- T e n -

Brooke woke earlier than she would on a typical Saturday morning. She was never one to sleep in for excessive amounts of time but with bright sunlight seeping through her window and the familiar body pressed against her own, she woke mildly confused with her current setting.

Her eyes flicked to the blonde mess of curls, which rested beside her. From first glance, Brooke could not help but notice the content expression portrayed on Peyton's features and wondered if it was due to the confession from last night or if it was merely another false bravado Peyton had mastered even in sleep.

Staring into her friend's face, while trying to suppress the thought of how creepy the act could be perceived as being, Brooke felt her anger resurface as yesterday's events replayed in her mind.

Peyton was taking cocaine.

Had been since she was almost sixteen.

That thought alone ignited her resentment, not just towards Peyton, but to the people who had been in the blonde's life priory to her. Surely someone must have cared enough to try and stop Peyton from taking the destructive path she had found herself on.

"I've never really had that. Not for a really long time anyway."

The younger teens words coursed through Brooke's head as she silently reasoned and debated her previous thought.

When in this state and as most minds do, Brooke slowly ventured off the beaten path and crept into unmarked and bypassed territory.

Despite her internal protests and her silent pleads to smoother herself in ignorance, she found her thoughts retreating to the haunting realization from the early hours of this morning.

Brooke kept her eyes fixed on Peyton's seemly peaceful face.

Love? she contemplated.

The pensive brunette was certain she loved the girl but whether she was in love, was the weight she felt hanging over her. Had she not noticed the jump in her heartbeat hours ago, Brooke was certain she would continue to live without a second thought to the matter. She would continue to be Brooke and Peyton would still just be her P Sawyer.

However, she was wondering if her sudden dislike of Lucas and anyone else who Peyton associated with was merely her protective best friend tendencies or if they held a deeper meaning.

Then there had been her reaction yesterday when she found out about Dev. Not too long ago she told Peyton to sleep with boy. But do my words have to be taken so literally? she questioned, disgusted at the idea.

Brooke was soon pulled from her comprehensive inner debate by the movement beside her. In spite of her fixed state on her friend's face, she had not noticed the flicker of awakening, which only confirmed she had zoned out for sometime.

The blonde twisted onto her stomach, while her arm fell ungracefully over Brooke's waist. With the sudden contact, Peyton turned her head to find the object she was currently resting on, while squinting against the new light.

"Morning." Peyton mumbled, her voice groggy with sleep as her head dropped back onto the soft pillow.

Brooke kept her eyes firmly on Peyton for a moment before disentangling herself from the warm sheets as well as removing her friend's arm, which she refused to acknowledge felt comfortable as it wrapped across her waist.

Without glancing back, she walked to her closet, intent on finding a distraction and as she was dressed in a tank top and a pair of short shorts, more clothing had been the first idea to enter her mind.

"Are you still mad at me?"

She heard the question float through from the other room, laced with general confusion as well as a little hesitance.

Brooke grabbed for the soft fabric of her robe and stepped purposefully back into her room, dressing as she went. "What made you think I would have stopped being mad?" she returned somewhat sharply.

"I…uh, well." Peyton stumbled, keeping her eyes on the bedspread as she leant back against the headboard. She was still dressed in her clothing from yesterday, since she had barely thought of borrowing anything before falling asleep.

"I meant what I said, Peyton." Brooke began, knowing the other girl was having some difficulty broaching the subject. "…but that doesn't mean I'm not pissed off."

"Okay." Peyton replied, nodding. She moved herself from the bed and grabbed for her shoes. "I'll, um…go."

"It also doesn't mean I want you running off every time something gets a little difficult." the brunette snapped, grateful when Peyton dropped her shoes to the floor with a thud.

The younger of the two let out a heavy, strained sigh while keeping her body turned away from Brooke. "God, what do you want from me?"

"Answers. I want to know why? You were doing cocaine, Peyton."

"I told you yesterday. It helps." she replied, finally standing to face a confused and angered Brooke.

"That's crap. Short-term, maybe you think it does but that stuff does not help." Brooke returned heatedly.

"How would you know?"

"Fine. Do what you like? If your not going to give me a decent answer, then fine. I'm done arguing with a crack-whore." the brunette snapped nastily, while moving to her dresser, busying herself with nothing of importance.

Peyton scoffed at the insult and laughed hollowly. "Nice. Gotta give you points for that one." she mocked with a nod of approval. "What happened to I'm not going to let you push me away, Brooke. Is that just crap too?"

Brooke slammed one of her draws and spun back round to face Peyton. "You know what, why the hell shouldn't I let you? I've got better things to do than watch you fuck up your life."

"My life is already fucked up." Peyton laughed. "I'm fucked up."

"No your not!" Brooke yelled back. "My God, you seem to think your beneath everyone and everything and you have no fucking clue."

Silence invaded the space between them for some time, both trying to calm themselves.

"It's a coping method." Peyton quietly stated, gaining Brooke's full attention. "Coke. It's a coping method. Maybe not the best one but it is."

"Then promise me you'll find a new one." Brooke requested in the same tone.

"Can I promise I'll try?" Peyton asked, completely honest. She never liked the idea of making a promise she could not, for certain, keep. Especially knowing how damaging this particular broken promise could be.

"No." was the simple yet stern response.

Peyton was silent for a moment, keeping her eyes firmly on Brooke's, wanting to say yes but not wanting to face the disappointment she may ultimately cause.

"Okay." she spoke. "I will find a new one."

"Good." Brooke nodded, before turning back to her dresser. "Maybe now you won't end up sleeping with Div again."

Peyton let out another heavy sigh, as she flopped back down across the bed with a slight bounce. "I think this would be covered by the 'I'm a fuck up' statement."

"And I've already told you that statement is false." the older girl replied, moving to the end of the bed, looking down on Peyton's stretched out form.

"Yeah, well, when you barely remember the act due to you being completely wasted on a number of things, I think it's safe to say the statement is true." the curly haired teen breathed out regretfully.

"Well on one bright side, at least you can't remember all the details." Brooke stated, trying to ignore her warring emotions and suppress her concern.

Peyton laughed softly. "I'm not sure that is something I can be proud of."

"Meh…" Brooke shrugged. "..maybe but it'll help you sleep at night."

Peyton smiled very briefly at the comment. Her face then contorted as she squinted slightly at the other girl. "Are we okay?" she asked timidly.

Brooke let out a deep breath and perched herself on the edge of the bed, keeping eye contact with the troubled blonde. "We'll always be okay." she answered quietly. "Just talk to me rather than ignore me. I know you have certain…issues…"

"Understatement of the year." Peyton let out.

Brooke laughed softly. "It's just…you can't always run away. Especially when you have a habit to do the stupid when you do."

"Thank you."

"For what?" she questioned, wondering where the sudden gratitude was coming from.

"For giving a shit." Peyton grinned, while playing with the sleeve on Brooke's robe.

If only you knew, the older teen briefly mused. "Sometimes I really feel I don't have a choice." she finally replied with a soft smile.

"You don't, really." Peyton grinned, lolling her head in Brooke's direction before swiftly moving back to stare at the ceiling. She raised her arms above her head to stretch out further. "I mean if I don't, surely you shouldn't be let off lightly either, right?"

Brooke quirked an eyebrow, unable to stop the grin spreading across her face, effectively extenuating her dimples. "Peyton Sawyer gives a shit?" she questioned in mock disbelieve.

Peyton's gaze returned to the smirking girl and she nodded casually. "I do." she replied, suddenly pointing a finger at Brooke, playfully. "..but that is strictly between you and me. Got it, Davis?"

"Your secret is safe with me, Sawyer." Brooke answered, raising her hands in defence. "Nobody will know your going soft."

"I am not soft!" Peyton shrieked in offence, sitting up. "I'll prove it."

"No!" the brunette protested quickly, knowing with her current train of thought, it was best Peyton was pacified. Her blonde friend had a habit of attacking and Brooke wanted her mind to stay off certain notions she had yet to clarify. "Your not soft."

Peyton eyed Brooke a moment, finding her response a little out of place, for Brooke anyway. However, she soon nodded and pushed the thought to the back of her mind for the time being.

"So, you wanna do something tonight?" she asked, fiddling with her hands in her lap. "You know, make up for my MIA status this week."

Brooke was about to agree when realisation dawned on her, causing her to bite on her lower lip in a contemplative manner. "I would…but I've kinda made plans." she announced, watching as surprise registered on Peyton's face.

"Oh." was the only reaction the younger teen could muster to begin with, generally stunned. "Okay…anything interesting?"

"I, uh, have a date." the brown eyed girl answered, needing once again to distract herself. She stood and moved over to her desk, deciding to check her emails all of sudden.

If Peyton was stunned previously, she now sat somewhat frozen at the response. A date? Brooke's never really been the 'dating' kind, she silently thought, attempting to ignore the building hurt and disappointment she felt. …you know, with my whole four…almost five…months knowledge.

Peyton scoffed at herself with the last thought. How could she judge Brooke's dating patterns when she barely knew the girl's dating history to begin with.

"Anyone I know?" she questioned, mostly wanting to bloke out her current feelings. Jeeze, how pathetic am I to be jealous of some guy going out with Brooke, Peyton berated silently, missing the name her friend quietly muttered. Oh crap. Does this mean I have to ask again?

"Sorry?" Peyton replied calmly.

"Jake." Brooke finally stated, deciding to turn and face the perturbed blonde. "You remember the beach party. He was…"

"I remember." Peyton cut in. "He was nice…well for the minutes I met him anyway." she shrugged, now finding her fingers more interesting then the pensive face of Brooke. "When did this all come about?"

"He, uh, asked during the week." Brooke folded her arms around her chest, as she lent against her desk facing the blonde. "We've been talking since the beach party and well, I…uh, finally decided to say yes. He's a good guy and easy to talk to." she continued, feeling as if she should explain herself.

Peyton sat absorbing the words in and allowed Brooke to know she was listening by the bob of her head. Moments of awkward silence passed, both pondering the strange developments.

"He better be a good guy.." Peyton finally responded, glancing to meet the brunette's darkened eyes. "…or he'll have me to deal with." she finished, with a smile that couldn't quite make her eyes.

Brooke's smile was forced and she was certain Peyton could see straight through it. "…'cause your not a softy and all." she attempted to joke, wanting the discomfort to pass.

"Only with you."

The smile had changed to soft and genuine and for that moment, Brooke revelled in the strength and courage the small gesture gave her.

----------

Peyton sat high on the metal bench at the Rivercourt, with her legs pulled up close and her feet resting on the back of the step below her. She had left Brooke about an hour ago, when her thoughts began to turn, to some extent, chaotic.

She found the more time she spent with Brooke, after the news of her date, she was beginning to resent her and she couldn't have that. That feeling was unfair and unjust to be directed towards the cheerful brunette.

Although, she was also aware the same brunette had not been overly cheerful lately.

Okay, so Peyton couldn't be a judge as she had in fact not spoken to Brooke in over a week…but there had definitely been something on her friend's mind.

Peyton stopped that train of contemplation and rubbed her temple, in an attempt to distract herself. As another method to distract her mind, she began to hum the most obnoxiously loud song that popped into her head.

"That's me inside your head."

She snapped her head in the direction the voice had come from. "Sorry?" she replied shortly, watching as the blue eyed boy moved closer to the bench, keeping the basketball firmly under his arm.

"The song you were humming to." Lucas clarified. "NOFX. Linoleum. That's me inside your head."

"Yeah." Peyton confirmed for him, while he stood with a lopsided grin and the characteristic squint of his eyes. "I'm surprised you know it. I always had you pegged as a boy band lover."

Lucas laughed, taking a seat on the bottom step and turning his body to face the curly haired teen. "Oh I do but you gotta keep that between us." he joked.

Peyton smiled as he played along with her. He always humoured her like Brooke did. No thinking of Brooke, she then chastised, finally having a distraction. "Anything for my favourite ass." she mocked in return.

"And here I thought I was your only ass." Lucas grinned.

"No." Peyton replied, letting out a long breath. "Believe me, there's a lot of asses who have been in my life."

"Well, I guess I can't snub being your favourite then."

"You shouldn't." Peyton informed him with a small smile. "Your privileged."

"So, Blondie, what's brought you out here…and alone?" Lucas questioned lightly, sending his gaze briefly out to the river before returning it to Peyton's pensive face.

She shrugged in response briefly. "Just needed to think."

"Well you seem more…with it, then you have done the last couple of times I've seen you."

Peyton scoffed softly in response to the statement. "Yeah, it's not really been one of my finest week's here." she mumbled, sending her gaze out to the deserted court.

"Did Brooke find you yesterday? She left school in a hurry and I didn't see her again, so I assumed she found you and skipped." the taller blonde asked, as Peyton noted the concern laced in his words.

"Yeah, she did." Peyton answered quietly, keeping her eyes fixed on the court. May have been easier if she hadn't though, she added silently.

Both allowed the stillness and quiet wash over them as their minds trailed off. It was calming to sit with someone and not have to make awkward small talk or being overly conscience of the other person.

"How's basketball?" Peyton enquired, her voice barely above a whisper.

"It's going well." he replied with a small nod. "I choked on my first game and Nathan's being the jackass he has always been…"

"Jackass? That's a rather polite way of putting it." Peyton deadpanned, raising her eyebrows to extenuate her point.

Lucas laughed but did not comment. "…but other than that, it's going surprisingly well. You should come to a game some time."

"I don't know. I don't think it's my thing." the curly haired teen declined.

"Come on. Most say that to begin with." Lucas grinned persuasively. "One game. You don't like, you never have to go again."

"We'll see."

"Okay, I guess that will have to do." the dirty blonde male relented, predicting he wouldn't get much more out of the girl. "Hey, do you wanna go to my mum's café? It's Haley's shift so you don't even have to put up with just me."

"I'm kinda happy just sitting here, thinking." Peyton stated, looking down at the boy's face.

"No your not." Lucas returned simply and when Peyton went to argue he continued. "You were humming NOFX. That's not really a thinking song."

"Your not going to leave me alone, are you?" she questioned tiredly.

Lucas shrugged. "Probably not…but with my offer, there's free food available."

"If I go with you, can I leave when I want and you won't say a word?"

"Fine. I'll just get Haley to say everything for me." he joked.

"Lucas." Peyton breathed exasperated.

Lucas stood and grabbed for her forearm. "Come on." he instructed.

"Didn't you come to play or something…and where the hell is your truck?" Peyton questioned, aggravated as she was reluctantly pulled across the court.

"Well, I want food now and I walked so my truck's at home."

Peyton stopped still at his answers. "Oh my God, your using me for a lift." she snapped accusingly.

Lucas smirked before lightly tugging on her arm again. "Your catching on, Sawyer."

----------

It had been about two hours and Peyton was still at Karen's Café. The place was definitely homely and quaint, making Peyton feel more at ease particularly as she noted the number of people inside the building.

She had spoken to Haley and met Lucas's mum, who was kind and extremely polite. Peyton had been surprised with the response she received from the older woman. Usually she had the worst meetings with parents and they instantly instructed their daughters or sons to stay away from that girl.

It always puzzled Peyton as she wasn't exactly rude.

Currently she was sat at the counter with Lucas, Haley and Karen, when the inevitable question was asked.

"So how are you finding your senior year, Peyton?" Karen asked.

Peyton noted how Lucas' eyes widened at his mum's innocent question and how Haley automatically looked away. Karen glanced between the two and then back to Peyton with a curious expression.

"Did I say something?" she enquired.

"Oh no, it's just I don't actually go to school." Peyton replied glancing at her plate before looking back to the dark haired woman, who reminded her of her own mum. That thought, however, was instantly stopped.

"Oh, so…" Karen began, not really knowing how to continue.

"I actually dropped out and I moved to Tree Hill. I work at the restaurant on Fourth Street and have an place nearby." she explained, for some reason wanting the other woman to know.

Haley and Lucas shared a quick glance, as Karen's face turned to an expression of understanding. "What about your parents?" she asked softly.

"Not around." Peyton replied shortly tensing up at the question.

"Well if you ever need anything, you can come here." Karen smiled pleasantly, grabbing hold of the cloth which laid on the counter.

"Thank you." Peyton replied gratefully, not able to force a smile on to her face.

"Right, Miss James, we have a kitchen to clean." Lucas' mum chirped before pointing a finger to her son. "You, mister, can clear some of the empty tables."

Haley laughed as Karen moved into the back. "At least I get paid to be bossed about." she quipped to the tall blonde, who glared in response to his best friend's teasing.

"Yes but I'm the one who helps you spend your wages." he returned. "So you get bossed about and I still take half your money."

"You suck, you know that?" Haley laughed as she moved to back following Karen's footsteps.

"Love you too, Hales." Lucas called through before turning back to Peyton. "Sorry about my mum." he apologized sheepishly.

Peyton smiled gently. "No need. It was actually a first for me. Parents are not usually my number one fans and they never offer me any type of help."

"My mum's great, isn't she?" Lucas quipped proudly.

The curly haired teen laughed, while standing from her seat and going to the nearest empty table that needed clearing. "She is, which makes me wonder how she got lumped with you." she mocked as Lucas stood as well.

"She's blessed, I guess."

"Or cursed." Peyton jibes back.

The two grew silent as they busied themselves and Peyton allowed her thoughts to wander as she moved from table to table.

"Hey, Lucas, can I ask you something?" Peyton questioned.

"Sure."

She moved nearer to him to ensure the other customer's didn't hear her. "What would you do if Haley told you she loved you?"

"You mean in a…." Lucas went to continue before finding his answer in Peyton's expression. "Eww, romantically? She's not said anything, right?" he asked completely puzzled.

"No." Peyton replied gently with a shake of her head. "…just wondering."

"Good 'cause that would be so weird." Lucas stated, visibly relaxing. "I love Haley. I do but strictly as if she was my sister. Romantically? Never would happen." he finished before quirking an eyebrow. "Why's that?"

Peyton looked down at the plate on the table, grasping it gently. "As I said, just wondering."

---------

"Hey, Brooke." Jake greeted as the brunette cheerleader opened the door. He smiled brightly, taking a good look at Brooke, spending more time on her face. This did not go unnoticed.

"Hey, Jake. You look great." she complimented.

"I was going to say the same to you." he laughed gently, rubbing the back of his neck for a moment. "So…you ready to go?"

"As ready as I'll ever be." Brooke smiled, knowing her smile could not make her eyes. However when she looked at Jake, he only saw the bright, exuberant smile she mustered daily for everyone.

She really couldn't blame the boy. There was only one other person who knew when she was being false and even then she rarely had to use it around them.

We have an update. See I made a promise to a very demanding reader and...well, here it is. ;)

This is usually when I would ramble on in review replies but I'm keeping it short tonight, guys. You can all breath a sigh in relieve. I do have question though; would you guys prefer I replied in the chapter (like I tend to) or would you rather me use the reply buttony thing?? (Btw all who anon review, I would reply in the chapter)

Anyway I owe HUGE thank you to...BleedLikeMe (Little longer than hours but it's here, lol.) craftyns99, bohemianxx, Smutt Bear, Aliaschickita47 (Werther's Original? Yeah they gave me toothache! Also your screen name is cool, just like everybody else's) apathyaddict, eerriinn91, lonely girl 23, Aum, paulinemcc, marin, Crystal Legend and Vega (Glad your better now, especially as hospitals suck!)...for their extremely amazing reviews! I'm glad you all like it so far.

So thanks for reading (if you made it this far.) and catch you all later!