Happy New Year everyone! Thanks soo much for all the reviews! Here's a new chapter for the new year! Enjoy! I love you all!

-Jordan

"Brooke… you cant avoid him forever…" Peyton laughed as Brooke checked down the halls to make sure Lucas wasn't anywhere in site. She really wasn't in the mood to see him, and avoiding him for the past week had been working extremely well for her…

"Who says?"

"I think I remember you saying this after he cheated on you, and what happened?"

"I did… that is until he turned all nice" Brooke laughed walking as fast as she could to their room and shutting the door behind Peyton.

"Brooke…"

"Peyton, no… we broke up, its over with and you and I are so going to this party tonight!"

"What about Zac?" Peyton asked, hoping there was at least something good going on there. If not, Peyton was just ready to give up and hurt Brooke.

"I like Zac and all… but I have to keep my options open, I'd not tied down to just one guy anyone"

"Have you even kissed Zac yet?"

"No… but we're only been out once" Brooke lied. Not about the kissing, she hadn't kissed him yet, but they had definitely been out more than once, after all she had known him now for a week.

"Uh huh… and what did you and Lucas do on your first date?"

"I was 16"

"Exactly… seems like now you should have gotten even better" Peyton laughed throwing a pillow at Brooke. She was hopeless.

"So you're encouraging me to sleep with him"

"At least kiss him… you'll know by the kiss if you could ever date him date him"

"Fine… I'll make you a bet… I bet you I can find a guy to make out with before you can" Brooke giggled giving Peyton her devious smile. Maybe this would once and for all show Peyton she was still Brooke Davis and could have any guy she wanted, whenever she wanted.

"Your on… what are the rules?"

"You have to have Proof… and it has to be at the party tonight…"

"Fine B. Davis… your on!" Peyton laughed making Brooke shake on it.

"Now I say we go all out! Change out hair color! Great fabulous masks, and we're gonna need drinks… you should go straight and green tonight… me? I think I'll sport purple…"

"Does everyone go all out for these things?"

"Yes! You can't look like yourself…" Brooke whined playing with Peyton's curls. She has started sporting the curls again ever since they had gotten here.

Nathan and Lucas waited in the lunch line at the cafeteria. It was the one place Lucas knew he wouldn't see Brooke. She'd rather die before she ate anything that came from a cafeteria. Avoiding her wasn't has hard as he thought it was going to be, probably because she was avoiding him too… but at least that made things easier.

"So who are you going as?" Lucas asked handing Nathan the Masked Party flyer. He hadn't really put too much thought into what he kind of mask he was going to wear until today.

"I'm wearing my batman mask, you?"

"Zorro…. Black hair, bad fake tan…" Lucas laughed. It was going to be funny… besides all that were going to be there were drunk sad people he figured anyway… what did it matter what he looked like?

"You mean Felix?"

"Well he had his share of girls… so either way"

"So what's going on with you a Megan?" Nathan asked seeing Megan walk in with some on her friends, and give Lucas a cute, shy little wave.

"We're friends… I took her out the other night"

"Did you hook up?"

"No…" Lucas whispered, not believing Nathan had just asked him that, especially with Megan almost in earshot.

"Did you at least kiss her?"

"Its just… weird. I mean she's sweet and all… but I still can't imagine kissing anyone but Brooke"

"So you haven't kissed her?" Nathan asked making sure he was hearing this right.

"Not exactly…"

"Dude… you've gotta start kissing some girls! You think Brooke's sitting around worrying what kissing another guys like? She's probably had her tongue down half the campus's throats… and the other half, well they're girls"

"I haven't seen you kissing anyone… especially not Peyton" Lucas said, knowing that would hit a nerve, but at least it would get him off the subject of him and Brooke.

"Stop it with the me and Peyton thing… we're just friends"

"If you say so… I'm just saying, you're one to talk"

"Fine… tonight then… at this masked party, we find girls to kiss" Nathan said deciding he had had enough of this crap.

"How did we become this pathetic?"

"We fell in love in High school… but that's over now and we're gonna kiss some college girls… loser, buys the food for a month"

"You're on… what are the rules" Lucas asked figuring Nathan would probably loose. He hadn't kissed anyone since Haley, and knowing Nathan, he still wouldn't kiss anyone but Haley.

"It has to be tonight… and there has to be proof"

"You're on"

Brooke and Peyton browsed the masks at the Halloween store. This was harder than Brooke thought it was going to be, how was anyone supposed to look good in these things? Much less make out in them, then again hopefully by the time she had to make out with someone, she would be totally wasted… and probably wouldn't care what they looked like.

"Peyton… I'm going to look stupid in all of these" Brooke whined looking through all the masks. A chipmunk, elephants, wasn't there anything decent to wear?

"Brooke… this party isn't about what you look like on the outside… it's about the inside"

"Why can't I have both? Hott on the outside and well you know, good on the inside" Brooke whined louder, and then wished she hadn't… she knew what was coming now.

"You did have both"

"This isn't my fault Peyton! I basically begged for him back… and I don't beg guys!"

"I know… sorry, here… how about this one?" Peyton said changing the subject. She hadn't meant to jump down Brooke's throat like that, especially when it came to Lucas.

"A cat…"

"You're very catty Brooke"

"I like it… and for you…Mardi gras" Brooke smiled handing her a shiny Mardi Gras mask.

"I guess anything goes with green hair"

"So true… Hey! But what cat have you seen around with purple hair?"

"Yea… I think you should probably go jet black tonight" Peyton laughed imagining Brooke with purple hair…

"Good idea… I can wear a slinky black dress too!"

"Uh huh"

"See! I knew college was going to be fun…" Brooke squealed. Life without Lucas wasn't so bad after all… she could party without worry, and now she could even play without worry!

Nathan met up with Lucas at the costume store, and almost burst out laughing seeing Lucas standing there. If a fake tan had ever gone bad…it was definitely Lucas's. He just hoped Lucas knew that.

"Dude… that is the worst fake tan ever" Nathan laughed wishing he had his camera with him.

"It wears off in 36 hours"

"Thank god for small miracles"

"Seriously… and why do you get to go as batman?" Lucas asked looking through all of the masks on the rack. There was nothing decent… not unless he wanted to go as a chipmunk.

"Maybe I'll find a cat woman"

"Good luck with that one…"

"Lucas" A voice said from behind Lucas.

"Megan, hey"

"Wow…" Megan laughed noticing Lucas's fake tan.

"Long story, what's up?"

"I was just wondering if you were going to that party tonight… I take it you are?"

"How'd you guess?" Lucas asked rolling his eyes at Nathan who was laughing hysterically behind him.

"Great… then maybe we'll get each other, now I've got to go buy a mask… call me later?"

"Sure"

"Cool, Bye Nathan" Megan smiled, giving Nathan her shy little wave.

"She's definitely a lot nicer than Brooke"

"Brooke's nice"

"Yea… like Wow… nice ass nice" Nathan laughed, now he was just trying to piss Lucas off to get back at him for that comment he had made about him and Peyton earlier.

"Dude"

"Ok… Megan's like 'Stay at home mom, cute, bake cookies, fix school lunches, tuck the kids in at night, go to church, snuggle, nice' while Brooke's like 'Super Model pretty, every guys dream, good heart, outspoken, crazy fun on the outside, but really sweet and loving on the inside nice' ok Dude… I'm sorry but why did you break up with her again?"

"Can we not do this?" Lucas asked, really not in the mood to re-hash this for the millionth time with Nathan.

"I'm just saying… Brooke Davis can have my kids"

"Dude!"

"What! Can you imagine that… if you and Brooke got married you'd have like super hott, super smart, kids. While you and Megan would have like cute, genius kids… tough choice" Nathan laughed trying to picture his kids with Brooke, they'd be hott too.

"Brooke and I would have some damn hot kids…"

"Yea… but you knew Brooke as a teenager, imagine having to raise them, while I bet Megan was sweet and innocent, never got in trouble, good grades"

"Good point… I'm not sure the world will ever be ready for little Brooke's" Lucas laughed trying to imagine what her parents must of gone though, then again her parents weren't ever home and that had been the whole reason Brooke had been… well Brooke.

"See… did you ever think about that stuff when you were with Brooke? You want kids, but can you imagine Brooke with a baby? The first sign of getting fat, she'd go into a deep depression. I'm starting to think this was really a good thing for you guys. You can marry your Megan… and she can marry her, 50 year old lawyer or doctor"

"Then why do I still want her so bad?"

Peyton watched as Brooke totally defeated the purpose of this whole party. The point of these parties was not about looks, and here Brooke was in front of the mirror having to look perfect as usual. Then, she wouldn't be Brooke if she didn't care what she looked like. As Peyton waited for Brooke to finish she looked around at their bare dorm room. It really needed some art. It had been ok until Brooke had ripped down and put away anything that even slightly reminded her of Lucas in any way, shape, or form… and apparently that was pretty much anything and everything in the room. The one thing Peyton did notice was that Brooke hadn't taken off the necklace yet. She claimed it was because it was pretty and it had costs Lucas money… but Peyton knew Brooke better than that…

"So… you ready to get this over with" Peyton asked grabbing her purse from the bed.

"Yea… but you're gonna have to drive…"

"Why…"

"Because I may… or may not have had soma drink… or 2" Brooke giggled finishing up her lipstick.

"Brooke"

"Peyton… no"

"Come on… its just downstairs" Peyton laughed deciding to let Brooke have her fun tonight, most the people down there were probably completely wasted by now anyway.

"Yea… you might have to help me down the stairs"

"Brooke!"

"I'm in heels!" Brooke whined looking down at her fabulous shoes.

"Come on… and by the way, bet starts now"

From what Brooke could tell the party didn't look too bad. There looked to be some eligible guys… and she HAD to beat Peyton at this bet, just to prove that she was still Brooke Davis, and she could so make it without Lucas Scott. In fact! She could probably find 2 guys to make out with tonight if she really wanted too! And then afterwards, she could go find Zac and do him too!

"Ok… see anyone yet? Brooke… stop drinking" Peyton laughed taking Brooke's drink from her. Peyton wasn't sure how much she had had, but judging from the way she was walking… she guessed a little more than she should have.

"Peyton… if I am going to kiss one of these guys, I need to be a little drunk"

"Fine… what about him?"

"Batman?" Brooke asked raising her eyebrows at Peyton. She definitely wasn't the Batman kind of girl…

"You are cat woman sorta"

"I don't like batman…"

"Brooke…" Peyton laughed as Brooke took another drink.

"1 more drink"

"Brooke! You're starting to slur… come here"

"Peyton… Batman's scary… what about…" Brooke started but the room was spinning a little but now, so she couldn't exactly make out anyone.

"He has a friend… Zorro I think"

"What lame ass would dress up as Zorro?"

"Fine… I don't know why I'm trying to help you win anyway…" Peyton sighed helping Brooke across the room where 2 hott guys… well what Peyton guessed were hott, were sitting.

"Wait…"

"What?"

"I'm scared to walk…" Brooke giggled. This was fun… no she wasn't completely drunk off her ass like she used to get… but she had a nice buzz going. Besides, if Peyton thought she was drunker than she really was, maybe she'd layoff some.

"God…."

Nathan watched as "Cat woman" and the Alien as Nathan called her walked over to the couch and started flirting with some guys. There was just so much to choose from…How was he supposed to know who to make out with. Nathan was batman; so obviously, cat woman was the obvious choice. Lucas just needed to think like Felix, what would he go for? Lucas guessed probably someone pretty drunk, who he hoped wouldn't slap him when he went up to them and just started kissing.

"There's your cat woman…" Lucas laughed pointing to the girls across the room.

"She looks a little drunk, I don't think she'd even notice your fake tan… plus… she's totally hott from what I can tell. Alright… 2 months of groceries says you can't make out with her…"

"So… if I make out with her… and you watch, you buy the groceries for 2 months?"

"Yep…" Nathan laughed knowing it wasn't going to happen. That girl would take one look at Lucas and laugh…

"Your on"

Lucas walked over where the girls were sitting and pulled "catwoman" up off the couch. She came willingly and took his hands… and then the real shocker came, she kissed him first. He definitely hadn't expected that. And as it turned out, it wasn't as weird as he thought it was going to be. As they kissed she ran her fingers through his stiff black hair, then down his back… this was actually a lot easier than he remembered… maybe because he had had a few drinks, after all this was a college party. He thought about stopping after a minute or so… but after giving her a quick glance, he changed his mind.

"Damn… he's good" Nathan sighed shaking his head in disbelief.

"Tell me about it, is that hott or what?"

"Damn it… I'm out grocery's for 2 months… probably 3 since she kissed him first"

"Crap… wait, she cant win… come here" Peyton whined pulling Nathan in to kiss him, only about 5 seconds into the kiss did it hit both of them.

"Wait…"

"EW"

"Peyton!" Nathan gagged wiping his mouth.

"Nathan!"

"Gross"

"I think I'm gonna puke" Peyton whined rubbing her eyes…

"Wait"

"What?"

"You know that's Lucas right?" Nathan asked pointing to Brooke and Lucas… who by now were pretty hot and heavy.

"Oh God"

"And I'm guessing that's Brooke…"

"Uh oh… should we tell them?" Peyton asked almost laughing. This figured…

"Lucas is kinda drunk…"

"So's Brooke…"

"We could be terrible friends and let them go have sex" Nathan laughed watching as they made out. He was going to have to get a job to pay for groceries.

"Or we could be good friends, and let them have sex"

"What do you mean?"

"Maybe if they that one last night together, they can move on… either together or separately" Peyton said

"So true… wanna go get some coffee?"

"Sure… I'm gonna need something to get the Nathan spit out of my mouth… gross"

"You know you liked it" Nathan laughed winking at her.

"Kill me…"

As Brooke kissed her mystery man, she wanted so badly to take his mask off… after all they had already found their way to a bedroom and she really wanted to make sure he was what she thought, before she didn't something she was going to regret. As he kissed her she could feel her heart pounding against her chest. It was so dark she couldn't see anything but a small shadow of who she was kissing. She figured it was safe to take her mask off now, considering it was pitch black. She slid off her mask, and then his. She still couldn't make him out… but that was ok, at this point she didn't really care. Next she slid off his shirt, kissing him hard on the lips as he unzipped her dress. There wasn't any turning back now.