On Top of The World
A/N: This story is based on an idea I've thought of over some time. Most of the characters will be in it, and it's completely AU. Everything will be introduced and explained fully. I promise. If you have any questions let me know. The first chapter is inspired by L.A Candy. Enjoy!
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Peyton Sawyer walked out of her bedroom door when she walked into someone. She looked up to meet the eyes of some strange sweaty, half-naked guy. He smelled like bad cologne, armpits and beer.
"Who the hell are you?'' she yelled.
The guy backed up, and flinched at the level of her voice.
"I came home with Laura last night."
Soooo.
This was one of Brooke's friends. Or more accurately, one of Brooke's here-today, gone-tomorrow hookups. Peyton's BFF (and, as of a week ago, now roommate), Brooke Davis was famous for giving guys the wrong name, or the wrong phone number, or both. So she wouldn't have to see them again. If it turned out the next morning she actually liked the guy and wanted to see him again, she'd tell him she'd been too wasted the night before to tell him the right contact information – so sorry!
This rarely, almost never happened. Brooke wasn't really good with long term relationships. Or short term ones for that matter, she was more in it for the benefits.
"Well you should go back to her room then."
"Yeah, sorry."
First things first. Job. Peyton really needed a job. She applied for an internship at Sire Records not too long ago, but hasn't heard a word back yet. She thought she may as well go searching for something in the area. Keys. Her eyes scanned the living room, for where they were. Carefully stepping over a couple of cardboard boxes that neither her or Brooke had gotten to unpacking yet. All the boxes were labeled PEYTON SAWYER'S STUFF with black eye liner, since she couldn't find a Sharpie during her packing spree back home in Tree Hill. Brooke's were all carefully labeled in glitter. That's Brooke for you.
Her and Brooke moved to L.A less than 7 days ago. Less than a week ago, and they still had a lot of settling to do. They lived in what Peyton's father would call "battlefield conditions" which is when you rip open boxes at the last minute when you realize you need something inside it. Every day she promised herself that she would finish unpacking. She never kept her word. Maybe she'd do it tomorrow. Or next month. Whenever. She'd eventually get it done when she had time.
Peyton's procrastination was something her new roomie was familiar with. There was very little the two best friends didn't know about each other. Peyton first met Brooke when they were 5. Back then when they were young every Tuesday, they would go to the mall where Brooke would try on all types of make-up and Peyton would check out the newest records. It became a sort of tradition, however they don't do it now. They've pretty much been best friends since then. Peyton's the kind of girl who wasn't afraid to say what's on her mind. She has curly blonde hair, and sparkling green eyes. Brooke on the other hand is the total opposite of Peyton. She has dark brown hair and hazel eyes. And even when she would wake up in the morning with complete bed head she was still drop dead gorgeous.
Brooke was adventurous, always taking risks, when Peyton was the same old Peyton. Always guarded, with a wall up to save her from getting her heart broken. Again.
Peyton had been in love once in her life, with Nathan Scott, her high school boyfriend. Nathan left her the year before, but not before he cheated on her with a little petite brunette girl named Haley. He ended it by saying he didn't want to ruin something that was once great. Which was code for 'If I keep cheating on you, you'll eventually find out." Which is what happened. It wasn't Haley's fault by far, she wasn't aware of anything, she was played too. Peyton was devastated, and hasn't been with anyone since. It's been especially hard for her to trust just about anyone. Now Nathan doesn't have a girlfriend, but he does have a job something Peyton is lacking.
Peyton may not have unpacked yet, but she already had tons of ideas for how to decorate their new home. With a little paint (she was thinking red, for her room, and pink for Brooke's), and some of her creativity (since she was an artist), she could paint a beautiful mural of the Italian riveara on the wall.
Getting distracted she walked back into her room and put on her favourite record. Wish by The Cure. The record started spinning as the beautiful words of Friday I'm in Love spilled into the air. Peyton constantly got inspired mostly from music. She lay down on her bed, pulled out her sketch book and started drawing. Brooke calls them "creepy nobody understands me" drawings. People Always Leave – But This Time It's Me. She titled the drawing as she drew a picture of her car full of moving boxes driving past a bunch of green traffic lights into the sunset.
Peyton ended up finding her car keys on her nightstand. Where she should've looked in the first place. She grabbed them and walked back through the living room to the kitchen (You had to walk through the kitchen to get outside). She stopped in her tracks after watching Brooke push whoever that guy is out the door.
"So I'll call you tonight okay?"
"Okay, bye." She shut the door after him.
"Morning." Brooke greeted Peyton cheery.
She glanced up to see Peyton standing in the doorway of the kitchen.
"Want some breakfast?"
"I was just about to run out, but sure. Do we even have anything?"
Brooke opened the fridge. One opened strawberry yogurt which looked like it was growing something, a carton of milk with yesterdays expiration date, and a pizza box containing two slices from the other night.
"Maybe we should go out." Brooke suggested.
"And make you leave, so you won't be around to answer the phone?" Brooke looked confused. " I wouldn't want to tear you away from your new boyfriend. Who I has the pleasure of meeting this morning. I dunno Brooke he's not up to your usual standards."
"I met him the other night at that club two blocks down, and when he asked me out I thought it could be fun. Anyway he's gone now. Which as you know is exactly how I like my men."
"Aren't you tired of all that? You know, just sleeping around?"
"Not at all."
"One of these days, you're going to fall in love with some guy, and you're not going to know what to do with yourself."
Love….who needed love? As long as Brooke had her, friends, family, and the occasional hook-up, she didn't need love. She wasn't one for those real relationships – you know the kind that are supposed to last forever but never do – why go through the trouble? It's not like her parents were 'in love' either. Her mom Victoria just married her dad for the money. Where's the love in that? Besides, life was too short to be stuck with one guy and one guy only. There was an entire universe full of them.
