Forward, Not Backward
Disclaimer: (sigh) I do not own anything
A/N: Post engagement epi. Some exceptions -- Peyton never asked Lucas not to marry Lindsay. When she told him she was letting him go, she never said the line about Keith and Karen. Lucas never asked Lindsay to move up the wedding. Brooke doesn't see the ring because Lindsay goes to see Haley, not Brooke. There's no Nanny Carrie. Deb was Naley's first choice. Library epi. never happened.
Flashbacks and thoughts in italics.
The smell of coffee roused her from her slumber. Rolling onto her back, she tried to open her eyes, only to find her lashes were sticking together. Raising her hands to her eyes, she started rubbing the, suddenly realizing that she could feel how puffy her eyes were under her fingertips. Have I been crying? As soon as the thought entered her mind, she was hit with flashbacks from the night before.
Mia playing at TRIC
Kissing Lucas, Lucas kissing her back
Lindsay standing there with an engagement ring on her finger
Going back to TRIC to get her copies of 'An Unkindness of Ravens'
Coming home and gathering all of her mementos of Lucas
Sitting in front of the fireplace, trying to burn away the presence of Lucas Scott from her life
That was how Brooke found her; sitting in front of the fire, burning picture after picture…letter after letter, tears streaming down her face. Her best friend had quietly asked her what was wrong, and Peyton had told her, through her sobs, that Lucas was getting married. Brooke had gathered Peyton in her arms and told that she was there for her; that Peyton was not going to go through this alone. And Peyton believed her.
She was pulled back to the present by the sound of cups clinking together. Getting out of bed, she walked to the joint bathroom to brush her teeth.
Ten minutes later she walked into the kitchen to find Brooke sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper.
"Morning B. Davis" she said, fixing herself a cup of coffee.
"Morning P. Are you ok?"
"I'm fine Brooke. Please don't worry about me."
"You can't tell me not to worry Peyton. I love you and I hate seeing you hurt like this. I have half a mind to go tell Lucas off."
"Please don't. You and Lucas are still friends. Don't let this get between that."
Brooke paused before asking, "And what about you and Lucas?"
"What about us?"
"Are you guys friends now or what?"
Before Peyton could answer, Brooke's phone went off. She listened as Brooke talked to who she assumed was Millicent.
Hanging up the phone, Brooke got up and turned to her best friend, "I have to go. Don't think this conversation is over." With that, Brooke grabbed her car keys and headed out the door.
Peyton let out a little laugh before putting her cup in the sink and headed off to take a shower.