"We need to talk," Ryan began, trying to get Marissa' attention. She was leaning over the balcony of their room, obviously looking for Lucas's car.

"No, we really don't," Marissa stated coldly without turning around.

"I want to apologize," Ryan went on anyway as he stood next to her, "I shouldn't have snapped at you last night."

"It doesn't matter," She shrugged, her eyes still glued to the street. "I get that you don't want me to be happy, and I guess I just don't give a damn."

"C'mon Marissa, you know I care about you," He sighed, unsure of what to say, "I'm sorry, and I wish I could take those things back, but I can't. Just don't blow this out of proportion."

"Fine, you want me to forgive you?" Marissa huffed, "Ryan Atwood, I, Marissa Cooper, forgive you for being an ass. There, happy?"

"Please don't be this way," Ryan pleaded, "I know you're mad, but why don't you come with us tonight? We're going to go out for dinner as a group, maybe catch a movie. It should be fun." Just then Lucas pulled up into the hotel parking lot, honking the horn a couple times.

"I'm going to have to pass, I'm going out with Lucas," Marissa replied, running to get her shoes. "But I hope you guys have a wonderful time."

"Marissa, wait," Ryan called, following her out the door of the hotel room.

"Bye Ryan!" She waved behind her without looking back.


"It'll be fine, we'll still have fun just the five of us," Lindsay assured her boyfriend, whom she was sprawled out next to on one of the beds. She was working on a crossword puzzle while he told her about his conversation with Marissa. "Give me a five letter word for worry."

"Brood?" Ryan suggested, rolling over on his back, "I don't know, I say we just leave her here and drive back home."

"Ryan!" Lindsay scolded, hitting him softly on the side of the head, "Real nice friend you are. Anyways, I better call and change our reservation."

"Good, make sure you get a table for four," Seth told her as her entered the room. Since they had gotten a suite, it had a separate living room and bedroom.

"Wait, why?" Ryan asked, glancing at his best friend, "And by the way, where were you last night?"

"Brooke's," Seth replied, a grin forming on her face, "Which is why I can't come tonight. I made plans with her."

"Brooke? Excuse my French, but isn't she a bitch?" Lindsay inquired, in a very un- Lindsay-esque way.

"No way," Seth shook his head, "She's so different when you're not destroying her car. Seriously guys, she's actually sweet."

"Whose sweet?" Summer butted in as she and Zach entered the room with a few shopping bags. Summer had obviously made her way to the Tree Hill mall.

"Brooke," Ryan answered, "According to Seth at least."

"Cohen, are you running a fever?" Summer raised an eyebrow as she walked over and pressed her hand against his forehead, "You are a little warm."

"Wow, Summer, you are so funny," Seth rolled his eyes, "I think you're just threatened, after being "The Bitch" of the group for so long."

"Your asking for it boy who talks to horse," Summer narrowed her eyes and shook her fist at him.

"Alright, break it up," Zach laughed, pulling Summer backwards, "How about you guys just be civil, okay?"

"I can do that," Summer smiled, an idea forming in her head, "Know what? Why don't you invite Brooke to go to dinner with us! That way we can all be friends."

"Are you sure?" Seth questioned skeptically. Summer simply nodded, "Okay, I'll let her know." Seth grabbed his cell phone and walked out onto the balcony.

"I can't wait, this is going to rock," Summer announced, "C'mon Lindsay, help me pick out an outfit."

"Um, okay," Lindsay replied, following her into the next room.

"So you know this is going to be a disaster, right?" Ryan asked Zach lightly. Zack simply glared at him.

"Disaster is an understatement."


Brooke pulled her hair into a messy bun, and applied a quick coat of mascara. She didn't want to look too overdone, but she still wanted to look nice. Part of her was disappointed that she and Seth would be spending the night with his friends, rather then alone. But she'd still get to spend time with him, so she'd just have to take what she could get. Glancing at her jean skirt and solid green halter-top, she began to rethink her outfit…for about the 100th time. Before she could change, the doorbell rang, signaling Seth's arrival. Her heart jumped in her chest and she actually felt herself become giddy. Whoa…Brooke Davis so did not get giddy over boys. A sale at Macy's, sure, but not over boys. Maybe it was because he wasn't just any boy…he was well…Seth Cohen.

"Hey," Brooke grinned as she opened the door. Sure enough, there he was, looking undeniably cute.

"Ready to head out?" He was barely able to ask as he got a load of Brooke. Good think she didn't change her outfit, she thought to herself.

"Yep," Brooke nodded, grabbing her purse, "Let's go." After about 10 minutes of walking, they made it to the restaurant- a chic Chinese place downtown.

"So any warnings?" Brooke joked, just before they entered the restaurant, "About your friends I mean?"

"Hmmm…" Seth thought aloud, "Besides for Summer, everyone is pretty nice. Just don't make eye contact with Summer and you should be alright."

"Okay, I'll remember that," Brooke replied, following him over to table where the rest of the group was seated.

"Hey guys," Seth greeted, pulling out a chair for Brooke, "You remember Brooke right?" They all collectively nodded. "And just to refresh your memory, that's Ryan, Lindsay, Zach, and Summer."

"Aren't you missing someone?" Brooke asked, looking around, "The really tall skinny girl?"

"Marissa?" Zach replied, "Yeah, she went out with some guy from town."

"Lucas something or other- Haley's brother in law I think," Summer specified without looking up from her menu.

"Lucas Scott?!?" Brooke gasped, "Seriously?"

"Yeah, that's him," Lindsay laughed, "I think…"

"Wow," Brooke sighed, picking at the package of chopsticks in front of her, "It really is a small world."

"You know him?" Ryan inquired a little too urgently.

"Yeah, we're friends," Brooke nodded, "I guess."

"So like, is he a good guy?" Ryan questioned.

"He's a cheating jerk," Brooke said with a laugh, "But hey, that's just the bitterness talking."

"Did we miss something?" Seth laughed, nearly choking on his water.

"He's my ex," Brooke explained, clicking the sticks together, "He cheated on my with my best friend. You know Peyton. Yeah, they had an affair."

"Oh, geez," Summer responded with pity, "That really sucks." For one reason or another, this comment really got to her. Summer then turned to Zack, "You ever cheat on me and I'll kill you."

"I don't think it's me we have to worry about doing the cheating," Zach muttered.

"Excuse me?" Summer demanded, "What does that mean, exactly?"

"Nothing," Zach sighed, "Just forget it."

"No, what Zach?" Summer stared at her boyfriend, "Because I would never cheat. So say whatever it is you seem to thin you need to say."

"Maybe we shouldn't do this here," Zach suggested, trying to calm her down.

"But there is something to do? Or talk about?" Summer questioned sharply.

"So," Seth interrupted, "How about them...Brooke, what exactly is your school mascot? Lumberjacks? Or maybe mountain climbers?"


"So you're Nathan's half brother?" Marissa asked as she and Lucas took a break from their extended make-out session. They were parked by the beach, parked being the key word.

"Same dad. But Dan isn't exactly your typical dad, he's conniving and manipulative," Lucas nodded, "He doesn't care about anyone's emotions so long as he gets what he wants in the end."

"Sounds like my mom," Marissa sighed, "She divorced my Dad because he lost all his money, married Caleb because he had a ton of money and then when he almost lost that had an affair with my Dad."

"Dan faked an extended heart condition to keep his wife from leaving him."

"My Mom has tried to have me committed to a mental institution and shipped my sister to boarding school."

"Dan tried to make sure I didn't exist."

"Oh my God," Marissa rolled her eyes. "First of all are we seriously playing the my parent is worse than yours, game? And second, how lame is that?"

"Pretty lame," Lucas agreed before changing the subject "So, do you like basketball?"

"I more of a "sidelines" girl," Marissa made a face, "Actually I'm more of a "call me when the games over and tell me where we are meeting up for the party" kind of girl."

"We have nothing in common." Lucas commented after a brief silence.

"No," Marissa shook her head, "That's not right."

"It's not?" Lucas asked surprised, his eyebrow raised.

"We like kissing each other...a lot..."


"So that dinner was...fun," Seth laughed as he walked Brooke to her front porch.

"Is everything always so dramatic with you guys? I mean Summer seems like
such a drama queen," Brooke commented as they made it to the door.

"She kinda is," Seth shrugged, "Plus I don't think she's fully forgiven me for last summer."

"Last summer?" Brooke thought back to the previous night's conversation, "When you spent the summer away from home?"

"Summer was the girl I left behind," Seth attempted to explain, but wasn't sure if I would hurt Brooke.

"Oh," Brooke looked at her shoes, slightly crestfallen.

"We're over," Seth clarified, "Long over." Brooke couldn't help but grin, she felt like an idiot. Usually she was so control in romantic situations but there was something that felt so different about her relationship with Seth. He wasn't Lucas, and he certainly wasn't Felix; everything with Seth seemed so natural. Like he wouldn't break her heart, intentionally or not. They'd only known each other for 3 days, yet it was as if they totally understood each other. And when Brooke realized that Seth was going to kiss her, she felt her heart start to pound. He leaned closer and his lips pressed gently against hers, in a kiss with no hidden agenda, unlike any kiss Brooke had received in her entire life.


A/N: Thanks again for all the absolutely fabulous reviews! We LOVE you! Anyway, we hope you like this chapter, and we want to hear what you think and what you want to see happen next. So please review!

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