Lose Yourself

Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from One Tree Hill!

A/N: Well, it feels like I haven't updated in FOREVER! I am so sorry about that, I have just been so busy and haven't even had the chance to catch up on my favorite stories yet! I do feel like this is certainly not the best chapter that I have written, as I have had a little writers block but I'm trying to work through it for this story, so please be patient. Anyway, enough of my boring excuses, I hope you enjoy the chapter :)

Lucas smiled as he looked up from the car he was working on to see Brooke slowly walk into the garage with a small smile lingering on her face. He reached over for the towel before wiping his greasy hands as he approached her. "Well well, now what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?" he asked grinning. To say things between him and Brooke had been going good in the last couple of weeks would be an understatement, because they seemed to be getting on like a house on fire. There would be a couple of awkward moments here and there but nothing damaging. In fact, things seemed to be getting better and better between them each day and Lucas couldn't be happier.

"Well if you must know, I thought maybe I should grace you with my presence for a little while" Brooke smirked as she approached him "Everybody knows that a day without Brooke Davis is a very boring 24 hours" she teased as she unconsciously eyed him up and down.

"I agree" Lucas smiled back as he leaned back against the car he was working on. "Did Grace get to school okay?" he asked curiously while folding his arms across his chest.

"Yes" Brooke nodded "She loves it there" she said with a smile as she thought about their young daughter. "Anyway, I did actually come here for a reason believe it or not"

"What?" Lucas asked in mock shock "So you didn't just come here to make my day a little less boring?" he asked with a smirk.

"Well, that too" Brooke grinned and let out a small laugh before continuing "But, we are going to Tric tomorrow night and I was wondering if you wanted to come?"

"Who is we?" Lucas asked suspiciously.

Brooke bit on her lip for a couple of seconds before answering "Me...Haley, Rachel, Peyton, Millicent, Mouth..." she trailed and then smiled nervously "Nathan..."

"Hm"

Brooke raised her eyebrows expectantly "Is that a yes or a no?" she asked.

"I don't know Brooke" Lucas admitted with a sigh "Spending a night with Nathan is not exactly my idea of fun"

"I know" Brooke sighed "I know that, but...it will be fun, and it's not as if you have to hang out with him, or even talk to him. But he is Grace's uncle and my best friend and I think it would be better for our daughter if you two at least tried to get along. Besides, he is your brother!"

"I get what you are trying to say, but Grace rarely ever sees me and Nathan together anyway so I don't see what the big deal is about the two of us getting along" Lucas admitted. The last person he wanted to spend his Friday night with is Nathan Scott.

"Yes okay, but then what about birthdays?" Brooke asked tiredly, she was sick of trying to avoid talking about Nathan in front of Lucas and Lucas in front of Nathan, she just wished the brothers would sort out their differences and just move on! "And also, Christmas is coming up...I just don't want us all to be put in an awkward situation in front of Grace"

Lucas let out a small grunt as he rubbed the back of his neck almost as if he was annoyed "Fine" he gave in "But I don't have to talk to him, okay?"

"Fine" Brooke let out a sigh knowing she wasn't going to get anything better than that. "But at least try? For me?"

"For you" Lucas told her sternly. "But that's it. For you and Grace, not for Nathan and certainly not for me"

"Okay" Brooke nodded and gave him a small smile to lighten up the mood "So I will see you then?"

"Yeah" Lucas agreed as he walked her out back to her car. "Drive safe" he told her softly as he watched her step into her car.

"I will" Brooke replied smiling "And don't forget you have Grace on Saturday"

"Like I would forget" Lucas smiled and shook his head "You know I love having her"

"I know" Brooke told him before closing her door and giving him a wave and a smile before driving off. Lucas stood and watched her leave with a small smile playing on his lips before turning around and walking back into the garage to finish on the car he was working on.

"So what's the deal with this anyway?" Nathan asked confused as Brooke pretty much dragged him over to an empty booth in Tric. "I mean, it's not like I don't enjoy spending time with you and all but when was the last time we all came out together?"

"My point exactly" Brooke smiled as they both slid into the booth "The old gang haven't hung out in forever! So I figuired why not attempt to get everyone together again? Grace is with Keith for the night so I wont have to worry about her, so we can just have fun" she told him with a grin as she looked down to her watch to see that Lucas still wasn't here.

"But I come to Tric all the time, so does Haley, so do you, so does Millicent and the Rivercourt boys, hell Peyton runs the place! It's not as if we never see each other" Nathan told her still not seeing why Brooke wanted everyone together for one night.

"Yes but not all at the same time! Come on, this will be fun, stop moaning!"

"Fine" Nathan sighed as he looked around the crowded club "Where is everyone anyway?" he asked curiously.

"Peyton is quickly helping out backstage but she wont be long, Haley has gone to the bathroom, Rachel is dancing with some college boys and I don't know where Mouth and Millicent have got too, probably doing something kinky,...oh and there is Skills and Fergie trying to flirt with those girls!" she laughed at the two of them as they unsuccessfully tried to persuade two girls into having a drink with them.

"Right" Nathan chuckled as he shook his head just as Haley and Peyton returned, drinks in hand. Nathan looked between the two of them awkwardly as he watched them sit down across from him. "Hey" he offered lamely.

"Hi" Both Peyton and Haley sent him a mumbled hello and Brooke looked between the three of them confused. Was she missing something here? But before she had the chance to say anything a deep voice turned her train of thoughts.

"Hey Brooke. Long time no see"

"Julian" Brooke smiled widely as she stood up and greeted the taller brunette with a quick hug. "Hey! What are you doing here? I thought you were in L.A!"

"Ah we had a little trouble on the set of the movie so I needed to come back and sort things out" Julian replied with a shrug before sending Haley and Peyton a quick glance and a greeting smile and then turning his attention back to Brooke.

"Oh, everything is okay though right?" Brooke asked nervously, there was a lot of money coming her way from this movie and it would be really useful to her in the future, the last thing she needed was the movie to be cancelled which meant bye bye contract!

"Yeah, yeah" Julian quickly told her with reassurance "Everything is fine now, just a little glitch that they needed my amazing expertise to sort out" he smirked while speaking in his usual smug tone causing Nathan to roll his eyes and let out a scoff.

"Right" Brooke answered with a small laugh.

"Hey Julian, why don't you join us?" Haley asked while smiling.

"Yeah" Peyton agreed "Come sit"

"Sure" Julian grinned as he took a seat across from Brooke while sitting next to Haley, much to Nathan's annoyance. "So guys, hows life?"

"You be good for your Uncle Keith, okay?" Lucas told Grace while smiling as he leaned down onto his knees to be eye-level with his daughter.

"Yes Daddy" Grace sighed loudly as if Lucas was boring her, causing Lucas to let out a chuckle. "I will be very very good!"

"I know you will princess, just making sure" Lucas smirked as he leaned forward and pecked the small brunette's forehead softly before standing up. "But if you are naughty...Keith will tell me" he warned "And your Mom too"

"I promise I will be good" Grace told him while smiling.

"She's always an angel, aren't you Gracie" Keith smiled while walking into the room, knowing that that was not always the case. After all, she is Brooke Davis' daughter.

"Hm" Lucas laughed as he slipped on his jacket. "Call me or Brooke if theres any trouble, yeah?" he asked but still couldn't help but smile. It was times like these when he felt like a real father. It was hard to imagine that this time last year he was screwing his life up in New York.

"Of course" Keith told him as he opened the front door "Now go on, go! You are already late"

"Yeah I know" Lucas sighed "I'm not exactly looking forward to spending time with you know who" he said while glancing at Grace who was close enough to hear what they were saying.

"I don't blame you" Keith replied "But maybe it's for the best in the long haul, Brooke is right, the two of you need to find some kind of common ground eventually" he advised.

"I guess so" Lucas mumbled before sending Grace a smile "See you in the morning baby girl"

"Bye Daddy" Grace smiled as she watched her father leave and turned to Keith just as he closed the front door. "Where do you keep the ice cream?" she asked with a sneaky smile.

"Ha ha" Keith chuckled as he led the 5 year old into the living room "Nice try kiddo"

Brooke's eyes lit up when she spotted Lucas pushing his way towards the crowds. She quickly stood up and left the crowded booth without saying a word as she rushed over to her ex-boyfriend. "Lucas!" she grinned as she lightly placed her hand on his arm. "You're late!" she mock scolded him.

"I know" Lucas smiled as he eyed her up and down before unconsciously running his tongue along his bottom lip. She looked gorgeous. "Sorry"

"Yeah well you are here now" Brooke smiled as she wrapped her hand around his wrist and led him back towards the booth everyone else was sitting on.

Nathan looked up with a frown as he noticed Brooke leading Lucas towards them. Brooke had warned him that she may have invited his bastard of a brother but he was still hoping that the asshole would have enough sense not to show up. Obviously he was wrong.

"Come sit" Brooke grinned at Lucas she took her seat back next to Nathan and patted the short space next to her for Lucas to awkwardly sit on. He looked around the very crowded booth and wondered how the hell they all fit around it. From him, on the end sat, Brooke, Nathan, Junk, Fergie, Skills, Mouth, Millicent, Rachel, Peyton, Haley, Julian and then Owen who was sitting across from him. He could see that everyone was shoulder to shoulder though and he couldn't complain about that when he was sitting next to Brooke. He also noticed how her leg was touching his, not on purpose like he would have hoped, but still...he took comfort in the contact.

"You okay?" Brooke whispered into his ear. "You seem a little distant"

"I'm fine" Lucas told her reassuringly and sent her a soft smile. He turned his head back around to see both Julian and Owen looking across at him with suspicion and also frowns on their faces. So of course, in true Lucas Scott fashion he sent them a scowl back causing Julian's eyes to flicker away but Owen held his gaze, not backing down. He knew that Brooke and Julian sort of went on a date that one time but he also knew now that there wasn't anything going on between them, and it made him happy to know that this was Brooke's idea. He wondered what the hell Owen's problem was though, even though they met all those years ago and Lucas almost ended up hitting the guy, he didn't think that there was any real bad blood between them, other than the fact that Owen was Chase's best friend and he is Brooke's ex, but even that was an odd reason. He shook his head and broke his gaze away from Owen's deciding that whatever the guys problem was, it wasn't his problem and it would be best to just leave it alone.

"So..." Rachel's voice broke through the looming silence that had entered the group. "This is awkward" she smirked as she looked around the crowded table.

Nathan rolled his eyes and let out a grunt in annoyance at the situation he was put in. The last thing he wanted was to be sitting at a table with Rachel, Peyton and Haley, not to mention the fact that Lucas was there too.

"I should get back to work soon" Owen mumbled trying to make conversation.

"No, it's fine. Chris and Lo can handle the bar tonight" Peyton told him deciding that she needed anyone she could on her side right now. Was it strange that this felt like a silent war zone?

"You guys are all weird" Julian blurted out to nobody in particular.

"Excuse me? And who are you to call us all weird?" Rachel asked in annoyance as she strained her neck to look over at her old college friend.

"Why I am just the outsider looking in" Julian smirked back at her. "Come on, let's face it, there is a weird awkward vibe going on here right now and I think I know why"

"Oh, okay then. Well then please, do enlighten us!" Rachel bit back at him, sarcasm dripping heavily from her voice.

"Okay, I will" Julian grinned clearly starting to find the whole situation amusing. "Let's start with the most obvious problem which I see as you" he said pointing his finger in Lucas' direction to cause the blonde to frown. "Here we have the evil ex-boyfriend who abanded his teenage pregnant girlfriend, but is now back trying to do good, only the ex-girlfriend has some very overprotective friends" he continued while pointing at Nathan "Who just happens to be the ex-boyfriends brother, so that's complicated enough in itself, but there's also another complication in this already very messy story" he smirked "I think...that Lucas still loves Brooke, I also think that Brooke still loves Lucas"

"Uh hang on!" Brooke cut in not liking the direction that Julian's little theory is leading. "Who are you to tell me how I feel?" she asked annoyed.

"Nobody" Julian grinned at her "Just an outsider looking in and giving my opinion on things" he told her with amused eyes.

"Yeah well your opinion is not wanted here" Lucas glared at him heavily.

"Okay, okay" Julian smirked "Let's move on, it's clear I have touched a sore subject here" he said while glancing between Brooke and Lucas before turning his attention to Nathan. "Ah big Nathan Scott, Tree Hill's very own superstar" he smirked causing Nathan to match Lucas' glare. "And not just on the court I see" he continued "So tell me the list...Peyton and Haley, Rachel? That's a lot of ex-girlfriends here Nate! Should I add Brooke and Millicent onto that list too? Or have they yet to aboard the Nathan Scott love train?" he asked with a chuckle.

"You want to shut your fucking mouth before I shut it for you!" Nathan snapped at him angrily "You don't know what you are talking about!"

"Whoa...wait...what's this about Rachel?" Brooke asked confused and glanced over to her redheaded friend who was looking very uncomfortable.

"Nothing!" Nathan hissed at Brooke harshly. "Just butt out!"

"Hey!" Lucas cut in "Don't talk to her like that!"

"I'm pretty sure that Brooke is capable of defending herself" Owen cut in while sending Lucas a heavy glare.

"And who the fuck asked you?" Lucas hit back in a cold tone.

"I still want to know what the hell Julian is talking about!" Brooke jumped back in.

"He knows nothing!" Nathan defended as he glanced at Haley who looked confused, he then looked to Peyton who was frowning and then towards the redhead herself. "Rachel! Tell them!" he hissed.

"Tell us what?" Haley spoke up for the first time.

"Okay, guys maybe we should calm down" Mouth tried to reason as he noticed a few heads turning in their direction but nobody seemed to hear him, or listen in that case!

"Yeah Nathan, what's this about you and Rachel?" Peyton joined in while glaring at her high school boyfriend.

"Nothing!" Nathan argued "Rachel! Tell them now!" he shouted at her in frustration.

"It was nothing okay" Rachel sighed defeated causing Nathan to groan loudly.

"What was nothing?" Brooke asked confused but then let out a gasp as she put the pieces together. "You and Rachel!" she shrieked loudly.

"It was one time and it meant nothing!" Nathan argued and turned to look at Haley who looked a mixture of different emotions. Confused, angry, hurt...

"When the hell was this?" Peyton gasped wanting to know if it was before or after her and Nathan's one night stand.

"A few weeks ago" Rachel mumbled quietly.

"Rachel!" Nathan practically screamed at her in fury. "We agreed not to tell anyone!"

"Excuse me" Haley muttered as she quickly stood up and hurriedly pushed her way past out of the booth.

"Haley!" Nathan shouted after her as he attempted to stand up but Brooke pushed him back down.

"I'll go!" Brooke hissed at him angrily through gritted teeth. "I think you have done enough tonight already!" she finished before standing up and heading in the direction Haley just ran off to.

Nathan sighed and glared at Julian "Are you happy now?" he asked him angrily.

"Hey, I thought they knew!" Julian defended.

"Tell me what's stopping me from kicking your ass right now?" Nathan challenged.

"Because Julian is leaving" Owen cut in as he stood up and pulled on Julian's arm.

"You're kicking me out?" Julian asked shocked "You have got to be kidding me!"

"I'm not kicking you out. Just advising you to leave" Owen warned seriously and Julian sighed before nodding and standing up.

"If it's any consolation. I am sorry" Julian told Nathan honestly. "I thought they knew"

"Just go!" Rachel cut in and glared at Julian angrily.

"Fine" Julian sighed before walking towards the exit just as Brooke came back.

"Haley left" Brooke told them all while sending icy glances in Nathan and Rachel's direction. "So well done, to the both of you"

"Brooke this is none of your business, so why don't you just butt the fuck out!" Nathan grunted at her annoyed.

"What the hell have I said to you about speaking to her like that?" Lucas cut in angrily and sent his brother a threatening glance.

"No Lucas don't bother" Brooke sighed almost defeated "Come on, I don't want to stay here with him" she told him and took a step back.

Lucas sent one last glare in Nathan's direction before standing up and following Brooke away from the now half empty booth.

Nathan scoffed and shook his head before looking up at Peyton's fierce glare. "What?!" he bit in annoyance.

"You know what!" Peyton hissed at him angrily before standing up and walking away. Nathan sighed and put his head in his hands and groaned, this was turning into a big mess that he was not in the mood to deal with.

"I can't believe they would both do this to Haley!" Brooke ranted angrily as she and Lucas stood at the bar in Tric. "I mean...Rachel is supposed to be her friend. What kind of friend does that? I mean, I know that Haley and Nathan aren't together but there is still something there between them, well at least that's what Haley thought" she muttered still annoyed with Nathan's actions. "I always knew he was an idiot but sleeping with Rachel pretty much confirms it for real"

"Hey" Lucas spoke to her softly as he comfortingly placed his hand on the small of her back and soothingly let his thumb run up and down. "Don't let this get to you, okay? Haley is better off without that jerk anyway"

"But she still loves him and that's why it makes me so angry because I know that Nathan loves her too! I don't understand why he would do this, and it's not exactly like it was just some random girl he met in a bar, it's Rachel!"

Lucas stayed silent as he continued to comfort her. He slowly brought her closer to him so they were touching side by side and wrapped his arm around her waist comfortingly.

"Why can't everything not just stay simple for one night?" Brooke groaned and shook her head.

"Come on" Lucas told her reassuringly "Don't let this get you down, okay? You told me yesterday that you came here to have some fun, so don't let Nathan ruin that" he said to her honestly. "I'm still here, you and I can still enjoy ourselves, right?" he asked smiling.

"Right" Brooke smiled as she looked up at him and realised how close they were standing. "Thank you"

"For what?"

"For making me feel better" Brooke told him honestly "You always seem to be able to do that when nobody else can" she said in a soft tone.

"Yeah well that's returned" Lucas smiled down at her and nervously raised his hand and ran his finger softly down her cheek. "Brooke I..." he trailed but then stopped, instead he slowly lowered his head as Brooke placed her on Lucas' chest just as he moved his lips towards hers to kiss her.

"Well well!"

Both Brooke and Lucas quickly pulled away from each other and turned in the direction of the voice that just interrupted them causing them both to look in shock.

"Lucas Scott" the figure smirked and folded his arms across his chest and Lucas could immediately tell he was drunk. "I never thought I would see you again!"

"What the hell are you doing here Jake?" Lucas asked him still shocked but also angry. Brooke looked between the two boys nervously and bit on her bottom lip as things looked like they were about to get heated. The last thing she needed right now was a ghost from Lucas' path coming back and trying to mess things up.

A/N: Well? What did you all think? I hope you liked it. Please review and tell me! They always help me write the next chapters and I could really use some inspiration right now!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, I really appreciated it and hopefully I can get another update soon!

Sara x