*This is the day after the masquerade party

*Italics equal flashbacks

Okay I need opinions on this. Should this end as a brathan/brucas? I started it off as a brathan, but now I'm thinking it should be a brucas story. Either way, there will be more brathan to come, just not in this chapter.

Thanks for all the support! And please, please review!

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"Okay, why is that Pamela girl here?" Peyton asked, a small smile forming on her petite face. She watched the redhead from across the room, doing various pre-game stretches before the game began. "And why is she wearing our cheerleading uniform?"

"Well it turns out that Pamela from last night , a.k.a. Rachel the new girl can do a little more, than just press her body against random guys," Brooke rolled her eyes, clutching her pom- poms to her side. "And you would have known that to, if you'd bothered to show up at tryouts. I gave her a spot on the team."

"You?" Peyton laughed, "You gave her a spot on the team. You were ready to rip her hair out last night, and now yo-."

"Pick your jaw up off the floor! I mean, I never said I still don't want to rip her fake hair out of that surgically alerted head of hers," Brooke snapped back, "But, I'll remain civil, unless otherwise provoked."

"So what's her story anyway?"

"I have no idea, and I'm not planning on finding out." Brooke replied, reaching the vacant cheerleaders corner of the gym. "By the way, have you seen Lucas around, today?" Brooke asked subtly, sliding onto the bleachers.

"Lucas?"

"You know, blonde, tall guy, can often be caught with a book in his hand, and a really hot brunette by his side."

"Oh, that Lucas. Right, nope."

"Liar. You know you are a total eye avoider right? I know when you lie, missy. So where did you see him?"

"Okay, fine." Peyton held her hands up in mock surrender, "But you have to promise not to shoot the messenger."

"Fine, whatever, I promise." Brooke rolled her eyes, waiting for Peyton to answer her question.

"I sort of saw him earlier with her."

"With who?"

"Rachel."Peyton looked at Brooke, running a hand through her shoulder length golden blonde ringlets.

"I knew I should have beat her skanky ass, when I had the chance," Brooke glared at the her from across the room, "She just crossed enemy lines."

"Okay, before you plan on attacking anyone, you should know that they were just talking."

"Just talking?" Brooke arched her eyebrow, looking at the blonde next to her.

"Okay, talking over lunch," Peyton said," but he looked completely bored." She added, as a last attempt to calm her angry friend down.

"He's been dodging my calls all day, and avoiding me during school," Brooke seethed, "But he can find the time to meet up with that low grade ho."

"I don't know, maybe it had a little something to do with the fact that you used his brother to make him jealous," Peyton said sarcastically, "The brother who also happens to be his arch rival." She added, bulging out her eyes in emphasis.

"He's just lucky none of his friends are cute." Brooke sulked, crossing her arms defiantly.

"You're being such a bitch." Peyton laughed, throwing her blue pom-poms at Brooke.

"Just being myself." Brooke shrugged, throwing the pom-poms playfully back at Peyton.

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"Hey!" Rachel Gatina called out, "It's Brooke, right?" She asked, walking up to the glaring brunette.

"Yes. And you are?" Brooke snapped, "Oh right, your that sk-."

"Okay, look I didn't know that guy was your boyfriend," Rachel cut in, "I mean, you looked pretty chummy with that other guy."

"He's not my b-." Brooke sighed, "What do you want?"

"A spot on the cheerleading team." Rachel shrugged, running her hand through her long hair. "I hear you're the captain."

"Well, you heard right. But we're completely full right now," Brooke smiled, "But you'll be the first person I call if there's an opening. But, I wouldn't hold your breath." Brooke turned around, adjusting the black canvas bag that hung on her shoulders. "Actually on second thought, do."

"First of all, I may be new, but I know there are cheerleading tryouts happening today. And before you say anything else, these might change your mind." Rachel grinned, pushing her phone in front of Brooke.

"Look, I don't want to see any pictures of you, clothed or otherwise." Brooke remarked, "Plus, I'm into guys if you didn't pick that up last night. And even if I wasn't, you're so not my type."

"Brooke, I'm not trying to hit on you," Rachel smirked, "Just look."

Brooke snatched the phone out of her hands, her mouth dropping open. "Where did you get these?" Fear swept through her as she scrolled down, revealing numerous pictures of her and Nathan drunkenly kissing and groping each other. Brooke knew if Lucas laid eyes on these, there was no way he'd ever forgive her.

"The after-party you and Nathan, I think his name was, attended, well, it was my party."Rachel beamed, grabbing the phone out of a stunned Brooke's hands. "And I, along with my phone, saw all of it."

"How much do you want?" Brooke glared at her, digging around in her bag.

"Please, Brooke. You're not the only girl around here who's parents have money," Rachel told her, "I don't want or need your money."

"Then what do you want? Besides Lucas."

"A spot on the cheerleading team."

"A spot on the team? You expect me to believe that's all you want?"

"I really don't care if you believe it or not, Brooke. It's what I want. Now, you can either give me the spot and I won't expose to Lucas or the entire school, what a repulsive whore you really are. Or don't, and I'll reveal these to everyone. Either way, I'll find a way to get on the team." Rachel grinned smugly at her, "I always get what or who I want."

"I'm sure you do."Brooke remarked locking eyes with her, "Fine, you got your precious spot."

"That's what I thought." Rachel smiled, "See you tonight, captain."

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Brooke closed her eyes, trying to block out the fact that Rachel was anywhere near her, and that she was actually doing a damn good job as a cheerleader. The squad had just gotten done performing their regular pre-game pep show, and Rachel had gotten more cheers out of the people filling the bleachers, then the squad had ever managed to get.

"She is pretty good." Peyton whispered to her, as the cluster of uniformed cheerleaders made their way off center stage, to reclaim their job of standing on the sidelines cheering their team to a victory.

"Okay, you just lost some major friend points."

"What? You said she was good yourself."

"Yeah, but you can't say it. You're supposed to be my best friend, and on my side. She is the enemy, Peyton."

"No wonder you and Lucas are always fighting. You have major jealousy issues, you know that?" Peyton grinned, wrapping her arm around Brooke's shoulders.

"I don't deserve him, Peyton." Brooke whispered, as she watched the crowd of Raven's jog onto the court.

"What are you talking about, Brooke? You know, I was kidding about the jealousy issues. Kinda."

"Just forget it." Brooke smiled, as the sound of the whistle blowing filled the air. "It's show time."

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"Think you can handle all this, Luke?" Nathan Scott asked his younger brother, smacking him hard against the back, "And I speak for the whole team when I say this, no one would mind if you sat this one out."

"Well you can tell the 'team', that they are stuck with me," Lucas said meeting Nathan's eyes. "And just for the record, I'm not about to walk away from anything, and there's no way I'm backing down."

"Are we still talking about the game, or a certain cheerleader?" Nathan grinned, looking over at the cheerleading team.

"Take it however you want to." Lucas shrugged, "But if I was talking about a certain cheerleader, I'd say you're no competition."

"Whatever you say, man. But here's some advice, watch your back. Because unlike you, I know how to score."

Whitey Durham approached the scattered team, disrupting Nathan and Lucas, in his usual intimidating manner. He looked between Nathan and Lucas, and briefly shook his head. "You boys have thirty two minutes to prove to me, why you should be on this team. This is our third game, and up until now you have played like little girls, at best. I want you to take all your outside issues and put them on the sidelines." Whitey looked at Nathan and Lucas, as he spoke. "Don't worry, they will still be there when the game is done. Now get out there and let's show them what we've got!"

The team quickly gathered into their customary huddle, stretching one of their arms in front of them, and placing their hands on top of their teammates. "Ravens!" They cried out, as they broke apart and got ready to play their hearts out.

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The sound of the buzzer filled the gymnasium, as Whitey called a time out. The Raven's were down 34 to 43. Most of the bleachers were filled, with parents and siblings of the Raven's team members. Some were students who attended Tree Hill High, wanting to see the game with their own eyes, instead of listen to the live radio coverage. The air was thick with the tension, as they waited for the team to return to the floor.

"Great shot, Lucas." Nathan whispered to him, "We can always count on you to miss."

"I learned from the best." Lucas smirked, "Captain."

Whitey cleared his throat, as the team huddled around him, once again."Okay, we have five minutes to turn this game around. We've worked with less. Now, I want Skills and Tim to keep guarding them, and leave the path open for Nathan to get a scoring opportunity. We can't afford anymore violations, and we need the ball back. So, you guys get back out there, and do what I've taught you." The team piled hands once again, the gym echoing with the cry of the Ravens.

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Brooke grabbed Nathan's hand trying to drag him into the nearest vacant room. She slightly stumbled over a rug, but Nathan's steady hands caught her, even though he had consumed more alcohol than she had that evening. The entire night had been a blur in her mind. She could remotely recall the masquerade party, and Lucas dancing with a blonde girl. She had no idea of how she had ended up at an after-party with Nathan, or why she had been feeling unnaturally nervous around him. All of it had left her mind, hours before, after she'd finished her last cup of vodka that someone had mixed with a fruit juice.

"Come on, Nathan." She giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. She had lost her red wig, earlier, and her long brown hair hung freely around her shoulders. Nathan ran his hand through it, as their lips collided. Brooke broke the kiss, smiling as he pressed her up against the door of the room. His lips once again found hers, his hands busy traveling the length of her body. With one hand he reached behind her and opened the door, both of them staggering through it.

Neither of them spoke as he pulled her onto the bed, their bodies pressed together. He kissed her neck, meanwhile his hands worked at sliding her dress off. He had changed into a blue polo shirt paired with his Raven's jacket and a pair of worn jeans, before they had arrived. She now vigorously slid his shirt off, her hands trailing down to his already opened jeans. He eagerly helped her remove them, as she kissed him back intensely.

He wrapped her in his arms, gently pulling himself on top of her. He looked down at her in her black lacy lingerie, her dark brown hair, spread out all around her on the bed. Her face was expressionless as she met his eyes, then reached up and kissed his lips, sweetly.

"This isn't you Brooke." He whispered, as he pulled away from her. He physically needed her, lusted for her with a desire that was threatening to consume all of him. Unless he stopped feeding the fire, and let it slowly die. "And I can't be Lucas."

Nathan Scott wasn't the kind of guy who put a stop to these types of situations. Especially when the situation involved a girl that looked like Brooke Davis. But something about the way she looked at him, had made him rethink what he was about to do. It was like she was telling him, that she was more vulnerable and powerless than the image she projected. She needed him to be the one to stop it so he did, as hard as it was for him to do.

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Brooke shivered as the rain descended around her, seeping in through her thin cheerleading uniform. She tried to wrap her jacket more tightly around her, trapping in the warmth of her body heat. The Ravens had lost 37 to 46. She knew this would put all the members of the Raven's in an uneasy mood, including Lucas. But, she remained waiting as the rain continued to fall around her.

She knew she belonged with Lucas. She could feel it each time he looked at her, she could sense it by the feelings that he enabled her to feel, feelings she had never encountered before him. She just wasn't ready to put her heart back on the market. She wasn't prepared for another possible heartbreak. The last one had been more than enough heartache for one lifetime. It was just easier to guard her heart from the misery love would eventually bring it.

She wished she could forget everything that had been formed between her and Nathan the night before. Alcohol and Brooke were never a good mix. It almost always caused clothes to fly, bodies to meet, and a hangover the next morning. Even though, Nathan had uncharacteristically ended her attempt to seduce him, it still lingered in the back of her mind. She couldn't blame Lucas for what had happened with Rachel, when she had almost single-handedly destroyed everything that was developing all over again between the two of them. She just hoped that scandalous episode of her life, would never end up playing for everyone to see, as a rerun.

"Hey, pretty girl." Lucas called as he walked out the door, his gym bag sliding down his shoulders.

"Hey, yourself," Brooke grinned running up to him, a dimpled grin forming on her wet face. "So I take it you don't want me to get a ride home with Nathan tonight?"

"Let me think about that one," Lucas said, pretending to be thinking, as he smiled at Brooke. "I would say no. I mean, you did wait outside in the rain for me."

"Who says I was waiting for you?"

"Well, you're with me now."

"Point taken," She smiled, "So are you upset about the game? I mean I could always throw you a private no-victory party."

"We tried as hard as we could, and sometimes it just isn't enough," Lucas sighed, "But that party sounds pretty tempting. Who's invited?"

"Just you and me, and of course, Haley can join in if she wants," Brooke laughed, "Although that whole Dawson and Joey thing is kind of incestuous."

"Yeah, I think I'll avoid that scenario." Lucas agreed, as he slid his arm around hers. She nuzzled into the crook in his shoulder, glad to be back in his good graces. They continued to walk to his car, and the rain came down all around them.

"Lucas, about last night, I'm sorry. We both didn't play by the rules, and it ended up screwing everything up," Brooke looked up at him, "I ju-."

"Brooke, stop. I'm not going anywhere, and you don't have to apologize. I'm going to be right here every day, and if I only get to have you part-time that's fine by me. When you're ready to give your heart back to me, I'll be here to take it. I'm not about to let you walk out of my life again." Lucas said to her, rain dripping down his face as they stood outside his parked car. "You're the one for me, Brooke Davis. How could I walk away from you, when I can feel that?" He wanted more than anything to be able to mend Brooke's heart, to give her the love he knew she secretly pined for. He just had to wait until her heart was ready to open up to the idea again.

Brooke smiled at him, "I love when you talk like those dead poet guys," She murmured, as their faces met, their eyes connecting. She loved these moments, they were the moments she wanted to bottle up and store. That way if her dream of being with Lucas was ever shattered, she could relieve them, one by one.

She leaned into him, letting herself get caught up in the depth of his eyes, in the smoothness of his kiss. It felt so natural, as the press of his body and the scent of his cologne awakened her senses. She had laid the groundwork for her life, and falling in love was just not part of it. She wondered if in the end it would end up being the biggest part.

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Next:

*Brooke learns that there is a deeper connection between Rachel and Lucas, than she first realized

*Brooke and Nathan bond

* Haley returns from her tour