Disclaimer: I own nothing…not even James Lafferty

Peyton passed the bowl of popcorn over to Brooke who just gave it back to her "Come on Brooke" Peyton said with a sigh "I'm trying here"

"I know" Brooke said glancing over at her. She ran a hand through her hair, feeling the greasiness of five days without a shower.

"You're coming to school tomorrow right?" Peyton said as worry filled her. She was afraid she was losing her best friend.

"Do I have a choice?" Brooke said pushing a smile forward on her face just to show Peyton she was okay.

"Not really" Peyton said pleased to see a smile on Brooke's face, despite how fake it looked on her tired face.

"Well then I'm going I guess" Brooke said dropping her eyes to the ground.

"Brooke…" Peyton said moving closer to her on the small couch. She had made Brooke promise to live in her house until she was certain she would be okay on her on "It's all gonna be okay"

"I'm not so sure about that" Brooke said losing the smile on her face.

"Do you feel like you did the right thing?" Peyton said realizing she was creeping into dangerous territory.

"I know I did the right thing" Brooke said moving a hand to her now vacant stomach "But it doesn't mean I don't miss it"

"What did she look like Brooke?" Peyton said letting her curiously get the better of her. Brooke hadn't shown her any photos of the baby though she was almost certain they existed.

"She had blonde hair" Brooke said feeling a real smile try to make its way to the surface "But not dirty blonde like Lucas. It was lighter…a lot lighter"

"Maybe Lucas has a little secret" Peyton said laughing at the thought of Lucas with bleach blonde hair.

"Maybe" Brooke said letting out a laugh. It felt good to relax a little and open up. Even if it didn't fix anything, laughter always made her feel better "She looked like my mom though" Brooke had always been jealous of her mother's features, so distinct yet soft. It was only the freckles on her face and arms that made her look fit in with the rest of the world; just one thing to show she wasn't perfect.

"I'm sure she was beautiful" Peyton said noticing the tears in Brooke's eyes.

"Thanks P Sawyer" Brooke said resting her head on Peyton's shoulder. She closed her eyes to get rid of the moisture that was blurring her vision.

"No problem" Peyton said running a hand over her best friends face, feeling the tiny tears make their way out of her eyes. At least crying was better than keeping it all in.

It was the next day that scared Brooke the most. It probably didn't help that it was the first day of Senior year. Peyton grabbed her hand as the two made their way into the busy Tree Hill High hallway "There is one thing…" Peyton said slowly "Everyone's been wondering why you left"

"So?" Brooke said afraid to face Peyton directly, rather keeping her eyes on the crowds in front of her.

"There were a lot of rumors Brooke" Peyton said "Even through the summer"

"Like what?" Brooke said getting worried.

"People said you were sick" Peyton said quietly, looking around at the students making their way around the two of them "Gonorrhea, Chlamydia…Aids"

"STD's?!" Brooke said as her jaw dropped. The school she had left in relative peace had turned against her, changing her reputation into one that no one would want.

"At least they didn't guess the truth" Peyton said biting the inside of her lip "I didn't hear a thing about…you know"

"Good" Brooke said nodding. At least her secret was safe from the curious minds of her fellow students who could likely spread it to the worst person of all, Lucas.

"Brooke?" A voice said behind her. She could hear the person getting closer but instead of turn around, she made a run for it.

"Luke…" Peyton said watching Brooke run into the girl's bathroom.

"Was that Brooke?" He said curiously stepping closer to Peyton.

"Yup" She crossed her arms, watching the bathroom door carefully "In the flesh. A none-STD-flesh by the way" Peyton said making sure to get the message clearly his way.

"I don't know what you're talking about…" Lucas said shaking his head, unsure of exactly what Peyton meant by none-STD-flesh.

"Never mind" Peyton said walking past him. She wasn't about to explain something to him that he really didn't need to know about.

"Wait" Lucas said following her "Why did she leave?"

"Lucas…" Peyton said continuing to walk "It's a long story"

"I'm patient" Lucas said hoping to get an answer out of her "I'll listen"

"It's a story I can't tell you" Peyton said keeping her eye on the bathroom door. Brooke slowly opened the door, looking around to make sure no one was watching her. Her eyes met Peyton's and then Lucas's and so she closed the door again, staying in the four safe walls of the bathroom.

"Something happened…" Lucas began "Before she left. I'm scared it was my fault"

'You could say that…' Peyton said to herself, making sure not to let Lucas see the expression on her face "I have to go" She said walking into the bathroom. Brooke was curled in a ball, huddled in the corner under the tampon dispenser "Sweetie" Peyton said kneeling down next to her.

"I don't think I can do this" Brooke said closely her eyes tightly to the outside world, hoping to block out everything.

"I know" Peyton said sitting down against the wall "But you have to try"

"But I can't" Brooke could feel her hands shaking against her leg.

"Come on" Peyton said grabbing Brooke's sweaty hand and pulling both of them up onto their feet. Peyton wasn't sure if Brooke could get past this but she wasn't going to give up on her. Deep down inside, she knew that the only person who could fix all this was Lucas…but she wasn't willing to hand her best friend over just yet.