When he'd insisted on going to get ice cream, she'd agreed, simply because she felt like they never hung out just the two of them anymore. Yeah, he'd stayed at her house three days before, but him losing a night of sleep just to make her feel safe didn't really qualify as spending time together.
She wasn't dreaming.
While they walked down the street, side by side, Lucas had reached down and laced his fingers through hers. There they were, holding hands, as if they did it every day. Peyton couldn't hide her blush as it swept across her cheeks.
"You okay?"
She didn't answer, still in shock over the psychical contact. People been had pairing them together for years, stereotyping them: she was the loner cheerleader, dating a jock. She found herself constantly defending her friendship with Lucas to those people, as Haley did with Nathan.
"Peyton?"
Peyton would deny it if anyone ever asked, but the feelings had always been there. She wasn't sure if they'd ever go away, but Lucas was too good of a friend to lose.
"Hello..." Lucas drew out, waving his free hand around. "Earth to Peyton Sawyer. Come in, Peyton Sawyer. Do you read me, Peyton Sawyer?"
She blinked. "I... Umm..."
"You were spacing out on me." He muttered, raising an eye brow. "Are you sure you're okay, Peyton?"
His grip on her hand only tightened.
"I'm fine." Peyton replied, managing a smile. "I was just thinking about-"
"There you two are!" She let out a dramatic sigh, practically running over to them. "Don't you ever answer your... Hello, you two are totally holding hands! Oh my god! Were you two lovebirds on a date?!"
"No." The two blondes answered together.
Lucas let go of Peyton's hand abruptly, much to her disappointment.
"What's up?" She asked, turning to Brooke. "Are you okay? You look all riled up. What happened?"
"Umm..." Brooke shifted awkwardly from one foot to the other. "I need to tell you guys something, but I'm not sure how you're gonna react..."
Lucas glanced at Peyton, his eyes narrowing. Both girls wore the exact same expression, he was the only one who wasn't in on the secret.
"Brooke?"
She sighed again. She would have much rather just talked to her best friend Peyton about her current predicament, but she couldn't just leave Lucas hanging now. He wouldn't leave them alone until he knew.
"Brooke." He said again, crossing his arms. "What the hell is going on?"
Lucas had a right to know, but once she said the words out loud, she could never take them back.
"I... Umm..." Brooke drew out. "I think I might have feelings for Julian..."
Peyton blinked, unsure of what to say. Was she happy that her best friend finally had feelings for a semi-decent guy? Of course.
But what about Nathan?
"Luke?" She asked. "Say something... Please?"
"Oh..." Lucas replied, blinking rapidly. "Umm..."
Personally, he didn't have a problem with Julian, and he thought that Brooke deserved to be with a nice guy for once. He loved his little brother, he really did, but he wasn't about to let Nathan screw something up for Brooke, something that could be really great for her.
Lucas pulled out his phone.
I'm out. I'm not pranking Julian, it's not right.
"Luke?"
"Huh?" He glanced up, a slow smile forming on his face. "I... Umm... Sorry, Brooke... I just needed to ask Haley something... Are you sure about this?"
She nodded. Other than the way she felt about her friends, she had never been more sure about anything in her life.
"Then I've got your back." Lucas promised, throwing an arm around her. "I just want you to be happy, Cheery. Don't worry about Nathan, I'll handle him."
Brooke smiled. There was the Lucas Scott she knew and loved.
They began to move again, his arm still around her. His hand shot out, wrapping around Peyton's again. She looked up at him, flashing her beautiful smile.
The feelings would never go away.
Lucas was on Brooke's side, 100%. He'd backed Nathan up through a thousand fights, but those guys had meant nothing. Nathan was treading dangerous water, going after a guy Brooke actually liked.
He could only hope that the younger Scott brother wouldn't take it too far.