Well, I'm sick today, so that means a day off of school for me and some more updates for you guys! Enjoy. .:sneezes:.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything, not the characters or locations mentioned, or even Burger King… but, I am eating one of those Hershey Sundae Pies, which everyone should, because they're great.

At The Heart Of It All

Chapter 12

Just Watch The Fireworks

Lucas loved basketball, but not as much as he loved the River Court. It was his sort of solace, a quiet place where he could be alone. Whenever Nathan went to practice alone (or just to prove how tough he was), he went to play ball in the abandoned school gym… but that just wasn't for Lucas. He preferred the natural, uninhabited atmosphere that "his" court provided. He loved to watch the water floating past him, the bright city lights reflecting, a disco under the surf.

He had discovered long ago that water was good for thinking. It alone, it was a very ponderous matter. It could be so much fun, made for a swim. It can represent all your heartache or your joy in a simple tear sliding down your cheek. It can sustain you, a cool drink of water on a sweltering summer's day. Or it can pull you under completely. 'Just like Brooke…' Lucas thought with a sigh.

He'd left his house early that morning, just like he always did, to go down to the court to play. When he awoke, he found Brooke spooned closely against him, and listening to her whimpers of protest as he pulled away almost prompted him to change his routine. Almost. So though he'd had the intention of getting some good time on the court, he found himself sitting on a bench, staring out at the water that he both loved and feared, and thinking about her.

--------

"Luke?" Brooke groaned, reaching for the spot where he had laid that night. Instead of his hair, her hand found a crisp sheet of paper. Grabbing it with the tips of her chipped nails (note to self: re-do French manicure!), she flipped it open and found that he had gone to the River Court. Color her surprised. Squinting in the bright lights, she took a moment to let the events of the night before flood back to her: her, Lucas, movie, Anna, talk, tear, kiss—kiss? She let out a satisfied smile. It had been good. But how weird was that? She kissed her best friend. With tongue. 'Guess it's a good thing Peyton's not still my best friend.' Brooke thought. She made a face at both herself and her thought in the mirror. 'Please Davis, be a little weirder…'

However, Brooke did have one regret. How much more complicated would this make her relationship with Lucas? Already she had all these new feelings for him, and God knows she couldn't say them to him. He probably just kissed her on impulse. It probably didn't mean anything to him. The worst part was, she couldn't even confide in Haley… because Haley thought that Brooke and Lucas really were dating, and why would she care if they had kissed? What's so angsty about that? Geez, Hales had no idea.

"Fine…he wants to leave without waking me up. No hot water for him!" the brunette said with a little cackle before dashing into the bathroom, dodging all the sports memorabilia of his and movie stuff from the night before, strewn all about the room--- just missing her second voicemail of the morning.

--------

"So Haley needs a boyfriend, I'm thinking," Brooke said, her face lighting up. Lucas could practically see the wheels turning in her head as she grabbed the only remaining unburned French fry off his plate. Rolling his eyes, he was about to mention that he was going to eat that, but decided against it.

"Interesting logic. What does this have to do with me? Last time I checked, I was your fake boyfriend. I can't be hers too!"

"Not you be her boyfriend doofus! Broody, come on! I need your help!" she pleaded in a low voice. Lucas looked wearily around the café, able to see all from their vantage point in the corner. He glanced around the small, cozy restaurant, deep eyes skimming casually over the room, until they came to rest on a much disheveled looking Haley taking Nathan's order, but it looked a lot more like flirting to Luke. Lucas watched, very interested.

"Broody? You with me? Helllooooo? Luke? What are you looking a--- Oh my God! That is so cool! Now Tutor Girl can hook up with Nathan and make Jake absolutely green with envy!" Brooke squealed, and he noticed that she did that adorable little clapping thing she always did when she was excited.

"Cheery… do you have any idea how many things can possibly go wrong with that plan?"

"Well, duh. A lot of things could've gone wrong with our plan too. But so far, I don't think either of us are complaining," she purred suggestively. Instead of laughing like he usually would, Lucas stared deeply into her eyes. Opening his mouth to say something, anything, Haley walked over. Her voice was cheerful, but a crimson blush stained her cheeks.

"Hey guys! What's up?"

"Nothing's up with us Tutor Girl, but I'd love to ask you the same question."

"What do you mean by that, Tigger?"

"Well, your face is as red as my nail polish," Brooke began, waving her hand around for emphasis. "And Natey Boy over there hasn't stopped staring at you ever since you walked away!"

"Cheery… your nails are white."

"Wow, thanks for stealing my thunder, Luke."

"Anytime, babe," he said easily, taking her hand and lacing his fingers through hers. Stroking her palm with his rough thumb, he looked up towards Haley to see what she made of the exchange, trying to gauge her reaction, wondering if anybody actually bought that he and his best friend were a couple. Word around school was that they were, in fact, faking it, because they'd never had "the announcement kiss", and as popular juniors, that was pretty much a requirement. Brooke was completely stricken though. The spark she'd felt, it had shot through her so suddenly, so unexpectedly. Catching Luke's eye, she saw him grin and knew he felt it too. She felt a silly little grin spread across her face.

"You two are so cute together! But I'll leave you lovebirds alone. See ya!"

"Bye Ha—wow, you'd think that she'd let me get out her whole name before she scrambled back over to your brother. Why don't let just get it on and release the world of this tension!"

"Brooke. This is probably their first actual conversation. And besides, I don't think any of the other customers would really appreciate it if they 'released their tension' here and 'got it on', as you so delicately put it. I know I wouldn't," Lucas said, rolling his eyes. She noted that he still hadn't removed his hands.

"Why don't we get out of here?" he asked, and she raised her eyebrows. "God Cheery, get your mind out of the gutter!"

"Can't blame a girl for trying!" she tossed off, rubbing against him as she went to go get her coat from behind the counter.

--------

The walls shook, the floor shook, the people shook. It was a typical Saturday night at Tric. The "In" Crowd was all there, so of course Brooke and Lucas could be found sitting together at a booth. She was perched on his lap, in an open display of their newfound "couple"-dom, but quite a few people in the club could remember her in a similar spot on many a drunken night. But of course, nobody mentioned that. Instead they commented on how great Lucas and Brooke were together, how adorable they were, how gorgeous she was, and the same for him. They said nothing but, "I know!" and "Thank you," depending on the question, but you know what they say… actions speak louder than words. By the time the seventh person approached them, Brooke was beaming with a pleasant mixture of pride and giddiness, and Lucas was looking down at her with something that could only be adoration.

"Luke, you better take good care of her. She's quite a woman," a basketball player said, words laced with mockery and innuendo but neither member of the happy mock-couple cared.

"I know," Lucas said, wrapping his strong arms around her tiny waist and pulling her closer to him. He placed a chaste kiss to her forehead, and they melted into each other as if that was how they always had been. How they were always meant to be.

------

"Hey Broody… have you seen Hales?" asked Brooke around a half an hour later, sitting up, ignoring his noises of protest.

"No… maybe we should look for her?" Lucas responded, concern flooding his eyes that held such depth. That was one of the things Brooke loved about him, how he could care so much about someone he barely knew. It had been only a few days since Haley and Lucas had lunch together, but he was already prepared to swoop in and be her savior.

"You have such a knight in shining armor complex," Brooke laughed, but grabbed his large hand and pulled him with her through the club in pursuit of her scholarly friend.

------

"Luke? Have you seen her yet? Do you think that she's okay?" Brooke babbled, panic starting to set in after not being able to find Haley, fifteen minutes later. They had searched high and low, inside and outside the club and hadn't seen hide nor hair of the petite brunette.

"Um… I think she's just fine. More than fine actually. I'm sure she's great, er, having a great time… um…"

"Lucas, what the hell are you looking at? Where is Haley?" Brooke demanded. Luke gaped wordlessly, and just gestured to a dark corner of the club. Brooke spun, her hair slapping mercilessly against his face, but neither of them noticed. They were both in shock. Because there in that corner was Haley James, the one and only Tutor Girl, making out with Nathan Scott.

"So I guess we found Haley," Lucas said unnecessarily, uneasily clearing his throat.

"Hell yes we found Haley! Oh my GOD! Broody, this is SO AWESOME! Wait… there's one thing that will make this more awesome," Brooke said, hurriedly opening her purse and pulling out her phone. She quickly spanned a picture of Haley and Nathan in the corner.

"I didn't realize you were that much of a voyeur," Lucas said, eyebrows raised.

"Oh, that isn't for me. It's for Jake!" she giggled. They both laughed as they realized how simple the plan was, and how effective it would be. Even if Jake wasn't at Tric tonight, he'd certainly get an eyeful.

"So, do you think we should let them know that they're in public?"

"Nah Broody… just sit back and watch the fireworks," Brooke said easily, leaning against him.

"Or make your own…" he suggested innocently.

"Luke! What…?" Brooke laughed.

"Shh… no more talking," he said, slowly backing up with her still in his arms. Brooke's eyes widened even further in surprise when she felt her back hit the wall… or saw his arm come up next to her head… or felt him inch closer and closer… or smelled his cologne, the smell she loved more than anything, that was so distinctly him…or felt him lean in closer, lowering his head to hers, tipping her chin upwards…

Shock gave way to giddy anticipation as she met his lips halfway.

Like it? Hate it? Ahh, I really want your opinion on this chapter! Lol. That's why I'm posting it in the Chapter 13 slot and leaving the Author's Note up, even though the numbering system is really killing me lol. I just wanted to make sure that nobody would get confused with the disappearance and end up missing the chapter. So, please leave your comments, because I'm dying to know what y'all think! Thanks for reading!

xo Sam