Disclaimer: One Tree Hill is owned and operated by Mark Schwahn and the CW.
Peyton sat staring at the couple in front of her. The bride had just told the minister, the groom and the whole church "I do". The minister continued the ceremony.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Just like that Peyton felt her world begin to shift as her walls began to splinter and break. There was no going back from this. There would be no changing this. Her eyes burned from tears she refused to cry. As the congregation stood she heard a deafening roar in her ears. Almost like she was drowning and in a way she was drowning. She felt Skills squeeze her shoulder and Brooke was holding on to her upper arms as if she thought Peyton might pass out at any moment. She wouldn't. The couple walked down the aisle and out of the church with all of the guests following behind them. All of the guests except Peyton, she carefully sat back down in her seat. The same question kept running through her mind as she stared at the now empty altar. Why?
That was how Brooke found her when she went looking for her best friend; sitting in her seat staring sightlessly at the altar. She had known that today would be hard for Peyton and so far Peyton had surpassed all of her expectations. She had yet to cry and she hadn't stopped the wedding despite Skills' prodding. Brooke had followed the happy couple out of the church with all the other guests and had only noticed Peyton's absence after the Limo had driven away. She'd turned around expecting to find Peyton right behind her and instead had found a little old lady who she was pretty sure was Lindsey's grandma. That was when she went searching for Peyton. Inside the church was the first place she looked. She immediately saw her best friend. Her shoulders were hunched over as if they carried the weight of the world and it had suddenly become to heavy to bear anymore. Brooke had no idea what to say to offer any comfort.
"Hey P. Sawyer."
Peyton looked at Brooke as if she'd just noticed her. Her green eyes were swimming with unshed tears and she looked so sad that Brooke rushed to wrap her in a hug.
"It's gonna be ok."
"He said 'I do' Brooke. He promised to love, honor, and cherish her for the rest of his life. He's married!!" Peyton's voice broke on that last word.
"You need to stop!" Realizing that her statement came out a little harsher than she had intended she softened her tone. "We both know that Lucas is afraid of his feelings and he has a history of hiding his heart. He told the whole world he would always be in love with you."
"Yeah and today he told God and everybody in this church that he would love Lindsey forever. He made his choice, now I have to live with it."
"Oh Peyton." Brooke's heart broke for her friend.
"I don't know what to do without him. I feel like I've never loved anyone but him. I feel lost. What do I do now? Where do I go from here?"
"We're going to the reception where you are going to get completely drunk and we'll find a hot guy to take you home. You need hot meaningless sex with a gorgeous stranger."
"I don't know Brooke. I don't really feel like it. I feel like going home, getting into my pajamas and going to sleep."
"That is a Clothes over Bro's original you are wearing and there is no way you are going to waste that sexy dress by going home. We are going to that reception and you are going to show Lucas-what's-his-name that you are so over him."
"But I'm not over him, I'm not even close."
"I know sweetie but we're going to pretend for today that you are. Besides if you don't show up everybody is going to be talking about you."
"I don't care what they say." Peyton had never cared very much about other people's opinions. She had her small group of friends and their opinions were the only ones that mattered.
"Ok well if you don't come I guarantee you will get no rest from Haley, Nathan, and Skills, they are going to be at the house all the time checking up on you. They'll probably even leave the reception to check on you. If they do then you won't get any sleep and none of Lucas' close friends will be at his reception. It'll ruin the whole reception for him; it might even ruin the whole day." Brooke knew her friend well enough to know guilt was her best weapon at the moment to get Peyton to cooperate.
"Fine we'll go to the damn reception!! Happy?"
"Ecstatic. I promise we'll find somebody hot for you to have fun with." Brooke gave her friend a suggestive wink.
"I don't want to have fun. I just want to get this over with."
"That's the P. Sawyer I know and love."
Peyton stood and followed Brooke out of the church. When she got to the door she turned and looked at the altar one last time, it was the scene of her greatest heartbreak. She quietly whispered, "bye Luke, be happy."