A/N: Here you go! Hope you like it!

Chapter 14

Brooke POV

"No matter how many times I walk in on that, I don't think I'll ever get used to it," I said scrunching up my nose.

"Sorry," Rachel said sheepishly, sitting up in her shorts and bra and causing Julian to sit up too.

"We thought you'd be gone a while," Julian said.

"But on my couch guys? Seriously? I watch TV on that couch!" I said. I could always change the sheets in the extra bedroom but how was I supposed to decontaminate the couch?

"Sorry B," Julian said handing Rachel her shirt before putting on his own, but he didn't look at all sorry.

"Have you guys been home all day?" I asked sitting down on the single couch.

"Yeah. It's pretty hard to go out and be together when we're not supposed to be together," Rachel said.

"I am so sorry guys. We should never have gone through this plan to pretend Julian was my boyfriend," I said feeling guilty for making them stay home all day because they were worried my friends would see them together and figure it all out.

"Oh please, don't apologise! It was my idea after all," Rachel said. "If we didn't want to do it we wouldn't have suggested it."

"But you guys just got back together before we left and you can't even enjoy it properly because J, you're too busy following me around and Rach, you're on your own a lot," I said leaning back.

"Technically, we didn't get back together because we were never actually technically 'together'," Rachel said.

Julian just glared at her.

"But it's true! I used to spend the night with you then go on a date with some other—"

"Thanks babe, glad to know our time together meant as much to you as it did to me," Julian said rolling his eyes and Rachel scooted closer to him and kissed him on the cheek and he visibly softened.

"But Brooks, it hasn't all been that bad. It's actually been kind of fun being your fake boyfriend," Julian said. "And if anything, I'm so pleased we did after seeing what Nathan was like the other night."

Even though Julian was right about Nathan being out of order the other night, for some reason I felt the need to defend him.

"Sweetie, even though you said you were, you were in no way ready to come back to New York. You needed us here beside you, and if you came here 'single' we all know you would be back to square one," Rachel added.

"I guess you're right," I said reluctantly. "You know Nathan was outside when I came home and he thought you were 'cheating' on me."

"Oh crap, I guess we weren't as subtle as we thought. Did we completely ruin everything?" Rachel asked.

"No, it's ok. Relax. He didn't know it was you, just had a feeling Julian was cheating on me, but I sort of dismissed it," I said. "Maybe it was a good thing though, it can give us a reason to have a big dramatic break up."

"We're breaking up?" Julian said pretending to look hurt.

"Well you guys have your own lives to get to. I feel bad keeping you here helping me with mine," I admitted.

"Oh Brooke," Rachel said coming over to my chair and giving me a hug. "Me and Julian love you and will be here for you until we go, and we're not leaving you here if you're unhappy."

"Brooke, why don't you just come back to SanFran with us?" Julian said. "We had fun there right?"

"I would love to run away from my problems again but I can't guys. I have to be grown up about this and stay here and deal with it. Not everybody loves someone who loves them back."

I realised now that leaving for six months was not a good idea, as much as it seemed it at the time. It didn't make my feelings go away, it just prolonged the time that I had to deal with it. I should have done the mature thing and stayed here and dealt with it properly, which is what I was planning to do now.

Xx xx xx xx

Chris POV

I scanned my paper in front of me and sighed seeing the bright red D- at the top. Mr Gonzales had very kindly put a reminder at the bottom of my page that if I got anything less than a B+ on the final exam next week my final grade would massively suffer.

"Everything ok?"

I looked up from D that didn't seem to change to see Haley standing by the fountain, her own paper in her hand.

"Yeah," I said. "Just trying to figure out what I'm going to tell my parents when I fail next week and inevitably the whole year," I said knowing full well that my parents would think that my grades were a reflection of my lack of focus and partying this year.

"You haven't even taken the exam yet," she said smiling softly. "How do you know you'll fail? It can't be that bad."

In answer I just held out my paper which she took from me.

"A 'D'? That's not so bad," she said. "You didn't fail."

I just held out the accompanying piece of paper that held the details of my grades throughout the year, which she scanned.

"Oh. I see the problem," she said looking apologetic. "It was a really tough paper though."

"Yeah? How did you do?" I asked.

Haley reluctantly held up her paper showing a big red 'A' in the corner, and I groaned.

"Don't be such a drama queen, the test isn't until next week," she said. "You can ace that, and it will even everything out."

"And how am I supposed to do that? It's not like I've just been flunking for fun you know."

"I guess I could help you out if you wanted?" Haley said.

"Like tutor me?" I asked.

"Sure, if you wanted," she said.

"You'd do that? For me?" I asked her. Even though we'd been hanging out recently it had all been on chance and I didn't think she'd be willing to give up her time for me.

"Why not? We're kind of friends right?" she asked.

I thought about it for a few seconds. I had a lot of fun when I was with Haley, even though it was the last thing I'd ever thought I'd feel.

"I guess we are," I agreed.

"Well then I'll see you later?" she said smiling.

"Why don't you come over to my place later?" I said. "Around four?"

"Sure," she said nodding. "I'll see you then."

She gave me a small wave and began to walk toward her car. There was nothing wrong with what I was doing right? We were just studying, I told myself as I watched her drive away.

Xxx xxx xx

Lucas POV

"So I was thinking we'd go to dinner at eight instead of seven," Peyton said taking a sip of her coke, "I have some things to do."

"Sure babe," I said and felt a sharp kick under the table coming Chris who was wiggling his eyebrows at me. He had to be kidding! What was wrong with that? It didn't matter to me if we ate at seven or eight, and if it was more convenient for Peyt to go at eight, that was fine.

"I hate this stupid booth, it's right in the corner. I want to move over there," Peyton said sitting up and looking for the waitress.

"Peyton we're here now," Chris said. "What's the big deal?"

"The big deal is that I don't like sitting in the corner, it feels cramped," she said.

"It's the exact same table size as the other table," Chris told her.

"Well, Luke you don't mind moving right? Where's that waitress gone?" she said looking around again.

Chris took the opportunity to take another kick, or I gathered he did because I heard Peyton yelp.

"What the hell was that for?" she said rubbing her shin.

"Um…Sorry," he said. I knew that kick was meant for me, and I knew what he wanted me to do.

"Actually I think we should stay here," I said.

"You what?" Peyton said, looking confused. "You don't want to move?"

"Well, the foods already here," I told her, when inside I was massively cursing Chris. I know he had his theories, but testing them out on things like moving tables was ridiculous.

"We can move the food," she said strongly.

"Peyton, the other table is the same. It's just unnecessary stress to move tables."

"What is wrong with you lately?" she said looking mad.

"Nothing's wrong with me Peyt, I just don't want to move tables," I insisted.

"But you wanted to move table's the other day in that Italian place," she said like she had a point.

"I wanted to move when we went there because the light above us was flickering, I actually had a legitimate excuse," I said getting slightly worked up. Normally I would have moved without question. It didn't matter to me where we sat, but the fact that she thought something was 'wrong with me' because I didn't want to do what she wanted slightly annoyed me.

"And my excuse is not legitimate?" she said, her voice getting louder. I could see Chris smirking out of the side of his eye but right now I couldn't care less.

"No Peyton, your excuse is not legitimate. In fact you have no excuse at all!" I said my voice getting as loud as hers. "So quit complaining and just eat your lunch!"

I took a bite of my burger and twisted around so I was facing the front once more. Peyton's mouth was wide open.

"So, are you planning to head home straight after finals, or are you sticking around the city for a while?" I asked Chris casually.

" So you're really going to just talk to me like that?" Peyton said, clearly annoyed, and ignoring the fact I just changed the subject.

"You talk to me like that all the time!" I said and she was speechless, clearly knowing I was right.

"Yeah, well you can forget about dinner tonight," she said getting up and picking up her jacket and bag.

"Well how about we forget about dinner forever?" I said sick of her attitude.

"Fine by me!" she yelled storming out and restaurant. Chris was looking at me in complete shock and it takes a lot to shock Chris.

"So seriously man? Going back to Chicago after finals or hanging about a bit?"

Xx xx xxx xxx

Nathan POV

"Boys suck!" Peyton said walking toward me.

"Thanks Peyt," I said.

"Not you!" she said.

"Want to talk about it?"

"No. Are you ok?" Peyton said walking up to her apartment block which was next to mine and I followed.

"Yeah."

"How did it go with Brooke?" she asked dropping her bag on the floor.

"She just blew me off. I really think it's over Peyt," I said.

"Nathan you can't just give up," she said.

"Well she doesn't want me, and quite honestly I can't say I blame her."

"Oh, sweetie," she said soothingly.

"You know to top it all off, she's going out with that jerk Julian, who is cheating on her."

"Julian's what!" Peyton said shocked.

"I heard his inside their apartment. I thought it was Brooke, but then Brooke walked up."

"Oh shit," Peyton said. "Are you going to tell her?"

"I already tried but she wasn't too happy with me throwing accusations around right now and didn't believe me."

"Are you going to try again?"

"I don't know. I don't think it's a good idea."

"But we can't just let her carry on going out with him," she insisted.

"I don't want her to either trust me," I said rubbing my head, "But I don't know how to deal with this. Maybe I should talk to him?"

"Whatever you do, you need to decide because we don't want her to get hurt," Peyton said. Right now I knew I hurt her, and didn't want her to feel even worse after finding out Julian was cheating on her.

"Maybe I'll drop by to see him before I go to work," I said, thinking about how I was pretty sure Brooke had afternoon classes now and I wouldn't run into her.

"Why are you working at that stupid job anyway?" Peyton said frowning, "You don't even like it there."

" I took the job to show Brooke that I'd grown up," I admitted to her.

"You already had a job," she said.

"Peyton, prize money from bike races is not a job," I told her.

"I guess you're right," she said. "And you can't ride now without a bike anyway."

"You're right there," I told her wistfully, thinking of my beautiful bike in Chris's garage.

Xx xx xx xx xx

Nathan POV

Ok, Nathan you can do this.

I knocked on the door and it flew open a few seconds later.

"Brooke told you she didn't want to speak to you," Julian said crossing his arms.

"Actually I was here to see you," I told him trying to be firm. I kept my arms by myself trying not to hit the guy who was screwing over my best friend.

"What's up? He said making no move to let me in.

"I know," I told him.

"You know what…?" he asked looking confused. Was he really going to pretend?

"I know that you're cheating on Brooke?" I told him.

"I'm not cheating on Brooke!"

"Yes you are!"

"Look, I am still pretty confused on what your motives are especially after the other night, but now you're accusing me of cheating on Brooke in a city where I don't even know anybody? You're just coming off even more crazy man."

"Oh please, I was here yesterday and I heard you," I told him, not believing a word he was saying.

"Yesterday? You mean you heard the tv?" he asked.

"What?"

"I was home all day, watching tv."

"I heard someone say Julian!" I said knowing I wasn't going crazy and I did hear something.

"Rachel was watching Madagascar 3. She loves kiddy crap like that," he said rolling his eyes. "There's a King Julian in that. That's what you heard.

"But—"

"Look, this is starting to sound pathetic man…"

I zoned out while Julian kept talking. Was it possible that they were actually watching Madagascar and that's why I heard his name? Then what was with the thumping on the door?

If he was cheating on Brooke it would be pretty hard, because Julian was right when he said he didn't know anybody in New York and from what I knew he hadn't been out much without us to be able to run into anyone.

"Look Nathan, maybe you should just accept that I'm going out with Brooke and leave it alone, and stop trying to break us up."

"Ok."

"Ok?" he repeated.

"Yeah, I'll leave it alone," I said resolving I had to stop being so paranoid. "But if you ever hurt her, you're dead."

Xx xx xxx xxx xx

Chris POV

"Ok, so that wasn't so bad," Haley said handing me back a list of questions that I had been answering on the first chapter. "You got a 62."

"I 62 isnt good Haley," I said sinking down in my chair.

"It's way better than when we started, and this was only one day. After a few days of this you'll be up to scratch," she said.

"You think?" I asked.

"I know so," she said confidently. For some reason it felt strange for someone who had no obligation to me, to have that much faith in me.

"Thanks for doing this Haley," I said putting all the loose papers on the dining table in a pile.

"You're welcome," she said.

"I had no idea you were so…-" I started then stopped realising what I was about to say could very well be seen as an insult.

"Nice?" she asked.

"Actually I was going to say normal," I ended up saying. Thankfully she didn't look mad at all.

"I know I probably come across a little too strong with some people," she admitted.

"Then why be like this with me?" I asked her honestly wondering the answer.

"I guess because I'm not trying with you," she said taking a sip of her water.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"It's a long story," she said dismissing it.

"Go ahead. Tell me. I've got time," I said intrigued.

"Well my parents died when I was young, and left me with a lot of money. I was brought up by my grandmother and followed around by bodyguards throughout my childhood because she was paranoid the accident wasn't an accident. Because of all the unwanted attention, I just never had many friends growing up. When I moved to New York and I started going out with Nathan I got more friends and when he broke up with me I didn't want to lose all of that too," she said turning bright red with embarrassment.

"Why did you just tell me that?" I asked slightly confused. I mean aside from sleeping with her once and watching some movies with her I barely knew the girl even though it felt like we knew each other a long time and what she was telling me was pretty private stuff.

"I don't know. I feel like I can tell you anything," she said. "I'm sorry if that freaks you out."

"Actually it freaks me out that, that doesn't freak me out," I admitted to myself and her at the same time.

We sat there for a few seconds in silence, not taking out eyes off each other. My body started moving closer to hers and my lips gently touched hers. For a second she was shocked and didn't move but she quickly caught on and responded.

We broke away as there was a loud knock at the door, both of us coming back to reality.

The door flew open and I cursed myself for not locking it earlier.

"Hey C-man! Want to hit the clubs?" Luke said dressed up.

"Did you just call me C-man?" I said confused. The Luke standing in my living room was not the Luke I knew. The Lucas I knew liked reading and sport and never was the first one to propose 'hitting the clubs'

"Sure, I'm trying it out," he said.

"Well stop trying it out," I said slightly freaked out.

Luke was about to say something but his attention landed on Haley who he hadn't noticed when he walked in.

"Haley?" he said shocked. "in your apartment?"

"Hi," she said giving a little wave and I suddenly panicked. Lucas knew Haley was here! It would be around everyone within a few hours and they were going to freak out.

"Hi," Lucas said to her looking confused. "I didn't know you and Haley hung out."

"Umm…we don't usually. Just a school thing we got thrown together for," I blurted out.

Luke stopped looking confused and shrugged. I turned to Haley to give her an apologetic look, surely she would understand right? She knew we just didn't run in the same circles. I mean was there even a reason for me to be saying anything? It wasn't like she was my girlfriend. I know we just kissed but it didn't mean anything right? It was just a spur of the moment thing.

Haley was already standing up collecting her stuff. Her expression was strange but I couldn't read it.

"I should probably go," she said.

"Haley—" I said standing up.

"I'll see you in class Chris," she said walking out the door and I sighed.

"Bad luck getting her as a partner man," Luke said and I wanted to defend her but didn't.

"What are you doing here anyway Luke ? And why are you acting so unlike you?" I said sitting down on the couch and putting my feet on the coffee table.

"What are you talking about? This is the new me! And I got to tell you Chris, it feels fantastic! I know why you like going down to the bar so much now. It's more fun when you're single," he said and I could tell he was slightly drunk.

"Single?" I said sitting up, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"I already got three numbers Chris," he said taking three napkins out of his jacket pocket and looking excited, his expression resembling a little kid at Christmas.

"What are you doing getting girls numbers?" I said taking them out of his hands. "What about Peyton? She'll kill you!"

"Peyton? We broke up Chris, you were there."

"You were actually serious about breaking up!" I said stunned. "Luke, come on don't do this. Just call her and make up, we both know you'll be fine by tomorrow."

"What if I don't want to be just fine Chris?" he asked and I could tell it was a rhetorical question. "I don't want to get back together with Peyton."

"Yes you do Lucas, you love Peyton. You're fricking Leyton for crying out loud!" I told him thinking back to the stupid couple name Brooke had given them in freshman year. Even though I had been making fun of them for years, I didn't mean for them to break up. A small niggling voice in my head told me this was my fault.

"You were right Chris! She was dragging me down! I don't want to be in a boring couple! I want to have fun like you!" he said quoting the words I'd said many times in the past.

I'd pretty much told him on a weekly basis to break up with Peyton but now he finally had, it felt very unsettling. If there was one constant in our group that we could always depend on to never change, it was Peyton and Lucas. They were meant to be 'Peyton and Lucas' not Peyton. And Lucas.

My little bet was only a little bit of fun to show Luke what a girl he was being. I never intended for it to cause a wedge this big between them.

"Luke, you don't mean that!" I protested. Despite what he was saying I knew he still loved Peyton, feelings don't just go away.

"Yes I do! She is dragging me down! We never go out late just us guys anymore, or go pick up girls together! My life revolves around Peyton, I never do anything on impulse anymore! I'm young! I shouldn't be tied down!" he said getting up. He sounded pretty passionate about this. "Thanks for making it realise it Chris, you're a good friend!"

Oh crap. What were the chances that this wasn't my fault?

Xx xx xx xxx xxx x

A/N: What did you think of the twist? Please please review and let me know! I'm surprised nobody picked up on the little hints I was dropping along the way about Rachel and Julian and Brooke!

I have caught up with chapters I've written now, I've been stocked up for the last five chapters so reviews will motivate me to write.

What do you want to see first? An update for this or an update for Prelude?

Also anybody good at making story covers?

Please go on my profile and vote on the poll!

Flops, x