Chapter 22

The Party

Nathan and Haley's Beach House

Lucas and Brooke pulled up to the beach house and saw that it was already pretty wild. Lucas pulled Brooke to him and they walked into the house and saw Haley and Nathan sitting on the couch talking.

"Hey Nate, Tutor Girl, what's going on? This seems like one hell of a party."

"I know, I think that everyone in Tree Hill is here tonight."said Haley."What took you guys so long to get here?"

"It was Brooke. She couldn't decide what to wear."said Lucas shaking his head.

"Well, I went shopping in Charleston and bought the most amazing clothes there. I just couldn't choose. I might have to shop there more often."

"So that's new?"asked Haley. Brooke nodded."You look great."

Brooke was wearing a black bustier with red rhinestones going down each side of it, with a long red and black scarf. She had on a pair of tight black pants."Thanks Tutor Girl, now all we have to do is get you into something like this."

"There's no way I could pull something like that off."

"Of course you could, you have a great body, besides this is just a simple shirt and pants. You would definitely look hot in this."

"Brooke can you even breath? That looks awfully tight."said Haley.

"It is tight, but just the way I like it."

"Okay is it wrong that that conversation totally turned me on."asked Nathan.

Lucas just laughed and shook his head.

"Your such a guy Nate."said Brooke hitting him on the arm.

"Can you blame me? Your over here talking about my wife's great body."

"That wasn't even the point of the conversation, but of course that's all you heard."said Brooke."Oh, by the way great game. You totally nailed them."

"Thanks B, but tell me something I don't already know."said Nathan laughing.

"Well I could tell you your a cocky bastard, but then again I'm sure you already know that too."

"He does, I tell him that all the time."said Haley.

"Why do we put up with him?"asked Brooke.

"I don't know, but when you figure it out let me know."

"Will do.So where's Alison? She did come with you right?"

"Yeah, she came with us. She's somewhere around here with Peyton."

"So she's hanging with Peyton now."said Brooke with a laugh."Great that's all we need, another Peyton wannabe. As if we don't have enough problems already."

"Brooke stop it. She's just hanging out with her. It doesn't mean she wants to be like her."said Haley.

"Whatever you say."said Brooke grabbing Lucas by the hand and walking away."We'll be back."she yelled.

"Where are you taking me?"asked Lucas.

"Just to the kitchen. I'm thirsty."Brooke found a bottle of alcohol and started pouring it into her glass."Do you want anything?"

"Sure I'll take a beer."

"Well start pouring, the kegs over there."

"Thanks Brooke."

"What? I would have gotten it for you, but I don't know how to work those things."

"Brooke, you don't know how to work a keg? Sure like I believe that."

"Fine, I know how, I just didn't feel like walking all the way over there. I'm feeling kinda lazy."

"Now that I believe."said Lucas laughing.

"You better take that back."said Brooke hitting Lucas in the chest.

"I didn't say anything, you did. I just agreed."

"Well don't."

"Okay Brooke, I will never agree with anything you say again. Is that what you want to hear?"

"Oh be quiet Lucas and kiss me."said Brooke wrapping her arms around his neck. She leaned in and kissed him. They stood there kissing until they heard Haley and Nathan come in.

"Break it up you two. We've been waiting for you in the other room and this is what you've been doing."

"Sorry Tutor Girl, he's just so cute and I couldn't help myself."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. We weren't really waiting for you, we just couldn't stay over there any longer."said Haley.

"Why what happened?"asked Brooke.

"Well Nathan and I were sitting there talking and then out of no where someones leg is wrapped around me. I looked over and saw two people going at it. I mean they are practically having sex in our living room."

"Are you serious? Who is it?"

"I don't know. I couldn't see their faces. They were a little busy Brooke."

"I have got to see this."said Brooke laughing."I'll be right back Broody."Brooke left taking her drink and Haley with her.

Nathan poured himself a beer."So Brooke seems really happy. I like seeing her this way, even if it is with you. It's been a long time since she's been this happy."

"Well I'm glad she's happy, so am I."

"Good. You better not hurt her. Not again because if you do I just might have to kick your ass bro."

"Look man, I don't intend to hurt her okay. So you can stop worrying about that, but you know the same thing goes for Haley. I know your married, but you still better not hurt her because if you do I just might have to kick Your ass."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. You looking after your best friend and me looking after mine. I guess Brooke's right, we are a lot alike."

"I guess so."

Brooke and Haley both walked back in laughing, but stopped when they felt the seriousness of the room."What's going on in here?"asked Brooke.

"Nothing, I just told him you look happy and he better not hurt you."said Nathan to Brooke.

"And I told him the same thing about Haley."said Lucas.

"Well aren't you two cute and I am happy Nate."said Brooke pouring herself another drink.

"Did you already finish your other drink?"asked Lucas rubbing Brooke's bare shoulders.

"Yes, that's why I'm pouring myself another one."

"Smart ass."

"I know, but you love me anyways."

"You know I do. So who was it making out?"asked Lucas now holding Brooke around the waist from behind.

"Oh yeah, it was Theresa making out with Bevin's boyfriend. She is so gonna kick her ass tomorrow when I tell her."said Brooke laughing.

"Brooke that's not a good thing and you seem happy about it."said Lucas.

"Well kissing your friends boyfriend isn't a good thing either, but she's still doing it right?"

Peyton and Alison walked into the kitchen.

"Hey everybody."said Alison looking only at Lucas."You two finally decided to show up?"

"We've actually been here for a while."said Brooke looking at Peyton.

Peyton saw Brooke looking at her and felt awkward."Hey you guys what's up?"asked Peyton looking from Brooke to Lucas.

Nathan and Haley said hi, but Brooke and Lucas didn't say anything. Peyton noticed and rushed out of the room.

Lucas began to feel bad about what just happened."I'll be right back Brooke."said Lucas taking his arms off of Brooke's waist and started to walk away.

Brooke grabbed his arm."Where are you going?"

"I'll be back, I'm just going to go find Peyton and make sure she's okay."

"Lucas no. She's fine and even if she's not she brought this on herself."

"I know that Brooke, but I'm not going to stay mad at her forever, besides what she did didn't hurt me in any way. I still have you right now."said Lucas kissing Brooke on the cheek.

"Fine, go find her if you want, but don't expect me to feel the same way. You know I'm not that forgiving."

"I know. I'll be right back."

Brooke watched him leave and chugged her drink. She poured herself another and took a drink.

"Are you alright Brooke?"asked Haley.

"I'm fine."said Brooke taking another drink.

"I meant with Lucas and Peyton being friends."

"I'm fine with it as long as that's all they are."said Brooke taking a long drink.

"What are you drinking Brooke?"

"Vodka."

"Well then you should probably stop or at least slow down. You'll be drunk soon."said Haley.

"Not soon enough for me."said Brooke finishing off her drink and pouring herself yet another.

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Lucas knew he'd find her outside by the water."Are you okay?"he asked when he saw she was crying.

Peyton quickly wiped away her tears."I'm fine Lucas, you don't have to babysit me. You can go back inside, I know that's where you'd rather be."

"I'll go back inside when I know your okay."

"I'm fine."said Peyton a little louder then she had intended.

"If your fine, then why are you crying out here by yourself?"

"It's just that I miss Brooke so much. I hate it when she's mad at me."

"Brooke misses you too. She won't admit it to anyone right now, but I know she does. I can tell. She's just mad at you right now and I can understand why."

"I know and I can too. I messed up again, but it doesn't change the fact that it hurts so much."said Peyton as she started to cry again.

Lucas pulled Peyton into a hug."I know it doesn't."

"Why aren't you still mad at me?"

"Well I don't hold grudges and not that I like what you did, but I can tell your sorry."

"I am, honestly. I won't ever do anything like that again."

"I know that, now why don't you come back with me to the party. You have a room full of friends waiting."

Peyton wiped her tears away and fixed herself up before she walked back with Lucas.

Brooke saw them coming and talking to each other looking pretty friendly, she quickly finished what was in her glass and started to pour herself another drink when Nathan stopped her. Brooke looked up at him."What the hell are you doing Nate?"

Lucas heard what Brooke said and went over to them."What's going on?"he asked Nathan.

"Dude, she's drinking straight Vodka and I think she's had enough."

Lucas looked down at Brooke and saw that Nathan was right."He's right Brooke, no more."

Brooke glared at him."Fine."she said before she walked away.

"I'll go make sure she's okay."said Haley.

Haley found her in one of the restrooms fixing her makeup."What's wrong Brooke?"

"Nothing."

"Come on you can tell me. It's been a while since I've seen you drink like this. I can tell there's something wrong."

"It's nothing really. I just hate myself for being so jealous of them. I don't want to be a jealous girlfriend, but every time I see them together I can't stop picturing them in her room kissing. I don't know maybe it's the alcohol talking, but I think we might have rushed into getting back together."

"Well Brooke you have every right to be jealous and upset when you see them together. They did mess around behind your back."

"I know that."

"But do you think that he would hurt you like that again?"

"No."

"I don't think so either. He seems really into you and he's even telling you he loves you. He never said that before. I think it took him losing you to realize it. Now stop moping around this restroom and go back to the party and your boyfriend who is worried about you."

"Your right. Thanks for helping me see that.You go ahead and go back and I'll be there in a minute. I need to fix my make up. There's no way I'm going out there looking like this."

"Okay, but hurry."

"Don't I always?"

Haley went back to the kitchen."She's fine. She's just fixing her make up, she'll be down in a minute."

Brooke walked back to the kitchen and went to stand next to Lucas. He pulled her to him."Where'd you go?"he whispered to her.

"The restroom."

"Oh, I thought you were mad at me or something."

"Nope, I'm not mad, just don't try to stop me from drinking next time okay?"

"I thought you had enough."

"Lucas look at me. Do I look drunk?"

"No."

"Okay, then don't worry. Now everyone here looks so serious, how about we play a friendly game of 'I Never'. I'm gonna go get some more players. Is everyone in?"

Everyone said yes. Brooke went and got the rest of the players and returned with Tim, Theresa, Bevin, and Bevin's boyfriend Vegas. Everyone sat around the table."Okay I'll start off with something simple, I never... slept with Nathan."

Peyton, Haley and surprisingly Theresa all took a shot.

"When did you sleep with Nathan?"asked Peyton.

Theresa looked down."It was a long time ago and I was drunk. I'm not very proud of it."

"Hey!"said Nathan."My turn. I never....man I don't know what to say."

"It's not that hard Nate, just say something you've never done before."

"Thanks for the help Brooke. You know, I would have never guessed to do that by the name of the game."

"Quit being an ass and hurry up."said Brooke.

"Fine, I never kissed another guy before."

"So I guess you drink if you kissed a person of the same sex?"asked Haley.

"Look at Haley asking like she needed that cleared up so that she would know if she needed to take a shot."said Peyton laughing.

"I know."said Brooke also laughing.

"Leave her alone."said Nathan."And to answer the question yes."

Brooke Peyton and Tim took a shot. Everyone looked at Tim.

"What? It was only because of one of Brooke's stupid Truth or Dare games."

Brooke laughed remembering when it happened.

"What about you Peyton?"asked Haley.

"Well it was with Brooke. When we were younger she kinda taught me how to kiss."

"Whoa, I wish I could have seen that."said Nathan.

"You and me both."said Lucas.

Brooke elbowed him in the stomach."It's your turn Peyton."

"I got one. I never made out with someone twice my age."

Nobody took a shot.

"Come on Brooke, your the one who wanted to play this game, now be honest."said Peyton.

"Fine."said Brooke taking a shot."I didn't do it because I wanted to. I did it because it was your birthday and it was the only way to get you backstage to meet that stupid band you liked so much."

"Was he at least cute?"asked Theresa.

"Not even a little bit."said Peyton laughing.

"Shut up Peyton."said Brooke laughing."That just goes to show how much I love you."

Alison saw how Brooke and Peyton were getting along and wanted it to stop.

"So who's turn is it now?"asked Haley.

"You go."said Brooke.

"No just skip me. I'd be too boring."

"Fine party pooper. Why don't you go Alison?"

"Okay, I never... lied to my best friend."

Everyone got quiet and no one drank.

"What are you waiting for Peyton? Drink. We all know about what you did to Brooke."said Theresa.

Peyton just glared at her.

"She's right, but you might as well take two shots since I now know about this other lie you let me believe."said Brooke angry at her again.

Peyton took a shot and then Lucas took one.

"Wait, what did you lie to me about?"asked Haley curiously.

"I'll tell you later."said Lucas.

"There's no secrets here Broody. You have to tell everyone, just like we have."

"It's personal."

"So was me making out with that old guy, but I still told everyone. So you have to tell everyone too."

"It's okay Lucas, you can say it. I don't mind."said Haley.

Lucas looked at Brooke knowing she didn't know what he was about to say."Well I lied to you when I told you I wasn't seeing Peyton when I was with Brooke, but then you told me you saw us remember?"

"Yeah."said Haley quietly.

"What! You knew that he was with her and you didn't say anything to me? How could you do that to me Haley?"

"I'm sorry Brooke, but we weren't that close then and I...."

"How long did you know?"

"About a week."

"Oh my god. This is great. At least now I know who my friends are. What about you Nate? Did you know too?"

"No, I didn't even know that Haley knew."

"Well this game really is educational isn't it? You learn something new every time you play. I'm out of here."said Brooke getting up.

"Brooke..."Lucas started.

"I want to be by myself Lucas."said Brooke.

"Well you can't. I drove you here remember? Let me at least drive you home."

"No, I'll walk."Brooke left the beach house.

"I'm gonna go make sure she's alright."said Lucas.

"No, I'll go."said Nathan."It looks like right now I'm the only person she's not mad at."Nathan left the room to find Brooke.

Alison couldn't help but smile, this worked out better than she had expected. Not only did she stop Brooke and Peyton from making up, she now had Brooke and Haley fighting.

"What were you thinking saying that?"asked Haley to Alison.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean anything by it. I honestly forgot about everything that happened with them and I didn't know you'd be brought into it. I just said something that applied to me. I didn't mean to start anything I swear."

"It's okay. We all know you didn't do it on purpose."said Lucas putting a reassuring hand on Alison's back.

"It might not have been on purpose, but you still might have ruined my friendship with Brooke."yelled Haley.

"I don't want to be rude or anything, but if you wouldn't have kept that secret from her this wouldn't have happened. I didn't have anything to do with Brooke being mad at you."

Haley walked away knowing she was right.

Peyton couldn't believe this girl. She had just brought up something that had hurt Brooke and caused her to leave and she still had Lucas on her side. She knew something was up with Alison and she knew she had to stay close to her if she was going to figure it out."Lucas is right. We know you wouldn't do anything like this on purpose. Haley's just mad because she knows what you said was the truth."

"Thanks Peyton. I'm glad your not mad. I really thought you'd be furious at me."

"Well you don't have to worry, I'm not."

"This party is pretty much over now, do you think you could take me home Lucas?"

"Yeah, sure go get your things."said Lucas.

Alison went to go get her jacket and purse from the other room. She was happy Lucas was taking her home. Now they would have some alone time just like when they were in Charleston.

Peyton didn't know why, but she felt like she should keep Alison as far away from Lucas as possible."I'll take her home Lucas. I know Brooke said she wanted to be alone, but I know her and that isn't what she really wants. I think you should try to talk to her and Haley too. I'm going home right now anyways."

"Okay that sounds good. I do need to make sure Haley is okay."

Alison got back."Are you ready Lucas?"

"Actually I'm gonna take you home, Lucas has a girlfriend he needs to talk to."said Peyton with a smile.

"Oh, okay."said Alison obviously disappointed."I guess I'll see you later then."

"Yeah, bye you guys. Oh and thanks Peyton."said Lucas.

"No problem, I have a lot of making up to do. I'll see you."

Everyone left and Lucas went in search of Haley."Hey there you are. Are you okay?"

"No, I should have told Brooke that I knew about that, maybe not at first because that was your responsibility, but when we started to get close I should have told her. What a great friend I am huh?"

"You are a great friend Haley and Brooke knows that. She's just mad right now. She'll get over it."

"What if she doesn't Lucas. This isn't something minor, I didn't tell her her boyfriend was cheating on her. She has every right to hate me."

"She doesn't hate you. Everything will work it's self out, I know it will."

"You don't seem too worried about this."

"I'm not. I know Brooke and she'll realize that she over reacted."

"I hope so."

"She will,now why don't you let me take you home since Nathan is with Brooke."

"Okay, lets go."

Lucas wrapped a protective arm around her and led her out to his truck.

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Thanks for all the reviews. I really appreciate it. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was very hard for me to write the interaction between Lucas and Peyton because I can't stand those two when they are together, but I did it even though it was pretty short.Please read and review. Let me know what you think.

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Coming Up:

Brathan spend time together.

Laley talk about their friendship.

Alison misinterprets something.