A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I have not forgotten about JBLP - they're included here. Let me know what you guys think.

Chapter 8

"The only time that you run out of chances, are the times when you stop taking them." – Unknown

"Well I have to say, that went really well." Brooke looked a tad smug as the three girls made their way to their next classes.

"Yeah Haley, you've really got a knack for this kind of thing." Peyton smiled genuinely.

Haley smiled back. They'd been having cheering sessions with her all week and she'd even surprised herself with how well she picked it up. Apparently I've got moves…go me!

"Of course, once we actually get you into the uniform, the image will be complete."

Brooke snorted. Haley had refused to wear the outfit yet. In her mind it was that official turnover, where she'd become a cheerleader…and she wasn't sure if she was completely ready for that. She had to face it soon though, considering their first game was in two days.

"Did you just snort Davis?" Haley smirked.

"Don't change the subject New Girl…and I so did not snort!"

"You did too!"

"Did not!"

Peyton rolled her eyes as they bickered their way to their next class. On reaching her and Brooke's next lesson, the girls broke their bickering and Haley made her way to her French class; but not before poking her tongue out at her roommate.

"How immature!" Brooke claimed.

"Please, like you're one to talk." True to word, Brooke turned and poked her tongue out at the curly blonde.

They made their way to their seats in Business. Peyton could almost feel Brooke's guard go up as their classmates filed in. She sighed; there is no getting around it.

This was the one class she looked forward to least every week. Her, Lucas and Brooke all in one class.

All seated at one table.

She hated it. She hated her best friend having to act careful and guarded around her. She missed the way they used to be. Always giggling, having fun, going crazy together…and yet at the same time they could have those meaningful conversations, tell each other anything, with a simple word or signal.

Now though, it was different.

Things looked the same on the surface, but to everyone but them it couldn't have been more obvious how much had changed. Sure they joked, had fun and still got crazy together.

But those meaningful conversations were less meaningful, signals no longer passed…and she hated say it but she had no idea what Brooke was thinking half the time.

They'd made their peace but they couldn't get back to how they were before.

Even talking about boys…especially talking about boys, was a topic that was warily broached. Sure, Brooke would tell her if so and so was "yummy" or a "total hottie" but Peyton always got a sense that Brooke repressed certain thoughts. As though she was afraid to tell Peyton about how much she might truly like a guy as though afraid Peyton would swoop in and snatch him.

Seeing the broody blonde boy at the centre of their troubles walk in, Peyton frowned. Not like I can blame her.

She had vowed that she would win Brooke's trust back, no matter how long it took. Sometimes she'd see the way Brooke and Haley acted around each other and could almost find herself feeling jealous. They seemed to have an instant connection. Or maybe it's because they're together so much… they do share a room after all. It seemed sometimes that one knew what the other was going to say before they actually did. And she could tell sometimes when Brooke would nod her head slightly to Haley, or Haley would raise her eyebrow, maybe widen her eyes even and then Brooke would scrunch her nose or something…they had their own signals. Their relationship reminded her so much of her old relationship with Brooke, that she couldn't help but feel a little resentful.

Not towards Haley. Never that. She didn't think anyone could hate Haley; the girl was so awesome and sweet. And Peyton found that she clicked with Haley in her own way too. She'd notice Brooke look at them curiously sometimes when they were talking.

She'd often wondered if Brooke ever felt the same. A little resentful, a little jealous. And what of?

The thing Peyton was resentful over was herself. She loathed herself for what she had done. She single-handedly diminished any chance she had with Lucas while destroying a 10 year friendship.

God, I'm so gonna be a dung beetle in my next life.

Still…even if Brooke couldn't confide in her, she at least had Haley. Peyton was glad for that. She was glad Haley came along…it seemed almost perfect timing. Maybe Haley was exactly what they needed, what she and Brooke would need to bridge the gap between them.

One could only hope.

"Peyton!" Brooke said louder snapping her out of her daze.

"Huh?"

"We've got to get started on this worksheet, but clearly you have better things to do." Brooke smiled at her, and Peyton smiled back all the while thinking how she didn't deserve such a good friend. She then noticed Lucas was already seated opposite Brooke, while Jake had taken the seat opposite her.

"I guess I just spaced out."

"To another time zone?" Brooke quipped.

"You looked liked you were in serious thought." Lucas added. She looked at him; of course he would say that. It's like the damn guy can read me like a book.

"Of course she was." Jake piped up from next to him. "She was trying to picture me shirtless." He added with a serious face. "It's okay Peyt, totally understandable. Girls tend to get like that in my presence." He puffed his chest out smugly…

…and they burst out laughing.

Jake Jagielski everyone. Peyton chuckled. She was so glad when she first found out he was in this class with the three of them. If anyone could cut through tension with a well timed joke – it would be Jake.

There'd always been something calming about his presence to her. She'd noticed that in their group compared to the other guys.

For instance if she needed to talk, she'd go to Lucas. If she'd need someone to laugh with it would be Skills, if she needed someone to laugh at she'd go to Tim, Mouth was her boogie buddy, and well Nathan…she just didn't go to him for anything ever.

But when she felt like ranting or just sitting there doing nothing, it would be Jake she turned to.

He'd sit there and listen – not judge, and then just stick a movie in and grab some ice cream. Eventually he'd make some cracks about whatever was happening on screen to cheer her up. And she adored him for that.

"You're so right Jake. I'm picturing those abs right now…" She sighed dreamily, exaggeratedly batting her eyelids.

"Hey, I'll have you know I work out five times a week."

"Yeah I can only imagine the intense work out you give that Xbox constantly."

"Oh no – you did not just bring my Xbox into this!"

They continued to banter playfully and Lucas smirked. It was plain as daylight to anyone that Jake had a thing for Peyton – except Peyton that is.

Jake had never actually discussed it with him, and it was obvious why he didn't. He'd always kind of known about Jake's crush; it was there in the back of his mind when he was pursuing her, but not something of consequence to him at the time.

Of course the consequences that came from him and Peyton put a lot of things into perspective.

Honestly he couldn't say if he went back in time, that he would change things. He was brought up to believe that things happened for a reason.

For example his father must've abandoned him for a reason. As crappy and horrible as the situation was on him as a child, it did happen for a reason. Seeing firsthand Nathan and Dan's relationship he'd realised that he probably dodged a bullet. Perhaps without an absentee father he would never have had such a special relationship with his mother. Or his Uncle Keith. Two people who meant more to him than he could describe in words. Or maybe it was so he could learn to not take things for granted, even the little things.

Of course that lesson had been reinforced with events of the recent past. The mess up he made with the two beautiful girls opposite him sure taught him a few things.

He learnt that Peyton was a special girl. She had true beauty and depth. And she deserved someone who would recognise that beauty and reach that depth. He originally thought he was that guy.

Now he knew better.

He and Peyton had never began, yet there was so much potential there. There was a connection. But she had her own issues and rejected his advances.

Then Brooke happened. Literally. She stormed into his life without an ounce of hesitation, and changed it completely.

Everything was different with her. She had him out on a date, making-out and into her bed before he could even utter "er…ok"

Things started out fast with her, but further in they started slowing down. They started talking more, and not just about stupid meaningless things…about things that really mattered. He found he could actually take this relationship to a whole new level; find that connection again that he had been craving since Peyton.

He just didn't expect to actually reconnect with Peyton. She claimed she was ready for him, for them. But he was with Brooke. After her declaration Lucas could think of nothing else. He slowly rebuffed Brooke's efforts and found himself exchanging longing glances with Peyton. It wasn't that Brooke wasn't enough. Given the chance she would have been…it was that niggling voice in the back of his head. The one that would constantly remind him of what he and Peyton could have been. The potential they could have had.

That voice which kept telling him that he might be letting go of the one.

So what did he do?

He gave into temptation.

Difficult circumstances threw him and Peyton together at one point. One night in a hotel. They'd gone to ID a body, believed at the time to possibly be Larry Sawyer, Peyton's father.

It wasn't.

They returned to the hotel grateful…hopeful. Peyton then broke down, the emotional day having taken its toll on her. He tried to soothe her pain…one thing led to another and they almost had sex right there in the dingy hotel room. They hadn't gone all the way.

But he'd still betrayed his girlfriend. She'd betrayed her best friend.

And shamelessly it was only the first time.

They returned to Tree Hill, now both even more confused. Lucas was stuck between a passionate rebinding to Peyton and a fun, loving relationship with Brooke.

What he and Peyton did…it was wrong. It was betrayal and they had both unknowingly hurt the one person they cared about the most.

Lucas, still torn between the two received an intervention in the form of a car accident. After waking up in hospital, he decided that he was going to explore what could have been with Peyton. Life was too short to live in regret and with 'what-ifs'. He hadn't however been prepared for one thing.

Brooke.

It seemed all the girl could do was surprise him. She became nurturing and tended to his every need. Even when he broke up with her and insisted he needed to be alone right now. She claimed she understood…she would be his friend if that's what he needed.

Needless to say he was surprised. She didn't scream, she didn't fight it…she took it in a stride and simply visited to check up on him and help him out at home.

'That's what friends do right?...Be there for each other'

That was how she justified it.

One night he went to see Peyton. They'd been seeing each other in secret since his accident. They were taking things slow, on her bed, making out.

But I didn't seem right at all.

He would find himself running his hand through her hair, surprised to find it tangled in curls. Not glide through the straight hair he was expecting. He would look into her eyes, not seeing the green that was there, but the brown that should have been. He noticed her smile, frowning to himself when the dimples didn't appear. She had asked if he was ok.

He wasn't.

The voice that had been asking that same question for the past few weeks had a raspier edge to it.

It was then, in that bed, at that exact moment that Lucas Scott had his first and most important epiphany.

Peyton Sawyer was not the one.

How could she be? When all he thought about in her presence was that of her best friend's. When all he could picture on closing his eyes were those dimples flashing at him when he'd managed to make a half decent throw with a basketball.

He'd damaged his shoulder badly in the accident. Wasn't sure he'd play again. Yet, it was Brooke Davis who had been there to make sure he didn't give up.

Here was the girl, who unknowing to her, had been betrayed by him in the worst possible fashion. Not to mention he'd actually dumped her and used the whole 'lets be friends' line.

Yet…there she was.

Everyday she would be at his house helping out. At first it annoyed him. How was he supposed to sneak out to Peyton? Pretty soon, he got used to it…then he started liking it. He found himself enjoying her company, not that he didn't before. But she was clearly trying the whole 'friend' thing for the first time with a guy – with her ex-boyfriend. She didn't push his limits, or make any innuendo comments. She was just…there. To talk and listen. And suddenly he found himself talking about all kinds of things with her. And he listened to what she'd say. The sudden vulnerability in her character was beautiful to him and he began to see her in a way he never did when he was dating her. Flawed.

She wasn't perfect. Far from. And he found she did have insecurities in a lot more aspects than people would believe. She would share her ideas and ambitions with him casually as friends do. He found himself becoming intrigued with her thoughts, surprised by her passions, empty when she'd leave.

And of course, he being Lucas Scott, reached this epiphany in the whole Brooke/Peyton debacle when he was in Peyton's bed supposedly making out with her.

Once Peyton asked what was wrong, he realised he couldn't do this anymore. He claimed that this was all wrong, that they were hurting Brooke, that they had been betraying her since that night in the hotel. Peyton listened and surprised him by agreeing. She'd felt all twisted inside with what they were doing…had been doing for so long. Cheating on her best friend, betraying her in the worst possible way.

Lucas returned minutes later to go home. No doubt that Brooke would be there by now. She'd bring him a pick me up a la Brooke Style, everyday before lunch. When he got there he found her in his room already. He remembered asking her how she was and she sat silent. He looked to where her attention was directed, and he saw the computer screen. The window was open on Peyton's webcam…and the truth hit Lucas like a ton of bricks.

He looked at Brooke's face as she turned to him.

The pain and anger in her eyes combined still haunted him to this day.

'Is it all true?'

'Brooke…'

'IS IT?!'

He didn't know what to say. He simply nodded, the shame and regret clear in his eyes.

He watched as she composed herself, he could tell he guard was up as soon as he saw the blank expression on her face. The cold look of indifference, so different from the warm, smiling expression she'd treated him to the last few weeks.

She walked towards the door, straight past him. Once she'd opened the handle, she paused in the doorway.

Without turning around she spoke those words he'd never forget.

'As far as I'm concerned…you're dead to me. Both of you.'

She then walked out of his room, and his life…for the time being.

Lucas zoned back into class, shaking his head as thoughts from the past continued to swirl in there. What's done is done. He couldn't change what had happened. But he does have control over the future, and he was going to get it right this time.

He didn't regret his time with Peyton; it had taught him a few things. He hated that that was the way it had to happen, but he couldn't change that now.

The only good thing that had come from his being with Peyton, was that he finally realised that he had fallen for Brooke.

Watching her out of the corner of his eye, he almost laughed at the cute sight of her. She was concentrating really hard on something he couldn't see on the paper in front of her. The cute part being the tiny bit of her tongue that was stuck out of her mouth as she was working.

God this is the easy part Scott. Realising she's THE one. Now you've gotta face the hard part…convincing her you're the one.

He knew he had a hard road ahead of him. He would have to regain her trust, her friendship…and her love. It would take time, and require taking a lot of chances to win her back, but he will not give up. It would be worth the wait.

And as the saying goes, the good things in life never come easy.

"So Nathan, I heard Bryan Cobe's having a party at his dorm tonight. You going?"

Haley rolled her eyes as the busty blonde flicked her glamorous locks over her shoulder, while shamelessly crossing her legs enough for her skirt to inch above mid-thigh.

"I'm not sure," he replied.

Sitting on the other side of him, Haley counted 'Busty' as being the fifth girl to hit on Nathan during class. Other contestants vying for the superstar's attention included, 'Giggly', 'Frisky', 'Leggy' and 'Slutty'.

Geeze, it sounds like a twisted version of the seven dwarves. Of course these dwarves are hardly dwarves. More like runway models. Judging by the way the other girl's in class were staring in his direction, she could guess that she'd end up naming a lot more than seven runway-model dwarves.

"Well…just so you know, I'll be there."

Why would he care? Seeing the way Nathan smirked at Busty, she stood corrected. Of course he'd care. She's a shameless whore looking to get in his pants, and he…he's a 16 year old guy with raging hormones.

"And I'll be wearing something with easy access." Busty winked and sent another hair toss his way. And by the expression on Nathan's face he was loving the exchange.

Probably imagining her naked right now.

Sighing Haley turned to her worksheet. She didn't know why it bothered her at all really.

Liar. She knew exactly why.

After having a few near kisses with Nathan, not to mention the sudden tension that always surrounds them when they're near each other…she figured it meant something.

Well it did to her. Apparently, with Nathan a few near kisses are nothing. He gets sexual propositions every 15 minutes!

She'd heard about his status and his playboy charms that made him the big man around campus. And she'd even seen first hand the number of girls continuously flocking to him. But everything she heard and seen always clashed with the way he acted around her. She'd been in school about two and a half weeks now. She'd heard all the gossip on who's who. It kind of helped that she had Brooke Davis as a roommate, that girl seemed to have the whole school's business hardwired into her brain.

She'd gotten to know all the guys in the group pretty well. But with Nathan, it was different.

There was an instant attraction, on her side anyway. And there was the fact that they had so many classes together, where he always remained sitting by her side. Having had so many conversations as a result, she found it surprisingly easy to talk to him about all kinds of things, and soon she found herself joking around and laughing with him.

She remembered the first time she made him laugh. It was the week before. They were discussing her family, mainly her three brothers who Nathan was astonished to find played college ball at his dream university – Duke.

"So do you play ball?"

He seemed confused as to the sudden burst of laughter on her part.

"Sorry, but if you really knew me, you'd never have to ask."

He chuckled, "You can't be that bad."

"Think again Scott. I'm the worst kind of basketball player there is – a straight no-nonsense, athletically challenged nerd." She nodded as though proud of her status. "I can watch the sport, but god I couldn't play to save my life."

"But…you have three brothers playing ball. You telling me they never taught you?"

"Oh…well they tried." She sheepishly admitted, "After the first two broken windows, and my neighbour's dog getting a banging, they gave up."

"Poor Sparky," she added mournfully, "he just never saw that bright orange fireball coming"

And he laughed. Not normal laughter, like full on. Not just from her lack of athletic ability, but more so from the tones and expressions as she'd recapture the memory.

Well all is not lost. Sure these other girls might get to actually attract Nathan's desire, but she could make him laugh, she thought sarcastically.

Dear god, how pathetic do I sound?

She could practically hear Taylor screaming at her to quit being so sad and pitiful over a random guy. She'd probably ask her why she hadn't asked him out either.

But she had a fully loaded answer for why she couldn't.

Well there was Rachel for one. The redhead had made it clear time and time again that Haley was on her hit list, every time she ran into her and Nathan walking and talking in and out of class. As well as sending death rays her way, she was constantly pawing at Nathan, as though her personal groping sessions would be a sure way to get him back. Haley was glad to see that so far her efforts had been void, but that was not the only problem.

The second was that she was still in new territory here. She'd made good friends, and was getting along with the work fine. She wasn't sure if she was ready to rock the boat yet and dive right into a relationship, particularly with the most popular guy in the school.

Then there was also the problem that she wasn't sure Nathan would say yes anyway. They had had a few moments, but she wasn't so sure anymore. He seemed to have girls hanging all over him constantly – of all shapes, sizes, and hair colours. And none of them were anything like her. Brazen, slutty, very experienced in certain aspects she was sure. Not to mention they were all complete airheads.

No, she was pretty sure she was definitely not Nathan Scott's type. From what she'd heard, and mostly from Brooke, he didn't do smart girls. He was more of a vapid, plastic bimbo type.

No wonder he's busy with her. She watched from the corner of her eye as Busty made some more flirty passes at him, Nathan neither encouraging nor protesting at all. You're in no way his type at all.

Before she could continue with her self pity, she felt something hit her back. Looking down, she frowned at the scrunched up ball of paper now lying beside her foot. She then noticed that the class had begun chattering away, it seemed as though the teacher had stepped out to get the homework sheets.

Turning to see where the paper had come from and saw a guy sitting one row behind on her left, looking directly at her. He was definitely hot by definition. In the tall, brown hair, green-eyed, Abercrombie model type way.

"This yours?" She asked, raising her hand holding the paper ball.

"Maybe."

"It either is or it isn't."

"Depends."

She raised an eyebrow. "On what?"

"If you'd be annoyed if I said yes"

"Well why shouldn't I be. Some random guy I don't know throws a paper ball at my back – wouldn't you be annoyed?"

"Well that depends." He smiled slightly as she gave a frustrated sigh.

"On what?"

"What if said random guy actually had a reason for throwing said paper ball at your back."

"And what would said reason be?" She held back a smirk.

"To get your attention." He said simply.

"And why would you want that?"

"Why wouldn't I? You're cute, funny, and smart."

"You think I'm cute?"

"Well I was going to say hot as hell… with killer legs, but I figured it'd sound less pervy."

"Well pervy sounds pretty good." She smirked at him. Bringing up the hand holding the paper ball she continued, "And you had to use this to get my attention. You couldn't just tell me?"

"Where'd be the fun in that?" He shrugged. "Besides, at least this way I get your full attention for an entire conversation before you turn me down."

"What makes you so sure I'll turn you down?"

The bell rang at that point. And she gathered up her things as did Abercrombie guy. She looked over to see Nathan surrounded by Busty, who'd just been joined by Frisky and Slutty.

She could hear Taylor's advice now. As though she was standing right next to her. 'I know he's hot and all Haley-bop. But there's no point waiting around for some player who's probably not interested. Heck, it'd be his loss but who cares right? There's plenty of hot guys out there that want you. Don't get stuck on one that might not even be worth it in the end.' Then her sister would give her the not so subtle reminder. 'Remember what happened the last time you gave yourself to a guy like that? See how that turned out? Are you sure you want to get hurt like that again?'

It was true. One of the main reasons that she could barely admit to herself about Nathan, was that he reminded her a lot of he ex-boyfriend. The cocky, self-assured, extremely hot jock. A superstar among students, the big man on campus, the hotshot at the top of the popularity hierarchy.

She'd been attracted. He'd been flirty. She started dating him. He got really charming. She fell for him. He didn't 'do' feelings. She declared her love. And he stomped on her heart.

It was really hard back then. At Oak Lake, she at least had her life long friends to help her out. Here, she had the makings of great friendships, something that she didn't want to jeopardise. Especially if by some miracle she and Nathan did date, if it were to end horribly she couldn't take it if she lost all her friends too.

He stopped at her desk on his way out. There was no mistaking the full blown grin on his face now. "Is that a yes?"

'There's plenty of hot guys out there that want you.'

"It's a…maybe." She smiled.

"I can live with that. Especially if I got to see that smile."

"Be careful now. You might wanna save some of that charm for the next time you see me…"

"…Ryan. Ryan Saunders." He smiled making him much more handsome than he already was.

"I'm Haley James."

"I know." He smirked, though somehow it didn't quite compare to the one of the raven haired guy somewhere behind her.

"I'll see you around Haley James."

He picked up the scrunched paper ball, and gave her another gorgeous grin as he threw it in the trash on his way out.

Hhmmm…maybe this won't be so bad.

"Hey Haley" Nathan had sidled up next to her, having lost his groupies for the time being.

"Was that Ryan?"

"Yeah"

"Oh. What did he want?" She thought she could detect an edge to his voice.

"Nothing, just being friendly I guess."

He watched her carefully but her face remained neutral. He'd seen Ryan chatting to her for a while. He'd tried to catch the conversation but it was hard with that stupid blonde yammering in his ear the entire way through class.

And if that wasn't bad enough, he'd been surrounded by three of them as soon as the bell rang. He'd been hit on numerous times over the past week, and today alone by every slut in Tree Hill Academy.

Usually he'd have been ecstatic about that. But ever since he'd broken up with Rachel he'd promised himself he'd never go for a girl like that again. Except that every girl in THA seemed exactly the same – slutty, brainless, sex maniacs. Seriously, its like a convention of Rachels.

He shuddered at the thought. Yeah, before he would have totally gone or girls like that. But that was before Haley.

Before her, he'd thought all girls were pretty much like that, so the hotter the better really. Now that he'd actually met Haley and saw some actual depth to a girl…an extremely hot girl. One that could actually be gorgeous, and smart and funny and so many other things. He couldn't really settle for hot sex with a random stranger after that.

He'd been thinking about it the whole time the blonde had been trying to flirt with him in class. He'd decided that he'd give it time, and if it felt right then he'd take a chance with Haley. So far things had been going well between them and he didn't want to risk it. But he knew for sure, that now he knew a girl like Haley, he couldn't go back to meaningless sex night after night. Not when he knew there could be so much more out there for him.

"Ok, so where you off to now?" She didn't miss the swift change of subject.

Checking her schedule she realised she had a free period.

"I'm free."

"Me too"

"Well…I guess I'll probably go to the library,"

Nathan blanched, "Why?"

"I just wanted to get some of my assignments done. I need to free up my weekend, I was planning on going down to Oak Lake to meet up with a few of my old friends."

"Really? That's cool. But…do you have to do it in the library?"

"Well it's the best place for quiet studying. Besides, I'm a nerd remember, isn't it like my calling?" She joked causing him to smile.

"Alright, library it is."

"Oh, you're coming."

"Is that a problem?" He frowned.

"What? Er…no, no. I just figured with the first game next Monday, you'd want to practice."

Nathan and the rest of the boys had been playing every free period they had as well as having practice. So often in this free time they'd part ways as he headed to the courts, and she to the library.

"Yeah, well I think a break from that would be good for me right now." She nodded "So lead the way."

She noted that he didn't have a smug grin or smirk of any kind as he said that. And he stood rather awkwardly to the side as though giving her way to go first.

"Nathan…do you even know where the library is?"

"Of course I do!" He claimed indignantly. "It's er…by the…erm…somewhere over…near there…" He trailed off uselessly.

She couldn't help it. The fact that he had no idea where the library in his own school was, coupled with the extremely confused face he was wearing and the stammering – she burst out laughing.

"Ok yeah, laugh it up. Are you happy now that I look like an idiot?"

"Maybe just a little." She grinned at him, which automatically caused him to grin back. How could he not? Her smile was infectious.

"Come on, it's this way." She smirked at him. A smirk that could rival his own.

And she pulled it off really well in his opinion.