"I changed my mind. I don't want to drive a truck." Faith yawned the next morning as they all sat around the kitchen
Taylor handed Faith a cup. "Here, drink this."
Faith looked at the cup suspiciously. "What's in it?"
"Just chug Faith." Taylor said
Faith looked at her girlfriend with a raised brow and then handed the cup to Brooke. "Here B, drink some of this. Tell me if its ok."
"Hell no!" Brooke laughed. "I dated Tay for two months, and I had some bad experiences with her so-called energy drinks."
Faith set the cup down. "Ok then."
Taylor rolled her eyes. "Are we making a plan for the road trip, or are we just following each other?"
"I can lead to start, then Nate can." Lucas said
"Are us girls no capable of leading?" Peyton joked
"No." Nathan said and gave Peyton a smile
"I don't care what we do as long as we get there." Brooke said as she rested her head on Peyton's shoulder
"You know, I think I might ride with Nathan and Haley so I can watch movies with Jordan." Peyton joked
"Ooh. I'm with you." Taylor agreed
"Huh. That sounds like fun." Sydney smiled
"Hell no. There is no way I can deal with Nathan, Jordan, and the three stooges. Besides, what would your lovers all do without you?" Haley said, earning glares from Taylor and Faith warning her to shut up
"Well, it just means that Lucas and Brooke would be without someone to make out with at stop lights, and Faith would be without someone to bitch at the entire trip. I still cant believe that you two haven't killed each other yet!" Sydney said to Taylor and Faith
Taylor shrugged. "I'd be bored without her."
"I'm surprised we haven't killed you two yet." Brooke said
"Come on B! You know you love us." Faith smiled at her ex
"Nah. You guys are still around because you are both hot." Peyton laughed. "It would be a tragedy to kill two fine women like yourselves."
"Oh brother. Can we go please?" Sydney rolled her eyes
Lucas laughed and put his arm around Sydney. "Let's load up people. We have a long day ahead of us."
2 HOURS LATER
BROOKE AND PEYTON
"I'm bored." Brooke said into the silence
"Read or something." Peyton said as she tapped her fingers on her steering wheel along with the music
"I get car sick." Brooke pouted
"Well I'm not sure what you want me to tell you then babe."
"Road trips are only fun when you have more than 2 people in the car." Brooke sighed
"Are you calling me boring?" Peyton scoffed
"What if I am?" Brooke stuck her tongue out
Peyton reached out and smacked Brooke's leg. "Bitch."
Brooke smiled and caught Peyton's hand in her own. "Please, you knew that before we got together."
"And I love you in spite of it." Peyton smiled and gave Brooke's hand a squeeze
NATHAN AND HALEY
"Are you sure that we are doing the right thing moving so far away from your parents and Karen and all?" Haley asked Nathan as she looked at their son sleeping in the back. "Are we going to be able to handle school and Jordan without going insane?"
"Hales, stop worrying." Nathan chuckled
"It's not funny Nathan!"
"We are going to be fine. We have 2 other couples to help us out, plus Taylor and Faith."
"3 other couples."
"2 babe. Lucas and Sydney and Brooke and Peyton."
Haley laughed. "I cant believe that no one else has picked up on it."
"Ok, maybe you are right. If you're losing your mind, then maybe we shouldn't be moving."
"Nathan, Taylor and Faith are together."
"What?" Nathan turned to Haley wide-eyed
LUCAS AND SYDNEY
"I'm glad that I'll have another guy in the house this time." Lucas said
"And Faith wont be here, so there will be less drama." Sydney laughed. "I really don't think that we'll all even see that much of each other once we get out there. We are all going to be so busy."
"And you're sure that we can afford our own place?"
"Yes Luke. I added up all of our financial aid and then the money my parents and your mom are throwing in to help, and it is more than enough. Just chillax."
"I just want to make sure that you are happy." Lucas smiled
"In that case, we might want to get a place close to Taylor so that we can keep our little affair going." Sydney joked
"Sometimes I worry about you girls. You're all insane." Lucas laughed and shook his head
"You know its why you love me."
"Only one of the reasons."
"I say we switch partners." Sydney said around her mouthful of Taco Bell
"Huh?" Taylor asked
"I'm tired of being with Lucas." Sydney pouted
Everyone had pulled off the highway to eat some lunch, and they were finishing up their meal.
"Wow. I feel special." Lucas mumbled
"I think that Nathan and I will opt out of this little couples switch." Haley laughed
"No, Haley you have to." Lucas said. "Ride with me."
"I'll ride with Nathan and watch Jordan. I love this kid." Taylor smiled as she tickled Jordan
"I'll ride with you. I haven't talked to you in a while." Sydney said to Peyton
"Guess that means you're stuck with me B." Faith smirked
NATHAN AND TAYLOR
"Taylor, you realize that you can ride up front with me since Jordan is asleep, right?" Nathan said as he glanced in the rearview mirror
"I know. I'll come up there when the movie is over." Taylor said with her eyes still on the TV
"What are you watching?"
"Finding Nemo."
"Are you serious?"
"What's the matter? You bored Brother?" Taylor laughed and checked on Jordan one last time before moving to the passenger seat
"Quite amused actually. Peyton and Sydney are dancing." Nathan laughed and pointed to the car in front of them
"Wow. They're dorks." Taylor said as she saw Peyton and Sydney dancing like Nathan had said
"You would be doing the same thing."
"Whatever." Taylor paused before she spoke again. "I didn't like you when I first met you."
Nathan gave Taylor a skeptical look. "Right. That's why you took me into that room and-"
"I mean when I really met you." Taylor interrupted. "When I realized that you were my little sister's husband."
"Why didn't you like me?"
Taylor shrugged. "I thought you were playing Haley. I might not be the best big sister, but I didn't want to see her get hurt by some asshole jock."
"Ouch."
"Then I realized how much you do love her and now I think that you are cool."
"I didn't really like you at first either." Nathan admitted
"How could you not like me?" Taylor scoffed
Nathan rolled his eyes. "I was worried that you were going to try to ruin things between Haley and I. Then I realized you really just wanted to be in her life, and I respected that."
"I wish that me and her were closer." Taylor said, a hint of sadness in her voice
"So does she. You can both work on that."
"Yeah. I love that chick." Taylor smiled
"Speaking of love, what's up with you and Faith?" Nathan asked innocently, earning a shocked look from Taylor
PEYTON AND SYDNEY
"You and Lucas ok?" Peyton asked Sydney over the music
"What?" Sydney yelled
Peyton laughed and turned the music down. "Are you and Lucas ok?" She repeated
"Yes. I just wanted to hang out with you for a little."
"Oh really?" Peyton asked skeptically
"Yes really. Is it so hard to believe that I wanted to spend some time with my best friend?"
"You just seem perturbed lately."
"Nah. Just a little stressed about the move and school and the wedding."
"I think that we are all stressed at this point."
"So have you used at all lately?" Sydney asked randomly
Peyton shot Sydney a surprised look. "Whoa. Where the hell did that come from?"
Sydney shrugged. "Have you?"
"No. I really haven't."
"Ok. Just checking."
"Have you?"
"Me? Hell no. I don't even think about it anymore." She paused. "Much."
"Ditto."
"Taylor used when we were in California."
"What!"
"With Mark. She told me the other day. That's why I thought I would check on you. We all just kind of stopped talking about it after the accident and just assumed that we all stopped using."
"Damn." Peyton whistled. "You're right. We just kind of dropped it."
"I honestly didn't think that we had to worry about it anymore. I thought that we all just stopped."
"We did!"
"I'm worried about Tay."
"Do you think that she would use again?"
"I don't know."
LUCAS AND HALEY
"Lucas, do you realize that you asked me to ride with you, yet you haven't said anything to me?" Haley said as she looked at Lucas
Lucas sighed. "I'm sorry Hales." He offered her a smile
"What's up with you?"
"Just nervous."
"About…"
"School. Sydney. Basketball. Money."
"Luke, you're an A student, plus you have me as a best friend. There's not much wrong you can do when it comes to academics. Marriage isn't that bad, and you and Sydney are unofficially married already. I don't see why you are worried about basketball when you are a great player."
"I cant play basketball Haley."
"Whatever. You have the-"
"I have HCM." Lucas confessed
Silence filled the car as Haley stared straight ahead and Lucas focused on driving.
"How long have you known?" Haley asked into the silence after the information Lucas just handed her set in
"A while." Lucas admitted
"And you didn't tell me because…"
"I didn't want to scare anyone. The only people that know are Dan and Brooke."
"So you'll tell your 'father' that you despised most of your life, and you'll tell your ex sex buddy, but you wont tell me. We've been best friends for almost 10 years Lucas. How could you keep this from me?" Haley said, tearing up
"Hales-"
"No. Stop. I don't want excuses. I want to know why you didn't tell me."
"I didn't want to admit it to myself. If I stopped doing the things that I loved because of it, like basketball, I would be a mess. If no one knew about the HCM, they couldn't stop me from being normal. Besides, I got into UCLA on a basketball scholarship, so if I told anyone, it would be the end of college for me."
"God Lucas. I'm sorry."
Lucas took a deep breath. "I'm scared Hales." His voice wavered
Haley's heart broke at the sight of her best friend breaking down. Haley took Lucas' hand in her own and gave it a comforting squeeze.
"I'm here for you Luke. Whatever you need."
BROOKE AND FAITH
"So how long are you going to be at your mom's?" Brooke asked as she popped a M&M in her mouth
"A little less than a week, I guess. I have orientation and then I still have to check into the dorms." Faith said, lying about the last part
"Are you going to have time to check in after you get back?"
"Sure?"
"Are you going to be ok out there at your mom's?"
Faith turned to look at Brooke. "What's up with you B?"
Brooke sighed. "I'm just scared you'll run into your old crowd."
"Even if I did, it wouldn't make a difference Brooke."
"Faith, I'm hurt."
"Huh?"
"That you would lie to me." Brooke said like it was the most obvious thing in the world
"How do you know if I'm lying?"
"Babe, I know you way too well. You never call me Brooke unless something is up. Come on, we went over this how many times when we were together?"
"What do you want me to say? Am I scared to go back? Fuck yeah I'm scared. A lot of shit went down there. That's one reason I have to go; to get some closure on things."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Brooke offered gently
"Nah." Faith smiled at Brooke. "This is something I gotta do alone B."
Brooke nodded. "I understand. But you call me if you need me."
"Coolness. But I hate serious talk. Let's play a game."
"What game?"
Faith looked around and smiled. "A…B…C…"
"Hey! That is so not fair!" Brooke said as she also began to search for the alphabet on billboards
Yes, I'm back with another update. Isnt it a miracle: )
I hope you guys are ready for some drama, because I sense some starting to pop up soon. The fun summer is gone, and it's time for life to hit our little friends upside the head. Think you can handle it? ; )