FIVE

RESOLUTIONS AND NEW RELATIONSHIPS?

Lucas waited at the River court, hands shaking and wet. He tried to forgive her in his heart, but he took to much. Man, how could just a girl do this to him? Make him weak?

"Because she's not just a girl." Haley said to him. He jumped, not realizing that he was thinking out loud.

"What do you mean?' Lucas tried to avoid the answer.

"Oh, don't play dumb, Luke. You know you love her." Haley said with her arms crossed.

"I never said I didn't." Lucas countered.

"Well then I hope this won't be too hard." Peyton said from behind him.

"That's my cue. Bye Luke." Haley said, hurrying home to her husband.

"Hi. Uhh, you wanted to talk?" He said, hearing is own nervousness in his voice.

"Here me out, and listen. Don't be so stubborn. I love you."

"Then why'd you sleep with Jake!" He tried not to get mad, but he couldn't help it.

"Just listen! Two things; One, I love you. Three, everyone makes mistakes. I know you will say you can't trust again, but don't you think everyone deserves a second chance?" She begged/asked.

"Yea, but Peyton, that's the second time. And yes there is a difference between our situation and the situation of last year. I never slept with you while I was with Brooke. I knew you were gonna bring that up, so yea."

"One more chance Lucas, that's all I ask. And you said you'd never leave."

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"Jake! You got Jenny!" a voice came from behind him. He looked and no one was there. he shook his head and looked forward again. He jumped, seeing Brooke taking Jenny from her stroller.

"Hey Jenny. How do you like being back?" Brooke said in a goofy voice that made Jake laugh. He just noticed how beautiful she was. Brooke's answer was a smile from the baby.

"You wanna walk with us?" Jake asked.

"Sure, but only if you buy me a coffee." She said smiling sweetly.

"Yea!" Brooke laughed at Jake excitement. After an hour and a half of pure fun Jake decided to go for the gold.

"Uhm, you wanna go drop Jenny off and get something?" He held his breath. Brooke smiled and winked.

"You owe me a coffee anyways." Brooke said happily.

"Let's go." Jake said, laughing.

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Lucas remembered that night and those words perfectly.

FLASHBACK:LAST YEAR SOMETIME

Lucas walked into Peyton's room. He hadn't told anyone of Brooke and Cris. But he couldn't hold it in anymore. Those thoughts, however, were soon out of his mind when he heard sobbing coming from somewhere in the room.

"Peyt?" he called. He almost screamed when she same out of no where and threw her arms around him.

"She's gone. I made her leave!" She cried.

"Who?" he said gently. One wrong word and he'd be out in the rain. Peyton's mood changed more often than the weather.

"Elie! I didn't want her to go. I wanted to get to know her." she said, crying into Lucas' shirt. "Now I have no one!" She started again.

"Heyy, you have me." he said, calming her some.

"What if-"

"No what if's Peyt. I'm here for good. I-I love you. No matter what."

"Promise?" her words were muffled from his shirt, but he still heard her.

"Yea. Promise." Peyton looked up with a teary smile and kissed him.

END

He just stared at her.

"I know you're hurting, but just one more-" he cut her off with a kiss. A deep kiss. He had to have her. He couldn't take it. Her lips felt so right on his, like nothing else mattered. Nothing. He felt the tears on her face and pulled back. She pulled him into a tight hug.

"Thank you." was all she said, and squeezing her for all life's worth was all he needed to say. Like the night that started it all, she once more looked at him with a teary smile and kissed him with all she had.

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Jake and Brooke walked into Karen's Café, the only good place in town. They ordered a dinner and talked. They had the funniest three hours in all their life, and in just a seat in a café. He walked her home afterward, smiling all the way.

"What?" she asked when she saw his smile.

"Nothing" he answered.

"No one can lie to Brooke Davis, extraordinair." she said, enjoying herself They stopped in front of her house and faced each other.

"Thanks for an amazing night Jake. It means a lot." She said, blushing. He lifted her chin and kissed her softly.

"No, thank you." he said softly. She smiled and kissed him back.

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