A/N: I thought I'll let life take a back seat while I post a new update. Once again a big thanks to those that reviewed since my last thanks. To those of you that read my other story, I'm trying to get an update soon but I can't seem to finish the next chapter but I'll persevere to get something out in the next week. Back to this one, I hope you enjoy this.

Beauty Of Uncertainty

Nathan and Brooke arrived at school together in his car. They chose to take the one car as Nathan was going to stay over at Brooke's again. They decided to grab his stuff at the weekend, when they had more time. The previous night, the two of them spent a lot of time talking, both sharing the full extent of their secrets.

They were walking along when two things came to Nathan's attention, cheerleaders heading towards them and a young female he wanted to have a serious conversation with. He told Brooke he was going to stay outside, using the excuse of his unwillingness to be present for a cheer conversation. He slowly walked over to the young female, trying not to make it obvious where his destination was.

Peyton was sitting in her favourite spot in the quad when Nathan walked up to her and sat down. He looked over to make sure Brooke didn't see where he was, before he opened his mouth. "You know she cares about you."

"Hello to you too Nathan." Peyton's eyes were still glued to her sketchbook. "And who are you talking about?"

"I don't really have to say her name as we both know who I'm talking about." He pauses for a moment, trying to gauge her reaction but she didn't move her eyes from her picture. "She does care, even though she doesn't show it all time." He turns to look in Brooke's direction to see if she was still in the same spot. He then turns back to look at Peyton. "She told me what happened between the two of you last week."

Peyton's head shot up. "She told you."

A little grin formed on his face. "Yeah, in fact she told me everything."

"Everything." He nodded "What did she say exactly?" She asked.

"She explained what happened last year and why you left." Nathan whispered the next part. "She's sorry and she hopes you can fully forgive her."

Peyton shook her head and her suspicious side came out. "Did she send you here to talk to me?"

"Oh God no. She'll kill me if she finds out that I've spoken to you; I'm not her lapdog." He took a deep breath before continuing. "You should give her a chance, just sit down and talk to her; lay the cards on the table, once and for all."

Peyton placed her pencil on the table. "I don't think there are any cards to lay."

"A picture paints a thousand words." He pointed at her sketch. "Yours is saying a lot." He got up and walked away leaving Peyton staring at her sketch while his words resonated in her mind.

Nathan spotted Lucas and he shouted to get his attention. "Luc, bro, wait up." When Lucas noticed him, Nathan waved, and then looked back where he left Peyton. He could tell that he had left her with more things to think about.

When he approached Lucas he needed to stop something he had encouraged the previous day. "Listen, about yesterday. Maybe it's not a good idea for you to ask Brooke out."

Lucas squinted his eyes in confusion until he realised what Nathan was referring to. "You thought I was talking about Brooke." He started to laugh and instantly saw that his younger brother wasn't impressed. "Not that it's anything to laugh about. I was actually talking about Theresa."

Nathan looked relieved. "Phew." Lucas then showed him that he wasn't impressed. "No offence." He lightly tapped his brother's shoulder. "Well you still don't have to worry about the leftovers as I haven't slept with Theresa either."

"That's good to know." Lucas pointed in the direction of the front building and started walking with Nathan following. "What was Brooke getting excited over last night?"

"Just Brooke being Brooke. I was just staying over for the night and she was bursting with suggestions." Nathan didn't know why but he didn't want to tell his brother the truth. Maybe he thought that it would somehow get back to his father but he knew that Lucas would never say anything, especially as he wasn't really on speaking terms with Dan.

They walked through the bustling hallway, trying to avoid those that were running. A female voice broke the brothers out for their conversation. "Nathan, can I speak to for a moment." The female pointed in the empty classroom she was standing in front of.

Nathan turned to his brother. "I'll catch up with you later." He followed her into the classroom and she closed the door. "You know you're meant to keep the door open, Miss McIntyre."

"You know you can call me Melissa. What happened to you the other night?"

"I had some things to take care of." He answered coldly.

"You're saying that a lot recently. What's going on? Are you seeing someone else? Is it Brooke?" Jealously was evident in her voice, she already had the green eyes to match.

"I can't believe we're having this conversation. Can we do this later so you can get back to your job as a teacher and I can be the student."

"Nathan…" She was cut off by the sound of the bell.

"I'm gonna get to class." He walked out before she could say anything and headed down the hallway.

It was the end of the day and Peyton walked to her locker to grab a book she would need to complete an assignment, over the weekend. Before she lifted the top book, she noticed a folded piece of paper. She didn't recognise it and she was instantly suspicious. She looked around the hallway and then unfolded it. The words on the note just said 'Remember Wilmington'. She sighed and stared intently at the words.

"Hey." Haley bounced up to her. "You got a secret admirer."

Peyton closed the envelope and looked up at Haley. "No, just a reminder of the past. What has you so happy?"

"Nothing, other than getting top marks in last week's test." She showed Peyton the paper with the result.

Peyton wasn't overly impressed. "And that's different from any other day."

Even with the sarcasm, Haley could notice the tense tone in Peyton's voice. "What's wrong with you? You've been acting odd lately."

"Nothing. You know how it is, just a little preoccupied and need to work through a few things." Peyton replied with no real conviction.

Haley lowered her voice so that others around couldn't hear. "Here's some news for you. A little birdie told me that a certain relation of yours asked out a brunette cheerleader today and she said yes."

Peyton's head shot around and looked at Haley with surprise written all over her face. "Are you talking about Brooke?" She asked nervously.

"Oh no." Peyton breathed a sigh of relief while Haley continued. "He asked out Theresa. She seems nice. I haven't really spoken to her though."

Peyton breathed a huge sigh of relief. "It would be good for Lucas to have a life and stop hanging around us." Both girls laughed.

Haley stopped laughing first. "What are you up to tomorrow as I was thinking we could grab lunch after I finish my shift?"

"Lunch would be great. I have to hand in my proposal for the late night café anyway so I can just meet you at 1pm." Peyton finally closed her locker door and put the book in her bag but still held the note.

"I've got to go and drop something off at the tutor centre so I'll see you tomorrow." Haley waved goodbye and walked off in the opposite direction to where she initially came from.

Peyton walked to her car and threw her bag in the passenger seat. She sat in the car, not ready to start it up yet. She saw her sketchpad poking out of the bag and she picked it out. She stared at both the picture and the note; the link between the two was clear to her. The picture was a beautiful scene from Wilmington. She put both of them on the passenger seat and drove off.

Brooke was walking through the hallways; most students had left for the weekend. She was on her way to the quad to meet Nathan so they could go home. She passed the tutor centre and glanced inside spotting Haley. "What's tutor girl doing in here on a Friday afternoon. You should be living it up and being wild in the library. " She said with a hint of sarcasm and a smile on her face.

Haley turned round to face Brooke. "Very funny. I'm laughing so hard I might burst."

Brooke fully stepped into the room and took a seat. "Got a question for you. Is Jake working this and next weekend and will you help me with something because you kind of owe me?"

"Well that was like three questions." Brooke glared at her. "Ok. He's working both days this weekend and only Sunday next week. I guess I have no other choice but to help you with whatever it is."

Brooke clapped her hands in excitement. "Great. I'm planning a secret party at my beach house for Jake. It's his birthday next Saturday and I want to do something, especially with him leaving school. I wanted to throw it on Saturday but seeing as he's working on Sunday I'll have to throw it on Friday instead."

"Ok, so where do I come in?" A puzzled Haley asked.

"Your gonna help me with the planning and I'm gonna get the guest of honour to the party. I'm going to invite the players, cheerleaders and some of his classmates. I won't invite everybody; I don't want a massacre."

"Why are you asking for my help and not one of the cheer squad?" Haley questioned.

"Let's see you owe me a favour and I'm ready to collect on something that isn't embarrassing though I can easily change my mind and go back to my original plan. Anyway the two of you are actually becoming friends and he'll appreciate that more."

Haley nodded. "Alright, I'm in."

"Great." Brooke got up from the seat. "I better go or Nathan will kill me. See you later."

"Bye." Haley said as Brooke left the room.

Brooke walked quickly to the quad to a waiting Nathan who was sitting bouncing his basketball. "Finally." He said while getting up.

"And for that, you're gonna help me plan Jake's surprise birthday party."

Nathan groaned. "What did your last slave die of?"

"What slave? It's always been you." She chuckled. "Anyway we have some help in the form of Tutor girl because this has to be the best eighteenth birthday party ever, until yours and mine, of course."

A/N: I thought it was time I revealed one of the secrets. Stay tuned for more