Chapter Six: Awkward Acquaintances

Lucas flipped through the radio stations trying to find something at least mediocre, but since the stations around Tree Hill only played crap his search was in vain. The entire day he had been on his edge because of his nervousness towards this date with Brooke. Though he was ordinarily nervous before each date, this one couldn't compare to his normal anxious self. Lucas was planning to break up with Brooke this time.

Just a few days earlier, Luke had called Brooke while he was confident in his decision and told her that he wanted to meet up with her and just talk. But seeing as Brooke thought he meant it as a date, she told him that she thought just talking was "very awkward and could get boring when you're just sitting somewhere and looking at the river." So, Lucas gave in and lost his nerve for trying to correct her in what he had meant. He didn't want her to fret or get hurt over the phone.

Then another, very disconcerting, obstacle was revealed to him as he was on his way to pick her up Brooke actually called and told him about Peyton coming along as well. As soon as he hung out Lucas automatically felt even more uneasy! He was intending on breaking up with Brooke and then fate comes and shoves his heart's desire, Peyton, into the mix as well. Uncanny!

So now, here he was parked in front of his secret adoration's fretfully switching through the radio stations looking for some source of comfort. Soon, her front door was open, emitting Brooke and then Peyton; Lucas's pulse increased and all of his troubles were wiped away.

Brooke hopped into the front seat and Peyton got in the back without a 'hello' and just sat there silently. Brooke, on the other hand, wouldn't shut up until they got to the movie theatre.

"Oh my gosh," Brooke turned around in her seat to look a Peyton. "Did you hear about that skank Heidi said about me?"

Lucas looked in his rearview mirror at the curly blonde, her expression was reflected a friend just trying to amuse her best friend's wishes. She held a smirk and raised her eyebrows up in exhausted wonder. "I don't know, Brooke. What did she say?"

Brooke just looked livid; Lucas thought when she was rehashing the petty dramatic event.

"Ha! That whore," she paused trying to keep from being overzealous, "said that I didn't know how to even have an intelligent conversation! I'm mean, I know that I can and everything, but just the thought of that girl who doesn't even know how to keep from being trash can say something as rude as that about me."

A smirk slid on Lucas' face. Yes, he knew Brooke could hold an 'intelligent conversation' but she didn't delve into one very often.

In turn Lucas looked back in the rearview mirror again to see Peyton's reaction. She seemed to act coolly and not surprised by the remark. Peyton was very laidback in the situation since she probably had one of these conversations with Brooke once a month. Even though she didn't seem to be very attentive with Brooke, she was still listening. He loved the way she listened even though she thought the subject was unbearably petty and stupid.

"Brooke, like I've said from time and time again," Peyton stopped when she saw Lucas had his blue eyes on her, causing him to blush really quickly. "You have to just ignore them because they're jealous of you."

Brooke smiled appreciatively to Peyton, "Damn right they're jealous of me!" She exclaimed obnoxiously. "I have the hottest boyfriend on campus and the angstiest yet still hot best friend." This made Brooke laugh at her own remark.

For the rest of the short drive over there silence was laid thickly on. Every now and then though, Lucas would sneak glances at Peyton wishing that she only knew what he felt and if Brooke or Jake had never gotten in the mix.

After Lucas parked the three of them walked into the red carpeted building.

"So what are we going to see?" Peyton asked, finally breaking her silence.

Lucas scratched the back of his neck as they walked up to the counter where the staff was selling the tickets. "I don't know," he said looking up at the choices.

Brooke though, began to squeal, "I know! I know! We'll see 'Must Love Dogs!'"

"No!" Lucas and Peyton said at the same time, which caused them to both blush.

"Well, why not?" Brooke asked exasperated. "That movie is best one showing right at the moment."

"Brooke, be real," Peyton said, "since when does Lucas watch romantic comedies?"

"Ha! Those are the only movies we've watched together," Brooke said smiling, feeling triumphant, "so he's watched them for going on five months now." Then she added with an off-handed air and a mischievous tone, "Well, I guess you can say haven't 'watched' them necessarily."

Lucas felt his face start to burn with embarrassment. He didn't know why Brooke had to be so suggestive and open about their hormones. Lucas favored intimacy, not an open relationship. He just wished he had the balls to break up with Brooke and not keep leading her on.

He looked over at Peyton and she seemed to be contemplating over something. "Fine," she said, "we'll go to 'Must Love Dogs.'"

Brooke clapped her hands excitedly, "Yeah, Diane Lane is one of my favorite actresses!"

Lucas huffed out loud quietly as he followed Brooke up to the box office. As they reached the counter, Lucas spoke into the metal opening.

"Ah, I'd like to get three 'Must Love Dog' tickets, please," he said reaching into his back pocket to get the money out.

"Oh, no Luke, you don't have to pay for me," Peyton said with a phony smile that was sad, embarrassed, caught off guard at the same time.

Lucas was just trying to be a gentleman; he always bought everything for Haley and Brooke when they went out to eat, saw a movie, and even went to the arcade. "My treat," he finally said softly.

She seemed tense and standoffish at the moment as she curtly nodded her head. Lucas smiled kindly at her right before he turned back to the counter and slid the $18 towards the clerk. In turn, the clerk handed Lucas the three crème-orange tickets.

He could understand why Peyton was in an awkward situation. After all, she was the third wheel on their date. It didn't bother him too much, since it would keep Brooke from coming on to him, but then the situation was just like it was a year ago when the chaotic triangle happened. She probably felt like she was intruding on their date, but she wasn't. Peyton was always a great friend so she would persecute herself instead.

"Thanks," Brooke said happily as she took the ticket from Lucas eagerly and stared at it with excitement sparkling in her eyes.

Once he handed Peyton her ticket though, she softly mumbled, "Thanks Luke."

When she grabbed the ticket though, their fingers brushed one another's. It was the first contact they had experienced since their rollercoaster 'platonic' date. The feeling sent shockwaves all throughout his body and it made him feel amazing. But he started to blush almost immediately when their eyes connected. She too was blushing and it intrigued Lucas why she was. Maybe it was because she was embarrassed about how clumsy she was or, but this wouldn't ever happen in a million years again, she liked to him too.

"Hey guys," Brooke called just a few feet away, "let's go, all the good seats will be taken by this rate."

Awoken from his thoughts, Lucas came back to reality. By the look on Peyton's expression on her face she was also stirred awake to have the real world crashing down on her.

"Yeah, we're coming," Lucas said now as he and Peyton started to walk over to Brooke, who was practically speed walking now into the theater.

Neither Lucas nor Peyton looked at each other because they felt the awkwardness and tension surrounding them. So they did their best to just stare ahead of them and not at the other. As they entered the dimly lit movie theater, Lucas had to squint to find Brooke. When he did, Lucas led the way to make a beeline towards her.

"Hey sexy," she said seductively as he took a seat next to her. "Are we, you know, going to have some bonding time tonight?"

Lucas couldn't believe his ears as Peyton crossed in front of him and Brooke to sit on the opposite side of Brooke. Why would she want to be so inconsiderate of Peyton when she was the one who invited Peyton along? And quite frankly, Lucas didn't want to 'bond' with Brooke, he wanted to 'bond' with Peyton instead. But since Lucas couldn't imagine in his wildest dreams that Peyton would ever hold the same feelings for him in return again like she had in their junior year. Even if they were adulterous feelings then, they were still genuine and passionate; perfect, in his eyes.

He whispered in Brooke's ear, "Don't you think that would be awkward in front of Peyton?"

Brooke started to crack up laughing, causing Peyton to look over at them accusingly with furrowed eyebrows, amusement far away from her intensely dark hazel eyes now.

"Peyton's practically seen me do a guy before," Brooke smiled as she leaned in towards Lucas for a kiss, "so I don't expect it to be 'awkward' for her so it shouldn't be for us."

Lucas moved his face the other way just as she was closing in on his lips. "Well, it is for me," he said coolly as he stared at the blank movie screen.

He could tell out of the corner of his eye that she was taken aback. After a couple seconds though, she slumped back against her chair and didn't say another word. Then, Lucas nonchalantly stole a quick glance over at Peyton, she looked amazed and bewildered. She must've never saw Brooke get shot down so coldly.

The movie started and for all Lucas knew about it, which wasn't much, was that it was about a divorcee whose sister puts her profile on an online dating service. But he was totally disinterested in it. He just stared blankly at the screen and thought throughout the movie.

The majority of his thoughts were centered on Peyton, like always, but this time he couldn't help but feel hopeful for the first time in seven months. If Peyton in the slightest way did have some feelings for him, Lucas knew he would feel elated. Though, Lucas felt that he was looking too far into their uncomfortable moment.

He broke his eyes from the movie and looked over at Peyton. She looked like she was enjoying the film to an extent; however she had a look of boredom on her face. Peyton wasn't big on the chick flicks more than he was himself. She was so beautiful though. Peyton was always naturally beautiful in everyway; when she cried, when she laughed, when she was enraged— each and every one of those was beautiful.

Just at that moment, Brooke looked over at him and then over at where he was staring and saw that he was staring at Peyton. She then turned to look at Lucas with confusion and unbelief in her eyes. She was dumbfounded, literally. Tears started to form in her eyes and she quickly got up and ran out of the movie theater.

"Oh crap! Brooke!" Lucas exclaimed as he then got up and pursued after her. Everything was starting to get way too out of control right now.

When he emerged from the dark theater into the bright lobby, he was blinded slightly. He saw Brooke on a wooden bench on the opposite side of the lobby with her head in her hands. He ran over there and took at seat next to her cautiously.

"You bastard," Brooke whispered as she cried on not looking at him.

Luke didn't know what to say. He was shocked that Brooke had put the missing in the puzzle so quickly and that his true feelings were found out.

"I can't believe I let you in again. Again!" She continued on wailing as she rocked herself back and forth. Her mascara was running down her face with her tears. "I should've known when I pushed aside the mixed signals and when you looked at her. You looked at her how I wanted you to look at me." The last words were shaky.

"I'm sorry," Lucas said earnestly as he scooted closer to her to comfort her but she just shoved him away.

"No! Don't touch me. I just need to be away from you." And at that Brooke just ran out of the theater altogether.

Lucas roughly ran his hands over his face and was amazed that his secret wasn't a secret any longer, at least with one person. He was afraid, hopeless, and guilty all at the same time. Not a great mix to have a burden of either. He didn't want this to be the way he and Brooke broke up because it was for sure the worst way. Lucas knew he broke her heart yet again and that she would never forgive him. The sinking feeling was overwhelming because even though Brooke wasn't his love, she was still a friend and a good one at that.

Then he saw Peyton emerge from the movie theater where the movie was stilling playing and saw him from across the lobby.

Author's notes:

Okay, I know have been extremely lazy on this story and I'm really sorry about that. I have so many things going on at once in my life so it's hard to update now. I wasn't too happy with this chapter, to be honest, but that's what came out of my mind and that's one of my golden rules, not forcing stories and just letting them come. I didn't want Brooke and Lucas to break up with a sweet touch because well, I don't think they would ever have a break off that would be that way so drama is the only way with them as a couple.

Just please give me some feedback if you read it! I need to know if you liked this chapter or didn't since I'm not too happy about it. So I suppose you can say this is the critical chapter that needs to be reviewed more than any other chapter. Lol. Well, I hope you all aren't too mad at me! You all rock and thank you so much with sticking by me so long.