She's excited. Irritated. Nervous. Angry.

There's that familiar adrenaline pumping through her veins. That buzz she's not felt in god knows how long but it's tainted.

She's irritated because her best friend is here and whilst anyone else would perceive that as a lovely surprise she knows Brooke Bakers' true intentions. Knows she's tagged along with her husband for this in order to keep an eye on her. That's what it feels like anyway- like she's being baby sat. She's nervous because of so many reasons. She's nervous about having left her children for a couple of days what with everything going on back home. Nervous about how Jake feels about her doing this. Nervous about her step daughter. And it goes without saying that she's just plain nervous about actually doing this. About doing this with Lucas. And she's angry. Angry because he seems nothing but calm.

'How were the kids?' He wonders. He knows her. Knows she's stewing. Knows that getting her to talk is always key to banishing whatever is on her mind.

'Oh you know, the best' Peyton smiles falsely.

'Oh that bad?'

'Na they were alright really. I'm being dramatic. Indie gave me some tears. Sawyer was surprisingly okay'

'She text me today actually' He's sat on the chaise longue. Of course she's in the best suite the hotel has to offer. Unlike him. Julian has made sure he's as far away from the starlet before him. Not that that's worked in keeping him away.

'Sawyer?' Peyton's brow shoots up and she stops rifling through her bag and looks back at him.

'Yeah- I assumed she'd got my number off you- she was asking me about guitar lessons?'

'Guitar lessons?'

'Yeah. When you were on the phone to Mia at the studio the other day she was asking me to show her stuff and then you came back and I didn't get time to show her. I'm sure Jake is more than capable of teaching her but she seems hell bent on me giving her some lessons for some reason'

Peyton looks at him blankly.

'I'm judging by your face you don't know anything about this' He laughs.

'No' Her smile is small. Nervous.

'Don't worry, I get it, I mean I'd happily show her a few things but it's not like she needs me to with Jake being her Dad is it? I'm sure that would be a no, no for him anyway huh? I'll just tell her I can't shall I?'

She cringes. 'I wouldn't have an issue with it, you know that. I just...I didn't know she'd...Jake wouldn't be okay with it'

'Yeah I thought so. It's cool- I dunno why she thinks I'd be such an awesome teacher. Aren't little girls meant to put their Daddy's on pedestals?'

'Yeah...'

'She was asking about some chords on our album. I guess that's sort of awkward to ask Jake about and her mother definitely wouldn't have a clue'

'Hey now' She wags her finger at him. 'I've never needed to know' She points out.

'No. It is sort of funny though'

'What, that I've let you be better at me at something?'

He sniggers. 'Oh you let me huh?' He knows she's joking. He's spent many a night helping her battle self doubt to know that she's more than humble. If anything too humble. 'Alright goldilocks'

'You know I hate that. Don't call me that'

'Sorry' He smirks.

'No you're not'

'Nope' He agrees as he stands. 'I should probably get going if you're having lunch with the best friend'

'You can join-'

'I don't think that's the best idea. I just wanted to check you were alright' He cuts her off with a knowing smile. He doesn't want to irritate Brooke and he knows his mere presence alone seems to have that effect. 'I'll catch up with you later at sound check' He edges toward the door. 'I like this one' He informs her as he passes the two dresses hanging on the cupboard door. His fingers whisper over the glitzy red number, ignoring the green dress on the left.

'Yeah?' She knows what he's doing. She's not stupid. She knows he prefers the more understated green number. She knows what he likes. Knows what he likes her in. Knows he thinks that if he tells her his true preference she'd be certain to wear the opposite. It's a game of reverse psychology. But it can't work on her because she knows him all too well.

'Mhm' He looks at her. Her arms folded across her chest, brow kinked. A look painted on her face that tells him she sees straight through him. He smirks and points to the door. 'I should'

'Uhuh. See you later' She nods. He goes in a flurry of movement.

She bites her lip and walks over to where he was just stood. Surveys the two choices.

If she plays dumb and pretends she's oblivious to his ulterior motives wearing the red would be telling him she cares what he thinks, that she wants to wear something he approves of. Wearing the green says she's trying to keep him at arms length. Unless he can read her as she can him. Unless he knows she knows his mind games. In which case wearing the red would prove she sees straight through him. Wearing the green will be giving him what he really wants. She shakes her head at her ridiculous theorising that she's sure makes zero sense anyway.

It's all a waste of time. The choice has already been made. There never was a choice. Because as soon as Brooke had presented her with the two options she'd heard the voice in her head. The voice of Lucas Scott that seemed to live there.

I love you in Green. Your eyes somehow always look bigger like they're twinkling just for me. Green.

•••

He cringes as he rounds the corridor. He was mere seconds from reaching the safety of the elevators but the figure approaching from the opposite direction means he's going to have to engage. Something he's always keen to avoid.

'Brooke' He forces a bright smile. Reminds himself to be polite.

'Luke' She tersely answers.

'It's good to see you'

'Mm. Where are you coming from?' It's an accusation not a question.

'I just popped my head round Peyt's door' He divulges. As anticipated her eyes narrow. 'She was just telling me how glad she is you're here. You can distract her from being away from the girls' He's not sure that the blonde in question is entirely thrilled by the brunette's presence but he knows Brooke Davis on some level. Knows her well enough to know that she likes to feel needed. 'She's more nervous about tonight than she's letting on'

'She's distracted. She's got a family that needs her more than ever right now'

'Uhuh and as always she'll juggle it all. She's always be good at playing super mum'

'And how would you know that?'

'I know her' Their sentences are becoming shorter. Snippier. Neither of them are very patient people. Lucas has learnt methods at his AA meetings that help him manage the unnatural skill however. He counts backward from ten.

'I'm watching you Luke' Her quiet murmur throws him for a minute.

'Er...okay?'

'I mean it. You try anything, anything at all with her, I swear to god-'

'Brooke' He holds his hands up and shakes his head. 'We're all grown ups ok? Peyton is a big girl-'

'I'm well aware but you've managed to screw her life up more times than I can count. I won't let you do that again'

'The last thing I want to do is screw up her life. You know people can change- I know I've done wrong in the past but that was a long time ago and Peyton has managed to find it in her heart to forgive me'

Brooke snorts. 'Like she ever held you accountable for anything in the first place'

'Mm well she's got enough people in her life that did that for her hasn't she? Still has it would seem' He sighs. 'I'm here because she asked me to be. I'm here doing her a favour. That's all this is Brooke. I'm not here to cause any trouble'

'Sure you're not'

He squints at her. They've been acquaintances for a long time and he knows if he's not convinced her by now he's going probably not got a hope in hell but he tries just the same to get in her good books. 'I'm thankful that she has you, did I ever tell you that?' He abruptly confides.

She's taken aback. He's the last person in the world she'd ever anticipated those words coming from.

'You've always been there for her. You're a good friend Brooke. I'm gonna go now. You take care'

She can't reply, is a little flawed by how this conversation has taken another path to their usual bickering.

She frowns at his retreating figure and resents him for being nice. She can't like him. She won't like him. She won't get swept up like her best friend always seems to do around him. She won't let her best friend go off the rails. Like he said. She's always been there. She'll always be there. Unlike him.

••••

'I'm worried about Sawyer' Peyton murmurs. She's standing on the balcony. Brooke watches her eyes cautiously make a circuit. Knows that despite their height she's trying to decipher whether any unwanted eyes are on them. Or more precisely camera lenses.

'You can relax Wolfie. Julian booked your room under another name. He's had words with the staff. No one knows you're here' Brooke knowingly reassures her.

'I know. Just habit. It always gets out eventually huh?' She sits down and tries to relax under the suns rays.

'What were you just saying. About Sawyer?' Brooke perches at the end of the lounger. 'What's going on?'

Peyton sighs. 'She's been asking questions about me and Luke lately and then she texted him this morning' She divulges. '...Asking him to give her guitar lessons' Brooke frowns. 'The only way she got his number was by going through my phone and it's just...she would've just freaking asked me about it usually. I don't get why she didn't ask me, why she's been so secretive, like I wouldn't find out that my kid is getting lessons-'

'She can't have lessons with him Peyton!' Brooke chimes then.

'She's not. She's not. Jake would hit the fucking roof for starters' Peyton acknowledges.

'That's not why. You know why'

The weary blonde chews on the inside of her cheek, avoids the intense hazel eyes that are piercing into her. '...Would it really be so bad?'

Brooke abruptly lurches from her spot to standing then with a shake of the head. 'I knew this whole fucking thing would turn your brain to moosh!' She exclaims loudly. 'What is it about him that has you loosing your mind?'

'I'm not loosing my mind B'

'No?! Can you hear yourself right now? You think her having lessons, spending one on one time with Lucas would be a good thing?'

'I never wanted it to be like this, you know that'

'I know. I know- He didn't give you a choice-'

'But I...I could've...I could've told him since. I should've but Jake he...'

'You can understand Jake's reservations. You can understand his conditions P'

'Yeah but...' She exhales heavily.

'He's thinking about her and about you'

'Really? I think he's mostly thinking about himself... What about Luke?'

'What about him? He couldn't step up then-'

'No. But now isn't then. He's completely different to back then. When she was little I was always so worried about upsetting Jake and Luke wasn't capable of being what she needed so it was a no brainer but now-'

'Now she's grown up with a wonderful father. Because you did the right thing. For her. For Luke. For Jake'

Peyton nods slowly. 'But it's not right' Her nods quickly cease as her head begins to tilt back and forth.'None of it's right. It makes me feel sick to my stomach'

Brooke looks at her sympathetically 'Honey' She sits back down, wraps her arm around her friend. 'I get that. I can't imagine what that feels like...I know this is never what you wanted. I know this isn't what you would've chosen but it worked out for the best right? You can't deny that; she's had the best childhood. You want to fuck that up now? It'll mess with her head'

'Her sister is in rehab. That's messing with her head. Maybe spending time with Luke, maybe seeing that you can manage that illness will help her-'

'We just clarified that Jake wouldn't be onboard with this P'

'Mm. I know' She blinks and looks up into her concerned friend's face. 'I'm just thinking out loud. Ignore me'

'Think of the ramifications. Yeah it might make you feel better to have this secret out there but do you really think Luke will forgive you so easily? Do you think Sawyer won't be mad at you for keeping it from her? Indie too? Think about your marriage- Jake can barely cope when it comes to your history with Luke let alone Sawyer having a bloody relationship with him-'

'I know, I know B. I know all that. I've considered all of it. I consider all of it everyday' She's thankful she's wearing sunglasses. Thankful Brooke can't see her glassy eyes. '...I couldn't bear him hating me' She whispers.

Brooke doesn't need to be able to see the hidden pair of green eyes to know that tears have gathered. She squeezes Peyton's hand. '...are you sleeping with him?'

Peyton stiffens. '...what?'

'You can tell me. I bumped into him in the corridor and-'

'We've not even been at this hotel for a couple of hours and you think I've fallen into bed with him?'

Brooke knows in all of an instant at Peyton's tone that she hasn't been unfaithful. Physically anyway. The boat sailed a long time ago on the emotional front. 'Is it that crazy for me to wonder P?'

'Yes. It is. I'm married. I take that seriously'

Brooke nods. 'I know, I know you do'

'Clearly not!' She swings her legs off the lounger and distances herself from her interfering friend. 'I know you came here to babysit me. Despite what you think I don't need you telling me what to do'

'That's not what I'm doing. I just don't want you to do anything you'll regret'

'Why don't you spend your time concentrating on the child you're going to be bringing into the world instead of on me?! If I screw up that's my problem. It's not yours'

'I love you that's why! I want you to be happy. That's all I want'

'Happy?' Peyton snorts. 'How can I ever be happy?! Imagine having to let go of Julian. Right now imagine having to let him go with his baby growing inside of you. Imagine being near him but not being with him! You can't begin to know what that feels like!' She blurts. 'You don't get to fucking judge me. I did what I had to back then. I let him go. I did. But that doesn't mean that I still don't find it fucking hard'

Brooke blinks. Is stunned into silence. A lump forms in the back of her throat as she watches the distraught woman before her.

'I...I should get going. We're...we're doing sound check in fifteen' She sniffles.

'...Right...right I'll...what do you want me to do?'

Peyton almost laughs then, despite her current emotional state because her best friend is never lost for words. 'Stay here and get me wine? I'm going to need it to get me through tonight and I'm also gonna need you to hold my fucking hand' She sighs. 'Maybe I do need you to babysit me'

'That's not what I'm doing. I just want to be there for you'

'You are. Always. You just can't save me from myself B. No one can' She kisses the brunettes cheek.

Brooke watches after her and wonders for the first time in all these years if the one person that can save her best friend, has always been able to save her, is the person she's vowed to hate until the end of time.