Chapter 9- Girl Talk

Brooke could not believe the traffic on the way to the airport. Traffic at rush hour in Tampa was always terrible but she figured that by 7:00 things would have cleared up, she was clearly wrong. She was so excited to see her best friend and she wanted to make sure that she was waiting there for her when she got off the plane but she wasn't ever going to get anywhere at this rate. Brooke turned up her music louder, trying to block out the beeping from all of the other cars, it was doing nothing but making her more anxious.

Brooke tried to sing along to the music and let that drown out her thoughts, but it was impossible. All she could think about was what Nathan had said last night, "Two and a half weeks." Nathan would be gone in two and half weeks. Sure, he would only be two hours away, and they could visit each other almost every weekend, but what about when he started playing games? He would be gone most weekends. What would they do then?

What am I doing? Brooke had to stop herself. Who was to say that she and Nathan would even make it to the point where they had to worry about a long distance relationship? After all, he knew that he wasn't going to be here for that long and he still let something happen between them. Maybe everything he was saying was lies. Why would Nathan be different? Why would he want a relationship with her? He was probably just lying to get into her pants. Brooke felt stupid for even beginning to trust Nathan, for even beginning to let him in. Nathan was guy, just like all the rest. So what if Haley had changed him? Brooke knew how he was before and when things ended with Haley he probably went right back to the bad boy he used to be.

The CD Brooke had playing started skipping and ripped her out of her thoughtful state. Good thing, she was coming up on the exit for the airport. She put on her blinker and as she drove onto the exit the forced everything that had to do with Nathan out of her mind. Brooke wanted to focus on seeing her best friend and how happy that made her, now wasn't the time to sit there and worry about things with Nathan. She would have plenty of time to worry about that after Peyton went back to Tree Hill.

ooooOoooo

As soon as Brooke spotted that blonde curly hair bobbing up and down from somewhere deep in the crowd of people she ran towards it. Peyton saw Brooke running towards her and broke out into a run herself. It had been months since the two friends had been together. They stood in the middle of the airport hugging for what seemed like ever. When Brooke saw Peyton she knew that she needed her best friend right now. She knew that Peyton would help her through it.

"P. Sawyer, you look amazing. Jake certainly is doing a good job of pleasing you, you are glowing!" Peyton really did look great. It was obvious that she was in love and that Tree Hill, with Jake and Jenny, was right where she needed to be.

"Thanks B. Davis! Look at you, all professional in your suit. I have never seen you like this." Brooke looked much older than her 22 years in the navy pinstripe suit.

"Aw thanks, you're the best for saying that. So how was your flight?"

"It was fine. I flew out of Charlotte so I was able to get a direct flight. It was only like 2 hours, not bad at all." Jake had thought of everything, he wanted Peyton to be comfortable and really enjoy this trip.

"So, the first order of business…we have to get some food. I am starving! I ate lunch hours ago."

"Okay, let's go get some food." Some things would never change, Peyton thought, Brooke was always starving. It was a wonder that she managed to stay so thin with the way she ate. Not that Peyton could talk though, at least Brooke ran every now and then, Peyton did absolutely no exercise and stayed rail thin.

The two friends headed towards the baggage claim arm in arm, both thrilled at the thought of having the next few days together.

ooooOoooo

"So, how are things with Jake?" Brooke asked as they were eating their salads, awaiting their meals.

"They are great. He has been pretty stressed out these past few weeks trying to find a job, but now that he has found one he has been able to relax. I will admit though, it was better being with him stressed than not being with him at all." Peyton had known for a long time that she belonged wherever Jake and Jenny were. She had only ever been truly happy with life when she was with the two of them.

"Good for you. I know how happy he makes you, I am glad that you can be with him everyday."

"Okay, so I have been dying to know, fill me in on the whole Nathan situation." Peyton couldn't wait a second longer.

"There really isn't much to tell. He is just like every other guy, trying to get in my pants." Brooke got angry even thinking about it again.

"What? I definitely did not think that that was what you were going to say. What happened? I thought that you couldn't stop thinking about him and you had a really good time with him?" Peyton had cautioned Brooke to not be hurt, but she certainly never expected this to happen. Nathan wasn't just like every other guy.

"Well, things were going great. We had finally talked about it and admitted to each other that we had feelings for one another. So we have this whole long talk and he tells me that it isn't just about sex for him, he wants to take it slow because he wants to be with me completely. Then a few nights later he tells me that he is moving to Miami in a few weeks. I mean, I knew that that part was looming, but I figured with the way things were happening that he was going to be here longer. So then I figured that if he knew he wasn't going to be here longer then he must have been just jerking me around, saying all that stuff so I would trust him and then he could sleep with me." Hearing herself say it out loud, Brooke knew that maybe she was jumping to a few conclusions.

"Come on Brooke. I don't believe any of that. I think that you really like him and you are scared because he really likes you, and because of that you know that with him leaving things are going to take a lot more work. You are going to have to really trust him and I think that that scares you. I know that Nathan used to be a bad guy, but he isn't anymore, Haley really changed him."

"Yeah well maybe he went back to his old self." Brooke wasn't ready to give in yet.

"You don't believe that any more than I do and you know it. You are going to have to let your guard down on this one Brooke. If you really feel for him you need to find a way to work through this. After all, he will just be in Miami. If Jake and I could find a way to make things work when he was 11 hours away you and Nathan can find a way to make things work with 2 hours in between you." Peyton wasn't going to let Brooke off easy. She could tell that she had real feelings for Nathan, she wasn't about to let her walk away from it because things had worked out badly for her in the past.

"I just wonder why Nathan has let anything happen between us when he knew that he wouldn't be here long." The anger Brooke felt started to melt away and through that came her true feeling on the situation. "I don't think he is that bad guy he once was, but I just don't get why he would let all this happen."

"I don't think that Nathan planned it Brooke. You didn't either. It just happened. You can't stop yourself from having feelings for him."

"Yeah, but what if he doesn't really have these feelings for me?" Brooke hated to even think about that, she hated to think about Nathan saying the things that he said and not meaning it.

"I don't have much to go on besides what you have told me, but I really don't think that that is the case. What can I do to help you figure it out Brooke?" Peyton was willing to do just about anything to make sure her best friend wasn't hurt by yet another guy.

"Well, Nathan had said that he wanted to do something with you and me. I was thinking about taking you to the beach tomorrow, so what if he came along with us? Then you could see how he acts towards me and everything. You have dated him, and seen him with Haley, maybe you will be able to tell if he really likes me."

"Now that is something that I can definitely do for you Brooke. So call Nathan and see if he is up for a day with the two of us." Peyton was relieved that she could help.

"Okay, I will. Thanks for this P. Sawyer." Brooke grabbed her friend's hand, "You have always been there for me and I really appreciate it."

"That is what a best friend is for. And if it is any consolation, you will be fine Brooke. I have the strangest feeling that your problem days with boys may be coming to an end."