Lucas was sitting in his hospital room the next day, flipping through the basic cable channels. He wanted to get up to go see Haley and see how she was doing, just like the day before, but they wouldn't let him. Stupid hospital, he thought bitterly.

The door opened and he glanced over, seeing his younger brother holding the door handle. Nathan gave him a slight smile as he stepped in, shutting the door with his foot. "Hey," he said softly.

Lucas nodded towards the chair before turning his attention back to the television. The raven-haired boy walked over and sat down, looking up towards the TV as well. He could feel the awkwardness hanging in the silence between them, knowing that, somehow, what had happened to Lucas was his own fault.

"How's Haley?" the blonde asked, breaking the silence. His eyes were still focused on the TV, which was now showing a re-run of Jerry Springer. There was nothing like trash-talking screw ups to make someone feel better.

"She's good," Nathan said, his happiness obvious in his voice. "The baby made it, too. She's actually sleeping right now, which is part of the reason I decided to come down here." Nathan could feel the silence creeping back into the room, making him claustrophobic as Lucas continued to stare at the screen.

"I saw him," the blonde said, breaking the silence again. His voice was hushed as he continued, "I saw Keith. He helped me out." Nathan stared at his brother in disbelief. Well, at least he wasn't the only one who was crazy. He instantly thought of the anger he felt towards Keith the day before when he was standing at the bridge.

"What did he say?" he asked, his voice as hushed as Lucas's had been. His hands were gripping his knees in anxiousness as he waited for the answer. The seconds seemed to pass like hours as the blonde finally looked over at his brother.

"He told me it was okay, that everything was going to be okay," he said, fighting the tears in his eyes. Lucas was struggling with so many things now, so many things that Keith had showed him. He really did suck at the whole being-a-guide thing.

Nathan let out a shocked breath as he glanced towards the window. "He said the same thing to me," he confessed, shaking his head a bit. There was another silence, this one a bit less awkward. Nathan could still feel the guilt eating away at him.

Just as he was about to speak, Lucas said, "I'm really confused, Nate." He looked towards the television again, watching a couple fight on screen. "I don't know what to do about this whole Peyton and Brooke thing," he said with a shake of his head.

Nathan sat quietly beside his brother, watching his as he spoke. "What do you mean?" he asked gingerly. "I thought you were with Peyton now and you and Brooke were just friends?" He watched Lucas close his eyes, knowing that this must be hard for him.

"I thought I loved Peyton," Lucas began, "but now I'm not so sure. I really do care about her, and she's a great friend. I just… I don't know; I feel empty without Brooke." He paused for a moment, taking in a breath. "I mean, how do you not confuse caring for people that matter with love?"

The younger of the two shook his head a bit, trying to figure out a way to explain it to his brother. Nothing came, however, and he found himself searching the room for nothing. "I don't know, Luke," he said after a few minutes, "I think you just know."

The door opened again, this time with Peyton on the other side. "Hey," she said, giving Lucas a teary smile. "How are you today?" she asked as she walked into the room. Lucas gave a slight shrug, glancing at Nathan.

"I'll leave you guys alone," Nathan said as he stood up. He looked down at his older brother, giving him a shrug. "Things will be okay," he said before leaving the room, pulling the door closed gently behind him.

Peyton sat down beside Lucas on the bed, slipping her hand into his. How long had she waited to be with him? She gave him another smile, fighting back the tears she had in her eyes. He gave her a weak smile, trying to ignore the slight ache in his chest.

"Everyone at school is talking about you," she said, trying to break the ice between them. Lucas nodded a bit, glancing up towards the television again. He absentmindedly stroked the back of her hand with his thumb, something he knew, as her boyfriend, he should do.

Peyton watched him quietly, confused as to why he seemed to distant. She looked over her shoulder at the TV, seeing a commercial for some kind of Tupperware on. She let her eyes fall back onto Lucas who was now staring at her intently. She practically jumped at the intensity of his eyes.

"Peyton," he said quietly, watching her lean down to him. She gave him a quick smile before pressing her lips to his, her eyes closing. He closed his eyes as well, feeling nothing in the kiss. The ache in his chest grew as she curled up next to him, pulling his arm around her.

Keith's voice came into Lucas's head again, the words echoing back and forth, "Don't confuse caring for people that matter with love…" He took in a breath and closed his eyes, clearing his throat softly.

"I think you should go, Peyton," he whispered quietly. She looked up to him, the hurt in her eyes enough to make guilt course through his veins. "I'm just exhausted," he explained, seeing her nod a bit.

"Of course," she whispered. Peyton leaned up, kissing his lips softly. "Get some rest and I'll come back later, okay?" She stood up, giving his hand a squeeze before she left the hospital room.