A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, I love them everytime. And just to clear up the question about the snow..I wrote that part before 3.16 so I wasn't aware of their snowday. And here's the big party..and the insuing drama. lol. Enjoy!

"So how do I look?" Peyton asked Haley as she finished tweaking her hair.

"Hot enough for Nathan to have a good time," Haley responded, her voice low to keep their conversation from Brooke in the next room.

Peyton laughed. "Come on- at least I saved you from having him with some mystery girl that might actually be interested in him."

"That's what Nathan's worried about- but with a guy for me, of course," Haley said with a grin. "He was actually getting all worked up about it before. It was pretty funny."

"Sorry I missed that," Peyton replied.

"Bet it wasn't as interesting as you're surprise trip with Luke," Haley shot back.

Peyton threw her eyeliner at Haley, who ducked a bit. The eyeliner bounced out into the hallway.

Brooke peeked her head in around the frame of the door, the eyeliner in her hand. "Are we having a fight in here?"

"Of course not," Peyton said innocently. "I just didn't like the color."

"Uh-ha," Brooke said as she entered the room. "Tutor girl- nice dress..." she said as she put the eyeliner into Peyton's outstreched hand. "And you're right, Peyton. Really not your color."

"Ha," Peyton said as she shoved Brooke playfully. Brooke grinned back. "I miss this," she said as they drifted back to their days spent together in high school.

"Me too, B. Davis, me too."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Peyton's foot was tapping up and down to the music as she sat sipping her drink in the chair. The most boring music she'd ever heard. To her left sat Nathan, her right, Haley, and next to Haley was her 'date', James.

Nathan kept throwing James glowering looks, while James looked rather concerned about it. It was all hysterical to Peyton for about an hour.. now it was just boring.

A slow song came on and Peyton groaned. "You know what," she started. "Let's dance, James." Peyton swayed a bit when she stood up to head to dance. She was only a little drunk, really.

James rose from his chair slowly and the two made it to the dance floor.

"Having a good time?" Peyton asked sarcastically.

"What's the deal with that Nathan guy?" he asked as he spared him a glance.

"Haley is his ex."

"Oh."

"His ex-wife, actually."

Peyton enjoyed the second it took for the emotions to set on James' face. "But I thought Haley was like only twenty.."

"She is," Peyton told him. "It's a long story."

"Cliffnotes version?" James asked.

Peyton laughed. "Fine. Let's do the boy/girl scenario: Boy tries to make enemy brother jealous by taking away best girl friend. Boy and girl surprisingly fall in love. Boy marries girl junior year of highschool. Girl sings a duet, goes on tour, leaving boy alone. Boy and girl get annulment."

"They got married in highschool?"

"And seperated."

"And she went on tour?"

"Yup. But the rest of the story is better. See girl and boy are together right now."

James looked over to Nathan and Haley who were conversing quietly, but not looking at each other from their seperated chairs. Peyton noticed that Nathan had his eyes on Lucas and Brooke, making sure they didn't see them talking.

"But it's a secret, so you have to not tell."

James sighed. "I won't," he responded. James hesitated for a moment. "So if there a 'scenario' for you and that married guy we came with?"

Peyton stopped looking around and her eyes snapped to his. "Why?"

"Because he won't stop looking over here."

She stopped dancing for a moment, but brushed it off quickly. Back to her movements, Peyton sobered slightly. "That's a longer story."

"No cliffnotes?"

"It's more complicated than that..."

James nodded. Haley came up next to them then, asking to dance with her actual date. Peyton switched back to Nathan.

"You okay?" he asked her, now that she was being relatively quiet.

"I'm fine," Peyton replied, while trying to avoid his eyes.

"No you're not. What's up?"

"Just drop it Nathan," Peyton muttered as Brooke and Lucas neared them, Brooke towing Lucas by the hand.

"I think we need a change of partners," Brooke said with a smile. "Lucas can't dance, and I need someone who can. Genetics and evidence would say that Nathan can't dance either... so I'll take James."

Lucas rose his eyebrows at her. "Don't worry... it's just a little dancing."

"I know," Lucas said, although he gave James a warning glance.

"And... let's see- the only person Peyton hasn't danced with tonight is.. Lucas. Or Nathan with Haley."

None of them moved towards one another. "Oh come on, it's just one dance. What harm could it do?"

Peyton shared a glance with Lucas. Brooke had no idea...

start flashback

"First date worthy?" Lucas asked as Peyton sat daintly down on the blanket laid out in the sand.

"I haven't decided yet."

Lucas and Peyton were at their usual spot on the beach. It seemed to be their spot for the time being.

"What else you got?"

As if on cue, a waiter appeared out of no where and handed them menus.

"Dinner?" Lucas asked her.

Peyton grinned as she opened hers to read.

The sun was setting in the distance, giving the sky a glow. Lucas was finishing his last bits of his dinner when Peyton stripped off her top, revealing her bathing suit underneath.

Lucas choked slightly on his food and Peyton rolled her eyes at him. "Oh, come on, you've seen this much haven't you?" Peyton asked referencing to herself. Lucas shook his head. "A whole hallway saw this much skin and you haven't? Shame."

Lucas rose to his feet. "Didn't your mother ever tell you to wait twenty minutes after eating to get in the water?" Peyton asked him. "I waited."

He laughed. "I don't remember that rule."

He made his way through the sand until he was standing in front of her. "I don't have anything to wear in the water," he told her.

"I don't see a problem with that.."

"I guess I could wear my shorts...," Lucas continued, completely ignoring her. He trailed off when he looked at her face. The wind from the waves wipped her hair around it, and he reached up to move the strands away, tucking them behind her ear. He kissed her, for all that it was worth. This kiss was like nothing he had ever felt, with any of the select few he had ever kissed. It wasn't just lust, or a man's desire, but it was passionate and tender all at the same time. They moved away from one another, but Peyton kept hold on his hand.

"So you want to swim, and then dance... or dance and then swim?" he asked her.

"Dance?" Peyton asked confused.

Lucas turned his head back slightly, and Peyton followed his gaze. Lucas nodded his head a little, and soft, slow music started to play. The waiter who had brought them their dinner had taken a portable player and put in on their blanket, which was now playing the romantic music to them.

Peyton laughed.

"What?" Lucas asked.

"You are such a sap," Peyton answered with a smirk.

"Ya know, some girls like this kind of stuff," he replied, fake annoyance lacing his voice.

"I'm not some girls."

Lucas smiled at her. "You're not, are you?"

Peyton scoffed at his remark, but looked pleased all the same. Slowly, she brought her arms around his neck. Lucas put his on her hips.

They danced in silence for a few moments, each of them allowing this moment of theirs to sink in, to remember it forever.

"This song used to remind me of us.." Lucas said quietly.

I need a lover, who keeps me warm in side

She can discover anything she likes

She can pray that she could break a lot of things like my heart

"...right after we broke off... whatever we were before."

I'm sinking slowly, I see your face it's everywhere

Love can be so mean, but I don't even care

So I pray for the day you'll come back to me, it's not right

Peyton listened to the words as the pair continued to sway to the music.

Don't be afraid, I'm gonna make everything o.k.

Tell me you'll stay, I never wanted us to break

You'll find your way,

You could have anything at all

So find your way

Lucas planted a kiss on Peyton's hairline. Peyton rested her head against his chest.

I need you lover,

'Cause you mean that much to me

Girl do you wonder,

What it all could be

True romance

We could dance our lives away, it's so right

Lucas was so tempted to tell her the enormity of his feelings right then.. that he loved her, but he didn't want to scare her away. In the same way, he was scared to lose her if he didn't.

Peyton moved her head from his chest and looked up at him. Lucas could see tears in her eyes.

"Peyton.."

Peyton let out a choked laugh. "Apparently I am like all the other girls, Luke."

Lucas didn't smile. "Why are you crying?" he asked her, bewildered.

"The words... it just reminded me so much of the that time. I was an emotional trainwreck," she told him. Lucas had stopped dancing in his shock at her tears. "And now... here we are."

Lucas pulled her to him, squeezing her in a tight hug. "Yeah. We are."

Peyton pulled back from him, placing her hands on his chest. "I think I'm ready for that swim, now."

Lucas nodded. "Am I skinny dipping?"

"Not yet... can we wait on that? You know, can we take it slow?" she asked him.

Lucas nodded slowly. "Slow sounds good."

All the same, she pulled on his shirt, sending the signal for him to raise his arms so she could ease it off him slowly. Peyton undid her own pants and threw them aside with his shirt. Lucas leaned in to kiss her, Peyton closing her eyes in preparation, but they were jolted open when she felt Lucas lift her up into the air and onto his shoulder.

"Lucas!" she shrieked.

She could feel Lucas laughing beneath her as he brought her over to the water.

"Lucas- don't do it-"

Lucas dropped her right in the water, getting all of her wet. She came up, sputtering. He was still laughing at her, his eyes glowing with a new light.

She sent a splash in his direction, which he returned. Peyton, of course, continued their 'fight' and kept splashing, letting out shrieks when the water hit her in the face. Now, she thought, this was first date worthy.

end flashback

Lucas turned his head slightly to look at Nathan and Haley, who were dancing a little ways away from him and Peyton. They didn't look nearly as uncomfortable as he felt right now. He kept his eyes searching the room... anything to avoid looking at Peyton. He needed to avoid looking at her, because he couldn't banish that exciting feeling he felt everytime he saw her tonight.

"Luke?"

Lucas tried not to flinch as her voice called his eyes back to her. As soon as his eyes met hers, he felt the familiar feeling he -associate-d with Peyton. It didn't help that she was so incredibly beautiful tonight. Her dress was tight and accenuated every one of her curves. She had even straightened her hair tonight, pulling it back off her face with clips that sparkled in the lights.

"Are you okay?", she asked, her eyes expressing her concern.

"Yeah," he answered, trying to look confused. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You just seem... " She shrugged. "Never mind."

Trying to change the subject, Lucas nodded over towards Nathan and Haley. Realizing he couldn't use his hands because they were resting on Peyton's waist, he squeezed his eyes shut. He was married, he reminded himself. He couldn't do this again.. he wouldn't.

"They seem pretty.."

"Comfortable?" Peyton nodded her head in agreement. Haley chose that moment to laugh at something Nathan said, tightening her hold on his neck. They were going to give themselves away, Peyton thought.

Peyton adjusted her own hands around Lucas' neck and she felt him stiffen. He dropped his hands from her waist like she had electrocuted him. She released her own arms and he stepped away immediately.

Peyton couldn't stop the hurt from showing in her face. Lucas rushed to fix his mistake. "I'm sorry- I- I just-" he tried desperately.

Peyton backed away from him and headed out the nearest door. Standing still for a second, he decided to go out after her.

Well that was quite long. Reviews are always great:)