A/N: Deb's still in rehab.

I am vindicated

I am selfish

I am wrong

"Brooke, it's just for two days," Nathan told his new girlfriend as he packed his suitcase. His mom had called and invited him to family day at the rehabilitation clinic where she was staying. He hadn't wanted to go at first but Brooke had finally talked him into it, "And besides, this was your idea."

"Well, yeah. But I didn't realize it would be for, like, ever," Brooke said sitting on Nathan's bed, playing with the edge of his Duke comforter. The truth was, she thought this would have been a perfect opportunity for her and Haley to hang out but that was before she realized how much she would actually miss Nathan.

"It's not forever. It's two days. Hey, why don't you go with me?" he said smiling.

"No...you know I don't do family gatherings, Nate. That's not my style. I'm more of an...up close and personal kind of gal," she said getting off Nathan's bed and standing in front of him.

"Oh, really?"

"Mmhmm." Brooke said as Nathan grabbed her and spun her around before laying her down on his bed.

"Brooke, stop whining," Haley said the next day as she checked out her reflection in the mirror, "He'll be back soon. And they do say absence makes the heart grow fonder. So get off your ass and get dressed. This party will take him off your mind."

"I'm not whining and you know what else makes the heart grow fonder? Sex," Brooke said putting her jacket on. She knew she was being unreasonable but she missed her boyfriend.

After they arrived at the party, Brooke quickly downed quite a few beers.

"Hey, Brooke." Lucas said walking up to his ex. Brooke was sitting on the couch alone trying to focus on the movie that was playing on the TV.

"What do you want, Lucas?" she said obviously pissed off.

"I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry."

"Oh, well. Apology accepted," Brooke said a bit confused. She started to get up but fell back down.

"Here, let me help you," he said steading her as she got up.

"Thank you. I'm going to go find Haley now," she said stumbling towards the stairs. She didn't notice until she was upstairs that Luke had followed her, "Lucas, I accepted your damn apology. What do you want now?"

"You." he said as he kissed her. She tried to push away but he grabbed the back of her head and made her stay.

"Lucas! What the hell?!" a voice came from behind them. Lucas broke away and saw Nathan standing in front of them.

"Oh, God!" Brooke said running, or stumbling, towards the bathroom. Soon, all the beer she had consumed was out of her system and she was asleep on a bed. Nathan was sitting beside her stroking her hair. After Nathan had come to the rescue he had had Lucas thrown out of the party. Nathan also understood that Brooke was drunk and had been taken by surprise.

"Knock, knock," Haley said as she walked in the room, "How's our girl doing?"

"She's knocked out. But she'll be fine. I was getting ready to take her home." Nathan said smiling down at his girlfriend.

"Okay. I'm going to hang around here for a little while. Be careful with her, Nate." Haley said meaning in more ways than one.

"Don't worry, Haley. I will."