Author's Note: Thanks to some new reviewers! As always, enjoy.

confess – v. to admit as true

"Peyton? Peyton!" Brooke screamed as she stumbled down the stairs. She grasped onto the railing for support, trying to get away as quick as possible. She didn't even notice everyone staring her down like hawks and the fact that Peyton left she second she figured out what was going on. Brooke could hear Lucas's paced footsteps behind her and him yapping after her.

"Get away from me!" she turned around and yelled.

"Brooke!" He finally caught up to her and squeezed her arm.

"Let go; let go!" she fumbled near tears.

"Brooke, stop it! Stop it!" Luke covered her mouth with his hand and pushed her into the wall, not too hard that she would be in pain but just hard enough that she would be quiet. His face softened when he noticed how hurt she really was; maybe not physically, but her makeup was just starting to smear and tears were forming in her red eyes. Angry and upset, Brooke slammed her tiny fists into his chest.

"Brooke, please, just calm down," he whispered, finally releasing his hand.

"How could you? Luke, what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Let me explain babe. Please?"

Seeing as she was still pinned to the wall, Brooke let her head fall back and silently nodded for Lucas to continue.

"She was all over me, Brooke. I was trying to push her off but I didn't want to hurt her just like I don't want to hurt you. Believe me when I say nothing is going on with us. You have to trust me."

"I do, Luke. I feel like all I do is trust you! But you just keep betraying it," Brooke cried.

"I had no idea she was going to be here. Really, Brooke, do you think I would have known or cared? I'm in love with you, not Rachel. I haven't talked to her since we broke up back in high school and maybe for some crazy reason she's still not over me. But now I have you and that's what I want more than anything. Just believe me, Brooke. You have to believe me."

"I'm sorry," she cried into his chest. Luke softly stroked her head.

"I love you, pretty girl."

"I love you too, boyfriend."

Just as the couple was kissing, a voice boomed from the living room as a familiar red headed bitch stepped up onto a table.

"Well I hope you're all having a bang up time at this party here! Who's having a great night?" Rachel announced to which the crowd lifted their drinks and cheered. "Well I'm not!" A deafening silence fell over the room as Rachel stumbled.

"Oh no," Lucas said to himself, pushing through the crowd.

"Luke!" Brooke yelled after him with pleading eyes.

"I'll be right back."

"Lucas," she repeated a little angrier this time.

He backed slowly away at first and then quickened his pace to get to Rachel in time.

"You see," she continued. "One of you is a man whore. A big, fat, freaking man whore! First you slept with that blonde, then me, then the blonde again if I'm not mistaken. And now Brooke Davis. From one cheerleader to another, Luke. Good job, buddy!" She raised a drink, half of it pouring out from the side as the room started to get loud again.

Across from where Rachel was, Brooke stood dumbfounded. She felt like maybe she might throw up, or worse pass out. Her eyes met with Jake's who had the look of death in his eye. The two nodded at eachother, understanding the pain.

"Brooke!" Lucas bellowed, trying to catch her attention. He sprinted towards her while she shoved people out of her way in attempt to get to the door.

"It's one thing," she started sobbing. To sleep with that hoe. But then to lie about it? I thought you were above that Lucas Scott, but I was wrong. Maybe I was wrong about you all together. You didn't change since last year. People never change. Unless it isn't true?" she asked, hopeful.

Luke hung his head in self disappointment, ashamed that he couldn't tell his girlfriend everything Rachel just said was false. Brooke wiped tears from her eyes, not even caring about her appearance at this minute. Luke couldn't bear to chase after her as she ran to her blue VW Bug. Brooke got in and sped away at the speed of light.

"You screwed that up pretty bad, didn't you?"

Lucas turned around and was met with Rachel's face.

"How could you do that to Brooke?"

"No Lucas, the question is how could you do that to Brooke? I know you loved her when we slept together. Do you really thing it wasn't obvious?"

"Then why'd you sleep with me?"

"Well I'm pretty sure it takes two, but I never liked that bitch. Payback, in simplest form."

"Don't call her a bitch," Luke gritted his teeth. "Brooke is the most amazing person out there. And it's probably over now because of your little revelation in there. What kind of freaking epiphany did you have that made you do this? What, was the party just part of the plan? First you'd get us all here, and then try to seduce me. Real mature, by the way. Then, for your last trick, poof, make Brooke disappear."

"Are you going to stand here with a straight face and tell me you wouldn't have confessed to Brooke eventually? Come on, I know you Luke. Those sort of things eat at your insides. Just think of it this way, I took a load off your back by telling her instead," Rachel shrugged.

"You didn't do me any favors and we both know it. Really, what possessed you to pick now to ruin our lives?"

"I'm pregnant and alone Lucas. I live in this house all by myself and the father is out of the picture. I thought maybe you could live with me. Or maybe even Jake. I don't know; I just wanted someone to love again."

"I don't think that was the way to go about it Rachel."

"Well how about this way?" she almost-whispered with a look of pure evil genius in her eyes. "You're the father Luke. So what's it gonna be? Abandon your child and pull a Dan Scott or actually help me through this pregnancy? It's up to you, really, but either way, you're not getting rid of me easily."