Author's Note: God, I love writing this. So much fun. Sorry I haven't updated in forever. I think it's coming to an end soon, sadly.

Secret Love

Chapter Nine

I couldn't help but squint my eyes at her as she spoke. This was not Peyton Sawyer, my best friend, speaking to me. This was Annie Oakley, risen from the dead. Wait, was Annie Oakley dead? Whatever. Besides the point.

"A Camping trip?" I barely managed to sputter out. "Let me tell you. Of all your ideas, this is by far the worst."

"Brooke, it's not just a camping trip. We're going up to Nathan's dad's cabin. It's going to be awesome."

"Did you just say awesome?" Had she just said awesome?

She grinned. "Come on. You have to go."

"Please. To LoveFest2006? So I can be with you and Lucas, and Haley and Nathan?"

"Bevin will be there too. Plus," Her eyes bore into me, sealing the deal already, "I'm not going if you aren't."

Bitch. "Ugh, I can't believe you just said that."

"We haven't gone on a trip without each other since we were eight. You can't bail on me now." She said, and it was true. Since we were kids, we'd went with each other on every family vacation or weekend partying getaway.

"Fine, fine, fine. But you better not ditch me to be with Lucas all the time."

"I won't!" She so was going to. I could see it already.

"Yeah, yeah."

Boy, would this be fun.

-

"Nathan," I growled, "your car is too small for my bags."

Nathan frowned, furrowing his eyebrows as he did. "Brooke, you packed like, your entire wardrobe. This wouldn't fit in an eighteen-wheeler."

Leave it to Nathan to be overdramatic. I had packed three suitcases. After all, we were going for a week. Plus, it was winter! I didn't know what his dad's cabin was like in winter!

I tapped my heeled foot on the ground expectantly and he sighed, attempting to wedge the bag deeper into the back of his Suburban.

"Maybe you can take the cooler out."

"That's where the beer is, though," He was pouting. What a little baby.

"They don't sell beer where we're going?"

"Not to seventeen year olds,"

"Well, it's a good thing I've got my fake ID then, isn't it?"

"I don't wanna waste it."

"So drink it."

"But I'm driving."

"Technicalities…"

He laughed, and I realized how cute Nathan's smile was. Nathan was a cute guy in general. More my type than his lame-ass brother. Why couldn't I just like him?

"Nathan!" His Tutor Girl called and I rolled my eyes. Scott Boys were just not worth my troubles.

"Be right back. Maybe we can fit one of your bags in Lucas' truck."

"Maybe," I crooned, looking towards Lucas' truck, where he and Peyton sat talking. It took me just a moment to realize that they weren't talking; they were arguing. Interested, I watched quietly from behind Nathan's car, until Peyton stepped outside and began walking towards me.

"Hey," She smiled.

"Hi. Problem?"

She rolled her eyes. "I guess. Look, can you ride with Lucas? I'm sorry, but I just can't deal with him right now."

"Me?" It came out as a squeak, and I was lucky she didn't notice.

"Yeah. I know I've already asked you to do a million things for me and you didn't even want to come on the trip, but I just - you know, never mind, it's fine-"

"No, no, I'll do it."

She grinned, reaching over to hug me. "You're such a great friend."

"Mhm." God, I am the worst friend.

-

Lucas was brooding, of course. So this had rapidly become one of the worst rides of my life. You'd think I'd be in heaven; Lucas and Peyton were fighting and I was here with him. But no.

I sighed loudly. He didn't even look over.

"Okay," I said finally, "are we going to be like this the entire ride, or can we please at least listen to some music?"

He smiled softly. "Sorry. I was just thinking."

"Clearly. Thinking is what you do. Or should I say brooding."

"I don't brood," He exhaled and I snorted with laughter, and then he did too. "Okay. Maybe a little."

"Fight with P. Sawyer?"

"Isn't that why you're here?"

"True."

"She just - she gets mad too easily. And when I just apologize, instead of getting mad back, she gets even more mad. It's ridiculous. Nothing I do is ever right." Okay, this was kinda awkward.

"It's kind of a girl thing," I smiled. "If you don't fight back it means you don't care."

"Even if I know I'm wrong?"

"Even if you know you're wrong."

"God, girls are confusing." He shook his head, letting out an amused laugh.

I nodded in agreement. "Tell me about it. I am a girl and I'm still confused half the time."

Turned out this would be a better ride than I thought.

-

I dropped my last - and heaviest - bag to the floor and then threw myself down onto the bed. "Oh God, I'm dead."

Bevin chuckled from her bed, and then looked at the wall to her left. We were right next to Haley and Nathan's room, with Lucas and Peyton across the hall.

"I wonder if Haley and Nathan do it." She said suddenly.

I stifled a laugh. "Yeah, I doubt it. Tutor Girl's saving herself."

"For what?"

"Duh. Marriage." Bevin was just so dense.

"People do that?" Man, she was just a laugh riot.

I rolled to my side so I was facing her. "Yeah. And get this. Some people actually only do it with one person in their life."

"Wow," Her eyes widened.

-

By dinner, Lucas and Peyton had made up. Not like I was surprised or anything because they always did. I was only slightly disappointed.

When Peyton went with Haley to help wash dishes after dinner, Lucas turned to me.

"Hey, thanks for talking to me earlier. You totally helped me out with Peyton and our fight."

"Oh, no problem." I smiled probably the fakest smile of my life right then.