"Hey."

She'd known exactly where to find him. Though he'd never admit it to anyone, he usually spent his study hall period in the library, actually reading.

Nathan glanced up and cracked a smile. She was finally speaking to him again.

"Hey, B." He muttered, pulling out a chair so she could sit beside him. "I was gonna call you tonight."

Brooke nodded slowly. "I was hoping we could talk."

She would have been lying if she said that she hadn't been avoiding him. It had been four days of no contact between the two.

Four days since the prank.

Four days since she'd kicked him out of her house.

Four days since she's kissed Julian in her living room.

Nathan reached out to cover her hand with his own. He couldn't admit that he was feeling guilty, that the prank had gone too far, but he was ready to apologize to her. Once again, his actions had caused her pain, and that was one thing he couldn't live with.

"B-"

"I like Julian!" Brooke blurted out. "I'm going to ask him out. And before you say anything, this is my choice, Nate. No, I haven't been brainwashed, he isn't trying to turn me against you, and I don't have a fever. I like him, Nathan. And you can either accept that, and be happy for me, or you can stay the hell out of my life. Your choice."

His jaw dropped, and his eyes narrowed. There was no way that she didn't have a fever, or some mind-altering disease. Had she forgotten who she was? Had she forgotten that she belonged to the most powerful clique in Tree Hill?

"You're making a big mistake, Brooke." Nathan snapped. "You want my blessing? My approval? I've got news for you, sweetheart: that's never gonna happen."

He pushed away from the table, grabbing his bag and slinging it across his shoulder. He couldn't believe her. Julian Baker didn't belong in their world, how long would it take until she realized that?

"Nathan!"

"Go ahead." Nathan muttered, shaking his head. "Ask him out, B. I give the relationship a week, if it even lasts that long. Come find me when you're back on track, and we'll put this all behind us."

He stormed out of the library as tears began to stream down her cheeks.

"Peyton?"

"Lucas?"

She raised an eye brow, waiting for him to speak again. They'd cut out on lunch early, choosing instead to spend their last few minutes of freedom sitting side by side in the hall, their backs pressed up against the cool metal of the lockers.

"I'm sorry." Lucas muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I know you're kind of disappointed in me... For going along with the prank..."

"Did you really have a choice?" Peyton shot back. "I mean, yeah, Luke, I don't like that you kept it from me, but you did the right thing in the end."

Calling her had always been the right thing to do.

"Peyton Sawyer saves the day."

She laughed, bumping his shoulder with her own. It was the first time they'd talked about it, though he had shown up at her house an hour after Nathan had dropped him off at home. They'd barely said more than two words to each other, finding comfort in lying side by side across her double bed.

I'm sorry.

I know, Luke.

"So we're okay?" He asked, reaching out to take her hands in his. "You and me? We're good?"

Peyton blushed at the sudden contact. Slowly, she nodded, lowering her head to hide her face into the crook of his neck. She always felt safest when Lucas was around, he had played her protector so many times.

"You know." Lucas whispered. "You look really today, Curly. I don't know if I said that already."

He had. Twice, in fact.

They were closer now, if that was even possible. Close enough to share a secret, close enough to share a hug.

Close enough to kiss?

Lucas leaned in, his lips just inches away from hers.

This is it. Peyton thought to herself. This is where we're going to go from being best friends, to something more. Something beautiful, something unexpected.

"Hey, Love Birds! Some other time. We're gonna be late for class."

Haley's voice broke them apart. She stood in front of them, her arms crossed, an eye brow raised. It wasn't the first time she had caught them in a compromising position. It wasn't awkward, she was all for them getting together, she just wished they weren't so stubborn.

"Hey, Hales."

Lucas jumped to his feet, holding his hand out for Peyton to take. Once she was stead, he released his grip on her only to thrown an arm around her shoulder as they moved down the hallway together.

One day, it would happen. Someday, soon, there would be no interruptions. One day, Lucas Scott would find the courage to grab Peyton Sawyer around the waist, and never let her go again.

One day, he would kiss her.

One day, he would make her his.

One day, someday, he would be able to tell her the truth: Lucas Scott was now, and always would be in love with Peyton Sawyer.