It was Tree Hill University's annual Field Day. The weather was still a bit nippy but nevertheless the sun had peeked its head out making the hours bearable. It was a fun and relaxing time with crowds of people as far as you could see. Picnic baskets and grills lined the grass near the events. Brooke, hair in a ponytail, sat in a lawn chair, flipping through the latest edition of In Style.

"Hey Princess, no reading during Field Day. It's war time, baby. Time for battle. Go hard or go home!"

Brooke rolled her eyes as she removed her expensive sunglasses.

"Okay. Who are you and what have you done with my best friend? You look like Peyton Sawyer but Peyton Sawyer does not get all gung ho and viking on me for stupid Field Day."

"I see you're as cheery as ever", Peyton teased.

"Whatever. This totally blows."

"Brooke, you say that every year."

"I know."

"And then the next year, you keep coming back. Dude, if it's so horrible, why even come?"

"Because it's socialable and people expect me to be here and…well, Lucas makes me."

"I thought so", Peyton grinned. "Well this year will be different. Let the boys drink their beer and play their football and have their pathetic manly fun. We're gonna do cool stuff like wheelbarrow races and balloon popping and softball throws."

"Speak for yourself", Brooke rolled her eyes. "I will be right here in my comfy chair with my stack of new magazines relaxing the day away with my thoughts. I am not participating in any juvenile games with you and I'm not helping Haley 'Just call her Martha Stewart' James over there with that stupid concession booth."

Peyton smiled as if on cue Haley waved from the stand she had set up selling her lemonade and homemade pies.

"I'm gonna look around and check things out."

Brooke gave her a "whatever" wave and Peyton patrolled the grounds, people watching and getting a look at all the events. Like usual, the guys were in a heated game of flag football. Peyton smiled sadly before looking away. It was hard to see Lucas, Nathan, Skills, and the rest without Jake. Shoving her hands in her pocket, she ventured over to Haley's booth where the girls made small talk and Peyton enjoyed a scrumptious piece of warm peach pie and a cool glass of lemonade.

"What's up, good looking? Can I get two lemonades and one slice of Chocolate Pudding pie and one slice of Strawberry Custard pie?"

Peyton cringed. She would recognize that voice anywhere. Felix.

Haley smiled politely and filled his order.

"Thanks, Felix. Hope you and Teresa enjoy."

"I'm sure we will. Or at least I know I will. I like pie. All kinds of pie. Sweet potato, coconut, brown sugar, lemon meringue…poontang", he joked. "I've been waiting years to get a piece of Haley James' pie."

Haley rolled her eyes.

"Dude, you are such a pig! You're totally married now and you're still flirting with me. That's sick. Take your stuff and go back to your wife, please."

Felix grinned as he took a bite of the Strawberry Custard.

"Delicious, Haley. Hey, just make sure Blondie hiding in the back gets a slice. I hear she likes pie, too."

He walked off smirking.

"What was that all about?"

"He's just being a jerk as always", Peyton shrugged.

"Well at least his sister isn't. And speaking of, here comes Anna now."

Peyton's face instantly brightened as Anna came bounding towards them.

"Hey you. Didn't think you make it."

"And miss this?" Anna smiled. "Come on. I am the undisputed queen of the egg toss, thank you very much."

The girls talked and enjoyed pie and helped Haley with her booth for a while.

"All participants for the sack race, sign in and take your marks, please", an announcer voiced on the loud speaker.

"Sounds like fun", Haley squealed.

"You should go. We'll watch the booth."

"Nah. I actually sprained my ankle pretty bad last year. You know Field Day can be brutal", Haley joked. "But hey, why don't you two go?"

Anna and Peyton looked at each other.

"Hhhmm. I've never been in a sack race before", Anna shrugged.

"It could be fun…" Peyton prodded.

"Why not, then? Let's go and win this one for Haley."

The girls smiled as they hurried to sign up and retrieve the large sack in which they would both be racing in. From a few feet away, Brooke had been eyeing it all.

"P. Sawyer, just the person I was looking for."

"Oh hey, Brooke. Sorry. No time to chat. My race is about to start."

"What race?"

"The sack race. Anna and I are going for the gold."

"Oh. Sack races are so last Field Day. They're getting ready to start the three legged race now. What do you say?"

"Brooke, I can't."

"Why not?" the brunette pouted. "We're defending champions."

"Yeah from like back in second grade", Peyton laughed.

"Pey…"

"Brooke, I asked you earlier and you said you weren't doing events. Anna wants to and I told her I'd be her partner. Sorry."

With that, Peyton dashed off. Huffing and puffing, Brooke stalked over to Haley's booth where they watched the two women climb into the large potato sack.

"I hope they don't break any bones", Haley laughed.

The whistle sounded and the race began but Peyton and Anna got in no more than two or three simultaneous hops before they were on the ground. It took them a few seconds to get up but the hop or two followed by a date with dirt, kept repeating. The girls didn't seem to mind. They just couldn't stop giggling.

"You ever notice anything about those two?" Brooke questioned as she rolled her eyes.

"No. Not really", Haley shrugged.

"Oh Tutor Girl, you're so naïve."

"Tigger, what are you talking about now?"

"Don't they seem…well, a little odd to you?"

"I don't know. They just seem like good friends", Haley shrugged.

Brooke made a face as she took another sip of lemonade. She couldn't quite put her finger on it but something was peculiar, to say the least. A few yards away, someone else was secretly sharing a similar thought. Through steely dark eyes, a seething Felix watched his little giddy little sister give her potato sack partner a big hug.