Lucas
was standing at the Tree Hill flight gates, and Peyton was waiting in
her car out back.
Nathan and Haley walked out hand-in-hand,
smiling deeply. Haley flung Nathan's hand out of hers, and ran
towards Lucas. He was shocked at Haley's excitement, considering
the last time they had seen eachother, it ended with her storming
off.
"Hales! Oh, i'm so glad your home." Lucas said with his
eyes closed, holding her tightly.
Nathan stood a few feet behind
them as Haley replied, "I'm really sorry about New York, I was
just really frustrated, and I guess I felt betrayed, but I am so
happy to see you. I take it Peyton didn't want to come?" Haley
rolled her eyes.
"Uh yeah, she's waiting in the car. Haley all
I ask is for you to be civil, she's really excited for you to be
coming home, and I love her Haley. Just give her a chance for
me."
Haley looked away awkwardly, "Well Nathan and I have to
claim our luggage, so we'll meet you guys at the car."
Nathan
approached Lucas, and gave him a hug, "Good to see you, man," and
than him and Haley went off.
Lucas doddled to Peyton's car, and
than sat in the driver's seat. "Hey, how you holding up?" Lucas
spoke gently, and rubbed her thigh.
"I'm okay. I'm really
worried about Brooke."
"Peyton, if she's really struggling
with this, maybe you should give her space. You know, just give her a
few days to chill out. Everything is going to be okay," Lucas
looked down at her and smiled at her sad eyes.
"I need to talk
to her…" Peyton stopped after she spotted Haley and Nathan
approaching. She got out of the car, and walked around to the trunk.
"Hey guys."
"Peyton! Hey." Nathan said sweetly, and the
two of them hugged.
"Haley…hi…" Peyton said slightly
awkwardly. Haley grabbed Peyton's armed and pulled her off to the
side.
"Look Peyton, I told Lucas I would give you a chance, and
I will. But I want you to know one thing, we're not friends. We
WERE friends, but you chose to leave without saying goodbye, and I
want you to know that I don't forgive you, i'm just doing this
for Luke." Haley stared Peyton directly in the eyes, pointing her
finger occasionally.
"I'm really glad your home." Peyton
said sarcastically, as she turned around, and the two headed back to
the car.
Nathan opened the door for Haley, and he followed her in
immediately.
Half way home Peyton spoke up after an otherwise
awkward car ride that consisted of Lucas and Nathan 'sports talk',
"Would you mind if I went over to Brooke's for a bit. I can walk
home in, and we can have dinner all together tomorrow."
"Peyton…"
Lucas sounded uncertain.
"Please, Luke, just drop me off okay."
Peyton was firm.
"Yeah…okay…" Lucas made a quick left on
the way to Brooke's.
Haley's eyes flamed in anger, and Nathan
was quick to console her. He took her by the hand and spoke into her
ear, "I love you, i'll always love you, and Brooke being around
won't change anything."
Haley's face appeared to relax, and
she breathed deeply, and leaned her head against Nathan's face.
"Okay." She replied.
Peyton got out of the vehicle, "Alright
i'll see you guys in a bit, it's really wonderful to have you two
home, I love you Luke."
"I'm a phone call away if anything
is wrong." Lucas looked worried.
Peyton slammed the
car door, and walked up to Brooke's doorstep. She knocked a few
times…no answer. She opened the door, and let herself in, to hear
the shower running.
"Brooke?!" Peyton shouted, and knocked on
the door.
She heard the shower turn off, and Brooke opened up the
door naked, "JESUS!" Brooke jumped backward, slamming the door
and wrapping a towel around her.
"Brooke i'm so sorry."
Peyton had her hands over her eyes.
"God, are you trying to give
me a heart attack P sawyer?" Brooke joked.
Peyton's face
looked a little puzzled. She went into her living room, and took a
seat until Brooke came out in sweatpants and a tank top, with a towel
around her head.
"I'm sorry Brooke, I didn't mean to walk in
on yo-" Peyton started.
"It's okay, so what's up?"
Brooke sounded perky.
"I figured that you might be upset from
before, so I wanted to check on you…" Peyton looked
concerned.
"Oh yeah, about that. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to
go off on you guys like that, and I hope Lucas isn't mad. Anyway,
what are you up to tonight?" Brooke said pouring her and Peyton a
glass of vodka.
"That's it?" Peyton looked even more
confused.
"What do you mean?" Brooke asked, as she walked over
with the drinks in her hand. She held one of the glasses to
Peyton.
"Uh…no thanks. Brooke is everything okay?"
"Yesssss.
Why do you keep asking me that? Have a drink." Brooke pushed it at
her more persistently.
"Brooke are you drunk?" Peyton asked,
taking both drinks from her hand and placing them on the
table.
"Peyton I had like one glass, i'm not drunk."
"Yeah
but you've been drinking." Peyton stood infront of the glasses
while Brooke tried to reach for one. "Brooke don't do this to
yourself."
"Seriously Peyton, i'm not doing anything. I
haven't drank hardly anything, I thought we could have a drink, i'm
sorry." Brooke said honestly.
Peyton realized that Brooke did
not act or sound drunk, but she was still slightly worried. "Brooke
please don't be mad at me, but i've dealt with a lot of people
with alcohol addictions, and I don't want that for you…pour them
down the sink." Peyton stepped out of the way.
"Peyton come
on," Brooke noticed the serious look in Peyton's face. "Okay, I
will." Brooke picked up both the glasses and dumped them down the
drain.
"Thank-you. Anyway, it's late, so i'm going to get
going." Peyton was relieved, and walked over to Brooke. She hugged
her, "i'm always here if you want to talk or your lonely, or
whatever…okay?"
"Yeah, I know. Thanks for stopping by,"
Brooke hugged her back and showed her out the door.
After Brooke
was sure that Peyton was gone, she walked back over to the kitchen.
She poured herself another drink, and slugged it back in one gulp,
making a sour but dead face. She refilled her glass, and than walked
up the stairs to her bedroom.
