A/N: Hello guys. So I said that I might post at the weekend but I kind of forgot that I wouldn't be near a computer for a couple of days so I've posted earlier. This will probably mean that the next update will take longer than planned and I need to write the next chapter for my other story first. I have to mention the fact that I made Lucas and Peyton related on purpose. I wanted to work on other dynamics and in the show it's all mopey and Peyton needs to get a life or Jake back. This doesn't mean I'm a Brucus fan either. I've had my rant now, I'm blame the season finale, it's made me worse so I'll just put it into my stories.

I have written more than I wanted to say. I'll stop now so you can read and hopefully enjoy. Thanks to all those that reviewed as it warmed my heart to have that many. I might be able to hit 50 reviews with this chapter and whoever it is will get a shout out and maybe you can request something that you would like me to do (within reason).

Better In Time

Brooke pulled into her space and her car down was opened as soon as she cut the engine. "Morning Miss Davis. I heard you got a little drunk at the party?"

"Well there was alcohol. Thank you Mr Scott for being such a gentleman." Brooke stepped out of the car and Nathan shut the door. Brooke turned her alarm on with her car fob and walked beside Nathan.

"Don't you think you should slow down?" His voice was more concerned.

"Not anytime soon." This wasn't the first time that Nathan was concerned about her drinking. She decided to turn the conversation round. "I heard you did a disappearing act. Where did you go?"

"I had some things to take care of." He then thought it would be a good time to wind her up. "If I was there, you would have missed out on Peyton babysitting you."

"How do you even know that? Who told you?" Brooke started to look exasperated.

Nathan couldn't help but laugh at Brooke. "I can't give out that kind of information. Is she still alive then?"

Brooke just looked at him and didn't say anything. Instead she hit him on his arm. He rubbed his arm and then put it around her shoulders. He kissed the top of her head and they continued walking.

Peyton and Haley were walking through the quad before class. This was the first time they had seen each other since the night of the party.

"So any problems with Brooke after I left." Haley asked.

"I managed unscathed even when we worked on the project." Peyton replied, fully remembering that day.

"Thanks for looking after her. She's been drinking a lot at these parties and usually Nathan sorts her out."

Peyton stopped walking, "How long has that been going on?"

Haley noticed this and stopped too. "Why do you ask Miss Sawyer. Are you concerned?"

"Don't get ahead of yourself." Peyton tried to deflect her worry for the other girl unsuccessfully.

"Lucas mentioned that it was around summer, just after you left. There was a party and she got really wasted." Haley looked around to make sure no one was listening. "Lucas had to stop some guy from taking advantage. This isn't a well known fact so don't tell anyone and don't mention it to Brooke."

"The secret is safe with me." Peyton put a finger to her lips to show she would be quiet with the information.

Haley spotted Brooke and Nathan and waved them over.

"Hey, great party." Haley greeted them.

"Which you ditched to leave me with her." Brooke pointed at Peyton. When she looked at her, she instantly regretted her words. She could see hurt in the other girl's eyes.

"I'm gonna leave you guys and the ungrateful princess." Peyton quickly walked off in the direction of her first class.

Haley looked over at Brooke. "I'm getting really sick of this attitude you have towards Peyton." Haley left the two friends and went after Peyton.

Nathan looked at Brooke and shook his head. "Please don't you start too."

Bevin and Theresa came walking up to them. As soon as Nathan saw them he headed in the opposite direction. He really didn't want to get caught up in a cheer conversation; it was like torture for him.

"Great party Brooke." Bevin said enthusiastically.

"Yeah, you've outdone yourself yet again." Theresa added.

"Thanks girls. Can you let the others know that tonight's practice is cancelled. It will give everyone more time to recover from the party."

"I was wondering why I had my uniform today." Bevin said while looking confused.

"Feel free to wear it." Brooke said sarcastically. She looked at Theresa, who was wearing a huge smile.

"Cool. I'm gonna change." Bevin skipped along while the other two shook their heads and laughed. Brooke stopped Theresa from following her.

"Just a quick word. Your commitment and work rate in the squad has been unquestionable and I want to reward that by naming you vice captain and my successor. I'll officially announce it before the game."

"Thank you." Theresa hugged Brooke, totally ecstatic by the news.

"You deserve it." They pulled out of the hug.

"We should really go and stop Bevin." Theresa said looking in the direction Bevin went.

"Yeah, it will take us some time to catch her though." They both laughed and walked slowly to class.

In class Brooke was a little preoccupied and couldn't concentrate on what the teacher was saying. She pulled out her phone and sent a text message. 'please meet me beach house-lunch'

The text reply said 'not a gd idea'

Brooke wrote back. 'need 2 talk 2 u'

The next reply said. 'Ok'

'key in usual spot' Brooke put her phone back in her bag and her attention went back to the teacher.

There was a knock on the classroom door, which stopped the teacher from speaking. The door was opened and in walked a lady from the school office. "Sorry to disturb you Ms McIntyre but I have a note here."

The teacher took the note and read it while the lady walked out of the class. "Jake could you grab your things please."

Jake looked bewildered and then panic seemed to set in. He grabbed his bag and walked up to the front on the class. Ms McIntyre gave him the note and he read it. "You have permission to leave for the day." Jake looked at her and then ran out of the class and out of the school.

As soon as the lunch bell rang, Brooke leaped up and ran to her car. Anyone that didn't know who she was would think she was on the athletics team.

It didn't take her long to reach her beach house. She opened the door to the newly cleaned house. The smell of alcohol was replaced by a floral scent. It was one of Brooke's favourite smells and later she would be thanking Maria (her maid, cook, cleaner, guardian, everything her parents weren't).

Brooke smiled when she saw who was sitting on her sofa. "Somehow I didn't think you would come. I'm glad you did."

"Why don't you want anyone to know we were friends?" Her visitor asked.

"Friends, is that what we are Sawyer." Brooke walked over to sit on the sofa. Before she had a chance to plant herself down, Peyton got up. "I'm not sure there's a name for the two of us. Why did you call me here?"

Brooke, who was now sitting, looked up at a standing Peyton. "I want to apologise for earlier at school."

"It's not like you mean it." Peyton was pissed off and her eyes showed it when she looked at Brooke.

"I did mean it, I do." Brooke said hoping she believed her sincerity.

Peyton's voice was raised when she responded. "How do I know what you mean? You're words carry so much venom that I don't know what's an act and what the truth is anymore."

"You don't really think that, do you?" Brooke didn't want to show vulnerability but she didn't seem to have a choice in the matter.

"Yes I do." Peyton was getting more and more frustrated in the way the conversation was going. "You're the only person I know that can be in the wrong and turn it into somebody else's fault and play the victim. You hurt me then you go around hating me."

Brooke walked over to the bar and poured herself a drink. "That's how I have to play it, especially with my parents."

Peyton's hand went through her blonde hair. "But they're never around."

"Things find a way of getting back to them and I'm supposed to act a certain way." Brooke downed the drink she had poured and topped the glass up again.

"Just when I think we're getting somewhere and I'm seeing the real Brooke again, bitchy Brooke comes out and bites me on the arse." Peyton walked over to Brooke and stopped her from drinking her second drink.

"It's just hard to be any other way than this. This is how I deal with everything that happened and I'm sorry that you're getting hurt in the process. Brooke picked up the bottle and took a sip directly from it.

Peyton shook her head. "I'm not asking for you to parade me as your BFF, I just want at least 5 percent of the Brooke I know to treat me better in public."

Brooke took another sip before replying. "I think I can do that. It might be hard at first though. Please give me time."

Peyton pulled the bottle away and replaced the lid. "Why are you drinking so much Brooke?"

Brooke looked around and knew Peyton wouldn't let her get to where there was more alcohol. "Let's just say it's my other way of dealing with things. Please don't start acting like a parent."

"I wouldn't dream of it ungrateful princess." Peyton smiled and bumped her hip into Brooke's.

"I can't believe you called me that." Brooke laughed, she then turned serious. "I've missed you. I just needed to say that."

Peyton was surprised by Brooke's words but that didn't stop her from responding. "I missed you too."

At this moment, Brooke got brave and asked a question that was plaguing her mind since Peyton came back to town. "Do you ever think you'll forgive me for what I did?"

"I can't lie to you, it hurt really bad and I'm not sure I can." Peyton saw the hurt in Brooke's eyes and added something to give her some hope. "I'm willing to try though."

"Do you think things can go back to how they were, before it all happened and you left?" Brooke quizzed, hoping for the answer she was looking for.

Peyton raised her hand and rested it on one of Brooke's shoulders. "Let's just take it one step at a time."

Brooke started to get really nervous. "Err… I'm not going back to school…do you…err. Do you wanna hang out?"

Peyton saw Brooke nervously twiddling her fingers. She took a deep breath and simply said "OK".