Chapter 9

Peyton ran to Lucas' house. She furiously banged on his front door, with tears streaming down her face.

The door creaked open. Lucas poked his head out. "Peyton?"

Peyton was definitely not in her defining moment. Tears had created splotches on her face, her eyes were puffy, and mascara was running down her cheeks. Peyton nodded.

Lucas moved aside so Peyton could walk in. "What's wrong?"

Peyton just sat down on a nearby couch. Lucas sat next to her and put his arm around her. He rubbed her back in hopes of her telling him what happened.

Peyton started to calm down, she wasn't crying anymore, just the occasional hiccups.

"What happened?" Lucas was beyond curious now.

"I went . . . to. . . Brooke's house. And I saw Jake with her. So I confronted her, and asked what was going on. Then, I guess, things started to get ugly. We called each other names and then." Peyton stopped abruptly.

"And then? What?" Lucas pressed on.

"She slapped me."

Lucas winced. "Are you okay?"

Peyton shrugged. "I guess. I thought Brooke and I were okay, but obviously we aren't."

Lucas was amazed. "You . . . and Brooke made up?" He thought that he pretty much had broken their friendship up.

"I think that Brooke was just going to use our friend ship to hurt me. And she did it perfectly with Jake."

Lucas nodded. He sympathetically looked at Peyton.

Peyton started to play with the loose strands on her shirt. "You know what hurts the most about it? Is that Brooke said Jake loved her."

Lucas' head shot up. "What?"

"I know. It hurts. I mean I like Jake so much." Peyton wistfully said.

"Do you think they're really in love?" Lucas asked with much difficulty. It wasn't fair that Jake got Brooke. He knew that he made a mistake and he was truly sorry. But Jake? Jake wasn't even the star of the basketball team. He was pretty good. He wasn't the smartest. But he was pretty smart. And from a girl's point of view, he could see how Jake could be attractive. But Lucas tried to veer off that thought. The worst part was Jake was his only friend on the team. His only true guy friend now hated him and beat him up.

He stared intently at Peyton, dreading the answer.

"I don't think it is epic love. Not yet. But yeah, they're in love."

Lucas stood up. "I got to go." He told Peyton. "Let yourself out." Lucas ran out the door.

Peyton just stood there, confused.

Lucas ran to Brooke's house. By the time he was there, he was panting. He reminded himself that some basketball training had to be done. Lucas walked up to the house. The Davis mansion was huge and gorgeous. It was in the same area as Nathan's. The rich people. Lucas ran to the side of the house. Near the backyard, there was a secret door. Lucas knew that Brooke always kept it unlocked. It was his way of sneaking in and out without being detected. Now he assumed the door was for Jake.

(A/n: Lucas doesn't know that Jake with Brooke.)

Lucas twisted the knob and enter the house. Lucas knew Brooke's house so well. He could navigate it in the dark, which most of the time he was with Brooke he actually had to do. He ran up the long staircase to the second floor. He burst in Brooke's room.

"Brooke - ." Lucas was horrified by the sight. "Oh my god." Lucas quickly shut his eyes, closed the door and backed out the room.

"Lucas! What the fuck?" Brooke yelled.

Lucas had known that Brooke and Jake had sex, but the only time he had seen it was in a car, and then he hadn't actually seen it. Now he really wished he had knocked.

In a few minutes, Brooke rushed out of the room in an oversized T-shirt and basketball shorts. "Luke!" Brooke hissed. "What the hell are you doing?"

Lucas appraised her outfit. "Jake's clothes?" He was obviously disgusted.

Brooke glared at him. "So what?"

"I talked to Peyton-." Lucas started.

"Skinny-blonde bitch?"

"Yea. . . she told me that you told her Jake loved you. Is that true?" Lucas asked without hesitation.

Brooke glowed. "Yea, I love him too."

What? Lucas just stared at her. He shut his eyes in an effort to see if everything would rewind. Lucas opened his eyes and the world had no apparent change. "No this can't be happening."

Brooke pulled Lucas by his arm and motioned for him to follow her. She led him to the basement and she locked the door behind them. "Jake can't hear us now." Brooke said. "Now tell me what you want to say."

Lucas took a deep breath. "Look, I love you. I know I love you. I know in the bottom of my heart I will one day marry you."

Brooke's eyes started to water. She grabbed Lucas and kissed him.

After they finally broke apart, Brooke looked at Lucas with such longing.

"I'm so sorry." She whispered.

"For what?" Lucas was elated that Brooke kissed him.

"That's all I have to give." Brooke turned to leave. "You can let yourself out." She unlocked the door and started to go out.

"Brooke." Lucas called out.

Brooke turned and ran back to him give him one more kiss. Brooke broke away. She whispered in his ear, "It's too late."

She ran out of the room.

Jake and Brooke were eating dinner at the kitchen table. Jake was trying to feed Jenny. After managing to give his daughter one more bite of carrot puree, he turned back his attention to Brooke.

"Are you okay, Brooke? You haven't said a word." Jake sincerely asked.

Brooke just twirled her spaghetti.

"There's something I have to tell you."

Jake stopped mid bite and looked at her, dreading what she was about to say.

"I'm pregnant." Brooke managed.

Jake dropped his fork. It clanged against the plate. "What? Are you sure?" Jake said softly.

Brooke nodded. "I went to the doctor."

Jake was in shock. "How many months?"

"Two."

Everything started to really hit Jake. "It was from that night, wasn't it?" He recalled those memories of the night he first arrived.

Brooke nodded. She started to cry.

Jake ran over and put his arm around her. She leaned her against him.

"I'm so scared." Brooke whispered.

Jake kissed the top of her head. "It's going to be just fine."

A/n: Please review. I know this really doesn't seem like a Brucas, but it is. I'm just putting in a lot of BrookeJake because there isn't any on fanfiction.