The illicit (well, not really, since they both are non-exclusive) rendezvous continued on in the days ahead. They would cut insignificant classes and miss lunch dates, neither of them remembering that they were supposed to woo Chris and Haley. Still, things worked out because they were, after all, Lucas and Peyton. They made up for their mishaps with thousand word essays and moonlit walks by the beach. The New Yorkers remained blissfully ignorant of the situation.

"Where have you been?" Chris asked Peyton as she carefully put her books on her locker. His voice caused her to jump a little. "I've been looking for you."

"Remedial Physics," Peyton lied smoothly, shutting her locker door closed and smiling at Chris sweetly.

"But you're getting A's in Physics." Chris wondered. The last time he'd been to Peyton's house, he saw piles of test papers littered on her desk, all with excellent marks. "How come you need remedial classes?"

Peyton wondered when this curiosity streak started. Was it because her hair was a little disheveled? "Yeah, but they're not A pluses. I need an A plus to raise my GPA from a 3.9 to a 4." This wasn't a total lie. Mrs. Reed, the councilor, told her that she needed to get an A plus in all of her subjects to raise her GPA to a perfect four. She would be the first one in Tree Hill history to have it all. Brains, beauty and popularity. Who wouldn't want that?

"But a 3.9 would qualify you for valedictorian." Chris whispered in her ear, planting soft kisses in her cheek. The kisses felt a little weird for Peyton. They were sort of mushy, as opposed to the nice, firm ones Lucas gave her.

"But I want to be better than the valedictorian." She pouted. Chris kissed her on the lips this time, congratulating himself for getting such a fantastic girl.

"And you will, baby." Chris said, hooking his arm on her waist. Just then, Lucas passed by, sharing a significant look with Peyton. Chris didn't seem to notice, though. He was too wound up burying his face in Peyton's hair. "Walk you to History?" He muffled.

Peyton looked at Chris, smiling. "Sure."

Lucas didn't know why suddenly he felt all grumpy and protective. That music freak was all over Peyton, and, she didn't seem to mind. She actually looked amused. He tried to shake it off, comforting himself with looking at Shelley, a girl he'd hooked up with sophomore year. She winked at him, and he admired the way her hips rocked when she walked.

"Hey there, stud." He heard someone say behind him.

Lucas turned around. "Hey there, beautiful." He greeted, tilting his head and smiling at Haley.

"So," she started, laughing to herself self-consciously. "Where were you?"

"Coach wanted to meet the team." Lucas lied. He put his arm around her, and they both started walking. If his lie won't work, at least his sex appeal will. "Something about a skit for prom."

"Really?" Haley asked.

"It's embarrassing. Don't tell anyone." Lucas downplayed himself often when it came to Haley. His ex-girlfriends would be surprised if they saw him now, and if he heard the way he spoke. He started quoting Shakespeare and Neruda, which he loved to read but was tacky when recited to a girl. He wore less hair products to avoid that scent Haley hated, the scent she'd told him about. It was actually kind of cute, her little quirks.

Just then Brooke Davis walked by, arm in arm with Nathan Scott, and so as to avoid any awkward confrontation, he kissed Haley on the lips. He heard hurried footsteps and an expletive, but after a few seconds they were gone. "What was that for?" Haley asked, giggling, her face still warm from blushing.

"Neither the heart cut by a piece of glass, in a wasteland of thorns, nor the atrocious waters seen in the corners, of certain houses, waters like eyelids and eyes, can, capture your waist in my hands, when my heart lifts its oaks, towards your unbreakable thread of snow." Lucas whispered in reply. He googled Sonata just this morning, and memorized it on his way to school, just in case Haley needed a little more romancing.

Haley smiled, caught in a daze. She was so lucky to have someone like Lucas.

Peyton made her way to her car, proud of the day's achievements. She'd actually gotten a perfect score on the pop quiz their Physics teacher gave, and she knew that would help raise her grade. She'd also made out with Lucas without Chris knowing, which gave her a little thrill. Suddenly she heard a shrill ring from her bag; someone was calling her cellular phone.

"Hello?" Peyton asked, fiddling with her keys.

"I have great news for you!" Said the voice on the other line. She immediately recognized it as Chris, because of that cute accent he had. She smiled.

"What's up?" Peyton started the engine and backed up the car, turning the volume down on the radio.

"I'll tell you over dinner." Chris said. "That little Italian joint at say, about eight?"

"Perfect." Peyton breathed into the phone. She loved this perk of dating, being wined and dined at fantastic restaurants. "I'll see you then."

After a ten-minute ride, she drove up a familiar driveway, parking her car with ease and gathering her things. She jogged up her house, unsure why she felt excited all of a sudden. She'd been on dates before, how could this one be any different? She dropped her bag and immediately ran to her closet to find something to wear. A few hours later she emerged from her bedroom, her hair nicely arranged and her clothes carefully picked out. It was then that she heard an engine shutting down. She opened the door to find Lucas, smiling cockily at her.

"Hot date?" He teased.

"Shut up." Peyton answered. He followed her inside, closing the door behind him.

"I guess you're leaving, then." Lucas said, acting as if he was disappointed. Peyton chewed her lip as she thought for a moment. She then grabbed Lucas, pulling him up the stairs, kissing him ferociously. He laughed, knowing she would be unable to resist.

"We have to make it quick," she whispered, removing his shirt. "Chris is expecting me tonight."

"Oh, don't worry." Lucas said, running his hands up and down her hair, "Haley will be there to keep him company."

They fell down on the bed. "You're coming too?"

"Apparently they have some news to tell." Lucas said in between kisses, removing all traces of clothing in the way.

"Won't it be suspicious if we were both late?" Peyton asked, and they suddenly stopped, looking at each other. It lasted for a second, but then they both broke into malicious grins, resuming what they had stopped. For a second, they forgot all about the dates.

"Where are they?" Haley asked impatiently, tapping her fingers on the table. She was already on her third iced tea, which she didn't mind, since Chris was paying for everything. Besides, she didn't know that they were spiked with rum, a little trick Chris played to amuse himself while waiting for Peyton.

"I tried Peyton's cell, she won't answer." Chris answered, biting off the top of a crisp breadstick.

"Crap." Haley muttered under her breath.

"I hear those two are like, best friends or something. Who makes friends with a guy?" Chris scoffed.

"Not all of us are assholes like you, Keller." Haley hiccupped, taking a sip of her iced tea.

"Maybe they're having a friends dishing session. I bet he's telling her how you suck so much in the sack." Chris laughed. "Suck in the sack, that's precious."

"For your information, Lucas—"

"Just arrived." Chris announced. He noticed Peyton's hair was kind of in disarray, and her clothes were a bit rumpled. Lucas' lips looked swollen. A thought passed him by, but he dismissed it.

"Weather sucks." Peyton said, as if that would explain her appearance. She sat down next to Chris, planting a soft kiss on his cheek. "I'm sorry I'm late. The damned tutor won't let me leave until I perfected Ohm's law."

Chris smiled in understanding. "You look nice," he complimented. This girl was so into him. Peyton smiled and gave him another kiss on the cheek. On the way to the restaurant, she and Lucas were trying out excuses to give Chris and Haley. Lucas even suggested being mugged. That's when she thought that the whole idea of elaborate excuses was ridiculous. They'd just give plain ones, and make up for the rest with charm.

"Yeah, you know why I was late." Lucas said, reminding Haley of the so-called team presentation. He'd still have find a way to make that happen or explain to her that it won't, but right now, it seemed too good of an excuse to give up.

"You have something on your cheek," Haley noticed. It was a smudge of Peyton's lipstick, but Haley didn't seem to know that. She wiped it off with a napkin and smiled up at him.

"Embarrassing, I told you." Lucas whispered. Peyton shot him an icy glare.

"So, should we order?" Chris asked, waving his hand up in the air. The mustached waiter walked to their table, carrying a small notebook and a pen. "Can you also get us a bottle of your finest champagne?" Chris asked, and the waiter scribbled in affirmation.

"Show off," Haley muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes. She was feeling quite dizzy now. Moments later the champagne arrived, much to the silent delight of Lucas. If he wouldn't get drunk, at least he'd get tipsy enough to morph into no-inhibitions, cheesy Lucas. As if he had inhibitions.

"So," Chris said, pouring the sizzling sweet liquid down four glasses, "the big news." He handed out the glasses. "As you all know, my school sent me to Tree Hill for the music program. Just this afternoon I got a call from a recording studio." He paused dramatically," And they wanted to sign me as a recording artist!"

Peyton squealed in exaggerated delight. "Oh my god, baby, that's wonderful!" She threw her hands around him while he was gloating in all of the glory and champagne.

"Congrats, man." Lucas said, shaking his hand. Baby?

"Well I knew about it Chris, and I already congratulated you." Haley said, slurring.

Peyton raised her champagne glass. "To Chris!" She said, beaming. Everyone raised their glasses as well for a toast. The food arrived and for a few minutes, they ate in silence. Chris tried to think of some conversation starter, smiling awkwardly at each of them. He preferred it if he was alone with Peyton, but it wasn't like he couldn't invite Haley. Secretly, he had her to thank. She handled all of the technical stuff of their visit.

"So, Peyton," he started, "how's your review going?"

"Oh, excellent." Peyton replied, avoiding getting into too much detail. It wasn't like she really had remedial classes. The awkward silence ensued. Lucas, bored, glanced at Peyton. She was bored as well, he could tell; she was too focused into eating her food. He coughed, and he finally had her attention. They looked at each other for a few seconds, doing the wordless communication they mastered in junior year. Lucas smiled mischievously, and Peyton glared at him playfully in response. The game was on.

Lucas started by putting his arm around Haley, who had just finished her chicken Alfredo. She smiled at him, in a trance because of all of the rum and champagne. Lucas glared at Peyton, daring her to make her move. Peyton cut off a small piece from her shrimp.

"Taste?" Peyton asked sweetly, dangling the fork in front of Chris.

"Cute." Chris replied, smiling. "But actually, I'm allergic to seafood." Lucas suppressed a chuckle. Peyton smiled politely back at Chris, eating the shrimp. She kicked Lucas in his shin, which made his face contort in pain.

"Dude, you okay?" Chris asked, noticing.

"Yeah, I just remembered something the coach asked me to do." Lucas lied. Glancing at Peyton once again, he whispered more Shakespeare verses in Haley's ear, which made her giggle in delight. Peyton rolled her eyes. She finished off the glass of champagne she had, and with all audacity, pulled Chris into a kiss.

"What was that for?" Chris asked, feeling extremely lucky. Their faces were still touching, and Peyton stole a quick kiss.

"For being a rock star." She whispered sultrily.

Lucas raised his hand and summoned the violinist. He slipped him a fifty-dollar bill; mouthing the song he wanted him to play. The first few notes sounded off, and Haley gave a swoon. She smiled at Lucas.

"Someday," Lucas sang, barely in tune, "when I'm awfully lone, when the world is cold, I will feel aglow just thinking of you," Peyton had to bite her lips to keep herself from laughing out loud. "And the way you look tonight." Haley looked positively thrilled.

"Oh, but you're lovely," Chris sang, in his raspy, rock star voice, sounding much, much better than Lucas. "With your smile so warm," he took Peyton's hand, "and your cheek so soft, there is nothing for me but to love you." Peyton smiled. She always did love being sung to. "And the way you look tonight."

The violinist played the bridge. "Just the way you look tonight." Haley sang, finishing off the last line. The people in the restaurant, who'd been watching the little scene, applauded at them.

"You can sing?" Chris asked, surprised. "I didn't know."

"You never asked." Haley replied, slightly embarrassed.

"That was wonderful, Hales." Lucas praised, kissing her in the forehead.

"Thank you for the song." Peyton said, which caused Chris to shake off his surprised thoughts. "You're going to make an excellent rock star."

Just then, Haley shot up from her seat, rushing to the ladies' room. Lucas followed her, acting like a good, concerned boyfriend. Chris followed them with his eyes. "I guess that's our cue to leave." He motioned for the bill. He then left the restaurant arm in arm with Peyton.

"Haley?" Lucas asked, peeking into the women's room. He heard a flush before heading inside, relieved to see that there was no one else around. Haley emerged from the stall, looking red.

"I'm sorry," she apologized, heading towards the sink to fix herself up. "I think I drank too much champagne. It didn't sit well with the chicken." She laughed.

Lucas smiled warmly. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I feel much better." Haley grabbed tissue from the dispenser, and they went out of the ladies' room together, much to the confusion of one waiter who saw them. Chris and Peyton were not at the table, and the waiter was already cleaning up their plates. Lucas wondered where they'd gone.

"Come on," Lucas offered, putting his arm around her, "I'll take you back to your hotel."

Not surprisingly, Chris and Peyton ended up at the beach. They were walking silently, admiring the cool rush of the wind and the crashing sound of the waves. Chris stopped, taking Peyton's hand.

"Peyton, you are the most amazing girl I've ever met." Peyton giggled. She was used to declarations of love. But she was nervous to see how this will turn out, given the circumstances. "You're beautiful and you're smart. You're perfect." Peyton kept silent. No one had ever called her perfect before. "As you know, I'm headed out to New York soon. The recording label agreed to record my album there."

Instead of letting Chris' words sink in, Peyton thought back to the times she went with Lucas on the beach. She remembered bitching about bad dates, teasing and laughing at each other for ever getting into them. She remembered the serious conversations they had, regarding college and family, and the future that lay before them. Chris' voice snapped her back to reality.

"I guess what I'm saying is," he said, nervous, "since you got in NYU and all," He paused, looking into her eyes sincerely. "Will you come with me to New York?"

A/N: Dun dun dun! An extra long chapter since I haven't updated for so long. A BIG thanks to all of you who reviewed. Hope you liked this chapter! Hmm. Looks like Peyton's going to have to make a tough decision! And more reviews, yey:)