Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Tree Hill, if I did there would have never been a Layton :( ew
A/N: Hey guys, here's the next chapter I am so sorry about the wait. I had a stupid case of writers block but I'm good now so lets hope that never happens again. Thanks so much for the reviews, I really love the feedback it really helps me with my writing knowing that you guys like the story. I really hope you guys like this chapter and I hope it was worth the wait. Love forever and always.
A few days after the 'incident' as Lucas and Nathan liked to call it, the two Scott boys and Haley were sitting in their kitchen talking it over.
"Did you know that Lindsay is actually scared to invite them to the wedding?" Lucas took a sip of his coffee.
"I don't blame her, after what happened at dinner I don't blame her. Anything can happen between the two, they set each other off" Haley said as she mixed her own coffee.
"Keeping them away from each other clearly didn't work, how the hell are we supposed to prevent that from happening again?" Nathan raised an eyebrow at the other two.
"We can't, they're just out to get each other" Lucas said with a shrug. "Whatever happened between them in New York was bad enough for them to be like this with each other"
"Did they ever tell you what happened when they broke up?" Lucas shook his head.
"Just bits and parts, nothing in depth" Lucas paused to take a sip of his coffee before continuing. "Did they talk to you guys?"
"Well Brooke's talked to us, Peyton hasn't. Brooke told us bits and parts too, but from we understand they were both to blame for the break up" Nathan nodded at his brother.
"I'm gonna get her to talk" The boys looked at her with a raised eyebrow as she looked down at her watch. "She's coming by soon to hang out with Jamie and me at the park and when she does I'm going to get her to talk. That girl holds way to much in"
-
Later that day Lucas made his way to Brooke's store, Brooke gave him an unsure smile when he walked into the store.
"Hey" She said softly, Lucas walked up to the counter and finally gave her a small smirk.
"Hi" His voice just as soft.
Since the 'incident' no one had talked to Brooke or Peyton, the girls weren't sure how everyone felt about what happened. So when Brooke saw Lucas walk in and couldn't read his expression, she really thought he was going to snap.
"How are you doing?" No matter how physically damaged Lucas' heart is, it's still a good heart. Brooke snapped at his dinner on his night, but he still cared about how she was feeling. Lucas Scott is a good man.
"I'm fine" She said with a shrug, he gave her a look that said 'Yeah right'. "I'm hanging in there Luke"
"What happened in New York Brooke?" Lucas asked as he leaned on the counter.
"It's too much to talk about" Once again Lucas threw her the look. "It really is and I really don't want to talk about it. It's in the past and I don't want to think about it anymore" Lucas let out a sigh.
"Brooke, it may be in the past, but you are not over it. That's why it affects you as much as it does or maybe it's because you still love her" Brooke head snapped up and she quickly shook it.
"Trust me Lucas, I don't love her anymore" Brooke said as she looked away from Lucas again.
"Who are you trying to convince, me or you?" Brooke remained silent, unsure how to answer.
I don't love her, I'm over her...Then why does it still affect me? It has to be because of how we ended, but I don't love her...right?
Brooke thought to herself, till Lucas' voice broke her out of her trance.
"Maybe you should talk things out with her" Brooke looked at him again with a frown.
"What? No, what the hell will that solve?" Brooke raised an eyebrow at him.
"It might stop you too from snapping at each other the way you do" Lucas answered with a shrug.
"How Lucas? If we talk, it's only going to end in an argument and you know it. This is just how it's going to be between us" Lucas let out a humourless laugh and shook his head.
"Well you two better find a way to get on an even page, because Lindsay is scared of inviting you two to the wedding" Brooke looked at him in shock. "And if this crap between you two doesn't stop when you're at least with the group, then I'm going to agree with her when she takes you off the list" Lucas stopped to take a calming breath. "I love you and I love Peyton but I don't want her to have to deal with this at our wedding, she shouldn't have to and neither should I. So please figure something out because I want you there, but not like this" Lucas turned and walked out the door, leaving Brooke with his words.
"Well I didn't see that coming" Brooke mumbled into the empty store.
-
"James Lucas Scott, be careful on the swings!" Haley yelled from the bench, she turned her eyes back to Peyton as she shook her head. "That boy is way too much like his father and uncle sometimes"
"Yeah, it's still strange to me how much he looks like Lucas" Peyton moved her eyes from the young boy and turned to Haley with a playful glint in her eyes. "Did you do something with Lucas in high school that you never told anyone?" Haley smacked her arm.
"Peyton, trust me in Tree Hill that would be a secret that I could not keep hidden" Peyton gave her a shrug and nodded to the young Scott.
"Well it's being voice right now" That earned her another smack, this one harder than the last. "I'm kidding Haley"
"Not funny Sawyer" Haley said with a small chuckle. "So how are you holding up since the dinner?" Peyton shrugged slightly.
"I'm holding, it was just so stupid and pointless. I knew it was going to happen, I just shouldn't have gone" Haley shook her head.
"I'm sure Lucas and Lindsay are glad that you were there" Peyton threw Haley a sceptical look. "Okay, I'm sure they would have been more glad if you guys didn't explode on each other, but still they were glad"
"I was trying to keep my head you know? I really was, until she made that comment about my mom. That was...That wasn't something I was expecting from her" Haley gave her a small nod.
"What happened Peyton?" Peyton gave her a confused look. "When you guys broke up, I remember you guys being so in love when you left Tree Hill"
"Yeah, things changed" Haley let out a sigh; she knew it was going to be hard to get Peyton to talk but she wasn't going to give up.
"What changed?" Haley asked softly.
"Hasn't Brooke talked to you about all of this?" Peyton's voice held frustration.
"Just bits and parts, differences came between you two and you took off to LA" Peyton let out a scoff.
"She said I chose LA over her?" Haley slightly shook her head.
"No, she said differences came up. Peyton, did you chose LA over her?" Haley asked slightly shocked.
"No, it was more her choosing her job over our relationship" Haley smiled inwardly; finally she got this girl talking. "Did you know the night we broke up that she left in the middle of our fight to go to some fucking red carpet event" Peyton said with a shake of her head.
"Wow..." Haley trailed off.
"Yeah, she didn't even try to fight for us" Haley turned her eyes to Peyton, thinking over what she was about to say. Haley let out a breath before asking it.
"Did you?" Peyton sharply turned her head to Haley.
"Excuse me?" The fire in Peyton's eyes scared Haley a little bit, but she made sure not to show it.
"She left for a red carpet event, and I'm not condoning what she did, but you took off to LA. You didn't exactly stay back to work it out either" Peyton shook her head in disbelief at Haley.
"I left after she did; she took off in the middle of our fight. I could have taken the job before I talked to her about it, I gave her a chance to give me a reason to stay" Peyton could feel her tears build just talking about that night. "And she still, she still, chose her company over me"
"Of course she did" Haley said softly. "You backed her into a corner, you know how she gets. This is Brooke we're talking about, she's hot headed, and she's defensive. If you back her into a corner she's going to defend herself. You of all people should know that" Peyton stood up from the seat.
"I gotta go, I can't talk about this. Tell Jamie I said bye" Peyton turned to leave, only to feel a hand on her wrist.
"I'm not taking her side Peyton, but you need to know that she's not the only one in the wrong. She never said you were the only one to blame; she admits that she made a mistake...Maybe you did too" Peyton pulled her hand away from Haley's hand.
They locked eyes for a second before Peyton walked away once again.
-
Brooke had just finished locking up COB, the whole day Lucas' words were running through her mind. He was right, the two of them needed to get on the same page...They needed to get along when they were all together, no one needed to hear their bitching. So, she sat down in her car not believing that she was actually going to go and talk to her. Brooke pulled out her cell and called Haley to find out where she was staying.
"Hales...Where is she staying?" Brooke leaned back in her seat and ran a hand through her hair.
"Are you actually going to talk to her?" Shock was evident in Haley's voice.
"I'm going to attempt to" Brooke said as she started her car.
"She's staying at your old apartment" Brooke was sure she could hear the smile in Haley's voice.
"Of course she is" Brooke mumbled, before Haley could say anything Brooke thanked her and hung up.
Brooke let out a breath before driving to their old apartment, the whole time thinking about what to say to Peyton.
When she got to the apartment she couldn't help the memory that invaded her mind.
4 years ago
Peyton and Brooke were looking for places to live after being attacked by Psycho Derek, they didn't feel safe in Peyton's house anymore and Brooke wanted nothing more than to make her feel safe. Every night Peyton would have a nightmare Brooke would cry herself to sleep, she wanted to help Peyton but there was nothing she could do except hold her and that only did so much. One night Brooke had been late when coming home and when she went to the bedroom she found Peyton curled up in a ball on her bed crying, that was the same night that Brooke said they were moving out.
They started to spend the days at Peyton's house and the nights at Lucas' while they looked for somewhere else to stay. One night Haley and Nathan came to them and told them that they were moving out of the apartment and into Nathan's old house to have more space for the baby, they told the girls that the apartment was theirs if they wanted it.
"Brooke, am I ever going to get over this?" Peyton asked her one night after she got out of the shower.
"Over the attack?" Brooke asked and Peyton nodded. "Of course you are, Peyton it's going to take time and it's not going to be easy, but it will happen" Brooke rapped her arms around Peyton and held her close.
"I just hate being scared, it makes me feel so pathetic" Brooke pulled away from Peyton and made her look up at her.
"Listen to me, you are not pathetic, do you hear me?" Peyton looked away, but Brooke made forced her look back again. "We were attacked, that is not something anyone just expects you to get over"
"How come you're not affected Brooke?" Peyton asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Because I wasn't attacked twice...And I have you, that's all I need" Brooke put her forehead against Peyton's.
Peyton turned her head and captured Brooke's lips in a soft kiss.
"I love you" She whispered.
"I love you too, ready for bed?" Peyton nodded and moved to the head of the bed.
Brook moved beside her and wrapped her arms around Peyton. Tonight would be their first night in the apartment.
"You locked the door right?" Peyton asked before she closed her eyes.
"Yeah" Brooke answered before sleep took her over.
That was the first night since the attack that Peyton slept through the whole night.
Brooke let out a sigh before stepping out of her car, she slowly began to make her way to the apartment. When she was in front of the door she took a deep breath before knocking.
Here we go
She thought to herself.
She had to wait a few seconds before the door opened, they locked eyes. Brooke could see the shock in her eyes, silently asking 'Why the fuck are you here'.
"Hey" Brooke said softly.
"What do you want?" Peyton's voice was harsh.
"We need to talk" Peyton looked away from her before silently nodding and opening the door wider to let Brooke in.