Chapter Eleven

"Monday Morning"

On Monday morning, Lucas walked into the school and went straight to his locker. Unfortunately his locker was across from Brooke and Peyton's, and Nathan's was right next to his. Luckily he got there before anyone else had arrived. After he got home on Friday night he had not left his house. He played basketball, but didn't talk to anyone except Haley.

Peyton walked up from across the hall. "I heard what happened."

"Oh yeah? Where were you?"

She grinned. "With Jake. In my car."

Lucas grinned. "Seriously? Something starting to happen between you two?"

"Maybe."

"You didn't miss much. I punched him end of story."

"You punched Nathan, but why didn't he punch you back?" She asked slowly.

"Probably because Hales and Brooke came in and got all worried about him."

"He's a big boy."

"Tell that to him."

Jake walked up. "Hey Scott."

Lucas nodded to him. "Hey."

Peyton pulled Jake by the hand to her locker. "So are we going to talk about Friday?"

On Friday night, they had gone to Peyton's car and made out for half an hour. He smiled. "What's there to say?"

She leaned up and quickly kissed him on the lips. Brooke walked up behind them. "Ahem. What is this?"

Peyton smiled. "Nothing."

"Well its obviously something."

Jake said, "I gotta go. Catch you later."

"Bye, Jake," Brooke called in a sing song voice. "Peyton! Explain."

She shrugged. "I don't know, but we just started kissing and never really stopped."

"Aw, someone's in loooove."

Peyton giggled. "Shut up."

"Hey, in two weeks party at my place."

"Cool, what's this weekend?"

Brooke put her hands on her hips. "The cheer conference!"

Peyton groaned. "Man!" She didn't mind being a cheerleader, but the stuff they had to do in off season was ridiculous.

"Hush."

Nathan walked up behind them. "Morning."

Brooke grinned. "How's the face?"

"Pretty good. How are you?"

She put her arms around his neck. "Great," she giggled before kissing him.

Peyton tapped a locker. "Excuse me? Did I miss something?"

"Oh, sorry I didn't tell you. We are continuing this whole piss of Lucas and Carson thing. Its fun, plus Nathan is fun to kiss."

Peyton shook her head. "This is all going to blow up in your face."

"Have a little fun Pey."

Nathan kissed her. "See you first period."

He walked across the hall where Lucas had been watching everything. Lucas said, "What's going on between you two?"

"Ask Brooke."

Lucas sighed. "Sorry about hitting you Friday."

"Don't worry about it. If you had talked about sleeping with Haley I probably would have socked you too."

Lucas had the image of him and Haley in his head and he shivered. They were definitely not meant to be more than friends.

Brooke walked over. "Nate lets go." She looked pointedly at Lucas. "We'll be late."

Nathan grabbed his books and then her hand. "See you Lucas."

Lucas shook his head. Peyton walked over. "She is just doing to you what you did to her."

"What are you talking about?"

"You and Carson."

Lucas had had it. "Shut up. Please."

He slammed his locker and went to his first class. Nathan and Brooke were in there already, whispered. They immediately stopped when Lucas walked up. Peyton walked in right after Lucas and pulled Brooke off to the side.

"Are you happy? You have totally made Lucas mad."

"Yeah I am," she lied, because seeing him hurt made her hurt. The teacher came in and started class.

At lunch that day, Nathan and Brooke were sitting next to Peyton and Jake. Teresa, Tim, Haley, and Lucas were also at the table.

Nathan asked, "Where's Carson?"

Lucas smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Brooke said, "Nathan just say your thanks the bitch isn't here today okay?"

Lucas turned his head. Brooke and Nathan couldn't stand each other, so why was now different from any other?

Peyton said, "Brooke, tell about your party."

Brooke grinned. "Yeah guys a week from this Friday is my party!"

Jake asked, "Cool. What time?"

She shrugged. "When dark starts."

Nathan said, "You mean sunset?"

She giggled. "Shut up, whatever its called. Anyways, its no biggie just people hanging out. Spread the word."

Lucas said, "Brooke can we please talk? Alone." He said, staring at Nathan.

"Why can't we talk here?"

"Brooke, come on."

She sighed, and stood up. "Nathan I'll be right back."

"Take your time."

After Brooke and Lucas left the cafeteria, Peyton smiled. "Maybe they will get back together."

Nathan scoffed, "Don't count on it. She is really pissed at him."

"So? They are in love!"

Nathan reminded her, "Sometimes love isn't enough."

"With Brooke and Lucas it is."

Outside the cafeteria, Brooke and Lucas were standing in the middle of the hall. "What do you want?" Brooke asked impatiently.

"What the hell are you doing with Nathan?" Lucas hissed.

"What do you care! You made it perfectly clear to me a week ago you couldn't care less about me when you pranced around with Carson."

"That's just it Brooke! I do care," he insisted. "I don't want to see my brother hurt you."

"Oh like you didn't?" Brooke fired back. "The day you said we were over, do you have any idea how much that hurt? Do you?"

Lucas looked at the floor. "Listen..."

"No, you listen! Don't you bring me out here and tell me how to run my love life! I get that you don't love me, you don't want me, whatever! I am trying like hell to get over you. You aren't making it any easier, so I am begging you. Stay out of my life." Brooke turned on her heels are went back into the lunch room.

Lucas sank against the locker. She didn't understand because he didn't have the nerve to tell her. He still loved her very much, and was jealous of Nathan. Insanely jealous.

That afternoon Lucas walked into his mom's café and went behind the counter. Karen was holding Jenny while Jake cleaned tables.

"Hey sweetie. How was school?"

Lucas grabbed a cookie off the rack. "Same, as usual."

Karen nodded. "Hold her for a second." A customer had just walked in. Lucas held onto the baby girl.

Jake walked up and grinned. "Wow, you with a baby in your arms."

"Haha."

Jake patted his little girl on the back before going back to work. The door jingled and Lucas and Karen both looked up as Brooke walked through the door. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Lucas.

Karen said, "Brooke, what a nice surprise. Lucas is right there," she said, nodding towards her son.

Brooke shook her head. "Actually I needed to talk with you."

Karen nodded. "Alright, just give me a few minutes."

Jenny started fussing, and Lucas couldn't calm her down. Brooke looked at the baby. Jake called, "Brooke can you get her bottle for her?" He pointed towards the diaper bag. Brooke retrieved the bottle and took the baby from Lucas, feeding her.

"Thanks," Lucas said softly.

"Yeah," Brooke said shortly.

Lucas needed out of there. "Mom I'll be at home."

"Okay see you tonight." Karen finished with her customer and walked over to Brooke. "Isn't she precious?"

Brooke smiled at the baby in her arms. "Adorable."

"So, what's up?"

Brooke took a deep breath. "You said if I ever needed someone to talk to you would be here, right?"

"Of course."

"Well, I don't know what to do."

"About?"

"Luke," Brooke admitted. "And Nathan."

Karen was surprised. "Wow, um, what about them?"

"I am going to parties and stuff with Nathan to make Lucas jealous, except that he really isn't jealous except he did hit Nathan the other night, but anyways I don't even like Nathan, I love Lucas," Brooke babbled on and on.

Karen started laughing. "Okay calm down." She called to Jake, "Jake can you man the cash register for awhile? We have Jenny." After Jake agreed, Karen led Brooke to a back booth. "Okay, now tell me... slowly... what is going on. What's this about you dating Nathan? As in Nathan Scott?" Karen wasn't too fond of Nathan.

Brooke smiled, the first real one since she left school. "Yes. Do you know who Carson Lane is?" Karen nodded. "Well, she broke things off with Nathan last Thursday, and Nathan wanted to make her jealous, and I wanted to make Lucas jealous. So we decided to go to a party together. No strings attached or anything."

"Did it work? Is Lucas jealous?"

"Worse. He is so pissed. He punched Nathan at the party, and today he told me I shouldn't be dating Nathan. The thing is, I don't want to date Nathan. I feel absolutely nothing for him. But if I call off our thing, then won't it seem like I am doing this because Lucas said I should?"

Karen said, "Well, I think you shouldn't date anybody for awhile. You just stepped out of a major relationship with somebody. You definitely need some time to yourself." Brooke nodded, listening carefully. "As for Lucas, he broke up with you remember? I don't really know why, and I don't want to know. Its none of my business. But definitely break things off with Nathan. Its not proving anything to anybody."

Brooke let loose a tiny smile. "Thanks Karen."

"That's what I'm here for. I do have some questions."

"Okay..."

"Are you still in love with Lucas?"

Brooke sighed, frustrated with her feelings. "I think a part of me will always be in love with Lucas. He was the first guy who taught me how to love. Before he came along I was a mess. Now, I take in consideration everything I do. I love him very much right now because the break up just happened. Ask me in a couple of weeks or months? I will probably say no, but who knows. I know I have to move on. I get that. I'm just not ready."

"Want me to let you in on a little secret?" Brooke nodded. "Neither is he."

Lucas was in his room, looking at his bulletin board filled with pictures of Brooke, he and Brooke, and all their friends. He couldn't bring himself to take them down. A part of him was still hanging on.

Author's Note: Sorry it took so long too update, i will try to update more by the weekend. thanks for all the reviews!