A/N: Okay so I am unbelievable sorry and I could tell you why I was busy but you probably don't want to hear it. So, enjoy the update and since you guys have been so loyal, an update could come again tonight!

Chapter 9

Peyton was waiting in the middle of the dance floor for her boyfriend that was getting her punch when she kept envisioning Jake walking through the door. She wasn't sure if she wanted him to come through the door or if she was just scared that he was going to. She would glance at the floor and then the door every once in a while. And then every once in a while turned into every minute and then every second. She didn't know what was going on with her. Could she really still love Jake?

She stared at the rest of the people having fun and dancing with their boyfriend or girlfriend. She wished she could just have a normal prom instead of always having all these problems and issues. It just seemed like they would never go away. She then looked for Lucas, and saw him talking to Brooke while getting some punch for her and him. She was surprisingly not as jealous as she thought she would be. She had been feeling this way for a while though, so it was nothing new. In the beginning she used to be jealous whenever Lucas talked about Brooke or even when she learned he went and saw her first. But now, now she felt nothing. She just thought that this would pass, fade, go away, or at least she hoped it would.

I mean she finally had Lucas and now it wasn't like she wanted. Of course she would like it when they kissed or when they held hands and she tried to convince herself that everything was okay and that this was how it was supposed to be. But something in the bottom of her stomach told her otherwise.

So when she saw him and Brooke talking and laughing, she saw the famous smile that he would always give her and just think about their relationship. She wanted to know what he was thinking and for once, she didn't know. She could always read him but not when it came to Brooke. That was a subject for only the two of them.

She sighed and thought to herself that prom should be better then this. It should be magical, and like a fantasy night. And on that fantasy night, it shouldn't be filled with thoughts about the doubts in the relationship she was in. So she took a deep breath and turned towards the door. Maybe a little fresh air would help.

Just as she was walking towards the door, it busted open. And guess who was there? Yes, it was Jake. Jake Jagelski was standing in the doorway looking her way. He had an intense look in his eye, one that she was familiar with. She knew what he was going to do. He was going to kiss her. He was going to kiss her and she would kiss him back. She knew she would.

She stayed put and decided what she would say. Of course, she only had about two seconds because he was trudging her way very quickly.

Finally, his eyes met hers and before she knew it they were standing one inch away from each other. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears.

Peyton looked down and then up at him.

"Jake…" She began.

But he didn't hear her, or maybe he just didn't care. Because what he did next was making her heart beat a mile a minute, her palms became sweaty, and she couldn't come up with one word in her head.

He leaned down and kissed her. And to both hers and his surprise, she kissed him back. She cupped her hands around his face and he grabbed her waist. He held her close to him and she held on tight. This is what she needed. This was the sparkle, this was the fantasy. When they broke apart their foreheads rested against each other's and she sighed with content ness.

"Hi…" He whispered.

She laughed. "Hello."

He began laughing too but their laughing was immediately stopped when she saw Lucas standing before them. She broke out of his arms as fast as she could and looked at Lucas.

"Lucas…" She began.

For the first time in a year Jake looked in Lucas' eyes. He didn't think it would be this hard.

"Lucas…" Peyton began again. "Let's go talk outside."

Lucas had no words to say though, he didn't want to talk to Peyton and he didn't want to talk to Jake. The only person he really wanted to talk to was Brooke. He just shook his head at them and walked over to the table that he had seated Brooke at.

"Hey Brooke." He whispered softly in her ear.

She groaned slightly and then a surge of energy came through her and she stood up.

"Whoa." She said and held her head. Maybe she got up a little bit too fast.

She leaned back and almost fell but Lucas quickly wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to him.

"Come on, let's go." He said to her but she protested.

"No, I want to dance." She said. "I only danced with Mouth tonight."

In any other circumstance, he would have danced with her all night, but not tonight. Tonight he just wanted to get out of here.

"Okay, we will." He promised. "Let's go."

He led her through the crowd of young couples and scattered people and out the front doors.

He thought of the one place where he felt like everything was normal and perfect; the once place that was always okay. The Rivercourt.

When they got there, Brooke immediately sat on the picnic table, trying to fight the dizziness that was taking over her body.

"So what happened?" She asked after a couple of moments of silence.

"I thought you were too drunk to comprehend anything?" He asked.

"Well maybe that's what I wanted you to think."

He laughed. "Well then you fooled me."

"Good. That's the desired effect I wanted. So now tell me what happened. I caught the first part, considering I was the one that pointed it out to you." She said and got up off the table and walked over to him.

"Well I saw them kissing and I just walked over there."

"Was there any talking involved?"

"A little. She said my name a couple of times but I just shook my head and walked away. I mean I couldn't believe that they would do that. It's Peyton and Jake for goodness sake!" He exclaimed.

"I know how it feels."

Lucas looked down at his feet. "I'm really sorry Brooke."

"For what?" She asked softly, not being able to look at him.

"Everything."

She nodded. "It's okay Luke. It's been okay for a while now."

"Has it really though, Brooke? I mean can you honestly say that you're over Peyton and I dating? And what about the school shooting kiss? And you're definitely not over me shutting you out because that's why you broke up with me. So stop pretending that you're okay Brooke." Lucas said with no anger but frustration in his voice.

Brooke was done with all of this. Now Lucas was telling her not to be okay? When did this happen? And so what if she wasn't completely okay with everything? That didn't mean she had to tell everyone that. She wanted to move on. Or at least she thought she wanted to move on. She said 'screw it' and then let him know everything.

"You know what Lucas? Fine. I'm not okay with everything. I'm not okay with you and Peyton dating, I'm not okay with the kiss that you never told me about and you're so right I'm not over how you shut me out. But at least I'm dealing with it Lucas! Unlike you who just ignores it or hopes it goes away! It doesn't work like that!" Brooke yelled.

"Well I'm trying to deal with it!" Lucas protested.

"Oh yeah, and how are you doing that? You just ran out of there without talking to her or hearing an explanation!"

"Well what do you care? You and Peyton aren't even talking!"

"That doesn't matter and you know it Lucas."

"No, I think it does Brooke. I mean why should you care about our relationship?"

"Because I care about her and I care about you!" Brooke yelled.

Brooke grew quiet. What was she thinking telling Lucas all these things about her now? This was wasn't right in her mind. It felt like clutter, but in her heart it felt like it was finally opening up again after being closed for so long.

"So when you said that you still got butterflies, it was true?" He asked quietly.

When Brooke didn't say anything, Lucas spoke up again.

"Brooke?"

"Yes." She answered quietly. But Lucas didn't hear her.

"What?"

"Yes!" She said now yelling. "But I didn't want to tell you because in case you didn't notice Peyton is still technically you're girlfriend and technically my best friend! Not as of now but she was and I still wouldn't do that to her even if she did it to me."

"Well I'd rather have you be honest with me then not tell me."

Brooke laughed. "Right."

"I would." He said.

"You know what? I'm done talking about this. And how did we get on this subject anyways? It was about you and Peyton and then it turned back into us. This is always what happens…"

"I care about you too, Brooke." He said cutting her off.

"What?" She asked.

"I care about you a lot Brooke. I would never want to lose you."

"So what? Are you saying that you feel the same way? Because I bet you don't. I bet you really don't because I want to kiss you right now and I've wanted to kiss you for a long time. I've told myself that I was crazy and it was just leftover feelings but it's not Lucas! And I hate it! Why do I have to love you? You're the worst person to love!" She said, now tearing up. "No offense."

Her whole world was spinning and all she felt like she could do was run.

She saw Lucas' shocked face and decided now was the best time make an exit. At least to go home and sleep on all of this.

"I have to go…" She said and began walking away.

"You run away too Brooke."

She turned around to face him. "Excuse me?"

"You run. You do. I'm not the only one. Maybe that's why we didn't work out. We both run from things instead of toughening them out."

"I really have to go Lucas, I'm tired…" Brooke began.

"And scared." He finished.

Brooke took a deep breath and turned around again, walking away.

Before she left the actual court, she heard three quiet words that made her heart stop.

"I'm scared too."

Now the tears were running down her face and becoming very, very apparent.

He walked in front of her and looked into her eyes. She looked beautiful in the moonlight and all he could think about was her. Nothing else mattered. He didn't want anything else.

"Lucas…" She began.

He cupped her face gently and whispered: "Don't…"

Before she could say or do anything else he leaned down and he kissed her. It was soft, but passionate and she had to admit, it was what she wanted for the longest time. It didn't matter that they were in the middle of the Rivercourt or that it was midnight, all that mattered was that they were back in each other's arms. But she knew it was wrong, this was all wrong. But somehow it felt right.

The kiss was getting more heated and he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. He wanted her closer, so much closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, like she didn't want to let him go. They eventually pulled away, breathlessly.

Brooke snapped back to reality and her eyes grew big.

"We shouldn't have done that." She said quietly looking down at her feet. She knew if she looked in his eyes she would have said the complete opposite.

Lucas just stared at Brooke not really knowing what to say. He couldn't deny that he felt more in that kiss then he had in a while but he still technically had a girlfriend. So who does he choose? The ex-girlfriend or the actual girlfriend?

After Lucas left, Peyton and Jake were standing in the middle of the dance floor. Neither of them knew what to say or what to do. Well, Peyton knew what she wanted to do but she didn't think that was appropriate right now. Although, Jake was thinking the same thing.

"Peyton…" Jake began.

"Don't be sorry." She said cutting him off. "I knew you were going to do it and I never stopped you."

"Like you could of." Jake said playfully.

Peyton slapped him on the arm. "How are we joking at a time like this?"

She let out a frustrated groan.

"I don't know. But we are." He said and she suddenly turned serious.

"Jake…" Peyton began.

"Look, Peyton, I know nothing is going to be solved, I know that. I just…don't know what came over me. I mean I saw you looking so beautiful and I just went for it." Jake said half babbling half really needing to get this out.

Peyton didn't answer. She couldn't. Jake searched her eyes for some expression.

"Where are you staying?" She finally asked.

"My old house." He replied.

"How?"

"My parents still own it."

Peyton laughed, embarrassed. "Right."

Jake flashed his signature smile that she always melted too. And it was no different now. She was literally getting weak in the knees just standing here with him. She had to leave.

"I can't-be with you." Peyton said stuttering.

"Peyton…" Jake began.

"No, I- I have to go." Peyton choked out and rushed out of the doors to prom that was filled with drama, tears, and even possibilities.

Okay well there's chapter 9! Don't forget to review and thanks for sticking with me and the story! And look out for the new update coming very very soon!