She mustered up one last gusp of air before she daringly placed her finger on the doorbell and gave it a little push. Once that big leap had been taken she was able to breathe a little with ease, but it wasn't over. There was still the dreaded pause from the time the person heard the ring to the time they came and answered the door. It was worse than gathering up all that courage just to ring the damn bell. The silence was nauseating, her heart pounded from inside, and she felt like throwing up.

"Come on come on," she whispered almost having an anxiety attack, taking it all out on the doorbell.

"I'm coming I'm coming hold your horses," the voice from the other side spoke. The voice was getting louder as it neared the door.

Peyton froze hearing the sound. Maybe the silence wasn't too bad now that she heard her doom. She could run away and hide behind the bushes? No she couldn't. She had to face this head on and do the right thing. Plus the person had already opened the door. There was no use running now that they've seen her.

Peyton looked down for a bit.

"Hey."

"Hey P. Sawyer," Brooke was standing at the door with her arms crossed. She was in her pyjamas, "sorry I was grabbing a brownie from the kitchen," she paused, "you look pale, not that you don't already but you know."

"Thanks Brooke."

"Sorry best friend, but you sure could use some down time at the tanning salon. Trust me it works wonders," she was so caught up analyzing her skin color she hadn't noticed her expression," Peyton what's wrong are you okay?"

Peyton shook her head.

"We need to talk."

"Yeah sure come in," she put her arm around her bestfriend's shoulder and led her in to her room, "What's up?"

"Umm can I have a glass of water?"

"Sure," Brooke left the room and headed towards the kitchen.

Left behind Peyton kept rehearsing the scene in her head. From beginning to end, all rehearsed. She put together every sentence she was to say. That way she wouldn't offend anyone or make matters worse. But what if she screwed up?

"Here you go."

Brooke came back handing her the glass. Peyton accepted it thankfully and took a large sip.

"Brooke this is mineral water?"

"San Pellegrino to be exact. Better than plain old water. Trust me it's good. Drink up."

Peyton shook her head. She couldn't help but smile a bit. Her best friend. always knew how to make her smile. Maybe this was a bad idea she thought. Maybe she should just go home now and forget everything. But what about Lucas? Could she just throw away her feelings for him? But she loved him. With that she chugged the rest of the mineral water down her throat.

"Brooke you know you're my best friend right? You and me, we've been like this since preschool."

"Yeah, ever since you stopped me from showing my huggies to the boys at snack time."

Peyton nodded and smiled.

"And our snack swapping. You'd give me your Reese's peanut butter cups and I'd give you my Twix bar."

"We'd smash them together and call them Tweese's peamel cars."

The blonde fiddled with her curls.

"Yeah."

"P.Sawyer what's wrong? I know you love me but you wouldn't just come over at eleven in the evening to reminisce our mad scientist inventions back in the day."

"I just wanted you to know how much I value our friendship and that I would never do anything to hurt you."

"Yeah? Except for that whole triangle between us and Lucas you've never been a better friend to me."

"I know and I hated that whole mess we got into. If I could take all that back I would but I can't."

"Peyton you don't have to. We solved that problem, it's done, we moved on, and we're cool."

Peyton began to sob.

"No it's not"

Brooke looked confused. She stared at her distraught friend breaking down in front of her.

"What do you mean? Why are you crying? Peyton what's going on?" She needed to know what had gotten her so upset.

"You're going to hate me."

"Why would I hate you? What did you do?"

The frustration and pain took a toll on the blonde. Balling her eyes out hysterically she just had to blurt it out. It had been locked inside for too long. It was time. Time to let it all out.

"Lucas and I are going out."

There it was. The words she had longed to tell Brooke was out in the open. No longer was it dwelling within her, eating away her insides. She had told Brooke finally. Too caught up in tears and in her relief of telling her she forgot to look up at Brooke who was sitting in shock.

The brunette sat there. Not sure whether to say something or just sit there in silence. She wasn't exactly sure what she wanted to say or how to feel for that matter. It was all a blur, a horrid blur.

She didn't want her bestfriend to expect the worst so she gathered up a front and smiled.

"Is that it?"

Peyton wiped away a tear.

"You hate me."

"Peyton how could you say that? That whole thing before, between us three, that was a long time ago."

"But you were in love with him before you left for California?"

"Yeah, keywords before I left for California. That was back in June. It's October now and those feelings are long gone."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure," she walked over to Peyton and embraced her, "you think I'd be hugging you right now if I wasn't?"

She shook her head.

"I'd already be out on my ass."

"You know me too well."

Peyton looked at Brooke.

"So you're okay with this?"

The brunette nodded.

"Mhmm, I'm happy for you two. It would be a shame to see it go to waste. You deserve each other."

Finally a smile appeared on Peyton's face.

"Thank you."

"Anytime," she smiled back, "that's what bestfriend's are for."

Both girls embraced one another as they sat on Brooke's bed. Peyton more relieved, knowing her bestfriend approved. She was happy that she finally told her. Brooke sat there not knowing what to think. Still embracing Peyton she couldn't help but feel a little saddened. Sure she was happy for the two, but something at the pit of her stomach seemed a little uneasy. Now it was her who wanted to throw up.