Wow you guys! Those were amazing reviews! Thank you so much! I'm sooo glad you guys like this story! I know I do! Haha… enjoy this chapter! And as always! THANKS Kaela! Without her… this story would probably suck! I love Kaela! Haha
Enjoy!
Brooke stood outside the bathroom showers waiting for someone to get out. This was so gross! There was no telling what kind of disease these people had… and here she was having to shower in the same shower with them! And she thought using Lucas's old shower was gross. She watched as the gross girl in front of her used one of the clean towels to wipe away her sweat, and then put it back! That was it… Brooke Davis would go to class smelly before getting inside one of those things! Luckily… she wouldn't have too, Lucas and Nathan… being the spoiled little boys they were had suites, which meant they only had to share a bathroom with the room beside them.
"Well if it isn't my 2 favorite guys!" Brooke smiled bursting into Lucas and Nathan's dorm room.
"Brooke… its like 6AM"
"Well not all of us got blessed with late morning classes…"
"What do you want?" Nathan groaned rolling her eyes at her. She was way too cheery for it to be this early in the morning.
"Can I use your shower? Please!"
"What's wrong with yours?"
"Mine? Mine is shared with like 2 billion other girls! Its gross! Please! Please! Lucas…" Brooke begged looking as sad as possible.
"Don't use all the hot water"
"You're the best!"
"I thought girls were supposed to go away when you broke up with them" Nathan laughed once Brooke was in t he bathroom.
"Kinda like Peyton's run so far away from you? You 2 have been spending a lot of time together lately"
"Maybe its because you and Brooke don't leave each others sides… broken up or not, and we don't know anyone else?"
"Brooke and I are doing better…" Lucas lied. He knew they weren't… if anything they were worse than ever… only without the making out and sex
"Why was she knocking on our door at 3AM last week then?"
"I had to go kill a spider for her"
"Uh huh… and when I woke up you 2 were asleep together because?" Nathan asked raising his eyebrows at lucas.
"She was scared there were more spiders in her bed…"
"Uh huh… sure"
"Brooke's going through a hard time right now…" Lucas said, trying to think of some excuse on why they had been here 3 weeks and neither had moved on… at all.
"Lucas! I can't get the shower on! Shit that's cold!"
"Dude… You're so whipped…"
After her freezing cold shower Brooke walked with Peyton to class. They set their classes so they had at least 2 together… and one of them happened to be an 8:00 class. It just so happened to be History… Brooke's least favorite subject ever. It was a good thing Peyton was in there with her because she was going to need someone to explain why it was important.
"Where were you this morning?" Peyton asked knowing the answer. She was starting to worry that Brooke was getting no where with this…
"Showering…at Lucas and Nathan's…"
"Brooke…"
"What? I'm trying! I just didn't want to use the gross showers!" Brooke shrieked. She did have a valid point…no one wanted to shower in the grossness!
"Uh huh… sure and did you ever call Cole back?"
"Not exactly… he's just not my type"
"Brooke! He has Brooke Davis written all over him! Lucas isn't your type remember?" Peyton asked dragging Brooke into class.
"Just give me some time here Peyton…" Brooke said bumping right into a tall sexy blonde guy.
"Hi"
"Hi…" Brooke smiled winking at him. Now he was hott…
"Sacul" The guy said sticking out his hand to shake her's. Peyton could believe this… Miss I need more time had already found a guy… who surprisingly looked a lot like Lucas.
"Your parents must have hated you…"
"Its French… you can call me Zac"
"So Zac… got a girlfriend?" Brooke asked raising her eyebrow at him, and moving in closer. It was time she went back to her old ways…. If she wanted a guy, she had to seduce him…
"Nope…"
"Boyfriend?"
"Definitely not" Zac laughed flashing his cute smile at Brooke. It wasn't a heart melting loose all control of everything, totally red in the face blushing effect like Lucas's smile caused… but it would have to do.
"Then I'm Brooke"
"Hi Brooke…"
"Brooke can I see you for a minute?" Peyton laughed seeing the devious look on Brooke's face. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all if Brooke was just going to resort back to her old ways.
"Hold on just a sec… save me a seat?"
"Sure…"
"What happened to needing time?" Peyton asked pulling her in the corner of the room
"I met Zac… he's hott…" Brooke smiled. Plus she knew he would make Lucas totally insanely jealous…so much so he just might want to call this whole stupid arrangement off.
"Do you like him because he's hott… or because he'll make Lucas jealous?"
"Does it matter?"
Lucas's first class of the day started at 9:00 and luckily it was a good one. English Lit. It was pretty un-eventful to say the most. In fact Lucas was actually bored. He tried to remember what had made English lit. so much fun in high school, other than the reading outside of class. Then he remembered… Brooke was always in his English class. How, he didn't know since he was in honors English and Brooke was Brooke. But she always made it interesting and fun. Which was why he was so glad to run into her after class.
"Broody… you're too easy to stalk" Brooke smiled sneaking up behind Lucas. He looked crazy hott today… so hott that Zac was looking pretty ugly right about now…
"Uh huh, you look hott… what's up?" Lucas asked putting his arm around her. She guessed it was just habit, but she didn't say anything for fear he might take it off. Plus…he had just told her she looked hott… definitely a plus.
"I think I'm lost…"
"You and me both… where are you trying to get?"
"Economics?" Brooke whined
"Me too…"
"Thank god… I thought I was actually going to have to learn to manage money! Now you can do it for me!"
"Come on…" Lucas sighed pulling her closer. It sent chills down her spine. She guessed it was true… absence made the heart grow fonder… and fight now… she was definitely fond. It was all-perfect… almost like normal until it happened.
"Brooke!"
"Zac…" Brooke sighed giving him a little wave. She tried to smile, but it was definitely a downer when Lucas took his arm away.
"Hi"
"Zac, Lucas, Lucas, Zac… Zac's in Peyton and Is History class, Lucas my… friend"
"Nice to meet you… I was just wondering if you wanted to go get some coffee after your next class?" Zac asked. He couldn't have been any sweeter when he asked, all nervous and such… but Brooke really just wanted to slap him for asking in front of Lucas. Not now… she wanted to wait until Lucas had done something to really piss her off before bringing in Zac.
"Um… sure"
"I'll call you" Zac said getting a huge grin on his face.
"K…"
"I don't like him" Lucas said once Zac was gone. She wasn't sure if he was saying it seriously… or if he just saw how nervous she looked and was trying to smooth things over. Either way it made her feel better.
"Be nice… he's nice… it's just a drink"
"Uh huh… I remember what you like to do when you take guys out for drinks"
"Yes… I think I might just have to seduce him… kidding! Is this awkward?" Brooke asked… not sure if they were at the joking point or not yet.
"Sorta… but I guess that's good?"
"I don't know anymore… I guess it could be worse"
"How so?" Lucas asked putting his arm back around her… it made her feel a little better.
"We could be like Peyton and Nathan…"
"You see it too?"
"She talks about him non stop! It's a good thing Haley isn't here" Brooke laughed rolling her eyes at the thought of a Haley/Nathan/Peyton triangle.
"Who'd of thought…I think we're here"
"Ugh… why did I sign up for this class again?"
"So you don't end up broke like your parents?" Lucas asked opening the door for her.
"Fine… but your sitting beside me so I can copy your stuff"
"I wouldn't have it any other way"
After her class Peyton met up with Nathan in his dorm room for lunch. Neither of them were really having much luck meeting people. And it was just so much easier to hang out together and talk, instead of having to deal with the trouble of meeting all new friends.
"Hey… Where's Lucas?" Peyton asked looking around Nathan's dorm room, expecting to see a morning Lucas.
"With Brooke?"
"I doubt it… Brooke has Zac now…"
"Zac?" Nathan said nodding his head. He didn't seem too surprised.
"Yea… Sacul, its her Lucas clone"
"What?"
"She met him in History… He's like the French version of Lucas, I guess Brooke thinks if she cant have Lucas… she can have his clone" Peyton laughed shaking her head. This was all so screwed up… and it was only going to get worse.
"Twisted… what's that?"
"It's a flyer I got in Geography… its for this masked party…"
"What?" Nathan asked looking the flyer over… it looked pretty interesting
"Its so you meet people, without judging their looks. Everyone wears a mask and you mingle with other people. Then at the end of the night… you take the mask off and see what the look like"
"Sounds risky"
"I guess… but it could also help us meet people" Peyton said taking the flyer back.
"We should try it then…"
"You want too?"
"Why not? We're going to start driving each other crazy at this rate" Nathan laughed giving Peyton his shy smile.
"Tell me about it… who's on?"
"Haley… she's telling me about her classes today"
"Right… we'll I'll let you 2 have fun Iming or whatever… call me later?" Peyton asked leaving Nathan to be with his computer…
"Sure… if you see Lucas tell him he needs to get his ass back here and explain what Brooke's clothes are doing all over the place…"
"Will do"
Brooke waited at Starbucks for Zac. For the first time in a long time, she was nervous. Not really about the coffee… it was more a guilty nervous. She wasn't sure why she felt so guilty… it wasn't like she was doing anything wrong. Lucas knew, Lucas wasn't her boyfriend anymore, so it didn't even matter if he knew. So why was this so hard?
"Hey Brooke…sorry I'm late, I had to pick up our History textbook" Zac said rushing over to the table. The poor guy looked so nervous, she felt bad for him.
"Its fine, I just got here too… Lucas had to get me un-lost walking back from history"
"Lucas… that was your guy friend I met?"
"Yep…" Brooke smiled trying to end it there, but she was guessing… since Lucas had had his arm around here ½ the time… it wasn't going to end there.
"You guys seem close"
"We are… not like that anymore but he's still one of my best friends"
"I figured you guys had a history, from the way he was looking at me" Zac laughed nervously. Poor guy was intimidated by Lucas. Brooke never thought she'd see the day…
"You have no idea…"
"That bad?"
"It's thicker than that history book right there… but that doesn't matter now. I'm playing the field" Brooke smiled taking off her jacket to reveal her fabulous low cut shirt.
"You do that…"
"You have no idea…we should do something tonight, you could show me some good bars, clubs, that sort of thing"
"How old are you?" Zac asked looking down at the table. This boy was so innocent! It almost reminded her of Lucas when she first met him.
"Does it matter?"
"I guess not… why don't I just take you out somewhere nice"
"Sorry… I don't really do the whole romance thing anymore, especially on first dates. Romance hurts… Clubs don't" Brooke smiled deciding to be open about the whole thing… this wasn't Lucas, this was Zac, she could play by her rules now.
"Compromise then? We can go somewhere like Chili's and then out to a few good party spots"
"Deal…"
"Pick you up at 8?" Zac asked, sounding a lot less nervous.
"Sure"
After walking around for what seemed like forever, Lucas finally gave up on trying to find the library. He wasn't sure he was ever going to learn his way around this campus…It was like a maze, and the sad thing was he was the only one who looked lost. Everyone else seemed to know exactly where they were going… or either hid the fact that they were lost really well… everyone except for Brooke that is.
"Hey… can you tell me how to get to the library?" Lucas turned around to see a tall blonde girl standing behind him. Well she wasn't that tall… but compared to tiny Brooke, she definitely seemed it.
"I actually have no idea…"
"Great… I've been walking around for like an hour looking"
"Same here…I'm Lucas" Lucas smiled.
"Megan… freshman too?"
"Yea…."
"It sucks doesn't it? I don't know anyone! All my friends are on the west coast and I, being the stupid person I was… decided to come here" Megan laughed nervously. She seemed nervous and lonely… but happy to talk to someone.
"I actually kind of wish most of my friends hadn't come here... I've got 3 and I don't know… its hard to meet people with them always around"
"Well you met me, we can try and find the library together"
"Or we could just give up and go get something to eat" Lucas sighed throwing his map in the closest trashcan. It was pointless to keep looking… he was bound to run into it at some point… plus he was starving.
"You know that sounds really good, you could introduce me to your friends, tell me some are girls! I need some girl friends"
"Brooke and Peyton"
"Great" Megan smiled waiting for Lucas to lead the way.
"The dorms this way"
"Your not just taking me there to like seduce me are you?"
"No…" Lucas laughed. Megan was sweet… a little on the strange side, but sweet none the less. Brooke would definitely hate her.
"Ok… just making sure, I just broke up with my boyfriend and I'm really… not ready"
"I totally understand, believe me…my girlfriend and I just broke up too"
"Long time?" Megan asked apparently not afraid to be forward about the subject.
"Yea… they're Brooke and Peyton"
"Well well… I have to say Lucas I had my doubts" Brooke smiled crossing her arms. Lucas could tell she was definitely pissed.
"Brooke…" Peyton whispered.
"Megan… this is Brooke"
"Nice to meet you! Wow I love that necklace! Where did you get it?" Megan asked seeing the silver chain and heart around Brooke's neck. She had completely forgotten she even had it on. Lucas had given it to her for their anniversary last month and she wore it religiously.
"Lucas gave it, um"
"It's from" Lucas started but neither were quite sure what exactly to say.
"Wait… you're the girlfriend"
"Ex-girlfriend and yea…"
"That's what I meant, sorry… it's good you 2 are still on good terms, my ex and I don't speak" Megan laughed. Brooke didn't find this at all funny. It was taking everything bit of will power she had not to hit this girl…
"So…I'm Peyton, ignore them"
"Hi"
"I should probably go change for my date tonight..." Brooke smiled walking away. Two could play at this game. If Lucas wanted to show off his new little chicky whore that was fine with her… she had Zac.
"I'll be right back"
"Lucas… please don't" Brooke said not bothering to stop walking… what did he think? She was going to want to talk about this? He knew her…
"Don't what?"
"Come try and talk…"
"Brooke" Lucas sighed catching up to her.
"It's harder than I thought it was going to be ok? What do you want me to say? I'm happy you met a nice girl? That I hope you 2 become great friends and start dating? You know how I feel about lying…"
"Then tell me how you really feel"
"You wont like it" Brooke said glaring at him. It was so much easier to be mad at him then upset. If she was mad, she could yell… and yelling always helped.
"When has that ever stopped you?"
"Fine! You want to know what I was hoping? That you wouldn't find anyone… that you'd realize that this whole thing we're doing is stupid and pointless and it hurts! You may be ok with this whole being friends thing… watching as I find other guys but I cant do that Lucas! Maybe I'm selfish, but I can't stand here and smile while you flirt with other girls ok? So please don't make me… We can't do this whole best of both worlds thing Luke, it's just not going to work"
"I know…" Lucas said sitting down on the steps. As much as he hated it she was right…This just wasn't going to work.
"So go… the whole point of this is so we don't hold each other back, and right now that's exactly what we're doing"
Lucas didn't know what to do other than let Brooke go. She was completely right. He waited until she was inside before he walked back to Peyton and Megan. The sad thing was… he and Brooke were this upset about each other's new "friends" and they weren't even anywhere close to dating them yet… at least he wasn't with Megan. He hadn't even known her 5 minutes.
"Hey… where's Brooke" Peyton asked hoping she and Lucas hadn't had too much of a falling out.
"Don't ask… you wanna come get some dinner with Megan and I?"
"Cant… I've gotta go get some stuff… you 2 go… have fun, I'll take care of Brooke" Peyton smiled reassuring him.
"Lets go then Lucas"
