.:jumps up and down squealing with excitement:. Haha, I never get sick of reading all your reviews! Wow… those were some enthusiastic reviews! Lol I think you guys do a better job with them than I do with the chapters!

I would like to note that I don't actually hate Peyton as much as it seems in this story lol, I just needed a good antagonist. Same goes for Felix---actually, scratch that. I kind of generally despise him. But it was worth a shot, right? Lol

I have something totally unrelated to ask, but I think you guys are pretty good judges for the topic, so I'm just going to pose it to you, because you've all been so great about responses so far: I have a fic that is a sort of Romeo and Juliet—actually, it's a little like this one in that it's the same characters Romeo and Juliet, but totally different situations, set in modern times--- and I was wondering if any of you would happen to be interested in reading such a story?

Anyway, back on task, here's chapter nine, and the (for some) long awaited Brooke-Peyton showdown!

Disclaimer: A very lucky person owns all the rights to One Tree Hill… I am not that lucky.

At The Heart Of It All

Chapter Nine

Rip Her To Shreds

"Okay, great practice everybody! You can all go! Except for all the fake blondes. Well, actually, I don't want to see all of you, just the ones who have made out with varsity basketball players in supply closets today," Brooke said, continuing to glare at Peyton, as she had done for all of practice. Dismayed, she looked around at her squad, 5/6 of them still standing there. "Oh wow… okay, God, just everybody go except Peyton!" she yelled, and the girls scrambled away.

"Well?" Peyton asked, irritated, her hands on her hips. "Now that you've embarrassed me in front of the squad, is there something you'd like to say to me?"

"Oh, there are a lot of things I'd like to say to you! I can't believe you! How could you do that to Haley?"

"What does Haley have to do with this? So what, she has a crush on Jake. Big deal. So do a bunch of other girls."

"But does he kiss those bunches of other girls and make them think that he likes them? Oh sorry, that's a dumb question! Obviously he doesn't have too high standards, because believe me, you're nobody's first choice!" Brooke spat venomously. Both cheerleaders stood silently for a moment, sizing each other up.

"I can't believe you were ever my closest friend," Brooke said, shaking her head. Her tone indicated that she'd never heard of something more revolting.

"Well, it's not my fault we're not friends anymore!"

"You made out with my first boyfriend!"

"Michael was practically begging for it! Besides, you never should've let that come between us! You're the one who always said 'Hoes Over Bros'! What happened to that?"

"Well, that was before I knew you were literally a hoe! Huh, looks like some things never change."

"Please, like you're so pure! You lost it at 15!"

"At least I can remember who I lost it to!"

"Wow… I really can't believe I'm being lectured by Brooke Davis on being a slut."

"Oh, it's not just about being a slut. But if you tack on backstabbing, lying, deceitful, malicious, disloyal, cynical, skanky hypocrite who just can't keep her hands to herself, then you might just be onto something!"

"Okay Brooke, here's the thing: I don't get why you care. It's not like you're into Jake or anyt—oh my God, you're into Jake!"

"Or maybe I care about my friend. Not that you would know what that feels like, seeing as you don't have friends anymore, but Haley is a real, honest to goodness, good person, who has never done anything to you and I can't believe you would do that to her. It's probably a new low, even for you Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer."

"Brooke—"

"No, I don't want to hear it. I don't care. I've said my piece, judging by the look on your face, I've made you feel like crap, which was obviously the intent, so now I'm going to go, because I've got plans. But Blondie, I want you to know one last thing, and that is this: stay away from Haley and stay away from me."

"What about Lucas?" Peyton asked bitterly, not willing to concede defeat just yet and blindly aiming for a weakness in her rival.

Brooke turned around to face Peyton slowly. Very slowly. And when she finally spoke, her words dripped with ice, and hate, and something neither of them could quite recognize. "Touch him, and I will make you wish that you were never born."

A corny threat, but Peyton could see it for what it was: a very real one.