Prom week finally arrived, much to the excitement of the students of Tree Hill. Decorations and banners were already set in the gym, and committees were already promoting the event through skits and various activities. Lucas and Peyton's interactions were limited to brief make-out sessions on the janitor's closet, or the gym locker room. They were suddenly too busy with their own personal affairs.

After school, Peyton hung out with the design committee for the dance, being exceptionally skilled in the arts. This afternoon was no different. They were running behind schedule, so she offered to stay later to finish hanging the ribbons. Trying to keep her balance, Peyton stood atop a metal ladder while trying to loop a black and a silver ribbon. She shifted to get a better angle; but she lost her footing and slipped off the ladder. She closed her eyes and screamed, expecting contact with a hard, concrete floor, but all there was were a pair of strong arms to catch her. She opened her eyes and found them locked in Lucas' blue ones. Peyton tried to open her mouth to speak, but the shock of the fall still silenced her. She gave Lucas a small smile instead.

"You okay?" Lucas asked softly, a tone he only took with her. It was a tone of genuine concern. He carried her to the benches, setting her down gently.

"Yeah," Peyton laughed, berating herself for being such a klutz. "Thank you for, you know, being there."

"You're welcome." Lucas answered. After a brief silence, Peyton spoke again.

"We don't talk anymore." She sighed mournfully. "We used to talk."

"Yeah." Lucas answered wistfully. "But we have other people now, right?"

"As if that even stopped us before." Peyton remarked. "So, any dirt about that chick of yours?"

Lucas thought for a moment. Haley was kind and sweet. She was smart and beautiful. She was talented. She was unlike any girl he'd been with before. "No." He answered, new to the thought. "How about your manwhore?"

"Well, aside from being arrogant and self-assured," Peyton joked. "I guess," Peyton stopped, her thoughts trailing off.

"Yeah." Lucas said. Peyton moved closer to him, allowing herself to be engulfed in that friendly embrace that she hasn't had in so long.

"I miss us, Luke. When have we become so kept?" She murmured. Lucas put an arm around her shoulder.

"Maybe we're evolving, or something." Lucas mused. "Though monogamy isn't really a form of evolution."

"Not really," Peyton was used to their strange conversations. She smiled at the familiarity.

"Maybe we're achieving self-actualization." Peyton wondered. It was a little scary to think that, knowing that she was still too young to be so accomplished. She wanted more things to sort out.

"There you go again with your psychobabble." Lucas chuckled. "I told you Peyt, you really should major in Psych."

"That could work out. You know, I could win a Nobel Prize for medicine and you could win one for Literature. Then we'll gloat in our Nobel prize-winning glory and cash." Peyton ranted, sitting up, amused by the idea.

Lucas laughed. "I like that future."

Peyton stood up, sighing, pulling Lucas up with her. "I have to go finish this." She motioned towards the decorations.

"I could help," Lucas offered. "You know gravity hates you."

"No, that's okay." Peyton laughed. "I think I'll avoid the ladder tonight." She smiled amiably. "You go romance your Juliet."

"You sure?" Lucas said. "I don't see ass-boy here anywhere."

"Meeting with executives." Peyton explained. "I'll be fine, Luke. Thanks for the catch. And the talk." Lucas continued to stare at her disbelievingly. "I'll be okay, I swear!" Peyton tried pushing Lucas towards the door.

"Okay." He finally said, giving in. "See you tomorrow." Peyton smiled at him graciously, putting her arms around him for a hug. The moment they pulled back from the embrace, they were drawn into a kiss, a kiss so familiar yet so foreign to them. Lucas smiled before walking away, leaving Peyton reeling in from the sensation that clouded her senses the minute their lips touched. A feeling of guilt and regret brewed in the back of her mind as she resumed her duties.

Peyton took a final sip of her vanilla cappuccino and threw it expertly in the direction of the trashcan. A few summers ago, Lucas taught her basic basketball skills, which was why the cup landed in the direction she wanted it to. She shook her head, trying to dispel all thoughts of Lucas. That seemed to be the thing with her nowadays. She silently repeated Chris' name, hoping it will chase away the thoughts she had in her head.

"Peyton, wait up!"

Chris appeared by her side, as if conjured up. She smiled and continued on walking. She barely had time for anyone, except for lunch with Chris. She didn't even have time for Lucas anymore, though she was kind of glad she didn't. Prom preparations and studying kept her occupied. "Did you get the coffee?" Chris asked. "I told Haley to—"

"I got the coffee." She replied.

"Hey," Chris said, stopping. He took her hand to make her stop walking as well. "Is everything fine? I mean, about that night—"

"Chris, I'm really swamped with prom preparations." Peyton said calmly. "But don't worry about it, okay? And don't worry about me."

"You look nice today." He said, lightly touching her face. She smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

"You can walk me to Lit," Peyton said, smiling. She turned her heel, ready to resume walking, when she bumped into a familiar person. For a second she was in his arms, her small frame leaning on his well-built body, his perfume intoxicating her. She closed her eyes and opened them again.

"Luke," Peyton said awkwardly, pulling away. Lucas had a strange expression on his face.

"Peyton," Lucas said. He glanced down and saw that she was holding on to Chris Keller's hand tightly, as if it were life support. He felt a sudden rush of anger. "Uh, could we talk?"

"Not now." Peyton replied curtly. "This prom thing needs to be done." She avoided his gaze. He could read her like an open book, and he could tell that she was lying.

"We really—"

The bell suddenly went off, and students in the hallway shuffled hastily into their respective classes. Peyton, overcome with relief, gave Lucas an apologetic smile and pulled Chris with her to AP Literature, forgetting that he had history for the first subject.

Men in tuxedos and women in elaborately designed gowns walked in the school gym, looking around in awe. The designs were spectacular. Murmurs of praise could be heard everywhere. The DJ was playing cool tunes, something light to start the evening with. People were having fun, some of them were talking, some of them helping themselves to the buffet table. Peyton walked inside, wearing a simple white gown. She smiled when she saw that her work had paid off. She looked around, and some of her classmates greeted her and complimented her on the gym and on her appearance.

"You look beautiful." A deep voice greeted her.

She turned around and found herself once again locked in Lucas' deep gaze. He opened his mouth to speak when Chris suddenly appeared, linking his arm with Peyton's. She broke into a relaxed smile and kissed him on the cheek, oblivious to Lucas' looks. "Hey, man." Chris said, acknowledging his presence. "Haley's waiting for you by the punch bowl."

"Haley," Lucas said, still looking at Peyton. "Right." He said, diverting his attention to the buffet table. He saw Haley who waved at him timidly. He walked away.

"You look nice," Lucas said, smiling warmly. He offered his hand to her. "Ready?"

"Yeah." Haley answered, taking his hand.

The band started playing, and the overactive people poured out into the dance floor. Everyone was having a great time. A few people opted to stay in their seats, talking. People who went stag hung out by the buffet table, where one of the slick-looking guys surreptitiously poured a flask of gin into the pink-colored punch. Time passed by quickly. Lucas, who was having quite a good time with Haley despite himself, forced himself not to glance across the table, where Chris and Peyton were. It wasn't so hard, given that they were dancing most of the time. Haley said that she wasn't a good dancer, so after a few fast songs and more acts of persuasion, she finally agreed. The band was playing a soft ballad, and couples around them swayed from side to side, holding their respective partners.

"It sucks that I have to go back to New York in a few days." Haley whispered to Lucas.

"I know." Lucas answered.

"I mean, we've become such great," Haley paused, trying to find the right word, "friends." She finally said.

"Friends," Lucas repeated, "right."

"You could come visit me in New York," Haley suggested. "I mean, not just me. Chris too, and Peyton."

Lucas pulled away quickly and looked at Haley. "Peyton?" He asked.

"Yeah, didn't she tell you?" Haley said, looking at him strangely. "Chris asked her to go to New York."

Lucas walked away quickly, forgetting all about Haley. He heard her call for him, but he ignored it. He tried to look for Peyton among the many dancing couples, and finally, he recognized her familiar curls. Without asking, he pulled her from Chris and dragged her outside the gym.

"What the hell, Lucas?" Peyton demanded angrily.

"You," Lucas started, his voice trembling with rage. "I'm your best friend and you didn't tell me? You didn't even ask me! So what, now that you have that guy you forget about us?"

"What are you talking about?" Peyton asked.

"New York!" Peyton's anger vanished and was replaced with guilt. She opened her mouth to speak, but Lucas interrupted her. "Do you love him? Is that it? Is that why you've been avoiding me?"

"It's nothing like that—"

"Tell me," Lucas continued, still angry, "what am I to you now? Am I still your best friend? Am I just one of your boy conquests? Or am I nothing to you now? Because it certainly seems that way,"

Carried away by the sudden return of her anger, Peyton slapped Lucas hard. "If you think that you're just a conquest to me, if you think you're nothing to me, then you don't really know me. Do you really think that after years of our friendship I'd screw you over because of a boy?"

"I don't know anymore, Peyton." Lucas answered.

Inside, the band stopped playing. The principal took the podium, ready to announce the awards. Peyton and Lucas could hear people murmuring and the principal talking. Peyton continued on glaring at Lucas, while angrily swatting a tear from her face. Lucas looked angry and confused, and kept on ruffling up his hair in frustration.

"What now?" Peyton asked silently, emotion still evident in her tone.

"The kiss," Lucas finally said, "at the gym. Tell me you felt something during that kiss."

"How is that kiss different from all of the other kisses that we had?" Peyton replied, stalling. She avoided this topic for three days.

"You know it's different." Lucas said firmly. Inside, the muffled voice of the principal just announced the name of prom queen. People cheered and screamed, but the voices eventually thinned out, as the prom queen was nowhere to be seen.

"Peyton Sawyer?" The principal called out. Peyton looked back at the gym door.

"Answer me, Peyton." Lucas demanded.

"I have to go," Peyton answered, walking slowly towards the door while glancing at Lucas. "I just—"

"Peyton," Lucas said pleadingly, his eyes softening up.

"I was never going to go to New York." Peyton said before heading inside once again. Lucas remained outside, deep in thought, his hands in his pockets. He kicked the pavement furiously when he heard the name of the prom king. Remembering Haley, he went inside. The lights were dimmed, and a slow, sentimental song was playing as the king and queen shared their first dance. He walked towards Haley, who looked confused and alone.

"Hey," Lucas greeted.

"Hey," Haley answered, concerned. "You okay?"

Lucas glanced at Chris and Peyton rocking steadily to the music. "Actually, I'm not. I'm gonna take off."

"Oh," Haley said, disappointed. "You want me to come with you?"

Lucas smiled at her warmly, touched by her genuine kindness. "The night's still young. You go and have fun."

"With who?" Haley pouted.

"With Chris," Lucas answered, "and Peyton." He sighed.

"That'll be a total cheesefest." Haley replied, rolling her eyes. She laughed softly. "You're going to see me before I go?"

"Of course." Lucas answered. "I'm sorry for being such a lousy date."

"That's okay. I had fun with you." Haley said, trying to be kind. He was kind of a lousy date, but, she thought, at least she could brag to her friends in New York that she managed to bag the hottest guy in North Carolina and go to the prom with him.

"Bye Hales." Lucas said, smiling, before kissing her softly in the forehead. He turned to go, glancing one last time at the dancing couple.

At the corner of her eye, Peyton saw Lucas kiss Haley goodbye and head out the door. She held on to Chris tighter, afraid of Lucas and the prospect of change that he brought with him. New York suddenly didn't seem so bad.

A/N: The drama chapter! I wanted to let you guys see how Lucas and Peyton interacted without people watching them or gossiping about their every move. They may be beautiful, conceited assholes, but they're people too. THANK YOU for those who reviewed on my previous chapter. You guys are the BEST! Hope you liked this. Please REVIEW:D