A/N: I have one exam left! And I could not be happier! Here is the next one to spread my joy!

Ali- I got your review and it was really sweet! You didnt log in so i could reply though so here it is! I'm go glad you're enjoying it! Especially my new take on the characters! And as for the scene you wanted...I'm not going to comment on that! Lol

Chapter 34- Finality

Lucas POV

Just talk my ass. I could not wait to lay one into that asshole. This had gone on long enough and it was getting out of control. I should have finished things that night I found out at the party. I thought maybe after his 'plan' had been revealed he might back off but he never did know when enough was enough. He'd already hurt her enough, his plan had succeeded, he could have left her then, but he just had to push it. I wasn't going to sit by anymore and just watch Brooke make the biggest mistake of her life, especially since it was my fault she was involved in the first place. This was mine and Nathan's fight , not hers.

I drove around all the regular places I thought I might find Nathan, but it was at the beach that I recognised his car in the parking lot. I saw Jake's car and Rachel's', as well as a few others I recognised but at this point I didn't care who was there, this was about me and him.

It wasn't hard to spot the small crowd gathering under the sunset around a small bonfire. There was music playing, and there were about fifteen of them sitting around talking and drinking.

I looked to the largest group which consisted of Jake, Luke and a few others I didn't know as well, expecting to see Nathan situated in the middle of them but he didn't seem to be there. I did a quick scan, knowing he was here since I already saw his car. When my eyes finally landed on him, he was sitting by himself away from anyone else, against a large log, with a beer in hand but he didn't seem to actually be drinking any of it.

I made my way over intent on my mission. I had no idea what I was going to say when I got there, but I just knew I was mad.

I saw Julian nudge Jake, who turned to see me coming, and started making his way over to me immediately, with a few others behind him.

"Can we help you?" Jake said defensively. I could tell he was confused as to why I had rocked up by myself and without any of my friends. He knew I was outnumbered, and I think he could tell I would just be stupid to start a fight now when I was on my own.

"Look, I don't want to start anything ok, I'm just here to see Nathan." I told him.

"You want to speak to Nathan?" he said raising his eyebrows.

"Just me and him. Alone," I added. It wasn't that I cared if the rest of them witnessed what was about to happen, but this was just between us, and it had gotten out of control involving enough people as it was and I wanted to finish it right here right now, the way it had started just with the two of us.

"Yeah that's not going to happen. Do you think we're that stupid?" he said, implying that I had a load of friends hiding in the bushes ready to jump Nathan once we were alone.

"It's ok, I'll talk to him," Nathan said coming over from his spot where he didn't seem to notice I had arrived until just now. His voice was weak and screamed anything but leader. Jake looked at him concerned, as if he knew something I didn't.

"Nate, are you sure? You aren't really up for—" Jake started.

"I'm fine. I said I'll talk to him."

Jake couldn't do anything but nod. Nathan walked past me and started down the beach, and I turned and following guessing that was what he was expecting me to do. The group at the beach was silent expect for a few murmurs, but they were all watching the two of us.

Nathan carried on walking for a few minutes, with me keeping a few steps behind, neither one of us acknowledging the other yet. Eventually we came around a familiar bend where we couldn't see the rest anymore and Nathan stopped, and sat on the sand. I doubted he remembered this is where we came when we were friends to 'babe watch', but I pushed the memory out of my head. The last thing I needed right now to carry out this conversation was flashbacks of happier times with Nathan as my best friend.

I was filled with anger when I arrived, but felt it deflate seeing Nathan acting as strange as he was. I had never seen him this unbothered since he had been back. I felt weird being the only one standing but didn't want to sit down, as I wouldn't have the advantage anymore.

"How is she?" he asked looking up at me.

I was speechless.

"Is she ok?" he pressed.

"You're asking me how she is?" I asked him in shock.

"She was pretty upset when she left and I just need to know if she's ok."

He wanted to know if Brooke was ok. Why should he care? Wasn't this the aim of his plan anyway?

"What're you playing at Nathan?"

"I know you don't trust me—"he started.

"The hell I don't!" I said raising my voice. "This is between us, why bring her all into this!"

"Look Lucas…I really love her," he said. Normally I would think he was playing me but I didn't think anyone was this good of an actor. He was staring at me, dark circles under his eyes apparent, waiting for my reaction.

I tried to talk but nothing came out.

"I know you don't bel—"

"If you love her why would you sleep with Rachel?" I asked him, trying to catch him out.

He looked surprised that I knew about what happened but all he said was, "I thought I lost her."

"And that would be because Peyton told you she went on her trip to start things with Felix?"

He looked surprised again that I knew about that too, considering Brooke probably didn't even know the extent of the message, and he said, "You know about that?"

"Well Peyton didn't exactly think the whole thing up on her own," I said sitting down next to him, playing with the sand.

"Oh." Was all he said.

"You seriously love her?"

"I do."

"What about the plan?"

"I was never going to go through with it. It was my excuse to hang out with her. Rachel just told everyone because she was mad at me," he said sighing.

"Did you really sleep with Brooke?"

Out of the corner of my eye I could see him look at me sharply.

"I don't think that's your business," he said, then looked at my murderous glare. He just nodded.

"And what Rachel said…"

"None of that was true!" he said quickly. "I didn't tell anyone. I have no idea how she knew."

I just nodded.

We sat there in silence for a few minutes before Nathan said, "Does she hate me?"

I sighed. "Look man, you really screwed up. Me and Peyt may have put our two cents in, but you screwed up all by yourself. Nobody told you to just drown your sorrows with Rachel."

"I noticed you avoided my question," he said. I just looked at him, and he sighed catching my answer. "Do you think if I—"

"Look, I'm going to tell it to you straight. You hurt her. Bad. I'm not going to lie to you. Not just this time but before too. If you really love her, you'll just let her go, you're both young Nathan, I mean do we even know what love is at this stage? Just forget each other, move on. Because if you both stay together we both know she'll just end up getting hurt again."

He didn't say anything and we again sat in silence, and I could see him thinking about what I said.

"What about you? Do you hate me?" he asked changing the subject.

"We're not friends again just because we had our first civil conversation in years, if that's what you're asking," I said looking ahead, not looking at him while I spoke,

"I really am sorry for sleeping with Rachel, Lucas," he said in a quiet voice. "Not this time, I mean before." We both knew exactly what 'before' he was referring to.

"Believe it or not, that's not that part I was most mad at. You were my best friend and you chose to screw me over. And over. And over. And then tell me all about when you knew it would hurt most. I wasn't mad at losing Rachel. I was mad at losing you," I said surprised at myself for telling him how I really felt, and even more surprised at me for admitting it to myself.

"When I left for New York, I didn't like who I'd become. I didn't like who I was anymore. Like you said I'd voluntarily screwed over my best friend, and that really hit me in New York when I was alone, and the regret made me go through some things but I'm not that same person anymore Lucas, and I really am sorry."

"Really? You haven't seemed like you've changed since you've been back," I said. Referring to the time on the beach when he told me about him and Rachel not just being a one-time thing and when they crashed the masquerade party and he hit me. Not that I had been perfect myself, but it was him saying he's changed.

" I know, I feel ridiculous for getting caught up in everybody pushing me to be how I used to be."

"So what changed you now?"

"Brooke did."

"Oh."

"Look, Lucas, do you think we could ever be friends again?"

"I don't hate you anymore Nate, but I don't think being friends again is ever going to be on the cards for us. I think we had our chance," I said honestly and realistically. If this were a story we would become best friends again but this was real life and it didn't work that way. Even though I could partly see where he was coming from I was nowhere near ready to be friends again.

He just nodded. "Ok I guess I deserve that," he said, leaving it at that. Even though neither of us said anything else I could sense a new level of tolerance for each other. It would be nice to civilly ignore each other rather than continue this 'you're my arch enemy and I hate your guts' thing we had going on.

I stood up and brushed sand off my shorts. Nathan made no move to leave. "Could you tell Brooke…"

I looked at him to continue but he just shook his head. "Nevermind."

I could tell he had taken into consideration what I had said about letting her go and was surprised that he actually DID care enough to follow my advice.

X x x x x

Lucas POV

"Lucas! Honey come in here and have some champagne with us?" Aunt Victoria called as I walked past the drawing room door. I went back the way I came and went inside to see my Aunt and Uncle drinking champagne in the room, both with champagne glasses in their hands and ridiculous smiles on their faces. Felix's parents were also there, sitting on one of the loungers, also with a glass in their hands.

"Umm… No thanks, it's a little early," I said. It wasn't like them to offer me alcohol, and plus I was confused at why they were so happy. If anything I would have thought they would have been the opposite now that the plans between Brooke and Felix had broken through.

"Oh, don't be like that! We're celebrating!" Aunt Victoria squealed.

"What's going on?" I asked them, even more confused now.

"We're going ahead with the Davis-Taggaro business merger!" Uncle Jonathon said, like I hadn't been listening properly.

"You're what?"

"Yes, isn't it fantastic?" Felix's mother said.

"Brooke and Felix decided they want to be together after all!" Aunt Victoria babbled

"They what!"

"Lucas, you really need to listen more," Uncle Jonathon said.

I mumbled something about having to go, choosing to ignore his comment and went into the kitchen and not seeing anyone, went into the garden. Ada and Michel were out there talking closely in hushed voices, and walking out I realised I had clearly interrupted something.

"Where's Brooke?" I asked them. I had to find out what the hell was going on.

"She's in the Pool house with Felix," Ada said, then added after looking around to make sure my parents weren't close. "Is she really doing the right thing Lucas? I thought she was intent on –"

"Don't worry I'm going to fix it," I told them, rushing toward the pool house.

I ran up and flung open the door, to see Felix and Jules standing, facing each other deep in conversation.

X x x x x x

Brooke POV (A few minutes earlier.)

"Hello, sweetheart!" Mrs Taggaro gushed, walking into the house and embracing me in a hug. The foyer was all hustle and bustle as Felix's family came in and greeted my own. All the parents were in fantastic moods after hearing our news. I hadn't come into contact with my parents since I had been home, and I had managed to catch Felix before he told his own parents we weren't planning on being together. As soon as they heard, they contacted my own parents and within the hour the foursome had initiated celebration drinks at my house.

Ada walked into the foyer carrying a tray with a bottle of champagne and glasses, putting it down beside my father who began pouring out glasses. As she walked past me she gave me a concerned look, clearly able to tell I was upset about something. Call it motherly instinct.

Felix walked in through the door, and shook my Dad's hand even though his eyes were scanning the room until they landed on me. He made his way over to me, his sombre expression, the opposite of our parents but matching mine perfectly.

"Can we talk?" he asked without even saying hello.

I just nodded and took him out back to the garden, but Michel and Ada were out there deep in conversation with serious looks on their faces. They immediately stopped talking as we came into view.

They made no move to leave the garden, so I lead him to the pool house.

Once we were inside I said, "What's wrong? Don't you want to do this anymore?"

"It's not that I don't want to, I still stand on what I said earlier. I'm just concerned about if you really want to do this," he said.

"I do."

"Brooke, this is crazy! A couple of hours ago, it wasn't even an option for you, now your 100% sure this is what you want with your life? What about Nathan?"

"Nathan's and me are never going to happen," I told him as the door flew open and we both jumped as Lucas rushed in.

"Are you out of your freaking mind!" he yelled.

"What're you talking about?" I said even though I fully knew what he was referring to.

"Brooke? Now is not the time to play dumb! You know exactly what I mean! What is going on?"

"Me and Felix are going ahead with what our parents want," I said calmly sitting on the couch, moving a PlayStation control out the way.

"Hold on a minute," Felix said, "Brooke I said I was happy to do this, if you actually want to, not because it's your rebound from Nathan. Because if it is, I promise you won't want this after a few months, and you know how our parents are and by then it will be too late to get out."

"It's not a rebound I promise," I said.

"What! Of course it's a rebound! Don't be so ridiculous! A few weeks ago the possibility of being with Felix made you gag!" Lucas said, then added "No offence Felix."

Felix nodded, not offended, as if he agreed with what Lucas was saying.

"Look B, just because things are over between you and Scott that doesn't mean this is the only option you have. We can still carry on with our lives, you could find someone else. You still have other options! Even if it is waiting a few years like my Dad gave us the option to."

Lucas raised his hand as if to say he was agreeing with what Felix was saying.

"I know, I but this is what I want. If we're going to wait a few years anyway, why not just do it now and make everyone happy. I had my fun, doing what I thought was best for me, and maybe if I just listen to everyone else, things might work out. " I said.

"Don't do this because of everyone else!" Lucas said and I chose not to listen.

I stood up and walked over to Felix looking him in the eye. "Felix, do YOU still want to do this?"

"Like I said, it was all thrust upon us, and there's no way I'm ready for marriage and all of that just yet but sometime in the future I will want it all, and I think we could go slow and things could work out."

"Good. Because I promise this isn't about Nathan, I'm not ready to give my heart to you just yet Felix but I think I could," I told him, giving him a small smile.

"Really?" he said, double checking.

Lucas scoffed somewhere behind me, but I ignored him. "Really."

"Oh for the love of god!" Lucas said, but neither of us reacted.

"If that's what you really want, I promise I'll be there for you and we can really have a go at making this work for the better. We just have to convince our parents we should have a REALLY long engagement," he said reaching down and squeezing my hand.

"Felix, now you too!" Lucas said walking around to us and standing between us. "Can you at least be the rational one?"

"Lucas, the whole year you've been trying to convince me to give Felix a chance! So this can't be so wrong!"

"Yeah but…" Lucas began but didn't know how to find an excuse to contradicting what he said before.

"So are you saying you believe there is no chance of this working out for us?"

Lucas hesitated for a few seconds but said, "B, I just want you to be happy, and by agreeing to this so quickly…"

"I want to be happy too," I told him, putting my hand on his arm. "And I honestly believe this is the way."

"Brookie…" he dragged out like he wanted to agree but was halfway there.

"Lucas, you said you'd always have my back," I said raising my eyebrows. I knew that was a cheap shot to get him to agree. "Can you trust my judgement?"

He looked like he wanted to make a comment about my lack of judgement about Nathan but cleverly sensed this wasn't the right time for jokes.

He nodded, and hugged me then patted Felix on the back.

"Let's go back to the mayhem?" Felix said, and I rolled my eyes thinking of our parents inside.

"Dude, I don't even think they noticed you were gone, let alone if you go back," Lucas said sitting down in front of the TV.

"You're right, why bother?" Paul said sitting down beside Lucas.

I went over to the mini fridge and pulled out three sodas and joining the guys on the couch, choosing to ignore the miniscule inkling in my mind that was telling me I was making a mistake.

X x x x x x x

Nathan POV (A few weeks later)

"Honey, are you ok?" My Mom said, eyeing me as she folded some towels, as I walked into the laundry room carrying my basket of dirty clothes.

"I'm fine," I told her, putting the basket down on the washer.

"You've just been distant," she said cautiously.

"I'm ok."

"I know you went through a bad time a couple of weeks ago and that really scared me Nate, that I couldn't do anything to help you, and I don't know why but you snapped out of it, and now you're acting all distant again and I'm just scared –" she said wearily. I could see the stress I had been putting her under on her face, and I felt the guilt seep through me. She didn't deserve to be put through everything I put her through. I was amazed she was even talking to me now. If I was her I would have permanently disowned me by now.

"Mom, everything's ok. And I promise that will never happen again. I was just going through things but it's all ok now."

"I just want you to know you can talk to me," she said.

"I know."

"I'm just really concerned about you, you haven't been acting like yourself," she said.

"Did I do something?" I asked, thinking back.

"No, but that's precisely it! You don't do anything! You wonder around the house like a ghost barely saying anything to anyone, just answering if we ask you something. I need you to talk to me Nathan."

I could see why she could see something was up. Even though I was back to normal now, I was acting like an even better son that I was before, which was the first sign telling them something was up. I did everything they asked me to, and spent time with Izzie, who was ecstatic to have her big brother back.

"Mom, I'm fine!" I insisted.

"Well, I don't think you are, and I think it has something to do with this," she said taking out a little envelope from her back pocket and placing it on the washer, leaving me to take the bait.

The curiosity got the better of me, and I picked up the cream envelope. The envelope made of good quality marbled card had cursive lettering on the front with my parents name on it, making it look important.

Mr and Mrs Davis and Mr and Mrs Taggaro,

request the pleasure of your company on

Saturday 26th May at 7.30pm

At

The Parkerson Country Club

to celebrate the completion of the Davis-Taggaro business merger bringing

Davis Enterprises and Taggaro Arbitrations together

And to celebrate the engagement of their children

Felix Antonio Taggaro and Brooke Penelope Davis.

Please RSVP via the return card, making sure to complete the catering card.

She was right. There was something wrong, but it wasn't the contents of this card since I didn't know about it yet, but as my eye caught the word engagement, the finality hit me and it made it a million times worse. I ignored the sinking feeling in my stomach and the need to break down any second, and pushed it out my mind, making myself commit to the decision I had made to make sure she was happy, despite whether it was with me or not. I knew she didn't want to be with Taggaro and if she had agreed to it, she would have wanted it. I hated the thought of picturing her going to college with Felix, and living with Felix and marrying Felix, and having children with Felix. The children that were supposed to be mine.

"Nate?" she asked not able to hold the silence anymore.

"How long have you had this?" I asked.

"About a week, I've been working up the courage to ask you."

"It doesn't matter," I told her.

"I know you never said it outright but I thought you and Brooke were—"

"Well we're not," I snapped, then felt bad at taking out my frustration at her.

"I really liked her, Nate. I thought she was good for you. What happened?" she said ignoring my claim that we weren't together.

"Life happened Mom. Our Friends happened. Our Family happened. I happened, to ruin everything as usual," I said with a sigh. She put down the towels, and put her hands on her hips.

"Oh sweetie, don't use everyone else as an excuse not to be together. If the two of you like each other then nothing else should matter. And as for you happening, you didn't happen to anything. You might have made a mistake?" she said and I nodded, "But don't for one second think you ruin things sweetie. Nathan honey, you're capable of so much, and you just need to believe in yourself and give yourself more credit."

I just nodded. She turned back to her towels and moved the pile to a shelf, then began adding my clothes to the washer.

"Mom?"

"Hmm?"

"I'm really sorry. For everything," I said. I realised I hadn't had the chance to apologise in any way. When they had come back from their trip I had acted like nothing had happened. Needless to say they were shocked but didn't say anything to jolt my new behaviour.

"I know sweetie," she said nodding. I walked over to her and gave her a hug. She quickly came over her surprise then hugged me back. I didn't remember the last time I had hugged my mom, feeling that I was too 'grown up'. Hugging her made me feel safe again, and I felt like I was ten again as I broke down in her arms. She didn't say anything after seeing my tears but just rubbed my back letting me get it all out. I think she knew my tears weren't just for the feeling bad that went with my apology but for Brooke too.

X x x x x

A/N: I hope you liked it!

IMPORTANT NOTE: This was the last chapter before the 4 part epilogue which jumps into the future four years. Before I post that, I would love some predictions for where everyone will be in four years and what will happen! If you have any preferences for people to be together or break up etc, put all that in too! I'll post after I get some of those, x