Chapter Six: Life Keeps Tumbling Your Heart in Circles

(I apologize for the 9 month wait … but I watched One Tree Hill for the first time this YEAR and I was inspired. That episode was so sad that I cried, but it was exactly what I needed to finish out this story—I'll start updating on Thursdays either every week or every other week, so tune in. And I hope I didn't lose you guys by waiting so long! Thanks for your support. I don't remember how many months Brooke was or where she is living so… it might be different –NL)

"I so totally apologize for last night. I wasn't me." Peyton explained after taking a shower. Luke couldn't help but notice her half-damp body, wrapped in a towel.

"Yeah so ummm Miami?"

"We're in Miami Luke." Peyton smirked. "Besides, I've got so much of my own crap to deal with that I don't think we should … I can't handle anymore disappointment."

"Jake loves you. He won't forsake you." Luke expressed as Peyton smiled.

"You should seriously get your own segment on Oprah or something." They laughed.

"But I seriously think we should just take off like two days and think about this thing, whether you still want to see Brooke and I want to see Jake. I'll be cool, just us hanging out and stuff." She offered as Luke nodded.

"Whatever. But we're still looking for Jake first."

"Ah!" Peyton screamed. She thought she had him.

"Chris, Chris … you have to leave." Haley whispered during the night. Him being here was making it harder for Nathan to trust her. She was going to have to explain everything to him anyway and Chris had a way of making everything a big deal.

"What? Hales its late. Just let me sleep okay?"

"No! I mean it. You're going." She tried to keep her voice down thinking about all the mess she'd gotten herself into, and the worst part was still to come.

"Just listen to yourself. Didn't you hear what I was saying? I'm nothing without you." Chris explained as Haley looked away. She was not going to fall for this. Nathan was here. There was no reason to be lonely and—"Just hang out in here with me. I'll be gone in the morning." He promised readily, meaning that something was definitely up.

"So, what is there to do in Miami? Any suggestions?" Peyton wondered with a smile, holding onto Luke's waist.

"Party?" He shrugged.

"In that case, I'll have to keep an eye on you. Those girls will be all over a hot one like you."

"Likewise." They briefly stopped to stare at each other before Peyton broke his gaze.

"So how are we getting into this thing?" He wondered.

"Just let me handle this."

"What are you doing here?" Brooke wondered as Felix walked into the clinic part of the hospital, waiting room sitting beside her.

"Salma told me everything. You're still pregnant."

"Not for long." Brooke rolled her eyes. "And I don't need you giving me the guilt trip."

"I won't but it's not fair." Felix argued.

"Not fair? Not fair to whom? This is my body Felix. It's mine. It's my body that will be changing and expanding and … it's my choice. I have the right to choose. If you want a baby so much go adopt one. It's meant to be this way." Brooke convinced herself with a sharp nod. Nothing was going to change her mind. Already her parents were bankrupt and there was no way she was going to be able to do this thing alone.

"I'll help."

"No. I don't want you in my life forever."

"Please Brooke, listen to me." Felix begged, getting down on one knee and handing her a small gray box. He slid the ring onto her finger.

"Come on!" Peyton yelled as she hopped onto the bar, pulling Lucas up there with her. "Tell me you've never wanted to do this."

"I've never wanted to do this." He joked.

"Shut up and dance!" The two put on a show with Peyton dancing rather reservedly and Luke making most of the moves. As the song slowed down, Luke hopped off the bar, helping Peyton down.

As he did so, their faces were inches away from one another.

"Whoa." Peyton lost her balance as he caught her.

"Ready to go?" He wondered.

"So ready." Peyton added thinking that another drink and she'd be out for the night, but so far it couldn't have been more perfect. "Did you see that girl with the uni-brow? She was watching you and trying to dance with you all night."

"But you had the eighty year old man!" Luke laughed as they made their way back to the room.

"I know. He was so grimy and touchy-feely. Every time I felt a hand on a butt, I knew it was him."

"One time it was me Peyt." Luke joked again as she threw a pillow at him, taking off her stilettos. "You get the bed tonight."

"No, that's okay. You can have it." She offered as the two argued about who would sleep on the cot. "Fine. We'll share, but come into my territory and it's over." Peyton joked, sliding under the covers beside Lucas. She was too take a shower or anything.

"You had fun?" Luke asked as Peyton closed her eyes.

"Tons of it. But … you know what would make it even more perfect?" Peyton began, the alcohol taking over. "If you would just …" Kissing him slowly Lucas and Peyton began a rhythm. Each pretended like they didn't want to kiss the other, but they both knew they did. They both knew it would go beyond kissing.

It did. It was the most passionate and beautiful thing she could ever happening to her. Peyton had been wanting this for so long, some sort of closure or even better, an ever-elusive future with Lucas, her Lucas. No Brooke attached.But Peyton also knew that that elated feeling she was having wouldn't last, so she had to follow it up … with one more drink.

"No." Brooke shook her head. "You didn't." She stood up in disbelief. "There is no way…." She shook her head, pulling her shirt down to hide her slightly protruding stomach.

"Please, wait. I want to do this!" Felix chased after Brooke who was now briskly walking in a panic. She was solely focused on Felix behind her. As she looked to the left of her, Brooke thought she saw Lucas. No. No way. Looking a little more closely, Brooke didn't see the woman wheeling a cart of needles in front of her, all she could see was Lucas coming back to her.

"Lu--" those words barely got out as the back of Brooke's head hit the ground with a thud, Felix rushing to her side.

Haley sat in the classroom, yes she was in school for the next two months of summer. She listened to Mr. Coshto repeat the same lectures he had given for years, bored. Haley already knew this stuff, she was only here to—

Tap, tap

Hearing rattling at the window, Haley saw Chris's smiling face.

"Umm … Mr. Coshto can I have a hall pass? Ladies room." She explained, rushing out to the courtyard.

"I thought you were leaving!" Haley yelled once she got the hall pass from Mr. Coshto. Summer school. That was what her life had been reduced to so that she could graduate with Lucas and everyone else.

"I was but I was thinking … you have to do something for me first." Chris smiled.

"No striptease." Haley ordered firmly.

"Hmm … not a bad idea. I wish I had thought of it." Chris smiled. "I was thinking something better something--"

"Will you get to it already? I am in class you know."

"Summer school … all because of me." Chris smiled, pulling out a flier and handing it to Haley.

"Club 'Monies?' Look, Chris, are you serious? I don't club. You know that." She handed it back.

"Tonight you do … and they're having this contest. Winner wins 5k and I know you could use that money."

"You sleazebag." She hit him with her pocketbook.

"I know. I'll be around the back door at nine. Don't be late."

"And if I am?" Haley challenged.

"Then you'll never get rid of me!" Chris shouted back playfully. He knew that wherever Haley would be, he would want to be too. It wasn't a love thing, just a thing…

"Hey Peyt, you okay?" Lucas wondered, trying to figure out the scene that he had just watched happen in the hospital. "I couldn't find the cafe, but I did see someone who looked like Brooke.

"Brooke?" Peyton asked both happy and sad at the same time. "So what are you doing here?"

"It might not be her. You know when you really want things to happen, you start imagining that it happened even when it didn't." He offered, taking her hand in his.

"Don't do that." She pulled away.

"Do what?"

"Nothing. I guess I shouldn't have gone back to the bar."

"Why did you? You just kept going Peyt and I don't get it. You said last night was perfect." Lucas argued.

"Yeah, but I didn't …" She stopped. Peyton couldn't tell him that she wanted it to last forever and that the only other feeling that compared was getting high and drunk. "Alcohol poisoning."

"I thought you were going to die." Lucas sighed in relief, his lips brushing hers compassionately.

"Don't do that."

"Do what?" Lucas repeated as they headed back down the road they started with.

"You know we're just like this big yo-yo. As soon as we come up, we're right back down over and over again."

"Peyton, what are you talking about?"

"Let me finish." She sighed, tears in her eyes. "When it's good with us, it's so good, but when it's so ambiguous. It can be so horrible. I want to wake up every morning and know that you're either my friend or not." Peyton continued.

"Are you talking about last night?" Luke asked, confused.

"Of course Lucas. You can't deny the facts." Tears were steadily streaming down her face. "You and I made love. It wasn't just sex and you know it. Now you're making up this story about Brooke because you feel guilty. So go!"

"Peyton…" He pleaded.

"No. If you're scared or feel regret, just go. Go find your hallucination because that girl back there wasn't Brooke. And if you wished it never happened, it never did."

"Peyton I…" Luke tried to explain, but there wasn't any explaining to do. Maybe Peyton was right about everything, about Brooke and— "I can't leave you like this."

"Course you can. You pick up the pieces and then leave more behind. You do it all the time." Peyton gave a small smile, resting her head back on the pillow. Not the way to begin the day. "Go before I call security. Go!"

"Will she be okay?" Felix wondered, stroking Brooke's hair. She had lost some blood and he couldn't help but feel like it was his fault.

"She will be, but the baby … I'm not too sure." The doctor offered sympathetically. "We'll have to let nature take its course on that one."

"When will Brooke come to?"

"You never know, but just keep an eye out for us and alert us when she does." The doctor suggested, leaving the room.

"Brooke. I never meant to--"

"Brooke?" Lucas walked into the room suddenly, seeing that his vision was real.

"What are you doing here?" Felix stood up, taking his guard.

"What did you do to her Felix? Was she that anxious to get away from you?" Lucas narrowed his eyes. "Was she running from you?"

"No." Felix smiled. "She was ecstatic. You know this ring means a lot to Brooke … almost as much as the baby."

Luke remained silent.

"Nothing to say hero?"

"Let her know I … I stopped by, will you?"

(A/N: Long, I know. I was going to make one thing happen, but I realized it wouldn't work so … anyway. I hope you enjoy. I really need to watch Tree Hill more often because I have NO IDEA who that red headed girl is—some Brooke poser I guess, but that's it. So if this seems outdated, sorry. But review and read. Even if you just say "good" or "okay" … at least I know you care enough to write a response! –NL)