Peyton stopped for a moment, taking a sip of water. After working at the Cafe for most of the morning she had asked Karen to drop her off at the nearest Gymnastics Studio. Putting the bottled water down, she walked over to the mat and completed a backward roll through hand.

"You know... you're really good".

She recognized that voice, turning around she met Lucas and Haley. "Luke thanks. "So"... she started, folding her arms across her chest and giving him a small smile. "You're here to spring me"?

He looked around and smile at her coyly. "Well I wouldn't exactly call this jail, but yeah we're here to pick you up".

Peyton raced to the locker room. She up picked up her duffle bag off the floor and slid her sweat pants over her leotard.

Lucas watched Peyton come back from the locker room. Peyton opening up to him about her mother's death had made them a lot closer than before. There was something between the two, a connection of some sort. Every time they looked or talk to each other they felt. It was binding them together.

She tilted her head to the side. "Why do keep looking like that"?

Luke raised an eyebrow. "Like what Peyt"?

She shrugged. "I don't know you just seem really happy, is it a girl"?

He was about to answer when he saw her waving her hand in front of Haley.

"Why is she looking like that"? Peyton asked studying the overly excited girl.

"Oh that's her "I've got a dumb idea" face". Lucas replied.

Haley shot a him at look before smiling brightly at her "Peyton I need a favor" she said biting her bottom lip.

"What kind of favor" she asked suspicious of the girl's intentions.

"Ugh...joining the cheerleading squad kind of favor". Haley stated nervously.

Peyton tilted her back and started laughing hysterically at the notion. "I don't think so" she wiped the tears from her eyes, and walked towards the exit with Lucas and Haley following.

"Please you'd be perfect and we need one more cheerleader"!

Peyton looked at the Haley; she was almost on her hands and knees begging. "Are you crazy? I know Brooke's on the squad and there's no way in hell... I'm going to put myself through that kind of torture"!

"Luke" Haley hissed elbowing him in the stomach. "Help me out here"!

Lucas looked at both girls, there were staring him down waiting for him to talk. "I'll... meet you guys in the in car". He took off out the door.

"Please? We're friends and friends help each other out"... she said wrapping an arm around Peyton's shoulder "and maybe someday you and Brooke can become friends"! Haley declared enthusiastically.

"Nope, sorry I'm not going do it"! Peyton yelled shaking her head.

The Next Day after School

"I can't believe I' m going to do this" Peyton cried burying her face in her hands as she stood next to Haley waiting for cheerleading practice to start.

"You're overreacting cheerleading is not bad. I had tons of fun last year". Haley pulled her hair in a pony tail and headed to the girl's locker room to search for Brooke.

Peyton frowned and turned her attention to the boy's basketball practice. A least there was one upside to this.

A few minutes later Brooke made her appearance with Haley at her side. "Tutor girl show me our new cheerleader"! She was curious to see who Haley found, she had come home yesterday bragging but she wouldn't tell her who it was.

Haley gently pulled Peyton forward and she watched as Brooke's expression turned from happy to furious.

Brooke clenched her teeth. What was Haley thinking? She knew she couldn't stand Paxton or whatever the hell the girl's name was. "Haley" she started but was cut off.

"Brooke she took gymnastics. So she's good and you know very well that we need one more cheerleader"! Haley said, knowing that Brooke was about to go off on her.

Brooke knew she was right, taking a deep breath she started practice.

Practice was going horrible for Peyton; Brooke had gotten on her about every little thing.

"Brooke would you stop, she's doing the routine right"! Haley screamed. Maybe this wasn't a good idea.

"Haley she's not smiling"!

"I'm not smiling? You're crazy. This is practice".

"That means you practice smiling! Brooke answered back.

Peyton rolled her eyes, throwing her pompoms on the ground and walking over to Brooke. "Why don't you just admit already"!

"Admit what"?

Peyton shook head. "That you're jealous of my friendship with Lucas"!

Brooke scoffed a little. "I am not jealous"!

"Is that so Brooke? Then why is it that every time I talk to him you see green? It's funny, you broke up with him! But here you are acting like a jealous girlfriend, seems to me that someone want to have their cake and eat too! What are afraid that Lucas and I might become something more"? She asked pushing the girl's buttons

"I am not jealous! I have nothing to worry about because Luke wouldn't touch you with a ten foot pole"! She fumed placing her hands on her hips.

"Peyton laughed. "You want to bet"? She smirked at Brooke before walking away and heading over to the basketball team. Boy was she pissed, it had been pure hell working with Brooke for half the practice and she wanted revenge"! "Calm down Peyton, don't do anything stupid" her mind told her. But she refused to listen. Looking around the gym she saw that the Ravens' basketball coach was no where in sight, so she made her move.

"Lucas" she called smiling, she watched him drop the basketball and walk over to her, much to Nathan's dismay.

"Hey...is there something wrong" he asked his voice filled with concern.

"No I'm... fine", she looked down at the ground.

He lifted her chin up. "Peyt, what is it"?

She looked into blue eyes suddenly feeling nervous. U mm... I want to give you something".

"What"?

"This" Peyton whispered moving closer to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

A/N: Next chapter will be longer. The Leyton childhood scenes are definitely going to be in chapter 7. So let me know what you thought of this chapter!!