A little History for my story: Peyton, Luke and Brooke have been friends forever…think the Three Musketeers. Nathan and Haley have been friends and dating for the last three months. They all kind of hang out together. Peyton and Brooke are on the cheerleading squad. Nathan and Luke are on the basketball team (obviously)!!! Haley is tutor/part-time cheerleader (alternate, when needed)!!!

THANKS FOR ALL THE REVIEWS. YOU GUYS ROCK!!!!!

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"Attention." Whitey shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Will all the girls get on the left and the boys on the right. The point of this camping trip is to have fun, but also to be safe. So the girls' tents will over here" he pointed to a cluster of trees near the water. "The boys' tents will be over there" he pointed to a clearing on the other side of the campfire pits near the water.

The boys groaned. Some smirked. Others jeered Whitey.

The girls smiled. Some pouted. Others cheered Whitey.

"The first order of business is to set up camp, and then we'll start making dinner." Whitey ordered.

Haley walked over to Nathan's car to grab her duffel bag and sleeping bag. She turned around to look at Nathan, poking him lightly in the chest. "That's too bad Scott. I'd hoped to spend the night snuggled with you in our sleeping bag. But if you're a good boy, maybe I'll sneak over to your tent."

Hoisting her duffel over one shoulder and her sleeping bag under her other arm, she set off for the cluster of trees. She left Nathan with his mouth hanging open.

"Might want to shut that mouth, it's not very sexy." Haley winked saucily at him.

****

Brooke followed Luke as he carried her duffel and sleeping bag to the cluster of other girls.

"Thanks Luke." Winking at him, she turned to start unrolling her sleeping bag.

Peyton struggled along with her duffel and sleeping bag. Luke stopped and offered to help her.

"That's okay Luke. Thanks, remember come by my tent later. I brought something fun." She whispered into his ear.

****

9 pm

The sun slowly sank behind the mountains, leaving soft pinks and dark blues in its passing.

Nathan bit into his hotdog, smothered with mustard and ketchup. His other arm around Haley as she burrowed into his warmth.

People sat around the fire. Some looking at the beauty of the sunset, others gossiping. Teachers sat by the water's edge talking quietly amongst themselves.

Luke sat with Jake and Tim talking about the Raven's last game and how they'd stomped over their competition.

Peyton sat on a log down by the water. Her drawing pad in hand as she sketched the mountains and the lake.

A cold wind whistled through the fire, flowing past the teenagers into the dark forbidden trees.

******

Brooke burrowed beneath her jacket and shivered. Leaves whispered past her on the trail as she walked back to camp. The trees overhead seemed so dark and scary. The fire at the end of the trail, seemed to stretch further and further away out of her reach.

Branches seemed like skeletal hands overhead that were reaching out to claim her. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. A sense of fear trickled down her spine.

Wrapping her arms more tightly around herself, she broke into a jog back to camp. As she broke into the clearing. She could've sworn that something touched her. She turned but saw nothing.

She raced over to where Peyton was sitting. Her eyes were glassy with fear, her hands cold in shock.

Peyton put down her sketch. "Oh my god, Brooke, what's wrong?"

"I don't know. I just felt like something was chasing me in the woods. It was so creepy Peyton. I don't ever want to go back in there alone." She buried her head in Peyton's shoulder. Fear wracked her body.

Luke had come over. "Brooke, Peyton what's wrong?"

"Brooke just got a little scared in the woods." Peyton said, as Brooke pulled back.

Brooke reached out to the log and traced the wood as her mind raced back through memory.

"When I was a little girl. I got lost in the woods and I wasn't found till the next morning. I was so scared and being in there, just reminded me of that." Brooke buried her head in Luke's shoulder.

Luke wrapped his arms around her. "I would never let anything happen to you." Luke kissed her hair softly.

Closing his eyes, he inhaled the scent that was Brooke. Part strawberry passion fruit, part au natural, part musk. All Brooke.

Peyton looked on as Luke comforted Brooke. We're all friends. Right. Her eyebrows creased as she questioned that.

Are we all still friends? Or have things changed? Her eyes darkened in confusion.

She looked at Brooke. Would it really come to jeopardizing our friendship if I have more than friendly feelings for Luke? Her eyes narrowed as she looked at Brooke nestled in Luke's arms.

Or…. I could just get rid of Brooke. A smirk lit up Peyton's face. Who knows what can happen out in these woods? Especially for one who has a phobia of dark places, like Brooke.

****

11pm


Water lapped at the shoreline, quietly. The trees shifted lightly in the breeze as the moon rose slowly over the lake.

"Gather round all, time for some ghost stories." Whitey called out to the group.

Girls and guys gathered around the campfire. Nathan sat with Haley in the dirt. Her head on his shoulder as she played with his sweater.

Luke sat on a log with Brooke on one side and Peyton on the other. His arm around Brooke's waist, her head on his shoulder. Peyton sat with her sketch pad, as she tried to capture the essence of the fun-filled night.

After many scary tales, Whitey announced it was time for bed. "No sneaking around, I have eagle eyes and will see all that goes on."

Everyone headed for their tent/sleeping bag for a good night sleep.

***

Your reviews inspired me to update sooner than I had planned on. Keep 'em coming and I will keep updating.

Any suggestions for future chapters are appreciated. Mention them in a review or email me at selene_romanov@hotmail.com

After your suggestions in prior reviews, I am leaning towards making this a Brucas. Only time will tell, though……………

Love y'all!!! ;)