Love Rectangle Plus One (Whatever That Is)
Chapter 1: Screaming Infidelities
Nathan Scott. You must know at least someone like him. You know the star athlete and the king. The one all the girls want, and the one all the guys want to be. The big man on campus at none other than Tree Hill High School. Lucas Scott, although Nathan's brother, was a bit more reserved. He was on the basketball team too, and had a few admirers but nothing like Nathan. And he didn't really care. At the start of the year, Nathan and Lucas had hated each other but they had worked out their problems (realizing the root of all evil was their mutual father), and were now pretty friendly. Lucas liked his life. He didn't mind being the poorer of the Scotts who hadn't grown up lavishly. He had his friends and he wasn't trying to impress anybody. So Lucas really wasn't jealous of Nathan. He had everything he wanted. Well except for one thing. And that thing was Brooke Davis, who was none other than Nathan Scott's beautiful cheerleader girlfriend. Well I guess we can scratch out the whole no jealousy thing.
"Hey Luke," she called out to him like she did with all the guys she was friendly with. Lucas tried to smile back at the girl of his dreams, but it was so hard knowing she was with his very own brother.
Brooke skipped off to Nathan where she jumped in his arms and started to kiss him like she hadn't seen him in months when it had probably only been about 4 hours since the school day had started. Lucas averted his eyes. It was one thing to know they were together, but it was another to be reminded of it daily during lunch, and practice, and everywhere else where they couldn't keep their hands off each other.
Nathan and Brooke joined Lucas's table along with Brooke's best friend Peyton Sawyer, Nathan's good friend Tim Smith, and another basketball player, Jake Jagielski. Lucas had become friendly with them after he had joined the team and things had settled down between him and Nathan, especially Jake, who was probably one of the nicest guys he'd ever met. Well, besides his friend from before, Marvin "Mouth" Mcfadden.
"Man we're totally going to wipe the floor with those Bear Creak pussies tomorrow night," Time squealed wildly.
Everyone rolled their eyes. "Just say we're going to win Tim," Nathan said looking disturbed. Peyton laughed suddenly and touched Nathan's arm, which caused everyone to stare at her. "What?" she asked, "That was funny." Everyone nodded and decided to leave it at that but they could feel the tension at the table, and more than half of the table knew why. But the person that was affected the most by it had no clue.
"Hey, who's that?" Brooke asked as pretty girl with straight brown hair walked by. They each looked over to examine the new girl.
"No idea," Tim said, "But I bet she'd be a good lay."
"Shut up Tim," Jake said annoyed.
"She looks kind of familiar," Lucas said trying to place her.
"Probably from your dreams," Peyton said sarcastically. Brooke and Nathan burst out laughing and Jake couldn't help but smile. Lucas frowned at her, his displeasure clear. "Whatever," he mumbled.
"She's definitely in my dreams," Tim said well dreamily.
"Shut up Tim," everyone said swatting at him.
After school, Lucas made his way to his mother's café. Karen Roe was something. She had raised Lucas alone with help from his uncle Keith Scott. Dan Scott had abandoned Karen and Lucas before he was even born. But they had done ok for themselves. Karen had a successful business with the café, and they were both much happier than they would have been with Dan.
Lucas walked into the café and noticed the brunette girl from lunch talking with his mom and another woman.
"Oh Luke," Karen waved him over happily. "This is Lydia James, my old friend, and her daughter Haley."
Of course that was why she had looked familiar. His mom had been friends with Lydia since he was 6. And Haley had been his best friend until they were 11 when they moved away. He flashed her a smile remembering some of the crazy things they'd done together. For instance building the miniature golf course that was still on the roof.
"You're moving back for good?"
"That we are," Lydia said with a smile. "Well I have to get going but I'll leave you and Haley to get reacquainted." Lydia winked.
"God mom, don't start planning the wedding," Haley joked.
Lucas laughed along with Lydia who made her way out. Karen smiled at the two. "Well anyways, I should get back to work, and Haley I look forward to you starting."
"Oh you're working here?" Lucas asked as his mom went back to work.
"Yeah," Haley smiled. "So your mom told me you play basketball. I remember that it's really big here."
"Haha, totally. What are you into now?"
"Well I love to tutor. I signed up at the tutoring center today."
"Yeah I remember you were always the smartest," Lucas teased.
Haley blushed but laughed. "Thanks. So you still friends with the River Court guys?"
Lucas nodded. "Yeah but I also hang out with some people from the team. You have to meet them."
"Ooh sounds fun."
They spent the rest of the afternoon catching up. Lucas was glad to have another friend whose life didn't revolve around the basketball team and the drama of the popular crowd.
Peyton attacked the lips of Nathan Scott with her own. They rolled over on her bed. Peyton moaned as Nathan left a trail of kisses from her collarbone up her neck. As Peyton was about to lift Nathan's shirt, she heard a ringing sound from somewhere below her ear. Nathan groaned and rolled over and flipped open his phone.
"Yeah?... Whatever Tim…… I'm with Peyton….. Yeah you were….. Good ok bye."
"What'd he want?" Peyton asked as her fingers crawled up his chest, pulling his shirt up with her fingers, exposing his muscular torso.
"Nothing important as this," Nathan said as he began to kiss her again. Peyton felt tingles all over was about to let Nathan remove her shirt too when her own phone began to ring.
"We need to turn those damn things off," Nathan grumbled. Peyton ignored him and picked up her phone. "Oh hi Brooke," she said a guilty look creeping onto her face. "No I'm not doing anything…. I'm kinda busy though….. Ok see you tomorrow."
Nathan grabbed the phone from her hand and threw it down taking her back into his arms kissing her urgently, but Peyton pushed him off.
This was probably the guiltiness that comes up when you're reminded of the fact that you're screwing your best friend's boyfriend.
"What the fuck Peyton?" Nathan asked annoyed.
"I'm not in the mood," she said primly.
"Don't give me that bullshit. You were a minute ago. You just feel bad about Brooke."
"Well don't you?" Peyton shot back.
Nathan shrugged and sighed. They had this conversation every other time they started hooking up. Peyton began to feel guilty and would say it was over. Of course it never was.
"Peyton come on baby. You know I want you."
Peyton smiled surrendering a little. But then she frowned remembering something. "How many people know about us?" she asked suspiciously.
Nathan frowned too. A lot of people knew. It was kind of hard to keep it a secret. Just because all guys talked about whom they were doing. "I don't know. Like Tim and Lucas and Jake, and some others," he mumbled at the end.
Peyton sighed. "You know if Brooke ever finds out we're so dead."
"Relax she won't. Now come on at least give her something to find out about."
Peyton giggled and walked back to Nathan and began kissing him hard. He eagerly returned them. Peyton felt horrible about what she was doing to Brooke but she just had this connection with Nathan that she couldn't explain. Well it was basically just physical attraction and lust, but Peyton mistook it for something more to make herself feel better about what she was really doing.
Jake heard his doorbell ring and answered it to find a peppy Brooke standing there.
"Hey friend, everyone else was busy so you were a last resort, no offense," she said blowing him a kiss.
Jake smiled as she ran into his kitchen for food but he couldn't help thinking she was right. Getting busy was more like it. Jake hated lying to Brooke who had been a good friend of his since high school started. Almost everyone on the team knew Nathan was banging Peyton, and Brooke had no clue. And knowing her if and when she found out, she'd be pissed as hell. It took Brooke a long time to trust people and when she found out that people she did trust had broken it, she'd be devastated. Jake tried to shake the thought of her finding out because he knew that would be a really really bad day. And then there was also Peyton. Jake was close friends with her too. He thought what she was doing was so beneath her. And she was also destroying her relationship with the best friend she'd ever had. Jake sighed and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Jakey!" Brooke called gaily from the kitchen, "You're supposed to entertain me."
Jake followed Brooke into the kitchen and sat down at the small table with her.
"So Brooke, how are you?"
"Just fine Jacob," she said with a twinkle in her eyes. Brooke gave everyone nicknames and Jake was used to all the crazy things she called him.
"Good to hear Brooke."
"How are you doing JJ?"
"I was fine until this crazy girl came by my house and stole all the food out of my fridge."
Broke playfully hit him. "Liar," she murmured.
Jake laughed. "Actually Brooke I'm doing fine. I'm glad you came by."
"That's more like it," she said winking at him.
Jake loved Brooke. She was just such a playful and cheery person, which was why it was so hard to keep it from her. He knew how upset she would get when she found out the truth and he wanted to shelter her from it for as long as he could.
Lucas sat on his bed thinking about the day. He was glad Haley had moved back. She seemed like such a fun person and he was always happy to have more friends. His thoughts drifted to Brooke like they usually did. He pictured her walking in her expensive clothes. The way her dimples appeared every time she smiled. And the way she kinked her eyebrow, trying to be cute. Lucas bet that Nathan never even noticed any of these things. He didn't even seem to give a crap about Brooke besides the fact that she was his social counterpart and that she had a hot body. He was sure that right now Nathan was busy hooking up with Peyton which made Lucas get so mad. Brooke should be treated like the amazing girl she was, not with an ass like that. Lucas realized his mind was wandering, and tried to calm down. He and Nathan had a much better relationship and were even kind of friends, but every time he pictured him neglecting Brooke for Peyton the old thoughts of resentment rose up in him.
"Hey Luke," his mom poked her head into the room.
"Yeah, what mom?"
"I'm just glad you and Haley hung out together. She's a sweet girl and I hope you become friends."
"Yeah totally mom. I think she'll fit in really well here."
Karen smiled and left Lucas so he could go to sleep. Lucas watched her go and smiled thankful for everything he did have I his life. And maybe someday Brooke would realize that he loved her.