Chapter Sixteen

"Cruz"

"Slowly drifting into a peaceful breeze. Tongue tied and twisted are all my memories

Celebrating a fantasy come true. Packing all my bags, Finally on the move. I'm leaving today. I'm living it, I'm leaving it to change." 'Christina Aguilera' sang across the radio in Nathan's car.

"Thank you for bringing me there," Brooke smiled as they drove back to Tree Hill.

Nathan nodded, "I wish it could have just been me and you," he said sadly. "Sleeping was so awkward."

"It's alright," Brooke shrugged. "It had to come at some point, don't you think?"

Nathan nodded, "I just never imagined sleeping in a bed with you, while my ex wife and my brother lay on the floor." He smiled.

"At least you go the privilege of sleeping with me," Brooke pointed out.

"That's true," he smiled. "And you in return got the privilege of sleeping with me."

"Yes, I did." She laughed. "When we get back in town can you drop me off at Tric?" she asked.

"Sure," he told her. "But why?"

"I want to talk to Peyton." She smiled. "Does that bother you?"

"Why would it bother me?" Nathan asked confused. "She's your best friend,"

"I know," Brooke laughed. "I was just checking."

Nathan drove into the parking lot of Tric and let Brooke out of the car. She kissed him softly on the lips and thanked him again for bring her. She opened the door of Tric and saw Karen standing on the other side. "Shit," she muttered to herself.

"Hi Brooke," Karen waved.

Brooke smiled nervously. "Hey Karen," she sat down at the bar. "Is my best friend Peyton here?"

Karen looked at her with confusion. "I thought she was with you,"

Brooke smiled slightly, "Well, she was, but she went home to change for work." She looked up as Peyton walked out of the back room.

"Oh hey Brooke," she smiled. "What are you doing here?"

Karen looked back and forth between them and laughed. "Nice try Brooke, where were you really?"

Brooke looked at her nervously unsure of what to say. "Um, I,"

"She was with me," Lucas yelled out walking up to them from the doorway. Brooke turned around and looked at him with confusion. "Haley and I brought Brooke to the amusement park with us yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I figured if I told you I was staying with Brooke and Haley both overnight you would get mad."

Karen looked at him angrily. "I don't like you lying to me Lucas, and you either Brooke."

Peyton watched all of this with confusion. The last she knew Brooke and Lucas weren't even really talking to each other.

"Don't let it happen again," Karen ordered. "And Brooke, I expect to see you after school tomorrow at the café? We're going to take off a little early and go look at that place you were talking about."

Brooke smiled with excitement. "I'll be there!" She turned around to look at Lucas and mouthed "Thank you," at him. She grabbed Peyton's arm and took off outside.

Once the two were outside and away from everyone Brooke smiled. "P. Sawyer, I have to tell you something,"

"Great," she smiled. "I have to talk to you about something too."

"Okay, you go first," Brooke told her.

Peyton shrugged. "No, it's alright, go ahead."

"Okay," Brooke smiled. "I slept with Nathan last night."

"What?" Peyton cried. "I thought you were with Lucas and Haley?"

Brooke shook her head. "Well we were, sort of. But that's not the point, the point is, that I slept with Nathan, and it was amazing."

Peyton laughed a little at her friend describing sex with Nathan. It hadn't been that long ago when she herself was having sex with Nathan. "That's great Brooke, I'm really glad you're happy." Her smile faded.

"Peyton, what is it? What's wrong? Did something happen with Jake?"

Peyton shook her head no. "It's just, it's about my dad, well and my mom," she told her.

Brooke looked at her confused. "Do you want to go somewhere and talk about it?"

Peyton nodded. "Let me just go tell Karen I'm leaving."

Brooke sat down next to Peyton on a couch in a little café not far from Karen's. "I almost feel like I'm cheating on Karen," Peyton laughed.

"I know," Brooke smiled. "Plus, I work there now."

"Yeah I heard about that," Peyton giggled. "That's awesome that Karen's doing that for you."

Brooke nodded, "So what's going on P. Sawyer, you know you can talk to me about anything right?"

Peyton sighed and held back tears that were forming. "Do you remember the woman that wanted to do that article on me and Tric a while back?" Brooke shook her head. "Well she showed up at my doorstep the night you left for California and claimed she was my mother."

"That's impossible, your mom is…" Brooke started.

"Dead." Peyton finished. "I know right? Well she claims that she gave birth to me, but my father left her for her sister, or my mother. So really, my mom was actually my aunt." Peyton explained.

"Wow," Brooke whispered. "Are you sure it's true?"

Peyton shook her head no. "Not really," she said honestly. "Well, I didn't until last night. My dad came home, and caught Jake and I kissing in my bedroom. He started to yell but then I caught him off guard by bringing it up. It's true Brooke, all of it's true."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Brooke asked hugging her. "I'm so sorry Peyton."

Peyton shrugged. "It's okay, it's just. I don't know where to put that. I mean, my dad is still my dad, but now I'm having a hard time looking at him, or even being around him for that matter. Apparently he's really staying this time, and I don't want to be near him."

"Wow," Brooke sighed. "I'm really sorry Peyton, I'm sure we can come up with something."

"Like what?"

"You could move to an apartment with me!" Brooke exclaimed. "You already have a job, you'd be able to afford it."

Peyton shook her head. "My dad will never let me."

"I guess not huh?" she wined. "Well that totally sucks."

Peyton nodded. "Yes it does."

"Well, let's go do something fun to take your mind off of things," she suggested.

"Like what?"

"I don't know," Brooke shrugged. "Get wasted, go to the mall, anything."

"Those are things you like to do when you're depressed," Peyton laughed.

"Fine," Brooke pouted. "I have a better idea. Just wait and see!"