GREEK TRAGEDY
:: xi. | laughter is for the week
( flashbacks will be in italics )

Ryland woke up on top of coffee table with a major headache and the funny part is ——— she's not a drinker or partier. So why the hell was she at Nathan's beach house at seven in the morning on a Tuesday?

However, she wasn't the only one there. She saw a couple of people leaving as her head slowly rose up. Eventually, Ryland finally made the effort into getting off the table even though it was a bit of a struggle. She made her way out the door and then stumbled on the steps, plopping down.

She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contacts, looking to find Ashely. Just when she was about to give her best friend a ring, Brooke came stumbling outside. She plopped down right next to the blonde.

"I didn't take you for much of a partier." Brooke glanced her way with a groggy tone.

"Neither did I." Ryland pressed Ashely's name before holding the phone to her ear.

She asked if she could swing by and pick her up and explain a little of why she needs to be picked up even though Ryland doesn't remember much of last night. After glancing Brooke's way, she also mentioned that Brooke needed a ride too.

Soon after, the call was ended and the two continued to sit on the porch, waiting for Ashely to arrive. And after about twenty minutes, she did. She pulled up in Chad's car, parking in the driveway. Ashely got out the car and approached her two friends who were still out of it.

Ryland looked up, sun blazing in her eyes, "What the hell happened to your face?"

"Peyton." Ashely nonchalantly spoke, "We got into it last night, remember?"

Brooke and Ryland both looked at each other, then back to Ashely before shaking their heads.

• • •

Everyone was at Nathan's party, it was always a must go. This one wasn't after a game, it was just a simple party. Everyone was drinking, dancing, making out, beer pong, a regular high school party.

Even though Ryland didn't want to go, Ashely always found a way to convince her to get out her comfort zone.

After the two walked in, they immediately went their separate ways. Ryland went to find Jake and Ashely went to find Lucas.

Soon everyone was doing their own thing, partying wherever in the house.

However, with Jake, Ryland found him on the balcony. He had a red cup in his hand as he watched over all the guests below having a good time.

He didn't even flinch when he felt arms wrapping around his waist. He knew it could only be one person. A smile crept upon his lips, "I was beginning to think Ashely didn't try hard enough."

"One thing about her, she always tries." Ryland unraveled her arms around him and moved to be by his side, looking over the balcony as well.

Jake sipped his drink, then passed it to Ryland. The blonde didn't hesitate because she trusted him with every fiber in her being. However, Ryland didn't just take a sip, she took a big gulp. Considering she hasn't drank in awhile, it didn't take her long to feeling a little tipsy.

Soon Jake helped Ryland to the kitchen and just as she seated on the island counter, she grabbed her own plastic cup. She took the bottle of coke and poured some in the cup, then mixed it with some rum.

She didn't know what was taking over her, but she just wanted to feel free. So drinking and letting loose for once, seemed like the only option at a Nathan Scott party.

Just as she was in the middle of finishing the cup, a loud crash was heard. She, Jake, and everyone else sprinted out the kitchen and found a fight in the living room.

"Lucas said you walked out, Peyton! And I couldn't hide my feelings anymore!" Ashely yelled, across the living room.

"A decent friend would've told me!" Peyton yelled back.

Ashely scoffed, "Please. You didn't show interest in Lucas till Brooke put you on the spot!"

"You bitch." Peyton practically used the coffee table as launching pad because she quickly landed on Ashely.

Just as Ashely was fighting Peyton off, a fist met her eye and excruciating pain. But that didn't stop her from getting a few punches in herself before others came and pulled the two off of one another.

Ryland stood there the whole time, confused about what was going on. She heard the mention of Lucas here and there but nothing was registering. Even though, she knew she was really drunk, that didn't stop her from trying to help the situation.

So she walked up to Ashely, put her arm on her friend's shoulder, but what happened next . . . no one expected.

Arm still on Ashely's shoulder, mouth wide open —— Ryland threw up all over ashely.

Everyone was too gagged to even laugh or snicker.

Ashely ran upstairs to hopefully clean herself, Ryland fell to the ground with Jake running to her aid.

It felt like the party of the century.

• • •

Brooke let out a light laugh, "Seems like you can't hold down your liquor."

Ryland rolled her eyes, words still slurred, "Shut up, whore."

Ashely soon got Ryland up, one arm over the shoulder and did the same with Brooke. She helped her two friends to the car, practically babying them. She buckled them in and whatnot before getting on the driver's side.

The first stop was Brooke. She was going to be taken home first and since she stays with Peyton, that's where Ashely was dreading the whole time. She was not in the mood for anymore confrontation.

After the ten minute drive, the car was pulled up in front of Peyton's house, on the curb. After ashely stopped the car, she got out to help Brooke. She threw Brooke's arm over her shoulders and began to the front door.

However, halfway there, that front door opened and Peyton walked out. She walked up to her friends and helped Ashely to help Brooke up to the door.

In the next five minutes, Brooke was put in the bed and Peyton was walking Ashely out.

"Thanks." Peyton mumbled, "I don't know why she just didn't call me." Ashely just shrugged, so Peyton continued, "You and Ryland heading to school?"

"No." Ashley shook her head, "I can't take her like that. Her parents would kill her and mine if I brought her to my house."

"Stay here then." Peyton opened the front door, "I'll help you get her to the couch. And I'm sorry about last night."

"Me too." Ashely lightly smiled.

The two then walked out the door and to the car. Once the door was open, they saw Ryland fast asleep. The two helped her through the front door and laid her on the couch. Their plan was to let Brooke and Ryland rest, then aspirin and water when the two wake up.

• • •

After a few hours Ryland had woken up. She found herself sitting up on a couch and after looking around for a brief moment, she realized where she was. So with that in mind, she stood up from the couch and headed to the staircase up to Peyton's room.

After walking up the steps, she made it to Peyton's room and found the light on. Ryland walked in and saw three people cuddled up in bed —— Peyton, Ashely, and Brooke.

Ashely scooted off the bed from the middle of Peyton and Brooke, "Look who's awake." The blonde made her way over to Ryland. She placed her hands on Ryland's arms, "How are you feeling?"

"Like i need an aspirin." Peyton pointed to her bathroom and Ryland continued her way, "Never drinking again."

Ryland went into the bathroom and saw the aspirin on a napkin that sat on the sink. She picked it up and put it in her mouth before grabbing the cup off the sink and filling it to a quarter with water. She used the water to swallow the small tablet, then poured out the extra that was in the cup in the sink.

Ryland soon exits the bathroom and finds herself leaning on Peyton's closet door.

"So, we find ourselves back here, huh." Brooke mentions, glancing at Ryland.

Ryland approaches the bed, "It seems we're two people who can't stand each other that find their way to each other."

Peyton chimed in, "So friends?"

"More like frenemies."

The four continued to chill at Peyton's place.

For Brooke and Ryland, it was a new step in their relationship. After everything the two gone through and the back and forth, it was a good step in the right direction. Of course Ashely or Peyton wasn't opposed to it, especially Ashely. She saw it as two of her friends slowly coming together —— which in her eyes, it's great.

a/n:
a lot of stuff is happening this
act, so get ready!!