GREEK TRAGEDY
:: xxvi. | round one

Ashely laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling at six in the morning. It had only been a week since she got out the hospital and learning about the last six months she missed was not easy as well as now having to readjust to her life and catch up on school. She's set to graduate in a few months and man, did she think that she wasn't going to make it.

Even with everyone rallied around her, she felt confused and lost. The last thing she remembers before the coma was breaking into the school with Ryland, then after it's all a blur. To top it off, she now has to deal with two people who want her back, Alexa being gone cause she graduated, and her best friend sort of dating her other best friend.

She's just happy no one got pregnant when she was gone.

As she continued to lay there, Ryland came back into the room with coffee and bagels from Karen's Cafe.

"You ready for your first day?"

It took Ashely a moment to form an answer, "N-no. School, Rachel, Lucas, and my fucking parents ———— i honestly don't want to deal with that right now. Tell me more about you and Brooke?"

"Only if you get out of bed afterwards. And my advice about Luke and Rachel, just ignore them. With school, Haley said she'll help you catch up." Ryland passed Ashely a coffee as she sat up and sat next to her, "Brooke wants to keep it on the down low and I just have to be cool with it."

Ashely sipped her coffee, "No you don't. You want to show her off, hold her hand and you have every right to feel that way. I respect Brooke's decision, but I just don't want her stringing you along if it's never going to be anything serious. I don't want to see you get hurt. Jake's already done that."

"Which Brooke knows. She'd never do that."

"I thought the same with Lucas and look where that got me." Ashely sighed, "Just don't get your hopes up."

Ryland nodded and as Ashely agreed, she got out the bed to get ready for her first day back since leaving the hospital.

Chad and Ryland waited for her and as soon as she was done, they all took Chad's car and was eventually off to school.

• • •

Rachel was already at the school at that morning and she already had her plan cooped up. She was going to use Lucas to get Ashely back. She figured the only way to make Lucas not irresistible to Ashely was to make it seem like he was interested in her. Now, sure it's a bit twisted but she couldn't figure any other way. Especially, when Ashely sees her exes getting along, that'll definitely get under her skin.

Once the redhead saw Lucas, she got up from where she was and immediately approached him.

"Pretty boy, scott ——— at least one of you."

"Rachel, right?" His hands were in his front pockets.

A smile appeared across her lips, "So you've heard of me?"

"Barely. What's up?"

"I heard you and Ashely didn't quite work out." She lightly shrugged, "What if i told you I could help fix that?"

"What's in it for you?"

"That's for me to know and for you to eventually find out. What do you say?" Rachel noticed from the corner of her eye, Ashely heading from the parking lot and looking in their direction.

"I don't know."

Rachel leaned in and held his neck, placing a light kiss, "You sure?"

"She's around, isn't she?"

Rachel stepped back, she turned on her heels and began heading into the school, "See you later, pretty boy."

As soon as Rachel walked into the building, she immediately headed to Ashely's locker where she found Ashely and Ryland chatting about. She didn't mind interrupting because she didn't give two shits about Ryland. Ryland never liked her and she never liked Ryland or Alexa for that matter.

"Happy to see me?" Rachel looked to Ashely.

"Leave her alone." Ryland spoke, "Why the fuck are you even back?"

Rachel annoyingly sighed, "California got boring ———— " She looked back to Ashely, "And i missed you."

"Then maybe you shouldn't have left." Ashely closed her locker and began walking away with Ryland.

"It wasn't my choice!"

Ashely rushed back over, "You said you loved me and then the next day you were gone. Everything you did was very much your choice. You didn't even tell me you were leaving." She turned back around to head back to Ryland.

But Rachel stopped her in her tracks, "You didn't tell me you loved me back."

Ashely scoffed as she turned back around, "How could i? You were already gone."

"And I'm back now." Rachel extended her arms.

"She doesn't fucking care!" Ryland spoke from behind, "Maybe you shouldn't have left. I don't know, just a thought. Maybe things would be a little different."

The two blondes carried on their way, leaving Rachel a bit annoyed and frustrated. However, the redhead wasn't gonna quit. One way or another, Ashely was gonna be her's again.

• • •

Later that day, tryouts were being held for the cheerleading team. A member had left and well, Brooke needed to replace her. It was kind of a last moment type thing that was scrambled together but needed to happen.

The tryouts were in the auditorium because the gym was occupied by the basketball team.

Brooke, Peyton, and Ryland were all behind the table, deciding on who would get in and not. It was mostly Brooke and peyton's decision, but Ryland was just there because she had nothing better to do. But also cause Ashely was getting tutored by Haley around that time.

Brooke check off her list as she called the next person and to Ryland's surprise, there walked Rachel up the stage.

"Whenever you're ready." Peyton spoke and as soon as the music cued, Rachel began her routine.

Ryland knew she was good but considering their past, she wanted nothing to do with Rachel.

She leaned down to Brooke's ear whispering, "Consider your decision carefully."

Brooke whispered back, "Do you know something I don't?"

"Think long and hard."

As soon as Rachel finished and the music stopped, Brooke leaned over to Peyton. The two discussed for about five minutes or less before a final decision was made.

Brooke stood up from the chair behind the table, "You're in. Welcome to the Ravens."

Rachel smirked towards Ryland and the blonde just rolled her eyes.

She could've easily filled Brooke in, but she thought that was Ashely's business so she didn't say anything.

As soon as everyone left the auditorium, Brooke turned to Ryland with a happy expression.

"Ready for our first date tonight?"

Ryland smiled, "Yeah. What do you have up your sleeve?"

"It's a surprise." Brooke quickly pecked Ryland's lips, "See you tonight."

"Wait ———— that was ———— "

"A preview." Brooke turned on her heels and began to exit the auditorium, "Don't be late!"

• • •

After school rolled around and Chad was leaned up against the hood of Peyton's car in the parking lot. He was waiting for her. He wanted to talk and get things off his chest about their relationship and what happened at that party a few weeks ago.

He honestly thought that she was being inconsiderate of his feelings and that maybe she cared a little bit more about Lucas than him ———— which is bizarre because he knew that's not who Peyton was but he couldn't help but feel that way.

Just to his surprise, he saw Peyton and Lucas heading his way. He scoffed at the sight of them and as soon as Peyton saw him at the car, that's when she parted ways from Lucas.

"I'm not trying to dictate of who you hang out with, but you know how I feel about him." He began as soon as she approached, "I mean, what the hell was that at the party?"

"Two friends talking, Chad. That's it."

He shook his head, "I don't buy that. We literally date in secret and that's because you don't want to hurt his feelings. Well news flash, he's trying to get Ashley back. I doubt he'll care about who you're dating now."

That caught Peyton off guard, "He wants Ashely back?"

Just by her reaction, Chad now knew, "You still have feelings for him." His tone got soft, "God, I fucking knew it."

"Chad ———— !" He didn't care to listen and continued his way to his car. Peyton kicked her tire, "Damnit."

Sure, deep down there will always be something between Lucas and Peyton. But that wasn't necessarily the case this time. Peyton likes to live in her own little bubble sometimes and not have the whole world smothering her basically. She figured if everyone knew about her and Chad, then all there would be is just constant drama and whatnot. She just didn't want to deal but instead, that's exactly what she got. Top of that, maybe even losing her boyfriend.

• • •

"Under a bridge?" Ryland chuckled, "How romantic."

Brooke sat down on the grass next to Ryland, her legs hanging over the edge as well, "It's where me, Ashely, and Peyton always came to talk about real shit. But also, it's really pretty."

Ryland smiled seeing Brooke's smile, "Like you. You're really pretty, y'know."

"Is that all?"

Ryland placed her hands on the grass behind her, helping her stay up, "You're creative, smart, talented."

Brooke flipped her hair, "I know. Go on."

Ryland's tone got a tad serious, "You're amazing Brooke."

Brooke noticed the change in tone and before she knew it, her lips were on Ryland's.

Even though Brooke was still figuring everything out for herself, she felt some connection to Ryland. She likes Ryland and she was figuring it out how to go about that. Sure, she slept with Ashely but that was different because with Ryland, she wants to have a relationship with her.

Her feelings were growing by the second, but the burnette was a little scared.

Brooke soon pulled away, "Sorry, that was . . ————— you do something to me, Edwards and I don't know if I like it." She joked a bit.

Ryland had a smug expression, "You like it."

Eventually, Brooke pulled out two sandwiches, snacks, and drinks out her bag. The two just continued to sit there while talking and eating. The date was simple, even for Brooke, considering she's the type to go all out. But it was simple in a good way. The two really took the time to get to know each other more and talk about the past a little bit.

Ryland wanted to go deeper into that, but Brooke refused because she doesn't like reopening old wounds. Ryland was understandable but figuring out what went wrong in the beginning was very important to her.

Other than that, the date was pretty much a success.

a/n:
i just have this one
tree hill juice flowing
rn && I'm not mad
abt it 🤷‍♀️