Hazy Eyes

Even the Best Fall Down Sometimes

Brooke sat backstage as she waited for the other acts to finish. It was about 6:45 and her hands were shaking like crazy. She didn't know if she could get up in front of all those people and sing, and she was also nervous because she didn't know whether or not Peyton, Lucas, and Nathan would show up.

She looked once more out into the audience and saw Nathan coming in and sitting down at a table in the front. Brooke secretly smiled to herself, she then saw Peyton come in and sit down next to Nathan.

"You're on in 5," the manager said to Brooke, "Are you going to be okay?"

Brooke nodded, "Yeah," she said nervously, "I've just never performed in front of an audience before..."

The manager laughed and patted Brooke on the shoulder, "Good luck kid."

Brooke let out a weak smile and then looked out into the audience more, she saw Lucas come in and sit down beside Nathan. She noticed the weird looks that he and Peyton were giving each other. Her thoughts were interrupted by the clapping of the audience. It was her turn.

Brooke took a deep breath and walked out on the stage. She sat on the chair center stage and rested her guitar on her leg. She strummed the beginning chords and took a deep breath, 'Here we go Brooke,' she thought to herself.

"I wake up in the morning, put on my face, the one that's gonna' get me through another day," Brooke belted out, "Doesn't really matter, how I feel inside this life is like a game sometimes..."

Brooke looked at Nathan and watched him as he listened intensely to her words, "Then you came around me, the walls just disappeared. Nothing to surround me, or keep me from my fears I'm unprotected. See how I've opened up. Oh, you made me trust," she sang.

"Cause I've never felt like this before...I'm naked...Around you...Does it show? You see right through me and I can't hide...I'm naked...Around you...And it feels so right!"

Lucas and Peyton looked at each other, she smiled at him and he smiled back. Peyton looked down at the ground and then back up at Brooke, "I'm trying to remember why I was afraid. To be myself and let the covers fall away. Guess I never had someone like you, to help me fit...In my skin!" Brooke strummed her guitar hard and let out one last note and ended the song.

Nathan, Peyton, and Lucas all stood and clapped and whistled, "Thank you," Brooke giggled into the mic.

15 minutes later Brooke walked out from backstage and saw the three of them waiting for her, "That was amazing," Peyton said when Brooke got closer.

"Thanks," Brooke said with a grateful smile, "Thanks for coming guys."

Peyton hugged Brooke, "We're glad we did..."

Lucas rubbed Peyton's back, "How about we all go back to my house for pizza?"

"Sounds good," Peyton said as she slipped her hand into Lucas's and went outside with him.

"They're back together," Nathan said out loud.

Brooke looked at him in confusion, "They broke up?"

Nathan nodded, "Yeah, but I guess now they're back together...I guess, she forgave him," he hinted.

"Yeah," Brooke said softly, "Let's go."

Nathan, Brooke, Peyton, and Lucas sat in Lucas's living room and ate pizza and watched a movie, "Where did you learn to play the guitar?" Lucas asked.

"My mom taught me," Brooke said.

Peyton took a bite of pizza, "Where did you learn to sing?"

"Um?" Brooke said, "I just kind of started singing one day and my nanny thought I sounded pretty good..."

"You're an amazing singer," Peyton pointed out.

Nathan rubbed Brooke's shoulder, "Yeah, she is pretty amazing..."

"I have some news to tell you guys," Brooke said, "This guy backstage asked me to be in his band...Like lead vocals or something like that," she said with a smile.

Peyton grinned, "You're kidding?"

"Nope," Brooke laughed, "And I said yes, so now I'm officially in a band!"

Nathan froze, "You're in a band?"

"Yeah," Brooke said, "I leave tonight..."

"Wait?" Peyton exclaimed, "Leave?"

Brooke set her pizza down, "Yeah, they're a band from New York, and I'll have to live there if I want to be in the band."

"You're just going to pick up and leave?" Peyton asked, "What about school?"

Brooke sighed, "I'll probably attend classes in New York," she said, "This is a big chance for me and..."

Lucas handed her a drink, "Congrats Brooke, you deserve it."

Brooke smiled, "Thanks guys..." She looked at Nathan and his face was stone, "I should get packing," she said apprehensively, "Thanks for the pizza," she said and then left.

Brooke packed her stuff and heard a knock on her front door, she opened in and saw Nathan, "I thought you were the band for a second," she said, "Come in."

"You can't leave," Nathan said as he walked in, "You just can't..."

Brooke sighed and dug her hands in her pockets, "I have to go Nathan...There's nothing here for me in Tree Hill."

"Yes there is," Nathan exclaimed, "You have Peyton and Lucas...and me."

"This is a one in lifetime opportunity," Brooke said.

Nathan leaned in and kissed Brooke passionately on the lips, "Stay," he said after the kiss broke.

"I don't want to get hurt again," Brooke said with hurt in her voice.

Nathan stroked her cheek, "I promise you I will never hurt you again..."

Brooke kissed Nathan back, "I'll tell the band," she said.

Brooke and Nathan sat up in Brooke's room as she unpacked her stuff, "I can't believe I'm doing this for a guy," Brooke said with a stifled laugh.

"Did I mention thank you?" Nathan chuckled.

Brooke walked over to Nathan and kissed him on the top of the head, "You're welcome," she whispered. Brooke got on top of him and began to kiss him forcefully.

"Brooke," Nathan said softly.

"I want you to be my first," Brooke said nervously, "I want it to be now."

Nathan held Brooke, "Brooke you don't have to do this..."

"I know, I want to," Brooke said as she kissed Nathan again passionately.

Peyton lay on Lucas's couch and watched TV, "So are we back together?" Lucas said as he sat down.

"Yeah," Peyton said with a small smile.

Lucas rubbed Peyton's head, "You know that the last thing I would ever want to do is make you mad or upset you..."

"I know," Peyton said as she began to get up.

Lucas let out a deep breath, "Will you marry me Peyton?"

Peyton looked at him in disbelief, "You're kidding?" She asked with a nervous laugh.

"No," Lucas said as he took her hands in his, "I love you."

Peyton's eyes began to water, "I love you too," she said as she kissed him on the lips, "But marriage? Luke, we're 17."

"I know it sounds crazy," Lucas said, "But I love you more than anything in this whole entire world, and I just want to be with you forever..."

Peyton smiled, "So will you marry me?" Lucas asked, "Give me your heart..."

"Yes," Peyton said, "I will marry you."

Lucas leaned in and kissed Peyton passionately, "I love you," he said in between kisses.

Peyton, Brooke, Lucas, and Nathan sat on the beach, Nathan and Brooke held onto each other as did Lucas and Peyton.

Lucas chuckled to himself, "So guys, what's up?"

Nathan and Brooke looked at each other, "Nothing much," Brooke said and then kissed Nathan on the lips, "What about you guys?"

Peyton laughed, and looked at Lucas, "Well, Peyton and I got married," Lucas said.

Brooke and Nathan laughed, "About time," Nathan said.

"I have a feeling the rest of this year will be pretty kick ass," Peyton said as she lay on the sand.

The three of them nodded in agreement as they watched the stars above them.

And as for Haley:

"I'm pregnant," Haley said to Mr. Ladle, her 34 year old English teacher who happened to be married.

Mr. Ladle looked at Haley in disbelief, "How could this have happened?"

Haley's eyes began to water, "I don't know..."

"I can't do this," the teacher said as he gathered his stuff, "I've got a wife and a kid of my own...This was all a mistake Haley...I'm sorry," he said and then left her room.

...Karma's a bitch.

THE END

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