Meanwhile at Brooke's:

"Brooke, would you stop pacing! You're making me dizzy and you're going to wear a hole in your floor. Why did you want me to come over? What's up?"

"Okay, well, I need to tell you something and I don't know how you're gonna take it."

"Okay….well we'll never know if we don't try."

"Well, I recently realized I had feelings….strong feelings for someone."

" Call me blonde, but I'm not seeing why that's so bad."
"It's who I have these feelings for."

"Brooke, you're killing me. Just tell me."

"Okay, well me and Haley have been dating."

"You and Haley?" Peyton said wide-eyed.

"Yeah. See I knew you would freak." Brooke said as she sat down on her bed and put her head in her hands and started to cry. Peyton rubbed her back to comfort her.

"No Brooke. I'm not freaked out, just surprised. I'm happy for you two, I really am. You're my two best friends. Yes, it'll take some getting used to, but as long as you're happy."

Brooke slowly looked up at Peyton.

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Thanks Pey." She said as she brought her friend into a hug. ""I love you."

"I love you too Brookie."

Just as Brooke was about to say something, they heard the front door slam. Then footsteps. Followed by a sobbing Haley.

"Hales? What's wrong?" Brooke asked.

All Haley could do was shake her head before collapsing on the ground. Both Brooke and Peyton were at her side in an instant. Brooke took her in her arms as Peyton rubbed her back

"Baby, what's wrong?"

Haley tensed up at Brooke's use of "baby." Brooke realized this and immediately looked at Peyton.

"It's okay Hales, Brooke told me everything and I couldn't be happier for you two."

This just made her cry harder. Then it hit Brooke. Lucas. Haley went to tell Lucas about us.

"Hales, did you talk to Luke?"

She simply nodded.

"And what did he say?"

At Brooke's comment Haley started shaking from crying so hard. Well, this can't be good.

"Hales?"

"He…he said that he was okay dating a girl, just not if that girl was you. He still loves you. He stormed off and…and…I think I lost him Brooke." Haley managed to choke out.

"Haley, you didn't lose him. Trust me. I know. This takes some getting used to, but there's no way he'll leave you." Peyton said.

Brooke looked at Peyton gratefully. I'm gonna find that scumbag and make him pay for hurting her.

"Thanks."

"Hey guys, I'm gonna head out. Call me if you need anything, either of you, okay?"

"Hey Hales, I'm gonna walk Peyton out okay? I'll be right back. You should get some sleep."

And she did.

Brooke and Peyton walked downstairs. They stopped at the door.

"Hey Peyton, I really appreciate everything. You made her feel a lot better. And I love you for it. It's just…I hate seeing her cry and be in so much pain. It makes me cry. And I hate knowing that I was one of the people that caused her pain. If it weren't for me, she would still have Lucas. I'm so in love with her Pey, and I want to take her pain away."

Peyton sensed that Brooke needed to talk more so she led her to her couch and sat down next to her.

"Brooke, I see the way you two look at each other. She loves you so much. You didn't cause her any pain, you made her happier. I don't know why, but before you two got together, she seemed so sad all the time, and now, with the exception of today, she seems so happy. I can't believe you actually had to tell me you guys were together, I should have figured it out on my own."

"I know why."

"Why what?"

"You said you didn't know why she was so upset before, and I know why."

Peyton saw the tears welling up in Brooke's eyes as she scooted closer to her and put a hand on her back. She was really worried.

"Brooke, what happened?"

Brooke took a deep breathe and started.

"Peyton, the reason she was so sad was because…well…her "father" hit her.

Peyton's jaw dropped and she herself had tears in her eyes.

"Oh Brooke."

"No, and the sad thing is, that's not even the worst part."

Peyton tensed up, fearing what was coming.

"He raped her…he raped her. HE ING RAPED HER! I HATE HIM! HE HURT HER! HE RAPED HER PEYTON!"

Peyton tried to take Brooke in her arms but Brooke kept pushing away. She kept screaming and she started hitting Peyton's chest in an attempt to break free.

"PEYTON, HOW DARE HE! HOW COULD HE? She started to lower her voice.

How could he..he hurt her…he raped her…he…

Brooke fell into Peyton's arms as Brooke's agonizing sobs took over. She hated seeing her best friend in this much pain. Peyton just held Brooke and stroked her hair, whispering comforting words in her ear. Finally, after sitting like that for a half hour, Brooke feel asleep. I've gotta find Lucas.