Chapter 21

New Friend, Old Friend

Brooke's House

Brooke and Lucas threw themselves down on the couch tired. It took them longer to get back to Tree Hill then they had expected. Brooke made them stop to get something to eat because she was of course hungry. When they finally got to Tree Hill they had to unload all of Lucas' things.

"Uh, Broody you wore me out and not so much in a good way. I think I'm allergic to working."

"Working? Brooke what are you talking about? You hardly helped me at all. I don't know why your acting all tired."

"Hey I helped with the little boxes. I also helped by pushing the boxes from the back of the truck to the front so it would be easier for you."

"Yes and we all know how hard that was."said Lucas sarcastically.

"Those boxes were heavy."

"You are so weak Brooke."

"I know that. So what do you want to do tonight?"

"I don't know, it's Friday we could just go to the game."

"I can't go to the game as a spectator. Are you crazy? I can't go as a cheerleader either?"

"Why not? Your the captain."

"You have to go to the practice before the game or no game and practice is already over. Everyone is probably getting ready by now."

"Well then why can't we just go to the game and watch?"

"Lucas, hello, I'm the captain. How is it gonna look if I'm out in the stands watching the game and not cheering with my squad?"

"Brooke your taking this cheerleading thing way too seriously."

"This cheerleading thing? Is that what you called it? It is more than just a thing to me Lucas. I take cheerleading just as serious as you take basketball. Do you think you taking basketball seriously is ridiculous?"

"Point taken Brooke. I'm sorry I called it a thing. I know how important it is to you, but I still think we should go, that way we can go to the party afterward and know who won."

"Do we ever lose Lucas?"

"Not normally, but then again they don't have me playing tonight so you never know."

"Your not too full of yourself huh?"

"Well you have to be when your Lucas Scott."

Brooke couldn't help but laugh."No you did not just say that. You do know they still have Nathan right? We all know that he's the one that wins the games for us, seeing how he is the best player on the team."

"Oh yeah is that what you think?''said Lucas picking her up and tossing her over his shoulder.

"Lucas, come on put me down. This isn't funny. Your gonna end up dropping me. Where are you taking me?"

"Upstairs to get dressed, we're going to the game."

"Fine, but only because I want to make sure the squad is okay, not because you said so. Lord only knows what Peyton has done to them."

Lucas put Brooke down when they reached her room."Brooke you were only gone for two practices. How much damage could she have caused in that short amount of time?"

"I don't know, but we'll see won't we."

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Peyton's House

Hey Alison, what are you doing here?"

"Nothing, I just thought I'd catch you before you left for the game. I still can't believe your a cheerleader. Your like the least cheery person I know."

Peyton laughed."Well your not the first person to say that to me, Lucas said that same exact thing not too long ago."

"Really?"

"Yeah, but when Brooke and I were younger we always said we'd be cheerleaders together. We were cheerleaders our eighth grade year and all of high school. It started off as something I was pushed into by Brooke, but now I do it because it's fun."

"Now Brooke I can definitely see as a cheerleader."

"You and everybody else. I think that's why they made her captain. She's a natural."

"Wow she's the captain? That's pretty big. Is she gonna be there tonight? I mean she kinda has to right?"

"No, she doesn't have to as long as she finds someone to take over while she's gone. She can't miss two games in a row though. She's still in Charleston with Lucas so I doubt she'll be there. I told her I'd make sure everything went okay tonight."

"Hey Peyton, Alison, what's going on?"asked Haley.

"Nothing I'm just getting ready for the game and Alison is here keeping me company."

"I didn't know you two had gotten this close."

"We've just been hanging out these past two days and Peyton is a great friend."

"Thanks, so are you."said Peyton looking at Alison.

"Oh, so are you going to the game?"

"Who me? No, I don't think so."said Alison.

"You should come, you could see how cheery I can be."said Peyton laughing.

"Yeah, and I can have someone to sit with for a change. Brooke and Peyton sit with the cheerleaders and Nathan and Lucas are in the game so that just leaves me. So will you come?''asked Haley.

"Well since you put it that way, how can I let down a friend."

"Great and Nathan is having the after game party at the beach house so you can go to that with us too."said Haley.

"Sure why not. Is there only going to be a game if they win?"

"No, we have the parties even if we lose, but we're playing Pinkrington tonight and that's a definite win for us."said Peyton.

"Oh."

"Well I should get going."said Haley. I just came to wish you luck Peyton. I know this is your first game without Brooke."

"It's not a big deal Haley. I'm just gonna do what I always do, cheer."

''I know I'm just being silly. Do you need a ride Alison? I'm heading to the game right now."

"Yeah, sure. I walked here so I could use a ride. Are you coming Peyton?"

"No, I'll be there in a while."

"Okay see you later."said Alison.

"Bye Peyt."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Tree Hill High

Brooke and Lucas walked into the school hand in hand."Brooke go ahead and find us seats, I'll be right back."

"Wait a second."said Brooke pulling Lucas back."You drag me here and now your gonna leave me. Where do you think your going?"

"I'm gonna go say hi to Nathan and then talk to Whitey about putting me back on the team."

"Fine, but hurry up. I'm gonna see if Tutor girl is here yet."

"Okay I'll be right back."

"You better."

Brooke walked into the gym and was happy to see Haley and Alison both there already."Hey you guys."

"Brooke what are you doing here? I thought you guys were staying in Charleston until tomorrow?"

"We were, but we got everything done yesterday so we decided to drive back this morning. Lucas and I have actually been back since early this afternoon."

Alison's heart started to pound when she heard Lucas was here.

"Why didn't you guys call us and let us know?"

"Well Tutor Girl we would have, but we've been kind of busy."

"Gross, never mind. Forget I even asked."

"Get your mind out of the gutter, we were just unpacking Lucas' things."

"You helped him unpack?"asked Haley.

"No, lets just say I supervised."

"Now that sounds more like the Brooke Davis I know."

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. You will never believe what Karen asked me while we were driving to Charleston."

"What?"

"She wanted to know if Lucas and I were sleeping together."

Alison tuned in to the conversation when she heard what Brooke said."Wait a second, who's Karen?"

"She's Lucas' mom."said Haley

"You went to Charleston with your boyfriends mother?"

"Yeah, it's not a big deal though. We get along really well."

"Enough who's who questions."said Haley."What did you tell her Brooke?"

"What do you think I said? I told her no."

"So you lied to her?"

"Sort of."

"What do you mean sort of? You are sleeping with him I know that and you told her no, so where do you get sort of?"

"Fine, I lied to her, just don't tell her that."

"Yes Brooke like I'm really gonna tell Karen your sleeping with her son. Are you crazy?"

"I know that. Man you can't even imagine how uncomfortable I was."

"I bet it was bad. Poor Brookie had to have the sex talk with her boyfriends mother."

"Yeah and it didn't help that Lucas was all over me while we were down there. It was hard having to tell him no sex."

"Where is he by the way?"asked Haley.

"He's in the locker room talking to Nate and Whitey about getting back on the team."

"Lucas doesn't even have to ask. He knows they want him back."

Brooke saw that Alison was looking bored."Oh hey we're sorry Alison, we've probably been boring you to death talking about my boyfriend. Lets talk about something else."

"No its cool. It's actually pretty interesting. In fact I knew a Lucas that lived in Charleston."

"Really? Was his last name Scott?"

"Yeah, Lucas Scott, he has a shaved head, really cute, and piercing blue eyes."

"That's him. How do you know him?"asked Brooke now very curious.

"I went to school with him when we were down there."

"So you knew Mike and April and the other two. I forgot their names. Oh yeah, and Ben."

"Yeah, we were all friends. It was David and Tracey by the way."

"There you go. David and Tracey. Well I'm sure Lucas will be happy to see you. I can't believe all this time we've been talking about him and you knew exactly who we were talking about. That's crazy."said Brooke.

"I know it's weird."said Alison knowing she's known about Lucas and Brooke since Peyton told her.

"You know the game is gonna start soon, where the hell is Peyton? She should have been the first one here. If she messes this up I'm gonna kill her. I'll be back."said Brooke as she got up and headed to the gym floor."What the hell is going on here. All of you stop your flirting and get your asses back here and start stretching."

"Brooke, we didn't know you were gonna be here."said Theresa.

"Obviously, otherwise you wouldn't be slacking off. Now get to it if you don't want a seven a.m practice tomorrow. I need to go find your lousy captain for tonight. Now when I get back you guys better still be stretching or else."

Brooke found Peyton in the locker room."Hey you do remember your the captain for tonight right?"

"Hey Brooke what are you doing here?"

"Don't you hey Brooke me, get your ass out there. You should have had the girls stretching a half hour ago."

"I'm sorry I just assumed they knew what to do."

"Well don't ever assume anything. Hopefully you didn't mess up my squad too much these last two days."

"Chill out Brooke, they're all alive and here aren't they?"

"I don't know you tell me. Have you even been down to the gym yet?"

"I'm on my way down there now."

"I take that as a no. Unbelievable."

"Look Brooke why don't you take that stick out of you ass and let me do this. If you and Lucas are having problems already don't take it out on me."

"I know this isn't something you want to hear, but Lucas and I are not having problems. It's just the opposite, were better than ever. I just realized that I made a mistake in choosing who I left in charge."

"Whatever Brooke. I got to go."

"Yeah, you do that."

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Haley and Alison were talking.

"Did you see that? Brooke just went down there and yelled at them and they went straight to do what she said. They didn't even say anything bad to her. I wish I had that kind of power over people."said Alison.

"I don't think Brooke does that because she can or because she knows she has power over them. She does it because she wants them to do their best."said Haley.

"I know, but still they listen to her. That must feel great."

"Brooke doesn't seem to think so all the time. She is always telling me how stressful practice can be."

"There's Lucas and he's talking to Nathan."said Alison not wanting to talk about Brooke anymore.

"This is too weird that you know him."

"I know it is."said Alison. She couldn't help but stare at him. She couldn't wait to talk to him. She stood up as he walked toward them."Hey Lucas."

"What! Hey Alison. What are you doing here? You know Haley?"

Alison was about to answer Lucas when Brooke came back and sat next to her."Ohhh, I can't stand Peyton."said Brooke turning to face Alison."Have you met her yet?"

"Yeah, but I happen to think she's great."

"Sure she is at first, that is until you have something she wants, like a boyfriend then all bets are off."

"She told me about all that stuff that happened between you three."

"She did, did she?"asked Brooke.

"Wait a second, all of you know Alison?"asked Lucas.

"Oh that's right this is your first time seeing her here."said Brooke.

"Yeah, and I'm a little shocked that all of you know her."

"Well I've been here since Monday and Brooke was super nice and introduced me around."

"That doesn't sound like Brooke at all."said Lucas looking at Brooke.

"Is it that unbelievable that I could actually be nice to a stranger?"asked Brooke.

"Of course not. I was only kidding."said Lucas.

"You better be, now move out of my way Broody, I need to keep an eye on the squad."

Lucas sat down next to Brooke taking her hand in his, not noticing Alison staring at them. The game began with Nathan tipping in the ball giving it to the Ravens. Tim passed the ball to Nathan who made the first shot. The game went on with Nathan leading the score board and soon it was half time. Tree Hill was of course ahead with the score being 57-13.

"Well we have 15 minutes until the second half starts, what do you want to do Brooke?"asked Lucas.

"I'm not doing anything, but sitting right here. They are about to do the cheer Peyton was supposed to teach them and I want to watch and so do you now sit back down."

"Do I have to?"asked Lucas."

"If you love me you will."

"Fine, but if you love me later you will..."Lucas whispered the last part causing Brooke to smile and hit him on the shoulder."Ouch that hurt."

"I know it was meant to."said Brooke kissing Lucas.

Alison just stared at them with a disgusted look on her face.

The cheer started with Peyton leading. Brooke broke apart from Lucas and started to critique the cheer."Not bad, good, good, they need to watch those knees, we definitely need to work on our format, Theresa looks like she's about to fall. That was a wonderful landing Theresa."yelled Brooke to Theresa when the cheer was over. Brooke turned back to Haley."All in all not too bad, but we still need a lot of work if we're gonna win any contests."

"Are you gonna let Peyton know she did okay as their leader."asked Haley.

"No, in fact I'm gonna tell her the complete opposite. I'm gonna tell her she sucked as the leader."

"Come on Brooke that's mean."said Haley.

"I agree with Haley that is mean."said Alison.

"Yeah well, so was messing around behind my back with my boyfriend, besides I was only joking. I'm mean, but not that mean."

"Sure whatever you say Brooke."said Haley.

The rest of the game continued with Nathan dominating. The Ravens ended up wining 117-47.

"Okay games over, we won , like we didn't already know we were before it started and the cheerleaders didn't completely suck, so all in all good game, but now it's time for the party."said Brooke getting up and pulling Lucas to her and wrapping her arms around his waist."Are you going to come Alison?"

"I don't know I should just go home."

"Come on you could ride with me and Nathan."said Haley.

"I guess I'll go. It does sounds like fun."

"Great."said Haley.

"Do you guys know if Peyton will be there?"asked Alison.

Brooke made a face that only Haley saw."I hate to say it, but I'm sure she'll be there."

"Lets go find Nathan so we can leave."said Haley."We'll see you later Brooke."

"Yeah, I'm just gonna go home and change and then we'll be there."

Brooke and Lucas walked off holding hands with Alison glaring at them. Brooke and Lucas got into the truck and drove to Brooke's house.

"So you knew Alison from Charleston huh?"

"Yeah, we went to school together there. Why?"

"I don't know, I'm just curious that's all. So how close were you two?"

"Brooke we were just friends. I wasn't in Charleston long enough to make a girlfriend remember?"

"I know that. I was just asking."

"Why, are you jealous?"

Brooke started to laugh."I'm Brooke Davis remember? I'm not jealous of anyone. They're jealous of me."

Lucas couldn't help but laugh at how conceited his girlfriend just sounded. He continued to drive.

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Thanks for all the reviews. Please read and review.

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Coming Up:

The party.

An interesting revelation.

Someone storms out of the party.