Peyton Sawyer sighed as the cool breeze blew against her face. One hand in her pocket, the other carrying the sketch pad and pencil, she walked down by the Market Street docks. The North Carolina weather was gorgeous and the townspeople happily maneuvered about through the streets. It was peaceful and serene, much like how life had turned out for the pretty but normally troubled blonde. Things had settled and the future ahead was looking brighter than ever. She had even found true and lasting love with her soul mate, Lucas Scott but the fairytale hadn't come without a price.

She missed their days of shopping, or just sitting on the bed flipping through magazines, trying out the newest shades of eye shadow and gossiping like high school girls often did. It had been a simple friendship but one deeper than sisterhood. And now it was gone seemingly forever. Peyton had woken up that morning in a good mood. She hadn't needed to bitch or vent and she didn't need a shoulder to cry on. Life was good, in fact, and she wished nothing more than to share that wonderful news with a best friend.

But there was no best friend, only awkward civility and a host of fun and heartfelt glorious memories. Peyton had felt like drawing and so busy with school, cheering and her boyfriend, she hadn't had a lot of time as of late for her favorite hobby. Picking up her utensils, she began a walk by the river that led to one of her all time favorite spots. It was just an old bridge that connected the picturesque downtown Tree Hill to the not so good part of town. But underneath the shade of the large structure lie a cubbyhole that had provided a secret sanctuary once upon a time for two little girls. They had visited there in good times and in bed. It was "their place". Peyton hadn't been there in what felt like forever but the mood seemed to guide her to that exact spot. It would be nice to sit and sketch and remember. But she had no idea when she arrived that she would not be alone.

The figure looked small and delicate. The sobs were low and muffled as she used a crumpled up Kleenex to dab at her puffy hazel eyes. For a few seconds Peyton could only stare. Her heart broke at the sight of the image. She wanted nothing more than to run to her, help her, throw her arms around her and offer any source of comfort. But too much had happened and the friendship was no more. Her head told her to turn around and leave, to let the brunette have her space to grieve but her heart was saying something else.

"Brooke…"

She looked up, her face telling a quick story of surprise, of hurt, of embarrassment.

"What are you doing here?" her raspy voice softly questioned.

Peyton was dumbfounded.

"I…I don't know. I guess I just felt like coming here."

Brooke looked away.

"Yeah, I know the feeling."

"You okay?" Peyton asked after a few fleeting moments of strained, uncomfortable silence.

Brooke shook her head.

"No."

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

Taking a deep breath and a seat beside her, Peyton carefully spoke.

"For all sorts of stuff," the blonde readily admitted. "I'm sorry that we don't talk anymore. And I'm sorry that everything went down because of Lucas. I'm sorry that I can't have the two most important people in my life. I'm sorry that I, that we hurt you because trust me, that was never part of the plan. And I'm sorry that things have been so rough for you this year and um…I, I'm really sorry about Chase."

Brooke closed her eyes.

"The whole world knows that I'm a whore."

"You're not a whore, Brooke. You made a mistake. It happens. Nobody is perfect."

"Yeah? My mistake came back to haunt me in front of the entire school almost. I was humiliated and it cost me a really great relationship with a really great guy."

"You should talk to him, Brooke. You even said he was a great person. He was probably just shocked. I'm sure if you give him time to cool off and then go talk to him, you guys can work it out somehow. But you can't sit around and mope about it. You have to fight for your man."

"I have," Brooke looked right at her. "I've tried to talk to him. I gave him some time, then I tried to explain. He doesn't want to hear about it. Chase is done with me. I screwed up big time. He knows I'm a liar and a fraud and a slut and he wants nothing to do with that. Can you blame him?"

"Dude, don't beat yourself up like that."

"What do you care?" Brooke spat.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. In case your brain has been in the custody of aliens for like the last year or so, maybe you forgot that you and I are no longer friends."

"No, Brooke. I never forgot that. And I never got over that. I've missed you."

"Why? Seeing me happy with Chase helped you get over your own guilt with Lucas?"

"Honestly? Maybe. I don't know. Maybe that did have something to do with it. Or maybe it was more because he seemed like a really good person that made you happy. Maybe it was just nice to see you smile every single day. Maybe your happiness meant something to me even though I couldn't share in it."

Brooke sighed.

"Look, I know you're trying to help or whatever but it's not working. Really. Just go away. Please. I want to be alone."

"No."

"What?"

"You heard what I said. I'm not going anywhere, Brooke Davis."

"And why not?"

"Because I can't. Because I care. Because maybe you're not my friend anymore but I'm still yours. Because you're hurting right now and you need someone to listen and be there, whether you know it or not. Because from the time we were little kids, every time we sat in this very spot and I needed you, you were always there for me. Because every single time I fell, you were always there to catch me. Now it's my turn."

"It's different now."

"It doesn't have to be. Lucas…"

"How many times have I told you, it's not about Lucas anymore? I'm way over that. Time helped me get over that. Now it's just a matter of us getting back to where we were."

"You got hurt because of me and I'm sorry. I don't expect you to just change your mind overnight and become me and Luke's third amigo but isn't months of being angry enough, Brooke? I want to be there for you."

Brooke laughed in spite of the situation.

"It's funny because right now I've never felt so alone."

"You don't have to be."

"I lied to him," she whispered.

"Who? Chase?"

Brooke nodded.

"I didn't expect to fall for him. He was cute and he was nice but I didn't think anything would ever come out of it. But you can't help who you fall for. The longer it went on, the more I liked him. All I wanted was for him to like me back. So I lied about the Clean Teens and I lied about being this super smart chaste tutor. I lied about a lot of stuff to cover up the real me."

"Why? The real you is great."

"The real me is flawed. The real me has made a lot of stupid mistakes. I was afraid if Chase knew that, then he wouldn't want me. That he'd know he was too good for me."

"That's not true, Brooke. People fall short. But I've seen you rise above all that. That chick in the video? You're not her anymore. You've grown and you've changed for the better. We can't make the past go away, all you can do is work on the present and the future. We haven't hung out in a while but even I can see the woman you've become. Yeah, it was wrong to lie to Chase but your heart was in the right place. You were just trying to protect your own heart because it's been broken so many times."

Another tear fell.

"I really messed up this time, P. Sawyer."

"It doesn't matter how bad you fall, it counts how you pick yourself up."

Despite the tears, Brooke couldn't help but laugh.

"Yeah, you've definitely been hanging around Lucas way too much. You're even imitating his cheesy quotes now."

Peyton shared her grin.

"Okay, maybe they are kind of cheesy but in a way they make sense. I just want you to be okay."

Brooke looked in her eyes and only saw truth and sincerity. All she wanted from Chase was forgiveness for a mistake yet she was denying Peyton the same thing. Maybe it was time to move on.

"Thanks, Peyt."

Peyton nodded.

"I, um…I'm gonna go now. I'll give you your space but if you need me for anything, I'm here for you. You know that. My number hasn't changed at all. All you have to do is call."

With that, she stood and began the walk back into town. She had only made it a few feet when she felt the vibration of her cell phone. Thinking it was Lucas she glanced down but the name on the Caller ID brought tears to her eyes. She turned around to see Brooke holding her own phone and that was all it took. She ran back to her friend, embracing her.

"Oh Peyton," Brooke cried.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything."

"Me too."

"It's gonna be okay. I know it doesn't seem like it now but it will be. If anybody can get through this, it's you Brooke Davis because you're the strongest person I know."

She said it and she meant it but Brooke, still not feeling very strong could only cry. The one bright spot was the arms that had been there to catch her when she fell.