Thanks to all that reviewed my story. You guys are my inspiration! And of course, Chad. Ü
Chapter 6: Trouble in Paradise"You did what?" Brooke asked, outraged, as she got out of the bed.
"Brooke, I couldn't let her spread the false rumors," Felix said, trying to explain. "It might do some more damage." He said, sitting upright.
"As if you haven't done enough." Brooke said, and turned her back to Felix. She faced her window.
"Brooke," Felix said, going near to her. "Please understand."
Brooke tuned to Felix. "I've tried to understand, Felix. I understood when you lied to me. Then I also understood when I found out that Anna knows. How do you expect me to understand now?"
Felix tried to caress her face, but she slapped his hand away. "I'm sorry." Felix said in the most sincere manner.
"Get out, Felix." Brooke said, showing him to the door.
"Brooke—"
"Get out!" Brooke said, more infuriated.
"I love you," Felix said, looking at Brooke. He could see tears swelling up her eyes. You've really done it this time, Felix. He went down the stairs.
Brooke collapsed into the bed, letting the tears fall in her face. Why am I so stupid to believe him again? She asked herself. She let his final words echo into her mind.
I love you…
More tears fell. She already knew how it was to lose Peyton. And love. She wouldn't lose both again. This time, she had to choose.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peyton pulled away with a disconcerted expression. "Jake," She said hesitantly. Jenny was playing with Peyton's curls.
"I'm sorry. I just got caught up in the moment." Jake said embarrassingly, turning to the window, which was now showing signs of the night.
"I'm sorry." Peyton apologized. "Jake, I know before—"
"Peyton, you don't really have to explain." Jake said.
"I'm with Lucas now." Peyton said in a gentle tone. Jake closed his eyes for a moment, as if to let the news sink in. I had to leave Tree Hill, he thought.
"That's great!" Jake said, hiding all his hurt behind a warm smile.
"Really?" Peyton asked, hopeful.
"Of course." Jake answered with a hint of sadness Peyton could not notice.
"Thanks!" She said happily.
"I've missed so much!" Jake said, trying to avoid the issue. "What else has happened?"
"Well," Peyton started, "There's this new guy named Felix who moved in recently. He's with Brooke now."
"Really?" Jake said, trying to sound interested. "Wow! Who else hooked up?"
"Um, Nathan and Haley got married." Peyton said, hoping not to shock her friend.
To this, Jake was really surprised. "Married?" Jake asked in disbelief.
"I know!" Peyton said, laughing.
"Why the hell would they get married?" Jake asked.
Peyton looked at Jenny. "Sex." She whispered. She laughed afterwards.
"Are you sure it's Nathan you're telling me about?" He asked. He knew Nathan. Getting married for sex, for Nathan at least is like shooting the ball at the opponent's court. Stupid.
"He's really changed, you know? If you could see him right now." Peyton said, holding Jenny's hand. Jenny gave a wide yawn.
"Looks like somebody's sleepy." Jake whispered, referring to Jenny. "Listen, I gotta go tuck her in. We'll be going back to the motel, and I'll see you tomorrow? Maybe you could bring the others." He said.
"Yeah, I'll see." Peyton said, and she stood up and carried Jenny. She handed Jenny over to Jake, who carried her. Jenny leaned her head in her dad's, and Peyton kissed her forehead goodnight.
"See ya." Jake whispered, smiling. Peyton helped him with the door. When Jake was out, she closed the door back. She then fixed the curtains to cover the windows. She slumped back into the couch, thinking about Jake's kiss. Something in her opened up, her old feelings for a man who had guts to introduce his own daughter to his high school friends. But then, that feeling was drowned out by a much greater factor: Lucas. She immediately remembered Lucas, leaning in for a kiss every morning. Lucas, who would talk with her about anything. Lucas, who saw into her soul and saw her for who she really was.
"Peyton?" She heard someone say, knocking on the door.
"Brooke." Peyton answered, and opened the door. There she saw Brooke, tears streaming down her eyes. Peyton immediately felt compassion for her best friend, and gave her a warm hug. She led her inside and they sat on the couch.
"Hey," Peyton said with a warm smile. "Can I get you anything?"
"No thanks," Brooke said, as she sniffed.
"What's wrong?" Peyton asked concernedly.
"Felix." Brooke said, trying to prevent herself from crying. "He lied to me again!"
"Aww, Brooke." Peyton said, and pulled her in for another hug. Brooke pulled away after a few moments.
"Please promise me you won't get mad. I've already lost my boyfriend, I don't want to lose my best friend." Brooke said sadly, tears still falling down.
"Why?" Peyton asked gently.
"Anna knows because, because," Brooke started to say, but then she broke down. Peyton stroked her hair. "She overheard me and Felix talk about it. And Felix knows because I accidentally told him." Brooke continued, then broke down.
Peyton didn't know how to take this. Anna was one of the reasons why their plan had become dangerous. Brooke betrayed her word by swearing to not tell anyone. In the end, she did something Brooke could not do before.
"Brooke, it doesn't matter. It's okay." She said reassuringly, pulling Brooke into a hug.
"I'm so sorry, Peyton." She said apologetically, and she buried her head in Peyton's shoulders.
"Shhhh," Peyton said, trying to soothe her down. "You're my best friend, remember?"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next day, Peyton was running really late. She has this meeting for a fair to be planned by the cheerleaders, so she had to hurry. She got out of her car, and shut the door. She walked briskly to the auditorium, but then somebody stopped her.
"Hey!" Lucas said. Peyton mumbled an inaudible yet cheerful hey, and walked on. Lucas followed her.
"So, what's up with Jake?" He asked, trying not to bring up the scene yesterday.
"Nothing, nothing." Peyton said hurriedly, and continued on walking.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, sure." Peyton said distractedly, and walked even more briskly. Lucas went in front of her again.
"Peyton," He said seriously.
Peyton looked into his eyes. " I have to go attend the meeting thing with Brooke. I'm really late." She said sincerely, gave Lucas a quick peck on the cheek, and hurried into the gym.
Lucas was a few steps from Peyton when she heard the thing she dreaded to hear.
"I saw you yesterday with Jake." Lucas said plainly, which caused Peyton to stop walking. She turned around and walked towards Lucas.
"Lucas—" Peyton said, trying to disprove the thought in his mind.
"You kissed him, Peyton!" Lucas said angrily.
"Luke, it wasn't what it looked like." She said, trying to explain. "Jake just did that for nothing. I already told him we're going out," Peyton said.
"You love him, don't you?" he asked seriously, yet a tone of pain wavered in his voice.
"Of course I don't!" Peyton said in her defense.
"You have a picture of him always near your bed, Peyton." Lucas said exasperatedly.
"He's my friend, Lucas. I missed him and Jenny. Is that a crime now?" She asked, now getting irritated over the situation.
"Please just tell me." Lucas said in a pained voice.
"I don't, Luke." She said adamantly. "I love someone else." She said in a gentle whisper. Just then, a blonde-haired girl from the cheering squad called her attention.
"Peyton! Come on!" She called out. Peyton turned around and looked. She saw the girl waving at her.
"Yeah, Just a sec." She said, and turned back to Lucas. "I have to go." She said, caressing Lucas' face. She gave him a quick kiss, smiled, and ran after the blonde girl at the door of the gym. Lucas looked longingly in the distance.
"Lucas!" Anna greeted.
"Um, hey Anna." He said nonchalantly, and turned his back to the gym. He made his way to Haley, who was trying to explain to Nathan the complicated & mathematical equivalent of Newton's Law of Inertia. Anna trailed him.
"How are things with Peyton?" She asked.
"Good." Lucas lied. I think the girl in I am in love with is in love with someone else. It's really just perfect.
"Great!" Anna said cheerfully. "Just remember that I'm here for you, okay?"
"Yeah," Lucas said, looking at Anna. "Thanks Anna." He said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You got it, Nathan!" Haley said happily. But then she pointed out an error. "But, oh, Nathan, He didn't use an apple." She said, and gave a light laugh. Nathan laughed with her. He moved closer to his wife, and put his arm around her shoulder. They looked at each other and smiled.
"Haley, are you happy that you chose me over singing?" he asked seriously.
"A career is easier to get by than true love. I'm very happy with my decision." She said, giving Nathan a warm smile.
"I love you." Nathan told her.
"I love you, too." Haley replied, and she cuddled closer to Nathan.
"Hey guys," Lucas said. "Am I ruining the moment?" he asked jokingly.
Nathan and Haley stayed close together. "Yes you did, man." Nathan answered, pretending to be insulted. Haley laughed.
"So, what's up?" She asked.
"You know that Peyton and I agreed to stage fights, right?" He asked.
"Yeah, that's all part of the plan." Haley said, not sure where her best friend was getting at.
"We fought earlier." Lucas said.
"Did you pull it off?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah, I think so. But that fight," He started, "I'm not sure if it was staged or anything."
"Why?" Haley asked curiously.
"Well, for one thing, it was about Jake." He said, looking into the distance.
"I knew it." Nathan said. "You didn't tell her, did you?"
"Tell her what?" a confused Haley asked.
"I didn't. When I got there, he was kissing her." Lucas said sadly.
"Jake?" Haley asked in shock, "Peyton?"
"Peyton told me it was just a mistake. I'm not really sure," Lucas said, "She has Jake & Jenny's picture."
"What did Peyton say?" Nathan asked.
"Well, she told Jake that she and I were going out." Lucas answered plainly.
"With the plan and everything?" Haley said.
"No. She told him that we're really going out." Lucas explained.
"There you have it, man." Nathan said, raising his arms.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After the meeting, Brooke and Peyton walked together to class.
"Brooke, you okay?" Peyton asked, concerned.
Brooke looked at her best friend and smiled. "I'm great."
"Listen, I have to tell you something." She said, speaking in hushed tones.
"Omigosh, is it about the plan?" She asked excitedly.
"Sorta. Lucas and I fought earlier." Peyton said.
"I thought you planned that." Brooke asked.
"We did. But I wasn't sure if that fight was real or not." Peyton said.
"Why?" Brooke said.
"We fought about Jake." Peyton said. "He, um, kissed me yesterday."
"Jake?" Brooke asked, shocked.
"It was kind of those spur of the moment things, you know?" Peyton explained.
"Did you kiss him back?" Brooke asked, curious.
"No." Peyton answered adamantly.
"Did you want to?" Brooke asked.
"I didn't." Peyton answered, "I suddenly remembered Lucas."
Brooke broke into a big smile. "I knew it!" She said.
Peyton smiled too. "What?"
"You're not playing anymore, aren't you?" She asked teasingly.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jake packed the last of their things. He knew he was leaving, and he knew that he needed to tell her. Maybe she'll come with me, he thought. And we could be a family. He stuffed the bags in his car, and went back for Jenny, who was playing with the stuffed bear Peyton gave her.
"Come on, Jenny. We have one more thing to do before we leave." He told his daughter, and strapped her into the baby seat. He shut the door, and went to the other side. He paused to look at his reflection in the mirror. He had changed. He was not the hot high school jock anymore, the carefree student he used to be. He was a father. He opened the door to the car, and started the ignition. He then drove off. Thoughts filled his already teeming mind with questions and doubts. He knew it was a risk to return to Tree Hill. But then he took that risk. He took it for—
"Peyton!" Jake said, seeing her sit down the stoop. He was carrying Jenny, and Peyton motioned for her to carry Jenny, and then they sat in the stoop. Night was already falling.
"You're leaving?" Peyton asked sadly.
"Yeah. That's why I stopped by here. To say goodbye." Jake said in the same tone.
"I'm really going to miss you and Jenny." Peyton said with an optimistic smile.
"We're going to miss you too," Jake said, taking his daughter's hand. "Listen, Peyton," Jake said nervously.
"Yeah?" Peyton asked.
Jake could not respond. He just sat there, mesmerized by her beauty. Her hair was glistening in the moonlight, and her face was that of an angel. He did the first thing that popped in his head: He kissed her. Peyton, overwhelmed, kissed back, but then suddenly stopped.
"Jake, I can't do this." She said, turning away.
"Peyton, you know what I'm trying to say." Jake said.
"I know." She said, and then stroked his face. "You're wonderful. It's just that—"
"Lucas." Jake said sadly.
"I love him, Jake." She said gently. Jake smiled.
"I know." He said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lucas lay in his bed, staring at the ceiling. I need to tell her, he thought. He turned to his side and stared at the open window. The moonlight was shining through. Then, he heard a knock on the door, disturbing his thoughts about Peyton.
"Lucas?" A familiar female voice said.
Hey guys… Sorry again for the late update! Hope you liked this chapter! Please Review! Love ya'll!