NOTE FROM AUTHOR/

It has come to my attention that in the Brand naming section I put Angels when that is not a brand. It is a version of AG pants. Excuse my mistake.

Theocsucks: Thank you sister, for pointing that out for me and reviewing. I would be so much happier if you would write that wildfire story you told me about…..Or even that friends one.

Chapter 12

Someday We'll Know

Lucas rubbed his temples after putting the thong back in his top drawer. WOMEN! They never ceased to amaze him. But this amazement probably wasn't the best. Lucas hardly noticed when Peyton sat on the bed next to him.

"Lucas, please tell me that WAS hers."

"It was."

"Are you positive?"

Lucas laid back on the bed, clearly frustrated. "YES! You think I'd forget who I had sex with over the years?"

Peyton bit her lip before quietly asking, "Was she your last…?"

"No….I had stripper two years after to try to get back at her, more like get back at her memory. Peyton why is she like this? Why did she leave?"

Peyton shook her head and laid on her back beside him. She folded her hands on her stomach and looked up to the ceiling. "She…Things happened. Feelings get involved and we both needed a way out. We decided to run away. I can't explain her reasoning, that's up to her, but it was an escape. Sometimes people get bound by demons and you think if you sprint away they won't follow. And they can plague you even worse then before, but by then you understand that you can't go back. Too many explanations, you have to live with your mistake. And when you think its safe you try to brave your fears. And different people have different reactions to situations. You learn your lesson from running but in a way you keep running away from yourself in your head, and tell yourself it's for the best. Brooke's afraid. This is her way of dealing with things. If she's in control and has the upper hand then she's herself, but when things don't go her way, and she finds herself being controlled by her heart then she shuts everyone out."

"So are you saying she's flexible when everything goes her way?"

Peyton laughed and Lucas turned his head to look at her. "That's one way to put it. Right now Brooke is under the misconception that she is the leader, but she's in for a rude awakening. She senses that she will have to deal with the past but hasn't come to that full realization yet. She still thinks she can push everyone away and she won't have to relive her past. Does that make any sense?"

"Not at all. But when has anything that comes to Brooke made sense to me? I want answers. I want to make her feel the pain she gave me, and I feel like the biggest jerk for doing so."

"Just because Brooke left doesn't mean she went pain free. Maybe she hurt more then you…that's why she left."

"Maybe. But I can't help feeling I did something to push her away."

Peyton slowly sat up. "That's between you and her." Lucas sat up getting a feeling that the conversation was over. He came to Peyton for answers but now he felt even more confused.

"So why did you leave Peyton?"

"There was nothing left for me here."

"I think there is more to the story then that."

Peyton put her arm on his and looked him in the eyes. "Lucas, I missed you and your big brother routine, but please, don't get into that right now."

Lucas hugged her, a slow smile forming on his lips. Holding her close felt like old times. . "Sure thing, little sis."

Peyton hugged him back for a second before getting up and looking around his room. Lucas watched her while contemplating all that was said. Brooke left and felt bad about leaving but felt she couldn't come back? It was too much to think about at once. She was pushing him away; he didn't need Peyton to tell him that. He felt there was something bigger going on with Brooke but he couldn't place a finger on what. Peyton never denied that it was something Lucas did that made her leave. But what could it be that would force her to pick up her bags and leave? His mind turned to the girl in front of him rummaging and looking at random things in his room. What made Peyton go with her? Who said 'let's go!'? Why did they find the courage to come back? Had the girls dated anyone lately? What happened to Jake? They say when everyone gets older they change, How had these girls changed?

"Don't linger on it…"

"Huh?" Lucas asked while looking up.

"Don't linger on it. You can't have all the answers at once big boy," Peyton stated while sliding next to him. "Answers will come, some day, on their own time. Until then, let it go. Don't bust your brains out trying to figure out every answer to every question."

Lucas smiled as Peyton patted his knee. "Thanks Peyton. I missed you, you know that?"

"Not as much as you missed Brooke." Peyton said with a huge smile.

At that very moment the doorknob turned and both looked up to see Brooke walk into the room with her head held high.

"Hey Brooke." Lucas smiled, somewhat nervously at the emotionless beauty standing above him.

"Hi? Maybe my memory is wrong, but we already went over greetings this morning. Why are we starting all over again?" Brooke asked coldly.

Lucas stood up and stood close to her so his face was only inches away. After what seemed like forever he leaned in and gently brushed her cheek with his lips. Brooke just stood staring at him, blinking. Peyton never wanted to laugh so much in her life as she did then, staring at a truly jumbled Brooke.

"I have to go to basketball. Be ready tonight, I will pick you up at 7." He murmured into Brooke's ear and then glided past her. Lucas smiled to himself while walking out of his bedroom door. He swung his basketball bag over his shoulder, trying not to look back. He kissed his mothers cheek and walked proudly out the door. If Brooke thought she could get off the hook that easily she had yet to meet Lucas Scott. Once a Scott gets his mind on something he will stop at nothing until it is accomplished. His new mission happened to be getting a very feisty, brunettes heart.

Peyton watched as Brooke stood in exactly the same place as before, completely motionless. She looked unable to form a complete sentence, which any girl in her case probably would be. Peyton couldn't help it, for the 7th time that day she had no control over the laugh that escaped her lips. Brooke woke out of her trans and brushed her cheek with a disgusted look. She lightly pushed Peyton muttering something. Then she exploded.

"PEYTON SHUT UP! HOW DARE HE? COULD HE NOT TELL I WAS MAD AT HIM? PFT LIKE I AM GOING TO GO ANYWHERE WITH HIM! ARGGH!"

She threw her hands in the air and stormed out the bedroom door, completely disregarding an amused Karen at the table. Peyton followed her and watched Brooke slam the front door after her. She turned to Karen.

"Did you hear her?"

"I'm sure everyone within 100 miles could? Lemme guess, Lucas?" Karen asked.

"Was it that obvious?" Peyton asked sarcastically, happy to have someone to share the joke with. "Thank you so much for having us Karen, I'm sure Brooke would say the same, if she was in her right mind right now."

Karen laughed and hugged Peyton after standing up. "Lucas won't let her get in her right mind anytime soon, that we can count on. See you sweetie."

Peyton shook her head with a smile, knowing Karen was right. Peyton slowly made her way out to a steaming Brooke. Who would have thought coming back would be this entertaining?