Hey everyone, thank you for your reviews I'm glad you're enjoying the story. This chapter is the longest I've updated (for you photobooth romance, lol).

Enjoy….

Chapter Fifteen: Settle for a bitter bridesmaid

"Here you go" Lucas said placing the pack on Brooke's wrist

"Thanks" She smiled.

"Are you sure you don't want to go and get it checked out?"

"No, I'm fine"

"How did you do it anyway?" Lucas asked

"Do what…oh right, my wrist. Erm… I'm not quite sure, anyway how was school today?" Brooke said obviously trying to change the subject.

Lucas paused for a moment hesitant to carry on. He knew something wasn't right but, he also knew he wasn't going to force Brooke to talk about it if she didn't want to. "Fine, you?"

"Same." Brooke replied.

There was silence for a moment. All Brooke could think about was what had happened in the car, she kept replaying it over and over in her head, and she couldn't actually believe that she had said those things to Dan.

"You killed Keith, you might as well have pulled the trigger. You, his own brother tried to make his life a living hell… YOU KILLED HIM!"

"Brooke? You okay?" Lucas asked clearly worried by her silence

Brooke snapped out of her daze. "Yeah, I'm fine"

"Are you sure you don't want to go and get checked out, I mean you could have fallen really bad"

Brooke tried to laugh it off "Seriously, I'm fine, I'm just really tired"

"You can crash her if you'd like?" Lucas asked.

Brooke looked up at Lucas and then back down again at her ice-pack "I don't think that's a very good idea" Brooke said, getting up and placing the ice pack on the table.

"Why not?" Lucas asked trying to be casual about it.

"You're kidding right?" Hasn't he learnt anything, he's going out with Peyton and he's asking me to stay for a cosy little sleepover… unbelievable. Doesn't he ever hangout with the person he's actually going out with! "You know what Lucas, I've had a long day and you've been really sweet, thank you for the ice-pack, my wrist feels a lot better" She nodded, tucking her chair in "And…I'm going to go"

"You don't have to do that" Lucas said getting up from the table.

"Oh, but I think I do."

"Brooke, wait"

"Maybe, and this may come as a surprise to you but maybe you could, I don't ring your girlfriend talk to her instead of wanting to hang out with girls who aren't your girlfriend" Brooke said reaching for her bag.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, seriously I shouldn't have said anything. I'm just tired"

"Would you stop saying your tired and actually answer my question at least once tonight"

Brooke turned round to look at Lucas "Well all I'm saying is that you seem awfully eager to hang out with anyone and everyone except your girlfriend..." Brooke snapped back

"So this is about Peyton?" Lucas asked confused about where this was going

"It always is" Brooke muttered trying to pick up her gym bag.

"Brooke…"

"I was being sarcastic Lucas; for once it isn't about Peyton it's was about you and your ability to make being your girlfriend one of the loneliest things in the world"

Ouch. Brooke's words were hurtful, but at least she was being honest with him talking about how she felt. "You're the one who stopped missing me Brooke, remember?" Lucas fired back.

"You think I wanted to? You made it so hard Lucas. You'd go days without speaking to me, without calling me, just spending, god knows how many hours hanging out and listening to music with Peyton. Didn't YOU miss me?"

"I did, I…"

Brooke interrupted Lucas once again "Instead you'd call her and do what ever it is you'd do together…" Brooke said raising her voice.

"So this IS about Peyton" Lucas said dropping his hands down by his sides in frustration.

"No, it wasn't but seeing as you brought her up AGAIN, why don't we talk about your precious Peyton and your incessant need to always be around her, even when you knew it was hard for me, even when you knew I was trying to trust you" Brooke's voice was getting louder and louder

"Trying? What did you want me to do Brooke? Not talk to Peyton?" Lucas raised his voice to match Brooke's.

"No Lucas, of course not, it's just… imagine that I had wanted to be friends with… Chris Keller"

Lucas winced at the sound of his name "Brooke…"

"No. Would you have been okay with me hanging out with him all the time, would you?"

"You know I wouldn't, it's just the situation was different with Peyton okay. She needed me"

"I needed you Lucas… I needed you to love me enough to let me in" Brooke said feeling herself tear up. "I gave you my heart Lucas but you could never give me yours not fully"

"Brooke…" Lucas whispered

"I should go" Brooke said trying once again to pick up her gym bag, which was tangled to the chair leg. Brooke fell back onto the chair frustrated "Stupid, stupid bag"

Lucas smiled sadly she looked so beautiful when she was pissed off. "Here, let me help you" Lucas said softly. At first Brooke was reluctant but Lucas didn't pull away, managing to help untangle her bag from underneath the chair leg. Lucas looked up at Brooke; a tear fell down Brooke's cheek, as she quickly wiped it away.

How did they end up like this, arguing? Why did it feel like everything they argued about all there problems were going on right now when they broke up a long time ago? Why were they arguing when they were supposed to have moved on, when they were supposed to be friends, I mean he was with Peyton now, why did he care so much how Brooke felt, why did his heart ache when he even began to think just for a second about how much he hurt her.

"I was never enough for you. I gave you my heart Lucas and it wasn't enough" Brooke slowly got up and picked up her bag and left; leaving Lucas sitting there, still. He had wanted her to talk to him honestly for so long, all those times when they had just broken up she'd walk past him in the hall and not even flinch as they passed one another, he wished she would just turn around, turn around and talk to him, shout at him anything just tell him how she really felt and now… here it was. Lucas knew they had only scratched the surface of how Brooke felt but it hurt. It killed him knowing he had hurt the girl he loved so much. That she was hurting because of him.

"Brooke wait!" Lucas called out. Brooke turned around, with her hand still on the door handle

"Don't go" Lucas continued

"I'm sorry Lucas" Brooke turned the handle and opened the door slowly. She didn't want to go, everything inside her told her to stay, to talk to Lucas, to be with Lucas, to kiss Lucas.

At that moment Lucas got up from the table and walked across the hall to Brooke. He was standing so close she could feel him breathing. She could feel his heart racing. He closed the door, almost as if to dare her, dare her to stay, dare her to be with him, to love him, to want him back.

Brooke's heart was beating fast, faster and faster. She turned to face Lucas, but she knew she couldn't look up at him, she knew if she did she couldn't control herself, she'd lose herself in his eyes.

Lucas could feel her heart beating faster and faster, but she wasn't looking up at him. He knew why, the same reason why he could never allow himself to stand this close to her, to be near her. Even though he tried to deny it, he knew what he was doing; he knew that he wanted to be with her, he knew that he wanted to touch her, to kiss her. Lucas placed the tips of his fingers under chin, raising her head. He looked down at her, at her eyes, her lips, the freckles on her nose. Everything, how could he have been so stupid before, how could he have let her go.

"Lucas I…"

Before she could finish the sentence Lucas kissed her, he kissed her with such passion, desperation and love. Brooke dropped her bag, falling back against the door, wrapping her arms round Lucas's neck. In that moment in that kiss, there was no one else but Brooke and Lucas, no one else.

"Lucas! Lucas!" Karen called from the kitchen.

Lucas woke up in a pool of sweat. He looked around and then across at his watch.

"Lucas?" Karen called entering his room "Are you not going into school today, you're late"

Lucas looked around still confused. It had felt so real!

"Lucas? Are you alright?" Karen asked coming over to check his temperature "You feel warm, maybe you're coming down with something?"

"No, mom, I'm fine. I just need a cold shower and I'll be okay"

Karen paused for a while then nodded "Ok, well I'm off to the café. If you need anything, call me" She said before leaving.

Lucas heard the front door slam, and fell back into bed. Oh, what a dream!

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Lucas walked down the hall heading towards his locker after missing his first two lessons. He got his books out of his locker for his third lesson, just as the bell went for the end of third period. "Great, I guess the lessons over." He said putting his books back.

The halls started to fill with people flooding out from their lessons. Just then Brooke walked out the classroom, coming face to face with Lucas. She paused looking him up and down before heading down the hall.

Lucas shut his locker quickly, following her down the hall. He recognised that look. That look she gave the world to hide her fears and insecurities, that look she gave him to protect herself, to protect her heart. "Brooke, wait!"

Brooke didn't even turn around; instead she looked straight ahead trying her best to get out of the school building.

"Brooke!" Lucas said trying to catch up with. God she walks fast!

"Lucas" Brooke replied not slowing down "I really don't think we should do this right n…"

Lucas interrupted her ignoring her suggestion "I'm sorry about last night"

"Right now" Brooke said finishing off her sentence

"I know that an apology isn't good enough I know that, but I am sorry, I'm sorry for last night and I'm sorry for…"

"I've heard you're apologies Lucas, why don't you make me a mixed tape of apologies. Track one could be from Nathan and Haley's wedding when I poured my heart out to you, asking you to let me in and you said "I'm sorry Brooke" and track two could be when I broke up with you, told you how I was feeling, tried to reach out to you and all you could say was "I'm sorry Brooke" she said continuing to walk straight ahead, not even turning around to talk to him.

"What else did you want me do to, and don't say fight for you because I tri…"

"Trust me, I wouldn't have asked you to do that, I try not to make the same mistake twice, well three times in our case"

There it was again, her words, her attempts to hurt people so they'd leave her alone "You know the more you do that the harder I'm gonna try to talk to you" Lucas said continuing to follow her.

"The more I do what?" Brooke asked walking just as fast as before

"Trying to push me away by saying mean things to hurt me, look Brooke, its just hard for me to talk about things but don't think that I didn't love you because…"

"You did right?" Brooke said finishing his sentence "Right, right. You see Lucas…" Brooke said suddenly turning around to face him "Love is all about the little things, you can keep saying you loved me Lucas but that's not it, love isn't a word or an expression you can't think about it, you feel it! Love is crazy… unconditional…head-over heals and completely inconvenient. It's giving your heart to someone fully and completely; and trusting them to guard it with their life."

Lucas just stood there looking at Brooke. He wanted to tell her that he felt that way, that she made him feel that way, that she was the one for him. That love was journey, it wasn't perfect, it had its hard times and great times but if there was one person in the world that he'd want to take that journey with it… would be her. It's not that he didn't know what to say it's that he didn't know how to say.

"What are you two love birds "not talking about"" Rachel said walking over to them. Rachel looked between Lucas and Brooke who had successfully ignored her little comment. "Wow you look really angry Brooke, and…. Lucasyou look…confused. Let me guess… Lucas you've decided to marry "skinny blonde bitch" and Brooke you're going ontour with that "talent less, old but totally hot musician""

Brooke just rolled her eyes; Rachel smiled looking around "Oh, Peyton's coming over" she said turning to Brooke and Lucas "You guys pretend to be friends, okay"

"Dum dum de-dum dum dum de-dum" Rachel started humming.

Brooke hit Rachel on the arm "God don't get angry with me, you never know maybe Peyton will ask you to be her maid of honour"

"Hey Lucas" Peyton said as she approached the three of them. "You and Brooke doing some more research?" she asked bitterly

Brooke subtly shook her head. How nice of you to pretend I'm not even here Peyton.

"On second thought…" Rachel began "You might have to settle for a bitter bridesmaid"

"What is she talking about?" Peyton asked Lucas, gesturing over to Rachel.

"Okay first of all 'she' has a name…" Rachel said clearly pissed off by Peyton's comment "And secondly shouldn't you be asking that question to Mr and Mrs Smith over here" Rachel smirked.

"Rachel!" Brooke said

Peyton crossed her arms, she wasn't the slight bit amused by Rachel's sarcasm. "So…?" Peyton asked looking over at Lucas, who obviously hadn't even really digested what was going on. One minute he was apologising to Brooke, the next Rachel was arranging a wedding, a tour and now Peyton was pissed off at him. I should have stayed in bed today. Lucas thought to himself.

Brooke decided to break the long silence "We were just arranging a time when we could meet up to do some more work on our project" Brooke said, before having a quick thought "Actually we were thinking we could all get together, seeing as we're working on the same project" Lucas looked up at Brooke. Man she's mad at me. Lucas thought to himself.

Peyton smiled. "Good idea Brooke" She said addressing her for the first time since she had come over.

"Yeah, great idea" Both Rachel and Lucas muttered, clearly unimpressed by the new idea.

"Ok, sound more enthusiastic, why don't you?" Peyton said, nudging Lucas

"No, its not that" Lucas said trying to laugh it off "It's just that well you and Rachel haven't even met up once so you guys don't really know what you're doing yet, whereas Brooke and I have a plan and everything"

"So…?"

"So I was thinking maybe it would be best if you and Rachel met up a few times first, because Brooke and I are kinda past the research stage now. I don't know, what do you think Rachel?" Lucas asked turning to face Rachel.

Rachel just stared back at all three of them "So you're basically asking me whether I'd like to spend a whole evening with the love triangle from hell, or… the cheerleader from hell" Rachel replied, eyeing Peyton.

"You know what, I'm outta here" Peyton said turning to walk away.

"I really do think my original idea was best" Brooke said "Really it was"

"Wait up, Peyton" Lucas said jogging over to her. "Look I know you want us to spend more time together, but I really think its best you actually get some work done with Rachel, otherwise you're going to flunk" Lucas said

Peyton stopped, turned around glancing over at Brooke "Is that why, you're working so hard with Brooke… so that you don't flunk?" Peyton asked not caring that Brooke could actually hear her.

Brooke scoffed as Rachel linked arms with her "Trust me, she is not worth it" Rachel whispered to Brooke.

"Hey Peyton…" Rachel called out "Be at my house tomorrow at 1pm, okay"

"But tomorrow is Saturday" Peyton replied

"Well done" Rachel said sarcastically, before turning around with Brooke and heading down the hall.

"Brooke…?" Lucas called out, but she didn't respond instead she and Rachel disappeared down the hall.

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Rachel was lying on the sofa, flicking between channels as Brooke hurried down the stairs.

"Aren't you going to make any effort, you know books, pens… anything." Brooke asked, brushing her hair in the mirror.

"Why should I? Peyton's got a big enough head… I mean brain for the two of us"

Brooke laughed "Okay, I get why I'm not friends with her but do you even have a reason or are you pretty much a bitch to anyone"

"Ha ha, very funny. Peyton just annoys me. But… you never know, Peyton and I could bond over the great French Revolution, become best friends and she could give me tips on how to steal your future boyfriends"

"Ha" Brooke mocked

"Ha" Rachel repeated

"Okay, well I'm gonna get out of here, before she gets here" Brooke said putting her mobile in her bag.

"So what are you doing today…? Lucas?" Rachel teased

"I'm ignoring that! I don't know actually, might go to the mall… Okay, well see ya"

"Don't do anything I wouldn't do!" Rachel called out

"There's nothing you wouldn't do" Brooke teased

"I know, Lucas will be so pleased" Rachel replied in a seductive voice

"I'm leaving now" Brooke said before grabbing her bag. "Bye!"

Fifteen minutes later the doorbell rang. Rachel walked over to the door, opening it.

"Hi" Peyton said, carrying a stack of books

"I knew you'd come through with the books" Rachel said gesturing for her to enter.

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Lucas lay back on his bed shooting his mini basketball at the mini net that hung on the opposite wall. He had managed to talk himself out of ringing Brooke seeing as she was obviously still mad at him. It was a Saturday and he was at home, moping. He couldn't exactly pin-point his reasons for feeling down but he knew he was. Nathan and Skills had called him early to see if he wanted to go down to the river court but he ended up telling them he had loads of work to do and would come down later, but he knew he wouldn't. Instead he could see himself moping over the phone, wondering whether or not he should ring Brooke.

Ding dong. The doorbell rang. Lucas raised his head momentarily thinking of who it could be. Mom had a key, Dan never bothered ringing the doorbell he just came in, Brooke was still mad at him, Peyton was at Rachel's, Nathan and Skills were down at the river court. It could only be… Mouth.

Ding dong. Lucas thought for a moment whether he really wanted to answer the door, no offence to Mouth but he really wasn't in the mood, he'd rather just lay here wallowing in self-pity for a bit longer.

Ding dong. Lucas moaned getting up to answer the door. He could see a figure slowly walking back down the front steps. He hurried to open the door, completely surprised to see...

"Brooke"

Brooke stopped, turning around. I rang the doorbell three times, three times. How sad am I? Brooke thought to herself.

"Sorry about that I was…" Lucas tried to think. I was thinking about you…no that would just make her angry, how about I was thinking of ringing you… no that sounds stupid, how about I was just ringing you.. okay even more pathetic. Lucas thought to himself.

Three times, three times!! Brooke shouted to herself "Look I didn't come to see you, I came to see Karen" Brooke said firmly.

"Is that why you brought your school bag?" Lucas said gesturing over to her bag

Brooke looked down at her bag and back to Lucas, Shit. "Well it doesn't have any books in it."

"I'm sure it doesn't" Lucas said completely unconvinced.

"You bet your ass it doesn't because…" Brooke paused and then imitated Lucas saying "We've passed the research stage"

Lucas laughed "Okay, first of all, we have, and secondly I said that because I knew you were trying to avoid being alone with me"

Brooke smiled rolling her eyes "Whatever, are you going to invite me in or are we going to stand out here all day" Brooke smiled placing one hand on her hip.

Lucas smiled, gesturing for her to enter. "So you're not mad at me anymore?" Lucas asked

"Hmmm, that all depends" Brooke said as she walked through into Luke's bedroom

"On what?"

"If you've got any of those multi-coloured post-its and chocolate, lots of chocolate"

Lucas laughed closing front door behind him. He definitely wasn't sad anymore.

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"Okay, I like your plan, we should definitely go with that" Rachel said passing Peyton's plan back to her.

"We haven't even looked at any of yours yet" Peyton said

"Well I like yours better" Rachel replied quickly

"Which is code for you haven't done anything? Are you actually planning on doing any work? On second thought don't answer that" Peyton smirked.

"Despite what you think, I'm not stupid" Rachel said sorting through some of the books

"Right sorry, I forgot that would be Brooke"

Rachel looked up at Peyton shaking her head "No I think the only stupid thing she did was become friends with you"

"That and "non-exclusive" dating, flunking her maths test, moving in with you and…

"Trusting you" Rachel said, quickly finishing off Peyton's sentence

"Look I don't know what Brooke told you but I didn't betray her trust" Peyton said, stacking the books.

"Well Brooke sure thinks you did"

"Whatever" Peyton said shrugging her shoulders

"Just look at it this way, I know Brooke likes her fair share of attention, but you and her were friends, best friends, you always came first with her, all the time"

Peyton scoffed but Rachel continued "Until… you put her second" Peyton looked up at Rachel who shrugged her shoulders and continued looking through the books.

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"Are you going to put some music on or are we going to sit here in silence" Brooke said as she got out her pencil case.

"We could always talk" Lucas said clearing his desk

"Or you could play some music" Brooke repeated

"Okay, but I think I lent my copy of the Spice Girls to Haley" Lucas teased

"Ha ha, you are so funny" Brooke smiled throwing her eraser at him.

"Ouch" Lucas said pretending to be hurt.

Brooke laughed "I am so telling Haley about the Spice Girls comment"

Lucas laughed "Oh great"

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"I wonder what Brooke and Lucas are doing right now?" Rachel said as she got up to play some music.

"Lucas is at home and Brooke is probably off somewhere getting her legs waxed. They're not together" Peyton replied

"Trust me; they're together… studying of course"

"Unlike Brooke…" Peyton began "I trust Lucas, that's why our relationship works"

"Good for you" Rachel said searching through her CD's as Peyton began ruffling through her bag. Rachel continued searching through her CD's, without even turning around to look at Peyton she said "You can use my phone"

"What?" Peyton asked defensively

"Go on, plus it'll save you making up some pathetic excuse like "Can I go to the bathroom""

"I seriously don't know what you're…"

Rachel interrupted "The phones out on the landing, don't worry won't be able to here you 'not' calling Lucas"

Peyton paused for a minute and then got up, walking out into the landing.

Rachel smiled shaking her head. So predictable.

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"Okay, I officially love this song" Brooke said whilst bubble writing 'French Revolution'

"What?" Lucas asked, trying to talk over the music.

Brooke gestured for Lucas to low the music down a little "I said…" Brooke repeated still shouting as Lucas lowered the volume "I LOVE THIS SONG!" Brooke shouted right as the volume went low.

Both Broke and Lucas burst out laughing.

"I knew you'd like it" Lucas smiled

Brooke shook her head smiling

"How about instead of a mixed tape of apologies I make you an actual mixed tape" Lucas teased reminding Brooke of her comment the other day.

"Okay, I was mad at you when I said that so you can't tease me about it" Brooke smiled "How about we make one together, like now" Brooke suggested, getting excited as she walked over and bounced onto Lucas bed grabbing a pillow.

"Oooo, erm… well" Lucas teased "Are you sure that's not crossing the friends boundary?"

"Mmmm" Brooke said pretending to think "Nope" she smiled shaking her head.

Lucas walked over to the desk "You're sure are you because…" Lucas began smiling "I thought this whole friend's thing was…" Lucas continued imitating Brooke "Exactly what you needed and exactly what you wanted"

"Oh you are SO dead!" Brooke laughed throwing a pillow at Lucas

"I don't think so" Lucas laughed, going over to tickle Brooke.

Brooke fell back onto his bed, laughing hysterically "You better stop that right now, or I'll…"

Lucas laughed continuing to tickle her "Lucas Scott…" Brooke started again, she could barely breath she was laughing so much "If you don't stop… that right… now, I'm going to..." she said laughing.

Lucas stopped pulling her in close "Or you'll what Brooke Davis?" he smiled. Brooke stopped laughing and began breathing in hard.

He could feel her heart racing against his as her chest rose and fell as she tried to catch her breath. Brooke looked up at Lucas, as he stared back into her eyes. He was so close to her she could feel him breathing, God her heart was racing, he was so close… so dangerously close.

Neither of them moving fixed in the moment; both afraid of their true feelings, both afraid of the consequences, both afraid… of making the first move.

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Well there it is my longest chapter so far. I know I left this chapter up in the air, but tell me what you think, what you're hoping for… reviews are loved!!!