A/N: Thank you guys so much for the reviews! I love hearing your input! This chapter's kind of short and somewhat void of Leyton, but the next one promises a little more Leyton interaction.

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill.

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Chapter Eight: Brooke Being Brooke

January 28th 2006

I'm proud of myself today. Yesterday, I went to TRIC, and only drank two shots. Plus, I only had that one cigarette in the car. I was all intent on drinking until the early morning and smoking my entire pack when a sudden realization dawned on me. Brooke Davis does not have power over me.

See, Brooke can say anything she wants but at the end of the day, she's just covering up for her insecurities. She's intimidated by me and my friendship with Lucas. I can see why. Lucas and I have a lot more in common that she and him do. We never had to force our relationship. It just came natural. That being said, she shouldn't be worried. How many times does he have to tell her his heart's with her before she believes him? As many times as it takes him to believe it himself.

Ok, I did not just think that. Lucas loves Brooke. He's made it clear to me before. I have to stop living in this fantasy world where I think Lucas is just going to change his mind and come sweeping into my room to tell me he loves me. It's not going to happen. Me falling in love with Jake again is more likely.

"Peyton, you're zoning out again," Rachel whispers. It's lunch time and we're eating outside under the tree. I actually packed lunch today. And it's not cereal. It's a sandwich with pretzels.

"Sorry Rach," I say, "What were you talking about?"

"I was saying to Bevin how we need to get her and Skillz back together."

"And I was saying that that's not necessary because we're just on a break," Bevin says picking at her own sandwich.

"I think we should have someone talk to him," I say.

"Who?"

"I don't know. I'll think of someone," I shrug, "Hey Rachel, not to change the subject, but how was your date."

"Well," she gushes a smile growing on her face, "It was quite possibly the best date I've ever been on." She says it with such confidence I'm taken aback.

"Really?"

"Mouth took me to this really nice restaurant. And afterwards, we took a walk on the beach."

"Wow, that sounds so romantic," Bevin sighs.

"It was. And you know what was the best part?"

"What?" I ask.

"He was a perfect gentlemen. He opened doors for me, pushed in my chair, held my hand. It was an entirely new experience for me."

"Aww," Bevin squeals.

"And it ended with the perfect kiss," she says. Then suddenly she frowns, "What am I turning into?" Bevin and I both laugh at her.

"A non-slut maybe," I joke. She hits me on the shoulder.

"I've never felt this way about a guy," she admits, "It's so real. It's not just about sex."

"It shouldn't be."

"But it always was." She frowns again and puts her hands on her stomach patting it gently, "I guess it's about time I get used to changes." I look at her oddly, wondering what she means by that, but before I can say anything, a loud chorus of yells erupts from the table on the other side of the courtyard. I look up and see Lucas and Brooke fighting. Nothing new.

"Brooke and Lucas are fighting again," Bevin whispers.

"They're either ripping each others heads off or ripping each others clothes off," I muse. Well that's one thing I have to admit. They have a very passionate relationship. We all watch as Brooke slaps him across the face and storms back inside the school. Haley chases after her. Lucas rubs his cheek. I catch his eye for a second and offer an apologetic smile before turning back to my sandwich.

"He's still looking at you," Rachel says offhandedly.

"Good for him," I say. I can still feel him staring five minutes later. I look up at him and mouth a 'What?' He shakes his head and chuckles a bit before mouthing back, 'Nothing.' He can be so frustrating sometimes. And why is he chuckling when his girlfriend just slapped him in the face?

Rachel, Bevin and I are sitting in my room now. Bevin's sitting in front of my vanity brushing her hair. Rachel lying down on the bed and I'm drawing at my computer desk as always. This picture is of the fight we just witnessed today between Brooke and Lucas. It's part of my year long series which I keep in a special book. When I was naïve to my feelings, it used to be the book where I kept the drawings of my two best friends. Now, it's where I keep the proof that they're not as perfect as they seem. It didn't start out like that. That's just how it ended up.

"So you'll never guess what I heard," Bevin says as she searches through my drawer for a hair tie.

"What?" I ask rather unenthused. I'm too busy drawing to really care about anything else.

"Chris Keller's back in town."

"No way!" I say putting down my pencil for a second.

"Yeah I knew that," Rachel says offhandedly.

"How did you know that?" I ask.

"Well, Chris and the boys go way back. We kind of hung out last time he was here. So, he called me to let me know he was back in town."

"I thought you thought he was a pervert," Bevin says.

"Things change," Rachel shrugs, "He asked about you, Peyton."

"Me?" I'm truly taken aback. The last time I encountered Chris Keller I slapped him in the face.

"Yeah, I told him you were hanging out with us and he wondered how you were doing."

"Strange," I muse before turning back to my work. Rachel stands up to stretch her arms.

"The wicked witch is here," she says as she peaks out my window, "And she looks pissed."

"Just what I need," I mutter. I hear Brooke throw open the front door and stomp up to my room.

"Girls," she says curtly as she enters with an empty box.

"I'll be downstairs," I say shutting my sketchbook. I hurry down the stairs and find a cozy spot in the living room to wait out this storm. Around five minutes later, Bevin comes running down the stairs.

"I think you should get back up there. Brooke and Rachel are going to kill each other." I roll my eyes, but head upstairs nonetheless. Their voices can be heard as I approach. Bevin and I wait at the door listening…ok, more like eavesdropping.

"So how are you and Lucas?" I can almost hear the smirk in Rachel's voice.

"We're just fine," Brooke hisses back.

"So that little spat you two had at lunch was nothing, right?"

"Every couple fights, Rachel, but being the slut you are you wouldn't know what it's like to be in a relationship now would you?"

"Actually I'm dating Mouth now." There's a long pause where I can almost picture the shocked look on Brooke's face. She doesn't respond though.

"So," Rachel drawls, "You should have seen the way Lucas was looking at Peyton when you left. He couldn't keep his eyes off of her." She pauses again. Clearly, Brooke's not taking her bait so she continues, "They have a connection those two. It's a shame that some people just keep getting in the way."

"You know what Rachel!" Brooke says suddenly. So much so that Bevin and I jump back from the door. "If Lucas wanted to be with Peyton, he'd be with Peyton! But he's not now is he."

"I hate to break it to you, Brooke, but Lucas is only with you because he feels sorry for you. Lucas just loves playing the good guy. He doesn't want to hurt you again. You may be with him, but Peyton's always going to have his heart, and that's what upsets you the most." It's at this point that I decide enough is enough. I love Rachel. Her heart's in the right place, but I don't want her to do this to Brooke. I'm not saying Brooke doesn't deserve this. I just don't want to go this far. I walk into the room. Brooke is facing away from Rachel, but she has tears in her eyes. She gives me a blank stare when I enter.

"Rachel, why don't you and Bevin go ahead to TRIC and I'll meet you there," I say quietly giving her a look. She nods and walks out with Bevin. As soon as I hear them leave, I turn to Brooke.

"I'm sorry about Rachel."

"No you're not," Brooke says packing up some of her stuff I shoved under my bed, "You think I deserved it."

"Doesn't mean I condone it," I say before turning around to go back downstairs.

"Do you still love him?" she asks as I reach the door. I look over my shoulder.

"Do you?" Neither of us gets our answer. We just walk our separate ways. I can't help but wonder if those words will be the last we exchange in this house. The house she and I spent most of our adolescence in. The house that she helped make a home.