Wow… thank you so much for reviewing! I actually got a review from one of my favorite authors on the site right now saying that she liked my story! Haha, I was so excited by reviews that I danced around the computer room for a few minutes before I realized that I was in here to update! Lol. Seriously though, you guys are totally awesome, and I couldn't ask for better readers! (Ha, I sound like I'm making an acceptance speech... few years too early! Lol) So, without further adieu, your update, chapter four!

Disclaimer: Nope, still nothing….:sigh:. One of these days, though…

At The Heart Of It All

Chapter Four

Dancing Through Sunday

"Mom! Relax! Everything's fine. Yes, Brooke spent the weekend. Now you believe that everything is okay? Geez, some faith you have in your only son! Nah, you know I'm kidding. Have a good time in New Zealand. Love you too… bye ma," Lucas said, snapping his cell phone shut. He had been sitting on the balcony outside of Tim's, taking a phone call from his mom who had been spending time in New Zealand with a "friend". However, the only ones they were fooling with their "friend" business was themselves, and Lucas was honestly happy for his mom and Andy.

The house was packed full of sweating, dancing people. Anyone who was anyone was there, including a few wannabes who had the potential to make the A-List… next year. So naturally, Brooke and Lucas were there. This was a perfect opportunity for Brooke to make her 'return' after exiting with such disgrace it was a new low for her. But she had spent the weekend in the company of her bestest friend, and nothing could bring her down… or so she thought.

"Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't get your call, Haley. I wasn't at home," Brooke explained with an apologetic shrug. She was a little surprised to find that she actually meant it… Brooke wasn't genuine with that many people, but Haley felt like a girl she could trust. She and Haley weren't very close friends, but they had bumped into each other outside the tutoring center, and just starting talking. They found that (shock!) the bad girl cheerleader and the good girl tutor actually did have a few things in common. Haley wasn't the coolest, but she was cool with Brooke.

"Hey Brooke!" Peyton Sawyer said, bouncing up to her wearing a big smile.

"Peyton? Are you smiling?" Brooke asked in astonishment. "How much have you had to drink?"

Peyton's smile kept up, but it looked much more forced, and hate was in her eyes. "Oh Brooke, you're… so… funny. Anyway, is Lucas here?"

Haley raised her neatly arched eyebrows and Brooke rolled her eyes upon realizing Peyton's true intentions.

"Oh… um, actually, sorry Peyton, Luke didn't come tonight," Brooke lied through her teeth.

"Really?" Peyton said coolly, not even bothering to pretend she liked the girls anymore. "Then just let him know I'm looking for him."

"Will do," Brooke said, with a gleeful grin. She was beginning to truly enjoy being a spectator in Peyton's 'Quest for the Golden Boy'. Brooke truly loved to watch her rivals fail, and since Peyton had been competing with her for almost everything ever since they were having a contest in pre-k to see who could keep up their hula hoop longest…and this was a contest Brooke was sure that Peyton wouldn't win.

"So you wanna tell me what that was about?" Haley asked with a smirk

"Um Brooke, don't look now, but here comes Felix… and Theresa," Haley said, pointing over Brooke's bare shoulder and trying not to look too obvious about it. A wicked grin flitted across the head cheerleader's face, because this was what she had been waiting for the whole weekend. A chance to show them that they didn't affect her, not in the least. Brooke knew that she looked hot in her tight red backless top and the black miniskirt that fit her like a second skin. Now she just had to act like she felt good. She took to the dance floor, and everyone took notice. Dancing her way around the room, grinding up against random guys, she made it a point to dance with all of them for a little bit and then just dance away, dance her way around the floor. However nobody was more surprised than her when her bright green eyes met a set of piercing blue ones as she collided with a body she knew so well… except for maybe him.

Giving him a little shrug, she cupped one hand around his neck and started moving to the beat. He looked at her a little strangely, but mercifully said nothing… because God knows that neither of them could take more awkwardness. However, that all melted away as he began to move with her. He slid his hands around her waist and pulled her closer. He was relieved that she wasn't a cheerleader he would have to make up an excuse to get away from, and she was relieved that he wasn't a guy that expected her to sleep with them after a dance and a drink. His hand slid down, coming to brush against her thigh, and her fingers played with the hair on the back of his neck. Both were more than a little surprised that they didn't feel uncomfortable, being so close to each other. The way they were dancing didn't say much for personal space, and definitely wouldn't have been approved of if there actually were chaperones at the party, like they had all assured their parents that there were. Luke's fingers played along the edge of Brooke's skirt, and their faces were so close together that she could practically taste him, and she couldn't help but wish that he would go a little farther. There was something that she didn't recognize in his eyes, and he leaned a little bit forward and she thought to herself 'Oh my God… is this actually happening?' when---

The lights went out.

"Whoa! Who turned the sun out?" Tim called out, obviously drunk.

"Its night, Tim, and you just tripped over the extension cord! Now somebody please plug it the hell back in?" Peyton called irritably from the couch.

Brooke stood completely still, slightly on tip-toe, holding her breath. She had no idea what was going to happen next, but Lucas hadn't moved his head forward, a bad sign, and he hadn't moved backwards, a good sign. Both stood there, suspended in time, waiting for reality to come crashing back in. As the music came back on as a dull roar, Lucas pulled Brooke into a hug, effectively changing the scenario back into a friendly one… the kind they were familiar with.

"You want something to drink?" he asked, shifting and putting his hands in his pockets.

"Nah, I'm good."

Lucas nodded, and kissed her forehead, and began to turn away. Brooke, grabbing his arm, pulled him back to her and gave him a lingering kiss on the cheek.

"I'll see you later," Luke said, but it sounded like a question.

"Of course you will, best friend!" she said, but her voice decreased in volume as he was lost in the crowd until 'best friends' was a whisper only she could hear.

Brooke ambled over to Haley, plopping down into her seat with a sigh.

"So?" Haley asked.

"What?" Brooke responded, swirling her drink around in her cup.

"So, inquiring minds want to know! Was Brooke Davis really just all over Lucas Scott? Because it certainly looked like that to the inquiring mind!"

"Hey! Luke's my best friend! We were just dancing!" Brooke said, unaware of the small smile spreading across her face.

"Just dancing?" Haley scoffed. "Yeah, and the Atlantic's just some water. Come on…" she goaded. "You know that totally turned you on!"

Brooke blushed a little, and laughed out loud at how straight-forward she was being.

"A little…

Thanks again for reading! Your update is only five reviews away! lol

xo Sam