A/N: I know that in the show basketball season is over, but in this story it's not. I hope your not too upset that I've changed a few things.
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Chapter 18
Charleston
Brooke's House
Brooke, Lucas and Nathan are all sitting in the living room laughing at something on t.v. when Haley walked in."Well this looks nice, one big happy family staying at home for a quiet evening."
"Hey, there you are Tutor Girl, we were beginning to think you weren't coming back."
"I wasn't gone that long Brooke."
"Yes you were. We were gonna wait for you to come back so we could all go get something to eat, but we just couldn't, well I couldn't. I was starving,sorry. There's still a little pizza left if your hungry. It might be cold though."
"That's okay, I'm not hungry. What were you guys up to?"
"Nothing just sitting her watching t.v and seeing Lucas tease Nathan for wanting us to change it back to soapnet. Supposedly there was a commercial on that shows what's gonna happen all week and he wanted to see it. Did you know he watched soap operas?"
"Yep, All My Children and General Hospital every night at 7 and 9 pm. They're actually pretty good, he got me into them. I was always into Guiding Light myself until they did a recast of my favorite character Michelle Santos."
"Would you listen to that. You two are perfect for each other."said Brooke laughing.
"Will you two stop talking about me like I'm not in the room?"asked Nathan.
"Sorry sweetie."
"Yeah, you better be."said Nathan pulling Haley onto his lap.
"So anyways, not that I care or anything, but how did it go at Peyton's?"
"Come on Brooke you know I'm not gonna tell you what we talked about. It's between me and her, but I will tell you this, she in no way wants Lucas back. She only said she did to piss you off."
"Well it worked. I don't believe her though, I think she does want him back."
"Why would she lie to me Brooke?"
"I don't know. Why would she keep Lucas' letter from me? She does what she does because she feels like it. She always has."
"Well as interesting as this conversation sounds right now, I should really get home."
"No, Broody don't leave yet. We haven't spent any time alone."
"I know, but I'm leaving early in the morning."
"Where are you going?"asked Haley.
"To Charleston to get my stuff, but I'll be back in a couple of days."said Lucas as Brooke wrapped her arms around his waist.
"I don't want you to go."said Brooke.
"I know, but the sooner I leave, the sooner I get back. So I'm gonna go home and get some sleep. I'll come by tomorrow morning before I leave. What time will you be up?''
"That doesn't matter, come whenever you want, just wake me up when you get here."
"Okay, but it's gonna be early."
"That's fine, whatever, just as long as I see you before you go."
"Well I guess we'll be leaving too."said Haley.
"You too?"asked Brooke.
"Yeah we need some alone time too."
"Fine, everyone just desert me, I'll be fine alone."
"We know you will."said Lucas as he kissed her."Bye. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Us too."
"Bye."Brooke went upstairs to get ready for bed. She knew it was early, but she wanted to be ready for Lucas when he got there in the morning.
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Nathan and Haley's Apartment
Nathan and Haley got home and Haley threw herself on the couch with a sigh.
"Babe are you okay? You didn't say a word the whole ride home."
"I'm fine, I was just thinking that's all."
"What were you thinking about?"
"Peyton."
"Peyton?"
"Yeah, I'm worried about her."
"Why? Like Brooke said she did this to herself."
"Nathan she didn't want for all this to happen. She made a mistake. You know what those are right?"asked Haley looking at Nathan."She's afraid this stupid mistake is gonna cost her all her friends, seeing how she already lost Brooke."
"Good, she deserved to lose her. What she did to her was wrong."
"I feel the same way. I know it was wrong, but she hasn't done anything directly to us so I told her I wasn't sure about Lucas, but she would still have us."
"No! That's out of the question Haley."
"Why? This is between Brooke and Peyton, not us."
"Well Peyton put us into it when she tried to make you think Brooke and I were messing around behind your back."
"Nathan, you know she didn't mean it when she said that. I know that for a fact, besides I wouldn't have believed her even if she was serious."
"Good because we wouldn't do that to you. We're not into each other like that and we never have been."
"I know that Nathan. You don't have to try and convince me. I just don't want you to make me a liar. I already told Peyton she wouldn't lose us. I really want to keep my word. We all make mistakes."
"Fine, your right about the mistakes part. This is between Brooke and Peyton and it should stay that way, but if she tries to put more ideas in your head all bets are off."
"Agreed."
"Okay well now how about we get started on that alone time in the bedroom."Nathan picked up Haley and carried her into their bedroom and shut the door.
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Brooke's House
Lucas got up early in the morning beating even the sunrise and headed to Brooke's after saying bye to his mother. He was surprised to see a light on in her room. He knocked on the door and she answered quickly, pulling him into her room and kissed him hard. When they finally pulled apart Lucas was the first one to speak."Good morning to you too. You know I could really get used to a welcome like that."
"I'm just gonna miss you. Do you really have to go?"
"Well Brooke I didn't really bring much clothes back with me and all my stuff is there so I definitely have to go."
"We could buy you all knew stuff."
"Brooke I don't have the money for that."
"I know, but I do. Come on we could have fun shopping for stuff and I'm sure Daddy won't mind. He doesn't even look at the bills anymore he just pays them."
"I'm not gonna let you do that. Are you crazy?"
"Only about you. I just really don't want you to leave."
"I don't want to leave you either, but I'm only gonna be gone a couple of days and I'll call you everyday I'm gone."
"You promise?"
"I promise."
"Okay I guess you can leave."
"Good, now walk me out to my new car."
"New car? You went and got the car Dan left you? That's great."
"Well technically it's a truck."
"Whatever, lets go see it."said Brooke hurrying outside."Wow it's gorgeous, I can't wait until I get to drive it."
"Wait a second, your not driving my truck. Have you seen the way you drive Brooke?"
"Well that's kinda impossible isn't it and I drive perfectly well Lucas."
"Sure you do. You know your the worst driver there is Brooke. I mean how many tickets do you have?"
"How do you know how many tickets I have. You haven't even been around."
"Well Brooke we used to go out and I know how many tickets you used to get and I doubt that's changed."
"It hasn't, but that's not the point, the point is that I'm your girl friend, who will never let you touch her again and vise versa if you don't let me drive this car."
"Truck."
"Whatever. Do you understand Broody?"
"Yes, very hot, sexy girl friend you can drive my truck as soon as I get back as long as we get to do some of that touching you were talking about."
"Okay sounds like a plan."
"I love making deals with you."
"I know you do."said Brooke leaning in for a kiss.
When they broke apart Lucas had to go."I should get going and you need to finish getting ready for school."
"I know, I'm gonna miss you."
"Me too. I love you Brooke."
Brooke just about melted, she still hadn't gotten used to hearing him say that yet. She had always wanted him to say it and now that it was actually happening she couldn't be more happy."I love you too Broody. Bye."
With that Lucas jumped into his new truck and drove away.
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Tree Hill High
Brooke actually got to school early. After Lucas left, Brooke finished getting ready rather quickly, so she decided to do something she had never done before, go to school early. Brooke pulled up to her usual parking spot and was surprised that so many people got to school this early. She thought that they had to be insane. Brooke stayed in her car for a while making sure her make up was perfect. Once she was satisfied she got out and headed to the school. She immediately regretted going in when she ran into Peyton."Watch where your going. Your not the only one walking in these halls you know."
"Well I wasn't expecting you to be turning this corner seeing how first period isn't almost over."
"Well Lucas woke me up early this morning so I decided what the hell, might as well come early."
"Well good for you, where's your wonderful boyfriend now? From what you were saying last night, I thought you two were inseparable"
"He went to Charleston to get his things, not that it's any of your business."
"Look Brooke I don't want to fight with you okay? I'm sorry. I know I was out of line yesterday and I shouldn't have said the things I did, but you made me mad. You kept calling me names and I just wanted to hurt you too, so I said that Lucas would cheat on you again. I want you to know that I don't want him back. I never did, so you don't have to worry about me trying to steal him from you."
"I was never worried about that because even if you did he wouldn't go for it. He doesn't want you and as for your little apology you can just save it. I don't want to hear it. You can be as sorry as you want, but it doesn't change a thing you did or said. Oh and I called you a bitch and a slut because that's what you are, now get the hell out of my way."
"You know I tried to apologize to you again and look at you. You don't have to be so insensitive. Maybe I should stop apologizing because you don't deserve it. There's only so much I can do and trust me if we were to ask everyone here who was more of a bitch and a slut, I'm sure you'd be the one to win because everyone who knows you already thinks your a slut."
Brooke started to take a step toward Peyton, but was stopped by Nathan."Hey B. what are you doing here this early?"
Turning from her glare at Peyton she turned to Nathan."Well I was up early with Lucas remember, so I decided to come to school when he left, though I wish I hadn't."said Brooke again looking at Peyton."I need to go to my locker and then get to class, got to shock the teacher as well. I'll see you guys later."with that Brooke walked away.
Haley turned to Peyton."What the hell was that about? I thought you were sorry for everything?"
"I am sorry. I accidentally bumped into Brooke and I tried to apologize to her again, but she practically laughed in my face and some how it ended up in name calling."
"Yeah, we heard that part. Maybe you should try staying away from her for a while."
"Haley's right Peyt. Brooke needs some time to sort all this out."said Nathan patting Peyton on the shoulder.
"Thanks you guys. I'm glad I didn't lose you guys too."
"I told you you wouldn't. Now we're gonna go to our lockers so we'll talk to you later okay?"
"Okay, bye Haley and you too Nathan."
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Brooke turned the corner near her locker when she saw Karen."Hey Ms. Roe, good morning."
"You too. So Lucas tell me you two are back together. You must be happy about that."
"Yes, I am. I can't stop myself from smiling."
"I can see that."said Karen also smiling."You kids need a little happiness in your lives. Especially you Brooke, you've been through so much. How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine Ms. Roe and I'm even better now that Lucas is back and staying."
"I know, he says we have you to thank for his moving back. So thank you for that Brooke."
"You don't have to thank me. I didn't do anything. It was Lucas' idea Ms. Roe."
"Brooke you can call me Karen."
"Okay Karen."
"Well for whatever reason, I'm glad to have him back."
"Yeah, I know, but if you don't mind me asking, what are you doing here?"
"It must seem strange seeing me here. Hell it feels strange walking down these halls again, but I'm here to enroll Lucas."
"Oh, that's right, he needs to do that to be able to come back."
"Yeah and then I'm going to have to drive down to Charleston to withdrawal him from that school. How exciting is that gonna be, having to drive all the way down there alone. I'm gonna be bored out of my mind....unless....You wouldn't want to come with me would you?"
"What?"
"Yeah we could go and see how the bachelors lived and you would save me from a boring ride alone. I know you have school and all, but you'd only miss two days and we could get you your work."
"When are you leaving?"
"I told Lucas he'd have to wait until Thursday for me to withdrawal him. I can't leave the café until then, we're having some work done. I'm leaving Wednesday afternoon and we'll probably drive back Friday night or Saturday morning depending on how we feel."
"I'd love to go to Charleston with you Ms. R... I mean Karen. Are you sure you want me tagging along?"
"Of course, otherwise I wouldn't have asked besides I'd like to get to know you better seeing how your very important to my son."
"Me too."
"So you'll come?"
"Yes, I'd love to."
"Okay, so I'll come by and pick you up after school Wednesday and then we'll leave. Now I just have to ask Deb if she can take care of the café for me while I'm gone."
"Wait, your still talking to her?"
"Why? Is there a reason I shouldn't be?"
"Oh my god, Lucas didn't tell you."
"Tell me what Brooke?"
"Nothing, it's nothing. I shouldn't have opened my big mouth."
"Brooke, tell me what's going on."
Brooke knew that she shouldn't say anything to Karen knowing there had to be a reason Lucas didn't tell her. She didn't want to say anything, but she also didn't want Karen to be upset with her and the tone in Karen's voice told Brooke that she wouldn't be dropping the subject anytime soon. Brooke knew that she had to tell Karen something, now she had to figure out which thing to tell her. The one about Keith sleeping with Deb or the one that Deb was being a bitch to Lucas."Well Karen yesterday when Lucas and I went to the will reading after Mr. Cooper read to everyone what Dan left Lucas, Deb got pretty upset and started screaming about how Lucas didn't deserve anything. She said she was going to contest the will so that the car dealership would stay in the family and Lucas wasn't part of the family."
"She actually said that? That little bitch, pardon my language."Brooke shook her head."Lucas must have felt terrible. I hope the next thing you tell me is that Keith stuck up for him."
"Well I'm sure he would have, but Nathan beat him to it."
"Nathan?"
"Yeah, Nathan was wonderful. You should have seen him. He stood up to Deb and told her she was the one who didn't deserve anything and that Lucas is family, he's his brother."
"Good for Nathan. I'm glad he was there for his brother. I actually left Deb in charge of the café now so I guess I should go and give that good for nothing blonde....I don't even know what she is a piece of my mind. Lucas' enrollment will have to wait until tomorrow. Thanks for telling me this Brooke and I'll call you sometime before we leave. Bye sweetie."
"Bye Karen."
Karen left and Brooke turned to walk toward her locker when she again bumped into someone she'd never seen before.
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Thanks for all the reviews. Read and Review.
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Coming Up:
Who did Brooke bump into?
Brooke needs to talk to Peyton.
Brooke and Karen have another conversation.