Chapter 20- Face to Face

After Brooke and Nathan had dinner with Nathan's grandparents they decided to go and meet Jake and Peyton at a nearby bar. Jake had gotten his parents to watch Jenny overnight so he and Peyton were excited to have a night out with their friends without having to worry about getting home at any certain time.

Dinner had gone well with Nathan's grandparents. They were both very nice to Brooke, asking her questions to find out about her. Brooke was relieved that neither of them acted at all like Dan. It was obvious that Nathan's grandparents were very proud their grandson. Their eyes lit up with any talk of the NBA. It was obvious, through their discussion, that his grandparents watched every single game. Brooke wished that Nathan's father could be as kind as his grandparents, then life would be so much easier.

Once they arrived at the bar Brooke and Peyton headed towards the bathroom. "So Brooke, how was dinner?"

"It was good. Nathan's grandparents are great. I was really nervous about meeting them, among other things. But apparently I was nervous for no reason."

"What else are you nervous about?"

"Lucas, I am so nervous to see him. I don't know if I am ready for it." Brooke explained as her and Peyton finished up in the bathroom and headed back into the bar.

"Well, you better get ready quick." Peyton pointed over to the bar where Lucas was hugging Nathan. "Did you know he was going to be here?"

"No, I had no idea. Nathan must not have known either, he wouldn't have not told me. He knows how concerned I am about all of this. Oh god, Peyton, what do I say to Lucas? I am not mad at what he did to me anymore, but it did affect my life. I have dealt with insecurities for years because of him."

"Just be yourself Brooke. It will work out. Just relax and have fun. Lucas has probably changed a lot, you haven't seen him or talked to him in years, just give it a chance. I mean look at Nathan, he turned out great, maybe Lucas did too." Peyton hated seeing Brooke so worried about all of this. Peyton knew that she would be fine if she could just stop worrying about it so much.

"Miss us?" Brooke asked as she walked up to the boys, putting her arm around Nathan.

"Of course." Nathan bent down and kissed Brooke on the forehead. This small show of affection calmed Brooke's nerves a little bit, she had hoped that Nathan wouldn't act any differently to Brooke just because Lucas was around. The kiss made it clear to Brooke that this wouldn't be the case, Nathan was going to act the same way he always did with Brooke.

"Hey Brooke, Peyton." Lucas looked towards the girls and smiled. He felt unbelievably awkward. Lucas felt as though he should hug them but feared that if he tried to step towards Brooke not only did he run the risk of Nathan pounding his ass, but he also ran the risk of Brooke kneeing him in the balls or something.

"Hey Lucas, it's good to see you." Peyton said as she stepped forward to give Lucas a hug. She felt a little awkward doing this with Brooke right there, but Peyton and Lucas had settled everything between them a long time ago. They had gotten together during most college breaks and spoke on the phone or computer every now and then.

"You too Peyton. How is everything going?" Lucas was relieved that at least one of the two girls didn't hate him.

"Good, really good actually. I could be happier to be back in Tree Hill with Jake and Jenny." As she said that Jake put his arm around her. He knew just how much Peyton had sacrificed to return to her hometown rather than stay in New York City, and he was thankful for her sacrifices more than he could ever express to her.

The group made some small talk and then the boys headed off to play pool. Brooke and Peyton sat at the bar just talking and catching up with one another. After a while Peyton excused herself to go to the bathroom. Moments later Brooke heard a voice behind her, "So, Brooke, are you going to hate me forever?"

Brooke turned about, but she already knew it was him. "I don't hate you Lucas. I do hate some of the things you have done to me though."

"I know that, and I totally deserve that. But here's the thing. Nathan really loves you Brooke. We aren't talking puppy love either. I know that he sees a future with you and I am so happy for him. You are a great girl and you make him happy, I couldn't ask for more for him. But while you are going to be a part of his future you have to realize that I am a part of his future too. We are brothers and I will be around. I really want us to work through whatever we can so that when we do see each other it won't be uncomfortable." Lucas held his breathe, he knew that Brooke could go either way. She could either want the two of them to work through it, or she could want him to drop dead. Lucas really preferred the first.

"As much as I hate to admit it you are right. We will be seeing each other and I do want us to get along. What happened in the past happened a long time ago and I do want to work through it. Why don't we get together and talk, clear the air and stuff?" Brooke knew that it was the right thing to do, not only for Nathan but for herself too. Once upon a time Lucas had been a really good friend to Brooke. If he was willing to try and work towards that then so was she.

"That sounds good. I am in town until Sunday, so when is good for you?"

"What about tomorrow, in the morning? That way it will be all said and done so we can both enjoy our Thanksgivings as well as the rest of our vacations." Brooke knew that Nathan wanted to invite Lucas to have dinner with them, but that Nathan was concerned that it bother Brooke so he hadn't done it yet. Brooke didn't want it to be that way. If Nathan wanted him there she wanted to be okay with it.

"That's fine. Why don't we meet at my mom's café at like 11? Does that work for you? We can have breakfast and talk."

"Sounds good, I will see you then. Now, let's save it all for tomorrow and just relax and have a good time tonight. Why don't you go back and play pool with the boys. It looks like that boyfriend of mine could really use a hand." Brooke gestured over to the table where Nathan had a very frustrated look on his face.

"Amazing isn't it? He can rule a basketball court but he can not hold his own on a pool table. Go figure." Lucas chuckled a little and then took off towards the boys. As he did Peyton walked out from the bathroom and over to Brooke.

"Did I just see what I think I saw?"

"Yeah, we are going to talk. Tomorrow morning, work through everything. I really do want us to be friends." Brooke knew that her best friend would understand that it was just something she had to do.

"That is really good of you Brooke. Nathan is really lucky to have someone who cares about him as much as you do. I think that it is incredible that you are doing this for him." Peyton was impressed, Brooke was never a fan of digging through past dirt if it wasn't necessary.

"It isn't just for him, but for me too. I need to let this go, for good. I want Lucas and I to have a clean slate." Brooke paused for a minute, "But enough about that for now. Let's go see how those boyfriends of ours are doing.

The girls wandered over to the boys. As soon as Nathan saw Brooke heading his way his eyes lit up. He wondered how it was possible that every time he saw Brooke he was mesmerized by her beauty. She literally took his breathe away.

Brooke walked up to Nathan and stood on her tip toes to kiss him on his cheek. Nathan had seen her talking to Lucas, "Is everything okay Brooke?"

"Yeah, it will be fine. Lucas and I are going to talk tomorrow. But I was thinking, you should invite him to have dinner with us tomorrow. There isn't any reason that we can't all be together. We haven't gotten to be for years now." Brooke looked up towards Nathan. "It is important for us to all be together."

"Brooke, are you absolutely sure that you will be okay with this?" Nathan loved her for even suggesting is, but he didn't want Brooke to feel uncomfortable.

Brooke looked Nathan in the eyes, "Absolutely sure."