Author's Notes: Hey guys, I just wanted to give a shout out to everyone who reviews my stories. I love you guys and all of your reviews. (Buffybabe42, oxbeatofmyheart, paulineJ, xsmile, sarah, othretard, and my hales...) you guys all rock. Thanks again.

Chapter Seven

Confessions of a broken Heart

by: D. Sollers

Haley didn't say anything but stared at Peyton. Had she said Jake? She didn't understand. Nathan had been so sure that Peyton was in love with Lucas and had grown to believe it herself. So now, in a moment of weakness with Brooke in the hospital, why was she bringing up Jake?

"Every time I am about to give up and walk away…" Peyton began to explain.

Suddenly, everything made sense to Haley. She thought back briefly to Nathan and how angry he had been with her. When she had left on tour, she had promised him that it wasn't about Chris. And it had been. But that didn't change the fact that she had left and left him to deal with their relationship alone. "He comes home," Haley finished.

Peyton's eyes filled with tears and she nodded her head softly. She was so confused about everything. About Lucas. About Jake. She had been so sure she had let Jake go, and was finally ready to move on. But he had come home to her, something she had never thought it would happen. When he had left, he made her promise to move on. She deserved better, he said.

Hadn't he realized she deserved him?

That in her life, he was the only thing that had ever made her happy?

"I'm such a horrible friend," Peyton added. Haley rubbed her hand up and down Peyton's back, trying her best to soothe any pain the girl was going through. She shook her head, not knowing what else to say. "I need to talk to Brooke."

Haley bit her lip. "Peyton are you sure? I mean Brooke…"

"I need to Haley. Brooke's my best friend and I promised I would never hurt her again." Peyton stood up quickly and turned towards Haley. "Thanks for being there for me. Even when I don't really deserve it."

"I'm always going to be here for you Peyton."

She nodded her head. "I know."

……

"Brooke," Lucas called out quietly. He made his way over towards the hospital bed and sat down on the chair beside her. Her eyes were closed and he was sure she was asleep. Lucas reached out his hand and grabbed a hold of hers, rubbing his fingers up and down the sides of her wrists. "I know you are sleeping and won't even remember anything I say… but I need to get some things off of my chest."

He stared down at her, amazed by her beauty even if she was covered in bruises. Her brown hair fell down her shoulders messily and the makeup she had been wearing was smeared, but she had never looked more beautiful to him. She looked broken and helpless and more than anything he wanted to protect her from it. From all of it.

"I'm so sorry about tonight. When I gave you that box I didn't even try to stop you from leaving. It wasn't what you thought and I should have made you realize that. Those letters were from me. I wrote them this summer."

Lucas watched as Brooke tossed a little in her sleep but made no effort of opening her eyes. He ran his fingers over her palm, tracing tiny designs with his fingertips.

"I was so angry you left me here. After Keith's funeral I was confused and hurt but I never stopped needing you. I couldn't believe you would just leave and I wanted to hate you for it."

Lucas felt a lump form in his throat as he spoke about Keith. He had been so ignorant that day, running into the school to be a hero. It was something he had to do and would have done it for any of the people he loved. Nathan. Haley. Peyton. Brooke…

But his choice had caused Keith his life and he was going to have to deal with that for the rest of his life. His mother didn't say it, but he knew a part of her blamed him. And he promised he would be there for her in any way she needed, to make up for Keith not being there. "I couldn't do it. Brooke, we've been through so much and I'm never going to be able to hate you. I love you more than anything in this world."

He didn't hear the door open behind him, or the tiny gasp that had escaped Peyton's lips. She held her hand over her mouth, trying her hardest to silence herself as she listened to Lucas.

"I want you to know that we're going to get through this. I told you I'd never let you go and I meant it."

Peyton shut her eyes and smiled slightly. The realization of just how much Lucas loved Brooke had finally hit her and she knew there was no place for her in between them. Not that there ever really had been.

Destiny had always been on Lucas and Brooke's side. The two of them had just been too stubborn to admit it. But Lucas wasn't hiding anymore, he wasn't going to let her best friend go. And though a part of her was hurting inside, she knew it was the right thing. Whatever feelings she had for Lucas, had to end there.

"Peyton," Lucas said as he stood up. He was embarrassed, not knowing just how much she had heard. She held her hand up in an effort to keep him quiet and pointed towards the door. He followed behind her and closed the door behind him. "I'm sorry about earlier."

Peyton shook her head and smiled at her friend. "Luke… it's okay. I need to talk to you and to Brooke, but I am kind of glad I get to talk to you first." Peyton motioned for him to follow her towards the couch in the waiting room and Lucas did as he was instructed to do.

"We don't have to talk about thisif you don't want to," Lucas said quietly.

Peyton looked down at the ground and sighed. "I need to Lucas. The other day, when I said I was in love with you…"

"Peyton…"

She cut him off. "Lucas listen to me. I do love you, you were my first love," she explained. Her mind drifted briefly to Nathan and she corrected herself. "My first real love. And I'm sure that when we're old, a part of me will still love you. You were the first person to really get me, you made me feel beautiful and loved and I owe you so much for that."

"I don't understand…"

Peyton laughed. "Without you, I never would have been ready for Jake. And I know I said that I was in love with you but I…"

"You're not."

She nodded her head softly. "I don't think so. I think I'm just confused and hurt over Jake. He came back, you know? And I mean what happens now? Do we get back together? Do I finally get to be happy? How long is he even home for?" Peyton asked.

Lucas nodded his head, knowing how she felt. There were so many questions left unanswered by both him and Brooke that he wasn't sure when they would be okay. But he knew, that one day they would be. That after they sorted through their problems, that their roads and lives would lead them to one another.

"If you love Jake, give him a chance Peyton."

Peyton closed the distance between them and brought Lucas into a hug, tears falling freely from her eyes. "Just promise you're not going to hurt her," she whispered. He shook his head and promised. There was no way he would ever hurt Brooke again.

"She's my world Peyton, you know that."

The blonde nodded her head sadly and looked at her watch. "I should be going… Do you want a ride?" She asked softly.

He shook his head and pointed towards Brooke's room. "I'm going to stay with her tonight," he explained. Peyton nodded her head and stood up.

"When she wakes up, tell her I love her okay?"

Lucas nodded his head and watched as Peyton walked away. He turned towards the hospital room and smiled. Somehow, Brooke's accident had managed to bring the answers to his questions all together. It had tied up loose ends for both him and for Peyton. Now all he had to do was make sure that Brooke was okay.

……

Haley unlocked her apartment door and placed her purse on the table. As she locked the door behind her, a familiar set of arms wrapped around her and kissed her on her neck.

"Welcome home," Nathan whispered against her skin.

Haley turned around, smiling to herself. "Hey babe," she greeted him as she kissed him against his lips. He took a step back and she noticed the candles scattered along the apartment. She smiled up at him and laughed. "What's this?"

"I wanted to do something nice for you…"

She leaned up to kiss him again and shut her eyes. "Have I told you just how much I love you?" She questioned and he shook his head yes. "It's beautiful Nathan." He took a hold of her hand and pulled her towards the bathroom, before scooping her up in his arms. "Nathan," she laughed.

"Lets go to bed," he said with a smile.

Haley nodded her head in agreement, wanting nothing more than to just forget the day. One of her best friends had been in a car accident and Peyton had basically admitted to being more confused than ever. Everyone around her had some sort of problem, but her and Nathan had finally found each other. They were happy and in love.

"Gladly," she whispered as she ran her hand through his hair and pulling his head towards her. She kissed him as he leaned her down on the bed and shut her eyes as his mouth trailed down her neck. Tonight she could pretend everything was okay.

……

Lucas tossed in his chair, trying his hardest to get comfortable. Sleeping in the hospital had always been hard for him, but he knew with his mother getting ready to have a baby he would be spending some time there. He needed to get use to it. Lucas turned his head towards Brooke and her eyes fluttered open. "Hey pretty girl," he whispered as she smiled slightly at him.

She brought her fingers to her hair and groaned. "Lucas what are you doing here?" She whispered. Brooke turned towards the closed blinds and knew that it was early in the morning.

"I'm not leaving you," he replied simply.

She smiled at him and shut her eyes. "I'm so tired Luke," she yawned. He nodded his head and kissed her gently on her forehead.

"Go to sleep baby, I'll be here when you wake up."

Brooke agreed with him and shut her eyes, allowing sleep to overcome her body. Sleep came easy for her that night and Lucas stayed awake staring at her. He wanted to make sure she was okay, something he hadn't been doing the last several months. That was going to change, he promised himself. He would never let Brooke get hurt again.

TBC...

Only three more chapters left to this story, you know the drill. Leave your reviews guys. Up next, Brooke/Peyton finally talk, Nathan overhears Dan talking to himself, Karen is rushed to the hospital