Hey guys! Thank you so much for your reviews! They always put a huge smile on my face.
Disclaimer: I am not the creative genius that is Mark Schwahn
"Are you serious?!" Brooke gasped at Haley later that day. They were outside in the school grounds, talking.
"Hell yeah, I'm serious."
Brooke pulled her by the arm and led her to the most secluded table outside. She began to count off her fingers one by one as she spoke. "Let me get this straight; you started tutoring again and you find out that the student assigned to you is Nathan, Chris rudely barges in, he ticks Nathan off so he gets thrown against the wall, gasping for his life, Nathan hugs you and then he walks away like it was not that big of a deal. Am I right?"
Haley nodded numbly. "That pretty much sums everything up."
Brooke stared at her, skeptical. "Are you sure you weren't half-asleep when this happened – or under the influence of alcohol – or took one too many pills that could cause bizarre hallucinations –"
"Brooke! I swear to God, it happened! What does it mean? I'm so confused right now and I have no idea how to face him when I do!" wailed Haley. "Maybe I could convince my teacher to switch students and –"
"Whoa, slow down, tutor girl. You are not telling your teacher anything. You are to pretend like nothing happened."
"Pretend like nothing happened?!" Haley repeated, almost hysterically. "Something very big happened and it's not like I could sit next to Nathan and pretend he did not hug me!"
"Will you just chill? You're acting like a totally insane person, which you probably are, considering what you just told me. You and Nathan are divorced. Why would he hug you?" Brooke demanded.
"I have no idea. I was hoping you could tell me."
"Well, I don't know what goes through Nathan's head. When did he hug you?"
"After I told him off, the idiot," Haley answered, running a frustrated hand through her blond hair.
"Are you absolutely sure you weren't half-asleep when that happened?"
"Brooke!"
Just then, Lucas joined them, wearing a big smile on his face. "Hey Brooke, Haley,"
"Hey, Luke," Haley smiled.
Suddenly, it was like Haley wasn't even there.
"I have this great record you should listen to." Lucas told Brooke.
Brooke made a face. "You're starting to sound like Peyton. I hope it's nothing like her crappy music."
"No, I'm pretty sure you're going to like it."
Haley eyed them curiously, noticing how Lucas' eyes lit up differently than Haley had ever seen them light up and how Brooke had a huge smile on her face. She gathered her things and stood up. "Well, it looks like I'm no longer needed – or noticed. I'll see you guys later."
Brooke watched her walk away then playfully punched Lucas' shoulder. "Look at what you did! You drove her away!"
"I did not drive her away! She simply left!" Lucas argued.
"Yeah, after you arrived. Same thing," she laughed when he opened her mouth to say something and after a moment of seemingly thinking of a possible retort, closed it again. "I rest my case."
"What were you two talking about? I noticed that it was serious when I was looking at you guys." Lucas asked curiously.
Brooke's pretty face broke into a wide smile. "Ooh, you were watching me!"
He blushed slightly. "I was just wondering –"
She was still smiling widely.
"Will you please not look at me that way? You're making me uncomfortable." Lucas said, awkwardly averting his gaze.
"Am I actually making the Lucas Scott, Mr. I'm-So-Broody-that-People-Think-I-Wasn't-Born-with-a-Sense-of-Humor-Lucas-Scott uncomfortable? Wow, I must be doing something right, huh? We have to call the World Record people – hey, maybe they'll even give me a medal!" Brooke teased.
Lucas looked offended and had just about enough. "Okay, you're not being very funny."
Brooke laughed. "Sure, I am. I'm a screaming riot. Hey, do you know if they give Nobel Prizes for this kind of thing?"
"Are you just about done?" He asked, annoyed.
"Okay, okay, I'm stopping," Brooke said, still grinning. She took a deep breath and tried to keep a straight face. "There, I'm a hundred percent sure I'm done."
He gave her a sideway look, and she started giggling.
"I'm sorry Luke; I'm just having so much fun pissing you off." Brooke said after a few seconds.
"Yeah, I noticed." He muttered.
Before Brooke could answer, her cell phone began to ring. She excused herself and moved away from earshot so she could answer the phone.
Lucas watched her, mesmerized. To more than half of the male population in Tree Hill High, Brooke was just another pretty face and most probably another notch on their bedpost. For Lucas, he saw beyond that. He never met anyone who struck him so differently. Was he actually falling in love with Brooke Davis?
God, Haley and Peyton were never going to let him off the hook with that. In fact, no one was going to let him off the hook.
Everyone always suspected his feelings for Brooke but they never really had solid proof because he was so secretive and he didn't tell anyone anything. He considered talking to Haley, but he figured that she had enough to deal with at the moment.
Brooke walked to him and hooked her arm with his. The look in her eyes gave Lucas a hint that something was up.
He frowned. "If they told you that you won a Nobel Prize, I am going to eat my Physics textbook."
She stood up and faced him, looking excited. "I want to show you something."
Lucas eyes her warily. "Do I have to go get salt for my textbook now?"
On the other side of the school campus, Jake was seated alone in one of the tables, obviously deep in thought. Peyton spotted him and debated whether to sit next to him or not.
It didn't take a second for her to decide.
"Hey, Jagelski," Peyton said, throwing herself on the seat.
He looked up. "Hey, Peyton,"
"I didn't catch you in the game yesterday."
"I was there." Jake said defensively.
"Yeah, but you weren't actually playing." Peyton pointed out.
He smiled grimly. "I only came back a couple days ago. I don't want to surrender my ass to Coach Whitey just yet."
"Well, you can always surrender your ass to me." Peyton blurted. She clapped a hand to her mouth, a look of horror sweeping over her face.
Jake raised a brow interestedly. "Is that an offer, Sawyer?"
"Oh God, just forget what I said." Peyton was as red as a tomato and that made him chuckle fondly.
"No, I'm actually considering it. I'm free all week, you know." Jake said, his eyes twinkling mischievously.
"I am the biggest idiot on the face of this planet." She said under her breath.
The bell suddenly rang. He stood up to leave. "I have English in three minutes. I'll see around, Peyton."
She nodded weakly, too embarrassed to even lift her head and look at him. Her cell phone vibrated once in her pocket and with her hands still trembling, she took it out and read the text message.
Could I surrender my ass to you on Friday, after school?
Peyton looked around and saw Jake lingering behind a tree, his cell phone in hand and smiling naughtily at her.
Sure, I'd like that.
"Where are we going, Brooke?" Lucas asked, confused. They were in his car, him of course, on the wheel.
"The River Court," She answered.
"What are we doing there?"
"You'll see," Broke said cheerfully.
"Why are we going there?" He asked, still unconvinced.
She turned to him and said impatiently, "Do you always ask stupid questions? Just drive to the River Court, okay?"
They finally arrived and Brooke quickly got out of the car. Lucas proceeded to do the same thing, but she shook her head. "Stay here."
She arrived a couple minutes later with a tall, dark-haired guy. He was well-built and handsome, and by the looks of the flashy Porsche sports car behind them, he seemed to be very wealthy.
Brooke was beaming as she spoke. "Luke, I want you to meet Eric Hunter – my new boyfriend."
Evil laugh Cliffhanger! The name and character of "Eric Hunter" isn't even mine. I was fixing my ever-cluttered desk yesterday and I found my old copy of A Walk to Remember (the novel, people). For those of you who haven't read the book yet, Eric Hunter is the rich, popular jock and best friend of Landon Carter. I give full credit to the author of that book, Nicholas Sparks so no lawsuits, please.
Don't forget to review!!! I'd really appreciate it if you do . . . -----Sera