Love Rectangle Plus One (Whatever That Is)

Chapter 7: Come Right Out and Say It

Lucas kissed her hard, and Peyton responded eagerly enjoying the taste and liquid that was pouring from one mouth to another. Peyton arched her back down until Lucas lay on top of her. She closed her eyes and moaned as his lips traced down her jaw to her neck and her collarbone, finally resting back atop her lips. Peyton tugged at Lucas's shirt and he played with the bottom of hers too. As he was about to lift it off, a wave of feeling crept into both of their souls.

"Lucas we have to stop," she said quietly moving a ways from him on the bed.

Lucas stared at her, melancholy and guilt pouring out of his eyes. "Peyton?" he asked feeling like a huge jackass.

"You love Brooke, and I just got out of a relationship with her boyfriend. I can't do this to her again."

"I'm sorry," he whispered, while mentally kicking himself.

"Don't worry about it Luke," Peyton said smoothing down her shirt.

"I don't know what happened," he insisted needing her to say something to prove that it had meant nothing.

"We just got caught up in the moment," Peyton said hurriedly, "We're both hurting. But I can't betray Brooke again."

"I know. God I'm sorry Peyton. I shouldn't have put you in that position."

"It's not your fault. I ruined my friendship with her long before you," she said wistfully

Lucas nodded, sorrow in his eyes. "I do love her," he said mostly to reassure himself. And he meant it. Kissing Peyton had felt good, but still all he wanted was Brooke.

Peyton put her arms on his shoulders and looked him square in the eye. "I know Lucas. She just rejected you so you felt bad. Don't worry she'll come around."

"Thanks Peyton."

"Anytime."

"God I feel like an idiot. Here I am begging for consolation when you're hurting over Nathan."

Peyton laughed. "It's alright. I think you can help me with it as a friend from now on," she offered, but it was more of a clarification.

"Friends sounds good," Lucas smiled and gave her a quick hug.

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Lunch the next day was quite awkward. Nathan had sat down next to Lucas oblivious of what had happened between him and Brooke. Of course he had motioned Brooke over so she was forced to come. Haley (who had been sitting with Lucas to begin with) was still annoyed at Nathan for being a jerk during tutoring and there was still a little bit of tension with Jake. Plus Haley knew Brooke was still pissed off at her rejection of a makeover. Lucas too felt placed in a weird situation. He couldn't even look at Brooke who was trying hard to avoid him too. Peyton was nowhere in sight, so Lucas guessed she was still getting over things.

"Where is Peyton?" Brooke asked annoyed, "I haven't seen her in days. Is she sick?"

Lucas looked directly into Nathan's eyes daring him to reveal the real reason she wasn't there, because no way was he going to be the one to tell Brooke. Haley and Jake noticed the look Lucas gave Nathan and had figured the basics of what was going on.

"What?" she screamed annoyed at the furtive looks, "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Nathan mumbled, but from the look she was giving him she didn't believe him.

"Why isn't Peyton here?" she asked again.

Tim who had just walked up and was distracted by a cheerleader answered the question unaware of who he was saying it too. "She's probably upset about Nathan dumping her."

Nathan stared in shock at Tim who turned bright red after realizing what he had just said. Brooke looked confused until her face brightened and she glared at the whole table.

"Did you all know?" she asked lividly.

Everyone looked down at the table avoiding her glance and Brooke took a deep breath before turning her attention to Nathan.

"You've been sleeping with my best friend behind my back?" she asked him tightly.

At first Nathan was going to deny it and compliment her and try to make it better, but he couldn't find it in himself. He just didn't want to. In fact he just wanted to be purged of the whole situation and start fresh. He couldn't help but sneak a glance at Haley as he thought that. Whoa, what did that mean? Shaking away the thoughts he turned back to face Brooke's beautiful face flashing with anger. He nodded.

Lucas, Jake, and Haley all expected him to try and work his way out of the sticky situation but he just accepted it and came clean without so much as a fight. They all stared at the couple on the verge of collapse in bewilderment and wonder.

"You bastard," Brooke said levelly, anger apparent in her voice. She slapped him hard across the face, and Nathan winced in pain.

"I'm sorry," he whispered before looking down at the table in shame.

"You should be," Brooke hissed grabbing her bag and walking away everyone's eyes on her. Most knowing what had just happened.

Nathan wiped his eyes. Was he crying? Haley stared at him shocked by how he had just acted. Nathan stood up avoiding Lucas's eyes, and only bringing his sapphire blue ones to face Haley. He stared into her with such passion and understanding that Haley shivered.

"Are you ok?" she asked quietly.

He nodded and walked away in no specific direction. He didn't follow Brooke, he didn't walk off school. He just walked away. Almost as if he was leaving his old self behind in the wind.

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Peyton was sitting in her room drawing and listening to soft soothing music which was rare for her. She stared at the drawing unaware of what she had even been doing. There was a picture of Nathan's face but it wasn't complete It was only half. Lucas's face covered up the other half. Next to it was another two-person face, hers and Brooke's. And in the corner was a girl by herself. She looked really familiar but Peyton couldn't figure out who she was supposed to be or why she was even there. Peyton put the drawing down frustrated. She shook her head and lay back on the bed her eyes closed. Thoughts and pictures swam before her eyes.

"Well if it isn't sleeping bitchy. Or should I say back-stabbing best friend?" Brooke's voice woke her from the pictures in her mind.

"What?" asked Peyton groggy and confused.

"You. My best friend. Sleeping with my boyfriend," Brooke said her eyes flashing rage.

"I'm sorry Brooke," she said sincerely her voice breaking. She had never felt as bad as she did now. She would have gladly taken away all the pleasure just to have Brooke never angry at her. "I thought I was in love with him," she tried to explain.

Brooke laughed bitterly. "Do you hear yourself Peyton? You just thought you were 'in love' with my boyfriend?" Brooke said sarcastically pointing her forefinger at herself when she said 'my'.

"I wouldn't have done it if," Peyton tried again but Brooke cut her off.

"Look at yourself. You think this was love? I'm his fucking girlfriend. You're a distraction. Nothing. Meaningless. You betrayed me because you were horny. What a whore."

"What about Nathan huh?" Peyton yelled angry herself now too. "You think I just seduced him. You think he didn't come willingly," she said saucily.

Brooke face turned so red, it looked like she'd explode. She walked over to Peyton and slapped her hard across the face. Tears came to Peyton's eyes from the contact and she brought her hand up to touch her stinging cheek.

"Don't you dare, Peyton. Don't you dare think that you're anything but a two-faced lying bitch and slut. Because that's all you are!"

Peyton nodded already tired of it all. She sank back down to the bed. "I'm sorry Brooke," she said sadly.

Brooke stared into Peyton's eyes feeling the mixed emotions between them. They had been best friends for 10 years. And they were throwing it all away for some boy who probably didn't care about either of them, Brooke realized. But she hated betrayal and this was the worst kind. She sighed and turned giving Peyton one last look as she walked out of her room, her house, her life?

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Brooke walked to the River Court. She knew Jake hung out there. He had told her about it. It was quaint. Right now, she just needed something like that. She sat down on a bench facing away from the court to the river. She stared at the ripples going back and forth. She picked up her phone and looked at it for a long while before opening it and calling who she knew she had to.

"Hello?"

"Nathan," she said wavering on the last syllable, "It's over."

She had thought at first that she could fix this. Him begging profusely for forgiveness and then they would have amazing mind-blowing make-up sex. But she knew that wasn't going to happen. And the truth was she didn't even want it to anymore.

"I know," he said softly, confirming and summing up everything she was feeling. "Are you ok?"

Brooke nodded even though he couldn't see her. "I need to be," she said carefully but there was force behind it.

"I'm sorry," he said and it was the most sincere apology he had given in a long time. Probably ever.

"Yeah," Brooke said. There was nothing else to say. She couldn't really hate him, but she couldn't forgive him either. At least not yet.

"So, I guess I'll uh see you around," he said nervously hoping she wasn't planning on yelling at him; although he deserved it. There was something else, someone else on his mind.

"Bye Nathan," Brooke said hoarsely hanging up the phone.

She crossed her arms over her chest letting her feet dangle over the edge of the bench. A single tear fell but she brushed it away. She just wanted to forget about all of it.

"Hey," a voice said sheepishly.

Brooke turned scared until she realized it was Lucas and all emotion seeped out of her. Her eyes went dull and she hunched back over. "Hi," she mumbled.

"Are you ok?" Probably not the best thing to say, but he really didn't have anything else.

"What do you think?" she asked sarcastically.

Lucas nodded is face turning a little red. He sat down next to her. "So Nathan," he began.

"You heard?" she asked and Lucas nodded.

"It's over."

"I'm sorry."

"Why? Isn't this what you wanted from the start?" she asked sarcastically again.

"No. I wanted you to want me like I wanted you. I never wanted Nathan to hurt you, and Peyton to betray you. I just wanted you to love me."

Brooke stared at him shocked by his honesty. "Do you really mean that?" she asked in a softer tone.

"Every word."

"Good," she said and she leaned over and kissed him.

Lucas was so surprised but every part of his body was screaming from happiness. He held his hands on her waist pulling her closer to him and he kissed her back. He couldn't get enough of her. He had wanted this for so long. And it felt so right. So perfect.

"Wow," Brooke said gazing into his eyes with wonder.

Lucas smiled and was ready to lean in for another before he thought about it. "Brooke, don't take this the wrong way, but I think we should take it slow."

"What do you mean?" she asked sounding a little hurt and angry.

"I want to be with you. I do," he said touching her arm.

"Then what's the problem?" she asked coyly leaning closer to him.

"You just broke up with Nathan. And I don't want you to rush into this and realize you still have feelings for him. I want you to want me completely. Want me body and soul that we can be together for real. Otherwise it doesn't mean anything."

Brooke stared at him. She had never known a guy that was so romantic. "Ok," she murmured.

"Good," he said repeating her word from before and he put his arm around her shoulder.