A/N: Hey guys...So I have good news and bad news. Good news is theLeytonconfrontation is coming soon. Bad news is it's next chapter. But enjoy this one anyways!

Disclaimer: I don't own One TreeHill.

Chapter Five: Cigarettes, Coffee and Dinner

January 25th 2006

I wake up early for a Sunday. It's only nine. There's no Rachel or Bevin in my bed today. Rachel's parents are away for a couple of days so she let Bevin crash there. Once again, Bevin got drunk. I was good last night though. Only four shots and one beer. I smoked a lot more than I should have. Three cigarettes last night alone. Usually, I don't smoke that many in a week.

I immediately head for the sink to brush my teeth. The tobacco has left a disgustingly bitter taste in my mouth. Unfortunately, it seems that no matter how much toothpaste and mouthwash I use the taste just won't go away. I even try eating some cereal and toast, but to no avail. I know what I need. Some coffee. Coffee always covers up bad taste. At least that's what I think. I shuffle through my cabinets looking for the filters for the coffee maker. It seems like I used them all these past few weeks with Rachel and Bevin here. I try to find some of those instant packets but they're all gone too.

"Great, just great," I mumble, "I'll have to go out to get my coffee." I sigh pulling on a sweatshirt and heading out the door. I just want to get this over with.

I head to Karen's because it's the only decent place to get a cup of coffee. I have my hood up and a pair of oversized sunglasses on so that hopefully no one will recognize me. I walk in and approach the counter. No one's there, not just at the counter but in the whole place. I tap my fingers impatiently waiting for someone to come.

"Peyton, you need to get a better disguise," Karen says coming out of the back, "The whole Unabomber look just doesn't suit you."

"Sorry," I say pulling off the glasses, "I just don't want to run into anybody." And by anybody I mean Brooke. Seeing as Brooke and Karen are close, I wouldn't be shocked if she was hanging around here.

"Brooke's at cheerleading practice all day," she says knowingly, "And Lucas is at River Court."

"Oh," I pull down my hood as well. I didn't even think about the idea of running into Lucas, but now that she says it, I'm glad he's not here. "Can I get a cup of coffee to go?"

"Sure thing." Karen processes my order while I resume my tapping on the counter.

"So, I saw you cheering yesterday at the game," Karen says offhandedly as she pours my cup.

"Rachel's idea," I say quickly, almost as if I'm ashamed. I shouldn't feel ashamed of it, right? I mean it's not like we did anything illegal. But I have to admit it was a little underhanded. I mean we could have followed along with Brooke's cheers instead of just starting our own…but where's the fun in that?

"I guess you and Brooke are still not talking."

"If you consider her insulting me talking, then yeah we're talking," I blurt out. Karen has that affect on you. She can get you to open up. I bet it's where Lucas gets it from.

"It will get better." She hands me my coffee with a sympathetic smile. "Just don't be a stranger." There are a lot of responses I could give to that, but I don't say anything. I just nod and pay her for the coffee.

It's easy for people to assume that I'm being a stranger. I'm the one who's pushing them away. But am I really? I mean when I rewind the events of the past three weeks, I can't see it being my fault that I no longer talk to Haley, Nathan and Lucas. After the wedding, I went to visit Nathan in the hospital. Brooke showed up. We fought in the hallway. She stormed out. I apologized to Haley for the unnecessary excess drama. Our first day back at school Haley was eating lunch with Brooke. Of course, Lucas was with them (Nathan was still in the hospital). So I ate with Rachel and Bevin. Haley could have joined us the next day, but she didn't. Nathan and I are two lockers away and he didn't say a thing to me when he came back last week. Lucas, well, don't even get me started on Lucas. He's just an ass! It's like they're all afraid of Brooke. So I didn't really push them away did I? I didn't become the stranger! I just found some new friends who actually cared.

I'm so wrapped up in my thoughts that I don't even notice that I've passed my car. In fact, I'm all the way at the end of the block. I stop shortly at the end causing the person trying to cross the path behind me to instead run into me.

"Oh gees!" the girl says as she falls backwards onto her butt.

"I'm sorry," I say extending a hand to her, "I'm out of it today."

"Peyton?" The girl brushes the hair out of her face. It's Haley.

"Oh Haley! I'm so sorry!" I say it with a little more meaning knowing it's her.

"It's ok," she chuckles pulling herself up with my help, "I was sort of out of it too." As her chuckles die down, an awkward silence passes between us.

"You did a great job on Friday. I wanted to tell you that after you finished, but you just sort of left." I say breaking the silence.

"Oh," she says tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, "I was afraid of your reaction so I figured I might as well just bolt." I let out a chuckle.

"I loved it. And thank you Haley." We both start walking back towards Karen's Café.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around," Haley said, "With Nathan and everything, I just haven't had the chance to come see you. And with you and Brooke, it's not exactly easy to talk to you."

"It's fine," I say. It's really not fine, but I'm not going to gripe about it. She has to set her own priorities. Not that Nathan shouldn't have been a priority. I just can't help thinking I was only a phone call away. I'm pretty sure Brooke's not screening her calls. She's psycho, but not that psycho.

"No it's not!" she says, "I'm a terrible person."

"No you're not. You have to be there for Brooke. I mean I've got Rachel and Bevin. Who does Brooke have?" I say. It's true. Brooke has a lot of acquaintances but very few friends.

"I know why you're not speaking to Brooke," Haley says suddenly.

"How?"

"She told me."

"Is that why you've really kept your distance? You think I'm a terrible, boyfriend stealing bitch?" I ask quietly, trying to shrug off the hurt I'm feeling.

"Gosh no!" she says with wide eyes, "I know you can't help how you feel. Plus, it's not like you're going to act on those feelings anyways." I let out a sigh in relief.

"Lucas and I haven't even talked in three weeks."

"Yeah, that's not helping it though."

"What do you mean?" I ask, confused.

"The more you avoid Lucas, the more he worries about you. And everyone can tell when and why Lucas is worried. So Brooke gets insecure."

"There's no winning for me, is there?" I say, my frustration beginning to show, "I talk to Lucas and then Brooke will think I acting on my feelings. I ignore Lucas he worries about me. What am I supposed to do, Haley?"

"Keep doing what you're doing, I guess," she shrugs, "Lucas can decide whether he wants to talk to you."

"I want him to leave me alone," I say firmly, "Lucas and I were really close this year. I mean I kind of expected you to stay with Brooke and with Nathan in the hospital I wasn't shocked that he wasn't there, but Lucas. That's a different story."

"He wanted to be there," Haley says softly, "He just didn't want to mess things up with Brooke again."

"Whatever," I shrug.

"If I tell him you want him to leave you alone-"

"It's ok. Nathan already sent him a message for me." We've finally reached my car.

"This is your stop, huh?" Haley says.

"Yeah," I take another sip of coffee, "I'll see you around." I give her a one arm hug and open my car door. Just as I'm sliding in, she calls me.

"Hey Peyton!"

"Yeah?"

"Nathan and I were wondering if you wanted to come over for dinner Tuesday night."

"That would be cool," I say indifferently. Inside, my heart leaps a bit, but I'm trying to look aloof. I don't want to look desperate or needy. Because I'm tired of being that girl.

"Ok. Seven o'clock good for you?"

"Sure."

"It's a date."

As I drive away, I can't help but feel strange. This is the first time in a good while that I'm looking forward to something that doesn't involve drinking or humiliating Brooke. And that makes me feel a little better about my self. Then, Rachel's words echo in my head. They'll lure you back in. So much for forgetting my drama filled clique…