A/N: I'm sorry this UD took ages, it was hard to write! I love them both but Peyton wasn't in the right here so I had to make sure that was clear. I hope it was. Ugh I'm nervous!
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my words.
We can't survive one boy?
Not one boy Peyton, my boy.
The brunette and the blonde stood staring at each other for a long time. Overhead more thunder rumbled softly and the wind whipped Brooke's hair across her face; she ignored it. Slowly she folded her arms and raised her eyebrows. Peyton was still standing looking awkward in jeans and a baggy tee shirt. She looked a mess; Brooke resisted the urge to point this out and continued to wait for her former best friend to explain her sudden appearance. The silence seemed to go on forever and finally Brooke lost her patience.
"Look Peyton, I don't know what the hell you're doing here but I've got a family to get back to and-"
"So overnight my family has become your family," Peyton interrupted bitterly, "how fair is that Brooke?"
Brooke took a step towards her, "don't try and lecture me about fair Peyton. You had your chance. I walked away and I tried to be a good friend to you, even though the whole time you had the one thing I loved more than anything else."
"You never told me you felt that way Brooke! And then you had the nerve to come back here and take everything you wanted!"
"Excuse me?"
"You knew how I felt about Lucas and-"
"We're not doing this again Peyton," Brooke cut in, holding up a hand, "we're done arguing over who broke more best friend rules because you broke the mother of all rules when you became the dirty mistress and cheated with one of your best friend's husbands! Now what the hell are you doing here Peyton?"
"I came to see Karen get married, regardless of what you think, I do still care about her at least."
"Peyton I don't know what kind of gesture you were attempting to make but you cannot think you're ok to be here when you know Haley is inside. No matter how you feel about anyone else you should show her some damn respect!"
"She didn't see me!"
"That is not the point!" Brooke took a step towards her, furious at the girl for having the nerve to be here, "you and Nathan just think you can come and take what you want and hurt anyone and everyone in the process and then just swan back in to our lives without so much as an apology! Well it doesn't work like that Peyton! You don't get to be that selfish. Dammit you're not sixteen anymore!"
"You were the same age you are right now when you were making out with my boyfriend Brooke!"
"I didn't plan it and unlike you both times you ran around behind your friend's backs I came clean and apologised as soon as it happened. I felt awful about it! God do you have any idea how much I wished it hadn't happened like that, how I wish I could take it back and change it? I can't take it back and I wish I could and I can't justify it. But you! You keep trying to act like our behaviour is one in the same, you think you can justify everything you did! You and Nathan- you can't have felt bad at all because you didn't have a one night stand or a momentary lapse in judgement that led to one kiss Peyton you screwed a marriage up!"
"Don't do that Brooke, don't pretend like you're better than me just because you ended up getting everything you wanted; that doesn't make you right!"
"I never said I was right Peyton! And I have never once thought or acted like I was better than you. God, did you know that for years I felt like I was second best to you? I spent most of my teenage years wondering what you had that I didn't!" She clutched her chest briefly and then shook her head, "but that doesn't matter now. We should have gotten over all the high school drama the moment it was over! Haley was your friend, you were there when her children were born, how could you do that to her?!"
"It's actually none of your business," Peyton said cooly.
"Oh get over yourself you made it my business when I caught you screwing my friend's husband! So here we are Peyton," she shrugged, lifting her hands, "I'm not going to let you ruin Haley's day like you've ruined mine so please, tell me, did you have anything else to say?"
Peyton stared at her for a second and then shook her head, "nope, I'm done here. We're done."
Brooke nodded slowly, understanding the double meaning to her words, "fine by me," she said hoarsely.
"Hm," Peyton almost laughed, "the end of nearly fifteen years of friendship and all you can say is fine by me?"
"I'm not sorry," Brooke said softly, "you lost my friendship the first moment you decided to make a move on someone else's husband."
"It wasn't like that it-"
"I don't care how it was; he was married Peyton." She turned away and began to walk up the steps, "and that means everything."
Peyton watched her go and Brooke turned to glance back at her as the rain began to fall, for a moment they gazed levelly at one another and then Brooke shook her head and walked inside. It was over.
I gave you a second chance Peyton, and you blew it.
Inside the hotel people were swarming round her and she was jostled around, losing her footing occasionally and uncomfortably near to tears. She brushed her face impatiently, come on Brooke, today was supposed to be a happy day. But dammit the two people she wanted to see least in the world had somehow managed to find her on the one day she wanted to be happy. They couldn't just leave her alone? Somehow this had fallen on her shoulders and she felt like the weight was almost crushing her. She stumbled into the nearest bathroom and pushed open the nearest cubicle door, retching slightly, dizziness making her sink to her knees. Her head was spinning and she could feel hot tears slip down her face. So that was it, her best friend was no longer in her life, and she couldn't have done anything to stop it. If only she'd talked to her sooner- maybe reminded her forcibly that Nathan was married before anyone got hurt- but it was too late. Peyton hadn't come to her and that completely summed up how far they had fallen apart. She sat back against the wall and closed her eyes wearily; this was not how today was supposed to go. She hated that she cared so much. Her best friend. Haley. Nathan. This was so screwed up. She wiped her eyes angrily and inhaled hard.
Lucas was starting to panic. She wasn't in any of the dressing rooms, she wasn't in the ballroom and she wasn't answering her cell. Pushing through the crowds of people, giving quick and strained smiles here and there he made his way outside and peered out into the rain.
"Brooke!" He jogged down the steps and squinted across the car park, "Brooke?" Swallowing down the morbid thoughts his overactive imagination was currently having he dialled her number again and tapped his foot impatiently. Her cell went straight to voicemail and he sighed inwardly, "I'm trying not to be overprotective here pretty girl but you don't normally have a tendency to disappear without telling me where you're going. You missed the first dance but hopefully you'll make it back before they throw the bouquet..." he fell silent and then shook his head, "look just call me babe, something doesn't feel right." He dropped his phone back in his pocket and glancing round one last time he scratched the back of his neck nervously and headed back inside.
"Brooke?" Haley opened the twenty third bathroom door she'd checked in and stopped short, "Brooke what are you doing?!"
Brooke was sitting on the floor underneath the hand drier and was making her way though her third plate of cake. Her hazel eyes shot up guiltily and slowly she pulled the fork she'd been using out of her mouth and licked her lips. "Hey Hales, what's up?"
"What's up?! Luke's going crazy looking for you and I was beginning to wonder Chris had convinced you to run off with him or something." She narrowed her eyes, "what are you doing in here and why are you sitting on the floor?"
"My feet started hurting," Brooke said simply.
"That's not what I meant."
"It's what you asked!"
"Brooke!"
"Fine, I was hungry and I didn't want everyone to see me demolish half the cake."
Haley chuckled and then came to sit down next to her, taking the plate and helping herself to a corner of icing and cream. "Good cake," she mumbled.
"Yeah," Brooke agreed quietly.
They both ate in silence for a moment, passing the fork between them and then finally Haley dusted off her hands and twisted to look at Brooke seriously.
Brooke widened her eyes at her innocently, "what?"
"Brooke Penelope Davis, don't even try the cute eyes- I have a five year old!"
"Fine," Brooke pouted briefly and then relented, "I'm sorry Hales; I've just been so hormonal today, I thought I'd better stay out of everybody's way."
Haley raised her eyebrows, "seriously? You're gonna tell me you're hormonal and expect to believe you? Brooke stop it! You're the one person in my life I count on not to lie to me."
"Ok fine I'm sorry," she struggled to stand, knocking cake plates everywhere and put her hands on her hips crossly, "I know I'm not supposed to lie to you Hales and I hate that you count on me for being honest and I'm letting you down! It's just... I don't want to tell you today Hales! I want you to have a perfect day and be happy with Luke and Karen!" She began to pace, "if I tell you now then I ruin your day but if I don't tell you now I'm lying to you and I don't want to lie to you Hales because I love you! And you were so supportive of me when I came back and I-"
"Brooke enough!" Haley had stood up as Brooke was ranting and clutched her shoulders suddenly, "stop rambling and look at me."
Slowly Brooke looked up at her friend, biting her lip. Finally she exhaled and gushed out, "Hales I saw Nathan today."
Haley blinked in surprise, "oh."
"And I didn't want to tell you but-" Haley was staring at the floor and Brooke tilted her head to one side, "oh honey I'm sorry, I knew I shouldn't have said anything."
"No it's ok," Haley said suddenly, "I've been wrestling with whether to tell you this all week."
"Tell me what?"
"Nathan's been coming by and apologising since last Thursday."
Brooke felt her eyes widen in shock, "what?!"
"I haven't given him an inch," she said firmly, "I let him see Jamie and Grace but I wouldn't talk to him and yesterday I told him to stop trying so I guess- I guess he's decided to pick on you instead."
"Oh sweetie I'm so sorry, why didn't you tell me?"
Haley shrugged, "I just- I didn't want you to worry anymore than you already are about me- I'm a big girl you know? Besides you know what you're like- you would have felt compelled to tell Lucas and he'd probably be in jail right now instead of at his mother's wedding for trying to beat Nathan half to death on the drive."
Brooke laughed and then nodded, "he does do pretty good when he's defending someone he loves. But Hales you should have told me! I could have-"
"Exactly honey, you would have wanted to do something and this is my problem. I love you and Lucas for being there for me but Nathan and I have to deal with this ourselves."
"I feel like I made things worse coming home and pushing Peyton-"
"Don't be stupid," Haley said sharply, "this is not your fault Brooke."
"It's not yours either Hales!"
Haley sighed, "it's not my fault he was a lousy cheater but it was partly my fault he felt like he had no one to talk to- no one to turn to when we were struggling. We should have been supporting one another, not trying to place blame and cheating and ugh, what a mess we've made."
Brooke moved forward and rubbed her friend's back soothingly, "you couldn't have known he would do something so stupid."
"You know I thought we were past the other women but that's just it isn't it? Nathan's always going to run when he hits trouble, he's always going to find an escape instead of dealing with his problems head on." Brooke swallowed, she suddenly felt like she could relate to the running part. "Don't do that either Miss Davis," Haley suddenly said.
"Do what?"
"Don't compare yourself to Nathan."
"I was just as bad," she exclaimed morosely, "I- Lucas-" she voiced her inner fears, she was exactly the same as the lousy cheaters, "I kissed Lucas when he was with Peyton."
"Brooke honey, you had a one time lapse in judgement, you screwed up and you worked like hell to apologise and make up for it. But Nathan and Peyton- they weren't finding ways to tell me or even feeling guilty about it- they were just screwing around. There's a difference."
"I feel like because everyone forgave me, I should be telling you to forgive Nathan when I could just kill him!"
Haley gave her a half smile, "Brooke, you're not perfect but you gotta cut yourself some slack. Things were complicated and you were suddenly with the person you loved most in the world for the first time in five years, I don't judge you for kissing Lucas- hell we've all done the one time stupid kiss thing. And Lucas wasn't married- you guys have a child together," she sat down on the chair they'd been sitting beside and rested her chin in her hands, "god, what has he done?"
Brooke knew they weren't talking about Lucas or her anymore and the relief she had felt when Haley had assured her she wasn't a truly terrible person was replaced with concern for her friend. She knelt down in front of Haley and touched her knee, "Hales? Do you want to forgive Nathan?"
"No," Haley said vehemently, "but god I wish we could just go back and change it all you know? Maybe if I hadn't been so wrapped up in Grace and Jamie-"
"They're your children," Brooke suddenly broke in, "they come before anything, trust me, I get that."
Haley met her eyes dubiously and then nodded, "I know."
"Maybe, maybe you don't have to forgive him right now," Brooke thought aloud, "maybe you don't even have to be with him. Maybe you can focus on you for a while Hales. I mean when was the last time you did something for yourself?"
Scoffing Haley rolled her eyes, "I went on tour- remember how that worked out?"
Brooke shook her head, "Haley stop it! Stop beating yourself up!"
"I will if you will," Haley retorted.
For a second they both narrowed their eyes at one another and then Brooke broke out into a wide smile, "come on," she grabbed Haley's hand, "let's just go and spend some time with our family and forget about everything else."
"Ahh sounds perfect!"
You're such a grouch when Lucas isn't around!
Linking arms the two brunettes made their way back into the ballroom where Karen and Andy were dancing with Lily in between them and Jayden and Jamie were demolishing the rest of the cake. Lucas looked up from leaning against the bar and his face washed with relief. "Brooke!"
He strode towards them and she pulled an apologetic face, "I'm sorry! I- I was eating cake."
"Cake?!" He kissed her and glanced at Haley, "Hales you have icing on your face."
"Oh!" Haley rubbed at her face and glared at Brooke, "thanks for the heads up!"
"I didn't notice!"
Brooke examined Haley's skin now and Haley pulled away, "stop it!"
"I'm sorry!"
Brooke felt near to tears again and Haley gripped her hand, "oh no Brooke I'm sorry-"
"No it's ok," she brushed her hands away crossly, "damn hormones!"
"It's perfectly normal," Lucas began, smiling benignly down at her.
"No it's not, I do not cry like this!"
Haley snorted, "Brooke you cry at commercials."
"Yeah well you know what I mean!"
"You're pregnant, you're bound to be more emotional," Lucas rubbed his chest, "I know I am."
Brooke shoved his arm, "don't mock me."
He began to laugh and slipped an arm round her waist, "ok ok, sorry baby, it's completely abnormal and you're the first pregnant woman ever to cry at nothing."
Haley sniggered and Brooke pulled away from Lucas, folding her arms and pouting, "stop it both of you! You can't gang up on me- I'm pregnant!"
"You're right, we're sorry," Haley scrunched up her nose, "it's just so easy."
"Ugh I hate you both!" She tossed her hair and stormed off across the dance floor to where Millicent was sitting having a thumb war with Jayden.
"Hey baby," she dropped a kiss on his head and sat down, scowling across to where Lucas and Haley were laughing with Skillz. Lucas glanced across at her and winked and unwillingly she couldn't help but smile back. Rolling her eyes she turned back to her son, "what you up to?"
"Beating Millie for the hundredth time," he beamed up at her, "now she owes me a watch and a car!"
She laughed, "is that all?!"
Millicent met her eyes in amusement, "yeah I told him he has to wait until he's at least ten for the watch though- they're so easy to lose. But we can get on the car thing now if you like?"
"Absolutely," Brooke deadpanned, "his legs are still shorter than mine and I can barely reach the steering wheel."
"That's because you own a car that's too big for you," Millie retorted.
"Is it pick on Brooke day or something?!"
Millicent chuckled, messing with something on her cell, "oh hey Rach is flying in tomorrow."
Brooke looked up in surprise, "really? Oh goody!"
"Yeah she had a fight with the man so she had delay the flight to have make up s-"
"Hey!" Brooke cut her off before she could finish her sentence and Millicent coughed awkwardly. "Honestly," Brooke muttered, "you can take the girl out of New York but you can't take New York out of the dirty mouthed girl."
"Hey momma," Jayden suddenly interrupted the girls teasing.
"Yeah honey?"
"Can I stay over at Jamie's tonight?"
"Well I don't know Jay, we'll have to ask Aunt Haley. Now you too cool to wanna dance with your mom?"
He considered her for a moment and then smiled, "no, that'd be ok."
"Oh well thanks mister," she grinned at Millicent and then took her son's hand, pulling him onto the dance floor. Jayden humoured her for two songs and then began to look seriously bored.
"You mind if I cut in there kiddo?" Lucas slinked a hand round her back and looked down at his son expectantly.
"Maybe he does mind," Brooke kinked an eyebrow, "maybe he'll get emotional if we have to part."
Jayden raised his young eyebrows and shook his head, "no offence mom but I'm gonna go find Jayden."
"Thanks for the support honey!"
Lucas grinned at her triumphantly as Jayden disappeared, she scowled at him. "I'm still mad at you."
"Ohhh," he wound his arms around her waist, "I know."
"Hey," she said suddenly, stiffening in his arms, "we need to talk."
"I know," he replied easily.
"You do?"
"I've been waiting for you to tell me what's been bugging you all day," he twirled her under his arm easily and pulled her back towards him, "so spill pretty girl."
When life gets hard, when things change, true love remains the same.
So, obviously the issues raised in this chapter aren't over- i'm not trying to gloss over anything, I just didn't want to drag it out in every conversation. i hope it was ok anyway!
