Sorry I haven't updated in awhile. And in the last week, my updates on the story have been a little rushed, so it didn't come out the way I wanted it to. Either way, hope you enjoy.

"Hey, you've got some really rare stuff," Seth said appreciatively, as he browsed through Lucas's CD collection.

"Thanks," Lucas said, sitting idly in his desk chair. "You can borrow anything you want."

"Really?" Seth said. "Thanks. But I think I'll wait till my stuff gets here. I don't even have a CD player here."

"Hey, you can come around here if you ever want to listen to music. Peyton and I used to listen together, but then all that stuff with Brooke happened…" His voice trailed off.

Seth looked at him sympathetically. "I'm sure the two of you'll work it out. So how are things with Brooke?"

"Not great," Lucas admitted. "It's different than last time. Like, way different. And I just don't care about her that much anymore."

Seth listened, and admired Lucas for being as in touch with his feelings as he was. He could never express himself the way Lucas could.

"Well, enough about me. How are things going with you and Summer?"

"Awesome," Seth said quickly. "Never better."

"You two must be really in love," Lucas went on. "You know, to be together as long as you have. Three years, right?"

"How do you know?"

"Summer told me," Lucas said. "But seriously. I wish Brooke and I were like the two of you."

Be careful what you wish for, Luke, Seth wanted to say. He thought of the accidental confession he'd made, his inability to get it up during what Summer liked best in their relationship, the tears, the fighting, and finally, after what seemed like forever, Summer coming around to it. He thought of his constant fear that Summer would blurt out something, that somehow someone would find out. Why in the world would Lucas want that?

"Yeah," said Seth. "I guess we're just lucky."

The next day, Summer bounced up to Brooke in the café. "Happy birthday!" She threw her arms around her.

"Thanks," Brooke smiled. "But I don't feel any different than yesterday."

"You're 18!" Summer said. "You're legal."

"And what can I do that I couldn't do when I was 17?" Brooke asked. "I already have a driver's license. And it's not like I'm of legal drinking age yet either. So really, the only difference is that if I, like, kill someone, instead of going to juvie, it'll be straight to jail for me. Wow, 18 sure sounds like fun."

Summer swatted her. "Don't be such a grump. Trust me on this. This day's gonna rock."

Nathan's cell phone begun to ring. Sitting up in bed, he reached over and answered it.

"Hello?" he said, groggily.

"Hey, Nate," Seth said, a little tentatively. Nathan hadn't seemed his usual self the last time he'd talked to him.

Nathan sat up in bed. "Hi, Seth."

"I was just wondering…if you were going to Brooke's surprise party tonight. Summer told me about it. I don't know…it kind of sounded like fun."

"Yeah, I'm going," Nathan said, throwing the covers off himself and swinging his feet over the side of his bed.

"Cool," Seth said. "So how did your basketball tryouts go?"

"Good, actually," Nathan replied. "By the way, why didn't you tell me Ryan was freaking Michael Jordan?"

"Because I didn't know," Seth said, surprised. "He never played back in Newport."

"Yeah, well, he's awesome." Nathan headed to the bathroom to take a shower. "Look, I gotta go. But I'll see you at the party, okay?"

"'Kay," Seth said. "Bye."

"Bye." Nathan hung up.

Marissa looked around her room. Even though she'd only known it a few weeks, it was weird to think that she would never see it again.

Julie knocked on the door.

"Come in!" Marissa called.

Julie stepped in. "All ready to go? Your cab is downstairs."

Marissa nodded. "I think so. If I've left anything, you'll bring it when you come down, right?"

"Sure," said Julie. She stepped forward and wrapped Marissa in a hug. "I know we've had a tough year, but we're gonna be alright, okay?" She released her daughter, and smiled sadly. Marissa smiled back.

"Okay."

At seven, Lucas was waiting outside Brooke's house. They were going on a date. Summer had set it up, and Brooke had been surprised. The two of them hadn't gone on a proper date in months.

The door of Brooke's house opened and she came out, looking beautiful in a dark red dress. Waving excitedly at him, she made her way over to the car. She pulled open the passenger side door and got in.

"You look nice," Lucas told her, as he started the engine.

"Thanks," Brooke replied. "So do you."

Waiting till they could no longer hear the rumble of Lucas's engine, Summer and Peyton stepped out from behind the bushes and Peyton felt around under Brooke's doormat for the spare key. When she found it, she pulled it out and handed it to Summer, who opened the front door. They both went in.

It was eight. Ryan, Nathan and Seth had just arrived to help with the decorations and Skills, Mouth, Bevin and the new girl, Rachel, who Summer had invited because she didn't have any real friends yet, showed up with food. As Peyton went into the kitchen to put it all away, Summer hissed, "Someone, turn off the lights! I think they're here."

There was a flurry of movement as everyone rushed to find hiding places. Summer found herself squashed behind the sofa with the boy she'd snubbed the previous day, Mouth.

Peyton came back into the room and Seth pulled her down, as the key in the lock turned and Brooke stepped into the dark house. She fumbled for the light, and when she got it on, they all stood up and screamed, "SURPRISE!"

Brooke jumped, and then her face broke into a smile. "Oh my God, you guys. You totally didn't have to."

Summer and Peyton both grinned. As Peyton went over to put on the music, Summer walked over to Brooke. Brooke hugged her.

"Thanks, Summer," she said. "Really, I wasn't expecting this."

"You're totally welcome," Summer said. "You've been such an awesome friend to me since I got to Tree Hill. It's the least I can do."

Brooke smiled broadly.

The party was well underway and Lucas was feeling miserable. He couldn't explain it. A few minutes before, Brooke, Ryan and Nathan had taken off to go by dessert but Lucas just hadn't wanted to come.

"Hey, Luke," Summer said, walking upto him, a little drunk. "What's up?"

"Not much," Lucas replied.

"Summer!" Seth called. Peyton and him were in the middle of a heated game of Guitar Hero and he needed Summer to pass him his drink.

Summer turned abruptly and spilled her drink all over Lucas.

"Oh God," she said, forgetting about Seth's drink and reaching for a wad of tissues. She dabbed at a stunned Lucas's chest. Her hand distractedly rubbed over a sensitive area and Lucas gasped.

Ten minutes later, the two of them found themselves in a tangle of limbs in Brooke's bedroom.

So I had to write about the party in segments, so it didn't turn out great. Sorry! Will update ASAP and thanks to everyone who reviewed. :)