Part 49
Peyton glanced at her watch again as her hand rested on the door handle. They were going to be late if they didn't hurry up. If someone doesn't hurry up! "Brooke, move your ass!"
"There's no need to shout Blondie." Brooke said coming into the living room with a baseball cap in one hand and her bag in the other.
Peyton smiled at her, still finding it hard to believe they were actually dating.
"Got everything?"
"Uh huh." Brooke glanced outside past Peyton's arm and noticed the rain coming down with distaste.
"Meds? Hospital card?"
Brooke rolled her eyes to lock with Peyton's, while she could have found it endearing that Peyton wanted to make sure she had everything she needed with her, it was the third time she'd asked and Brooke wasn't in the mood to go through the whole list again.
"If you know what's good for you Peyton you'll shut up and kiss me, or you can do without for the rest of the day." Brooke told her firmly.
Peyton pouted. She was only trying to be helpful.
Brooke rolled her eyes but moved closer and wrapped her arms around the other girl, smiling as Peyton's arms came around her without any hesitation.
"Sorry, but you know I have everything, I just forgot the cap. This time."
Peyton did her best to hold a hurt look but then Brooke began to kiss her, first at her neck and then working her way up until Peyton couldn't resist any longer and met Brooke's lips with her own.
She's so easy. Brooke thought to herself before getting lost in the kiss knowing they're wouldn't be any more until they got back to the apartment sometime later this afternoon depending on when her hospital appointment was.
"All's forgiven?" Brooke asked with a smile as they broke apart still holding each other.
"Hmm," Peyton pretended to think about it as she gently swayed them side to side. "Okay. In fact why don't we just blow off finals altogether?" She asked cheekily as she moved Brooke backwards away from the front door.
Brooke laughed and wormed her way out of Peyton's arms. "Come on, but hold that thought maybe if today goes really bad I might take you up on that idea for the rest of the week."
"Yeah?" Peyton wiggled her eyebrows getting another laugh from her friend. She wasn't completely serious but they hadn't heard from Nathan, Haley or Lucas since yesterday morning and Peyton didn't want Brooke getting upset over it. She also wasn't sure how any of them, Brooke included, would react when they saw each other today.
"Come on, I think I remember you saying something about being late?" Brooke said slipping the cap on and tugging on Peyton's jacket.
Peyton winced as she looked to see the time. Well, maybe if we're lucky we'll be in too much of a rush to bump into anyone until after our finals today.
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Nathan parked the jeep outside the school and turned to Haley, "Ready?" He asked trying to sound cheerful when he was feeling anything but.
"I was born ready mister!" Haley replied with a smile that almost reached her eyes.
They'd both had a quiet night and this morning hadn't been any better, luckily Debbie had brushed it off as both of them being nervous about their first exams.
If only. Haley had the distinct feeling that she needed to apologise to Brooke and Peyton but as much as she wanted to make things right with the other girls again, she still couldn't shake the feeling that it would be a betrayal of her friendship with Lucas.
"You okay?" Nathan asked softly as he saw the smile slip from his wife's face.
Haley blew out a frustrated breath. "Everything's so messed up right now."
"I know, but maybe we can try and get things sorted out later?" He asked her tentatively.
Haley shrugged, she didn't like feeling this way but she didn't know how to fix it either. She was nervous about seeing Lucas just as much as seeing Peyton and Brooke.
And she hated that she wasn't able to just put this aside and be a friend to Brooke right now. After being raped and almost killed you would think who she had feelings for wouldn't even be an issue. And it wasn't not entirely, Haley just didn't know how to reconcile knowing Peyton and Brooke were together while Lucas was left not only with a broken heart but also in the dark as to part of the reason as to why Peyton had ended it with him.
I hate this, I HATE THIS!!
Nathan watched as Haley covered her face with both hands and groaned. He wasn't feeling any better himself, twice so far this morning he'd been tempted to send a quick text message to Peyton to see how things were. But in the end he'd left it hoping Haley would come to her senses first and then everything would be settled.
"Come on, this rain doesn't look like it's going to stop anytime soon, I say we run for it." He said, smiling at the glare he received and amended his previous statement. "Or we could walk holding hands and get soaked to the skin, it'll be romantic." He added a wink for effect and it worked as he got a laugh out of Haley.
"You're so sweat." Haley said batting her eyelashes at him.
Nathan puffed up.
"But how about I just use this instead, you can run for it if you like you wuss." Haley muttered as she opened her door and the umbrella she'd brought with her for just this occasion.
"I'm hurt that you'd think I'd do that." Nathan said getting out and walking around to her side of the jeep and helping her down carefully not caring about the rain at all.
"Hold this." Haley said giving it to him know if she held it he'd get his second shower of the day before they'd reached the end of the car park.
"But it's pink." Nathan grumbled but took it anyway knowing he'd only get another one of his wife's glares if he didn't. It almost wasn't worth staying dry for, but as he looked around he noticed there weren't many students around, only a few security guards and the ever-present news vans. He also didn't spot Brooke's bug or Peyton's car and wondered again if he should find out if they were okay.
"Let's go." Haley sad picking up her book bag and slamming her door closed.
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"Ah, this weather sucks!" Peyton grumbled as she tried to shake the rain out of her hair now that they'd made it from her car to the school.
Brooke sighed, about to make a comment on why Peyton hadn't put her hood up if she hadn't wanted to get wet only to close her mouth as she came face to face with a human brick wall. More like face to stomach. "Hi?" She asked tentatively looking up with a somewhat shaky smile.
"I.D.?" Was all the response she got as Peyton stepped closer to her.
It was clear by the uniform that the guy was a security guard, but that didn't make either of them warm and fuzzy as the got out their student cards and handed them over.
Peyton took a second to look down the corridor and was surprised to find it deserted she shared a shrug with Brooke as she noticed the same thing and sent her a questioning look.
The guard handed back the cards. "You," He said looking at Peyton, "Can go to either the library or the gym hall. And Miss Davis, the Principle would like to see you in his office." He told Brooke.
"Right." Brooke said slowly and took Peyton by the hand as she walked passed the man mountain. Like that's going to happen.
Peyton scowled not liking the idea of leaving Brooke alone even if the school did seem to be a fairly safe place for her right now.
Brooke noticed a pout start to work its way onto Peyton's face and couldn't help laugh now that they were a good distance away from the guy guarding the door. Peyton turned to her and Brooke rolled her eyes but gave her hand a quick squeeze as she explained, "Does it look likely that I'm about to tell you to get lost?"
"No?" Peyton replied as her pout turned into a smile.
"Right so chill," Brooke agreed before adding, "If Turner however, tells you to get lost? Sorry nothing I can do." She shrugged her shoulders as Peyton pouted again.
They continued walking past the lockers, past another guard and then they found themselves outside the school office and therefore Turner's office.
The secretary looked at them with a withering look until she recognised Brooke and stood up with a sympathetic smile. "You can go right in." She told Brooke.
Peyton let go of Brooke's hand as the women frowned at their hand holding.
Brooke wasn't having any of it and jerked Peyton forward by grabbing onto her sleeve and not letting go.
"But?" Peyton tried to protest before accepting she wasn't going to get that lucky and just shrugged helplessly as she passed the older women.
"Come in." Was called out as Brooke knocked on the door.
Peyton waited until Brooke eased in before shuffling into the room after her. She smiled as Turner raised an eyebrow at her presence. He wasn't her biggest fan, lets leave it at that.
"Peyton, well this is a surprise." Turner said indicating to Brooke that she could sit down in the seat across from him. Peyton would just have to stand. "You could be with the other students, we didn't want people lingering in the halls so everyone's been asked to remain in either the gym hall or the school library and to leave grounds after their finals are over with for the day." He explained to Brooke.
"No thanks." Peyton said with a smile before leaning back against the door and muttering, "Do they get use of the bathroom alone, or do the rent-a-cops go with them for that?"
Brooke bit down on her lip at Peyton's remark trying her best not to laugh as the Principle cleared his throat.
"Well, so Brooke, I know the last week or so has been...trying, and I'd like to state that the school's willing to be as accommodating as possible under the circumstances." He continued.
"Uh huh?" Brooke had no idea what he was trying to say but she was sure there'd be a point to all this eventually.
"What we'd like to do is allow you to sit your exams in a more...secure...environment, than say a classroom."
Brooke turned to Peyton but the blonde just shrugged back at her.
"I guess that'd be okay." Brooke replied eventually.
"Great, glad that's settled." Turner looked relieved and went into his drawer and pulled out a sheet of paper. He sat it in front of Brooke who strained her neck to try and get a closer look as to what it was. Maybe he wants me to sign some kind of disclaimer about the school?
"You have one hour and thirty minutes starting when you turn the paper over." Turner stated with a smile as he checked his watch.
Brooke stumbled to her feet, her face pale. "Yeah...that's, I have to...go. Toilet. Go to the toilet." She repeated as she backed up.
Peyton reacted as soon as Brooke stood up and had the office door open and ready as Brooke eased by her quickly. Peyton couldn't help but smirk at Turner who was wondering what had just happened. "A little warning wouldn't have been a bad thing." She told him hearing Brooke call her name from the hallway.
"We'll be back in..." Peyton checked her own watch slowly even though she knew exactly what the time was. "Fifteen minutes." Which was when the exam was supposed to start.
"We?" Turner questioned though he doubted it would get him anywhere.
Peyton shrugged as she walked further out of the room hoping Brooke wasn't hyperventilating somewhere off in the hallway. "You can either find another paper or both of us will find our own way to the classroom like everyone else." She said before leaving without closing the door.
Turner shook his head, but he didn't have many options. He'd spent the last week fielding calls from worried parents afraid it wasn't safe to send they're kids back here once the full story had gotten out. Thank god it's only for a few more days and then I just have to get through graduation.
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Peyton caught up with Brooke further down the hallway. "Hey." She approached slowly as the brunette shook her hands out to the side.
"That was mean, Peyton." Brooke hissed pointing back in the direction of the school reception. "How could he just do that...with no warning! Just...here you go, start."
Peyton's body shook in amusement but she didn't dare laugh out loud, she just stood there wondering what Brooke wanted her to do to help.
Brooke glared at the blonde, "A little sympathy?"
This time a chuckle did escape but Peyton took Brooke into her arms before she could say anything.
"My poor baby, did the big bad Principle upset you?" Peyton asked in a tone you'd use to speak to a three year old, and even then the child would have found it insulting.
Brooke blew out a frustrated breath but if she concentrated on the arms around her and not the condescending remark from her friend, she actually started to feel better. Not a whole lot given she still had an exam to sit fairly soon but it was the best it was going to get for her at least until after the hospital appointment. She was pretty sure that was going to hurt more physically than the exam.
Peyton felt Brooke hug her tightly for a second and then let go completely.
"Feeling better?" She asked hopefully.
"I guess." Brooke replied, curious as to the wide smile on her friends face.
"Good, because we have company." Peyton whispered without moving her lips.
Brooke frowned at Peyton then turned around at a tilt of the blonde's head to see Nathan standing anxiously a few feet away from them.
"Uh, everything okay?" Nathan asked as he looked at them, his hands jammed into the pockets of his jeans unsure if they wanted him there.
Peyton gave their friend a small smile as she took in how nervous he was, she guessed Haley had told him about them and now he didn't know where his loyalties were supposed to lie.
She actually felt a little sorry for him.
"We're find thanks Nate, what are you up to?" Peyton asked him wondering why he was alone in the hallway.
Nathan jerked his thumb back behind him to where a set of toilets were located in the corridor. "Haley needed to...uh, go." He explained.
Brooke took in a sharp breath at the girls name, and questioned, not for the first time, if things would ever be the same again for all of them. She took an unconscious step backward only calming somewhat when Peyton reached out and took her hand. She flashed the blonde a grateful smile before concentrating on her childhood friend again.
Nathan couldn't help but grin as he watched Peyton take Brooke's hand. "So it's true then?" He asked with a smirk, he wiggled his eyebrows up and down suggestively. "Cool!"
"Shut up!" Brooke snapped at him with a shake of her head, but tightened her grip on Peyton not wanting the other girl to suddenly let go thinking she was embarrassed by Nate's comment.
"Any chance the two of you might..." He looked at one then the other, "You know?"
"Don't even go there, Nate." Peyton warned with a scowl.
He grinned at them.
Brooke narrowed her eyes then reached over and smacked him in the gut, "Or think that Nathan Scott, or would you like me to repeat this to your heavily pregnant, bad tempered wife?" She asked enjoying the rapid drain of colour in his face.
"Uh, yeah..." He swallowed and glanced behind him to make sure Haley wasn't standing there. "How about we just forget...this whole conversation?" They didn't look that convinced and he heard a door opening behind him and guessed by Peyton's smirk that Haley was now standing down the hall. "Please?"
Brooke let him sweat another few seconds as she watched out of the corner of her eye as Haley slowly made her way over to them. "Okay, fine."
Nathan sighed in relief just as Haley came up to him and eased her arm around his waist. He dropped his arm over her shoulder and she smile up at him before looking over at Brooke and Peyton tentatively. "Hey guys." She greeted them softly.
"Haley." Brooke replied evenly.
Peyton just smiled at her, as much as she liked Haley she didn't want Brooke getting upset right now, not when she had a final to sit in a few minutes.
Haley got the distinct impression, not only from the silence that had fallen, but from the physical distance between the two couples that things between them weren't going to be fixed with an 'I'm sorry'. Normally she or Brooke and Peyton would have greeted each other with hugs, but it was crystal clear that today that wasn't going to happen. And not all of that could be blamed on Peyton and Brooke.
"I guess we should get back?" Haley said looking up at Nathan.
Nathan could tell Haley was feeling awkward and didn't want to make it any worse for his wife so he nodded in agreement. "Sure." Then he glanced over at the two girls. "Good luck, if I don't see you again."
Brooke spared him a smile.
"You too." Peyton said, before she turned Brooke around and they headed off back in the direction of the Turner's office.
Nathan watched them go sadly.
"Come on." He said hugging Haley to him as he turned them around as well.
Haley sighed as the continued back towards the gym hall, she could feel Nathan's disappointment, but she was starting to wonder if it was the situation he was upset with or her. She glanced back around but Peyton and Brooke had gone and she was suddenly struck by the realisation that she didn't want to lose their friendships over this.
She didn't want her husband to lose them either, especially given they had plans involving Brooke becoming a more prominent figure in their son's life.
I'll talk to them later.
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AN/
Hey, hope everything's well with all y'all.
I've got my fingers crossed that I'll be able to update again before the end of the month :D Let's hear it for time off work!!
Anyways hope you all still enjoy and just to let you know a certain nurse might be making a guest appearance in the next part.
Oh and really don't be too hard on Hales, she will get her head screwed on right it just might take another update or two before she makes peace with the girls.
Okay...That's all folks!!
For now anyway ;)