Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, I got hit with writer's block (hence the reason 'A Change of Fortune' hasn't been updated either). I hope you enjoy this chapter, but a word of warning:

This chapter contains some mild spoilers for the upcoming episode, courtesy of the Cingular preview. It's not a huge spoiler (just dialogue), but if you want to wait until the episode airs, then that is fine by me. I just thought I should warn you.

Chapter Seven: Growing Stronger Warm And Wilder

"So," Peyton said as Brooke sat down beside them at lunchtime on Monday, "You were decidedly AWOL on Sunday. I tried calling you," she complained.

"Sorry, Dan made us all go to church," Brooke apologized.

"What is the spawn of Satan doing in a church?" Haley questioned laughing to herself over the irony of it all.

"Beats me. But he was pretty adamant we go," Brooke bit into her sandwich, "I think I'm going next week too," she groaned, "my butt went numb from sitting on those hard pews for two hours while Father Thomas went on and on about drinking on moderation."

"Ouch, do you think it had anything to do with Lucas on Friday night?"

"Almost definitely. Dan just sat there with a smug look on his face. And then the best part was when we forced us to go to confession," Brooke told them, being met by gasps of disbelief.

"He didn't?"

"Oh, he did."

"Well, what did you do?" Peyton asked, finding it all unbelievably funny.

"I confessed… I broke my diet," she giggled. Haley hit her on the arm.

"That is not funny," Haley told her trying to suppress laughter.

"Oh yes it is," Peyton replied, "I bet Dan thought you'd spill about what happened on Friday night or something like that."

"If I did it doesn't matter anyway. He wouldn't be able to find out about it. I guess he just wanted to scare us or something. Lucas was pretty pissed about it though."

"What did Lucas confess?" Peyton asked. Brooke shrugged.

"He didn't say so I didn't want to pry."

"Well, how did your dinner go after the game?" Haley asked, "He didn't act like an ass, did he?"

"Actually no, he was pretty pleasant. I think he's decided that acting like a two-year old gets him nowhere, not that I'm complaining because I actually like talking to him. He's different to what people see him as," Brooke explained. Peyton snorted.

"Yeah, right."

"He is. Ask Haley, he's always nice to her and Nathan. He even offered to pay the tab, but we ended up splitting it in half."

"Sounds like you've got a new friend," Haley told her. Brooke smiled to herself.

"Yeah, well… let's hope it sticks. I like nice, friendly, intelligent Lucas. He's much more bearable to get on with," Brooke said with a sigh.

Brooke, Haley and Peyton then chatted amongst themselves, unaware that Felix was sitting nearby and watching the three of them.

"You know you have a death wish," Anna, his twin sister, told him, "You and Lucas have never got on and going after his girl isn't going to make matters any better," she warned.

Felix snorted, "Word is that Lucas doesn't even like Brooke. Plus, she's a grown up girl who can make her own decisions."

"Doesn't mean they're the right decisions," Anna muttered under her breath, "No offence, but I still think that this is a bad idea."

"That's only because Lucas screwed you over. Plus, the girl on her left is pretty hot too," Felix chuckled.

"That's Haley Scott. Lucas' sister-in-law. Do you not even see the wedding band on her finger?" Anna pointed out.

"So?"

"Sometimes I even wonder if you have anything between your ears, Felix. You really don't care what Lucas is going to do to you if you mess with Brooke or Haley, do you?" Felix shrugged it off, seeing it as something he could get away with. "Fine, fine. Go ahead and ask Brooke out, but if Lucas wipes the floor with you, I'm letting him."

Anna walked away, shaking her head as she watched Felix about to go and get himself into more trouble.

Seeing himself as the school's resident Casanova, her brother didn't care what he did or who he hurt. Anna knew that Felix envied Lucas and longed to have the charisma and charm that made all the girls fall down at his feet. But, alas, Felix was merely a pale comparison. Yet, it didn't stop girls from falling down at his feet either. Felix loved nothing more than to step on Lucas' toes, knowing full well that Lucas's father was one tough cookie. Although Lucas had the skills on the basketball court, Felix had independence from his traveling parents and just happened to be just as wealthy as Lucas and his family.

It was almost like Romeo and Juliet, except there was no way either of these guys would ever be civil to one another, let alone fall in love. It was power, greed and wealth that drove the rivalry straight into the history books of Tree Hill High. Whether it was fights on the playground, at various parties or just verbal sparring, Lucas Scott and Felix Tagaro were destined to be enemies.

And putting Lucas' girl in the middle of that was bound to cause fireworks.

Anna shook her head, hoping that nobody would get hurt in the cross-fire. Their father had already warned Felix that military school was near, and that he was on his very last chance.

Although Anna could help but think that maybe it would be for the best.

Felix made his way towards the trio of girls and when they saw his shadow cast across the table, they look up at him.

"Can we help you?" Peyton asked. Felix grinned and looked at Brooke.

"You," he said to her, "are so damn fine."

The three laughed out loudly at his attempt to pick Brooke up. Felix frowned slightly.

"Does that line actually work?" Brooke asked.

"Well, usually but I can see you're much too sophisticated for that. Can I ask you a question?"

"Um, sure," Brooke said.

"Do you like cars?"

"I love cars," Brooke told him, "It's my guilty pleasure."

"Well in that case, I have a car you'll just love."

"Really?" Brooke asked skeptically.

"Yup. Although you can only see it on one condition."

"And what's that?"

"You let me take you out to dinner tonight," Brooke laughed and looked at her two girlfriends who just stared at her in interest. "Well, what do you say?" Felix asked.

"You're going out with Felix Tagaro?"

"Yes."

"Tonight?" Lucas asked. Brooke sighed as she walked towards her closet.

"Yes," she repeated again.

"Okay, do you actually know who this guy is?" Lucas was still in disbelief that Brooke could even think about going out with him, "The guy's a slime who doesn't even respect women, I don't want you hanging around him."

"You know, you could be describing yourself there, Lucas. Need I remind you the rumors about you and the new girl-of-the-week?" Brooke asked, "Plus, it's only one night." She reasoned.

"That you'll never get back. I'm telling you that he's bad news. Didn't Haley and Peyton tell you that?" Lucas questioned. Brooke continued to look through her closet.

"They told me he has a reputation, but – not that it's any of your business – I have a good head on my shoulders. I don't fall for those fancy dinners and lame pick-up lines."

"I thought you wanted to see his 'car'" Lucas made air-quotes with his fingers, "You know, I always use my car to get into girl's pa-"

"That's something I really didn't need to know," Brooke cut him off, "And yes, I do love cars and I'm vaguely interested in his. It's just he's the first guy that's asked me out and I figured I may as well."

Lucas sighed, "I hate you doing this, you know that right?"

"How could I not? You've been going on about how much you hate him for almost 15 minutes now. It's getting kind of boring. You hate him, he hates you, I got it," she said pulling out an outfit and showing it to Lucas, "What do you think?"

"Isn't it a little… slutty?" Lucas questioned. Brooke arched an eyebrow.

"It's a sweater and a skirt. How can that possibly be slutty?" Lucas shrugged and Brooke replaced it on the rack, "Look, if it makes you feel any better, I promise you I won't… do anything with him."

Lucas looked up at her, "You won't?" he asked suddenly brightening up.

"Not on the first date anyway. Look, it's none of your business anyway, but I would never do anything I wasn't comfortable with. But it doesn't mean I won't go out with him again if I want to, got it?" Lucas sighed.

"Fine. But if he ever lays a finger on you…"

"Yes, you can kick his ass. Now will you please go?" she asked as she virtually pushed him out of her room.

Brooke closed the door and Lucas stood outside, staring at it for a while. He took a deep breath and hoped that Brooke would realise what an ass Felix was – without getting hurt.

Although he knew that the chances of that were very slim. The least he could do was to be there to pick up the pieces, or at the very least, kick Felix's ass.

Brooke flinched as the door made an audible click as she closed it behind her. She paused for several seconds and waited to see if anyone heard. Thinking that the coast was clear, she stood up straight from her and spun around; only for the lights to flick open. She looked at the unimpressed figure standing at the doorway.

"Karen," she said, "hi."

"It's late," Karen informed the girl, "Where have you been? You were supposed to be home two hours ago."

"I'm know, I lost track of time at the party Felix dragged me too and then he wanted to show off his car. It's fast," Brooke explained.

"So you broke curfew to go to a party and then go speeding around in a boy's car?" Karen asked.

"Well, when you put it like that…"

"I know that Dan is on business but I expect you to show me the same respect as you would show him. I may not appear as harsh as he does but rules are rules and you seem to have broken some of them tonight." Karen said sternly, a side Brooke had never seen before.

"I'm sorry," Brooke offered meekly.

"That's not going to cut it, Brooke. You had me up worrying about you. You didn't even call!" Karen raised her voice slightly.

"Felix told me-"

"Felix is not a part of this household and never will be. I set the rules and if you break them, you must suffer the consequences."

"Consequences?"

"You're grounded for a week. You will do the chores I set you, help out in the café everyday after school this week and there will be no parties, dates or driving. I'm confiscating your car keys," Karen said holding out her hand for them. Brooke sighed and handed them to Karen, whining slightly as Karen tucked it safely away in her pocket.

"What about practice?" Brooke questioned.

"Lucas will drive you to and from school and practice," Karen told her, "Are we clear?"

"I've never been grounded before," Brooke said mostly to herself.

"Well there's a first time to everything," Karen said, "There'll be a list of chores for you in the morning. Good night."

Karen left Brooke's room and the young girl sighed. She wasn't used to having parents around and had never really faced their wrath before.

And worst of all, she never had done any chores.

Lucas watched in amusement as Brooke scrubbed the kitchen floor with a sponge. Dressed down in jeans and a sweatshirt, the girl's hair was a mess as she tried in vain to remove a stain off the floor.

"Hey, Cinderella," he said making her aware of his presence, "Are you hanging in there?"

"I never knew your mom was so harsh. She's almost as bad as Dan," Brooke said as she took a break.

"Oh come on, Dan would probably only give you a toothbrush," Lucas told her, Brooke chuckled.

"Yeah, probably. It's just that I can't believe she actually grounded me. I thought she liked me."

"Brooke," he told her, "She does like you. I mean, she cares enough about you to ground you." Brooke let out a laugh and shook her head. Lucas leant down next to her, "So what number are you up to? Three?" he guessed.

"Four!" Brooke told him slightly proud, "Mop the kitchen floor," Brooke resumed rubbing the floor with the sponge.

Lucas looked at her and began to laugh.

"And you're using a sponge?" he questioned. Brooke slowed to a stop and looked at him.

"Is that wrong?" her question was met with a smile and a laugh from Lucas, one she had never seen. Although initially put out, Brooke saw the funny side and within seconds she was in hysterics too.

"Come on," he said to her through his laughs, "I'll teach you how to really mop a floor," he helped her to her feet and took her to a cupboard near the door. He opened it.

"Wow, there are actual things in there," Brooke gasped.

"Yes, and this is a mop," he produced an object Brooke vaguely remembered seeing before. "Watch and learn," he told her as he began teaching her how to mop the floor.

Karen watched from the doorway as the two teenagers giggled to themselves. Even though Lucas knew he wasn't supposed to help Brooke do her chores since she was grounded, and she was still a little annoyed at Brooke's antics; she also couldn't help but feel content at the fact that they were getting along.

It had been a long time since the voices of teenagers filled the big house and she liked having a daughter. Though Brooke could not replace her youngest son, she was pleased that both she and Lucas had the young brunette's company.

To Be Continued…