"Julian!"

"Brooke!"

His arms shot out, wrapping around her before she could collide with another student. He chuckled, pulling her back against his chest while she caught her breath.

"Wow..." Brooke muttered, slowly turning to face him. "You really know how to sweep a girl off her feet."

After a few moments, he reluctantly released his grip on her. Julian raised an eye brow, pushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear.

"Are you alright?"

Her cheeks were burning. She's sat in the library for a few minutes, trying to recover from Nathan's outburst. She could have gone after him, she could have told her that he was her friend, that she loved him. She could have defended her relationship, or lack there of, with Julian.

Instead, she'd let him walk away.

You want my blessing? My approval? I've got news for you, sweetheart: that's never gonna happen.

Something between them was changing, breaking, almost, and she didn't know if they could fix it this time.

"Brooke?"

"Huh?"

Brooke blinked, her cheeks were rosy now. He was watching her closely, his eyes full of amusement. Why did he have to be so cute?

"Are you okay?" Julian asked. "You kinda spaced out on me for a minute."

"I'm fine..." She muttered, but she felt unsure. "I just... I have a question for you."

He waited. It had been four days since their kiss, and she hadn't really spoken to him since then. At first he had been worried, but Lucas's voice in his head was still there to reassure him that Tree Hill's most popular girl actually felt something more for her than just pity.

"Brooke?"

After Brooke told me that she actually liked you

Brooke likes me? Umm... Wow.

Yeah. Umm... I never told you that, if she asks... Cause then she'd kill me.

"Will you go out with me?" She blurted out, her eyes glued to the floor. "I... Um... Crap. This isn't how I wanted to do this... I just... I want to get to know you better, and I keep praying that Nathan is wrong about us, because I like you... I mean, I really like you, but I understand if you don't feel the same way... I'll understand if you don't want anything to do with me after the way my friends treated you..."

"Brooke."

Julian began to laugh. She was beautiful, even when she couldn't stop rambling. His arms wrapped around her waist so he could pull her close.

"Brooke."

He said her name again, a grin spreading across his face as he leaned down to press his lips to hers. Brooke wished she never had to come up for air again, because kissing Julian, being kissed by Julian just felt right.

But, eventually, all good things had to come to an end.

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes." Julian said with a laugh, pulling away to look her in the eye. "Brooke, I don't care about your friends, or the 'Status Quo.' I don't care about what Nathan thinks, or what the rest of the world thinks, for that matter. The only thing I care about is you-"

He wasn't expecting her to launch herself at him. He staggered for a moment, quickly regaining his composure to hold her up. Her legs locked around her waist, her arms winding about his neck as she leaned down to kiss him again.

She was Brooke Penelope Davis, she was beautiful, she was strong, she was smart, she was popular, she could have had any guy she wanted. She could have taken Nathan's advice, she could have chosen one of Tree Hill's elite to fall for. The year before, that would have been her life.

Brooke loved Nathan, she always would, but she was done listening to him when it came to her love life. This was her moment, and maybe she'd crash and burn, but it was a chance she would have to take.

Julian Baker was unlike any of the boys she had grown up with. And while she loved them dearly, he was not, and never would be a Scott boy.

"I totally ruined the moment." She muttered, shooting him an apologetic glance. "Didn't I?"

Lucas smiled sympathetically, reaching out to squeeze her knee. "Yeah... Maybe just a little, Hales. It's alright, though. I still love you."

They sat side by side, her head resting heavily against his shoulder as they watched the rest of the world go on about their day. Her shift at Karen's didn't start for another fifteen minutes, and for once, she actually got Lucas to herself.

"I'm sorry, Luke."

He shrugged, already over it. He'd come so close to kissing Peyton earlier, at least now he knew that he would have the courage to actually do it one day.

He was hoping to kiss her someday in the near future.

"How are things with you and Nathan?" Lucas asked, glancing down at her. "Are you guys okay again?"

Haley nodded slowly. Ever since their heart to heart a few days before, she'd been seeing Nathan's kinder side more and more. Sometimes, people could change.

"Hales?"

"Hmm?"

"When are you gonna tell him how you feel about him?"

She blushed, he smirked. Haley's feelings were no secret amongst their group of friends, it was just a matter of time.

"As soon as you tell Peyton that you're madly in love with her." Haley replied with a smile.

Two could play at this game.

Lucas groaned, shooting her a mock-dirty look. The game of 'Who Likes Who' was no longer fun for him.

"I'll tell her." He muttered, poking her waist. "Eventually."

Haley grinned. He had finally admitted it! "Ah ha! I knew you loved Peyton!"

He rolled his eyes and stood up, holding a hand out to help her to her feet. She was still smiling as they headed back towards the cafe.

"Hales." Lucas said, throwing his arm around her shoulder. "Unlike you, and Nate, I have never denied that I have feelings for Peyton."