Hey Gys! Omg! Thank you soooo much for the reviews! They all made me giddy! Lolz. I wasn't expecting this story to be popular. I don't think many people on this site like my other story. But meh. I'm sooo sorry I haven't updated in forever! But school's being a total biotch and I'm up to my neck with essays!  But I'll try to update sooner next time! I'm going to warn you right now that this isn't one of my best chapters. I couldn't get my head around the characters so forgive me if it's a little…'blah', for lack of a better word. But still please review! Thank you! Enjoy! As much as you can….luvies!

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Riiinngg

The lunch bell at Tree Hill secondary school rung and a flood of students rushed out of their class rooms to go eat. Lucas was walking down the hall as he made his way to his locker through the crowd.

"Hey Lucas!"

Lucas looked back and smiled when he saw Peyton running towards him.

"Hey Peyton. What's gotten you so worked up?"

"Oh just a certain toddler and her dad." Peyton couldn't help but grin.

"Things going good for you and Jake?"

"And Jenny." She reminded him. "Yeah. I mean, the Nikki situation is a pain in the ass but it's pretty good you know? I mean" She let out a small laugh. "Yesterday Jenny woke up in the middle of the night and Jake made me get up and get her. She had thrown her teddy out of the crib and couldn't get to it. Kept me awake half the night."

"Looks like you've got your hands full."

"Yeah, But it's worth it you know? After a while Jake came up to see her, and he helped me put her to sleep. We all ended up sleeping on the couch!" she laughed.

"Who woulda thought that you would already have a full time family?" Lucas teased.

Peyton grinned. "Yeah, it's crazy huh? I mean before it was just me and my dad. Now it's us, Jake, and Jenny."

Lucas smiled. "I'm happy for you Pey. You deserved this."

Peyton looked at him and smiled. "Thanks Luke." She turns back and sighs. "I just wish a certain someone could be as lucky." She nods her head towards Nathan standing alone at his locker. The two exchanged worried glances as they walked towards their friend.

"Hey Nate." Peyton offered slowly. She didn't know exactly how he was doing, but she knew it had to be killing him.

To their surprise, Nathan looked up and smiled. "Hey guys."

Peyton looked at Lucas clearly shocked. "Uhh…how you doing man?"

"I'm fine Luke." Nate suppressed a sigh. He knew that Lucas was worried about him, but if he heard that question one more time he was going to snap.

"Nate you don't have to lie to us. We're here for you." Peyton stated worriedly. He was acting different and if it weren't for the situations, she would have thought he was the old Nathan.

"Peyton I'm not lying." He looked at the two as they glanced at each other obviously worried. "Really. I'm fine." But the two just cast sympathetic looks his way. Nathan sighed. There was no point in trying to convince them. He knew he was acting strange given the circumstances but he decided he wasn't going to sulk anymore. He was relieved when he saw a familiar face show up in the crowd.

"Hey BROOKE!" he yelled as he ushered her over.

Brook saw her friends and immediately skipped over to join them. "Hey Boy Toy! Broody, Goldie, what's new?"

They all laughed at their friend's burst of energy. "Well Cheery, we were just discussing how Peyton here is already a full time mom." Peyton blushed as Lucas smirked. He decided to leave their worries about Nathan out of it. He didn't know if Nathan wanted Brooke to know anything.

"Oh well, I would be happy for you Pey, if you hadn't thrown me out for them." Brooke crossed her arms and glared at her friend.

"Brooke I didn't kick you out! You're the one who couldn't stand Jenny's crying and left!"

"Well can you blame me! The girl's a friggen fountain! She gives the saying 'Cry me a river' a whole new meaning!"

Peyton rolled her eyes. "Well did you manage to find a new apartment yet?"

Brooke was about to answer when Nathan stepped in. "Wait, why are you looking for another apartment?"

Peyton shut her eyes when she realized what she had said. She knew Brooke didn't want anyone to know her financial problems. And Nathan wasn't exactly one to let off of gossip.

But Brooke didn't seem to mind much. "Well daddy dearest got a job out in Cali, so they're selling the house. There's no way in hell I'm going so I'm looking for a place to crash or I'm homeless." She said this with slight irritation and sarcasm in her voice.

Lucas was surprised at Brooke's bluntness. He didn't understand why but they were acting differently around each other. Almost…civil. Which was saying something.

"What's going on with you tw—"

"Mr. Scott!"

Nathan and Lucas turned to face their English teacher Mr. Jakens. They glanced at each other and then back at the teacher. Mr. Jakens rolled his eyes. "Lucas."

"Shit. That's probably about my English paper." He grumbled and walked towards his teacher.

Brooke chuckled at her friend and shook her head. "And I thought I was screwed in English." She smirked.

Peyton chuckled. "Listen, I gotta get going. I'll see you guys later?"

She waved at them and turned around and disappeared.

"She seems happy." Brooke said softly watching her friend walk away.

"Yeah…I'm still getting used to it." He teased.

Brooke laughed and punched him playfully on the shoulder as they began walking.

"So how long has this been going on?"

"Hmm?"

"You're parents selling the house? That's been a Davis house since this town was built. It's practically a monument."

"Yeah well, a lot's changed Nathan." She tried to sound casual, but Nathan could tell that she was upset by the distant tone in her voice.

"So…how is the apartment search going?" he tried to sound as cheerful as he could, hoping that it would get her spirits up.

Brooke cast a nervous glance around her and then abruptly grabbed him by the arm and rushed him to a corner.

"Can you keep a secret?" he could hear the anxiety in her voice and immediately began to worry.

"Uh—yeah. What's up?"

Brooke bit her lip contemplating whether she should trust him or not. She finally made her decision and took a deep breath. "I haven't been looking for any apartments." She blurted out.

Nathan looked at her confused as to why she was so worried. "O..K?"

"No…I'm NOT going to look for any."

Nathan's eyes widened. "What! Brooke ar—"

"Shhhh!" she waved her arms in his face to shut him up.

He calmed down. "Why aren't you?"

"Because...look, I can't live by my self alright? Did you know that they expect a monthly pay in rent? I can't come up with that sort of money!"

Nathan rolled his eyes at you. "Well that's why you get a JOB, Brooke."

Brooke looked at him like he had two heads. "Hi there. I'm Brooke Davis. I've lived next to you for the past sixteen years but I don't think we've been introduced!HELLO NATHAN! This is ME here! Brooke Davis? Captain of the cheerleading team? Girl who can't save her money for more than a day Brooke? Ring a bell? I can't work to earn a living! Trust me! I tried it for my car insurance and let's just say I got into a crabby situation."

Nathan rolled his eyes at her comments. "Brooke, I know its hard ok? I was like you to remember? It's a hell of a lot different and hard work but you get used to it."

"That's easy for you to say! Nathan, if it hadn't worked out for you then you knew that your parents would help out somehow. I'm on my own in this. I can't just up and change my whole lifestyle." She through her hands up defeated and went to sit on a near by bench.

Nathan sighed. "Well then what do you expect to do? Do you think life as a hobo would suit you better than working?"

Brooke pouted as she sulked on the bench. "Probably. I mean, I'm really good at begging. Plus I've always been able to trick people into giving me what I want."

Nathan chuckled. "Yeah but that was because you looked so cute. But as a hobo, you're going to look 30 years older and your hair is going to start falling off until you're bald! And then no one would even glance at you!" he said this as dramatically as possible trying to irritate the brunette. Brooke turned her head and scowled at him.

He just laughed. "Look, how about after school you and I go job hunting? I'll make sure to get you a place where they don't require too much work." He added that last bit sarcastically.

Brooke huffed. "Don't waste your time Nate. I can't get a job anywhere cuz my damn résumé's too blank."

"Oh please. I thought you said you were good at getting what you want?" he teased. "Look, we'll at least have to try it alright? If it doesn't work out, then…we'll figure something out."

Brooke smiled and nodded. "Anyways, I better go get something to eat before next class. It's gym and Whitey's making us do suicides." He let out a frustrated sigh and got up to leave but he was stopped by Brooke's voice calling him."

"Nathan wait!"

He turned and looked at her confused. "Just…don't tell Peyton anything alright?" she sounded like a kid afraid of her mother.

"Uhh...why?"

"Because she'd kick my ASS!" Nathan laughed and nodded as he turned and headed to the cafeteria.

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Ok! OK! So I know it wasn't that great. But I lost all characterization for Peyton. I have no way how to write her, so she pretty much messed me up for the whole thing. Anyways, I've already started my other chapter so I'll probably up date a LOT sooner this time! Lolz. Lets hope it's better than that:D Anyways, in the next chapter, there will be a little more drama than this one! Nathan helps out Brookie, will Jeyton really have a happy ending? Meh…I suck at summaries and spoilers! Lolz, just bear with me! Thanks again for your reviews:D