A/N: Thank you for the awesome reviews. And thanks to my beta: Leeese!

Disclaimer: Don't own OTH

Chapter One

Brooke was admiring herself in the mirror when she heard a knock at the front door. She smiled to herself, knowing that would be Peyton. She and Jake told her they would come to pick her up to take her to the New Year's Eve party at Haley's house.

It had been three months since her life had changed and Brooke was still in Tree Hill. So were her parents. They had moved to Tree Hill as well. They lived in a different apartment nearby as they still wanted her to still have the independence she had had in their previous lives. Brooke missed her old life as Beth. Yet, she found herself enjoying her new life with her new friends and new job. Her new job was working at a clothing store downtown.

Brooke walked to the front door and opened it. She gave her friend a smile. "Hey Peyton," she said cheerfully. "How was your Christmas?"

Peyton smiled back at her. "It was great. I'll tell you all about it on the way over to the party. Are you ready to go?" she asked her.

Brooke nodded. "Let me just get my purse." She grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter and followed Peyton to Jake's car. "I haven't been to a party in ages," Brooke told her excitedly. "I thought of buying a new dress. But I didn't think I had the time or the money."

"You should have said something. Haley and I would have helped you," Peyton told her. "After all, that's what friends are for. But you don't have to worry about getting another dress. You look gorgeous in that dress."

"You have to say that. You're my friend," Brooke replied as she climbed in the backseat of Jake's car.

Jake was about to add a comment when his girlfriend gave him a look. "Don't even think about it," she warned him before they climbed in the car themselves. Peyton then turned to Brooke. "You are going to have such a fun time at the party. Haley always throws the best parties in Tree Hill."

"There's a reason for that, you know," Jake teased her as he grinned.

"Shut up," Peyton said as she gave him a gentle nudge. "Haley may be rich, but she isn't selfish. She works with a lot of charities."

"You know I'm just teasing you. After all, she's my friend too," Jake told her with a smile. "Now Nathan, however, is a different story. There's something about that guy I don't like. I don't really know what Haley sees in him."

Peyton had to agree. "I know. The only reason I put with him is because of Haley."

"Did you hear that Nathan's older brother Lucas is coming to the party?" Jake asked them. Peyton groaned in dismay. "Yeah, I know. I just hope that he's not like his brother."

Peyton gave him a look. "Jake, they are related. Of course he will be bad as Nathan."

"You never know," Brooke replied. She wasn't one to judge people before she had even met him. "He could be the complete opposite. Just because they are related doesn't make them the same."

Fifteen minutes later, Jake pulled up onto Haley's street. They could see that there were just a few cars surrounding Haley's house. He was easily able to find a parking space just next door. Both Peyton and Brooke were relieved since they were wearing long dresses and high heels. They didn't want to risk tripping over their dresses.

They got out of the car and walked up to the front porch. Jake rang the doorbell and waited patiently for someone to come to the door. All three of them hoped that Nathan wouldn't answer. The door opened and Haley gave them a wide smile. "Hey, come on in."

Brooke suddenly got nervous as she walked into the house. There were a few more people than she thought there would be. Even though she had been in Tree Hill for three months, she still didn't know that many people. She mostly stuck with Peyton and Haley. She didn't think she could trust anybody else.

Brooke slowly mingled with the other people. However, she didn't feel comfortable talking to them. So she excused herself and walked over to Peyton, who was talking to Millie Huxtable.

She was talking to them when Peyton suddenly interrupted the conversation. "Haley's coming over with Nathan's brother," she whispered to Brooke and Millie. The three turned to see Haley and a guy with blonde hair coming towards them.

"How do you know that?" Millie asked her curious.

"Because he looks just as hot as Nathan," Brooke replied with a smile as Haley and the guy approached them.

"Lucas, I like you to meet Peyton Sawyer, Millie Huxtable and Brooke Davis," Haley said, introducing them. "Everybody, this is Lucas, my brother-in-law."

"It's nice to meet you," Lucas replied, giving them a smile. He then turned to Brooke. He gave her an appraising once as he said, "I love your dress."

Brooke blushed and felt extremely flattered. "Thank you."

"I told her that earlier and she didn't believe me," Peyton whispered to Haley and Millie.

"Apparently, your opinion doesn't count," Haley whispered back with a grin. She then added, "I can see sparks between them already.

"Let's go somewhere else. It's a little too crowded over here," Lucas told Brooke. He then led her away and they sat on the living room couch. "How much did you hear about me?" he asked her curiously.

Brooke gave him a wide smile. "You want the good stuff or bad stuff?" she joked.

Lucas laughed genuinely in response. "Whatever you can give me."

"Does it really matter?" she flirted as their eyes met. "I get to know the real you now. That's what matters."

Lucas gave her a smile as they held their gaze. "Good point. Well, I'm visiting from Charlotte for the holidays."

"You aren't staying longer?" Brooke asked disappointed. He heard it in her tone and saw it in her eyes.

Lucas shook his head sadly keeping their gaze. Even he wished he was staying longer. He loved spending time with his brother and sister-in-law. "I wish I could, but I have my work waiting for me."

"What do you do?" Brooke asked him curious.

"I help manage my mom's restaurant," Lucas replied.

Brooke nodded, now remembering how Nathan often talked about the family restaurant. "I think it's great for you and Nathan to help out your mom with your family business. My job isn't as nice as yours."

"What do you do?" Lucas asked as he let his eyes take in her features. "I'm sure it's not as boring as you think it is."

"I work at a clothing store downtown," Brooke replied. "It may not be much, but I do love my job."

"That is all that counts," Lucas told her. They soon were in a deep conversation about their jobs. It wasn't long before Brooke was interested in hearing more about the family restaurant. She always thought it would be fun to run a family business with her parents.

"Do you think you could get me something to drink? I'm a little thirsty," Brooke asked him. It didn't feel right to go and help herself.

Lucas nodded. "Sure, I'll be right back." He got up from the couch and walked off.

Just as he left her, Haley came over to her and sat down on the couch next to her. She grinned playfully as she said, "So I see that you and Lucas are really hitting it off. You two looked very engrossed in conversation over here."

"You never told me your brother-in-law was hot as hell," Brooke exclaimed happily.

"I didn't know you were interested in him," Haley replied with a slight laugh at the look on Brooke's face.

"I wasn't until now," Brooke told her with a wide smile. "Now I'm very interested."

A few hours later, everyone gathered around to ring in the New Year. Brooke felt a little out of place since everyone seemed to be paired up so she lingered towards the back of the crowd. Lucas knew what she was thinking since he also didn't have anybody. "Come on. I have an idea," he said as he stuck out his hand. Brooke gave him a smile as she took his hand. She felt a thrill run over her as she did. He took her through the crowd and over to the doorway between the living room and television room.

Brooke was confused at his destination. "What are we doing here?"

Lucas gestured her to look up and grinned. When she did, she laughed as she saw the mistletoe. "Now we have no option in the matter. We have to kiss. That's the rules right?"

"I guess so," Brooke replied as she gave him a smile. They then heard everyone cheering and applauding. Brooke and Lucas then leaned in for a quick kiss. However, after their lips met, they both started to put some feeling into their kiss and their eyes fluttered close as they did. Lucas gently cupped her cheek in his right hand as she placed her hands on his shoulder to steady herself. For a first kiss, it was pretty intense. They finally pulled back for air and gazed into each other's eyes for a few moments. They then noticed everyone looking at them and Brooke turned red, embarrassed.

"Happy New Year," Lucas whispered to her, ignoring the looks from everybody.

"Happy New Year," Brooke replied. She suddenly had a feeling that this year would be better than the last one.