Chapter Three

"Seeing Other People"

Brooke dug though her fifth makeup bag, searching for her vanilla flavored lip gloss. When she finally spotted it, she picked it up turned the cap off and applied it on her lips. As she rubbed her lips together she placed the cap back on and stepped back to examine herself in her full length mirror. When she was finally satisfied with what she saw she made her way down stairs. She had chosen a white mini skirt and a pink silky halter top. She kept her down and she wore her white high heel sandals (the kind that wrap around your leg until half way up your calf) As she went into the kitchen to grab a cup of water she remembered how lucas used to come and pick her up early on purpose.

FLASHBACK

"Luke its 7:30!... you said you'd pick me up at 8:15!"

she said as she placed her hands on her hips and stared at the blonde boy who had now made his way from her bedroom door to her bed. Where he was leaning against the head board with his hands behind his head as if he was tanning on the beach.

"I know" he smiled.

"Then why are you so early?"

"Because it gives me extra time to see you….." he paused "and I love watching you get dressed"

she slightly blushed as she rolled her eyes at him and continued getting ready"

END FLASHBACK

DING DONG!...Brooke was quickly taken away from her memories by the sound of the doorbell.

"Hey you!"

She said as she opened the door to reveal her date for the night.

"Hey Bro- WOW!" he exclaimed as he observed her from top to bottom.

"You look….amazing!"

She smiled revealing her dimples that made every guy weak in the knees.

"Thanks... you don't look to bad yourself"

"Thanks…so shall we go" he stuck his elbow out for her to grab and with that they were off for their first date.

Lucas sat on his bed reading one of his favorite books "The winter of our Discontent" by John Steinbeck. He had read it at least 8 times, but every time he found himself having the same excitement as the very first time he read it. But this time it was different…it didn't give him the same excitement it used to. Now every time he thought about this book he would think about his and Brooke's little bet. And how that bet was how everything started out between them. "Should we shake on it or make out now" the words were still fresh in his mind as if it was yesterday. Once he remembered this book, he remembered their first date, their first kiss, their first game of pool, the first time they had sex, the first time he could say Brooke's my girlfriend…..but then other thoughts would enter his mind... the first time I cheated on her, the second time I cheated on her, the first time I broke her heart, the first time I watched her cry, the first time I realized that I was the biggest jack ass. His train of thoughts was soon interrupted by his cell phone.

"Anna's Cell" it read. He smiled a bit and answered.

"Hey"

"Hey Luke its Anna…I was wondering if you wanted to catch a bite to eat and talk"

"Uhh yah sure where do you wanna meet?"

"Umm how bout the Diner"

"Yah that's perfect ill see you around…" he quickly took a glance at his watch "7:15?"

"Yah see you then!" and with that they both hung up

It was now 6:30 and Luke was still debating if he should go meet Anna or not. In a way he did but in a way he didn't. If he did go he would be confirming that Brooke wasn't going to call him and that she wasn't coming back. He didn't want to believe it. He figured that she would eventually forgive him. Going out with Anna would make it official and he was scared to do that. Yet on the other hand he couldn't sit around like this forever, Moping around hoping and praying that she would just pick up the phone and call him. He needed to move on and just let go, and even though it was going to be really hard he had to do it. The clock dung signaling that it was 7:00. He took in a big breath and headed for the door.

"Here goes nothing".

Peyton stood in front of Brooke's porch. It was now 12:30, "Brooke should be home by now" it was a tradition since they were 14 after each of their dates the other would come to their house and they would tell each other everything that happened from when they're date rung their doorbell until the kiss goodnight…sometime more then a kiss. And if they were planning on spending the night with their dates they made sure to call the other. Ring once and hang-up so they were aware not to walk in on anything!

Peyton now stood with her hands crossed across her chest and she was freezing cold! 'Open the god dam door Brooke!!!" she whispered until she finally heard the front door begin to unlock.

"Finally!!! What did you fall in when you went to the washroom or what?" Peyton snapped as she rubbed her hands together and breathed in the middle of her palms.

"No I was just thinking about some stuff that I didn't even realize the doorbell ringing" they had now made they're way up the stairs and into Brooke's bedroom.

"Wow that must have been some serious thinking if you didn't hear all that! But anyways tell me about the date how was it!"

"Aww Peyton it was so great!! He took me to a movie, put his arm around me, and I put my head on his shoulder! And then we went to this really cute café right outside of town. Even though he talked half them time about how great football is, and how he wants to go pro, and how he's been playing since he was 3!!!!"

Brooke had started off really excited and by the end of the story she was ready to pull the head off of her teddy bear.

"Wow easy their tiger! That bad?"

"No it wasn't bad... he's a really sweet guy, and he's polite, and he respects me!"

"But…?"

"But… I don't know! Oh my God Peyton im loosing it! Every time he started talking my mind would drift off and id start think about other things!"

"Other things or other people"

"Both"

"Other people…or another person?"

Brooke said nothing

"Would you totally bite my head off if I told you what I thought?"

"I'm sure you'd tell me anyways" Peyton smiled a bit

"Okay this is how I see it. By going out with Mark you were trying to prove something whether it be for your self or everyone around you"

"Prove what!"

"That you Brooke Davis, Queen of dating is still not hung up on one guy!"

"I am not hung up on one guy!"

"CoughLucas Scottcough" Peyton used her 10 year old routine.

But she knew it was a mistake when she saw Brookes face begin to grow red and her eyes to grow big.

"I AM NOT HUNG UP ON LUCAS SCOTT!! HE IS THE LAST PERSON ON EARTH WHO WOULD BE ON MY MIND!!!"

"Oh come on Brooke! Stop lying to me! And yourself! You have been in love with Luke since day one! And the thought of you not with him is killing you!"

"And whose fault is that!!! HE CHEATED ON ME! WITH YOU!!! You the person who was supposed to be my best friend. You who was supposed to be their when he would break my heart! But instead you were with him! You chose him over me! If it wasn't for you guys I wouldn't have had to go to bed every night with tears in my eyes! If it wasn't for you guys I wouldn't feel so alone! If it wasn't for you guys I wouldn't have ever thought about suicide!!!"

by now both girls had tears in their eyes. Brooke's face was red, her eyes were puffy and she was crying uncontrollably.

"I need to get out!" Brooke whispered. She grabbed her coat and headed for the door.

"Wait! Where are you going?"

"Away from you!" and the only thing Peyton could here was the slamming of the front door. She sat their thinking to herself and how she had ended up in such a huge mess. She started remembering hold time. When it was just her and Brooke against the world.

FLASHBACK

"Peyton please don't cry!"

"But she's gone forever!"

"Well at least you still got papa Larry!"

"Yah but she was my mom! Now ill never get to see her again!"

"Just think of it like this, she's in a better place looking down at us and smiling… you don't want her to be upset that your crying do you?"
"No…" she whimpered.

"Then don't cry Peyt, im here for you whenever you need me!"

"Thanks Brooke I don't know what id do with out you!"

"Yah I don't know what you'd do either!" both girls smiled and hugged.

END OF FLASHBACK

Peyton rubbed away the tears that had left streaks on her red cheeks.

"I wish I could take it all back!" she said as she stared at the ceiling as if talking to the higher powers above.

And that's when it happened she was ripped away from her thoughts by a loud honking noise and a loud screech, as if the tires of a car were being pulled back with such great force.

Peyton quickly ran to the window to see if she could see what had happened.

She could see a 4x4 stopped in the middle of the street behind it you could see the dark tire marks where the car had tried to stop. Peyton squinted her eyes trying to adapt to the darkness.

"OMG!"

was all she could manage to say when she saw what was laying in front of the car…..it was Brooke.