As they approached the front door of the café, Lucas noticed the "Closed" sign.
"How come you guys aren't open?" he asked Haley.
"Oh, we just thought that it would be better if you were here first." Haley grinned at him and Lucas knew that she was up to something.
Lucas entered the café.
The first thing Lucas saw was a big banner saying "#3 is back!" and with it came a yell:
"WELCOME BACK!!!"
Everyone in the team and Lucas' friends from River Court were there, except for Jake.
"Hey, hey, hey, if it isn't my older brother!" Nathan beamed at him and pulled him into a brotherly hug. Lucas can't help but smile as he remembered the time when he and his younger brother clashed and hated each other's guts. "You left just when things started to get better between us. But it doesn't matter now because you're back. And what the hell did you do to your hair?" Nathan grinned at him as Lucas grinned back.
"It was supposed to be a new look for a new beginning. Like it?"
Skills and everyone else approached him.
"Hey dawg, good to see you!"
"How you doing Lucas!"
"Nice to see you again pal!"
"Good to have you back!"
Everyone was greeting him, bumping hands and hugging him. He was happy to see them all; however there was concern in his eyes.
Haley noticed this. "Don't worry. Nobody else knows you're back. You're mom also told Nathan about you and Keith coming back so he decided to have a little 'welcome back' party. I told him to keep it low though, so he just told the team and your friends. Nathan already told them not to advertise you're back. I knew that you wouldn't be ready yet to face everyone."
Lucas smiled at his best friend gratefully.
"They might get angry at me though you know, for not telling." Haley added with a sigh.
Lucas nodded knowing that "they" meant Peyton and Brooke.
----------
Peyton found herself staring again at her webcam.
When she realized what she was doing, she shook her head, dropped the strip she was working on and sighed. Stop it Peyton. No one's looking back at you. The computer's not even on. And then she thought sadly, He's not on the other side.
She abruptly stood up and paced her room.
Damn him! He didn't even say goodbye!
She stopped pacing.
Damn it! Stop thinking about him!
Peyton walked towards her bed and let her body drop. At least Brooke and I are okay again, she smiled to herself, trying to cheer herself up.
"Hey friend! What are we gonna watch tonight?" Brooke came in her room with a big smile on her face and Peyton couldn't help but smile back. I have my friend back, she thought feeling a little happy.
"Anything will do Brooke, but not another chick flick."
Brooke pouted at her like a child, "You're such a kill joy."
Peyton laughed.
Brooke joined in.
Thank God I have my best friend back, Peyton thought to herself, feeling truly happy this time.
----------
Thank God I have my best friend back, Brooke thought to herself.
Despite what happened between them, they still found a way to stay best friends.
She was so angry at them before. Lucas broke up with her to be with Peyton and they did not tell Brooke about it. When she found out she called Lucas a cheater and Peyton a backstabber and a boyfriend stealer.
When she said those things, she knew that half of her meant it.
And half of her knew that it was her fault.
She knew that Lucas liked Peyton and that Peyton liked Lucas back. But she liked Lucas and she tried to get Lucas to like her. After the incident at Dan Scott's house, she took advantage of Lucas and Peyton's rocky start and started flirting with Lucas. Lucas was vulnerable then and he and Brooke started dating.
Knowing that it was partly her fault, she felt obliged to forgive Peyton; after all she is her best friend. However, she hasn't sorted her feelings for Lucas yet. It doesn't matter. He's gone anyway. Brooke said to herself.
What matters now is that she and Peyton are back in good terms.
And she couldn't be any happier.
For that moment, at least.