Nathan awoke the next day, to find Brooke eating breakfast in his kitchen. Nathan rubbed his eyes a bit, but Brooke looked stubbornly at her breakfast, not making eye contact.

'Brooke had decided to pretend nothing happened, and she was just going to continue being his friend, and just a friend.'

"Uh Brooke-…" Nathan started.

She looked up at him sweetly, "Hey Nathan," she stood up, "didn't you miss me?" she teased as she opened her arms, inviting him to a hug.

Nathan hugged her hesitantly, Brooke noticed but ignored it as she broke the hug quickly, not liking how she felt being so close to him, how she wished she could just stay there forever and never let go.

"So-…"

"Oh, I came over to meet you, then remembered I didn't have breakfast, so your mom welcomed me to some, as she just left."

"Oh, okay," Nathan said as he sat down as well, not really wanting to be with her right now, his wounds still fresh, and the sight of her hurt, knowing that she would always love his half brother was more then he could take.

Brooke sighed as she stood up, not liking the awkwardness between them, she didn't understand why it as there, she just knew that she wanted it gone, "Nathan hurry up and get ready, we're going to the beach,"

"I am ready," Nathan said.

"Oh, so you're going in your boxers," she teased.

He looked down, and turned beet red, "Oh… uh…" 'That was his routine, his mom would always leave early, and he would be home alone to walk in any fashion he wanted.'

He quickly got up and walked briskly out of the kitchen, his neck still crimson. Brooke giggled, as she put the pots away, staring into the direction he just left.

Nathan came out a bit later, "Alright lets go,"

Nathan and Brooke walked down the beach, both remembering the night they had slept here, and how much fun they had the next morning.

Nathan turned to Brooke, "Brooke, race you to that stand over there,"

She looked at him, "Um I don't know… GO," she yelled as she took of running, leaving the confused Nathan behind.

"Hey!" he yelled after her, as he ran after her, "NO Fair!"

Nathan caught up to her in no time, Brooke stuck out her foot causing him to trip, and go crashing to the floor, Brooke laughed as she tried getting ahead, but Nathan who was now on his stomach on the ground, grabbed her left foot, causing her to fall too.

She squealed as Nathan crawled up closer and pinned her down, "Cheater!" he yelled into her ear.

She, who was on her stomach too, elbowed him playfully, causing him to back away as she got up and ran the last few steps to the stand.

She jumped up and down and did a little victory dance, "Loser, loser, loser," she teased, "I win, I win, whattya gonna do loser,"

Nathan pouted, "I'm not playing with you anymore," he said mocking a twelve year old boy, "You cheat,"

"Aw, poor Nathan," she laughed as she jumped on his back.

"Oh shit, it feels like I'm carrying a baby elephant," Nathan teased as he piggybacked her.

"Oh no you didn't," she shrieked, as she tickled him causing him to fall on the ground, she sat on top of him, as he was on his back, "now drop and give me twenty," she scowled teasingly.

"Wow that's the biggest punishment ever,"

"With me on top," she added, and laughed as he did twenty push-ups with her sitting on his back.

It was as if all of yesterday's events were forgotten as they laughed and teased. Or it at least appeared that way, but in reality, they were just as –if not more- broken hearted.

Brooke got up and ran a few steps away, her smile disappearing as she peered out to the water, and how the waves lazily tumbled upon each other.

Nathan was still on the ground laughing, "Shit Brooke I missed you a lot-… Brooke?" he said when he realized that she was looking the other way and wasn't saying anything.

Brooke didn't respond as she quickly tried to wipe tears away from her eyes. Nathan got up and walked up to her, "Brooke?" he said again, but she still didn't turn around.

Brooke wished he wouldn't see her face, for some reason a wave of sadness drowned her, the scene from yesterday back in her mind.

Nathan stepped in front of her, and she automatically covered her face.

"Broooookee," Nathan shook his head and gently took her hands away from her face, and he was surprised to see her eyes…teary.

"What's wrong Brooke?" Nathan asked concerned.

"Nothing Nate," she whispered.

"Brooke?" Nathan said sternly.

"I'm seriously Nathan, it's nothing, I just get really emotional and-…" she went on, trying to wave it off.

"No Brooke, I know you, and I know that it isn't nothing, you're not like this Brooke,"

Nathan now had Brooke's wrists in his hands, and they were pretty close.

Brooke stared into Nathan's eyes, getting lost in the pool of blue, Nathan gazed at Brooke's distressed face, and he couldn't help but also admire how pretty she was.

Some invisible force pulled them closer together, as they both leaned toward each other with out realizing it, until their faces were inches apart.

Nathan looked down at Brooke's lips, and Brooke knew he wanted to kiss her, as she wanted him to kiss her just as bad. Nathan and Brooke slowly leaned in a bit closer, vanishing the space between them, but just as Nathan's lips touched her an image of Nathan and Haley came into her mind, and she pulled away.

Nathan was a bit surprised, realizing what they were just about to do. "Brooke I'm-…"

"No Nathan, its okay, I have to… go," she whispered as she turned and slowly walked away.

Nathan frowned as he watched her go, and one thought came into his mind, 'Lucas,'

Nathan walked home slowly, feeling depressed again.

He got home and saw Brooke sitting on his porch; he looked at her in surprise, "Brooke?"

"I know, you probably think I'm very weird, I keep showing up here, and then I leave you at the beach and walk to your house anyways-…"

"No, I don't think your weird." He smiled.

"I just wanted to say, I'm glad things worked out with you and Haley,"

"Huh?"

"Yea, I saw …well I just came … I saw you two," she mumbled.

"Uh, I'm also glad you're with Lucas again,"

"Me and Lucas?"

"Yea… I saw you two… well I came over… I went for a jog… I saw you two," he stuttered.

"Well then, we're both going to be with the people we're suppose to be with?" she asked, eager to know his answer.

'Please say no, please say you want to be with me, please, tell me it was a mistake, and you really want to be with me, tell me your not suppose to be with her,'

"Uh …yea, I guess so,"

'Brooke please don't leave me, tell me I'm wrong, tell me that you don't want Lucas, please tell me Brooke, tell me you don't want to be with Lucas, ever,'

"Brooke actually-…"

"Nathan I don't-…"

They both started at the same time, when they heard a car stop in front of the house.

Out came… Haley and Lucas.

A/N THAnks guys! You have made it soo much easier.. it WAs Even!... half the ppl want Brathan..other half want Brucas and Naley... alright.. i'll have to see how i make it work, i'll try to put a bit of each in it, so even if that coupledoesnt end up, it will be in it...:D...keep reviewing, and tell me who you want together, and what you think of the chapter... i LOVE reviews...loll i say that a lot dont i:D