Love Rectangle Plus One (Whatever That Is)

Chapter 10: How to Save a Life

After practice, Lucas waited for Nathan to come out of the locker room. They hadn't really spoken much after the whole Brooke and Peyton triangle had blown up. Lucas didn't know if Nathan knew about him and Brooke, and he really didn't want to find out. That would be one conversation he could so without.

"Hey Nate, can I talk to you?" he asked as Nathan came out.

"Yeah what do you want Lucas?" he asked trying to keep the annoyance out of his voice. It wasn't that he was mad at seeing Lucas; he just wanted to be left alone about the whole mess.

"Look I don't want to rag on you," Lucas said cautiously, "But I just want to say, that you should steer clear from Peyton."

"What are you talking about?"

"Just well," Lucas paused. He didn't really want to come out with the real reason, because he didn't want Nathan to use Peyton for sex anymore. But he had to give some reason for it. "I think it would really piss Brooke off," he finished lamely.

"Right," Nathan said sarcastically starting to walk away.

"Nathan, I'm serious," Lucas called after him. "It's not really all about Brooke, it's just that I think Peyton needs to be on her own for awhile, and not be sucked back into being with you."

"Why do you care? You hate Peyton. And she hates you."

"We became friends after you kicked her to the curb," Lucas said pissed off.

"Don't mess with me Luke, because I'm not in the mood for it." Nathan's face was clouded with anger and Lucas knew he was serious.

"Fine. But I'm warning you. Stay away from Peyton or you'll be sorry."

"I'm going to do what I want. As a matter of fact, Jake asked me to go over there and talk to her," Nathan said smugly.

Lucas stared in horror. "Why would he do that?"

"Maybe because someone isn't being a good enough friend," Nathan said sarcastically. "Too much time with Brooke maybe," he said shooting Lucas a nasty smile.

"I'm sorry Nathan," Lucas said quietly, "I don't know what to tell you except that I love her."

Nathan didn't want to hear it. All the pent-up aggression, all the jealousy and anger he'd been feeling for Lucas all his life, and all this shit with girls. He just snapped. "Don't worry about it Luke. After all, you've always wanted everything that was mine. My spot on the team, my dad, so why shouldn't it be my girlfriend?"

"Ex-girlfriend," Lucas said barring his teeth.

"I could get Brooke back in a minute. You're nothing but a replacement. But if you want that slut, you can have her."

"Fuck you," Lucas said and his fist came in contact with Nathan's jaw. Nathan backed away in pain before retaliating and jumping onto Lucas. Pretty soon, punches were flying.

"Is there a problem here?" Whitey said walking over. The boys immediately stopped hitting each other.

"Nope," Nathan said jumping up and giving Lucas a cocky grin, before leaving. Lucas stared after him, never feeling worse.

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Peyton was sitting in her room, still thinking about her talk with Lucas and Jake. Well at least she had patched things up with Jake, even if Lucas didn't understand her. As her pen drifted over the page, she heard a knock on the door, and there stood Nathan. He had a bruise on his chin, but otherwise he looked the same.

"Hey," she smiled.

"Hey. Jake told me you were kind of withdrawn. I said I'd talk to you; see if there's anything I can do."

"Oh," Peyton said the smile still in her eyes.

"So are you ok?" he asked still standing awkwardly in the door frame.

"Not really," she laughed.

"I'm sorry," he said sincerely.

"It's not really your fault," she said dismissively.

"Actually it kind of is," he said laughing now.

"Oh well. Thanks for coming though."

"Yeah sure. I owed it to you."

"I guess. So…" Peyton said at a loss for words.

"You want to talk about something?"

"Yeah about us," she answered.

"Oh," Nathan swallowed.

"Is there something between us? You said it was just a hook-up, but lately I've felt there was more."

"Really?" he asked grinning slyly. This is what he needed. Be with Peyton and have amazing sex and forget about the drama. He just needed to be and feel himself again. He had to get away from the new person that was threatening to take over inside of him.

"Yeah," she smiled.

"Good," he said cupping her chin and bringing her mouth to his.

Peyton responded eagerly eliciting all her pent-up passion from not having been with him for days. He found his way up her smooth stomach and lifted up her shirt as his tongue entered her mouth. Peyton moaned excitedly playing with his raven hair. She missed him so much and now she had him back. This was right; this was how it was supposed to be. But every time Nathan kissed or touched Peyton, he imagined kissing someone else. He couldn't stop seeing Haley in the tutoring center. He couldn't stop seeing her smiling face. What the fuck was wrong with him. He was in the middle of having sex with an unbelievably hot girl, and he couldn't stop thinking about little mousy Haley. He tried to forget it, ignore it, anything. But he couldn't and he knew he couldn't be this guy anymore.

"I can't do this Peyton," he said standing up, and putting his shirt back on which somehow had left his body in his haze.

"What?' she shrieked, trying hard not to start crying.

"I can't do this to you again. I don't like you like you like me. I can't help but be physically attracted to you but that's it. I'm sorry"

"Is it someone else? Is it Brooke?" she accused her face taking on an ugly pointy twisted look.

"For god sake it's not Brooke," Nathan said ignoring the first question. "Damn Lucas was right," he mumbled to himself. Lucas was worried more about Peyton than Brooke in regard to him. He should have stayed away.

"Fuck you Nathan," Peyton said bursting into tears.

"I'm sorry Peyton. I don't want to hurt you. But I'll hurt you more if I don't do this now."

"Just leave," she shrieked slapping him. But her eyes were so full of tears that she couldn't see straight and it barely made contact.

Nathan sighed and turned to leave. "Lucas was right. You are an ass!" a voice screamed after him. Nathan winced.

Lucas was right about a lot these days.

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Friday night came and with it came Brooke and Lucas's first date. They had gone to the movies, and then Lucas had brought her to his mom's café for dinner, where they were currently situated.

"So how long have you known?" Brooke asked suddenly.

"Known what?"

"That you loved me."

"Freshmen year. I saw those dimples and I was hooked."

Brooke blushed but smiled so that those dimples could be displayed. "Why didn't you ask me out?"

"You were kind of out of my league. And then you were dating Nathan."

Brooke frowned. "Well that was a mistake."

"Yeah sorry," Lucas said taking her hand and caressing it softly.

"Hey you wanna get out of here?" Brooke asked switching to spontaneous mode.

"Sure," he smiled and paid for the food. They jumped up together and made a beeline for Lucas's car. After they hung out for awhile more, Lucas drove her home. She fidgeted slightly and turned to Lucas, a small smile playing on her lips.

'Aren't you going to kiss me?' her eyes seemed to say, taunting him. Even though they already had, this seemed bigger, more important. Here goes nothing he thought. He leaned down and softly put his lips on hers. She kissed him back and after a few seconds deepened it and the kiss became more passionate. Lucas kept kissing her until she pulled back. She smiled. Brooke started to get out of the car, before turning back, the smile on her face now wider.

"Do you want to come inside?"

Lucas nodded a little shyly. All he could think about was what this beautiful girl that he loved in front of him was finally giving him what he had wanted for years. And there was no going back.

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"Brooke, can we sit down?" Haley whined.

They had been shopping for about 4 hours, and Brooke had basically bought Haley a new wardrobe full of the "essential" items of being a girl. Haley had fought against Brooke putting out so much money, but Brooke told Haley she needed it. Plus Brooke looked happier than she had in weeks, and Haley already knew better than to argue.

"Fine," Brooke pouted, "We'll go to the food court."

After walking a little more with Haley's feet begging for a rest with each step, they made their way to the food court and Haley collapsed into a seat, letting her 9 different, yes 9, bags down. Brooke walked over to one of the stands and got them both slices of pizza.

"Thank you!" Haley called taking a big bite. Between mouthfuls, she stopped to ask a question. "So tell me about your date with Lucas," Haley smiled knowingly.

Brooke smirked remembering last night. "It was amazing."

Haley smiled. "Lucas is a great guy."

"Yeah I'm just glad I found one after Nathan."

"Me too. You deserved better than that."

"But anyways, Lucas is an amazing boyfriend."

"So it's official?"

"Yep," Brooke smiled even bigger.

"To you and Lucas," Haley said raising her soda.

"Oh you rock tutor girl!" Brooke called clinking her soda against Haley's.

"Tutor girl?"

"Well 'cause you tutor, duh," Brooke explained secretly hoping Haley didn't hate it.

"Fine. In that case, you are now Tigger, because you're so bouncy and cheerful."

"To Tigger and Tutor girl," Brooke smiled and raised her cup up again.

"Damn straight," Haley grinned.