So, my wonderful reviewers, the new chapter is here! A lot of issues touched upon in the last chapter are developed a little more here, and I like this chapter quite a lot, so I hope you do too…

Brooke was lying on Lucas' bed in his room one day, flicking through the channels on TV. Lucas was sitting at his desk writing something.

Finally he stood up, and snapped the book next to him shut.

"Finished. At last."

"Can I read it?"

"My paper?…If you really want," he chuckled.

Brooke shrugged and he hadn't it to her. Her eyes skimmed over the first couple of lines and she noted the eloquent writing and perceptive points. She put it down, "It looks good."

"You got bored?"

"I have a very short attention span."

Lucas laughed. "Yeah, well…I don't care if it's boring. It's hard to make a paper analysing Harper Lee's writing techniques exciting." He flopped down on the bed next to Brooke, and picked up the remote.

"There's nothing on," Brooke said, before he had even changed channel.

"You sure?"

"I've been lying here for ages – I must have gone through all the channels a hundred times. Trust me, there's nothing on."

Lucas laughed, "Okay, what should we do?"

Brooke shrugged and slid a hand beneath his wrist, cupping it in her palm. Lucas tensed for a second, shocked at how her touch could still do that: send a shiver through him. "I could read you palm," she said.

"Can you do that?"

"Um…sure, why not." She took his wrist in her hands, and ran a finger along one of the lines.

Lucas watched her as she furrowed her brows. The light touch of her fingers was making his hand tingle.

"Well," Brooke began, "Your life line is pretty long."

"And which one's that?"

Brooke hesitated for a second and than pointed to one. Lucas chuckled, "You have no idea what you're talking about, do you?"

"Just shut up and listen, okay? I'll make it good."

He smiled and complied. Brooke traced a finger along the line she had indicated, Lucas felt her finger slow as it moved and saw her expression change for a second.

"What?" She looked up and met his eyes, his expression was questioning but gentle. She smiled quickly and shook herself, "Nothing."

She went back to looking at his palm, her hand moving more steadily now.

"So. Your lifeline is long, see, it goes right around your thumb her."

"Does yours do that?"

Brooke shook her head, "I used to think I would die young because my life line is really short. 'Live fast, die young' that's what I wanted," she laughed. "I was going through a rebel phase. But I noticed the other day my life line's actually longer than I thought, the last bit just looks a little different."

"So you don't want to die young anymore?"

Brooke shook her head and smiled, "Nope."

She lifted her finger and placed it on the next line, "And this is your love line. See these little lines going across it? Your love life's got a few hazards in it."

Lucas laughed, "Right, well I could have guessed that."

She chuckled.

"What about yours?" Lucas took Brooke's hand, and examined her palm. "Hmm…yup, lots of lines." He held his own next to hers. "They look pretty similar actually."

"Yeah, well, most palms do."

Lucas was still looking at their love lines however…the matching courses and crossings made him smile. Brooke looked up at him and noticed the smile on his face. He caught her eye and she looked down, feeling her cheeks redden just slightly. Oh my god, she couldn't believe he actually had her blushing just with a look.

Carrie came in, and they both looked up quickly.

"Hey B, Loverboy," she said, nodding to each of them.

Brooke greeted her, and Lucas propped himself up on his elbows, looking puzzled, "You know, I've been meaning to ask: how exactly did I get stuck with that nickname?"

Brooke rolled her eyes, "Because Carrie is insane."

Carrie grinned, "It's our little joke."

"No it's not," Brooke interrupted, "It's your little joke."

"Fine, whatever. Anyway, you should be pleased," she said, turning to Lucas, "it's better than Broody or whatever the hell else she calls you."

"My names are great! He got off better than Haley."

"That is true," Carrie conceded.

Lucas watched the two girls, shaking his head.

"Anyway," Carrie said, "I just came in to grab some books, and tell you that Dave is coming round later so you'd better be ready to go out."

"Where?" Brooke asked.

"It's a surprise!" Carrie grinned before heading out of the room, calling "See you later," over her shoulder.

Brooke turned to Lucas, "You wanna come out later?" she asked.

He shrugged, letting his head fall back on her pillow, "Sure, why not."

"Okay, well I'm going to take a shower," she said standing up. "You can hang out here I guess…" she looked around the room briefly, "Just don't break anything," she winked, before shutting the door behind her.

"Wo it's hot," Brooke said, as she leant against the bar while Lucas ordered some more drinks for them from the bartender in Dave's chosen club.

"Well there's a lot of people in here," Lucas said, smiling as he looked at Brooke. She was glowing just a little from dancing, and her eyeliner had got to the stage he loved most where it was just smudged enough to make her look ridiculously sexy.

"Broody?"

"What? Sorry." He realised he may have been staring just a little.

Brooke smiled to herself.

"Okay, operation for this evening is to get Toby and Carrie together, okay?" Brooke said, as they received their drinks.

Lucas chuckled. "Okay, and how do we do that matchmaker?"

Brooke smirked. "Just follow my lead, kay?" She patted his stomach before she moved away through the crowds of people in the club, and Lucas chuckled and followed her.

"Carrie!" Brooke greeted her as she approached the booth where she was sitting.

"Brooke!" Carrie imitated. "What's up? Get bored of Loverboy?"

Brooke ignored her question with a roll of her eyes. "I just came to let you know that we might get bored after a little while and leave okay? So you might want to fix a ride back with Toby."

Carrie narrowed her eyes. "Brooke…what are you doin'?"

Brooke matched Carrie's look. "Nothin'. Why…does it seem like I'm doing something?"

Carrie paused as she watched Brooke carefully. Brooke raised an eyebrow very slowly. "Would you like me to be doing something…say, setting you up with Toby maybe?"

"Would you like me to be doing something?" Carrie countered, "Say, I don't know, setting you up with - "

Brooke cut in quickly. "Carrie I would like to remind you that some relationships are a lot more complicated than others and do not call to be meddled in."

Lucas chuckled as he stood by the table, watching the girls' antics.

"And Brooke I'd like to remind you that if some people would stop being so stubborn they could see that in fact certain aforementioned relationships are actually very simple due to the fact that the two people in question are totally and completely in l -"

"Carrie!"

Carrie stopped. "…What?" she asked, her eyes flashing mischievously.

Brooke hesitated. "Fine, I'll butt out."

Carrie grinned. "I never asked you to. I have no problem with you setting me up with Toby, because I, unlike some people, can admit it when a great potential relationship is staring me in the face."

Lucas looked down, and Carrie noticed it quickly. "Yeah, I'm talking to you too Loverboy."

"Hey, I am staying out of this," he said, holding up his hands and laughing.

Carrie rolled her eyes. "Fine, you guys stay in your little world of denial. I, however, am going to talk to Toby." She smirked at them both, and got up. After two steps she whirled around but Brooke was already up.

"No you don't! You just said you were going to talk to him."

"Yeah, except he's probably deep in conversation with someone else right now and I really wouldn't want to interrupt - "

"Carrie this is a club, no one has deep conversations here. Now go! NOW!"

Carrie mumbled something and then slouched off.

"I swear that girl will be the end of me. She has more self confidence than anyone I've ever met until it comes to the stuff she really cares about."

Lucas laughed to himself.

"What?"

He hesitated. "Nothing," he said smiling, "Just reminds me of someone, that's all."

She gave him a look and he raised his eyebrows at her, but she merely looked away, refusing to challenge his comment because she knew it was true.

Lucas bit his lip and hesitated, and then took a breath. Reaching out a hand he said, "Brooke…about that."

Her head snapped round and she looked up at him, her eyes wide.

Lucas opened his mouth, and was about to speak when a commotion of shouts broke through the music.

They both looked around, and saw where it was coming from. Pushing his way to the front of the crowd, Lucas saw Drake holding some guy by the front of his shirt, yelling at him. Brooke came up behind him and stood on tiptoe to see what was going on. She felt Lucas reach out an arm and hold her back, his fingers brushing against her side.

"Hey!" Lucas called. "Drake, let him go."

Another guy standing near them turned to Lucas. "You know this guy?"

"He goes to my college," Lucas said. He saw someone else pushing through the crowd and Toby and Carrie came into the space that had formed in the crowd.

Toby went forward and tried to break up the fight that was beginning between Drake and the other guy. Lucas went to help him and they dragged the two guys apart. Other people in the club were starting to jostle each other, either trying to see what was happening or get away from the fight. An argument appeared to be breaking out over how it had started.

Drake rounded on Lucas, who was holding him back. Toby was making sure the other guy was okay.

"What the fuck are you doing man!" Drake shouted, "Get the hell off me!"

Lucas gave a dry chuckle and moved closer to Drake, his expression menacing. "After what you did to Carrie, I will have no problem beating the hell out of you, okay?" he said quietly, "So don't give me a reason to."

Drake laughed. "Carrie? What the hell? I have no doubt you'd like to smash my face in, but it sure as hell isn't cause of Caroline Grey."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. Toby had turned to look at Drake, overhearing Carrie's name.

Drake continued, still looking at Lucas. "Feeling a little threatened man? You know…you're not officially dating her. You won't be able to keep a hold on her forever."

Lucas smirked. "You think I'm threatened by you? Believe me man, you're the last thing on my mind. Now get out of here while you can still walk out."

Toby took a step closer to Drake, and Lucas noticed him rolling his sleeves up out of the corner of his eye; he knew Toby had been itching to pay Drake back for what he had done to Carrie, and would have done weeks ago had she not begged him not to.

Drake rolled his eyes theatrically, but Lucas noticed he took a step back. "Forget it man. You don't want to fight me."

"Oh yeah?" Toby stepped up.

Drake's face hardened. "Fine. You and me," he nodded to Lucas, "I got nothing to do with you Toby." He shoved Lucas backwards, but he stood firm.

Lucas felt someone come up behind him, and felt Brooke's hand on his arm. "Come on Luke, he's not worth it. Lets just go." She again felt his arm wrap round her from the front, keeping her behind him, protecting her.

"You know, you might want to listen to your skank Lucas - "

The rest of the sentence never left his mouth. Lucas punched him, sending him reeling sideways.

There were mixed cries of a shocked "Luke!" from Brooke, and an appreciative "Go Lucas!" from Carrie, who was quite enjoying this event, despite the slightly tense atmosphere.

Drake straightened himself, wiping his nose. "Oh come on, she's so not worth getting into a fight over," he taunted.

Lucas stepped forward but was suddenly hit out of nowhere by another guy. He stepped back, raising a hand to his lip, and saw one of Drake's friends standing there. Toby let out a cold laugh, and immediately punched the guy, sending him straight to the floor.

Before a full-scale fight could break out Lucas grabbed the front of Drake's shirt, pushing him into one of the large pillars in the club.

"Stay away from Carrie," he said menacingly. "And stay away from Brooke. If I ever hear you've touched either of them again we're going to have another little chat, okay? And I don't want that to happen. Because I never want to talk to you again."

He shoved him against the pillar, and then stepped back. Toby looked at Drake and shook his head, and then went back into the crowd, taking Carrie's hand and pulling her towards the exit.

Lucas turned around and saw Brooke. She approached him, and he slipped a hand onto her back. "Come on," he said quietly, guiding her out through the people.

They came out onto the street and saw Toby and Carrie haling a cab. "Come on!" Toby called, opening the door as one pulled up. They hurried over and got in, and they all leant back against their seats in silence as it pulled away.

"So…" Carrie said into the silence, "Rough night, huh?"

Toby looked at her and then chuckled, and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against him. Brooke leant her head on Lucas' shoulder as they all smiled at each other. Lucas couldn't help a small smile from forming on his face. "He was kind of asking for it…"

Brooke stopped outside her room as Carrie went inside, saying goodnight to Toby shyly as she did so.

Toby turned to Lucas. "You were pretty awesome tonight dude."

Lucas looked down. "Yeah, um, I know you were kind of looking forward to beating the crap out of him…sorry I…deprived you of that."

Toby laughed. "It's cool. It was almost more fun to watch it. And hey, he did insult your girl, not mine man." He raised his eyebrow at them both, and Lucas rolled his eyes.

"Anyway," Toby smiled, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah, night man."

Toby headed up off the corridor, and Lucas turned to Brooke.

She bit her lip, a reached forward, lightly brushing his lip where it was bleeding a little. "So…" she started, looking at the blood on her finger. "He's right." She looked up and smiled. "You were pretty awesome."

"Look Brooke, I know you don't like me hitting people…"

Brooke laughed. "I think we can make exceptions!"

Lucas chuckled and looked down.

"Thanks Luke," Brooke said sincerely. He looked up. "For what?"

She shrugged. "I don't know…defending my honour." She giggled and he laughed, pulling her into a hug. "Anytime Cheery, anytime…"

Brooke came into Lucas' room and flopped down on his bed. "Kill me now."

Lucas put down the text book he was reading and swivelled his desk chair round. "What's wrong?"

"College. It bites."

He chuckled and came over to the bed, sighing as he sat down next to her. "No it doesn't. But I'll humour you. What happened this time?"

She groaned and rolled over, burying her head in his side. "I have to write a paper."

"Shock horror."

She sat up, glaring at him. "It's a really hard one."

"How long do you have to write it?"

"It's due Monday."

"Okay, I'll help you tomorrow."

"Thank you Lucas!" She smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"Are you going to let me carry on working now?"

"Sure, knock yourself out." Brooke grabbed the TV remote and turned on the TV, turning the volume down.

Lucas watched her for a second and smiled, and then turned back to his desk.

Freddie came in a few minutes later, and rolled his eyes when he saw Brooke. "You're in here again? Can't a guy have a little privacy?"

"Freddie, what do you want privacy for? It's not like there's anything you can do in front of Lucas that you can't do in front of me. In fact, you really should be more comfortable with me being here than him."

Freddie batted away her comment, and began searching through his wardrobe. "What's so ironic is that half the guys in this place would kill to have you in their rooms the whole time…but it's just wasted on me."

"Oh I don't know," Brooke said standing up and going over to Freddie, "We could probably still have some fun…" She pinched his ass and he glared at her. She winked and opened the door. "See you later gorgeous! You too Luke!"

Freddie watched her leave, shaking his head. "You gotta love her."

Lucas looked over his shoulder, and smiled.

Carrie came into the library and pulled out a chair at one of the long tables, sitting down and flipping open her copy of 'Twelfth Night' that she was studying. She got out a pen and sat staring at the page, tapping her pen against the table.

Someone pulled out a chair next to her and she glanced up. "Oh hey Freddie."

"Carrie. What's up?"

"Not much…hey, I have a question."

"Shoot."

"Are Lucas and Brooke like, in your room half the time?"

Freddie chuckled. "Yeah! And I'm guessing they're in yours the other half?" He grinned and Carrie nodded. "They spend way too much time together to not be dating," Freddie said.

"Exactly, which is why I think it's high time we did something about that."

"What? Them spending time together?"

"No! Them dating. Come on, don't you think they'd be so much happier if they just got over themselves and made out already?"

Freddie considered this. "Well, I guess I would have a lot less girls turning up at the door at all hours of the day if they knew Lucas was officially off the market."

Carrie laughed. "Do you get a lot?"

Freddie gave her a look. "You have no idea. Seriously, you'd think they'd get the message from the fact Brooke Davis is always lying around on his bed when they show up, but no, somehow they think they're still in with a chance."

"So what do you say?" Carrie asked with a grin. "You wanna help?"

"Sure, why not. So what do we do, stage an intervention or something?"

Carrie gave him a weird look. "Um…no mister AA, I was thinking we talk to them."

Freddie rolled his eyes. "That's such a girly way of sorting stuff out. I say we lock them in a room together for a couple of hours, should do the trick."

"Freddie, have you not been listening to yourself talking? They already spend hours in rooms together. And anyway, you're gay, I'm sure you can handle a little heart to heart."

"Hey, I resent that. I'll have you know I am a very macho homosexual."

Carrie rolled her eyes. "Whatever, just talk to him, okay? And report back."

Freddie pouted. "Fine. But we're not gonna get all sleepovery and have a pillow fight or anything."

Carrie gave him another look, eyebrows raised.

"Well maybe just a short one…"

"So remind me what we're doing again?" Brooke asked, as Carrie dragged her into their favourite coffee shop.

"We're getting coffee," Carrie said, as if it were obvious.

"Okay, and now remind me why you dragged me away from a perfectly good episode of ER to do this, when I'm not even really very thirsty?"

Carrie rolled her eyes as she ordered two Caramel machiattos for them.

"I thought you were on a diet?" Brooke interjected. Carrie glared at her and waved a hand. "Don't remind me. And anyway, it's allowed because caramel machiattos are the only drink for deep serious talks."

"Is that what we're doing?"

"Yes. Now sit." She pushed Brooke into a large armchair and sat down facing her.

"You know, the enforced comfort thing is a little weird Carr. Kind of…Spanish inquisition crossed with my grandma…what's going on?"

"We need to talk."

Brooke faked tears. "Are you…are you breaking up with me?"

Carrie hit her playfully. "No! Now stop interrupting. We need to talk about Lucas."

Brooke made an 'oh' with her lips and then pouted. "Is this going to be one of those talks where you go on and on at me about how we should be together already?"

"Yes. Except this time I'm not backing down. Seriously Brooke. You have to do something. NOW."

"Carrie, I've already told you, this is a very sensitive subject. And I really don't know where Luke's head is at right now, and nothing's happened recently so - "

"So? When are you going to do something about that?"

Brooke sighed, and put down her coffee. "I don't know…I was thinking about it, you know. A few weeks ago…I was thinking I might just kiss him some day, just to see what he said."

Carrie laughed. "Now that's what I'm talking about! What happened to that idea?"

Brooke gave a little shrug. "He, er, told me about what happened with Peyton…and I just…wanted to think about that a little more first I guess."

Carrie gave her a sympathetic look. "You're still thinking about that, huh?"

Brooke shrugged. "How could I not be? I was telling the truth when I said I was okay about it, but it's still there…even though I promised Peyton I wouldn't dwell on it."

"Is it bothering you?"

Brooke chewed her lip. "I don't think so…it just, confuses me a little."

"Have you talked to him about it more?"

"No…I don't really want to bring it up. He seemed so sorry, I could see it was killing him. I'd rather just let him forget about it. And in a way, I'm almost glad it happened. I just feel…at least I know now…for sure…"

Carrie gave Brooke a questioning look.

Brooke sighed. "It's just…there was always this thought in the back of my mind, that he'd always wonder…what might have been. That maybe he'd always be comparing me to Peyton, whenever something went wrong he might be thinking…would it have been like that if I'd chosen Peyton? I know it's stupid," she said quickly, seeing Carrie's expression, "But it was just there, okay? Anyway, now at least…at least he knows. He's seen what it's like."

"And it's not what he wants."

Brooke gave a tiny smile. "Yeah. It's not."

Carrie grinned. "Because he wants you."

"Well I don't know about that."

Carrie rolled her eyes.

"Seriously Carrie, I don't know if he wants to be in a relationship right now. I mean, maybe he's enjoying just being single - "

"And maybe he's not. You know how you could find out? Talk to him!"

"I don't want to push it Carr. When he's ready, he'll tell me."

"Except maybe he's waiting for you. I mean, he did kind of make a move last year and get pretty cut down. Might be your turn now," she suggested.

Brooke bit her lip, thinking about this.

"Except you're scared."

"I'm not scared! I just…I don't want him to feel like it has to be right now. I want him to really be ready…because I want us to do it right this time."

Carrie was silent for a second, and then nodded. "Yeah I see what you mean. I mean, this time it's forever right?"

Brooke laughed lightly, and then shrugged. "I don't know…maybe…"

Please review!

For the next chapter I want to do a Halloween ball…or at least a big party of some kind. The idea is sort of forming in my head at the moment…anyway if anyone has any suggestions of costumes and stuff (I'm thinking kind of a posh Halloween party right now, so anything along those lines) that would be awesome. And if there's anything you'd particularly like to happen at the party, let me know!