Hey everybody! Thanks to the reviewers, because reviews always make my day… and (but don't let it get around!) I do occasionally alter my stories according to reviewer response. You guys have some awesome ideas! Anyway, I really want to thank lala for making my day, possibly my week. Your review meant so much to me! To care44, I'm sorry that I'm confusing you. Lol, I'm a little confused myself as I'm writing the chapters, but Lucas is definitely the more confused one. Basically, he's currently attracted to Brooke (his best friend, and acting-girlfriend), but the scars from Anna haven't quite healed. I wouldn't say he's still in love with her, but what she did still totally hurts, and he hasn't moved past the pain yet, and now that she's back, he feels the pain all over again. Hope that clears some of it up! Lol

At The Heart Of It All

Chapter Sixteen

Takes You By Surprise

BROOKE DAVIS—WILL YOU GO TO PROM WITH ME?

The bright, beautiful banner hung across the main entrance to the school, and Brooke stood in front of it, on the verge of tears. This was by the far the sweetest thing anybody had ever done for her. There was no name attached, but she had a pretty good idea of who it was. Especially if the gorgeous blonde boy approaching her was any indication.

"Hey babe," Lucas said, coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist, and looking up, taking in the sign. "Wow," he let out a low whistle. "…all that for you? Somebody must think that you're pretty special."

"Wow. He's certainly a romantic. Well, whoever he is, I'll definitely have to say yes to him. Sorry Broody," she teased, looking over her shoulder at him.

"That's okay; I'm pretty set with my date. She's the most beautiful girl in the entire school. She's got these amazing bright green eyes, long, soft, shiny brown hair, and the world's cutest dimples. Oh, and she's in my arms right now. Anyway, yeah, I'm pretty sure we're going together. Especially because she just said she'd have to say yes to me," he said with a large smile stretching across his face, his lips just inches from hers. She beamed at him, closing the distance and meeting him for a sweet kiss, right in the middle of the hallway. It was the perfect positioning to make everybody and anybody jealous, as all the hopeless romantics in their audience awwwww-ed and clapped.

As Brooke pulled back, leaned her head on his shoulder, and opened her eyes, still smiling, she thought that nothing could ever bring her down today. That is, until she laid eyes on a dark figure lurking in the corner. Taking in his smug smile, arms crossed across his muscular chest, leaning confidently against the locker, looking at Felix immediately ebbed away at Brooke's elation. He looked her over knowingly, and sent her a wink that shot a cold feeling down her spine. God, what did she get herself into?

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"So, that was a pretty cool thing you did for Brooke today," Haley began, sliding into the seat opposite Lucas. He was in his Study Hall, and had no idea Haley was even in this class. But that was Haley for you—full of surprises.

"She's worth it," Lucas said simply, shrugging his shoulders. However, it didn't go unnoticed by Haley how he lit up just by the mention of Brooke.

"That's a lot of effort for a relationship that isn't real," she said in hushed tones, testing him. His eyes snapped to hers.

"What?" he asked, clearly on edge.

"You know… how your relationship is for show, so that everybody doesn't think that you're pathetic and moping over those psycho twins…"

Lucas was obviously uncomfortable. "Oh… that… well, then I'm guessing Brooke told you, because that's a little detailed and…"

"Yeah, Brooke told me, you know, in the interest of full friendship disclosure. I think that's really nice of you to help her out."

"Anything for a friend, right?" he countered with a lopsided grin.

"Sure, of course," Haley shrugged.

Lucas smiled up at her and went back to reading his book. He was rereading The Great Gatsby for about the fourteenth time. Luke never could get enough of a really good book. However, his peace was slightly disturbed by Haley's twitching. He hadn't known her for that long, but he could tell that she had something to say.

"Aww Hales, just say it…"

"Okay," she took a deep breath. "I don't think that you guys are faking it anymore."

"What?" he asked. He hadn't seen that one coming.

"You and Brooke. You guys aren't a fake couple anymore, because you've got real feelings for each other. I know that it's a really difficult relationship between the two of you with all this drama, drama, drama, but I just thought that you should know."

"Huh."

"Just… she's a great girl, Luke. Don't let her get hurt again."

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It was 4:45, which meant that it was quiet time at the tutoring center. This was Haley's favorite time. She loved helping other people, but something about the calm, trusting environment made her love the center. Haley walked around, humming a little tune to herself. Nobody made her clean up, but she did it anyway. She couldn't stand it when it was a mess when she got there the next day.

Haley had been bending over to pick up a text book that happened to find its way to the floor when she caught sight of a pair of a pair of tan legs that ended in black sandals. Immediately she got up, curious as to who would enter the center at this time.

"Hi! Can I he—"Haley began brightly, but trailed off when she saw just who her visitor was.

"Yes, I do need help actually."

"Like that's news," Haley said bitingly, rolling her eyes and going back to organizing the room.

"You're Haley James, correct?"

"That's right Anna. And that's Haley with an L-E-Y, not an N-N-A-H."

"Um… whatever," Anna said, completely missing Haley's point.

"So I seriously doubt that you came here to chat, so would you mind telling me what the hell you want?"

"I need your help."

"What subject?"

"Lucas."

"HA! Not going to happen! I can't even believe you came here to ask me to help you with… I don't even know what you want, I don't care. Eww, not getting in the middle of that."

"Actually," Anna began in a tone that made Haley pause. "I have a feeling that you are going to want to hear what I have to say."

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The loud slamming of a heavy front door echoed throughout the empty house. It was full of beautiful and expensive objects, worth thousands of dollars, but the bitter teen that entered really could care less about anything but a blonde boy with deep eyes and a huge heart that she had previously broken. The angry girl swept through the house, leaving overturned objects in her wake.

"That bad, huh sis?" a smug voice called from the corner. 'Why the hell did he always lurk in corners? Freak,' she thought, and contemplated voicing it to him, but settled for--

"Shut up Felix!" she growled, frustration burning deep in her dark eyes, and a fierce look upon her face that made her brother backtrack.

"Seriously… how did it go? You know that I have as much invested in this as you do." He said seriously.

"Which I still don't understand. Why are you going after Brooke? Why do you have to ruin this for her too? Haven't you been enough of an ass to her?"

"Brooke and my relationship was more complicated than you know."

"The ending wasn't! You cheated, she left!" Anna spat, beyond fed up with her selfish brother and his ways.

"Right… I'm so selfish, I'm wrong, I don't deserve Brooke. Then remind me again why you should have Lucas? I do believe that I'm not the only one in this room who has fucked up!"

"Funny, both those mistakes are linked back to you!" Anna shouted, a tear running down her cheek at the mention of Lucas.

"Did you crack Haley?" Felix asked, totally changing the subject.

"No. I can't believe you actually sent me to try that. As if she doesn't already think I'm a mega-bitch, and I've known her for about fifteen minutes," Anna said bitterly.

"Well, aren't you?" he joked, but perhaps with a grain of truth.

"I'm not even going to dignify that with a response. But a hint, next time you're going to try to become some evil mastermind, you might want to dig up more dirt than cheating on a stupid math quiz taken a million years ago."

Yeah, that was kind of short, and I'm sorry, because it probably isn't too great, but my head is everywhere and nowhere, but I didn't want to leave you guys hanging lol. I'm going to try and update really soon, because there's a part that I wanted to include in this chapter but wasn't quite sure how, but I know a good spot for it next chapter. Well, please review and tell me your thoughts on the chapter, where I should take this story, etc. Thanks for reading!

Xo Sam