$300. Brooke had sent her $300 for Luke's bid. How funny would it be if Rachel bid $300.01. Peyton smirked as she walked away from the ATM…she found the idea of Brooke not getting her way slightly amusing…actually with her current mood she found the idea extremely amusing. The drive to the high school gave her time to think of so many other amusing scenarios. She could always just not go at all and use the $300 know, Brooke's way of showing sympathy for her best friend's loss. She wouldn't do that though…no she was the loyal best friend who had already used her get out of jail free card. Funny how that card got used on the same guy she was about to spend the entire night with…and kiss at midnight.

She pulled into one of the few spots left in the parking lot. She sat in her car and watched as girls flocked into the gym like a bunch of hormone driven animals. As much as she hated them she envied them…what she would give to be like them…to be an average teenage girl who had nothing more to worry about then whether or not she'd have a guy to spend the night with…whether she looked good enough…what the latest gossip was. But she just couldn't make herself care about those things.

She wiped the stray tears from under her eyes as she made her way into the gym. She leaned against the back wall where no one would see her or try and talk to her. She glimpsed through the program and was relieved to see Lucas as the third player to come out. She didn't have to wait long…she would bid and then go home…whether Lucas followed her was completely up to him. It all depended on whether he cared enough to find out how she was doing.

She watched as Tim walked out on stage. She smiled deviously as she thought about splurging and bidding all Brooke's money on "Tim Time". She was being bitter and she knew it…besides she really didn't wanna be stuck with Tim all night. A whopping twenty got spent Tim…at least he improved from last year. Some junior was up next…Aaron something. She watched as the girls fawned over him but she wasn't interested. He sold for $88…not bad she thought as she waited for Lucas to come out on stage. She couldn't help but smirk as he walked out with his hands buried in his pockets and worry etched in his face. That meant Brooke hadn't told him her plan. The blonde shook her head as the bidding began.

"$25"

"$50"

"$51" Peyton wasn't going to spend all of the 300…if she could keep any of Brooke's money she would.

"75" she watched as Rachel looked around after the bid and tried to find her. Peyton's voice was muffled from the back of the room.

"78"

"100" the blonde smirked as whitey started to count down. Rachel smiled triumphantly as no one else bid.

"Going twice…so…"

"110" the blonde was getting satisfaction from Rachel's pissed off expressions.

"150"

"155"

"170" the red head was snarling as she desperately tried to locate where the voice as coming from.

"175" Peyton smirked again as Whitey pointed to Rachel and she shrugged her shoulders in defeat.

"Sold" Lucas tried to locate the voice as he walked off the stage but Peyton kept herself hidden…he would just have to wait and see.

Nathan was the next player to walk on stage and as usual he was in nothing but his shorts.

"75" she recognized Haley's voice as it rang out form the front of the room.

"125" and once again Nathan had the bids jumping.

"150"

"175"

"180" Haley's voice sounded desperate and Peyton could tell that was all the money the former rock start had brought with her.

"190"

"200"

"Going once…going twice…"

"225"

"250" Peyton looked around to see who had started the bidding again.

"260"

"280"

"290"

"300"

"302"

"305" Whitey waited before announcing that Nathan had been sold. Peyton shook her head before exiting the gym and going to stand in the main lobby where she needed to pay before deciding what to do with Lucas. She watched as Haley came dejectedly out of the gym and leaned against the wall. Her gaze shifted and fell on the two Scott boys who were now walking out of the locker rooms and looking around each trying to figure out who had bought them. Nathan looked at Haley and the brunette shook her head sadly.

"Hey Scott" both brothers turned to look at Peyton and raised their brows. "Both of you" the blonde rolled her eyes as they walked towards her. Haley was right next to them as they arrived at Peyton's side, all awaiting an explanation. "Here" Peyton handed Haley the extra $125 she had from Brooke.

"Thank you so much Peyton" Haley exclaimed as she threw her arms around the blonde's neck.

"Thanks Peyt" Nathan leaned in and placed a small kiss on her cheek. "How you holding up…" there was genuine concern in his voice.

"I'm okay" she faked a smile as she stared up at him. "Go fix you're marriage" she nodded towards Haley who now had Nathan's name tag in her hand. She watched her two friends walk out into the night hand in hand.

"That was nice of you" she fixed her gaze on the older Scott who had his attention of her.

"Yeah…I guess it was" She walked away towards the table where she needed to pay. Two favors for four people who never had enough time for her anymore. "Look I'm going home…you're free to do whatever you want" she handed Lucas his name tag before spinning on her heel and leaving the gym. She was at her car when he grabbed her arm to turn her around.

"Maybe I wanna spend time with you" Lucas countered as she gripped her shoulders.

"Look I'm not in the mood Luke…so why don't you go home and call Brooke and tell her her relationship is safe." She broke away from him and got in her car. She ignored him as he called her name and tapped on her window. He jumped back as she started to reverse out and then he watched her speed in the direction of her house.

She was lying with her back to the door when he walked in. She couldn't hear him with the music blasting threw her stereo. Linkin Park echoed though her entire room…she was angry…livid…emotionally unstable…and every other thing she didn't wanna be. Her eyes had been closed and she jumped when she opened them and found Lucas staring at her. "Jesus Christ…what the hell are you doing her."

"That sounds a little contradictory don't you think" he started to smile but stopped when she glared at him.

"What do you want Lucas…" she sat up and locked eyes with him.

"I wanted to see how you were doing…you just kinda of left."

"Wow…it only took $125 to get Nathan to ask how I was…but you…it took 175. I'm fine Lucas…now you go with a clear conscience." She turned her back to him and was shocked when he crawled over her and laid down in front of her.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around as much lately."

"And yada yada yada…I'm sure Brooke is your excuse and that's just fine by me…but can you please leave now."

"Peyt I promised you I would help you through this."

"No Lucas…you promised you would help me talk to Elli and you did that already so you're all clear…no worries no regrets…no anything. You're free to go home now." She turned her back to him again…but not to get away from him, simply to hide the tears that were no sliding down her face.

She felt the bed sink behind her and before she knew it his arms was draped over her waist, pulling her body into his. "I'm sorry Peyton…I've been so wrapped up in Brooke lately that I just…"

"Forgot about me…don't worry about…it was you and everyone else…my dad didn't even come home…so you have nothing to feel bad about." He could hear her crying and he pulled her closer.

"That's not an excuse Peyt…I promised you that I would be there for you and I let you down."

"It's fine Lucas…"

"No its not…but I wanna change that…I'm not leaving you tonight….okay"

"Thank you…" her voice was barely above a whisper as she turned around and buried her face in his chest. For the first time in the last week she really cried, and he was there.