"Skirt or jeans?" Peyton asked as she came out of the bathroom.
"Why does it even matter? You're going to work, not socialize," Haley reminded her, completely oblivious to her best friend's sudden fashion antics.
"Oh, right, not socialize.. duh, jeans, whatever," Peyton stumbled, trying to hide her excitement and subtly. Obviously, not succeeding very well.
"What's got you all flustered about work?" Haley grinned.
"Nothing," Peyton lied, turning around to hide her smile and quickly pulling her skinny jeans up and buttoning them.
"You're a terrible liar, Pey, what's going on?" Haley asked, "I bet it's got something to do with that girl at the pool!"
"She- um, might possibly being stopping by the club!" Peyton said, finally showing her excitement.
"PEYTON! How could you not tell me? That's so exciting!"
"I just didn't want to get my hopes up, unless, you know, she doesn't show." Peyton said, grabbing her boots and slipping them on.
"I bet she will- you're hott stuff!"
Peyton raised an eyebrow at her friend.
"In a non-lesbian, I'm your best friend sort-of-way," Haley said, throwing a pillow at Peyton.
"Mmmhmm, like I didn't see you totally flirting with Brooke's friend."
"Rachel? Please! I have Nathan, remember?" Haley said, laying across Peyton's bed, a Seventeen Magazine spread across infront of her.
"Speaking of Nathan… is he coming tonight?" Peyton asked uneasily.
"He has a game tonight, but he said he'd probably stop by afterwards." Haley said.
"Haley-"
"No, stop, Pey. He's been really good lately!"
"He's such an ass to you, Haley."
"Peyton, I really don't need you looking after my love life."
"Hales," Peyton said, sitting next to her on the bed, "You're my best friend, it's my job to look after you."
Haley grinned at her, "Thanks, but I really don't need it."
"Okay, whatever, first one to the car is a rotten egg!" Peyton exclaimed- throwing a pillow at Haley's face and sprinting out the door.
AAL
When Brooke and Rachel sauntered into Tric, the club was already in full swing. Brooke fixed her jean skirt and red tanktop as she kept ahold of Rachel who was sporting jeans and a black halter.
"How do I look?" Brooke asked for the fifth time since they left the car.
"Brooke, you look fine! This girl is going to be drooling all over you." Rachel insisted in an effort to try to get Brooke to keep her cool. "Oh, look, there's Haley!" She pointed to wear Haley was waving them over to a small table.
On the opposite side of the club, Peyton was yelling at the sound board operator. "Honestly, how in the hell could you SPILL a soda all over this expensive equipment! One more slip up, and you're gone!" She stormed away angrily.
"Hey Peyton, could I talk to you?" a blonde boy came up behind her.
"Yeah, hey, Luke, glad you made it," Peyton said, grinning. Lucas, Haley, and Peyton had become really good friends throughout high school. He hade developed a massive crush on Peyton, and she had been trying to do everything possible to show she wasn't interested without actually having to break his heart by telling him she was gay.
"Looks like you got competetion, Brookie," Rachel said, pointing over to where Lucas was talking to Peyton in a corner of the club.
"Uh-oh," Haley said, sipping her Pepsi. "That's Lucas, he's had a massive crush on her for years! She's going to need back up."
"What?" Brooke said.
"I think he's trying to ask her out!" Rachel said.
"So I've been thinking…" Lucas began, "We've been friends for like.. five years.."
"Yeah, Luke, it's been a long time," She glanced over to Haley and gave her a pleading look.
"Serious back-up!" Haley said.
"Let me handle this," Brooke said, grinning, standing up and sauntering over to the pair of blondes.
"So, I was wondering… if maybe… you wanted to-"
"Hey, gorgeous, I couldn't find you in the crowd-" Brooke said into Peyton's ear, wrapping her arm around Peyton's waist and sneaking her a kiss on the cheek. Peyton blushed and quickly closed her eyes, letting the intoxicating smell of Brooke's sudden appearance wash over her. Without thinking, Peyton leaned in and planted a kiss on the edge of Brooke's mouth, almost forgetting for a moment that Lucas was there.
"Oh, um… Brooke, this is Lucas. Lucas, this is Brooke," Peyton introduced them, Brooke shook his hand with a warm smile.
"Oh- um… are you two…?" Lucas stammered.
"Dating?" Brooke finished, "Yes. C'mon Pey, someone with a headset was looking for you."
"You never told me you were gay," Lucas said, staring blankly at Peyton.
She lightly shrugged, as if it were no big deal, "You never asked."
Brooke grinned and Peyton let herself be pulled away into the crowd.
"You are SUCH a lifesaver," Peyton said, laughing as they walked away from the stumbling dumbfounded boy.
"It was no problem, Haley said you might need some back-up."
Peyton laughed, "That could have been a nightmare…" she trailed off, "speaking of nightmares…"
Brooke looked up to see a boy had joined their table, with his arm wrapped around Haley. "Is that Haley's boyfriend?"
"Nathan, yeah."
"Not a fan?"
"He's not exactly the nicest guy," Peyton said, showing her obvious lack of affection, "But Haley is completely ga-ga over him, or at least, she used to be." Muttering the last part underneath her breath.
"What was that?" Brooke asked, suddenly interested.
"Nothing, let's see what I can do about some free drinks."
"You're my kind of girl," Brooke grinned, slipping her arm around Peyton's waist as they walked over to the table.
"So I Tim passed me the ball- and I went for the three pointer and won the game," Nathan said, stumbling lightly over his words, his ego oozing out of his mouth like the smell on his breath.
"Nathan, you've been drinking…"
"I'm going to get us some drinks," Peyton said, quickly exiting the coversation before she got in a huge fight with Nathan for acting stupid in public again. Brooke to a seat next to Rachel as she watched Peyton wander towards the bar.
"Hey, stranger," Karen said, catching ahold of Peyton's arm as she ordered her friends some drinks.
"Hey, Karen!" Peyton said, hugging the older woman. Karen had been like a mother the last few years, investing into the club, letting Peyton run things the way she wanted until she got her business degree.
"So… I have a very crushed boy sulking in my office right now," Karen said, smirking at her favorite employee.
"Listen- Karen…" Peyton started.
"Is that her, the brunette in the red?" She said, nodding over to where Peyton's friends were sitting.
"Well yes, well no.. we just met today.. but we kind of hit it off," Peyton said, grinning. "I don't know exactly where things are headed yet."
"Well, I'll always love you, Pey, I wish you only the best," Karen said, resting her hands on Peyton's shoulders, "Lucas will get over it."
"Thank you, Karen. I love you," she wrapped her arms around Karen for another hug before she heard a loud bang.
"What the hell-"
TWO MINUTES EARLIER
"Nathan- you've been drinking," Haley said.
"It's just a celebration drink…" Nathan replied.
"You know how I feel about drinking in public.. and you drove here!"
"So, I'm fine.. listen, baby."
"Please don't baby me, I'm tired of you treating me like what I say doesn't matter."
Rachel and Brooke looked at each other uneasily, sensing the very obvious tension. Haley became suddenly very embarassed.
"Hales- I'm an adult- I can do whatever I please."
"Please, Nathan, don't do this here! We're going to cause a scene."
"No, you're my girl and you're going to listen to me."
"I need to go to the bathroom," Haley said, tears burning under her eyelids. Rachel instinctively wrapped her arms around Haley as she began to walk towards the bathroom.
"Hey, no, get back here and listen to me!" Nathan said, grabbing Haley's arm.
"Nathan, please, just leave me alone." Haley said, turning away again.
"No, get back here now."
"Hey, buddy, I think she just told you to leave her alone," Rachel said, stepping between them.
"Who the hell are you- get out of my way!" Nathan said, angrily.
"No, she told you to back off," Rachel said, turning around to a terrified Haley. "Come on, Haley."
"No!" Nathan frustratedly yelled, reaching for Haley, but Rachel turned around quickly blocking him. In his anger, he pushed Rachel aside, but forgot his strength and she tumbled into a cluster of chairs and tables.
"Rachel!" Brooke and Haley screamed.
"I'm so sorry-" Nathan started.
"Get out of here, Nathan!" Haley screamed, rushing to Rachel's side.
"Rachel- Rachel-" Brooke said, lifting her head ontop of her lap. "Wake up, sweetie."
"What happened?" Peyton rushed over, alongside Karen, Peyton looked back and forth.
"You stupid bitch, you shouldn't have gotten in the way!" Nathan screamed.
"NATHAN SCOTT, leave now!" Karen screamed, pointing towards the door. Scared and sobering up, Nathan made a beeline for the door, pushing some people out of the way in the process.
"Wha- huh?" Rachel mumbled, her eyes fluttering.
"You girls need to get her home," Karen said.
"Our apartment is a couple miles away," Brooke said, helping Rachel to her feet.
"I'll come, this is all my fault," Haley said.
"I'll come after I get off work-" Peyton said as the two girls helped Rachel out of the club, getting her a pack of ice for her head.
"No, go now," Karen said, "I can cover the rest of the night."
"Really? Are you sure?" Peyton said, "Thank you so much, Karen."
"Follow me, it's not too hard to get to," Brooke said. "I'll take Rachel and you can follow behind with Haley."
Peyton nodded as the four girls hurried out of the now silent club.
"She'll be fine, a round of drinks on me!" Karen shouted, and the club cheered and was in full swing once more.
A&L
Haley placed a ziplock full of ice with a rag over the bump on Rachel's head as her eyes fluttered open. "What happened-?"
"Nathan tried to grab me, but accidentally pushed you into a bunch of tables and chairs," Haley said. Rachel looked around, she was laying on the couch in their apartment and Haley was seated beside her with one arm across her and one arm mending her head. "I feel so bad- this is all my fault, and you were protecting me and I didn't do anything and I just feel so awful-"
Rachel cut her off with a finger on her lips, shutting her up. "Don't be sorry, that guy was a prick. What kind of sweet girl would I be if I didn't defend a beautiful damsel in distress?" Haley blushed.
"Thanks, but you probably have a concussion.. we should probably get you to a hospital."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure because I could take Peyton's car.."
"I'm fine, really. I'll probably just have a few nasty bruises."
"Oh- yuck."
"Think of them as battles wounds," Rachel smiled and Haley followed. Rachel looked around, "Where are Brooke and Peyton?"
"They went to get some food and DVDs, decided we're all going to have a girls' night," Haley said.
"Girls night in this apartment usually means something different," Rachel wiggled her eyebrows. Haley playfully hit her arm as they giggled. "I'm cold."
"Oh, I'll get you a blanket-" Haley said, starting to get up, but felt herself being pulled down. She fell into the crook of the couch between Rachel and the back. "Oof."
"A blanket wasn't what I meant," Rachel muttered as Haley nestled her head in the crook of Rachel's neck. She felt underneath a sort of power. Guilt, Hailie thought, it's just guilt. You feel terrible about getting her knocked out at the club. She tried to center her breathing and calm herself down as she felt Rachel wrap her arms around her. Rachel smiled down at the girl laying down next to her.
"We really should get you to a hospital though, you know, just in case," Haley said, her breath hitting Rachel's neck and tickling her skin.
"I have a confession to make," Rachel said.
"What?"
"I wasn't unconscious the entire time, I only did it so you'd snuggle up to me."
"WHAT?! You got me worried sick!"
"I was unconscious three quarters," Rachel grinned, and Haley laughed.
A&L
Brooke and Peyton laughed as they unlocked the door, hands full of Taco Bell and videos from Blockbuster. "Shhhhhh," Brooke hushed, putting a finger to her own lips. Peyton covered her own mouth trying to stifle an amused laugh. Rachel and Haley were curled up on the couch, Rachel's arms wrapped around Haley. Haley's face burrowed in Rachel's neck, her red hair tickling Haley's nose so it crinkled.
"That is way too cute," Peyton said, giggling lightly. Brooke lightly followed her giggles.
"Come on," she said, wrapping her arms around Peyton's waist. "Let's go watch these in the other room so we won't wake them up."
"Wait- hold on…" Peyton said, taking out her phone and snapping a picture of the two snuggling girls. The two awake girls tried to contain their giggles as they stumbled into Brooke and Rachel's bedroom. Peyton's eyes grew wide. Along with two silk-satin covered queen-size beds, there were huge glamorous vanity tables, and a giant big-screen television. "Holy crap…"
"What?" Brooke asked, jumping onto her bed.
"Your room is… amazing." Peyton said, twirling around. "How can you afford this?"
"Our parents are kind of… well, rich," Brooke said, tossing the Taco Bell next to her. "What do you want to watch… 'Wanted' or 'Death Race'?"
"Surprise me," Peyton said, jumping onto the bed next to the brunette. Brooke smirked, titling her head to the side in a way that made butterflies fly through Peyton's stomach.
"Peyton, can I be honest with you?" Brooke asked, suddenly nervous, which surprised Peyton because ever since they met Brooke had an air of confidence about her.
"Yeah, of course, Brooke."
"I… I just got out of a really bad breakup, and I really want to kiss you right now, but I want to wait until we got on a date," Brooke said, suddenly finding the rings on her fingers very interesting.
"And who says we're going on a date?" Peyton raised her eyebrow.
"Well, would you like to go on a date with me?" Brooke asked.
Peyton pretended to think it over, and Brooke playfully pushed her. "Oh course I would."
"Great," Brooke said, laying back and Peyton copied her as they started 'Death Race'.
A moment went by and Peyton asked, "… can we cuddle?"
Brooke laughed and threw her arm around Peyton.