I am shocked at the number of reviews I am still receiving for this fic. Seriously you guys are awesome and I'm glad you're all enjoying it.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you think you've read, heard or seen before...
Peyton was curled up on her bed, mindlessly doodling on a blank page in her sketch book. She hadn't talked to either Haley or Lucas since their conversations at school. She was sure Lucas didn't need her anymore, but what if she needed him? And Haley, what made her say that today? Okay, granted she usually made comments like that every day, but something about the way she said it made Peyton know she was serious this time. What was she supposed to do? Peyton closed her eyes tiredly as she shifted onto her back facing the ceiling, forgetting about her sketch. Suddenly, the silence of her room was pierced with the shrill ringing of her telephone. Sitting up, she reached over and grabbed the cell before answering.
"Hello?"
"It's me." Haley greeted.
"Hi." Peyton said as she flopped back onto the bed.
"Look, are you mad at me?" Haley asked hesitantly. Peyton sighed.
"No." She finally answered.
"Good. I'm really sorry for what I said before. You know I've always thought you and Lucas would make a cute couple." Peyton laughed at the comment as she glanced over at the photo frame that held a picture of her and Lucas smiling goofily up at the camera.
"Yeah, you're kind of obsessed." Peyton joked.
"So I'm wrong?" Haley questioned carefully.
"Definitely." Peyton replied a little hesitantly. Haley noticed but decided not to push it.
"So, what's going on with you and Lucas?"
"Just couldn't resist could you?" Peyton rolled her eyes. "It's nothing really. Maybe I was just overreacting before."
'Overreacting? To what?" Haley asked.
"This whole Lucas and Brooke thing. I mean, he's allowed to date, it's not like I own him or anything. I'm just his best friend, and really who thought that could last forever?"
"Firstly, you two are more than just best friends. No buts." Haley quickly added, knowing Peyton would protest. "And secondly, why can't it last forever? It should."
"No, it shouldn't. Life progressing is all about man and woman together romantically, not platonically."
"Wow, we're still in high school, who cares about life progressing?" Haley interjected. "And when did you start getting all philosophical? That's my job."
Peyton laughed at the last comment.
"Okay, so maybe we don't have to think that far ahead, but can't you see what I'm trying to say here?" Peyton moaned, exhausted with the conversation already.
"No, I can't.' Haley reasoned. "Peyton, if you're scared of losing Lucas, just tell him."
"I tried!" Peyton protested. "But I don't think I exactly have the right to ask him not to have a romantic life because I'm-"
"You're?" Haley prompted when she heard Peyton hesitate.
"Confused, okay I'm confused." Peyton blurted out.
"Wait, what's this about you being confused all of a sudden." Haley heard Peyton take a deep breath.
"I'm confused because I'm starting to believe what you said today was right." Peyton admitted.
"Run that by me again please?" Haley requested, confused with the turn of events.
"I just- Like I said I'm confused. Lucas and I were never meant to be more than friends, hence why it's been ten years and nothing has ever happened."
"Nothing ever happened?" Haley asked amazed. "Hello, we're talking about years of being attached at the hip, knowing everything the other was thinking, sharing personal jokes no one else can understand and protecting the other from anything and everything. That's not nothing, that's history; a history I'm sure most people have only ever dreamed about." Haley rambled.
"It's not my fault Lucas has a hero complex." Peyton argued. "And thanks, that just made me feel so much better about what I'm losing here."
Haley scoffed. "I told you, you're not losing anything. Just tell Lucas exactly what I just told you."
"And what exactly did you just tell me?" Peyton asked confused.
"That you two simply cannot exist without the other. That you have a history that should only get stronger and not be ripped apart by some fake, bubbly brunette who he has only know for a few days."
"Meow!" Peyton laughed at Haley's sudden feistiness. "Have you even met Brooke?"
"Well no." Haley admitted. "But I'm sure she's horrible."
"Haley, why couldn't you have told me all of this sooner."
"Would you have believed me?" Haley asked though she already knew the answer.
"No." Peyton admitted. "But can I really just come out and tell him all of that? I mean, he does have Brooke now, and he seems happy. I don't want to ruin that for him. And of course, what if he doesn't feel the same way? What if I ruin the friendship and the so called history we have?" Peyton panicked.
"Peyton, calm down. After everything you two have been through, I'm sure you guys can get through this. Not that you have anything to worry about. I'm sure he can see what you two have, it's pretty obvious. Just sit him down and explain it. It'll be fine. No it will be better than fine, it'll be great!"
"I don't know." Peyton replied warily.
"Yes you do." Haley brushed off Peyton's insecurities. "And besides, you two can finally get rid of all that sexual tension you've been carrying around for years."
"We don't have sexual tension!" Peyton protested, trying not to laugh at the thought.
"Right, whatever you say." Haley rolled her eyes sarcastically. "So the next time you see Lucas-"
"I'll tell him." Peyton promised.
Peyton ventured down into the kitchen in search of something chocolatey. Looking in her fridge she saw nothing appealing and turned to search her cupboards, except she bumped into none other than Lucas.
"What are you doing here?" Peyton questioned him as she went to move past him on her way to the cupboard. Lucas grabbed her upper arm to still her from further movement and turned her to face him.
"We need to talk." He said simply.
"About what exactly?" Peyton tried to play dumb, not wanting to get into this conversation.
"You know exactly about what, Peyt, don't start this with me."
Peyton managed to pull her arm from him and settled herself against a nearby cupboard, looking directly at him.
"Well, you wanted to talk, so talk." Peyton prompted.
"I want to apologise." Lucas started.
"For what?" Peyton sighed defeated. "I figured I should be the one apologising for getting so upset over something so small."
"No, I need to apologise for not reassuring you that we'll always be best friends and I'll always need you in my life."
"You wouldn't have had to make those reassurances if I hadn't overreacted to all of this." Peyton argued
"Well, I should be doing it anyway. No matter who comes in and out of my life, you'll always be a constant. You were the first important female in my life – other than my mum." They both laughed at the comment. "So don't think I'm going anywhere without you." Peyton couldn't help the smile that stretched across her face.
"Okay, so since you apologised and I accepted your apology, it can be my turn to apologise. I'm sorry for trying to tell you what to do with your life and who can be in it." Peyton admitted sheepishly.
"Don't be sorry, sometimes I need someone to do that for me."Lucas and Peyton moved towards each other for a long awaited hug. When Lucas eventually pulled away, Peyton remembered what she had promised Haley on the phone.
"Lucas."
"Peyton."
They both spoke simultaneously.
"What were you going to say?' Peyton pointed at him.
"No, you were going to say something." Lucas offered.
"It can wait. You came over here so what do you have to tell me?" Peyton indicated he should continue. Lucas' face lit up.
"So I talked to Brooke this afternoon."
Peyton had to stop herself from rolling her eyes at the mention of Brooke.
"And," Lucas continued. "I think I'm going to ask her out."
Peyton felt a stab of pain near her heart and inwardly cringed as she thought,
Maybe Haley was wrong after all.
"But aren't you already pretty much going out? I mean you have been on dates." Peyton questioned as she tried to control her voice.
"See it hasn't been officially stated, and Brook started going on about some non-exclusive crap. So I just want to make it real, you know. I want this to be something serious. What do you think?" Lucas completely missed the flash of pain that passed Peyton's face as he relayed this information. Peyton shrugged as if the whole thing didn't bother her.
"Does it really matter what I think?" Peyton hoped the bitterness of the question wasn't obvious.
"Well yeah." Lucas commented like it was obvious.
"But it's what you want right? So whatever I say won't make a difference."
"True, but it would be nice if you said it was a good idea." Lucas pleaded. Peyton merely sighed.
"It's a good idea." She deadpanned. Lucas immediately smiled.
"Oh, and this will mean I can't be your date for prom, but we can all still go together. You'll find another date easy right?"
"Yeah you know me, I've got guys lining up around the block waiting."
Lucas knew she was being sarcastic, but let the comment pass. He couldn't do anything about it anymore, he was supposed to be getting over Peyton and trying to move on. The whole thing with Brooke was – well not working, but it was a start.
"Thanks, Peyt. I'll see you tomorrow at school."Lucas left Peyton with a kiss on the cheek before exiting.
As soon as Peyton heard the front door close, she felt the tears run down her face that she had been trying to hold back. Forgetting about her hunger, she raced up to her room and grabbed her phone. Quickly dialling a number she knew by heart, she waited.
"Hello?" Haley answered.
"Hi." Peyton replied, not bothering to hide her sad voice.
"Oh, no." Haley whispered sympathetically, already knowing something had gone horribly wrong.
"No, its okay, I should have known this would happen." Peyton tried to reason.
"And what exactly happened?" Haley prompted.
"Well let's see. Lucas came over and we ended up both apologising for today, then I remembered I was going to tell him all those things you said but he ended up telling me his wonderful news first."
"And what was his news?"
"He wants to ask Brooke out, you know make it official and serious." Peyton explained. "Oh, and that he would be asking her to prom so I had to find someone else to go with."
"Oh." Haley breathed.
"Yeah, oh is right. Ugh! I have so blown this." Peyton groaned. "I can't ever tell him now that he's so happy with Brooke, but really I don't know if I can stay silent with it either."
"You might not have to." Haley commented cryptically.
"How?" Peyton asked suspicious.
"Well, you might not have to, because he will tell you first."
"Oh yeah, I can see that happening. In another universe!" Peyton laughed.
"No, listen. He's only known Brooke for like a week, yet he's known you his whole life. I don't think he'd jeopardise that for some passing infatuation." Haley explained.
"We've been through this already. Our friendship," Peyton stressed the word. "is not going to last just because I want it to or you say it should."
"You're not listening! Lucas is taking you for granted." Haley groaned frustrated.
"You can say that again." Peyton mumbled bitterly.
"So, what do you think Lucas would do if you all of a sudden, weren't here?"
"Are you planning to kill me off?" Peyton asked laughing.
"Okay let me rephrase that, you're still here – and breathing." Haley added for Peyton's benefit. "But you're just not his."
"I'm not his to begin with, thanks very much."
"Okay, whatever you think, but he doesn't see you that way." Peyton remained silent. "Like the night of Rachel's party, he took you away from those guys you were dancing with and took you home right after you kissed that guy."
"I guess." Peyton replied absentmindedly. "Wait, how did you know about that?"
"You probably shouldn't have kissed one of Nathan's teammates." Haley laughed. "Look, I know what I'm talking about here, just trust me."
"Alright." Peyton sighed. "But where is this all leading?"
"You, my friend, are going to get a boyfriend." Haley declared dramatically.
"Don't you think if it was that simple I would have one by now?" Peyton couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah you'd have one by now if Lucas didn't intimidate every guy that looked your way so they were too afraid to ask you out." Haley rolled her eyes.
"That's ridiculous." Peyton protested.
"Sure, whatever." Haley was sarcastic. "Now, I have a plan."
"I'm listening." Peyton tried to hold back her laughter at Haley's sudden seriousness.
"If you're just going to laugh, I won't tell you." Haley pouted.
"No, I'm sorry, tell me your plan."
"Okay, so like I said before," Haley started before Peyton interrupted.
"Wait, what were you saying before?"
"Girlie, have you even been listening?" Haley sighed.
"Um, yes?" Peyton replied hesitantly.
"Peyton!"
"No, I have, I have." Peyton hurriedly explained. "Let's see your weird twisted mind thinks that Lucas won't want to lose me so if I'm around – breathing – but not his, he'll realise he wants me. Did I get it right?"
"Yep!" Haley replied excitedly.
"And how exactly does me having a boyfriend come into it?" Peyton asked confused.
"Well, if you're dating some guy then you won't have time for Lucas and he'll miss you when you're not around. And as a bonus there's the whole jealousy factor." Haley grinned.
"I don't know Haley." Peyton was reluctant. "Besides, I don't want to just go out and get some random boyfriend now, I want to date Lucas."
"Aww that's sweet." Haley gushed. "But you don't have to really be dating them. Ooh, what about Nathan. He's hot and we can explain to him what's going on. I'm sure he'd be happy to help."
"Nathan?" Peyton asked incredulously. "He'll probably laugh."
"No he won't. You know there was a time when he was your best friend just like Lucas is now, you know before he got all bigheaded with jock status. It's at least worth a try!"
"Fine." Peyton sighed, giving in. "But I reserve the right to say I told you so when all of this doesn't work."
"Hey, be positive. It'll work."
"Lucas doesn't like me though." Peyton whined. "He is not going to care when I all of a sudden start making out with Nathan in the hallway."
"Peyton, shut up!" Haley demanded before hanging up the phone.