Back with another update! Unfortunately, this may be the last update for awhile again, seeing as school starts up again in like a week and I have a ton of reading to get done before it does, not to mention the crappy job….ugh. Anyway, this story is still far from over, but school gives me hardly any free time. But I promise to post more whenever I have it. Until then, please enjoy this and let me know what you think. I have more to say, but I will wait until after the update. Enjoy!

Chapter 13: Answers (3)

After Lucas left with Ellie for the day, Peyton finally decided to get cleaned up and dressed. With Ellie gone for the day, she might be able to distract herself with work. She began with a shower. She let the radio play , noise she hoped would clear her mind, or at least distract her for awhile. Even with the music, however, her mind still rambled on. Her thoughts still returned to everything that she was trying to distract her mind (and heart) from.

First, there was Lucas. She thought over and over again about her relationship with him. She remembered how their relationship was back in high school. She thought back on how much their relationship had changed after Ellie had been born, and even more after Ellie got sick. It had been somewhat of a roller coaster ride, she realized (and an especially rocky ride this past year).

Brooke came into Peyton's thoughts too. Their relationship had been through a lot too. As young girls, they had been inseparable. They remained close still as they got older. That was all until one boy came between them. Lucas Scott. Even when they hadn't meant for it to be that way, the status of their relationship, (Peyton and Brooke's relationship, that is) whether or not they were friends, always came back to Lucas Scott.

Yes, Peyton's friendship with Brooke had been questionable (and not at all sometimes) back in high school. All because of the feelings they both had for the same boy. And now (as Peyton began to realize as she stood in the shower), ironically perhaps, Peyton's relationship with Lucas had been crumbling for many months because of his feelings for Brooke.

Coming to that realization, Peyton was suddenly no longer confused (at least in regards to the situation with her best friend and her boyfriend). Finishing her shower, Peyton got dressed, found her keys and left her house. She now knew what she needed to do.

Brooke walked to and opened the front door of her home slowly after hearing the doorbell sound throughout the house. She stared through the glass-screen door when she saw Peyton standing outside.

She'd been expecting a visit from Peyton ever since Lucas had told her that he had finally told Peyton about what had happened between them. So now here she was…Peyton, standing with her arms crossed over her chest and a scowl worn on her face; (not even a scowl; it was more a look of absolute hurt and betrayal). And she, Brooke, could think of nothing to say.

The two of them stood in silence before each other. The silence was screaming at Brooke, making her feel more and more ashamed, guilty and deceitful by the second. For she knew how Peyton was probably feeling now; Brooke had felt the same way twice before (which is why she was even more upset at herself for the situation). But Brooke could do nothing to fix that for her friend. The damage was already done. Brooke knew she was partly to blame for the situation. And if Peyton decided they weren't going to be friends anymore, (as she probably would) then Brooke knew she was fully to blame.

Brooke expected nothing less than when Peyton slapped her clear across her face. She looked back at Peyton (ignoring her urge to hold her stinging cheek). Brooke's eyes swelled with tears when she witnessed Peyton's eyes flood with tears too.

"Why, Brooke?" Peyton asked quietly. She shrugged her shoulders. "Why?"

Slowly, the tears streamed down Brooke's cheeks.

"I don't have any excuses, Peyton," Brooke answered honestly. "It was wrong, and it shouldn't have happened."

"But it did happen."

Brooke nodded. "And I know nothing I can say is ever going to change it."

After a brief moment of silence, Peyton shook her head and shrugged again.

"After everything we've been through, Brooke…how did we end up here again?"

Brooke didn't have an answer this time. It was something she was still trying to figure out herself. How did they end up back here? How could she have hurt her best friend like this? Brooke knew better than anyone how this type of betrayal felt. So why hadn't she thought about what she was doing that night?

"I suppose I should have expected it."

Brooke looked up at Peyton, confused by her words.

"He loves you, Brooke," Peyton continued. "He has been in love with you since high school, even when you weren't together. There has always been something between you two. It's why there has never been anything real between Lucas and I, other than our daughter anyway."

Peyton paused, considering everything again as she had in the shower. Then she went on. "There's always been something there."

Peyton shook her head and looked back at Brooke. "And I don't know why I didn't realize it until now."

Brooke glanced away briefly, unsure of how to respond; or rather, unsure if she should respond at all. As confused as she was about everything, Brooke knew there was truth to what Peyton had just told her. Brooke looked up when she heard Peyton turn to leave.

"Peyton, wait…"

Brooke stepped forward as Peyton turned back around, waiting to hear why Brooke had stopped her. Brooke glanced down and swallowed before speaking.

"I know I don't deserve to ask, or to know even, but…I'm just wondering where this leaves us—you and me—now?"

Peyton stared back at Brooke a moment before answering.

"To be honest, Brooke…I really don't know. I really don't know anything right now."

And with those words, Peyton turned and walked away, leaving Brooke wondering whether the two of them would ever speak again.

So there it is…more of chapter 13. I'm not sure if the next update is going to be a new chapter or the conclusion to this chapter. I'll decide when I get it written. What I do know is that it will most likely be Brooke and Chase as Chase returns from his business trip, and then maybe more Lucas and Peyton. I still have all that to write though. Please bear with me, especially since I'm not sure when the next ud will be up. But I promise there is much more still to come. Please review this!!!! Thanks so much!!!

-Maureen