Postcard From California
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Rating: T
Pairing: Lucas/Peyton
Post-Season 2 Finale
Song: Citizen Cope "Sideways"
You know it ain't easy
For these thoughts here to leave me
There's no words to describe it
In French or in English
With nothing but the empty highway and wind in their hair, Brooke thought that she and her two friends would have not a care in the world, but the tension that filled the car was getting so thick even she was having trouble ignoring it. She was eager to burst out with humorous stories about her stay in California, but remained quiet, curious as to why neither Peyton nor Lucas had uttered a word in her presence since they picked her. Brooke knew her patience was running out, especially since her two month old present from Daddy was quietly napping, and the remaining luggage that wouldn't fit into Peyton's trunk was slowly moving her way, making her feel claustrophobic.
"What did you name her?" Lucas asked awkwardly, and Brooke came to life, at first confused and then understanding when he turned around and pointed to the Pomeranian ball of fluff laying soundlessly in her doggy bag. Brooke smiled and affectionately scratched her new companion behind the ears. Lucas's guilty stare went unbeknownst to her, and she brushed back a strand of her hair thoughtfully.
"I think I'll name her Zoë." Brooke decided and then looked at her best friend, "What do you think Peyt?"
That caught the driver off guard and Peyton almost swerved off the freeway. Brooke held her breath for a moment, and then let it out, deciding to finally break the tension filled bubble engulfing the convertible.
"Peyton pull over."
"Brooke?" Peyton turned around for a moment, trying to steady her shaky grip on the wheel, thinking it would be a good idea to listen to her friend. She glanced sideways at Lucas, who nodded her along, much more solemnly as it was already decided that Lucas would be the one to break the news.
"Okay." Peyton agreed and swerved, now more calmly, to the shoulder of the road. The second the car stopped Brooke got up, careful to not disturb her pooch, and crossed her arms, turning toward the guilty parties suspiciously.
"What's up Brooke?" Lucas tried to feign innocence but was fully aware that his ex girlfriend wasn't buying any of it.
"Alright, one out of two things have happened while I was away." Brooke began, eyeing Peyton for any faltering in appearance, but her friend's expression seemed stone cold, Brooke remembered how Peyton didn't even get out of the car to hug her when Brooke arrived.
Well, diamonds they fade
And flowers they bloom
And I'm telling you
These feelings won't go away
"Number one, you guys pulled a Haley and Nathan and got hitched with matching tattoos of each other's names, or number dos you guys got into a terrible fight over me and now refuse to speak to each other. What's the verdict?" Brooke looked between them with a bit of mirth in her smile, which immediately deflated with the next bit of news she received.
"Actually we slept together." Peyton didn't know what came over her, but she couldn't help being so blunt about her adultery. It was the mixture of keeping it in and the fatigue over lying to her friend about the last time Lucas and her hooked up. That and the fact that deep inside of her, Peyton felt that if it came from her and not Lucas Brooke would have an easier time rebuilding their friendship, if there was still one left to rebuild.
Lucas shot a nervous look at Brooke, trying to read her expression, which became unintelligible as soon as she heard the real reason behind her friends' anxiety.
"Brooke, I don't know what to say, I mean with the way things ended between us before you left, I just lost all hope of ever retrieving what we had. So-…"
"So what Luke? You found comfort in the nearest arms, why not run to Haley, I'm sure you haven't been with her yet, it would've been fun tasting the goods that you haven't yet." Brooke snapped and for a split second regretted it, but looking at the closeness between Peyton and Lucas in retrospect she figured it was bound to happen that way.
"Brooke, please listen to me-…" Peyton spoke smoothly, evenly, knowing with expertise how best to handle her best friend.
They've been knockin' me sideways
They've been knockin' me out lately
Whenever you come around me
"You don't need to apologize, or pull any of that 'please understand we were both lonely' bullshit. I forgave you guys for this long before you even did it. It was bound to happen. Why do you think I tried so hard to get Luke in the beginning anyway?" Brooke asked pointedly, looking between the two adulterers.
Lucas actually shrugged, still in disbelief of being caught between two girls, two best friends at that.
Peyton opened her mouth to speak but couldn't figure out what to say.
"I bet you think it's because I was horny." Brooke laughed bitterly, "Which was part of it, but also the other part of me screamed, "You can't let Peyt have both of the Scott brothers, you got to figure out what's so good about them." And so I kind of stole him from underneath you, well not literally, but you know what I mean, and I'm not surprised and even more so Luke, I never would've gotten back with you, because I knew this would happen. So don't apologize for your feelings but more so definitely don't make me try to understand. All you had to do was let me go, but you couldn't and now I'm ready to let you go."
Lucas was very surprised by her speech, and not having rehearsed the appropriate reaction for this, he was dumbstruck.
"Okay, any other bombshells?" Brooke let out a satisfying breath and headed back to the car after a moment of silence.
At that moment Zoe woke up from her nap and enthusiastically began barking at her owner's two friends.
"You see?" Brooke pointed to the dog, "Zoe agrees." And then began scratching the puppy affectionately and cooing her like a baby.
Peyton and Lucas exchanged looks but didn't say anything, walking slowly to the car. Brooke let out a yawn and closed her eyes. "Wake me when we get there." She said, feeling a bit selfish for not exactly waiting for any response from her friends, but hey, the way they were going, it didn't seem she would be in their company for long.
Well, diamonds they fade
And flowers they bloom
And I'm telling you
These feelings won't go away
"She hates me, I'm sure of it." Peyton said quietly, huddled up in the corner of her bed, wiping nonexistent tears from underneath her eyes. Lucas looked helplessly at her, unable to offer emotional support and scared to touch her due to raging hormones.
"She can't hate you. Your P. Sawyer." Lucas smiled nostalgically, reminding Peyton of Brooke's nickname for her.
"I slept with the only guy she's ever loved Luke."
"I highly doubt after today there'll be much love between Brooke and I."
Peyton shrugged, trying to absorb the reality of the situation and slowly coming to the conclusion that she would truly be lonely without Brooke in her life.
"I can't just let her be this way. I know I hurt her, I can't do that again I just can't." Peyton suddenly got up and grabbed her jacket off the counter, "I'm going for a walk, feel welcome to stay."
Lucas looked at her uncertainly, not really wanting to leave seeing as Brooke and him were roommates now.
"Don't go see her, it could only be worse, she needs time to cool off."
Peyton shook her head, "A betrayed heart isn't something that needs time to cool off, it'll never go away and the trust that comes with it won't either. I just need to go." She explained, silently pleading for his blessing with her eyes.
Lucas got up and walked toward her, Peyton simultaneously took a step back also fearing physical contact with him, but the blonde boy touched her arm softly, and she melted into him as only she could with so little effort.
"It'll be okay, I promise." He whispered into her hair, though his eyes betrayed him. Looking in the mirror in front of him, Lucas suddenly despised his reflection.
It looked like the reflection of a guilty man…
I keep thinking in a moment that
Time will take them away
But these feelings won't go away