Disclaimer: Here's the next chapter. This one is a two parter. Enjoy.

After making my promise to Hayley I knew I had to pull through, and be the best version of myself that I can possibly be. We left the hospital around 1am to go back to our hotel. The ride home was one full of awkward silence. It was almost as though I was in the car with 4 strangers.

Brooke didn't say a word the whole ride home, there was one point when I thought to myself that I hadn't seen her breath for a while, but just as I was about to check on her she sighed. Skills and Nathan were in the back with her talking about finding this Edward guy and doing things to him to make him wish he had never been born. Hayley and I sat up front, with me driving. She would start the odd sentence, but then stop mid-track and fade off into her thoughts. It made me wonder why we were all so down, Peyton was okay now; she'd woken up – why was everyone so upset?

I pulled up outside our hotel and we all pilled out the car. I held the door open for Hayley as she'd not moved when the car stopped, she almost fell into my arms and within seconds Nathan was by my side to catch her. I would usually be angry about this, but I didn't have the energy. On the way home I'd made a decision that I knew the others wouldn't agree to, the only thing is, I can't see another way around it.

We walked into our hotel and the receptionist gave us a funny look – why was she there so late anyway? Surely not this many people want help at this time. I looked at my watch, it was 1:06am – opening times for this place ran until 1:15am, we got here just in time. I caught up with Skills as he and Brooke walked ahead.

"Hey Luke." Skills said as I approached. I smiled at him and motioned at Brooke with my eyes. "She's not said anything to me either." He said to me quietly. I put my arm around her to try and comfort her, but she didn't seem to notice and carried on walking. I caught up with her as Skills stayed back.

"Brooke, talk to me. Please." I begged. "None of this is your fault, don't you dare blame yourself." The words came out a little harsher than intended. She looked up at me and her eyes were filled with fear and sadness. "Brooke, Peyton will be okay now, you heard what the Dr's said in Tree Hill – once she wakes up she is through the worst of it." Nothing. I wasn't going to give up, I wouldn't be a very good friend if I did. I stopped in front of her so she had to stop, as she did her body crumpled into mine, I wrapped my arms around her and held her close and she shook with everything she'd been holding back for god knows how long.

"Lucas..." she cried into my chest as I held her "...I can't just sit back and let her go through this alone, she needs some Luke, she needs us." As the words were coming out of Brooke's mouth I knew what she was saying was right, and I thought that she would agree with the decision I made in the car. "Peyton is my best friend Luke, and I can't lose her, the same way that you can't."

The next morning I was the first one awake. I got out of bed and pulled a t-shirt over my head and smiled as I smelt the very faint smell of Peyton on it. This had already put me in a good mood. I walked into the bathroom and washed and dressed and came back into the living room/breakfast room. Hayley and Brooke were sat at the island eating cereal as I approached Hayley smiled at me.

"Morning Lucas." She said as the milk dripped down her chin making us all laugh.

"Nice Hales." I laughed as I poured myself a glass of milk. I drank it too quickly making my stomach hurt for about 30 seconds. "I was thinking we could explore Seattle for a bit today before we go home tomorrow." I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand.

"I was thinking we could find Peyton's dad and talk to him, like rational adults." Hayley said as she broke eye contact with me. She pushed the cereal in her bowl around with her spoon, still not looking at me. Brooke's hand found its way on top of Hayley's and she too thought we should see Peyton's dad.

"He's not that bad Lucas, we just need to make him see that Peyton is better off with us, rather than being stuck in the hospital. I mean do you think he even knows that the boy that put her in there is walking around?" I could see Brooke getting upset again and I walked over to them both. I placed my hand on top of Brooke's which was on top of Hayley's.

"I think that if we do go and see him that we should leave Nathan and Skills somewhere else. They are both too hot headed to speak to him rationally." Hayley looked up at me with a huge smile on her face and I kissed her forehead before walking off and sitting in the bedroom with Nathan and Skills, even though they were both in bed I had a feeling Brook and Hayley wanted to figure out what they were going to say and I really didn't want to be there figuring out a speech I had to lay before the man that had so carelessly took my life away from me.

As I was sat on the end of Skills bed I felt his foot jam into my thigh. As I looked up he was sat up in bed smiling at me. "'sup dawg?" he asked casually. "Is Brooke any better today man?"

"Yeah, she's having breakfast with Hayley. Look man they want to go and see Peyton's dad today..." before I could finish Skills spoke

"Are you sure that's a good idea man? Will you be able to keep your cool?"

"It's not me I'm worried about; it's you and Nathan, which is why you're not coming." Skills didn't really seem bothered by this, which made me worry even more. "What are you going to do instead?" I asked, maybe in too much of an accusing tone. Skills looked across to Nathan who was watching us intently.

"We were going to explore Seattle, see who we bump into." Nathan stated, staying cool the whole time.

"Look, please don't go looking for trouble. Nathan, it won't impress Hayley, trust me and Skills, just don't." They both looked to one another then back at me. I knew they wouldn't listen to me, but I had to try. I could hardly keep my cool whilst we were at Peyton's dads if I knew these too were out getting into a fight.

"Nah man, no trouble, we just going to sort some things out before we go home." Skills reassured me.

I got up off his bed and walked across the door to leave as I heard Nathan mutter 'Like Edward.'

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