Luckily for you guys, I'm home sick. Today, and most likely tomorrow too. So, that means updates…hopefully. At least until my mom comes home and kicks me off. I'm trying to get as many updates in as possible on all of my fanfics because I leave for New York next Friday for most of Spring Break. So, I hope you enjoy this chapter. There's also a slight flashback in this chapter, from season one. :)

This chapter is told in Peyton's point of view.

Love, Emily



I wasn't as naïve as people played me out to be. I know what aspects in my life I need to work on, and I know what I can't have. Most especially, I know what I can't have will cause me the most pain, anguish. That would be Lucas. Knowing I can't have someone who is standing right in front of me is what mine and Lucas' friendship is all about. Ironically, it's mainly because of the one person who just recently thought she had me all figured out, Lucas too. But how can I expect to throw myself out to someone who is still entangled in someone else; when Lucas still holds my best friend's heart. That's what Brooke doesn't see; that the only person presenting qualities of being utterly naïve is herself…and herself only.

The more you show your feelings, the more people can find ways to hurt you.

I glanced over toward Lucas briefly, the first time either one of us has looked at each other since we left my house. I could see it in his eyes, they were a reflection of my own; confusion mostly. His hands shifted on my steering wheel, and I know he could sense my eyes burning on his skin. The rest of the car ride was deafening my ears of silence, and for the first time in almost a week, I was nearly relieved of being away from him. For the first time in almost a week, I didn't let him help me as I got my crutches out of the backseat, I didn't let him help me carry my things, I didn't let him help me even out my own life, and I didnt let him help me fall for him anymore.

"Brooke!" I called out after regaining my belongings from one of the security guards at the front entrance. She briefly turned her head, beginning to walk further down the hallway once she saw who was calling out to her. I wished I wasn't on crutches anymore as I followed, finally cornering her at her locker. She possessed the same silence Lucas had this morning, and I regretted chasing after her almost instantly.

"What, Peyton?" At least she knew how to speak; earned her a plus.

"Listen, what you saw this morni-"

"Peyton, no offense, but I really don't need to hear the details." She slammed her locker and looked toward me. "If you didn't realize, this morning wasn't a dream, and seeing it for myself hurts enough."

"Brooke, nothing happened!" I stopped her as she tried walking away. "He was upset from you breaking up with him last night, so he spent the night, that's all." She remained silent. "Come on, Brooke, you know how much he's dealing with right now…"

"No, Peyton, I don't!" Her voice was breaking, and her eyes were tearing quickly. "How could I possibly know what he's dealing with if you're the only one he's talked to since it happened?" It was my turn to be silent; it was true. Lucas even admitted he was avoiding her calls to me. "I can't watch him fall for you again, Peyton, I won't. And that's what's going to happen-"

"Brooke, how could you possibly know that?"

"Because I'll never have his heart like he has mine, Peyton, you already have it. And that's never going to change, no matter how many other girls he dates." I released my hold on her arm and dropped my shoulders in defeat. "I'm not mad at you two, really, I just need some time by myself to get over it, okay?" I nodded as I watched her walk down the hallway, disappearing along the corner as quickly as she left.

"Hey Peyton, how are you?" I cocked my head to see Haley and smiled slightly before giving her a small hug. "I know we haven't really talked too much lately."

"I'm fine…kind of want to get out of here, but I want to graduate more, so I have no choice." I gave a small, reassuring smile before shrugging my shoulders briefly. "Listen, I've got to get to class, so I'll see you around…" I excused myself quickly as I saw Lucas walking toward Haley. Preventing the expected awkwardness that would come along with him was easier than not catching up with Haley just yet.

"Hey, Peyton!"

Or not.

I turned to face him slowly, and I knew what was coming; nothing. "Lucas, honestly, if you don't have anything to say, and if this is just going to be a continuation of this morning, then I'm just going to go to class…" I turned around to leave again, disappointed and annoyed with him as he remained in his fit of silence.

"Peyton…"

I couldn't help wanting to be with him, or the fact that no matter how mad I was, I could never walk away from him. He had that annoying hold on me, my heart. "What do you want from me, Lucas?"

"I want you to wait for me…" I scoffed at his comment.

"A little selfish there, don't you think?"

"No." His answers were direct and simple.

"And why's that?" He stepped closer toward me, and I knew what he was going to do. His hands cupped my face, his lips meeting mine slowly. I swallowed the air caught in my throat as he broke apart.

"Because you want the same things I do." His eyes were still locked with mine. "And I'm pretty sure you know that the only thing stopping…this," he looked down my face, toward my lips, "is just working this whole thing with Brooke out. And I'm also pretty sure that scares you. The fact that you just lost your excuse of not being with me."


"And I'm pretty sure…that I don't need you at all."

"Pretty sure?" He asked cockily.



"Pretty sure?" We shared a smile before I left where we were standing, heading toward my first class.