This is absolutely for Maggie. I would be lost over in the Cruel Intentions section if she hadn't come with me.

At the Heart of It All

Chapter Thirty

It Never Turns Out How We Thought It Would

Vaguely, she wondered how long it was humanly possible to stare at the display on her cell phone. Considering that she had plugged in into it's charger to avoid the horrifying prospect of it dying, Brooke Davis concluded that it was probably that she could watch her cell phone for an incoming call until the day she died. Grimly she thought that if the results came back positive, this would be the day she died.

Brooke had never considered an abortion. Something about it seemed so wrong to her, especially after having known Lucas for so long. Karen and Brooke had always had a very strong bond, and if the older woman hadn't been on the other side of the planet, the perky brunette would've confided at least part of her dilemma to the understanding woman she had always viewed as a mother. However, because her story consisted of cheating on Lucas, being really drunk, and sleeping with an asshole, she would probably omit a few detailed. Then again, getting impregnated by an asshole was kind of Karen's area of expertise. Knowing what a wonderful person Lucas Scott was, and knowing just as well that he had almost not been born in the first place, she knew that she could never get an abortion. She just thought that if she acknowledged that she was pregnant but simply refused to care, that it would all miraculously go away.

Her heart ached a little when she thought of Karen Roe, so oblivious to the turmoil in her hometown. Since she had left for New Zealand, it seemed that everything set in stone had been flipped upside down. Brooke and Lucas, best friends forever, had dated and broken up and weren't speaking at all. Brooke and Peyton, sworn rivals, were now best friends. Haley James, Tree Hill High's own Tutor Girl was now involved with golden boy Nathan. Felix and Brooke had broken up, Anna had walked back into Lucas's life and it was his turn to shoot her down.

"Open the door, Tigger!" Haley called from the other side of the door. Brooke looked up, startled. Since when was Haley there?

"Hurry up, B. Davis! This shit is heavy!" Peyton chimed in, and Brooke was even more taken aback by then. She and Peyton had yet to take the training wheels off their friendship, but she already felt closer to her than she ever had. It was just still a little odd to hear her voice being the one to rupture the quiet.

"What the hell? Guys, what's up?" asked Brooke, completely bewildered as she took in the sight of her two best girl friends. Haley held a giant grocery bag, and Peyton's arms were loaded full of movies, CDs, and pillows. It was obvious that Haley James had the lighter load, but that was typical. It seemed so natural to have the two of them standing there side by side, even though the two had barely spoken to each other before last night.

"Sleepover!" they squealed in unison, pushing past Brooke. Instantaneously, it seemed the brunette's formerly immaculate room was transformed into a gigantic mess. A comfortable, gigantic mess. Minutes flew by, full of chatter and laughter, but the room when deathly silent at the ringing of a phone.

"Oh my gosh, I didn't realize that much time passed," Brooke gasped, tentatively reaching a hand out towards her phone, as if it would bite.

"Well that was our goal," Haley twittered, and Peyton laughed slightly. However, it seemed as if the two girls were just as on-edge as their best friend, waiting with baited breath for the news that could change all of their lives.

"Yes, this is Brooke Davis… I'm fine, thank you… Yes… I see… thank you… I'll be sure to do that," Brooke sighed and snapped her phone shut. Her bright green eyes slid closed for a moment.

"Well!" Haley blurted.

"I'm not pregnant," Brooke grinned, tears forming in her eyes.

"WOO HOO!" Peyton and Haley did a little victory dance among the pillows and blankets, dissolving into giggles as Haley fell flat on her ass.

"Well, what now?" Peyton asked.

"Now, we watch movies," Brooke said with finality, relief etched (perhaps permanently) into her pretty face. However, Peyton's words struck a much deeper chord within her…

What was going to happen next?

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Hey guys. Sorry that was shorter than usual, but I'm really out of it right now, and I just felt like posting something for y'all. Hopefully you don't hate it too much, but I figured that maybe if I do shorter chapters, I can get them out quicker.

Thanks for reading!

Xo Sam