Disclaimer: I own nothing but my own characters!
As Peyton made her way into the arena, she spotted Lauren, with Charity and Jenny, and waved. She turned down the hallway leading to the gym and saw Brooke sitting on the floor sobbing. Peyton quickly turned back, hoping to get away before Brooke saw her. She headed straight outside. As the sun hit her she was sure she'd escaped unnoticed. She turned back towards the gym and saw a furious Brooke storming towards her.
"Brooke." Peyton greeted her neutrally. She'd been friends with Brooke Davis long enough to know not to pretend everything was cool between them when it wasn't.
"I don't even know what to say to you, Peyton." Brooke said, as she walked up to Peyton. Peyton sighed and shrugged, not meeting Brooke's eyes.
"All I know is that there is a man in there who adores you and who's heart is crushed because all he wants is to spend the rest of his life with you and all you want is to destroy everyone's lives in some twisted replay of high school." Brooke said bluntly.
"It's not like that Brooke. I love Lucas. I've always loved Lucas, I've just always been a day late and a dollar short. I messed up in high school, a lot, okay? We all did. Now we're trying to make things right, the way they should have been, if I hadn't been so damn stubborn!" Peyton exclaimed, defensively. She hated fighting with Brooke, she was really good at making Peyton feel like an ass.
"Well Peyton, you had your chance with Lucas. You dumped him, remember? You don't get second chances. You don't get do-overs. You messed up, you live with it and leave us the hell alone." Brooke seethed quietly.
"Well I would, but do you really think Lucas would leave me alone?" Peyton replied, her voice dripping in disdain. It took Peyton a second to register the sound of the slap with the stinging of her cheek. Her mouth dropped open in surprise as her eyes started tearing up, partly in pain and partly because she knew she was being a bitch and Brooke didn't deserve that.
"I'm done with you Peyton. I don't even know why we were friends in the first place. Make no mistake though, we aren't anymore and we never will be again. Stay the hell away from Lucas!" Brooke lashed out, her eyes flashing in anger. Brooke turned and stalked back towards the hotel.
Peyton put her hand up to her stinging cheek. She knew that when she and Lucas decided to be together that it would be a fight. She didn't think she had realized how big a fight it would actually be and how many relationships would be lost and ruined because of it. She remembered how hurt Jake had looked the past evening and the pain in Brooke's eyes just then. She was having second thoughts, second and third and fourth. Why did being happy have to come at such a high cost? She needed to talk to Lucas. She needed to know that they were in this together. She dug through her purse for her cell and punched in Lucas's cell number. Speaking quickly she told him that she needed to see him and he agreed to meet her in the lobby of the hotel shortly.
The walk back to the hotel was both too long and too short for Peyton. She wanted to be with Lucas so much that her heart ached at the thought of him, but at the same time, she was scared. She was scared that he would tell her that it was all too hard or that he wanted to be with Brooke.
"Peyton, is everything okay?" Lucas asked, rushing over to her, as she walked into the hotel. His worry over her brought a smile to her face. Hopefully he would tell her what she needed to hear.
"No, not really. I ran into Brooke. She's beyond furious at me, and rightfully so. I just, I need to know that all the hurt we're causing is worth it. I'm just so scared that we're destroying everyone we care about and what if we aren't even together, even a few years down the road. I can't imagine my life without you in it again." Peyton said quietly, trying to give words to the things she was feeling. To Lucas's credit he smiled and pulled her too him.
"It's worth it, Peyton. You're worth it." Was all he said in response, but it was enough for Peyton. She knew that he was enough for her. She only hoped that she would always be enough for him. Their history was too tumultuous for her to be certain about that.