Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to One Tree Hill or it's characters.
Notes: Thanks so much to everyone who's been reading and especially those who've reviewed. I love reading what people think of the story, even if they hate it.

Fall Into Me
Chapter 6 - Better Off


When Brooke arrived at school the next morning, Nathan was standing at her locker.

"You're here early," she said smiling.

"I know. Mom woke me up and since I actually finished my assignment for once, I thought I'd show up on time."

"I'm glad. So was she happy to see you at home this morning?"

"Yeah and when I told her I had a tutor, she got all smiley. It was weird."

"So now I'm your tutor?"

He nodded. "And I was hoping that you could help me with some other classes."

"Like what?"

"Chemistry, Algebra, and Spanish."

"Wow."

"Yeah. I guess all that not doing homework is catching up with me," he said just as the bell rang.

"Seems that way, but I'll help. Just get a list of all the assignments you missed from your teachers, so I know what to do."

"Thanks, you're an angel," he said kissing her cheek. The gesture and the statement surprising them both. He quickly made his way to class. Brooke smiled bringing her hand to her face and letting it linger over the spot Nathan's lips had just been as she walked to class.

------

Lucas was at his locker talking to Peyton when Brooke walked past him on her way to her locker. He hadn't seen her much lately and seeing her now made him realized that he had maybe missed her.

"Luke?" Peyton called, waving her hand in front of him.

"What?"

"Where were you?"

"I guess I just spaced. Sorry," he said kissing her forehead. His eyes found Brooke again. Only now she was talking to Nathan and he felt something shift inside him.

"There's the bell, we better get to class."

"Yeah, you're right." Lucas grabbed her hand and they started down the hall.

Peyton noticed Nathan talking to Brooke as well.

"There's an interesting new development."

"What?" Lucas asked, pretending not to notice.

"Nathan and Brooke," Peyton said gesturing in their direction.

"I guess," he said turning around. When he did, he saw Nathan lean into Brooke and he his muscles tightened. Peyton noticed.

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing."

"If you say so," she replied and let go of his hand as she entered the classroom.

------

Brooke was talking to Theresa and Bevin during lunch when she felt someone's eyes on her. She turned around and her glance immediately met Lucas'. She held his eyes for just a few seconds before making herself turn away. 'Damn him', she cursed in her head.

"So what do you think, Brooke?" Bevin asked.

"About what?"

"About the parade. Are you even listening? The school board wants us to have a float."

"No."

"Why?"

"Because it's cheesy. I mean, seriously, Bevin."

Theresa nodded in agreement. "Fine, but you're telling them," Bevin said getting up.

"Whatever," Brooke said as she turned around again. She didn't want to look, but he was so damn tempting. He was still watching, so she turned back quickly.

"Hey," Nathan said sitting down.

"Hey, yourself. Where you been? Lunch is almost over." He handed her a stack of papers. "What's this?"

"All the work I have to do," he said aggrevated. "I don't know how they expect me to finish all this by next Thursday."

"It's meant to be done in a month, not a week," Brooke reminded.

"I know."

"Did you eat?"

"No. The line was already closed."

"Have the rest of mine," she said pushing her lunch across the table.

"You don't want it?"

"No. All full."

"You sure?"

"If you don't eat it, I'm throwing it away."

"Well, I don't want to waste food," he said taking a bite of her half eaten sandwich. She smiled with satisfaction and began looking through the papers he'd brought.

"Do you know any of this?" She asked as she flipped through the pages.

"I don't know what 'this' is."

Brooke sighed. "It's no wonder your mom's all freaked out about your grades."

"Thanks," he said annoyed.

"Sorry."

"I was thinking after the game tonight, we could go and get something to eat. There's a party at Adam's, but if I'm supposed to do homework this weekend, I figured I shouldn't kill any more of my brain cells."

Brooke smiled. "Are you asking me out?"

"No." He paused. "Yeah, I guess I am."

"Good."

"So that's a yes."

She nodded. "Besides, you owe me a meal anyway," she said gesturing to the now empty lunch tray.

-----

Lucas sat across the courtyard watching them. Haley and Peyton were busying talking about something. They talked all the time now, he barely got a word in even when he wanted to. Though, now he was glad to be ignored.

He didn't know why, but seeing them together disturbed him. He'd heard all about Brooke and her sexual escapades since they broke up, but he had never seen her with any of them. Most the time when he saw her at school it was just between classes and she was alone. Occasionally he'd see her with some of the cheerleaders or Tim, but never any guys. He'd always kind of hoped that the rumors weren't true. He knew she was better than that, but he also knew that if she was doing those things it was because of him and that bothered him.

He had never wanted to hurt her. He had cared, really cared. It's just he'd wanted Peyton for so long, he thought she was who he was meant to be with. Now, he wasn't as sure.

The bell rang and everyone went to their afternoon classes.

-----

Brooke had just finished changing after the game and was waiting in the gym for Nathan to get done. She had seen half the team leave already and was starting to wonder what was taking Nathan so long, when someone called her name from behind. She didn't have to turn around to know who it was. And she didn't want to look at him, so she just ignored him.

"Brooke," he called again. When she didn't respond, he walked in front of her. "Did you hear me?"

"I heard you just fine. I just don't want to talk to you."

"I deserve that."

"Damn straight, now could you please leave."

"Are you waiting for someone?"

"That's none of your business."

"I'll take that as a yes." She continued to ignore him. "Why do you let them do that to you?"

"And what is it they do exactly?" She asked angrily as she turned quickly to face him.

"Don't make me say it."

"Whatever it is you think they're doing to me, it's nothing compared to what you did. You bastard."

"Brooke," he pleaded.

"How dare you judge me? You think you're so much better than me, but you're not. You're worse. Those guys don't matter to me and I don't matter to them. I know that. But you...You pretended to care and I believed you. I opened myself up to you and you spat in my face and
now I never want to see you again. I'm better off without you." She held his gaze, letting him know she was serious.

The gym door opened and Nathan walked in. Seeing the look on both their faces, he knew something had just happened. Obvsiously, it wasn't a reconciliation. Brooke looked pissed and Lucas looked uncomfortable.

"You ready?" He asked when he made it over to them. Brooke's face relaxed at the mere sound of his voice. She turned to him and smiled.

"Absolutely."

Nathan reached for her hand and she willingly slipped her fingers through his as they walked out of the gym. Lucas watched as they exited the gym. For the first time, he felt as bad as Brooke now thought he was, seeing her with Nathan was a bigger slap in the face than Brooke could have ever hoped for.