Hey everyone I'm back. Thanks for reading the first chapter and as always thanks for the reviews. The reviews are what make a writer want to write as many of you know, so keep it up, please? Haha.

Disclaimer: Don't own it, probably never will so yeah.

Oh shit. They thought simultaneously as they locked eyes.

This cannot be happening. Brooke thought as she felt the cold air hit her back.

This suddenly got interesting. Ashley thought as she held Brooke's gaze smiling when she noticed how nervous Brooke was getting.

"Nice to meet you, Ashley," Peyton said with a big smile not seeing the staring contest Brooke and Ashley had going on.

"Huh?" Ashley replied snapping out of her daze. "Oh yeah, nice to meet you too. Peyton, was it?" Ashley said turning her attention to the tall blonde.

Haley glanced over at Brooke who was now looking at the ground. What the heck is wrong with her? Haley thought not paying attention to the conversation going on around her.

Brooke on the other hand was hanging on every word that was being said.

"You're dad is Raife Davies? I love him." Peyton gushed as she spoke to Ashley.

"Yeah . You mean Mouthy here never told you that he had a famous uncle?" Ashley said with a sweet smile knowing that Mouth never told anyone about his family.

"No he most certainly did not," Peyton said playfully glaring at Mouth. He just shrugged and smiled his loveable Mouth smile. "So how long do you plan to stay?"

Ashley glanced over at Brooke who looked up just in time to catch her eye. "I'm not sure. Awhile I think. At least a month."

Brooke's eyes got unnaturally wide when she heard the answer. There is no way that she could last a month in the same town as Ashley without losing her mind. "You've got to be kidding me," she said under her breath but loud enough for Haley to hear.

Haley looked over at the troubled girl, giving her a looked that asked what was wrong. Brooke in turn shook her head at Haley, trying to get her to believe that nothing was going on. Haley responded by rolling her eyes and giving Brooke a look that told her that Haley wasn't buying it. Damn it. Why does she have to know me so well? Brooke thought with a small smile.

A few seconds later Brooke was brought back to reality by a pair of strong arms wrapping around her. Brooke tensed slightly at the contact. Kill me now.

The boys who had been playing basketball had now joined the group around Ashley.

"Hey guys," Mouth said to the newly acquired members of their circle. "This is Ashley, my cousin. She's visiting from California for awhile." All the boys smiled and nodded then Mouth continued. "Ash, this is Nathan," he said pointing behind Haley, "Skillz," pointing to his right, "Fergie," pointing to the right of Skillz, "and my best friend Lucas," he finished, pointing to the tall blonde who had his arms protectively wrapped around Brooke.

"Hi guys," Ashley greeted with a smile and small wave. The group became quiet no one really knowing what to say. Ashley surveyed the group, smiled, then picked up the basketball. "So anyone want to play?" She asked looking at the boys then at Peyton, Haley, and Brooke.

All the boys shook their heads that they didn't want to play right now. "What about you?" She asked Peyton.

"Sure why not." Peyton said with a good natured smile.

"Hey you never play when we ask," Nathan said trying to sound hurt.

Peyton just shrugged as she followed Ashley on to the court. "You two coming?" She asked looking at Haley and Brooke.

Brooke looked at her for a second like she didn't understand the question then quickly recovered. "Uh not right now. I have to…um…get something out of my car."

"And I'm going with her." Haley chimed in quickly.

"O-K then. Your loss. You boys sure you don't want to play?" They all nodded in response as they drank their water. "Alright. Looks like it's just you and me." Peyton said to Ashley when she got closer to her. "The boys are just scared of getting beat by a couple girls," she said a little louder making sure the guys could hear her.

"That's fine," Ashley said as she shot the basketball and made it with ease. "What about Brooke…and um Haley?" She quickly added as to not let on that she already knew the former.

"Brooke had to get something out her car and Haley being Haley had to tag along."

"Oh ok," Ashley said almost sounding disappointed.

"Don't take it personally or anything Brooke is just weird sometimes." Peyton said as she took a shot and missed.

Ashley nodded then laughed a little when the shot missed. "I guess I'll be winning this game of PIG."

The Boys

"How long is she staying?" Nathan asked as he looked from Ashley to Mouth.

"I'm not really sure. She said about a month or so." Mouth said watching his favorite cousin playing with the tall blonde girl who always made new comers feel welcome.

"She's hot." Lucas said watching the girls play. "I mean like really hot."

"Lucas didn't you just get back with Brooke?" Skillz pointed out.

"Yeah but that doesn't mean she's not hot." Lucas said nodding toward Ashley.

"She is hot." Nathan added. "Not as hot as Haley," he added after getting looks from the four other boys.

"Girl does have a nice body," Skillz said finally joining the rest of the guys in sizing up Ashley. Fergie nodded in agreement from beside him.

"Maybe I should ask her out. You know, star basketball player should show her around." Lucas said smirking again.

"Sorry Luke, you aren't her type." Mouth said trying not to laugh.

"What? I'm every girl's type." Lucas said cockily.

"Nah Lucas. Not this time. Shorty looks like she'd go for a brother."

"Sorry Skillz, you really aren't her type either."

"What? Because I'm black?"

"No it really has nothing to do with you being black." Mouth answered with a smirk of his own.

"Then she'd totally go for one of us." Lucas said not understanding how any girl could turn him down.

"Not really. Unless they've changed the meaning of the word lesbian."

"Now that's hot," Nathan laughed as he saw the looks on Skillz, Fergie, and Lucas's faces.

Brooke and Haley

Brooke quickly made her way toward her car Haley hot on her heels. Once they reached the car Brooke just stood there taking several deep breaths. Haley looked at her trying to figure out what in the world had gotten her so upset.

"Brooke, what is wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong." Brooke lied as she looked past Haley to the court. Why did she have to come here? It only complicates things. She thought as she watched Peyton and Ashley play and laugh.

"Bull. I'm not buying it Brooke. You've been tweaked since this morning. Now what in the world is going on?"

"Nothing is wrong Haley." Brooke shot out sounding harsher than she intended. "Just drop it Hales, please?" She asked pleading in a softer tone.

"Fine whatever you say Brooke." Haley said then turned and stomped back toward the group.

"Damn it," Brooke said with a sigh as she leaned against her car. "What am I going to do?"

Back at the Court

"Who won? I won!!! Go me!!" Ashley sing songed as she did a victory dance around a sulking Peyton. After a few minutes Peyton could keep a straight face and started cracking up.

"You're crazy, you know that, right?"

"I'm aware. But normally people don't say so until they've known me for at least 24 hours." Ashley answered smiling up at Peyton.

"Oh ok then. I take it back. I'll tell you again at," Peyton paused and looked at her watch "8:30 tomorrow night." Peyton finished smiling sweetly.

"Ha! What makes you think you'll be around me tomorrow night?"

"Oh you're stuck with me now, kid," Peyton laughed as she put her arm playfully around Ashley's shoulders.

"Lucky me," Ashley said sarcastically as she looked up at the blonde and smiled. This might not be so bad.

"Who won Peyton?" Nathan asked with a playful smirk when the duo reached the rest of the group minus Brooke.

"Shut up." Peyton said glaring at him causing everyone around them to laugh.

Ashley glanced around the group and noticed that Brooke wasn't there.

"Hey can I have the keys?" She asked looking at Mouth.

"Sure?" He said handing her the keys. "What are you doing with my car?"

"Nothing I uh…just forgot to call my mom and I left my cell phone in your car."

"Oh ok."

"Thanks," she said as she turned around and made her way toward the cars.

"Alright guys, time for a rematch," Fergie said getting off the picnic table and making his way toward the court. Skillz, Nathan, and Lucas all followed him, leaving Peyton, Haley and Mouth sitting on the table.

"Hey guys I need to make a call. I'll be right back." Mouth said suddenly as he got off the table.

Mouth walked off toward the water and pulled out his phone hit 4 and then pushed "Talk."

"Hey baby," came a female voice from the other end of the phone.

"Hey where are you? I thought you were coming tonight." Mouth asked concern evident in his voice.

"I was but then I got to thinking and I just didn't want Ashley to have to deal with drama on her first night here. I was actually about to call and see if you guys wanted to stop by after you were done there."

"Oh ok." Mouth said disappointed.

"Are you mad?" The voice said sounding truly upset.

"No I'm not mad. I just miss you."

"I miss you, too. I wish I could be there with you but we both know how it gets."

"I know. I guess I'll see you later?

"I'll be waiting. I love you." The girl said with a sad smile in her voice.

"I love you, too, Rach." He said then hung up the phone. I just wish we didn't have to hide this. But if we didn't…lord knows what would happen.

Ashley made her way toward the cars. As she got closer she could make out Brooke standing by her car seemingly in deep thought. Brooke didn't even notice as Ashley opened the passenger door to Mouth's car which was parked right beside Brooke's. After Ashley retrieved her phone she shut the door and leaned against it facing Brooke.

"You know, if you keep acting like this someone is going to start wondering." Ashley said looking directly at Brooke.

"Acting like what? I'm not acting any certain way." Brooke said not looking at her.

"You know what. What's wrong Brooke?" Ashley said stepping closer to her but not invading her personal space.

"Everything." Brooke said finally looking her in the eyes. "I just can't deal with all of this right now." Brooke said willing her eyes not to tear up.

"All of what?" Ashley said moving just a little bit closer.

"Lucas. You. All of it."

"What'd I do?"

"You're here Ashley. I can't handle you being here."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm with him now." Brooke said exasperated.

"Ok, he's not my type." Ashley said with a smirk.

"I know that. But I am. I just…I can't deal with that, right now."

"Brooke, I'm not going to try anything. I honestly didn't know this is where you lived. Plus I know you love him." Brooke didn't say anything but just looked at Ashley. "You do love him, right?"

"I don't know. Maybe." Brooke said breaking eye contact.

"Brooke, love isn't a maybe thing. You either love him or you don't." Ashley said softly as she gently touched Brooke's arm.

"It's just I thought I loved him. Then you show up here and everything comes flooding back."

"Everything?" Ashley asked looking in her eyes again.

"Yeah everything." Brooke said.

"So that must include the part where you left without even telling me?" Ashley snapped.

"Ash…"

"No don't. You don't have the right to call me Ash. I cared for you Brooke. I thought we had something but you just up and left without so much as a call until you got back 'home,' and now I find out that 'home' was the place I thought I could go to, to escape you."

"I couldn't bring myself to say good-bye to you." Brooke said tears threatening to fall down her face.

"But you could bring yourself to get back with him less than a week after being home?"

"I thought I'd never see you again." Brooke yelled in a hushed tone. "What about you? Why are you flirting with Peyton, one of my best friends, right in front of me?"

"I'm not. And even if I was is there a reason for me not to? I mean you are with Mr. Basketball now."

"I guess not," Brooke said looking down again.

"That's what I thought," Ashley said as she turned around to leave.

"Ash, wait," Brooke said reaching out and touching Ashley's hand, sending shock waves through both of their bodies with the simple touch.

"No." Ashley said without even turning to look at the girl behind her.

Peyton and Haley

Peyton and Haley sat on the table looking between the game and parking lot. When they saw Ashley and Brooke talking they both started paying more attention to the parking lot than the game.

"What's that about?" Peyton asked after seeing the obvious argument unfold between the two girls.

"I have no clue but I'm going to find out." Haley answered with a look of resolve on her face. "Hey tell Nathan I went home with Brooke, will ya?" Haley asked as she got up and made her way back toward Brooke when she was sure Ashley wasn't still there.

"Ok I will." Peyton said with a smile.

"Thanks." And with that Haley was off toward Brooke. Once she reached her she could tell the taller girl had been crying. "Give me your keys and get in the car. You're about to tell exactly what is going on if you want to or not."

Brooke handed over the keys without a fight and got in the passenger side, silent tears streaming down her face.

Haley started driving towards her and Brooke's apartment. "Brooke…" Haley started softly not know how to go about this.

"Haley not now. I just want to go home and sleep. I'll tell you tomorrow. Just please not now."

"Ok." She finally said as she pulled into their parking spot. "Let's get you inside."

Back at the Court

Ashley made her way back to Peyton and Mouth.

"Hey Ash, you ok?" Mouth asked.

"Yeah I'm good I'm just really tired. Can we go?"

"Yeah sure." Mouth answered getting up. "See ya later Peyton."

"Yeah. It was nice meeting you Ashley." Peyton said giving the girl a smile.

"You, too." Ashley answered returning the smile.

Ok that's all for chapter 2. I do apologize if it sucks or if my characterization of Ashley is a little off. This is the first time I've ever written her so just stay with me. I promise to get better. Anyway let me know what you think. What you like or want to see from this story.