Friday

RIVERCOURT

Nathan and Lucas had just finished up a game of basketball, and both were now seated on the picnic table, drinking their post-game Gatorades. Neither of them spoke for a while, both sort of lost in their own thoughts. Lucas was the first to break the silence.

"Hey, have you talked to Brooke lately? Or has Haley?"

"Why? What happened?" Nathan asked concerned

"No, nothing happened. Well, not really. I don't know. I'm just so confused on everything that happened between us."

"Yeah, I've been meaning to ask you about that. So you had sex with her again, huh?"

Lucas laughed. "Yeah, I did. But it was over and done with just like that." He snapped his fingers.

"I didn't need to know how long it lasted Luke."

Lucas punched Nathan's arm. "No, dickhead. I mean me and Brooke. Whatever it was between us. I still loved her, hell, I still do, and I thought she felt the same way. She even said she felt the same way. But after it was all said and done, now I'm talking about the sex, she freaked out. And then me and her were over again. I mean, you saw her at the party. She hates me!"

"I don't think that she hates you Luke. I just think that maybe she was confused with her feelings. You know how girls are sometimes!"

"I guess. It's just hard." He thought for a moment. "I think there is someone else."

Shit. I cannot say anything to tip him off. "Why do you think that? Did she say something?"

"No. Not really. But she didn't have to. I could see it in her eyes. I just don't think that I wanted to believe it. But now I think that it's true. I just don't know who it would be with. There is really nobody else in Tree Hill I can see her dating."

You have no idea man. "Come on, it was probably nothing." Nathan stood from the table and smacked Lucas' arm lightly. "Now get over here and play me another game. I'm gonna beat your ass again."

"Yeah, right. We'll see how that goes."

The guys started playing again, and both were thinking about Brooke. One was thinking how much he still loved her, the other thinking how his brother would take the news of her and Peyton together. Nathan came to the conclusion that Lucas not finding out was the best. Yeah, like that would last. They're girls. Girls talk. A lot. And if they keep making-out in closets, someone else is gonna catch them. Nathan smiled remembering the looks on their faces when they got caught. Oh. This should all be very interesting.

PEYTON

Peyton sat on her bed, drawing as usual. She always used drawing as a distraction from everything else, and boy did she ever need one. Her haunting problem sat only a few feet away, tucked safely in her desk drawer. Peyton looked up from her art as she thought about it once again. I really should just dump it. I don't need it. I don't need drugs, or anything else like it. She sighed, but didn't move from her spot on the bed, she just continued to draw.

Earlier that day, Brooke hadn't showed up for school. Last night was the first night that the girls has spent apart from each other. All day Peyton had tried calling her, but her girlfriend never answered. She didn't want to just go to Brooke's house because she knew that Brooke's mom was supposed to be in town sometime this week. Peyton figured that's why she hadn't heard from Brooke all day. She was beginning to get worried though. Surly Brooke would have called when she saw her missed calls and listened to her messages. Right? Unless something is really wrong. Peyton started to get even more worried about her girlfriend. But right then, her cell phone rang. BROOKIE is what showed on the caller ID.

"God Brooke! Where the hell have you been? Are you ok?" Peyton asked concerned

"Peyt?" The other girl's voice had tears in it.

"Brooke! Baby, what happened?" Peyton said jumping up from her bed and putting on her shoes.

"Could you come over here? I need you."

"I'm on my way. Hold tight sweetie."

Peyton ran out of her room and rushed to her girlfriends house.

Peyton knocked on the door, but when no one answered she just figured it was ok for her to just walk in. Usually she wouldn't hesitate to just walk right in, but not knowing if Brooke's mom was still here had stopped her and forced her to be polite and knock.

"Hello? Brooke?" She shut the door quietly behind her and stood in the entry way. "Baby?"

"Peyton? I'm in here." A voice said from the living room.

Peyton walked in and saw glass shattered everywhere. Holy shit! She looked around and finally saw her best friend huddled in the corner, her knees to her chest. She had some dried blood on her hands, and Peyton saw a cut on Brooke's cheek. It didn't look deep enough to bleed too badly, and that's when she noticed Brooke's bleeding feet. She's probably been walking all over this glass. Peyton rushed to Brooke's side and pulled the brunette into a tight hug. As she surveyed the room more, she noticed the empty bottles all around Brooke. I thought I smelt alcohol on her.

"Brooke, what happened here?" Peyton took the other girls face in her hands. "Come on, lets get you cleaned up. You're bleeding." Peyton noticed the cuts on Brooke's hands as well. Dammit Brooke, why are you not careful around glass? She helped her girlfriend stand up and led her into the bathroom. She sat her down on the toilet and started to clean off all Brooke's injuries. "Ok. So do you want to tell me what happened?"

"I'm moving." Brooke said simply

"What? Oh Brookie, moving isn't that bad! The worst of it is a smaller house. You don't need such a big house anyway since you are home alone most of the time! It will be ok."

"No Peyt. I meant I'm moving, moving. To New York. That's where my parents are."

"What are you talking about?" Peyton asked, concern etched on her face.

"We're broke. So my dad's new job provided us with some housing up in New York. I leave in a week to meet my family up there." Brooke started sobbing. "God Peyton! What am I gonna do?! I cant leave Tree Hill!"

The girls sat for a moment in silence. The only sound being made was Brooke's sobs. Peyton hugged her girlfriend and let Brooke cry on her shoulder. After a while, after Brooke had calmed down some, Peyton looked at her.

"You'll come live with me."

"What?"

"Yeah, you'll come live with me. We have an extra bedroom in the house, and you can have that! It's perfect." Brooke looked at her like she was crazy. "Ok sweetie, let's get you a shower. You need to clean up a bit. You think about what I said ok? I'll be in the kitchen when you are done in here."

"Ok." Brooke said, still kind of dazed.

In the shower, Brooke started to cry. It seemed to be the only thing she knew how to do for the past 24 hours. Why am I like this? I'm Brooke Davis! I'm not supposed to be like this dammit! The thoughts just made the tears come faster.

After her shower, Brooke dressed and went to find Peyton. She found her in the kitchen, cooking over the stove. Brooke just stood in the doorway and watched the blonde. I'm so lucky to have her. It's unlike anything I've ever had. She's just so perfect. And so gorgeous.

Feeling eyes on her back, Peyton turned around to find Brooke just looking at her with a huge smile, and a far-off look in her eyes.

"Hey Brookie, you ok there?" Peyton asked after a minute.

"Yeah, just thinking about how lucky I am to have you."

Peyton smiled. "Aww. Come here." The girls met halfway, and Peyton wrapped her best friend in her arms. "How are you feeling? Are you ok?"

"I will be." Brooke broke out of the embrace and walked over the fridge and grabbed a beer.

Peyton walked over and grabbed it out of her hand. "Oh no. You don't need anymore alcohol Brooke." Wow. I'm such a hypocrite.

Brooke just pouted and sat down on the counter. "God Peyton. What am I gonna do? This is all just way too much for me to handle."

"Babe, you're not moving. You really can just move into my place. My dad's never home anyways. It will be fun, just the two of us."

"Yeah, it sounds great, but will it actually work out? And there's so much I have to do! Like this stupid sale tomorrow." Peyton looked at her confused. "Oh yeah, all the stuff out there that I didn't break, I have to hold a sale to sell it tomorrow. Including my stuff. I don't want to sell my things! I like them!"

Peyton laughed. "Brooke, they're just things. I mean, do you really even need half of the things you own?"

"That's not the point." Brooke waved her hand. "Change of subject. All I've been thinking about is this moving shit, and I'm tired of it."

Peyton grabbed the food off the stove and Brooke set two plates down at the table. Both girls sat down and served themselves some food. Both at in silence until Peyton finally spoke up.

"Brooke, I'm worried about you."

"What? Why?"

"Using alcohol to cover things up. I know that you've been doing it for a while, and I'm starting to get worried. It's getting worse."

Brooke smiled. "Come on Peyt! We all have our own way of dealing with things. Mine was alcohol and boys, but since the whole boys thing is out," Brooke took Peyton's hand in her own and smiled, "the booze counts for two! I mean seriously, everyone has something right?"

Tell her. "Yeah, I guess you're right. Just be careful." Dammit Peyton, just tell her!

"Come on! It's me!" Brooke stood up from the table. "Now come on Goldilocks, and help me set up for tomorrow!"

Peyton flashed her biggest smile, fake as it may be. "Anything to help out my Brooke."

Brooke walked over to Peyton and kissed her softly. "Thanks Peyton. I really needed you here, and that's right where you are."

"Brooke, I'm always here for you. Always." See, she doesn't need to hear about my problems right now. She has her own to worry about. I'll tell her when the timing is right. Peyton continued to justify not telling Brooke until the she just stopped thinking about it all together.