TUESDAY AFTERNOON

Peyton sat in a seat next to Brooke currently getting a manicure and pedicure. How she ended up next to Brooke confused her. Everyone had been so obsessed with her the past few days she didn't even attempt to fight for a spot next to her. But, Peyton guessed she better get used to it seeing as she was moving into the Brucas guest room tonight. 30 minutes ago they had been in a room getting massages in silence, that was tolerable. But now, Brooke could talk talk talk and Peyton had to listen.

"So P. Sawyer tell me whats going on! Hows the city? Your job?"

"You know the city is the city busy always running around. And my job is good." Lie, my job sucks.

"Oh I know the busyness. I was visiting with Lucas two months back to see his editor it took us 20 mins to find a cab can you believe that? Me on the corner trying to hail a cab in stilettos."

"You, you were in the city? Why didn't you text me?" This is what Peyton needed. Ammo to be mad at Brooke about. She was in her city and she didn't even text her. Win.

"Oh P. Sawyer, first I texted you and I got no answer. So I called you and you said you were busy at work and you hung up. It's ok though we weren't there for a long time. But Broody and I did just buy an apartment so we have a place to go back too. We are kind of over the whole renting a hotel room. So we can hang out next time I come!" Peyton tried thinking about that moment. She can't lie, her effort in responding to Brooke had been a low priority. In her mind, Brooke didn't deserve a response for being the reason of her breakup with Lucas.

Peyton was broken out of her thoughts. With deepest sincerity Brooke spoke. "Peyton, I am really happy you're here. And I know things could be hard." Peyton thought she doesn't even know. "I never expected to be back with Lucas. It was such a long shot. I was so lonely being out in Cali without you. And our calls got less and less. I know we were both super busy. " Here she is trying to get sympathy from me, Peyton thought. "And one day, he just came out and professed everything. High school, to that moment and everything in between. Ya know I didn't give in. Brooke Davis makes the rules," she laughed. Suddenly Brooke's hand was on Peytons, "Peyton, I've never been happier. Thank you for being ok with this. I know the pain, I felt that in high school when I let you two be together." A tear slid down Brooke's face, she took her hand to wipe it off.

Let them be together? Is that what Brooke thought she did? Did she not know that they, Lucas and Peyton belonged together and she was the footnote. She was the mold that ruined them? Peyton's body started to get warm. How dare she insult her relationship like that. Before she could speak Haley busted in, "Ladies its time to go. Brooke I'm so sorry to do this to you, Millie called something is wrong at the store. Rachel tried to fix it and it seems like you're the only one who can."

Victoria jumped in, "I'll go with you sweetie. 2 fashion minds are better then one." Victoria held out her hand for Brooke to grab.

"Peyton, lets go back to my house and we will move you in to Brooke's guest room." Haley said. Peyton nodded and they all went their separate ways.

About an hour later Haley had Peyton's bag packed in the car and pulled up to the front of Brooke and Lucas's house.

"They live here?" Peyton questioned. Peyton looked up at the red door. Having the most fond memories growing up in this house. "When Brooke moved back they were actually living with Karen and Keith for a while. It was a little crazy with both of them starting off in their careers. After the attack, Lucas talked Ted and Victoria into buying their house. He knew how much Brooke loved being here." They made it to the front door and Haley pulled out her key. Peyton wasn't surprised that Haley had a key.

"Luke we're here!" Haley shouted. Peyton stood in the foyer. Things had changed drastically since the last time she had been in the home. It was so inviting and warm. There were fresh flowers everywhere. Pictures lined the walls. A little older woman came in view, "Oh Mrs. Scott, Mr. Lucas is finishing up a phone call he will be out in a few minutes. I'll take her bags up." The woman scurried up the steps. Haley joined Peyton looking at the portraits in front of her. It was a photo collage of the proposal. Lucas on his knee. Brooke in tears. The sunset. Jamie in their arms. Peyton turned towards Haley, "This place has changed. A lot." Haley smiled, "Brooke said when she bought it, there were a lot of negative memories. A lot of negative energy. The only times she could feel love here, was because of you."

Peyton felt a pit in her stomach. Could she forgive Brooke and let her have the happy ending? She followed Haley into the living room and a picture caught her eye. She remembered it. They had been on a pier in California. It was supposed to be date night for Peyton and Lucas. Of course, Lucas insisted Brooke come so she wouldn't be alone. They had taken a selfie in front of the sunset. This picture was different though. It wasn't the 3 of them, it was just Lucas and Brooke. They cut her out of the picture like they cut her out of their life. And now that pit was no longer there.

By the time Lucas had come out of his office, he walked into the living room finding Haley and his mother on the floor with pictures of Lucas and Brooke, and individuals ones of them everywhere. He noticed Peyton on the couch drawing in her own world not helping at the task in front. "Hey guys! Sorry I just got off the phone with Lindsey about the book tour and the honeymoon." He sat down on the floor with them criss crossed.

"Mom why are you crying again?" Lucas laughed . Peyton finally looked up at the older woman. "I'm sorry hunny. Just looking at these pictures. You make me so proud. All I wanted was happiness for you and you're getting that with Brooke." Haley started to tear up. "Oh god, not you too Hales." Haley wiped her face. "Oh BIL. I love you," as she side hugged Lucas. Lucas started sifting threw the photos. Peyton noticed he hadn't made eye contact with her. She needed somehow to get him alone. To plant a seed. To do something to put doubt in his mind that Brooke wasn't the one.

"So ladies what are on your plans today in my home," he questioned. Haley rolled her eyes. "We are getting the posters together for Friday." Karen picked a class picture out from the second grade. She handed it to Lucas. "Look here." Peyton looked over Haley's shoulder. It was their class picture. In the middle row stood. Brooke and Lucas next to each other. You could see in between the person in front of them that they had been holding hands. "Lucas said he had a girlfriend in Mrs. Mara's class, but we thought he had been lying." They laughed together. "See its always been Brooke," Lucas said finally looking up and making eye contact with Peyton. His eyes bore some anger. "Ya know I love being here with the chick fest, but I am going to go to the Rivercourt." He got up kissed the side of his moms head, kissed the side of Haley's head, and nodded toward Peyton and was out the door.

This was her opportunity, Peyton thought. Alone at the Rivercourt where she can talk to him. Maybe, maybe he did this on purpose. Maybe he wanted the alone time with her. She was going to take this moment. She closed her sketch book. "Hey ladies do you mind if run and go see my mom?" She knew playing the cemetery mom card worked every time."I'm afraid we are going to be so busy as time goes on this week and I haven't seen her in 7 years. I want to bring her some flowers ..." She started babbling on which was so unlike her; should be a clear sign she was lying, but no one noticed. Haley reached out to Peyton, "Peyton you don't have to explain. Take as much time as you need."

She could see him as she pulled up to the Rivercourt. She looked at herself in the mirror fixing her hair. She reapplied some lip gloss and took a deep breath. "Hey Luke," she said. He turned around and looked at her, but just went back to shooting some hoops. She was playing with her fingers. She was nervous. "So I was on my way to visit my mom and saw you as I drove by." He stopped bouncing the ball and turned around to her. His eyes showed such disappointment.

"You know Peyton, as grown adults I would think we wouldn't be liars anymore. You know damn well the cemetery would have been the first stop on your drive to here so let's try again. Why are you here Peyton?"

She shifted on her feet back and forth. She needed to think about her words carefully. She didn't want to upset him, but she knew she needed to get him see her side. "Im waiting Peyton." He was agitated.

"You cant marry Brooke." It came out like word vomit. She stopped herself before she could say anything more.

"Excuse me?" he questioned.

"I said you can't marry her. You don't love her. She isn't the one."

"Stop. Stop Peyton. Do you hear what you're saying?"

She moved towards him. "Lucas, I love you. I've always loved you. You love me we are perfect together!" She shouted grabbing his hands. He pushed her arms away. He was shaking his head.

"No Peyton!" She went towards him again trying to get him to calm down.

"Stop. Stop. Do you want to know what loving someone looks like? Letting your boyfriend go because your best friend says you have feelings for him, thats love. Putting people before you is love."

"Lucas," Peyton said with tears beginning to go down her face.

"Peyton how could you do that to her? How could you tell your best friend, the love of my life that you had feelings for me? Considering our past and how we hurt her." The anger was building inside of him. He had waited years to unravel these feelings. "And do you want to know the worst part of all of this? You acted like my friend. I cried to you about the pain I was in. And then in my vulnerable state, you somehow convinced me we should be together!" He began pacing.

"Lucas, please listen to me," Peyton begged.

"No Peyton," he shook his head. "We," Lucas pointed in between them, "we were the biggest mistake that had ever happened in my life. I need you to accept that all you and I could ever be is acquaintances. I don't even want you here do you understand? Brooke, by the grace of god stills holds this torch to you. I can't begin to understand how she has never spoken to me about what you did and how she's been able to just forgive you."

Peyton gulped. Here she was again having to hear she was the biggest mistake in Lucas Scott's life. At this point she was sobbing.

"Lucas you don't mean that. You love me. You don't mean that!" She shouted. She noticed his hand go into his pocket and take his phone out and read a text.

"Now I am going to go home to my fiancé. But now I have to make the decision on whether or not I decide to tell her that her best friend still harbors feelings for me and wants to put a stop on our wedding, or do I allow her to keep this image of you in her head that she still loves." He walked past her towards his car. "Peyton moving forward for this week, we don't speak unless we need to. You are nothing more then my future wife's friend. And even that is debatable." He got in the drivers seat and sped away. Peyton dropped to her knees and screamed out. Senior year was so long ago, yet the impact of what Peyton had done still lingered.