A/N: Nothing to say. Here's chapter one. Enjoy.

Haley Rox- Lithium is constantly on my mind. I'm never going to abandon it. It's just not working in my mind right now, but I've written some on it this week.

Thanks so much to the four of you guys who reviewed. It means a lot to the continuation of the baby story I've got going here. To any who read the story and didn't review- pretty please review. It means a lot to me to read what you guys think about the story.

Chapter One: Holiday

•••

She walks through the courtyard on her way to her first hour. She sees Brooke standing under the overhang talking with a few of their fellow cheerleaders. She has to talk to her now; she has to act like everything's normal. She starts to walk over when she gets interrupted by the lips of her boyfriend.

"Hello, stranger." She says into his lips as she pulls away. He supplies his trademark grin as he wraps his arm around her shoulders and steers her to their first class.

Brooke watches as Peyton and Nathan walk past her. They look so perfectly star of the basketball team-peppy cheerleader in love that it makes her feel sick. She pretends to listen to Bevin talk about the neighboring town's cheerleading sluts instead of sending jealous looks towards the happy-looking-but-not-so-happy couple.

She knows they're not on solid ground; they never have been. From the first week they were together, it's been non-stop yelling, fighting and sex. A fight ending the relationship one day then make up sex the next. A fight over plans for one evening then sex the next morning. Their whole relationship was built on a nonstop cycle of fighting and sex.

The bell rings signaling the beginning of first hour. She's late. First hour English with the happy couple. Something she's been dreading for two weeks.

•••

She steals a look to the back of the classroom. Brooke's attention is focused on the latest edition of Cosmo Girl. She came in late, barely getting to class before the teacher. She had gone to the back of the classroom, purposefully avoiding sitting in the empty chair next to Peyton. It didn't go unnoticed by the blonde.

Green eyes suddenly lock with hazel-green ones. Neither girl forces a smile. Or is able to muster up a genuine one. Peyton feels a hand on her thigh. Nathan raises an eyebrow at her. She forces a smile at him and puts her attention back on the teacher's lecture.

She stares at the hand on Peyton's leg. She didn't figure that Peyton would've told him about what had happened between them. Peyton hadn't really had time. Nathan had spent the entire summer at a basketball camp in Kentucky, only getting back yesterday. Brooke knew they'd still be together. But she didn't think seeing them so close would cause her to be so surprised. Or so hurt.

The feelings pulling at her heart briefly make her want to cry. Class is over. She pushes the thought of a Peyton of her own out of her mind and rushes out of the classroom. She stops at her locker to drop off her new English book. Something brushes against her shoulder.

They had both forgotten about having lockers next to each other. So, they both stand awkwardly looking at the other, not saying a word. Seconds fly by before Nathan has the opportunity to steal Peyton for a quick kiss. Brooke shudders at the sight and slams her locker door. Nathan and Peyton stare at the back of the receding brunette.

"What the hell is her problem?"

The blonde doesn't know how to reply to that. So, she kisses him.

•••

Lunch should've been her favorite time of the day. It gives her time to draw, without the potential for getting in trouble. It's not her favorite anymore. She's stuck in first lunch with no one but Brooke to potentially sit with. Instead of trying to find the girl, she sits down at an empty table and pulls out her sketchpad.

She looks around, tray in hand, for somewhere to sit. She spies her favorite head of blonde curls sketching in a corner. This should've been an easy decision to make. It should've been a no brainer. Instead, she hesitates.

A tray falls down on the table in front of her with a loud thud. She looks up from her drawing to find her favorite brunette looking down at her. She watches her sit down and listens to words spill out of her mouth about the football game next week and the need for cheer practice A.S.A.P. cause the new girls are really not in great shape. Suddenly, everything's back to normal.

Brooke didn't know why, but she decided the best course of action was to pretend like nothing was different. She goes on and on about her ideas for a new routine. Peyton focuses not on her words, but on the way she says them. She listens intently to the husky voice she has longed to hear over the past few weeks.

Both girls are surprised when they notice students already filing out of the cafeteria to go back to class. Peyton grabs her sketchpad and follows Brooke out, to the fourth hour class that they share. With only slight hesitation, they sit down at a table together.

To the unknowing eye, they know they look just as they did last year. But inside, they both overanalyze every move that they make, every word of what they say. They both share the same thought.

Is it ever going to be normal again?

•••

She pushes the door open to head out to the parking lot. School ended thirty minutes ago. She had stayed late on purpose, wanting to avoid running into the blonde that sent shivers down her spine. The parking lot is practically empty.

She's about to unlock her car when she sees it. Peyton's car, sitting on the other side of the parking lot. Unconsciously, she looks back to the school. Her eyes lock on the blonde emerging from the front door of the school. Within seconds, she, too, is spotted.

Peyton freezes in her tracks when she sees Brooke standing in the parking lot. She had intentionally spent an additional thirty minutes talking to her seventh hour teacher. It wasn't hard; her art teacher loves her. She didn't think she would have to worry about finding herself around the brunette for the rest of the day. She thought she could finally relax.

Brooke takes a last look at her best friend then turns and unlocks her car. She hesitates, wanting nothing more than to go over to Peyton's house like she has done after the end of every first day of school since she could remember. She opens the door and quickly gets in to the car.

Peyton watches as the silver Volkswagen flies out of the parking lot. She saw Brooke hesitate. She doesn't know what it means, but she's sure of what she saw. But Brooke's gone now. She continues her delayed walk to her car, praying that tomorrow will be better.