A/N: All right. I'm going to apologize right now. I'm not good at analyzing Shakespeare but I did in this chapter. See, I don't really like Shakespeare...so it's hard for me to work around that. But like the cheers early on, I tried. I hope you enjoy and please leave a review.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill or Othello.

Chapter Nine: Lucas Being Lucas

January 29th 2006

I'm late for school. Again. This time I have no one to blame but myself. Bevin crashed at Rachel's last night. I didn't meet them at TRIC. After Brooke left, I just felt like drinking alone. I'm sure that's not healthy, but whatever. Drinking and smoking in general aren't healthy. The setting can't make it any worse. I found a bottle of Jack Daniels in my dad's room and I sat on my back porch watching the rain, slowly sipping the stuff. It was one of the most peaceful nights I've had.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to bed until three and by that time I was a little dizzy so it took me forever to find my bed. Jack Daniels has that effect on me. That's why I don't drink it often. I woke up at eight with a gigantic headache, but not exactly one that I would call a hangover. I'm thinking it was actually from the cold wind I sat in for six hours. Whatever it was it kept me from getting to school before first period.

I'm just arriving in time for second period which conveniently is a free period. I've decided to take a stroll to the library instead of going to the art room as I usually do. When I get there, I settle into a table in the far back. I should probably be working on my English homework or at least looking like I'm doing my English homework. I have the book out and open to the pages where various Shakespeare works sit, but my mind is somewhere else. I'm staring at the spot where I found out it was a bullet in my leg, not glass.

You can still see the blood stains. The janitors tried to wash it out but there's still a faint rust-like tint to the blue carpet. That's my blood and it will never fade away. It will always be there. My constant reminder of the day I thought I would die. The day I was rescued by my knight in shining armor. Lucas Scott. When I see it, I think of the hours spent in that library. The fear of dying weighing down upon my stomach. The cold feeling of regret pouring into my veins. I'm staring at that spot now. Reliving all those terrible feelings.

"A penny for your thoughts," Lucas says as he slips into the chair across from me. I didn't even see him come in. I was too entrapped in my thoughts. This is not a good time for him to be here. I'm a real mess. And I only want him to see me strong.

"I was just thinking of stuff."

"Like what stuff?" Lucas mocks. I glare at him.

"Do you think I might be invincible?" I ask seriously. Lucas laughs at me before seeing my face.

"You're serious?"

"Yeah, I am," I sigh, "I just was thinking about all the crap I've been through. Two dead mothers. Drugs. School shooting. Countless broken hearts. Best friend gone. What will it take for me to just jump off a bridge?"

"Peyt," he says soothingly as he places his hand on mine. I flinch at the gesture. I'm just making this all worse for myself.

"I saw the blood," I whisper, tears forming in the corners of my eyes.

"What blood?"

"The stain," I say pointing at the spot where we sat a little more than three months prior. I pull the hand he's covering back and use it to wipe away my tears, "It's still there." Lucas's eyes flicker over to the spot. He stares at it and I watch his eyebrows furrow in concentration. I look down at my English book which is now covered in small tear drops.

"Peyton, look at me," Lucas says putting his hand under my chin and tipping it up, "You are going to be just fine." I can tell he wants me to believe him. It's the exact opposite of what he told me two days ago. He wants it to be true, but he doesn't know if it ever will be. I nod, wiping away the rest of the tears and leaning back away from his touch.

"So what brings you here?" I ask, trying to lighten the mood.

"I have study hall this period. I'm always here."

"You too?" I ask tipping my head. He nods, "I never knew that."

"Well, where do you hang out during free periods?"

"The art room."

"I should have known," Lucas smiles and my troubles seem to melt away. I smile back at him and shut my English book.

"So much for English," I sigh, "I just can't read this stuff. It's like garbage."

"We're reading Shakespeare," Lucas says, "How can you not like Shakespeare?"

"It's nothing against Shakespeare, Luke," I say, chuckling at the look of horror on his face. "I just don't get it. I can't relate."

"Hold on one second," Lucas says as he gets up and walks down one of the aisles. I wait for him to return, tapping my fingers on the desk. He comes back, a huge grin on his face. He places a tattered book in front of me.

"What's this?"

"Othello."

"Othello?" I ask, furrowing my eyebrows.

"Yeah, it's by Shakespeare-"

"I know that," I say quickly. I know my literature.

"I think you should do this for your English project. You might like it." I look at the book and then him skeptically. "Trust me, Peyt." He gives me that gosh darn smile again and I have to roll my eyes.

"I'll start it tonight."

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It's exactly eleven o'clock and I've just finished reading that book. Surprisingly, it was really good. And I actually got it! Usually Shakespeare makes like no sense at all to me, but this time I was in to it. From the very beginning, I was hooked. With the turn of every page I found myself, mentally trying to warn Othello of Iago's evil ways. Iago was such an asshole! He was so insecure and jealous of what Othello had! He ruins Othello's life as well as the innocent bystander, Desdemona's life. Othello and Desdemona lose everything. So does Iago. And all over a stupid promotion.

I can't help but thinking of myself as Othello and Brooke as Iago. I doubt that's what Lucas was going for when he gave me the book. If he was, then he's one seriously screwed up boyfriend. But seriously, Brooke's done nothing but terrorize me since the wedding. The comments she throws at me combined with the various rumors she's started would be enough for any girl to break down and throw in the towel. To do as Othello did, and just end the madness. But I'm not like Othello. I won't take the easy way out. Maybe that's what Lucas was trying to make me realize. Maybe Iago is supposed to stand for fate instead. For all of the shitty things that have been thrown my way. Hmm…It looks as though I've pretty much got my essay finished.