Chapter Four

"Running into Carson"

The following afternoon Brooke and Peyton were shopping with Jenny. They were looking at sales, just trying to forget about the previous evening. The only problem with that was every few minutes one of them would bring it up.

They were mainly window shopping, because they had Jenny in a stroller. Brooke asked, "What was Jake doing again?"

"For like the third time, he has to work and Karen wasn't going in today." He worked at Karen's café, and she usually allowed him to bring Jenny in and stay in the back, but Jake was working solo today and didn't want to watch Jenny while he had customers.

"Oh yeah. Sorry I forgot."

"What are you doing tonight?"

"Luke and I are going to a movie. Just relaxing, pretty much."

"You didn't 'relax' enough after the party last night?" Peyton teased.

Brooke grinned. "Shut up. Anyways, we haven't been to the movies in awhile."

Peyton smiled, "That's cool. I think I am going to hang out with Jake and Peyton tonight." Jenny started to fuss and Peyton took her out. She was only about eight months old. "Shh, baby girl, its okay."

Brooke let her hand slide over the top of the baby's head. "She is so precious."

"Isn't she? And to think she is biologically Nikki's." Nikki was Jenny's mother who had left right after she was born. She had come back a month ago to stir up trouble with Peyton, Jake, Brooke, and Lucas.

"Seriously. What a witch."

"You must be talking about yourself," someone from behind said. Peyton and Brooke turned around to see Carson and Teresa.

Brooke was about to retort back but Peyton said, "Keep walking Carson."

Carson fingered Jenny's hand, and Peyton pulled her back. "She is too cute. Just like her daddy."

"Do you always go for guys who are taken?" Brooke blurted out.

Carson pretended to be offended. "Last I checked Jake wasn't taken. Unless that has changed..."

Peyton glanced at Brooke. "No it hasn't. He just isn't in the dating pool right now, that's all."

"Mmm... maybe he just needs that special person to change that."

Peyton started to get mad, but tried to stay calm since she was holding Jenny. "Can you please go away?"

"And stay away," Brooke added.

Teresa said, "Brooke, I don't understand your problem. Carson told what happened, and it seems like a huge misunderstanding."

"Oh yeah? What did she tell you?"

"She was talking to Lucas like any normal person when you came in, slapped her, and started calling her names."

"What?! You believe that?"

"Yeah I do. Carson is not this monster you make her out to be."

"Nathan certainly doesn't think so," Carson murmured, remembering the drive home.

Peyton glared at her. "You can't walk into this school and immediately take over."

"This is my school and its not up for grabs," Brooke explained.

"Is your name written on it? I didn't think so. I have no intention of 'taking your school' as you like to put it. The only thing I am interested in is Nathan."

"And his brother," Brooke fired back.

Carson's eyes lit up. "He has a brother?"

"Yeah, you know that guy whose mouth you shoved your tongue into last night?"

Carson almost choked. "Lucas and Nathan are related?"

"Half brothers. Please, take Nathan. Stay the hell away from Lucas."

"I swear you are like a broken record."

Brooke said, "Not as broken as I can make your nose."

Teresa stepped in, "Okay okay, obviously you guys don't like each other. That's cool. Whatever. So, just agree to disagree."

"She wants my boyfriend," Brooke protested.

"I want a lot of things and can I help it if your boyfriend is on that list?"

"We didn't have any problems until you showed up last week."

"So I am the reason you guys are having trouble?"

"Yes!"

"If you let me do that to your relationship, then you obviously had problems before I ever arrived in this town."

Teresa smiled, trying to keep the peace. Peyton sighed, and gave Teresa a helpless look. Jenny started to get fussy again, and Peyton tried bouncing her up and down. "Come on Brooke lets get out of here."

Brooke wanted to get one last jab in. "You can take my place on the squad, my friends, my school, but you will never have Lucas!"

After Brooke and Peyton were out of sight, Carson sighed. "My first week here has been a bust."

Teresa was now wary of the girl. "Would you really steal Lucas?"

"Of course not!" Carson objected. "I think Lucas is hot, but so does every other girl. That isn't like me." To herself she thought, 'I have other ways to break up the perfect couple and then make Lucas mine.'

"I didn't think so. You are way too nice and sweet. Anyways, Nathan is into you."

"Right. I have a date with him tonight, we are going to the movies."

"Cool that sounds like fun."

Across the mall, Peyton was feeding Jenny and Brooke wouldn't stop talking about the recent interaction with Carson.

"What if Lucas falls in her trap?"

"He won't."

"What if he starts to like her?"

"He won't."

"What if she follows him everywhere and he decides I'm not for him?"

"He won't."

"What if...?"

"HE WON'T, he won't, he won't!" Peyton was frustrated.

"Okay." Brooke looked off into space. "But what if...?"

"Brooke! Stop it. He loves you for the last time."

"You don't know what she is capable of."

"No, we don't know. But I do know if... IF you and Lucas were to ever split, he wouldn't go to her. This is Lucas we are talking about. Quiet, serene, calm Lucas."

"But you said it yourself. She is just like me."

"But you aren't as cruel as her. Can we just let it go? She's a bitch, you aren't, end of story."

"I guess." Peyton knew fully well Brooke would never let it go.

That night, Brooke and Lucas walked arm in arm into the lobby of the movie theater. Since it was a small town, they only showed a few movies each night, so there wasn't much of a selection. They had settled for the latest action drama starring Denzel Washington.

Lucas nudged her side. "Don't look now, but Carson and Nathan are right over there."

Brooke looked to where he was nodding and to her luck Carson and Nathan were standing off to the side. "Oh my God. Could this day get any worse?"

"We have to say hello."

"Uh why?"

"He is my brother."

"But we don't like him!"

"So? We would look bad if we didn't."

"Who cares how we would look? Talking to her is like stabbing a knife in my heart."

"A little dramatic?"

She grinned. "I thought you would like that."

"They are coming over," he whispered quickly before saying out loud. "Hey."

"Hi Lucas." Carson smiled sweetly in his direction, purposefully not acknowledging Brooke.

Brooke want to throw up. She whispered in Lucas' ear, "I gotta puke. Going to the bathroom." She walked off, much to Carson's delight.

"Natie, could you go get the popcorn?"

"Sure."

Once left alone with Lucas, she said apologetically, "I am so sorry about everything that happened last night. I just feel awful, and I was hoping we could all get past it."

Lucas nodded. "Yeah, that would be nice. I don't think its on Brooke's agenda though."

Carson winced. "She really hates me, doesn't she?"

"She is just upset with you flirting with me."

"I guess I didn't realize how close you guys really are. I see now nothing can come between you."

"Good. Because its true."

Out of the corner of her eye, Carson could see Brooke coming out of the rest rooms. "Do you think I could give you a hug? Strictly platonic."

"Uh, yeah, I guess."

She reached over and hugged him, and grinned mischievously at Brooke. "Well I better get back to Nathan."

"See you."

Brooke walked up right after she left. "What was that?" She demanded.

"What was what?"

"That damn hug I just witnessed!"

"Nothing. She apologized. She really wants to put all of this crap behind us. She wants to be friends."

"Like hell she does! You believe her?"

"Yeah, I do Brooke. She is new in town, and already she is wrapped up in so much useless drama. She doesn't want me."

"Doesn't want you?" Brooke sputtered out. "Are you crazy? Was someone else in your body last night?"

"Look, she just thought you and I were fooling around. That's it."

"Whatever. Lets just go to the movie." Once again, her night had been ruined. First Nathan, then Teresa, and now Lucas. Who else was she going to con next?

A/N: Sorry for lack of updates! I will update again tomorrow. Thanks for all the reviews, please keep them coming!