Author's Note: I've had this written for a few days, but for some reason the site wouldn't let me post it. Thank you so much for last chapter's reviews, and enjoy this one. I actually (surprisingly) kind of like it.


Movie Script Ending

Chapter Seventeen: Too Far In To Stop

"..So I said, 'Tammy, it's Thursday. Trash day is Wednesday.' And let me tell you. She just threw a fit. I mean, it was mildly amusing, but at the same time, very, very horrifying." Peyton stifled a giggle using her hand, and Brooke forced a chuckle.

"B. Davis-Scott," Peyton's eyes narrowed to slits. "Is something wrong?"

Brooke sighed, taking a sip of her wine. They'd been sitting at this restaurant, 'Le Mousier' for almost a have hour, and she could simply not take her mind of the previous day's events. How she had freaked on Poor Lucas, who had simply been throwing out a - completely just - suggestion.

"No, I'm - I'm fine. Lucas and I just got into a little argument yesterday." She shrugged.

"About what?"

Brooke hesitated, opening her mouth and then closing it. Shaking her head, she reached for her glass of wine once more. "Kids."

"Ah. Luke wants one?"

"Yeah, and I understand completely, but I'm just - I'm just-"

"Not ready?" Peyton smiled.

Brooke nodded. "Exactly. I mean, is that irrational? It has been a while, I guess. I just don't want to be one of those irrational stubborn wives that drives her husband away because she's drowning in self-pity."

"Brooke," Peyton reached her for hand. "You aren't irrational. You were," She lowered her voice, "attacked for God's sake. There's no one in this entire universe that should blame you if you don't feel like having another kid right now."

"You think?"

"Hell yes! And Lucas should understand that.."

"He does, he does. He's been so good to me, Peyton. I just hope he doesn't think I'm taking him for granted because I'm not. I wouldn't. I'm just not ready."

"Lucas loves you. I'm sure he'd wait forever."

Maybe so, but she couldn't put up with herself for much longer. What had happened was not Lucas's fault. So why should he suffer the consequences anyway?

She shrugged her shoulders as if to shrug off the discussion. "So, P. Sawyer, tell me about your love life."

Peyton made a face. "Nice subject change."

"Thank you." Brooke winked.

"Um, currently? It's basically non-existent."

Brooke frowned, sitting up straighter. "What? But I thought you had a thing for Hot Neighbor Guy."

"I did," Peyton shrugged. "But we haven't spoken in weeks, and every time he sees me, he gives me a wave and walks away.."

"Oh, Goldilocks."

Peyton rolled her eyes, leaning forward to take a bite of her chicken. "Oh, hush. It really isn't that big of a deal. I don't mind being alone."

But Brooke knew her best friend, and she knew this was not true. Since she'd been a child, she'd liked company. Especially when her father was away on business growing up. She often pretended she didn't mind being in her own company, but the truth was, Brooke could see right through the act. It was part of the reason they were so close; they shared those feelings.

-

Brooke sighed as she flipped through the magazine. Growing up, she'd loved Vogue, and all of its details. But lately, she felt bored with the magazine. The latest issues had certainly been sub-par and had featured the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton on their covers; two people of whom she did not respect whatsoever.

But maybe it wasn't the magazine that was troubling her. She'd been worried about Peyton since they'd had lunch that afternoon. She could tell Peyton wasn't her usual self. Despite her arguments, lately Peyton had lacked a certain glow. The same glow she'd lacked years before when Jake had left. Brooke just wanted to give it back to her. How? She had no idea.

"Brooke?"

She looked up, meeting Lucas's questioning gaze with a smile. "Uh-huh?"

"I've said your name like, four times in a row. Did you not hear me?" He was standing by the refrigerator, and from her spot on the dining room table, the sun reflected off his light hair nicely, casting a handsome shadow over his face.

"No, Sweetie, I'm sorry. What did you say?"

"Uh, well, I asked how Peyton was doing. My question has however now changed to: how are you?" Semi-worriedly, he took a few steps closer to her.

"I'm fine, thanks. Just," She shrugged, "worried about P. Sawyer. She's been all weird acting lately."

Lucas frowned. "Do you know why?"

Brooke shook her head. "I'm guessing it's because she's lonely. I mean, she doesn't have a boyfriend, and she lives all by herself in that house, which could easily fit an entire family. I'm just worried about her."

He nodded faintly. "I feel the same way about Nathan. This thing with Haley is really kicking his ass, you know? And it isn't like he has much to do, or anyone to be with, so he really spends all his time running and drawing up an architectural plan he knows will never happen."

The two sat silently, each contemplating the issues of their loved ones, neither bothering to contemplate those of their own.

Taking a sip of some water, Lucas's eyes widened, and he suddenly began to cough, sputtering water all around. "I've got an idea!" He managed.

Brooke made a face, looking over the now wet pages of her magazine. "Ew, Lucas. Gross."

"Did you not just hear me? I said I had an idea."

She rolled her eyes. "Alright, let's hear it."

"We can set Peyton up with Nathan." He enunciated the words and used wide hand gestures - which always told Brooke he was serious about whatever he was saying.

"Luke, no. They already dated, remember?" She shook her head. That was one of the worst ideas she'd ever heard. Peyton and Nathan had been a Class A disaster. And of all people, she would have known! She had to be there for every single one of their fights.

"Yeah, in high school." He said the words as if they were non-important. As if they did not count.

"So? We dated in high school, too."

"Brooke-"

"Their relationship was primarily based on sex. The only other thing they did was fight. And fight, and fight. Luke, I can't live through that again," She groaned. "Please don't make me live through that again."

"Come on!" Lucas laughed. "I highly doubt they'll be like they were in high school. They're two completely different people now."

"Maybe so. Maybe they'll be really happy, and they'll date for years and years. But what happens when - I'm sorry, if - they break up? You'll take Nathan's side, because he's your brother. But what will I do? Whose side will I take? My brother-in-law's? Or my closest friend in the entire world? And I mean, we're obviously not going to be able to invite them to the same parties, so we'll have to have Nathan-only parties and Peyton-only parties. How will we decide how to do that? Will we do heads or tails or rock, paper, scissors? Will we have to remove all the pictures of Peyton from the household before we let Nathan in? On the other side of that coin, will we remove all the picture of Nathan from the household before we let Peyton in? How long will that take? I mean, we have to have a good excuse if it takes more than thirty seconds to answer the door. Should we time this activity? See how good we are it? I mean, if we're-"

"Brooke!"

She shut her mouth instantly, taking a couple deep breaths. He could not stop the grin that formed on his face.

"Look, if you really don't think this'll work, then we don't have to do it." He laughed.

She opened her mouth to speak, but closed it when she saw Nathan enter the room. Dressed in running shorts and a Nike tank-top, he opened the refrigerator, taking a bottle of water.

"Hey guys."

"Hi."

"Hey."

"We were thinking about going out for dinner," Lucas told him. "Want to come?"

Nathan bit his lip. "Nah. Thanks, but I think I'm just going to go up to my room for a while."

He nodded good-bye, and then was gone. Silence enveloped the room once more, and Brooke sighed, running her hands through her hair. She glared at Lucas, who had managed to put on the trademark Scott smirk.

"Should you call Peyton or should I?"

-

"Nathan, please. That tie looks horrendous." Brooke made a face, tugging on her brother-in-law's shirt.

He shifted uncomfortably. "It's the only one I have right now. All my other ones are still at my place with Haley."

"Well," She sighed. "How about the open-collar look? Peyton loves that."

"Look, I've been thinking. Don't you think it's a little weird that I'm going on a date with Peyton? I mean, I know we're different people and all, but our history is still there, and it has to count for something."

"Nathan, you don't have to do this if you don't want to. Lucas and I just want you to be happy, and," Brooke smiled. "Peyton's a pretty cool girl. Trust me, I'd know."

He sighed, the corners of his lips tugging upwards. "I know. I just don't want you and Lucas to baby-sit me. I can get my own dates, you know."

"I know! We aren't baby-sitting you."

"Brooke, we're all having dinner together. You're baby-sitting us."

"Nate," She grabbed his face in her hands, smiling brightly. "Tonight will be fun. Who knows if you and Peyton will get together, but at least you'll have a good time, you know? Like, old friends catching up. But it could become more."

He placed his hands on top of hers, shaking his head. "You really think I'm ready for that?"

"I do."

-

Brooke bit her lip as the doorbell rang, taking another sip of her wine, and quickly making her way towards the door. On her way, she checked herself in the mirror. Her raven locks were straight and down - not a hair out of place. She wore a thick-strapped gold and white dress, colored with designs of all sorts in golden tones, that went just below her knees. For shoes, she'd chosen silver strappy heels. Tucking a hair behind her ear, her gaze snapped towards the door as it rang once more.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!"

She pulled the door open, a wide, dimpled grin showing up on her face almost instantly at the sight of her best friend.

"What took you so long? It's freaking December. You can't just leave your guests out in the cold."

Brooke giggled, taking Peyton's coat. "Welcome, welcome. Let me look you over."

Peyton sighed dramatically as Brooke grabbed her shoulders, examining her. She'd worn a silky cream-colored dress shirt, and a short, charcoal colored skirt, leaving her long legs to be complimented by the black heels she wore.

Frankly, Brooke was surprised her friend had actually bothered to dress up. When Brooke had first pitched the idea of a date - minus the Nathan part - Peyton had seemed hesitant. But as soon as the words 'Nathan Scott' had come up, she'd forcefully denied, stating it would be "way too damn weird". Nonetheless, she was here now. Who knew what that meant exactly, except that Peyton obviously did want someone.

"Very nice, P. Sawyer. Or should I say P. Sawyer-Scott?"

Peyton rolled her eyes, blowing a stray curl out of her face. "Please. We'll probably just have a few drinks and laugh about how stupid we were in high school."

"Whatever you say. Nathan is looking very handsome tonight, I'll tell you."

"So why don't you date him?"

"Because." Brooke stuck her tongue out, deciding to use mindless juvenile delinquencies to prove her point.

"Oh, well okay then."

-

"Oh my God, yes! And do you remember that one time that Principal Turner walked in on us in the janitor's closet?" Peyton exploded with laughter, clutching her sides.

"And later when he spoke to me about it, he was like, 'I'm going to turn my head this time, Mr. Scott. Next time, however, I may have to tell your parents that you are sexually active.'" Nathan grinned, taking a sip of his drink, and rolling his eyes.

Brooke rolled her eyes as well, only out of boredom. Nathan and Peyton had been laughing for almost an hour and a half about their old inside jokes and basically everything else to do with their history. Her and Lucas had hardly even gotten a word in. Needless to say, the two were clicking. And while Lucas seemed to be happy, throwing her looks of 'I told you so' and such, she was completely annoyed, and really had no idea why.

"Did he ever tell your parents?"

"No," Nathan snorted. "That guy practically worshipped me."

Peyton made a face of distaste. "Ugh. Ego, much?"

"You know, I'd say it was my ego that attracted you in the first place, was it not?"

"Shut up." Peyton said, but she was smiling.

"No, you shut up."

"You shut up!"

Brooke groaned, clutching her head. "Both of you please shut up. I'm going to go to the kitchen and get myself an Advil or something."

Even as she walked away, she could still hear their little school-girl giggling. With another roll of her eyes, she headed straight for the refrigerator, pulling out a new bottle of wine.

Begrudgingly dragging her feet back towards the group, she nearly smashed her head into the wall as she heard another, "Yes! But do you remember when..".

-

"The food was really good, Brooke." Nathan told her with a smile. She smiled back faintly, eyeing her empty wine glass. How much had she drunk?

"Yeah, it was. Where'd your order from?" Peyton teased, cocking her head to the side in mock curiosity.

"Ugh, you torturous woman. I am in no mood for your so called humor." She smirked, tossing her napkin at her friend's face.

Lucas reached over to pat her hand. "Aw, baby. Did you think she was kidding?"

Laughter echoed around the group, and Brooke gave her husband a look of death. "Oh, Sweetheart. You'll be paying for that later."

He squeezed his eyes shut. "Yeah, that was a pretty stupid move."

"Never side against the wife, Luke." Peyton advised, grinning widely.

"Yeah, trust me. I, of all people, should know." Nathan offered it as a joke, but it came out sounding almost bitter.

Brooke lowered her eyes to the ground, and Peyton gave him a sympathetic smile. He shrugged his shoulders heavily, forcing a smile upon his face. "Joke."

The friends laughed, but their smiles barely passed their mouths, not even remotely reaching their eyes.

"Well," Brooke stood. "I better get these in the dishwasher."

"I'll help." Peyton stood as well.

-

Once they were in the kitchen, Brooke found herself tossing a lazy smirk at her best friend.

"So, P. Sawyer. You and Nate were really clickin', eh?"

Peyton looked out the patio window, towards where Nathan and Lucas now sat talking. She shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know, you know? I mean, he's a really great guy.."

"He is," Brooke agreed, bobbing her head up and down. "He is a really great guy."

"I just don't know if it's the right time."

"Why wouldn't it be?"

Peyton sighed, shaking her head. "Because his divorce with Haley hasn't even gone through yet."

"So?" Brooke managed to get herself up onto the counter top, despite her slightly tipsy state.

Her golden-haired best friend shrugged. "I don't know. What do you think?"

"I think," Brooke slurred, "if you're in it for your own personal fun, don't do it. Whether or not he's over her - the wounds are most likely still open. With these types of situations, you should always be careful."

Why had she just done that? Her brain was screaming, 'Brooke, stop! He likes her! You can tell he likes her!', but for some reason, her mouth would just not listen. She mentally shrugged. Oh, well. It was the truth at least.

"You know, he's a wonderful guy and I really, really care about him. I just - I don't know if I want to have to be careful." Peyton said guiltily, biting her lip as she turned to look at her friend.

Honest was always the best policy, right?

"Well then. That's your answer."