The dares were starting; we could hear Brooke shouting our names, together, as if she expected that we were. I smiled at Lucas, mostly an apologetic smile, but kind of a naughty one, as I had picked his name from the hat earlier. We now needed to go and get our dares. Brooke had a weird way of match making, even with people that she didn't particularly care for. "Do you know who you've got yet?" I asked trying to sound inconspicuous. He looked down at me and smiled.

"For the dares," I nodded. "Nah can't say I've looked to be honest." He smiled his knowing smile. "Peyton, listen, it doesn't matter who's name I pick, I'm not going to do anything, unless I pick you." He kissed my forehead.

We ventured downstairs and Brooke was waiting at the bottom for us, well me. I smiled at her. "Hey party girl." I said walking slightly ahead of Luke, who gratefully slowed down.

"Peyton, we've been waiting for you. We need to pick our dares, plus I might need to swap with whoever you've got." She gave me a cheeky smile. We walked out of earshot when she revealed the reason. "Look, I made it so that either you or I would get Nathan, and I got him, so I figured that you'd want to swap and get him." She held her card in front of her. Great; now I had to think of an excuse why I wanted to keep Lucas' name, and not Nathan's.

"But what's the fun in that Brooke?" I half smiled. She shot me a look.

"You have Lucas don't you?" I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. "Peyton, you can't get involved with him. You have a boyfriend. So he may treat you like crap, but you choose to put up with that."

"I don't choose to Brooke. God damn you're such a bitch sometimes, you know that?" She looked up and smiled at me. She flung her arms around me.

"Peyton it doesn't bother me. We're all drunk, and it's not like Nathan doesn't cheat on you." She brought her drink back up to her lips. I looked over her shoulder and saw Nathan with Tim, idiots.

"What's your point Brooke?"

"Have fun. But be careful that you don't have too much of it." She smiled and took my hand, dragging me into the living room. "Right, guys and gals, it's time that we started choosing dares. And don't worry, Tim didn't write any of them." She shot him a cruel but sweet smile. Tim just shrugged while Nathan nudged him with his elbow.

Should I swap with Brooke? I mean she was right; I hated it all those times when I saw Nathan with all those other girls, with his arms around them, tucking their hair behind their ears. He made me so mad, he just didn't care about me, but then I didn't want to bring myself down to his level.

I think I'd wait to see which dares we picked before deciding to give my heart to Brooke, because Lucas is my heart. He keeps me alive. I saw him standing at the edge of the room, Hayley by his side, his best friend, who he'd no doubt told about our little kiss. She smiled at me, awkwardly, he'd definitely told her. I caught his eye and he smiled at me, I smiled back, Brooke nudged me, I looked at her, she shot her head toward Nathan, who'd just caught our exchange.

Brooke drew all attention toward her again smiling as she stalked into the middle of the room; I took another swig of the alcohol filling the cup I held. I somehow managed to always be holding a full cup of alcohol. I downed the rest and grabbed another cup, starting on that one. When my vision started to blur I knew the alcohol was having the desired affect on me.

Brooke held out a hat in front of me, snapping my attention back to reality, all eyes were on me. "Pick a dare Peyton," she smiled. I lifted my hand, reaching hesitantly toward the hat. "Dare you." She whispered so that only I would be able to hear. I plunged my hand deep into the hat and fished around, closed my eyes, and pulled it out.

There were only three people in this room that knew I had Lucas' name, Me, Brooke and Lucas. Well I don't know if Luke definitely knew, but I would assume that he did. "So," Brooke asked as if to everyone in the room "What does it say?" I shrugged. Not wanting to open it in front of everyone.

"We're supposed to keep it a secret Brooke." I smiled. I felt so weak and just wanted to walk off and open it in private. Brooke seemed so angry at me. "Oh," I said louder than I'd intended. "I get it now," anger building inside me. "You're pissed because you didn't get him, aren't you Brooke?" Lucas raised his eyebrows at me.

"I don't know what you're talking about Peyton." She half whispered.

"Yes you do, you didn't mean Nathan, did you? Earlier, you meant Lucas, and because you didn't get him, you want me to swap with you. That's why you're pissed at me."

Nathan and Lucas, along with almost everyone else in the room, were staring at me in shock. Nathan walked over to me. "Peyton quit it, your being a bitch." He cut in. I looked at him in disbelief. I shoved my dare at Brooke, not wanting all this drama; it's all she ever did, cause drama.

"Have your stupid dares Brooke, have it all. I don't care anymore." She stood expressionless staring at me while Nathan sighed at me, as if I was in the wrong. "And you," I shouted at him "You and I are over Nathan." I walked out of the room, tears built up in my eyes, I think I'd just lost my best friend, my boyfriend, my spot on the cheerleading squad, and my dignity in the space of 30seconds.

The thing is, I had read my dare. I would have loved to follow it through, but I didn't want to do it because I'd been dared to. I wanted to do it because it felt right. I got to my car and pulled open the drivers door. I went to put the keys in the ignition when I remembered that I had been drinking. I sighed and slumped forward over the steering wheel.

I must have fallen asleep, because I woke to see Lucas in the passenger's seat. He was watching me sleep, and hadn't realised that I was awake. I lifted my hand to my face and swept the curls away. Sitting up right and stretching that awkward feeling in the bottom of my spine. Lucas smiled at me, noticing I was awake.

"I'm an idiot." I admitted. He brought his hand to my face, sweeping some curls behind my ear.

"No, Peyton your not. You did the right thing breaking up with Nathan. He's sat in there bragging about how you'll get back together in a few days." He continued to make circles on my cheek with his finger tips. I leant into his touch, causing his hand to open and caress my cheek. I closed my eyes. "Peyton," he breathed, "I want everything with you."

My heart stopped beating, my eyes shot open. I felt like I was drowning, why did he have to say that? Why couldn't he just leave things as they were? I tried to force a smile on my face. I know I was in love with Lucas, but to hear him whisper those words scared me, like he shouldn't feel this way so soon. I sat up, causing his hand to drop.

"What's wrong?" he asked sitting up facing me.

"What did you just say?" I asked harshly.

"What do you mean? That I want everything with you?" he was genuinely confused as to my reaction. I couldn't let him get this close to me.

Everyone close to me either left or died, and I didn't want that for Lucas. It was okay with Nathan, all our relationship contained was sex, parties, and drama. But with Lucas I felt that deeper connection, which is why I had to get out of that car. I pulled his hand off my leg, where it had rested upon falling from cheek and got out the car.

Lucas got out leaning against the roof with a quizzical look upon his face.

"I can't do this Lucas, I'm sorry." It broke my heart, but it had to be done, to keep him safe. I didn't want to let him into my heart.