"And these are the pictures from my eighth grade Flag Corp competition…"
Peyton stifled a giggle as Anna swatted at her.
"What?"
"Pey, you promised you wouldn't laugh."
"I'm not laughing, I'm…"
Anna gave her an impatient look.
"What? You can't be laughing with me because I'm not laughing. I don't see anything funny."
"Your hair, Anna. Look. It's just so…"
"So what?"
"Big!" Peyton chuckled. "Those bangs could have had their own zip code."
"Fine", Anna said, shutting the photo album. "See the next time I share precious childhood memories with you."
"Oh quit being a brat. You were a cute kid but sometimes the hair and clothes were questionable. But that's everybody. Trust me. Look in my dad's stash of pictures and you'll see that the curls have had their share of disastrous moments over the years."
Anna laughed. She and Peyton had been having the best time hanging out in her apartment looking at old family photos.
"You want another beer, Peyton?"
"Sure…oh shoot! Wait. What time is it again?"
Anna glanced at her watch.
"Yikes. Something to nine."
"Oh God", Peyton groaned. "Brooke is going to be here at nine on the dot. If we're not ready, she is going to kill us."
A new club had opened up in Wilmington and opening night was going to be a fashion show featuring clothes from local designers. Brooke was modeling and had invited the whole gang to attend. Time was of the essence and being late simply wasn't an option.
"No, she won't. It was a mistake. We lost track of time."
"Anna…"
"Okay. You're right. It's Brooke and her big night. She's going to kill us. What are we going to do?"
"We both have our clothes ready so it's nothing to do but shower, dress and slap on some make up. We can make it but we have to be super quick, alright?"
"Okay."
"I still have to iron my shirt so you hop in the shower first."
Anna nodded and the girls scurried about trying to get dressed before the deadline and before Brooke showed up. Anna was in and out of the shower in record time, dashing back to her bedroom to dress.
"Shower's all yours!" she yelled out.
"Thanks", Peyton said, running in the bathroom.
She hopped in the water and then remembered the situation at hand with her hair. If the steam from the shower made direct contact with her locks, the curls would take on a life of their own and become seriously unruly. Peyton knew she didn't have time for a full on wash either.
"Hey Anna! Anna, do you have a shower cap or something I can borrow? I don't want my hair to get wet!"
Anna, towel wrapped securely around her, rummaged through her things until she found something that would suffice.
"Here, girl, this should do", Anna said as she entered the bathroom and held out the cap.
"Peyton!"
"Oh. Sorry. I didn't hear you", Peyton finally answered as she reached out from behind the shower curtain for the cap. "Thanks."
From the corner of the curtain, Anna could see the outline of Peyton's breast. She quickly blushed and looked away.
"Um, you're welcome. I'm just gonna go get dressed."
Anna walked to her bedroom and collapsed on the bed. Her heart was racing and she couldn't think. It took a few minutes to regain a normal breathing pattern. It was happening again. No matter how hard she tried to fight it, somehow it was all happening again.
"Dude, you're not dressed", Peyton said, fresh from her shower.
"Huh? Uh, sorry. I was having a wardrobe issue. Couldn't figure out if I really wanted to wear this."
"You should", Peyton shrugged. "I've seen you in those black pants before. It looks good on you."
"Thanks", Anna replied sheepishly as she followed Peyton out to the living room. "I guess you're right. We better hurry up or Brooke will be here any minute now."
"You're right. Wait…Anna, you're bleeding."
"Huh?"
"Look. Right there. On your leg by the ankle."
"Oh that. I must have cut myself shaving."
"I've got a band aid in my bag…here."
Anna was sitting on the sofa rubbing lotion on her arms. Peyton pulled the band aid from its wrapper and quickly applied it over the scratch on Anna's leg. The darker woman flinched at the touch and there was an awkward few seconds as a pair of brown eyes stared intently into a set of lighter ones.
"Knock, knock. Hello. Model entering the apartment", Brooke called out as she let herself in the unlocked door.
The unexpected entrance startled the two women, breaking their "moment" as they awkwardly scrambled to their feet.
"Brooke…"
The brunette was stunned and speechless for a second. Was Peyton just rubbing Anna's leg?
"Uh…hey, you two. What's going on?"
"Nothing", Peyton stammered. "We were just getting ready."
"Oh. Well it is nine. You guys should be dressed by now. I can't be late to this thing."
"I know", Anna nodded. "Um, we're sorry. It's totally my fault. We'll be dressed in a minute. Promise."
"Okay", Brooke nodded uncomfortably. "I'll just wait in the car with Broody, Nate and Tutor Girl."
Brooke scurried out of the apartment, troubled by what she thought she did or did not see.
"You okay, babe?" Lucas asked as she climbed back in the car.
"Huh? Yeah. I…I'm fine, Broody. I just don't want to be late, that's all."
"We'll be fine. I'll get us there, I promise", he smiled.
Brooke nodded and minutes later, giggly and bubbly as ever, Peyton and Anna were dashing to the car. Brooke sighed and chalked it all up the nerves and excitement that came along with walking the runway for her first fashion show. Still as her eyes darted back to the rear view mirror where Peyton and Anna sat engrossed in animated conversation, oblivious to the presence of Nathan and Haley. Brooke rolled her eyes. There was just something blatantly annoying about Anna. It was like she was stealing away her best friend and Brooke did not like that.
