Chapter Five

Throwing Out The Towel

Brooke bounced into her best friends room."P. Sawyer I hope you're not really sleeping."she said as she flipped the light on and threw herself down on the bed.

Peyton's eyes fluttered open."No, of course not. People don't do that at night, do they?"she asked sarcastically as she looked over at the clock."God Brooke, you do see the time right? What are you doing here so late?"

Brooke rolled her eyes."I got back from Paris today. I haven't seen my best friend in two weeks. I missed you and wanted to see you. Is that a crime?"

"No, but you could have come over to see me earlier, you know, at a decent hour."

"I couldn't. I was otherwise occupied."she said with a smirk.

It was Peyton's turn to roll her eyes."You were with Nathan, weren't you?"

"Of course. I told you he was going to pick me up from the airport. He ended up staying with me until about twenty minutes ago. I rushed over here as soon as I could."

"Does that mean you two are back together?"

Brooke shrugged."I guess so. I'm not even sure if we actually broke up in the first place."

"Okay, so we're just supposed to pretend what happened the night before you left with that guy, didn't actually happen?"

Brooke nodded."That's exactly what we're gonna do. You don't have a problem with that, do you?"

"I swear one of these days the two of you are going to kill each other."

"Na, we love each other too much."

"So do you think he messed around with anyone while you were gone?"asked Peyton."I mean seeing how you did it first."she smiled.

Brooke shrugged."I don't know. I was gonna ask you the same question. What'd you see him doing while I was gone, or should I say who did you see him doing."

Peyton looked at her best friend."He would never be that open about another girl. I didn't see him with anybody while you were gone and we were at the same places a lot so I think it's safe to say it's a no. You were the only one that messed around."

Brooke let out a sigh."Thanks Peyt."she said as she playfully hit her." You're always looking out for me, well when you're not being a bitch."she laughed.

"You'd do the same for me. Besides if he was with anyone, you know I'd be all too thrilled to kick her ass for you."

"That you would."said Brooke with a nod. She suddenly perked up."So spill. You have any dirt on Nathan's brother? What's he like?"

"I haven't seen him. I think he just moved in yesterday."

"That's what I thought. I tried getting some info out of Nathan today, but he just yelled at me. I don't think he's taking to his brother too much."

"Ahh, the fighting has already begun."

"No, we weren't fighting. We're stopping that from now on."

Peyton let out a laugh."Yeah, like I'm gonna believe that. You two can't go a day with out yelling at each other."

"Well we're gonna try."

"Good for you. I hope it works out."

"Sure you do."

"Hey, I'm serious. I want you to be happy, even if it is with that jerk you call boyfriend."

"Fine, it'll make me very happy to crash here tonight, okay?"

"You know you don't even have to ask that."said Peyton wrapping her best friend in a hug."I missed you B. Davis."

"I missed you too."

Brooke threw open her locker and placed her books inside. School was the last place she wanted to be right now. Being away from here the last two weeks was heaven, but now she was back and there was a lot of catching up to do and catching up was never her strong point. She looked up as Peyton made her way over to her."Remind me again why I went out of the country when I should have stayed my dumb ass in school."

Peyton shrugged."Because you're rich and you can. Oh, and because you seriously needed to go shopping."

"That's true."she said with a smile."And my new wardrobe alone makes it all worth it. Screw the school work. I look great."

"You see, that's the spirit, but next time you go to Paris you better take me."

"Will do."said Brooke with a smile.

"Oh great. Here comes that jerk you call a boyfriend. I'm outta here. Catch you later girly."

"See ya P. Sawyer."said Brooke as she turned in Nathan's direction.

"What's up with her?"he asked as he wrapped his arms around Brooke's tiny waist.

Brooke shrugged."Nothing. She just doesn't like you."

"The feelings mutual."he said shaking his head.

"Shut up and leave her alone. So anyways, I was wondering what happened to you when you got home last night?"

Nathan shook his head."Dan grounded me."he still couldn't believe it.

Brooke let out a laugh."I told you to stay the night. You wouldn't have had to deal with him."

"If I would have done that I would have gotten more than two weeks. Dan has seriously gone crazy."

"Two week? Wow, that's a long time for someone who never gets grounded."

"I'll live, just as long as you sneak into the house and visit me from time to time."he said as he kissed her neck.

"That might be arranged."she said as she let his hands roam over her body. She let out a laugh when her reached under her shirt."Now that."she said as she pulled his hand out."Can't be arranged. We're at school Nathan. Stop."

"So."Nathan looked around."Nobody is watching."

"Yeah, like that's the truth. We all know when I'm anywhere everyones eyes are on me."

"You just think it's all about you, huh?"

She shook her head."No, I know it is."she leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss before trying to leave.

Nathan pulled her back to him."Come over today after practice."

"You're grounded."

"So? My dad will be at the dealership all night and my mom has some country club meeting today. Nobody will be home."

Brooke smiled."Well then it sounds like a plan."she gave him one final kiss before turning to go to class."See ya later babe."

"Brooke I'm sorry okay."said Peyton through her phone."I know I have obligations, but something came up."

"This is more important Peyton."whined Brooke.

"No, Brooke cheer practice is not more important. I will be there tomorrow."

"Where are you going? What is more important than this?"

"Brooke I'm going to see my doctor. I need to get a refill on my birth control pills. Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Who are you sleeping with?"

"Oh god. Nobody right now, but I need to be ready."

"Who are you sleeping with?"she asked again.

"Nobody, but if you must know I was hoping to get to know this guy I met while you were gone better."

"You met a guy? Who is he?"

"He's just a guy Brooke. He's nobody special. I just really need to have sex."

Brooke laughed."Okay, well in that case you're excused. I hope you get busy."

"Me too."smiled Peyton."I'll call you later B."

"Yeah, see ya."

Peyton closed her phone and made her way to her car. She turned to see a familiar guy also making his way to his car. She smiled when he looked at her.

"I know you, don't I?"he asked.

"Not really, but maybe you should."she laughed."I'm Peyton."

"No, I do."said Lucas making his way over. He looked her over carefully."You're the girl that I saw making out with Nathan the other day."he said nodding.

"What?!"said Peyton with her eyes wide.

"Yeah, that was you."

Peyton shook her head."You're crazy. I would not be with Nathan."she shuttered just thinking about it.

"No, it was you that was with Nathan."

"Okay, you seriously need to stop saying that. He is dating my best friend. I would not do anything like that to her."

Lucas looked her over."I know I know you from somewhere. That has to be it."

"Yeah you know me from the bar you idiot. You hooked up with a friend of mine."

Lucas squinted his eyes thinking."Oh, that's right. I knew I knew you from somewhere. You were with Rachel that night. How is she?"

"Rachel is fine, but how do you know Nathan?"this was all too weird. This guy was kissing Brooke and he knew Nathan as well.

"He's sorta my brother."

Peyton gasped. What had Brooke gotten herself into? Lucas was Nathan's brother and Brooke made out with him. This was about to get ugly."Your brother. Oh, wow. That's crazy."

"Yeah, tell me about it. So you said your best friends with his girl? Brooke? What's she like?"

"She's good."she really didn't want to have a conversation about Brooke when he thought she was a girl named Rachel."So yeah, um I have somewhere to be so I gotta go. See ya."said Peyton trying to hurry to her car. She needed to talk to Brooke and fast. There was no way this wasn't going to get ugly. Nathan being Nathan was going to blow a gasket.

"Hey wait a sec."called out Lucas. Peyton turned around."Tell your friend Rachel to give me a call. I would like to see her again. We didn't exactly end things."

All Peyton could do was nod. This was so messed up. She quickly let herself into her car and dialed Brooke's number. She was going to flip when she found out. Peyton let the phone ring and ring. Brooke must have already started practice and turned her phone off because she didn't answer. All she could do is wait and hope things didn't get even more screwed up.

Brooke let herself into the house."Nathan."she called out. When he didn't say anything she proceeded up the stairs to his room. "Nathan."she called out again. She walked into the room and heard the shower running. She smirked to herself as she made her way to the restroom.

After removing his towel that was hanging on the shower door she stripped off her shirt and practice shorts, leaving herself in a matching pair of lacy black panties and bra. She propped herself up on the sink counter and waited for him to finish.

It didn't take long before Brooke watched the boy search for his towel. She laughed inwardly as she heard him curse before slowly opening the shower door and stepping out. The steam immediately rose blocking his face from her view."You know I didn't think I was going to be able to wait any longer, but now seeing you like this it was worth the wait. Get over here sexy."she said in a throaty whisper as she hopped off of the counter. The steam disappeared and she stood there motionless looking at the naked guy in front of her who wasn't her boyfriend."Lucas?"

Lucas stood in place. He was very surprised when he heard a girls voice as he walked out of the shower. His first instinct was to cover himself up, but he didn't know where his towel was. As soon as the steam disappeared he quickly recognized the girl the voice belonged to, and what a sexy voice it was. He stood there not bothering to try and cover up. What was the point?"Rachel? What are you doing here? Did your friend Peyton tell you where you could find me?"he asked as he took a few steps toward Brooke. He looked her over. She was still as beautiful as he remembered. He couldn't believe the girl he repeatedly thought about sleeping with was standing in front of him in only her panties and bra begging him to go to her. Before he thought any further he wrapped his arms around her tiny waist and placed his lips against hers in a rough, hard kiss.

Brooke stood there and looked at the guy who was still naked in front of her. This wasn't Nathan. This was Lucas, but what was he doing at Nathan's house. She couldn't help her eyes from roaming over his dripping wet naked body. He looked good and she was sure he knew it. She hadn't even noticed that he was talking or that he had made his way to her. She hadn't even realized he was about to kiss her until it was happening. She felt herself giving into the kiss for a second before reality set in. She quickly pushed him away."What do you think you're doing?"

Lucas tried to pull her to him once again."I'm just doing what you wanted. You're the one that came in here dressed in only that."he motioned to her."While I was showering telling me to come here."

Brooke looked down at herself, remembering she didn't really have anything on."Oh my god. You're not Nathan."she looked back to him.

"No, thank god. What the hell are you looking for him for?"

Brooke continued to look at Lucas, not sure what to say. There was so much she needed explained.

"Brooke?"called out Nathan from his room."Are you in here?"he asked as he opened the restroom door. He looked between his girlfriend who was only wearing her underwear and his brother who was completely naked."What the hell is going on?"he yelled. He was furious. Why was his girlfriend nearly naked with his brother?

"Brooke?"asked a confused Lucas as he reached for his towel. Had Nathan just called her Brooke. Her name was Rachel, wasn't it?

Brooke stood in her place mouth open looking at her boyfriend and the guy she had almost cheated on him with.

"Brooke!"yelled Nathan once again."Answer me."

Brooke quickly turned to him."Oh my god. I thought it was you in the shower. I swear. Who is this?"she asked franticly wanting to know what Lucas was doing here.

Nathan roughly wrapped a towel round Brooke, not caring if he was hurting her. He just didn't want Lucas to be seeing Brooke like this."This bastard is Dan's son."

Brooke's mouth once again flew open. Lucas was Nathan's brother. How the hell was that possible? What the hell was she supposed to do now?

"This is Brooke?"asked Lucas with a smirk. This was even better than he thought.

Nathan angrily turned to Lucas."Stay the hell away from my girlfriend."he said as he pushed Brooke out of the restroom. He slammed the door behind him before turning back to Brooke."What the hell were you doing with Lucas in there dressed like that?"he began to pace angrily. How could she embarrass him like that?

"Nothing. I heard the shower on and thought it was you. I wanted to surprised you so I waited in there wearing this. Nathan, I didn't know Lucas was in there. This is all still so new to me. I forgot he was even supposed to be here. It's always just been you."

"You don't expect me to believe that do you?"

Brooke looked at him."What? Are you serious? You actually think I was trying to seduce your brother while you were in the same house?"

"I know what I saw Brooke. I'm not stupid. Hell, look at you."

"Yeah, actually I think you are stupid. If you want to believe that sick twisted story that you've come up with, then fine. I don't care."she walked over to his dresser and rummaged through the drawers for something to wear. She wasn't about to make matters worse by going back into the restroom to get her clothing.

Nathan shook his head."I can't believe you would let him see you like that."

"I didn't let him do anything. I thought it was you Nathan. How many times do I have to say it?"

"I can't even look at you right now Brooke. Get out."

"What?"she couldn't believe he was acting this way. She couldn't believe he was blowing this out of proportion. Sure she made a stupid mistake and saw Lucas naked, but Nathan was acting as if she did it all on purpose.

"I said get out. Hell take Lucas with you since you want him so badly."

Brooke shook her head."You're an ass Nathan. I can't believe you're acting like this."she turned and opened his door, before walking through it she turned to him."Don't you even think about calling me before you grow the hell up. I'm done."she turned and walked away. Nathan was being so unreasonable and it really pissed her off.

"Brooke wait."he called out as he ran down the stairs after her.

Brooke stopped and turned around as she rolled her eyes. What did he want now?"What do you want Lucas?"

He stopped and placed his hands in his pockets and shrugged."To talk."

Brooke let out a laugh."Yeah, like that is really gonna happen. Did you not hear what just went on? Nathan doesn't want me anywhere near you."

"So? Do you normally do everything he tells you to? The girl I met the other night at the bar didn't seem that way to me."he said with a smirk.

Brooke looked at him."What's your point?"

"Nothing Rachel."he gave her a look.

Brooke looked around making sure Nathan wasn't around."That night was a mistake. I was drunk and you never told me you were Nathan's brother."

"I didn't know you knew Nathan. You didn't exactly tell me you had a boyfriend while I had you up against the wall."

Brooke ran over to him and placed her hand over his mouth, wanting to shut him up."Don't say that again here. Nathan might hear you. I do not need for that to happen."

Lucas wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer to him."Fine, talking is over rated anyways."he leaned in and tried to kiss her, but she pushed him away.

"We are not going to do that again. It was a mistake. You're Nathan's brother."

"So? I like you Brooke."

"Too bad. That night we hooked up I was angry and drunk. Nathan and I had just broken up, but we're together now and so we have to pretend like it never happened. Can you do that for me?"she pleaded. Normally she wouldn't care what Nathan knew or thought, but this was his brother and it was just wrong on every level.

"Can I refrain from telling my jerk of a brother that I was with his girlfriend?"he asked himself with a smile. He looked at her and stopped."Yeah, fine. I won't say anything. It's your life. If you want to be with that jerk then so be it."he shrugged and walked up the stairs without giving her so much as a second look.

Brooke stood there staring after him. He agreed just like that. Was it really gonna be that simple? No, things were never that simple.