Disclaimer: I don't own anything!

Peyton lay in her bed, sobbing like she hadn't done since she was a little girl. The pain she had felt when her dad had explained her mom's accident to her would never be equalled, but Lucas Scott was giving it a damn good try. As she replayed the last couple of days in her head, she couldn't shake the feeling that she must have done something awful in a previous life to deserve everything she had gone through.

Another night without sleep would do her state of mind no good. She felt like she was on the edge of some monumental breakdown and most of the people around her couldn't wait to give her that last shove. Except Brooke. What had she done to deserve a friend like Brooke?

Peyton had wanted to give Lindsay a good, hard slap when she had smirked and showed her the engagement ring. A good hard slap and a sobering warning about Lucas Scott. She couldn't really blame Lindsay for being so quick to rub Peyton's nose in it; she had been a bitch to her after all. It had just brought back painful memories of junior year when Lucas had chosen Brooke over her.

Her fight with Hayley hadn't done much to ease her broken heart and she vowed to avoid that particular group of ex friends from now on. She would not wait on the sidelines hoping that Lucas would finally discover his love for her. She owed it to herself to come back stronger than before. To live an amazing life, with someone who didn't question his feelings for her. She owed it to herself and to her Mom and Ellie, who had both given her so much. She had an overwhelming urge to make them proud, but that would have to start tomorrow. Tonight she would let herself grieve.

Brooke listened to the sound of her friend's heart breaking in the other room and felt the anger boiling up inside. Lucas Scott was one of only a handful of people Peyton had ever let herself love. He had hurt her time and time again but this time was the worst. She felt the need to go and comfort her friend but she knew it would do no good. Peyton would just clam up and she wouldn't want anyone to see her in this state. Not even Brooke.

Lucas had always been an ass when it came to Peyton, everyone knew that. What happened was no surprise to Brooke. What was a surprise was Haley's reaction, that girl just couldn't see the wrong in anything Lucas did.

Next day, as Peyton sat in her office, determined to focus on work she was surprised to see Lucas Scott walk through her door. She looked quickly back down at her paperwork.

'Unless you are here to audition for me I suggest you get the hell out of my office,' she said in an icy tone.

'Peyton, look I'm so sorry about the way you found out, I can't imagine how you must be feeling but we need to move past this...'



'No we don't Lucas. I want you out of my life, do you understand?'

'Peyton come on, we've been friends for so long...'

'No, we've been friends whenever it has suited you. Whenever you didn't have anyone better to be with, but that is done.' She looked up at him, the loathing in her eyes plain to see. 'I don't ever want you to speak to me again. If you see me in the street, you walk the other way. That way I might not feel the need to let your lovely fiancé know what you did.'

Lucas looked at her in disbelief, this wasn't his Peyton. The one he had had cookie dough fights with, the one he had worshipped since he could remember. She was changed and he had been the one to change her. He had assumed he would come here today and she would scream at him, cry a little and then maybe forgive him. He knew now that wasn't going to happen. He desperately wanted to tell her that it was all a huge mistake, he hadn't meant to propose to Lindsay but decided against it. He had given her enough false hope the other night and like it or not, he had made a commitment to Lindsay now. He wouldn't go back on that. Lucas decided to leave things as they were for now, let her calm down and get used to the idea of him and Lindsay. Maybe someday they would be able to put it behind them and be close again.

'I'm sorry Peyton,' he whispered and slowly walked out the door.

She put her head in her hands for a couple of minutes to compose herself and then carried on with what she had been doing.

Brooke was finishing with a customer when Haley strolled into the shop around lunch time.

'Hey you, I'm meeting Lindsay for lunch and I wanted to see if you'd come,' she smiled brightly.

'I've got a lot to do Haley, another time maybe,' Brooke said already busying herself behind the counter.

'Is everything alright?' Haley asked cautiously.

'Not really, I've spent the last two days comforting my best friend whose had her heart ripped out for the second time in 3 years,' Brooke snapped irritably. She had promised Peyton she wouldn't say anything to Haley but she was finding it so difficult.

'Brooke, I don't want to fight with you about this but she brought this on herself. She turned down Lucas's proposal and then went after him when he was with someone else,' Haley exclaimed.

'Well isn't everything just so clear up there on your high horse!'

'Whatever, I'm going to lunch, call me when you've calmed down,' Haley turned towards the door.

'Just so you know Peyton didn't turn Lucas down, she asked him to wait. He waited alright; he waited until she fell asleep then crept out in the middle of the night like a little bitch! And she may have gone after him but he didn't exactly discourage her. He made out with her in her office and then went home and proposed to Lindsay. What is it about the way he treats people that makes you 

so loyal to him Haley? Maybe if you didn't spend all of your time writing the newsletter for your little Lucas Scott fan club you could have some sympathy for the fact that one of your friends is hurting right now!' Brooke shouted.

Haley was quiet all of a sudden as Brooke's words sunk in. She could see that Lucas was far from innocent but her loyalty to him went back years. That didn't mean she had to blame Peyton for everything, however, and she was starting to feel guilty for what had happened yesterday.

'I better go talk to Peyton,' she said quietly before walking out the door.

Brooke knew Peyton would kill her but there were some things that had to be said. Haley had always been a good friend to Brooke but she could be judgemental. She was a good person but nobody could ever live up to her standards, nobody but Lucas. That was what Brooke couldn't understand. Lucas could be a serial killer and still Haley would think he was perfect.

That night Peyton and Brooke opened a bottle of red wine and decided to have a girlie night. While Brooke was busy painting Peyton's toenails she decided to broach the subject of Haley.

'Did you see Haley today?' she asked innocently.

'Nope, I was out this afternoon listening to this really great band rehearse. You should hear them Brooke, they're amazing,' she gushed. 'I really think they could be huge.'

Brooke decided to leave the Haley subject alone for now; this was the first time she had seen Peyton smile in days.

'That's great P.Sawyer. Are they going to sign for you?'

'They already have! I'm organising a gig for them, of course that's going to be difficult now I can't use Tric.'

'Why can't you use Tric?'

'Brooke, I am not going to Lucas asking for a favour. If I never had to see his face again it will be too soon!'

'You don't need to go to Lucas, didn't you hear, he has given Owen the manager's job. He wants to focus on his writing or some shit. Anyway, I can ask Owen for you tomorrow. It will give me an excuse to go visit the little hottie!'

'I don't know Brooke, I'd really rather avoid anything to do with Lucas.'

'But that's not fair; you're the one who started Tric. Anyway, you rent an office from him. The avoidance really isn't going to work.'

Peyton stuck her tongue out at Brooke, childishly, and Brooke responded by launching a pillow at her head.

'So, does this band have a name?'



'Grand Carnage,' Peyton cringed. 'I know, it's bad. They used some website to generate a random band name and that was the best. I've told them to have a think about a new name.'

'Any hotties?'

'Brooke, how many hotties do you need to keep you amused? I thought you had eyes for Owen.'

'I do, but it doesn't hurt to keep your options open. Besides, he seems bizarrely immune to my charms.'

'He won't be for long B.Davis, I've seem you in action!'

'Back to the question.'

'Well, the drummer Charlie would be quite sexy if he had a haircut and rethought the wardrobe. The bass player is fine though. He's got a real deep vibe and the most gorgeous eyes. He actually reminds me a lot of Jake.'

'Oooh, Jake Jagielski, nice! Do you think he might be worth a rebound fling?'

'Who are you rebounding from?'

'Not me stupid, you!'

'ME! First of all, so not ready to go there. Second of all it would be completely inappropriate now that I've signed them.'

'What's his name?'

'Chris.'

The next morning Peyton was picking up her coffee from starbucks when she literally ran in to Nathan.

'Oh, hey Nate,' Peyton said already starting to walk away.

'Hey, wait up Sawyer.' Nathan caught up with her and started to walk alongside her.

'My brother is an asshole,' he stated. 'He told me what happened and I gave him hell for it. I can't believe he did that, I'm sorry Peyton.'

'It's OK Nathan, I'll live,' she said desperately trying to end the conversation.

'Peyton,' Nathan grabbed her arm and turned her to stop her walking. 'He will regret proposing to her you know.'

'Not my business any more Nathan, he's out of my life.'

'You know, Haley feels terrible about what happened the other day. She spent most of yesterday trying to find you to apologise.'



'It's too late for that Nathan; she went out of her way to make me feel worthless. She really shouldn't have bothered; her best friend already took care of that.'

'She knows that Peyton and she would really like to clear the air. Look, I know how she can be and she's worse than usual at the moment. There's stuff going on at home and at work and she just snapped and took your head off. She is sorry.'

'It really doesn't matter Nathan, I have nothing left to say to her or your brother.'

'Well, I hope you change your mind. Does that mean you won't talk to me too? We go way back Sawyer; I'd hate not to have you in my life.'

'Nathan, we've gone years without being in each other's lives. We didn't speak while I was in LA.'

'That was awkward; I thought you had turned my brother down. Haley told me last night what really happened.'

'Oh, well I guess I could still talk to you,' she said with a small smirk. 'Only because I feel sorry for you.'

Nathan put his hand over his heart and said, 'always with the generosity Peyton, how can I repay you?'

'Tell your butthead wife to meet me at the recording studio Saturday at 11am.'

'I will, and she'll be glad to know you're using her pet name!'

Next time, Haley and Peyton make up.

OK, this is my first OTH fanfic and I would really appreciate reviews.