"I saw you last night" Jake said coming up beside Peyton, his voice strained "With Nathan"
Peyton stopped in her tracks and turned to stare at him "Jake, it's not like it looked like.."
"Peyton, I know you still love him but he has a girlfriend!"
"I know" she cried, putting her head in her hands "trust me I know"
"Peyton" Jake hissed threw clenched teeth "You know this is only going to end badly"
"His breaking up with her" she mumbled weakly
Jake sighed and pried her hands from her face "Sorry for coming on strong, but you know how I feel about cheating"'
"He was mine first" She whined "And it's hard to hold in my feelings until they break up"
"Peyton" he shook his head "You have to try. Think how Haley would feel"
"How Haley would feel about what?'
They turned to see Nathan and Haley staring back at them
"About trying out for cheerleading" Peyton pasted on a fake smiled "Theresa is sick for the classic. I think it could be fun"
"I don't think so Peyton" Haley smiled warmly "But I am going this weekend. Got to cheer my favorite guys on". She leaned up and gave Nathan a kiss on the cheek. She didn't notice the awkwardness felt by the 3 others that were in presence.
"I got to go find Brooke" Peyton mumbled really fast "I'll see you all later" she quickly darted away and everyone went there separate ways.
"P Sawyer" Brooke grumbled her lips forming a pout "You can't do this"
"I can, and I am" she shrugged, spinning herself aimlessly around in her computer chair
"Peyton, I've never gone to the Classic without you! I can't do this without my best friend and this is my year to win"
"Don't you meant the team's year to win" Peyton pointed out with a smirk
"Same thing" Brooke tutted "Peytonnnn" she whined again "I cant believe your doing this to me"
"It's not like I want to Brooke" She pleaded " I just think it'll be to weird"
"no it wont" Brooke cried "I swear"
"I don't think that's up to you" Peyton laughed "its just better this way"
"I disagree" Brooke sighed "But I guess I can't make you, unless…"
"Brooke!" Peyton laughed throwing a pillow at her best friend
"Sorry" Brooke chuckled "Well P Sawyer I'm outtie. Call me later?"
Peyton nodded and watched as Brooke left. She picked up her phone and stared at it for awhile, debating whether or not to call Nathan. She was still debating when it started to vibrate. 'Lucas'
Flashed on the screen and she quickly answered it
"Hello"
"Hi Peyton, what are you up to?"
"Nothing, Brooke just left"
"I see..so hey, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out for awhile .. maybe talk?"
"Ahh.. sure" She hesitantly agreed "I have nothing better to do" she teased
"I hurt" he laughed "How about we meet at the river court"
"yah sure , I'll see you in a bit"
"See you Peyt"
She clicked her phone shut and shoved on a jacket over her t-shirt. It felt weird meeting Lucas at the river court, especially where she met Nathan there last night. But she chose to ignore the nervous feeling in her stomach and left to meet Lucas anyways.
--
Lucas was already there when she arrived. "Hey" he greeted as she climbed up to sit beside him on the bleachers
"What's up Luke?"
" I know we talked the other night, and it got a bit.. out of control. But I really wanted to talk to you again.. You don't need to say anything, just listen?"
Peyton nodded slowly and prepared herself
"Look I know I shouldn't love you, but I want to Peyton. I can't pretend it doesn't hurt when I see you and I'm not with you and I just don't think I can make that feeling stop. I can't just sit around and watch as Nathan pulls you in again, you can deny it but I know that's what's happening, I can't let him win Peyt. I've waited along time and looking back I know my feelings for you have been there along time. I can try even harder to get over you, over this, but Peyton if there is the littlest chance of you ever giving me a chance again then please let me know"
"I don't know what to say Lucas" Peyton said after a few minutes "I do have feelings for you, I think I always will, I mean you can't just get over the connection we shared. But Lucas, I still love Nathan. I just can't help it. I don't want to, trust me I don't, but you can't help how you feel" She was bauling at this point and Lucas's eyes were filling up as well
"Peyton it's okay" he whispered wrapping his arm around her "Stop crying"
--
Nathan and Haley were passing by the river court when Haley came to a stop "Is that Peyton and Luke?" She asked, pointing to the pair sitting by the basketball court.
"Where" Nathan demanded and followed Haley's gaze. Sure enough there was Lucas with his arm around Peyton
"I guess there getting back together" Haley smiled "That's so great. They really are perfect for each other"
"Let's go" Nathan grumbled, grabbing Haley's hand
"God Nathan, you're acting like a jealous boyfriend" Haley scowled
"Why would I be jealous of those 2? What we have is 1000 times better" He sounded like he was trying to convince Haley but really he was trying to convince himself
"God Nathan, calm down" Haley rolled her eyes "Thanks for a great night, but I think I'm going to choose to end it sooner then later. Call me tomorrow"
"Haley" Nathan sighed as she jogged up the road to her house "Wait
"Bye Nathan" Haley shook her head and kept going.
"dammit!" Nathan exclaimed and then headed to the only place he could think of.
Peyton walked into her room awhile later and was surprised to see Nathan sitting on her bed
"I let myself in" he said coolly
"Okay" she said, her voice questioning his tone "I'm glad to see you" she added in with a little smiled
"As glad as you were to see Lucas earlier?" He asked
"What are you talking about?" she asked, sitting down beside him
"Are you honestly going to deny being with him?" Nathan scoffed, anger obvious on his face
"No.." She shrugged "We were just talking Nate"
"Looked like more then that to me"
"You think I would do that you?" her face shocked "Nathan I love you!"
"Didn't look like that earlier" she scowled
"God Nathan, you jerk! I was telling Lucas that I loved YOU! And wanted to be with YOU!"
"Oh" Nathan looked down embarrassed
"But I can see now that this is a mistake. It's going to be just like it was before!" she cried, standing up and looking down at him
"Peyton, no. I'm sorry, I acted like an idiot. I should have known, it just killed me seeing you with him!"
"Nathan I think you should leave.."
"Peyton no! I love you, I love you so much" He pulled her onto his lap and started to kiss her. She was resistant at first and tried pull away but they both knew how much she wanted this and she finally gave him. She quickly shifted so she was below him. "Hi," she smiled and lifted her head to kiss him. She gathered him closer, enjoying the feel of his skin sliding over hers and the play of the muscles of his back under her hands. She ran her fingers lower, encountering the waistband of his jeans. He quickly pulled them off , trailing kisses along her jaw all the while.
"Are you sure?" he whispered against her throat.
"I'm sure" she whispered.
She closed her eyes as he gave her a long moment to adjust to the feel of him between her thighs, then withdrew with aching slowness, sending sparks across a whole new set of nerves. By the time he surged forward once again, she had wrapped her arms around his shoulders, desperate to drag him back into her. She moaned as her hips met his. He started moving and she matched his rhythm, whimpering against his mouth every time he slid home. His hands stroked and soothed every inch of her skin, tracing patterns of love and possession. He murmured his love for her over and over and then her control snapped and her body arched and exploded, convulsing against his final ragged thrusts.
As soon as she regained sense and mobility she wrapped herself around him and smiled at the familiar ness of it all but loving then whole new since of love involved.
"I've missed you" He whispered, pulling her into his arms. She didn't even think she could find the words to say to him so she just smiled "I love you Peyton"
"I love you Nate" she smiled, rubbing his bare back "God more then I ever knew"