A/N: Okay so since all of you reviewers made my day with all of your comments, I am giving you the longest update I've ever written! So enjoy this chapter, there's only one or two left!

Chapter 10

Jake wanted more then anything to just chase after Peyton and scoop her up in his arms, reassuring her that everything was going to be okay. But he knew he couldn't. She would have to come to him.

But, he couldn't lie and say that he didn't enjoy it. In all honesty he had wanted that kiss for such a long while. He knew he had to let her go and he now saw that she actually did love Lucas, maybe even more then him. That hurt him, that hurt him deep. So now what was he supposed to do? He figured nothing, and that all he had to do now was wait.

And that was the most painful thing Jake had ever felt.

Unless...she wasn't with Lucas, right?

Lucas and Brooke stared at each other intensely for they didn't even know how long. It seemed like hours, minutes, seconds, who could tell? They weren't sure if what had happened was real, or if it was right. How could one kiss that felt so right be so utterly and completely complicated?

"I have to go." Brooke said finally.

Brooke couldn't stand the tension anymore. She couldn't stand anything anymore really. She had to talk to Haley; she had to talk to her now and fast.

Lucas didn't say anything when Brooke left. Of course, like he always does. He's very notorious for letting people walk out. He wondered why he couldn't just go after people. Why did they have to come to him? He figured that was why he was the one that grovels the next day. Which brings him to his next thought: Would Brooke still talk to him tomorrow? And would Peyton ever find out? Peyton. What was he going to do with her? He groaned in frustration because of the questions he didn't have answers to. He kicked a pebble and decided to walk back home. He had a lot to think about.

Brooke drove to Nathan and Haley's. She needed to talk to someone and she knew that Nathan and Haley would be on her side no matter what. Or at least she hoped they would.

When she arrived she realized that they weren't at prom. Where could they have been?

Brooke marched to the front door and rang the doorbell.

Nathan answered the door smiling and laughing. "Hello?"

"Hey Nathan, where's Haley?" Brooke asked quickly.

"She's inside, is there something wrong?" Nathan asked now looking at her tear stained cheeks.

"Yeah," She said softly, "Everything."

He nodded and took her inside. Haley's voice echoed throughout the house.

"Nathan! Hurry back! I'm waiting!" She yelled in an opera voice.

"Oh great," Brooke groaned. "You both don't actually go to prom but you get the after-prom benefits?"

Nathan smiled crookedly. "Sorry Brooke, but I am married."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, been there and definitely not doing that anytime soon." Brooke said and marched into the room where Haley was. Before she went in she knocked on the door.

"Haley, it's me Brooke, are you fully clothed?" She asked carefully.

She heard lots of running around and a gasp, "Uh-yeah just a second!"

Haley came out in a robe.

"You really didn't have any clothes on?" Brooke asked, shocked.

"Of course I have clothes on, just not appropriate ones." Haley said truthfully and blushed.

"No wonder why Tutor Girl and Bad Boy are having a little Tutor Bad Boy soon. You guys just won't quit!"

"Okay Brooke." Haley said now blushing even more. "You came here for something and I know it wasn't to talk about mine and Nathan's…you know, so what did you really come here for?"

Brooke sighed and sat down on the bed. "It's horrible Haley. So, so horrible."

"What happened?" She asked.

"Lucas and I kissed." Brooke replied.

"What!" Haley exclaimed.

"Before you go all mother on me he and Peyton had a fight because guess who was making out on the dance floor? Peyton…and Jake!"

"What? Oh my gosh. That's big." Haley said wide-eyed.

"I know. So Lucas and I got out of there, had an argument and then we just…kissed! At the Rivercourt." She explained.

"What did he say afterwards?"

"Nothing. We both said nothing. We just stared at each other for a long time. He was thinking about Peyton, I just know it." Brooke said sadly.

"Well we don't know that. I mean maybe he was but not in the way you think. He could have been thinking that he loved the kiss but he didn't want Peyton to find out and ruin it." Haley suggested. She prayed she was right.

"Or maybe he was thinking about how much of a mistake the kiss was."

"I highly doubt that." Haley said trying to brighten Brooke's spirits up.

"I used to know how to read him so well Hales…I really did. But now I don't anymore. Even though were good friends I can't read him like I could before. He doesn't even act like the same person."

"I know. But maybe that's why you can't read him. Maybe he's two different people when he's with you and when he's with Peyton." Haley said wondering aloud.

"You might be onto something there Hales." Brooke said and then realized where she was and how she intruded on their evening.

"Okay well I think I've done enough interrupting. I'm going to go but thanks so much for listening Hales. I really needed that." Brooke said gratefully.

"Oh no you don't have to…" Haley began but Brooke cut her off.

"Don't worry. Go have fun!" Brooke yelled and Haley hugged her.

Brooke left their house and realized that she still hadn't told Haley about who really took the tests. Now she felt horrible. 'Great', Brooke thought, 'Another thing I have to worry about.'

She looked through the window and saw Nathan and Haley cuddling together and laughing. They looked so happy. And she only wished the best for them.

It had been four days now ever since prom happened and he still had so many questions. All these thoughts were rushing through Lucas' mind. Did the kiss mean something? Did he just do it on an impulse?

No, he didn't, and that's what made him even more scared. What was he going to do now? Did he feel the way he feels with Peyton the way he does Brooke? Why had he always felt something missing when he would kiss Peyton?

He knew he loved Peyton, but maybe not in the way that he thought. He wouldn't get those butterflies that would rise in his stomach every time she entered the room. He wouldn't get excited to go out and just be with her. When they would hold hands he would always look around to make sure people weren't looking at them. Why had all of this been so uncomfortable?

And then there was Brooke. His pretty girl, the one that he loved the most in this world until she broke up with him. He was so hurt when she did that and then he just jumped into a new relationship. Sure, she told him it was okay but he should have known better. He should have known that his pretty girl was hurt or at least that she needed a little while to get settled on everything.

Then, the night when he finds his girlfriend kissing another guy, Jake, he goes and kisses Brooke. He doesn't blame her if she's mad. All it looks like he did was just kiss her out of spite. He didn't know how he was going to explain it to her that it wasn't like that.

And look at him now, all he can think about is his ex girlfriend. That isn't right. He was hurt that Peyton kissed Jake but he wasn't really surprised.

Just then the phone rang. It was Peyton.

He sighed, "Hello?"

"Lucas, we need to talk. Can you come over, please?" She asked, practically begging.

Lucas figured that if he went and things didn't work out he knew who he really loved. But there was always that big possibility that things wouldn't work out, because well, because he's Lucas.

"Okay, I'll be right there."

Lucas arrived at Peyton's and without even knocking, opened the door. He walked up the stairs to her room and saw her sprawled out on her bed, looking like a mess.

She saw Lucas and straightened up, "Hi Lucas."

"Hey Peyton," Lucas replied, trying to figure out what they were going to do with their relationship. He had no clue.

"So I was thinking," She began, "that I messed up but I don't think that we should throw away our relationship over it. I mean, I don't love Jake the way I love you."

And that was true. Peyton would never love Jake the way she loved Lucas because she wasn't in love with Lucas like she was Jake. In fact, the only reason she wanted this relationship back so badly, was because she didn't want to deal with Jake, because she knew things would get complicated and she would end up being hurt. She tried that once before, and didn't like it one bit.

After hearing what Peyton had to say, Lucas considered this. Nothing was for sure with Brooke right now, considering she just walked away from him without saying anything about where they stood. He wasn't even sure if they were friends right now. All he knew was that things were about to get complicated again, and he couldn't deal with complicated. Not now, and not ever.

So they both took the easy way out.

"I agree," Lucas told her, "Let's just try it all again, okay?"

She nodded and got up off the bed to go and hug him. He accepted the hug, but from a simple lurker or friend in the room, you could tell there was no heart in it.

Before school, Brooke was wandering around the Rivercourt, where everything took place the night of prom. She didn't even know why she accepted the kiss. It was all a mistake, just one huge mistake, she would tell herself.

Too bad it didn't give her much convincing.

She often wondered if she and Lucas should have tried to work things out instead of her pushing him into Peyton and causing herself more pain. It wasn't her fault that they were together though, because Lucas had the choice of going to Peyton or staying with her, and he chose Peyton. Again.

It wasn't like she was still bitter about the whole Peyton and Lucas relationship, even though sometimes she wanted to punch a wall or gag whenever she heard the two names in the same sentence. But she just figured that was normal.

Brooke was pulled out of her thoughts when a frantic Mouth came running towards her.

"Brooke!" He yelled and ran even faster towards her, "I have to tell you something!"

Brooke's expression changed from sad to confused in an instant. She hoped he wasn't going to kiss her.

Mouth stopped abruptly in front of her. "I have to tell you a story."

"Okay then, out with it Mouth." She told him.

"Okay so remember how you told me to go after Shelly?" He asked.

Brooke nodded, "Yeah."

"Well…" Mouth began but Brooke's huge grin stopped him.

"Don't tell me! You guys are back together?" Brooke exclaimed.

Mouth nodded. "Oh yeah!"

Brooke hugged him tight, silently thanking the Lord that Mouth's story wasn't about her.

When they pulled apart they both stood there, not saying a word. She knew what he was thinking.

"Mouth, don't." Brooke told him before he could speak.

"But Brooke, were graduating in three days."

"You know what happened at prom, and after that nothing else happened. I haven't talked to him since."

"Well it's only been four days, I mean he could be a mess and we don't even know it." He reassured.

She patted his arm, "Thanks Mouth, but I know he's not a mess."

Mouth wished Lucas would just go up and talk to her instead of hiding out.

"Well hey, maybe Chase will come around."

"You know Mouth; I actually don't want a boyfriend right now. This is when I need to be strong." She told him quietly.

He nodded, sadly. "Well you'll always have me as a friend."

She hugged him once again and whispered, "I know."

The next day at school the seniors were shuffling in, and enjoying their last days at Tree Hill High. All of them were ready to graduate, especially the famous five.

Brooke was currently at her locker, cleaning some things out. It was hard though, because she still had most of the things that Lucas gave her when they first started going out and when he 'pimped' her locker in the beginning of the year. She could have cried right then and there.

And just like in the beginning of the year, Lucas popped up in back of her and tapped her on the shoulder.

"Throwing all of that away, or just burning it?" He asked, knowing that she was mad at him.

"Well I was actually going to divide everything up. The things that I liked the most would get thrown away but the things that reminded me of you most I would burn."

Lucas laughed, he loved her harsh humor. He just hoped that she wouldn't shut him out, he wouldn't be able to handle that.

"Well before you do, would you accept me apology?"

He was apologizing, which meant he thought it was a mistake. Brooke once again could have cried all over the floor, leaving out the fact that the kiss they shared was the most meaningful kiss she had in a while.

But, she still went with whatever flow Lucas was on.

"I think I can make an exception for gullible basketball players." She winked at him and laughed once again.

"So hey, were getting out of this place soon and I was just wondering if this afternoon you'd like to go and grab some coffee with me, you know catch up on old times."

Brooke turned to face him, "Whatever you want Lucas."

She felt like a robot, a robot that repeated that same exact phrase whenever Lucas was around. She just couldn't stop it, and that scared her. What could that mean?

He lifted her chin, "You can pick the place."

She laughed, "Oh goody now I can finally take you to Starbucks!"

"Hey, you know I don't like that coffee." He whined.

She swatted his shoulder playfully, "That's why I'm picking it."

"That's my bad shoulder!" He complained while laughing.

"I'm so sorry," She told him and touched the place on his shoulder.

Both could feel a chill run down their spine. They broke apart and looked at the floor.

Brooke looked up again, "Don't ditch me just because you know where were going!"

He grinned at her, "Wouldn't think of it."

Just then Peyton sauntered up and linked her arm through his. And Brooke wanted to run.

"Lucas, you ready to go?" Peyton asked him.

Lucas, knowing the moment was ruined and he was screwed, could only nod and wave at Brooke before retreating into a different hallway.

"Ass," Brooke muttered while shutting her locker. Oh yeah, she was definitely burning everything Lucas gave her.

After school, the Tree Hill High seniors pushed their way through the double doors and ran to their cars to go to the beach, while Brooke had to wait for Lucas because they were still going out for coffee.

She was thinking about leaving and ditching him, but she didn't want to give him that much satisfaction. She stomped her foot and looked at her watch, now ready to just screw him and everything and just jump in her light blue beetle bug and drive off when she saw his blonde head appear in her view.

"I thought you weren't going to show after today's situation." He told her sheepishly.

"Well I agreed to coffee and I want my Starbucks coffee."

He nodded and stuck his hand out, "You lead the way princess."

"Now that's what I like to be called." She told him and then followed his arm to her car, which they would both take.

Peyton decided on a leisurely stroll in the park after hearing about Lucas and Brooke's infamous coffee date.

She decided to get some ice cream so she wouldn't look like such a loner just walking around the park with no one else beside her.

Just then somebody came up and bit half of her ice cream cone.

"Mmm," The person purred, "I love vanilla."

The brown haired brown eyed beauty of a boy looked up at her and all she could do was laugh. She was secretly glad he wasn't being distant with her.

"Jake!" She exclaimed and swatted his arm, "I was eating that!"

He grinned, "And so was I."

She rolled her eyes at him, but was glad he was along for her walk in the park. Although, she was confused as to why he was hanging out with her.

"So what are you doing roaming the park?" He asked.

"Lucas is out with Brooke for coffee so I decided to grab an ice cream cone and enjoy the beautiful day."

Jake looked at her skeptically, "Peyton, I don't think you've ever said 'enjoy the beautiful day' in all of your life."

She laughed, "Okay so really I just didn't want to look like a loner walking around with nothing in my hand."

"Well maybe I can change that," Jake said and slipped his hand through hers.

Her whole body stiffened.

"Jake," she began, not wanting to tell him this, "I'm still with Lucas."

Jake looked at the floor, now beat red with embarrassment. "Okay, then just ignore what I said and what I did."

She forced a smile and nodded, knowing she couldn't forget the romantic gesture if she tried.

"You know, I was thinking we could go back to the 'Trick' building and hang out there." Peyton suggested. She knew Trick was no longer up unless Peyton, Karen, and Deb were there to help get it started again.

"Sounds like a plan," Jake told her, "I'll race you there!"

"But I'm holding an ice cream cone! No fair!" She whined, but Jake was gaining speed, laughing in the distance.

"Screw it," She said and threw the ice cream cone on the ground, forgetting the fact that she was litering and sped off with him.

"You are soo going down!" She yelled after him.

Lucas and Peyton were hanging out after their exceptionally great day, neither of them telling each other how much fun they really had or how much they really wanted to be with the other partners they spent the day with.

There was nothing left in their relationship besides friendship. They both missed their unbelievable connection where they could both just read each other's minds. Maybe they lost that connection once they started going out.

And so they lay in Peyton's bed, looking out the window, and thinking about their significant others.

Well, there it is! The updates should be coming a lot faster because I already have everything written out. Don't forget to review, they mean a lot!