Beach Girls

Rating - PG-13

Disclaimer - I don't own anything from One Tree Hill or the book by Luanne Rice. I'm just a huge fan of both!

A/N - It's been a little while...sorry about that again. I ended up updating Lost in the Past before this. So, if you'll take my apology it'd be helpful, lol. Anyway, this chapter has a little bit of drama and I hope you're all still reading this. My computer crashed recently and believe me I was freaking out trying to get it fixed for these stories. Stick with me, I'll be updating as much as I possibly can for you now! Tell me what you think!

Chapter 3 - Losing touch with the old, talking with the new...

The blonde haired girl carefully sat the smaller on the counter. She was seated next to the sink as Peyton whipped out some disinfectant and band-aids to get her cleaned up. Maddie winced at the sting of the disinfectant and Peyton told her to bite her lip to distract the pain. After all her wounds were bandaged and she was looking a lot better they sat at the kitchen table. The 'witch' got juice for the both of them and sat across from the young girl.

"You ok?" Peyton asked, very concerned with her condition.

"I'll be ok...I can see why my mom used to love this place," she told the girl across from her.

"It is nice here," Peytonadmitted smiling at the memories. "So, when did she...well," she questioned awkwardly fumbling for words.

"Last year...only last year," Maddie replied understanding the blonde's meaning.

"She was my best friend, ya know?"

"I know. She used to talk about you to dad...but she never said much to me," she said sadly.

"Why?"

"I dunno. I guess she didn't want me to know about her past for whatever reason," she responded with ease. Peyton was still confused at the answer but let it slip for the time being. "Could you maybe tell me some things about her?"

Being caught off guard Peyton faltered for a second but quickly regained an answer for the small girl sitting in front of her. She could only do her best for her best friend's kid.

"She was a great person and she could make me laugh no matter what had happened that day. We didn't fight much and when we did it was either huge or the stupidest thing in the world. We were best friends for like 12 years before Haley came along and when she came it was like our little circle just clicked. She was the missing link to our friendship. Your mom was the cheery one she was just never upset, she always called me the broody one, and Haley was sassy. We balanced each other with our opposite personalities. Guess that's how we became friends," she remarked with a sigh.

"How come you were never around when I was little if you guys were so close?" Maddie asked the blonde suspiciously. Peyton looked a little chagrined at the answer she was forming.

"We were only here in the summers most of the time. Only 3 months for us to have fun and do what most best friends get all year to do. That really messed with our little group. We visited each other as much as possible during the long 9 months we were apart. I even sold my clothes to visit your mom and Haley but that wasn't enough as we got older and made friends who would be around all the time. We had boyfriends and different people who pulled us apart from each other, but I loved them so much and it put a strain on all three of us. It was so hard during the winter and every summer got a little shorter until none of us had the time to be here. We had plans for thesummers as we got older, and soon enough we just kinda lost touch. I haven't talked to Haley in forever," all this talk made her sad. Made her think of the billion things they could've done to keep in touch.

"My mom and Aunt Haley saw each other a lot...I just don't understand why you weren't there."

"Your aunt? So, your mom married Lucas?" Peyton was shocked. For years he was Haley's hot older brother who got them into R rated movies when they were 16 and didn't have I.D's. But no one had ever dared to make a move for him. She had missed out on so much.

"Yea, my mom even said their first kiss was here. Under the boardwalk," Maddie replied with a dreamy look in her eyes. As though true love were right in her own backyard. Peyton giggled remembering numerous kisses the three of them had gossiped about. Peyton's first kiss had been there as had Haley's but Brooke had always seemed above that tradition. So, it was strange to think about Brooke sharing a first kiss with a guy there and Peyton would've loved to rag on her for it. But instead of ranting she just nodded to the little girl.

"I don't know what to do," Maddie whispered and Peyton softened.

"About what?"

"Me and my dad live in Boston now but we were in Georgia and he just doesn't know what he's doing. He looks really lost and I don't wanna keep moving," she told of the information and Peyton remembered the feeling.

"He wants to get away from the memories. There's probably a lot that reminds him of your mom and it's gotta hurt. You're gonna have to give him time to get over it...he'll figure things out. My dad did," she mumbled.

"Your dad?"

"My mom died when I was about your age. It was just me and my dad too and he wasn't around much. Always fishing on his job...leaving me to fend for myself. He was a good guy but there were too many memories for him at our house. Just think of how lucky you are to be with your dad while he figures his life out," she said insightfully.

"Sounds like a poem," she replied smiling, "you should write something about that."

"I write kid's books but not really poems. Mostly about animals, I like to compare them to us. It's easier than writing about actual people. Your mom didn't show you any of my books?"

"She said they were violent. She didn't want me seeing the death and stuff with the animals. My dad didn't really say much about it...he just listened to what she said. I wanted to though," she said hopefully and it made Peyton feel worse that her friend didn't even think highly of her accomplishments.

"Oh..."

"Do you really think my dad will be ok? I wanna go home for school when summer's over. I love my house and my friends."

"I think if he just clears his head that he'll be fine. You'll get home...speaking of home where's your dad? Won't he be worried?" Peyton questioned.

"Yea, I do have to go. Um...I just kinda wanted to say thanks for talking to me. You're the first adult I know who listened, ya know? Everyone else just tells me it'll all be fine but you didn't do that. You just listened and that ," she said searching for the right words but Peyton got teary eyed all the same. Similar words had come from her own mouth.

FLASHBACK

"No, it's not ok!" she screamed to the brunette in front of her. Brooke stood wide-eyed watching her best friend.

"No, it's not. And it' probably won't be but we'll get through this, Peyt. I promise I'm here...you can talk to me. I'm your best friend," Brooke said in some sort of comfort.

"They all walk around and tell me 'I'm so sorry for your loss' and 'it'll be ok' but what if it's not?! What if I'm never ok? They don't know if I'm ever going to be alright but they lie and tell me I will be. They have no idea, Brooke! They never have," Peyton said hysterically through the tears. Brooke stepped closer pulling her best friend into a hug.

"It doesn't have to be ok as long as you know I'll always be here. Always. Who cares if they lie...that's what adults do. And that's why I'm here, to tell you they lie but not me. Friends don't lie to each other. Ya know, maybe it won't be ok right away and if it was then that would mean you're a rock or something. But you, P. Sawyer are not a rock and you're upset and it's ok to be upset and need someone to help. So, let me help and don't listen to those asshole adults," Brooke said quietly to her friend and Peyton smiled hugging her tighter.

END FLASHBACK

Peyton's eyes teared at the thought. Brooke wasn't around anymore for any of that. The realization was hitting her harder than when she first found out. Maddie couldn't see the change in her demeanor though and still stood in the awkward air.

"You better get home to your dad now. Um, I hope to see ya later," Peyton returned. For the first time, in along time, she was actually hoping she would see this little girl later. One of the cooler kids she had met in years. But then again, what was she thinking? This was Brooke's little girl...of course she would be cool.

"Do you hope or can I really see you again, later? A lot of the kids said you never come out...always hiding. I don't know what you're hiding from but me...I'm hiding from everything that's gone wrong. You're the only good thing that's come from my mom dying. Please, can I see you again?" the little girl begged with tears threatening to escape her eyes. She contemplated the advantages and the disadvantages but the former seemed better than the latter. So she nodded and pulled the little girl tight against her, a hug, for some reassurance and wiped her tears away.

"You can come see me anytime you need a friend," Peyton whispered, closer to her ear. The little girl's face lit up and she hugged the blonde's waist tighter than before. "Now get outta here." Maddie giggled and scurried from the house while waving all the way down the sidewalk.

She ran in the front door to find her father with a scowl on his face. Katie was sitting on the couch behind him, looking as though she was oblivious but Maddie knew better. 'Oh, boy would I like to throw something at that little- ' but her thoughts were cut out when her father questioned her motives.

"Where were you?" he demanded. He had been worried for quite a few hours and as much as his instincts told him to see what happened to her face and hands, his fathering skills said to find out her whereabouts first.

"I was at an old friend of mom's," she replied snottily. Looking over towards his - girlfriend or whatever - she frowned and made a face of disgust towards her. Lucas had looked down to find his daughter staring down his - girlfriend or whatever (he didn't know either) - and making faces that expressed serious dislike. He sensed some problems. He thought of it as intuition...any normal female would've said it was obvious.

"Maddie, don't make faces," he told her sternly but she just rolled her eyes at her father. Yea, like she was gonna listen to him about her.

"I'm sure she's used to it...if I saw her on the street I wouldn't smile," she responded with a sweet tone. As though she loved the brunette on the couch. Katie gave a 'whatever' face and looked at Lucas for some kind of discipline for his little girl.

"Ok, enough! I don't wanna hear another word about Katie from you. Now where were you?" he repeated to his little dirty blonde haireddaughter. How she got his hair was beyond him. He had wanted her to have her mother's hair back when she was born but she looked beautiful to him either way - she was his baby girl.

"I was at mom's old friend. Peyton Sawyer she said her name was. I wanted to meet her," she responded innocently to her father. How could she not love him? He taught her so much...how to read, how to make good decisions, to stay loyal to all her friends and family - even if he himself had not done so.

"Ooo," the girl on the couch squealed, "Peyton Sawyer! I've read her books...they're amazing! I've just fallen in love with them," she said obviously enthused but Maddie just rolled her eyes yet again at the bimbo on the couch. "Would you like some of them, Maddie?"

"My mom told me they're too violent. She also told me to stay away from whack jobs like you who fall in love with animal books and offer to buy eleven year olds books that are made for 4 year olds," Maddie snapped and Lucas looked dumbfounded. 'Wow' he thought at the fact that his daughter just told off his - friend.

"Aren't you going to do something, Lucas?" Katie questioned ignorantly. He was sick of her...that was one sure thing. Yet, he was still intrigued by this Peyton girl. He'd heard of her books, Haley had tried to bring Maddie some when she was little. He couldn't remember Brooke mentioning any of her friends all that often though, maybe he missed that part of the conversation.

"Um, what happened to you?" He glanced at his daughter and heard Katie huff at his lack of discipline. Screw her.

"I fell up near Peyton's house when I went to visit. She helped me."

"Well, I don't want you back there till I get the chance to meet her...she's a stranger as far as I'm concerned," he ordered Maddie and she was annoyed. How could he do that?

"You can't do that! She's mom's friend...they were best friends before Aunt Haley too. I'll go see her if I want!" she retorted but Lucas stood firm in his decision.

"Maddie, c'mon your father knows what's best for you," Katie butted in. She came into the conversation like it was all her business....well it wasn't.

"Obviously he doesn't. Not if he thought you were any good for me to be around...I mean if he had any kind of brain he would've known you weren't good for him either. C'mon now, you're closer in age to me than him."

But, as much as that should've hurt, Lucas hadn't heard one word of it. He thought back to when he would see his sister's friends at the house. There was Brooke who had immediately caught his eye and then there was Haley who was his sister, and then there was that blonde girl with the curly hair. She was always very subdued and kept to herself, never too outgoing. She was a little less shy than his sister but not quite as outgoing as Brooke. A natural beauty, unlike his wife who spent hours with make-up. He would find out more about her.

"Katie, uh I think it'd be better if you left," he spoke and she looked quite defeated while Maddie smiled with satisfaction.

I know things may be a little confusing at the moment but it will become clearer in further chapters. I hope you're enjoying the relationships...tell me what you thought. If you have any questions ask and I'll be sure to get back to you.

NEXT - Lucas will meet Peyton / Some more background info / Maddie & Peyton interaction / Info on Haley's whereabouts / drama and surprises...

Will update as soon as you review!!!!