After a week of classes, it was the weekend again and Peyton was lying in her room, just relaxing. She had gone out with Nathan every night of the week, even the nights when she had morning classes the next day. Right now it was Friday and she had just gotten out of her last class for the week. She had a headache and while she had told Nathan she would go out, she wasn't really feeling like it.
Peyton heard the front door open and she heard Haley enter the apartment, talking and laughing with someone. During the week, while Peyton had been spending so much time with Nathan, Haley and Lucas had been hanging out quite a lot. When he wasn't with his girlfriend, anyway.
Peyton guessed that Lucas was with Haley now. She groaned and stood, walking out of her room and into the living room. She found Haley and Lucas sitting on the couch together. Peyton smiled meekly and sat in one of the chairs.
Haley looked at her best friend. "Headache?" she asked. Peyton nodded, not surprised that Haley could tell just by looking at her. Haley noticed Lucas's confused look. "Peyton and I have been friends forever. She gets a lot of headaches, so that's usually what it is. I bet this one is from too much partying," she said the last part looking over at Peyton.
Peyton groaned. "Yeah, what would you know about partying little miss goody two shoes?" she snarked. She shrugged. "What time is it anyway?" she asked. She needed to get in the shower at around six.
Lucas looked at his watch. "It's five," he stood. "I should probably get going anyway, Haley. I'm going out with Brooke tonight. I'll see you tomorrow, Haley. Peyton, I'll probably see you tonight," he said.
Haley got up to walk him to the door, but Peyton said nothing. She got up and walked to her bathroom. After dry swallowing two aspirin she walked into the kitchen. She poured herself a glass of grape juice and drank it, then she grabbed a water out of the refrigerator before returning to the living room.
By the time Haley came back into the living room, Peyton was sitting on the couch with her eyes closed and her feet up. "So, are you really getting serious about Nathan?" she asked. Haley hadn't exactly told Peyton about the moment she had had with Nathan at the party, mainly because she wasn't sure what it was herself.
Peyton opened her eyes slowly. "I think we could be together for a while. Right now it's just fun, though. It's not like we're going to be getting married any time soon," she answered, with an eye roll.
Haley socked Peyton lightly on the arm. "Hey, Peyt, you know if you keep rolling your eyes they'll get stuck like that," she joked. Peyton stuck her tongue out at Haley, then took a long swig of water. Haley was about to continue when the doorbell rang. "I'll get that," she said, jumping up.
Haley walked to the front door and opened it. She was very surprised to find Brooke standing on her doorstep. She stood there for a minute a bit in shock. "Well, are you going to invite me in, or what?" Brooke asked impatiently.
Haley stepped back, so Brooke could come in. Brooke walked in like she owned the place and walked into the living room. She took a seat on the couch next to Peyton, who eyed her carefully. Haley slowly trailed after her and took the chair.
The three girls sat in silence for a minute. "Well, um, Brooke, I don't mean to be rude or anything, but, um, Lucas isn't here," Haley said after a minute, trying to break the silence.
Peyton scoffed. "What she means to say, is, why are you here?" Peyton asked, using her usual bluntness.
Brooke's smile faltered for the first time since she had entered the apartment. But two seconds later it was there again, as bright as ever. "Well, I was thinking that since we're all cheerleaders, and my boyfriend and your," she paused, trying to put to words what was going on between Peyton and Nathan, "love interest are brothers, not to mention you," she pointed to Haley, "are starting to hang out with my boyfriend, maybe the three of us can hang out," she finished.
Peyton and Haley thought for a second. "I'm supposed to hang out with Nathan tonight. And didn't Lucas say he has a date with you tonight?" Peyton asked, kind of harshly, but she really didn't mean to be harsh.
Brooke could tell that she was just being honest, so she didn't take offense. She shrugged. "Well, I was at their apartment and I told them that I want to hang out with you guys tonight, so they are gonna hang out. They'll probably go shoot hoops somewhere or something," she answered.
Peyton looked at Haley, and Haley looked back. Peyton bit her lip and Haley started fidgeting as they thought. Finally they both shrugged. Peyton turned to face Brooke again. "What exactly did you want to do?" she asked.
Brooke's smile got brighter, if that was possible. "Well, I was thinking we can all go shopping together. I really haven't been shopping with my friends since the semester started. My own best friend went to L.A. after graduation and since classes started I've been hanging out mainly with Lucas," she said.
Peyton resisted the urge to roll her eyes and Haley scrunched her nose. "We're not exactly people who love to go shopping," Haley said after a moment.
Brooke's smile fell off her face. She was shocked. Was she seriously sitting with two females who didn't like to shop? This had never happened to her before. "I honestly can't believe what you said. You guys don't love to shop?" she asked, still dumfounded.
Peyton smirked and nodded. "Yup, unless I'm shopping for music, I don't shop unless I have to," she answered.
Brooke swallowed and smiled again. "Come on, please. That must be because you haven't shopped with me, yet. It'll be fun, I promise," she said, holding her hands up.
Peyton and Haley shared unsure looks, but they could tell Brooke wouldn't give up, so they nodded. Peyton bit her lip. Part of her was actually glad she didn't have to party again.
A few hours later they were at the nearest mall. "Come on, Brooke, can't we stop and get something to eat?" Haley and Peyton had been bugging Brooke to stop for the last twenty minutes. They were all loaded down with bags, stuff that Brooke had forced them to buy.
Brooke sighed and looked at the two other women. "Alright, fine, we can go to the food court. It'll give us the chance to get to know each other," she agreed. Both Haley and Peyton smiled and the three of them walked to the food court.
Once they agreed on a place the three of them sat down, bags at their feet. They were in a booth and Brooke was on one side, facing Haley and Peyton. "So, tell me about yourselves, where are you from?" Brooke asked.
Peyton took a deep breath. "We're from Tree Hill. It's a small town most people never hear about. Hales and I have been best friends since I was seven and my Dad died. We were friends before that, but she was there for me when no one else could be, so since then we've been best friends," Peyton decided it would be best to get the awkward stuff out of the way first.
Brooke nodded, surprised at Peyton's honesty. "What about your mother?" she asked. Their food came before Peyton could answer, giving her a few moments to decide what to say.
Peyton took bite of her burger and a drink of her soda. When she had swallowed she looked at Brooke. "My mother's always been there for me. I love her dearly, but I have to be honest. I was a daddy's girl. I still love my mother and my brother with all my heart, but nothing and no one will replace my dad," she said. "Although this one's come pretty close," she bumped her shoulder into Haley's. "Though I personally think she's using me to get away from her hectic family like at her house," she joked, hiding behind her sarcasm.
Haley smirked at Peyton. "Living with you isn't exactly a picnic either my friend," she joked right back. "I'm the youngest of lots of brothers and sisters. I spent more time at Peyton's house than at my own," she said to Brooke.
Brooke smiled at the way they joked with each other. It reminded her of her own best friend, who had gone to L.A after they had graduated high school. She still talked to her on the phone, but things weren't the same anymore. She knew she needed to find new friends, and she knew she could pick anyone on the cheerleading squad, really, but something made her want to be friends with these two. She couldn't really explain it.
Peyton scoffed at Haley's statement, but didn't say anything. Instead she turned to face Brooke. "So, what about you?" she asked Brooke.
Brooke sighed, trying to decide what exactly to say. "Well, my parents were never home and I don't have any siblings, so I did spend a lot of time at my best friend's house. Well, until Lucas came along. He was thrown into my life sophomore year, when he and Nate moved to Bear Creek. It took a couple of months for him to succumb to my charms," she smiled cheekily at that point, so they knew she was at least partially joking, "but he did and we've been together ever since. He wanted to play college ball, and even though I want to do something in fashion, I followed him here, because I'd follow him anywhere," she said.
Peyton nodded and Haley smiled. The three of them finished their meal in silence, but they all felt a little bit closer as friends.
A/N: I know the beginning hasn't had any Leyton in it, but I'm trying to set up the story. There will be drama and the whole Brooke-Peyton-Lucas love triangle, because who doesn't love that? I tried to put some background information in this chapter, but if you have anymore questions I'll try to answer them. I always love reviews, so please leave them.
Disclaimer: I don't, in any way, own any part of One Tree Hill.
