A/N: My penname is now NALEYAAF23. Thanks for the awesome reviews. And thanks to my beta: Leeese.

Chapter Six

Where Not To Look For Freedom

Brooke and Haley were still investigating when they heard a knock on the door. They turned to see Mrs. James standing in the doorway with a tray full of chocolate brownies. They exchanged smiles as she walked into the room. "You girls have been up here for such a long time that I thought you could use a snack."

"You're the best, Mrs. James," Brooke said as she picked up a brownie from the tray and took a bite out of it. "I'm starving."

"Well, I know that I'm going to have competition now that Mrs. Scott has that café," Mrs. James replied as Haley took a brownie. She pretended to look sad. "You girls will be spending all your time there instead of here. Believe me. I know. After all, I've tried her food."

"I'm sure that your desserts are just as good as hers," Haley assured her as she ate her brownie. "These are delicious." Brooke nodded in agreement. "See, you have nothing to worry about."

Mrs. James smiled gratefully. "I'll leave these with you then. Brooke, are you planning to stay for dinner?" she asked her. "I'm making chicken and dumplings."

Brooke gave her a smile. "That sounds great. I'm definitely staying." She then jumped as she heard her cell-phone ringing. She checked it and was surprised to see that it was Lucas. She put the phone to her ear. "Hey, what's up?"

"Well, I was just wondering what time you were planning to come over," Lucas replied.

Brooke frowned. She thought for a moment before she realized what he was talking about. "Oh my god! I am supposed to help you baby-sit Lily, aren't I? I'm sorry, Lucas. I completely forgot all about it. I'll be right over."

"It's ok, Brooke," Lucas assured her. "Take your time. I'll just entertain Lily until you arrive."

They exchanged good-byes before Brooke hung up the phone. "You are going to tell Lucas that you aren't allowed to see him anymore, right?" Haley asked her as she watched her best friend gather her stuff together. "Brooke, you have to tell him. What are you going to do? Sneakily see him behind your mother's back?"

"That's exactly what I'm going to do," Brooke told her. "Besides, how is she going to find out? I'm certainly not going to tell her. And I know you're not going to. The only person who probably would tell my mother is Peyton. And I'm going to steer clear of her."

Just then, Mrs. James knocked on the door again. "Brooke, your mother just called. She says that she wants you home as soon as possible. There are guests over and she wants you present."

Brooke rolled her eyes. "Of course she does. Well, I'm just going to skip it and help Lucas baby-sit."

"I'm afraid you can't, Brooke," Mrs. James told her softly. "Because she has made sure that you don't. She has sent someone over here to pick you up. I told her that you drove over here, but she doesn't care."

Brooke shook her head in disbelief. "Unbelievable. Do you think she times these things?" she muttered as she dialed Lucas's cell number. She then waited patiently for him to answer the phone. She was disappointed when the phone kept ringing and ringing. It finally went to voicemail and Brooke left a voice message. "Lucas, it's Brooke. I'm so sorry, but it looks like I can't help you baby-sit. My mother made last minute plans for me again. I'm so sorry. I'll talk you later. Bye." Brooke then hung up and let out a sigh. "I hate blowing him off."

Haley wished she could help her best friend. "I have a feeling that your mother won't make this easy for you." Just then, they heard a loud honk. "Who the hell is that?" Haley asked as they ran into the hallway and to the front hall window. They looked down at the front of the house and saw a pick-up truck. "I have a feeling that is your ride."

Brooke frowned. "I don't know anybody who owns a pick-up truck," she said as the person continued honking. She groaned in frustration. "I'm going to give that person a piece of my mind. Does he know how rude that is?" She didn't let Haley answer as she stomped down the stairs and marched outside. Haley was right behind her. As she walked over to the truck, the driver got out and walked around the vehicle into Brooke's view. Brooke stopped in her tracks as she saw who it was. "You're my ride?"

Julian smiled proudly. "Hey Brooke," he said. "Are you ready to go?" he asked her before noticing Haley. He ran his eyes over her as he asked, "Who is this lovely creature?"

"This is Haley and she isn't interested in you," Brooke snapped. "She wants someone who is more of a gentleman."

Julian wasn't even offended. "Well, I can see you got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning," he said. "Are you always this way?" he teased her.

Brooke rolled her eyes. "I'm going to get my stuff."

"Take all the time you need," Julian said as he eyed Haley. "I'll entertain myself until you get back."

Haley was disgusted. "I'll help you," she said quickly and followed Brooke back into the house. She waited until they were in the foyer to speak. "Ok, I now know why you hate that guy. Did you see the way he looked at me?"

"Yeah, I know. I can't stand him," Brooke said as they headed back upstairs to Haley's bedroom. "I can't believe that I'm going to have to spend all evening with him and probably his mother. It's probably their fault that my mother doesn't want me to see Lucas."

Haley had a thoughtful look on her face. "Or Victoria could know Dan and Deb and they have been turning her against their nephews."

Brooke knew that she had a point. "If that's true, then I can just bet you that the dinner will be a disaster."

"Well, I wish I could come along to make sure that you behave. I'd hate to find out what's the rest of his family is like," Haley replied.

Brooke had a thoughtful look on her face. "That shouldn't be a problem," she replied. Haley gave her a confused look. "How would you like to join me for dinner tonight?"

Soon, Brooke and Haley were walking into the Davis's foyer. They were barely in the house when they heard Victoria calling Brooke's name. They followed the voice into the living room, where Victoria was sitting with a dark-haired gentleman and a woman with long blonde hair. However, they stood up when Brooke and Haley entered the room. "Dan, Deb, this is my daughter Brooke and her friend Haley."

"It's nice to meet you two," Deb said with a warm smile.

"We've heard wonderful things about you, Brooke," Dan added.

"Well, you know how mothers love to brag," Brooke said. She then wondered if Millie had come with them. "Where's Millie?"

Deb had to think for a moment. "I believe that she is in the library. She loves books. And I believe our other daughter Alex is swimming in the pool," she told her.

"Let's go find them," Brooke said as the two girls heard the front door opening. They didn't want to run into Julian again. The short drive over had been bad enough. They didn't want to talk to him again. They hurried to the library and easily found Millie. They exchanged smiles as they walked over to her. "I love your library," Millie told Brooke. "I think your collection is bigger than the one at my house."

Brooke smiled proudly. "Thank you. It's really my parent's collection though." She then did introductions. "Millie, this is my best friend Haley. Haley, this is Millie, my new friend from that wedding I went to."

"You know I'm a Scott, don't you?" Millie asked her. Before Brooke could respond, Millie went on. "I'm so sorry, but I was asked not to tell you. They were hoping that you wouldn't find out for awhile."

Brooke stopped her for a moment. "Wait, you knew who I was before I even sat down?"

Millie nodded. "Your mother and Julian's mother want you and Julian together so that neither of you ruin your social status by marrying beneath you. When Sylvia found out that it was Lucas who you liked, she contacted my dad and he was more than happy to help set this up. Yet, he still doesn't want to admit that Julian is his son."

"Why is he so against Lucas?" Brooke asked him. "What does he have against his own nephew?"

"It's not against him exactly. It's against Uncle Keith and Aunt Karen," Millie replied. "It's something about Lily's paternity. I'm not sure what the whole story is, but I haven't seen her since she was a little baby."

Haley was surprised. "Wow, that was six years ago," she said.

Millie nodded. "Yeah, I know. I'm hoping that the feud will end soon since we're thinking about moving here. My parents are hoping that the change will help Alex break away from her bad habits. But I think it will make it worse instead of better."

"Because of Julian?" Brooke asked her, remembering their conversation from the wedding.

Millie nodded. "I don't think that they will be able to separate them."

Brooke could tell that she needed some cheering up. "Would you like to see pictures of your cousins?" she asked her.

Millie nodded eagerly as Brooke pulled out her phone. It took her a few moments before she got to the pictures. Millie gushed at the photos as she went through them. "Lucas and Nathan haven't changed a bit. And Lily looks so adorable."

Haley gave her a smile. "She is," she said.

"I wish I could see them for real," Millie replied sadly as she continued looking through the pictures. She suddenly stopped at a certain picture. "Who is that cute guy standing next to you and Haley?"

"That's Mouth, our other best friend," Brooke told her. She then raised her eyebrows as she looked at her new friend. "Why do you ask?"

"His name is Mouth?" Millie asked, avoiding the question.

"His real name is Marvin, but we all call him Mouth," Haley replied as the two best friends exchanged looks. "Oh my god! You like him. He would be perfect for you." Brooke was about to respond when Haley gave her a warning look.

"Do you really think so?" Millie asked her hopefully.

Haley nodded. "I'm positive."

Brooke then excused herself and gently pulled Haley away from Millie. "He is dating Rachel, remember?" she hissed. "I would love to play matchmaker, but he is taken."

"You and I both know that he and Rachel aren't right for each other," Haley whispered back. "And it looks like she has her sights on Nathan. So she and Mouth will probably be history soon."

Before Brooke could respond, the library doors opened and Victoria appeared. "It's time for dinner, girls." The three girls followed her out of the library and down to the dining room. After what Millie just told them, Brooke and Haley knew that it would be an interesting dinner.