GREEK TRAGEDY
:: xxviii. | best mistake

The three continued to chat but moved it to the roof, outside of Ryland's window. The laughing and giggling couldn't stop amongst the three. It felt like old times but the only one missing was Chad. Before Lucas, Alexa and Haley, it was just them four. Then they met those three and their small friend group got a little bigger. They decided that seven was enough and since then it's been that way.

However, the dynamic kind of shifted when Lucas and Ashely got together but they didn't let their breakup affect anything which was kind of them to do and also the Lucas and Chad falling out didn't help either.

And now Ryland can't stop thinking the worst in a happy matter right then. She was enjoying her time with her friends, but all she could think of was Brooke and Chris.

"I'm sorry, guys. I feel like I'm killing the mood." Ryland briefly paused, "What do you think they're doing?"

Jay looked to her, "If you're that worried then go to her."

"It's not that I'm worried, it's that I know we're not dating dating but I thought she'd care enough to not ask anyone out."

"Again, go talk to her." Jay pulled the joint from between his lips, "Because just sitting here and venting isn't going to do much."

Ryland sat there for a moment or two before getting up to head back in the room. She was going to go talk to Brooke and explain her thoughts. She just wanted the burnette to understand and acknowledge her feelings about everything.

After a ten minute drive to Haley's place, Ryland parked in one of the many empty spaces before getting out the car. She soon headed to the staircase and walked up, eventually running into Tree Hill's it couple.

"Hey." Ryland's tone was soft, "Is Brooke awake?"

"She was, but that was like twenty minutes ago." Nathan replied with his arm around Haley. The couple was standing on the balcony, talking when Ryland came up.

The blonde nodded with a smile and headed through the door. She walked to the room and knocked on the door, "Hey, it's me." Ryland opened the door and walked in. If only she could've prepared herself for what she was going to see.

She felt like it was the whole Lucas and Peyton situation again, but Chris wasn't a friend and the only one to blame is Brooke.

As soon as she saw, she immediately closed the door back and began to rush out of there all while Brooke was quickly putting clothes back on.

The burnette quickly rushed out, hoping to get a moment with the blonde. However, by the time Brooke could get out the apartment, Ryland was long gone.

"Ryland looked pissed on her way out, she ok?" Haley walked through the door with Nathan behind her.

Brooke shrugged, "Something with her family." Was the best lie she could think of in that moment.

• • •

The next morning, Brooke sat sobbing on the couch with Peyton and Haley by her side. She couldn't believe what she did just thinking about Ryland seeing that last night made it even worse.

"Wait ——— so, she saw you two?" Peyton asked.

"Yes." Brooke spoke overwhelmingly, "How many more times do i have to say it?"

"In our defense we didn't know you two were a thing and you told me it was about her family." Haley chimed in.

Brooke sighed, "Well, yeah. I didn't want no one knowing but I had no one to talk to about this and now it's fucked up." She shook her head, "She's never going to talk to me."

All of a sudden there was a ring of the doorbell. The three got up and went to the door. Peyton opened it and there stood Chris with a box of muffins.

He smiled, "I never leave them hanging and the more the merrier."

The three had disgust written all over their faces. Brooke snatched the muffins from him while Haley slammed the door shut. That Saturday morning, the three continued to sit there ———— Peyton and Haley consoling Brooke.

While they were together, Ryland was with Ashely. She was venting yet again but about what she saw and how she can't get it out of her head.

"I wish I was blind. It's forever embedded in my mind." Her mind wandered to just Brooke, "Not in a million years did I think Brooke was capable. She led me on for months, stringing me along, had me thinking there could be something serious ———— only for her to just sleep with fucking Chris Keller."

"Brooke's many things and her bouncing around is one of them. She's never going to just stick with one person, ry."

Ryland looked out her window, "Yeah, I know that now. But these feelings aren't going to go away."

Ashely nodded, understandingly. She then got up and reassured Ryland that everything's going to be ok before heading out.

• • •

Hours later, Ryland was still cooped up in her room. She hadn't really left since last night but although the day was a bit gloomy, she did smile about one thing and that was Chad telling her good news of him and Peyton. According to him, they're officially together. She knew how bad he's been wanting that, so that made her happy even more. However, she was genuinely surprised that Peyton didn't step out like Brooke considering her history.

As that smile stayed on her lips, it slowly faltered as soon as she heard a familiar voice. She quickly got up and saw Brooke standing in her doorway.

Brooke walked in and closed the door behind her, "I don't know why I did it. I was just really drunk."

Ryland shrugged, "Is that supposed to make anything better?"

"No. I'm so sorry. You have no idea how bad I want to take it back."

"Well you can't and I can't unsee it." The blonde sighed, "I care about you, Brooke. I trust you with my life but I don't think I can trust you with my heart."

Brooke walked a little closer, "Ryland, I don't know why I always mess up. Sometimes I can be my own worst enemy and with you, I was figuring it out. But I meant what I said under the bridge." Brooke walked even closer and grabbed Ryland's hand, "You do things to me."

Ryland scoffed, "And what does that mean?"

"I-I don't know yet." Brooke admitted, "Just don't give up on this."

"I don't even know what this is." Ryland glanced to her phone and saw a text from Luke as she continued, "And it seems pretty clear that you don't either."

"Ryland ————— "

"I don't trust you with my heart." She repeated as she let go of Brooke's hand and made her way to the bedroom door, "I'm sure you can see yourself out."

Ryland then made her way downstairs and to the front door. She was headed to the hospital to meet Lucas because he found something about the fire and Ryland was the first to come to mind to tell.

Even though she felt confident in her decision, she still wanted Brooke so badly. On the way to the hospital, Brooke was in the back of her mind. But she had to push that all away and focus on what's in front of her and that's Lucas' news.

She parked in an open spot and soon was out the car heading to the entrance as well as texting Lucas that she's walking into the building. After a moment or so, she soon received a text from him saying what floor he was on. She immediately headed to the elevators and pressed the floor's button.

A ding or two later, she arrived at the floor and after walking around for a minute or two, she found the Scott boy.

She approached him, "Hey, I got your text. It seemed urgent. What's up?"

Lucas whispered in her ear, "I know who set the fire."

Ryland's expression was shocked. However, now it was what to do with that information that made Ryland nervous.

a/n:
yall ain't ready for
the next chapter smh.