Wow, I just realized that I like totally forgot the disclaimer on chapter five… but I'm pretty sure that you guys know that I own nothing that has anything to do with anything. However, I do own a very cute pair of blue-tint sunglasses, which are perfect for hiding your eyes when they are red from crying, much like mine were after seeing Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants last night. Everybody should totally see that, and bring your best friend with you! Also, I'd just like to tell you guys that there's a book like based on One Tree Hill out now (saw it, bought it, from Barnes and Noble last night). It's called A Heart So True and it has that pose of Hilarie, Chad and Sophia where they're all wearing white shirts… I think you know which picture I'm talking about. Anyway, it's a Brooke story… so you know I loved it. I'm not going to give anymore about it away, but for all the other hopeless addicts of One Tree Hill just like me, I thought you'd want to know. Lol. Now that I've babbled for a while, and even spoke about something completely irrelevant, I think I'll give you chapter six! Haha enjoy!

Ooh, one more thing: Jeytonlover, don't worry. Hint hint! Haha

Disclaimer: Yeah, nothing's mine…which is pretty darn sad, if you ask me.

At The Heart Of It All

Chapter Six

Another Word For Desperate

Brooke Davis always loved being the one who held all the cards. She relished telling someone something shocking, watching their reaction, and just watching with a satisfied smile on her face. And, if she had known just how adorably shocked Lucas would look, she would have propositioned him years ago!

"I'm sorry, I must be hearing things, but did you just ask me out?" Lucas said, completely bewildered.

"I did… but not as my real boyfriend," Brooke explained, and then frowned, realizing that that was the least efficient explanation she had ever given anybody. Naturally, she knew Lucas was confused even before he opened his mouth. Raising a hand to silence him, she trudged on.

"I need someone to help me stick it to Felix. The entire school thinks I'm so pathetic, and that I'm actually hung up on him!"

"Are you?" Lucas challenged.

"NO! I haven't thought about him for a week! Unless of course, you count the I'm-going-to-get-revenge-on-your-ass kind of way, in which case, yes, I'm rather hung up." Brooke defended fiercely, causing Lucas to laugh a little before remembering the seriousness of the issue at hand.

"Brooke, I know that this sucks. This sucks, he sucks, and this isn't fair. But what the hell does this have to do with me becoming your not real boyfriend… whatever that is?"

"Okay, it's like this. He cheated on me."

"Yes, I did understand that part Brooke."

"Hush Broody! I'm not done!"

"I hoped not."

"Anyway. So he made a fool out of me, and broke my heart all at once by going behind my back with another girl. So now I need somebody to help me prove to Tree Hill High that I am totally, completely, 100 over Felix Taggaro. Somebody that I can actually stand… preferably. Flings won't do this time. I need a boyfriend, actually or just for show, and I think you'd be perfect for the job."

"Brooke… you know that you are my best friend in the entire world, but that is absolutely insane. Why am I the perfect candidate for your plot?"

"Because you hate Felix as much as I do." Brooke said simply.

"Cheery, I've hated Felix for a while now. I've never tried to get back at him before."

"Oh really? What about Anna?"

"Brooke…" he began, a warning shining in his clear blue eyes, but she was too far gone to stop now.

"Luke! You can't keep pretending it didn't happen! I don't know why you can't talk about it."

"Because I loved her."

"You did, didn't you? And if I remember correctly, she seemed to love you too…" she said with a tone that made him wary of walking right into a trap.

"Yes—we—were—in—love—"Lucas said through gritted teeth.

"Yeah, you guys were pretty perfect for each other. Humm… I wonder why you guys broke up."

"Brooke—"

"No Lucas! Don't pretend like Felix had nothing to do with that! He ruined me, and he helped ruin you! That break up made you a shell for our entire sophomore year!" Brooke shouted, tired of playing cat and mouse. It was time to lay everything on the table. "Please Luke? I need you."

And her "I need you" combined with the tears building up in her eyes was something that stuck with him for the rest of his life.

"Did you hear about who Brooke Davis nabbed this time?"

"Brooke's got a new guy? Isn't she all heartbroken over Felix?"

"Please, like anybody could be heartbroken when they're hooking up with Lucas Scott!"

"Are you kidding me?"

"Nope. Some girls have all the luck!"

Brooke observed the scene with a kind of detached satisfaction. It was like ever since she entered the double doors of Tree Hill High, she had been floating above herself, looking on from high above them all. Maybe because she had been floating on cloud nine ever since Lucas had actually agreed to the ruse. Finally, the whole school would know that Felix Taggaro was nothing more than a proverbial notch on her bedpost. She didn't really see him that way, but she wanted everyone else to. However, nobody would ever think that she would bother with feelings for anybody else when she had a guy like Lucas Scott. Speaking of, where was her gorgeous "boyfriend"?

As if on cue, the doors to the gym flew open, and there stood Lucas. For a second, Brooke could see what all those Scott groupies saw…

Shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts, Brooke's out of body experience was over and she was suddenly painfully aware of everything around her. She was almost having déjà vu, almost waiting for Bevin to walk over and blow her world to pieces. Except this time it was Lucas who approached her, spotting her from all the way down the hall and making his way towards her. Instead of destroying her, he laced his fingers through hers, sending a spark through both of them, and said…

"Hey babe. Good day?"

A slow, heart-felt smile spread across her face as she realized that this day would be so much better than that one.

Reviews are adored! I'm working on being able to post up two more chapters tomorrow, but I guess that's up to you guys... ? Thanks for reading!

xo Sam