3 "Every Picture Tells A Story"

Ashes. One single word summed up the entire house. A huge pile of ashes. Brooke walked slowly through the ruble, rummaging through her parents things. There was nothing that could be made into a single object. That's when she saw it. Her glass picture frame holding a picture of her best friend and her ex boyfriend. She picked up the frame and held it in her hands. The sheriff told her it was the candles she lit during her shower the burned down the house. All she could blame was Nathan. What was she going to tell her parents? Everywhere she went she was always getting in trouble. Now her entire house burned down. What kind of explanation could you possibly give for that.

Peyton sat in the street sitting in her car as she watched Brooke walk through the ashes. What could she say to this girl to cheer her up? Brooke had been doing everything she could to stick up for Peyton since the very first day they met. She hadn't even been nice to her. Now this poor girl lost her house, her belongings, and her happiness. She shut off the car and walked to Brooke's side.

"This was my boyfriend Chase." Brooke explained holding up the frame and showing the blonde smiling boy. "And my ex-best friend Nicola." The tears were coming down fast now and quickly she wiped them away. The only person in Tree Hill who had been truly nice to her was seeing her cry already. This was not a good start.

"What happened?" Peyton asked hoping she wasn't prying too far into her life.

"They met." Brooke said slamming the frame to the ground and walking away. "That's all there is to say."

Peyton watched as Brooke walked away from the ashes and down the street. "Where are you going?" she yelled trying to catch up with her.

"I don't know," Brooke said honestly. "I can't get ahold of my parents, and I have absolutely no where to go."

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School was crazy. Everyone heard about what happened to Brooke's house and was asking her questions. The hallways were filled with person after person wanting to know if Nathan was the cause of the house burning down. Brooke ignored them all. She was in no mood to deal with the mess, nor the questions. She had no answers. The only person she hadn't seen was Nathan. As she closed her locker and turned to her final class of the day Lucas approached her with Haley at his side. "Hey Brooke," Haley smiled. "How are you holding up?"

Brooke shrugged. How would anyone expect her to be doing? "Horrible." she answered telling the truth. "I just wish I could see your brother." she said to Lucas.

"Do you have somewhere to stay?" Lucas asked ignoring her comment. "I'm sure my mom wouldn't mind you staying with us, if you need anything he offered."

How nice of Lucas to offer her a place to stay. She hardly even knew him. "Thank you so much, but I'm actually staying with Peyton until I can get a hold of my parents she explained." Haley just smiled, and Brooke knew exactly what she was thinking.

The end of the day came quick, and Peyton was waiting outside of the school for her. "Whats up homeless?" Peyton joked. Brooke couldn't help but laugh. She needed some fun and sarcasm in light of the situation.

"Not much angry!" Brooke smiled. "What are you plans for the evening? Because I have a wonderful idea."

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Brooke led Peyton into the downtown bar of Charlotte. She had been there a few times while her parents were looking for houses. She knew it had the greatest view of the city, and they wouldn't have a problem using Brooke's fake ID. "Now don't worry," Brooke smiled as the sat down at the bar. "Just follow my lead and everything will be fine."

Peyton nervously nodded her head as she sat on the bar stool.

The bartender came running over with a smile. "Britt, long time no see." he gave her a high five. "Whatcha drinking?"

"We'll have two shots of tequila, and two long islands. It's my friend Paris' heres 21st" she giggled nodding at Peyton.

Peytons eyes widened as the bartender reached for the bottle of tequila. "Brittney and Paris?" Peyton rolled her eyes at Brooke. "Really original." Brooke just shrugged.

"Here's to us, fuck the rest." Brooke chanted as she clinked her shot glass with Peyton's. "So tell me. What's the story on the Scott brothers?"

Peyton sighed. "Drama." she laughed. "Nathan's dad left Lucas' mom when Nathan's mom got pregnant." she started to explain.

"Never mind, I'm sorry I asked." Brooke stopped her. "Lucas is hot! I hope you've gotten on them both."

"Ha!" Peyton laughed. "Nathan and I have been together for a long time, but we're just not right for each other. Lucas on the other hand... we have a lot in common, but he's Nathan's brother."

"Meh, the more the merrier!" Brooke giggled. "Speaking of which, we should call Mr. Lucas Scott and have him come down here right this instant."

"Oh, I don't know about that." Peyton sighed. "I don't think he'd drive this far."

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Five shots and an hour and a half later Lucas walked into the bar with Haley. Brooke jumped from her seat as she waved at the two of them. "Over here! Over here!" she stumbled as they approached. She put her arm around Peyton. "Lucas, have you met my super hot, super single, super sexy friend Peyton?"

Lucas instantly turned red. "How much have you had to drink?" he laughed.

Brooke put her two fingers up to show about an inch. "Oh, just a couple." she slammed her hand down on the bar. "Max, two shots for my friend Lindsay and Wilmer here."

"What?" Haley asked looking at Peyton for an explanation.

Peyton just laughed. "I don't know, she is on this whole Brittney, Paris, Lindsay thing. I guess she just enjoys the alter ego." she whispered. Haley just starred at her in awe.

"And I get to be Wilmer?" Lucas asked with sarcasm. "Lucky me."

Brooke turned around and handed Haley and Lucas their shots. "Here's to you, fuck me." she stopped. "Wait, here's to us, fuck you. No, that's not right. Whatever just drink your shots."

It didn't take long for the two of them to catch up to Peyton's buzz, but Brooke was flying off the handle. The three of them watched in amazement as she danced around the bar just as happy as can be. "I guess she needed this to take her mind of the fire." Peyton said to Lucas and Haley.

"She's one crazy girl." Haley pointed out. "I'm surprised she hasn't fallen down yet."

Brooke jumped around and continued dancing. Finally when the song ended she came back and sat down. "Levi," she smiled at Lucas. "You're pretty," she touched his face.

"I thought I was supposed to be Wilmer?" he asked her confused.

"No silly, when I talk to you, I don't call you by the fake names," she slurred. "I use your real name."

"But my real name is Lucas." he corrected her.

"Lucas, Levi, Lucas, Levi, same difference." she rolled her eyes. As she stood up she collapsed to the ground and passed out.

"Maybe we should get her home." Peyton said grabbing her arm and helping her up. "Or to my house I suppose I should say."

"Who's going to drive?" Haley asked pointing out that they had all been drinking.

"I guess were getting a room and spending the night." Lucas decided.

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The light peaked through the curtains waking Brooke up from her deep sleep. She rolled over to find Haley laying in the bed next to her. "Oh God." she muttered waking her up.

"What is it? Are you okay?" Haley jumped up half asleep.

"Yes, shh." she held her finger to her mouth. She saw Peyton and Lucas sleeping in the bed across from them. "I know I'm a little lonely, but I don't usually sleep with girls." Brooke said disgusted.

"What?" Haley asked confused. She had no idea what she was talking about.

Brooke reached for the covers and pulled them down exposing her red Victoria's Secret thong.

"Eww!" Haley screamed jumping out of the bed. "Put your pants back on!"

"So nothing like that happened?" Brooke asked relived.

"No!"

"Thank God," she sighed climbing out of the bed and walking to the bathroom still in her underwear. "This is going to be a rough drive back to Tree Hill."