The Best Deceptions

News traveled fast around the town of Tree Hill to Peyton's dismay. The fact that she had been screaming and crying in the bathroom would not stay a secret for long. Neither could the fact that Lucas Scott himself was seen carrying her out of school passed out in his arms. So it came as no surprise to Peyton as she arrived home that Brooke had attempted to call her at least fifteen times. That was what she got for leaving her phone at home.

Still coming down off her high she was in no right shape to be socializing with anyone. Coupled with the fact that Brooke was seeing Felix led her to believe that he was probably over there. In fact they were always together lately leaving Peyton off to the wayside slowly disappearing. Brooke hardly seemed to have time for her anymore.

Peyton fell back on to her bed sighing deeply debating whether or not to call Brooke back. If anything they could just talk over the phone. Brooke knew, however, how badly Peyton was hurting after Jake had taken off with Jenny she would probably suggest Peyton come over. At least Peyton hoped that it would be so. Still she could not shake the feeling that Brooke wanted to weasel more out of her.

In the end she reluctantly dialed Brooke's number waiting as she heard the ringer in her ear. Finally Brooke answered but it became clear she was not alone. With Brooke giggling and deep boom of laughter in the background was all Peyton needed to hear to know that Felix was over doing god knows what to her.

"Hello." came Brooke's voice followed by sharp giggle and reprimand to the boy in the background.

"Hey Brooke, I saw that you tried to call me…like fifteen times. I was just wondering what's up." Peyton felt so detached from her body and so detached from everything around her. Indifference as many would call it completely summed up her life at this point.

"Peyton, come on everyone heard what happened two days ago and the fact that you and Lucas were last seen together and you two did not show up at school today. Yeah I can put two and two together." Brooke replied feeling so confident that Peyton and Lucas had certainly done the deed.

"Brooke it's not even like that, he was just being a good friend." replied Peyton with a roll of her eyes though Brooke could not see her.

"Oh whatever P. Sawyer, come over here, I want to hear all the details." Brooke said with sense of urgency and want.

"Brooke, I can hear you and Felix practically fornicating on the other line, I'm not coming over right now."

Brooke merely chuckled, "Jeez Peyton he lives right next door, not like I can't just send him home. Please P. Please please please come over?" Brooke pleaded with Peyton already knowing that she would give in.

Peyton sighed, "Fine Brooke you win. As usual."

"Yes!" Brooke cheered. "I'll see you in a little bit." Click.

Peyton sighed ruefully shoving her phone forcefully back into her pocket. Her walk down the stairs was slow and with no urgency whatsoever. Truth was even walking up and downstairs now became a challenge. If she did not stop this thing soon she would not even be human anymore.

The car ride to Brooke's house was unusually quiet even for Peyton's standards. The music was turned so low she could barely hear it over the rush of wind in her ears. It was a time for reflecting for Peyton. More or less time to get her story straight before Brooke began to interrogate her. She was used to these little interrogation sessions with Brooke by now. Yet Peyton had shut herself out from the world she used to know, completely alienating herself from everyone that cared about her. Even her father had to consistently pry to get any new information out of his daughter. It concerned him, but eventually fell to the wayside as he parted for another voyage at sea.

The lights were on at Brooke's house as she stopped her car her knuckles turning white as she choked the steering wheel. Another moment passed as she breathed deeply then finally climbed from her Mercury Comet. Her pace towards Brooke's bedroom door was slow and elaborate savoring her last moments of peace with her mind and also confirming her story inside her head. One light knock then she heard Brooke call from the other side, "Come in!"

Peyton turned the brass knob sliding inside hearing the soft click as the door closed behind her. She was ecstatic to see her best friend though her smile quickly turned as she saw Peyton. It did not go unnoticed how frail and thin she appeared her skin taking on an even more pale tone. Peyton saw Brooke's stare feeling her heart pound inside her chest. The last person she ever wanted to know her secret was Brooke. Brooke signaled her to join her bed immediately pulling Peyton into a hug as she did so.

"I've missed you Peyton. It feels like we haven't talked in ages." Brooke sighed wrapping her arms tightly around Peyton.

"Because it has been Brooke." came Peyton's voice barely above a whisper. She wiped away a few tears that streaked down her face.

"I know Peyton and that's my fault. I've been spending so much time Felix and then this whole thing with my parents. Sorry I haven't really had anytime to spend with you." Brooke felt guilty as she had let her friendship with Peyton fall to wayside. What made her feel even guiltier was it was at such a critical point in Peyton's life. Jake had just left again the talk of her sexuality and the fact that her father was hardly around anymore. She could see the toll it was beginning to take on Peyton's body.

"No, Brooke it's my fault too. I've been so distant lately. And I've tried to consume it with working at Tric but it hasn't seemed to help much." Peyton replied adjusting her position to face to Brooke.

Brooke stared at her long and hard trying to see what was hidden behind those green eyes. She could see the sadness written in her eyes. The bag beneath her eyes came as no surprise as tired as she looked. Her body even looked thinner than usual her skin tone paler than usual. Still Brooke could not pin exactly what was wrong with her. She knew it was something though. Something so much bigger than herself. Peyton was struggling with her life and it pained Brooke to sit on the sidelines watching her best friend deteriorate right before her very eyes.

"Peyton, what's really wrong?" she asked raising a brow of concern.

Peyton felt the tears build behind her eyes and soon they came in a full stream sliding quickly down her face. "It's just everything is going on at once. Getting suspended, Jake left, again. All the while I just feel so alone. My dad is never home anymore. And I miss Jake."

Brooke pulled Peyton into a tighter embrace stroking the blonde's hair. "Shh, Peyton it's going to be okay. I know it doesn't seem like it right now but things are going to work out for the better. You just need to believe."

Wiping away the remaining tears on her face, Peyton broke away from Brooke smiling ever so slightly at her best friend. "Thanks Brooke. I really have missed you. This felt good." That was only half true. The lie came in the form that it did not feel good at all. She had heard that little speech repeated to her so many times it fell on deaf ears. She wished people would see what was really going on behind the façade that she put on. It would make everything so much easier than actually admitting her problem to anyone.

The two girls exchanged good-byes coming in the form of whispered words and tight hugs. Peyton smiled giving Brooke another small thank you before she slid through the door and into the outside world. The world that felt so cold to her. She stole a final glance at Brooke's window feeling a pang of guilt wash through her. She had just lied to her best friend. Lies and deceit all coupled with drugs led to Peyton living in the misery that she was. It was becoming too hard to even be in the same room with people who cared about her. All she could hear was them shouting at her, begging her to come clean. She feared that they all knew and refused to confront her. However, Peyton knew that that could not be true at all. The people around her cared about her and feared for her especially in her state. It was only a matter of time before she truly and deeply believed that.

--

Brooke anxiously dialed the number to Lucas' cell waiting impatiently for him to pick up. He was her last option her go to man. If he could not help then Brooke had no idea what she was going to do.

"Hello?" he finally answered sounding as if he had just woken up.

Brooke sighed in relief thankful he answered her call. "Lucas, I need your help. I know I'm not the only one who has noticed Peyton's drastic change. Please, can you keep an eye on her and look out for her. I'm really worried that that there is something else going on that she is not telling me."

"Yeah sure Brooke." he replied suddenly sounding alert. "It's no problem. I've been really worried about her too."

With a final click they ended their phone conversation. Lucas fell back onto his bed resting his hands behind his head. He had always known that something else was wrong with Peyton. It was the denial in him that kept him from actually believing it. Now he knew and now he was confident.