Chapter Three

"The Party Fight"

When Lucas picked Brooke up that night, he was uncomfortable and nervous. He was rarely nervous anymore around her, and never uncomfortable. He was mainly nervous tonight because he was afraid she could tell from the way he was acting what happened earlier with Carson. He knew it was crazy, but she would go ballistic if she found out.

His nerves immediately went away when he saw her come out in her tight jeans and pink camy. She had her hair down, and it flowed around her. She had on the bracelet he got her for Valentine's Day.

She got in the car, and he fell in love with her all over again. "Hey sweetie."

"Hey, you look great."

"Thanks, you don't look so bad yourself stud." She said, referring to his faded American Eagle jeans an Raven's t-shirt.

"Ready to go?"

"As ready as you are. Ready to get drunk, I haven't had a drink since last Saturday."

"So sorry," he said sarcastically.

"Do you know who is taking keys tonight?"

"Probably Teresa. You did it last week, and Tim did it a few weeks ago."

"Are you drinking tonight?"

"Not much. One of us has to be sober, and I get this nagging feeling that it won't be you," he joked.

"Haha, so funny."

They drove the rest of the way in silence, both thinking about what happened that afternoon. While Lucas thought about Carson's flirting, Brooke thought about her conversation with Carson.

Lucas pulled up in front of Tim's house, which had the latest hot music blasting. Cars were parked down the street, and loud talking could be heard from inside. Lucas cut the car off but hesitated opening the door.

Brooke asked, "Babe why aren't we getting out?"

"We trust each other right?"

"Right..." she agreed, not sure where he was going with the question.

"And our relationship is based around honestly right?"

"Of course. After what happened in January..." They thought about a few months ago, when Brooke had caught Lucas and Peyton fooling around. Things had improved since then, and Brooke and Lucas hadn't lied to each other since.

"Exactly. So, I have something to confess."

Brooke grew nervous. "Okay."

Lucas took her hand. "After practice today, right after you had left, Carson came out to talk to me. She kind of... came onto me, tried to kiss me. I backed away from her, explained you are the girl I love and all that, and I am not sure if she got the picture. I am telling you this because if I didn't, it would be hanging above my head and I don't want to keep anything from you."

Brooke wasn't sure what to say. "Thank you for telling me. I am not surprised she did this, mainly because she told me right before I left if something happened between us she would be there to pick up the pieces. I can't believe that bitch."

Lucas squeezed her hand. "I hope I didn't ruin our night."

She shrugged it off. "No, you didn't. I am just really glad you let me know. You are right. We have to be honest with each other."

"On that note, let's go have some fun," Lucas grinned getting out and opening her door.

She put her arms around his neck and crashed her lips into his. "Love you."

"Love you. Come on," he grabbed her hand, pulling her towards the noise.

They went inside and after putting their things in a bedroom, they went into the kitchen. For some reason the whole group spent most of their time in the kitchen. It was quieter in there, and that is where they all talked. In the kitchen at that moment were Teresa and her latest fling, Jeff, Tim, Peyton, and Jake.

"Hey guys!" Brooke yelled over the music. As soon as they got there, Peyton and Lucas eyed each other, and Brooke caught the look. She whispered in Lucas' ear, "Does she know?"

"Yes!"

"What?" She could barely hear him.

"YES!"

She nodded. She looked around. "Where's Nathan and Haley?"

Everyone shrugged. "Who knows."

"Jake, where's Jenny?" Lucas asked.

"With my parents."

Peyton asked Jake, "Want something to drink?"

"Yeah a coke."

Brooke teased, "Playing it safe?"

"Well, Peyton has already had two, so I figured someone has to be sober."

Lucas laughed, "Dude that is exactly what I said."

Brooke followed Peyton to the den where the coolers were. "How do you know?"

"Luke told you?" Peyton asked, surprised.

"Yeah."

"I saw it. I saw her come onto him. I called him on it, and he said it was all her. I believe him."

Brooke nodded. "I do too. I can't believe her."

"I guess you were right about her."

"For the record, she isn't like me."

"That much I know." They grabbed the drinks and walked back into the kitchen. They were all sitting around, not talking about anything important, when Nathan and Carson walked in. Brooke tensed up, and Lucas walked around the table and put his arms around her waist from behind.

Everyone said their welcomes, and Carson winked at Lucas. Brooke turned around, with eyes blazing. "Did you see that?"

"Yeah, babe, I did but what do you want me to do?"

Brooke turned back around and rested the back of her head on her boyfriend's chest. Carson said sweetly, "Nate, do you mind grabbing me a beer?"

"Yeah, be right back." After he left, Carson turned to Teresa.

"Know any good malls?"

Teresa's eyes lit up. Other than cheerleading, shopping was the next best thing for her. "Totally! What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I'm free."

"Cool, we should go shopping."

"Yeah that sounds like fun."

Brooke rolled her eyes. Teresa was falling into her trap. Carson had only been there a week and already three people hated her. Peyton stood up. "I need another beer. Brooke you with me?"

"Sure thing." She followed her best friend out of the room, leaving Lucas to deal with Carson.

Carson continually eyed Lucas, even after Nathan brought her a drink and started nuzzling her neck.

He whispered, "What do you say we take this upstairs?"

She was a little surprised at his offer, since they had just arrived. "Can we do this? It isn't even our house."

"It's Tim's place, I know my way around this joint. Come on," Nathan whispered.

"Let's wait awhile, okay? I want to talk for awhile first."

Teresa stood up, pulling Jeff with her. "Come on babe, I want to remember us having sex this time." She turned to Tim. "Can we take your room?"

He shrugged. "Whatever. Just not my parent's." His parents were on a weekend getaway.

Teresa giggled and Jeff followed her upstairs. Nathan and Tim left to go change the cd, and Jake went off in search of Peyton. Lucas was about to follow him when Carson quickly moved in front of the doorway.

"Not so fast, Luke."

"What do you want?"

"You," she slurred, obviously drunk.

"Didn't I make myself clear? I don't want you!"

"Yes you do. You want to be free of that controlling, overpowering, bitch of a girlfriend you have."

"Shut up! Don't call Brooke that!"

Brooke walked in, just in time to hear Lucas defending her.

Carson grinned. "Oh yeah? What the hell are you going to do about it?" She put her drink down and sauntered up to Lucas, pulling him in for a kiss.

"You bitch." Brooke walked up, pulled Carson by the hair, and turned her around. Carson barely had the chance to see who it was when Brooke slapped her across the face. "Leave my boyfriend alone!"

Carson gave her a hard push. "No! You don't deserve him!"

"How the hell do you know what I deserve? You have been here like a week!"

Brooke pushed her back. "Luke is sweet, so why would he need a whore like you?"

Lucas said, "Shut up Carson."

Brooke grinned sweetly at her boyfriend. "Don't worry about it. I got her covered."

She slammed Carson against the wall, and a catfight ensued. Hair was pulled, slaps were thrown. Lucas tried prying Brooke off Carson, but it just was not working.

"Bitch!"

"Slut!"

"Whore!"

"Tramp!"

Lucas added, "New vocabulary please?"

"Shut up!" Both girls yelled at him.

Jake ran in when he heard the commotion, and grabbed hold of Carson. Lucas pulled Brooke by the waist from behind, but she still tried to grab at Carson. Peyton, Tim, and Nathan all ran in.

Peyton ran to Brooke. "Are you okay?"

Brooke glowered at Carson. "That bitch has got to die!" She tried diving at her again, but Lucas held onto her tight.

"Brooke calm down!"

Peyton walked over to where Jake was still holding onto Carson. "Let her go."

Carson shrugged herself out of his reach, and huffed over to Nathan. "Can we please get out of here?"

Brooke yelled, "That's right keep on walking you whore!" Nathan quickly led Carson out of the room. Brooke stopped trying to wrestle free and calmed down. "You can let me go now," she told Lucas.

"You aren't going to grab a knife and go after her?"

"No, but thanks for the idea." He let her go, and she tried to fix the damage done to her hair.

Jake said, "I have to ask. What the hell was that?"

Peyton sighed. "Don't worry about it. Brooke, you want to go get cleaned up? You look horrible."

She glared at her friend. "Thanks, friend."

Lucas and Jake watched as they left. Tim was laughing from the back of the kitchen. "Damn that was a good catfight! I wish I had seen it from the beginning."

The crowd slowly dispersed after Carson and Brooke left, and everyone went back to partying.

In the bathroom, Brooke was brushing her hair angrily. "If Lucas hadn't stopped me, I would have killed her. No joke."

"What happened?"

"I walked in on her going up and kissing him! Tongue and all. He was starting to push away but I slapped her. Hard," Brooke giggled, remembering the beginning. "Anyways, it kind of went from there."

"Oh," Peyton nodded. "Well, I think you won."

"Damn straight!" Brooke sighed. "I hate her. I have known her like a week, and I hate her."

"Look, Luke isn't going to go crying to her, so you don't have anything to worry about."

"I know, she just makes me nervous."

"Look on the bright side. You get to cheer next to her everyday now."

Brooke threw the brush at Peyton. "Shut up. Please."

Nathan pulled up in front of Carson's mansion. "Not bad," he observed.

"Thanks. Sorry about before. I know Brooke is your friend and all."

He shrugged. "Nah, not really. Lucas is my half brother, but as far as Brooke? Its weird between us."

"You and Lucas are brothers?"

"Half brothers. We have the same dad."

"How did that work out? You are like the same age."

Nathan shook his head. "Long story. Anyways, sorry our night was cut short."

"Yeah me too. I only had a few beers."

Nathan leaned in closer to her. "I'm sorry."

"Yeah," she murmured, letting her lips close onto his grin. They kissed for a long time.

Back at the party, Brooke and Peyton walked out. Lucas smiled when he saw them. "Hey, how you doing?"

Brooke grumbled, "I am so not drunk enough."

"That can be fixed," Lucas grinned, handing her a cold beer.

"That was so embarrassing."

He shrugged. "I think everyone forgot about it."

She looked around. "Where's Nathan?"

"Took your enemy home," he joked.

"Maybe he will leave her in a ditch or something."

Teresa and Jeff walked into the kitchen, their clothes unkempt. It was no question what they had been doing. "What's going on?"

Tim shook his head. "You just missed the ultimate chick fight."

Teresa was interested. "Between who?"

"Carson and Brooke."

"Carson? She is so sweet," she said, looking confusedly at Brooke.

"Sweet my ass," Brooke muttered.

Peyton added, "Details later T."

Haley walked in then. "Hales!"

She looked at Brooke's slightly messed up hair, but didn't say anything. "Hey people. I'm running late, I had to finish my shift."

Lucas grinned, pulling Brooke into his lap on the bar stool. "Brooke and Carson Lane just had this huge fight."

"Verbal or physical?"

"Both."

"Why?"

"Long story."

She looked around. She didn't want to ask, but she had to. "Where's Nathan?"

Brooke spoke up, "Took the witch of the North home."

Haley looked let down. "Oh cool. Why did he have the honor to do that?"

Lucas was surprised she didn't know. "They came.... together."

Haley's eyes widened. It was only recently she and Nathan had broken up, and it hurt her to know she meant that little to him. "Oh, well, good for him, right?"

Tim held up a can. "Beer?"

Haley declined. Brooke rest her head on Lucas' shoulders. "Baby I'm ready to go home. Want to go?"

"Yeah, I'll get our stuff." She let him get up.

Jake was surprised. "Brooke Davis, turning in early? That girl must have hit you hard."

"Just because we're going back to my place doesn't mean Lucas is going home, if ya know what I mean," she finished, winking.

"Sorry. What was I thinking?"

Peyton sighed. "Actually, I am ready to take off too."

"You want to go home?"

She shrugged. "We could always go back to your place, watch a movie or something."

"Sure, yeah."

Tim groaned. "What, you are all leaving? The party is just getting started!"

"You can say that again," Nathan proclaimed as he walked back into the kitchen. They all stared at him. "What?"

"Well...?"

"Well what?"

Brooke decided to ask. "Did the witch get home okay?"

"Don't call her that. It wasn't her night."

Lucas walked back in with their stuff and handed Brooke her purse. "Hey man."

"You leaving?"

"Yeah, we're going to take off."

Nathan said, "See you."

Brooke said, "So are you going to continue to see her?"

Haley listened from afar. Nathan shrugged. "Why not? She's hot."

Jake moved and Nathan noticed Haley standing there, obviously hurt.

Nathan was upset. He didn't know she was there. "Hales...."

"No, you know what? I'm glad you are dating. Its good for you. Good luck." She turned and ran out the front door.

Lucas said, "We better go after her." Brooke agreed, and they said their goodbyes before leaving. They wanted to make sure Haley was okay.

They found her sitting on the front steps, tears running down her cheeks. "I knew this would happen. I mean, come on, its Nathan Scott. He loves the girls, and they love him. Its been three weeks. Three weeks."

Brooke sat next to her and put her arm around her. "It will get easier."

"I hope so. Because this is really hard," Haley sobbed on her shoulder.

Brooke sighed. "This night sucks."

Lucas thought to himself, 'You can say that again.'

Author's Note: As you can see, this is turning into more of a general fic then only Brucas. alot of naley/jeyton is coming up. anyways, keep the reviews coming! thanks to all you reviewers!