Disclaimer: OTH, or Chad Michael Murray, is not mine, to my dismay. This disclaimer will serve as my disclaimer for the rest of my chapters.

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Chapter 5: Unexpected Visitor

Peyton shut the door behind her. She was still smiling, still recovering from the kiss that Lucas gave her. She collapsed onto the sofa, staring dreamily at the ceiling. Her cloud-nine state was broken by a knock on the door. She breathed in, got up and approached the door. When she opened it, she got the biggest surprise.

"J-Jake?" she asked, still in doubt of the situation. After all, she had a previous hallucination of Jake.

"Peyton!" Jakes said, with a wide grin. In his arms was Jenny, playing with a small doll.

"Um, Ah," Peyton tried to say, still surprised, "Come in!" He motioned for Jake to come in, then closed the door. "Jenny!" she said, stretching her arms toward the toddler. Jake moved Jenny closer to Peyton so she can get her. Peyton caressed Jenny's hair and kissed her on the cheek.

"You missed us?" Jake asked, crossing his arms.

"Of course, Jake." Peyton replied, still playing with Jenny. "So," she asked, "Where are you staying?"

"We have a room in a motel just outside Tree Hill." Jake answered, messing up Jenny's hair.

"Aren't you afraid that Nikki might come back?" She asked with concern, holding Jenny closer to her.

"We'll be in town for just a few days. I just missed Tree Hill so much, you know?" He said. Peyton smiled at this. "Ravens Basketball, Lucas, Nathan, even Brooke!" he said with a light chuckle. Then his face turned serious. "Then there's you." He said gently.

"Me?" Peyton asked doubtfully. She feared that what she was going to hear next was some kind of confession. I'll tell him I'm with Lucas now, she thought.

"Yeah, I mean, you have been like a mom to Jenny. And you helped us escape from Nikki. You helped us a lot, Peyton." He said.

Peyton sighed with relief. Thank God. "Jake, you're one of my close friends. Of course I'll help you." She said with a small smile.

Jenny's doll fell down to the floor. "Daddy, doll." Jenny said in a high pitched voice. Peyton squealed with delight.

"Omigosh, You can talk!" Peyton said to Jenny, and kissed her lightly on the forehead.

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The day started like the other days. Peyton walked to her locker, and right on cue, Lucas came along.

"I'm getting pretty used to this," Lucas said with a smile. Peyton smiled back, and then he leaned in for a quick kiss. They walked together towards history class.

"Guess what," Peyton said.

"What?" Lucas asked inquisitively.

"Jake's here." Peyton said in an upbeat manner, causing Lucas a moment of shock. Peyton has a picture of Jake and Jenny, he thought. Then he tried to console himself. It's torn.

"Yeah, I know!" Peyton said with a laugh. "I was shocked too. He's going to be here just for a couple of days, you know, to visit."

"Jake's back?" Brooke asked, trailing them.

Peyton looked back at Brooke. "Yeah!" she said happily.

Brooke glanced at Lucas to see his expression. His face showed no emotion. "Won't he try to steal you away from Lucas?" she asked threateningly, albeit jokingly.

Peyton's smile disappeared. She turned to Lucas. "Of course not!" she said, giving a little smile, and kissed Lucas on the cheek. Lucas turned to her, also with a smile. "He's my boyfriend!"

Brooke laughed. "Whatever!"

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After School…

"Hey," Lucas asked Peyton, his hand around her waist. "You up for a movie?"

Peyton smiled, but then that smile quickly disappeared. "Oh," she said, remembering something. "I'm spending the afternoon with Jenny and Jake." She gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry, Luke. Next time?" She said.

Lucas pretended to be happy. "Of course. Have fun!" He said.

"Do you want to come along?" She asked, hoping to make it up.

"No, I'm good. I'll just go, um, shoot some hoops." Lucas excused.

"Okay." Peyton said calmly, and she gave him a long kiss. They both pulled away, and stared at each other for a long time. Finally, Peyton broke the silence.

"Um, I have to go. Bye," she said sincerely, still smitten by the kiss.

"Bye," Lucas greeted back, and gave her a warm smile.

Peyton walked towards her car, and Lucas followed her with his eyes until she drove off. It was all so simple last night. He was supposed to tell Peyton what he really felt. Then Jake comes back. He had a feeling that she felt something towards him, since she kept his picture and all. She sounded so excited when she told them about Jake. He sighed and walked towards his truck. He then drove off to River court. It was just a short drive, since he used to drive there before after school, before the Ravens, before Brooke, before Peyton. It wasn't long before he parked his car and got off. Nobody was there. He grabbed his basketball in the backseat, and started dribbling it. He made a lay-up, chased the ball, and did some drills. He then heard some footsteps.

"Hey man." Nathan said.

"Nathan." Lucas said, and passed the ball to him. Nathan drove to the basket, and made a shot.

"So, is it true?" He asked, dribbling the ball. "Jake's back?" He passed the ball to Lucas.

"Yeah. Peyton told me." Lucas said nonchalantly, trying and failing to make the three point shot.

Nathan chased the ball. "Something tells me you don't like that." He said, and dribbled the ball while Lucas was trying to steal it away.

"I don't. I mean, Jake's a friend and all, but then I thought I had my chance with Peyton." He said, while Nathan made a fade away shot.

"She's the one, isn't she, Luke?" he asked, stopping and standing still.

Lucas chased after the ball, and again took the three-pointer. It went in. "She is. But then I have this feeling she doesn't feel the same way about me. She feels it towards Jake." He said sadly.

Nathan walked towards the bench. The orange sunset was reflected in the water. Nathan sat down, and Lucas followed him. "Look Luke, you'll never know till you tell her, right?" he said.

"Nathan," Lucas said, trying to argue.

"You might lose her again." Nathan said plainly.

Lucas stared at the sunset. Something was telling him to go tell Peyton. Yet something in him stops himself from doing so.

"You love her, man." Nathan said.

Lucas looked towards Nathan. "You're right."

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Peyton opened the refrigerator and grabbed two sodas. She shut the door, and went in the living room. There was Jake, holding Jenny. She went in and handed the soda to Jake.

"Thanks, Peyt." Jake said, smiling. Peyton smiled back. She opened her soda and drank some. She then put it on the table and carried Jenny to her.

"What more can you say, Jenny?" She said in a babyish voice. Jake laughed at her. "What?" she asked, turning to Jake.

"Nothing." Jake said.

"Can you say Peyton?" she asked. "Pey,"

"Pey," Jenny said, mimicking the curly haired girl in front of her.

"—ton."

"—ton." Jenny said.

"Peyton."

"Peyton." Jenny said in her usual toddler manner. Peyton squealed with delight. She looked at Jake. Jake was smiling too. Then, suddenly, Jake leaned in and kissed her. The light of the setting sun and the rising moon was shown in her open window.

Outside, Lucas saw the scene inside Peyton's house. The window was open. Peyton was kissing Jake. He turned away painfully, opening the door to his truck and driving away into the street.

Hey guys! Sorry for the late update. I had lots of work to do and had to finish it. Please review! Love ya'll! Ü