Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Unfortunately.
A/N: Sorry it took a week me so long to put another chapter up, I've been flatout with work and life but I had such a great response from those who reviewed I forced my self to sit at my laptop and update. I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. To my beta as usual, Thanks for your help it is much appreciated!!! Thanks to everyone who is reading and enjoying this story you guys make it hard not to keep writing. So please read and review. And one last thing, It's the Anzaz day long weekend here in Australia and this is a very important time of year. The day marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landing but it is also the day we celebrate the courage and bravery of all those who have fought in our armed forces. So to my loved ones who are serving and those who have fought for our country both past and present Thankyou, and please come home safe.
CHAPTER 8
Tree Hill were beating Bear Creek by 12 points. Brooke had turned up at the gym for the game but refused to look at Lucas or talk to anyone except to scream instructions. Whitey had pulled Lucas out of the game in the second quarter when he still hadn't hit a shot and he was now sitting on the bench trading off between looking at the floor and over at Brooke. Haley was staring daggers at Claire down the other end of the court, and trying to ignore Rachel who was loudly chanting Nathan's name. Haley glanced at Rachel and noticed the redhead had painted Nathan's jersey number on her face. Haley smirked as she remembered the look on Rachels face the night before when they came face to face at the lifts, Haley wearing Nathan's Ravens Tshirt with SCOTT emblazoned above the blue 23 on the back. Haley was brought out of her thoughts as the siren sounded for halftime and the guys jogged to the locker room, Nathan pausing when he noticed Brooke standing off to the side of the squad. Brooke stiffened as she felt Nathan's gaze on her. She turned her head away, crossed her arms and watched Claire lead her squad to centre court. Once Bear Creek were finished doing their routine, Claire jumped up and down gesturing to Brooke and yelled "Bring it On!" Brooke took a deep breath before turning around and fixing her own squad with a steely stare.
"This better be perfect, or you're all off the squad!" she threatened. She fixed a smile on her face and led the Ravens to centre court as Peyton muttered "If I don't jump first". Mouth started the music and Jamiriquai's "Just like it should" began to play. Brooke threw a smug smile to Claire as the Ravens began to move in sync with the music. Cheers rang out through the gym when they finished. Brooke threw another smug smile at Claire and walked back to position under the basket.
"Are we still on the squad?" Peyton asked sarcastically as she took her position.
"For now" Brooke didn't look up
"This plan of yours better work H James" Peyton whispered to Haley
The guys had beaten Bear Creek by 18 points and everyone was gathered in the dining room for dinner. Despite the win, the room was tense with Brooke still ignoring Lucas who had barely spoken a word to anyone.
"I just want to say great game today guys, but keep it up we still have Verona and Pontiac tomorrow, and they will be tough, and the girls are sure to do well in their own competition. So here's to the Ravens!" Keith held up his glass.
"Ravens!" Everyone cheered. Lucas lifted his glass of water but kept his eyes trained on his plate, while Brooke pushed her salad around with her fork.
The rest of the group looked at Brooke and Lucas in turn before sharing looks between them.
"Alright guys, that's it. What the hell happened between you two?" Nathan said exasperated looking at Brooke then Lucas.
"What?" Brooke asked startled
"Don't what me Brookie, something went down and I want to know what, because god help me, I can't be around the two of you like this!" he yelled
"It was nothing Nate, just drop it" Lucas sighed.
"You've both been acting like zombies and I've had enough, you missed the game Luke, so don't tell me it's nothing" he spat
"Please just drop it Nate" Brooke pleaded
"Not to you tell me what's going on" he said shaking his head
"I can't listen to this I'm going to bed" Lucas stalked away from the table.
"Are you going to tell me Brooke?" he asked looking her straight on.
"There's nothing to tell, I'm gonna go to bed too, it's been a long day" she then addressed the girls "Don't stay up too late we have the classic tomorrow" before turning on her heel and stalking away, but was tapped on the shoulder by Haley as she reached the lifts.
"Please just leave me alone" she pleaded
"I'm not here to question you Brooke, I had to tell you that we pulled the room switch. Jake's been whining he didn't get to spend the night with Peyton, so he's coming into our room with Pey and I'm gonna be with Nathan to stop Rachel sneaking into his room. Bev/Skills, Ashley/Fede, Tim/Theresa, Shelley/Mouth and Lindsay and Ted are together in rooms, so you're with Chelsea. Lucas, Jabbar, Brandon and Dustin are working out their rooms between them, oh and Rachel's on her own because no-one wanted to share with her."
"Fine, what room?" Brooke asked annoyed
"408, your bags are there, we switched everything when Whitey was having coffee with Keith and Karen earlier" Haley handed her a swipecard and left before the lift opened and Brooke stepped inside.
Brooke the lift on her stepped from the lift and walked down the corridor tired but unsure if she was actually going to be able to sleep with all of the thoughts tumbling around her head. She made it to room 408 and put the swipecard in the reader, opened the door and walked inside not bothering to turn on the lights, and headed straight for bed. She kicked off her shoes, removed her hoodie, lifted the covers and slid into bed. She was just closing her eyes when the lights flicked on. Brooke sat up and came face to face with Lucas who was standing openmouthed in the doorway. Brooke sat stunned for a moment before regaining her voice.
"What the hell Lucas, Get out!" she yelled
"Um I thought this was my room" he looked at the swipecard in his hands
'No this is my room, and Chelsea's!" she threw a pillow at him
"Sorry" he mumbled and turned for the door, trying to open it.
"Just Get out!" she screamed throwing another pillow
"I'm trying" He yelled back
"For Petesakes!" Brooke pushed him out of the way and turned the doorknob, but the door wouldn't open. She tried again, but the door wouldn't move.
"Oh no they didn't!" Brooke screeched.
"Do you think they've worked out they're locked in yet?" Mouth asked
"I think they would've figured it out pretty quick" Jake answered. The guys were interrupted as Haley, Nathan and Peyton sat back down at the table.
"How'd it go?" Jake asked
"Perfectly" Peyton grinned
"I tied the doorhandle to the icemachine, they're not going anywhere" Nathan looked smug
"Curfew is back to normal tonight, so we have two hours before Keith and Karen do their rounds" Haley looked at her watch.
"Just enough time for them to sort out some things" Peyton high-fived Haley
"Or for Brooke to murder Lucas" Mouth laughed.
"This cannot be happening" Brooke rubbed her temple.
"This door won't open either" Lucas tried the interconnecting door to the next room. "Call down to reception and see if they can send someone up" he suggested
"Why do I have to do it?" Brooke crossed her arms
"Fine I'll do it" he sighed, turning to the nightstand. He looked confused for a moment before turning and glancing around the room "Brooke where's the phone?" Brooke looked around the room.
"Oh they're good".
"What's going on?" Lucas asked
"I think our friends have locked us in to make us talk" she answered
"Oh" Lucas looked away before turning his eyes back to her "It's not such a bad idea Brooke, we do need to talk" he said sitting on the bed. Brooke huffed and walked over to the window
"I have nothing to say to you Lucas" she said staring out at the night.
"I have some things to say to you" he said standing up
"What could you possibly have to say to me?" she spun around
"Th that I'm sorry" he stuttered. "I shouldn't have kissed you"
"Then why did you" she implored.
"I I don't know" he looked down at his hands. Brooke turned back to the window and put her head against the glass.
"I I guess I wanted to" he stammered. "I have for awhile".
Brooke closed her eyes "Why Lucas"
"Because you're you" he said softly. Brooke stood stunned at the window. Lucas had wanted to kiss her for awhile, and he wanted to because "you're you". That meant he liked her, wait this can't be happening she thought. She looked up at Lucas who hadn't moved from his position next to the bed. He was looking at her thoughtfully. She turned back to staring out the window. After what felt like hours she turned her head just enough to train her eyes on him.
"What did you mean before?" she asked softly.
"I have liked you for awhile Brooke, and well you're you, the girl who calls me out on my crap, you make me smile for no reason at all. I like how you kink your eyebrow when you're trying to be serious or cute. You don't let anyone put you down and you're fiercely protective of your friends. You're you, and I don't know how else to put it, It's always been you." Brooke stared at him for a moment before he began striding across the room and crashed his lips down on hers. Brooke was stunned for a second before she wrapped his arms around his waist drawing him closer and returning the kiss.
"How do you think it's going?" Nathan asked Haley, as they were lying on the bed in his room eating m&ms.
"Hopefully Lucas is still alive" Haley giggled.
"What do you think happened between them anyway?" Nathan asked
"I'm not sure, but something Claire said this morning is bugging me, she said something about Lucas 'going for Brooke' I mean it might be nothing. It's no secret that Luke has the biggest crush on Brooke, and Claire is all about playing games" Haley mused
"Maybe, but Brooke seems to be oblivious to Luke" Nathan added
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking, when Claire said that Brooke looked startled and then pretty much ran out of the room, you don't think he made a move do you?" Haley sat up and looked over at Nathan.
"I don't know, I always figured he would come to me first, but who knows, It would explain why they've been acting so weird" He threw a candy in his mouth. "Then again, maybe she made the move and he stood there stunned, god knows Luke isn't the best with women, not like me anyway' he smirked.
"You're a one man soap opera complete with trashy stalkers" she jibed
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing just that the writers of Days of our Lives should give you a call for story ideas"
"That's not very nice" he said shifting position on the bed
"If you can't take the heat so to speak"
"I can take the heat, in fact I make it" Nathan wiggled his eyebrows.
"I think there is medication for that" she began to laugh at him.
"Take that back Hales" he sat up with a glint in his eye.
"Why it's true, can't take it Scott!" she smirked back
"I mean it, take it back Hales!" he grinned at her before launching himself on her and tickling her sides.
"Nathaaan" she cried out in laughter "stttoooop!"
Brooke and Lucas sat against the foot of the bed with their hands linked on Brooke's lap and her head on his shoulder.
"What does this mean?" she asked him not looking up
"What do you want it to mean?" he asked her
"That depends on what you want it to mean" she answered
"Well this conversation went in a circle" he laughed
"I like you Lucas, but this is all a little scary"
"I know this is kind of sudden, but I meant it when I said it's always been you, I'm willing to wait until your ready for us" he said looking down and locking his gaze on her.
"Maybe we can take it slow" Brooke suggested staring back at him
"Whatever you want, I just want to be with you and we can take it as slow as you want" he kissed her palm.
"I think you should kiss me somewhere else" she said mischievously. He leaned in and took lifted her chin as his lips softly met hers.
