Author's Note: Hey, everybody. I'm sorry it's been so long since the last update. I've gotten so caught up in my other stories. But I promise to start updating this more often. I still really enjoy writing this fic and I hope that you are all still enjoying reading it. Remember that this is the last chapter before I'm going to speed up a month. When I do that, I'm going to try and make it the least complicated as possible. Anyway, please read and tell me what you think. Thanks.

--OTH--

Peyton hadn't really talked to anybody in the last day or so. She pretty much stayed in her room all the time, unless she went down to the café of to THUD for some reason. Jake was really busy with his lawyers, working on a way to get full custody of Jenny. At this point, from what she's been told, Peyton didn't think it was going to happen.

It was all over town that Nathan had cheated on Haley. Peyton had to fight the urge to punch every single person she heard talking about it. After the fifth person she overheard talking about it, she decided that she just needed to some time away from everything.

The only thing that overshadowed the Nathan cheating on Haley gossip, was the Lucas beating the crap out of Nathan gossip. Peyton had to admit, that was about the only thing in days that made her smile. Nothing could make her happier than a good Nathan beating. She hadn't seen Luke yet, but she heard that he did quite a number on Nathan.

Peyton sighed, grabbing her sketch book and began to draw what she was feeling. She got so caught up in the drawing that she didn't hear the phone ring the first two times it did. She finally snapped out of her daze and reached for the cordless phone on her nightstand. She read the caller ID, but it said it was an unknown number. She wasn't going to answer it, but clicked the talk button anyway.

"Hello?"

"Hey, friend," Brooke's voice cheered through the line. Maybe not cheered, she sounded like she wasn't kind of upset, but Peyton wasn't going to call her on it. She was just happy to hear from her at all.

"Brooke!" Peyton cheered, throwing her book further on the bed and sat up straight. "I was starting to think you were never gonna call me."

"Not call my bestest friend in the whole world," Brooke questioned, letting out a little laugh. "I wouldn't dream of it." Peyton smiled, imagining the goofy grin she was sure was on Brooke's face. "So, what's up with you, P. Sawyer?"

"Nothing much," Peyton answered, her voice losing some of the happiness that was in it before. "There isn't much to do here without my best friends. I never realized how boring Tree Hill was before."

"I always was the one that made everything worth while," Brooke laughed. She pulled herself up into a sitting position on Taylor's couch and looked over at Haley who was sitting in the kitchen eating her breakfast. They still hadn't said a word to each other since their talk last night. "So, have you heard from Tutor Girl yet?" She watched Haley's head shoot up, but she still didn't say anything.

"Yeah, actually," Peyton said. Brooke was surprised by this information. She didn't know that Haley had called the blonde. "She called a few nights ago."

"Really?" she question, looking over at Haley. She could tell that she was listening to the conversation, but she still didn't turn around to look at her. "Why did she call?"

"She said she just wanted to hear my voice," Peyton informed her. She had been thinking about that call since that night. It had really bothered her because she wasn't sure if Haley was really okay.

"That's nice."

"She sounded really upset, though," Peyton explained. She didn't know why she was telling this to Brooke, but there was just something insides of her that was telling her that Brooke needed to know. "I swear she was about to cry. I'm really worried about her."

"I wouldn't be," Brooke assured her. "You know Tutor Girl, she's a fighter. I'm sure she's perfectly fine." She knew that there was a chance that she just completely blew it, but she really didn't want Peyton worrying about something she really didn't need to be worried about.

"You're probably right," Peyton decided. "Thanks."

"I move out of town and I'm still bailing your ass out of trouble," Brooke teased, wanting to get the conversation off of Haley. She wasn't sure how much longer Haley could take being talked about right in front of her. "Have you fun into Mr. Big Shot yet?"

"Oh yes," Peyton sighed, having a flashback to her last mall trip. "I ran into him and his little bitch at the mall. I pushed her on the floor and slapped him."

"That's my girl," Brooke cheered, happy that Peyton gave them what she couldn't. She'd witnessed first hand the pain that he had caused Haley and she was starting to have fantasies about torturing him.

"You taught me well."

"I tried," Brooke replied. "Heard anything from the other Scott brother? The slightly less asinine one?" Peyton let out a laugh. She was glad that Brooke had gotten over the whole Peyton/Luke/Brooke love triangle thing. They were finally at a point where they could laugh about it.

"All I know is that he's back in town," Peyton answered. "Apparently he ran into Haley somewhere in Charleston and she told him about Nathan. He had Keith bring him back early."

"When did he get back?"

"Yesterday, I think."

"And you haven't seen him yet?" Brooke questioned. She wasn't trying to sound accusing or anything. She just wanted to know. Truth was, she got over them a long time ago, if they wanted to be together, she just wished they would get it over with. She wanted them both to be happy.

"Nope," Peyton answered. "But I do know what he's been up to." Peyton knew that Brooke just couldn't resist any good gossip. Even if she wasn't living there anymore, she always needed to know what everyone was up to.

"Tell me, tell me," Brooke ordered, exciting to get some good gossip. She hadn't heard any gossip in at least five days. She was starting to have withdrawals.

"I heard that as soon as he got in, he headed over to Nathan's apartment and beat the crap out of him," Peyton couldn't help the smile from coming to her face. Both from the visual of Nathan getting his ass beat and from gossiping with Brooke. It was like old times, she could almost imagine that Brooke hadn't left.

"Really?" Brooke asked, not waiting for an answer. "That's so great. Tell me you were there to cheer him on."

"I didn't know about it," Peyton answered. "Believe me, if I did, I would have been there."

"Yeah," Brooke sighed. She tried to think of what to say next. God, when did talking to her best friend become so hard? "So, I was just calling to tell you that I got to where I was going. I'm just staying at a friend's for now until we get our own place." Brooke watched as Haley whipped her head around to look at her with wide eyes. It took Brooke a minute to realize her mistake and her eyes widened too.

"We?" Peyton repeated. "What do you mean until 'we' get 'our own' place? Who are you getting a place with?" Peyton searched her brain for a friend that Broke had out of town, and the only person she could think of, was her cousin in Florida.

"Oh, um..." Brooke quickly racked her brain to come up with an answer. By this time, Haley was by her side,rapidly moving her arms telling her to answer Peyton. Deciding that Brooke wasn't going to be able to answer her, she did the only thing she could think of.

"Brooke, I need to talk to you!" she yelled, trying to disguise her voice so Peyton wouldn't know it was her. "Get off that phone now!" Brooke looked at her in confusion for a minute before realizing what she was doing.

"Oh, sorry, Pey," Brooke said into the phone quickly.

"Who was that?"

"Bye, Pey," Brooke said. "Talk to you soon. Love ya." She quickly hung up before Peyton could say anything. She looked up and saw the amusement in Haley's eyes. She smiled timidly up at her before jumping up and hugging Haley, assuming that meant that she had forgiven her.

--OTH--

Peyton held the phone away from her ear, confused by the dial tone she heard. She was surprised by the rushed farewell that she received from Brooke; not knowing what that was about. Peyton figured she must be somewhere that she didn't want her to know about. But the question was where?

"That was strange." She brushed it off and got off the bed, moving towards her stereo. She was about to put in the new Getup Kids CD she bought the other day, but another one caught her eyes. She smiled, thinking of her conversation with Brooke and grabbed it. She pressed the shuffle button and moved back to her bed and laid down to listen to the music Brooke thought was so great.

Notice me

Take my hand

Why are we strangers when

Our love is strong

Why carry on without me?

Everytime I try to fly I fall

Without my wings I feel so small

I guess I need you, baby

And everytime I see you in my dreams

I see your face, it's haunting me

I guess I need you, baby

"Well, this is depressing," she mumbled listening to the words. She looked at the back of the case. "I thought she was supposed to be happy." Not wanting to be depressed anymore than she already was, she pressed the changed button and let the player pick another song. This time it was a fast one so she was happy. She just closed her eyes and let the happy beat wash over her.

"Is this the twilight zone?" came a voice from her doorway. She knew how it was instantly without having to open her eyes. "Cause I swear I hear the sounds of Britney Spears filling this room."

"Lucas!" she cheered, jumping up to give him a hug. When she pulled back the only sign of injury was a black eye. She touched it lightly. "I guess that means you won?"

"You mean to tell me you had some doubt?"

"Never," Peyton laughed, moving back over to the bed, turning down the music. Luke followed, flopping down on the end of the bed as well.

"So, what's with the music anyway?" he asked, picking up the CD case to admire the picture on the back. "You were just suddenly struck with the Spears bug or something?" Peyton laughed and playfully kicked him in the side.

"No," she said. "I just got it for Brooke."

"Brooke already has this CD," he answered. "I know, she used to make me listen to it all the time." Peyton laughed again, knowing how whipped Luke used to be.

"I know," Peyton answered. "I just thought it would remind me of her, you know? She used to try to get me to listen to it all the time, so I figured I'd grant her wish." Luke nodded absently before he realized what she just said. He bolt up right, tossing the case on the bed.

"What do you mean remind you of her?" Luke questioned. Peyton's eyes widened when she realized that Luke didn't know about Brooke leaving. "Where is she?" Peyton gave him a guilty look.

"She left town," she simply answered. She watched in sympathy as Luke's face fell. She felt bad for him, but not that bad since she was going through the exact same thing. "You okay?"

"Not really."

"You wanna hang here and listen to a blonde bimbo attempt to sing?" she asked, trying to lighten his mood. He looked at her. "We can listen to Britney, too." He let out a little laugh at her joke and nodded. They spent the rest of the day hanging out, trying to forget about the people that had left them behind.

--OTH--

That's all for now. I hope you all liked it. Just so you know, it will not be a Leyton, I promise. They're just friends. Anyway, please tell em what you think. Peace.