on the steps. "What are you doing hanging out here?"

"I just wanted to see how you've been; I haven't seen much of you lately, I thought you were avoiding me." Haley sounded upset.

"I'm sorry Haley, I wasn't avoiding you on purpose." Peyton sighed. "I just wanted to be alone, that whole mess at the party was just embarrassing."

"Do you mean the fight or finding out about Lucas and the barslut?"

Peyton just shook her head, "Both I guess."

"Well if it makes you feel any better most of the school thinks you definitely kicked her ass." Peyton laughed bitterly as she lightly touched the spot on her lip where the large cut had finally healed. Haley's tone grew more serious as she confronted Peyton with the truth. "It's ok to admit that you're hurt by what Lucas did."

"But it's not ok Haley, the way I feel right now? The pain and the disappointment that I feel every time I see him. I know that Lucas and I made Brooke feel the exact same way when she found out about us sneaking around behind her back. I'm Nikki in some less slutty form. I betrayed my best friends trust to be with her boyfriend"

"I don't know all the details of what happened between the three of you, but what I do know is that what happened wasn't only your fault. Lucas has become this person I don't know anymore. After he started dating Brooke he started doing these stupid, out-of-character things like getting that fake i.d. and that stupid looking tattoo. He and Brooke used to go to bars and get wasted off their asses. And then he sleeps with some girl like Nikki. That just isn't him. But you have to believe me when I tell you that through it all Lucas loved you." Peyton was annoyed by the last comment.

"He has one hell of a way of showing that he loves someone then." She just shook her head.

"I think you two need to sit down and talk about all this stuff."

"I don't know if I can see him right now." Peyton said as she tucked a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

"You don't have much time." Haley said cryptically.

Peyton was noticeably confused by what Haley had said. "What are you talking about?"

"Just go see him soon, trust me." Haley stood up and wiped the dirt from the bottom of her jeans. "I miss you Peyton, you should start coming around more often you know?"

Peyton stood up as well and gave her friend a quick hug. "I'm sorry Hales."

"Yeah I know you are, know are you going to talk to him?" She asked.

"I'm going there right now, thanks for the talk Haley I appreciate it.."

"Well that's what I'm here for."

Haley stuck around for a little while and the two girls spent some much needed time just hanging out. It was after Haley left that Peyton decided she was ready to go see Lucas, she had so much she wanted to say. She only hoped he would still be around