The Quest

The three girls were sitting in Karen's café. At first Peyton and Brooke didn't know how to act with each other. Nervous glances were the main thing that they shared with each other. With Haley being there, they both internally decided to act civil and not draw attention to the uncomfortability they were feeling. Peyton hadn't really spoken since she saw Brooke. Haley had seen a change in attitude by Peyton but didn't press into it. She was just happy that they were all able to sit together. She had also noticed that Brooke seemed to be making an effort to be nice to Peyton. The blonde wasn't completely unresponsive to this but she was hesitant all the same.

While Peyton had been mostly silent, Haley had been filling Brooke in on the blonde's idea for the café. "It's a really good idea Peyton. Can anyone get involved on the night?" Brooke asked, being genuinely interested in the idea.

Peyton was looking everywhere but at Brooke until she had to answer. "Yes." Her eyes connected with Brooke's for a brief moment. "Whether it is singing, poetry, whatever people want to do." Peyton looked at Haley, seeing the pleasure in her face, that the three of them were having a civilised conversation.

"It will be good to see what hidden talents people have. I don't have any myself." Brooke noticed Peyton's inability to look her in the eye. She knew she was making her nervous, as she was also feeling nervous around the blonde. She looked at her watch and realised that she hadn't even done what she had intended. She got carried away with the conversation with the two other girls. "I'm just gonna speak to Jake and also place my order." Her words were directed at Haley and she got up and walked over to the counter.

Brooke had placed the order for her and Nathan and decided to start the ball rolling in 'project Jag' as she decided to name it. "So I hope you're not doing anything on Friday because I want to take you out to dinner."

Jake was standing behind the counter with a cloth in his hand. After he had given her order in the kitchen, he had distinctively picked up the cloth. "What's the occasion Brooke?" He was very suspicious of her and couldn't help but show it.

Brooke stood on the other side of the counter with her hands on her hips. She decided to answer him with a question of her own. "Can't I take you out for dinner?"

"You've never done it in the past so again I ask what's the occasion?" He squinted his eyes and hoped that she would provide some sort of information into why.

Brooke sat down in the seat she was standing next to, thinking that this conversation wasn't going to be as quick as she thought it would be. "I just wanted us to do something. Is there any harm in two friends hanging out?" She didn't want to mention anything about his birthday as she knew he would immediately think she was planning something else, which wouldn't be far from the truth.

Jake walked round the counter and took a seat next to Brooke. "I guess not."

"Great. You will have to get a babysitter. I'll promise to make it up to Jenny and we can go to the park or something like that." She remembered that she promised to spend some time with the both of them and wanted Jake to know that she hadn't forgotten.

"Ok, you can take me out but you have to treat me with respect and I want the full treatment. I want to be spoilt, with flowers and everything." The two of them laughed and he pulled her into a hug, kissing her forehead. "I'll even pick you up." She threw in, as the two of them laughed.

Peyton had watched Jake and Brooke, while Haley was talking to her. Haley didn't seem to notice the piercing eyes directed at the boy and girl. Brooke pulled out of the hug and she turned and met Peyton's eyes. Both wore timid smiles and didn't really know what to do but stare at each other. Peyton, who turned back to Haley, interrupted their gaze.

Brooke took a deep breath, pondering about what Peyton's look meant. There was so many things that she wanted to talk to Peyton about but the other girl wasn't giving her a chance. She felt that in that little moment, there might be hope for her yet, but she wasn't betting on it. She walked over to where the girls were sitting and return to her seat. "I've sorted it Tutor girl, 'project Jag' is in motion." Peyton looked at the two of them confused but shook it off anyway.

Haley nodded while her eyes were looking in the direction of the male. Brooke noticed where Haley's eyes were directed and she decided to probe. "So Haley, what do you think about Jake then?" Brooke asked. This question took the other girls by surprise.

Haley started to feel embarrassed and avoided looking at anything except her hand. "I think he's ok." She said, not too convincingly.

Peyton sat in silence while Brooke quietly taunted Haley. "Well I think he's cute and there are plenty of girls that would jump at the chance of getting in his pants."

"Would one of them be you?" Haley asked. Brooke's eyes moved to Peyton's and she said, "No, I have my eye on someone else." Brooke looked intently at Peyton who was looking straight back. Brooke's eyes moved back to Haley. "I'm gonna use the ladies room before I head off." Brooke got up and slowly walked off, smiling at Jake on the way. She walked into a stall, but before she got a chance to close the door, Peyton quickly pushed her in and closed it behind her.

"Why are you here?" Peyton demanded, while her hand went through her hair.

"I want to use the bathroom, why are you in here?" She replied pointing downwards.

Peyton could feel the frustration boiling inside of her. Now was not a good time for Brooke to be sarcastic, she just wanted a straight answer. "Don't mess with me, why did you come to the café, are you following me now?"

"No I'm not. I just popped in to speak to Jake. I didn't know you would be here." Brooke couldn't believe that Peyton would think that. She was a lot of things but definitely not a stalker. "Anyway if you want to open this up, you put one of your drawings through my door. Why?"

"Well you put a note in my locker." Once the words came out of her mouth, Peyton instantly knew she was being childish. She couldn't help it though; sometimes the brunette brought this side out of her. She stood there waiting for a response but also feeling that she had the answer already.

Brooke watched her and knew that someone had to stop. "Is this what its come to between us?"

Peyton shrugged her shoulders. "Why did Nathan come and speak to me and tell me he knew everything?"

"What, I told him not to say anything." Brooke tried to move past Peyton but she was blocking the door and not in any hurry to move. Brooke threw her hands down in frustration. "Why did you follow me in here Peyton?"

Peyton couldn't muster a response. Their faces were in close contact with each other and her eyes were darting from Brooke's eyes to her lips and back again. All she could feel was Brooke's breath on her face and the underlying feeling inside. For the first time in a while, the cloudiness in her mind was clear and she moved closer until she felt her lips on Brooke's. It was a slow and sensual kiss that Brooke tried to deepen. Peyton pushed Brooke so her back was against one side of the cubicle. She then pulled away, looking straight into Brooke's eyes.

Brooke opened her eyes slowly and smiled. "Does this mean you're giving us another try?" Peyton placed both her hands on either side of Brooke's face. She moved closer to Brooke making her think she was going to kiss her again but she pulled away. She repeated this a couple of times before she finally kissed Brooke again. Brooke smiled in the kiss and pulled away mumbling, "I take that as a yes then." Peyton nodded then pulled on Brooke's belt loops to bring her body closer. Brooke snaked her arms around Peyton's neck, feeling the need to close every inch between them.

They were interrupted by the sound of the main bathroom door. "Brooke are you still in here?" Haley called out. Peyton and Brooke pulled away from each other, trying not to make too much noise, but they were finding it hard not to giggle. "Yeah, what's up?"

"Have you seen Peyton, I thought she came in here?" Peyton was giggling more after Haley's question and Brooke hit her on the arm. Peyton wasn't impressed by this move so she decided to get her own back. She moved to Brooke's neck and started kissing and sucking. Brooke was trying her best not to make any noise but she was finding it hard not too. "Peyton." She called. She had to think fast. "Hmm. Err she might have gone on the roof." Peyton pulled away and started giggling and it was getting louder so Brooke did the only thing she could think of to get her to be quiet and she kissed her. "Are you ok in there?" Haley started to walk closer to the cubicle. Brooke pulled away from the kiss and upon hearing the footsteps she came up with something to stop Haley in her tracks. "All these questions are kind of stopping me doing what people do in here. I'm not one for an audience when it comes to this."

Haley stopped moving as it clicked in her head. "I'm gonna head out and see if she's up there." Once the door was shut, Brooke looked at a now grinning Peyton. "You better leave as you're surprisingly not on the roof and I need to do what I came here for. I really don't like an audience." Peyton nodded and turned to unlock the door. Before she opened it, Brooke turned her around and kissed her hungrily. She pulled away and softly spoke, brushing her finger on Peyton lips. "I've missed this." Peyton kissed her again "So have I." She then walked out the bathroom.

Peyton looked to see if Haley was around and made her way back to their table. Haley came back and sat in her seat. "Where did you go?" Haley questioned. "I just needed some fresh air and went out the back." Brooke bounced back as Peyton was answering, looking very cheerful. She had collected her food from Jake and went to pick up her shopping bags. "I'm gonna head off now Tutor girl but it was a pleasure, as always." Brooke leaned over the back of Peyton to reach for something that she left on the table, gently brushing her body against Peyton's.

"Brooke what's that on your neck?" Haley pointed.

Brooke moved away from behind Peyton's back and her hand immediately went to the spot on her neck. Peyton looked at Brooke and started laughing uncontrollably.

"I really don't want to know what you get up to in the bathroom." Haley was holding in her laugh but a snigger found it's way out.

Brooke's cheeks went bright red. "Well on that note, bye." Both girls were still laughing when they said bye to Brooke as she left Karen's Café. Haley looked back at Peyton. "That's so funny." Haley took a sip of her drink. "You two seemed to be getting along better."

Peyton gulped and all she could say was, "You can say that."

A/N: So there it is, another answer for you, if you can call it that. I didn't intend on posting so close to the last update but I thought I'll give you guys a treat.