" Stand Beside Me " Pt 7 - Bump In The Night
The music was pounding in Peyton's ears as she came eye to eye with Brooke. They were deep into one another as she heard Mia saying something from behind her.
" B..Brooke what is going on here? " Peyton mumbled, not understanding why her friend was doing this.
" What do you think is going on? " Brooke asked seductively. She brought her hands up and pulled them around Peyton's neck.
" Peyton I'm gonna take off. " Mia said from behind her.
" Um... okay. " Peyton said. She never took her eyes off Brooke as she spoke.
They continued to dance for another minute or so and then Brooke looked over Peyton's shoulder. She smiled and slid her hands back off of Peyton's shoulders.
" You're welcome. " She whispered into Peyton's ear. She started to walk off, in the direction of the ladies room. Peyton immediatly followed, not letting Brooke get away from her.
" Brooke what the hell was that? " Peyton yelled as they entered the empty bathroom. Brooke whirled around and looked confused.
" What the hell was what? " She asked.
" You, me, dancing. " Peyton replied.
" I thought you were being bothered by her. " Brooke said. She shrugged and turned towards the mirror.
" I was fine. " Peyton said. She looked down at her feet.
" Besides, she's not good enough for you. " Brooke added. She applied some lip gloss and puckered her lipes.
" You have to stop doing that. " Peyton said. She blushed and smiled at Brooke.
" Stop doing what? " Brooke asked. She turned and faced her friend.
" Nevermind. " Peyton said. She turned and walked a few steps over beside the stalls.
" Peyton tell me. " Brooke pleaded. She walked next to Peyton and looked at her. She saw tears forming in her friend's eyes.
" You have to stop doing things that make me want to do this... " Peyton said. She moved closer to Brooke and started to lean in for a kiss. Brooke looked shocked and moved back to avoid it. Peyton pulled back looking upset.
" Brooke I'm sorry. " She mumbled.
" Peyton... I " Brooke started.
" I have no idea what I'm doing. " Peyton said. She turned and ran from the bathroom leaving Brooke alone.
" Carson, I need a ride home! " Peyton yelled. She found Carson talking to some blonde neat the bar. He gave her a confused look.
" What's wrong Peyton? " He asked, trying hard to talk over the blasting music.
" Nothing, I just need to go. " Peyton lied. She fought hard to keep from crying. She didn't know what in the hell she was doing.
" What about Brooke? " Carson asked.
" I'm sure she'll find a way home. " Peyton said.
" Um well okay, let's go then. " Carson said.
They hurried out of the club. Peyton kept looking behind herself to see if Brooke were following. She couldn't stand to look at her right now. She didn't know what to ever tell her friend. She didn't know what had overcame her and now everything was ruined. Everything would never be the same.
From across the club, Brooke watched as Carson and Peyton ran off. She could almost feel how bad Peyton was feeling. She was full of confusion and didn't think that in a millon years Peyton would try something. Maybe it was the drinks? Maybe she was just feeling lonely.
Maybe you wanted her to do it.
Peyton made no small talk with Carson and hurried up to her room in the condo. She fell back on the bed and tried to stop the moment from repeating over and over in her head. She kept seeing Brooke's face everytime she closed her eyes. That look of disgust and confusion.
What the hell have I done? We cannot go back after this. This changes everything. She doesn't like you, she never will.
A knock at the door brought Peyton back. She sat up in bed and watched as Carson entered the bedroom.
" What happened tonight Peyton? " He asked.
" Nothing, I just didn't feel good and needed to come home. " Peyton lied. She ran a hand through her hair and then wiped the tears away from her eyes.
" You know, we have something in common. " Carson said. He reached down into his jacket and pulled a plastic bag out containing white powder. Peyton recognized it immediatly. It was the one thing that had almost destroyed her life once. The one thing that tempted her even to this day.
" How did you know? " Peyton asked.
" You were the subject of some Tree Hill gossip a year or so ago and I overheard my mother and some of her friends talking about how a girl at Tree Hill High was a coke fiend or something. Later on, I heard your name come up and when we met today, I knew we had somethings in common. " Carson explained.
" I quit that stuff last year. I'm not going back there. " Peyton said.
" I'm not here to give you drugs Peyton. " Carson said with a laugh. He placed the bag on the bed and sat down beside it.
" Then what do you want? " Peyton asked.
" Freshman year of college I got into alot of problems with this stuff. I got kicked out and even went to rehab over it. " Carson said.
" I don't really see what that has to do with me. " Peyton said.
" I keep this to remind me of what I went through and I guess it's just a comfort to have around, knowing that I can resist it or something. " Carson said.
" Well that's good for you. " Peyton said.
" I haven't been able to take my eyes off of you since we met Peyton. " Carson said.
" But I thought you and Brooke were... " Peyton started.
" Brooke and I arn't anything. She's fun, but she's not my type. " Carson finished. He moved closer to Peyton and ran his hand up onto her leg. She looked down and then looked back up to see him smiling.
Outside Nightshade, Brooke spotted a bus stop and went to sit down. She had been thinking alot about what had happened in the bathroom and what that meant to her.
I really care about Peyton, but do I want to risk everything for a chance at something that might not even last?
She watched as people exited the club, walking alone, hand in hand and looking at each other with love.
God I want that.
The night air was chilly and Brooke wished that she hadn't left her jacket at home. She crossed her arms over her chest and looked up at the dark sky. She remembered all the times that she and Peyton had went on camp outs in the backyard and counted the stars, or at least tried to. There were so many memories with Brooke, so much of her life had been spent with her best friend. She had been there for her through everything and if she even attempted to move forward with something more, all that would be lost.
Brooke knew she wasn't good at relationships and just because the one she was considering might be of a different nature didn't mean it would last. She knew that she and Peyton's friendship could not survive another dramatic ordeal. Everything with Lucas had nearly put an end to them and they had worked so hard to get that back.
What if it does work out? What if she's the one? What if she's the love of your life?
" Brooke mentioned something about you going through a rough spot right now and I don't want to complicate anything further. " Carson said. He looked deep into Peyton's eyes as he closed in on her. She was giving him all the right signals and seemed to be into him, now one test remained.
" Don't listen to Brooke, what does she know? " Peyton asked with a sly smile. She leaned in placed her lips against Carson's, letting him put his arms around her.
Oh God what am I doing?
After a ten minute long bus ride, Brooke arrived on the same street as the condo. She got off the bus and hurried down the sidewalk towards the house.
I'm going to do it, I'm going to tell her how I feel about us.
Brooke walked onward, entering the main gates to the condo and then down the driveway and up to the front door. She noticed that Carson had left it unlocked and she silently thanked him for not making her go around to the back. She went into the living room and then down the hall towards the guest room.
I'm going to take this risk. I have to see where it will go.
She slowly made her way to the guest room door and pushed it open.
" Brooke! " Peyton yelled from the bed.
Brooke gasped at the sight of Peyton and Carson in bed together. They were obviously in the middle of something. Brooke felt tears welling up in her eyes as she scanned their clothing on the floor next to a bag of what appeared to be cocaine.
" Oh my God Peyton how could you? " She managed to blurt out before she turned and ran from the room.