Yay for updates! Enjoy!
Brooke wiggled out of Peyton's arms, trying not to disturb the blonde. She was finally asleep, and Brooke wanted to keep it that way.
Sighing with relief when she was free and Peyton was still asleep, she limped down the stairs. Something in her had changed when Peyton had been talking to her, and she felt more complete, somehow, like a missing piece had been put back into place.
So she had realized that she was in love with her best friend, who happened to be engaged. So what?
Grimacing as she tried to take a step too fast, Brooke slowed and leaned up against the wall. Once the pain subsided, she continued on to the kitchen.
Grabbing a loaf of bread, she put a couple slices in the toaster and sat down on a chair to wait for it to be ready. Musing about what had happened over the past 24 hours, Brooke internally cringed when she remembered the look on Peyton's face when she saw the bruising.
Brooke didn't know if Peyton was entirely sure what had happened, but somehow she knew that Peyton knew and was just giving her time.
I owe her at least an explanation of what happened…after everything she's done, she still hasn't asked me or forced me to tell her anything about what happened. She has no clue, and yet still cares. What did I do to deserve someone as amazing as her?
The toaster dinged, and Brooke shuffled over and put the toast onto a plate. Taking it, she set the toast on a plate before heading back up the stairs.
It was ten times harder going back up, but when she reached the top Brooke felt a sense of accomplishment. She knew it was something minor, but it still made her feel a bit better to know she could take care of herself without Peyton having to do everything. That train of thought caused a small frown to appear on Brooke's face as she went back into Peyton's room.
She's got to be engaged to Lucas, so that means she's going to be leaving me soon. The frown didn't move as Brooke climbed back into bed with the plate. The thought of being alone, without Peyton, was suddenly very real and very terrifying.
Pushing the thoughts to the back of her mind, Brooke allowed herself to smile as Peyton slowly woke up.
"Brooke?" Peyton asked, worried when she felt that her arms were empty. It just didn't feel right without Brooke there, and she sat up and looked around. Relieved when she saw Brooke perched on the edge of the bed smiling at her, she eyed the toast and asked, "Where did that come from?"
Brooke full out grinned at that as she proudly stated, "I made it!"
Smiling at Brooke's enthusiasm, Peyton moved closer. "Want to share?"
"With you?" Brooke wrinkled her nose as though she found the idea repulsive. "Well…I guess I could give you some…"
Peyton almost smacked Brooke's arm but caught herself at the last second, realizing that even if Brooke was acting more like her old self she was still injured. Settling for a scoff, Peyton leaned closer and closer to Brooke's face.
"You know you will," she whispered, no more than a centimeter from Brooke's face.
Oh lord, she is wayyy to close for comfort Brooke thought. "And why is that?" she managed to squeak back, trying to ignore Peyton's warm breath blowing on her face.
"Because…you love me!" Peyton squealed as she snatched a piece of toast and jumped off the bed.
God, what was I thinking? I came so close to kissing her just then…that would have been fun to explain. And I'm engaged to Lucas, for god's sake, I can't be doing this!
Brooke pouted at Peyton, wishing she was better so she could tackle the blonde. "I'm going to get you back for that, Blondie!" Peyton just smirked, hearing the empty threat.
Cautiously going back over to the bed, she sat down and relaxed only when she was sure that Brooke wasn't going to attack. The second that Peyton relaxed Brooke grabbed her and started tickling her.
Peyton squealed in surprise and then laughter, yelling, "Brooke, cut it out!" Brooke just grinned down at her and continued moving her fingers gracefully up and down Peyton's sides. Finally, when she decided that Peyton had been punished enough, she let Peyton get up and just sat there smiling innocently.
"You know you deserved it," she said with a smirk.
Laughing, Peyton mumbled under her breath, but she scooted closer to Brooke and wrapped an arm around her. Brooke snuggled into her side, happy to be there with Peyton.
At that moment, Peyton realized that she felt something she never had with Lucas- complete. Through all the years, not once had there ever been a sense of comfort this great with him. Sure, there were moments that came close, but there was always something in the way.
With Brooke, Peyton could just be herself and know that no matter what Brooke would always love her. Brooke was the one who did that for her, not Lucas, and Peyton mentally made a note to go shoot herself later for not realizing it.
Looking down at the girl in her arms, Peyton felt a swell of love, and she couldn't stop herself when Brooke looked up to meet her gaze.
Impulsively, Peyton leaned down and pressed her lips gently to Brooke's. There was a split second of shock before Brooke realized that she wasn't dreaming, but then her mind caught up with her body and she began to respond. Slowly deepening the kiss, Brooke forced herself to pull back when she realized what was happening.
Looking at Peyton in confusion, she tried to figure out what her friend was thinking. When Peyton opened her eyes, she found Brooke staring at her open mouthed in confusion.
"I'm sorry," she muttered, looking away quickly. Brooke grabbed her hand as she stood to leave and said, "Wait."
Turning back to Brooke, Peyton couldn't hide the hope in her eyes and it killed Brooke to see it. "Peyton, what was that?" she asked, needing to know if this was just something Peyton had felt like doing without thinking of the consequences.
Looking anywhere but at Brooke, Peyton said, "I don't know, I'm sorry, it just happened, and…I'm sorry."
Gingerly standing, Brooke forced herself to ignore the pain and pull Peyton to her in a close hug. "It's ok, Peyton, you have nothing to be sorry for," she whispered into blonde locks. Tears coursed down Peyton's face. She didn't know what had made her do it, it had just felt right.
Now, though, the emotions flooding through her were completely overwhelming.
Peyton couldn't fathom how right it had felt to have her lips pressed to Brooke's, how perfect she had felt for those few brief seconds.
But then, a certain blonde-haired boy kept popping into her head, and with him came a debilitating sense of guilt. Less than three days ago she had been agreeing to marry him and now she had just kissed someone else.
What was worse, in her mind, was the fact that the person she had just kissed meant more to her than her fiancée ever could. What was worse was that she knew that he had nothing on Brooke, and no matter what he did he never would. The idea that she was going to marry someone that she didn't truly love and never would was terrifying, and she clung to the safety and support that Brooke guaranteed.
Brooke ran her fingers through Peyton's hair soothingly until the tears stopped, ignoring how standing for so long had made it painful for her to even breathe. Every part of her body was screaming at her to sit down, but she forced herself to remain standing until Peyton was ready to move.
When Peyton pulled away, however, Brooke suddenly found herself with no support and her legs buckled. Peyton barely caught her body as it sagged to the floor, silently cursing herself for forgetting that Brooke was hurt.
Helping Brooke up to a sitting position on the bed, Peyton was instantly concerned at the pained look on Brooke's face and the way she was trying to breathe shallowly.
"Brooke? Should I call a doctor?"
Brooke shook her head, trying to get enough oxygen to speak. "No, I'm fine, it just…it just hurts," she gasped out.
Taking Brooke's hands in hers, Peyton said, "Brooke, I need you to look at me. Focus on me, Brooke, because if you don't I swear to god I'm going to call 911 this second."
Peyton's words broke through the haze of pain and darkness that was clouding Brooke's mind, and she forced herself to look up at Peyton. The look on Peyton's face instantly made some of the pain dissipate.
Stroking the side of Brooke's face with her hand, Peyton whispered, "Come on, Brooke, it's ok. Just breathe for me, ok?" Brooke managed to nod, and allowed her eyes to close as she worked to get the pain to subside. Ever so slowly, the feeling of Peyton holding her hand and stroking her face became more prominent than the ache of her body, and she gradually relaxed her tense muscles. Relief spread through Peyton's body as she saw Brooke's face relax.
How could I have been so stupidly selfish?
Peyton wondered once more why Brooke put up with her, and was startled out of her thoughts by a gentle hand tugging a strand of her hair. Looking up, she saw Brooke with an apologetic smile on her face. "Sorry," she said quietly.
Peyton shook her head vehemently. "No, don't be. That was entirely my fault. If I had been paying attention, if I had taken the time to remember, once again, that the world doesn't revolve around me-"
Brooke cut her off with a chaste kiss placed on her lips. Peyton blinked in surprise, completely at a loss for words.
Brooke smiled a little at her reaction. "First of all, don't blame yourself. Second, when have you ever thought that the world revolved around you?"
Still at a loss for words after the kiss, Peyton stuttered for an answer and finally just sat there staring at Brooke.
Smiling, Brooke lay back on the bed and breathed out heavily. Crawling up next to her, Peyton leaned over Brooke's body and studied Brooke's face intently. Seeing only love in Brooke's eyes, she leaned closer and was about to touch her lips to Brooke's when Brooke suddenly moved from under her as though burned.
Confused, Peyton looked at Brooke questioningly. Brooke's eyes were pained and all she said was, "Lucas."
Peyton instantly felt the weight of guilt settle down on her again as she thought about what she had been about to do. Looking back at Brooke, she felt even worse upon seeing the self-loathing on Brooke's face.
"I can't believe I forgot," she muttered, "How could I be so stupid? How could I let myself do that?"
Going to Brooke, Peyton cautiously touched her leg. When Brooke didn't jerk away, Peyton slowly said, "It's ok, Brooke, you didn't do anything wrong."
Looking at Peyton with tear-filled eyes, Brooke laughed harshly. "I knew you were engaged Peyton, and I still kissed you. How is that not wrong?" Groaning Brooke rested her pounding head in her hands and closed her eyes.
"Brooke," Peyton started softly, "Brooke, look at me, please." The tone of Peyton's voice caught Brooke's attention and she slowly lifted her head to chance a look at Peyton.
"I want you, Brooke. I don't care about Lucas; I'll break up with him now on the phone if you want me to."
Staring at Peyton now, Brooke said, "No. Don't do that."
Thinking she had heard wrong, Peyton looked at Brooke for a long moment. "You want me to stay with Lucas?" Peyton asked in disbelief.
Brooke shook her head. "No I don't want you to, but if you're just going to end up leaving me for him later then yes. I can't get hurt again, Peyton, not now. So please, if you have any doubts just stay with him before this goes any further."
The total vulnerability of Brooke's words shook Peyton. Remembering the times that she had promised to never hurt Brooke again before turning around and stabbing her in the back floated to the surface of her mind and she cringed internally.
But then, through the cloud of bad memories, Peyton remembered the few seconds earlier in the day when she had felt Brooke complete her in a way that Lucas never could. Remembering that, Peyton knew without a doubt that she would never again do something to hurt Brooke.
Taking Brooke's bruised face gently in her hands, Peyton forcefully said, "I will never hurt you again, Brooke Davis. I'm done with Lucas; I'm done with the confusion. I have you, and I am never leaving you, I promise. I love you, Brooke; I love you and no one else."
The declaration stunned Brooke into temporary silence. Finally she said, "You would do that for me? You would give up your perfect life with Lucas for me?"
Peyton nodded and moved closer to Brooke on the bed.
"Are you sure Peyton? Are you sure I'm what you want? I'm so broken, what if I'm never fixed, never good enough for you?"
Peyton nodded once more with absolute certainty. When doubt remained in Brooke's eyes, Peyton pulled her into a gentle bear hug and said, "You are everything I could ever want, Brooke, and I promise I will fix you. I'll fix this."
Brooke melted into Peyton's arms, feeling completely safe. As she drifted off to sleep, she murmured, "Just promise me something, Peyton."
"Anything," Peyton whispered, tracing careful designs on Brooke's arms.
"Don't break up with him on the phone, ok? He deserves better than that."
Stunned once more by Brooke's compassion, Peyton said, "Ok, Brooke."
"I love you, Peyton."
"I love you too, Brooke, more than anything."
Listening to Brooke's breathing even out into sleep, Peyton thanked whatever greater something was out there that she was getting her chance at happiness.
Muahaha sorry it took so long to update the dang thing, i totally hit a roadblock.
Reviews are appreciated, i'll see if i get any good ideas from tomorrows episode-which i might miss..Eek!
Anyways, thanks for reading!
-cello