Never Let Me Go

Chapter Sixteen: A Change of Heart

For goodness sake, I wasn't told you'd be this cold

Now it's my time depart, and I just had a change of heart

At the end of the school day, Brooke sat on a bench by the parking lot, waiting for Peyton and Haley, so they could all go shopping. Haley bounded up next to Brooke, sitting next to her on the bench.

"Hey, Brooke," Haley greeted the brunette with a smile.

"Hey, Hales," Brooke smile back at her friend. "You're cheery today."

"Yeeeah. I guess I'm just happily married, school's going great. What's not to be cheery about?" Haley smiled into the distance, as Peyton walked towards them, her hands in her pockets. "And suddenly I feel bad about being so happy..."

Peyton flopped down on the bench next to her two best friends, looking at the ground and leaning her head on Brooke's shoulder. Brooke put her arm around the blonde, hugging her tightly. "Okay, P. Sawyer, I know you're hungover and I know you're heartbroken. But, ya know, the best cure for both of those things is shopping!"

Peyton sat up properly. "Shopping? Okay, I'm down for that but I can't drive, I think I'm still slightly drunk."

The three girls laughed in unison. "How much did you drink last night?!" Haley exclaimed.

Peyton stood up slowly. "Too much," she replied. The other two girls also stood up from the bench, walking towards Brooke's car, arm in arm.

*****

Lucas was walking through the school's courtyard, just about to go home for the day, when he saw Jake, sauntering towards the parking lot. Lucas began to jog slightly, to catch up with him. When he finally got close enough, he tapped Jake on the shoulder sheepishly.

Jake turned his head to Lucas slowly. "Oh, hey Luke," he greeted his friend, sadly.

"You broke up with Peyton?!" Lucas inquired, without even so much as a 'hello.'

Jake let out a sigh, and sat down on one of the several picnic benches in the courtyard. Lucas planted himself next to the brunette. "Yeah, I did. It's horrible, but you have to understand, she put my child in danger, Lucas, it's a lot to try and forgive someone for!" Jake stared down at his shoes, trying to hold back tears in front of his friend.

Lucas placed a friendly hand on Jake's shoulder. "Dude, believe me, I am no stranger to making terrible choices and awful mistakes. I don't know anyone who hasn't done something they regret. Peyton is so sorry about what she did, and she's gonna have to live with it for the rest of her life. You might be mad, but it's your support she needs the most right now."

Jake sighed, once again. "I get that, Luke, I really do, but how am I ever gonna be able to look at her the same way again?"

"Ya know, I'm sure Brooke asked herself that question over and over again, when I cheated on her with Peyton. But, here we are, a year later, together and happier than ever. There is no doubt in my mind that it was a difficult thing for her to move past, but if she could get past me obliterating her trust, then I'm sure you can move past this for Peyton."

Jake nodded slightly. "That makes a lot of sense, Luke. I'm gonna go home and think about that. I'm not saying I'll take her back straight away, but you have my word that I'll at least talk to her, make sure she's okay and all." And, with that, he stood up from the picnic bench, and walked away.

*****

"Peyton Sawyer, you get away from Hot Topic right now!" Brooke demanded, grabbing her best friend's arm and forcibly dragging her away from the entrance to the store.