Two weeks had gone by since Rachel had told Brooke that she was pregnant. Two weeks and she still hadn't told anyone else. Just thinking about telling anyone else made Rachel want to vomit. Mouth was being incredibly patient, he didn't care if no one else knew as long as Rachel was safe, happy and healthy. And of course he felt that way about the baby too. Brooke was slipping again with all the talk about babies that she heard from Rachel when they hung out but she tried her best not to show it. She didn't want Rachel to feel bad or stop talking to her because even though it was hard on Brooke it was good for Rachel to talk about this stuff with another girl.
"Brooke? Are you listening to me? Hello, Brooke," Peyton said when they were hanging out at her house one day after school.
"What? Oh, I'm sorry, Peyton. I zoned out for a second. What did you say?" Brooke asked when she realized that Peyton was trying to get her attention.
"I asked you if you think the squad is ready for the Classic this weekend?" Peyton repeated with a smile.
"Oh yeah. Sure, of course they're ready. I mean, it's my squad, they better be ready. Oh my God, Peyton, what if they're not ready? This is my last shot at first place. They have to be ready."
Brooke was panicked now. The Classic was in two days and suddenly all the confidence she had had in her squad was disappearing. Rachel was going and intended to participate but only under the strong persistence from Mouth to Brooke that she not go overboard. He didn't want anything to happen to her or the baby. Brooke promised to watch out for Rachel and make sure she didn't work too hard. Brooke was glad that Rachel was going because she needed her there. The two were becoming closer with this whole pregnancy and Brooke wanted to make sure for herself that Rachel was okay and the only way that could happen was if Rachel was at the Classic. And if she didn't go the rest of the squad be suspicious.
"Rachel, you have to go! If you don't the other girls will wonder what's going on with you. Peyton and Haley already know something's up but if you don't go this weekend, so will the rest of the squad. Now I respect the fact that you're worried about something happening but I promised Mouth and I'm promising you now I'm not gonna let anything happen. Everything is gonna be fine. Please come this weekend. I need you there," Brooke pleaded with Rachel as they sat on her bed.
"I dunno. I mean why do you need me there? Peyton and Haley are going. You can talk to them," Rachel replied.
"Not like I talk to you. It's different with you. I mean yeah you tried to steal Lucas from me but in the end it was because of you that he came back to me. You gave me the love of my life back. You let me talk and you don't expect anything from me. You're just there. Peyton and Tutor Girl, they expect things from me. I need someone there who doesn't. Please Rachel? This is my last shot at kicking Claire Young's ass. I can't do it without you."
"You swear nothing's gonna happen?"
"I swear on Lucas' grave that I will watch out for you and the baby this weekend."
"Okay. I'll go."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Now, can we please talk about something else besides the Classic before I have to kill you?"
"Haha, funny."
"You know it was."
"What's up with you today, B?" Peyton asked.
"Nothing. Why?" Brooke replied.
"You're spacier than normal."
"Thanks for that."
"You're welcome. Seriously though is everything okay? You've been acting really weird lately."
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. God why can't you believe me?"
"Sorry. But if you were okay you wouldn't space out on me three times in ten minutes. What's going on? And don't lie to me."
"I can't tell you. It's not my place."
"Don't start with that again."
"Peyton. I'm serious. I can't say anything. I promised Rachel I wouldn't say anything now could you please just drop it."
"Are you kidding? You're spacing out because of something you promised Rachel. I thought you were spacing out cause you're thinking about Lucas. Guess I can cross that off the list."
"Yeah, I guess you can. Because as much as miss Lucas there are other things on my mind lately. Rachel just so happens to be one of them. If you can't deal with it, I'm sorry but that's the truth."
"Fine. You know I really hate that you don't talk me half as much as you talk to Rachel anymore. And don't pretend like you do."
"Are we really gonna go there again? Peyton I'm sorry but can we not fight about this. I'm tired of it. I told you, you're still my best friend but Rachel's a really good friend too. She's not taking your place in my life. She doesn't wanna do that and I'm not letting her."
"Fine."
"Thank you."
"I just wish you would tell me what's going on."
"Peyton, I can't!"
Brooke stood up to leave. She couldn't fight with her anymore. And apparently she couldn't say anything to make Peyton understand that she wasn't telling her what was going on with Rachel out of respect for her friend and because she had promised not to say anything.
"Rachel, hey it's Brooke. You gotta tell the girls this weekend. If you don't I think Peyton might kill me in my sleep or something. I know you wanted to wait until you were ready but please do something. Even if you just tell Peyton. I don't care. Just make her stop bugging me," Brooke said as she flipped open her phone to call Rachel.
"She's still bothering you about it? Doesn't she understand that you made a promise?" Rachel replied.
"Apparently not. The only way she's gonna stop is if she knows what's going on. But I promised you I wouldn't say anything and I'm not breaking that promise. Please, please, do something about this. Before I end up dead or in jail for killing Peyton. If she doesn't shut up I think I might."
"Would that really be so bad?"
"Rachel!"
"Okay, I'm sorry. That was out of line. I'll talk to her if it'll make you feel better but you didn't actually promise me you wouldn't say anything about the baby."
"Oh, right. That was something I promised myself."
"Oh, well I appreciate it anyway."
"No problem. What are you doing right now? I need to hang out with someone who's not frustrated with me."
"Come on over. I could use some company. Mouth's working til close tonight and Bevin's not talking to me since I won't tell her what's going on."
Brooke jumped into her car and drove to Rachel's which wasn't that far from Peyton's. When she pulled into Rachel's driveway she hoped out of the car and ran up to the door, only to find it open with Rachel standing there smiling at her.
"Hey Rach. Hey baby, how are you today? Auntie Brooke can't wait for your mommy to tell people about you," Brooke said as she talked to her friend's stomach.
"Auntie Brooke?" Rachel asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well yeah. You're not gonna let your kid just call me Brooke are you?"
"I was kidding. Chill out. Of course you're gonna be Auntie Brooke. Even if it's only because you were dating Mouth's best friend."
Brooke pouted.
"I'm kidding. That's only part of the reason. The rest of it is because you've been so amazing through this. You've totally come through for me. Seriously, you're dealing with so much in your own life and yet you seem like you put it all aside the second I told you I'm pregnant. I don't know if I would be able to do something like that. Actually, I know I wouldn't. I'd be too wrapped up in my emotions to even notice that someone else needed help."
"No, you wouldn't. Rach, you make yourself sound like a self-centered bitch."
"But I am."
"You are not."
"Yes."
"Oh, I'm so not doing this with you."
Rachel laughed. She knew it was crazy but sometimes pretending to be a little kid was fun. The two girls walked into the house and went up to Rachel's room. It was the only place in the house that Rachel could go to without her little brother, Blake, bothering her. Or Brooke for that matter, who Blake made it well known he thought was hott. Which totally creeped Rachel and Brooke out because Blake is only 12.
"Blake's not here. He's playing ball at the River Court," Rachel told Brooke as she shut her bedroom door.
"Thank god," Brooke laughed.
"Yeah. He's been driving me crazy. Always asking me when I'm gonna hook you two up and anything else he can think of to piss me off. I swear he used to be cute but then you walked into this house and it's like a monster came out."
"Sorry. Didn't mean to take away the brother you loved and replace him with "Brooke-obsessed" Blake."
"Don't worry about it. No offense, but I don't think you're his type anyway. He doesn't go for smart cheerleaders. He goes for the stupid ones."
"Oh good. Then I guess we don't have to worry about that one. But he doesn't stand a chance anyway. Even if he was older, my heart is taken."
"I know it is. How are you doing lately anyway? We haven't talked much about Lucas. It's mostly been about me and the baby."
"That's okay. I like it better that way."
"Brooke, you can't lie. You hate listening to me talk about the baby, I know you do. If you didn't hate it you wouldn't cry or try so hard to hide the tears all the time. I'm sorry if it's making you upset."
"It's okay Rachel. It's hard but I promised to be there for you and I'm not gonna let my emotions get in the way. I'll be okay, you just focus on keeping you and that baby healthy. Don't worry about me."
"I can't help it. I worry about you because you're my friend. And I know what's coming in a couple weeks."
"Oh yeah, trust me I know too. And I can honestly say, I'm not looking forward to it. Because after Luke's birthday, like three days would have been our one year anniversary. So after the Classic, it's probably gonna be downhill for me for a little while."
"I know you're not looking forward to those couple days Brooke but you'll get through them. Even if I have to make sure of it personally, I'll do or not do whatever you need."
"Thanks Rachel."
"You're welcome. Hey, why don't we get Haley and Peyton to meet us at the mall? Peyton wants to know what's up and I'm pretty sure Haley does too. So might as well get it over with together."
"Okay."
Ten minutes later, Brooke was driving her and Rachel to the mall. They were meeting Peyton and Haley there. As they got closer to the door to enter the mall Rachel was beginning to think it was a bad idea and tried to turn around.
"Come on, Rachel. They're gonna know soon enough anyway. You might as well just get it over with now," Brooke urged her.
"I know but I don't wanna cause a big scene if one of them screams. And you know one of them is bound to. My money's on Haley," Rachel replied.
"Good choice but I don't think she's gonna get too loud in a public place. Let's go."
Two minutes later they walked in to find Peyton and Haley waiting for them.
"Okay, so you wanted us to meet you so you could tell us what's up. We're here, what's up?" Peyton asked anxiously.
"Peyton," Brooke snapped.
"What?"
"Chill. This isn't exactly ideal."
"Brooke, I got this. Thanks though," Rachel interfered.
"Sure, no problem."
"Rachel, what's going on? It's driving me crazy that my husband knows and suddenly knows how to keep a secret," Haley asked with a half smile.
"Well I'm sorry he learned to keep a secret now but not really," Rachel laughed.
"So? What's the story?"
"I'm pregnant."
"And?" Haley and Peyton asked in unison.
"What do you mean and?" Rachel asked them.
"Who's the father?" Peyton finished.
"Mouth."
"WHAT!" Haley blew up.
"Hales!" Brooke said calmly.
"What?" she asked quieter.
"Nothing, never mind."
"Mouth is the father? Are you sure? Wait a second, Mouth's not a virgin? Oh god, I so don't even wanna think about that," Haley rambled.
"Yes I'm sure. Like I told Brooke, and I'm sure this will shock the two of you more than it did her, but he's the only guy in Tree Hill I've slept with," Rachel said.
"You're serious?" Peyton said, shocked.
"Yes. Why is it so hard to believe I'm not the town slut everyone thinks I am? What the hell did I do to deserve that?"
"Rachel, don't do this here. Come on. You said you didn't wanna cause a big thing in here. If you push this you'll be the one to instigate it. Don't get into this here," Brooke said gently.
"No, if I'm gonna do this I'm gonna do it now."
"You wanna know what you did to deserve that?" Peyton challenged.
"Ya, I would so spill it."
"You came in and tried to steal Lucas from Brooke and when that didn't work you moved on to Skills and then Mouth. That's pretty slutty."
"I didn't do anything with Skills. I don't care if you don't believe me."
Rachel didn't say anything else before turning on her heels and running out of the mall. Telling Peyton had proven to be a big mistake. And she was pretty sure that once Haley was over the shock, telling her would prove to be a mistake too. Brooke turned to run after Rachel. Peyton watched in anger as her best friend chased after the girl that was ruining everything in her life.
"Rachel wait up!" Brooke called after her friend.
'Why? So you can call me a slut too?" Rachel shot back.
"Rachel! Stop. Now."
"What?" Rachel turned around to reveal the tears on her cheeks.
"You know I'm not gonna call you slut. You know I don't think that way about you. Come here."
Rachel walked closer to Brooke who held her arms out, allowing Rachel to fall into the embrace. As she did, the redhead choked on a sob. Her and Peyton weren't great friends but they were usually civil to each other. Well, okay, they tried for the sake of the cheerleading squad but it really hurt Rachel to have Peyton call her a slut.
"You are not a slut. Anyone who says that should be slapped and I'll take care of Peyton. She can't get away with that. I don't know who thinks she is. That girl in there, that's not my best friend. My best friend doesn't say shit like that about my other friends. She knows better," Brooke said as they continued walking toward her car.
"Haley didn't say much but that still worries me," Rachel said.
"Yeah, I think she's waiting though. For what I'm not sure but she better not blow up this weekend because I will kick her ass if she does."
"No, Haley's not stupid. She knows how much the Classic means to you. She's not gonna do anything to mess up your weekend. And if she were to try, I would just ignore her. Cause I know what this weekend means for you too and I don't wanna ruin it either. Okay, I don't wanna talk about this anymore."
Meanwhile, Haley and Peyton were still in the mall. They were walking around talking about how things were different with Brooke. She seemed to enjoy spending time with Rachel over them and while it didn't hurt Haley as much, it was killing Peyton.
"Hales, it's not fair. She's my best friend but she tells Rachel more than she tells me now. It's like I don't have a best friend anymore. Or that she's traded me for Rachel. And I can't even bring this up to her because anytime I try she brushes it off with "you're still my best friend, P. Sawyer" or "stop worrying" but I can't take it anymore! I get that she misses Lucas but changing friends because of it? Come on! That's ridiculous," Peyton ranted.
"Peyton, you're the one who's being ridiculous. You accused Rachel of being a slut because you're mad at her for taking Brooke from you. At least that's how you see it. But come on, you know that Brooke's not changing friends. You know her better than that! I'm not gonna deny the fact that it sucks that she'll talk to Rachel more but have you stopped to think that maybe she has a good reason for going to Rachel instead of you? Of course you haven't. You remember what it feels like to lose someone you love. Cut her some slack. I'm sorry if that's harsh but god Peyton grow up. Whatever Brooke's doing is helping her get through losing Lucas and I dunno about you but I'm glad to see her smile. I don't care what put the smile there or who I'm just glad it's there," Haley snapped.
She had spent the last few weeks listening to Peyton bitch about how Brooke didn't talk to her anymore but Peyton didn't seem to be talking to Brooke either. But Haley wasn't supposed to bring that up. Apparently Peyton could do no wrong and only Brooke was being immature.
"What so you're taking Brooke's side?"
"I'm not taking anyone's side. What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?"
"You're kidding right? Have you heard a word I said?"
"Yes, I've heard everything for the past two weeks. And you know what? I'm sick of it. Telling me isn't gonna fix a damn thing. If you want things to change, talk to Brooke and I don't wanna hear that you've tried because that's bullshit and you know it."
"Fine, whatever. I don't need you anyway."
Peyton turned around and made her way to the exit. Haley didn't bother following her. She was in a mood so there was no talking to her anyway. Not that Haley wanted to continue the conversation they were having. She watched until she couldn't see Peyton any longer. Just as she was about to turn around and walk down to the music store Haley remembered the Classic.
"Shit the Classic is this weekend. We're not supposed to fight all weekend," Haley said to herself as she turned on her heels in hopes of catching up to Peyton.
When Haley got outside though, there was no sign of Peyton anywhere. She swore under her breath as she grabbed her cell phone and called Peyton.
"What do you want?" Peyton snapped when she answered the phone.
"Look, I'm sorry I yelled at you but we need to work this out before the Classic because you know what Brooke said. No drama which means we can't be fighting and you can't still be pissed at her or mean to Rachel," Haley replied.
"Whatever. I don't care about the Classic. I'm not going. She doesn't need me there, she'll have Rachel."
"Peyton! Grow up. You know she needs you there. She needs us all there. This isn't about you and your petty jealousy of Rachel. This about Brooke's last shot at first place in the Classic. Do you really wanna be the one to screw that up for her? If you don't go you will be."
"How? If I'm not there I can't screw anything up."
"By not being there you'd screw up the whole routine."
"Okay, fine. I'll go but I'm not apologizing to anyone. And that includes you."
"Nice, Peyton."
Haley didn't bother waiting for a response before she hung up. This was getting on her nerves. She really didn't wanna walk home from the mall so she opened her phone again to call Nathan.
"Hey baby, where are you?" Haley asked him.
"I'm at home. What's up?" Nathan replied.
"Can you pick me up? I'm at the mall and Peyton ditched me. Or more like she stormed off without me after I bitched her out."
"I don't think I wanna know."
"Brooke called and said that Rachel wanted to tell us something so we decided to meet at the mall. Anyway, Rachel told us about the baby and then Peyton called her a slut, she stormed off, Brooke followed her and that set Peyton off for God knows what reason and then I screamed at her. So basically it's a vicious circle and the only person who's truly pissed seems to be Peyton."
"I'm on my way."
"Thank you babe."
"You're welcome."
By Friday afternoon Peyton still wasn't talking to Haley and she hadn't talked to Brooke or Rachel either. Brooke was freaking out about the Classic and Rachel was leaning toward staying home now.
"Mouth, you have to make her go. I need her to go. If she doesn't go I won't have a full squad and without a full squad my dance will be screwed up. Please, talk to her. Remind her that she promised to be there for this," Brooke pleaded desperately.
Brooke was fighting the tears. She really didn't wanna cry over this but the thought of Rachel bailing at the last minute was stressing her out and she wasn't sure how long she could hold back the tears.
"If Rachel's not feeling up to it, then she really shouldn't go Brooke. I'm sorry. I can't make her go. It might not be safe for her and the baby. Please understand that I want you to do well this weekend but I have to look out for the best interest of the baby at the same time I have to be aware of Rachel's best interest. It's nothing personal," Mouth replied.
"She promised me Mouth! She said that the baby wasn't gonna keep her out of the Classic. I need her to remember that. This can't happen to me, not this year. This is my last shot to win the Classic."
"Maybe we shouldn't go," Bevin said cautiously.
"What did you just say?" Brooke asked as she spun on her heels, staring Bevin in the eye.
"Maybe we shouldn't go?"
"And why not? Because Rachel is having second thoughts about going? Absolutely not, we're going. With or without Rachel but if it's without there's no way we're gonna win. No Rachel means new routine and we don't have time to think of, learn and memorize a new routine. Besides, I like the one we have. It's hot. We have to go and we have to kick Claire Young's ass."
"I'll talk to her again Brooke but if she says no, that's it. You're gonna have to find a way to win without Rachel," Mouth said.
"Thank you!" Brooke squealed.
Mouth nodded his head as he turned around to find his girlfriend. He really didn't wanna tell Brooke the reason Rachel was having second thoughts about the Classic was because he was nervous about it. But after listening to Brooke beg him, he knew that he had to give in and let Rachel go. Brooke did promise to watch out for her and make sure nothing happened and Mouth knew that she was a woman of her word. One weekend couldn't be all that bad, could it? Mouth hoped not as he spotted Rachel talking to Bevin and Teresa.
"Hey ladies," he said with a smile as he draped an arm around Rachel's waist.
"Hey hun," Rachel said as she turned to kiss Mouth.
"Aww," Bevin and Teresa said at the same time.
"Listen, I need to talk to you for a second about this weekend," Mouth said seriously.
"Okay? I thought you didn't want me to go and that I was gonna stay home. Unless, you talked to Brooke and she's completely freaked out?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah. I talked to Brooke and she's completely freaked out. She begged me to tell you that you have to go because you promised and without you her dance is messed up because it's messed up if she doesn't have a full squad."
"So you're coming over here to tell me that you changed your mind and I should go this weekend?"
"Yes. Just please, be careful. I don't want anything to happen to you or the baby. Okay?"
"Okay. I'll be careful. I was planning on it anyway. Now are you gonna tell Brooke that I'm going or do you want me to tell her?"
"I'll go tell her. I don't want her jumping on you, which she probably would."
Rachel laughed. Mouth was probably right, if she told Brooke that she was gonna go with her to the Classic, there was no telling what Brooke might do. It was no secret that this was the biggest weekend of Brooke's year, so to have an entire squad would mean everything to her.
"Well? Is she coming or not?" Brooke asked when Mouth approached her.
"You'll have a full squad," Mouth said.
Brooke squealed as she threw her arms around Mouth. That was exactly what she wanted to hear. She felt like with a full squad, there was no way they could get any less than first place. Rachel watched from her spot with Bevin and Teresa as Brooke threw her arms around Mouth. She was glad to see that Brooke was happy about her decision. Maybe sometime during the Classic Rachel would tell Brooke that it was because of Mouth's insistence that she almost wasn't gonna go. Then again maybe she wouldn't. It didn't matter now because Rachel would be there and that was good enough.