Brooke and Nathan took their seats as they walked in late to class, to the left of Brooke sat Lucas, in front of her was Nathan, behind her was Bevin and Peyton sat to the right of Bevin.

"Nice of you two to join us. Right today we will be splitting the class into pairs, so everyone on this side I want you to pick out a name of someone on the other side ok?" Mr Summers asked as he passed the tin round the left side of the room.

Nathan picked his bit of paper, Brooke picked hers, and then Bevin, Skills, and Lucas theirs. Nathan unfolded his bit of paper and could not believe who he had picked:

PEYTON SAWYER

Of all the people who could have picked why her? He turned round and looked at Brooke and knew what he had to do.

Brooke unfolded her paper, TIM, well that wasn't too bad at least she thought.

Nathan then turned around and slipped his paper to her, she picked it up and read the name. She knew exactly why Nathan had given her his, now she had to decide though, on the one hand she could work with Peyton and try and work on their friendship, however on the other hand she could work with Tim who would probably be so ecstatic at the thought of working with her. Brooke quickly folded up one the bits of paper again and it passed it back to Nathan before the teacher noticed.

"So let's see who everyone has got then shall we?" Mr Summers said as he went round asking the students to say who they got

Lucas got Mouth, Skillz got Haley, Bevin got Rachel

"Brooke?" The teacher asked looking at her waiting for her to read the name on the bit of paper

"Peyton" Brooke said, she was taking a big risk and she just hoped it was worth it

"Now in your pairs I want you to get to know each other, I know some of you probably know each other quite well but I want you to write down your feelings and thoughts about one another, and then I want you to tell the other a secret that no one else knows, and when I say secret I don't mean something like you have a crush on the new guy or girl, I want you to share stuff about you with your partner and then lastly I would like you to write down your feelings and thoughts about the other after the secret and see if your perception of them has changed at all, then I want you to report back next lesson, any questions?" Mr Summer asked

"So do we have to tell the class the secret when we report back or not?" Rachel said, why would she tell the whole class a secret of hers?

"No just your partner" Mr Summer replied

Brooke just sat there staring at her desk, this was certainly going to be interesting to say the least, could she really trust Peyton again, maybe she should have picked Tim after all, but it was too late now

Brooke had gone round Peyton's after school to work on this assignment, she just wanted to get it out the way with really, it was going to be hard enough as it was and she figured the sooner they did the sooner she could see if she was able to trust Peyton again. If Peyton abused her trust then their friendship was truly over, no going back on it, but if Peyton kept her secret then maybe there was hope for them after all.

"So secrets huh" Peyton said rereading the assignment again

"Yup" Brooke replied feeling rather awkward

"I guess we don't really need to discuss how we feel about each other do we" Peyton said

"No I guess not, so do you wanna go first?" Brooke asked not really wanting to share her secret first

"Sure why not, get it out and in the open hey" Peyton said positively

"I guess so" Brooke replied not so enthusiastic

"Well as I told you things have been pretty tough the last few weeks really and I've done things which I am not proud of which I guess leads me onto my secret" Peyton said rather nervously, she was ashamed of herself really, she had thought she was stronger than she was

"So here it goes……I've been doing drugs…again" Peyton said looking down at the floor just waiting for Brooke to flip out at her

"Peyton I thought you said you were done, what the hell were you thinking" Brooke said, she couldn't believe Peyton had turned to drugs AGAIN.

"I know I know I was weak ok, I've quit I promise, things just became too much and it just made it all go away you know" Peyton said sadly

"Peyton every time things get too much you can't turn to drugs, you have to face things head on, I thought you had got past the whole drugs thing, I thought you had learnt your lesson from before, you said you weren't going near them again, what could possibly have made you turn to them again Peyton" Brooke asked, part of her was so mad at her friend for being so stupid but the other part of her was asking herself why she even cared, it wasn't like they were best friends anymore.

"I know Brooke but before I had you, I had you to get me through the bad days but I didn't have you this time, I had no one, and I just couldn't take it, my life was a mess and I was making other people's lives a mess, mainly yours, and I just I was a wreck" Peyton said breaking down into tears, Brooke just went over to her and pulled her into a hug, just like she used to whenever Peyton was upset

"Its ok, you've got me ok? Just don't ever do it again Peyton" Brooke said, her ex best friend was sitting in her arms crying her heart out and Brooke just couldn't bare it.

"Do you mean that Brooke, do you really mean that you'll be there for me again like we you used to be?" Peyton asked hopefully

"I guess so but Peyton just don't screw up" Brooke said seriously

"Believe me I won't, our friendship means the world to me Brooke I will never behave like I did" Peyton said

"Glad to hear it" Brooke replied, she just hoped Peyton meant it

"Brooke can I ask you something?" Peyton asked after a long silence

"Sure" Brooke replied

"You didn't pull my name out of the tin did you?" Peyton asked

Brooke just looked at her, how did she know?

"How.." Brooke began

"I saw you and Nathan with your bits of paper" Peyton cut in

"Oh" Brooke replied not knowing what else to say

"So why did you pick me?" Peyton asked curious

"Because I wanted to give our friendship a chance Peyton, I know I cut you off earlier when you asked me about Lucas but it was just awkward seeing as you used to with him you know" Brooke said honestly

"I know I shouldn't have asked, I just wanted to know that you were happy, that was all I meant, I can see that Lucas loves you and I'm going to be honest it did really hurt, but then I realised that I don't want to be with someone who loves someone else, I want to be with someone who loves me and only me, I've moved on Brooke honestly, you have nothing to worry about, Lucas loves you so much and I can see that you feel the same for him" Peyton said, she just had to make her feelings clear on it as otherwise the awkwardness was never going to go away

"I guess I didn't exactly give you a chance to explain earlier did I" Brooke admitted

"Its ok I completely understand, I probably would have reacted the same way" Peyton said

Brooke had to admit she was extremely relieved to hear Peyton had moved on, if Peyton had been still interested in Lucas then their friendship just was not going to work, she just wouldn't be able to live worrying if her so called friend was going to make a move on her boyfriend again.

"So I guess it's your turn now?" Peyton said changing the subject

"Oh yeah I guess it is" Brooke said realising that she now how to share a secret

"So go on then what is it?" Peyton asked excitedly for some reason, it was like at a sleepover when they would go round sharing all the latest gossip.

"If I tell you, you have to promise you won't tell anyone, and I mean that, no one knows so you'll be the only one, I don't even know why I'm telling you but I guess I will see if I can trust you won't I, so do you promise not to say a word of what I am about to tell you" Brooke asked, she had to be sure that Peyton would not blab to anyone and she meant anyone, she had kept it a secret for so long now but all secrets come out at some point so now was as good a time as any.

So what did you all think? I know that a lot more are reading this than are actually reviewing it, so please can you just spare a few seconds of your time and review it. Anyway I will update soon as always, glad you seemed to enjoy the last chapter.