Hey everyone! Thanks to all those who reviewed! I'm glad that you are enjoying the story. I will try to update as regularly as I can but I am currently nursing a broken arm at the moment which makes typing hard work and time consuming! I also apologise for any typos I have missed. Enjoy!

He woke to the sound of loud knocking at his door. Groaning, Lucas rolled over trying to block out the noise, hoping that the person would give up and leave. However, when he heard the person's voice, he knew that wouldn't be happening anytime soon.

"Broody! I know you're in there. I'm not leaving until you answer the door." Came the yells of Brooke through the door.

Lucas sighed and buried his head under the pillow, hoping that just this once, Brooke would give up and leave. After a moment, all was silent and Lucas was actually shocked that she had left. He pulled his head out from under the pillow and tried to relax back into sleep. However, the next thing he knew, there was a jangling at the key hole and a triumphant Brooke Davis burst through the door.

Lucas groaned and tried to bury himself under the covers.

Brooke was in shock for a moment as she took in his appearance but she quickly hid it before speaking.

"Well hello to you too Luke. Nice to finally see you." She said as she pulled the covers off his face.

"Go away Brooke" Lucas grumbled.

"Sorry. Cant does that. Took me ages to steal your house keys from Haley so I'm not going away that easily"

Haley had actually given her the spare keys, after forgetting that she actually had a set and didn't feel comfortable bursting into his home unannounced. Brooke of course, didn't mind in the slightest.

"Come on Lucas. It's a beautiful day and we are going out to lunch with the gang at that little restaurant you like on the boardwalk."

"Lunch? Why? It's too........."

His sentence trailed off as he looked at the clock on his bedside table and saw it was 12:45. Brooke raised an eyebrow at him.

"Look, it's a great idea, but I'm not feeling great so I'm going to skip it. Thanks" he said as he once again tried to disappear beneath the sheets.

"Yeah, like I'm going to fall for that." Brooke scoffed as she began to grab some of his clothes out the wardrobe and then threw them at him.

"You have 15 minutes to get ready and then we are going. And don't for a second think that I am leaving without you. I'm not leaving this house without you. I don't care if I have to drag you out the door and ruin my new manicure. I will do it." She threatened him.

Lucas looked at her in silence for a moment before heaving himself off his bed and grabbing his clothes.

Brook smiled victoriously as he skulked off towards the bathroom.

"So, do you think she will be able to persuade him to come?" Nathan asked the others as he sipped his ice tea.

Haley scoffed. "Why do you think we sent her to get him? She will annoy him so much that he will be begging to come out." She smiled.

Peyton and Nathan let out a chuckle as they all sat around the table.

"It looks like she succeeded" Peyton smiled as she saw a happy Brooke strolling towards them with a grumpy looking Lucas behind her.

"Jeez. Lucas looks like death warmed up" said Nathan, concerned.

Before either of the others could answer, Brooke and Lucas arrived at the table.

"Look who I managed to drag out of bed" Brooke said by way of greeting.

They all exchanged pleasantries before seating themselves and Nathan called to waiter over to order some drinks.

"I will have another ice tea please" he said.

"You're becoming addicted to those" Laughed Haley "I will have the same please"

"Just water for me please" requested Peyton

"Oh, make that two" Brooke added.

The waiter then turned expectantly to Lucas, who was playing with his napkin distractedly. Nathan nudged him in the side.

"Luke? What do you want to drink?"

Lucas looked up at Nathan before turning to the waiter.

"Jack Daniels on the rocks." he said simply.

The others looked taken back as the waiter turned and left. Lucas wasn't a big drinker and when he did, he usually just had a few beers. He never had spirits.

"What?" he snapped when he saw all the others were staring at him.

None of them spoke and looked a little shocked at his tone.

"Lucas, don't you think it's a little early?" Haley said softly.

"What's wrong with me having a drink?" he asked.

Not wanting to start an argument in the middle of the restaurant Haley shook her head and looked away.

"Nothing" she muttered.

Lucas sighed deeply and stared at his best friend for a moment.

"Haley. I'm sorry about yesterday" he said softly.

She turned when he addressed her; shocked that he was for once, initiating the conversation. She could tell that he was being genuine from the look in his eyes and she smiled softly.

"It's ok Luke. I just wanted to make sure you were ok" she probed.

"Like I said, I had just had a tough few days. A had a bit of hassle with my publisher so I was a little stressed" he said as he looked away.

Haley knew he was lying when he wouldn't look her in the eye but she didn't call him on it as she remembered the conversation she had with the others last night.

Sensing the turn in mood, Peyton decided to bring the conversation back to a more casual tone.

"So, Lucas, how's the next novel coming" she asked.

Lucas looked up and gave her a small, but sincere smile.

"Not too bad. I might actually get finished soon" he responded as the waiter returned with their drinks. Lucas quickly took a sip of his, enjoying the feel of it burning down his throat. He felt the feel of everyone's eyes on him and it was making him uncomfortable. He thanked god when he heard his phone ring.

"Excuse me" he said as he got up from the table to answer, taking his drink with him.

As he walked away, he missed the others exchange worried glances.

"Hello" he grumbled when he answered.

"Mr Scott? This is Denise Thompson. I was just calling to ask why you haven't got back to us?" came the voice from over the phone.

Lucas groaned it frustration.

"Mr. Scott....?" the woman asked when he didn't answer.

"Look, why can't you people just leave me alone! I thought you would have gotten the message by now!" he practically shouted down the phone.

The woman didn't seem fazed by this and she waited a moment before speaking calmly.

"Mr Scott. I understand how frightening this all must be for you....."

"No, you don't actually. And I don't care what you think. It my choice, not yours" he snapped, getting angrier by the second.

"Mr Scott, this is very serious, you cannot..."

But what he could not do remained to be seen as he hung up the phone and then switched it off.

Back inside the restaurant, the others watched with interest.

"Wow. He looks angry" commented Brooke as they watched Lucas shout down the phone.

"See, something is definitely wrong" Haley said.

They then saw Lucas end the conversation before downing the rest of his drink.

"Yeah" agreed Nathan. "It may also explain why he has become such good friends with Jack."

They continued to watch as Lucas took a moment to regain his composure and made his way back into the restaurant, stopping at the bar along the way.

"This really isn't good" muttered Brooke as they watched him finish another drink.

Thanks for reading! Please review! And I promise that all will be revealed soon.