AN: Ok guys first of all i want to say a huge thanks for all the great feedback from my first chapter. This story really means alot to me and i hope you stick with it and enjoy the story. I just wanted to fill you in on a few details. Basically everything that happened in the first four seasons did happen, except Peyton never told Lucas she loved him and they never got together. The present tense is set around Season 5 and more of Peyton and Brooke's back-story will be revealed through flashbacks. Hope you enjoy this story! Thanks.
Peyton sat patiently in the dark contemplating Brooke's return and the inevitable conversation she would have with Brooke about her condition. Sitting alone reflecting back on their past she thought back to times when life was easier and simple, glancing a photos of them both around the room, it broke Peyton's heart to not be able to look ahead more than a week into the future, because she didn't know what tomorrow would bring, she dreamed of having a long life with Brooke, yet all she was given was only mere months of living the life with Brooke that she had always wanted.
FLASHBACK - 4 Years Ago
It was the night before everyone was about to go off on his or her own adventures. Brooke was set to go to New York to franchise Clothes Ova Bros and Peyton had been accepted on an internship at Sire Records. With James Lucas Scott being born on graduation day, the little Scott clan were set to go to college and work on their dreams while living as a family, along with Lucas Scott pursuing his dream of publishing his novel. A lot had happened in the last couple of months for this core five, but the biggest news was the revelation that surfaced a few days before goodbyes were to be said.
Everyone had gathered at one of Rachel's leaving parties, it was the night when they would no longer be seniors but adults ready and willing to go out into the world and make a name for themselves. The party had been going on for many hours and emotions were running high, sometimes this became too much for some of them, especially for Brooke, taking a time out from the party she stood next to one of the open windows looking down at her friends, taking the time to let the realisation set in that it wouldn't be like this for a very long time, being surrounded by the people who mean most to her and especially that one person who she wasted so much time apart from, avoiding the conflicting feelings she felt that all told her she was in love with her best friend.
"Are you ever going to tell her how you feel?" Rachel's voice broke Brooke's gaze from Peyton and snapped her out of her thoughts immediately. Looking at Rachel she tried to muster the expression to act like she didn't understand what Rachel was saying, but in reality she was too tired of hiding how she felt when it clearly obvious to everyone around her.
"It's complicated." Brooke replied. Complicated was an understatement for them, how could they possibly go from being best friends to anything more.
"You do know that everything you two have been through was never about Lucas, it was about both of you not wanting to see each other with anyone else but each other. So it's not complicated it's quite simple, you go down there and tell her how you feel and who knows you might get everything you've ever wanted." With those parting words Rachel left Brooke standing there staring out the window at Peyton. Quickly downing the rest of her drink, hoping to find some courage at the bottom of the cup, she made her way out of the room and down the steps. Walking across the lawn to Peyton, she grabbed her friend's hand and led her across the garden.
"Brooke what are you doing?" Peyton spoke through laughter at her friend's behaviour. It's only when Brooke stopped and turned to look at Peyton that her laughing seized as she felt Brooke's lips upon hers. Shocked for only a brief second, Peyton began to respond to the kiss, gently kissing Brooke back. The kiss came to an abrupt end as Brooke reluctantly pulled away and stood their gazing into Peyton's eyes. This was it, the moment of truth.
"I love you. I'm in love with you and I think I have been for a long time. I just never realised it until now..." Brooke was cut short as she felt Peyton's lips against hers once again.
"I love you too" Peyton whispered and a smile broke out across both of their faces.
END OF FLASHBACK
Breaking Peyton from her thoughts was the sound of keys in the door, quickly wiping away the tears that fallen from her eyes, Peyton took one last deep breathe bracing herself for what was going to happen next.
"Peyton? You home?" Brooke called out, walking through the house looking for any sign of Peyton.
"Yea in here." Brooke spotted Peyton sat on the couch in complete darkness, only the light from the night sky lit up the room. Brooke smiled when she saw Peyton; she never thought Peyton could look more angelic than she did right their sat beneath the light of the moon.
"Hey." Taking a moment to look at Peyton, Brooke casually walked towards her girlfriend and placed a quick kiss on her lips, not taking the time to notice the taste of salt from Peyton's tears that lingered there.
"Hey yourself." Peyton smiled as she wrapped her arms around Brooke, pulling her down onto the couch next to her.
"You ok? Why are you sat in the dark?" Brooke took the time to suddenly worry as to why Peyton was sat alone in the dark, gently stroking Peyton's hair freely, she adorned a worried expression as she looked into Peyton's hazy eyes.
"Oh sorry. I had a bit of a headache. How was your day?" Coming up with a simple excuse would be enough to not cause Brooke to worry. Quickly changing the subject from herself, Peyton could feel the nerves coursing through her body and changing the subject was a good start to avoiding the confession she knew would ultimately break both of their hearts.
"Good. But I missed you." Brooke smiled.
"Brooke you saw me this morning." Laughter always felt good between these two and it was an easy way to ease any worries.
"Yea but it's been too long since I did this." Leaning forward and delicately placing her lips upon Peyton's the kiss started slow but it wasn't long till both were kissing with so much passion that they had to reluctantly pull away for air. Brooke smiled seductively at Peyton who still had her eyes closed and relishing in the sensation Brooke's lips had caused.
"Well I have no complaints; you can find me anytime and do that." Peyton smiled and try to shake away the tingles Brooke had caused her, causing both of them to laugh.
"Do you want me to get something for your headache?" Delicately stroking Peyton's face, she couldn't hide the worry of knowing her girlfriend was in pain from something so minor, or so she believed.
"No. You being here makes it so much better." Leaning into Brooke's touch and resting her head on her shoulder she knew this was where she felt safe, if her last moment was to be now, she wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here. If anyone could save or heal Peyton Sawyer it would be Brooke Davis.
"Well how about I put on a movie, get some ice cream and you and me can curl up on the couch together? How does that sound?" Brooke asked still aimlessly stroking Peyton's hair.
"Sounds perfect." Peyton smiled up at Brooke, locking eyes with one another it always made them question why hadn't they seen this love for each other so long ago, that they had wasted so much time getting to where they are now.
"Ok. I'll be right back." Brooke reluctantly pulled away from Peyton and stood to walk out of the room. Peyton immediately felt the emptiness beside her and she couldn't bear this any longer.
"Brooke." Peyton called out stopping Brooke from leaving the room, looking into Brooke's eyes as she smiled at Peyton. Peyton could feel the tears beginning to fall.
"You know I love you right?" Peyton asked desperately.
"Yes silly. Now I'll love you even more if you pick a good movie to watch." Brooke laughed at Peyton's question and turned to walk out the room. Stopping just outside the door Brooke took a moment to let herself worry, something wasn't right and she could feel it. Trying to shrug away any worries Brooke busied herself with getting ready.
One of the most important places where Haley could express her feelings was when she was sat at her piano, her subconscious would always work itself into her music, but for once in her life Haley couldn't express any feelings, because for once she was speechless and numb, no words or music could ever describe how she feels sitting there alone at her piano staring at the photo of their high school graduation, looking at all their smiles all their cares in the world seemed to be miles away.
FLASHBACK – 6 Years Ago
Walking down the dark country road at night talking and laughing. Neither Peyton nor Haley had ever done this before, just took the time to talk to one another and realise they could in fact be great friends.
"It's strange. Just… the night away from school. It feels like you and I actually live on the same planet." Haley spoke the words straight from her heart, expressing exactly what she was feeling in that moment. Looking over at Peyton she could tell that Peyton felt the same away and realization set in that this was the start of a beautiful true friendship.
"Life plays trick on you like that." Peyton responded.
END OF FLASHBACK
The truth is life is just one big game, and Haley just wished that this was life playing a trick on her, that tomorrow would be a different day where she could still be living on the same planet as her friend. Unknowing to Haley she didn't realise that Nathan had been stood at the door watching her intently as she gazed upon the photo of them all. Making his presence known Nathan walked towards Haley, responding quickly Haley wiped away any tears left on her cheeks.
"Hales?" Nathan spoke with a voice laced with concern for his wife and the distressed state she seemed to be in.
"Hey sorry. I didn't see you standing there." Haley smiled genuinely, trying to mask any sadness left in her, but finding it an impossible task.
"You coming to bed?" The one thing Haley loved about Nathan was how he knew her well enough to know that if she wanted to talk, she would come to him and that was exactly what Nathan was doing. Haley knew that Nathan understood something was wrong in the way he stood behind her and delicately kissed her bare shoulder.
"Yea I'll be right there." Placing a delicate kiss on Nathan's lips and smiling up at him. Leaving the room Nathan took one last glance back at his wife and his heart ached for the reason his wife was sat at her favourite place in their home in the middle of the night, looking more lost than he had ever seen her before.
As the credits rolled down the television screen Brooke looked beside her to find a sleeping Peyton, delicately lifting Peyton's head as not to wake her Brooke gently manoeuvred her way off the couch without disturbing Peyton. Pulling the blanket down from the back of the sofa and placing it around Peyton's petite body, Brooke noticed something sticking out the side of the sofa, taking it out of the crevice it had been wedged in she looked at it and smiled. The photo was of the two of them sat on the beach earlier this month watching the sunset. Looking at Peyton and her angelic face as she slept, Brooke stroked her cheek and kissed her forehead ever so lightly.
"I love you " Brooke whispered.
Standing and walking over to the fireplace Brooke placed the photo next to all the other photos of the two of them and smiled at how happy they looked in all of them. Taking one last look at a sleeping Peyton, Brooke switched off the lights and made her way to their room. Unbeknown to Brooke that a small gentle breeze had flown in through the window and had gathered up the photo she had just held and knocked it the floor. The photo had landed face down and revealed a message written on the back.
'Remember all of our sunsets together. Love Peyton x'
