''Hey Brooke, You still got a crush on that Julian guy?'' Nathan asked as he placed his lunch tray on the table and sat down. It's been a week since Nathan and Haley's little argument, and now they're as close as ever.

Brooke sighed. ''Do you ever switch that tiny brain of yours on, Nate? Where have you been these past, oh I don't know, three months?''

''Well you babble on and on and on most of the time, so I just switch off.'' he snapped back.

These little arguments between Nathan and Brooke aren't uncommon, they'll be best friends again in five minutes time. They always have them about minor unimportant things, the three other best friends are used to it. It's just the way Nathan and Brooke are, it doesn't mean that they love eachother any less.

''Well if you would just listen to me for a second then you'd know what's been going on, but you're to wrapped up in yourself as usual.''

''Me? You're the one who just talks about that nerd all the time.''

''Hey.'' Haley said. ''He's not a nerd.''

''He's a mathlete.'' Nathan reminded her, as if that was all the evidence he needed.

''So? I'm a tutor, it doesn't mean that I spend all my time studying. Just like Julian doesn't spend all his time doing equations.'' she said. Haley has actually spoke to Julian a couple of times this week, they're not friends or anything, but maybe one day they could be.

''Fine.'' he sighed, losing this argument. He didn't want to point out that Haley does spend a lot of time studying, because they're going good. He's slowly but surely turning into the guy he used to be. He's even noticed Haley smiling more.

''What is going on between you two anyway?'' Lucas asked curiously. Brooke's not really said much about him, she's been pretty quiet all week actually, which is very un-Brooke like.

''We're... changing. Well, I am anyway.''

Nathan looked at her in confusion. ''Why would you wanna change Brooke?''

''Because I'm a bitch.''

He snorted. ''I already knew that.'' he said, gaining a slap on the arm from Haley, who's sat next to him.

''I don't wanna be a bitch anymore.'' she said seriously. ''I wanna be nice to people, and I want people to see me as the nice, friendly cheer captain. Not the cold-hearted bitch captain who everybody hates.''

''Brooke, no one thinks that.'' Peyton denied, as did the rest of the table.

Brooke scoffed. ''Yes, they do.''

''Anyway, have you spoke to Julian at all today?'' Lucas asked, desperately wanting to change the subject. He hates to see Brooke put herself down, when she has no need to at all.

''I saw him walking down the corridor with that Rachel girl yesterday, they went into that math room together.'' she said jealously, angrilly stabbing the fork into her food.

Peyton laughed. ''You're jealous. You know what this reminds me of? The time Haley liked Nathan and he got his first girlfriend when we were fourteen.'' she said, still laughing. Then slapped her hand over he mouth in shock at what she'd just said.

Her four best friends all had their mouths hung wide open in surprise at her words.

She looked at Brooke, who had a I can't believe you just said that look on her face.

Lucas had a happy smile on his face. Clearly plotting a new way to make 'Naley' happen, jeesh, he's worst that Brooke was when they were fourteen, when Haley did like Nathan and she tried to get them together.

''Wait, what did I just say?'' she asked, with a nervous laugh. ''Did I just say Haley liked Nathan? Oh my god, that was a dream! I must have got confused.'' she lied, which she's hopeless at.

And her best friends knew that she was.

Haley pushed her tray away from her in hurt, and ran away from the table in embarrassment.

Nathan was to shocked to move, but when he was about to, it was to late. Brooke was already chasing after her, but that wasn't right, it wasn't fair. None of this was.

He should be the one running after her.

''Happy birthday, Mouth.'' Julian said proudly as he handed Mouth his present at lunch, he was just going to get him a present for being a good friend. But it turns out that it's Mouth's birthday today, so he decided to give it him today, and say it was a birthday present.

''Wow, what's this for?'' Mouth asked, as he looked at the CD case. It had no wrapping, no tag, no bow. Sure, Julian's all about fancy decoration, but he's just fitting in. He doesn't want to be known as 'wrapping paper guy', or maybe he's just paranoid?

Julian shurgged. ''For helping me out, and for being my friend, and for getting me onto the mathletes, and fo-''

''Dude, stop.'' he interupted him, and laughed. He really did have a great friend, he's so glad that he offered to show Julian around.

''Sorry.'' he apologised, embarrassed for his rambling.

''Thanks man, really, you didn't have to.'' Mouth said with a big smile.

''It's your birthday,'' he said. ''I couldn't not get you something.''

''Happy birthday Mouth.'' Junk said, as him, Fergie and Skills sat down at their lunch table too.

''Thanks guys.''

''Come to the rivercourt tonight, we'll give you you're presents there.'' Skills said.

Mouth chuckled. ''When do we not go to the rivercourt?''

''You've got a point.'' Fergie nodded.

Mouth stopped his laughter as he saw Rachel Gatina walking towards him, smiling, at him. Her red hair shined in the light, and her eyes sparkled as they looked at his. He felt like a complete pansy. But he didn't care. Rachel Gatina was looking at him, smiling at him, and walking right his way.

Oh crap, she's walking right this way.

''Hey Mouth,'' she said as she approached. ''happy birthday.''

''You..knew? You knew that is was my.. birthday?'' he asked in shock. She knew his birthday, she made the effort to say 'happy birthday'. That had to mean something, right?

Right?

She giggled and nodded. ''Of course. I got you this actually.'' she said, handing him an envelope. ''Julian only told me yesterday, so sorry that I didn't have time to get you anything better.''

The rivercourt boys all sent Julian thankful smiles, they know that him telling Rachel has just made this Mouth's best birthday ever.

Mouth took the envelope from her. ''T-thanks, thanks so much Rachel.''

She giggled again, and shook her head. ''Don't mention it.'' she quickly kissed his cheek. ''Have a great day.''

And then, she was gone.

Mouth brought his hand to his tingling cheek in awe, and stared at his friends who all had massive grins on their faces.

''She just kissed my cheek. Did you see that? Rachel Gatina just kissed my cheek!'' he exclaimed. ''She said happy birthday, and gave me a birthday card. What do you think this means?''

''That she's wishing you happy birthday?'' Junk asked, amused by Mouth's sudden giddyness.

''Open it.'' Julian encouraged, ignoring Junk's bad joke.

Mouth opened the card and smiled at the picture of a bear, holding a banner saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY, then he opened the card.

Dear Mouth,

Happy Birthday, have a great day.

Love,

Rachel x

''She wrote love can you see it?'' he asked, still full of giddyness as he shown the car to everyone.

''We see it man.'' Skills said.

Julian spat his drink out as he felt something wack into his back, he turned around and saw a sad, slightly embarrassed looking Haley.

''I'm so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going.'' she appologised quickly, before hurrying away.

''Hales!'' Brooke shouted after her, which caused Julian's heart-rate to quicken.

He stood up and grabbed Brooke's arm before she could run any further. ''Brooke, what's going on? She looks really upset.'' he said, his voice full of concern. He and Haley had almost reached the 'friends' stage, so he was obviously going to care if she was upset. Plus, she's one of Brooke's best friends too.

Brooke tried to regain some composure as she lost all train of thought when Julian touched her arm, she shook her head to try and gather what she was thinking. ''Um, Peyton said something, she's upset, I have to go and find her.'' she said quickly, trying to break free from his grasp. Sure, she wants to spend time with Julian, but Haley's hurt. And right now, Haley comes first.

''Let me know if she's okay, yeah?'' he said, releasing her arm.

She nodded and looked around, feeling colder when his hand wasn't holding her arm. ''Shoot, I've lost her. If you'll excuse me, I have to go and kick P. Sawyer's ass.''

''P. Sawyer?'' he asked in amusement.

''Yeah. Lucas is Broody, Hales is Tutor Girl.. or Hales. Nathan is Boy Toy, and Peyton is P. Sawyer. We all have little nicknames for eachother.'' she said with a grin, happy that she's having a actual conversation with him for the first time in a week.

''Do I have a nickname?'' he asked with a smirk, secretly praying that he did.

''I think I like Julian better.. it's suits you.''

He smiled. ''I think Brooke suits you too.'' he said playfully.

She giggled. ''Why thank you, Baker. Hey, looks like you've got yourself a nickname.''

His smile widened. ''I'm honoured.'' he said teasingly.

''Don't be. I'll catch you later Julian, I need to go and find Tutor Girl.'' she said, remembering her currently missing best friend.

He felt sad by her departure, but what could he do? It was his fault that this was their first conversation in weeks, he pushed her away, but they're slowly making their way back. He can feel it.

''Catch you later Brooke.''

''Bye Baker.''

Then, she was gone.

And as cheesy as it sounded. A little part of him left with him, some of his pride left too.

He sat back down and looked at the guys at the table, who were all staring at him in shock, except Mouth, who was re-reading at the card that Rachel had given him earlier.

''You're friends with Brooke Davis?'' Skills asked in shock. He knew that Brooke Davis only hung out with her four best friends, and often with some cheerleaders, she'd spoke to him once or twice, but she was never friends with a mathlete. And she definetely didn't flirt with one too.

Julian nodded, his smile widening. ''You could say that.''

Mouth looked up from his card. ''No, they just make out in math rooms.'' he quipped.

The table-if it was possible-looked at him in more shock that before.

''You made out with Brooke Davis?'' Fergie asked, trying to get his head around the idea.

The head cheerleader and the mathlete?

''I've been looking for you everywhere, I should have known that you'd be here.''

Haley shrugged from her seat at the tutor centre. ''I don't wanna talk to you Nathan.''

''Hales, this is big, this is huge! You liked me, you had a crush on me.'' he exclaimed. He was still trying to understand what's going on, he just couldn't imagine it, when he liked her, she liked him back, and he just didn't see it.

Stupid, once again.

Her cheeks turned a new shade of red. ''Gee, thanks for rubbing it in.'' she said sarcastically and rolled her eyes.

''Sorry. I just don't get it, it's just so...''

''Weird?'' she filled in. ''Nate it was almost four years ago. We used to be so close, and I really liked you, and yeah, it did hurt when you slept with that girl at our first basketball party. But I got over it, and now I know we're okay. Don't worry, I'm not secretly in love with you or anything.'' she giggled. ''I hurried out of there because I was embarressed, don't worry, I'm fine. Everything's fine.''

Weird wasn't the word he was looking for. Maybe, amazing, undescribable, phenominal.. something along those lines. But she was right, it is definetely weird. But a good weird, a great weird.

Even though it provided him with some more hope, which he really wanted.

Everything is not fine. Because she's still with Chris. Because she probably still resents him atleast a tiny bit for hurting her four years ago. Because she's completely embarrassed right now.

But she did like him, and that means something. That means he can be that guy again, that fourteen year old guy, who was caring and charming. He can make her like her again, he can make her fall in love with him. Everything is not fine.

Everything could be perfect.

Mac and Cheese. Mac and Cheese. Damn it, where the hell is the Mac and Cheese? Brooke wondered as she pushed the shopping cart around the store. Even though Haley said she was fine, and her and Nathan had sorted everything out, Brooke still wanted to cheer up her Tutor Girl. So she decided to buy and make her some Mac and Cheese... if she could find it.

As she turned a corner in the store, towards another isle, another shopping cart collided with hers.

Rachel Gatina's shopping cart.

''Oh, I'm so sorry.'' Brooke apologised quickly. Rachel looked at her in shock. Did Brooke Davis just apologise?

Brooke smirked at her shocked-ness, this change thing is definitely working.

''It's okay.'' Rachel answered politely and started to walk away.

''Wait.''

''Yeah?'' she asked in surprise, she wasn't going to make a big deal that Brooke Davis was talking to her, she was just shocked. It's not like she feels honoured or anything, Brooke's not famous or more special than anyone else.

''Just look after him, okay?'' Brooke said softly.

''Who?'' Rachel asked, her brow creasing in confusion.

''Julian.''

Rachel giggled. ''Okay, I'll look after Julian.'' she mocked.

''Wait, you guys aren't together?'' Brooke asked, not being able to stop the excitement in her voice.

''Of course not.''

''But... I saw you guys, you were together... and you were laughing about something.''

''So? That doesn't mean that we're together together. I like someone else anyway, like, really like someone else. We were just talking, about you actually.'' she told her.

Brooke's heart litterally skipped a beat. ''Really?''

''Yeah, we walked together to that math room and we were just talking...''

Flashback-

''Rachel! Rachel, wait up!'' Julian called as he chase her down the corridor, gaining annoyed glares from everyone he pushed passed.

She turned around and smiled at her new friend. ''Hey Julian, what's up?''

They started to walk towards the mathlete room as he answered. ''It's Mouth's birthday tomorrow.'' he informed her with his cheesy grin, clearly hinting at something.

She tried to hide her smile. ''And why would you tell me this?''

''Just thought you'd like to know..''

''So, you and Brooke Davis, huh?'' she asked, changing the subject around to him.

''I don't know.'' he replied honestly, and shrugged to try and brush it off. But he couldn't help but wonder what is happening with us? But then he remembered their fight, that continued to haunt him.

''Well how do you feel about her?''

''I'm crazy about her.'' he said automatically without thinking. ''I have to see her everyday, walking around with her friends, smiling and laughing. And I can't walk over there and be with her too.''

''Why?''

''Because of what she did, you guys got hurt because of her.''

She laughed. ''You're still going on about that? Jeez, that was so last week.'' she said in a girly voice. ''Seriously though, we're all fine, she apologised and we're all over it. She clearly cares about you, can't you tell that she's changing? She even smiled at me yesterday, and she smacked Alex Dupre in the face. It all means something Julian, she's crazy about you too.''

He tried to make it look like those words didn't just make his day, so he shrugged. ''I'm a mathlete, she's head cheerleader.''

''And she doesn't care.'' she added.

Julian decided that this conversation was getting way to serious, considering he'd not even spoke to Rachel that much. ''Anyway, this conversation is about Routh.''

''Routh?''

''Rachel and Mouth.'' he said simply.

''See, the cheery cheerleader's getting to you already.'' she giggled.

He shoved her lightly as the reached the math room. ''Shut up.'' he said.

Just as Brooke Davis spotted them.

Flashback over-

''He said that? He's crazy about me? Really?''

Rachel laughed. ''I'm not going to lie to you.'' she teased.

''Um, wow. Thanks Rachel.'' Brooke said sincerely.

''You're welcome.''

''I better go, I still have to find the damn Mac and Cheese.''

Rachel nodded. ''Yeah, see you whenever.''

''Yeah, bye.'' Brooke said awkwardly, as she pushed her cart in the direction that she originally planned to go to. But then she turned back. ''Hey, Rachel?''

Rachel looked back at her. ''Yeah?''

''Who is the guy that you like, anyways?''

Rachel smirked. ''Wouldn't you like to know, bitch?'' she said playfully, and pushed her cart down the isle, never looking back.

Brooke smiled. Who knew that a mathlete could ever be so nice, but so fiesty at the same time?

AN: HOPE YOU LIKED IT, I HONESTLY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO WRITE IN THIS CHAPTER, BUT I FIGURED IT OUT. THIS CHAPTER HAD BRULIAN. NALEY. BACHEL. RULIAN? AND JUNK!

ANYONE THAT DOESN'T KNOW. I AM A MAJOR JUNK FAN, SURE, HE'S SAID LIKE 30 WORDS THROUGH ALL THE SERIES', BUT I LOVE HIM. APPARANTY IN THE NEXT EPISODE HE'S GOING TO HAVE LINES OMG! SHAME, WE'VE GOT TO WAIT TWO WEEKS THOUGH:(

PLEASE REVIEW, THEY WERE THE ONLY THING THAT INSPIRED ME TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER, AS I HAD SOME MINOR WRITERS BLOCK.