Brooke sighed back, content in the little bubble she and Peyton had seemingly created. Peyton was in the bedroom, working on "the masterpiece" as Brooke had dubbed it. When Brook had finished work the previous day, she'd taken them straight to the local hardware store, with the intention that she and Peyton would paint it when she'd finished work the next day. When she'd got home Peyton was nowhere to be seen, but the whole living room was purple. She finally found Peyton in the bedroom, which was blood red. Before she could get a proper look around Peyton had ushered her out of the room. She tided up the kitchen room, and then settled on the couch, smiling contently to herself as she closed her eyes.
She was just about to drift off to sleep, when she was startled by someone knocking at the door. She didn't expect to find Haley Scott standing on the other side of it. The last time Brooke saw her was her first day at the cafe, when she'd told her about Peyton. After that she'd ignored her, working and avoiding her. It had helped Haley hadn't been working that morning.
"Haley?"
"Hey. I hope it's okay I dropped by."
"Yeah, its...um...it's fine."
"Good." Haley shifted a little to look inside.
"Sorry, come in Haley." She welcomed her in, kicking aside some of the sheets Peyton had used to cover the carpet while painting. "Peyton's been painting, so ignore the smell."
"She did this all by herself!" Haley said, impressed as the walked over to the kitchen breakfast counter. But Brooke misunderstood.
"She's not incompetent Haley." Brooke snapped.
"Brooke I didn't mean it like that. I just meant she's done your whole front room." Haley said softly, and Brooke realised she'd over reacted. "It took Nathan a week to do our apartment."
"Sorry. I just-"
"I know and I get it, I really do." Brooke smiled back at Haley. "So where is she?"
"In the bedroom, she won't let me in until she's finished." Brooke explained, laughing a little at the silliness of it all. But once Peyton got an idea in her head there was no point arguing. Brooke snapped out of her thoughts when she remembered Haley's presence. "So what brings you by?"
"Well, I was wondering if you and Peyton wanted to come and hang out for the rest of the day?" Haley asked.
"Haley, I didn't tell you that yesterday because I wanted pity."
"I'm not offering pity, I'm offering you friendship." It was sincere, but Brooke had to be wary. She stepped back, unsure, when Peyton emerged from the bedroom, a proud look across her face. It faded when she saw they weren't alone.
"You remember Haley, from the cafe." Brooke said coming out from the kitchen.
What's she doing here?
"She wants us to hang out for the day." Haley watched, slightly fascinated as the two girls communicated. Brooke had told her Peyton was deaf, and mute, meaning she communicated using sign language. Haley had assumed that meant to talk to her one would have to know how to sign but evidently not. Brooke's speech had slowed and Peyton was reading her lips.
Where?
Haley watched as Brooke looked back at her, before walking so she was stood in front of Peyton. This time she signed, obviously aware Haley was there.
I'll be there the whole time. This could be fun.
Peyton looked past Brooke and straight at Haley, who immediately looked away, as if she'd been caught spying on something private.
Does she know everything?
No, I only met her two days ago.
Just checking. You have a big mouth!
"Very funny P Sawyer!" Brooke smirked, before turning back to Haley. "We'd love to come."
"Great!" Haley clapped out of excitement, causing Peyton to roll her eyes in Brooke's direction.
Haley decided a tour of Tree Hill would be the best thing to start, once Brooke revealed they hadn't really left the apartment. Especially Peyton. They eventually arrived at the cafe.
"Karen was right: this is your second home." Brooke joked, as they walked in. "Most people don't spend their free time in work."
"Well my favourite place in town is in here." Haley said, cryptically. Peyton was completely confused as she followed Brooke and Haley up the stairs, more so when they continued straight up to the roof. "Voila!"
Haley opened the door, to reveal the roof top of Karen's cafe. Far from being bare, it seemed every inch of the the place was covered, there were fairy lights hanging from all sort of contraptions, which Haley soon turned on. Brooke was in a state of shock, and total amazement as the place sparked in to colour.
"What is this?"
"It's me and Luke's crazy golf.." Haley explained, as Peyton wandered out to the center of it, steeping over all the obstacles. "We used to come up here all the time and play. But I was better so he took up basketball."
"Don't tell me you still play this?" Brooke smirked.
"Not so much lately, but I've never been friends with someone I haven't beaten at crazy golf so I thought why not?"
"Your insane." Brooke laughed.
Peyton was intrigued by the whole set up, and followed the course layout around the rooftop. She'd spotted there were 18 holes, each labeled in some manner. She looked up to see Brooke and Haley talking. They were laughing at something, and it seemed Haley was the butt of the joke. "We used to live up here. This was like our little kingdom. Don't tell me you never did anything like that when you were little."
"Well yes but my little I mean 10, not 16!" Brooke replied, just as Peyton got to them. She spotted the clubs in Peyton's hand. "P Sawyer you can't be serious."
It'll be fun! Please!
"Fine, just for a little while." Brooke conceded, grabbing a club of Peyton, before leading the way to the first hole. "Let the games begin."
That was the extent of Brooke's optimism, she never understood sports, and after about an hour of pure torture it's all boiled down to the last hole. Peyton was actually quiet good, and Brooke watched her face scrunch up a little as she concentrated, watching Haley inspect her ball.
"Hurry it up, Tiger!" Brooke groaned.
"Sssh Tigger." Hale sniped back, and Brooke looked over to Peyton was laughing at the two of them.
"This is not funny Peyton, it's boring, so hurry up." Peyton couldn't help but laugh at the facial expression Brooke used, as if she was in agony. Peyton laughed before stepping up to take her shot. Brooke decided to cheer a little, in the hope Peyton would make the shot and end the game. "Let's go Peyton, let go."
"Please tell me your not a cheerleader." Haley moaned.
"I used to be." Brooke defended herself. "I was captain."
"God help me, I'm hanging around with Rachel Gatina!"
"What?"
Haley was about to respond when she saw Peyton sink her putt, and turned back to face them grinning ear to ear. She raised her hands in mock celebration.
"Well done P, I was about to die of boardem."
We have to play again.
"We have to take a break."
It's not exactly hard.
"Speak for yourself P Sawyer. Now we are going to sit down, and discuss our trip to the mall tomorrow." Brooke suddenly beamed, causing Peyton to drop her head into her hands as they all sat down. She knew when Brooke went shopping, it meant hours of fitting rooms and endless rails of clothing.
"I take it you don't like shopping." Haley said, sitting down across from Peyton.
Peyton was a little taken aback, so far Haley had just spoken through Brooke, and mostly to Brooke. Even when they were playing golf, it had all gone through Brooke. She reached into her bag, and pulled out her notepad. She hadn't had to do this in a long time.
You've never been shopping with Brooke.
Peyton passed the note pad and pen to Haley.
It can't be that bad.
Come along tomorrow and see.
Deal.
"Hello?" Brooke stopped Peyton writing anymore. "What are you two passing notes about?"
Nothing.
"Yeah, sure."
"Peyton just asked me to go shopping with you guys." Haley chirped, she could see by the look shared between the two girls this was a rare event. Peyton just shrugged, but Brooke wore an expression of pure pride.
"That's great. I'm finished work at 2, is that okay for you Haley?"
"That's great. Now that tomorrows all sorted, lets have another game." Peyton stood up, straight away. Brooke groaned but got to her feet as did Haley.
"Haley wait a second." Haley turned to face Brooke. "Thanks for today, for including Peyton. It means alot you found something we could do together, that she could do. I haven't seen her this happy in a while."
"Brooke honestly, I've just been waiting around until I found someone who would do this me."
"Well I think you've found her." Brooke said wrapping an arm around Haley and walking over to where Peyton had already started a second game. "Although I wish you could play something a little more exciting."
"Trust me, when basketball season arrives and takes over, you'll have all the excitement you need." Haley reached into her pocket, taking out her buzzing phone. She walked away to the ledge, leaving Peyton and Brooke to play."Speaking of basketball....Hey Nate. Yeah, well I'm at the cafe. No. I'm hanging out with Peyton and Brooke. You remember? That's right. At least one of you was listening. Yeah we're just playing golf on the roof top, so you and Luke can come up. Yes. Okay sure, we're just about to start a new game so come on up."
Who is she on the phone to?
"Nathan, the husband!" Brooke hissed in excitement. She was dying to see the infamous Nathan Scott, the boy married at seventeen. "I mean imagine getting, I wonder...."
Brooke continued to talk, not noticing the slight crease in Peyton's brow. Haley had invited them up to the roof. Nathan, and Lucas. She took a deep breath, and looked to the sky.
"....I mean imagine. Peyt?" Brooke tapped Peytons shoulder, regaining her attention. "Are you okay?"
I'm fine.
Brooke was well accustomed to Peyton's fake smile, her thins lips pursing together with a slight twitch at the corners. It never reached her eyes. She was about to call her on it when the roof door opened. Brooke watched as a tall boy walked in, with dark hair, a broad grin, and blue eyes. They both knew it was Nathan, when he wrapped an arm around her shoulder kissing her the top of her head. Then Haley whispered something to him before they walked over with Haley still hanging off him.
"Nathan, this is Peyton and Brooke." She introduced them, and Nathan smiled at both of them.
"Hey!"
"God, you're awfully quiet for a basketball star!" Peyton held in her laughter. Brooke had always been very forward, confident from the get go.
"And you're bold for the new girl!" Nathan shot back a few seconds later.
"Touche!" Brooke grinned.
"Pleased to meet you Brooke, and you must be Peyton." Nathan reached out his hand to Peyton, slightly unsure what to do. He was more than relieved when she accepted it. She smiled, before they turned to see Lucas come though the door. Nathan felt Peyton's hand slip from his grasp, but thought nothing of it. "And this is Lucas, the older, not half as good looking, brother."
Peyton had stepped back as soon as he'd steeped through the door. He was smaller in frame than Nathan but had an eerily familiar set of blue eyes, and long blonde hair.
"Who just beat you at basketball." Lucas shot back, jogging over. He stopped a step short, noticing the blonde step away from him. Brooke quickly noticed and turned to her. He could see arm movements, and the blonde was starting to cry. He noticed her glance briefly at him, almost in sympathy.
"It was great meeting you guys." Brooke said, taking a hold of Peytons trembling body. "We're going to get home."
The three Scotts watched, in total shock as the two girls left.
"You really are a hit with the ladies." Nathan muttered, in an attempt to cut the tension. Lucas glared at him but chose to remain silent.
"I'm...I'm going to see if Peytons okay?" Haley announced, setting off down the stairs. She raced out of the cafe, spotting the girls rounding the next corner. "Brooke wait!"
They were at the car, when Haley caught them.
"Brooke?"
"Look Haley, I appreciate today, but-"
"Brooke just give me minute okay." Haley sighed, she wasn't sure exactly had gone wrong but she wanted to find out. Brooke nodded before leaning over the door of the convertible to Peyton.
"Peyt, I just have to talk to Haley. I'll be right here okay?" Peyton nodded as Brooke wiped away a stray tear. "Then we'll go."
Brooke lead them to the corner, positioning Haley so Peyton couldn't witness the conversation.
"I'm sorry about that"
"At the cafe, I thought it was Felix being an ass. And then you told me about.... So I thought." Haley's sentences were chopped as she tried muddled through all the thoughts flying around in her head. Something wasn't right. Peyton may have been deaf, and mute, but that wasn't the issue. People could live with disabilities. Haley had seen Peyton prove that in the previous hours. She tried to explain herself. "But Lucas he...He's probably the nicest guy I know, and she was the same. It was worse- he didn't do anything."
"Haley I know. Please, look I can't explain it. Just apologise to Lucas. I'm really sorry." Brooke glanced back to the car. "She needs me Haley, I'm sorry."
Brooke went to walk away but Haley grabbed her arm.
"Is there anything I can do?" She asked softly.
"Get Lucas to cut his hair!" Brooke attempted a joke, offering a small smile. Haley smiled back dejectedly and watched as the two girls drove off into the distance.
Firstly thank you for the revies. Its mid blowing, and I don't think you can understand until someone takes note of your passion. Its amazing to think, I'm effecting someone out their with my words
Thanks to everyone.
I know that wasn't the most interesting update but I wanted to show Haley beginning a friendship with Brooke and Peyton.
Just to explain: Peyton is a deaf mute. (I just read this great book- the heart is a lonely hunter, and inspiration struck. Seriously check out the book. ). She can read lips, and communicates through sign language, which Brooke knows. Everything else shall be revealed....
Oh. Lucas is looking like he did towards the end of season 4. Altho its set the summer before senior year.
Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed, and sorry for the mistakes. I can never see them until I've posted and its staring back at me... and its all to late.
