"Brooke!"

Arms wrapped around her waist as she went to hit him again. Lucas pulled her back, holding her against his chest as she sobbed.

"It's okay." He whispered as he carried her away. "Brooke, you gotta let me and Nathan deal with the bastard, okay? He could have hurt you again..."

"But he's never gonna stop hurting Peyton!" Brooke snapped, pushing him away from her.

Peyton, if you let this change you... He wins.

Well, maybe he wins.

"Brooke..."

"No, Luke!" Tears streamed down her cheeks as she turned to face him. "Do you know what a horrible feeling it is when you can't protect the ones you love the most?"

Lucas sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Of course he knew what it felt like, he'd left the school with Peyton that day without telling Keith how much he loved him. Then his 'father' had shot his own brother in cold blood.

Brooke immediately recognized the look on his face. It was the same look he'd given her when she'd told him that she had lost Peyton that day, one of worry, and regret, and sorrow. He'd left her to go rescue her best friend.

"Let's go back to Peyton's house." She muttered, taking his hand. "I'll call Haley, and we'll make it an all-weekend thing instead of just an overnight thing."

He nodded, and they walked back to the car together, hands intertwined. Peyton watched them, trying not to overflow with jealously. Lucas had been Brooke's first, and she couldn't blame either one of them for still being close.

"Ready?" Lucas asked, sliding behind the wheel. Just as he had done with Brooke, he reached out to squeeze Peyton's hand too. He kept hold of her hand the entire car ride, and when they finally got back to her house, he carried her inside.

Brooke left with the promise to return in half an hour with food, popcorn, and enough movies to last a lifetime.

Lucas dropped down onto the couch, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "You okay?"

"Fine." She replied. "I'm just fine."

"We're baaaack!" Haley announced, throwing the door open. Nathan was right behind her, his arms loaded with pillows, blankets, and both of their bags.

Mouth was next, he carried in Brooke's groceries. Skills followed along behind him, carrying Brooke.

"I'm sorry!" Brooke squealed, the blood rushing to her head. She was thrown over his strong shoulder, her ass in the air. She'd made a comment about his basketball skills when she'd stopped to pick them up at the River Court, and he'd vowed to get revenge.

"Since when did you become Haley's pack mule?" Lucas asked, slapping his brother's shoulder in greeting.

"Very funny." Came his muffled reply. "Haley James, come and get some of this stuff right now, or I swear to god..."

Haley giggled and grabbed the bundle of bedding from him, finally allowing his handsome face to come into view. He rolled his eyes, dropping the bags to wrap his arms around her waist.

"Hey guys." Peyton greeted lazily. "Long time no see..."

Her friends laughed. It was true, they were giving her little to no space, but she had barely spent any time since she'd started dating Ricky.

She'd missed them.

Skills finally let Brooke go, leaving her lying on a nearby chair as he pulled his phone out of his pocket to order a pizza. "Alright... Who wants anchovies?"

All eyes turned to Mouth, who held his hands up in surrender. 'Come on, guys! It was one time, and it was a dare! Thanks a lot, Luke."

Lucas shrugged. "Hey. At least we know you're allergic now."

One trip to the emergency room later, he'd been left with chubby cheeks for more than two weeks. It had seriously looked like he'd stuffed his mouth full of acorns before going to school.

Peyton listened to everyone in the room crack up, smiling to herself. These were some of the greatest people she had ever met, and she couldn't believe that at one time, the stupid rules of popularity had divided herself, Brooke, and Nathan against Lucas, Haley, Mouth and Skills.

She had no idea what she'd do without them.