AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thanks to everyone for their kind support and reviews. I don't own anything from One Tree Hill, because if I did, Jake and Peyton would be together, and Nikki would have never come back in the first place!

Chapter Three:

"I don't understand, Peyton," Lucas said. "It this is real love, it can wait a few months! And when did you start seeing Jagielski again?"

"It's none of your business, Luke. I'm telling you that I love him and that we're getting married. That's all you need to know." I knew I was coming off harsh, but Lucas was a stumbling block in my relationship with Jake and so he needed to be kept at arm's length... especially considering my fight with Jake this morning.

"Is this because I'm with Brooke?" Lucas asked.

"No, Luke, this has nothing to do with that. I love Jake!" I told him. Honestly, the boy thinks that the whole world revolves around him. "But speaking of Brooke, we need to tell her what happened in the library."

"What? We don't need to tell her that. You know how insecure she gets when stuff like this happens. I mean, you thought you were going to die. It didn't mean anything. Telling Brooke will accomplish nothing!"

"We have to be honest with her, Luke. If she finds out any other way, she will be crushed. She will never forgive us. Besides, if we don't tell her now, she will read more into it, and she will start wondering why we didn't tell her sooner and then she will think that it did mean something. We have to tell her before the whole situation gets out of control!"

"That's easy for you to say; you're marrying Jagielski and moving to Georgia. How do you think he would feel if he found out about it?"

"Actually, he did. I was reliving the shooting in my sleep and unfortunately he heard me say that I loved you when I thought that I was dying. It almost cost me him, Luke. What if Brooke found out like that? Is it worth the risk?"

"I just don't want to hurt her, Peyton. I love her, but I feel like she has been waiting for something like this so she could have an excuse to push me away."

"We hurt her really badly last time. Even though it didn't mean anything, she needs to know. If we explain it right, she will understand."

~*~*~

"Brooke, we need to talk to you," Lucas said hesitantly.

"Hey, boyfriend! Did Peyton tell you the news? Isn't that so exciting? We have so much to do and so little time to do it in."

"Brooke, this is important," I said, cutting her off, before she got too worked up and excited. I hated being the reason to bring my friend out of her high, but I knew how important this was. "Brooke, do you remember the school shooting? How Lucas came and saved me in the library?"

"Yeah, of course, P. Sawyer. I was really scared that I was going to lose you for a while there."

"Brooke, when we were in the library, something happened. I was bleeding out and delusional, and... I kissed Lucas and told him I loved him..."

"You what?" Brooke asked, looking very agitated.

"It didn't mean anything, Brooke. I thought that I was going to die, and I didn't want to be alone in my final moments..."

"But that was it, right? You just kissed him. Nothing else happened?"

"I swear, nothing else happened. And I only love him as a friend. I would never hurt you like I did last time..."

"Have you told Jake this? Why are you telling me now?"

"Yeah, Jake kind of found out when I was reliving it in a nightmare... We're telling you because I wanted to be honest with you, Brooke. I didn't want you to find out like Jake did. It didn't mean anything at all."

"Call him," she said simply.

"What? Call who?" I was confused as to who she would want to talk to. She had Jake had never been the best of friends and I didn't see what talking to him about this would accomplish.

"I want to talk to Jake, Peyton. Please call him for me."

I pulled out my cell and did as she wished. Jake answered on the third ring. "Hey, baby, is everything going alright?" I heard him ask.

"Hey, yeah, everything is going fine. Umm, Brooke wants to talk to you about something..."

"Okay..."

Brooke took the phone from me and got up and went into another room, closing the door behind her. "Well, that went better than I expected," Lucas said, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"What do you think she want to talk to him about?"

"I don't know... to probably hear his opinion."

~*~*~

(Brooke's POV)

I couldn't believe that this was happening again... The last time this had happened, I had been crushed, and I knew that I loved Lucas more this time then I did last time. I had to know if this was really over. JAKE! Peyton was still marrying Jake, and if he knows about this, then he must know that it is over, right? I have to talk to him and have him confirm that it is really over. I can't let my heart get broken like last time. "I want to talk to Jake, Peyton. Please call him from me."

I watched as Peyton pulled out her cell phone and called Jake. She exchanged a few words with him before giving the phone over to me. I left the room, not wanting either of them to see who vulnerable this situation made me feel.

"Hi, Jake, this is Brooke."

"Yeah, I know, Brooke. What can I do for you?"

"Peyton and Luke just told me about the kiss and that she said 'I love you' in the library during the school shooting and I have to know, do you think that it is really over between them?"

I heard Jake sigh on the other end of the line. "Yeah, Brooke, I really do believe that it is over."

"How can you know that? What makes you think that, Jake?"

"Because I made her think about Jenny while she was thinking about it, and while Peyton might lie to herself when it is only about me and her, when it involves Jenny, I know that she is honest with herself. She told me that Lucas wasn't in her heart anymore and that she loves me, and I have to believe that, Brooke."

"I'm scared, Jake. The last time this happened, it hurt me really badly. What if you're wrong?"

"I'm going to be honest with you, Brooke. I am scared too. The last time I lost Peyton, I thought that I would die. But I love her, and I have to believe that she love me too. I have to believe that I really am the only one in her heart, and that she loves Jenny enough to be totally honest with herself. I think that you need to open up your heart a little more, Brooke, and trust that Lucas really does love you. It might end up hurting in the end, but on the other hand, it might end up being the best thing that ever happened to you. You have to trust that your best friend really is telling you the truth and that she just wanted to be honest with you."

I sighed, thinking about his words. Jake really was a great guy... perfect for Peyton. I knew that he would always be there for her, no matter what. Would Lucas be there for me, no matter what? Would Luke ever be able to rescue me, like he rescued Peyton? Maybe Jake was right, and I just had to open up my heart a little bit and let myself be okay with being hurt if that mean that in the end, it would all be worth it. "Thank you, Jake. You're a really smart guy. Peyton is lucky to have you."

"I'm lucky to have her... Just follow your heart, Brooke and follow where it leads."

"Okay. See you later, Jake. I'll take care of your girl while she is down here... show her all that she will be missing."

"Thanks, Brooke. Just return her in one piece, please."

I hung up the phone, thinking about what Jake said. I felt like I really loved Lucas, so maybe that was enough. Maybe this was the time to stop listening to everything screaming at me that I would get hurt again, and it was time to take a chance on love.

I went back into the room and solemnly handed the phone back to Peyton. I took a deep breath before I finally knew what I was going to do. "I forgive you," I said quietly.

"Oh, Brooke," Peyton said, jumping up and hugging me, "I never meant to hurt you."

I smiled weakly at her. "I know you didn't, P. Sawyer. I just… I need to talk to my boyfriend right now."

She looked at me timidly before nodding her head. "But, we're still good, right?"

I forced a smile before nodding, "Of course. I will see you tonight at the reception."

After Peyton left I turned to look at Luke, "Brooke, I swear it didn't mean anything. I'm sorry we didn't tell you sooner."

"Why didn't you call me?" I asked out of the blue.

"What?"

"When you were gone, with your mom. You never called me. I really needed you and you didn't call me once."

"I'm sorry, Brooke. I just needed to get away from everything, to clear my head and deal with HCM and Keith's death and everything."

"Sometimes, I feel like I am desperately hanging on to you, trying to keep us both afloat, because… I need you, Luke. But I never feel like you need me back."

"Brooke, I need you ever day. I know I don't show it well, but I do need you. You're the reason I get up in the morning. You're the one whose smile brightens my darkest days… I love you, Brooke Davis."

I knew that he was trying. And I knew that if we were going to take our relationship anywhere, I would have to listen to Jake's advice and open up my heart. "We go days without having a meaningful conversation, and I used to miss you so much when that happened. But it never seemed like you missed me. And I guess because of it, I stopped missing you… I want to miss you again, Luke. I want to have back what we used to have."

"We can have it back, Brooke. I promise, I will call you three times a day every day. We will talk about anything and everything. I will be there so much that you won't miss me, because I won't be gone enough for you to miss me. Please, Brooke, I will do anything, just don't give up on us. I love you so much!"

"Luke, my heart was so hurt after the last time, that I have been scared to open up my heart again, but when I was talking to Jake, he told me something important. He said that I need to open up my heart to you, Luke, and to allow myself that while I might get hurt again; I might also discover that you're the best part of my life… So, I'm going to do that, Luke. Please, don't hurt it again." I could feel the tears flowing down my cheeks. I was scared out of my mind, but I knew that I loved Lucas Scott.

"Oh, pretty girl, don't cry," Lucas said, pulling me into his arms. "I promise that I won't let anything hurt you. I'm the guy for you, Brooke Davis."

I smiled as he held me… it felt good to be loved.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Next up is the reception and Naley renewals. Peyton will only be in Tree Hill sans Jake for another chapter or two, depending on if I decide to make certain things happen or not. Please R & R. Your reviews really do inspire me!