"Hey."

"Hey." She replied, lazily patting the spot beside her. "C'mon, grab some bed."

Brooke laughed and dropped down beside her, kicking off her shoes before sliding under the covers. They'd been doing this since they were kids, appearing at each others houses in the middle of the night when they couldn't sleep.

"Are you okay?" Peyton asked, reaching out to find her hand. "I'm sorry about Nate, Brooke. I really am. I never thought he'd go so far."

She shrugged, squeezing the blonde's hand, and holding on. "Yeah, me neither. Hey. Julian told me what you did, Blondie, going to find him after everything Nate did. Thank you, Peyton... If it wasn't for you, I'd probably still hate him right now."

At first, she had gone to retrieve Julian at Lucas's request, but on the drive over, she realized she was doing it simply for Brooke.

She wanted her best friend to be happy, and if anyone deserved that, it was Brooke. The seventeen year old cheer captain was always doing things for her friends, never once thinking of herself.

Who was Nathan to deprive her of such a good guy?

Julian and Peyton had talked the entire ride over to Brooke's house. She'd listened to him describe everything she loved about Brooke, and more. He'd only known her for a few weeks, but he was falling for her.

Hard.

"I love Nate." Peyton replied honestly. "I really do, B, but if it ever came down to a choice between my loyalty to him, and you, then he'd just be shit out of luck. You are my best friend, and no one, not even Nathan Scott, is going to get away with trying to take your happiness away from you."

Without hesitation, Brooke pulled on her hand until she was in a sitting position, before throwing her arms around the blonde.

Peyton truly was the best friend a girl could ask for.

"I love you, P. Sawyer."

"I love you, B. Davis."

They stayed like that for a few minutes, their arms locked around each other. Finally, Peyton's phone buzzed, breaking the two apart as she reached out for it.

"Luke?" Brooke asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Luke." She echoed, handing the phone over so Brooke could read his latest text.

Let me know if you need anything, Curly.

Brooke smiled. Though he worried about all of them, Peyton usually had his full attention. He was always looking out for her, protecting her from the world. He was completely, and totally in love with her, but he was just too stubborn to actually admit it.

"So." She said, still smiling. "When are you gonna tell Broody that you have the hots for him?"

Peyton blinked, unsure of whether to blur out her growing feelings for the Raven's star shooting guard, or deny it all together.

"I don't know what you're talking about." She lied, tossing her phone onto the bedside table. "Lucas and I are just friends, Brooke."

"Riiiiiight!"

You deserve someone who will love your skinny ass, and your chickeny legs, and your amazing heart. You really do, Blondie.

"So where's your head at with Julian these days?" Peyton asked. "You know, you two would top the list of Tree Hill's most bizarre couples."

Brooke rolled her eyes. "Yeah, well, I don't care what anyone else thinks. I know I just met him... But I really like him, Peyton..."

The blonde smiled, reaching out to squeeze her hand. She'd never heard those words come out of her best friend's mouth.

Julian Baker really was different.

"I've got your back, B."

"Thank you, Peyton." Brooke replied. "That means a lot more than you know."

She almost felt like crying. Throughout their entire high school experience, they'd always followed Nathan's lead. They shunned people he didn't like, simply because none of them were brave enough to question the decisions he made.

Something had changed.

Nathan Scott would always be her best friend, he'd stuck with her through thick and thin, but she needed to start thinking for herself.

She was going to ask Julian Baker out on a date, and nothing was going to stop her.