Chapter 5

Brooke was sitting on the staircase looking miserable. Haley saw and went to talk to her.

"Hey Tigger, why the long face? Budge up." Haley sat down next to Brooke.

"Its nothing Hales…" Brooke turned her face towards the wall so Haley wouldn't see her crying.

"Come on Brooke, I know you better than that." Haley linked arms with Brooke. "Talk to me!"

"Its Peyton… She won't talk to me, and I… I don't know if I can tell her yet. You, Bev, Nate and Chase are the only ones who know." Brooke turned to face Haley. "Can you maybe talk to her?"

Haley wiped a tear from Brooke's eye and pulled her friend into a hug. "I'll take care of it."

Peyton was talking to Skillz in the kitchen when Haley walked in. "Hey Skillz, can I speak to Peyton for a minute?"

"Sure thing Hales." Skillz walked off.

"Why the hell haven't you talked to Brooke?" Haley shouted.

Peyton looked taken aback. "Because she's full of shit and hasn't talked to her so-called best friend in months!"

"Bitch… You have NO idea what Brooke is going through right now. Have you even tried to call her?"

Peyton looked at the floor, and then smirked. "Hales, you've also ignored us for ages. What have you been going through? Marriage troubles? I may not have talked to you but I've kept in touch with Nate."

Haley slapped Peyton. By now everyone was watching, Mouth had turned off the music but the girls hadn't even noticed. "You bitch!" Peyton pounced on Haley and shoved her to the ground; Haley pulled Peyton's hair causing her to scream. Peyton pinned her to the ground and punched her twice in the face.

Just then Brooke and Rachel shoved past some people to see what was going on. They both looked shocked when they saw, Rachel grabbed Peyton and pulled her off and Brooke gave Haley a hand up.

"What the fuck just happened?" Rachel asked.

"She slapped me." Peyton said adjusting her dress.

"You bastard!" Rachel slapped Haley, Peyton pulled her back but Rachel shook off her hand.

Haley let out a cry of pain as she grasped her red cheek. Rachel was about to hit her again when Nathan stepped in and pulled the raging redhead back.

"Peyton! Haley's nose is bleeding!" Brooke cried, handing Haley a towel. "What was this about?"

Peyton laughed. "You, bitch." Brooke turned away from Haley and took a step closer to Peyton.

"You wanna say that to my face?"

"Fine! So you want me to be your bridesmaid after months of silence?"

Brooke was barely holding herself together. "I- I" She tried to speak but no words would come out.

"I think we should go upstairs and talk." Bevin intervened. Everyone in the house was still watching.

Bevin, Rachel, Peyton, Brooke and Haley went up to Brooke's bedroom. "Just like old times huh?" Rachel nudged Peyton and laughed.

"Brooke, you were ermm saying?" Peyton asked, but Brooke didn't seem fit to speak.

"She has cancer Peyton!" Haley exclaimed through gritted teeth.

Peyton's eyes widened and Rachel gasped. Brooke sat on her bed and began to cry uncontrollably. Peyton walked sat next to her and put one hand on her back, then pulled her into an awkward hug, which Brooke returned causing Peyton to burst into tears as well.

20/08/07