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I guess that all you've got is all you're gonna get,
so much for, so much more
I guess that all you've got is all you're gonna get,
so much for, so much more

It had been 6 long days since Lucas had spoken to Peyton. Every time he called her, her phone would go straight to voicemail; whenever he went over there she appeared to be "asleep" or usually wasn't home at all. Haley told him that her and Peyton had been spending a lot of time together, but refused to open up about what happened with Lucas. "Just give her time, Luke, I know she'll come around." Haley had said after many failed attempts at trying to get through to her. If Lucas heard that phrase one more time he was going to explode.

It was a Thursday evening and Lucas and Haley were closing down the café for the night. Haley wished the last customers a good night and locked the door behind them, falling against it in exhaustion.

Lucas glanced up and chuckled. "Yeah, that's how I feel. It's been a long day."

"You can say that again," Haley mocked, while wiping down the tables.

"It's been a long day," he repeated, being goofy. The best friends laughed and rolled their eyes. Lucas cleared his throat and focused on a particular spot on the counter. "So, um, how is… Peyton doing?"

Haley sighed and sat down for a moment. "Honestly? She's not doing too well, Luke. This whole Elizabeth thing is freaking her out, and she can't get a hold of her dad – so she has no idea what to think. Whenever Brooke does call, it only makes her feel guiltier, though from what I gather all Brooke can talk about is herself. I don't even think she knows about Peyton's problems." Haley stopped to roll her eyes, and her tone was getting angrier thinking about the brunette. "And Luke… she won't say it directly, but I know she misses you. She does the same thing you do – constantly asking how you are and worrying about your well-being."

Lucas pounded his head against the counter in frustration. "Then why the hell won't she come see me? I have been trying to talk to her for 6 days, Hales, 6 days! And she's constantly avoiding me."

"If you want my honest opinion, she's probably embarrassed about admitting her true feelings for you so quickly after your significant others left. And… I think she can't trust herself around you."

Lucas stood up straighter and tilted his head. "What do you mean by that?"

"It's clear you two are insanely attracted to each other, and there is a heavy emotional connection there. She'll end up doing something she's not sure she's ready for," Haley pointed out.

"I guess I get that. I just wish… Brooke and I aren't even together. Why is she freaking out about this so much?"

"Lucas, this is girl world. It's like an unwritten code – don't go for your best friend's ex. Well, in certain circumstances, I guess it works – but Brooke still has deep feelings for you."

"But I don't feel the same way! I just want Peyton."

"Yeah, great job – it only took you 8 or so months to figure that one out, genius. You should've never started dating Brooke in the first place."

Lucas groaned and hit his head against the counter repeatedly until Haley placed her hand there so his head collided with her soft skin. He looked up at her and groaned again. "I know… you're right."

The two friends finished cleaning up in silence. As they were walking out the door, Haley decided to speak up once more. "So, have you even spoken to Brooke since the break up?"

He chuckled nervously and avoided her eyes. "She called me today to see how I was dealing with the whole Dan thing. And she tried to talk about us, but I avoided it."

Haley stopped and turned him towards her. "Avoided it how? Lucas, you're not telling me something."

Lucas wrapped one arm around Haley and made them keep walking.

Lucas stared at the ringing phone in his hands and almost ignored the name flashing across the screen. He decided he might as well deal with her now rather than later.

"Hello?"

"Hey Broody, it's me – I was just calling to see how you were doing," This Brooke didn't sound so confident; she sounded nervous and insecure, although trying to hide it.

"Hey Brooke, I'm doing okay. How are you doing? How's California?" It's true, he had broken up with her, but he still cared about her. He still wanted to make sure some day they could be friends again.

"I'm doing great, actually. California is beautiful, it's nice getting to see my parents once every 5 days or so." They both chuckled and he noticed she sounded perkier. "I've met a lot of new people, and that's been awesome."

He knew she was prodding him to get jealous or have some sort of boyfriend-ish response. "Oh yeah, good, I'm glad you're getting out there."

"Well, I must warn you, Luke, I've met some pretty cute guys out here."

"Brooke, that's great. We're broken up, remember. You're free to date other people and do as you please. It'll be good for you."

He heard her sharp intake of breath on the other line, and almost felt guilty. "Oh yeah, I guess… you're right. So, have you? Met anyone, I mean?"

"Actually, I think I have." He didn't know what compelled him to say it, or why he did it, but once it was out he couldn't take it back.

"What?" Brooke nearly shrieked. "How could you have met someone, Lucas?"

"Brooke, we're broken up!"

"We break up all the time!" She countered.

"Yeah, you're right, we do. And do you think that's a healthy way to live out that relationship? You were always angry or upset with me. We were always either fighting or having sex near the last couple months. It wasn't good Brooke."

"I know it may not have been great, but I thought we could try again when I came back." Her already raspy voice came out thick and gravelly.

"Brooke, I'm sorry. You know how much I care about you, I really do. We're just not meant to be together like that. I do think we're meant to be great friends though." He hated being harsh or cliché, but she needed it.

Brooke scoffed. "Great friends? Nice one, Luke. I can't believe you're doing this over the phone."

"I broke it off in person before you left. Which I will admit was not the greatest possible time to do it. Brooke, admit it – we weren't happy."

"Maybe you weren't, but I was." He could hear her breathing get heavier and he closed his eyes. This didn't feel good. "Who the hell could you have met in a week?"

Lucas choked up; he was hoping she had forgotten what he had let slip, though it was what led to the fight. "Brooke, it's... P- probably no one you know. This isn't something you want to talk about. I really am sorry."

"Yeah, I bet you are."

All he heard after that was the dial tone.

By the time he had finished relaying the story to Haley, they were home.

"Oh wow. So Brooke isn't taking this well, obviously."

"Thanks Hales, I feel bad enough already. This so isn't going to help with Peyton."

Haley walked over and rubbed his hand comfortingly. "Everything will work out. You two… you two are meant to be together."

"You think?" He asked hopefully.

"I really do." Haley looked thoughtful. "I know at first I wasn't very supportive. But, I truly think you guys could have something amazing. After spending time with Peyton, I'm even more assured. So Brooke didn't even ask about Dan?"

Lucas shook his head, just realizing it himself. "No, actually she didn't. Wow, that's… I don't even know what to say."

Haley shook her head in disbelief. "Wow, selfish would be one term."

"Okay, I'm done brooding for tonight. I'm gonna go change, you grab some movies, I'll get the popcorn and we'll meet back here?"

"Sounds awesome!"

-----

Lucas walked into his room tiredly. The café had been hectic all day, and to top it off, his phone call with Brooke on his lunch break had wiped him out. As he was taking off his shirt, an angry Peyton Sawyer stormed through his door and slammed it shut. Lucas looked at her with wide eyes and a skeptical expression on his face.

"Lucas Scott, what the hell?!" She fumed.

"Excuse me? Sorry I'm lost, but seeing as you've been avoiding me for 6 days, I have no idea what you're talking about," he bit out snarkily.

"Don't! Don't you dare get snide with me." She seemed to notice his bare chest, because for a moment she faltered. "So, guess who I just got off the phone with? Brooke. A sobbing Brooke Davis, and do you wanna take a stab at why she was sobbing?"

She didn't even wait for him to respond, and continued. "I'll tell you why. Because you told her you had met someone else! Lucas, what the hell were you thinking? We kissed once, and yeah okay – I told you some things that indicated I have feelings for you. But that's all – there's nothing going on anymore."

Lucas was getting fed up. "Conceited much, Peyt? How do you even know I was referring to you? You haven't seen me all week, I could've met someone," he yelled out, matching her tone.

Peyton literally took a step back and a look of shock came to her face. "Y-you met someone? Someone other than me?"

Lucas smiled inwardly, knowing his statement had affected her. "No, but seeing the way you reacted, I know you do care. You can't say there's nothing going on between us, Peyt. Can't you feel it?"

Peyton didn't seem angry anymore, rather she looked deflated, and plopped down on the edge of his bed. He sat down next to her and they both just stared at their feet.

"Luke, I do care about you, and I do have feelings for you. But we can't okay? I cannot do this to her. We've been best friends for way longer than either of us has known you. Doing this… would betray her. It'd kill her, Luke."

Lucas turned to face her and grabbed her hands. "But you want to?"

Peyton stood up and discreetly wiped a tear away. "It doesn't matter what I want! I can't do this to her."

"But you'll do this to me? To yourself? When are you ever going to put yourself first, Peyton? God, take a risk for once and make yourself happy." He had his hands on her shoulders and was looking in her eyes, trying to talk some sense into her.

"I'm sorry Luke, I just have too much to risk." She wasn't sure if she meant her friendship with Brooke, or her own heart.

Lucas nodded and looked like a kid whose favorite toy had just broken.

"Luke, I know this sucks and that you're hurting – but I don't want to lose you as a friend. This all just spiraled out of control. I can't lose you though, I still want my friend."

Lucas laughed bitterly and threw his head back. "Peyton, I don't know if I can just be your friend knowing that you feel the same way and that we could be together."

"So what it's all or nothing?" Peyton's sarcasm was coming back full force.

"Just for a little while, Peyt. It hurts just being around you and knowing we can't have what we really want."

Peyton was ignoring the 'we' and pretended he was just saying 'I.' "Fine, if that's the way you want it, Lucas. We're not even friends anymore then. If that's what you want."

Peyton started walking out the door when she heard his solemn voice speak up. "What I want is you. What I've always wanted… is you. Brooke was never it, you were. It was always you, Peyt."

Peyton visibly paused, tears stinging her eyes. She held her head up and walked out of his room, fighting all the way not to turn back.

Do what you must if that's what you wish,
I can't be a party to this
you have a sense that you were born with
You'll find a way to make things right.

Okay, I know a lot of you aren't happy that I haven't gotten them together, and I'm doing the whole "Peyton sacrificing herself for Brooke thing." But remember, this is the first time around for LP, and I think this is how she would act. But be patient – good things are definitely ahead.

And I wasn't trying to hate on Brooke too much, I do like her, most of the time. But season 1 Brooke was not good. And I figured if she and Luke had continued to date, she would've never changed, especially if they were stuck in a vicious cycle.

Okay, let me know what you think! I'll try to update soon; I have a lot of inspiration for this one right now.