Chapter Eighteen

"The Party"

Friday night rolled around and it was around eight thirty when people started arriving at Brooke's.

Peyton and Teresa were helping her in the kitchen.

"So is Lucas coming?"

Brooke shrugged. "Don't know. Haven't talked to him all week."

"Carson is," Teresa said, disgusted. "I heard her talking today. I didn't like the way she was talking though. She sounded like she was planning something or something."

"The other day she threatened me, saying I better not do anything concerning Lucas."

Peyton laughed. "She is all talk."

Brooke nodded. "I know."

Lucas walked in just then, and Brooke almost dropped the drink she was holding. She hadn't thought he would show up. "Hey."

"Hey." He held up a twelve pack. "Brought some beer."

"Thanks, you can put them in the cooler over there," she said, nodding her head in the direction of four coolers lined up on the wall.

He put them in a cooler and said, "Nathan here yet?"

"Nope not yet."

He nodded. "'K."

Peyton said, "Here use your strong hands to cut these," she said, referring to the appetizers. Lucas stood next to Brooke and took over for Peyton.

Teresa said, "Where is Tim?"

Peyton shrugged. "Who knows. Tim is never on time."

Peyton and Teresa left to go talk to some people. Peyton had agreed to answer the door, which had someone knocking on it every other minute.

Brooke said, "I'm glad you made it."

"Yeah I am too."

"So getting ready for prom?"

"Yeah. Hey is Carson here?"

Brooke grew silent. He was so close. "Excuse me," she said, biting her tongue as she left the room.

'Damn Lucas what's your problem? Why did you mention her? Why?'

Peyton answered the door and found Carson on the other side. She quickly pulled her into a private room. Carson shook her off her arm. "What?" She hissed.

"What are you planning to do to Brooke?"

"Nothing," she said innocently. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"Like hell you don't. You better not do anything to her. She has more people backing her than you know."

"Got it. Are we done here?"

Peyton let her go, knowing she was hiding something. She decided to just have fun, even though it was hard to do with knowing Carson was in the house and up to something.

An hour later, Brooke's phone was ringing. She answered it, having to yell over the noise. "What!" She hung up a few minutes later. "Guys I have to go. Be right back."

"Where are you going?" Peyton asked.

"Picking up Haley and Nathan. They ran out of gas."

Carson overheard this and ran outside. A few minutes later, Peyton asked, "Where'd that knife go? It was right here."

Carson hid on the side of the house as Brooke left in her convertible. It had gotten out of the shop yesterday.

She watched as it drove off.

Brooke was driving down the highway towards where Nathan and Haley had agreed to meet her. She had bought a gallon of gas on the way. She was in the middle of the high way when she felt a few bumps and pulled over to the side. It was pitchblack outside, so she got the one flashlight she had.

She got out and looked at her tires. They were completely flat. Someone had slashed them with a knife. There were gashes in each of them. "Oh my God!" She screamed. She was stuck. She reached in her pocket for her cell phone, but it wasn't there. She searched all over but couldn't find. She remembered talking to Carson right before leaving, and Carson had brought her the coat she was wearing.

'Bitch!' Carson took her cell phone and then slashed her tires. Brooke looked up and down the dark highway, but there was nothing but darkness. No cars, street lamps, people. Absolutely nothing.

Back at the party, Lucas went looking for Brooke. He wanted to talk to her. He found Peyton in the kitchen searching for something. "Where's Brooke?"

She looked up, distracted. "What? Oh, she went to pick up Nathan and Haley. They ran out of gas."

"What are you looking for?"

She looked exasperated. "I had this butcher knife and I can't find it!" She exclaimed.

"What did you do with it?"

"I put it on the island while Brooke talked to Haley. I came back and it was gone."

He shrugged. "It will show up."

"Yeah I guess."

"Let me know when Brooke gets back," he requested.

"Sure," she said, looking in the drawers.

Author's Note: Okay, PLEASE don't hate me! i know brooke and lucas are still not together. but this big build up will make the end worth it. i promise, just stick around for it. lol. anyways, thanks again for the awesome reviews and keep them coming!