Okay, since I spent so long away from my story I made a really big mistake in the last chapter. I called Peyton's cousin "Derek" and in the very first Peyton chapter at the beginning of the story his name is "Damien". Now, I've decided that his name is "Derek" simply because it's easier to remember!

I just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who reviewed the last chapter with their honest opinions, it really has helped me figure out the shape of this story, the couples and things like that. I have now decided on the couples for this story, so if you wish to know officially, just say so in your review and I'll reply and let you know!

Oh, and if there is anybody having trouble picturing Kristin, think of maybe umm... Kristin Kreuk... Lana Lang from Smallville? Yeah, she looks sort of like her... just gothic. Hope that helps!

Thank you all so much for reading… don't forget to review!

Staring at the clock as it ticked over to 4.30pm, Brooke looked at the door, hopeful that her brother would walk through at any minute. Didn't really matter now though, Laura had already come back, and told them that Nathan now had a further week of detention. Oh well, at least now Brooke wouldn't be alone during her extra week.

"I don't think he's coming back Luke," she sighed, looking at her boyfriend.

He stopped writing, placed his pen down on the desk, and looked into the hazel eyes of his beautiful girlfriend. He didn't know what to say. Truth be told, Nathan seemed that angry that Lucas didn't really expect him to come back. But he wasn't about to tell Brooke that. "I'm sure he's fine babe,"

Accepting that there was nothing she could do about it that wouldn't get her into further trouble, she nodded, and leaned over in her chair, curious about what Lucas had been writing.

She read off the paper slowly. "George Bernard Shaw once wrote; there are two tragedies in life, one is to gain your hearts desire, the other is to lose it," she looked up at him, searching his eyes for what it mean. "What's this for?"

"It's an English essay. We have to write what we think it means," Lucas said, gesturing towards the paper.

Brooke took that as a signal to keep reading. "Gaining your hearts desire is something that everybody dreams of. I recently gained my hearts desire in my girlfriend Brooke Davis," she paused, and gave him a heart warming smile before continuing to read. "This feeling is something that I have never felt before. It's happiness, and joy, and excitement but at the same time, it's fear, and it's doubt, and its worry," she looked up at him, suddenly feeling a lump in the back of her throat.

Lucas smiled. "Keep reading,"

Not sure if she wanted to, she willed herself onwards. "It's the fear of losing my hearts desire. That all of the happiness and joy and excitement that I feel when I'm around her will no longer be there, and that I won't be the same without it, without her," tears formed in Brooke's eyes as she continued to read. "All good things come to an end, but I never want this to end. That is what the second tragedy is. Realizing that eventually, you'll lose your hearts desire,"

Lucas waited for her reaction, knowing it could go one of two ways; she could be angry, or she could agree, and not hate him for forever. He proffered the latter.

Brooke took a deep breath, absorbing everything she had just read. She fought back the tears that threatened to fall, and looked up into Lucas's soft baby blue eyes.

"Lucas, that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said about me… thank you," she licked her lips. "And, just for record, your not going to lose me, not now, not ever," she smiled, and leaned forward, giving him a soft kiss on the lips.

He smiled against her lips, and in that moment, he was happy. He had his hearts desire.

"Your house is massive!" Jake said, standing in the main entrance, his eyes following up the stairway to the left that disappeared into a hallway, then the stairway to the right, with the same ending.

Laughing Haley dragged him to the left, avoiding the stairs, for now. "Come on, I'll show you the living area,"

She pulled him into the living room and Jake just stood there, gaping at the room. It was clearly decorated by a woman, with soft beige colors, that matched the brown couches that were placed in front of the enormously large plasma screen. Located behind the couches was a pool table, and large glass doors, which Jake presumed lead out towards the pool.

"Wow," he managed to say.

Smiling, Haley continued the tour. "Come on, kitchen is through here," she pulled him into a door to his right, and he was surprised to see a reasonably small kitchen. "It's the smallest room in the house," Haley filled him in. "No-one in our family can cook, we have chiefs for that kinda stuff," she was sick of the kitchen already. "Come on, I'll show you the gym,"

"You have your own gym?" Jake asked in wonder, following her back into the main entrance, this time going to the right.

Haley pulled a key out of her pocket, and unlocked the glass doors, letting Jake get a better view at all the equipment.

"You have a rowing machine?" Jake questioned, not believing his eyes.

This room was bigger than his whole house, and it was full of every athletes dream. State of the art fitness machines. He counted at least 15, possibly more.

"This is ridiculous!" he laughed.

Haley merely smiled at him. "Come on, I'll show you upstairs.

Peyton placed the plates down carefully, making sure that everything was still on them. She smiled at her customers, who knew she was nervous. "Sorry, must have the shakes,"

The ladies smiled at her. "It's fine dear. Thank you,"

Walking back around the counter, Peyton gave Karen an apologetic look. "Sorry. I'm just a little rusty with my waitress skills,"

Karen gave her an understanding smile. "Don't worry about it love. Most of our customers are regulars. They know you're new. It's no big deal,"

"Thanks," she said, glad that she was there to calm her nerves.

"You're welcome sweetie. Oh, you know what; it's almost time for you to go get Lucas. Why don't you take a break before hand, things have quietened down here, I'm sure I'll be able to manage,"

Removing her apron, Peyton couldn't hold back a relieved smiled. "Okay, thanks Karen,"

She watched the young blonde gather her school books out of the back room, and walk around the front of the counter.

"Peyton, would you mind picking up something for dinner on your way home?"

"Sure, anything in particular?"

"Whatever you'd like. Just no more pizza,"

They both smiled at each other.

Brooke climbed the stairs of their home, taking notice of how quiet everything was. She paused outside her brothers closed bedroom door, and knocked softly.

"Nate, it's me. Can I come in?"

She took her school bag off her shoulder, placing it on in the middle of the hallway.

"Nathan?"

Nothing.

"Come on Nate, don't make me go all kung-fu and kick the door down,"

Still nothing.

On the other side of the door, Nathan stared into his mirror, his red puffy eyes staring back at him.

"Shit," he silently cursed.

"Hold on a second Brooke," he yelled, jumping over his bed, reaching into his draw and pulling out his eye drops.

His sister's voice from the other side of the door sounded panicked. "Nathan! Are you okay?"

He twisted the cap of the drops and tipped his head back. "I'm fine, I'm just… naked,"

"Yeah, right. Naked at 5.30 in the afternoon. As if. Come on Nate, don't be a dick, open the door,"

Brooke jumped back in surprise as the door swung back, with full force. She looked at her brothers pale complexion, his red puffy eyes and immediately knew he'd been crying.

"Oh, god Nate, are you okay?" she followed him into his room, and watched as he dropped three droplets into his left eye.

He blinked a few times, sniffed, and looked into her eyes. "I'm fine. I walked home. Passed some bushed. Allergies played up. I'm fine," he repeated.

She knew he was lying, but she also knew better than to push her brother when he was not in a sharing mood. The only person who could do that and get away with it was dead. Shaking that thought out of her head, she turned to the one thing in the world she knew Nathan could never turn down.

"Want some pizza?"

At the drive in Peyton stared at the glowing menu for a while, before ordering. "Can we please have, three cheeseburger meals, one with diet coke, one with fanta, the other with lemonade, a large chicken burger with a chocolate shake, six nuggets with sweet and sour sauce and a sundae," she turned to Lucas who sat in the passenger seat. "What do you want?"

He laughed at her, and leaned over. "Uh, I'll just have a chicken burger, and uh, a sundae,"

Peyton looked up at the guy in the window who was trying to hold back his laughter. "Is that it?"

"No," Peyton said. He smiled as she continued to stare at the large menu. "Gimme a Chicken Caesar Salad as well. But don't put mayo on it,"

After putting it all through the register and giving them the total price Peyton drove forward to the next window, while Lucas continued to look at her incredulously.

She knew what he was doing, but couldn't help but act blonde. "What?"

"You're not seriously going to eat all of that are you?" he took the bags that Peyton was passing him, and waited for her answer.

She thanked the girl at the window and put the car into gear, driving off. "Yeah, I'm starving! Plus, the salad is for Karen"

Laughing, Lucas passed her one of the many drinks, and sat the rest on the floor at his feet. "You're insane,"

"Part of my charm. So tell me Luke, how was detention?" she asked, genuinely interested.

"It was alright. There was these two guys…" he rolled his eyes at the thought of them. "They stirred up Nathan, he got angry and walked out. Brooke seemed kinda upset about it. I thought that the people in this town actually had a heart. Guess I was wrong,"

Switching lanes, Peyton gave him a quick glance before focusing on the road. "Well, people judge. There is nothing we can do about it really. Just, try not to let it bother you, I mean, Brooke and Nathan have a lot of shit going on, we should probably try and stay out of it,"

"Yeah, you're right. Hey listen, what's the go with this cousin of yours? Derek? Is he cool?"

Smiling, Peyton nodded. "Yeah, he is actually, he's really cool. When I uh, left home, I needed a place to go, away from my parents you know, somewhere where they wouldn't think too look," she took a deep breath, and after deciding whether it was safe enough to continue, to tell Lucas the rest of her story, she did.

"My Aunt Laurie and my mom never talk, but she always said if I ever needed anything just ask, and I needed a place to stay, so she took me in. Derek was great you know, helped me out a lot with school and shit like that. I was there for a while, but my parents found out, but by the time they got there, I was gone,"

Lucas studied Peyton as she spoke. He noticed how her voice went quieter as she spoke about her parents, yet her face lit up in a smile when she spoke about her aunt and cousin. Somehow, deep down in side, he had a gut feeling about why Peyton and left home. But he knew that this wasn't the time to ask her about it. Or maybe it was because… he wasn't sure if he wanted to know the truth.

"We're so glad you could join us for dinner Jake. Haley has never brought a boy home before, this is very exciting," Haley's mother, boasted.

Jake sat smiling next to Haley, not quite sure how he had gotten himself into this position. Oh right, he had accepted the dinner invitation that Haley's mother had offered… why did he do that again? Oh right! Because he wanted to get to know Haley… the look on Marks face as his step-mother spoke told him that this was a very bad idea.

Swallowing his mouthful, he continued to smile. "Thank you so much for having me Mrs. James, or… Mrs.--"he looked towards Haley's step-father, and realized he didn't know his last name.

"Please, call me Lydia. And it's our pleasure, right Haley?"

Staring at her mother, all she could do was nod. She had never felt more embarrassed in her entire life, and despite her objections, she still couldn't believe that Jake had stayed for dinner. She knew this was a bad idea.

"So," Mark spoke, softly, yet full of confidence, making Haley and Jake cringe, knowing that whatever he was about to say was not going to be pleasant. Haley just hoped that he would say something bad enough to get sent to his room - for the next decade. She was very disappointed when all he said was; "How long have you two been dating?"

Lydia and Charlie's heads shot up, waiting for an answer.

There was a long an awkward silence, in which Jake and Haley looked at each other, Haley full of embarrassment, Jake full of surprise.

Jake had heard of the kind of awful things that Mark had done to Haley, and he was just starting to figure out who had drugged her at the party - it didn't take a genius. Maybe, just maybe, if Mark thought Haley had a boyfriend, he'd leave her alone. Acting on impulse, Jake filled the long and empty silence.

"About two days now,"

Haley looked at him curiously, wondering what he was doing.

Mark, not expecting this answer, stiffened, his fork falling onto his plate in a loud clutter.

Lydia however couldn't be happier. "Oh! Haley, you never said… well Jake, welcome to the family, we're so happy for you both, right Charles?"

Looking between Haley and Jake, deciding it was safe to acknowledge them, Charlie nodded. "Very happy,"

Haley on the other hand, was still wondering where this was going, and it wasn't until Mark slammed down in fist on the table, excused himself, and stormed out of the room, that Haley understood what Jake was doing. She looked up at him, and mouthed a silent "Thank you,"

His smile suddenly made her feel safer, and she knew that maybe having Jake as her pretend boyfriend might not be so bad.

Lucas lay on his bed, facing the ceiling. Peyton sat on the floor, flicking through a stack of CD's which Lucas had found under the bed.

"The Beetles? God, how old is Karen?" she laughed, throwing it into the junk pile.

Lucas laughed - half heartedly and went back to his brooding.

Peyton finally found an acceptable band, and placed the CD into the stereo played conveniently located in front of her, on Lucas's desk. 'Korn' played at a medium volume from the speakers as Peyton resumed her position on the floor.

"I can't tell her,"

She frowned, thinking that she was hearing things when she heard Lucas speak. She ignored it, but when he continued, she turned around to face his pained expression.

"I can't tell her, she won't understand," he said again.

"Uh, okay, if you're gonna be spontaneous and random like that at least give me a ball park figure of what you're rambling about babe, cause I am so lost right now…?"

"Sorry," he sat up. "Brooke,"

She jumped up on the bed and sat facing him. "Yeah, figured that much, are you gonna let me in on what it is you can't tell her?"

"About me, about my past. The things I've done…"

"You beat up a guy? Your dad is in jail? Your mom can't stand to look at you?" Peyton cocked her head and shot him a grin. "What's so bad about that Luke?"

"It's not that simple Peyton,"

Sighing, she reached over and grabbed his hands, ignoring the weird look he gave her. She leaned forward and looked into his eyes making him know that she was serious. "Luke, you can tell me, whatever it is, I won't judge you. I promise,"

He thought about what she was saying. "Okay. I'll tell you, everything. On one condition,"

Knowing it wasn't going to be something simple like making her do his homework, or doing all his chores, she raised an eyebrow, and narrowed her eyes. "What's that?"

"You tell me your story. The real one. Why you cringe when you mention your parents…" at this point Peyton had let go of his hands. "Why you really came to Tree Hill, why you've got all those scars on your back that I know aren't from an angry puppy,"

Her eyes darted around the room, looking for another way out of the situation, but besides making up some lame excuse about having to go to the bathroom, or do homework that she knew he would see right through, she couldn't think of anything. Besides, Lucas seemed like a trustworthy guy right? I mean he was about to tell her everything about his past, the least she could do was return the favor.

"Okay, but there is another condition. It doesn't leave this room,"

"Agreed,"

As Brooke stacked the dishwasher, Nathan put away the left overs, and announced that he was going to have a shower. Despite the fact that she didn't want to leave him alone, she couldn't deny that he really did smell, so she made him laugh by telling him so, and then reminded him not to use her face wash as conditioner - again.

When she had finished stacking the dishwasher, she turned it on and headed up to her room. She went to her closet and opened it, trying to decide what to wear tomorrow. Since she'd starting 'officially' dating Lucas she'd taken a lot more interest in what she wore and how she looked. She flicked past all her jeans, t-shirts, slacks, and rolled her eyes when she realized they were all black.

She closed her closet and walked over to the other side of her room, opening her third drawer. She stared at all the bright colored shirts, tank tops, and even grinned when she spotted her little denim mini skirt that she used to be so fond of. Her smile faded when she saw her cheerleading uniform.

She did a twirl, the navy blue cheerleading skirt flowing out as she did show, revealing more of her legs, but not enough to see her underwear. Smiling, she checked over her make up - which was done to perfection - including the blue sparkly 'R' painted on her cheek. "What do you think?" she turned to her best friend who was sitting on her bed engrossed in a book.

Kristin looked up, gave Brooke a once over and went back to her book. "It's alright I guess,"

Bouncing over to the bed, she tore the book from Kristin's grip and made her look at her properly. "Alright? Come on Kris, every year they update our cheerleading uniforms, and I just got my new one… I want to know what you think…?,"

"You wanna know what I think?" Brooke nodded. "I think Cheerleading is a waste of time. I think the uniforms are slutty and provocative and show skin in places that guys shouldn't even know we have, and I think that you think this too, but you're too busy worrying about what Haley and Bevin think to realize that you're not happy cheering, you're just… accustomed to it. And I hate it when you call me Kris,"

Losing her Cheery smile half way through Kristin's speech wasn't what Brooke planned on doing. "You know, you can sit there, in your long black shirt, and baggy jeans with dark eye make up and criticize me all you want, but you don't know what its like. To have all the pressure on you, to look good, to smile, to be perky and happy 24/7. You have no idea!" Brooke defended herself, her arms flying around her head as she did so.

Kristin just sat there and took it all in. "I don't want too," she simply said.

"What?" Brooke yelled.

"I don't want to know what it's like Brooke. I would rather sit here, in my 'long black shirt and baggy jeans with dark eye make-up' and be happy with whom I am on the inside, rather than spending all my time worrying about what other people think I look like on the outside,"

Frowning, Brooke took her place back on the bed. "You're happy? The way you are..?"

Nodding Kristin explained. "Yeah I am. I'm happy because I made myself who I am. You've heard Bevin and Haley when they're around me. They're always trying to get me to lighten up - literally. Bright clothes, lighter eye shadow, less eye liner. But I wont because it's not who I am, it's who they want me to be,"

Suddenly understanding it all Brooke smiled. "You're so brave. I couldn't do that,"

"Well, you're half way there. I mean, they didn't want you to be friends with me did they? You defied them. You're your own person Brooke, don't ever forget that,"

"Thanks. And for the record we're not friends," Brooke countered. "We're best friends," she grabbed Kristin and pulled her into a hug.

As they hugged, neither of them realized they were both clinging on for something different.

Brooke, for hope. Hope of something new, something she had never experienced before; independence.

Kristin, for a friend. Someone who she could turn too whenever she was doubting herself.

Brooke remembered that day as the day her and Kristin became best friends. The day that she told herself she would always be there for Kristin, the day she made that promise to herself, that she one day broke.

"I can't believe you did that!" Haley giggled as she fell back on her bed, Jake not far behind her.

"Well I figured if he's gonna assume, then why not just go for it? At least now he might leave you alone,"

She sat up, leaning on her elbows. "Yeah, it was a great idea, but now he's going to tell like, everyone and we're gonna have to go around acting all… coupley,"

Jake flipped over resting on his stomach. "Oh no," he said, faking worry. "What have I gotten myself into? I have to pretend I'm dating the head cheerleader and the most popular girl in school? That's horrible!"

They both laughed and Haley lay back down on her bed. "Former most popular. Ex- head cheerleader,"

"Yeah, what happened with that anyway?"

"Oh I don't know. Didn't go to practice first day back so they gave my captain position to Bevin,"

"Yeah, she seemed to love it at practice. She really makes them work though,"

"Aah, not my problem anymore," Haley dismissed it. "Let's talk about something else,"

"Okay, let's talk about why you were such a bitch to Peyton this morning…"

Shooting him a death glare she then sighed. "Look, I can get like that sometimes…"

Smiling, Jake questioned her. "Sometimes?"

"Okay, I'm a bitch. I'll admit it. I don't want to be, it just happens. I get defensive. I don't mean it or anything,"

"Then why say it?"

"Because I get threatened. I mean, Peyton was new and everyone just seemed to love her, I felt like I had to tear her down,"

"Like you did to Kristin?"

"What is this twenty questions? I hate that game," but when Jake didn't respond, she went back to the topic. "Kristin was an accident. We didn't mean for it to end that way. We just, we could see Brooke slipping away, and we just… we went a little crazy. We didn't want her to hurt herself…"

"So you'd think that maybe you would learn your lesson right?"

Haley thought about what he was saying. "You're right; I should apologize to Peyton,"

"There's my girl," he smiled. He pulled out his cell phone and found Peyton's cell number, suddenly glad they had exchanged numbers at Bevin's party. "Here, it's ringing,"

"Oh, shit." Haley grabbed the phone and held it up to her ear.

Ring ring. Ring ring. Ring ring Ring ri-

"Hey Jagelski, miss me already?" Peyton's voice came from the other line and her flirty attitude made Haley a little angry. Breathe, remember what you're calling for.

"Uh, Peyton, it's Haley. Haley James,"

"Oh, yeah, how could I forget?"

"Listen I just wanted to apologize for what I said this morning. I had no right to talk to you like that especially since I haven't gotten to know you. I realized what I did was wrong, so I'm sorry,"

"Um, you know what Haley? It's okay. Don't worry about it,"

"Are you sure? I mean I feel horrible,"

"Yeah, it's cool. Don't stress. Just, hold your tongue when you feel the urge to snap at me again okay?" she heard Peyton laugh and immediately felt better.

"Okay, thanks Peyton,"

"Don't mention it," Click.

Jake looked up at her smiling, having heard every word. "Way to go girlfriend,"

Lucas watched Peyton hang up the phone and didn't need an explanation to know what had been said. "So, she's turning a new leaf huh?"

"Yeah, but don't try and change the subject Luke, finish your story,"

He took a deep breath and picked up where he left off. "So, when I got out of juvie, I went home, but my Mom couldn't take it you know? Couldn't look at me without seeing my father. So she sent me here. To live with Aunty Karen. It's cool you know? I mean, Mom and I have never been close, so I'm kinda happy to have AK. At least she cares right?"

Nodding, Peyton knew it was coming up her turn, so she tried to avoid it. "I'm so sorry Luke. I get why you don't want to tell Brooke, but if she finds out from someone else, isn't that worse?"

"Who's going to tell? You're the only person that knows,"

"I guess. I can't believe you told her and Nathan that your parents were dead though. That's horrible,"

"Yeah, but at least now they wont ask questions right?"

"Yeah," she could tell by the look on his face that he was waiting for her story. "Okay, from the start… I'm from L.A. Yeah, that's right I'm a city gal," she said, making them both laugh. "My Mom and Dad own a business there; they've got this huge house you know? Like, Bevin's place times 20. Anyway… about 12 months ago…"

Brooke rested her head against her pillow and shut her eyes. She was just about to drift off when her phone rang. Seeing Lucas's name on the screen, she felt butterflies in her stomach.

"Hey boyfriend," she giggled, lying back on her bed.

"Hey beautiful," Lucas said, as Peyton shot him a smirk from his desk. "Just ringing to say goodnight,"

Brooke smiled, how thoughtful? "Aww, that's sweet,"

"So, how's Nathan?" he asked.

Looking at her closed door Brooke spoke softly. "He's okay. He's not talking about the problem though. He's great at keeping everything bottled up. I hate it when he does that though. I mean, it's gotta come out eventually right?"

Lucas felt sick to his stomach when she spoke those words. "Yeah, you're right. Listen babe, I've gotta go, but I'll see you tomorrow,"

"Oh, okay. Of course you will,"

"Love you gorgeous,"

"Love you too,"

There were smiles from both ends as they hung up at the same time.

Lucas's smile faded as her words echoed in his head. "It's gotta come out eventually right?"

Brooke however found sleep quite easily with his "I love you," ringing in her head, over and over again.

Thanks for reading guys!

- For those who wanted more Mark and Bevin... they're coming up so keep an eye out for them!

So, now, I'd love it if you could review because it means the world to me! Go on, push that little purple button... you know you want too!