Just to clear something's up. Although this fanfic is set after 4.10…

The whole things with Nathan and Duante did not happen, however Haley did get knocked over by a car. The person who knocked her over died (like Duante did, on impact)

Nathan did not try to kill the (normal/random) person who knocked Haley over therefore Dan did not go to jail for Nathan.

Nathan and Dan have gotten closer though.

Lucas still had his heart attack.

I hope that clears something's up. Anyway without further ado….

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill or any of the characters.

Chapter Seven: That SKANK!

The next day at school, Brooke had spotted Mouth three times and all three times; he looked like he was having a nervous breakdown. He kept looking around frantically and biting his lips. Why on earth was he so nervous? Unless he was feeling guilty. She considered going up to him and telling him, she was there last night and had heard everything but decided against it, she didn't know why, she just felt it wouldn't do any good.

She had also seen Lucas twice today, but both times he had been with Peyton. She had wanted to go up to him and apologies for last night but she didn't know whether he had told Peyton about it, whether Peyton would be mad, or whether she wanted Peyton to know that she had had an argument with Lucas and it kind of had something to do with her. Whatever her reasons were, she really wanted to speak to him. But she knew she couldn't catch him after school because they had cheerleading practice and he had basket practice meaning, he was probably going to go out with Peyton afterwards.

"Hey whore" Brooke turned around to see Rachel standing behind her. She had one hand placed on her hip and her head her was tilted to the right, her signature "guess who I just made out with" pose.

"Hey skank" Brooke replied "So what disgustingly hideous human being did you beg to make out with you today" Brooke teased.

"Josh Barts" Rachel boasted proudly "And let me tell you something, he was anything but disgusting, in fact, he was really good, really, really, REALLY good" Rachel beamed, sharing way more than Brooke needed to know.

"Okay, Rachel, way too much information. Save the horny for you next victim"

"Oh, I will" Rachel grinned

"Eww!" Brooke said out loud beginning to walk away from Rachel

"Brooke" Rachel called

Brooke turned around. "Yeah?"

"Don't we have practice?"

"You bet your ass we do"

"Then quit being a slut and wait for me" Rachel said

"Okay, as soon as you quit being a bitch and hurry up"

Rachel smiled, and Brooke laughed. They had this unique friendship where calling each other names was just all part of their banter. Brooke put her arm over Rachel's shoulder "Now, promise you not going to go showing off, yes you can do the splits like a hundred times over, we all now you have loads of practice spreading you legs" Brooke teased

"Uh!" Rachel faked being offended and playfully pushed Brooke forward, only to link arms with her two seconds later "You're just jealous, Bitchy McBitchy"

"You wish Slutty McSlutty" Brooke smiled.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Okay girls, we're finished. That was really great. Theresa just try a little harder on that kick. Bevin you were a little slow at the beginning but other than that, great everybody! See ya girlies" Brooke said to her squad before heading out to the locker rooms to collect her stuff.

"Hey Brooke" Rachel called

"Yep." Brooke turned around

"I'll catch a ride with you, just wait for me in the changing rooms, I think I see Josh" She grinned seductively before running off.

Brooke rolled her eyes whilst thinking to herself that she would be waiting for a long time. She sat down in the locker room, which was now empty. God, it was quiet she thought to herself. What could she do to pass time? Make up some more moves to add to the routine? Yeah that's sounded like a good idea.

"One and two, three, four" Brooke said to herself counting in some new moves.

"If you needed any help all you had to do was ask?" said a smug, creepy voice.

Brooke turned around to see… DAN! Her heart started beating really, really fast. What was he doing here? Maybe he knew that she knew, maybe that's why Mouth had been so nervous all day? Shit! She was going to die, he was going to kill her right now, wasn't he? And no one was around to hear her scream, I mean Rachel was probably off doing God knows what with that Josh guy. Shit!

"Miss Davis, what are you doing here so late?" Dan grinned suggestively.

Ew, Brooke officially just threw up in her mouth.

"Are you waiting for Lucas?" Dan asked, knowing the answer. Brooke just tilted her head giving him a look. "No, wait of course not; he's with… er, what's her name?" Dan said pretending to think "She's your best friend…"

"Ex-best friend" Brooke corrected firmly. At that moment, Lucas walked into the changing rooms.

"What are you doing in here?" Lucas asked Dan looking confused

"I was looking for you." Dan said

"In the girl's locker room" Lucas raised one eyebrow, evidently not falling for Dan's excuse.

"Peyton. That's her name, Peyton right?" Dan said looking at Brooke.

Brooke just rolled her eyes. She could see Dan was enjoying every minute of this.

"I didn't mean to pry open old wounds Miss Davis" Dan continued, pausing and smiling before tapping Lucas on the shoulder and saying "We all know that's Lucas's job" With that he walked out, heading for Whiteys office.

"Rrrrr, god why is Dan such an…"

"Ass?" Both Lucas and Brooke said at the same time. They both looked at each other then burst out laughing; God Dan really was an ass. At least they could laugh about that awful encounter in Dan.

"I seriously don't see what my mum ever saw in him" Lucas said shaking his head.

"I hope you don't" Brooke teased. Lucas laughed, only she could turn a sentence like that into something completely different. "So what are you doing in here?" Brooke asked. "If you're looking for Peyton, I think she's already gone"

"No, I was looking for you actually" Lucas said. "I wanted to apologise for…"

Brooke interrupted him "No, no. Seriously it was all me, I was just getting overly sensitive about things and…"

Lucas interrupted "No you were right about it…I…"

"I'm sorry" They both said at the same time, smiling and looking down momentarily.

"Well, I better get going" Lucas said

"Okay, bye" Brooke smiled

Brooke waited another ten minutes before heading out to her car. Rachel probably wasn't even coming back. Knowing her she got it off with Josh in the back of his car and decided to finish whatever they started back at his place. Brooke slowly walked out into the car park. She was all tired out from practice and really couldn't wait to get home and have a nice long bath. That and start to read over her notes for History, she knew she'd be having a pop quiz because Mouth had said his class had one last week. Just as she could imagine getting home and throwing her keys on the counter before running up to have a bath, she noticed her car wasn't where she left it. As she began to look around she realised her car wasn't even in the car park. Had someone stolen it? She looked quickly through her gym bag trying to find her keys until it hit her. "That SKANK!" She practically screamed out loud.

Rachel. Rachel had stolen her key and was probably making out with Josh in the back of HER car. Ew, ew, ew, ewwwwww. What on earth was she meant to do now? Walk back to Rachel's?

"Why did this have to happen to me?" She said to herself as she began walking away from school. Maybe she could see if Lucas was still in and could give her a lift? No, it probably wasn't best and, she could see his car in the car park. She looked around once more "Come on, come on, come on" She said looking around. Just then a tall, dark, handsome figure walked out the building, Brooke walked closer to see who it was, hoping it wasn't Dan.

"Nathan!" Brooke squealed running up to him

"Brooke? What are you doing here?" Nathan said looking confused

"Boy, am I glad to see you. You would be able to give me a ride home, it's just that Rachel got off with some guy and was kind enough to take my car"

"Nice" Nathan said sarcastically "Sure come on, my car is over there"

"So what are you doing here so late? You and whitey finally hooked up?" Brooke teased

"Ha ha Brooke. No, my dad well, he..."

"He's an ass?" Brooke added

Nathan just smiled. Brooke could sense he probably didn't want to talk about it so she changed the subject "Great game Nate"

"Thanks, I'm practically dead" He said, opening the door for her to get into the car. He got in the other side and started the engine. It wasn't soon before they were on the road.

"So how are things with you?" Nathan asked

"What, you mean since me and Lucas broke up and he and Peyton started dating?" Brooke replied. Nathan just looked at her, surprised about how upfront she was being; mind you he never really had Brooke down as someone who held back. "What?" Brooke asked "That's what you were really asking me"

Nathan smiled. She was good, that's exactly what he was asking. Brooke continued "Look Nathan, I know that you've always been a fan of Peyton and Lucas being together so, I'm guessing whatever I say doesn't really matter."

Nathan looked at her "Why would you think that? Look, I'm happy for Lucas and Peyton, because I've seen how miserable they've both been. Lucas was absolutely heartbroken when you guys broke up but I'm guessing I don't have to tell you about that because you felt the same. And with Peyton, well all this stuff with losing her mum and Jake, I guess I'm just happy because she seems to be happy for once"

"That's great Nate, it really is, but does that mean that I have to sacrifice my happiness for Peyton" Brooke said.

Nathan looked at her. "I know why you did it?" He said

"Did what?" Brooke asked

"Broke up with Lucas. It was the same reason why I told Haley to go on the tour. It's not because I didn't love her, it's not because I didn't want to be with her, in fact it was the absolute obvious. I loved her some much but I was afraid of losing her, just like you were afraid of loosing Lucas to Peyton, so you did what I did. You told him to go and my guess if you wanted him to stay, you wanted him to fight for you and tell you he didn't want to be with Peyton, not just to watch you walk away. But I guess that's where we both went wrong, because Haley went on the tour and Lucas, he watched you walk away and started dating Peyton"

Brooke had been looking up at Nathan the entire time he was speaking. He was right; everything that he said was exactly what she had felt. Nathan turned to face Brooke "But don't give up on him. Sure, Haley went on tour, but she came back. She had to experience it for herself, just like Lucas has to be with Peyton to stop himself from ever wondering 'what if'. I know that it sucks Brooke because me and you we didn't have to experience things to know how we felt but that's who we are."

Brooke just smiled "Sometimes you have to let someone go and if its meant to be they will come back to you, right?" she said

"Right" Nathan smiled pulling up into Rachel's driveway.

"Thanks for the lift and the talk Nate" Brooke smiled, giving Nathan a quick peck on the cheek. Nathan smiled and nodded.

Brooke got out of the car and watched as Nathan drove away, waving him goodbye. She was finally at home and could start to think about that relaxing bath. She got her keys out of her purse and turned to walk up the steps to the front door, when she stopped.

Sitting on the steps in front of her was none other than….. Mouth. She looked at him, confused as to why he was here. He didn't look up, all he said was…

"I've got some bad news Brooke?"