Chapter Five - A Feeling I Don't Understand

Lucas sat beside Peyton at the kitchen table in his mothers house. Both of them sorting through the R.S.V.P's that had been sent over the last few days. They'd invited a huge amount of people, and so far everyone was expected to show. Lucas hadn't found the organising that stressful to date. But, in the next couple of days was when the stress would really kick in. In a couple of days everyone would be flying into Tree Hill in time for the wedding. Everyone including Peyton's father and some other members of her family. Lucas had met Peyton's family before, but always found it a little awkward around them. They weren't the kind of people Lucas would normally associate with. They weren't bad people, they were just a little more upper class than him and his family. They wouldn't spend there time fixing up cars, or having barbecues or watching movies like him and his family. They'd chat over a glass of red, or hold dinner parties, or play water polo. Still, Lucas would welcome them when they'd arrive. And, he'd treat them with respect because that's how he'd been brought up.

Haley entered the kitchen from the hallway and sat down with a coffee next to Lucas at the table "How you guys doing?"

"Good…" Peyton answered as she continued to sort through the invitation replies "We don't have any no shows yet" she smiled

"You both getting nervous yet?" Haley asked with a teasing tone

"Not one bit" Lucas replied instantly before giving Peyton a kiss on the lips and getting up to grab a soda from the fridge

"Well, give it time" Haley laughed

"Hey, where's Brooke at today?" Lucas sat back down and casually draped his arm around Peyton's shoulder "I went to take her breakfast into the living room this morning, and she wasn't there…" he continued

"Wasn't she going shopping for something to wear for her date tonight…" Peyton chipped in

"Brooke's got a date?" Lucas asked, sounding a little more concerned that he'd wanted too

"Yeah, we ran into this guy yesterday at the mall…she knew from high school or something" Peyton told him, half of her attention on what she was saying and half on the invitations "He referred to you as 'bodyguard Scott'…" she joked without noticing the shock appear on Lucas' face

Lucas looked over at Haley "Felix" he said with gritted teeth "Brooke's going on a date with Felix?" he continued to let the anger build up inside of him. He didn't know what it was he was feeling. Or why he was suddenly so angry with Brooke. He was never angry with her. He'd never had reason to be. And, he didn't now. He just couldn't stand the fact that she'd be going out with Felix. That she'd be getting close to Felix

"What's the big deal…he was kinda cute, he seemed nice…" Peyton stood up and exited the kitchen to grab more of the R.S.V.P's from Lucas' room

"She's not going out with him" he immediately turned his attention to Haley who was sat opposite him with her arms folded on the table

"Lucas, she's twenty-five…" Haley protested "I think she's old enough to make her own mistakes"

"So, you think it's a mistake too?"

"I don't know…" Haley shrugged as she got tangled up in her words "What's the problem?…its one date…she's not going to get her heart broken on one date, Luke"

"Brooke agreed to go with me and pick a wedding ring out for Peyton tonight…" Lucas breathed "She wouldn't cancel on me for just one date…this is more than a date, she likes him doesn't she?" he needed answers. He didn't know why. He just needed more information.

"I don't know…" Haley began to get irritated at Lucas' sudden change in behaviour "Maybe she just forgot about the plans she'd made with you…"

Lucas shook his head and took a big gulp from his soda. He knew Brooke wouldn't have forgotten about the plans she made with him. He knew there was something more. He knew it was more than just one date. But, he couldn't believe she was falling for Felix again. He couldn't believe it because it hurt too much.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Lucas had tried to calm down. He'd tried to forget about what he'd found out earlier that day. But, when he drove up to his mothers house and spotted Brooke getting out of her car with more than one shopping bag hanging on her shoulder. He knew that whatever was in those bags was to impress Felix. And, suddenly he felt numb in the pit of his stomach. Suddenly that feeling was back. The feeling he didn't understand.

He pulled up on the driveway next to Brooke's car and killed the engine "Hey, were you been?" he tried to stay relaxed, before getting out of his car

"Me and Rachel just went shopping…" Brooke told him bluntly "You wanna help me with my bags" she said before passing him three or four bags which he didn't take and instead looked her dead in the eye

"I think we need to talk…" he exhaled

Brooke closed her eyes for a second. She didn't know if she could handle the pain of him telling her he was moving to LA. Up until this point she hadn't let herself think about it. She'd just convinced herself into believing that Peyton had gotten it wrong. That Lucas wasn't really leaving her behind. But, now as she watched Lucas' body language become awkward, she knew she'd have to do a hell of a lot of pretending to get through his next words "Yeah, I think we do…"

"Felix isn't good enough for you…" he dropped his shoulders like he was finally able to get it off his chest

Brooke ran her hand through her long, silky hair and breathed heavily, angry at the fact Lucas had chosen not to tell her about the move to LA "I don't wanna talk about this right now, Luke" she was telling the truth. To begin with she'd wanted to make him jealous. She'd wanted to play the game. But, now she was just exhausted. She was just tired of pretending. She just wanted him to tell her the truth.

"Brooke, its Felix…do you not remember what he was like, what a jackass he was to you?" the blonde protested

Brooke hurriedly collected her bags together and locked up her car "Yes, ok, Lucas, I remember…" she didn't look him in the eyes. She couldn't look him in the eyes. Not when she knew going out with Felix was a mistake. She knew Lucas was right in his words.

"So, then what the hell are you doing going on a date with him?" he became more frustrated in his words, as Brooke began making her way to the house "He's gonna hurt you!" Lucas followed his best friend to the front door

Brooke swiftly turned around and was met with Lucas' disappointed expression just a few inches from her expression of pain "Its been ten years…maybe he's changed"

Lucas' blue eyes surveyed her hazel ones as his frown deepened at why she was acting this way. For a second the answer crossed his mind. For a second he'd thought that maybe she'd found out about his plans to move to LA. Maybe this was punishment for not telling her. But, that idea soon disappeared. He'd thought she would have surely told him if she knew. He didn't know how wrong he was "Maybe he hasn't…" Lucas whispered as his arms hung by his side in defeat.

"I cant be around you when your acting this way" she adjusted the bags on her shoulder before slipping her key into the door

Lucas grasped her arm and softly spun her back around so that they were face to face once more "You were suppose to be coming with me to pick out a wedding ring tonight" he reminded her "Or had you forgotten that?"

Brooke hadn't forgotten. She just hadn't been strong enough to want to help the man she was in love with pick out a wedding ring for his fiancé "Nathan will go with you, he's your best man…" she shrugged but couldn't help but feel guilty

It was like a calm washed over Lucas. Like the frustration was taken out of him as he said "And, you're my best friend"

Brooke looked down at the ground "I'm sorry" she apologised before avoiding his gaze and walking into the house, leaving Lucas alone with that feeling he didn't understand.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ok, sorry for the long wait and thanks for all the comments on the last chapter, I love each and every one of them. This chapter was kinda short coz the next chapter is gonna be long, and I think you guys are gonna like the next one...the drama is really about to kick off!

Anyways, please comment!

Soph x