Author's Note: I'm so, so, so sorry that I haven't updated this story until now. I got carried away with the semester, and then writing two additional stories ("Dimples, Green Eyes, and Ice Cream" and the newly completed, "Rain"). This chapter is going to be fairly short, but I wanted to get it out there for you guys to enjoy.

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"Lucas, you can't tell anyone", Brooke insists.

"Oh, no. I would never do that."

"Okay…I'm going to go find Rachel."

"Can I come?"

"Don't you want to hang out with your girlfriend?"

"Not right now. I want to hang out with you. We're friends, aren't we?"

Brooke smiles bashfully, "Yes, we are…"

"So, Rachel knows about this? That's what she came up to me at practice for?" Lucas asks as they begin walking.

"Yeah", Brooke nods, "She's like, super friend. I can't get her off my back."

"It's a far cry from the Rachel we met last year."

"I know!"

"You guys hated each other."

"I know. We've both matured a lot. She's practically my best friend, as scary as that is to say."

"Well, good. You need people on your side."

"Speak of the devil", Brooke says as she spots Rachel walking towards them.

"Hey!" Rachel calls back.

"I guess I'll go now", Lucas says.

"You don't have to leave on my account", the red head insists.

"No, it's not about you. I'm supposed to help my mom at the café."

"Alright, see you later," says Brooke.

"Bye", Rachel waves.

"See you at school. Call me if you need anything, Brooke."

"I will, thanks."

"Bye", Lucas turns around and walks back towards the café.

Rachel links arms with Brooke and they walk towards Rachel's SUV, parked around the block, "So, you told him?"

Brooke puts her right hand up, "He saw the teeth marks."

"Yes", Rachel says as she grabs Brooke's hand to get a closer look, "that's a lot of bite marks."

"Well, when you bite down on your hand repeatedly twice a day, this is bound to happen."

"But, still. Ouch."

"It doesn't hurt", Brooke pauses, "And I had no idea it was so obvious."

Rachel turns to face Brooke, "The marks will fade. And you can't really see them unless you're looking for them."

"Lucas saw them", Brooke shrugs.

Rachel shrugs in response, "Let's face it: Lucas is weird."

"I already knew that, Rach. You'd have to be weird to fall in love with Peyton."

"Ouch! She used to be your best friend."

"Used to being the key words. The skinny bitch stole my boyfriend."

"And your previous ten years of friendship mean nothing?"

"Frankly, yes. I don't need to hear this from you. We're young, friendships end. That's just how life works."

"Alright", Rachel and Brooke get into Rachel's SUV, "I always got a bad vibe from that girl", Rachel admits.

"I knew we were friends for a reason", Brooke laughs.

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The girl's bathroom on the second floor of Tree Hill High School was empty of students, except one popular brunette. That brunette, Brooke Davis, stands in front of a mirror, staring intently at her reflection. She takes a deep breath and smiles, pleased with herself that she is standing in an empty bathroom and hasn't made herself throw up.

Suddenly, the sink begins to get closer and the floor seems way closer than it should be. Brooke doesn't have time to react before she falls into herself and crumbles onto the hard tile floor. Luckily, Brooke does not hit her head directly, but she is still unconscious.

Though class in session, one curly haired blonde enters this same bathroom and stands shocked at the scene in front of her. Peyton runs to her ex-best friend on the floor.

"Brooke!" Peyton shakes the brunette lightly, trying to wake her up.

Brooke's eyes dart open, but react harshly to the bright lights, "Oww…", she scoots to lean her back against the wall, "Did I die and go to hell?" Brooke asks snidely to the blonde.

Peyton ignores the remark and asks seriously, "What the hell happened to you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about", Brooke says, playing dumb.

"Brooke, stop acting like an idiot. You passed out!"

"For a fake blonde, you sure catch on slow."

"Still not funny. Why'd you pass out?"

"No idea", Brooke shrugs, "I'm probably just a little dehydrated. Maybe I'm coming down with the flu."

"Sure…" Peyton responds suspiciously, "Do you need to see the nurse?"

"No", Brooke answers quickly and angrily.

"Is something going on that you're not telling me?" Peyton asks.

"Gee, I wonder", Brooke responds sarcastically as she stands up to look at her reflection. She grimaces.

"My G-d, Brooke. Can't I worry about my best friend?"

"Number one- no, you can't worry about me. Number two- we haven't been best friends in a long time", Brooke spits out as she saunters out of the bathroom, leaving Peyton there, her mouth wide open in disbelief.