The songs used in this update are "23" by Jimmy Eat World, and "Softer to Me" by Relient K.

Love, Emily

"Been a while since we hung out huh?" Nathan asked, opening his arms, letting her fall into them. She sat in front of his legs, scooting herself back into his arms slowly, allowing her head to rest backwards on his shoulder. His arms wrapped protectively around her, finding her own before intertwining the two. She smiled lightly at his gesture, giving his hands a light, reassuring squeeze.

"So much for it just being the two of us…" she joked, nestling her body even more tightly against his. Her head leaned back on his shoulder, slightly seeing the moonlight reflect against the river onto his face. How beautiful he looked, she thought, his eyes so big, just staring off onto the river in front of him. His face a pale white, revealing every detail on his skin. He was flawless. Never once before had she taken the time to just admire, for their past relationship had nothing to do with anything other than sex. How protective he was now of her, his strong arms securely wrapped around her body, his rough hands now grazing over her soft, delicate ones.

His face angled downwards, catching her stare midway. "It is now," he whispered, tucking a small curl behind her ear. She nodded slowly, smiling as she looked away back toward the water in front of them. It was now Nathan who couldn't pull his eyes away from her, her eyes as big, if not bigger than his.

"You want to celebrate a public humiliation, and I'm sorry, that's a little played out." She hissed at him.

"What? And being with you isn't?"

Why he was such an ass to her, he'd never know. It didn't matter anymore, that wasn't who he was anymore. He needed to be a better person, for Peyton, the only one that's really stood by him and stayed trustworthy enough. Even if they didn't talk much after they broke up, she would still understand. They were friends now, maybe more. "Peyton…" he said softly, getting her to face him. His eyes locked with hers quickly, just staring into what he had never seen before. Never once had he taken the time to just look at her, see behind what her eyes hid.

Her heart began beating faster, his as well. She held her breath as he slowly curved his face, meeting her lips with his own swiftly. She pulled away after a few brief moments, catching a breath. His eyes were still closed, placing his forehead against hers. A smile grew across her face before leaning upward, pulling him into another kiss as her arms gently wrapped around his neck. Smiling into her lips, he gently rolled the two over onto the ground, lightly hovering over her.

You'll sit alone forever
If you wait for the right time
What are you hoping for?
I'm here I'm now I'm ready
Holding on tight
Don't give away the end
The one thing that stays mine

Where am I? Where are you?
There's so much time so little to do
We're busy doing nothing cause it's vanity we prize.
You can't see nothing cause you can't see through your eyes.
They're covered with a film, you're blinded by yourself.
You're the one to blame but you pretend it's someone else.

Lucas sat on his porch, watching the stars, hadn't moved a budge since Brooke had left. He wasn't sure what he wanted anymore. Peyton sure as hell wouldn't take him back after all the crap he had said to her lately. All he knew was that he had to apologize, no matter how long it took. He needed her to know that he was sorry. He needed her to know how he felt. For once, she needed to know the truth from him. Nothing else would matter for once, and nothing else would get in the way, or so he thought.

He stood up slowly, walking down his street as he made his way toward Peyton's house. He'd stand out there all night if he had to. She deserved an apology, even if she didn't believe it. At least he would know that he tried to apologize which would make him feel a hell of a lot better than what he was feeling now. Once again, he had torn both girls into pieces with his own problems. And once again, he tried to blame it on someone else, even though it was no one's fault but his own.

"Haley…?" he asked as soon as he got to the doorway of Peyton's room. Out of all people, Haley was the last to be expected there. She quickly looked up, sitting up in Peyton's bed eating a bar of chocolate. She smiled, placing the chocolate bar down and walking over to give her best friend a hug. A kiss was planted on her forehead, him happy to see her, but wanting to see Peyton.

"What are you doing here?" she asked gleefully.

"I was looking for Peyton, but I could ask you the same question."

"Long story, don't want to talk about it," she sighed. "So what do you need Peyton for? Where's Brooke?" Last she had heard, Lucas was fighting for Brooke and couldn't have cared less what Peyton was doing.

"Brooke," he chuckled nervously, "is probably stabbing a drawing with me with a dart somewhere."

"Ouch, that bad? So what's Peyton have to do with that?" she asked confusingly. She hardly knew her childhood best friend anymore.

"Probably worse. But I just needed to talk to Peyton, but it'll wait I guess…" he sighed, kind of bummed, but then happy. He didn't know what he was supposed to say to her. This gave him time to actually think for once before saying anything that he'd regret. Something he'd been doing for the last couple months.

"Well, do you want to get a burger or something?"

"Nah, I can't be seen with you," he joked, wrapping his arms around her as they both headed out the door.