A/N: Thank you for the awesome reviews. And thanks to my beta: Leeese. As a birthday treat, here is the next chapter of the story.

Chapter Three

Pardon My Past

As the next few days passed, Brooke and Lucas got to know each other more and more. However, Brooke still hadn't told Lucas about her past relationships. She knew that she would have to tell him eventually as she couldn't hide that secret forever. Yet, she wanted to wait until the right time. She just hoped that she could tell him before anyone else did. Especially a certain blonde.

One morning, Brooke was at her locker when she heard an unexpected voice. However, it was a voice that she really didn't want to hear. Yet, she was glad to find out that it was Felix, not Peyton. "Hey Brooke. I'm having a party this weekend. And I was hoping that you could be my date."

"Sorry, but you are going to have to find someone else to be your date this weekend," Brooke replied before she shut her locker and walked away from a confused Felix. However, she soon heard him following her. "I have other plans," she told him before he could even ask.

To her surprise, it wasn't Felix who spoke. "You're still going after Lucas? I'd have thought you have moved on by now," Peyton said.

Brooke turned around and faced her. "That's really none of your business if I am or not."

Peyton tried not to laugh. "Come on, Brooke. You and I both know that you are going to get tired of Lucas eventually. It's not your style to hang on a guy for so long. In fact, you usually party with the guy just before you sleep with them. You do realize that that isn't what a real relationship is, right? Or are you having too much fun to care about anybody else but yourself?"

Brooke raised her eyebrows at what she heard. "You are still listening to those old rumors?" she asked. "You really need to find some new ones. And I'd prefer if they don't include my personal life. Now if you would excuse me, I have to go." She hurried away from her, not wanting to talk to her rival any longer.

She walked around the halls until she found her best friend. To her surprise, she was in the tutor center. Brooke frowned as she walked into the room. "Isn't it a little early in the year to be tutoring students?" she teased her. "We've only been in school for a few days."

Haley gave her a look. "Very funny. I'm just getting myself familiarized with everything before I do start tutoring students again." Brooke just nodded. Haley noticed the quietness and immediately knew what was bothering her. "Ok, what did Peyton say now?" she asked her in a concerned tone.

"She told me to move on from Lucas because he's not my type," Brooke replied.

Haley tried not to laugh. "How can she determine that if you don't know what your type is?" she asked her. "After all, you've never had a real boyfriend before."

"That was exactly her point," Brooke exclaimed angrily. "I've never had a real boyfriend before. So she claims that I wouldn't know how to treat Lucas right."

Haley scoffed at the thought. "What the hell does she know? After all, we've been friends since kindergarten. And you haven't chased Lucas away yet."

Brooke knew that she had a point. "I probably will after he sees the size of my mansion or my slutty clothes."

"I wouldn't be surprised if he does. It's a big house," Haley joked. "And I suppose that you already bragged about your pool to him, right?"

Brooke tried not to smile, but she couldn't hide it. "Well, it was part of the story. I had to include it."

"Lucky you. Of course, I would probably never be able to use my pool since I have too many siblings. Their friends would overpower it. Especially Taylor and her so-called friends."

Brooke had to agree with that. "Yeah, I can just imagine Taylor taking over the pool, not to mention the house. I'm surprised that she never crashed one of my pool parties."

Haley just grinned. "Well, I told her that you would probably have her arrested for trespassing if she did."

Brooke looked at her surprised. "You lied to her?"

Haley didn't even feel guilty about it. "Hey, I didn't want her crash your party. And she didn't want to get arrested again. So it worked out." They then heard the bell ring. "Well, I guess we should get to class." Brooke nodded in agreement and led the way as they entered the hallway.

When they arrived at their classroom, they saw that Nathan and Lucas weren't there yet. So they talked quietly until they saw them enter the room. Brooke flashed a smile at Lucas. However, he didn't acknowledge it. Brooke frowned, wondering what she had done wrong. Haley questioned the same thing as Mr. Hargrove came into the room.

"Good morning, class," he said cheerfully as he walked up one of the aisles. "Before we get started today, we're going to play a little game. We've known each other for a few days now and I think I've been getting on well with learning your names that it's time to test out that theory. So you can sit anywhere you want for today." Everyone smiled happily at that. "If I get your names right, you can continue to sit in that seat for the rest of the year. If not, then we'll have to try again later in the week. So choose your seats."

It was chaos as everyone scrambled to different seats. Brooke and Haley hurried to where the Scotts were sitting at. Brooke grabbed the seat next to Lucas and Haley sat behind her, next to Nathan. She then watched as her classmates either stayed in their seats or moved near their friends. Mouth and Rachel soon joined the gang. So did Jake.

To Brooke's surprise, Peyton moved from her seat. She was relieved to see that she moved away from the gang to the front of the room. However, Brooke knew that there was a certain reason that she moved there. Yet, she didn't have the chance to tell Haley that since Mr. Hargrove spoke again. "Now let me see if I can get this correctly." He started with Lucas's row and went down the line.

As he called out the correct name for the student, the student nodded. After he passed Brooke's row, she heard a whisper in her ear. "We need to talk," Lucas quietly told her. "Meet me by my locker at lunch."

Brooke nodded. However, she suddenly started to get nervous. She could tell that something was bothering him. However, she didn't know what his problem was. She tried not to think about it too much as she turned her attention to Mr. Hargrove, who had finished guessing the names correctly. Therefore, they could remain in their seats. Brooke tried to act happy. However, her mind was focused on Lucas's request.

A few hours later, Brooke hurried out of the classroom and to her own locker before she headed to Lucas's locker. She was disappointed to see that Lucas was already waiting for her. "So what do you want to talk about?" Brooke asked hesitantly.

Lucas didn't answer for a moment as he thought on how to word what he was about to say. "Brooke, I like you a lot. But I'm not sure if we can be in a relationship together."

Brooke sighed. She should have known that Peyton would beat her to the punch. She decided to just go ahead and admit it. "Look, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you before about my so-called past relationships. But I was embarrassed. I didn't want you to think that I'm that kind of girl that would jump into bed with every guy that I run into. And I'm not."

"Are you sure about that?" Lucas asked her. "Because I've been asking around school and it seems that you really get around. Especially when you throw your wild parties." He then had a thoughtful look on his face. "I don't remember you telling me that your parties were wild."

Brooke blushed with embarrassment. "I didn't. I'm sorry, Lucas." She could see that he was hurt. She didn't know how to make him feel better about the situation. She let out a sigh. "Yes, I've had wild parties and gotten so drunk that I didn't realize what I was doing at times. Including sleeping with a random guy." There was a short pause before she spoke again. "But I've decided that I can't do that anymore. I won't. Because I've learned the hard way that both of those activities can get somebody killed."

Lucas could tell by her tone that she was telling the truth. "What happened?" he asked in a curious tone.

Brooke was quiet for a moment before she spoke. "It was just this past summer. One night, my friend Rachel was having a party at her house. Her parents are gone all the time, just like mine are. Anyway, I was invited and I begged Haley to go with me. After a lot of persuasion, she finally agreed. Her sister Quinn dropped us off. When we got there, we stuck together for awhile before I lost track of her."

Lucas had a feeling that he knew what had happened next. "You had a little too much to drink?"

Brooke nodded. "Haley knew that and insisted that we call Quinn for a ride home. But I didn't listen and got one of Rachel's friends Ian to do it for us. I didn't even realize that he was drunk." There was a short pause. She tried to hold her tears in as she told the next part of her story. "That night, we got into a car accident. I got out of the car with a few scrapes and bruises, but Haley was hurt really badly. Even though she didn't blame me, I did. After that, I promised both her and myself that I would never throw a wild party again. And I haven't since that night. Even though Rachel has encouraged me to, I won't do it."

"Whatever happened to Rachel's friend?" Lucas asked curiously.

Brooke didn't even have to think before speaking. "After the car accident, he was charged with violating his probation by driving while drunk. He was pissed off and tried to blame me since I was the one who asked him to drive us home. But the police knew better. Apparently, Ian had trouble with the law before and it wasn't just with being a drunk driver. So they didn't fall for his lies."

"Did they say what he was arrested for before?" Lucas asked her.

Brooke shook her head. "No, but it doesn't matter now. He's in jail. And I now make sure that there is no alcohol served at my parties. And no uninvited guests."

"What about the other activity?" Lucas asked her. Now that he had heard about her wild party story, he wanted to know about the other part. "What made you decide not to sleep with random guys anymore?"

Brooke was quiet for a moment. "Because I got pregnant and didn't know who the father was," she answered softly. Lucas was surprised, but he listened as she continued. "I couldn't stand the thought of being a teenage mom and trying to raise the baby alone. And I knew that I wouldn't be able to let someone else adopt the baby once it was born. So I went with the only option that I felt that I had."

Lucas suddenly felt sorry for Brooke. "Wow, I had no idea that you went through all of that."

"I do want children. I really do, but I just don't want one during high school. After that, I realized that I don't want to be that kind of girl anymore. This year, I'm looking for an actual boyfriend." She then gave Lucas a smile. "And I think I've found him in you. Even though we've known each other a few days, you have all the qualities that I'm looking for in a boyfriend, not to mention a friend."

Lucas smiled in return. "Well, I'm flattered, but are you sure you want me for a boyfriend?"

Brooke frowned. "Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, I know you have plenty of admirers who are dying to be your boyfriend including your next door neighbor, Felix Taggaro. In fact, he was the one who had told me about your conversation with Peyton."

Brooke shook her head in disbelief. She should have known that he was the one who had told him since she had just left him moments before. "Let me guess, he bragged about his fancy car and his pool?" she asked him. "And how he could take me to the best restaurants in town?"

Lucas nodded. "The best that I can do is my mom's café. Even though it hasn't opened yet." This time, he had the short pause before he spoke. "Look, I like you too. But I think that you're rushing things a little too fast."

"You don't believe in love at first sight?" Brooke asked.

Lucas gave her a smile. "I do, but I don't think that my dad feels the same way. I've already messed up once. I can't do it again."

Brooke gave him a confused look. "What do you mean?"

Lucas was about to answer when Jake came over to them. "Hey, we were wondering where you two were. You're missing lunch."

Lucas avoided Brooke's eyes as he gave his friend a smile. "Sorry, we got a little sidetracked. We'll be right there." Jake nodded as Lucas turned to Brooke. "Let's just be friends for now, ok?"

Brooke nodded as she gave him a smile in return. "We can do that," she replied before they followed Jake to the cafeteria to get some lunch.