The Things They See

Disclaimer: The characters aren't mine, blah blah blah.

Author's Notes: Sorry the updates haven't been coming quicker. I'm trying to concentrate on writing more. So read and review.

Chapter 3 – Brooke

I remember the day Peyton's mom died almost as well as she does. It was a Wednesday afternoon in the first week of October. It was chilly that day, my mom made me wear this ugly sweater, which I promptly tore off and shoved into my backpack when I got to school. We were waiting together outside of school for our parents to pick us up, and eventually Peyton made some remark about her mom being later than usual. Her mom was almost thirty minutes late to school. Mrs. Sawyer was always someone you could set your watch by, it wasn't like her to be this late to anything. I was always the one waiting on the curb, long after school had ended, for my mother who was always late.

So we continued to wait, Peyton checked her watch every few minutes. My mom eventually showed up, forty-five minutes after school had let out. We told her what was going on and my mom thought it would be best if Peyton came home with us. I could tell Peyton was worried and I tried my best to make her feel better but nothing seemed to work.

Mr. Sawyer came to pick her up almost an hour later. I was only ten years old but I could tell by his face that something was wrong. And Mr. Sawyer never picked Peyton up, what was going on? I was confused and scared for Peyton. I watched in secret from around the corner as Peyton's dad talked quietly with my mom, he seemed so sad while he spoke. When he had finished talking, my mother reached over and hugged him. This was bad.

The next thing I remember, my mother called Peyton out of my room to tell her that her father was here. My mom pulled me into her bedroom and sat me on the bed. I asked her what was wrong and why Peyton's mother hadn't come to pick her up. She told me what had happened. Mrs. Sawyer was running late on her way to the school, she must not have noticed the light had turned red. My mom spared me the details a ten year old shouldn't know, but she told me Mrs. Sawyer had died instantly, she didn't feel any pain. All that pain was left for Peyton.

I never saw Peyton cry, not even at the funeral. From the moment her father told her what had happened, she closed up. She bottled all her pain and hurt and locked it all away. Peyton stopped letting people in, at ten years old she shut people out of her life and dealt with everything on her own. It breaks my heart now when I look back at what she went through. She must have felt so alone.

I made her a promise on the day of her mom's funeral that I would always be there for her. Whatever she needed, whatever she wanted I would help her anyway I could. We were only in fourth grade but I meant every word I said. I would never leave her.

From that point on we were inseparable. Her dad was always away for work and he was never good with the girly aspect of having a daughter. So I was the one who helped her buy her first bra, I was the one who showed her how to wear makeup when we were thirteen and I was the one who taught her about boys, however wrong I may have been about that subject. It was important to me that Peyton got to experience all the things she would have been able to do with her mom. I didn't want her to feel different or left out.

I loved Peyton, still do. She's my best friend. And it meant the world to me that she felt like she could trust me, I was one of the very few people she entrusted with that privilege. But I knew that I could never fill the void or heal the pain that was left by her mother's death. For a long time I thought that no one would ever be able to. And then Lucas Scott came into her life.

Their connection was immediate and lasting and I was completely thrown by it. To be quite honest, I was jealous of their sudden friendship. For six years it had been Peyton and me versus the world, and now I had to share her with someone else. I couldn't figure out why it had been so easy for Lucas to get close to her.

I realize now why their bond was so strong and so sudden. Peyton and Lucas share something that I have no experience in, and no, it isn't sex smartass. They both grew up with only one parent, their situations were different but the experience was similar. I grew up in the traditional nuclear family. A mom and a dad, a white picket fence and a golden retriever. I couldn't relate to Peyton when she talked about it just being her and Mr. Sawyer. But Lucas could relate to the single parent thing. It had been him and Karen for so many years, sure Keith was around but an uncle can't take the place of your father. They found comfort with each other and I started to get nervous.

Things started to change between Peyton and I, after Lucas was in the picture. She was talking to him more and more about her mom and her family. They were things she had never told anyone but me, I was threatened by that. Their time spent together became more frequent and more personal. I knew Peyton hadn't forgotten about me, she was still there. But I couldn't help but feel left out of her life. I knew it wasn't her intention and I wanted to be happy for her because she had found this great guy, but all I could feel was jealousy.

I knew what I did was wrong. I knew it was going to hurt her but I did it anyway. I went after Lucas, for the sole purpose of keeping them apart. I regret it so much now; I never thought it would hurt her as much as I did. It was one of the worst things I have ever done in my life. I never intended for it to become such a mess.

Lucas never loved me and I never loved him, I don't think I was ever close to loving him at any point. For Lucas I was a distraction, a way to keep his mind off of Peyton when things were complicated between them. I could see the pain in her face when she saw us together and I went out of my way to rub her face in it. The worst part about the whole thing was that I knew no matter what, Peyton was always going to stick by me. I was her support system she couldn't go without me. It was the most selfish thing I had ever done. I still don't know how Peyton forgave me.

But she did forgive me, after some time apart. And her and Lucas worked things out and they've never looked back. Lucas is the best thing that has ever happened to Peyton. I've watched her change over the past two years into a brighter and less angst-ridden person. They make a great couple and Lucas treats her like she's always deserved. He makes her happy and he makes her smile. He is the first guy she has ever loved, Lucas is a lucky guy to land my best friend. I think Mrs. Sawyer would love Lucas, I know I do in a platonic way. He gave me back the friend I lost when I was ten.

Peyton will always be my best friend. Time, boys and trivial fights can never change that. We've grown up together. We've been through heartbreak and tragedies, good times and laughter. Our friendship means the world to me and I know she'll always be there for me like I will for her. She's my best friend nothing can change that. She tells me all the time that being in love is the best feeling in the world, I hope I get to experience that some day. She makes it sound incredible.

A/N: I portrayed Brooke a little differently than normal, a little more sympathetic maybe. Which is a hard thing for me to do since I loathe Brooke. Anyways review and tell me what you guys think.