AN-Not much to say except thanks for all the reviews. I really appreciate them. Like always, this story will satisfy both Lucas and Peyton fans as well as Peyton and Nathan fans. I'll post a chapter or two more soon. Especially since this one's kind of short.

Love, Emily

"I didn't know wher-where else to g-go," the once brunette, now much more blonde stammered, tightening her lips to try and hold back her tears. Peyton didn't know what to do, she was never good in crisis. Not that this was a full-blown crisis, but she wasn't good with other peoples' emotional or personal problems. "What am I gonna do Peyton…I lost everything, everyone," she cried, letting her tears fall freely now.

"Haley, you didn't lose everyone, you have me, alright?" Peyton soothed, sitting at her friend's side as she rubbed her back in small circles. She felt Haley's head collapse onto her shoulder as a new wave of tears came over Haley. Confused, lost, upset, betrayed were the words that Haley felt. What she didn't realize was that Nathan had felt the same way for weeks now. No one ever saw what they were doing to someone they loved until the same circumstances happened to them.

"What am I supposed to do now? My parents, god, they're happier than ever," she worried, "I can't tell them this!"

"Then don't tell them."

"That's great Peyton, but I don't have any place to stay!" Haley cried, finally realizing how deep into a hole she had buried herself. With losing her husband, she lost all her support, mainly her place to live, somewhere for her to go to. She slowly glanced over when she saw that Peyton had a small smirk on her face. "Peyton, no offense, but I really don't see what there is to smile about right now…"

"Here…" Peyton said simply.

"What about it?"

"You can stay here as long as you need," Peyton offered, immediately seeing Haley's face light up. "My dad's never home, and it's not like I have line ups of people trying to stay here…" she joked, trying to lighten the mood a tiny bit since Haley was noticeably happier. "Soo…? Are you staying?"

"Yeah, thanks Peyton, a lot…" Haley smiled, wiping her tears off on her sleeve.

"Here…" Peyton said, handing her a few tissues. "Come on, let's get your stuff up here…I'll take my dad's room."

"Peyton I don't want to kick you out of your room…" Haley protested nervously, starting to realize whether this would work out or if it was going to blow up in their faces.

"It's fine…I've been here all my life," she joked, "Now come on, let's get your stuff…"

Haley smiled, taking Peyton's hand as she helped her off the bed. As soon as the two girls got to Peyton's doorway, the phone rang. Grunting, Peyton told Haley she'd be down in a minute, heading off toward her closet to get her cell. A smile appeared across her face when she saw "Brooke's Cell" flash across the small screen.

"Hmm, what happened to no phone calls," Peyton answered sarcastically.

"Well maybe I just won't call you anymore P. Sawyer…" Brooke joked into the phone, playing along with Peyton's game.

Peyton laughed back before answering, "So what's up?"

"I'm coming home!" Brooke shrieked into the phone almost too loudly. "Well not coming…more like…um, sneaking back, but that's not the poi-"

"Whoa, whoa Brooke, you can't just sneak back here…" Peyton protested, trying to help her best friend avoid serious trouble with her parents. It was something like this that would persuade Brooke's parents to have Brooke stay in California for her senior year. Peyton wouldn't have that, she needed her best friend back. Summer was one thing…school was completely different.

"It's fine! They're off in Australia for a week…" Brooke chimed in, smiling to herself thinking her plan was faultless.

"When and how would you get here!" Peyton asked, trying desperately to be the logical one here.

"That's already taken care of P. Sawyer…"

All the color from Peyton's face drained, afraid to even ask what she meant. "Brooke…what'd you do…?" she finally asked into the phone.

"I'm at the airport! I need you to come get me! Isn't this great!" Brooke said excitedly as she made her way toward the baggage claim. "I figured that I'd come back, hang out with you, and I really need to talk to Lucas." she smiled, but Peyton on the other hand felt like she had been stabbed. Lucas was definitely not something she wanted to talk about. Plus, she knew what Brooke wanted to talk to him about. She knew that Brooke wanted to tell Lucas that she still was in love with him.

"So what now?'

"I don't know! I just need to stay at your place for a few days…you don't mind right?" Brooke smiled, unaware that Haley was already there.

"Uh…no…I'll be there in a few minutes to get you…" she said before she hung up. Now she would have Brooke and Haley living in her house, Nathan to deal with once he found out Haley was staying with her, and then not to mention Lucas and Brooke.

What happened to being alone this summer?