Authors note: Late but finally up. The new chapter… /E&L

Comfortable Liar

Part 1: Teenage Wasteland

---x---

Chapter 9: Throwing Stones At Glass Houses

Junior Year

---x---

November 11th 2006

The morning after the Pickerington game, when he walks onto school campus, he knows that today will be different than any other day. Today the latest gossip is spreading around the school faster than a raging forest fire. Suddenly he is front page news.

Nathan Scott has dumped Peyton Sawyer.

The couple has broken up a million times before, but everyone knows that the decision has always been Peyton's. This time the grapevine whispers a whole different story. Nathan Scott has done the dumping and apparently he's even gone as far as to take back his letter-jacket.

There is no explanation though regarding this current change in rotation and for the first time the couple is not yelling their lungs out at each other either. Tree Hill's on-off couple simply ignore each other rather than snap at each other. And when Peyton walks by him in the corridor before homeroom, arm linked with Brooke, he even raises his chin in a silent 'Hello.'

Tree Hill is off balance and everyone wants to know why. The cold shoulder is instead lukewarm. Their cold stares are laced with a challenge rather than their usual defiant smirks.

What the gossipers don't know is that when Nathan Scott broke up with the ever-emo Peyton Sawyer—he had given her an ultimatum. Her answer would make her feel as if she had won the upper hand in the breakup. But what she doesn't know, what everyone won't understand until everything fell into place…

Is that she had chose just the way he had hoped.

---x---

November 14th

She's still a little shocked.

Three days ago, Nathan had done the unthinkable. He had dumped Peyton. Not the other way around. And yet, during the last two days of him being single, he hasn't approached her once.

She doesn't care though, because Nathan is just supposed to be a fun distraction while she pursues Lucas. She's doesn't care if he touches her in secret or gives her 'the nod' at games. The fact that he hardly notices her and that he spends way too much time at the tutoring center doesn't make her jealous at all.

So when she passes the dark haired Scott while walking back from Spanish, she just shakes her head and continues towards Lucas further down the hall. Nathan is nothing compared to the blond boy ahead. And instead of dwelling more about the past, she brings out her most dimpled smile and walks towards the future.

The reason to all the mood swings and frustration is simple when she thinks about it. She hasn't slept with Lucas yet so of course she's frustrated. Once she does, Nathan will fade and become an unimportant blip on her radar, just like he had been before last spring.

In fact, he kind of already is.

"Hi Luke," she says happily when she reaches his locker, and Lucas returns her grin with a bright smile of his own.

"Hey Brooke." He looks down towards her feet. "How's the ankle? Better?"

Oh my god, she thinks. He cares!

She beams at him and is about to insure him that she can't even feel it anymore, but then she gets the best idea.

"It's still sore," she says with a crooked and half-sad smile. "How much do you weigh?"

Instantly Lucas looks guilty. And she loves that he cares that much. About her.

"I'm really sorry, Brooke," he mumbles and averts his eyes back to the floor. "It was stupid… I shouldn't have gone off on Nathan…"

She brushes it off with a smile that could light up a small country.

"You know what?" she murmurs and links his arm with his. "I bet I'd feel better if I had ice cream. How about you treat me to some before homeroom?"

When he nods and leads the way, she realizes that the anger from before is vanquished. Her mood is suddenly as bright as a sunny Saturday morning. And she thinks that anytime now, things are going back to go back to normal.

No, actually she's sure they will.

---x---

November 17th

Lucas wishes he were anywhere else but where he stands now outside his uncle's truck about to embark towards the Scott residence. He's on the team now, so events such as these require his presence.

No matter how badly he wants to turn around and head back home.

"Here we go," Karen is heard whispering under her breath uneasily.

He feels for her, she shouldn't have to go through this. How could he do this to her? Watching his uncle Keith reach out to place a warm hand on his mom's shoulder, he comes up with a small plan.

"We don't have to do this, ma," Lucas tells his mom.

"Don't be silly," she shakes her head, "it's fine. This isn't about me, it's about… charity." She replies somewhat conflicted.

Keith's hand tightens on her shoulder and he says something into her ear that makes her sigh and nod.

"Hey guys," Lucas pipes up as they walk across the lawn towards the front entrance, "maybe we should have like, a signal. You know, in case one of us wants to leave?"

Keith comes up with a better idea and says, "Maybe we should just leave."

"Oh, come on," he laughs, "that's no fun. How about… caw!" he suggests.

"Caw?" Karen frowns.

"Yeah," her son nods. "You know, like a raven—caw!" he calls out animatedly.

"Caw!" Karen plays along and laughs.

Lucas can't help but chuckle at how stupid they all must look, "That's the spirit. So, when one of us wants to leave, we just… caw!"

His mother shouts it once more and Keith hesitates before doing the same. Lucas laughs and pats his uncle on the back as they walk up the steps that will lead to one hell of a day he bets. If he could, he'd turn around and leave. Any smart person would. Who in their right minds would willfully walk into the gates of Hell?

With a sigh, Lucas turns to his mom, "You ready, mom?

"Ready as I'll ever be," she nods.

Lucas rings the doorbell and together, the three of them wait.

"You know," Karen replies softly, "maybe the best plan is to just avoid him all night," she says referring to Dan, "and then that way—"

The door flies open and with a beaming smile, Dan greets them, "Well, well, come on in…"

Caw.

---x---

It's been almost six weeks now, since she stripped in his car, and scoring with Lucas Scott has proven to be harder than Brooke would have thought. Primarily because he seems set on wanting Peyton, and because she doesn't know how to flirt with him.

He's not like Nathan or Vegas or any of the other guys. Sexy smiles and hidden invites to her bed doesn't seem to work, and earlier tonight—at the beginning of the annual basketball banquet at Dan Scott's mansion—when she tried to get him to join her in her parents Jacuzzi earlier this evening, he had looked more scared than interested.

"Well I was gonna say," she smiled. "…my parents usually close this place down every year, so if we wanted, we could go back to my place and start the party early. We have a Jacuzzi…"

Lucas' gaze was still trained on Peyton and he mumbled, "That sounds tempting Brooke…"

"And we have me naked in a Jacuzzi," she offered, but the effect was no where near what she was hoping for.

"Okay… what if I told you there was someone else?"

This was much harder than it should be. He looked at her with a soft smile, almost as if he was trying to let her down easily and when she thought about it, it was ridiculous. He should be begging her to flirt with him, not gently turn her down. She batted her eyelashes and let the smile turn wicked. It was time for true war-antics.

After all, manipulation was one of her greatest talents.

"Normally I'd suggest a threesome," she purred, "but I think that the person you have in mind is getting back together with her old boyfriend…"

She tilted her head innocently to the side and motioned to the left of them. Lucas looked over at Peyton, who by now was busy talking to Nathan, and when she saw the disappointed shadow drift over his face, she felt like she already had the cat in the bag. Then Peyton actually followed Nathan out of the room and Lucas' eyes turned back to her.

"See what I mean?" she said, and the inwardly smile she was suppressing grew to the size of Texas. Sure, Lucas was walking away, but he'd be back, she just had to wait.

"You're such a conniving bitch Brooke," Rachel offered from behind and handed her a drink. "I've taught you well."

Nodding, she let the hidden smile out.

"I know."

She sighs and looks at the bottle of vodka she had nicked from Nathan's secret stash. Empty. Lucas still hadn't 'come back' and it's all just really frustrating. The fact that Peyton keeps acting all weird doesn't help either. Because even though Peyton had clearly denied being into Lucas, it truly looked like she was.

Then on top of it all there's the ongoing complications with Nathan. He should be back with Peyton by now. Right?

But he wasn't, a fact that Rachel kept bringing up every chance she got. Today marked a week, which made the theory of Nathan just trying to make a point seem kind of farfetched. A week marked one of the longest break-ups between her friend and the dark haired Scott-brother so far unless one counted last summer.

Tonight though, he has been following the tutor, Haley god damn James, around again like a love-sick puppy. Nathan, hanging out with that girl, is just unnatural and of course that just adds on to her frustration. So she does what comes natural, and cheered on by Rachel she heads towards the living room bar to get even more drunk.

The Basketball Banquet held at Nathan's parents house is an expensive ordeal where no expenses seems to have been spared and the bar is no exception. She and Rachel settles at the counter and when the female bartender asks "Soda or juice?" she just shoots off a winning smile.

"Actually, I was gonna ask if you know how to make a screaming orgasm."

She's not surprised when the girl behind the bar laughs and says; "For a pretty girl like you? Sure."

This is what she does best. She might just be seventeen but she's been drinking alcohol for years. And flirting is her biggest talent, no matter if the current bartender happens to be female. When they went to Blue Post, Nathan usually sent her to the bar instead of asking Peyton because Brooke Davis never had to pay for the drinks. Peyton just didn't have that special touch that she shared with Rachel. Maybe it was because of Peyton's constant scowl.

"So what's this thing tonight?" the bartender asks, and she leans her elbow on the counter.

"Ravens basketball."

"Oh, and what position do you play?"

Tim comes up laughing beside her and she glares at him. "Cheerleader," she states proudly. "I'm the Captain."

Tim can go to hell. And he can take Lucas and Nathan with him.

The bar-girl smiles timidly and snickers, "Jocks and cheerleaders, huh? Lots of hormones tonight," before handing Brooke the ready drink. "Don't go around advertising."

She shakes her head, making her dark hair bounce around her face, and in the corner of her eye she sees Rachel smile. "Secret's safe with me," the redhead mumbles and receives a drink of her own. Tim leans towards the counter but he doesn't even have time to finish his sentence.

"I'll have what they're havi-"

"Just walk away, Dim!"

Laughing, she and Rachel settle with their drinks to watch the crowd. She's not really in the mood to talk but after Tim has loomed off and she once again sees Peyton sneak by in a door-opening without joining them, she has to ask.

"Do you think that Peyton likes Lucas?"

Rachel empties her red plastic cup and smirks. "Wouldn't that karma be a bitch, huh? I mean since you've been slee—"

She quickly clasps a hand over the redhead's mouth.

"Shh! What the fuck Rach!"

Lately her redheaded friend has gotten a little too comfy with talking about her misdoings with Nathan, probably because they've been spending more and more time without the company of the blonde. With a glare that screams 'control your freaking tongue' she drops the hand and lowers her voice.

"No but seriously… she says she's not into him. I asked her, I even gave her the whole of last weekend to make a move, but she didn't…"

Rachel shrugs.

"I don't know Brooke. I've never really understood that girl and you know it. Frankly I'm not really sure why you want Lucas to begin with. He's way too innocent and broody for you. Not to mention," she pauses to sneer at the boy who stands nervously in the corner of the room next to Jake Jagielsky, "he's a total bore."

He is innocent, Brooke admits, but basically that's exactly what she needs. Someone that can rub off some of that naive virtue on her and make her softer, more stable. Maybe someone that can even love her. Someone who can actually make her love them back.

"Whatever…" she mutters.

She doesn't want to think about this stuff now, with a sigh she watches Nathan across the room as he laughs with the stupid tutor girl. When the hell did tutor girl get invited to Raven functions anyways? She empties another cup of Cranberry and Grey Goose and her eyes scan the room for Lucas. Eventually the gorgeous broody blond will be hers.

She'll just have to work a little harder.

---x---

Rachel understands that Brooke wants to venture outside of the box, it's only natural. But does she really want to go that route through Lucas Scott? Boys were trouble, boyfriends were worse and monogamous relationships were only a cause for disaster.

Which is why she hasn't seen or heard from Owen in nearly a week. Which is fine by her, because he is not her boyfriend. Okay, truth be told he had sent her a text letting her know that he had another game that Friday. A silent peace offering and yet to Rachel it's more like an arrogant way of getting her to be the one to apologize without even speaking. If she goes then it's just as bad as saying the words.

But Brooke plans to go, which means Rachel is going because she knows Brooke well enough to know a plan when it's formed. She even has Bevin along for the ride. Which is proof enough that Brooke is up to something because Bevin is even more of a Rachel/Owen supporter than the dimple faced brunette.

"Don't look like you're having too much fun," Jake chuckles as he makes his way over to lean against the bar to her left. "You might give everyone the impression that you're actually enjoying yourself," he says and casts her a lighthearted wink.

Rachel grunts in reply then sips from her cup, "Careful, Jake," she warns him with a menacing growl. "I'm bored and getting more drunk by the minute. Pretty soon I'm going to want to ditch this shit hole and you're looking awfully attractive tonight."

Jake chuckles to himself and drops his head, "Oh Rachel, you and Brooke kill me. You know that?"

"Why Mr. Jagielsky," she purrs delightfully and slides a hand up the front of his chest, "if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were suggesting a threesome…"

"Ice it, Gatina," Nathan storms over with a scowl, "I don't think Owen would appreciate you throwing yourself at Jake."

"Excuse me?" her eyes ignite with a flame so bright, Jake has to take a step back.

"You heard me, Rachel," he snaps. "And I don't appreciate you messing around behind his back in my house."

By now, Jake has extracted himself as far away from the argument as possible. Spotting Brooke giggling with the rest of her squad he quickly makes his way over to her and takes her by the arm. "I need to talk to you."

"Oh, hey," Brooke's grin is devilish, "I see you've changed your mind about—"

"Rachel needs you," he blurts and instantly kills her buzz. Her head snaps to the right to see the red head engaged in a heated argument with Nathan.

"Shit," she mutters under her breath, "thanks," she nods at Jake before she goes storming past him towards her friend.

"Don't you dare try to stand there and lecture me," Rachel scoffs, "look in a damn mirror, Nathan. You're the one fucking around behind Peyton's back and then twice fucking her—and your thing on the side with that tutor bitch! So don't you even attempt to come at me with—"

"Hey!" Brooke shouts interrupting the end of her sentence. Grabbing her by the arm she drags the redhead out of the house with Nathan following close behind. "Are you fucking crazy, Rachel? What the hell's gotten into you?" she asks once they're in the backyard.

"Nothing," Rachel's jaw tightens. "Everything was perfectly fine until your little boy toy decided to—"

"That is enough!" she hisses into her friends face furiously wrenching her forward by her wrist. "You are drunk and you are seriously starting to embarrass yourself. I understand that you're upset because of Owen, but—"

"Oh please!" Rachel belts out with a scowl while slapping her hand away, "I'm just sick of watching you parade yourself around for a boy who is so beneath you."

"You don't even know him," Brooke shakes her head disappointed. She hates that Rachel wont give Lucas a chance.

"Yeah?" her flushed cheeks color even further, "Well neither do you."

She flinches, stung by her harsh words then backs away. "I wont fight with you," she shakes her head and pulls out her phone.

Rachel's eyes widen in alarm as she watches Brooke dial, "I swear Brooke, if you call him I will make you regret it." Her eyes narrow.

Nathan chooses now to intervene, not liking the amount of attention that has now been brought. Slowly he lowers Brooke hand so that she can't finish her call, "Forget it, I already called him. He's on his way now," he tells her, deliberately avoiding Rachel's hateful gaze.

"You son of a—"

"Brooke!" Peyton's shout is heard from across the room.

Her head snaps up to see the curly blonde stomp her way towards her with a menacing glare in her eyes. Uh oh.

"Did you tell Lucas that Nathan and I were getting back together?" she snaps when she's within hearing distance.

Glancing around them, Brooke rolls her eyes in annoyance. "Well aren't you? I mean this is breakup number, what? Eleven thousand and two?"

"You know what, Brooke? Give it up." She scowls.

"Trust me, I'm trying," she mutters in response.

Peyton sees no humor in her words, "You know what I mean."

"I'm just trying to help." She lies, because truthfully she just wants Nathan paired up again so that she can pursue Lucas without his constant watchful eye.

"Help with what?" Peyton scoffs, "Get me out of the way so you can go embarrass yourself in front of Lucas some more?"

Nathan bites back a laugh behind a hand and Rachel sighs completely bored of the entire party.

"That's funny," Brooke blinks with a small, forced laugh, "I didn't realize you were in my way." Her brow arches considerably, "Are you finally fessing up? Or, are you finally denying it?"

Peyton hugs her arms around herself as if realizing she's said too much.

"Whatever," Brooke rolls her eyes and tries to walk away only to be pulled back by Peyton. Staring at her hand on her arm she glares until her hand drops away and then pulls up the most devious smile. "Let's play a game, shall we?"

"Brooke…" Nathan grumbles a warning.

But she's too fired up to listen.

"Listen up, everybody!" she shouts out to her classmates who are scattered around the back of the house. "It's time to play truth or dare," she smiles. "Or maybe just dare, 'cause," she pauses to throw Peyton a fierce look, "nobody really tells the truth anymore."

"B," Rachel sobers up enough to realize that things are about to take a dive in the wrong direction, "she's just trying to make Nathan jealous because of tutor bitch. She doesn't really want Lu—"

"Let's see… Peyton," Brooke ignores her friend and turns to the other.

"Brooke, come on."

"I dare you to show us how you really feel," she scowls, "kiss Lucas."

Lucas, who stands a few feet away in utter and complete shock, stares at Brooke as if she's just cursed him. Or maybe blessed him, she's not too sure because she's so full of anger in that moment she can't quite see straight.

"Sure, Peyt," Nathan nods at his current ex, "kiss the loser," he chuckles with an arrogant smirk, "give me a free pass to screw whoever I want tonight without having to hear you bitch about it later."

Completely embarrassed, Peyton hesitates to move, but after a curt nod from Brooke she eventually turns around and kisses Lucas. Cheers erupt and Rachel pulls Brooke back a step to mutter something into her ear just as Peyton finishes the kiss.

"I knew you'd see things my way," Nathan winks.

After all, why should he care? He is the one who dumped her after all. A first in the history of their long and twisted relationship. She hates him so much in that moment, because kissing Lucas has obviously caused him no pain. Why can't she even inflict even a decimal of the hurt he causes her?

"That was low," Jake shakes his head in disappointment. "Even for you, Brooke," he replies brushing past her to walk back inside the house.

Embarrassed and completely humiliated, Peyton glances around at her classmates wondering what exactly to do next. Lucas turns to Peyton, then back to Brooke. He's never been more clueless in his entire life.

"Brooke," he says her name feeling confused and turns to Peyton again, "what the hell just happened?"

Peyton's tearful eyes are glued to the house, shame fills her veins as she thinks about what her actions have done. Screw Nathan, forget Brooke, forget everything. She's just proved herself every bit the immature girl she swore she was not. And the way he had looked at her… Deeply ashamed of herself, she shoves away from everyone and rushes out around the house.

Lucas glances up at Brooke who stares back at him completely emotionless and he drops gaze downward and away from her. She shakes her head, looking completely dissatisfied before she turns and walks away back into the house.

Rejected, Lucas chooses then to chase after Peyton.

---x---

"Seriously Brooke? Could you be anymore pathetic?" Nathan snorts an hour later as he approaches the brunette from behind. "What the hell do you see in that loser?" His hands slide around her waist and rests over her hips.

"You wouldn't understand." She shakes her head as she watches Lucas push his way past his peers on his way out the front door to follow the disappearing Peyton.

She's watched him chase her all over the house. Every time he gets close, Peyton reels him in and then throws him back. It's sickening, almost.

From where they stand in an empty back corner of the house, Nathan slips his fingers over her stomach and up her slinky halter dress. "Actually B, I think I understand even more than you do." He chuckles. "Why do you think I tried to hook up with Haley?"

"Stop," she hisses and grabs his hands before they can cup her breasts.

Hot air tickles her ear before the feel of his teeth lightly nipping at her lobe. "You don't mean that."

"Yes I do." She shivers in his hands and closes her eyes. "I so fucking hate you." She jerks away from him and turns to glare into his icy blue eyes. "You make me sick," she replies through gritted teeth.

He exhales through his nose and resists the urge to shove her up against the wall. Instead he continues to gape into her eyes. No words, just burning, lingering stares. She's so damn hot when she's pissed at him.

"Upstairs." He whispers and jerks her forward by the fabric of her red dress. "Ten minutes. I'll wrap things up down here and meet you inside my room." He licks his lips and watches in the corner of his eyes as their shadows dance against the wall beside them.

"You're drunk," she mutters and turns her face to avoid his lips.

He crashes his mouth against the nape of her neck and licks her skin like an animal bathing its counterpart. He swears that she tastes like candy, the sweetest sin. "So what? It's not like you're sober," he scoffs. "Now you have something to blame when you wake up tomorrow morning naked in my bed." He blows his breath over his saliva marks over her neck and grins when she quivers in his hands.

"Fuck you" she scowls.

Nathan sighs and pulls away from her. "Seriously B? Are we really gonna do this again? Either way this conversation goes it always ends the same. You're like a broken record."

"Are you comparing me to Peyton?" she asks incredulously.

"Fuck no," he grimaces, "let me rephrase myself. She was a broken record, you're just on repeat." He leans in to kiss her and is met with her chin. He groans and rolls his eyes. "What now?"

"I want Lucas." Brooke says but doesn't sound not very convincing.

"You want the idea of Lucas," he explains and cradles the back of her head with his hand. "Plus, you do realize that he wants Peyton, right?"

She closes her eyes and brushes her lips against his wrist almost absentmindedly, "Ten minutes," she mutters and looks up at him.

He grins. She scowls and shoves him against the wall as she storms off towards the stairs.

---x---

November 18th

She wakes up in the familiar room of Peyton Sawyer and for a second she doesn't even remember how she got there. Her mouth is hot, her tongue is dry and she feels like the room is still spinning just as fast as it was the night before.

With a hangover from hell she mutters, "So what am I doing here?" and moans just as Peyton lets out a sigh.

Sometimes Peyton wonders just what the hell goes on inside Brooke's head. Then she wonders if she even really cares anymore. It seems that with every new fight their vindictive comebacks get worse and worse. However, the next day, all is always forgiven. Perhaps that's the reason they refuse to let go. A vicious cycle that they just can't break.

"Brooke, that's two weekends in a row you don't remember what happened the night before," she replies exhausted.

"Oh, please tell me that I didn't make a fool out of myself in front of Lucas?" She buries her face back into the pillow, but Peyton just snorts.

"Nope, that would be me." Her voice is dry and her eyes are downcast.

"What? Wait… you two were totally hot for each other." Brooke replies when small fragments of the day before start to piece back together. She just can't seem to wrap her head around some of it. Hadn't her plan been to end up next to Lucas the next morning?

A glance to her left and she can at least say she's in bed with a tall blonde. She'd laugh but suddenly more pieces from last night come back to her. She remembers fighting with Rachel, flirting with Lucas… and Jake and then—oh wait, she remembers now. Lucas had run off after Peyton and she herself had gone upstairs with… God…

If she wasn't already pale, she would be now. When was she going to stop sneaking around with Nathan? Peyton doesn't seem to notice her paleness though. Instead she sighs and zaps to another channel on the TV.

"Were is the key-word here. We were hot for each other until about halfway through ripping each other's clothes off, I bailed." Peyton heaves a great big sigh.

"Because?" She waits for a response.

"Because he got all serious. He was talking about this intense commitment or I don't know." Peyton waves a flippant hand to show she could care less. It's an act Brooke doesn't buy but she allows her golden partner to think that she has.

"Peyton," Brooke mumbles as she stares forward at the television. From the corner of her eye she can see the blonde turn her head and yet she remains forward without turning to meet her gaze.

"Yeah?"

She takes a deep breath, "Why are we like this?"

"I don't know," Peyton shrugs and looks back at the TV without really seeing what's on the screen. "Why are you such a skank?"

"Why do you always do that?" Brooke huffs in annoyance, "Do you really have to insult me? I know its your default reaction to attack when you feel threatened but I am your best friend, Peyton. Why do you want me to hate you?"

"I don't," Peyton mumbles. "It's just… you're not you anymore."

"Yeah? Well neither are you, so I guess we're even." Brooke snaps back spitefully.

"Brooke, do we have to do this? I mean seriously, it doesn't really matter because no matter what I say you're going to forgive me." She shrugs, because its just a fact.

A fact that Brooke hates to admit to and also, a fact that makes her think of something she's been wondering for quite some time now.

"Why do you keep going back to Nathan?" she mumbles and starts to pick at the loose threads on the blanket in her lap.

Her friend's brow furrows in confusion, it's been too long since she's heard such a genuine tone come from the brunette's lips. It also makes her curious to know why she suddenly cares.

"Force of habit, I guess," Peyton shrugs.

Brooke can relate. But this isn't the answer she'd hoped for. She wants a bonafide good reason as to why it is so easy to keep going back to Nathan Scott despite all his flaws. Because she thinks that if she knows Peyton's answer, then maybe it can help her find out her own.

Now she turns to face the other girl, "And Lucas?"

"What about him?" a grimace mares her sharp features.

"Come on! He was totally following you around like lovesick puppy, Peyton! You can't tell me you didn't notice," her voice rises.

Peyton scowls, "Yes, I noticed and it was fucking annoying as hell. I mean what kind of guy makes it so obvious? Play a little hard to get, will you?"

"Is he a good kisser?" she asks eagerly.

The blondes shrug is meant to be nonchalant but the slight tug on the corner of her mouth gives it away. "He's okay," she lies.

Brooke holds back a smirk, "Better than Nathan?"

She hesitates then shakes her head with a laugh, "No one's better than Nathan."

"You're beyond pathetic," Brooke snorts and they both giggle.

"Why did you ask me about Nathan?" she asks not really caring for an answer.

"Never mind," Brooke shakes her head.

"So, you wanna hang out today?" Peyton shrugs it off and offers in a small voice.

"Yeah, sure."

"I mean," she adds, "unless you're busy with your other best friend."

Brooke doesn't even grace that comment with an answer. Instead she rolls her eyes and ignores it altogether. "There's a party at Duke tonight…"

"Sounds good," Peyton nods.

"Cool," Brooke nods. "We can go shopping for something to wear later," she replies simply and pulls the hair back from her face.

"Yeah, and maybe I can find a guy who understands the meaning of a one night stand," she snorts, "and I have to do it before Nathan comes crawling back. Because I know he slept with someone last night, he's completely unable to allow anyone to get one up on him. And since I pretty much gave him permission to screw whoever by kissing Lucas…" she shrugs.

"So what," Brooke smirks, "you have to even the score?"

"Exactly," she laughs, "but don't make it sound so… bad. It's just sex," she rolls her eyes nonchalant, "you of all people should get that."

"Easy on the skanky innuendo!" Brooke elbows her friend.

"Yeah, yeah. Sorry, force of habit. You're so easy—and not just literally!" she teases again and gets shoved one more time. "Alright, chill. Take your Aspirin so you can shake that hangover and we can go shopping."

Brooke rolls her eyes and swallows the meds Peyton's set on the nightstand with the bottle of water. "Can we watch cheesy reality shows while I wait for the marching band to stop parading on my head?"

"I suppose," she changes the channel to VH1 to watch Real Chance of Love.

"Hey Peyt?"

"Yeah?" her gaze switches to look at the brunette.

"Do you really think Nate will come crawling back?" she asks not really knowing why.

"Yep," Peyton's eyes turn back to the TV.

Brooke turns and snuggles back into the pillows behind her with a small smirk. Peyton had turned Lucas down. It was now just a matter of days before Nathan and Peyton will be back together and everything will go back to normal.

Lucas is open game again—and Brooke Davis is ready to play.

---x---

November 19th

Rachel doesn't even know why she agreed to go to the stupid football game in the first place. She's still pissed off at Owen and the fact that he had seen her in the stands was just going to make him think that they were good again.

And they're not.

Actually they're probably less 'good' than they were 90 minutes ago, before she stepped out on the football field, because seeing all the stupid little twits that flocked around him just reminded her of how he had acted last night. On top of that, Duke's cheer squad seemed to have gotten a few additions, more specifically two blonde bitches that just wouldn't leave Owen alone.

Earlier today she had been pissed. It seemed as if ever since flipping out over the idea of being Owens 'girlfriend' he's done everything in his power to make her jealous. What's more disturbing is that it's working.

Last nights fight had been worse than usual. However, Brooke had pulled the whole manipulation act on her. Argued that it was way too seldom that Duke's Blue Devils played at home, and that the changes to the team should be reason enough. According to Brooke, Tyler Gage – offensive lineback for the Blue Devils, and newly transferred from UNC, was straight up eye-candy.

Thinking that it could be good for Brooke to stop obsessing about the new loser-guy Lucas, she had agreed, which she now greatly regrets. Because now she's not just pissed, now she's furious. Tonight's game was just one time too many were she had to watch Owen chat up some college hottie while she stood on the side and watched and whatever lame excuses he was going to conjure up later, she's fed up with it. Fed up.

Although when she hisses and spits about his behavior, neither Brooke nor Bevin seem to take her seriously. Probably because the fighting between herself and Owen has turned into a normal routine. But tonight is different. She's not going to forgive him as soon as he juts his bottom lip out and mutters 'sorry'. She's not going to…

"Ty is so gorgeous…" Bevin sighs and hooks her arm with Brooke's, effectively breaking her line of thought. "I can't believe he's just a freshman."

Brooke nods in agreement. But instead of the counteract of naming some other good looking player, she smirks.

"Yeah and about that…" the dimpled traitor says and taps a finger to her chin. "Owen looked pretty hot in that game, don't you think so Bev?"

"Totally. What did you think, Rachel?"

Bevin smiles genuinely and it's obvious that she has no clue what Brooke is doing. God, sometimes the girl is just too damn gullible.

"I think both of you are idiots" she snaps and speeds up her step.

The giggle that slips from Brooke can't be called anything other than evil so she snorts back and flicks her red hair out of her face with a shake of her head. Bevin looks more confused than ever and when she rapidly walks towards the car, Bevin turns to Brooke.

"I don't understand, B. Doesn't Rachel think Owen is hot? It's kind of stupid to date him if she doesn't think so… I mean, I think he's hot but I don't wanna date him 'cause he's obviously taken…" Rachel can almost hear Brooke roll her eyes and make the 'duh!' expression. "…but if he wasn't, then I'd totally go for Owen. Seriously, his abs are like dreamy…"

She's just about to turn back and bitch Bevin off, because what the hell would Bevin know about Owens abs? But Brooke's voice cuts her off.

"Shut up Bevin."

Good. End of discussion.

At least she thinks so until she's strapping on her seatbelt on and Brooke climbs in on the passenger side. The innocent flutter of her friend's eyelashes clearly tells her that B Davis is up so something and she lets out an irritated sigh.

"What, Brooke?!"

Brooke blinks and puts a hand on her heart as if feeling hurt by the ice in her voice. "Did I say anything?" her brunette friend asks and straps on her own seatbelt. "Did I Bev?" Brooke turns to the back and Bevin mumbles out a confused "No…"

"Nope, didn't think so." The lip sticks out in the infamous Davis pout.

It's clearly an act but annoyingly enough it still makes Rachel laugh.

"God, B… you really should pursue a career as an actress. And I never want this repeated, but I get why the guys fall for that face of yours."

Brooke's features lights up again. "Cute, huh?" the dimpled girl states and pulls down the sunshield to watch her reflection in the mirror.

"Yes."

Rachel turns the ignition and pulls the shift into drive. And in the corner of her eye she sees Brooke's smile stretch into a vicious leer.

"Well talking about cute…" she drawls and applies some lipgloss. "I think Owen looked pretty hot in tonight's game…" She shakes the dark curls out of her face and giggles. "Or what do you think, Rachel?"

Rachel just lets her head fall back against the headrest and groans loudly.

"I think I hate you."

Bevin starts to say something from the backseat but one look in the rearview mirror shuts the blonde up permanently. And she's just about to blast the radio in order to not have to listen to all this 'girl-talk' that is sure to follow, but her cell phone cuts her off.

Owen.

Not answering would be childish and way beneath her. The guy knows her well enough to know that she's pissed at him anyway. So she flips the phone open and just when she makes a left up on the highway, she snaps "What, you chauvinistic, cheating asshole? What can you possibly have to say to me that I would want to hear?"

Brooke looks away from her own reflection in the mirror and watches Rachel. Her redheaded friend's expression is cold and she can vaguely hear Owens voice on the other end. She snaps out worlds like 'over-reacting', 'misunderstanding' and 'childish' and Brooke groans silently to herself. When was the guy ever going to learn?

"Rachel…" she whispers carefully, "Stay calm, okay?" but of course Rachel doesn't. Instead the scarlet firecracker yells out a stream of colorful words that would make a drunken truck-driver blush before slapping the phone shut and looking like she wants to hurl the device out the window.

"I hate him! I fucking hate him!"

There's no question that this will turn into the regular Rachel/Owen warfare and Brooke sighs and looks out on the dark road ahead.

"Can't you two just stop fighting it?" she mumbles, even though she knows that she shouldn't. The fun and games are over and the comment is surely going to piss off Rachel for real. Honestly though, she doesn't care. Not even when Rachel snaps out a harsh "Fuck you, Brooke! This is not your business!"

She's tired of the constant bitching but it's not just that. Lately she keeps wondering if maybe she's wrong in believing that love should be more than this. It makes her feel sad to think that Rachel's been right all along.

Just look at Rachel and Owen, or at Nathan and Peyton.

She knows how alike Rachel and herself are and Nathan is probably just like Owen if not even worse. He would never want anything serious, and on top of that, she had been stupid to even consider that thought because she would never do that to Peyton.

"Owen did nothing but talk to that girl last night, Raye," she says softly, not at all bothered by the curses that Rachel still throws her way. "We never saw him do anything. They just talked."

This time Rachel doesn't even answer and seconds later loud music fills the car. So she leans back into the seat again and brings out her own cell phone. Texts a 'Come over later 2nite. Shell b at my house' to Owen because she hates when they fight. it might be silly, but it reminds her too much of her own parents.

Seconds later she gets the response. 'Fuck it. Im not sayin sorry for sumthin I didnt do. Ill b wit Prep.'

Whatever. Dogs should stick with dogs, she thinks, but then Bevin's voice cuts off her thoughts.

"Look. There's Lucas."

She looks out the window just in time to see Lucas jogging down towards the River Park. He looks so relaxed in his sweats, so careless… so hot.

Turning her head she watches him disappear in the distance.

It was going to be so refreshing when she finally reeled him in. Because right now, all she wants is to get out of this damn dog-pound.

---x---

Big ass thank you's to everyone that reviewed but this time especially to;

Lizzy, who keeps reading and reviewing although she's out camping with the family in the wilderness. Stefy, who always has time to listen to the never-ending twists and turns of this story. And Ellis, our only boy, who always reads between the lines and gives great insight.

Oh and by the way;

Audra, you're alert-thingy is not messed up. ;)

Chey, sorry for driving you crazy hun 3

Firenza, Peyton's issues will be addressed

Kristin, be patient – Blue post, baby.