Disclaimer: I do not own anything from OTH...though I wish I did LOL

A/N Hey guys, I am so sorry for the wait, I had some writers block and couldn't log into Fanfic for some reason. Thank you so much for all the review I love you guys for all the great things you say. Love, forever and always. I hope you like this chapter.

Peyton walked into the Café with a smile plastered on her face, Haley raised an eyebrow when she saw the smile.

"Wow, someone got laid last night" Peyton smacked Haley's arm playfully.

"Not yet, maybe later tonight when I pick my girl up" They both let out a chuckle.

"Then what's with the big smile?" Haley leaned on the counter, Peyton mocked her position.

"Brooke and I aren't enemies anymore" Peyton answered in a whisper.

"So you guys are friends?" Haley's voiced laced with excitement.

"No, but we're not fighting anymore, which is fine with me. All good things take time" Haley nodded in agreement.

"Good for you guys" Silence took over a second, before Haley continued. "So, Rachel's your girl now?"

"Yeah" Peyton answered with a laugh. "We made it official today, she's my girlfriend and it feels good to say it"

"You're happy right?" Peyton nodded. "Are you over Brooke?"

"Sometimes I think I am, when I'm with Rachel and it feels right and it feels good; at that moment I find myself thinking that there can't be anything better than that moment. Then I see Brooke and I think that I will never be able to fully get over her, a part of me is always going to love her. The thing is, I like what I have with Rachel, and she makes me smile and wake up with a smile on my face. I don't want to ruin that" Haley nodded in understanding.

-
Rachel had just stepped out of the mall and was walking home. While she was walking she ran into Lucas.

"Hey jackass" Rachel said as she walked past him.

"Hey bitch, where's your girlfriend?" Rachel stopped and turned back around to face him.

"Probably waiting for me in her room, on her bed" Rachel let out a laugh at the look that ran over Lucas' face. "Where's yours? Oh wait that's right, you cheated on your girlfriend with her best friend but she never really wanted you, did she?" Rachel laughed in his face before she turned around again.

"Hey, don't be a bitch!" Lucas yelled to Rachel's retreating form.

"I'm not the one that's being a bitch" Rachel yelled over her shoulder.

-
Peyton had just stepped out of her car and made her way over to her front door, as she stood in front of her door she started to dig into her purse for her keys. Peyton jumped when she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist, she quickly relaxed when she felt familiar lips press a kiss to her neck.

"Jesus Christ Rachel, you scared the hell out of me" Peyton shivered when she felt Rachel's breath as she laughed.

"Sorry babe" Rachel pulled away from Peyton so they could walk into the house.

"What are you doing here? I thought I was picking you up later tonight" Peyton turned to close the door before turning back to face Rachel.

"You were, but I was thinking that instead we could stay in your room" Rachel walked closer to Peyton and placed her hands on Peyton's hips. "And get to know each other a little better"

"And by that you mean…?" Rachel gave Peyton a sly smile.

"Well verbally, emotionally and physically" Rachel ran her hand down Peyton's leg before running it back up and around Peyton, she landed on Peyton's ass and squeezed her ass.

"I like that idea" Peyton whispered as she started to pull Rachel towards the stairs. "Let's start with the physical part"

-
Brooke was sitting on the beach, just watching the water.

"Hey Brooke" Brooke looked to her left and smiled at Nathan.

"Hey Nathan" They smiled at each other.

"Is this spot taken?" Nathan pointed to the spot beside Brooke.

"No, it's all yours if you want it" Nathan nodded and sat down beside her.

"So, I just came from the Café and Haley told me that you and Peyton are good again" Brooke nodded at him with a smile.

"Yeah, we're not friends yet, but it's a start right?" Nathan nodded. "How are things with you and Tutor girl?" Nathan let out a laugh before answering.

"Things are great, I've never felt like this before and I know that sounds cheesy but it's the truth. Before I met Haley I never thought love like this actually existed" Brooke smiled at the love in Nathan's eyes. "She's the one for me and I know it, do you know what I mean?"

"Yeah, I used to feel like that with Lucas" Brooke paused before she continued. "I think if Peyton and I were together, I would feel the same way. I'm too late, aren't I Nathan?"

"It's never too late for anything" Brooke gave him a skeptical look. "She's with Rachel and she's happy"

"So, I'm too late, just say it Nathan" Brooke said with a laugh.

"I'm not going to say that, there's no timing for love Brooke, you just have to make the move and if you fail at least you can say you tried" Brooke shook her head.

"I'm not going to ruin the happiness she has with Rachel just for my own" Brooke shifted so that she was leaning back on her elbows.

"Good, because if you did I would be pretty pissed at you, that still doesn't mean that you have to give up" Nathan placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Thanks Nate, it's funny I think you and I are closer now than when you were dating Peyton" Nathan nodded with a smile.

"I'm glad that we are though, you're a great person Brooke"

-
Lucas was playing basketball on the river court when he heard footsteps behind him, he looked over his shoulder to see Keith.

"Hey Keith" Lucas tucked the basketball under his arm and smiled t Keith.

"Hey Luke…Look, uh….I want to talk to you about something's" Lucas nodded as they both made their way to the belchers and sat down. "Your mom and I have noticed that you haven't been yourself lately, what's going through your head Luke"

"Nothing" Keith gave him a look and Lucas sighed before continuing. "Look, it's just some stupid teenage stuff that you and mom don't need to worry about"

"Well, we are worried, so talk to me Luke" Keith pressed him.

"I don't want to talk about it Keith" Lucas moved to get up, but Keith forced him back down.

"Lucas, we just want to help you but you won't talk to your mom. Fine, so talk to me" Keith placed his hand on Lucas shrugged it off before jumping up from the bleacher.

"Look, you wouldn't be the same either if you realized that the girl you love was really into her best friend!" Lucas finally yelled.

"Peyton and Brooke" Lucas looked away and Keith had his answer. "You know, Haley is very close to me and your mom and she talks to us. Tell me you haven't done the things she told us you have"

"Depends what you've heard" Keith was slightly shocked at the smart ass answer and Lucas knew it. "Haley's changed since she's been with Nathan, how the hell would she know what's going on between us when she and I don't even hang out" Keith shook his head.

"This isn't about Haley, this is about you not being the man that your mom has raised you to be" Lucas rolled his eyes. "Lucas don't roll your eyes at me"

"Keith stop, you're not my father, stop trying to be" Lucas and Keith were both shocked at the words that left Lucas' mouth.

"You're right, I'm not your father but I'm the best you got, when you grow up come and talk to us because we'll always be here" Keith turned and walked off the river court.

-
Rachel and Peyton were sitting on Peyton's bed, with a bowl of popcorn in between them.

"Ok my turn, tell me about your parents" Rachel saw Peyton visibly stiffen at the question, before Rachel could retracted her question Peyton started to answer.

"My dad works on a ship so he's almost never home, but when he's home he is the greatest I love him so much. I really can wait for you to meet him, he is going to love you. My mom…my mom died when I was eight" Rachel heard the tightness in Peyton's voice and Rachel was quick to consol her.

"Peyton, if I had know I would have never asked, I am so sorry" Rachel moved the popcorn and put it on the table beside Peyton's bed, she moved closer to Peyton.

"If you never asked, you would have never known" Peyton turned to Rachel with tears in her eyes. "It was hard and I miss her, my dad didn't know how to help me get though it because he was hurting too. Then Brooke changed my world, all she did was stand by me every day and everyday suddenly became easier"

"Peyton, I need to ask you a question and I know it's going to sound selfish after what I just asked, but are you over her?" Peyton hesitated and didn't answer right away, that was all Rachel needed. "Do you still love her?"

"Rachel…" Peyton trailed off not sure how to completely answer.

"You do, don't you?" Rachel started to get up from the bed, but Peyton kept her on the bed.

"Rachel stop, it's going to take me time to get over her okay? But, I don't want to be with her, I want you Rachel" Peyton leaned in and placed her forehead against Rachel's. "Okay?"

"Okay, I…I just don't want to be the girl you settle for" Rachel pulled away a bit, so she could look into Peyton's eyes.

"You aren't the girl I settled for, when we started this you might have been, but then I realized how much I want to be with you" Peyton slightly jumped, when Rachel jumped out of the bed.

"What did you just say?" Rachel hissed the words.

"What?" Peyton didn't understand what just happened.

"I was the girl you settled for when we started?" Peyton screwed her eyes shut when she realized what slipped out.

"Rachel, I didn't mean-" Rachel cut her off.

"Didn't mean for me to find out? Why the hell did you get with me Peyton?" Rachel's voice started to rise.

"Rachel we don't have to do this, it's in the past" Peyton stood up and made her way over to Rachel.

"No, we're going to do this…Oh my God, was I your replacement for Brooke?" The realization hit Rachel's face.

"No…I don't know, Rachel I was in a bad place when you walked into my life and it just felt good to be wanted. It felt good to show Brooke that I could be happy with someone else" Rachel let out a scoff.

"So, not only did you settle for me, you also used to me to make Brooke jealous" Peyton immediately started shaking her head.

"I didn't mean for it to sound like that, Rachel I'm sorry." Rachel shook her head and started to walk out of the room, Peyton was quick to stop her. "No Rachel, please don't leave like this" Peyton grabbed her wrist, Rachel tugged her wrist away.

"I just can't be around you right now" Rachel turned and walked out of the room.

Peyton leaned against the wall, when she heard the house door shut; she slid down the wall and started to break down. How could she have been so stupid? She might have just ruined the best thing that happened to her in a long time. Peyton buried her face in her arms, as the sobs broke out of her chest.

"Peyton, what's wrong?" Peyton looked up and saw Brooke standing in her doorway.

"I think Rachel might leave me" Peyton put her head back into her arms.

Peyton lifted her head again when she felt an arm wrap around her shoulder, she looked at Brooke for a second before she placed her head on Brooke's shoulder and continued to break down. Brooke simply ran her hand up and down Peyton's arm.