A/N: This idea just came to me, as many do. However I actually liked this one after starting to write it, unlike most of my other scrapped story plots.

This one is set around Season 1, Episode 1.15. It's a bit altered, though. Lucas never got into his accident and he also did not break up with Brooke. Though apart from that, you'll notice that this first chapter will strongly mirror Episode 1.15.

I'm disclaiming right now that I don't own One Tree Hill. I looked for those copyright papers and they still read 'not mine,' oh well. And you'll probably see some more adult-centric themes and swearing, so don't read it if you don't like it.

Enjoy! :)

The Betrayal

"Lucas," she cried, bawling and panicked. "She's dead! P-Peyton, s-sh-he's dead!" His previously empty thoughts switched immediately to ones of pain for the loss he was suffering. This was unbelievable, impossible, unfathomable. It was a mere six hours ago when he was talking to Peyton- an amiable "see you later" would apparently be the last words they shared. But that could not be true, his mind insisted. No, he decided firmly, this was a mistake. In all his memories of her, she was alive. So vividly alive that there was no way she was currently existing otherwise (or not existing at all).

His mind kept replaying the past minute. His cell phone rang, it played the same tune it did every time Brooke called, an energetic little piece of music that came with the cellular device. It was seven fifty-two, and there was nothing that suggested that this phone call was anything out of the ordinary. Lucas picked up the cell phone, flipping it open and placing it to his ear.

"Hello?" he answered, expecting Brooke to talk to him about anything really, she was random like that. It could be an idea for a date, or really any random thought that she had about life. Brooke loved just talking to Lucas, about absolutely anything under the sun.

Instead of either of those options, Brooke informed Lucas that Peyton was dead. He knew even before Brooke said anything that something was horribly wrong. The first thing he heard when answering the phone was Brooke's labored breathing and her crying. While her crying wasn't a sure sign of disaster, the way she was breathing - the heavy heaving noises, as if she could barely breathe at all - that was what shook Lucas. Brooke was horribly, awfully afraid; and that was definitely a valid cause for worry.

It seemed as if millions of painful hours had passed, but deep down, Lucas knew that in reality, it had only been seconds. His mind tuned back into the fact that Brooke still was on the other end of the phone, possibly waiting for a response that he could not think of forming.

Before he could really think about what to say, Brooke kept talking. Her voice was a lower, even more worried, hoarse whisper, "I killed her, Luke. I killed Peyton."

"What?" The response came easily this time, but it was another impossibility. Brooke was Peyton's best friend, if Peyton was somehow dead, there was absolutely no way Brooke had a hand in her death.

"I-it was an a-accident, I swear," she breathed, her voice strained and heavy. "Sh-she's dead, Lucas." There were more sobs as the truth kept hitting Brooke over and over. Lucas felt the same way, as if he were lost in an ocean and waves just kept smacking him down until he was immersed underwater, unable to breathe.

Lucas soon realized that he needed to begin to take action. It was up to Brooke, he understood. If she wanted this to be known, she would go to the police. If she didn't, she would ask that it be kept a secret, maybe even ask Lucas to help cover it up. There were a million possibilities besides those options as well, but Lucas didn't have the capacity to think about those on top of everything else he was currently storing in his thoughts.

"Brooke, where are you?" he demanded.

There was silence for a moment, as if Brooke had to focus her thoughts on relearning where she was. "Her house," she whispered. "Peyton's house."

And that was when he snapped the phone shut, snatching his keys and running off to the car. Consequences were damned. All he could think about was getting to Brooke and Peyton as soon as possible.

Eight hours earlier...

He planted a chaste kiss on her lips. She dove in, needing more. She lined his neck with kisses, while her hands found the edge of his shirt. Pulling that up over his head, she was forced to calm her anxious lips.

"Peyton," his voice was low and grainy. "I'm gonna tell Brooke soon."

"Yeah, yeah," she agreed halfheartedly, if that. Brooke was the farthest thing from her mind as she continued her ministrations on her best friend's boyfriend.

Lucas pulled away from a kiss Peyton thrust on his lips. "No, seriously," he insisted. "You know, it's not right. I'm going to tell her and then we can really be together." His hand caressed the side of her waiting face. "Nothing is going to keep us apart," he promised.

Peyton broke out in a warm smile, one Lucas mimicked. Their lips met in a deeper, more passionate kiss. Her shirt and his pants were discarded, clothes being haphazardly shewn across the floor.

"I love you," he breathed.

"I love you," she returned.

Neither noticed that the light on Peyton's web cam was a lit-up bright blue, indicating that it was on. Neither knew they were putting on quite a show for everyone watching. Neither remembered that Lucas left his computer on at home, that he didn't even bother to close out of the Punk and Disorderly website before leaving to see her.

A knock came at the door. Karen looked up to see the smiling face of Brooke as she motioned for the young girl to come in.

A timid, "Hi," was all that escaped Brooke's lips.

"Hey," Karen replied kindly, offering Brooke a seat next to hers at the kitchen table, which was currently coated in pictures and various scrapbook paraphernalia. "Lucas is still sleeping," Karen informed the brunette, assuming that was why she was here.

"Oh, that's fine," Brooke said, taking the seat she was offered. "Actually, I was wondering if we could talk?" Brooke asked, nervous. Karen's mouth stretched into a kind smile that soothed Brooke's nerves.

"Of course, Brooke," she replied. "I've been meaning to bond a bit with my son's new girlfriend."

Brooke chuckled politely, her eyes washing over the pictures. She registered Karen with her arms around various people, waving to the camera. She also saw many pictures of old city and countryside, both gorgeous landscapes.

"What's all this?" Brooke asked conversationally. She knew it had to be a scrapbook of her trip to Italy Karen was making, but at least this question would break the ice.

"I'm making a scrapbook," Karen confirmed. "I didn't have much time to see all of Italy, but I would like a nice place to keep all the pictures that I did get. And I've always loved to make scrapbooks. They're fun, productive, calming."

"They definitely are," Brooke agreed.

Karen's interest was noticeably piqued. "You've made one?"

"Yeah. Just one. A book of my life, basically, from start to finish. It's a work in progress, but I really like it. I add a page every year for my birthday," Brooke informed Karen.

Karen smiled, arranging a picture of her standing next to a tall, old fountain and the words 'Piazza de Martin' out of stickers on a page. "That sounds nice."

"Thanks."

There were a few questions asked by Brooke, mostly just ones inquiring how Italy was and which landmarks were which. The afternoon continued on peacefully, Brooke and Karen making light conversation as Karen steadily glued pictures into the pages of her newest scrapbook.

It was a bit later when Karen suddenly realized that Lucas was still sleeping. She intended on waking him up before noon, but Brooke came over around that time and the minutes slipped away; soon becoming another hour. Her son was still sleeping at one in the afternoon, and her motherly instincts feared something could be wrong. "Oh," she said, startled. "I should check on Lucas."

Karen rose, but Brooke stopped her. "Is it okay if I check on him?" she asked.

"Sure," Karen agreed, nodding.

Brooke walked down the hallway, peeking into the door where she knew Lucas' room to be. She quickly realized that it was empty. Wherever Lucas was, he wasn't at his own house like his mother believed him to be. Brooke assumed he took a quick jog down to the Rivercourt to shoot some hoops. That is, until she turned around, ready to rejoin Karen in the kitchen.

Her eyes were locked on the computer in disgust, shock, and anger. Lucas had left a web page pulled up on his computer, one Brooke knew to be the artsy website her best friend Peyton frequented, the one where she had a live feed coming from her room at all times that coincided with her web cam being on.

Their legs were tangled together, what should have been four limbs more closely resembled a twisted tree trunk. Their hips were frequently meeting, her smaller hipbones melting into his at every collision. Their lips were fused together, as if separation and death were synonymous. Their bodies thrashed together, each movement delivering a hard jab in the gut to Brooke. Her best friend and her boyfriend were having sex. Practically in front of her.

Brooke's mind was sent reeling as she felt rage pumping through her bloodstream. She was put on an autopilot of sorts, whipping her phone out of her pocket and sending a text within seconds, all done thoughtlessly, as if it were second nature.

She watched as the scene unfolded in front of her. Their moment of passion was rudely interrupted, and Lucas had to flee quickly.

"Shit," he cursed upon reading the text. It was from Brooke.

"What's wrong?" Peyton asked, half-curiously and half-angrily, seeing as she didn't take kindly to being cut off.

Lucas gathered his clothes, redressing hurriedly. "I have to go, I'm sorry, we'll talk later, promise," was all he gave as an explanation, planting a kiss on Peyton's forehead and then leaving.

Peyton sighed, resigning her anger. She was sure there was a good explanation, it was up to her to be more understanding. "See you later," she called after him, a more upbeat tone to her voice.

Brooke abandoned the computer, though not before shutting down Lucas' end. She decided not to let him know that she knew, not yet anyway. She returned to Karen, forcing herself to look the same as when she left: happy and unknowing.

"Everything's good?" Karen assumed in an asking tone.

"Yup," Brooke replied. "Luke left a note, he saw us talking and didn't want to interrupt, but he went to head down to the Rivercourt. But tell me more about that ice cream you were talking about, what's it called?" she asked, successfully changing the subject to avoid further discussion of Lucas as Karen rattled on about gelato. Brooke tried to focus, but she found that the anger buzzing in her ears made it impossible to make out Karen's words.

She tried to slow her thoughts down. The rage kept churning in her stomach, giving her an awfully nauseous feeling. But this was not enough to overpower the eerily rational Brooke. She was forming plans at the speed of light, deciding which plan of action would be the best to take. So far she knew what she would do in the immediate future. Act normal with Lucas, as if she knew nothing more than she did before seeing the video; and she had also decided to pay her beloved best friend Peyton a visit. Brooke's anger seemed to be more focused on Peyton than Lucas. She had an overwhelming need to destroy the curly blond.

"...but my favorite was definitely this gelato I had in this tiny corner of Sicily, this limone lampone mix I ate. Oh goodness, it was the best thing I think I've ever had, Brooke," Karen gushed, impervious to the fact that Brooke had drifted off as she was talking.

Brooke came back to Earth, smiling. "Wow that sounds amazing. You'll have to take me for gelato one time, huh? My treat," she joked. The older brunette shared a laugh with the younger one before Brooke acted as if she was surprised when she noticed how late it was.

Brooke rose in a flurry of pretend fluster. "Oh, Karen, this has been amazing, but I almost forgot I've got cheerleading practice at two. I'm so sorry to run on you, but they're all useless without their captain, you know."

Karen smiled knowingly, as if she was releasing Brooke from her presence. "Of course. Have fun, Brooke."

"I'll try, we'll see if any of those girls can nail a routine, though knowing my luck..." she trailed off as they shared a look of amusement. Brooke had one foot through the door, her hand gripping the doorknob with too much malice, as she turned around. "Oh, and Karen?"

Karen looked up, locking eyes with Brooke, who was grinning as widely and happily as ever. "Yes?"

"Could you do me a favor and not tell Lucas I was here? This can be our little bonding secret, you know?" Brooke proposed.

"Sure, Brooke," was the last thing she heard from Karen as she responded with a quick "thanks," and rushed to her car. The cheerleading practice was not a complete lie. Except it was at three, not two, and that meant Brooke had an hour to plan her conversation with Peyton that was sure to take place later that night.

Brooke drove off toward her home, gripping the steering wheel angrily with her foot slammed on the gas the whole way.

The only thing Brooke could hear was in her head. The same scene kept replaying over and over, intensely vivid for something that had not happened yet. It was Brooke and Peyton, face-to-face, locked in a confrontation. Peyton looked nervously scared while Brooke looked intimidatingly furious. Brooke heard her cold, detached voice utter the six chilling words, "You are dead to me, Peyton."

A/N: So that's it. Brooke thinks she's killed Peyton, she called Lucas to tell him that and possibly get some help from her boyfriend. Then you saw a bit of Lucas/Peyton back story and why Brooke could possibly have a motive to kill Peyton...

Anyway, as you can see, I have changed around a few things. Lucas was never in his accident, he also did not break up with Brooke, therefore he and Peyton were definitely cheating when Brooke saw them on the web cam.

I hope you liked this and I hope you keep reading. The next chapter should definitely be up soon, seeing as this idea is fresh in my mind.

Feel free to tell me what you think, too! I love every bit of it, down to the last space. It makes my day! :)