It's Lucas and Lindsey's engagement party! How will Peyton handle it?

This chapter is entitled, "Let it happen" and it's by Jimmy eat world.

As usual, flashbacks are in italic.


[Naley's house]

Brooke, Owen, Peyton and Julian walked toward the front door.

"Okay P. Sawyer, if at any time you feel like leaving, tell me okay?" Brooke said.

"Let me handle your best friend, Brooke. Just enjoy this night." Julian told Brooke.

"Yeah Brooke don't worry about me. Besides, it's their engagement party. He'll be busy with Lindsey and the guests while I'll be busy with my date." Peyton said and then linked her arm with Julian's.

"Date huh?" Brooke smirked, looking at Julian.

"I'll take what I can get." He told Brooke.

They stopped by the door as Brooke rang the doorbell.

"Here we go." Peyton whispered, and then turned to meet Julian's eyes.

They smiled at each other. "You can do this." He told her. "It'll be okay."

Julian leaned on the doorframe, watching Peyton look through her bag.

Realizing someone else was in the room, Peyton stopped and faced him.

"What?" she asked.

"You've been moving around too much today." He said.

"So? I have better things to do than go to this stupid party." She whined.

"Right…" he chuckled. "Like you have pressing concerns to deal with…"

"Well, I do." Peyton defended.

He laughed.

"Stop laughing at me, I'm serious." Peyton was getting annoyed.

He stopped and smiled sadly.

"I'm just worried about you." He said.

Peyton sat down on her bed and looked down at the floor.

"I'm sorry. I'm just scared." She said then looked up. "Will you come with me?"

He smiled. "I'd be happy to." He agreed. "Don't worry, Peyton. It'll be okay."

The door opened and Lucas appeared.

"Hey guys." He greeted.

"You were saying?" Peyton raised an eyebrow at Julian.

[Pool area]

Peyton was seated by the pool and then Lucas sat beside her.

"You enjoying yourself?" he asked.

"Yeah, it's…it's a great party." She said awkwardly.

"Listen, about everything that---"

"You better get back to your fiancé." Peyton stood up. "I have to go find my date." She told him then walked away.

Stunned, Lucas could only watch her walk away.

[Inside]

Peyton went inside to find Julian by the kitchen with some drinks in hand.

He approached her and handed her a drink.

"Thanks." She said, grabbing it and then taking a sip.

"How's it going so far?" Julian asked.

"Coming here was a bad idea. I can't move on with my life like this." She said.

"Let's go then." He suggested. "I'll treat the saddest girl in the world for some ice cream." He grinned.

"I just want to go home." She looked away.

"Oh come on, its ice cream." He said. "How could you turn down ice cream?"

Peyton gave him a look.

"I take that as a yes." He smiled.

"I don't really have a choice. I didn't bring my car." Peyton said.

He chuckled. "Come on."

"Talking a lot but it's still talk."

Lucas went inside the house in time to see Peyton turn her back at him as she and Julian headed toward the door. Peyton and Julian walked away with Lucas's eyes on them.

"Gotta love how it's somehow all on me."

Brooke stopped a few steps away from Lucas, watching him watch Peyton and Julian. Behind Brooke---just a few steps away---Lindsey also watched Luke.

"All the petty scenes and all the pretty things..."

Lucas was very much unaware of the people who watched him stare intensely at Peyton and Julian, who walked out the door. He could hear Peyton's laughter from where he stood.

"Say whatever you want 'coz I can laugh it off."



Not much drama but that doesn't mean there won't be any. LOL

RR! Thanks again to everybody who has been reading and reviewing this.

Much love!