Hey, sorry it took so long to get up but I couldn't be bothered to write for a while! This one's a bit shorter than usual and I know it's somewhat samey atm but I assure you things are about to heat up. Thanks for the reviews guys, chapter 8 should be up in the next few days.

Rachel made her way down the stairs, running her fingers through her fiery red hair. She stopped abruptly at the bottom when she noticed someone sitting on the sofa.

"Derek?" She asked, though she didn't need clarification: it was obviously him. He looked up and smiled.

"Hi, Rach. Brooke let me in, she's gone to make some drinks." He explained lightly, looking her up and down.

Rachel sat down on the single chair and didn't say anything to Derek. He caught on to this immediately and turned towards her.

"Are you ok, Rachel?" He asked. She nodded.

"Yeah, how about you?" She replied limply, completely not her usual self. Before Derek could reply Brooke came through clutching two glasses.

"Rachel, hey. I thought you were out." Brooke said, placing the drinks onto the coffee table. "Want me to make you a drink? I made up a pitcher of lemonade."

"Yeah, thanks. I'll get one myself. Back in a minute, slut." Rachel replied, slipping back into her usual insults. Brooke stuck her tongue out and the two laughed.

"You were saying?" Brooke asked, taking a sip of her drink. A look of upset crossed Derek's face.

"Well my Dad called earlier. My mum's been in an accident." He said, choking on his words. Brooke gasped.

"Oh my god, Derek, is she ok?" She asked, putting a hand on his arm. He looked at the ground.

"I don't know, she's in hospital but they're saying she's got internal bleeding and some broken bones." He explained. Brooke looked pained as Rachel came swanning back into the room.

"What's up?" She asked, sitting back down and noticing the tension in the room.

Before either could answer there was a knock at the door. Rachel, still wanting to know what was going on, jumped up and walked through into the hallway.

"Lucas!" She exclaimed, confused as to what he was doing here. He smiled slightly.

"Hey, Rachel, Brooke home?" He asked, getting straight to the point. Rachel nodded.

"She's through here." Rachel opened the door wider to let him in.

They both walked in and witnessed Brooke and Derek deep in conversation. Brooke looked up to see who it was and her eyes lit up.

"Lucas!" She all but shouted, then tried to play down her reaction. "What are you doing here?" She asked neutrally. Lucas tried not to glare at Derek.

"Wondering if you wanted to come for a walk with me?" He asked icily. Brooke, despite her better judgement, nodded and a small smile appeared on her lips.

As she followed Lucas out the door, no one noticed Derek's look of annoyance as he was left with Rachel in the house.

-

Peyton was lying on her bed drawing in her sketchbook and soaking up the music which was pounding out of her speakers.

She was too involved in both tasks to notice that someone had entered her room. She looked up when they spoke.

"Peyton, hey..." Haley muttered with a half smile. It didn't get returned. Peyton sat up and stared stonily at her.

"Come to have another argument?" She asked with a sarcastic smile.

Haley took a step forward. "Actually, I wanted to apologize." She told her, looking at her feet.

Peyton stayed silent, allowing her to continue.

"I was too busy being Brooke's friend that it slipped my mind that you're also a great friend of mine, Peyton. Yes, what you did was wrong but you're still P. Sawyer! Besides, everyone makes mistakes. This coming from the girl who left her husband to go on tour, I can't exactly judge." Haley explained, and Peyton sat up.

"Thanks, Haley. I know that you were being loyal to Brooke it's just... I need someone on my side too, you know?" Peyton said sadly, and Haley nodded.

"Well you'll always have me. Just... look out for Brooke, she's not as strong as she pretends." Haley added as an afterthought.

"Well I have known the girl for ten years!" Peyton pointed out.

"Didn't stop you hurting her though, did it?" Haley said with a wry smile. Peyton glared at Haley.

"I thought you didn't come here for an argument." Peyton confronted her, heckles raised. Haley sighed.

"I didn't Peyton, I was just saying. You call her your best friend but still you put Lucas before her. Why?" She asked gently, sitting down on the bed.

There was no response for a while and Haley didn't think she was going to get an answer.

"I don't know. Brooke has been such a big part of my life for so many years and I care about her so much. But with Lucas... I guess... all bets are off. He makes me feel different and we have so much in common." Peyton tried her best to explain.

"Didn't you have those feelings for Jake, too?" Haley probed. Peyton nodded.

"Yeah, I did. But when I went back to see him, everything had changed. He had Jenny and a whole new life. He didn't need me any more. And he made me see that the feelings I thought I had for him were actually for Lucas." She said slowly and carefully, guarding her words and guarding her heart.

-

"How have you been?" Brooke asked nervously. The two of them walked awkwardly, making sure they weren't touching.

"Ok, I suppose. I've been looking after my mom a lot." He offered, and Brooke smiled.

"I'll have to nip round and see her sometime." She said, and a half smile ghosted over Lucas's lips.

"She'd like that." He said, looking at her from the corner of his eye.

"Peyton ok?" She asked lightly, and Lucas nodded.

"She's good. You should try to sort things out with her." He suggested casually and Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Sticking up for your girlfriend?" She muttered and Lucas stopped.

"Peyton and I aren't together." He said, and Brooke looked at him incredulously.

"Yes you are." She told him, and he shook his head.

"We're friends, Brooke, just like you and her." He said pointedly.

"Without kisses in the library." She muttered with a pout. Lucas laughed and turned to her.

"I missed you, Brooke." He told her straight. "Seems I missed my chance, though." He added thoughtfully.

"What?" She asked, visibly confused. He sighed.

"Derek. I saw the two of you together." He confessed.

"Yeah, we aren't together. He's my neighbor and my friend." She said, and he looked into her eyes.

"I really did miss you, Brooke." He repeated, his voice brimming with meaning.

"This doesn't change anything, Lucas." She whispered. "I broke up with you for a reason." She stood her ground, detemined not to be sucked in by those gorgeous eyes when they still had so much to talk out.

"Yeah I know, and I'm sorry Brooke. I'm sorry for kissing Peyton and I'm sorry for letting you down." He all but pleaded, the pain so clear it cut her deep.

"Lucas, don't do this." She protested as he moved closer towards her. He stopped and brushed her hair back from her face.

"I'm serious, Lucas." She stood her ground and pushed his gently away. He sighed.

"Brooke, you know how I feel about you!" He exclaimed, and Brooke smiled slightly.

"Yeah, and I get that. But I'm not ready for us to just forget about this. Can't we start over?" She asked vulnerably. He smiled.

"If that's what you want, then I'll agree. But you have to know I want so much more than that."

The two new friends shared a shy smile and walked home, this time not as awkward but both worried about the future of them as a couple.

-

"Look who it is." Rachel muttered as Brooke walked through the door ten minutes later.

"Hi, Rachel." Brooke smiled at her. Rachel stopped in her tracks and tilted her head.

"You ok, Brooke? You seem different. Kind of, happy." Rachel faltered. "Are you?" She asked.

"Yeah, things are sorted out with Lucas." She explained, and Rachel rolled her eyes.

"You're back together with him? That quick? Not that I mind, you know I think you guys are good together." Rachel said quickly, aware she may have put her foot in it.

Brooke smiled in good nature. "Nope, we're friends. No benefits." She clarified and Rachel nudged. her.

"Yet." She added, and Brooke raised her eyebrows. The two girls laughed.

Brooke followed Rachel through into the kitchen.

"What time did Derek go?" She asked. Rachel looked at the orange clock.

"Twenty minutes or so ago." She replied, putting the empty glasses in the dishwasher.

"Said he needed to go home and sort stuff out with his family." She continued.

"Oh yeah, I hope his mum's ok." Brooke said, the caring side of her kicking in naturally.

"Me too. Maybe that's why he's so messed up." Rachel muttered under her breath. Brooke looked at her sharply.

"Are you still thinking that?" She asked though she didn't really need to hear the answer.

"Let's see who's right when he finds out about your blossoming relationship with Lucas." She replied, a hint of triumph in her voice though she hadn't been proved right yet.

-

Peyton was still sitting on her bed cross-legged. Haley had left half an hour ago on good terms.

She turned the music down slightly and concentrated on her drawing. It was one she had begun earlier. It was of her and Brooke with Lucas in between them, but Brooke and Lucas were looking at each other. There was a wall between them and her. Underneath it was written "Look what you've done"

She put her pen down and sat still for a moment, sensing something but not able to put her finger on it. She felt like something wasn't right, like someone was watching her.

She was right.

Derek was sitting on her porch, listening to the sounds coming from her room.

He knew what he had to do.

But not yet.

All in good time.

It would be perfect.

It would be a lot of effort.

But it would be worth it.

She would be worth it.