Chapter Four

What The Hell Is His Problem?

Brooke was on her way to meet Lucas for lunch when she saw Peyton walking up ahead of her."Hey P. Sawyer! Where you headed?"

Peyton stopped walking and waited for Brooke to catch up to her."I'm going to the library. I have some things I need to finish."

"But it's lunch time!"said Brooke as if missing lunch was a crime.

"Yeah, so that doesn't mean I don't still have work to finish."

"Since when do you skip lunch to do homework?"

"Since now I guess."

"Not a good enough answer. Besides didn't you have study hall with my boy toy first period? Don't tell me he distracted you all period all and didn't let you get anything done."Brooke laughed.

"No, I didn't even see Lucas at all actually."

"Oh, well that's weird. He should have been there."

"Well I'm sure he was, I just had some things to do and didn't stay in the library long."

"Oh, and here I was hoping you'd keep an eye on him for me."

"Sorry Brooke."

"Yeah you should be. Where are you when I need you?"Brooke let out another laugh.

"Well, I'm sorry, but not everything revolves around you and Lucas, Brooke."

Brooke stopped laughing."What the hell is wrong with you? I was just kidding you know."

"I know. I'm sorry."

"Are you okay?"Brooke placed a hand on her friend's shoulder wanting to know what was going on.

"I'm fine Brooke."she saw the look of concern etched on her friends face and added."Really I am."

"Is this about your dad?"

"What about him. He's fine."

"I know, but we easily could have lost him."

"We?"

"Yes we. You know I loved him just as much as I loved your mom. Their the only parents I've ever really known."

"I know. I guess almost losing my dad is getting to me more than I realized. I think that's probably why I snapped at you. I'm sorry."lied Peyton, not only to Brooke, but to herself as well. She didn't want to admit that she was jealous of Brooke and Lucas' new real relationship.

"It's okay. I should have been a better friend to you."

"Brooke stop it. Your the best friend I've got. Now I don't want to talk about this anymore. Lets talk about your favorite subject. You."That comment received a playful hit to her shoulder."What? Don't act like it's not true. You love talking about yourself."

"Yeah, so?"

"So nothing. How are you and Lucas doing?" As much as she didn't want to hear about how much Lucas loved her, she still found herself needing to know. It made her somehow feel closer to Lucas. As strange as that sounded it was true.

Brooke's long face suddenly lit up when she heard Lucas' name. That's something she always loved about Brooke. She could go from deadly serious to giddy in 2.5 seconds flat.

"Are you sure you want to hear about us Peyt? It's kind of mushy."

"Did Brooke Davis just say her life is mushy?"said Peyton widening her eyes and placing a hand over her heart.

"Shut up."

Peyton laughed."No seriously though, are you guys really okay?"

"Peyt we are better than okay. He is wonderful. Last night I totally fell apart in front of him. We talked about the past and your mom and I couldn't help it. I started to cry. I told him something I never told anyone else."Brooke stopped and saw the surprised expression on Peyton's face."I know your dieing to know what I said right?"Peyton nodded." It's nothing really. I just told him that after your mom died I promised myself that I would never let anyone or anything hurt you again."

Peyton blinked away the tears that threatened to fall."You really did that for me?"

"Of course. You were my best friend Peyt and I hated seeing you cry all the time."

"Brooke we were only nine."

"So that didn't mean I didn't love you. I was capable of love at that age."

Peyton laughed."God I don't deserve you as my best friend."

"What is with you guys all thinking you don't deserve me? I'm nothing special. I'm just me."

"And that's more than enough Brooke. So I take it Lucas said the same thing to you."

"Yeah, he said that I was beautiful and amazing and he didn't deserve me. I told him he was crazy, just like I'm telling you now."

"How did he tell you he loved you?"asked Peyton totally changing the subject. She had to know, even if it was going to kill her hearing it.

Brooke's smile widened."We were lying down talking and then he turned away and got really quiet. I had to call his name a couple of times before he answered. He told me he was thinking and I asked him about what. He said me. I asked him what about me and he said how wonderful I am and how much he didn't deserve me and than he started to say something, but stopped. I asked him to continue what he was about to say and he pulled me up and grabbed my hands and held them."Brooke stopped and closed her eyes. She smiled as she replayed it all again in her head."And then he said he was thinking about how much he loved me."Brooke exhaled remembering how she felt last night.

Peyton saw how happy her best friend was and it hurt her. She wanted to be happy for her, she really did, but she was the reason she couldn't be happy. Lucas wanted to be with Brooke and not her. She hated herself for thinking this way, but she couldn't help it. She loved Lucas too. So she did the only thing she could. She lied to her best friend."Wow Brooke that sounds amazing. I'm really happy for you."

"Thanks. I've never felt this way about anybody before and it's scary."

"Don't be scared. Your a wonderful person and you deserve a wonderful person to love you back and that's Lucas. He is wonderful." said Peyton and this wasn't a lie. Brooke was wonderful and she did deserve a wonderful person. She just wished it didn't have to be her wonderful Lucas.

"Thanks, Peyt and don't worry your gonna find your Mr. Wonderful too. And I think I already know who he is. He goes by the name Jake Jagelski."

"Brooke stop. Don't you dare get any crazy ideas. We're just friends."

"For now, but I've seen the way he looks at you and I've caught you looking too. Don't try to deny it."

"Brooke like I said we're just friends."

"And like I said, for now."Brooke let out a laugh."Now lets go get some lunch bestest friend. I'm hungry."

They started to walk off when Nathan rushed past them without acknowledging their presence.

Brooke turned and called after him."Natey Boy, where's the raging party and why weren't we invited?"

"Shut up Brooke."said Nathan as he turned the corner, not once looking in their direction.

"What the hell is his problem?"asked Brooke looking at Peyton who in return just shrugged.

Brooke and Peyton finished their way to the cafeteria and got their lunches and went outside to find a table. Brooke saw Lucas sitting with Haley not too far away and nudged Peyton, signaling her to follow.

Peyton saw where she was headed and wondered why she was surprised. Of course she wanted to eat lunch with her boyfriend. Peyton followed dreading every moment.

Brooke sat down next to Lucas and gave him a quick kiss.

Peyton sat next to Haley and couldn't help, but turn away when she saw Brooke lean in to kiss Lucas.

Haley caught the hurt expression and felt a little bad for her, but Brooke wasn't doing anything wrong. She was just kissing her boyfriend.

"Where have you been? I've been waiting for you."said Lucas looking at Brooke.

"I'm sorry. I was talking to Peyton and we lost track of time."Brooke turned to Haley."So Tutor Girl, I see your eating with us today. I can't say I blame you. What's wrong with your boyfriend? He practically bit my head off a minute ago and all I did was ask him where he was going."Brooke stopped to let Haley answer, but instead she saw her face fall and saw Lucas look at her with concern."Okay what's going on? Did I miss something?"

Lucas decided to answer for Haley."Brooke stop. It's not a good time."Haley cut him off.

"It's okay. They are going to find out sooner or later. We broke up yesterday."

Brooke gasped."Oh my god. That's the last thing I thought would happen. Hell I thought that before the end of the school year you two would be married. What happened? Oh, wait I'm prying aren't I? This is probably personal right? I'm gonna shut up now."

Haley laughed in spite of the situation."Didn't I ask you a personal question this morning I didn't think you would answer?"

"Yes you did. So go ahead and spill."

"I found out he's practically been lying to me from the beginning. The only reason he started talking to me was to get back at Lucas for joining the basketball team. Our whole relationship has been a lie."

"Oh come on Haley, that's not true."said Brooke."Just because that's how it started doesn't mean it's still about that."

"That's what he said."said Haley looking down picking at her food.

"Then listen to him. If you love him and I know you do, you need to forgive him for this or you'll regret it."

Lucas looked up at her and placed his hand on her and gave it a squeeze. She was amazing and she was giving Haley some great advice.

Even if he wanted Haley to stay away from Nathan, what she was saying was true. Hearing her say that if she loved him, she should forgive him or she'd regret it made him think that she would probably follow her own advice. He was going to tell her about Peyton today.

"Brooke I know your trying to help and all, but would you be able to forgive Lucas if he lied to you and betrayed your trust?"

Lucas' head shot up and went to look at Haley and then to Peyton before landing on Brooke. As much as he hated that Haley put him in this situation, he needed to hear what her answer was.

Brooke looked at Lucas and then smiled."Although I don't think that Lucas would ever lie to me, I'd like to think we'd get past it. That if Lucas ever did lie to me I'd be able to forgive him."

Lucas smiled back at her, happy with her response, but Brooke continued.

"Just as long as he didn't do anything like cheat on me with my best friend."said Brooke with a laugh.

Lucas' face fell and he couldn't help, but look at Peyton. He quickly pulled his gaze away from her hoping Brooke wouldn't catch him. If only she knew he did exactly that, she wouldn't be laughing.

Brooke rested her head on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around his waist, showing him she was only kidding. She knew he would never do that to her.

Lucas put his arm around her shoulder and kissed her forehead, not knowing what else to do.

Brooke quickly pulled away from him and stood up."I hate to eat and run, but I just remembered I have to do something."

"Do you want me to go with you?"asked Lucas also getting up.

Brooke pushed him back down."No stay here and finish eating. I'll just see you later okay?"

"If your sure."

"I am."Brooke leaned down and kissed him.

He pulled her head down further into him deepening the kiss, not wanting to let her go, but finally did when she pushed him away.

"Lucas that was a great kiss and all, but there are people around. Save it for later."she said laughing."I'll see you later. Bye you two."Brooke waved at Peyton and Haley and then turned and walked away.

Thanks for the reviews. I hoped you enjoyed this chapter. Let me know what you think. Read and review.

Coming Up:

Haley gives Lucas and Peyton a peace of her mind.

Lucas comforts Peyton.

Where did Brooke run off to?