"Rice Krispie Treats for everyone!" Haley squealed as she delivered a platter of the freshly prepared snack.

Brooke rolled her eyes, barely looking up from the latest copy of Elle.

"Are you always like this?" Peyton asked.

"Yes, unfortunately", Brooke said, stuffing her face.

"Oh don't mind, Tigger. Brooke, you know you're having fun."

"Fun? My idea of fun is relaxing with my magazines while wearing a cool cucumber wrap on my face. Or maybe a massage or a relaxing pedicure. Not my idea of fun? Having a slumber party with you two holes watching you and Nathan's slides from your latest vacation to Hawaii and by the way, there wasn't one nude in there, you prude. So having you tease my hair into 80's oblivion, paint my toes, not very well by the way, and watching you play Betty Crocker is not my cup of tea, really."

"Oh Brooke", Peyton sighed. "Go easy on her."

"Like I pay Brooke any attention", Haley smiled. "She knows she lives for sleep over nights and my Betty Crocker skills. Besides, this is tradition. It's Jake's first away game with the team and we have to break you in."

"Well, thank you", Peyton bit into an Oreo. "I am having a great time."

"Bullshit", Brooke fake coughed.

Peyton just rolled her eyes.

"So is this always what it's like? When they're gone, I mean."

Haley shrugged.

"It sucks. I won't lie. It gets lonely sometimes. You just get used to it, I guess. I deal with it and count the days to the off season."

"What about you, Brooke?"

"Of course I miss, Broody. I am not the shallow, heartless bitch you guys think I am…well at least not all the time", she giggled. "Seriously, I do hate it when he's gone but this is his job. It's what he loves. Separation is tough but believe me, we totally make it up to each other when he gets home."

The girls laughed.

"What about you? You miss Jake already?"

"I do", Peyton sighed. "Don't get me wrong…I'm having fun and I'm glad you guys are here but I had no idea I would miss him this soon…or this much. This can't be normal."

"It is but you'll adapt", Haley replied. "How are things with work?"

"Slow. I've been doing little projects here and there and I just finished doing the graphics for this new video game for a company out of Atlanta."

"Peyton, that's great."

"Yeah it was fun but it was a cake job. I was done in less than a week. Now I need something else to do."

"We could shop", Brooke piped in.

"Brooke!"

"What? Geez, it was only a suggestion. Don't mind me."

Haley laughed as she shook her head.

"Yes, you could shop but it's always nice to do something meaningful with your life."

"Tell me more about it, the teaching, I mean. How did you wind up with that gig?"

Haley shrugged.

"Well, I had my Bachelor's degree and I was reading somewhere that they needed English teachers in this alternative school downtown. It just seemed really interesting. I knew it would definitely be a challenge but I was up for it. I enjoy it. The kids are really smart and they love to learn. All I needed to do was get certified to teach in the state of Florida so I took the test and bingo bango, I'm here."

"Wow."

"You should come visit me at the school. You'd like it."

"Puh-leaze", Brooke sighed dramatically. "They're little monsters."

"They are not", Haley protested. "Hey, you know what? One of the art teachers just quit and…"

"She probably had a nervous breakdown."

"Oh stop it, Brooke. She did not. Anyway, there is a vacancy…"

Peyton's eyes widened.

"Who me? Teach?"

"Yeah."

"No…I couldn't."

"Why not? It'll be fun and I know you'd be good at it. The kids would learn a lot from you."

"I don't know. I don't think so…"

"Just give it some thought. You're a great teacher and it'd be something to pass the days away."

"Haley…"

"After all, I know you're getting bored. You said so yourself. Besides, the house looks fabulous! How much more can you do to it?"

Peyton shrugged. Haley did have a point.

"I don't know. I've just never seen myself as the schoolteacher type. I'm not very patient."

"It comes with the kids. The pay sucks but hey, it's really rewarding."

"Don't do it, Pey", Brooke teased. "Fight the power. Dare to not succumb to peer pressure."

Haley playfully tossed a pillow at the brunette who caught it with a giggle.

"Look, I'll give it some thought, Haley…"

"Oh great!" she clapped her hands. "This will be so rad! You'll see!"

"Slow your roll, Mary Poppins. I didn't say yes. I just said I would think about it."

"Well I thank you for at least thinking about it…unlike some people lazing on the couch who shall remain nameless."

"Who? Me?" Brooke asked all innocent. "I am not a teacher. Hell, I barely made it as a student."

"But you could be a volunteer."

"Sorry, I just don't like kids. They talk too much and ask too many questions and their hands are always grubby. Iiiieeeewww!"

Peyton and Haley laughed as the phone rang.

"I'll get it", Peyton said. "It might be Jake."

She answered it on the third ring but the line was already dead.

"Not your hubby?" Brooke asked.

"No, it wasn't. It's weird. The number is unlisted but we've had a few hang-ups lately."

"Probably telemarketers."

The phone rang again and Peyton answered quicker and more annoyed.

"Hello?"

Silence.

"Hello!"

Heavy breathing.

"Who is this?"

No answer. Peyton was getting pissed off.

"You better think of something to say before you call this house again, asshole…"

She went to hang up but stopped when she heard her name on the other end.

"Peyton…"

The voice was oddly familiar.

"Who…"

"Hey, Button."

She closed her eyes. That voice. He hadn't called her Button since she was a little girl.

"Dad…"

"I just wanted to hear your voice. Peyt."

"How did you get this number?"

"Listen, I know you're upset…"

No. He didn't know.

"Dad, I can't do this with you. Not now, maybe not ever. I'm sorry. I'm just not ready to talk."

"Peyton…"

"I'm hanging up…"

"Wait. Please don't. Look, I know you're still mad. I guess you have a right to be. You must hate me. I am sorry that I wasn't honest with you. I was just trying to protect you."

"From what?"

"The truth."

Bitter, angry tears stung her eyes.

"Whose truth? Yours, mine, the real one?"

"Peyt…"

"Because I don't know what's real anymore."

"Button…"

"Good bye, Dad."

With that, she slammed down the receiver. It took a second to get herself together again.

"You okay, P?" Brooke called out.

"Fine", Peyton lied. "I'm just getting something to drink. You guys want more Diet Pepsi?"

"Sure", they said simultaneously.

Peyton grabbed three cans and began dispensing ice in glasses. Her hands were still shaking. The phone rang again and she answered.

"Hello?" she said in a voice that sounded shakier than she wanted it to.

The person on the other end simply hung up. Peyton cursed and left the phone dangling off the hook. Taking a deep breath, she carried the beverages out to her waiting thirsty friends.

"You sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine…um, Haley, about that school thing…"

"Yeah?"

"You think I could check it out next week or something?"

Haley smiled, satisfied.

"Yeah, sure. Not a problem."

Peyton managed her own smile as she poured the soda pop and munched on the Rice Krispie Treat. She had no idea what she was getting herself into, nor did she care. All she knew was that she needed a distraction and Haley was the only one providing one. With Jake gone, the silence was building, making more and more noise by the minute. It was suffocating and Peyton couldn't take it anymore. She was going crazy. She couldn't deal. And when she couldn't deal with her problems, she did what she had done her whole life. She tuned it out. She ran away. Peyton Jagielski didn't know any other way.