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The phone slid from Peyton's hand, hitting the floor with a cold, metallic clack. She had blown it. She had lost Lucas for good this time. The tears streamed down her face as she slid down the wall and pulled her knees up under her chin. She wrapped her arms around her legs and sobbed.

"Peyton?" Brooke called, rushing to her side. Brooke knelt beside her and threw her arm around Peyton's shoulders. Peyton lost track of time as they sat in silence, save for Peyton's sobs.

"Alright, c'mon," Brooke said, tugging at Peyton's arm. She allowed herself to be pulled to her feet.

"What did he say?" Brooke asked, after they were seated more comfortably on the couch.

"Not much. It was more what he didn't say, actually. I'm pretty sure he's just done, and I don't blame him. I'm a mess; he deserves so much better," Peyton said bitterly, fighting the tears again.

"Oh sweetie, when are you gonna get it? He deserves you! He wants you!" Brooke said, shaking her head. Peyton let out a cold laugh.

"No, Brooke. He wants Lindsey and I messed that up for him," Peyton said, losing her fight against the tears that spilled down her cheeks. Brooke shook her head.

"No. I know Lucas; he just wants to do what's right by Lindsey, but it's you that he loves." Brooke said. The certainty in Brooke's voice gave Peyton a ray of hope. Could Brooke be right?

"You need to clean yourself up and go to him. Tell him how you feel." Brooke urged. Peyton couldn't believe that Brooke was telling her to go to Lucas after everything that had happened in the last week. She was certain that Lucas had had enough of her antics this week. Yet, he had reached out to her tonight. Maybe there was more truth in Brooke's words than Peyton gave her credit for.

"You're right. I'm done playing games. It's time to lay all of my cards on the table and tell him how I feel," Peyton agreed. Her voice sounded much more confident than she felt, but it was a start. Brooke grinned. Peyton took a deep breath and ran up the stairs. She washed her face, carefully applied her makeup, shook out her hair and flew back down the stairs. Brooke was waiting by the door with the car keys in hand.

"Good luck, P. Sawyer," Brooke said, giving Peyton a reassuring smile. Peyton took the keys and headed out to the car without a glance back. She was terrified that if she didn't keep moving forward that she would lose what little courage she had left. As she drove, she began to practice what she would say to him.

Halfway to Luke's she nearly turned around. The farther she got from home, the stronger the little voice in her head, the one that said she was making a huge mistake, became. The only thing that kept her going was the knowledge that Brooke had never steered her wrong before. She trusted Brooke's judgment, almost more than her own.

As she slowed the car and stopped in front of Lucas's house, her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. She slowly crawled out of the car and crept up the sidewalk. As she stood, hand poised at the doorbell, she could hardly catch her breath. Before she could ring the door, it flew open.

"Peyton, what are you doing here?" Lucas asked, his face a perfect mask of surprise. Faced with Lucas, she faltered. The words that she had rehearsed in her head faded away. She stumbled towards him, her body taking over as her mind shut down. Before she could stop herself, she felt her lips crashing into his. Lucas was stiff at first, but the next moment he relaxed and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into the house. Finally she broke the kiss. She opened her mouth to speak, but Lucas gently placed a finger on her lips, silencing her. As he bent to kiss her again, she felt a jolt of electricity flow down her spine.

Before she had time to think, she carefully broke free from the kiss and tugged her shirt carefully up, over her head. Lucas's eyes grew wide. He gave her a searching glance. She simply nodded.

Tonight she would have no regrets.