Author's Note: lol hey guys! I'm back with two chapters today despite my crazy schedule. I swear I had mad exhaustion on Monday but I'm better..for now. haha Oooh new reviewer hey Kelly! Aww thanks button lol FastFuriousChick hahah I love your caps what can I say. And I continue to amuse my brathanfan yay!lol

"Oh thank the lord."

She squealed running passed everyone. Brooke launched herself face first falling onto the lush leather sofa. Oh how good it felt to lay on something other than a car seat.

The gang finally made it to their destination. Not according to plan like they initially hoped but they made it, all five of them.

They were all pretty spent from the days events. Leaving Tree Hill at seven then driving around for six hours not knowing they were actually going the opposite direction only to finally realize when they saw they were entering Raleigh. They spent an hour dirtying themselves as they rescued the jeep from sinking in mud. It was one hell of a suction cup. And now four hours later they finally reached Charlotte. It was six in the evening and the teens were restless. Who cared if it was still early all that was on their minds was a nice warm shower and just plain resting.

"Brooke scooch over I wanna sit," Peyton groaned blinking her tired eyes.

"Don't even think about it missy," Jill quipped before the blonde had a chance to rest her bottom on the couch, "you're still covered in mud. There is no way you're butt is touching that seat until you have a bath."

"But it's leather, you can clean it easily."

"Yeah Italian leather and no you can't clean it easily especially if it's mud."

"But it's black."

"So? No ifs, ands, or buts Sawyer. March yourself to the bathroom and go take a shower."

Peyton rolled her almost shutting eyes. She was too lazy to clean up. Why couldn't she just sit.

"Yeah P.Sawyer go take a shower, there is no way I'm letting you sit near me smelling and looking like you just had a ho down with the pigs."

Peyton hit Brooke causing the brunette to cringe thinking she caught salmonella.

"Eww that's just gross. Don't touch me with those dirty fingers, I could get sick."

"Relax Brooke it's just dirt. God made dirt and dirt don't hurt."

"Yeah but bacteria and diseases can and guess where you get them? I'll tell you...dirt. Now go take a shower before the boys come up with our bags. Your boyfriend already had to endure you're dirty self the car ride over here don't make him have to see you like that any longer."

She spoke too soon. Just then Lucas and Nathan entered with bags in tow.

"What are you guys talking about?" Lucas set the bags down walking over to kiss Peyton.

"Brooke's making fun of me because I'm dressed in filth. She feels sorry for you because you have to see me like this."

Lucas laughed grabbing hold of Peyton's waist.

"I kind of like you all distraught and savage like. Reminds me of my fantasies of Jane from Tarzan," he kissed her causing a tomato colored Peyton to smile.

"Okay I think I'm going to take a shower now," she laughed grabbing her bag and walking away.

Lucas looked disappointed.

"Just when I thought my fantasy was beginning it's over just like that."

The blonde turned around smirking.

"I don't think so, you're coming lover boy. You'rer going to be in need of a nice cold shower after fantasizing abuot Tarzan't girlfriend."

She pulled him into the bathroom locking the door. The other three left in the living room stood shocked. Their jaws practically lying on the ground.

"Damn," Nathan smirked, "someone's getting some action in the shower."

Brooke threw a pillow at the overly hormonal male. What a guy he was.

"Put an ice pack on it Nathan before you start having fantasies of your brother and ex girlfriend getting it on in the shower."

Nathan winced thinking he almost threw up in his mouth.

"That's gross Brooke."

"Exactly."

The whole time, Jill had been staring at them giggling silently at their banter. She was tired and really didn't feel like talking so she concentrated all her attention on what was inside her fridge. Finally glancing down she realized she was in dire need of a shower herself.

"Umm you guys make yourselves comfortable. I'm just going to take a quick shower."

Brooke looked over the couch smiling.

"Looking for a threesome with Broody and bestfriend?"

Jill stared at her weird for a second.

"Uhh no, a shower...by myself...in my room will do just fine."

"Suit yourself," she called out to Jill who had already disappeared into her room.

"Don't you just want to join her and fulfill one of your own fantasies? I know you do," she whispered to Nathan who was taking things out of his bag.

He glared at her before looking down at his stuff again.

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Jill locked her bathroom door and slowly began to undress. She took a minute to look around remembering fond memories back when she still lived in Charlotte. It seemed so long ago when really it was only four months. Turning the shower knobs she waited until steam engulfed the tiny confinement before entering.

The warm water against her skin felt so calming and soothing. She always appreciated a nice warm shower. Jill was more of a shower girl than a bath girl. She was always too impatient to wait for the water to fill the tub. The girl needed something quick and easy and that's what the shower provided. She didn't know but it just seemed better. Whenever she wanted to get away from everything without leaving her house that's where she turned to. Nothing but warm water pelting your skin methodically. It was absolutely relaxing. Life was set aside as well as all her problems, she needed it.

After getting her water's worth and down time alone she shut off the water and towelled herself off. Grabbing the pyjamas she set aside when she entered the bathroom she slipped them on. It felt so good to be clean once again. Even though mud was fun to play in, there was only so long a person could walk around all dirty. Plus she was a girl so it's only fair to assume she has one single ounce of hatred for the squishy stuff.

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Peyton and Lucas had already gotten out of the shower long ago and were nestled beside each other on the couch. Brooke had popped in one of her dvd's and was already clutching a tissue box for support. Nathan on the other hand was off by himself.

Brooke heard the shower go off. She had sharp hearing like that.

"Model Girl get your cute ass out here the movie's starting."

The group decided on camping out in the living room. They set up blankets all over the floor and already had movies and tons of junk food lined up for the evening.

Still in the bathroom towelling off her hair Jill called out.

"I'll be out in a minute."

The brunette nodded munching on microwave popcorn.

"Do me a favour and turn off the light Nathan," she asked not taking her eyes off the screen.

He nodded switching it off making the whole condo dark except for the gleaming lights the pictures on the tv were making.. It was a perfect setting for romance. Peyton and Lucas were cuddled up on one couch while Brooke sniffled over Sleepless in Seatle. All that was missing was Jill. She hadn't come out to join them since she left to take shower.

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She stepped out of her bathroom bare feet. The lights were off everywhere. She could see the flickering lights of the tv coming from the living room but it was kind of faint, her door was closed half way.

Trying to adjust her eyes to the darkness she banged into one of her drawers causing a couple of picture frames to fall over. Bending down she picked them up looking at them in her hands. She sighed and suddenly she was back with all sorts of emotions. One was of her and Vegas, he had his arms around her and they were smiling. Rolling her eyes she chucked it in the garbage, not even bothering to keep the frame. The other one was kind of hard to let go though. It was of her and Sheryl. They had just finished riding the tea cups at Disneyland. She stared at it as tears began to stream down her face. It finally hit her. She was hurt back in Tree Hill but she managed to fight it. Now in Charlotte it was too hard. All the memories and history came crashing down on her.

A voice suddenly startled her but not enough to take her eyes off the portrait.

"Jill?"

She finally looked up finding Nathan at her doorway.

"Hey," she said meekly stifling back tears.

"What's wrong, are you crying?" His voice full of worry as he entered rushing over to her.

She sniffled.

"No I'm not."

"Yeah you are," he noticed the picture frame in her hand, "is that you and Sheryl?"

She looked down beginning to tear again. She didn't want to but it just happened. She couldn't stop it.

"Yeah, umm we were twelve and my family invited her to come with us on vacation. We umm we went to Disneyland and rode the tea cups like maniacs. We're smiling but right after the picture we threw up all over the ground," she paused for a minute as she sobbed, "why'd she do that to me?"

"I don't know."

His words made her cry even more because it was true. She herself didn't even know.

"It's okay."

He wanted so bad to console her but he just didn't know how.

"No Nathan it's not, it's not okay. I was so stupid."

"No you're not. Why would you say that?"

"Because I pushed away all the people that cared about me and the ones I kept close hurt me so bad. I'm one hell of a person with really bad judgement."

"It's not your fault."

"It is," she hung her head low sobbing.

He didn't like seeing her hurt. It hurt him, it pained him to see her that way. She didn't deserve it.

"No it's not. Look at me," he gently lifted her chin up to face him, " Listen it's not your fault none of it is. It's theirs for hurting you. You gave your all and in the end they were the ones who didn't deserve you."

She shook her head.

"I'm just as bad as they are. I practically asked for it. I was so naive I walked right into getting hurt. Maybe I deserved it."

"You didn't deserve what they did to you."

A new fresh batch of tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Did I do something wrong?"

Taking his finger he wiped away her tears.

"No," he said softly grabbing her hand he pulled her up slowly so she was standing in front of him, "Jill you're one of the greatest people I know. I care about you, I care about you alot and seeing you get hurt like that killed the living shit out of me. I hated that Sheryl did that to you. She was supposed to be your bestfriend yet she betrayed you. I wanted to kill Vegas for touching you. I would have but what good was me going to jail going to be? It's their loss for losing out on someone like you."

She felt so vulnerable. She always had a shield surrounding her protecting her but it became too much. She let her guard down and she got hit.

"I don't deserve a friend like you."

"Jill..."

"No it's true. I'm surprised you're even talking to me. I mean you saved me from getting raped and I'm avoiding you."

"It's because I care about you."

"You shouldn't."

"But I want to."

She looked right at his crimson blue eyes, they were gleaming so innocently. She wanted so bad to tell him why she'd been ignoring him all this time, but she couldn't.

Without thinking she put her arms around him pulling him closer to her. She needed to feel his comfort, the warmth of his body. She needed him near her.

Accepting her embrace he wrapped his arms around her waist letting her rest her head on his shoulder. He knew she was afraid, he could feel it. He wanted to be the one to heal her. If only she knew. All he could do now was hold her and that's what he did. In the darkness of her room, never wanting to let go.