"You said oh?!" Skills demanded, stepping into the room. He was already dressed to kill, his gym bag thrown over his shoulder. "Hold on... Peyton says: I'm in love with you, and you say oh?! Nice work, player."

"She caught me by surprise." He replied bitterly, trying to get his own bag ready. "What was I supposed to say, huh?"

Lucas hadn't invited Skills over, nor had he planned to tell his long-time friend about the drama that had unfolded the previous weekend, but for some stupid reason, he had. He needed to stick to confiding in Haley.

"Not oh!" He rolled his eyes. Was Lucas Scott really that clueless? "Okay... What else did you say?"

Really... Had Skills just been sent there to tell him things that he already knew? It was a stupid thing to say, and he should have stayed to talk to her about it instead of running away like a scared little girl.

Even if we could be together, what makes you think it would work?

He sighed, stuffing item after item into his gym bag. "I mumbled something about us being friends... And then I left."

"And you believe that?" Skills laughed. "That you and P. Sawyer are just friends?"

"Look, you know what Skills?" Lucas turned to face him. "For a long time I thought that maybe we'd be something more. It just never seemed to work out, you know? So, at a certain point you just gotta face the fact that it's not meant to be."

He shrugged. He'd known Lucas his entire life, and he'd known the blonde Ravens cheerleader for almost two years. They belonged together, even if they were both too stubborn to admit it. "Even if she wants more?"

"She's just a little confused." He replied sadly, wishing the words weren't true. "She's had a hard year and I happened to be her rescuer a few times."

"So maybe you the one who's confused." Skills pointed out. He wasn't going to let up on the subject until Lucas really thought about it. "Cause you didn't just happen to rescue her a few times. You didn't just happen to run into the school that day or save her from Psycho-Derek. Peyton happened to be there, but you chose to be there. So, maybe you gotta think about that."

Lucas nodded, processing the information. He hated it when Skills was right.

"Well, well."

For once, she didn't cringe when she heard his voice. She was able to ignore him in favor of switching out her books for her next class.

"There's my sexy little cheerleader."

Only when he'd smacked her ass did she turn around in a fit of fury, her eyes glowing as she faced the person who had caused her so much pain.

"Don't touch me." Peyton hissed, pushing him away from her.

"Aww, baby." Ricky raised a hand, and before she could stop him, he'd slapped her across the face. Hard.

The force of the blow sent her to the ground. She stared up at him in shock, her palm pressed against her stinging cheek.

"Listen here, and listen good, bitch." He said, yanking her up by her hair. "Because of you, and your stupid friends, and that prick Whitey, I've been expelled! I can't play basketball anymore, Peyton, and it's all your fault. To top it off, my parents are sending me to some boarding school in Vermont! You couldn't have just kept your damn mouth-"

"Hey!"

Lucas shoved his backpack in Brooke's general direction before closing the distance between them in three long strides. He pushed Peyton back before raising his fist. Before she could stop him, he'd punched Ricky again.

"I heard about Vermont." He said, grinning bitterly. "It's a shame, man. You were such a good player. Too bad this will be the last time you get to see Peyton."

Lucas hit him again before grabbing the front of his shirt and dragging him forward. "I hope I've made myself clear the last few times my brother and I have kicked your ass, but if you ever contact her again, I won't hesitate to kill you."

He let Ricky slump to the floor and took his backpack from Brooke before grabbing Peyton's hand.

"Wow." Lucas said, over his shoulder as he led her away. "I guess I'm more like my father than anyone ever would have thought."

Whatever anger, or disappointment Peyton had felt for him before disappeared as she threw herself at him, winding her arms around his torso. He hugged her back just as tightly.

"It's over, Peyton." Lucas promised, his hand resting at the back of her head. "It's all over. He's never gonna hurt you again."

Was it over? Was she really free from him?

It didn't mean anything. I'm sorry.

Peyton... See? It does mean something.

She might have been free from Ricky, but she would never be free from her feelings for Lucas. They was no escaping him.

"Do you want me to take you home?" He asked, keeping his arm around her as they moved down the hallway together.

It can't.

But it does.

Peyton shook her head. "Thanks, but no thanks, Luke. I think all I really need right now is the people I love the most around me... Even if it has to be twenty four seven for the next three hundred years."

Lucas, you're dating Brooke.

I know, and she's great, okay, but she's not you. Look, ever since you came to my room and told me how you felt about me, I've been hiding with Brooke. Okay, I've been trying not to get hurt again. I don't wanna hide anymore.

"And don't you forget it." Lucas replied with a laugh, squeezing her shoulders. "Wait... Do I still count as one of those people."

She rolled her eyes. "Always."

He offered to walk her to class... All of her classes, and she gratefully accepted. He left her at the door with a tight hug before jogging to his math class. The last thing he needed was a detention for being late.

Lucas couldn't focus on whatever his math teacher was talking about, he was too worried about his blonde haired, green eyed friend to pay attention.

He couldn't believe the words had actually come out of her mouth that night... Had he really heard her right?

I love you... I'm in love with you.

Did he still feel the same way? After everything they had been through?

True love always. He thought. Always.