I feel really good about this story. :) and my latest on, Don't Ever Leave. I didn't think it'd get as many hits or reviews as it has, but it did and that made Vannesa happy! Lmfao. My party's less than a month away so it's been hectic around here. Getting the dress, I've got the place but we need decorations. We need the invitations sent out and make sure that everyone has directions to get there. Ugh, so much to do! xD But I still got time to update as you can see!

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Last Time: "What's wrong?" He asked, noticing my face. I looked up at him, my face in a nervous and slightly worried way. "It's Peyton."

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I'll Keep You My Secret

Brooke's POV:

Peyton. Why? Why now? I love you and all, but why now? Can't you leave me and Lucas alone for once?

"Are you going to answer it?" Lucas asked me.

Did I have a choice? She'd probably keep calling and I had a pretty good feeling who she was calling for and it wasn't me. I nodded my head and pressed my finger to my lips. "Stay quiet." I said softly, before answering the call and bringing the phone up to my ear. "Hello?"

"Brooke?" Well this was my phone. Who else would it be? The blonde next to me reminded me it could've been him answering the phone. He could've taken it and answered; thank God he didn't. I nodded my head, only out of habit.

"Yea. Peyton, is everything ok?" I asked her, because I knew she wasn't just calling for a call. She was calling for something. I could practically see her shaking her head and sighing silently on the other side.

"No. You haven't seen Lucas anywhere by any chance, have you?" Instinctively, I looked towards the blonde she asked about; his gaze was intently focused on me and suddenly, I forgot what I had been thinking for a second. God, why did his blue eyes have to make me go weak in the knees. Should I tell her? Every bone in my body was screaming 'NO! Don't tell her!' But she was my best friend, at the same time, though, she was in love with the man I was in love with who had just told me he was in love with me as well. Damn love triangle that kept coming back. I couldn't tell her. I realized this. No. And no one could know, not just yet. I know Haley and Nathan wouldn't tell Peyton, but taking it all in at one time, well, I just needed for us to take it slow. At least for now. "No, I haven't seen Lucas. Why?" The lie went from my lips as easily as if they had been real.

Peyton audibly sighed on the other side of the phone. "I need to talk to him. I have to explain why what happened happened. He just rushed out of here and I haven't seen him in two days since I'm still cooped up here, Brooke."

You cheated on him. Why would he wanna hear? I know how it feels, Peyton. "Well, I haven't seen him. Which reminds me, when are you going to get discharged?" Lucas looked relieved both the first and second time that I told my blonde friend I hadn't seen my love. Now, He looked up at the sky, the rain still falling and looked back at me, motioning to go under the small roof of a nearby store across the street. I nodded my head and he took my hand silently, leading me and we were there in no time, standing under the shelter provided.

"I don't know. The doctor told me; I forgot. I think he said in a few days or so." I only had a few days to think of something. Great. But I nodded slowly.

"Well, that's great, Peyton." I lied. Sure, it was nice to have her out, but would she still think of me as her best friend when I'm going out and in love with her ex? The ex she's still in love with?

"I guess so." She said and I knew she was still upset about Lucas.

"It is." I couldn't tell her that she was getting back with the blonde male, because he was with me now. Some friend I am. "Listen, I gotta go. I'm, um, I'm in the rain and, um, I need concentration to drive." Again, I lied to her. I wasn't driving but I did need concentration. Concentration to think about what to do.

"Alright. I guess I'll call you later or something. And Brooke?"

"Yea?"

"Thanks for being a good friend. Ya know, putting up with me being like this and helping me out with Lucas and everything." Fuck.

I didn't respond immediately. How could I? How could after she just said that? I had to take a moment and take a silent, deep breath and closed my eyes. "No problem." I told her while they stayed close. Damn her.

"I'll call you later. Bye."

"Bye." And I shut my phone.

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"I don't know if I can do this, Lucas." I whispered. We were sitting in his car now. After the call, I explained everything to him and he held me in his arms for a good ten minutes, the only noise being the rain falling around us and on the small roof above us. Finally, I knew we had to talk about it, but it'd be better in a warm car and we headed back, mostly running back, and got in the closest car. His car. The heater was running and my hair was at least damp now, instead of soaked wet. For the last fifteen minutes, I had been staring outside the windshield. Thinking. I couldn't do it. I couldn't tell Peyton and that was killing me. I couldn't tell Haley yet because I knew she'd probably make a big deal or it'd be just as hard for her to keep it a secret from our friend as it would be for me. Maybe harder, seeing as she was a third party. I didn't think Lucas would be able to tell Nathan either. I mean, sure, Nathan wasn't around as often, but it could slip or he would just be uncomfortable with the awkwardness as it would be for any of us.

We couldn't tell anyone just yet. It had only been a week and a couple days since Lucas and Peyton, well, Peyton broke off the wedding and terminated their relationship. God, did I feel like a slut right now.

"Can't do what?" He asked softly, not whispering like I had done.

I sighed and looked up towards the car ceiling for a second before turning my sad gaze on him. "This. Us. Lying to Peyton. It's killing me, Luke." I whispered again, sure that my torn expression showed with no holding back on my face and eyes.

My sadness caught up to him and his own face fell; his eyes saddened. "Then let's tell her." What was he? Crazy?

"You know very well we can't do that. Not yet at least."

"And why the hell not?"

I swear. Were all men this stupid sometimes? "Because you two just terminated your relationship. She's still hurting, Luke. I can't do that to her. I already feel horrible just by lying to her and then not telling her. Not to mention the total whore I feel like since we're getting together only a week after you two are done."

His expression softened and he took my hand, holding it over his chest. God, he was just too sweet sometimes. "No one can help what I feel for you, Brooke. And no one can help what you feel for me. Like you told me before, People who are meant to be together, always find their way in the end. It took us a couple years, but we've found each other now. Found in the way that we've figured out what we've never seen all along. You and I are meant to be. And that does not make you a whore."

I gave him a small smile, despite my problems and leaned in, kissing him softly.

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Lucas' POV:

I smiled a bit against Brooke's lips, kissing her back gently. She was easily worried over these things. I don't blame her though. I do feel somewhat bad about the whole Peyton thing, but it's like I told her. I can't help what we feel for each other. I mean, Peyton had her chance, but I figured that deep down, I knew it wasn't gonna last long with her. It never does.

Brooke pulled away slowly and I rested my forehead against hers, taking her hand. "Brooke, I love you. Nothing, or no one for that matter, can change that." I whispered to her softly. I had to say, this was the best day of my life. Hands down. Nothing could ruin this. Not even the call from Peyton. No, I figured it just brought us even closer in this small moment.

Brooke smiled, dimples and all. I can't get enough of that smile. It just lightened up everything. If it was raining and dark, like it was now, her smile just lightened everything up. Ok, I'm probably sounding like a sap now, I know. But it's all true. Like Romeo compared Juliet to the sun, well, I'm betting she had nothing on Brooke. I'm telling you, I haven't felt this way in a long time. All because of her. It wouldn't be surprising now to say she was the reason I was so happy back in senior year, and it's true. All that I'm saying now. But I'm guessing i should stop before I become a complete mush fest.

"I love you too, Lucas." She whispered back to me and I only smiled more. I'm telling you, tonight was a great night.

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"Come on. We need to start heading for some house or something. We're gonna get sick." I commented and started the car, turning the heat on once it was running. "You want me to drop you off at your place?" I said and turned to face her.

There was a pout on her face. "What?"

"Why can't you spend the night? or I come over?"

I smiled and chuckled softly. "What about Sam, Brooke?"

Brooke smiled a bit and shrugged. "Sam's a big girl. She can handle one night by herself. Please, Luke?" She gave me that look that I've never been able to resist.

"Fine. Your place or mine?"

She gave me her famous smile and shrugged, leaning back against the seat. "It doesn't matter. Either place is fine."

I debated for a moment. Either home we went to, if we got too carried away, something could happen between us. Not that I minded, but I doubt Sam would've wanted to wake up to me in the kitchen in boxers or to some...noises in the middle of the night. I guessed my place would be the safest. No one would walk in the middle of the night, it was just me living there. "Mine it is." I said, putting the shift in drive and started off.

It was quiet for a few moments. Only the sound of the rain on the roof of the car and the sloshing of the rain when the car hit it, as well as the wind blowing from the heater was heard. But it wasn't an awkward silence. No. This one was nice. There didn't need to be words all the time. Sometimes silence was a good thing. I reached over, taking her hand in mine and she interlocked our hands together. This was the way we stayed like this for the rest of the ride.

It wasn't until we were a few minutes away, I noticed Brooke's posture and her mood changed. I felt it. Her leg was bouncing up and down, and she was biting her lip, the way she did when she was nervous about something.

"You ok?"

She turned to look at me, still biting her lip and sighed softly, shrugging before her leg stopped shaking. "I guess."

"Talk to me."

But Brooke shook her head. "At the house."

She said simply, and I knew that was the end of it for now. I simply sighed internally and nodded my head, facing ahead. Before I knew it, we had arrived. It was still pouring, so I shut the car off, and Brooke got out quickly, running to the door. I followed suit, taking my keys out and putting them in the key hole, opening the door and let her inside first.

I shuddered after I got inside, shutting the door behind me. At least it was dry inside. We were soaked, from just now and from the long time we had stood in the rain. I turned the heater up, running a hand through my hair. Small flashbacks of that big rain storm senior year kept coming to mind. I chuckled to myself, shaking my head and turned around, noticing Brooke standing there.

"I don't wanna get your couch wet." She said simply. "And I want a warm shower."

I chuckled softly.

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Brooke's POV:

I couldn't help but smile slightly, hearing him chuckle, although it confused me some. "What?"

He smiled, shaking his head and walked to the hall closet, opening it and grabbing a towel. "Nothing." He answered simply, tossing the towel towards me. I smiled, raising an eyebrow and shrugged, catching it in both hands. A warm shower would do me some good.

"I'll only take a few." I assured him, and he nodded.

Heading for the bathroom, I made my way in, shutting and locking the door behind me. Why lock it? It was a habit. Something I did no matter where I was. I stripped down, turning the warm water on and stepped into it. It felt nice, the water, it did. As soon as it hit my skin, I instantly felt warm. But it was then, after my brain cleared of being cold and wet, was it that I got to thinking. And so much thinking in one day for myself wasn't a good thing.

Because I got to thinking about Peyton. About Lucas. About myself. We couldn't tell anyone. I had already told myself this, but I had to keep repeating. It was even hard to think this. I wanted to tell, no, to scream out to the world I was with him. That I was in love with him. But I couldn't. I was being held back. Stupid love triangle. I really hated it. So what to do now? Only one option came to my mind; we'd have to keep our relationship a secret. At minor for a couple weeks.

This was really going to suck. First, I wasn't allowed to show off my boyfriend and I'd have to sit back and watch if any girl came up and started flirting with him... and I couldn't do anything about. The thought made me frown and sick to my stomach. Of course, I knew he wasn't gonna allow those girls a chance, but still. Just watching them. I sighed. Maybe this sneaking around thing wasn't such a good idea. But we--I--couldn't let Peyton get even more emotionally, and probably physically, hurt than she already was. So yes, I still cared even if I was the one stealing her guy this time. But he wasn't hers anymore, but I couldn't shake the guilt.

Now to tell, Lucas.

I shut the water off, grabbing the towel sitting outside the curtain and wrapped it around my body. He wouldn't agree. I knew it. He'd at least give me a few good reasons to not to not tell them. But I couldn't let him get to me. I just couldn't. No. I had to be strong. Walking into his room brought back memories I didn't get to savor for as long as I would've liked to. I knew he wouldn't mind me borrowing his clothes so I took a pair of his pajama pants, though they were too big, and one of his shirts, also big. Brushing my hair, I took my time. I need it. Time. to think about what i was gonna say. Because I didn't exactly know what to say.

He came in then, a few minutes after I had gotten out and I was still brushing my hair. "Hey." He said, a small grin on his face.

I turned and I smiled a bit, trying to make it look ok. "hey." I said simply, still brushing my hair to keep my hands from fidgeting.

He noticed how I was quiet, I guess I was being. Because he tilted his head. "You ok?" This was it. the time to act. Could I do it? No. Did I have to do it? Yes.

I sighed and glanced down, the brush slowing down in my hands. I shook my head; my wet hair moving slightly. Placing the brush back, my petite hands rested on my lap afterwards and I looked at him. "We need to talk." He looked cautious as he nodded; that was a sign to go on. "We can't do this." I whispered. His mouth opened to say something and I raised a hand, palm up, to him. "Let me finish. I'm not saying to not be together. I'm just saying we need time before we tell the others. They might not take it as well as we think they might. Nothing's ever what it seems. I want to tell them, Luke. I really do. But we just can't now." i let out a soft breath.

He looked at me in confusion. "You mean, have our relationship a secret?"

I nodded.

He debated for a moment.

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Lucas' POV:

Was she for real? I couldn't believe this. Then again, it was Brooke. I didn't blame her. And I didn't want to fight either. For now, I guess it was the best to do. If it wasn't, well, I was only doing this for her. I nodded slowly after a few minutes of debation. I can't believe I was giving in so easy.

"Ok." I said simply.

Surprise flittered across her face. Yea, join the club. "Really?"

I nodded my head, a small grin reappearing. "Really."

She smiled and came over, kissing me softly. Mm, I could never get enough of that. "Good." she whispered against my lips and I chuckled lightly, nodding again.

She got up then and I felt my shoulders fall a bit. She laughed, seeing my reaction. "I'll be back. I just need to go to the bathroom." I chuckled and nodded my head watching her disappear and leaned back against the pillows. Her phone rang, I looked over. Should I answer it? Nah. But the ringing was getting annoying, she didn't say anything from the bathroom. I acted before I thought about it and I reached over, picking the vibrating phone off the dresser and pushing the 'Answer' button.

"Hello?" I answered after putting it up to my ear.

"Lucas?" Haley? Awe shit. Maybe answering the phone was a bad idea.

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Weee! Another one done! :) My party's saturday and I'm stoked about it. If the ending is kinda bad and/or rushed, I'm sorry. It's midnight and unlike most nights, I'm beat. But I just wanted it up. :) So R&R!