: Outside the party :

Lucas is standing on the street staring up at the house. Music can be heard blaring from the back yard. Slowly Brooke walks up behind him.

Brooke: "Deep in thought?"

Lucas: "Not particularly."

Brooke: "Really? Wow makes a change! Seriously for a second you looked like last year's brooding Lucas pre-basketball team."

Lucas: "You didn't know who I was before I joined the basketball team."

Brooke: "True but I had seen you around. Skulking, brooding. You barely spoke two words to anyone."

Lucas: "Yeah well that was last year. A lot has changed since then."

Brooke: "Your telling me. Last year I was scoring with the hunks of the school, now I vying for a divorced student."

Lucas smirks.

Brooke: "What?"

Lucas: "You just called me a hunk."

Brooke: "What? No- No, No, I- okay, well you have your moments, although that ship has sailed and I'm now more into the dark haired chromosome of your family."

Nathan, Haley and Kate walk up to Lucas and Brooke. They are all now fully dressed.

Brooke: "Hey guys. Where's Peyton?"

Haley: "She and Jake said they'd walk home together, don't think they really wanted to socialise after that whole Nikki thing."

Brooke: "Yeah, stupid Nikki and her stupid skanky ass. So, I take it we're walking. I mean I didn't drive tonight as I thought I was gonna get sloshed."

Nathan: "Kate and I walked."

Haley: "So did Lucas and I."

Brooke: "Great so we're walking, in the dark. That's not scary at all."

The group start to walk away from the house. Lucas moves next to Kate, putting an arm around her neck and kisses her forehead as they walk. Brooke, Haley and Nathan all look at them and then look down to the floor.

Brooke: "Eventful night."

Haley: "Yeah."

Nathan: "I feel bad for Peyton and Jake."

Brooke: "Yeah kinda puts everything into perspective."

Haley: "What do you mean?"

Brooke: "You, Me, Nathan the whole triangle deal is a little played out and god knows I've been in one too many of those in my life. I just want you to know, I'm out of the scene. Done."

Haley: "Me too. This whole thing has been overwhelming. A break from love is what I need right now."

Nathan: "So we all agree, not to date one another?"

Brooke: "Yeah."

Haley: "Uh huh"

Nathan: "Okay then…"

They all exchange forced smiles at one another. As they come to the end of the street, Lucas and Kate stop.

Kate: "This is my turn off. So night all."

Lucas: "I'll walk ya."

Brooke: "Night."

Lucas and Kate watch as Brooke, Haley and Nathan walk away. Kate raises an eyebrow.

Kate: "They know that's not going to work right. I mean Brooke still likes Nathan, Haley still loves Nathan…and Nathan is torn between the two of them. That drama is not over yet."

Lucas: "What about our drama?"

Kate: "Wait, we have drama?"

Lucas: "Well, yeah? Don't you wanna talk about what happened back there"

Kate: "What for?"

Lucas: "I dunno, clarity? My sleeping with Nikki"

Kate: "You mean the psycho bitch? No. Jeez, I don't wanna know about your sleeping with any of your past girlfriends, one night stands or anything else. Just like you probably don't wanna know about me sleeping with Nathan"

Lucas: "Your right, I don't wanna know."

Kate: "You sure, I mean I could get into details if you really wanted me to."

Lucas: "No, no, please don't"

Lucas leans in and kisses Kate.

Meanwhile, Haley, Brooke and Nathan are walking down the street. None of them have spoken since they dropped Lucas and Kate at their street.

Brooke: "Okay, well the silence is killing me and well this is where I turn off. So, hopefully tomorrow or when we are all in the same room next time we can be civil, friendly even. So good night happy bunnies."

Nathan smiles and Haley nods. Brooke walks away as Nathan watches. Haley and Nathan then continue to walk.

Haley: "I hope Brooke is right, I mean I don't want there to be any weirdness between the three of us."

Nathan: "Yeah. Listen Haley, I don't regret anything about our relationship. I loved you and I still love you but the time wasn't right for us, I guess."

Haley: "I don't think it was the timing, but the fact that we're both so young."

Nathan: "You think things will ever get back to the way they used to be?"

Haley: "Sometimes it doesn't feel like it."

Nathan: "I know."

Haley: "Okay well this is my stop."

Nathan watches as Haley turns around and walks away. He turns around, and starts to walk away. Haley stops and turns back around.

Haley: "Nathan."

Nathan turns around.

Nathan: "Yeah."

Haley: "I still love you and I want you to be happy. So stop worrying about me and start living for yourself, I'll be fine."

Haley turns around and walks/runs to her house. Nathan watches her go and sighs, before walking away.

: Outside Peyton's House :

Jake and Peyton are standing outside her house.

Peyton: "I just wish tonight was over already."

Jake: "Me too."

Peyton: "Are you feeling any better? I know stupid question, right but it seems like the most obvious to ask."

Jake: "I am. It just bugs me, I mean Nikki has every right to be a constant disruption in my life, but I don't like how being in my life means she has to be in yours, or Lucas's or anyone else's. All she ever does is cause a scene, make trouble for other people."

Peyton: "Well, I don't care. Let her, as long as it means I'm in your life, I'm happy."

Jake smiles, he puts his arms around Peyton. Hugging her, he leans down and kisses her forehead.

Peyton: "You going to stay tonight?"

Jake: "I would love to, I just.."

Peyton: "Need some space. I got it."

Jake: "Not from you though, just."

Peyton: "Space, trust me I understand more than anyone. I'll see you tomorrow."

Jake: "Yeah."

Jake kisses Peyton's head and walks away. Peyton opens the door to her house and walks in. She leans up against the door sighing. She takes off her jacket and walks upstairs, opening her bedroom door she sees Brooke lying on her bed.

Peyton: "Brooke?"

Brooke jumps a little. She smiles at Peyton.

Brooke: "You scared me."

Peyton: "Your alone in my house, in my bedroom and I scared you?"

Brooke: "Yeah, I figured you wouldn't be back for a while."

Peyton: "Well, the night was kinda a bust."

Brooke: "Yeah."

Brooke pats the bed down, motioning for Peyton to come and sit next to her. Peyton walks over to the bed and sits down on the opposite end of the bed.

Brooke: "You okay?"

Peyton: "I think so – Jake is just so down, I mean with Nikki constantly sticking around and putting her nose in places where it shouldn't be – plus he thinks that by being in mine, yours, Lucas's life he is causing trouble."

Brooke: "But that's not Jake's fault."

Peyton: "I know"

Brooke: "It's that I'm a skanky-hoe-slut-bag Nikki's."

Peyton nods picking up her pillow, burying her face in it.

Brooke: "What ya thinking?"

Peyton pulls her head out of the pillow and sighs.

Peyton: "That Jake's going to run again."

Brooke: "He wouldn't."

Peyton: "You think?"

Brooke leans over to Peyton and hugs her.

Brooke: "No, I know. He has you."

: Kate's House :

Kate is lying on her bed, in a pair of playboy pyjama shorts and strappy top. She flicks through the TV channels. She stops hearing a knock, walking over to her bedroom door, she opens it but no one is there. She raises an eyebrow as she hears the knocking sound again. Kate turns around and looks at the window, smirking. Walking over to it, she puts her hands on her hips.

Kate: "What you doing here?"

Nathan: "Didn't wanna go home."

Kate: "So you thought you'd climb through my bedroom window and do what exactly?"

Nathan: "Hopefully sleep, but knowing you I won't be getting much sleep."

Kate: "Hey!"

Nathan: "I just meant, that you toss in your sleep and you kick not to mention that you usually stick your butt out so far on the bed, it used to knock me out."

Kate: "You know I could push you, make you fall to the ground and go splat. Although as appealing as that is, I'm sure my grandpa would kick my ass for breaking one of his star basketball players."

Nathan: "So are you inviting me in?"

Kate nods, stepping back. Nathan climbs through the window and stands in front of Kate. He looks down at her, smirking.

Nathan: "Nice pjs, leaves little to the imagination."

Kate: "Well I guess it's a good job you don't need to kick start yours, cause you've seen it all before."

Kate walks over to the bed, lying down on one side. Nathan walks over to the bed, taking off his sweater and sneakers.

Kate: "Keep the shorts on; don't want you getting any ideas."

Nathan: "Like you'd be that lucky"

Kate nudges him.

Kate: "So how was the walk home?"

Nathan: "Complicated."

Kate: "Obviously, you didn't think it was going to be easy…did you?"

Nathan nudges her back.

Kate: "Okay, truce. Let's just sleep…although keep the snoring to a bare minimum would you, don't want my granddad to walk in."

Kate closes her eyes smirking. Nathan turns on his side and also closes his eyes.

: School Hallway :

Lucas is standing at Kate's locker, with a book in his hand. Haley smiling walks up to him.

Haley: "You don't seem like the needy boyfriend at all!"

Lucas: "Thanks!"

Haley: "Seriously though, what's with the whole stalker deal?"

Lucas: "I'm not stalking!"

Haley: "Really? Forget your binoculars?"

Lucas: "I'm just worried that last night's run in with Nikki has affected our relationship?"

Haley: "Wow, you spoke to her about it?"

Lucas: "Yeah, she said it hadn't. She also informed me not to tell her about past …flings that may have occurred."

Haley: "Okay, well there you go. She said everything was fine, so what's with the paranoia?"

Lucas: "She called me this morning, told me not pick her up."

Haley: "So?"

Lucas: "Well, trouble usually starts off small."

Haley: "Your still in the land of paranoid. Jeez, Luke, take a break!"

Lucas: "I know, I'm crazy."

Haley: "Yes, that would definitely describe you right now."

Lucas: "I can't help it, everything is going so great you know. So only natural for something bad to happen."

Nathan and Kate walk into the hallway.

Haley: "See look, here she comes. If she was giving you the hint to get lost, then I'm sure she wouldn't be walking towards you."

Lucas shoots her a look. Nathan and Kate reach Haley and Nathan.

Kate: "Morning Haley."

Haley: "Morning."

Kate leans up and kisses Lucas.

Haley: "See!"

Kate pulls back and smirks, looking from Lucas to Haley.

Kate: "See what?"

Lucas: "Nothing, Haley was just trying to prove a point."

Kate: "Oh? Did she succeed?"

Lucas: "Yeah."

Haley: "It's because I'm always right, you know the brains behind everything."

Nathan: "Can't argue there, well actually I would but no doubt you'd hit me."

Haley: "Oh my god, your never going to let me live that down are you?"

Lucas: "Live what down?"

Haley: "I may have accidentally thrown a book at Nathan once."

Nathan: "Accident? Please, you were aiming. We had been in an argument about something, and it turns out I was right and she was wrong. She got physical."

Kate laughs.

Nathan: "Hey!"

Kate: "What, I would have loved to see you get your ass kicked by Haley."

The bell rings. Haley smirks walking away, Nathan walks in the opposite direction. As Kate is about to walk away also, Lucas takes her hand and pulls her back kissing her once more.

Kate: "Whoa, what's with the tender loving care this morning?"

Lucas: "What? Can't a guy just be affectionate with his girlfriend?"

Kate: "Yeah, outside of school and not so early in the morning. Come on, we're gonna be late to math."

Lucas: "Would that be so bad?"

Lucas smirks, Kate drags him along with her.

: History Class :

As the teacher is speaking and pointing at the projector screen, Brooke leans forward across her desk.

Brooke: "Pst. Nathan."

Nathan leans back and listens.

Nathan: "Yeah?"

Brooke: "Got a pen I could borrow?"

Nathan turns around and looks at her, questioningly.

Nathan: "What?"

Brooke: "A pen, you know an instrument that you write with?"

Nathan: "I know what a pen is, why do you want one?"

Brooke: "I'm being studious, making notes."

Nathan: "Right! Why do you really need a pen?"

Brooke: "Fine, there's no fooling you. I was doodling on my page and my pen broke, and I need to cross out my doodle before Mr Saks, makes his way around the classroom and sees my funnier, yet realistic version of him."

Nathan leans back and looks down at Brooke's table. He laughs when he sees the doodle of the of teacher on her page, with a funny caption next to it. Nathan picks up his pen and starts to add to the doodle. Brooke laughs. Peyton also leans across and looks at the doodle.

Peyton: "Wow, neither of you are exactly Picasso."

Brooke nudges Peyton.

Peyton looks around the classroom and sighs leaning back in her chair.

Nathan: "What's wrong with Peyton?"

Brooke: "Jake hasn't shown today."

Brooke looks from Nathan and then back to Peyton.

: Jake's House :

Peyton pulls up outside Jake's house in her car. She gets out and walks to the front door. Knocking on the door, she looks down to the floor. Jake opens the door and sees Peyton.

Jake: "Peyton, why aren't you at school?"

Peyton: "Free period, how come your not at school?"

Jake: "You better come in."

Jake steps aside and lets Peyton in. In the living room is a suitcase, half packed with his and Jenny's clothes. Peyton walks in and over to the suitcase.

Peyton: "Your leaving?"

Jake: "Yeah…"

Peyton: "Were you even going to say goodbye?"

Jake: "No…"

Peyton sighs and looks away.

Jake: "Peyton I want you to come with me."

Peyton turns around and looks at Jake.

Peyton: "What?"

Jake walks up to Peyton, cupping her face with his hands.

Jake: "I want you to come with me. I'm moving back to my cousins, Nikki still doesn't know that's where I was and I figure that's the best place for me."

Peyton: "What about school? What about your family? This isn't like last time Jake, things are different now."

Jake: "I know. I can't stay, I don't have the energy anymore Peyton. Come with me?"

Peyton: "I – I can't. I can't leave Tree Hill, Jake. My dad is my home, just like Jenny's is yours."

Jake is close to tears.

Jake: "Peyton, I can't leave without you."

Peyton sighs.

Peyton: "I can't ask you to say… and I can't leave with you. I can't leave Tree Hill, my dad is here, my memories are here. I'm sorry Jake."

Peyton hurriedly walks up to Jake, kissing him on the mouth before turning and running out of the house and to her car. She gets into her car as Jake walks out of his house. Crying she starts the car up and drives off. Jake rests his head against the door frame.

: Lucas's House :

The rain is beating against his truck as he pulls up to his house. He gets out of the truck ad runs up to the patio, as he gets underneath he pulls down the hood from his head. He sees Peyton sitting on his doorstep.

Lucas: "Peyton?"

Peyton looks up at him, tears rolling down her cheeks.

Lucas: "Hey, what's wrong?"

Peyton stands up and walks towards Lucas, hugging him. Lucas wraps his arms around her

Later, Peyton is sitting in Lucas's bedroom. She hangs up her cell phone.

Lucas: "Another message from Jake?"

Peyton: "Yeah, listen sorry for the little outburst earlier. It's just, I couldn't think of who to turn to and then I found myself here."

Lucas: "It's okay, you know you can talk to me about anything. So Jake's really leaving?"

Peyton: "Yeah, he said he'd stay for me in the message, but I can't let him do that. He needs a chance to be happy, him and Jenny."

Lucas: "What about you, you need to be happy"

Peyton: "Why so everything can just come crashing down again? Luke, I'm gonna need a huge favor."

: Outside Peyton's House :

Lucas and Peyton are standing outside Peyton's house.

Peyton: "Did you manage to get to talk to Kate yet?"

Lucas: "No, her phone's off."

Peyton: "Well won't she be pissed when she finds out?"

Lucas: "Yeah which, is why I am hoping to be the first one to tell her."

Peyton looks past Lucas, seeing Jake walking towards the house in the distance. She leans in and kisses Lucas, keeping her eyes open. She watches as Jake stops, but then notices when another figure walks into the scene, Brooke. She pulls back, looking at the two of them. Lucas turns and looks around.

Next On One Tree Hill

Peyton is talking to Jake in the house.

Jake: "I understand why you did it Peyton, but you can't push me away. You were right, I can't leave my family again it'll break their hearts and if I don't stay with you, it'll break mine."

Peyton hugs Jake.

Brooke and Haley are walking in the mall together.

Brooke: "You know I'm really glad you decided to join me on this little shopping spree."

Haley: "How could I resist? You put my arm behind my back and practically forced me."

Brooke: "Right. Well, your having fun though."

Haley: "Surprisingly I am..."

Lucas is standing outside Kate's house waiting for her, he is drenched in water. Kate walks up the drive way, smirking at him.

Kate: "Whoa, wet much?"

Lucas: "I need to tell you something."