Standing On Two Feet

++++OTH++++

"You ready?"

Peyton nodded, standing. She clung to Lucas's hand as they walked to her small bathroom. Peyton took a steadying breath, closing her eyes for a moment before picking up the pregnancy test. She felt all of the air rush out of her as if someone had just punched her in the stomach as she turned into Lucas's arms.

Lucas held her tightly, feeling her tears against his shirt, "Shh. It's--it's ok. Everything's ok."

Peyton let out a shaky, but relieved breath, "Thank God."

"It was just a false alarm," Lucas nodded. "Now everything can go back to normal."

"Luke, I..." Peyton trailed off, backing away from him.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I really don't see how we can go back to normal, not after this."

"But...but you're not pregnant," he pointed out confusedly.

"I know, but this whole thing's made me think. I'm not ready for something like that. I have so much stuff I want to do with my life. I just, I think it's too soon."

"Too soon for what, Peyton?"

"For us."

"Are you breaking up with me?" Lucas asked in disbelief.

"I just think we need to take a few steps back, that's all."

"Peyton, I can't take a few steps back with you. I can't do that again. It's either all or nothing. I'm tired of waiting to be able to be with you, and I'm not even talking about sex. If we do this, I'll give you my whole heart, I don't know any other way to be with you."

"Luke, don't say that."

"Decide, Peyton. Right now. Are you in or out?"

++++OTH++++

"What is this?" Haley asked, as she couldn't help but smile at well as Brooke beamed at her, handing her a thick envelope. "It's from Stanford?"

"Looks like it," Brooke nodded, sitting on the table next to her.

"But I don't get it. I already rejected their acceptance letter when Nathan and I decided to go to Duke. Why are they sending me something?"

"I don't know," Brooke shrugged. "Maybe you should open it and find out."

"Yea," Haley nodded, opening the envelope. She pulled out a packet of papers with a typed up letter on top.

"What's it say? What's it say?" Brooke asked excitedly.

"Dear Miss James...well that's odd."

"What is?"

"Well, when I applied, I was married to Nathan, so I applied as Mrs. Scott."

"Weird," Brooke nodded with a smile. "Keep reading."

"Dear Miss James, we are terribly sorry to hear that things didn't work out for you with your other pursuits in life, but we are thrilled to find out that you have once again set your sights on Stanford. Your spot has not been filled, and we are happy that we will be able to count you as one of our own come the fall semester. We think you will find Stanford as a wonderful home for you over the upcoming years, and we can't wait for you to become one of the family. Enclosed with this letter is a small packet of paper work that you need to fill out and return to us as soon as you can..." Haley looked at Brooke whose dimples were on full display as she silently read the letter along with her. "But I didn't."

"Didn't what?" Brooke asked, turning to her.

"I didn't ask to be reaccepted."

"Did you not want to?" Brooke's smile fell slightly. "I mean, isn't this your dream college?"

"Well yea, I've wanted to go there since I was little, but I mean, this is just out of the blue. How'd they know I changed my mind? And how'd they know to call me Miss James?"

Brooke shrugged.

"Brooke..." Haley began slowly.

"Yes..."

"You."

"Me?"

"You did this."

"Did what?"

"You wrote to them, didn't you?"

Brooke shrugged, "I just want for you to be able to follow your dreams, and I knew this was one of--"

She was cut off guard by Haley throwing her arms around her, pressing their lips together in a bruising kiss. When they broke apart, both girls were laughing.

"So, you're not mad?" Brooke asked hopefully.

Haley shook her head, "I love you."

"I love you too," Brooke grinned as happy tears fell down her girlfriend's cheeks. She brushed them away gently.

"What about you?" Haley asked. "What are you going to do?"

"My dad actually went to Stanford. No strings were pulled, I promise," she quickly added at the sight of Haley starting to protest. "I was just going to say that he has a nice apartment flat about fifteen minutes from campus. Seems like a nice place to live, wouldn't you say?"

"You're gonna come with me?" Haley asked, hopefully.

"Well yea, you can't get rid of me that easily. Besides, my parents already want me to go to California in a couple weeks for the summer. I want you to come with me. I mean, isn't there some orientation thing that you need to be going to anyway?"

"Yea," Haley nodded, tearing up once again.

"What? What's wrong?"

"You want me to meet your parents?"

Brooke smiled, tucking a curl behind the tutor's ear, "Well, yea. I mean, actually, no because they can be completely horrible, and I don't want to have to put you through that, but I do want you to know my family. It might explain why I'm so screwed up," she laughed.

Haley beamed, "I can't wait."

"Good," Brooke nodded.

"But what are you going to be doing while I'm in school? I know you, you can't sit still for five minutes."

"I'll be working on my fashion line of course," Brooke replied airily.

Haley nodded.

"And there's also this Business College nearby that seemed pretty happy about my interest in taking a few classes, so I thought I would take them up on their offer."

"Brooke," Haley beamed. "Really?"

"Yea," she replied. "I know how much it meant to you, and I thought about it and realized you were right. It definitely couldn't hurt for me to know a bit about business if I'm to become a millionaire."

"God, you are so amazing," Haley shook her head, bringing a hand up to cradle her face. She leaned forward, kissing her sweetly.

"Mmhmm," Brooke nodded as they slowly, pulled away, making Haley giggle.

There was a knock on the door.

"More surprises?" Haley asked.

Brooke laughed, as she stood to answer it, "Aren't we a little spoiled?"

Brooke opened the door, "Lucas?"

"Is Haley here?" he asked softly.

"Yea, come on in," Brooke ushered him inside. "Are you ok?"

"Luke? What's wrong?" Haley asked, hurrying to him.

"Peyton..."

"She's pregnant?"

"No."

Both girls let out a sigh of relief.

"She broke up with me."

"What?" Brooke asked in disbelief. "There's no way. She's crazy about you Luke."

"Not anymore," he shook his head.

"She's probably just still in shock from everything," Haley offered. "She'll come back around."

But Lucas shook his head, "I don't want her to."

"What?"

"I'm tired of this game she's always playing. I swear at times it's only as if she wants me when she can't have me, and as soon as she gets me, she just tosses me aside once again. I can't take it anymore."

Haley nodded, pulling him into a hug, catching Brooke's eye.

"Hey Luke," Brooke began thoughtfully.

He looked at her, keeping his arms tightly around Haley.

"What do you say to coming to California with Haley and I?"