A/N: Hey thank you for all the wonderful reviews. I just wanted to let you all know that each chapter in this fic is a new day, so there's no skipping time. It'll take you through exactly three weeks.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill.

Chapter Two: Drunky, Sleepy and Mommy

January 22nd 2006

I wish I had a hangover. Instead I have Rachel and Bevin passed out on either side of me. Bevin was drunk. Rachel was just tired. It's one of the side-effects of all the medication she's been taking. She gets really light-headed and sleepy if she over does it and whenever, we go out (every night, basically) she winds up falling asleep in my backseat during the ride home. I, being the wonderful friend that I am, let her stay here so that her parents don't bitch at her. They'd rather have her out all night than bothering them with her ailments. Basically, her parents are total douches.

Bevin was drunk because she and Skillz are going through a really rough patch. See, Bevin's a socialite. She likes to go out clubbing and drinking and shopping. Skillz is more of a homebody. Their styles have been clashing and now they're on a break but they're not dating other people. Bevin's taken to drinking to forget. Hmm. Where have I heard that before? That's why I let her stay here. Because I drink to forget. The thing about me is I don't get hangovers anymore. I think it's because I'm never really sober. And I stopped forgetting my troubles a long time ago.

I hear Bevin moan next to me. That's my cue to get up and get her some coffee. If there's one thing I've learned from taking care of my ex-best friend, it's that the best thing for hangovers is decaf coffee. I slide out the bottom of the bed and trudge downstairs. It's only seven o'clock which means I still have an hour to get the girls to school. I start mulling over time in my head as I start brewing coffee. Rachel takes thirty minutes to shower and get ready. Bevin will need at least forty-five. I showered after I tucked them in last night, so I'm good really. As soon as I'm sure the coffee maker is working right, I head back up stairs to wake up Bevin.

"Bev," I say shaking her shoulder, "Wake up." She rolls over and throws her arm on Rachel who groans.

"I don't want to, mommy" she mumbles. I roll my eyes at her before shaking her again. Let's cut to the chase, shall we? She eventually gets up and showers. Rachel follows suit when Bevin exits the shower. I feel like a mother sometimes with these girls. I get them clothes (Bevin brought a suitcase of her and Rachel's stuff over here…just in case). I make them breakfast and coffee. I drive them to school. I'm basically being the parents they don't have. The parents I don't have either because mine are dead or at sea. Another addition to the bitterness I'm wallowing in.

"Do we have to go?" Bevin whines as I pull up to school.

"Yes," I say shortly reaching for my bag.

"But Skillz is standing right there. I don't want him to see me like this."

"You look fabulous, Bevin," Rachel gushes. I internally roll my eyes. Rachel's lost her edge since that accident. No more bluntness and boldness. Everything's sugar coated or softened. It's nice…I guess. I just kind of miss the old Rachel. Not the bitch. The truthful one. Because I'm tired of being lied too.

"You look good," I reassure Bevin. She doesn't look bad, so it's not like I'm lying. But no offense, she sure as hell doesn't look fabulous. She's got bags under her eyes and she looks too skinny for her own good. But I'm not going to say that to her. Besides even with those flaws, she's still a pretty girl that Skillz should be pining over.

We walk into school, right past my old clique which happens to include Skillz. Bevin smiles at him. Rachel says hello. I say nothing. I look nowhere but straight ahead. Suddenly I hear a voice calling me back. I have two choices, ignore it or turn around. Well, I would have had two choices if Rachel who was linking arms with me hadn't turned us around. To my total shock, it's Haley. Did Nathan not tell her that I didn't want her taking sides? Knowing Haley, she probably ignored him.

She's standing with the group. While my eyes are focused on her, I can see them all in my peripheral vision. Brooke's scowling like a rabid dog. (I actually don't know if rabid dogs scowl…but it's the image I got watching her). Nathan is looking away from me, clearly upset his wife didn't take his advice. Lucas is staring at me. I can feel it, and I can also tell it's making Brooke even angrier. Which makes me happy in return. And then there's Haley. She's looking determined and yet I can tell she's scared having approached me. I wonder why. I mean hell, I don't bite or anything. What has Brooke been telling them since our fallout? I look at Haley oddly before nodding as a way to suggest she carry on.

"I was wondering if you found a replacement for tomorrow's gig?" she asks casually. I scratch my head. Rachel's practically been booking the music for me since the whole breakdown.

"Rachel," I say turning to her, "Did we find a replacement?" Rachel shakes her head at me. I turn back to Haley. "Nope. Why?" I'm kind of blunt, I know, but I need to get to class. Thanks to Drunky and Sleepy, I've been late the last three days of school.

"Well, I-umm," Haley stutters. I raise an eyebrow at her.

"We'd love for you to play Friday," I finish, hoping that's what she's trying to get at.

"Really?" she squeaks, "Because it feels like I haven't performed in so long!"

"Totally, Hales," I say flashing her a smile. A real smile too. Not one of those crappy fake ones I've been sporting lately. "Be there around six thirty for set up, ok?"

"Definitely," she says nodding her head enthusiastically.

I feel really self conscious all of the sudden. Lucas is still staring at me, but now I can see it's not a good stare. Brooke looks like she's about ready to make an insulting comment. I can feel it in my bones. Luckily, Rachel can tell too.

"Ok," Rachel says, "We're going to be late for class. And Bevin seems to have skipped off without us." And like that she swings me around and heads off with a wave. As soon as we're out of eye sight, I feel these tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. I try hard to push them back. I have to be strong. No more Pushover Peyton. I'm going to be tough and callous. I'm not going to care what Brooke or Lucas think.

"Easier said than done," Rachel says. Did I say that last part out loud?

"What?"

"I know what you're thinking. You're thinking I'm not going to worry about what those guys think about me."

"How do you do that?" I ask stopping in my tracks. She gives me a smile.

"I've always been good at reading you, Peyton. Remember, who was the first person to figure out you were still in love with Lucas?" I scowl at her, but it's an empty scowl because she's right.

"Tell me it gets easier."

"What does?" she asks.

"Not caring what they think."

"You never cared before."

"I always cared what they thought. Everyone else didn't matter, but they were different."

"You will get over them," she says emphasizing the 'them,' "Or they will lure you back in. Either way it's going to take determination to survive the rest of senior year." How right she is…