Chapter Eight

Clued In

Brooke woke up early the next morning, since she went to sleep so early. She turned to look at her clock and saw it read 6:00. She was about to try and get another hour of sleep when she saw a paper folded on her night stand. It had her name on it. She quickly unfolded it and saw it was from Nathan. He really needed to talk to her about something important. She realized he must have come over last night while she was asleep. She quickly got out of bed and took a shower. She really wanted to know what it was that Nathan wanted to tell her. She was going to go to school early today for a change just to find out.

Lucas quickly got out of his truck and knocked. Nobody came. He saw the door bell and rang it cursing himself for not trying it last night. He rang it again, still nobody came. He began to get worried. She wasn't home last night and she said she was going to be and she still wasn't home the next morning. He looked around for her car and that still wasn't there either. He ran back to his truck and got in. He headed to school hoping she'd be there. If she wasn't then he knew something was wrong.
Brooke stopped at her locker to put her things away before she went in search of Nathan. She had never been to school this early so she had no idea if Nathan himself would be there. She just hoped he would. She was happy to see Nathan putting his things in his locker. She quickly walked up to him."So what did you want to talk to me about you perv?"

Nathan turned to face her with his eyebrows furrowed."Perv?"

"Yes perv. You snook into my house late last night, while I was sleeping might I add. I'm more than sure you stood and watched me sleep for a while. Then you left me a mysterious note saying you needed to see me. That sounds a little stalkerish if you ask me and we all know stalkers are all pervs. So I ask again what did you want to talk to me about you perv?"said Brooke with a laugh.

"Funny B, real funny."

"Thanks."

"Only you would take that as a compliment."

"Whatever."

"Oh, yeah what have I told you about locking the door at night Brooke?"

"To do it?"

"Exactly, so why don't you?"

"Because this is Tree Hill."

"B, be serious."

"Okay. I'm sorry. From now on I will always lock the front door. Are you happy?"

"Yes."

"Is that what you needed to tell me that was sooo important."said Brooke waving her hands around as she spoke.

"No, it's not."

"Well then what's up Nate?"

He looked at her. She seemed so happy and he was about to ruin that. He had never hated Lucas as much as he did right now. This was all his fault."There's something you need to know."

"What is it?"asked Brooke. She knew it was serious just by the look on his face.

"Well, last night I saw..."

"BROOKE!"

Brooke spun around and saw Lucas practically running toward her."Hey handsome. What's the hurry?"she leaned into him and gave him a lingering kiss.

Nathan turned away upset. He didn't want Lucas anywhere near Brooke, let alone kissing her.

Lucas was a little shocked by what she did. Obviously Nathan hadn't told her yet."It's nothing. I just really need to talk to you."

"Okay, well give me a couple of minutes and I'm all yours. Nathan just needs to talk to me first."

"No this can't wait!"Lucas knew he sounded crazy, but he didn't care. He had to be the one to tell her. Only he could try to make her understand.

"I'm sorry Lucas, but your gonna have to wait. I was with Nathan first. It will only take a few minutes I promise. I'll come find you when we're done."she patted his chest.

Lucas looked up to Nathan pleadingly."Nathan please."

The last thing he wanted to do was help Lucas out, but he agreed."Go ahead Brooke. I'll just talk to you later." If Lucas wanted to tell her then it was fine. He probably should be the one anyways. As long as Brooke knew that's all that mattered.

"Are you sure Nate? As impatient as he is, he can wait."

"No it's cool. Just come find me when your done. We'll talk then."

"Sure thing. I'll see you later Nate."she waved to him and grabbed Lucas' hand.

"What's up Lucas?"

"Lets go outside and sit down."he led her outside to a table and they sat down.

"Okay, we're here and we're sitting down. What's going on?"

Lucas pulled her hands into his and held them tight. He leaned in and kissed her, hoping it wouldn't be the last time he did this. He finally pulled away and looked into her eyes."I want you to know that I love you so much."he stopped as his voice cracked. He didn't know if he could do this.

"Lucas your scaring me. What's going on?"seeing the look on his face made her want to cry. He looked so sad. She knew this wasn't going to be good.

Lucas finally found his voice and continued."The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you and I hate myself for what I'm about to say."he again stopped when he saw how sad she looked. She already looked hurt and she didn't even know anything yet. This was the hardest thing he'd ever done.

"Lucas will you please quit stopping and tell me what's going on."she pleaded.

Lucas tightened his grip on her hands. He took a deep breath."Peyton and I kissed."

His words stung her. She quickly pulled her hands out of his grasp and stood up."What do you mean, you and Peyton kissed? When?"

"You know how we had to get a motel room when we went to identify that body?"she absentmindedly nodded."She forgot something and we had to go back for it. We were so happy it wasn't him. Somehow we ended up kissing. We stopped before it went any further."he looked up at her needing to know her reaction.

She couldn't believe this. He just said that like it was a good thing."Before it went any further!"she shouted."You just kissing her was going too far. How could you do this?"

"I don't know. I'm sorry."

She ignored everything he just said and continued."That was a couple of days ago. Was that the only time it happened?"she asked calmly.

"No."his answer was barely audible.

Brooke scoffed shaking her head."I didn't think so. When else did you make out with my best...well ex best friend?"

"Brooke we don't need to talk about that. We should be talking about us."

"Answer the damn question Lucas! I think I have the right to know when exactly you two were betraying me."

"Fine, it was the same day. Before we went to see you, we parked her car and talked and it happened again. I'm really sorry for..."

Brooke cut him off."What did you two talk about? Were you planning on breaking up with me for her?"

"No that was never the plan."

"Well then what was the plan? You were going to have us both, weren't you?"

"I don't know okay."

"You don't know? Oh my god Lucas that's a load of bull and you know it. That was your plan. Wow and here I thought you actually meant it when you told me you loved me. That's funny right?"said Brooke with a cold laugh.

"I did mean it. I still do. I love you Brooke."

"Stop saying that!"

"No I won't. It's the truth."

"No the truth is you wanted my best friend all along. Well I'm happy for you. You finally got her and you can have her all to yourself. I don't want anything to do with her or you ever again."she turned and walked away.

"Brooke stop. We're not finished."

"No actually we are."she looked him in the eyes."I love you, I don't want you to ever doubt that. What a load of bull. I can't believe I fell for that. Did you get off on lying to me over and over again? Did you two laugh at me behind my back? Poor stupid Brooke she bought it, right?"

"It wasn't like that and you know it."

"Actually I don't know it. I thought I knew you two, but I was wrong. So now I don't know anything."

"I'm sorry Brooke. I really am. I need you to know that I do love you and you shouldn't doubt it."

"If you loved me you wouldn't have done this to to me."

"I know and this isn't an excuse because I know there aren't any, but I did all of this before I realized I loved you. That night at your house everything I said to you was the truth. You are an amazing person Brooke. I can't imagine my life without you. When we're together I can't help but smile. Your it for me. I just wish I had realized it sooner. I regret everything I did with her. I told her it was a mistake. She knows your the one I want to be with. If I could, I'd take it all back. You have to believe me."he pleaded.

Tears slowly began to fall. She hated him for doing this to her. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her cry, but here she was crying and she couldn't stop.

"Brooke please talk to me."

All the anger she had was now somehow gone. She now felt broken. She loved him. So how could he do this to her? More tears began to fall. She couldn't help it. She knew she must look pathetic. She needed to get out of there. She felt too much when he was around.

Lucas stepped closer to her and held out his arms to her."Brooke, baby please come here."

She wanted so much for him to wrap her up in his arms and make everything go away. All this hurt. It couldn't happen though. He was the one who caused her to feel this way and a hug wasn't going to make it better.

He stepped even closer to her wanting to hold her and make her hurt disappear. He hated that he did this to her. That she was crying because of him. He never wanted to be the reason she cried and now he was.

She put up her hands to stop him from coming any closer."Don't do this Lucas. Please stay away from me."her voice was barely above a whisper. She didn't even know if he had heard her.

"Brooke please don't say that.You mean too much to me. I need you in my life. I can't lose you."

Brooke let out a convulsive sigh."It's too late. You already lost me."her voice once again cracked as she said the words she never thought she'd have to say to him. She turned and walked away as more tears fell. She had never been this hurt before. The last thing she wanted to do was let Lucas see she was vulnerable. She wanted him to think she didn't care. She needed him to think she was strong. But that was Lucas, she could never hide her true self from him. It always came out just like it did today.

"Brooke please don't go. I love you."she heard him yell to her, but she didn't dare turn around because if she did she just might believe him and run straight into his arms. She wanted to believe he meant it. When she looked into his eyes earlier, he looked like he was telling the truth, but then again if he really meant it none of this would be happening right now.

A/N:Thanks for all the reviews.

ZoeLuv80:Thanks for your review. I agree that Lucas is being stupid, but I think it's more that he knows he's really hurt Peyton and doesn't want to do it again. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Read and review!

Lilybee2003:Thanks for the review. I can see that Lucas isn't your favorite person right now and I'm sorry. I also didn't like those sames scenes with Peyton and Brooke. I hope you continue to read this. Thanks.

Mony19:Thanks for the review. I can see you also aren't liking Lucas too much right now. You'll have to wait and see if she goes back to him. lol. Read and review.

Ali213:Thanks for the review. I hope you liked this chapter. Lucas did tell her.

crazy:Thanks for he review. I hope you liked this chapter.

TwinkleTot69:I hope you liked that I had Lucas be the one to tell her, although they did break up.

brucasfanatic:Thanks for the review. I absolutely loved it. I have up to chapter 12 written so I can UD more often. Yes you are pretty smart. You actually put a lot of thought into it. I like how much you hate Peyton. I don't like her very much either. I didn't think you'd like the whole one last kiss thing. As for Lucas sticking up for Peyton, he feels that he's really hurt her and doesn't want to continue to do it. He also didn't like that Nathan made her cry. Another spoiler just for you, and everybody who reads this.lol Lucas will soon give Peyton a piece of his mind. I hope you liked this chapter. Thanks.

I really hoped you liked this chapter. This one was a difficult one for me to write. I know it's another short one. I'm sorry. I debated on having Nathan tell her, but in the end I felt that it should really be Lucas that told her. I wanted to show that Brooke was mad, but also really hurt. I had her break down in front of Lucas because he needed to see what he had done to her. This sad and broken Brooke isn't the only Brooke that will make an appearance. The bitchy Brooke will be back, besides she hasn't seen Peyton yet. Let me know what you think. Please read and review. Thanks.

Coming Up:

Nathan and Lucas have words.

Brooke has some time alone to think.

Brooke and Lucas "talk".