Love Rectangle Plus One (Whatever That Is)

Chapter 9: Peace of Mind

Brooke and Peyton accepted that Lucas was friends with both of them. They didn't talk about it, or complain to him, they accepted it and tried not to think about it. At lunch things got a little sticky. Lucas, Haley and Jake always sat together and Brooke joined them most days when she wasn't sitting with Bevin and her other cheerleader friends. When Brooke wasn't there, Peyton would sit with them, but other times she ate alone. Nathan and Tim moved too from their usual spot and sat with other members of the team.

People all over school, were talking about the inner secrets of their popular clique, and the reasons for their moves. A lot of people had stopped talking to Peyton, proclaiming her a back-stabbing slut, while Brooke got sympathy, although some fake, and was known as the wounded best friend. But all of their attention was unwanted. Brooke just wanted things to return to normal and move on in her life, especially with Lucas as a permanent fixture in it. Peyton just wanted to be left alone. She knew what she had done was bad and she felt terrible about it. People talking about it couldn't change any of that.

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Brooke plopped down on a seat outside at Lucas's usual table throwing her bag down on it, Haley looked up from the magazine she was reading and looked at Brooke.

"Rough morning?"

Before Brooke could even answer, another girl waked up and pulled Brooke into an uncomfortable hug. "Brooke, I just heard. I'm so sorry you must be crushed. Nathan Scott after all. Well at least you learned about what a skank Peyton was before she hurt you more.

"Uh yeah thanks," Brooke said clearly annoyed but trying to give the appearance of thankfulness.

"Well anyways, call me if you need anything," the girl said squeezing Brooke's arm before walking away.

"God they're so annoying," she mumbled under her breath.

"Yeah for us innocent bystanders too who have to watch their pathetic attempts at sounding sorry, when all they really care about is when Nathan Scott will jump their bones."

Brooke smiled wide at Haley's comment. "Exactly. Like why do you even fake it?"

"They have no lives?" Haley suggested.

"Probably," Brooke shook her head still smiling.

"So I know we're not exactly friends, and you sit here mostly for Lucas and Jake, but uh how are you doing?"

"I'm ok, thanks Haley. And speaking of that, I'm kind of at a loss of real girlfriends, so do you want to maybe go to the mall this weekend?"

"Wow," Haley said smiling, "Sure that sounds great. I love hanging out with Lucas and Jake, but I'd love a little girl talk time too."

"Exactly again."

"Do you miss her?" Haley asked softly, hoping she wasn't blowing the offer at friendship she had just gotten.

Brooke's face turned sour. "I miss the 'her' I knew. But I guess she was never the person I thought."

"I'm sorry Brooke," Haley said truthfully.

"I know," she whispered, "I am too."

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Peyton was sitting in the library. She bit her pinkie nail expectantly waiting for Lucas to show up for a few minutes before going outside to eat lunch with Brooke and the rest of his friends. The library had become their 'place'. Peyton knew that Brooke had never set foot in there, so it was the perfect place in school to hang out if they needed to talk, and Lucas didn't want to make jealous. Peyton didn't even mind the secrecy. She had been so used to it with Nathan, that she felt she deserved it if Lucas was closer with Brooke than her.

"Hey," he smiled and sat down next to her. "What's up?"

"Nothing serious, I just wanted to talk for a few minutes."

"Ok."

"Nathan apologized big time to me. Like he was really sorry."

"So that's good. He's actually using his brain and showing he has a heart."

"Yeah, it's just that, do you think he did it because he wants something more. Like I can't deny that I still have some feelings for him. It's complicated."

Lucas shook his head. This did not sound very good, and he was actually pretty pissed. Peyton was reading too much into the apology, because her confusion and sadness over everything was clouding her judgment. Getting together with Nathan would be the worst possible thing for her now. She needed to heal from him, not go running back. Plus he was positive Nathan didn't feel that way.

"It would ruin your friendship with Brooke completely," he warned.

"That's already over," Peyton said sighing.

"I think it's a bad idea Peyton."

"What am I supposed to do? Sit back and not let love find me. Maybe there was a reason Nathan and I hooked up in the first place!" she argued.

"Yeah, because he was horny!" Lucas countered.

"Who is yelling back there?" the librarian chastised loudly, 'Be quiet."

Lucas almost laughed at the silly old librarian but he was too upset. Peyton was acting like a fool. "I think you're rushing into it. You need time before you can think about a relationship with anyone let alone Nathan," he explained more calmly.

"Maybe you're right. But if he wants a relationship now, then I'm going to go for it. Because I need some happiness in my life, and I still really like him."

Lucas shook his head knowing it was futile to argue with her further. "Fine, I just don't want you to get your heart broken again."

"Thanks Luke. But I think Nathan has changed. And we can really have something."

There was more to it though. Peyton really just wanted someone to want her back and love her. Deep down, she was jealous of Brooke, who could get any guy she wanted. Especially the two guys that Peyton was closest to -- the Scott brothers. It seemed like Brooke always got to them first.

"I'm not so sure," he mumbled under his breath quietly. Peyton didn't hear him, but he wished she had. He really didn't think this was going to end well.

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Nathan slammed the ball down through the hoop. It was lunch, but he hadn't been hungry. So he had decided to practice in the empty dark Tree Hill gym. Luckily, all the crap in his personal life hadn't affected his game. He was sinking shot after shot. Although it would probably be harder to do that when he was actually playing against someone.

Jake walked into the gym and stared at Nathan for a second before walking closer. He was mad at Peyton for pushing him away and he blamed Nathan. He also hated to see Brooke so hurt.

"Oh hey Jake," Nathan said turning around. He didn't seem to see the anger in Jake's face.

Jake walked up and shoved him hard. Nathan lost his balance for a second but quickly regained it.

'Fuck's that for?" he asked annoyed.

"Are you kidding me?" Jake yelled. "You break Brooke and Peyton's hearts and you ask me why I'm hitting you?"

"Look Jake, I know I was an ass, but that really doesn't give you an excuse to hit me," Nathan said trying to sound rational.

"Do you even feel any remorse?" Jake screamed. "Those girls are crying their eyes out because of you, and you're acting like it's not big deal."

At this remark, Nathan got really annoyed. "Are you my fucking conscience Jake? Because I don't think you are. So why don't you stop interfering in my business."

"You're an ass Nathan," Jake said his eyes blinking angrily.

"Jake, I know you feel bad about them. Ok I do too. I treated them both like shit. But I don't need you taking your pent-up aggression out on me. I'm going through this too ok."

Jake instantly regretted his previous actions. First off, Nathan was changing, and second, he was right. Jake could be mad about how he treated Brooke and Peyton, but instead of beating Nathan up, he should be talking to them about how they were doing. "Sorry man, Peyton's just been really distant."

"I figured as much. Look I don't know if I can help. Should I talk to her?

"I think that might actually be a good idea."

"Fine, I will."

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Lucas walked outside to where Brooke and Haley were sitting. "Hey," he called sitting down and giving Brooke a chaste kiss on the cheek.

"Hey Broody," she smiled.

"So what were you girls talking about?"

"Girl stuff," Haley said sticking her tongue out at him prompting a laugh from all three.

"So where were you?" Brooke asked.

"Just getting some stuff from the library for a project," he fibbed.

"Ew the library," Brooke said crinkling up her face.

Haley laughed. "And here I love libraries."

"That's why we're becoming friends," Brooke smiled.

"Cool," Lucas smiled happy that his best friend and his almost girlfriend were getting along.

"Indeed," Haley smiled.

"So Broody, since me and Haley are going to the mall on Saturday, I think after it we should have a movie night at my house."

"That sounds fun, but when's out first date?"

"Boys," Brooke said shaking her head, "Only caring about when they might get some. But if you must know our date will be Friday night."

"Looking forward to it," Lucas said smiling.

"God Luke take a cold shower or something," Haley joked.

"Why do you always make fun of me even when I don't even say anything horny or inappropriate," he whined.

"Because you're a guy sweetie," Brooke smiled.

"And cause we can," Haley added.

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"Hey Peyton, can I talk to you?" Jake said running over to her after school.

"Sure. By the way I want to apologize for being kind of bitchy to you earlier this week."

"Yeah that's what I wanted to talk to you about. It really hurt me. You and Brooke are both my friends, and I care about both of you."

"I know Jake," Peyton said softly.

"Yeah, and I'm here for you no matter what ok?"

Thanks," she said pulling him into a hug.

"So really, how are you doing?" he asked.

"I'm actually ok." She sighed, "But I still feel really bad."

"I know it's hard."

"Yeah, but anyways," she said waving the issue off, "Tell me what happened with you and Haley."

"Nothing," Jake sighed. "We didn't connect."

"Hmm. That sucks."

"Yeah whatever. It's old news."

"Ha, I wish I was old news," Peyton said bitterly.