Hey Everybody! I'm so sorry it took me so long to update! I hope that you can all find it in your hearts to forgive me! : ) I had finals and that took up a lot of time, and then when I went to finish this chapter, I had a slight case of writers block with how I wanted things to play out. But I'm back! Hopefully everyone likes it! If you guys want to throw some ideas out there for me, please… feel free. Any feedback is appreciated! Well, enjoy! (P.S. I don't own anything!)
Saturday- Morning
BROOKE'S HOUSE
"No! Actually that's not for sale!" Brooke said while running up to a girl holding up one of her shirts out of the pile on the table.
"Excuse me! I'm sorry, this wasn't supposed to be out here." Brooke chased down a lady who just bought her TV. Finally, after arguing with the woman, Brooke managed to get the TV back by giving her a refund plus some.
"No! Wait!" Brooke yelled, about to run after another item when Peyton suddenly grabbed her arm.
"Brooke Davis! You are supposed to be selling these things! Not buying them all over again!"
Brooke opened her mouth to say something, but Peyton cut her off. "Don't even try to deny it. I just watched the entire TV incident." Brooke pouted. "Oh stop it! Now come sit with me and let people exchange their nice green money for your shit."
"It's not shit." Brooke followed Peyton to a table where the cash box was, and sat down with a huff.
"It will be ok baby. Trust me." Peyton grabbed Brooke's hand and Brooke couldn't help but smile. "See, there's a smile."
"Peyt, I'm sad. Not two." Brooke said regaining some of her spunk. "You all set up for tonight?"
"Yeah, pretty much. There's still a little I need to do, but it shouldn't take long."
"So Brooke… how's it feel to be on our income level now?" Haley asked as her and Nathan walked up hand-in-hand.
"Like shit. But I'll get over it. At least that's what I'm told."
"Damn right." Was Peyton's response. Brooke looked at her with an evil look. "Ok, now you're acting like you're two." Both girls laughed.
"Why do I always feel like I missed something when I'm around the two of you?" Nathan asked thoughtfully, making the three girls laugh.
"You ready for tonight Haley?" Peyton asked.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Haley turned to Brooke. "Are you sure you don't mind me looking around?"
"Are you kidding? I'd rather you have my so-called 'shit' than some random person." She waved her arm. "Take what you want."
"Thanks Tigger."
As Nathan and Haley walked off to look at all of the things laid out on the lawn, Brooke sighed. Peyton just smiled sympathetically at her girlfriend.
Saturday Night
TRIC
It was now time for TRIC's grand opening, and people were flooding in. Everyone involved in getting TRIC up and running couldn't be any happier. The bars were full, as was the dance floor, and people were just floating around everywhere.
Karen and Deb were manning the bar while the other bartenders had their hands full, Peyton was at the sound booth overseeing the music, Lucas was around somewhere, while Haley and Nathan were preparing for Haley's performance.
At the moment, Brooke was standing at the bar, waiting to order another drink. I'm so glad I have that fake ID! None of the bartenders know I'm only 17. How bad-ass is that?! She was already drunk.
"What can I get for you tonight?" The bartender asked as he walked up to her.
"Oh! Hello!" He's cute. Time to flash the 'Brooke Davis' smile! "I'll take a vodka and coke. Light on the ice." Smile Brooke. Just keep smiling.
The bartender returned her smile. "I'll have that right up."
Bingo! See, I bet you anything I didn't even need this bracelet! The bartender came back and handed her the drink she ordered.
"Thanks! How much do I owe you?" Flash that smile again Brookie!
"Oh. Um, don't worry about it. I got it covered."
"Aw! You're so sweet!" Sucker! Brooke then saw Karen spot her at the bar, drink in hand, so she turned quickly to walk away. "Later cutie!" Brooke winked at the bartender as she started walking.
"Brooke Davis! Stop right there!" Karen yelled.
Shit! Brooke turned back around and smiled big. "Hi Karen! The club looks excellent!"
"Your wrist Brooke. And your drink." Brooke pouted as she handed over her drink and held out her wrist. Karen cut the bracelet off, and turned to the bartender. "Doesn't she look a little young to you?"
"Well, a little. But at least 21."
Brooke smiled happily.
"Un-uh. Try 17." Karen turned her attention back to Brooke. "Off with you Brooke."
Karen walked away leaving a pretty angry looking bartender. Brooke smiled sheepishly and shrugged as she walked away.
While Karen had found Brooke and was now giving her a lecture on under-age drinking, Peyton was watching over the music.
"Hey Peyton." Lucas said walking up to her.
"Oh! Hey Lucas. Having fun?"
"Yeah. Totally. Everything is turning out better than great!" He stood there for a moment, and just when the silence was about to get awkward, he spoke again. "So your secret is out."
Fuck! "What?" Peyton asked nervously
"Yeah, the fact that you actually don't have good taste in music." Lucas smiled. "This song sucks."
Peyton let out the breath she didn't realize she was holding. "Oh!" She laughed. "Guess I'm just good at putting up a front." That's an understatement. "So what's new with you?"
"Not a whole lot. How 'bout you?"
"Not much." Only everything.
Conversation pretty much stopped there, and finally Lucas spoke up.
"Ok then. I'm gonna go find Haley. See you later?"
"You bet. Bye Luke."
"Later."
Lucas walked away and Peyton was left alone at the sound booth. Now that was awkward!
"Haley! Will you just breathe?!" Nathan said as he placed a hand on Haley's back.
"No. Can't." Haley was bent over, her hear between her knees, and she was breathing into a paper bag.
"Hey guys. Hales, you ok there?" Lucas walked up to the couple.
Haley, recognizing the sound of Lucas' voice, jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Luke! You want to get me outta this singing thing?"
Lucas just laughed. "You're gonna do great. Just chill!"
"That's what I've been telling her. Hales, you just need to relax!" Nathan walked up to her and grabbed her face so she was looking him in the eyes. "Haley, don't stress about this. You are more than ready. You just have to believe that."
Haley inhaled deeply. "Fine. You're right." She exhaled. "Ok. I'm good."
"TUTOR-GIRL!!"
"Oh God." Nathan, Haley, and Lucas all groaned when they saw a very drunk Brooke headed their way.
Brooke reached them and wrapped Haley in a huge hug. "Oh! Tutor-Girl! You're growing up so fast! In like 10 minutes you're gonna be singing in front of like hundreds of people!" Brooke flashed her biggest smile. "Aren't you scared?"
Haley laughed nervously, all her earlier feelings of fear rushing back. "Nathan! Baggy!" She sat yet again with her head between her knees breathing through the bag.
"What did I say?" A confused Brooke asked as she giggled at Haley.
"Come on Brooke. Lets leave these two alone." Lucas grabbed Brooke's arm and started pulling her along.
About 10 minutes later, after Nathan had calmed down Haley once more and Lucas had dragged Brooke away from Haley to prevent further damage, Karen stood on the stage. TRIC was about to start it's first set.
"Hello everyone, and welcome to TRIC!" A thunderous applause went up which caused Karen to smile huge. "I want to thank everyone for coming out tonight to celebrate our opening." More applause. "I would like to introduce you to our first talent here at TRIC, Haley James-Scott!"
Haley walked out onto stage shyly as people clapped loudly. Karen hugged Haley and wished her good luck before exiting the stage. Haley sat down at the keyboard and a new sense of fear washed over her. That fear was quickly replaced by confidence as she saw all her friends in the crowd.
"Hello. I wrote this song a while ago, and I figured it was time to share it with whoever wanted to listen. I hope you all enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed writing it." She smiled as people cheered, and took a deep breath. Then she started playing.
Lucas and Brooke were standing a little ways from the sound booth listening to Haley's song. Lucas had to keep an eye on Brooke so she wouldn't sneak away and go find some other harmful thing to do. He knew how she could get when she was drunk, and he imagined it was worse now from what it was a long time ago. He just didn't want her to do something she would regret later, or worse, do something to hurt herself.
"She's good isn't she?" Lucas asked in Brooke's ear.
"Whoa! Personal space Broody!" Brooke saw Peyton walking down from the sound booth, and Brooke started walking towards her. "Look! It's my baby!" Brooke giggled.
"Your what?" Lucas asked confused as he followed Brooke.
Peyton saw Brooke walking towards her and instantly knew that the other girl was wasted. She could tell by the way the brunette was walking, and by the way Lucas was following her with concern in his eyes. She saw the huge smile plastered on Brooke's face, and dreaded what she knew was about to happen. Oh shit. Brooke, why the hell did you have to get drunk tonight? Please don't do or say anything stupid with so many people around. Not tonight. We so don't need that right now.
"Peyton!" Brooke called out as she neared the blonde. Peyton smiled and gave a little wave. Brooke reached her and threw her arms around Peyton's neck. "Hi Girlfriend!"
"Girlfriend?" Lucas asked as he walked up to the duo.
Dammit Brooke! "She's just drunk. You know her crazy nicknames for people."
Brooke unwrapped herself from around Peytons neck and took a step back. "What? Am I not good enough for you? Is it so bad that you have to lie about being with me?" Brooke's eyes started filling with tears. "You know what Peyton, you're not even worth it." Brooke kissed Peyton hard and pulled away. "Well Goldilocks, it was nice while it lasted." Brooke started walking towards the exit.
It just so happened that Haley's song had just ended, and the people around them heard every word, not to mention witnessed the kiss. Some people ignored it; those were the ones who didn't know the girls. Those who did know the best friends just stood there dumbfounded. Peyton and Lucas were both left standing there in shock, and finally Peyton snapped out of it.
"Fuck. This is so not good." She sighed and started to chase after Brooke. "Brooke. Brooke, wait up."
Lucas couldn't believe what he just witnessed. Did I really just see that? Brooke and Peyton? Together? You have got to be kidding me! He turned to where Peyton had caught up with Brooke, and he could hear the couple talking. So could the rest of the people around them.
"Brooke, will you wait a minute?" Peyton reached out and took a hold of the other girls arm. Brooke turned around, tears in her eyes. "Hey, I didn't mean that. I'm sorry. Ok?"
Brooke let out an angry laugh. "You know what Peyt, I don't believe you. I think that you really are ashamed. I mean, it makes sense that I would date another girl right? I mean, everyone thinks that I'm a slut anyways. But you, you couldn't possibly be gay."
"That's not fair Brooke. To me, or to you. So what, you have a past. Big deal; who cares. People shouldn't judge you for that. And me? I don't even know what people think about me, so it's all fair game. But you do know me. More than anyone ever has. And I know you. Fuck what people think ok?" Peyton reached out and brushed away Brooke's tears with her thumb. "Can you just wait till I can leave here, and we can go talk?"
Brooke pulled back. "No Peyton. Just…no."
"What? Brooke, baby, why not? I said I'm sorry. I really am." Peyton reached out for Brooke again.
Brooke started talking loudly. "Get off me dyke!" Peyton let go of Brooke's arm as though she had been burned. "You know what, you said you know me better than anyone. But you don't know me Peyton."
Brooke's voice started to get to the point where she was practically shouting. People all around were starting to listen as look closely to see what was going on. Lucas came over to the two girls to try to save them from the gossip-hungry crowd.
"Brooke. Peyton. How about we take this somewhere else ok?"
Both girls ignored him.
"If you really knew me Peyt, you would know that the one thing that hurts me the most is rejection. Sure, you can fuck with me when we're alone, but when I even hug you in public you freak out and deny everything. You bitch!"
Tears welled up in Peyton's eyes as her girlfriends words sunk in. Brooke, seeing the hurt that the words had caused, sighed in frustration and defeat. The girls locked eyes for a second, both reading each other, and after a second Peyton tore her eyes away and started walking away. She was hoping that she could take some pride with her after the whole ordeal.
"Peyton. Wait." Brooke walked over so that she was standing in front of her girlfriend. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."
"It's funny how the truth comes out when you're drunk doesn't it Brookie?" Peyton spat Brooke's nickname with sarcasm.
"I cant deal with this right now. I cant even think straight."
"Fine. Go sober your ass up, and then call me when my girlfriend re-inhabits your body. Because I sure as hell don't know where she is right now."
Lucas stepped in-between the two. "Brooke. Peyton. Stop it. Come on." They stood still. "Now. Before you do or say anything else you'll regret in the morning."
"It doesn't even matter anymore Lucas. I've said all I need to say to Peyton."
"Hell no. You two are working this out. Now I don't know what is going on between you two, but Brooke, you probably wont remember any of this in the morning. Peyton will. And so will the rest of these people watching. Now come on. Do everyone a favor, and start walking." Lucas pointed to where he wanted her and Peyton to go.
Brooke stood her ground and looked Lucas in the eye, ready for another argument. Then she noticed Peyton standing behind him, wiping away a tear from her cheek. Brooke sighed. "No Lucas. I cant. Not right now. I'm just going to go home." And with that she turned and started walking out of TRIC.
As people watched the whole Brooke and Peyton scene, Karen made her way back onto the stage. "Thank you Haley! That was incredible!" The crowd averted their attention back to the stage. "Now what do you say we get this place moving again?" Music came on and people cheered. People started moving on with their own conversations and dancing, forgetting about the lovers quarrel they had just watched unfold.
Karen smiled and stepped off the stage. She saw Nathan and Haley standing by the bar, and she made her way towards them. "Ok. So what the hell was that?" She wasn't mad, just curious.
Haley just sighed. "Guess keeping a secret is out of the picture. Brooke and Peyton are… well…" She paused and Karen just stared at her. "Well they are together. Guess that's the easiest way to put it."
"Together? As in dating?"
"Yeah."
Karen laughed. "Well I never saw that one coming!" She thought for a moment. "Actually…"
As Brooke left and after Karen got information on what was going on from Haley, she made her way to Peyton and Lucas.
"Lucas, why don't you go after Brooke and make sure she is ok."
"Ok Mom. That's probably a good idea."
When Lucas walked away, Karen turned her attention to Peyton. "Hey. Are you ok?"
"I'll be fine. Karen, I am so sorry!"
"Peyton, don't worry about it. You just get your stuff and get yourself home. You've had enough for one night I think."
"Ok. Thanks Karen."
Karen gave Peyton a hug. "It's no problem sweetie."
PEYTON'S HOUSE
Peyton went straight home after she got her stuff from TRIC, and now, a couple hours later, she was sitting on her bed, staring at her wall. She was completely lost in thought when a knock at her door jerked her back to the real world.
"Hey Peyt." Brooke said, defeat evident in her voice. "Can I come in?"
"Of course Brooke."
Brooke sat on the bed and the two just sat in silence, both avoiding looking at the other. When they finally made eye contact, they smiled timidly at each other.
"Look, I'm really sorry about earlier. I completely overreacted." Brooke started out.
"It's ok. I'm sorry too. I care about you so much, and I'm sorry for the way I reacted about it all. I guess I was just scared to see what people would do or say when they found out about us. And I certainly didn't think it would be tonight. I wasn't prepared. That's why I tried to cover it up. Brooke, I'm not ashamed of you. At all. I mean hell, half of Tree Hill would kill to be with you the way I am."
Brooke smiled. "Yeah, I'm a hottie."
"You don't have to convince me. I already knew that!" Peyton reached out for Brooke's hand. "So are we ok?"
"Only if you can forgive me for everything that I did and said."
"Totally. All is forgiven."
Brooke smiled at the blonde and placed her hand in Peyton's outstretched one. "I'm really sorry babe. I never intended to out us tonight. Especially in front of all of TRIC! I really just overreacted about things."
"When don't you?" Peyton laughed as Brooke swatted her arm. "Seriously though, its ok. Besides, that kiss was completely hot. One of your best."
Brooke smiled devilishly. "What can I say? I get passionate when I'm pissed!" She thought for a moment. "And when I'm drunk." She giggled
"About that? Why?"
"Can we not talk about that right now?" Brooke asked as she laid down and pulled Peyton on top of her and kissed her.
"Ok then!" Peyton managed between kisses.
The girls continued to make-out for a while, and they talked a little too. Right then, they were both laying there talking.
"Ooh. I have to pee!" Peyton said jumping up from her spot on the bed.
"I'm gonna check my email while you're in there."
Brooke sat down at the computer and began to read her messages. She saw one from her mother that had information she needed to write down. "Jesus mother. Cant even pick up the damn phone anymore? Bitch." Brooke looked around on the desk for a pen. She had no luck. "Hey Girlfriend! Do you have a pen here somewhere?" Brooke opened the drawer and started looking around. "What the…?"
Peyton walked back into her room. "What did you need babe?"
Brooke turned in her chair. "Peyton."
Brooke held up the cocaine Peyton had hid in her drawer.
"Shit." Peyton sat heavily on the bed and buried her head in her hands.