A/N: Hey guys! I am so sorry that it took me about 10 years just to get this chapter out. My computer crashed so I didn't have anything on it. But everything's okay and the story is continuing! This chapter is about prom, but it goes a lot differently then it did on the show. Enjoy! And thank you for understanding!

Chapter 8

Brooke walked into her house and set the dress down on her bed. She looked long and hard at it, and realized that it was a beautiful dress. She thought that maybe Peyton wanted to reconcile and they could maybe exchange apologies. She walked over and down in front of her mirror to put on some makeup. She was going to look good for prom no matter what.

She thought about what Chase was doing right now. Was he going with someone else? Or was he not going to prom? She wanted to go to prom with Chase just because she cared about him and it would be a new experience. She wanted prom to special and fun, and since Chase was such a sweet guy, she knew it would be memorable with him. But she knew that it wasn't an option, so she pushed those fantasy thoughts behind her head and tried to focus on going with Mouth.

Her and Mouth were really good friends for a while, but when her and Lucas broke up, they distanced themselves a little bit. Brooke admitted that it was hard to talk to Mouth when his best friend was her ex-boyfriend and Mouth probably would have admitted that it was hard talking to his best friends ex-girlfriend. Both situations were very awkward and she wanted to avoid them at all costs.

She remembered the first night she had ever spent time with Mouth. It was when she won him for the Boy Toy Auction. She was so determined to get someone that night that she grabbed Mouth the second he stepped on the stage. It turned out to be a good night though and she was grateful that the night they spent together and created a great friendship. But she would never think of Mouth in more then a friendship way even though she knew that Mouth used to like her. She didn't even know until Haley told her.

Haley was the big name that was on her mind right now. She hated having Haley mad at her especially when she loved talking to Haley so much. She had never valued a friendship as much as hers and Haley's. She felt like she could talk to Haley about everything and anything and when they were in fights like this, she didn't know who she could turn to. Bottom line, she missed her. And worst of all she would have to see her at the prom tonight. She knew for a fact she was going because once Nathan surprised her with a dress she screamed and called Brooke. And a few minutes later, Brooke was there to check out the stunning dress.

She sighed contently and started to open up all of her makeup and get ready for prom, starting with a shower that would hopefully take her mind off of all the drama that was happening lately.

She just hoped that prom would be a good night without any worries and just plain old fun. But somehow she knew that it wasn't going to be at all.

Peyton got her makeup done after a hot shower and slipped into her angelic white flowing dress. She decided to go to prom to make the best of it because it was her senior year and she was finally with Lucas so she figured that she couldn't let Brooke have the satisfaction of seeing her not go. She didn't think Brooke was truly an evil person because they were friends for 12 years but she knew Brooke liked winning fights and Peyton was determined that she wasn't going to win this one.

She was walking elegantly down the stairs when she heard the doorbell ring. She was ecstatic knowing that Lucas was on the other side of her door waiting for her in his classy Armani suit. Before opening the door she took one last look at herself. Then taking a deep breath and opening the door. She looked down shyly and smiled, but when she looked up she realized it wasn't Lucas, it wasn't him at all.

"Jake?" She asked in such shock that she felt her legs wobble and she suddenly felt faint. It couldn't be him.

"Hi Peyton." He said and Peyton could tell he was extremely nervous.

"What are you doing here?" She asked bitterly. She couldn't help the anger that was building inside of her. How could he just show up all of a sudden? Didn't he know that coming here would make her even more confused? And for once she felt like she knew who she was in love with and she was certain it was Lucas, but having Jake come back could ruin her whole entire world because she knew that still deep in her heart, Jake was there. She was heartbroken when he told her to go back to Tree Hill and be with Lucas. She couldn't handle it for the longest time. And then with the whole Brooke and Derek scenario she really needed someone. And that someone that was there for her was Lucas.

"You look amazing." He said ignoring her question. He sensed the anger in her voice and knew that she would be asking him a lot of questions.

"It's the prom that's why." She replied. "I'm going with Lucas."

Jake looked down at the floor. He realized that she was now going out with him. He had been right to let her go, for she didn't love him, and maybe she never loved him at all. But right now, this very instant, it hurt.

"Oh." Was all he could say.

Peyton felt like she couldn't breathe. She had been so harsh to him, so mean, but for what? He was back and she couldn't do anything about it. And flaunting her and Lucas' relationship in his face didn't sound like her at all. What did it matter that she was going with Lucas to the prom? If this were months earlier she would have told Jake in a calmer, more light way. But now, now she felt like she had to rub it in his face to see what he has been missing.

"Look, Jake, why are you here?" She asked in a softer tone.

"I had to see you." He said. She wondered if that was the absolute truth, considering that he picked a very unusual time to see her.

"That's it?" She asked. "There's no other reason?"

Jake looked at the floor. "The truth is, I just missed you. I'm not running away anymore, I'm definitely done with that. And Jenny is in Savannah with my family while I'm out here. I just…I just needed a vacation away and maybe to see you again. We haven't talked to each other since you proposed…"

"I know." Peyton said, cutting him off. She didn't want Lucas to know about that. Not yet anyways. She then looked at the floor. She felt guilty for not keeping in touch but she thought it was best to just cut the ties completely. She looked at the clock and realized that Lucas would be here any second.

"Uh, Jake I know that you wanted to catch up and all that stuff but Lucas is coming and I have to get to prom but maybe you could come by tomorrow or something and we could talk." She said trying to sound like he wasn't unwanted. She didn't know what she wanted right now.

"Okay, I'll see you later then." He said. Peyton nodded awkwardly and he left her house. She breathed a sigh of relief that Lucas didn't see him. She was worried about what he would say and if he would be mad or not.

Not more then two minutes after Jake left, Lucas pulled up in her driveway.

"Hey." He greeted and kissed her softly on the lips.

"Hey!" Peyton jumped, still thinking about her conversation with Jake.

Lucas looked at her with a crooked eyebrow. "You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah I'm good." Peyton replied shakily. She didn't know why she was getting all jumpy just because Jake came back. Probably just because she didn't want Lucas to find out, she hoped.

"Great, then let's go." Lucas said and they walked out the door together and onto prom.

Lucas and Peyton arrived at the prom and sat down. The whole car ride there Peyton had been jumpy, thinking about how Jake had come back and how he was in town this very instant. She could never tell Lucas though; she didn't know how he would react.

"You okay?" He asked her.

She jumped slightly. "Oh yeah, I'm fine. Let's dance."

He nodded and led them on the dance floor. They danced right next to Brooke and Mouth. Brooke saw both of them and she couldn't say that she didn't feel any hurt. Truth was, it was killing her inside to see both of them dancing and smiling together. She remembered when she used to dream of them going to prom together, if only they had stayed together longer. She didn't understand why she couldn't just branch out with out always having him in the back of her mind. She then thought about Chase and what he was doing right now. She knew she wanted to be at prom with him but she wasn't sure if it was because she saw Lucas and Peyton dancing together or if it was because she truly liked him.

She looked up at Mouth and saw him smiling. She was having fun with him tonight and that's what tonight was about. Fun. She was going to have as much fun as she could without having Lucas, Peyton, or Chase in her way.

"You know Mouth, you're actually a really good dancer." She said with a smile.

"That's what they tell me." He said playfully.

"Thanks for coming to prom with me." Brooke said quietly.

"I wouldn't want to spend it with anyone else." He replied and then dipped her.

She giggled and when she came up Lucas was directly in her face. She got those darn butterflies again. The butterflies that she swore would stop. She smiled at Lucas, and then turned back to Mouth.

"Do you need some air?" Mouth asked.

"No, no I'm fine, thanks."

They continued to dance and just try and forget everything around them. That lasted about ten seconds until Shelly walked through the door.

"What's she doing here?" Brooke asked Mouth.

Mouth just shook his head in confusion. "I really don't know."

She came rushing through the door, like she was looking for some one. Brooke knew who she was looking for, her prom date. Shelly spotted Mouth and then saw him with Brooke. She froze for a second but then took a deep breath, and walked over to them.

"Mouth, I need to talk to you." She said nervously.

"I thought you just couldn't do this anymore? We had a good bye remember?" Mouth said.

Brooke looked between them and figured she should get out of there.

"You know Mouth, I think I see the punch bowl waiting for me so I think I'll…"

"No." Mouth said cutting her off. "We came here to have fun and dance, and that's exactly what I plan on doing."

He looked at Shelly once more and then grabbed Brooke's hand and led her farther into the dance floor. So now they were not next to Lucas and Peyton but Brooke could still feel the butterflies that would not leave her stomach.

"Mouth, are you sure you made the right choice?" Brooke asked after they had been dancing for a couple of minutes.

Mouth seemed so out of his element. He looked around the room like a lost puppy. She was confused as to why he would blow her off and then long for her when she was gone. Wasn't the whole point of having her ex come back to the prom and tell you they want to talk to you a good thing? Considering Brooke was sure that Shelly was going to get back together with him.

Finally, he nodded. "Yeah."

Brooke broke the grasp that they had on each other.

"Well I don't!" She exclaimed.

"Brooke…" He began.

"No Mouth, you need to go find her and explain to her that you were just drunk or something!" She yelled cutting him off.

"But Brooke…"

"No buts! Now go!" She said and pushed him towards the door.

"Thanks Brooke!" She heard Mouth call out while he was running.

Brooke breathed a sigh of happiness as she saw Mouth bolt towards the door. She thought she would just get some punch to freshen up a bit.

All while Lucas and Peyton were dancing, Peyton was a bit jumpy. She could not for the life of her get over why Jake was here. She knew he wanted to talk to her to catch up but that couldn't possibly be all that he wanted. Maybe that's not all she wanted. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't even hear Lucas when he was talking to her.

"…And so then I just walked away." He said, finishing some big long story that she had no clue what was about. Just then Lucas saw Mouth run out the door and Brooke nowhere to be seen.

"Uh huh." She replied and kept looking at the door. She hoped that Lucas didn't know she wasn't paying attention.

"Are you okay?" Lucas said, obviously noticing that something was up with her.

"Oh yeah, I'm fine just a little…thirsty." She said.

"Do you want me to get you some punch?" He asked.

Peyton nodded. "That would be great, thanks."

"I'll be right back."

Lucas walked over to the punch bowl and saw Brooke standing there. He was relieved to know she didn't leave.

"Hey." He greeted cheerfully.

"Hey Lucas." She replied.

"So, I saw Mouth run out, what happened?"

"Oh don't worry we didn't get into a fight or anything. Its just Shelly came back and he completely blew her off so I told him he made a mistake and made him chase after her. So now I'm left dateless, but that's okay." Brooke explained and took a sip of her punch.

"Whoa, that's strong." She said and gulped down the rest of her drink.

"What happened to Chase?" Lucas choked out. It was so hard for him to say that name.

"Oh well ever since he saw that video of Nathan and I he decided that I was a slut and that we couldn't be together. And he decided to do it right before prom. Great, huh?"

"I'm sorry Brooke. I knew there was something up with that guy." He answered truthfully.

"Yeah well, to tell you the truth, right now I don't miss him."

"No?"

"Nope, not at all."

Lucas smiled and he suddenly got butterflies in his stomach. Why? Was it because Brooke Davis just admitted that she liked spending time with him? Or was it because she was enjoying his company? He didn't know why he got them, but since she wasn't his current girlfriend he wished they would go away. He watched her as her balance started faltering. He wondered what was in the drink. Whatever it was, it was definitely strong.

He looked at the floor for a second and when he came up Brooke was on her third cup. He grew worried and immediately snatched the cup away from her.

"I think that's enough for tonight." He told her.

"Oh come on Lucas, I mean I'm dateless, Chase isn't coming because well let's face it he can't even look at my face anymore without seeing disappointment and you and I have the most messed up friendship I have ever seen." Brooke said drunkenly.

Lucas was hurt by her last sentence. He thought their friendship was going pretty well. That's how it seemed anyway.

"You really think that?" He asked her.

"Well yeah, because I mean you are dating Peyton but we still talk even though, I still get those butterflies around you. They just won't stop!" She exclaimed and started giggling.

Lucas felt himself blush, knowing they were feeling the same sparks as before. Did she just say a drunken confession?

"Okay Brooke maybe that's enough punch…" He began not really knowing what to say. He couldn't tell her that he was feeling the same way. He couldn't tell her that in his heart he knew it wasn't just tonight that was making him see this. He tried to ignore it before but now he wasn't sure if it was just leftover feelings or feelings that were just hiding. He then tried grabbing the punch and he successfully got it. His face had a triumphant expression on it but Brooke's was staring straight ahead.

"Brooke?" Lucas asked worriedly.

"Speaking of Peyton, isn't that her making out with someone that's not you on the dance floor?" She asked a little out of it and pointed to the middle of the dance floor.

Lucas followed her finger and then saw something that made his mouth drop. Brooke was right. There was Peyton making out with someone…but not just any someone, it was Jake.

Please review and thanks for sticking with me!