Goodnight- La Rocca

Haley awoke from her dreams and looked to her right. Finding no one there she let out a yawn and removed herself from the double bed. The auburn haired beauty took a look around the bold red room before exiting it. She tried to follow the sound of kettle boiling. In her opinion she would never get a big house like this preferably because she couldn't find the simplicity in it, the chaos, the homeyness the history. There was no photo frames, no stains on the carpet, no random objects lying around. Nothing in this grand, cold house reminded Haley of her home, of Karen's home.

"Morning" Haley said finally finding her sisters.

"Hey" Brooke replied from behind the kitchen bench. Sitting at the dining table Peyton offered Haley a nod.

"So, something smells good"

"Coffee, want some?" Haley nodded as Brooke poured her a cup. "Um I'm not much of a cook so help yourself if you're hungry"

"I'm good thanks" Brooke offered a smile.

"Okay"

"So listen" Haley began "Moms lawyers called and they want to meet with the three of us"

"The three of us?" Peyton repeated. Haley nodded.

"What about?" Brooke asked.

"Just financial and custody arrangements. Well, my custody arrangement"

"Oh" Haley noted Brooke's surprised expression.

"Where do you think you'll stay?" Haley moved her gaze to Peyton.

'Probably with dad, if that's okay with you?"

Peyton shrugged "Why wouldn't it be? He's really your father not mine"

"That's not true" Haley almost yelled. Peyton didn't seem fazed.

"Whatever. So, this coffee sucks" Brooke laughed.

"Yeah I'm not too good at making coffee either"

"Is there anything you are good at?" Peyton joked. Brooke thought for a second.

"I don't know guys I guess" Peyton and Haley stared at her "dates, dating and sex" Brooke gave a 'what are you gonna do' look.

"Well" Peyton said "It looks like we have a potential hooker in our family" Haley watched her oldest sister's expression darken.

"What?" she asked.

"Sorry, your family" she cleared.

"Peyton..."

"So" Peyton interrupted Brooke "Jake told me its Nathan and Lucas's birthday today" Haley mentally slapped herself.

"Crap! I completely forgot about that"

"You've had a lot on your mind" Brooke comforted.

"Yeah but they're my best friends. I feel bad; normally they have a big blow out at their father's beach house. This year was supposed to be the biggest considering it's their eighteenth" Haley couldn't help but feel guilty.

"That sucks" Peyton commented.

"Yeah. With everything going on it would have been nice to have a distraction" Brooke cleared her throat.

"Funny you mention that. Nathan actually told me that he'd think about doing something. But that is only if it were okay with you and Lucas"

"Weird. He hasn't mentioned anything" Haley couldn't help but feel a sting of jealousy. She wondered what else her best friend and sister had discussed.

"He probably will" Brooke said.

"Yeah probably" Haley's gaze remained on her sister. Suddenly a thought occurred. "Hey I've been meaning to ask you something"

"I'll leave you two alone" Peyton began to get up.

"No stay. I didn't mean it like that" Peyton looked conflicted as she sat back down.

"So what's up?" Brooke asked.

"Why was mom going to see you?" Brooke frowned "The night she died, she was only a few miles out from Charleston" Peyton suddenly wished she had left.

"If she was coming to see me I don't know what for?"

"So you don't know why she was going there?" Brooke shook her head "Sorry, it's just weird. She just took off...it's not like her" Peyton hoped her sisters couldn't see how uncomfortable she was. It's funny, if they had taken a second to look at her they would have immediately noticed the guilty expression written all over her face.

"Maybe she was going for a drive" Peyton found herself saying.

"Yeah, miles away from home" Peyton shrugged.

"It's not unlikely" Haley stared intensely at Brooke.

"Like I said, it's not like her" The room erupted in silence.

"Anyway" Haley spoke up after a few awkward minutes "How are you guys liking Tree Hill?"

"It's okay" Brooke said "Not really my piece of cake though"

Haley nodded "Peyton? Jake said the two of you took Jenny to the park yesterday"

Peyton smiled for the first time "It's nice. It feels homey actually"

"Well it's a small town. Everyone pretty much knows everyone. I'm sure a few people got a kick out of seeing the two of you yesterday"

"Well people do tend to notice me" Brooke smirked.

"Oh my god you sound like Lucas" Haley chuckled "By the way I think he may have a crush on you"

"Hmm, like an 'I wanna get in your pants crush' or a 'how Peyton feels about Jake crush'?"

"Hey!" Peyton shot a look towards Brooke "I am not crushing on Jake"

"Yeah" Brooke retorted "And the idea of having sex with Nathan grosses me out"

Haley froze "What?"

"I do not like him" Peyton repeated "We just met"

"So you move fast" Brooke cleared "Let's just stop and think this over; the two of you had sexual tension in the cafe yesterday. You met his daughter and the three of you hung out all day happily playing house"

"There was no sexual tension" Peyton spoke. Haley watched her two sisters interact. She tried to ignore Brooke's earlier remark.

"There kind of was" this earned a glare from Peyton "Just saying"

Peyton huffed "You two are impossible. And I thought we were talking about Brooke and Lucas?"

"Yeah but teasing you is way more fun" Brooke smirked.

"Like 'going to a concert fun' or 'Haley and I cutting your hair fun'?"

"Oh my god I still can't believe I let you guys do that!"

"It was so funny I remember Peyton gave you a bald spot" Haley laughed.

"Hey! That was only because you dropped your gum in her hair"

"That was an accident!" Haley defended.

"Just like the time you wet the bed" Peyton teased.

"Oh yeah, how old were you?" Brooke added.

"Oh shut up that was one time!"

"Yeah one time too many" Brooke said "And hello Peyton and I were sleeping right next to you!"

"Well there was lightning and I was too scared to go to the bathroom" Peyton and Brooke shook their heads "Besides that happened ages ago"

"Almost ten years" Peyton whispered. Haley and Brooke looked towards their eldest sister, noticing the sudden change of mood.

"About the Jake thing" Peyton began getting up. She looked directly at her youngest sister as she spoke "I'm not going to let anything escalate. I don't want to get too attached here. After all I am leaving in a couple of days"

"Right" Haley nodded "Its just-"

"I'm going to go have a shower and then a nap, you guys were kicking last night so...so I'll see you's later"

"Bye" Brooke said to her retreating sister.

"Bye" Haley managed to let out.

"Um, I should probably go"

"You don't have to" Brooke said.

"No I should" Brooke noticed Haley's dejected look "And uh like Peyton said you probably shouldn't get too attached to anyone here. You are leaving soon and I'm sure you won't be coming down again, I mean it's not like you have before"

"Haley I-"

"I'll see you later" Brooke watched her younger sister rush out of the room, much like her older sister had. She wondered how the three girls could go from complete sisters, to complete strangers.

...

"You know, you really upset Haley earlier today" Brooke said as she adjusted her top for what felt like the tenth time. She had to admit even she knew the scandalous, lacy red top isn't the best choice, especially considering her condition. But Brooke Davis always dressed to impress. And if she were going to be in this town for only a couple more days then she sure as hell would make sure everyone remembers the brunette bombshell. Brooke was just glad that makeup had been invented. That way no one would notice the fading bruises.

"It wasn't my intention" Peyton said from behind the wheel. She would occasionally look to her phone with the map directing the two girls to Nathan and Lucas's party.

"Are you sure?" Brooke asked "Because you seem to be on edge a lot lately"

"And how would you know if I'm being on edge? I mean it's not like we've seen each other in the past nine years and really know what each other's like" Brooke gave her sister a look.

"Yeah but-"

"But what?" Peyton interrupted "The birthday calls and minimal emails are supposed to make up for all of that?"

"No but come on, we're sisters"

"No you and Haley are sisters, I'm just the kid Karen and Larry thought they couldn't have"

"Would you stop" Brooke almost yelled "Peyton, you are my sister, you are a part of this family. You know I guess you're right. Maybe we don't know each other because the Peyton I remember wouldn't care if she were adopted or not" Peyton found herself almost asking 'what family?'

"Well that Peyton grew up" she said instead.

"I grew up to"

"Yeah I can tell. You seem to have excelled in the art of spreading your legs" Brooke opened her mouth in surprise.

"What is your problem!"

Peyton snapped "My problem? My problem is the sore as hell muscles that are slightly bruising from you and Haley kicking the shit out of me last night and your problem is that you're going to have to walk your ass the rest of the way if you ask me again what my problem is!"

"Reoww Kisssss" Brooke hissed.

"Too angry?"

"Just a smidge"

"Sorry"

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to" Brooke said. Peyton knew her sister was right.

"I just-I don't want her to start counting on me and then being disappointed when I leave" Peyton looked straight at Brooke "I don't want her to feel that feeling because it sucks!"

"Being disappointed?" Brooke asked.

"No" Peyton turned her gaze back to the road "People always leaving"

"Well she already knows that feeling" Brooke whispered.

"She left too. Not just us" Peyton defended.

"I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about Karen" Peyton opened her mouth then closed it again.

"You know" Brooke continued "It's weird her coming to see me. We never talked, not once. I guess I just don't understand why she would?"

"Maybe she missed you" Peyton fibbed.

"I doubt it" Brooke replied. Peyton let out a nervous laugh.

"Looks like we both have mommy issues" Brooke stared at her.

"What's that supposed to mean? Karen was your mother whether you wanted her to be or not"

"I'm not talking about Karen" Brooke froze.

"Then what are you-"

"We're here" Brooke paused and looked at her surroundings. She hadn't even noticed they had parked outside a massive beach house with cars and teenagers oozing all around. She quickly unbuckled her seat belt and followed Peyton outside of the car.

"Peyton! Peyton!" Peyton turned around.

"Not here" She looked around the spectators, watching the girls with interest. Brooke simply nodded as she followed her sister. They could both feel eyes watching them the whole way there.

...

"Speak"

"Well I couldn't find anything on the brunette one. But the blonde one is adopted and she was seen yesterday with Jake and Jenny"

"Adopted huh?" Bevin nodded "What else?"

"That's it"

"That's all you got?" Theresa growled.

Bevin though for a second "Well...they're Haley's sisters"

"Yeah I already figured that one out Bev" The brunette had to restrain herself from retaliating against her bimbo best friend.

"Right, sorry. So, what are you gonna do?" Bevin asked excitedly. Theresa smirked.

"Give them a welcome to remember. After all they are leaving soon, thank god! I can't have bitches taking over my cheer squad, school and Scott brothers"

"Um, Lucas and Nathan aren't yours" Bevin stated. This received a look from her captain.

"Bev, it's an unspoken rule. As cheer leading captain I pretty much have a superiority over the entire student body"

Bevin frowned "I've never heard of that rule?"

"Of course you haven't, you're too undeniably stupid to figure it out by yourself" Bevin opened her mouth in hurt. Theresa became too distracted to notice.

"Brooke, Peyton you made it" Haley said from the kitchen. Theresa and Bevin watched from outside the doorway.

"Wow, they're really pretty" Theresa glared at Bevin "Oh my god! Check out Lucas checking out the brunette one!"

Theresa huffed "Please, he is doing no such thing"

"I don't know" Bevin said "I may be stupid but I'm not dumb. I can smell eye fucking a mile away"

"Bev, you realize you are making no sense what's so ever?" Theresa stated.

"Sorry what?"

"Ugh! Come on" Theresa led the two man crew into the kitchen which she found occupied by Lucas, Nathan, Jake, Haley as well as the two newcomers.

"Well well, it's the birthday boys" The group looked towards Tree Hill High's cheer leading captain.

"Theresa" Lucas eyed her up "I don't suppose you happen to have my birthday present?"

"Aha but I think I'll give it to you later" she lent down to whisper in his ear "After all, you're looking at it"

Haley cleared her throat "Uh Theresa, Bevin, these are my sisters Brooke and Peyton" Theresa mastered up the fakest smile she could.

"So I've heard. Welcome to Tree Hill" Peyton offered a strained smile. Brooke simply nodded at the brunette who she remembered was glaring at her yesterday.

"What brings you guys down here?" Everyone stared at Bevin. Brooke and Peyton couldn't help but smirk to themselves. Ugh, way to kill the mood Bev Theresa thought. She instantly looked around for a distraction, finding it she smiled.

"Hey Vegas" Vegas walked over.

"Hey guys. What's up birthday boys"

"Sup Vegas" Nathan shook his good friends hand.

"Hey Blondie and firecracker" Brooke frowned "I saw your little performance yesterday. Gotta say I'm impressed"

"Uh thanks" Brooke said. Vegas winked at her.

"So" he brought his attention away from the sexy brunette and back towards the whole group "Why does it feel like everyone's pouting about?" Theresa instantly got an idea.

"Maybe we should play a game, get everyone's spirits up" she smirked "How does 'I never' sound?"

Vegas nodded "That sounds perfect. Who's in?" Everyone nodded. Peyton and Haley took a second longer than the others.

"Great! I'll go first" Bevin said "Hm…I have never had sex with anything made out of plastic" she looked towards Theresa; the cheer leading captain seemed to have done everything. However it was Brooke that took a drink.

"Next" she said before anyone could ask questions.

"I guess I'll go" Jake spoke up "Uh I have never had sex in public" Everyone but Peyton and Haley drank.

"I have never been a cheerleader" Haley said lamely. Brooke, Bevin and Theresa drank.

"Cheerleader huh?" Theresa directed at Brooke.

"She happens to be a captain" Nathan said, smirking at Brooke. Haley took a drink.

"You don't say" Theresa added, sending invisible daggers at the better looking brunette.

"Guess it's my turn" Lucas stepped in "I have never gotten a boner over a teacher" Nathan and Vegan drank.

"You suck" Nathan said.

"Oh my god, which teacher?" Haley asked.

"Miss Miller" Nathan replied. Everyone nodded, understandable.

"Mrs Humphrey"

"Ew Vegas the cafeteria lady!" Theresa exclaimed.

"Hey, Doloris is a beautiful woman"

"If she is a woman" Jake said under his breath,

"Whatever, your turn Vegas" Theresa said.

The gawky boy thought for a second "I have never slept with anyone the same sex as me"

"Sure about that?" Theresa teased. Reluctantly Peyton took a drink.

"Wow, really?" Nathan looked at her half shock half amazement. Every boy in the group seemed to have the same expression on their face. Even Brooke couldn't help but be surprised. As the notorious party girl she had kissed heaps of girls, even taken it to second base a few times. But she could never imagine herself actually having sex with another girl.

"It was with a friend. She wanted to know what it was like so I volunteered" Peyton said briefly. The guys couldn't help but want to hear more.

"My kind of girl" Vegas said. Nathan, Lucas and Jake nodded. Theresa couldn't help but feel angered towards the attention directed at the blonde "Whose next?"

"I'll go" Theresa quickly replied "Let's see…I have never had parents that wished I was just a stain on the bed sheets"

"Theresa" Lucas began.

"Drink up Blondie" Theresa smirked at Peyton. Peyton told herself not to smack the bitch over. She knew she could, she had gotten in her good amount of cat fights. Maybe this is what kept her from hitting the bitch. It seemed too easy.

Peyton looked at her cup "Unfortunately it's empty. I need a refill"

"Peyton" Brooke called as her sister walked away.

"I got her" Jake said. Brooke nodded and brought her attention back to the brunette headed bitch across from her. She found it amazing how she had only been in this town for a day and she already hated someone with an up-most passion.

"Brooke, where are you going?" Haley asked as Brooke simply turned and began walking to the back door leading to the beach.

"Outside. It reeks of bitch in here"

Haley sighed as she began to go after her sister. Nathan however held her back "Just let her cool off" he said gently.

"I can't"

"Haley, seriously she looks like she needs it, come on" He motioned for her to follow him. Haley thought for a second then gave in. This left only four occupants in the now dead quiet kitchen.

"So" Theresa turned to Lucas, breaking the silence "You ready for you birthday present?"

Lucas shook his head "Games are getting old Theresa"

Theresa threw an arm over the blue eyed god "I thought you liked a feisty brunette"

"Get off me" The cheer captain stood shocked as he walked away from her, and after the other brunette. This had never happened before. She had to restrain herself from getting embarrassed. That would only make her look like more of an idiot. And Theresa always made sure she looked the up-most opposite of that.

"He'll be back" she said as confidently as she could to Bevin and Vegas. They both offered awkward smiles not looking so sure.

...

"Hey I've been looking for you everywhere" Jake said as he sat down on the love seat Peyton was already acquainted with.

"Well I've been here" was all she replied as she took a big gulp of her drink. Jake watched her carefully. He found it funny that he had only known her for a day yet he can already read her so easily.

"Look about what Theresa said-"

"I don't care what she does" Jake didn't believe her for a second. The way she avoided staring at him, the way she avoids staring at anyone. He wondered if it were because she doesn't want anyone to see the sadness in her eyes. The deep and dark sorrow he notices when he stares into her beautiful green pair.

"Good you shouldn't, she's a bitch" Peyton didn't say anything "And you know, she just tries to get to people when she feels intimidated" Jake continued.

"So she's pretty much like every other high school girl?" Jake chuckled.

"Pretty much. You're not like that though" Peyton turned causing Jake to catch her eyes for the first time tonight. He tried not to compare them to Haley's because truth be told; he didn't know which ones he liked more.

"Well I had to grow up fast" Peyton cleared, moving her gaze back to the ocean.

"Right no mom" Jake whispered.

"No dad either" Jake frowned "Larry leaves a lot on business. I go with him when I can but you know there's always school to consider"

"So who takes care of you when your fathers away?" Jake asked.

"No one" Peyton shrugged then took another gulp of her drink.

"Wow, you must be one tough chick"

"I try to be. But I miss him when he's not around" Peyton confessed.

"Have you ever told him that?"

Peyton shook her head "He likes his job, it pays good money and I guess he likes coming home and spoiling me" Jake watched as Peyton smiled slightly "Sometimes he comes home with so much stuff you'd think he'd shopped for three people" The teenage father smirked to himself. He wondered if Peyton had caught on to that last line like he had.

"You know, he hasn't called Haley about Karen"

"He's stuck in Thailand at the moment. He wanted to come but he couldn't make it back in time"

"Well that explains why he's not here. It doesn't explain why he hasn't called" Peyton's expression softened and her shoulders dropped. She loved her father. He had tried his best to take care of her over the years. This is why she prevented herself from feeling any sort of disappointment towards him. She told herself he didn't deserve that. Even if he had cheated on his wife with her own sister, began leaving Peyton alone at the age of 14 and not tried harder to make it to his now ex-wife's funeral. Still, she let these thoughts pass. After all he had taken her in even though they're actually not related and the blonde knows she hasn't been the best child ever. Especially lately. If she was being honest Peyton knew she didn't deserve Larry or Karen.

"So where's Jenny" Peyton asked wanting to change the subject and genuinely interested.

"With my parents" Jake replied easily.

"It must be nice having all these people to help you out" Peyton watched Jake's face light up. She couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous.

"It is. Especially when Jenny loves them so much" Jake paused to laugh for a second. If it were even possible Peyton swore his face lit up even more "You should see her with Haley"

"They really close?" she asked even though she already knew the answer.

"Yeah, too close. Whenever they're together they always gang up on me. Those two are trouble" Peyton nodded.

"I can imagine. When I was little Brooke and Haley would always gang up on me. It's probably why I have such a back bone"

"Hm, Haley always said you and Brooke were closer" Peyton shrugged.

"I mean we all had our moments. Brooke and I just share this bond I guess. We're just so different that we never get bored with one another, opposites attract I guess. Then there's Haley and I. We both had the same passions growing up. We were interested in art and music. We would always put on these plays and performance, Brooke would always get so jealous" Peyton laughed to herself. Jake couldn't help but laugh too. He could easily imagine the three girls when they were younger.

"What about Haley and Brooke?"

Peyton huffed "Those two were little minxes when they were together. They always got into the biggest fights I swear" Peyton brought her green eyes back to Jake. He smiled seeing no tinges of gold indicating she was upset. "But um-they had a certain protectiveness over each other, they always had one another's backs"

"Sounds like the perfect family"

"Far from it" Peyton laughed sarcastically "We couldn't even survive a divorce" Jake mentally slapped himself. He stared into the blonde goddess's deep green eyes. Gold flakes. They were like the left overs of a shattered mirror. He wondered how that mirror had become so broken in the first place. He knew the options of course; the results of her parents' divorce had caused her family to separate, an in-depth feeling of being unwanted, a realization that life is more lonelier and sinister than someone could imagine as a young girl.

Staring into Peyton's pain filled eyes Jake almost wished she hadn't been adopted by the Roe family. Maybe then she wouldn't look so broken.

Then again all three girls looked broken.

"Wow, if you didn't know they were best friends you'd think they were a couple" Jake noticed Peyton's eyes gazing not at him, but behind him. He turned around and looked through one of the bedroom windows to find Nathan and Haley locked in a comfortable embrace.

"We're all just friends" He said more to himself than to Peyton.

"Right" Peyton replied not looking so sure. Looking back at his two best friends Jake found himself not looking to sure either.

"You want to get out of here?" Peyton looked at him in surprise.

"Won't Nathan and Lucas be upset with you?" the blonde beauty asked. Jake forced himself not to turn around.

"I'm sure they're survive" was all he said. Peyton considered his offer for a few seconds even though she already knew her answer. An argument, a bitch and an insult. Not her best party ever.

"Okay" Peyton spoke "Let's go"

...

Brooke shivered as she wrapped her arms around her barely covered torso. She cursed herself for being so stubborn. Of course she would choose to find solace on the beach in the middle of spring. And of course she would be too stubborn to get up and go back inside where there's warmth and the comfort of 'friendly faces'.

Brooke laughed softly, Bitches she thought. One day in tree hill and she had already encountered someone the equivalent of a high school drama queen. Brooke supposed people assumed the same about her however. She wouldn't be surprised. With her high superiority she at least expected people to think of her as a slut, bitch, druggie, cheater etc. Sure at one point in her life most of these things had been true. Brooke Davis once dwelled in the absentee of self-respect, resulting to alcohol, sex and parties.

But things had begun to change, even long before her mother's death. She had become more closed off to people, more structured and territorial. More…strong. She told herself she had to be, for Rachel's sake and for her own. She told herself that only for a little while longer would she have to take her cousin's mistakes then she could try again to be the fun loving girl that everyone loved. Well, mainly everyone.

Just exclude her family, especially her dead mother.

It's funny, even in her death Brooke was sure her mother still felt exactly the same about her second child as she had since that fateful day almost ten years ago.

The brunette beauty knew she only gave Nathan the vague version of what really went down. But you don't exactly tell a stranger that in actual things didn't work so smoothly. There were fights, a lot of tears, disagreements, words that shouldn't have been said. Brooke Davis at eight years old was the victim to all of these. But then again it was harder for her.

Haley chose their mom. Peyton chose their dad. And if Brooke was being honest with herself she knew she could never choose between the two. Her sisters were her anchor, her life support, and her best friends. At least they use to be.

So she chose neither of them. She would rather be without both of her sisters then to let one of them down to be with the other. Of course when she told Karen she wanted to live with her 'backstabbing two faced bitch sister' her request had instantly been rejected. In fact it wasn't till after a month of many heated arguments, and meaningless 'I hate yours' did Karen Roe finally give in. And after that they never spoke again. Brooke ignored every phone call or letter that came. If she had reacted to them, then she knew she would have instantly cried for her mother to come and get her.

In the end Brooke didn't blame her mother for giving up eventually. The only person she blamed was herself. She let her mother die thinking she hated her.

Brooke took a deep breath to stop herself from crying. She felt she didn't deserve to cry.

"Is this beach taken?"

"There's plenty to go around" Lucas Scott nodded, even though the enticing brunette wasn't looking at him. Her gaze remained on the dark serene waves, as they had since she had first come outside. That was five minutes ago. Lucas had become lost in her broken look that he had barely noticed.

"Listen…" Lucas said gently "I'm sorry about your mom. She was amazing; I wish you had gotten to know her more"

"We can't always get what we wish for right?" the brunette beauty replied in a casual tone. A tone that made Lucas think this statement hurt her more than she let on.

"I suppose. Anyway, you must really love Tree Hill. Plenty of funerals to go to, wonderful people to meet" Brooke offered a dimpled smile.

"It's definitely something" she said.

"Not your type of thing?" Brooke shook her head. "What is then?" Lucas asked staring deeply into the brunettes intense hazel eyes. A few seconds later it seemed a switch went off in the bombshells head. Her fragile frame changed in the blink of an eye.

"Sleeping with boys" Brooke smirked. Lucas coughed a little bit.

"Oh really?" he asked, playing it cool.

"Yeah, see any around?" the brunette retorted. Lucas let out a soft chuckle.

"You're funny"

"You're nervous" Brooke watched as Lucas swallowed.

"Am not"

"Sure you are, it's kind of cute actually" Lucas had to look away from the brunette. He felt that if he held her beautiful hazel eyes for a second longer then he would instantly be compelled to give in to her.

"Do I make you nervous" Brooke smirked. Lucas's gaze remained on the ocean. It still didn't stop the sparks of electricity he could feel from being so close to her. The blonde haired god smiled to himself. The beautiful girl sitting next to him was change of pace, a new conquest, a challenge. And Lucas Scott never lost a challenge.

"Is that how you do it?" the basketball player asked.

"I haven't done anything…yet" Brooke replied flirtatiously. Lucas forced himself to look back at the enticing brunette.

"What I meant; is that how you make yourself feel better? Flirt the pain away" Brooke found herself completely caught off guard.

"Excuse me?" she asked, still not entirely believing what she just heard.

"You don't have to act like this you know. You should let people see the real you"

"Whoa hold up" Brooke stood up and placed her hands on her hips "First of all you don't know me. Second of all you don't know me" Lucas shrugged.

"Maybe so, but I'd like to" he said, his words being absolutely true. He couldn't help but be intrigued by the brunette. And this wasn't just because he wants to sleep with her. Hell he had about a dozen girls back at the beach house that were just waiting to please the birthday boy.

"Well" Brooke began "then it sucks for you don't it"

"Not really" Lucas replied. Brooke shot him glare "You're leaving soon and I just thought you'd like someone to pass the time with"

"Oh and that someone would be you?" Lucas shrugged "Please I could get any guy I want here"

"True, but I'm sure practically all of them aren't looking for a conversation with you" Brooke simply stared at the blue eyed god as he picked himself up off the sand "But by all means go ahead. I mean it's not like we're going to be some epic love story"

"What you can see into the future now?"

"You just don't seem like that kind of girl" Brooke hated that she was intrigued by her sisters best friend.

"And what kind of girl is that?" she found herself asking.

"The kind of girl that follows her head and her heart, not her instincts"

"I follow both of those things thank you very much"

'Prove it" Lucas held Brooked gaze dead on. Blue eyes boring into a hazel green and vice versa. When she blinked Lucas shook his head and moved past her. As he did the soft hairs on his arms skimmed her pristine skin causing Brooke to shiver. She thought for a few seconds. If she's being completely honest, her instincts were telling her to walk away, go back to the party, find a guy and rub it in Lucas Scott's face. But that would just mean he's right. And Brooke found that worse.

"Wait" she called and turned around "Fine. Let's go and have a jolly good conversation" she said sarcastically. "It's not like I have anything better to do anyway"

Lucas Scott smiled at the sexy brunette. For a moment there he thought she would ignore his request. For moment his heart and ego shrank a little bit. Now he could feel both racing at full speed. Normally this only happened after he had a good fuck.

"Well are you just going to stand there and stare at me all night" Lucas laughed. He didn't tell her that he possibly could do it. Instead he motioned for her to follow him. He smiled as they walked back to the house with heaps of girls willing to offer him birthday sex, the best kind. He found it funny that he is turning that down just to talk to someone. But Brooke Gatina seemed worth it.

...

"You have got to stop doing this" Haley watched Nathan as he shut the bedroom door.

"Doing what?" the raven haired boy asked taking a seat on the bed next to his best friend.

"Leaving your parties so you can baby sit me for the rest of the night" the auburn haired beauty stated. Nathan smirked.

"Technically we're still at the party, we're just not at the party…if that makes sense" Haley laughed.

"It doesn't but I get you"

"You always get me Haley Roe" Nathan wrapped a comforting arm around his best friend. Haley tried to stop the butterflies.

"So, how does it feel being 18?" she managed to speak.

"It feels like-" Haley prepared herself for a smart ass answer "It feels like life's going to begin soon. And I can't stop it" the sixteen year old watched a troubled expression cross her best friends face. She had the instinct to comfort him.

Patting the blue eyed boy on the back Haley spoke; "Maybe not, but you have three months to figure everything out"

"Three months. That's not nearly as long enough" Haley found herself nodding at her best friends words. Three months is too soon. It's not enough time to recover from her mother's death, fix things with her sisters, and spend enough time with Lucas, Jake and Jenny. More importantly it's not enough time to tell Nathan how she feels.

"Yeah. It's not" Nathan caught the sadness in Haley's voice.

"We're still going to be here for you, you know" he reassured "Even though Lucas, Jake and I are going to college soon it doesn't mean we're going to forget you"

"Sometimes it feels like you will" Haley let out. Nathan had to fight the urge to knock some sense into the girl. He wondered how she could even think something like that. The thought astounded Nathan. He could never forget his best friend, not in a million years.

"How could I ever forget you Haley Roe? You're my best friend, and you always will be" Haley smiled as she lent her head on Nathans shoulder, dwelling in his strong embrace.

"Promise?' she asked.

"Promise" he confirmed.

Haley smiled to herself. For a second she felt guilty. With everything going on she didn't think she deserved to smile.

"What's on your mind Hales?"

"Peyton" the brown eyed beauty replied "I hope she's okay"

"I'm sure she's fine" Haley tried to believe Nathans words but something was telling her that her sister is definitely not fine.

"They seem pretty cool, you're sisters"

"Mhmm" was all Haley said. After all she wouldn't know.

"What's the mhmm for?" Nathan mocked. Haley shrugged under Nathans arm.

"They just don't really open up I guess" she responded.

"Yeah" Nathan nodded earning a look "When I was with Brooke she seemed really closed off. It kind of makes me want to get to know her more you know" Haley inhaled a sharp breath. She tried not to feel hurt by this statement. "But that probably won't happen considering she's leaving soon"

"Yeah both of them" Haley added not knowing whether she was relieved or disappointed.

"You're going to be okay Hales" Nathan smiled down at his friend. Haley found herself unable to return it.

"I know. I just wish people would stop leaving" she said a little too forceful. But she couldn't help it. She couldn't help but be upset and pissed off that all these great people in her life kept abandoning her: her sisters almost ten years ago, her mother five days ago and soon her best friends.

"Hey now don't cry" this made Haley cry even more.

"I'm sorry" she laughed "I can't help it"

"Haley-"

"I just- I miss her so much" Nathan wrapped both arms around his best friend "Every day I tell myself that I'm fine and that everything's going to be okay. But it doesn't feel like it Nathan. It doesn't feel like everything's going to be okay, not without my mom" Nathan tried his hardest to be strong for Haley as she bared her heart "Where is she Nathan?" the auburn haired girl sobbed even harder "Where is she?" Nathan didn't say anything as he continued to hold his best friend. The pair stayed like that, locked in a comfortable embrace. After what felt like forever Haley lent out of Nathans toned arms.

"I feel like I'm being selfish to her memory" she said looking her best friend straight in the eye "Like I'm already moving on when I shouldn't be. I mean it hasn't even been a week!"

"Haley, you know more than anyone that that is exactly what your mother would want you to do. She would want you to move on because that is just the kind of person she is. Selfless, just like her beautiful daughter" Nathan breathed in relief when Haley offered a tender smile.

"I love you Nathan" she blurted out then mentally slapped herself.

"I love you too Hales" Haley looked at Nathan in surprise. That faltered however when she noted Nathans expression. His genuine smile was not like the one he offered a long term girlfriend. His smile was the one reserved only for his best friend. The one she was more than familiar with, the one that read "I love you like a sister".

"How about I pop a movie in and we just hang out for the rest of the night?" Nathan asked.

Haley forced a smile "That sounds perfect"

Nathan stood up and moved towards the TV "What will it be?" he asked.

"Uh, sweet sixteen"

"You're lucky I keep a copy in every room" Haley laughed softly as Nathan put her favorite movie in and lied back on the bed with her. He placed his arm back around his best friends shoulder. Haley watched Nathan as the movie began. She hated the serene expression on his face. It contrasted with her troubled one. It meat he wasn't feeling what Haley was feeling.

"Now do I need to remind you what will happen if you tell anyone I've seen this movie eleven times?" Haley smiled and shook her head. She placed her head on Nathans chest as he pushed play. She barely paid attention to the movie. All she could concentrate on was Nathans steady heartbeat.

...

Sorry for the long update, I have been meaning to get this up for a while now but simply haven't found the time. But I figured you guys deserved an update so a lot of the writing may seem sloppy or rushed. For that I apologize.

Here's a sneak peak for what's next;

1- Meeting with Karen's Lawyers.

2- A fight between the sisters.

3- Aftermath of the girl's night with the guys.