Sorry guys I haven't updated sooner. I was kinda busy anyways…Here's the update.

0000

Brooke woke up early in the morning. She just stared at her best friend for a second. After a long night crying, she finally fell asleep. Brooke could still tell she was sad even when her best friend was sleeping. Hurt was written all across her face. Brooke just remembered seeing them so happy at the party two days ago. It really did hurt her seeing them together but her friends were happy so she decided to let it go until Peyton came to their breakfast totally heartbroken.

The curly blonde groaned and slowly opened her puffy eyes. Her vision was a little blur from crying. She was in her best friend's room at Rachel's house. Two double sized beds were occupying an important place in the room. Between those two was I little peach dresser covered with a nice coloured lamp and some pictures. Peyton just waved her eyes on the different pictures. There was one of Rachel and Mouth, one of Brooke and Rachel at her birthday and one of Brooke and her. Peyton laughed seeing the picture from Brooke's birthday. She was dressed in a beautiful and now stained dress where Rachel had splashed her with wiping cream.

"What you laughing at Blondie" asked a smiling Brooke.

"Your birthday picture…sorry I missed that!" Peyton answered.

Brooke nodded. "It's ok…you had better things to do! Plus, I'm the one that cut you out, right…"

Peyton took her hand in hers. "Let's forget about all those stupid stuff. It happened. We can't change it but we can make ourselves a better future as friends!" she added squeezing her friend's palm.

"P. Sawyer, you are genius! I don't know how I could give away such a nice soul! I missed you!" the brunette said happily.

"I missed you too B. Davis!"

Brooke took Peyton for a hug. Peyton gave it back friendly. They just hugged. A ten years friendship was back and now how more than ever. The two girls were going to be stronger than what they've ever been. "Hoes over Bros" Brooke asked. Peyton smiled. "Hoes over bros!" she said knocking fist with Brooke.

--

The alarm clock on the table started screaming as the numbers shifted to 7 o'clock. Lucas let out a huge groan. He opened his eyes and looked around. He quickly regretted his move when a wave of dizziness got him. He sat up in his bed. He really felt like crap. His throat was all dry and his nose was stuck.

"Atchooo…". He let out a sneeze. "Shit…" he moaned.

Karen came barging into is room arms crossed and low head—staring at him madly.

She still hadn't yell at him for skipping school the day before.

"You here to yell at me" Lucas asked in a low, raspy voice.

"You skipped school!!" she said still staring through his eyes.

"Sorry…I wasn't really in mood"

"What about your future. You thought about that?"

"Look mom, him just…" he stopped talking and put his hand in front of his mouth to cover several coughs. He felt really bad and his head was still hurting even worse than the previous day.

"You okay" Karen asked before putting a hand on his forehead.

"Just a cold...I'll take some meds and I'll be fine" he said avoiding her worry.

"…okay then—just promise me you're done skipping school"

"Yes, mom. I'm sorry. It's not gonna happen again." He said rolling his eyes.

She nodded and left the room. Lucas just took his head in his hands and walked to the bathroom. He opened the pharmacy and took out a Tylenol bottle. After taking two small pills that he slid down his throat, he took a sip of water and swallowed hardly.

--

Nathan almost didn't sleep in all night. He was trying to find the good way to tell Brooke what he just found. He had what he thought like the best idea ever. For sure, a murder like that had many suspects. There was a way to cross some though. He was just waiting to be with Brooke to verify his suspicions. Haley walked into the kitchen and hugged Nathan's back.

"Hey sweetie, had a good night" Nathan asked.

"Sure, you?"

"Yeah…fine…want some breakfast? I prepared coffee and bagels" he said admiring his wife even more now that she started to take a little weight from his unborn son.

"Sure! Sounds good but…kiss me first!" she said kissing his soft lips.

Nathan started kissing her back and then put his hand on her belly. He just smiled as Haley watched him softly.

"I can't wait to be a father!"

"You're going to be the best father ever" she said starting to kiss him again.

He pulled away and smiled. "What?!" Haley asked worried. Nathan's smile grew bigger. "I heard that little activities are good for that baby…" he said kissing her in the neck. She nodded before they went to the bedroom and shut the door.

--

Peyton and Brooke walked together to school. It was really cold outside and they both had their coats on. Their locker weren't in the same spot so the first undressed joined her best friend. Brooke joined Peyton after a few minutes and found her silent in front of a picture of her and Lucas. Brooke felt a little jealous in front of the picture where her best friends seemed so happy but willing to the circumstances, she let it go and rubbing her friend's back. "He's going to apologize Peyton. He loves you." Brooke said as Lucas walked behind Peyton. "Speaking of…" she said before letting Peyton and Lucas sort things out.

"Can I talk to you" Lucas asked Peyton.

"Sure…"she said avoiding her look and crossing her arms.

"You know, about yesterday…" he said but she cut him.

"I'm sorry" she said.

"Yeah me too…I just felt like crap all the day! I'm so sorry Peyton" he whispered lovely.

"…so you and Brooke are okay?". Peyton just lifted her head and applied a small smile on her face. "Yeah…we had a night to talk and I think she realized we needed to be together…"

Lucas smiled. "She told you that?". Peyton smiled higher now. "Yeah…During the night. She said she realized we were meant to be together and even if she wasn't so cool about it at first, she decided to give us a chance" she said taking Lucas arm.

"So we are a couple" he asked not taking his eyes off her greens. "Since when aren't we" she asked nodding. Lucas seemed like searching. "…Since I've been a real ass to my girlfriend!". Peyton smiled and kissed him. "It's fine…I forgive you!"

He pulled her closer and kissed her softly for about what seems like an eternity. When she pulled out she realised it as been only 2 minutes.

"We're going to be late for class!" the blonde girl said. Lucas took her hand and walked her to their English class.

--

Nathan sat right in front of Brooke at the library. "Thanks for coming" he said before taking all of his papers out of his bag. "You seemed anxious and I have this period free anyways…" she answered and looked all across his papers. "What'd you find?"

He bent over the table to get closer to her and whispered "Had an idea to figure some things out."

This was really simple. All they had to do was to write a list of their principal suspects and cross the ones that could never have done it. Nathan wrote all the names he could think about. Nathan, Brooke, Peyton, Lucas, Haley, Karen, Whitey, Deb, Dan, Turner, Mouth, Rachel, Skills, Fergie, Junk, Larry...

"Abby…" Nathan said. Brooke grinned. "Wait…who's Abby?!". Nathan just stared at the paper. "She was with us in the tutoring center but Jimmy left her out". Brooke just nodded. "So you can cross me right!" she chuckled. Nathan smiled and crossed him and Brooke's names. "You can cross Lucas too, he was outside with me when they carried Keith out…and Peyton…he brought her to security before getting to me and Karen". Nathan crossed all over his paper. "What's left" the brunette girl asked. Haley, Whitey, Deb, Dan, Turner, Mouth, Rachel, Skills, Fergie, Junk, Larry. "Well Hales was with me all along" Nathan pointed. "Whitey was at the gym, Peyton's dad was on a boat and Skills, Rachel and Mouth were with you guys…" Brooke added. "My mom was out of town…and Turner well…he was probably on his couch watching TV" chuckled Nathan. Brooke couldn't hide it anymore. Nathan realised and a horror look crossed his face. "Dan…" they both whispered.

--

Lunch period arrived and Lucas felt awful. His throat was al dry and rough from coughing all the morning. Peyton looked worried. "Luke, are you okay?". He didn't hear her. He was caught by a sneeze and his head was pounding. "Lucas?" Peyton insisted, worried as he turned his head. "Huh what?!". She disfigured him. "Are you okay, you really look bad!" she said. Lucas coughed and looked at her "Guess I'm having a cold…I feel like crap!". Peyton placed a hand on his forehead. "Yeah you should…Lucas you're burning up!!". Lucas looked down as he felt dizzy. "Haven't slept much though…" he added.

Peyton just stared at him. "Me neither…you sure you don't want to go home and rest?". He shook his head no. "I already skipped yesterday. My mom would kill me!" he whispered.

"Not if you're sick! Luke it's snowing! You could get pneumonia or even worse…"

"Peyt…I'll be fine but thank you!" he said before starting to cough again and rested his head on her shoulder. He felt really bad. Peyton could see it just in his face. He looked tired and sick and he had fever. All of his features showed pain and exhaustion. "I love you Peyt…" he whispered. "I love you too Lucas but I really think you should get some sleep. I don't want you to pass out on me". He chuckled and closed his eyes.

"Hey big bro! You sleeping" Nathan asked walking in front of Peyton and Lucas. The blonde guy just groaned and his eyes fluttered open. Nathan just watched his brother in laughter.

"Sorry to wake you bed head!" he chuckled. Lucas looked at him, his eyes full of anger. "Yeah laugh at me! We'll see about your little research being told to everyone!" Lucas thought.

"What do you want Nate" Lucas snapped.

"Woa…don't get too mad! You look pale though. You okay?"

"Like you cared!" he snapped again.

"Luke, what's wrong" Peyton asked.

"Just ask Nathan…" he said standing and walking away.

Nathan stared in shock. "What got him?". Peyton just looked Lucas' back.

"I honestly don't know…" she said before going after Lucas, leaving Nathan standing all alone and not knowing what the hell was going on with his older brother. It couldn't be about is research. Lucas didn't know about that. Did he?

--

Haley just listened to Nathan's questions during all the way home. "

"I just can't believe he walked away, I mean, what is wrong with him" Nathan asked in disbelief. Haley just nodded. "I don't know. Maybe I should just go see him" she said looking at Nathan with pleading eyes. "Fine…I'll drive you…" he said before he turned back.

"Thank you my beautiful husband!. He needs my help though. You seen him? He looks like a ghost!" she said. Nathan could easily hear the worry in her tone. "Yeah…think he's sick".

--

"Lucas Scott! You will wait for me because I'm done running after you!" Peyton yelled at Lucas. She had gone after him since he left the bench. The brooding boy had walked from school to his house in the thick snow and cold weather. His head pounding was keeping him from listening to Peyton. "LUCAS! DAMN IT! STOP!" she yelled as he finally stopped but didn't turn to face her. He was now on his home porch.

She placed a hand on his shoulder. "Did Nathan do anything to you?". He didn't respond. "See…" Peyton said, "He didn't!"

"What about Brooke" he asked finally facing her.

"What do you mean?"

"Ask Nathan…"

"Lucas!", he heard his name being yelled by a familiar voice. He saw Haley walking toward him.

"Hales…" he whispered now starting to shake violently and coughed.

"What's going on" she asked worriedly.

She got no answer. Lucas didn't respond, he didn't move. He just opened his home door and walked in. Both girls followed his pace.

"You girls want some hot chocolate" Lucas asked changing subject.

"What's wrong? You look beat up!" Haley pointed at Lucas.

"Just…a cold…I guess. Got a migraine though" he answered. "So you guys want some?"

"Sure…"Peyton said. "It's kinda cold" Haley added

"Yeah…" Lucas said. "Be back in a few minutes…" he said smiling and closing the door leaving the two girls alone. Merely seconds after, Peyton heard a big thud.

"God Lucas you okay" she asked but got no response.

"Lucas" Haley yelled. There was still nothing.

Haley panicked and ran to the door. When she opened it, she saw what caused the noise. Lucas was lying down on the floor. "Luke…" she said in almost a whisper.

Peyton arrived right behind her. "Oh my god! Lucas!"

III my probably first real cliff! There will be more cause I kinda enjoy it. Do you like it so far or I should stop writing. Tell me. Thanks for the reviews.

Next Chapter: what happened to Lucas/ what did Nathan find/ what shocking discoveries will Brooke and Nathan Make…

Well you'll have to read to find out!