Thanks to everyone that reviewed my last chapter. :-)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot.
"Hey, Peyton," said Marissa, locating Peyton in the crowd of people near the speakers. Covering her ears she went over to her.
"Aren't you, like, going deaf already? Damn, this music is loud," she practically yelled.
"Not really," Peyton yelled back. "I'm used to loud music."
Marissa grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the speakers. "I need to talk to you," she said in her normal voice.
"What?" Peyton asked.
"Lucas and Brooke are back together. I saw them outside as I arrived. They looked pretty cozy back there." Marissa looked at Peyton sympathetically. "I'm sorry. I know that must hurt."
"Well, what hurts me the most is really that Brooke would forgive Lucas and not me, when I'm the one she's known her whole life. Lucas is just some guy."
"Maybe that's the point," said Marissa. "Maybe it's because she's known you her whole life. It's that much more trust you've broken. Look, I'm just telling it the way I see it. But…I was talking about the fact that Brooke is with...well, are you sure you don't love Lucas?"
"Lucas?" Peyton scoffed. "I don't think so. There's only one guy I'll ever love and, trust me, it's not him."
"You sound pretty certain," Marissa remarked.
"I am," Peyton replied. "I've been thinking about it for a while and I'm completely sure now." She sighed. "Too bad I pretty much told the love of my life to stay away from me."
Marissa smiled at her. "Well, if it helps, my love life's in a pretty bad condition as well."
"Really?" Peyton asked. "But, I mean, you're with Ryan."
"Yeah, but…things just aren't the same. We've barely spoken all day and he seemed pretty mad when I asked for Lucas on the phone."
"But…do you love him?" Peyton looked at her.
"I don't know why love is suddenly such an important issue. I mean, you could love someone with all your heart and not be able to be with them. Do I love him? I don't know. It doesn't really matter."
"Hey, where are you, man?"
"I don't think I'm gonna make it, Lucas." Ryan rolled over on his bed. "I'm not in the mood for a party. You tell Marissa I said hi, though, okay?"
"Why don't you come down here and tell her yourself?" Lucas demanded. "It's not that bad. It may not live up to the standards of Newport parties, but it's pretty decent, if I do say so myself."
"Lucas…"
"Please?"
"Look, I'm going to bed. I'll see you tomorrow." Ryan hung up.
Four drinks later and Seth could barely walk straight. Nathan helped him across the room and led him over to a couch. "Look, dude, I told you to stop at two."
"You had six!" Seth said defensively, slurring his words.
"Yes, but I'm a serial drinker. You…are clearly not. C'mon, let's get you home." He tried to lift Seth but Seth wouldn't get up.
"Can't I just…like, stay here?" Seth asked sleepily, stretching out lazily on the couch, his eyes closed. Nathan looked down at the boy.
"Uh, yeah, I suppose you can," Nathan said. "Wait here."
He stood up and went over to Marissa. "Hey, Marissa, don't wait for Seth, okay? He can sleep here tonight. He's pretty drunk."
"Seth is drunk?" Marissa asked incredulously. "Alright, I'll tell the others."
Nathan went back over to Seth. The party had died down considerably and there was only a small group of people still standing around. "Why don't you sleep it off?" Nathan asked Seth. "Do you, like, need a blanket or anything?"
Seth shook his head. "Hey, Nate, you wanna know a secret?" He leaned over so that his mouth was right next to Nathan's ear. Nathan knelt down in front of him.
"What is it, Seth?"
"You wanna know the real reason Summer's pretending to be my girlfriend?"
Nathan nodded and leaned in eagerly. He waited for the whispered answer but nothing came. Looking at Seth, Nathan realized he had, while talking, dozed off right on the couch. Sighing, he patted Seth on the head and walked away. He would know soon enough.
Two hours later Lucas and Brooke emerged from the guest room. Brooke looked extremely cheerful but Lucas was almost grimacing. Marissa waved at them both from across the room, where she was still talking to Peyton. Brooke smiled and Lucas waved half-heartedly before going over to Nathan.
"Hey, Nathan, I'm gonna head back." He rubbed his eyes. "It's getting kinda late."
"Okay, well, I hope you had fun," Nathan said. "Even though I did most of the hosting. What was the point of that anyway?"
"I think Summer had some sort of twisted idea that if Brooke thought I had invited her specially, she might forgive me and we could get back together."
"Well, it worked, didn't it?"
Lucas shrugged.
"Alright. Well, see you, bro." Lucas held out a fist. Nathan hit it gently with his own.
As Lucas begun walking out, Marissa bade her goodbyes to Peyton and after waving at Nathan, she followed Lucas out.
"Hey, Lucas?"
He turned around.
"How are you getting home?"
He pointed to his car.
"Oh, look, I hate to ask but – "
"Sure," Lucas said. "It's on my way. Hop in."
Ryan's cell phone rung. He got up quickly from his bed and walked over to the side table where it lay. "Hello?"
"Ryan, hi. It's Kirsten."
"Oh, hey."
"I know it's a little late, but I figured the four of you wouldn't have turned in early on your first day. I have some news."
"Yeah?"
Ryan pressed the phone to his ear and as he listened, his expression went from curious to completely shocked.
"Tell Seth, alright?"
"Sure," Ryan said, and hung up, still in a daze. That was definitely not what he expected. He heard the door opposite theirs slam. Leaping up he rushed over and knocked. Marissa opened it, surprised.
"Ryan, hey. Why didn't you come to the – "
"Marissa, something happened."
And as he told her, her expression changed to what his had been when he found out.
"Oh my God," Marissa said. "Ryan, what are we gonna do?
Okay, I will be updating ASAP. Hope you liked it and if so, please review! :)