Peyton Sawyer paced across the hospital waiting room. She felt sick, physically sick. She couldn't stay still, because that would make her feel useless. She couldn't get Lucas' face out of her mind, as the tears rolled down his cheeks. I'm in love with you, and I think I always have been. Those words couldn't get out of her head; it was like a stuck record. But she couldn't help but wonder if she felt the same.

Lucas is her best friend; she wasn't supposed to feel this way. It was supposed to be Jake. He was the one she was supposed to have these feelings for, that wasn't fair.

But the thought of him being gone, completely wiped out of his life. Him not going to the record store with her. Him not giving her advice. Him not holding her as she cried. Him not being there when she needed him. Him not telling her lame jokes. Him not being there to love her. That made her want to die, because she couldn't handle that much pain.

The pain was similar to when she lost her mom, when she lost the person who meant everything to her. It didn't hurt this much when Jake left, not at all. This pain was ten, twenty, fifty time words. She couldn't even but a number on it. It was that bad.

She glanced at all of her broken friends.

Nathan had his head in his hands as he stared at the floor.

Haley sat on one of the chairs, away from the rest of them with her knees pulled up to her chest as she stared blankly at Nathan.

Julian stroked Brooke's hair as her head lay on his lap, she was lay across some of the chairs tiredly. She had finally stopped crying, but she just felt so awful. Julian was doing his best to comfort her, but it wasn't really working.

Lucas still wasn't awake.

And they were all falling apart.

Haley walked into the bathroom slowly, and she turned on the cold water tap. After splashing the water on her face, she just stared at her face in the mirror. She was plain. She didn't have wild hair like Peyton, or cheery spirit like Brooke. She was just Haley. Tutor Girl. No wonder Nathan won't even look at her, she's a mess. A complete mess.

If Nathan doesn't even want her... then who would?

''I thought I lost you,'' Brooke whispered as Julian continued to stoke her hair. She's lying across a row of chairs while she rested her head in his lap. ''I thought you were dead. When he pulled that trigger, I thought he shot you. I felt like I wanted to die.''

''I meant what I said, you know.''

Brooke smile slightly. ''What did you say? You talk a lot.''

Julian chuckled deeply. ''I said yesterday that if it meant protecting you, then I would willingly let you be the death of me. That's true, I would do anything to protect you, Brooke Davis. Because I love you, so much.''

''I love you too,'' she whispered, glad that he couldn't see the tears in her eyes. ''I'm always going to protect you too, you know. It works both ways, sometimes you'll need saving, and I'll be there.''

''You already saved me.'' he told her softly. ''God, when I moved here, I was a mess. I didn't want to be here, I never wanted to be here. And then you walked into the math room, saying some lame joke, and everything just fell into place. Suddenly I was happy here, falling in love with you. If my Mom would have moved us somewhere else... like Charlotte or Texas or whatever, I would just be out of my mind still wondering if I was ever going to meet you again.''

Brooke turned her head so she was looking up at him from his lap, and smile through her tears. ''You saved me too. I was just a girl who only cared about her friends and cheerleading. But when you came to Tree Hill, and I made new friends, discovered new things, met the guy I've always wanted.''

Julian continued to play with her hair as he grinned at her with that grin. ''You're terrific, Brooke Davis.''

''So I've been told.'' she smirked.

''Where are Deb and Dan?'' Haley asked quietly as she emerged from the bathroom.

Peyton continued to pace as she ran a hand through her hair. ''They're still talking to the police outside.''

Haley nodded and sat down next to Nathan this time. Even though she felt so hurt right now, she needed to comfort the guy she loves. She touched his shoulder comfortingly as he continued to hold his head in his hands as he stared at the floor. ''Nathan, are you okay?''

Nathan moved his shoulder so her hand fell from it. ''Just leave me alone, Haley.''

''Okay,'' she whispered, feeling more tears well up in her eyes. Not again. ''Just let me know if you need anything.''

Deb and Dan then walked into the room as Haley moved to another seat. ''Um, guys. The police said that Jimmy was arrested. You guys all still need to take a statement for when this goes to court. But he's going to be in prison for a long time for holding you guys hostage.''

Nathan rolled his eyes. ''Gee, no kidding.''

''Family of Lucas Scott?'' Dr. Hale asked as she walked into the waiting room.

Everyone ran over to him.

''Is he okay? Is he awake? What did you do? Is he in pain? How's his leg?'' Deb rambled asking question after question; she was desperate to know if her baby was okay. Technically, he was her first.

''He's going to be okay. He had to have a blood transfusion because the bullet was in there a while, but if you guys would have been there any longer then it would have been much worse. He's going to be on crutches for a while and will have to go to physical therapy because he suffered from some tissue damage. But aside from that, he'll be fine. He's just woken up, but he's still sleepy from the medication, so only two people at a time please.'' Dr. Hale told them with a smile. ''You can see him now.''

Deb smiled. ''Thank you, doctor. Dan and I will go first.''

Peyton slowly approached his room, she had wanted to go alone, and Nathan had let her go after Dan and Deb. But she was just so nervous, she didn't know what to do or say, she still wasn't sure how she felt. She just didn't know what to do, but she knew that she couldn't not see him, she would be sick with worry if she didn't.

She opened the door and saw him staring at the ceiling.

And that was when she started to notice things.

She noticed how spiky his hair still was, even though he's just been through hell. Its dirty blondeness was still as cute as ever. His blue eyes were so pretty and his face was smooth, and soft. She just wanted to touch him.

Lucas looked at the door and his heart started to race. He doesn't know why he's only just started to notice this, but he has. Peyton is everything he's always wanted, she's been right there in front of him, and he's only just noticed. He's crazy about her, completely crazy. He never understood why his hands would get clammy when she was around, or why he would always smile when she would walk into a room. But now he does, and he doesn't want to lose it.

''Hey,'' he said softly, sitting up so he would look a little more presentable.

''Hi,'' Peyton whispered, walking further into the room. She sat down next him. ''I just- I just need to try something.'' she continued to whisper. She then did something which shocked them both; she leaned forward and kissed him softly.

That made her feel everything. It made her tingle from her head to the tips of her toes. It made her heart pound. It made a huge smile form on her face. That was what she was supposed to feel with Jake, but she didn't, and she was too blind to realise it.

Peyton sat back down and took his hand in both of hers. ''I think I feel it too,'' she admitted. ''When we were in the tutor centre, you were all I could think about. I couldn't get your face out of my mind, but I had to be strong for the others, you wanted me to be strong. But when you were lay there, it felt awful, God I wanted to die. When I was in the waiting room, I kept imagining what would happen if you died, and it was unbearable Luke.''

''I didn't die. I couldn't die. Do you know why? Because I had to come back and look into those green eyes of yours and tell you I love you. I came back for you. And no matter how long it takes, I'll wait for you.'' Lucas told her softly, squeezing her hand.

''You'll wait for me?''

Lucas nodded. ''Of course I'll wait for you. I know this is scary because of Jake, but I'm never gonna leave. But I know you have to figure all of this out, so we can just carry on as if everything's normal. It doesn't have to be awkward or anything.''

Peyton kissed his hand softly. ''Thank you.''

''Anything for you, Skinny girl.''

''Here we are,'' Julian announced as he parked his jeep outside of Brooke's house. They had saw Lucas and spoke to the police, giving their statements. They realised how late it was and Julian had offered to drop Brooke at home. Brooke didn't move, she just stared at her hands, not saying anything. ''What's the matter?'' Well, besides us both almost dying and your best friend lay hospital.

Brooke shook her head. ''My Mom called, she had to go back to California.'' she whispered, a tear falling from her eye.

Julian took her face in his hands, even though one still had a cast on it. He wiped her tear away and kissed her cheek softly. ''Do you want me to stay with you?''

''I can't let you do that,'' she whispered. ''Your Mom has been worried about you. She needs you to be with her.''

''Then stay with me?'' Julian suggested. ''Stay as long as you like, she's so relieved that I'm alive, she'll let you stay. C'mon, we'll be roomies.''

Brooke grinned. ''Really?''

Julian nodded. ''Of course, go and get your stuff.''

''Okay,'' she squealed. ''I'll be ten minutes, Roomy.'' and with that she quickly jumped out of the car and ran inside.

Julian chuckled and leaned back into the seat with a happy sigh.

What has he gotten himself into?

AN: Brulian staying with each other... nothing dirty yet. So what did you guys think of Leyton? Any ideas? Oh, and it sucks for Naley, huh? Haley is falling apart, and Nathan won't even talk to her. Just to clear things up, it's not going to be good for them for the next few chapters, but don't give up on the story:). What do you think's going on with Nathan?

Please review! Happy New Year!