A/N: Again thanks to everyone who read last chapter, and especially those who took time to review. I love all your comments. Love you guys.

Hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters.

Peyton spent the entire day in a dark haze. She didn't even know why she'd bothered to come to school today. It wasn't like she could concentrate on anything school related – or anything else for that matter. Her mind kept replaying those moments at Nathan's house.

Her friends had tried in vain to cheer her up. But what was there to smile about? That her boyfriend had once again betrayed her? Ex boyfriend, she corrected herself.

Brooke insisted they would work it out, but at the moment Peyton didn't feel like she even wanted to. Why should she put herself through the torture of taking back a guy who constantly broke her heart? She was tired of it. All of it. His cheating. His lies. His meaningless apologies.

She was so angry, not only with Nathan, but also with herself, for putting herself in this position time and time again, for falling for his crap every single time. It never changed; he screwed up, she called it quits, he apologized, she'd forgive him. Every time. And that was excluding all the petty arguments they had in between, where they didn't break up. It almost seemed pointless to continue.

Until she considered the good times. She couldn't deny their existence – when Nathan was sweet and caring and attentive to her every need. But all the while with a hoe on the side, she reminded herself.

'She doesn't mean anything to me. I'm in love with you,' she replayed his words. She wished she could believe them. But how could he sleep with someone else if he loved her? 'It was just sex,' he'd said. So, what did that mean? That she didn't satisfy him in bed? That he went elsewhere for sexual fulfillment because he failed to attain it with her? She tried to shake off the irrational thought, but she couldn't escape it completely.

She knew Nathan cared about her more than he did the other girls. There were times when she even believed he did love her, yet he always strayed. She felt like a ton of bricks had been dropped on her as she considered the idea that the problem must be with her. Maybe she was a lousy lover so that's why he grew bored with their sex life. He'd been her first and only so it made sense that more experienced girls knew how to please him better. That would explain why he always strayed sexually but never emotionally. She believed him when she said the girl meant nothing to him. Just sex. That's all any of them ever meant to him. Only with her did he care to pursue a public relationship.

It didn't matter though, she thought as her anger returned full force. He was the one who'd taught her everything about the pleasures of the flesh so if he wanted something more, he should have told her.

She felt Nathan's eyes on her as she slowly made her way to her locker. He hadn't attempted to speak to her all day and she knew he wouldn't. He would wait until he thought her anger had passed before trying to weasel his way back in with all his charming sweet talk. She knew him and his habits by now.

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Nathan watched her as she stopped by her locker to put her books away. He wanted to talk to her, to convince her he was sorry so that they could go back to normal, but he knew it was too soon. In a few days, once her temper had cooled, he would go to her and then everything would be fine – just like before. He knew her and her habits by now.

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"Hey Brooke!" Tyler shouted before she left the school. He and Tim had been on their way to practice when they'd spotted her leaving.

Brooke stopped as they approached her, noticing they both waved around a 50 bill.

"Friday," Tim said. He thought Nathan would definitely want to spend the weekend with Peyton.

"Monday," Tyler told her. He figured Nathan would want to take advantage of his single status to openly play the field at Damien's party this weekend.

"Uh, sorry, guys," Brooke said, shaking her head. "Bets are off this time."

"Aww," Tim replied, completely bummed out. "How come?"

"Because it caused a big fight between them last time."

"So?" Tyler asked with a shrug. "It's not like they wouldn't have found something else to argue about. They're always fighting."

"Yeah, but I don't like being the cause of it. Sorry."

"Ok, whatever. We'll just run it ourselves," Tyler replied, failing to see what the big deal was. "But since you won't be participating, how about giving us a heads up on what day to pick," he added with a goofy grin, knowing that whatever she said would likely be right.

"That's cheating!" Tim accused.

Tyler shrugged. "No one will be the wiser and we can split the winnings."

"You sly dog, you," Tim said laughing. "Why didn't I think of that?"

Brooke chuckled at the duo. "Ok, just leave me out of it. If I were to pick a day, which remember I'm not, but if I did, it would be Saturday."

"Why Saturday?" Tyler asked.

"Because it'll take until then for Peyton to cool off and Nathan knows better than to even try talking to her before that."

They nodded in agreement and thanked her for the input, then ran off toward the gym.

Brooke just shook her head. They'd better hope Peyton didn't find out they were keeping the bet going or they'd be dead meat.

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Lucas was in the locker room, as were several of the players, preparing for the second final practice before the big game tomorrow. The final practice Whitey had scheduled for 7 a.m. tomorrow morning. Lucas didn't know it, but he was just minutes away from discovering what Peyton had been so upset about earlier.

Tyler and Tim entered the room and immediately went around collecting money and taking everybody's guesses as to when Nathan and Peyton would make up. They worked fast so as not to get caught before Nathan arrived. It was no surprise that their star player wasn't there yet. He always came at the very last minute. Most times he was either busy making out with Peyton or he was in Whitey's office discussing game plays or being warned about his attitude.

"They broke up again?" Jake asked, to which Tim and Tyler nodded. "Already?"

"Yeah," Tyler confirmed. "Didn't you notice Peyton giving him the cold shoulder all day?"

Jake shrugged. "Maybe they just had a fight. That's not exactly a stretch for them."

"Neither is breaking up," Tim pointed out. "Which I know they did because I asked him."

"Geez," someone one else said. "They're getting worse. They didn't even make it two weeks this time."

"Tell me about it," Tyler said in agreement. "I thought they'd at least last till the weekend. And then fight at the party when he started flirting with the girls."

"Ever think maybe they're meant to be with other people?" Damien piped in.

Jake laughed. "You mean Nathan with some chick and Peyton with you?"

Damien threw Jake an evil glare. He was another one he couldn't stand. The guy acted like he was a freaking saint. "With other people in general," he said as if to clarify.

The other guys shook their heads in denial.

"Why not?" Damien questioned. "I mean they barely get along at all, they argue over anything and everything, he fucks around on her every chance he gets, she's always bitching at him for something, they have nothing in common, they're constantly breaking up. Why the hell are they together?"

Tyler shrugged. "Because they're Nathan and Peyton. They just belong together."

"See, that's just it," Damien countered. "I can't see it. I don't get why everyone thinks they're this perfect match. I mean, other than the fact that he's hot shot Scott, and she's the hot cheerleader. I say they'd both be happier with other people."

"No way, man," Tim declared confidently. "It's always been Nathan and Peyton. Always will be. It's written in the stars."

"Didn't know you were such a romantic, Tim," Jake said amusingly.

"Shut up. I know true love when I see it," Tim shot begrudgingly.

"I'm just saying maybe they're not the golden couple everyone sees them as," Damien continued. "I mean, look at their history. They're either fighting or they're fucking. What kind of relationship is that?"

"Who are you guys talking about?" Nathan asked, his sudden appearance taking them by surprise. No one but Luke had noticed him come in and he sure wasn't going to give them any warnings. "Me and Peyton?" Nathan guessed when nobody answered him.

"Nate…" Jake began, only to be interrupted.

"We do a lot more than fight and fuck," Nathan declared angrily. He'd already been pissed off enough by Whitey's threat to either pick up his grades or be put on academic probation, so to walk in to the locker room and overhear his friends' crude remarks about him and Peyton infuriated him all the more.

"Hey, don't look at me," Jake said with hands raised. "I didn't say it. Nor do I agree with it," he assured his friend.

Tyler, Tim and the others backed away as well, denying any role in that particular statement.

"What the fuck, man?" Nathan spat, glaring daggers at Damien, a guy he called friend.

"Just calling it as I see it, Nate. A simple observation," Damien replied defensively. "It just seems to me that sex and arguments are the two main contributing factors in your relationship. But hey, maybe I'm wrong," he added to appease Nathan's temper.

"Damn right, you're wrong," Nathan snarled contemptuously.

"Ok. Whatever you say, Nate," Damien said indulgently.

His tone angered Nathan even more, so that he shoved him hard, Damien's body slamming violently against the lockers.

"Hey, Hey, Nate, come on," Tyler said, grabbing him from behind to hold him back.

"Get the hell off me, man," Nathan demanded, shrugging free of his friend's grasp. He glared back at Damien, but before he could say or do anything else, Whitey opened the door, sticking his head in the doorway.

"What are you ladies doing in there? Let's go!" he hollered.

They filed out one by one, Lucas lagging behind, surprised by what had just transpired.

It was a long, strenuous practice, in which Nathan was thankful for. It helped him release some of his pent up anger, but he was glad when it was over too. As bad as his day had been, he was exhausted and all he wanted to do was go home and sleep, which is exactly what he did. But just before falling asleep, he lay in his bed, thinking about Damien's words. What the hell did he know about his relationship with Peyton?

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Brooke and Rachel walked into Peyton's room, finding her sitting in the middle of her bed, hugging her knees, her face resting on them. The CD of all her favorite failed love songs blared through her stereo speakers.

Peyton looked up when the music suddenly stopped. Disappointed to have her solo time interrupted, she tried her best to cover it up by gracing her friends with a weak smile. She didn't want company, but she knew they meant well.

"We brought ice cream," Brooke said cheerfully. "Hope you're hungry."

Peyton smiled again. Who had to be hungry to eat ice cream? She slid over toward the edge of the bed, letting her feet dangle over the edge and taking the spoon Rachel handed her.

Her two friends joined her on the bed, all three digging out of the same container.

"So, how are you holding up, P. Sawyer?" Brooke asked her.

"Oh great," Peyton responded sarcastically. "If it weren't for my boyfriend cheating on me for the millionth time just minutes before I showed up at his house, this would have been a perfect day."

"Well, if it helps, I gave him hell today."

"That doesn't really help," Peyton told her best friend. "But tell me you hung him by the balls somewhere and I'll be forever grateful," she added devilishly.

"Hmm, sorry, didn't go near his balls. I didn't want to add sticks to the fire," she said, putting a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.

"It's wood," Peyton corrected. "Wood to the fire."

"Wood, sticks, same thing," Brooke stated with a shrug. "Salt to the wound, whatever. You know what I mean."

"I don't actually," Peyton confessed.

"You know…I didn't want to add to the existing rumors. These people already have me sleeping with him based on a few friendly gestures, I can only imagine if anyone ever saw me grabbing his balls."

"People don't really need ammunition, Brooke. They'll say whatever they want to say, without any reason sometimes," Peyton with disgust.

"I know. I don't know what is wrong with them. I swear they live for the latest gossip. And I seem to be the main star in their little made up fantasies. They're vicious."

"Speaking of fantasies, you won't believe the one I heard today," Rachel told them as Brooke's words reminded her. "Ok, according to the grapevine, Nathan broke things off because he caught you two doing the nasty and was pissed off because you wouldn't let him join."

"Get out!" Peyton exclaimed, truly flabbergasted.

"I'm serious," Rachel assured her.

"So P. Sawyer," Brooke spoke in an outrageously flirty tone as she nudged her best friend and batted her eyelashes. "How was I? Was it everything you ever dreamed it would be?"

"Apparently not, considering I don't remember a thing," Peyton answered.

"Oh well, that just proves how untrue it is, because one night with me and, trust me, you'd never forget it," Brooke bragged. "Besides, I think Nathan would be just fine watching."

Peyton shook her head. "For a while sure, but after that he'd definitely want to join." Peyton said knowingly. "But could we not talk about him anymore?"

The two immediately apologized and started bantering about other things, carefully avoiding the subject of Nathan Scott.

Peyton appreciated their efforts but couldn't get into their casual chitchat. Her mind kept drifting back to that raven haired, blue-eyed boy who'd broken her heart.

"For the record, I think you did the right thing by dumping his ass," Rachel told her when it became clear that avoiding the topic was futile. "That boy needs to be taught a lesson."

Peyton furrowed her eyebrows into a scowl. "Is that what you think I'm doing? Teaching him a lesson?"

"Isn't it?" Rachel asked in confusion. Wasn't that why she always ended things with him? Not that he ever learned, but still.

Peyton denied the accusation. "I broke up with him because I'm tired of his bullshit, not so I can train him."

"Ok," Rachel replied unconvincingly.

"If you have something to say, then say it," Peyton challenged.

"It's nothing. Really." Maybe she should have just kept her mouth shut.

"Rachel."

"Ok," she said, giving up. "Well, you say you've had it with Nathan…"

"Yeah?" Peyton urged her to continue.

"Well, it's just… we all know you're just mad, Peyton. In a few days Nathan's gonna come over, sweet talk his way back into your good graces and you'll take him back. You know you will. And you'll be happy, until he screws up again, thus the whole cycle of dumping him and trying to convince everyone, including yourself, that this is really it this time, starts all over again."

There she'd said it. Saturday at the Bowling Alley, she'd given Nathan her dose of reality and now it was Peyton's turn. She hated to be the one to do it, but somebody had to lay it out for those two if they ever expected to get their happily ever after.

"Rachel," Brooke rebuked angrily. "Peyton takes him back because she loves him enough to give him the chance to redeem himself."

"Yeah, over and over. But he doesn't redeem himself, does he? How many chances does he get?"

"As many as I'm willing to give him," Peyton retorted with hostility.

Rachel nodded. "Ok. I'm just saying he doesn't learn a thing as long as you always give in to him. He's got no reason to change. But it's totally up to you what you do."

"Yeah it is," Peyton agreed. "Whether I take Nathan back, or how many times, is my decision, no one else's. So mind your own damn business."

"Ok, retract the claws," Rachel said. "It's just my opinion and you did ask."

"My mistake," Peyton accepted. "Now, if you don't mind, I'd really rather be alone right now."

"Hun," Brooke said, touching her arm.

"No, Brooke please. I appreciate you trying to cheer me up and everything. I just want to be by myself for a while. Ok?" She really hoped Brooke would understand.

"Ok," Brooke told her softly. "But if you need me, call me."

"I will. Thanks."

"Anytime."

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"Way to go, Rach," Brooke snapped once they were out of Peyton's earshot. "You made her feel worse."

"That's because the truth always hurts."

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Peyton lay in her bed, thinking about Rachel's words. What the hell did she know about her relationship with Nathan?