Chapter 3

Brooke walked out of the school building looking around, searching for a familiar face. She then spotted Peyton and Lucas, who were sitting with two other people. A dark haired guy, quite handsome and a very pretty auburn haired girl. Peyton then also spotted Brooke and waved at her and signalled for her to sit with them. Brooke walked over to the table and just as promised Peyton saved a seat for her.

Peyton: Hey, Brooke.

Brooke: Hey, P.Sawyer.

She sat down and saw Lucas sitting next to Peyton. She smiled at him and he smiled back and for some reason his handsome smile sent butterflies through her stomach. But she knew she couldn't possibly crush on him. He was her best friend's boyfriend, her best friend that she hadn't seen for almost 8 years, and she knew that she couldn't go there, but she couldn't help but feel something when looked at him. Trying to distract herself from him she looked at the dark haired guy and the pretty girl sitting next to him.

Brooke: So, Peyton, aren't you going to introduce me?

Peyton: Oh, right. Um, Brooke, this is Nathan and this is Haley. Nathan, Haley, this is Brooke.

They shook hands and smiled at one another. As she shook hands with Haley, she noticed a wedding ring on her finger. She then looked at Nathan's hand and saw that he also had a wedding ring on his finger. Her eyes widened a little in shock.

Brooke: Um, I'm sorry, I just -- are you guys married?

Nathan and Haley laughed, knowing this question was coming.

Nathan: Yeah, actually, we are.

Brooke: Wow. That's, um, that's great.

Haley: Yeah, it is.

Haley and Nathan then looked at each other and shared a very sweet kiss. Brooke could see that these two were madly in love with one another. But she couldn't believe they got married in high school, that's a big step. But she guessed their love was strong enough to handle it. It gave her hope, hope that one day she would also find such a love.

Nathan: So, Brooke, Peyton told us you moved from California.

Brooke: Yeah, I did.

Haley: Wait, now I'm confused. If you lived in California than how do you know Peyton?

Peyton: Oh, well, I told you guys I lived in New York before we moved here, right?

Haley: Oh, right.

Brooke: Yeah, and we move a lot for my dad's job. So, before me moved to California, we lived in New York.

Nathan: Wow, from New York and California to Tree Hill.

Brooke: Yeah, I thought Tree Hill would suck. No offense, guys.

They all laughed.

Brooke: But it's actually not that bad.

Peyton: Oh, you're gonna love it here.

Peyton put an arm around her best friend.

Brooke: I hope so.

Brooke smiled and again showed off her dimples. Throughout the whole conversation Lucas couldn't help but stare at Brooke and Nathan noticed this.

Nathan: Hey, Lucas? Anybody in there?

Lucas then snapped out of it and realized what he was doing. Nathan gave him a look and Lucas knew exactly what he meant. He had a girlfriend, he loved her, he couldn't be thinking about other girls. Especially not her best friend.

Lucas: Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking about some stuff.

Peyton: Like what?

Lucas: Just stuff.

Peyton: Okay.

Now Peyton couldn't help but notice the weirdness in his behaviour, but just shrugged it off. She didn't want to make a big deal out of it. But she knew she would find out soon cause Lucas always confided in her.

Nathan: So, um, Luke, a bunch of us are going to the Rivercourt to shoot some hoops later, you wanna come?

Lucas: Oh, yeah, I'll be there, man.

Brooke: What's the Rivercourt?

Haley: Oh, it's just a small basketball court by the river. It's where the guys always play when they don't have basketball practice.

Brooke: Oh. Sounds nice.

Peyton: We should go. You can see the guys play and we can catch up some more. And you can meet some of our friends.

Brooke: Sounds great. As long as nobody minds me tagging along.

She let out a shy smile. This was not like her, Brooke Davis was never shy, but somehow Lucas' presence had an affect on her. This was insane, right? She didn't even know the guy and already he was making her feel this way. This was not good.

Peyton: Oh, of course not. Lucas, you don't mind, right?

Lucas: Who, me? No, I don't mind at all.

He gave her a smile and she smiled back, there was definitely something there. Peyton saw this and just guessed they were being friendly towards each other. But Haley also saw this and predicted trouble ahead.

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The Rivercourt.

All the guys were playing ball and as usual Jake had brought his daughter along. Jake was a good friend of Lucas and Peyton's. Peyton would always babyist for Jake when he had something to do or when they had games she would always sit with Jenny on the benches. She had grown very fond of the little girl. At one point she had also grown very fond of Jake, much to Lucas' dismay. But nothing happened between them, at least nothing that Lucas knows of. Brooke, Peyton and Haley sat on a bench with Jenny cheering the guys on. Brooke was enjoying this. It was definitely not having dives in her pool with her friends or having facials with Darcy, but she liked it. It was different.

Brooke: This is fun. These guys are really great players.

Haley: Yeah, they are. Nathan wants to go to Duke university after high school.

Brooke: Really? That's great. What about Lucas?

For some reason she was really curious about him.

Peyton: Oh, Lucas wants to go to USC, to study literature.

Brooke: Really? But he's such a good player.

Peyton: Yeah, but, um, Lucas has a heart condition.

This was a very touchy subject for both Lucas and Peyton. It was Lucas' dream to become a professional basketball player, but he saw all of that slip away when he found out about his HCM. He would never be able to live his dream. And that broke Peyton's heart.

Brooke: Oh. Oh, I'm, um, I'm sorry.

Brooke didn't know what to say. She knew it was probably a very touchy subject for both of them. Peyton was probably terrified of losing him, just like she lost her mom.

Peyton: Don't be. I mean, it's not like he's dead.

Brooke: Yeah, but --

Peyton: Let's just drop it, okay?

Brooke: Okay.

Brooke could see that Peyton didn't want to talk about it. So, she then focused on the game. She was watching Lucas play and just started cheering.

Brooke: Whoo!! Go Lucas!

Lucas noticed this and smiled. She was rooting him on and being very cheery, unlike Peyton who was kind of like him and was very broody. He guessed she was a very cheery person. A very pretty and cheery girl. At the same time that Brooke was cheering Lucas on, Peyton's cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID and saw that it was her father. She picked up.

Peyton: Dad?

It was very unusual for Peyton's dad to call unless there was an emergency, Peyton started to worry.

Peyton: Dad, is something wrong? Oh. You are? Well, why didn't you tell me? Okay, I'll be right there.

She hung up.

Haley: What'd your dad say?

Peyton: Well, he's back in town.

Haley: He is?

Brooke: Peyton, that's great.

Brooke knew because of Larry's job that Peyton didn't get to see him that often. That's also one of the reasons why she and Peyton were so close. After her mom died she would always stay with Brooke if her dad was away at sea. She practically lived there.

Peyton: Yeah, but I gotta go pick him up at the airport.

Brooke: Oh, you have to leave?

Brooke pouted her lips and Peyton just laughed. Brooke would always do that if Peyton had to leave to go somewhere.

Peyton: Yeah, but I'll call you later, okay?

Brooke: Yeah.

Peyton: Okay, tell Lucas I had to go pick up my dad and that I love him, for me, okay?

Haley: Will do.

Peyton: Okay. Bye, guys.

Haley and Brooke both waved at her and got back to watching the game. The boys had just finished and started walking towards the girls. They were all very sweaty and panting and Brooke just couldn't help but notice how hot Lucas looked. Nathan ten tried to hug Haley.

Haley: No, no, no, no. I don't want to hug you when you're so sweaty.

She then got up and started to walk away from him. He followed her and started to tease her, he picked her up and she squealed and laughed, ordering him to put her down.

Haley: Nathan, put me down right now! Nathan!

Nathan just laughed and Brooke smiled watching the two of them. They were very much in love. She was kind of lost in thought when Lucas started talking to her.

Lucas: Hey, where's Peyton?

Brooke didn't answer.

Lucas: Brooke?

He snapped his finger in front of her eyes as though he was getting her out of a trance and she snapped out of it.

Brooke: Huh? Were you talking to me?

Lucas laughed.

Lucas: Yeah, I was asking you were Peyton is.

Brooke: Oh, she had to go. She had to pick up her father.

Lucas: Oh, her father's back in town?

Brooke: Yeah.

Lucas: That's great.

Brooke: That's what I said.

Lucas: Hmm, I guess great minds think alike.

Brooke: I guess so.

All of a sudden Brooke noticed how qiuet it was. Everyone was gone, even Nathan and Haley. They were all alone.

Brooke: I guess your friends ditched us.

Lucas looked around and also noticed the silence.

Lucas: Yeah, I guess so. So, do you need a ride home?

Brooke: No, that's okay. I can walk.

Lucas: You don't know the way.

Brooke: Yeah, but --

Lucas: Come on. I insist.

Brooke was hesitant. He was very willing and reached out his hand. After thinking about it, Brooke took his hand and they walked towards his car. He opened the door for her, like a real gentleman.

Lucas: Ladies first.

Brooke: Thank you.

This was fine, right? They were just friends, friends who were getting to know each other. Nothing could happen. Nothing would happen.