As Peyton waited for Haley to arrive at the studio she and Mia chatted about music. They both had such similar tastes Peyton wished they had met years ago. Mia's transformation had been huge; from the painfully shy girl she had been a few weeks ago to this confidant, kick-ass performer. Peyton was really proud and glad to be a part of this.

'Hey guys,' Haley said cautiously.

'Hi Haley,' Mia said oblivious to the sudden tension in the room.

'OK guys, we only have the studio for an hour so let's get to it. Mia whenever you're ready, Haley and I will be in the booth.'

Haley and Peyton walked through the door and in to the booth. They got everything set up in silence and Mia started to sing.

'Peyton, I know this isn't the time to talk so can we go for coffee after this? I really want to talk about this, to apologise.'

'Haley, I'm really not sure I want to hear it. I should have expected it, defending him is your default position. I'll get over it; whether or not we'll ever be friends again I don't know.'

'You're right OK. I do always defend him. He was so good to me when I left Nathan to go touring; he visited me in New York. He chose me over his brother and I've always felt like I owe him for that. I know I was wrong though, I'm so sorry he hurt you. I'm really mad at myself for what I did, and I'm mad at him too. I think what I'm really mad about is that I know it won't work. Whether his marriage happens, I know it is a huge mistake and I'm mad that I don't feel like I can tell him that.' Haley had never said those words out loud before. She had never thought he was perfect, far from it, she just thought she owed him something.

'Why the hell not, you don't seem to have a problem telling anyone else when you think they're doing something wrong.'

'I know, I piss myself off with it myself sometimes. I just have so much crap going on at the moment and you and Lucas gave me the perfect excuse to vent. I'm sorry for the things I said, and I'm sorry that he hurt you,' Haley said emotionally.

Peyton herself had tears in her eyes by the time she was finished talking. Maybe she didn't need to cut Haley out of her life, so long as she didn't have to see Lucas or hear about him.

'Why don't you come over tonight,' she said grudgingly. 'We could have dinner. Besides, I've signed a new band and I want you to listen to their stuff.'

'I'd love to,' Haley beamed.

Lucas lay on his bed, agonising over the events of the past few weeks. Everything was such a mess. From the moment Peyton came back into his life he had felt like he had to constantly prove his love for Lindsay. To Lindsay, to Peyton and most scarily, to himself. It wasn't something he had ever questioned before. He and Lindsay had been happy. Maybe it wasn't the same kind of happy he'd been with Peyton, but how many people found that kind of love twice in their lives?



With Peyton it had been intense. Where they couldn't wait to see each other and smiled whenever they thought of each other. They talked five times a day but always had stuff to say. When they made love it was like time stopped and all there was, was each other. She had driven him mad with her crazy, independent spirit, but he had still wanted to be the one to take care of her.

It was different with Lindsay. They liked spending time with each other but he didn't feel the need to be around her all the time, or talk to her until they fell asleep. They were compatible and comfortable and there was nothing wrong with that, he thought. He just couldn't help thinking that everything should have turned out differently.

Brooke had been his first love; Peyton was the love of his life. So what was Lindsay?

Brooke had promised to be on her best behaviour when Haley visited, if Peyton could forgive her then so could she.

The day had been hot and sticky and the night wasn't much cooler. Peyton and Brooke were sitting on the porch with a couple of cold beers waiting on Haley and the take out they had ordered.

'I saw Lucas and Lindsay today,' Brooke said carefully.

'Oh yeah, not really interested,' said Peyton, all the while dying to ask.

'You don't have to put a brave face on for me P Sawyer. Anyway, I give that marriage a year, tops. That is if they ever make it that far. They just don't look like they're in love. It's not the same way Nathan and Haley are, or the way you and Lucas were. There are no long glances, subtle touches or hand holding. He has made a huge mistake!'

Brooke raised her bottle and Peyton clinked hers against it.

'I think he wanted me to congratulate them but I made my excuses and left.'

'Brooke, just because I despise the guy and never want to see him again, it doesn't mean you have to feel the same way.'

'Oh please, after what he's done he'll be lucky if I don't break his nose the next time I see him. If he hadn't been with her I probably would have done.'

Peyton laughed.

'Like I said, not necessary but the visual makes me laugh.'

'Hi guys,' Haley said stepping on to the porch.

'Hi Hales,' they both said at once.

'Grab yourself a beer tutor mom,' Brooke said.

Haley smiled and walked to the kitchen to get one. She was glad that Brooke hadn't made it awkward. She returned to the porch and took a seat with her friends.

'So, when will dinner be ready?'



'Hales,' Peyton said 'when I asked you over for dinner were you under the impression that some kind of cooking would be involved? Thai food is on its way.'

'Oh good, I wasn't looking forward to another bout of food poisoning.'

'Hey, that was an accident.'

'I know, I'm only kidding.'

With the ice broken the three sat talking about nothing much until after the food had arrived and been eaten.

'So Hales, you said today you were having some problems. Anything you want to talk about,' Peyton probed.

'Lot's of stuff really. Jamie prefers his nanny to me, it creeps me out the way she looks at Nathan and the kids at school hate me.'

Brooke and Peyton looked at each other before Brooke started talking.

'OK, first off Jamie doesn't like her better. She's just new in his life, a novelty that will wear off. You'll always be the one he comes to when he hurts himself or has a bad dream. Secondly, it doesn't matter what ideas she has about Nathan, he is married to you and he won't ever cheat. And if she makes a move send her to me for a Brooke Davis bitch slapping. Thirdly, you were the same age as your students not too long ago. You may have been a bit of a nerd but you know what kind of things they will like, what will get their attention. And if that doesn't work well, I'm not allowed to bitch slap a minor but I'll definitely give them a dirty look. They're just testing you Haley, just stick to your guns and don't let them see they're getting to you.' With that Brooke sat back and took a huge gulp of her beer.

'Wow, good advice Brooke. I gotta say it's good to have my two best girlfriends back. Time went way too slowly without you guys.'

'Yeah, doesn't life just suck without us?' Peyton added.

Haley was a little nervous about what she wanted to ask but decided to just go for it.

'Guys, I know this is a big ask but I want to throw a birthday party for Nathan next week. He would love it if you could be there. He's had a really crappy year and I think this will make a difference. Lucas and Lindsay will be there but so will a lot of people. You'll hardly see them.'

'Haley calm down, of course we'll come,' said Peyton, to everyone's surprise. 'Lucas has been warned of the dangers of talking to me from now on so I'm confident it won't be an issue.'

'Are you serious about cutting him out completely?'

'Absolutely, I pined for three years because I never got any closure. Now I've got closure I'm finally getting on with things.'

Brooke and Haley looked at each other doubtfully but decided to leave it alone.



'You can bring partners if you want, the more the merrier.'

'Hales, could you invite Owen? I don't want to ask him to go with me 'cos he's doing this crazy, mind-freak resisting me thing. It's driving me crazy. This way I can invite someone else to make him jealous!'

'Brooke, I don't think Owen is the type of guy you play games with. Didn't he tell you you were too young for him? If he catches on that your trying to make him jealous he might never go out with you,' warned Peyton.

'You're right P Sawyer; I'll have to go stag. At least you can take someone thought. Ooh, how about Jake number 2?' Brooke said teasingly.

'Who's Jake number 2?' asked a confused Haley.

'He's this guy Peyton has a crush on, he reminds her of Jake.'

'I do not have a crush on him! He's the bass player from the new band I signed and I happened to mention to Brooke that he reminded me a little of Jake.'

'Actually, Peyton that might be perfect. I'm having the party at Tric and I hadn't hired entertainment yet. Do you think the band would be willing to play?'

'They'd love to, I was actually going to arrange something for them but this is perfect.'

'Excellent.'