Your heavy heart
Is made of stone
And its so hard to see you clearly
You don't have to be on your own
You don't have to be on your own…
A Message, Coldplay

She woke up to find Lucas sitting at the edge of her bed. She had been so exhausted she had forgotten that Lucas had drove her back home since she was too emotional to drive herself and along the ride she must've fell asleep. She rubbed her eyes and yawned before sitting up, he had done so much for her these past few days, these past few months. He had really become someone she could count on no matter what.

"What time is it?" She spoke while yawning again. He turned his head as soon as he heard her voice and got up to sit at the head of the bed where she was.

"It's 6 AM."

Not believing him Peyton turned her head toward the window as the light from the sun came peeking through it, which hurt her eyes. That was a bad choice.

She squinted, "You stayed here that long?"

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

"You can go now, you know. I mean—I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with your mom again."

"It's all right. I called her and told her what happened."

"And she took it okay?" Peyton asked knowing that Karen wouldn't have let Lucas off the hook that easy.

"I didn't say that," They laughed, "I have to do extra shifts at the café for two weeks, but other than that I guess you could say she took it well."

"Lucas I'm really sorry." She felt horrible for getting him in trouble.

"It's okay… all that matters right now is that you're okay. I just want to be here for you Peyton." He gave her one of his infamous eye piercing gazes and she was gone.

"Lucas," She suddenly turned away from his gaze, "It's all right. I'll be fine." She tried to convince him, but he would have none of it.

"You don't have to be alone right now, Peyt. Especially after everything that happened lately, alone is the last thing you should be."

"Haley's here… so technically I'm not alone. Like I said before you don't have to worry about me, Luke. I'll be fine… I promise." Okay so she would exactly be fine, but she planned to get over everything in a few months tops.

He could tell she was lying, he could always tell when she was lying about something and now wasn't any different. She was just so hard to get to sometimes.

"Sorry Peyt, but I don't believe you." Lifting up his feet so that his entire body was lying on her bed he looked over at her and watched her frown.

"I knew you wouldn't. You're right. I don't want to be alone right now," She locked eyes with his before speaking again, "I need you Luke."

His heart broke at the desperation and sadness in her voice as he wrapped his arm around her and brung her closer to him. She rested her head on his shoulder and they stayed like that for the rest of the morning. Those words were all he needed to here to get him to never leave her again.

My song is love
My song is love, unknown
And I'm on fire for you, clearly
You don't have to be alone
You don't have to be on your own…

"Hey bestest friend in the whole world." Peyton looked up from nothing in particular and saw Brooke sitting across from her.

"Hey Brooke. What's up?"

"I should be asking you the same question." Brooke said with a devious tone.

"What?" She watched as Brooke leaned in a little as she always did when she either wanted to gossip about something or if she wanted to know something.

"So what really went on with Lucas in Karen's room?" She arched her brow and smirked at her best friend.

"Brooke!" She blushed not wanting to go through the questions again.

"Oh c'mon P Sawyer, you mean to tell me nothing's going on between you two?" All Brooke wanted was for Peyton to admit her feelings about Lucas, teasing her about it was just an advantage.

"I told you nothing happened in there. We just fell asleep." She tried to convince her, but Brooke was ready to speak again.

"Right and—"

"That's all that happened." Peyton cut her off.

Brooke shook her head at her naïve and stubborn friend, Lucas and Peyton were so much alike emotion wise it was scary.

"Fine I'll change the subject." She grumbled as Peyton laughed a little and nodded.

"Okay."

"So what are you doing sitting all alone?" She watched as Peyton turned a little and set her gaze on where Lucas was standing, who was currently talking to Haley. He saw that she was looking at them and gave her a wave.

When Peyton turned back around to face Brooke, she saw an accusing look on her face.

"Don't say it Brooke." She warned her.

Brooke laughed, "Fine… I won't."

"I was sitting with Lucas," She tilted her head towards him, "He just went to get go Haley." Peyton couldn't help but still feel uneasy talking to Brooke about Lucas.

"I see." Brooke said unaffectedly. She honestly didn't really care that Lucas and Peyton were spending more time together. She had to admit when she came back from California she felt a little jealous after seeing how much they had grown closer over the summer, but now she was completely cool with it. She was happy for them.

Peyton mistook Brooke's nonchalant response for something negative; "Brooke if this is about me spending more time with Luke I can—"

"What? Peyton it's fine, really. I'm cool with it. I just wanted to come over here and see how my best friend was doing. The last time we actually talked you were broken up about the whole Elizabeth situation and before that you…"

"About that, Brooke I just wanted to give Lucas this stupid mix, then I walked in and I thought I was interrupting something so I freaked." Of course Peyton didn't like lying to Brooke, but she wanted to avoid the topic of Lucas.

"It was more than that wasn't it?" Brooke's accusing gaze made Peyton avoid eye contact with her.

"It was nothing."

"Peyton you don't have to lie to me. I saw the look on your face that night; whatever you came for was obviously for something other than a stupid mix and you know it." Brooke had Peyton cornered. There was no way she could back out of this one.

"Are you sure you won't be mad if I tell you?" Peyton missed talking to Brooke about things, but she knew Lucas wasn't one of those things. It would probably be one of those things that would be awkward no matter what.

"Oh please, me crushing on Lucas is like so two seasons ago." Brooke said while rolling her eyes, which made Peyton laugh. To be honest the thought of ever getting back with Lucas kind of repulsed her. He was a great friend, but that was definitely all she needed him to be.

"I came to tell him how I felt about him… but then I saw you two and I just thought the worst, you know?"

Suddenly Brooke felt bad. She hoped that she wasn't the reason Peyton didn't go for Lucas yet, she didn't want to get in between them… not again.

"Peyton what you saw in there was nothing. Before you came in Lucas and I were just straightening things up between us. You have nothing to worry about… besides; when you left he told me you were the one that he wanted."

"I know and I turned him down." She practically hated herself for running away from Lucas like that. It was wrong and it was stupid of her, but she didn't know how to make it right.

"You did what? Why? But I thought you felt the same way about him?" Brooke began to ask loads of questions and all Peyton could do was give her a simple answer.

"Because I'm scared."

"Scared of what? You of all people should know how much Lucas has changed this past year."

"I know, but I can't help it Brooke. Everything's just been so complicated and—"

"Hey guys." Lucas and Haley acknowledged Brooke as they sat back down.

"Hey tutor girl, broody." She said before standing up.

"Brooke… you can stay if you want." Peyton hoped Brooke wasn't getting up because Lucas was there.

"I can't," Brooke frowned, "I've gotta go to another Student Council Meeting. I'll see you guys later." They all said their goodbyes to Brooke and watched her walk off.

So now Peyton knew how Brooke felt about Lucas. She had made it clear that she was in fact over him. There was now nothing stopping Peyton from going after Lucas, but herself.

Peyton had been walking through the school's parking lot until she heard someone call her. She turned around and saw Lucas coming towards her.

"Hey Luke."

"Hey." They started walking through the parking lot.

"Have you spoken to your dad lately?" Lucas took the opportunity to speak up after a few moments of silence.

"Yeah I spoke to him a few days ago."

"What about Elizabeth?"

"What about her?" Peyton snapped.

"Peyton—"

"I'm sorry Lucas. I didn't mean to snap at you, I just don't want to think about her right now… or my dad for that matter. I just want to forget about this all." She hated talking about Elizabeth and her father. The one thing she could say about Lucas was he always made her talk about things, even when she didn't want to. At first she would've said it was a bad thing, but the more she talked to him, the more she didn't mind it.

"So what are you doing tonight?"

"Well I was just going to lay around, sketch, listen to some depressing music… you know the usual." Peyton joked.

"Well how would you like to be able to forget about all of your problems for one night?"

Peyton who was taken back by Lucas' strange words just shook her head at him, "That's not possible."

He frowned at her pessimistic view of things, "Okay how about some of them?" He reasoned with her.

"That'll work," Her lips curved into a gentle smile, "But how do you suppose we do that?"

He laughed a little and shook his head, lately there were always questions with Peyton.

"You can come over tonight and see." He offered.

"Oh Lucas c'mon," She began to whine, "You know I hate secrets… why can't you just tell me?"

"Because it'll be better if it'd be a surprise."

"Fine," She groaned, "But whatever you have planned better take my mind off of things."

He laughed at her semi threat and just shook his head.

"What took you two so long?" Asked in impatient Haley who was leaning on the side of Peyton's car.

"Well hey Hales, how are you? Lucas and I are fine. Thanks for asking, though." Peyton joked in response to Haley's impatience.

Haley laughed, "Okay… fine, Hey Lucas and Peyton. How was your day?"

"Well, my day—"

"Okay great. Now let's go." Haley opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat, not even waiting for Lucas to finish his sentence.

"So are you coming over to Luke's with me tonight, Haley?" She asked as she got in her car.

"I—" Haley looked up towards Lucas who had a look of warning in his eyes, she knew what she had to do.

"I'll… just sit this one out."

"Are you sure?" Peyton asked obviously not taking no for an answer.

"Yeah I'm sure." She replied as she looked at Lucas again and shook her head. What would happen between Lucas and Peyton tonight would be interesting.

Haley leaned on Peyton's doorframe, which led to her closet and watched as Peyton stood there looking at her huge collection of clothes. She figured it had to do with whatever she and Lucas were doing tonight. She knew it probably would be something big by the look Lucas gave her so she would back out.

"Are you ready for your date with Lucas?" Haley teased and watched as Peyton turned around, her face flushed and red.

"It's not a date."

"Sure it isn't." Haley walked into her closet so that she was now standing next to Peyton.

"It's not. We're just hanging out at his house."

"Sure—"

"And that's all." She cut Haley off.

"No need to be so aggressive, dude."

Peyton rolled her eyes and laughed at Haley's comment, "Whatever man."

"So how long have you been in here staring at your clothes?"

"I was just trying to figure out something to wear—"

"For your date—" Peyton shot her a mean look, "I mean for when you hang out with Lucas."

"Right and I still can't find anything that looks good enough."

"Just go as you are… Lucas doesn't care about stuff like that Peyton and you know it."

"You're right," Peyton sighed, "I just wish I wasn't so nervous." She walked out of her closet with Haley right behind her.

"Are you sure you don't wanna come?" She turned to face Haley.

"Oh no," She frowned, "I can't."

"Why not?" Peyton didn't know why she was so desperate for Haley to come… she wasn't used to being so nervous around Lucas. Things weren't ever really the same after she found out how he felt about her.

"Because Lucas doesn't want me to."

"What? Well why not?"

"Because he wants to be alooone with you." She joked as she threw her arm around an embarrassed Peyton.

"Haley!"

And I'm not gonna take it back
And I'm not gonna say I don't mean that
Your the target that I'm aiming at
But I'm nothing on my own
Got to get that message home…

"Thanks for tonight Luke." They were currently sitting in his car, which was parked a block away from her house. They had been at his house for hours watching cheesy comedies and it really did take her mind off of things. It was now past eleven o'clock and she would've stayed longer, but Karen came home and insisted Lucas drive her back home. They had both laughed way too much tonight.

"It was no problem."

"You really helped take my mind off of things." She smiled gratefully at him.

"Yeah… well what can I say? I just miss hanging out with you, Peyt."

She nodded, "You're a great friend, Luke."

Lucas winced. He was sick of it, just being a friend to her. He wanted to be more than just a friend to her and she knew it, so why did she say that? Why must she continue to say things like that? Did she know how much it killed him inside to hear that?

"What's wrong?" She asked immediately noticing the discomfort on his face.

"I can't… I can't continue being just friends with you." He admitted.

She shifted in the seat uncomfortably, "Lucas I told you how I felt."

"No actually you didn't," He turned to look at her, "You just ran away."

Not wanting to get in this argument again, she just kept quiet.

"You know what… just forget I said anything." She took the easy way out of things, opened the door, and stepped out of his car.

He sat still in the vehicle and watched as she began to walk to her house, she was running away again, but this time he was going to go after her. He stepped out of his car and caught up with her within a few strides.

"Peyton," He tried to get her attention, but she ignored him, "C'mon Peyt… I'm sorry."

"You're not sorry." She replied as she stopped walking, but she still wasn't facing him.

"You're right," He sighed, "I'm not."

"Lucas don't do this, please don't do this." She pleaded with him, finally turning around to look at him. The sad look on his face was enough to break her.

"Don't do what? Tell you how I feel about you?"

"Don't ruin what we have… our friendship."

"Peyton I can't be just friends with you anymore… it's too hard."

She shook her head, "Lucas please… don't make this difficult. I don't want to lose you."

"I don't want to lose you either, Peyt, but this is all getting to be too hard. Watching you laugh, comforting you when your upset, holding you when you cry… when I do this things its just killing me to know that all you want to be is friends. I don't think I can do this anymore." He was trying to get through to her, trying to make her see how he felt.

"I just wish we could go back to the way things were you know?" She was trying not to cry in front of him, but it was too late. The tears were already sliding down her cheeks.

He sadly shook his head, "It's too late for that."

"It doesn't have to be." She tried to reason with him.

"I'm not gonna take back what I said to you Peyton or tell you that that kiss didn't mean anything when we both know it did. I just can't. I love you and I know some part of you wants to tell me that you love me, too."

"You're wrong." She lied. She hated lying to him and she didn't want to push him away, but he was making her do so and it was tearing her up inside.

"No I'm not." He ignored her comments.

"Lucas—" In one swift movement he gently pulled her close to him and stared deeply into her hazel eyes.

"I know you want the same things I want… all you have to do is just say it." He whispered softly to her as his lips brushed softly passed hers. She could barely feel the light kiss he placed upon her lips, as she was rendered speechless by his actions.

He released her from his gentle hold, but never took his eyes off of hers as he waited for her to respond. Inside he was pleading with her to just say how she truly felt.

"I'm sorry Lucas… but I can't. Not now. I can't." She mumbled as she started crying again, she didn't want to let him down, but she was scared.

"Why? Why are you so afraid to just let us happen again?" He felt himself getting emotional as his own eyes filled with tears. He hated how far apart they were becoming now.

"I can't answer that." She whispered and then she avoided his gaze once she saw the tears in his eyes .

"I know what you want from me and that's to be just friends… but I can't do that. I'm sorry."

"Then maybe we just shouldn't be friends at all then." It pained her to say it, but she just turned and walked away from him anyway knowing fully that she just made the biggest mistake of her life.

He sighed defeated as he watched her walk away from him, disappointed that he was letting her go willingly. He messed things up big time and he knew that he wouldn't have much time to fix it… if he could ever do so.

My song is love, is love unknown
And I've got to get that message home…

Thanks for the reviews I know some of you are probably pissed off with how I ended things this chapter, but the next one is that last and it gets better I promise. Next up, Swallowed In The Sea.