Author's Note: StephLova, appreciate you reading and reviweing and I'm really glad you like it but please, please try to hold it down andcontrol yourself in computer, class, lol...

Recognizing there was a problem was Peyton's first step to recovery. It had been a rocky and difficult road and one with still many turns and bends ahead but she was determined. Jake and Jenny were still on her mind and although he had made several attempts to reach her, it was all still too painful. The most Peyton could do was short answer a few e-mails.

She had to move on with her own life and take care of herself. The business major still stuck but Peyton knew she had come too far to just give it all up. So she toughed it out and tried to make the most of attending classes. She immersed herself in work with Thud magazine and rekindled the lost friendships of her Tree Hill crew. It felt good to be with Lucas, Brooke, Nathan, Haley, Mouth, Fergie and Skills again. And when the times got too tough, she picked up the phone and called her father and just like that, Larry Sawyer had managed to take a few days off and spend precious and much needed quality time with his only child.

But most of all, there had been Anna. The girls had always been friends and out of the whole gang, Peyton probably had always been the closest one to her. But ever since the Rick ordeal and night of the intervention, they had been inseparable.

"I don't know about this, Pey. I thought you said we were going to the gym", Anna complained to her friend as they stripped down to their underwear.

"I lied."

"You lied?"

"I lied. Guilty as charged. You're always at the gym, Anna. That's a good thing because it's healthy and your bod is totally ripped but dude, you do get kind of compulsive about it, hon."

"I do not", Anna smiled as she defended herself. "Do I? Okay. Maybe a little bit. No, I take that back. No way am I compulsive."

"Anna, uh, dear, compulsive people don't know when they're being compulsive. Anyway, you totally need to relax. School has been way stressful lately for everybody. This is exactly what we need and trust me, when it's over, you'll be thanking Brooke Davis for introducing us to the wonderful world of Swedish massage. One hour here and you'll feel like a new person, I promise."

Anna nodded and anxiously twiddled her thumbs as the girls secured their towels and pulled their hair up into messy buns on top of their heads. A few seconds later, two young Asian women showed them to a large room in the back of the parlor with two cushioned tables. They were each instructed to choose a table and lay flat on their bellies. Anna was visibly apprehensive at first but the minute the masseuse's fingers began kneading her tense muscles, it felt like heaven.

"See?" Peyton sighed in contentment. "I told you this is what you needed. Just relax and try to enjoy the next hour."

"I will", Anna smiled. "No complaining, I promise."

"Me either. We can save that for dinner later. Karen and Andy invited us all over for dinner. I think it has something to do with Keith and Jules' wedding. I think Jules is going to ask us to be bridesmaids."

"Me too?"

"Yeah. Sure. Why not?"

"I…I don't know. I mean, I expect you and Brooke and Haley but…I don't know."

"What? You are one of us, Anna. Quit acting like an outsider."

"Sometimes I can't help but feel like one."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I guess I never fit in anywhere. Not with you guys, not with my family, not with anyone really."

"Well you do fit in with us."

"Try and tell that one to Brooke", Anna laughed sarcastically.

"Don't worry about Brooke. Her bark is much worse than her bite. Besides, she's just…she's just Brooke. Hell, I can't really explain her any other way. She's flashy and blunt and a little stuck up and on the flighty side and maybe self centered but beneath the hard core exterior, lies a heart of gold. And she does like you. She's just very territorial. She likes to be in control, the boss. Remember that movie Grease? As long as she gets to be the Rizzo of our Pink Ladies, then all will be well."

Anna laughed.

"I'm happy for Keith and Jules. They're sweet together."

"Yeah", Peyton said sadly. "They are."

"Oh I'm sorry. Sensitive subject matter, huh? We can talk about something else, Pey…"

"No, no. It's cool. I'm happy for them. They're in love and I hope it works out. I was in love once too and it didn't work out but that's life, I guess. What about you? You ever been in love?"

Anna had dated here and there since her family had moved to Tree Hill but Peyton couldn't ever remember her having a serious boyfriend.

"Once, I guess. It was a long time ago with a very special person but uh…I guess it didn't work out too well for me either."

Peyton pulled her water bottle up to Anna's.

"Well a toast then."

"To what?"

"The founding members of Tree Hill's official Lonely Souls and Broken Hearts club."

Anna smiled.

"I'll drink to that one."

"Speaking of weddings, don't you have another one to attend to? Felix and Teresa."

Anna rolled her eyes.

"Don't even get me started, girl."

"You don't think it will last?"

"No, that's just it. I know it will. Those two ass clowns are perfect for each other."

"That's weird. I still can't get over it. Felix and Teresa. Who would have thought it?"

"Don't you ever wonder who you'll end up marrying?"

"Not really anymore", Peyton sighed. "Honestly I thought it would be Jake. Now I'm not so sure I even want to get married. I mean, what's the point? What makes a little piece of paper so significant? It should be about love and how you feel. Period. And I don't even know if I could ever fall in love again…at least not like I was."

"I don't know if I'll get married either. Don't tell my parents that or it would surely send them to an early grave. You should them going on and on about Felix's wedding. I guess you're right. Maybe it's all about finding the right person."

"If that one right person exists. I used to believe but sometimes I don't know anymore."

"But look at Lucas and Brooke. As opposite as they are, they're really great together. They totally compliment each other. And Nathan and Haley? How cute and perfect are they?"

"Yeah…maybe it's just not meant for everyone", Peyton said.

"Maybe."

"I don't know but I do know one thing. Thanks for coming down here with me today."

"Thanks for inviting me, Pey. It's nice to have a friend like you. Somebody I can whine to about anything, who doesn't make me feel stupid or petty and always knows how to make me feel better. Someone who listens and makes me laugh and takes me to get full body massages whenever I'm stressed. Thanks, girl."

"No problem. You've been a better friend to me than I've been to you. I can't thank you enough for your support with the whole Rick fiasco. I guess I'm pretty damned lucky to have someone like you in my life."

"I guess I'm pretty lucky, too", Anna agreed.