(Honeygrove Prom: Tyler Hilton can be heard performing in the background)

Following her fight with Haley, Brooke had removed the flask that Chris had given her earlier from her purse and heading in the opposite direction to the one Haley had disappeared in. The minutes following the fight seemed to pass by in a blur and before she knew it, Brooke was standing in an empty bathroom, in the main school building.

Void of all thoughts, of all emotion, Brooke took a seat on the floor, leaning her back against the bathroom wall and opening the flask in her hand slowly. For a moment Brooke stared at the flask blankly, before throwing the lid in her other hand across the room towards the opposite wall.

Brooke rested her head back against the wall where she was sitting and sighed.

"Bottoms up," she said before taking a large swig of the liquor.

As she swallowed the liquid in her throat Brooke's face contorted in disgust.

"What kind of person drinks whiskey?" she asked herself before taking another sip.

Just because she didn't like it, didn't mean that she wasn't going to drink it.

For a moment Brooke stared around the room, taking in the yellow wall tiles and light blue linoleum on the floor beneath her.

Brooke was in the process of drinking some more from the flask when someone entered the bathroom door. The student stopped the moment that she noticed Brooke sitting down on the floor. She took a minute to process the image before her, slowly approaching Brooke and closing the bathroom door behind her.

When she noticed the flask in Brooke's hand the student finally spoke up.

"What are you drinking?" she asked Brooke.

Brooke had been so lost in her own thoughts that she'd not even noticed the girl standing over her, until she had spoken. She looked up at the student in surprise and smiled, her head feeling light and foggy from the alcohol flowing through her veins.

Although Brooke had only had a few sips of Chris' whiskey, that in combination with the tequila and her concussion was making her feel sluggish and drunk. Although it had been almost a day since she'd suffered the blow to her head, the fact that she'd been drunk last night and continued this morning was all working to her disadvantage.

"Hey!" Brooke said raising the flask for the girl to take. "Want some?"

The girl took the flask from Brooke and had a sip, spluttering as the whiskey hit the back of her throat. After she'd finished coughing the girl handed the flask back to Brooke.

"Sit," Brooke said tapping a space on the floor beside her.

The girl studied Brooke a moment longer before pulling the tall trash can in front of the door to keep any other venturing students out. Once she was certain that no one would catch them drinking the girl took a seat beside Brooke and turned to look at her once more as she had another sip from the flask.

Brooke looked back towards the girl, noticing her shoulder length blonde hair and the elegant black dress she was wearing.

"What's your name?" Brooke asked slurring slightly and handing the flask back to the girl.

"Vanessa," she said before taking a swig of drink.

Brooke smiled at the girl a moment before offering her own name.

"I'm Brooke," she said taking the offered flask back from Vanessa.

"So Brooke," Vanessa said resting back against the wall. "Why are you hiding out in here?"

Brooke turned to look at Vanessa and handed her the flask back.

"Just thinking," she said, mumbling slightly. "What about you?"

Vanessa removed the flask from her lips and passed it back to Brooke.

"Same," Vanessa answered. "To be honest, I'm not exactly having a good night."

"Join the club," Brooke said having another drink. "One of my best friends just found out that I've been lying to her for the last few months and she is extremely mad."

"That sucks," Vanessa said taking the flask back.

"I guess," Brooke said looking at Vanessa through hazy eyes.

Vanessa took a long swig of whiskey to fill the silence that had followed.

"So what's your story?" Brooke asked after a minute. "Won't your date be wondering where you've got to?"

Vanessa passed the flask to Brooke as she answered.

"I haven't got one," Vanessa answered her. "My boyfriend broke up with me yesterday, turns out he only went out with me to get closer to my best friend. Surprisingly neither of them are here tonight."

Brooke looked closely at the girl as she removed the flask from her lips.

"I'm sorry," she said handing her the flask.

"Yeah well," Vanessa said looking at the flask before her. "I'm better off without them. He was a jerk and she was a bitch. They're a match made in heaven if you ask me."

Vanessa passed the flask back to Brooke without drinking anything.

Brooke looked at Vanessa confused.

"You don't seem very upset," Brooke said interestedly. "Aren't you mad?"

"My philosophy," Vanessa said meeting Brooke's gaze. "Is to move on. Why waste your time trying to change something that you know you're never going to be able to? I'd much rather spend it doing something productive."

"Like drinking?" Brooke asked her.

"Partly," Vanessa answered laughing. "I meant more like focusing on myself and achieving what I want out of life."

Vanessa paused for a moment before continuing.

"Well, that and getting revenge of course." She said winking at Brooke who took another swig from the flask.

"What did you do?" Brooke asked.

She'd only just met Vanessa but from the little conversation they'd shared already, Brooke already liked her.

"Let's just say that my ex-boyfriend is otherwise engaged tonight, somehow he managed to get himself handcuffed to a public fence naked." Vanessa answered her.

"No way," Brooke said laughing. "What about you friend?"

"My ex-best friend wasn't too impressed when she got suspended today for painting graffiti on one of the bathroom stalls at school." Vanessa finished.

"I'll make sure not to upset you tonight then," Brooke said, drinking from the flask and laughing.

Once she'd finished she offered the flask back to Vanessa who waved it off. Brooke shrugged before having another sip.

"So what about you?" Vanessa asked. "Isn't the famous Chris Keller going to wonder where you've disappeared to?"

Brooke looked at Vanessa surprised.

"I saw you with him earlier," she said answering Brooke's questioning expression.

"I doubt it," Brooke answered continuing her drink.

"How'd you meet him?" Vanessa asked Brooke. "Are you a singer as well?"

"Uh, no." Brooke said laughing. "I'd prove it to you but I'm afraid your head will explode."

"You that bad?" Vanessa laughed.

"Oh yeah," Brooke said having some more whiskey. "I met him through a friend…. well ex-friend as of tonight."

"Haley?" Vanessa questioned.

Brooke nodded, "How do you know Haley?"

"I saw her on tour with Chris last year." Vanessa shrugged.

"Oh my god," Brooke said laughing. "Are you a fan?"

"Yeah," Vanessa said smiling at Brooke. "Are you saying you're not?"

"I don't know I've never really listened to his music." Brooke answered.

"Wait you're going out with him, but you've never listened to his music?" Vanessa asked confused.

"Whoa," Brooke said. "Me and Chris are not going out. I mean ok, we slept together once but other than that we barely even know each other really. Plus I don't think I could be in another relationship with three people. Just me, Chris and his ego."

Brooke had some more of her drink and shook the flask realising that it was almost empty.

"Well, maybe you could introduce us then?" Vanessa asked.

"You like him?" Brooke asked incredulously.

"What's not to like?" Vanessa responded. "He's funny, handsome, not to mention a musician. He's the total package."

"If you say so," Brooke said laughing as she finished what was left in the flask and frowned as she turned it upside down to find it empty.

Vanessa watched Brooke closely, sensing that whatever the fight had been about was troubling her greatly.

"I need more alcohol," Brooke said as she attempted to stand up.

As she did Brooke threw the flask across the room and leant against the sink beside her. She stumbled slightly as she stood almost falling back into the wall beside her.

"Don't you think you've had enough?" Vanessa said concerned. "You already seem pretty wasted."

"I'm fine," Brooke said waving her off and making her way to the door in a disjointed line.

Vanessa rushed ahead and moved the trashcan out of her way allowing Brooke into the corridor outside.

"Hey," Brooke said, putting her hand on Vanessa's shoulder. "It was nice talking to you. Listen if you'll still around later come find me, I'll introduce you to Chris. Maybe then he won't care if I go home."

"You want me to walk you back to the gym?" Vanessa asked as she watched Brooke stumble away.

Brooke turned to face her for a moment.

"No," Brooke said. "You do you thing or whatever it is that you were doing. I'll be fine."

With that Brooke turned and walked back towards the gym, bumping into a locker or two as she did.

Vanessa watched her until she disappeared around the corner, before raising her eyebrow and heading in the opposite direction.

(Honeygrove Prom: Gym- Empty Apartment by Yellowcard is now playing)

As Brooke entered the gym again, she saw Peyton walking quickly towards her.

"Where have you been?" Peyton asked her after a moment.

"No where," Brooke asked slurring obviously.

"Are you drunk?" Peyton said recognising the signs.

"Of course not," Brooke said wrapping her arm around Peyton's waist. "You having a good time P. Sawyer?"

Peyton wrapped her arm around Brooke's waist tighter, pulling her nearer to her side.

"Are you?" she countered.

"Yep," Brooke said slipping slightly. "The best."

Brooke poked Peyton slowly on the shoulder, taking her time to focus so that she wouldn't miss.

"Seriously Brooke, how much have you had?" Peyton asked.

"Not much," Brooke answered.

"Brooke…" Peyton began shifting Brooke's weight on her slightly.

Just then Chris approached from the direction of the stage.

"Ok, Brooke Davis," he started ignoring the fact that Peyton had been talking. "You ready for the fun to start?"

Brooke nodded and wriggled free from Peyton's hold.

"Let's go." Brooke answered moving beside him.

Chris wrapped his arm around Brooke's shoulder, alerting Peyton to the fact that however much Brooke had drunk it was definitely too much.

"Ok," she said grabbing Brooke's arm. "Listen, I need to talk to you about something important. What do you say I take you back to the motel?"

"Where's the fun it that?" Brooke asked her.

"Oh come on Brooke, you, me and Blondie? Sounds like fun to me." Chris said arrogantly.

"Eww," Brooke said looking at Peyton. "No offence."

Peyton laughed despite herself.

"What did you want to talk about?" Brooke asked her when no one else said anything.

"Haley…" Peyton started.

"Uh uh," Brooke said putting her hand up in front of her to stop Peyton continuing. "I'd rather not."

"Brooke you don't understand…" Peyton began.

"Not listening," Brooke sang before becoming serious. "Look, Peyton I'll be fine," she said putting her hand on Peyton's shoulder. "You enjoy the rest of your night, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

With that Brooke started towards the door, Chris following beside her.

"Brooke," Peyton tried again.

Brooke turned to face Peyton, interrupting her again.

"I love you Peyton, you know that, but you worry too much." Brooke said tapping Peyton playfully on the arm. "I'm not going far, besides I'll see you in the room later on."

Peyton noticed, Nathan and the others watching from the table where they were sitting, Lucas now among them. Haley was still outside at the gazebo, not having returned since Peyton had left her.

Brooke winked at Peyton before continuing out of the gym and onto the street with Chris.

Once Brooke had disappeared outside, Peyton returned to the table and looked pointedly at Mouth.

"Hey listen," she said suggestively.

"I'm already on it." Mouth said seriously standing from the table and looking towards Skills. "You fancy a little trip?"

"You want me to spy on Brooke," Skills asked.

"Not so much spying as making sure she get back to the motel ok," Peyton said in answer to his question.

Skills seemed to consider it for a moment before answering.

"Ok," he said standing a turning back to Mouth. "Let's go dawg."

With that Mouth and Skills followed in the direction of Brooke and Chris.

The three of the watched as they too left the gym and disappeared into the night.

"I'm going to go check on Haley," Nathan said standing up and looking at Peyton. "She's been out there a long time."

Peyton nodded in approval and turned towards Lucas who was standing from his seat.

As Nathan left the table, Lucas pulled Peyton into a silent embrace as she sighed into his chest. They stood there for a moment like this as Lucas rocked her gently in his arms and brushed the side of her face tenderly.

At this Peyton looked up to meet his gaze, sharing a meaningful look before he pulled her in closer again.

(Honeygrove: Outside)

"So where are we going?" Chris asked Brooke as they walked away from the prom in the opposite direction to where Haley was sitting alone at the gazebo.

"Somewhere that has alcohol," Brooke said in response.

"What happened to the flask you took earlier?" Chris questioned curiously.

"I drank it," Brooke said matter of factly.

"Ok," Chris said smiling as he supported her. "A bar it is."