Chapter Fifteen

"No, you look better in blue," I said decidedly as Brooke waltzed through the dress store we were looking for our prom dresses in. She was wearing a slinky red dress with a thigh length slit up one leg.

"And you look fairly slutty," commented Haley.

"I can't believe you're talking to me," I said, turning to Haley.

"He'd have found out eventually," she said, shrugging. I knew she'd have been more angry if she and Nathan hadn't made up so eagerly.

"I think Mouth would like it though," she said regretfully. Haley and I changed stunned glances-in little more than a day she'd gone from halfway sure about him to completely committed.

"Here, try this one," I instructed her, handing her a violet blue dress, close to purple.

The halter tied dress was backless. The long, sweeping skirt ended gracefully at the floor, and despite the v shaped waistline there were few adornments. She pretended to look accepting about the beautiful dress.

"I guess it'll do," she said wistfully, twirling in front of the mirror, hiding her bare feet.

"Brooke you do know hot you look, right?" I asked her.

"I know right? Haley's turn!" she said excitedly, flopping down on a chair in the blue dress, swinging her legs up over the armrest, revealing her red toe nails.

I followed Haley to a rack of dresses and helpfully flipped through them with her. She vetoed my every suggestion and only looked happy when she came across a black dress, blushed and scurried into the change room with it.

Brooke clapped her hands excitedly when Haley came out in the black dress. It was unique but worked on her and particularly on her Hollywood style figure.

It was one shouldered, and the black fabric stopped just shy of her shoulder and was held up by a string of vaguely flower shaped diamonds. The rest of the top part slanted down low. The hem of the dress was at it's highest at her knee and slanted down towards her ankles. She experimentally piled her hair atop her head and twirled around to show herself off.

"That's great," I said.

"Nathan's going to go nuts. Jake too. Speaking of which, you're buying this dress," she said, tossing a dress of light white fabric to me.

They were silent as I walked back five minutes later, clad in the white dress. Haley gaped. Brooke grinned.

"You are so putting out in that," she said happily.

"Peyton that's beautiful!" said Haley, awestruck.

"There's not enough of it," I protested.

"No, it's perfect. We're not leaving her without it."

I felt a sad sense of regret as the dress went up over my head and I changed back into my jean skirt and tank top.

We all proceeded to the lingerie store caring our purchases in large bags.

"Oh God," said Haley, turning suddenly to awkwardly study a display of men's leather belts. We glanced at what she'd been looking at and quickly looked away ourselves.

Chris, carrying his guitar and looking equally skinny as I'd last seen him. Haley's hiding did no good-he quickly spotted her and came over, looking genuinely happy to see her. He pulled her into an unwilling embrace.

"Haley James! What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Prom dress shopping," she answered.

"When are you coming back?" he asked, dropping his arms from her and allowing one to trail across her hip. She flinches.

"What are you, deaf? It's over. And it's not Haley James idiot," she whispered harshly.

"Still living that dream?" he asked arrogantly. Inside of her I saw her resist the urge to slap him.

"It's Haley Scott. Don't even bother with the James," she said, turning away from him. Brooke quickly followed her but I hung back-

"And it's not a dream-they go at it like rabbits," I said viciously as Brooke grabbed my wrist and pulled me away.

"What's he doing here?" she asked for the millionth time as Brooke frowned at her reflection, clad only in a small blue slip.

"He's come to take you away from us again," said Brooke, twisting to look at the slip in another angle.

"I'm not going anywhere," she said firmly, stepping out of a changing room in a lacy black strapless bra. They were trying to determine what to wear under their dresses and I was having none of it.

"I know. We just have to convince him of that," I said. Brooke giggled and seemed to pronounce herself satisfied.

"Well the rabbit comment will help you there," she said as Haley rolled her eyes.

We stopped for sodas in the food Court before leaving the mall.

"Are you really completely not tempted by him?" I asked her.

"As a man, yes. As a musician, yes! Living like that isn't for me," she said firmly.

"And how could you possibly give something like Nathan up?" asked Brooke. As her eyes took on a dreamy look, I knew she wasn't thinking of Nathan, but of Mouth.

Brooke was driving Haley home but I had my car, so we parted ways at the mall exit. All three of us were carrying our dress bags, and Brooke and Haley each carried two lingerie bags. Brooke handed me one after I'd hugged her goodbye.

"Just a little treat for Jake," she said, winking. I rolled my eyes and walked back to my car.

My scorn didn't stop me from trying on the white lingerie at home, at the privacy of my mirror. Jake and Jenny were together elsewhere, so I didn't need to worry about being interrupted in such a state-and Jake would be sure to take it the wrong way.

"Uh, Peyton?" came a voice from behind me. Not Jake's voice. I jumped and swiveled around to face him.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. His eyes widened as he took in all my exposed skin.

"Um I borrowed your CD," he said awkwardly.

"Stop staring. This isn't for you," I said crossly, snatching the CD from his hand. And placing it with my others.

"Of course, seeing as I'm the devil," he said.

"Shut up."

"Peyton," he said softly. Impulsively I stopped in front of him and allowed myself to gaze into his eyes. I felt a strong sense of deja-vu.

This time he lowered his lips to mine quickly and my mouth opened of it's own accord as my hands traveled around him. Our tongues met, sparking as they always did. He ran his fingers across my back and down to my hips, familiarizing himself with my body. I couldn't stop myself from giving away to something so forbidden, yet so right.

Suddenly I my thoughts focused and I pulled away from him. My hand sharply met his cheek.

"Don't you ever do that again," I said fiercely, backing away from him. He sent me a hurt, lost look that almost cancelled out my forbidding feelings that were growing towards him.

Had I really gone and done that? Again? One kiss can mean nothing but a follow up kiss will always cement the first.

When I next remembered what happened I was wearing my clothes and Jenny's yells and the smells of cooking were reaching me. Dazedly I got up as my memories of Luke came back to me in a haze.

"Hey. Awake now?" he asked as I ran into the kitchen, skidding on the tiles.

"Yeah. When did you get back?" I asked him.

"About an hour ago-Luke was just leaving. Guess you feel asleep quickly-he said you guys had a good talk?" asked Jake. That had been close.

"Yeah, it was okay," I said, walking over to him and moving into an embrace.