A/N: Another day, another chapter…Thank you for all the reviews…You guys are really good at reviewing…and for those of you who don't review…I love you too!

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill.

Chapter Ten: Jake being Jake?

January 30th 2006

So it's Friday and it's been one of the best days so far. First of all, I got my Geometry test back and I passed with flying colors. Woo! Go me! Then, I spent my free period painting the windows in the south corridor, which was totally amazing. For once the art teachers are letting us paint something other than "Go Ravens!" Finally, I volunteered to read my English paper out loud for the class since I finished ahead of time, and my teacher loved it. He said he never had anyone see Othello as personal motivation. But that's me for you. Being different. When I got back to my seat, I found a note waiting for me saying "See! Shakespeare can apply to you too!" It wasn't signed but I knew who it was from.

I just got home and am planning to settle in upstairs for a second reading of Othello. Unfortunately just as I open the book, someone knocks on the downstairs door. Knowing it's probably Rachel, I yell down to come in. Sure enough, Rachel enters my room not long after.

"Hi buddy," she says sitting down on the edge of my bed. I give her a strange look.

"Buddy?"

"What?" she says innocently, "Can't a girl call her best friend in the whole wide world, buddy?"

"Either you've been drinking or you have a favor to ask me," I say. She smiles mischievously at me.

"You caught me, Peyton. I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?" I ask cautiously.

"Ok, tomorrow night we're hanging out right?"

"We do every night."

"Except last night. Or the night before that," she says.

"When Brooke stopped by, I didn't feel like going out. So I drank at home. Last night I had an important paper to do," I say. Ok so that's a half-truth. The paper wasn't due, but the book was too good to put down even for a trip to TRIC. "And we're going out tonight."

"Beside the point, my favor is that you definitely cannot miss Saturday night."

"Why?"

"Because…I kind of…sort of told Chris Keller that you'd save him a dance."

"What!" I hiss, "How did this happen?"

"Ok, here's the thing," Rachel says putting her hands up to tell me to brace myself. "I needed someone to perform at TRIC Saturday because our act cancelled. So, I figured I'd ask Chris, but the thing is we don't have any money to pay him because we already ran out of booking money. He said he would do it for free as long as he got one dance with goldilocks, who I'm assuming means you."

"Why didn't you just use the money we put aside for Saturday's scheduled gig to pay him?"

"Because they were doing it for free," Rachel says. I begin pacing in front of her. "It's not that bad, is it?"

"Oh my gosh, Rachel! You basically made me into a prostitute!"

"Ok, let's not exaggerate here," Rachel says rolling her eyes, "You don't have to sleep with him. Just one dance."

"I won't do it."

"Then he won't play and we will have to resort to a DJ when we've been advertising all week for Chris Keller." I didn't even notice the advertising…I must be really out of it.

"Why didn't you tell me this until now?"

"Because I was guessing I'd get this reaction," Rachel says standing up, "Listen, I'm going to go hang out with Mouth for a little. I'll be back in a couple hours and hopefully you'll have cooled off." I glare at her as she leaves.

"I hate Chris Keller! You know that right!" I yell as I hear her reach my front door.

"It's just a dance Peyton," she yells back before shutting the door behind her. I groan and turn back to my book, hoping to forget this whole mess. Unfortunately, once again as I try to begin I'm interrupted. This time the phone rings.

"Hello," I say as cheerily as I can.

"You don't have to try that hard Peyton," a very familiar voice answers.

"Jake!" I shout, "How are you?" Jake and I started talking again after the whole wedding fiasco. He called about two weeks ago and I broke down in tears relaying the whole story. He listened to me intently and gave me some advice. Basically he told me to just let things happen on their own schedule. And I did just that. Of course, I haven't told him about my drinking or smoking. I don't want him worrying about me. We've just come to terms with the idea of being friends.

"I'm great," he chuckles at my sudden burst of enthusiasm, "How about you?"

"Oh just peachy," I say sarcastically.

"You sound flustered," Jake chuckles.

"Really?" I mutter, "You can tell."

"Yeah. What happened?"

"Long story."

"Well, Jenny's napping. I have a lot of time on my hands."

"How is Jenny?" I ask.

"Very good, but don't change the subject."

"All right fine," I huff, "Here's the thing. Chris Keller is in town and he said he'd play at TRIC last minute because our band pulled out earlier this week."

"Well, what's the problem, then? It's just a show."

"That's just it. There's more. Because we don't have any money to pay him, he said he'd do the show in exchange for a dance with me."

"And you agreed?" Jake asks in disbelief.

"No! That's the thing! Rachel made the deal behind my back and now I have to dance with him tomorrow!" I hiss.

"Well Peyton," he says, drawing the words out. He's silent for few moments.

"What? Well, Peyton what?" I ask impatiently.

"I think there's nothing wrong with one dance with Chris Keller."

"It's Chris Keller! The man who almost broke up Haley and Nathan's marriage! The guy who slept with Brooke!"

"Right, well it's just a dance."

"With Chris Keller! Why doesn't anyone else see this my way? I do not want to dance with that jerk. He's a sleazy, no good tool." I basically shout.

"Well, why does he want to dance with you then? If he's such a jerk and all."

"I don't know. He probably wants to be able to say he felt up all the cheerleaders at Tree Hill High."

"Maybe he's into you," Jake suggests. I roll my eyes at the suggestion.

"Just like he was into Haley and Brooke and God knows who else!"

"But he didn't pursue those girls. I mean Haley asked him for help with his music. And Brooke picked him for that draft thing you guys had."

"Yeah, but he kissed Haley and he seduced Brooke."

"But they started it. He just finished it."

"Sounds like something he would say," I mutter. I hear him sigh on the other line.

"Peyton, don't you believe in second chances?" I pause and bite my lip. That was one of my rules, wasn't it? Give second chances. Damn, stupid list!

"Yeah," I admit.

"So maybe he deserves a second chance."

"Listen Jake, even if he did deserve one, it's the last thing I need. Another suitor."

"Another?" Jake asks, clearly amused.

"Since the wedding, I've had at least four guys ask me out."

"And?"

"And I turned them down of course. I don't have time for a boyfriend."

"Or maybe you're not over Lucas," he says quietly. Oh, he's good at this. He must be picking up tips from Lucas or something. I stay silent for a while, mulling over my options. Confirm or deny.

"I'm not." Honesty is supposedly the best policy, right?

"Then all the more reason to dance with Chris Keller."

"Enlighten me on this."

"Peyton, I know you're just fine pining over Lucas, but maybe if you try to move on it will make it easier. I mean you have to face the facts. Lucas is in love with Brooke."

"I know that," I say quietly.

"So then have some fun," Jake says, "I mean from the stories you've told me Chris Keller can be a real ass, but he can also be a funny guy."

"Sometimes," I painfully admit.

"So what's wrong with one dance with the guy?"

"What if he annoys the hell out of me?"

"Stop dancing." I laugh at the simplicity of the whole thing.

"I guess you're right," I say, "I'm just being silly."

"No, you're just afraid," he says honestly, "That and you really don't like Chris Keller."

"You're right on both accounts. But as you said, everyone deserves a second chance."

"Right. So go have fun with Chris Keller," he says.

"One dance. That's all he gets," I say begrudgingly. He laughs heartily on the other side of the phone. I hear crying in the background.

"Looks like Jenny's up," he says, "I got to go."

"Ok, thanks Jake."

"No problem, beautiful," he says. We hang up and I open my book. I take a deep breath and begin reading again. This time no one interrupts me.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before you all start lighting torches and carrying pitchforks…I promise this is a Leyton fic not a Chris/Peyton fic…There's a reason for Chris Keller's appearance (besides my huge crush on Tyler Hilton).