Brooke Davis' stiletto heels tapped against the hard tiled flooring of Tree Hill College. She watched out of the corner of her eye as a redheaded Rachel Gatina appeared at her locker and opened it. She applied a layer of lip gloss in the mirror inside then slammed it shut.
"Put on as much make-up as you like," Brooke commented as she sidled up beside her "You'll always be a skank to me."
"Brooke," Rachel laughed snidely "Where did you crawl out from on this fine morning?"
"Somewhere with a light," Brooke looked her up and down "Because it seems you got dressed in the dark."
"Oh, you mean, like in the dark of Lucas or Nathan's bedroom?" she raised her eyebrows "I just can't keep track, since they all want me."
"Actually both boys have very good lighting in their bedrooms," Brooke examined her French manicured nails "I mean I would know, wouldn't I?"
"I didn't believe people when they said you'd slept with the entire basketball team," Rachel flicked her hair over her shoulder "But then I figured if Lucas liked Peyton and Nathan liked Haley," she watched Brooke's face carefully "That the boys have pretty low standards."
"You little-" But before Brooke could spit a retaliation at Rachel she felt a strong hand grip onto her arm and pull her into a walk.
"Having fun, B.Davis?" Peyton enquired, steering her best friend down the hallway.
"Terrorizing Rachel is always the best part of the day," Brooke responded through gritted teeth.
"What have we got first period?" Peyton rifled in her bag, in search of her timetable.
"I think you have art," Brooke replied "Have you spoken to Lucas?"
"No, why would I?" Peyton ran a hand through her straightened hair.
"I just thought you might have done," Brooke checked her reflection in a window as they passed "Things seemed a little awkward at that dinner we had at Karen's."
"It wasn't awkward," Peyton disagreed "I just don't know Lindsay very well, so I didn't know how to make conversation."
"Peyton, you barely touched your food and you wouldn't even look Luke in the eye," Brooke squeezed her arm "Are you sure you're okay?"
Peyton considered her answer for a moment. No she wasn't, but she wasn't ready for everyone to know that quite yet. "Of course I am," she smiled.
"Well at least your love life's okay," Brooke moped "Mines hideous."
"And why is that?" Peyton adjusted her bag on her shoulder slightly.
Brooke looked Peyton in the eye, then flicked them to the floor "Nothing, it doesn't matter."
"You sure?" Peyton enquired, watching Brooke closely.
"No," Brooke said quietly "Just don't tell Felix, okay?"
"Why would I tell him? I ha-" she broke off.
Brooke laughed "I know you hate him."
"I don't hate him… I was going to say that I happened upon him when I was at Tric last night," Peyton lied, trying to come up with a story.
"Did you really?" Brooke responded playfully.
"Yeah… Um, he offered to buy me a beer but I said that I couldn't because I'd promised I'd meet Haley before her performance," Peyton could see Brooke looking at her disbelievingly.
"Well isn't it a shame he was with me all last night," Brooke grinned, sticking her tongue out of her mouth.
"Alright, so I wasn't even at Tric last night, and I didn't see Felix," Peyton admitted "And I do kind of hate him. But why is your love life so hideous anyway? At least yours exists, unlike mine."
"Right," Brooke paused for a second "The other day I got a phone call from a girl called Mandy."
"Mandy?" Peyton creased her eyebrows "Who the hell is Mandy?"
"Turns out she was his girlfriend before me," Brooke bit at the side of her mouth worriedly "I looked at his cell the other night, and there was a message…"
"Oh…"
"Big Oh…" Brooke repeated "She said she missed him and wanted to meet up."
"That can't be good," Peyton replied as they rounded a corner.
"And it so happens that Felix has to go away on a weekend family holiday…" she pursed her lips "To Alabama."
"Alabama? Jeez," Peyton rolled her eyes "How dumb does he think you are?"
"Doesn't help that Mandy had a southern accent either," Brooke laughed "Well, if he comes back wearing a scarf, then we know who he went to see."
"Oh B.Davis," she squeezed Brooke's arm "You seem like you're coping with this quite well…"
"Mm," Brooke mumbled, as they came to a stop outside Brooke's next class "This is me."
"I'll see you at Tric tonight, I've got some stuff to do," Peyton told her, resting against the doorframe.
"Same," Brooke smiled, hugging Peyton affectionately "Bye."
Peyton waved as she headed off down the corridor. If Felix thought he was going to mess Brooke around, he had another thing coming.
---
"Hey stranger," Peyton slowed down as she realized Nathan was walking beside her.
"Hey yourself," he smiled, tucking his thumbs underneath his rucksack straps.
"How are you?" she asked, nibbling on her fingernail.
"I'm alright," he glanced at her sideways "Why?"
"Can't I ask my favorite boy-who's-a-friend if he's okay once in a while?" she grinned.
"Peyton," he sighed "What do you want?"
"Okay, I'll tell you but you have to promise not to tell anyone," she lowered her voice "I have a plan, but I could use your brawn."
"Depending on what it is, I might help you."
"Brooke thinks Felix is cheating on her," Peyton explained "But I want a confession, and I don't think I can get one by myself. So basically, I need you to beat him the crap out of him until he tells me."
Nathan sighed "Shouldn't you let Brooke handle this by herself?" he said "I mean, he is her boyfriend."
"I just want to look out for her," she sighed "Like she does for me."
"I know you do Peyt," he placed an arm over her shoulders and squeezed them "But me beating up Felix isn't going make this whole situation disappear."
"It might do," she responded, twirling her hair around her finger "Okay, it won't."
"Why don't you just talk to him instead?" he suggested "You might find out it's not what you think it is."
"That's unlikely," she sighed "And anyway, when do you become sensible?"
"Only recently," he smiled.
"Well don't get too boring," she hit his arm playfully "I'll see you at Tric tonight?"
"Sure," he nodded and watched her walk away.