Watch your step, love is broken
I am every tear you cry

-Trading Yesterday

xxxxBRUCASxxxx

"We're almost here, Brooke, wake up."

The brunette stirred and mumbled a string of incoherent words as the person occupying the seat next to her gently shook her sleeping body and whispered her name.

Slowly, she sat up and rubbed her sleep-filled eyes. "Are we landing?"

"Yes," the blonde answered for her, but the sound of the flight attendant announcing their arrival to LAX over the loudspeaker beat him to it.

She turned and looked out the airplane window and glanced at the city that had once been her home for two consecutive summers. LA, like New York, was so full of opportunity and prosperity. The city never slept and was crawling with celebrities but she figured that it was too much. It was nothing like the quaint and beautiful town of Tree Hill, North Carolina.

"It's beautiful," she whispered in awe, as the plane prepared to land at LAX, "Just like I remember."

"Yeah, it sure is," Lucas agreed but he wasn't even staring out the window. He was staring at the amazed brunette with a content smile.

"Dad, this place is amazing!" Jamie yelled as he pulled the door open and scanned the inside of the beach house. It was fully furnished, with a 50" plasma TV and many plush leather couches. "I can't wait to play with this…" he smiled as he ran over to the TV and checked out the Xbox 360 that was connected to it.

"There are 5 rooms so we should probably figure out some sleeping arrangements…" Julian suggested as he set his suitcase down on the hardwood floor. "Most of the rooms have two beds."

"You two are not rooming together," Haley stated firmly as she spotted Jamie and Sophia making a run to claim the best room they could find.

"Mom…" Jamie rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed. "Why can't we room together? We will pick a room with 2 beds."

"It doesn't matter. I know how teenagers are and I am putting my foot down on this one…"

"Fine," Sophia pouted. "I'll just room with Jenny I guess."

"Dad, wanna be roomies?" Jamie asked, turning to his father with a bright smile.

"I was hoping you'd ask," Julian laughed as he turned towards his son. "Now, let's go find the best room."

Jamie grinned before running up the stairs to claim the room he wanted.

Peyton wanted to room with Jake but she knew that wouldn't be very appropriate so she picked a room with Sawyer instead.

"So Haley, wanna share a room?" Brooke asked as she turned to her friend.

"Actually… I was gonna snag the last room with 2 beds and shack up with Jake. He already asked me if I wanted to be roomies," Haley smiled innocently.

"But…"

"Sorry," Haley shrugged as she looked at Jake. The two looked back at Brooke and Lucas before dashing up the stairs to claim their room.

"I can sleep on the couch," Lucas offered coyly, upon noticing the look of disappointment on Brooke's face.

"Don't be silly Lucas, it's just a bed. We can handle sharing one right?"

"I well… I uh guess so… but I don't want you to feel weird," Lucas insisted dryly. The truth was, he really wanted to share a bed with Brooke but considering the circumstances, he didn't know if it was a good idea.

"Lucas…" Brooke rolled her eyes at his antics. "We have shared a bed together before. It's not weird, we are best friends."

"Yeah, I know but considering everything that has happened in the last little while, I don't want any tension…"

"Luke, I trust you okay? I know that you won't try and do anything to me. Touch me in my sleep though and I kill you. Got it?" she asked with mock seriousness.

"Understood," Lucas answered obediently. "But are you sure you don't want me touching you?"

"Pervert," Brooke chuckled as she playfully stuck her tongue out at Lucas, who simply chuckled.

"Brooke is going to kill us Haley. Are you sure we are doing the right thing?" Jake asked as he plopped down on the bed.

"Trust me Jake, we are doing the right thing. I love them both to death and I think that if we can make Brooke realize her feelings…"

"Haley, you can't make two people love each other," Jake cut in before she could finish. "Let fate take its course and determine if they are meant to be or not."

"But I can't stand seeing them this way!" Haley cried out as she flopped down on the other bed. "It's killing me. Lucas is so freaking love sick that it makes me sick and Brooke loves him, I know it, but she won't commit because of the way she's been hurt in the past."

"Haley," Jake smiled as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "If it's meant to be, they will find a way to get together. If it's not then, you need to accept it and not push them together."

"You don't understand Jake. You haven't even had a date since Nikki and that was 16 freaking years ago!"

"I understand better than you think," Jake winked as he stood up. "Just let them work it out Hales, you can't play cupid for everyone, especially when you need to figure your own heart out first…"

"Jake…"

He just sent his friend a smile before disappearing out the door.

Brooke sat on the leather couch, staring at the TV screen with disdain. If she had to watch one more game of NBA live, she was sure she'd gouge her eyes out. Jamie, Jake, and Lucas had been playing that stupid game all afternoon.

"Wanna go shopping Brooke?" Haley asked excitedly as she bounced into the room with her purse in one hand and the keys to one of the rentals cars in the other.

Normally, Brooke's face would light up at the mention of shopping and she'd already be heading out the door with her wallet. But, Brooke didn't feel normal today. She didn't feel "inspired" enough to go shopping.

"You go ahead, Hales. I just wanna stay here and hang out. I'm not really in the shopping mood today."

"Brooke, are you feeling okay?" Haley gasped, clearly shocked that the fashionista wasn't in the shopping mood. Brooke Davis was always in the mood for shopping.

"Yes tutor mom, now go on."

"PEYTON!" Haley yelled up the stairs. "Get your skinny ass down here, we are going shopping!"

"NOOO!" Brooke chuckled at Peyton's dramatic agonizing screams.

"Come on Mom, let's go," Sawyer insisted as she dragged her less than thrilled mother down the stairs. "I want to buy some new clothes and I already planned on meeting a few of my old friends from LA at the mall…"

"You're not coming?" Peyton raised an eyebrow at the sight of Brooke sitting on the couch. "I never thought I'd live to see the day that Brooke Davis rejected a trip to the mall," Peyton answered dramatically after she received a shake of the head from Brooke.

"Peyton, we are wasting valuable shopping time," Haley insisted firmly, her hands planted on her hips as she jerked her head towards the clock.

"Help me," she mouthed towards Brooke, who laughed in response.

"Just be glad that Brookie isn't coming or we'd be at the mall all day," Haley reminded her as they headed out the door. Peyton groaned. Today was going to be a LONG day.

"Where are Jenny and Sophia?" Lucas asked as he looked up from the game.

"They are at the beach, looking for hot boys," Brooke smirked playfully as she picked at the loose seems from the fashionable rips in her designer jeans.

All three heads snapped up. "What?" It was Lucas who spoke. "My little girl had better not be looking at hot boys. She is too young for that…"

"What am I? Chopped liver?" Jamie joked as he threw the controller at Lucas, indicating that it was his turn to play.

"I was kidding, Jamie," Brooke smiled as she shook her head in amusement. "They are at the beach sun tanning."

"Where's Julian?" Brooke asked as she scanned the room. "I haven't seen him since we got here."

"He was worried about the movie being a failure so he's probably off pouting or something," Jamie shrugged as he focused his attention on the game. "Come on!" he growled as Lucas threw his hands up in the air in victory.

"I can't believe that little snot faced bitch had to come with us…" Sophia complained as she looked over at Jenny, who was basking in the sun.

"I know right but at least she will be occupied with her old friends from LA."

"I guess," the brunette shrugged as she reached for her coke and took a sip. "But she will be at the premiere tomorrow."

"Well then flaunt Jamie in front of her. Show her that you are not backing down and that you are fighting for the boy you love," the blonde responded as she read the label on the sunscreen bottle. "I swear to god, I'd better not burn…"

Sophia ignored her little side comments. "If she tries to make a move on Jamie, I will kick her mother-fucking-ass and then I will…"

"What's up guys?"

The two girls jerked their heads up to see Sawyer standing with a tall blonde boy with a muscular body and dark brown eyes. "This is my ex-boyfriend Kyle. Think he will make Jamie jealous?" she winked knowingly.

"Alright, that's it," the brunette growled, preparing to stand up.

"Sophia…" Jenny warned her, pulling her back down so she landed in the sand with a thud.

"Better hold onto that boy of yours tight because I'm getting my revenge," she snickered before grabbing Kyle's hand and stalking off.

"I'm gonna kill that bitch!"

Jenny just laughed and shook her head. "No need for violence Soph, he loves you and pretty soon she will realize that she's just scum on the bottom of his shoe…"

What if I fail? What if nobody likes it? What if they don't want to make a movie out of it? Those were the questions that ran through the movie producers head as he leaned over the edge of the balcony, his head in his hands.

"Hey, stranger."

He looked up and saw Brooke Davis standing behind him with her trademark smirk.

"Hey," he answered quietly as he let out a deep sigh.

"What's wrong?" she asked, putting an arm around his shoulder.

"I'm nervous," he admitted coyly. "I've made a ton of films but I'm always so afraid of rejection. What if nobody likes this one?"

"Julian, you are your own worst enemy, you know?" she chuckled rhetorically. "You have an amazing talent and I know that this film will be a hit. I can just feel it, you know?"

"Thanks," he smiled appreciatively. "You always know how to cheer me up."

"Well, they don't call me cheery for no reason."

"Maybe, you should take your own advice Davis," he smirked after a moment of silence.

She twisted her face up with confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"You said that I was my own worst enemy Brookie but you are also your own worst enemy. You have so much love to give but you won't give it because you are scared."

"Julian, I already told you that…"

"I know what you're gonna say Brooke but can I just say something? The brunette nodded her head, signaling for him to continue.

"I love you Brooke, you are a great person and you have the biggest heart, but sometimes I wonder what goes on in that head of yours. You have a boy that is crazy about you and would do anything for you vying for your love but you keep shutting him out. Lucas is not Nathan and you can't punish him for Nathan's shortcomings. Lucas is a great friend of mine and I know that he would never hurt you. If you don't have feelings for Lucas, I can't force you to love him but I do know that if you won't be with him because you are scared, you need to overcome that fear because you have so much love to give Brooke and it's a shame to waste it…"

"Now is not a good time Julian," she whispered softly as she looked over at him. "I have too much on my plate right now."

"Well, I hope you figure it out soon because you need to be happy."

"Yeah, I hope so too," she smiled, gazing out at the ocean. "You're movie is gonna do great Julian. Don't be afraid of rejection, they won't reject a movie that good."

"Thanks," he squeezed her hand as she turned to go back inside. "Hey Brooke."

"Yeah?

"Don't reject Lucas either. You can't reject a love that good."

Brooke just shook her head and gave him a small smile before opening the sliding door and disappearing inside.

"How come you didn't go with your friends?"

"Didn't wanna," the redhead shrugged as she spooned some pasta sauce and shoved it in the bartenders face. "Here try this."

"I'm trying to stay drama free this weekend. How is the sauce?"

"Good." He shot her a dazzling smile. "My girl sure can cook."

"You're girl?"

"Well you said you like me, a lot, so I just assumed that if you wanted to be…"

"You talk too much," she chuckled as she forcefully crashed her lips onto his. Her back slammed into the wall and soon he was lifting her up onto the counter, her legs wrapped around his waist. "I'm not going to sleep with you…"

"Doesn't mean we can't have a little fun," he grinned as he nibbled on her ear and made his way down her neck, placing a few light kisses on her collarbone.

"You play a pretty unfair game Morello," the redhead breathed out as she groaned with pleasure. "I'm almost tempted to give in but I have morals."

"You sure, you don't wanna…"

BEEP BEEP BEEP

"Oh, shit!" Rachel screeched as she pulled away from Owen. Behind her, the oven was smoking. "I forgot about the garlic bread…"

Owen reached for the fire extinguisher and sprayed the oven cautiously before pulling the bread out. "I like my bread burnt…" he mumbled as he examined the black contents.

"God, I'm such an idiot. How could I forget about it?" Rachel cursed as she slammed her fist onto the counter lightly. "I wanted the dinner to be perfect…"

"It is perfect Rachel," Owen smiled seductively as he pulled Rachel closer to him. "I don't need an amazing meal to make this night perfect, you being here already makes it perfect enough."

"Owen…" she smiled graciously. "How did I get so lucky?"

"I don't know, I guess I'm just that amazing. So do you wanna…?"

"Not happening," Rachel smiled deviously as she skipped over to the stove and shut the burner off.

Owen watched the redhead with amazement. He was falling for this girl already and it had only been a few weeks. He felt a sudden pang in his heart. What if this relationship turned out like the last one and he ended up falling much harder for her than she had for him? He wasn't sure if he could handle that again.

"So who wants to tell us what happened?" Peyton asked strictly, her eyes darting back and forth between the two girls and then back to Brooke, who looked disappointed.

"She started it!" Those were the words that came flying from each girl's mouth as they pointed fingers at each other.

"Sophia," Brooke stated firmly, her arms stiffly crossed across her chest. "I want you to tell me exactly what happened." Sawyer was sporting a black eye and a small cut on her bottom lip.

"Fine," the brunette surrendered as she started to tell her mother the details of what happened a mere hour ago.

FLASHBACK

"Where's Jenny? Did she finally realize what a drag you are?" the blonde clicked her tongue thoughtfully as she ridiculed her "sister".

"Why is bitch being a Sawyer?"

"Meet me at the beach in twenty minutes sister, I have something to show you."

The older sister didn't even have time to reply before the blonde vanished out the door.

She was contemplating on whether to go or not. Something told her that Sawyer was just screwing with her mind, but maybe she really did have something of value to show her.

After a few minutes, she slipped on a pair of flip flops and headed out the back door, behind the beach house.

It was still light out but nobody was around. "SAWYER!" she hollered, scanning the beach for her sister. She was ready to head inside when she caught something out of the corner of her eye. It looked like two people kissing and the two people sure looked like her sister and her boyfriend.

"What the hell is this?" she yelled with outrage as the two broke from their kiss.

"Sophia… I..."

"Save it Jamie," the brunette growled. "God, I can't believe I actually thought you loved me." She felt a tear slip from her eye. She was strong but not that strong.

"You win Sawyer. You can have him all you want, you two deserve each other!"

She turned to run away when Jamie grabbed her arm. "She kissed me okay? You have to believe me…"

"I know she kissed you Jamie but you kissed her back. That doesn't make it right. Now leave me the hell alone!"

"Sophia, I love you. I kissed her back because I was shocked. It took me a while to gather what was going on and I swear to god, I pushed her away as soon as I thought of you and I'm sorry I did it but…"

"It's not gonna work this time Jamie," she answered as calmly as she could muster, reaching up to wipe the tear that was starting to roll down her cheek. "I saw what I saw and you can't erase it okay? You can't take back what I just saw. I thought you were the one for me but I guess I have my answer."

"Oh and this is for kissing my boyfriend," the brunette growled with hate. Sawyer didn't even know what was coming as Sophia's arm came flying out of nowhere, knocking her straight in the eye and then once again straight in the mouth. She could see red pouring from her mouth instantly and her eye stung like a bitch. "You won Sawyer, I hope you're happy." Her voice sounded emotionless, almost dead.

"I don't want either of you two to ever speak to me again," she deadpanned before turning on her heel and walking away. She wouldn't let them see her break down but as soon as she was out of sight, she could feel the hot tears pour down her face.

END FLASHBACK

"Did you kiss him?" Peyton's voice was rough and strict, anger brewing in her green eyes. "Answer me Sawyer, goddamit, did you kiss him?"

"Yes." Her voice was meek and almost coherent but enough for Peyton to hear and hit the roof. "Go to your room young lady and I do not want to see your face until morning. Do you understand?"

"But I…"

"Just go Sawyer. I didn't raise you to run around kissing boys that already have girlfriends especially your sister's boyfriend."

"She's not my sister…"

"Whether, you like it or not, yes she is and you need to stop being such a spoiled brat and accept it!"

She sent her mother a spiteful glare before trudging up the stairs.

"I'm sorry Sophia. I don't know why she does stuff like that… I didn't raise her that way…"

"It's not your fault your daughter is a bitch…"

"Sophia!" Brooke yelled, shooting her daughter a glare.

"It's fine Brooke, she can be a bitch sometimes. I'm aware of that…"

"Sophia, you are not getting off the hook that easily. You punched her and that was uncalled for, no matter how badly you are hurting…"

"She deserved it mom, I don't care what any of you think. I'm going to bed," she hissed before heading up the stairs, Jenny in tow.

Peyton ambled up the stairs, slightly drunk. She reached for the railing as she almost tipped over. After the earlier events had unfolded and all of the kids had returned to their rooms for the night, the adults began drinking, to relieve the stress that they were under. She stumbled into the room and fell onto the bed next to her daughter, whose back was to her. She turned away and tried to drift off into a comforting sleep, despite the bed spins that she was getting.

She felt two arms wrap around her body and she whipped around. Her daughter was not lying next to her, instead it was a devilishly handsome Jake Jagielski.

"What are you doing here mister?" she smiled seductively as she rolled over on her side to face him.

"Sawyer wanted to sleep with her aunt Haley tonight, figuring that you'd be rip-roaring mad at her so I got kicked to the curb," he laughed lightly. "Not that mind."

"Jake…" she whispered, tracing patterns on his bare chest with her fingers.

"Yeah?" he closed his eyes and relished the feeling of her being next to him.

"I want you," she whispered huskily and when he opened his eyes, she was sliding her way up his body, throwing her shirt off in the process.

"Are you sure?" he asked. "You're drunk and I don't want this to be meaningless."

"It's never been meaningless with us," she smirked as slipped her hand under the covers and started to pull his boxers down.

"Alright," he caved as he attached his lips to hers.

"Luke," Brooke whispered softly as she shut the door to the bedroom.

"Hey you," he whispered, rolling over in the bed as the brunette sat on the edge and yanked her jeans off. She slid in next to him wearing her underwear and a tank top.

"Peyton just stumbled to bed. She's a little bit tipsy but I think she's just upset over what happened earlier," Brooke said as she pulled the covers up over her body and let out a sigh. "I don't understand why Jamie would do that…"

"Well sometimes people like to change from one sibling to the other…" The instant those words rolled off of his tongue, he wished he could take them back. "I didn't mean… God I'm so sorry."

"It's fine Lucas," she mumbled but he could see the tears forming in her hazel-green orbs. "But just so you know it's a little bit different. I didn't kiss Nathan while we were together. We were over and moved on from each other at that point."

"I never got over you Brooke," he admitted as he fidgeted with the loose seams on the blanket covering the bed.

"Lucas…"

"Never mind Brooke," he mumbled, rolling over on his side and trying to tune out the silence that was slowly killing him.

"What about Lindsey, she seems nice…" the brunette offered after a moment of hesitation.

"She's nice but she isn't you," Lucas shrugged as he shut his eyes and let out a deep sigh. "And she never will be."

"I'm sorry Luke. I never meant to cause you so much pain but I can't lose you okay? I love you so much and you are the best friend that I have ever had. I don't know how I would have made it through all the years without you as my crutch Luke and I will forever be thankful for that but I can't delve into a relationship with you until I am one hundred percent sure of my feelings. It's just too risky."

"I understand," he sighed as he put a hand on her cheek. "But that doesn't change how I feel and nobody can push me into being with Lindsey because I don't want to be with her like that."

"What if she asks you out?" Brooke suddenly blurted out.

"Well, I would um… tell her that I think of her as a friend and that there is someone else that I'm waiting for…"

"Lucas, you can't wait for me forever. What if I never sort these unsolved feelings out? I can't ask you to put your whole life on hold for me. You've been doing it for the past 16 years and you deserve happiness, happiness that I may never be able to give you."

"Is that what you are really afraid of?" he asked after a moment of silence, letting her words sink in. "Are you afraid that you won't make me happy?"

"That's a big part of the reason I won't give us a shot, yeah."

"Brooke, you will always be enough and you will always make me happy. Can't you see that you've already made me happy just by being my best friend?"

"And maybe that's the way it is meant to be," she countered with a grave expression. "Maybe we were only meant to be best friends."

"And maybe we weren't. I guess we'll never know."

"Luke, I have to go to the bathroom, I'll be right back."

"Whatever," the blonde mumbled as he rolled over and faced away from her.

Brooke slowly crept into the hallway, tip-toeing carefully, so she wouldn't wake anybody. She wasn't sure if the bathroom was right across the hall or at the very end of the hall. She was pretty sure that it was the last door at the end of the hall, sort of separated from the other rooms. Slowly, she pushed the door open and her eyes literally popped at the sight before her. It sure as hell wasn't the bathroom. It was Jake and Peyton, tangled in a mass of sheets, clearly naked and on top of one another. "Oh. My. God," she gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. "I'm sorry guys, I thought this was the bathroom." She quickly shut the door after hearing Peyton mumble something incoherent. What the hell was that? Maybe it was because Peyton had been drinking and Jake was desperate. Maybe they'd been doing it for awhile? She had no idea but she did know that there had always been some undeniable chemistry between the two of them.

Sunlight hit her face as she slowly yawned and pulled the sheets back. She turned and saw Lucas staring at her. "What?"

"Nothing," he quickly looked away and prepared to get up.

"It sure looked like you were eyeing me up," she commented with a playful smirk. "Then again, I am undeniably hot."

"I was just watching you sleep," he mused and then mentally kicked himself for saying that out loud.

"That's not creepy at all," she smirked sarcastically before throwing her legs over the edge of the bed.

"Are we cool after last night?" he finally breathed out as he pulled a t-shirt over his head.

"Of course we are Lucas. Everything is just fine," she grumbled before throwing on a pair of jeans and closing the bedroom door behind herself. Somehow, even she was having a hard time believing that.

"Brooke…"

The brunette snapped her head around to see Peyton leaning against the doorframe of the room across the hall.

"Hey, Peyton, How was your sleep?" the brunette teased light heartedly, with the raise of two perfectly plucked eyebrows.

"Brooke, can you please not tell anybody about what you saw last night?"

"Your wish is my command Peyton but you know that what you are doing is wrong. You're married to Nathan and despite the fact that I hate that man more than words can even say I do not condone cheating."

"I was drunk and it just sort of happened…"

"Tell me Peyton, was that really the first time you guys have done it? Because I have the feeling that it's been going on for awhile," the brunette pried. She'd been suspicious of them for awhile now.

"No," she admitted, her head hung shamefully. "It's happened on several occasions but I have real feelings for him Brooke. He blossoms these feelings inside of me that I didn't even know existed. He makes me so happy and I've realized that Nathan and I are living a lie."

"Well, I have no problem at all with you and Jake being together. I think you guys would make a great couple but you need to sort things out with your husband before you continue with this Peyton because you know just as much as I do that it is wrong to have an affair while you are married, even if that marriage is a lie."

"You won't tell anyone about this?"

"No, I won't say a thing," Brooke promised. "But that doesn't mean that I agree with it."

With that she pushed past Peyton and headed down the stairs for breakfast.

Haley skillfully flipped a pancake up into the air with the spatula before catching it and placing it the pan.

"Smells good," Brooke smiled as she perched herself on a stool and fixed herself a cup of coffee.

"Thanks," Haley smiled as she placed the pancake on a plate and dumped more batter into the pan. "Look, I'm sorry about what Jamie did and I hope that Sophia is okay."

"She's a Davis. She's strong so she'll be okay, eventually. Let's not intervene and let the kids work it out alright?"

Haley nodded just as Julian walked into the room, rubbing his eyes and admiring the stack of food.

"You're gonna do great," Brooke smiled as she patted Julian on the arm. "You always do."

Haley smiled at her ex-husband. "Pancakes for the champ," she grinned as she handed him a stack. "You're gonna rock this Julian." She offered him a hug and groaned as her phone rang. "Brooke can you finish those pancakes while I take this call?"

"But I don't cook…"

"It's alright Aunt Haley, I'll take over from here," Sophia grinned warmly as she grabbed the spatula and began flipping pancakes.

"Thanks sweetheart," Haley smiled as she left the room and clicked the talk button on her phone.

"Yeah?" she asked, her eyes glued to the staircase in hopes that nobody would hear their conversation.

"I was just wondering how things were going in LA."

"Everything is fine Nathan. We are just getting ready to leave for Julian's premiere."

"I ran into Sophia yesterday," he spit out anxiously, twirling with the phone cord.

"You did?" Haley raised her eyebrows questioningly. "And how did that go?"

"I was starting to make progress until your son interrupted," he chuckled lightly. "But she actually listened to me and I finally got to explain the reasoning behind my disappearance."

"That's great Nathan," she smiled. "I knew that she'd start to come around."

"Thank you so much Haley. I can't honestly thank you enough for the advice and help you've given me. I was wondering if you uh… wanted to maybe grab some coffee when you get back?" he asked nervously. "I mean just to talk about Soph and stuff. You don't have to if you don't want…"

"Nathan, I'd love to," she giggled. "I have to go get ready for the premiere but I will see you in a few days okay?"

"Okay, and thanks again Haley. I couldn't have done it without you."

"No problem. Goodbye," she said as she hung up the phone, a smile creeping across her face. She couldn't understand these feelings. He was supposed to be an ass and a bad father and more importantly she was supposed to stand by her friends and hate him. Yet, somehow she found that so hard to do because he was a different person around her. She just wished that he could be that person around everyone else.

AN: This is my Christmas present to you all but unfortunately I have to break the bad news to you as well. This story is going to be on hiatus until probably February. I am not abandoning it but I have 2 diplomas and one final coming up that I need to study for. The month of January is crunch time for me and I'm sorry but school comes before writing. I will pick this up after the first semester ends. Next semester I will only have one class at school and one class through distant learning for a total of 2 classes and SO much more free time on my hands to update. Also I doubt I will have much homework for English class so that will also be a bonus and more time to update. I know that many of you are probably upset about the Jamie/Sawyer kiss but I promise that it will NOT be Sawyer and Jamie in the end. Jamie and Sophia will work it out but I had to do that for some drama but I will work out in the end so do not worry about it. As for Brucas, they will be getting together soon. Nathan and Peyton's marriage is going to hit some bumps soon, possibly an end? Not sure yet. If anyone has any ideas feel free to include them in a PM or review and I'd be happy to consider them. Thanks for understanding and I hope that people will continue to read this when I return next month. The song is "The beauty and the tragedy" by Trading Yesterday and don't be shy to hit the review button and give me some feedback or suggestions!

-Megan