Chapter One: Peachy Freaking Keen
They sped down the street as if trying to leave the knowledge of what they had done behind them. Rachael was once again behind the wheel speeding and taking corners as if her very life depended on it. Of course through it all they could hear Peyton's body being thrown around like a rag doll locked away in the trunk of the car.
"We have to call someone right now. I mean I know it was an accident and all but we have to say something. We can't just leave her in the trunk of your car" added Brooke.
She couldn't believe this was happening. Peyton, her best friend since kindergarten was dead. The thought made her more nauseated then the fact that she inadvertently aided Rachael in killing her.
"No way" replied Rachael "Like you said it was an accident"
The red head then took another hard turn once again shifting the body.
"Oh my God did you hear that? I think I'm going to be sick" cried Bevin.
"That's it"
"What?" questioned Brooke not liking the look in her friend's eyes.
"Peyton is sick"
"Are you kidding me Rachael? She's not sick, she's dead" the raven haired girl added with disgust.
She was amazed by how well the girl was taking this. Peyton was also her friend and it was as if she were willing to act as if everything was fine when it was far from.
"Does the school know that? I don't think so!" Rachael replied with her usual air of arrogance.
If Brooke didn't know any better she would have sworn that the girl had meant to murder her friend.
"WHAT? You can't just call in sick for her you psycho bitch! Peyton is dead as in never coming back! She was our friend, the least we could do is make sure that she's able to rest in peace"
"I know that genius! Peyton's dead. I get it, but do you? Do you know what this means?"
"That you're a shoe in for prom queen" said Bevin with a mixed look of admiration and fear.
"That is so not funny! Our best friend is dead"
"People are not going to be pleased" said Rachael, knowing that the whole school will be out for her blood if they ever found out that she murdered their little Princess Di.
"But they'll understand"
"Fuck that. You understand. I am not getting fucked or sent to prison because I was sweet enough to play a clever little prank on my girlfriend for her birthday" turning to Bevin "Just give me the phone"
Pulling over to the side of the road the red head faced the other girls.
"Okay who has the Mommy and Me voice?"
Off her words both she and Bevin instantly turned to Brooke.
"No. No way. I want nothing to do with this"
"Fine" she continued before dialing.
"Wait, Rachael"
The leader of the crew held up a hand to silence Brooke as she talked on the phone.
"Mr. Turner, please" there was a pause.
"Hello Mr. Turner this is Mrs. Sawyer Peyton's mother. I'm sorry, but Peyton won't be coming to school today. Yes I know she's missed quite a few days already but the darling work up with a blistering fever and I think that it would better for her to miss a day or two then to risk being out the whole week wouldn't you agree?"
Brooke shook her head unable to believe what she was hearing.
"Could you please send one of her girlfriend's home with her assignments? Thank you ever so much. Good bye" the girl hung up the phone with a sigh, grateful that it was over, for now anyway.
"That was really good"
Hearing the words spoken Rachael looked to Bevin with suspicion and curiosity.
"What do you mean?"
"The way you imitated Peyton's Mom, I'm just saying you're in control"
"Oh, I know"
"Shit, it's almost time for first period. We have to get to the school before anyone notices that we're missing"
"You're right"
With that Brooke sat back and folded her arms against her chest wondering just how the hell they were all going to make it through the day as Rachael continued on towards Tree Hill High.
When the car came to a stop all the girls looked at one another wondering what to do, well at least Brooke and Bevin did anyway.
"Ok reality check" spoke Rachael as she pulled her arms through the sleeves of her sweater.
"Peyton is in the trunk of this car and she is dead. Now that is a sad fucked up thing but you are going to walk into that school and strut your shit down that hallway like everything is preachy fucking keen. Get it? Brooke"
"Yeah whatever, let's just do this"
With that the girls exited the car in a nonchalant fashion, like they had every other day before. They were careful not to miss a step, a hair toss, a mean girl glare, or blow a kiss to the chosen ones.
After taking their walk of fame down the main hall the girls entered the first bathroom they saw, kicking out all the habitants until they were only ones left.
"I don't think I can do this Rachael"
"It's just a day, like any other day Brooke. Now what would we do on any other day?"
"Pre lunch touch ups"
"Very good Bevin" she said turning to the reflective glass in front of her.
"Take a good long look in the mirror ladies. We are the IT girls of Tree Hill High and we must look the part and we can't to that if we have the corpse on our mind so…"
"RACHEAL!"
"Oh cram it Brookie and hit those lips. One must look perfect if you're going to impress the masses"
With that the girls turned to the mirror and began their usual reapplications until Mrs. Sherwood, principle Turner's secretary entered.
"Hello ladies are we behaving today?"
"Yes Mrs. Sherwood" all three girls replied.
"That's good. Now we all know that there's no loitering in the ladies room so you had better head to class. Also Mrs. Sawyer called asking if one of you lovely ladies would pick up Peyton's assignments for her. Mrs. Galentina will you be doing the honors?"
"Sure" she said turning to leave.
"Oh and Mrs. Galentina please cover your bosoms. This is a learning institution not a brothel"
"Okay Mrs. Sherwood"
"Good, have a good day girls and be nice"
Leaving the room Rachael and Bevin turned to each other with sickened looks as Rachael draped an arm around her and Brooke.
"Be nice girls" mimicked Bevin.
"Oh please if I were nice to ever Pam Beth and Sherri just because they were nice I would have Noah's freaking arc in my phone book"
Bevin giggled.
Rachael rolled her eyes as Brooke remained silent, unable to focus on anything but her now dead best friend.
Rachael's voice brought her out of her trance.
"Remember everything is peachy keen" she said with a tight smile and an even tighter grip on the girls "Peachy fucking keen"
The three co conspirators continued down the hall until going their separates ways, heading into a day that was anything but peachy keen.