FRIDAY- MORNING

The next morning, the occupants of all three rooms were trying to get motivated to get to school on time. Brooke, Peyton, Nathan, and Haley were all still at the breakfast table; still in their PJ's.

"I don't see why school is so damn early!" Haley yawned. "I mean, whoever thought that we needed to be there for like 8 hours a day is retarded."

"I never thought that I would hear that out of the mouth of our very own school-loving Haley James-Scott." Peyton said

"It sounds like something that I would say." Brooke said, her head on Peyton's shoulder

"Contrary to what people believe, I actually hate school. I love learning, but school sucks." Haley revealed

That's when they all heard the scream. Their attention was averted to a door where Tim flew out.

"Ok. Very funny. Who put him in my bed?" Tim asked angrily

"Put who in your bed Tim?" Nathan asked confused

"What the hell is your problem man?" A very groggy Mouth appeared in the doorway with Tim.

The room next to Tim and Mouth's opened abruptly, and Sydney and Lucas appeared.

"Whoa!" Brooke exclaimed, shooting up into a sitting position

The eight friends continued to look back and forth between each other, each baffled by the scenes in front of them.

"This isn't what it looks like." Lucas started explaining

"Tim, why did you have your arm around me? And why do I have such a headache?" Mouth pushed past Tim and went to the fridge to get some food.

Sydney stifled a laugh, which brought the attention back onto her and Lucas. "Oh. Right. Explanation." Sydney laughed at loud this time at the incredulous looks that everyone was giving her. "Me and Tim started out the night together-"

"Oh God! Stop right there. I might throw up." Brooke put a hand to her mouth

"Hey!" Tim exclaimed

"No Brooke, I meant started out sharing a room. I left because he wouldn't stop coming onto me, and I ran into Lucas when I was coming back from the bathroom."

"And I left my room because Mouth's snoring could wake the dead." Lucas added.

"So me and Lucas moved Mouth to Tim's room, and I slept in Lucas' room."

"Where I slept on the couch in there." Lucas finished

"Right." Peyton rolled her eyes

"Please. Lucas is so not my type. No offense Lucas." Sydney patted his shoulder as she walked back into their room.

Brooke just raised an eyebrow as Lucas shrugged his shoulders and walked out of the room to eat breakfast.

"Man, this should all get very interesting." Nathan said, shaking his head

"Especially with Taylor coming now." Haley added

Lucas had just taken a drink of water and immediately spit it back out as he started coughing. Brooke started to choke on the cereal she was eating.

"Whoa! You two ok there?" Peyton asked, patting Brooke's back

"Yeah! Fine!" Lucas said quickly

"Never better. Never better." Brooke said at the same time

"Ok. What's the story?" Haley leaned forward expectantly

"There is no 'story'." Brooke said, adding little air quotes when she said 'story'

"Right. Just like you don't have a Cheerio on your chin." Haley retorted

Brooke gave Haley a funny look. "Huh?" She felt her chin and a Cheerio fell off onto the table. "Oh. Oops." Brooke smiled embarrassingly

"Story. Now. Its is my sister after all. And it obviously involves my best friends too. So spill." Haley looked at Lucas

"Ok, ok. This is gonna be kinda weird." Lucas sat down at the table. Sydney came out of their room at that time and sat at the table with the rest of the group. "Ok…"Lucas started out slowly. "Last time Taylor was here…umm…we kind-of-slept-together!" Lucas said quickly

"You WHAT!" Haley said loudly

"Ok. Ow Hales. That was my ear you just yelled into." Nathan said rubbing his ear

"Oh. Sorry baby." Haley apologized. She turned back to Lucas. "Ok. You WHAT?" She said again, just a little less loudly

"We slept together. You know…sex?"

"I know what it means Lucas. But is there a story behind it?"

"We were just drinking and having fun one night, and one thing led to another, and it just happened." Lucas tried defending himself.

"Dude." Was all that Nathan could say

Haley just shook her head. "And how do you play into this Brooke?" She turned her attention to the blushing brunette.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Brooke denied, looking at her nails

"Now this I have to hear." Peyton said

"No, you don't." Brooke argued

"Yes I do!" Peyton argued back

"No."

"Yes!"

"No."

"Yes!"

"It was a three-some!" Brooke clapped her hand over her mouth

"Oh. Yeah, I don't want to hear." Peyton managed to squeak after a moment of shocked silence

"WHAT!" Haley screamed. "With my SISTER!"

"Hales! It was a long time ago!" Brooke said in a lame attempt to defend herself.

Haley thought for a moment. "Last time she was here, it was…Brooke! It was only 7 months ago!"

"Well, we were really drunk. Let's just forget it ever happened." Brooke said as she stood from the table. "Now we're gonna be really late for school." She muttered as she walked away from the table.

"I don't know what to say!" Peyton suddenly said after Brooke left

"Peyton, it was stupid. It meant absolutely nothing to her. Me and her were still dating at the time, and I was the one who suggested it. Don't hold it against her." Lucas said in Brooke's defense

"No! I'm not mad or anything! I don't care!" Peyton explained. "I just never pegged her for that type of girl."

"Yet you two are dating?" Sydney asked. Everyone looked at her. "I'm sorry. I so don't want to get in the middle of this stuff." She stood and stretched. "Who knew there'd be so much damn drama in such a small town!"

FRIDAY- AFTER SCHOOL

Once the school day had finally ended, the same group form that morning, minus Sydney, was gathered outside in the parking lot.

"Well everyone. I guess this is it." Brooke announced sadly. "This is the last time I'll see you guys until Christmas."

"This is so sad! I don't want you to leave Brooke!" Haley pouted

"None of us do Hales." Lucas added

"It's only a see you later, guys! Not goodbye. You'll be seeing me at Christmas, and I'll be back not even two months after that." Brooke said, trying to cheer everyone up.

"Tree hill is going to be so boring without you Brooke!" Mouth suddenly exclaimed. Everyone raised an eyebrow at him. "No, seriously. Do you realize that all of the major drama that has gone on here has involved you?"

Brooke laughed. "Thanks for the love Mouth. And you guys will all find your own drama, I'm sure. Well, the time has come for us to part ways. And remember, don't look to the past when you get sad, but look to the future when I'll be back!" Brooke said seriously

"Wow Brooke. How poetic of you." Haley said surprised.

Brooke winked. "I'm a lot smarter than I let on Haley."

Brooke the said her 'see-you-laters' to everyone, and after many hugs, Brooke got into Peyton's car and they drove away

"I wonder how much will change with her gone?" Nathan wondered out loud

None of them knew exactly how much things would change in the course of the next four months.

FRIDAY-NIGHT

"Peyton, will you please stop getting all mushy?" Brooke said over the phone. "You're gonna ruin tonight!"

The girls had split up after school and gone to their own houses to get ready for that night; their last night together.

"I'm sorry B. I just cant help thinking that you'll be leaving me for 4 months tomorrow!" Peyton sighed as she looked into the mirror and changed her shirt for the 6th time.

"Stop. Now look, I'm ready to go and I'm getting impatient here, so pick out a God damned shirt and move it Missy!" Brooke commanded

Peyton chuckled. "Fine. I'll be there in 5 minutes."

"I'll be waiting."

When Brooke walked outside a few minutes later, she was greeted by a smiling Peyton standing by her car. In Peyton's hand was a single red rose.

"You look hot Sawyer." Brooke said as she checked her girlfriend out

"Not so bad yourself Davis." Peyton smiled as she walked up and kissed Brooke.

"Here." Peyton handed Brooke the rose. "This is for you."

Brooke took the rose and closed her eyes as she smelt it. "Peyton, its beautiful. Thank you."

"Get in." Peyton smiled as she opened Brooke's door for her

"Why thank you." Brooke said as she sat down. Peyton then closed the door and walked around to the drivers side. "Ok. Peyt. What is all this? I thought we were just gonna grab some food and chill."

"Patience Brookie. Patience. Just trust me." Peyton grabbed Brooke's hand as she pulled away from the curb.

"Yeah, yeah. Just watch the road." Brooke laughed

"Ok, we have one stop to make before dinner. I have to grab a CD from Haley with one of her new songs on it so I can listen to it for tomorrow night at TRIC."

"Ok. Whatever. I have all night."

Peyton and Brooke pulled up in front of Nathan and Haley's apartment, and Peyton turned the car off.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Did you just want to wait in the car?" Peyton asked as she was about to turn the car on again

"No. It's fine. I'll come up and say one last goodbye to Tutor-Girl." Brooke said opening her door

"Ok. I'm sure she's like that."

Brooke and Peyton walked up the stairs hand-in-hand, giggling about something random. They made it to Nathan and Haley's apartment, and Peyton knocked on the door. Haley opened it and smiled.

"Hey guys. Come on in." She opened the door wider and stepped aside

"SURPRISE!" People screamed as they jumped out from their hiding spots

"AHH!" Brooke screamed as she put a hand to her chest. "You guys scared the shit out of me!"

All their close friends, Karen, Keith, some of the basketball team, and some of the cheerleaders were there for a surprise going away party for Brooke.

Brooke turned to Peyton and slapped her arm. "You planned this didn't you!"

Peyton just smiled and handed Brooke another rose. Brooke just shook her head, bewildered.

"Hey Brooke. Sucks that you are leaving right as I am getting here." Taylor said, coming out from behind the kitchen counter

"Taylor! I didn't know that you were coming so soon!" Brooke exclaimed as she gave the older girl a hug

"Of course! I had to at least say hi before you left!" Taylor said, kissing Brooke's cheek before she pulled out of the hug.

Brooke smiled. "Well I'm glad you did."

"Me too." Taylor smiled back

"Hey Brooke." Lucas said coming up behind her. "Sorry I just got here. My car broke down on the way."

"Oh! It's fine Luke!" Brooke hugged him

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the 3 of us once again." Taylor snickered

"Hi Taylor. How are you?" Lucas asked

"I'm good Luke. Glad to be back." She winked

"Well now that this has sufficiently gotten awkward, I'm going to go mingle." Brooke said walking away, leaving Taylor grinning at Lucas

Brooke and Peyton stayed for about an hour, just long enough for Brooke to make her rounds saying goodbye. The duo was now back in the car headed towards the restaurant.

"So I didn't know that you and Taylor were actually friends." Peyton said nonchalantly

Brooke entwined her fingers with Peyton's. "Aw, poor baby. You jealous?" Brooke joked

"No. I really just didn't know." Peyton said honestly

"Yeah, well when you and me had that huge fight after Lucas, me and Tay started hanging out."

"I didn't even know that she was in Tree Hill then."

"She was."

Brooke didn't elaborate, and Peyton didn't ask.

The girls pulled up to a restaurant and followed the host to a table in the back. On the table there was a candle and another red rose.

"Thank you." Brooke said as the host walked away. "Wow Peyt. You really went all out tonight." Brooke said looking around. Her eyes then fell on the rose. "Ok. What's the deal with the roses?"

"Guess you'll just have to find out!" Peyton smiled.

The girls ordered and ate dinner around small talk and jokes; their typical banter. After they ate, Brooke leaned back in her chair and put her hand to her stomach.

"Ooh. I am so full. Are you trying to get me so fat that I weigh the plane down tomorrow P. Sawyer?" Brooke giggled

"Maybe." Peyton winked. "We still have one more stop though."

"Oh really?"

"Yes really."

Peyton paid the bill and the girls left. As they got to the car, Peyton pulled out a blindfold.

"Un uh. No way are you putting that on me." Brooke protested

"Come here." Peyton ordered. Brooke shook her head and crossed her arms. "Fine, I'll just take you home then." Peyton threatened.

"Fine." Brooke huffed. "I hate blindfolds."

"Oh get over it." Peyton said as she put the blindfold on Brooke.

"This better be good!" Brooke pouted

The girls drove for a little bit, Brooke continuously damning the blindfold, and Peyton. Finally Peyton came to a stop and Brooke reached up to take off the blindfold.

"No!" Peyton shouted, stopping Brooke. "Just give me 2 minutes."

"Ok." Brooke said sincerely at the eager tone in her girlfriends voice

As promised, Peyton came back to the car after 2 minutes and led Brooke out of the car.

"Ok. Now take it off." Peyton said

Brooke did as she was told, and gasped at the sight in front of her. Peyton had laid out at least 20 candles and laid out a blanket in the midst of them. A single rose laid on the blanket. Brooke looked up towards the sky, and noticed the full moon shining down on them.

"Oh my God. Peyton. I…oh my God." Brooke said with tears in her eyes

"Come on. Lets go sit."

The two girls went and sat down. Peyton sat first, and Brooke sat in between her legs and leaned against Peyton's chest.

"Peyton. This is so beautiful."

"I though so too." Peyton said, admiring the sky

"So what do the roses mean?" Brooke asked as she picked the one up off the blanket and smelt it.

"I gave you four roses tonight. That's how many months you'll be gone. One rose for each month. I want you to be able to look at them and know one thing." Peyton paused and Brooke turned to look at her

"What's that?"

Peyton took Brooke's hands into her own. "I love you Brooke Davis."

A single tear fell from Brooke's eye. "I love you to Peyton Sawyer."

Both girls smiled as they leaned in for a kiss. It was a night that no matter what happened, they would always remember