Where Are You Love?

Why can't I find you?

by: SamiJane

Disclaimer: Please see Author's bio

Summary: After the Leyton wedding, Brooke Davis and Julian Baker try to figure out what's next in their own lives.

A/N: Thank you, each and every one of you, for your awesome, thought out reviews!! I would name each of you amazing readers, but there's so many, and my internet is acting screwy, and I want to post this before it goes out again.i'll give shout outs next chapter :)

Anyways, as always I'm happy at how much you guys enjoy the previous chapter. I really wanted to enforce how much fun the group can still have even though Leyton is away. And also establish a friendship between the Naley family and Julian and Chris. There'll be more chapters like the last one...but not for a while, because as you'll see by the end, the drama is going to pop up. It's 85% fun, 10% deep thoughts, and 5% drama.

So read away and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 7: Shock Waves and Ripples Part 1: Broody, Penny, and Jack, Oh My

Brooke's POV One Week later, Brooke's kitchen

Oh hot damn, this is my jam. Hm, hm, hm, hm, hm, till the am. Y'all don't understand. Hm hm hm hm hm. In the ayer, ay-ayer, da, da, da, da…Damn it; I hate it when I get songs stuck in my head.

But what I really find annoying is when certain boys get stuck in your head. You know, the handsome, Oh so deceptively charming ones that you try to ignore or forget about because you know you shouldn't be thinking about them. But, they're face keeps popping up in your mind when you least expect it.

Or the boy literally and physically pops up in front of you, out of the blue, like one of those "Jack-In-The-Box" toys. You're enjoying the little ditty, the music of your life, and when you least expect it…Bam!

You become scared at first, but then you laugh off your initial fright to hide the fact that you were deathly afraid. And then you take another look at Jack, with his deep eyes and his scruffy, playful grin… and you can't help but fall for what just popped up in front of you.

And then comes the time where you have to decide whether you want to close the box on Jack…or leave it open.

Stupid box. Stupid Jack.

Stupid Julian.

Vvvrrrrrrr…Vvvrrrrrrrr

Damn, that vibration is loud. I look over my shoulder to find my cell phone doing its own little dance on the kitchen counter. It's probably Lucas triple checking whether or not I can pick him and Peyton up from the airport tomorrow afternoon.

"Lucas, why the hell are you disturbing me instead of your wife on the last day of your honeymoon?" I whine with my groggy morning voice, as I choose what breakfast to set up for me and Sam.

"Gross, Brooke," Nathan's voice startles me. Shoot. I just had to choose Cheerios today.

"Nathan?" I ask with confused surprise as I bend down to clean up the few pieces of cereal. Why was he calling me so early in the morning?

"Don't sound too disappointed," he jokes.

"Don't let my initial shock confuse you. I'm jumping up and down with excitement on the inside," I acerbically assure him.

"I'd hate to be you're insides."

"Ha. Ha. So, what'd you phone me up for, traitor player?" I ask, referencing his support for Julian during Rockband last week, and most notably his recent friendship with Julian.

Since our little Rockband session, Julian and Chris have shared after school snacks with Sam at the café; had Wii practice and dance practice with Jamie, a guitar bash with Haley, and two miserable attempts at shooting hoops with Nathan. And me…well, Julian liked to bother me at work every other day. Which means we've shared about two handfuls of bantering arguments that usually only ended because either Sam, Chris, Jamie and Haley, or all of the above would walk in and ask what we were doing for the day. Or Nathan would just tell us to shut up. Thank goodness Julian had a meeting up in New York today, my brain could use a break from coming up with witty comebacks. There's also been two group dinners, the second of which was interrupted by a very brief food fight in Haley and Nathan's dining room. I still need to pick up my silk Marc Jacobs blouse from the dry cleaners.

"Just cause he can play the guitar does not count as cheating at Rockband. You're just annoyed because he won," Nathan reminded me yet again. I smile when I hear Jamie's enthusiastic voice in the background asking who Nathan is talking to.

"No, I'm annoyed because you have suddenly gained a new best friend. I'm beginning to question where your loyalties lie, Nate," I say with playful wary.

"He can shoot a ball through a hoop without making it a competition and without talking all the time, Miss Allegedly dating Producer Boy," Nathan teased.

Talk about Touché. I guess he's still annoyed about when I disrupted his practice two days ago, on the Rivercourt, with my ten minute rant about the tabloids. I couldn't help it; I saw with my own eyes what the waitress said two weeks ago. I wish Bitchy Brooke could be back in town, and then I would kick the ass of whoever started the damn rumor.

"Fine. Let's start over," I relinquished my fight against him being friends with Julian, anything to evade any conversation that consisted of tabloid fodder or the prospect of Julian and I dating.

"Hello, Nathan; to what do I owe this pleasure of a phone call?" I enthuse in my dead on Stepford wife voice.

"You've had a crazy two weeks. I just wanted to see how you've been holding up," he answers with a light chuckle at my impression. I paused for a moment, analyzing what he was really trying to ask me.

"Hmmm. Are you asking, if after two weeks, have Baker and Keller caused me to go insane? Or are you asking, if after two weeks, am I looking forward to Lucas and Peyton coming home?" I asked the two questions I knew he was dying to ask me.

Two different questions. And depending on my answer, they would indirectly reveal essentially the same thing: Am I, Brooke Davis, doing better than I was two weeks ago? Or two months ago?

Better than the girl who felt alone seeing Lucas and Peyton together? Better than the girl who wanted nothing to do with Chris Keller and Julian Baker? Better than the girl who was afraid to fully open herself up to others again? Better than the girl who had just opened up about her attack to Naley two weeks ago?

Good question, Nate.

"Both, I guess," Nathan replied into the phone as I contemplated my answer. "But, I do enjoy riled up Brooke. She reminds me of old school Brooke; I miss seeing her around."

"Yeah, I miss her, too," I joined in on the nostalgia, "But new school Brooke would rather not relive some of those days, you know what I mean?"

It wasn't just the attack that is hard to relive. The slutty days of high school, being betrayed by my best friend, slapping said best friend, and of course…being hurt by Lucas…those are hard to relive. But those high school days are long gone and I had gotten over them. If I hadn't, I never would have accepted Lucas or Peyton back into my life. And if I hadn't, I don't even think I would be talking with Nathan right now. And I need Nathan and Haley right now.

And just like those stinging high school days, I know the attack will be put behind me. That's why I need Nathan and Haley – they help me. And like I've said a thousand times, since senior year of high school, Nathan and Haley give me hope.

"Maybe you can blend the two Brooke-s together and have really awesome Brooke," Nathan propositions. I can hear him smiling at his idea and I feel myself do the same.

"Yeah." He does make a very good point.

"To answer your question," I revert the topic back to why he originally called, "Surprisingly no for the first and surprisingly yes for the second."

"Good. I'm glad," he voices.

So am I. I haven't been felt this ok about myself or relationships in a very long time. I'm not exploding with old school Brooke happiness…but I am happy with the progress I've made.

As unhappy as I originally was with Lucas and Peyton getting married…unhappy is the wrong word…maybe scared. Scared of being alone…scared of not being able to be rescued by them anymore…

Anyways, as whatever I felt I was…it's weird that their wedding is what brought Haley, Nathan, and I even closer. It's weird that the event helped me let go of Lucas. And it's weird that it brought two guys into my life…Chris…and I hate to say it…Julian. As much as I originally wanted to hate and exclude those two from my life, or anyone's life for that matter, they managed to find a hole in the fence and sneak on into all of our lives.

Part of that was Sam. Her ability to just latch on to people without giving too much of herself away – that drew them in. She wasn't totally trusting with them either; she did have issues as much as the next person. But she was willing to put herself out there, to create friendships with those who were equally courageous and clever like her.

Part of it was Jamie. His intelligence and personality alone speaks for himself. Add the cuteness factor, and you have gold…or in this case, three adults willing to give two supposedly reformed a-holes a chance.

And then there's Nathan and Haley. In the end, they gave me the courage to accept Chris and Julian in our lives. Don't get me wrong, the two Rocker Twins still manage to piss me off in oe form or another, practically everyday. The only difference is now I count to five calmly before taking out the water pistol.

"Brooke? You still there?" Nathan's voice echoes on the other end of the phone.

"Yeah, sorry. So…really awesome Nathan, what's the second half of this call about?"

Julian's POV; airport

Usually I love traveling. I enjoy the little treats you get when you're sitting in a first class seat – the attention and pampering. It's being done by someone who doesn't secretly want to get in your good graces so that you would produce their next screenplay. What I enjoy the most are the different cities you can immerse yourself in and the occasional funny person that you meet.

But today, I hate it. The plus side about being a producer is that almost nobody cares what you do in your personal life. If you're a woman producer and you gained a little weight, nobody would automatically assume you're pregnant. If you're a guy producer and you hang around with a gal pal around Robertson, nobody would think you're cheating on your girlfriend.

But being the "playboy" producer who is the supposed romantic interest of a famous designer and inspiration for the widely popular, juggernaut brand that is B Davis…that's when trouble kicks in. And more trouble kicks in when today's tabloid claims that you've broken her heart and kicked her off of your movie team.

Like, your stewardess 'accidentally' spills two glasses of champagne on your shirt. Or a random fellow traveler hits you over the head with the tabloid that called you a heartbreaker in the first place. Or five other random ladies call you an asshole. Lucky for me I always pack an extra shirt whenever I travel, even if I'm only traveling for one business meeting. And lucky for me, the magazine doesn't weigh as much as lead. Seriously, where do magazines get this kind of stuff?

Gossip, rumors, even opinions from shady people, I take with a grain of salt. It's when people who don't know me, react to the gossip and then physically take it out on me…that's crossing the line.

But then again, it's not like I haven't crossed a line once or twice.

The fifth grade – pushing away Sienna Wynter. That's once.

Fairly recently – chatting up Brooke Davis. That's twice.

The first ended up ok since Sienna and I eventually became friends again. Plus, we were ten. We didn't know understand what we were mad about in the first place. But the second crossing of the line is a little more complicated. And why I label it as crossing the line…well, that's even more complicated. Complicated because her blonde broody best friends have labeled me an enemy. And complicated because we technically still "hate" each other. There's a third, but I'd rather not think about it any more than I have to.

Speaking of complicated, I spot her standing impatiently by the exit doors with her foot tapping rapidly and her fingers constantly running through her auburn hair.

"If I knew we were going to have an airport gig, I would have brought my guitar," I announce my presence to my tabloid ex girlfriend. "So where's the show at, Penny D?" I use my recently favorite nickname I've thought up for her.

She's mad…Nathan probably guilt tripped her into picking me up. She must be more than mad, she's probably pissed. Fine with me.

"Like we would invite a cheater to play, Jack," she tells me as she begins walking briskly towards the exit. No room for dilly dallying, I guess.

And Jack? What was Jack from?

Before I get a chance to ask her about her new name for me, or even to tease her about today's Hollywood gossip, her cell rings.

"Hello? What?" she asks. Her face has just turned slightly pale, like how I imagine she would look if her mother was on the other end of the line.

"Wow, um..that's wonderful. More than wonderful, really," she continues with a broken voice. "I uh – I would talk more, but I actually…yeah, that's fine…Yeah, tomorrow."

"Was that your tour manager calling?" I ask, pretending not to notice how much that one phone call has changed her mood.

But she remains silent and her brisk pace becomes faster while she leaves confused me in the dust.

"Ok…"

She's still quiet after a few minutes of driving. Whoever called her must have been not realized to how their news would affect Brooke. What I'm guessing was supposed to be 'wonderful' was more like 'Oh crap,' for her. I'm not used to a silent Brooke Davis. So I do what I normally would do to break the slippery ice called silence…I ramble and joke.

"Hi, Julian, welcome back. Life was so tortuously mundane and uneventful without you," I say with my head turned to one side. I turn my head to the other side, "Why thank you, Brooke. You know, I probably should have warned you before I left; it's natural to go through a little Baker withdrawal...Really? Not even an eye roll?"

No reaction. Not even a huff or a glare.

"Did you pick up the fabric?" She asks with a stoic expression, her eyes not leaving the road. Well, at least I got her to talk.

"What fabric?" I joke, at which I receive a deathly stare. She's back. "I'm kidding, of course I got it," I reassure her. Another two minutes of expressionless quiet. I can't stand it anymore; it's just too weird and unorthodox.

"This is totally out of character of me, but I'm going to venture and ask anyway …did something happen earlier?" I ask with a cautionary voice.

"No," she nods her head and then shakes it, like she's trying to make up her mind on whether or not to tell me. "Yes," she decides, "You might as well hear this from me since it's going to come up sooner rather than later."

"Hear what?" I ask. What information was I bound to hear that would make her feel the way she was feeling right now?

"They're having a baby," she nearly stumbles on the word baby.

After a few more seconds of silence, I mutter one syllable, "Oh."

I never thought that they would have a child so soon.

Maybe 'oh' isn't the right word.

'Whoa. Holy Mother Shit Hole' is more like it…

Lucas and Peyton are having a baby? They've really rushed into everything, haven't they? After more than three years of being apart, they suddenly get engaged…move in together three days later…marry three months later…and then find out about a baby two weeks later. I know they're supposed to be "destined" for each other. But really.

And people tell me I need to slow down.

I don't know what to think about a mini Peyton or mini Luke running around, hating me, and "accidentally" throwing baseballs at my groin…if I am indeed around Tree Hill at that time. I don't think I'm that upset about it...truthfully, I never imagined myself having kids with Peyton. She never seemed like she wanted any during the time we were together. Then again, her main goal at the time was to become an assistant to the assistant to a record producer. And my main goal was getting an indie movie into Sundance. And how could she express wanting kids when her subconscious and her heart were still pining for Lucas?

I get why Brooke has been upset the past twenty minutes. Peyton is essentially living the life Brooke has dreams about: a husband and a baby. Talk about a blow to the gut. I wonder if the newlyweds even realize that.

As for me, I can only feel shocked...really shocked. And scared that if I do stick around, the kid might innately hate me. Actually, that would be kind of funny, now that I think about it.

"I get why you're upset, but I think it's a good thing you're not Peyton right now," I break away from my thoughts and say my opinion to Brooke. She stares at me like I'm some insensitive, selfish jerk, but I wasn't finished.

"Cause you have Sam and she's ten times more awesome than a colicky, spitting up baby. Plus, Sam, and any other kid that you might have in your life, certainly will never have half the drama a Lucas and Peyton offspring will go through. In my opinion, you definitely got the better end of the deal," I remind her of the family she already has.

In my opinion, Brooke's family kicks ass. I mean, she lets her kid use water guns to wake up the two bums that crashed on their couches. She has picnics on the floor of her boutique with Nathan and Haley and she dances synchronized hip hop with Jamie.

I don't know yet if my comment is helping. I know that I'm not the best or even fifth best person to go to for advice or consoling but, at least I was trying. Damn it, I have been getting way too nice staying down South.

It takes a little while for Brooke to speak since she's probably still processing everything, including what I had just rambled.

"Thanks," she smiles at me. Whew…

"Talk about a momentous occasion," I announce after a few minutes. I wanted to prevent silence from taking over again. "That was our first serious conversation, Davis," I taunt.

"One conversation does not change anything, Baker." Ahh, the good old eye roll.

"I cheered you up; that changes things plenty," I point out, "A little thank you on the cheek wouldn't hurt," I tease.

"Maybe you're right. Open your door and when I kick you out, I'll be sure to choose a cheek to thank," she threatens me with a smile. I see I've reverted her back to her good old 'Julian can fall of a bridge' self.

"Good to know we're on the same page. And good thing I'm a popular person," I say as I answer my trusty cell. It does always seem to ring at the right time.

"If that's Nathan," her voice grows louder as she directs it towards my phone, "Tell him he owes me big time - like three gallons of ice cream, big time."

I tell Nathan that she's an ice cream addict and that he shouldn't help enable her addiction. At that point Brooke, calls me Blackberry-aholic and threatens to throw my cell out onto the highway.

"We're going to Nathan and Haley's. Little J wants a pseudo audience when he practices for his talent show," I inform Brooke as I hang up on Nathan.

"Hopefully his talent is karate, and he chooses you for the audience participation round…or, even better, archery," her eyes light up, "With a shiny apple sitting on top of your head."

"It's so nice to know you still hate me, Penny D," I smirk.

"Forever and ever, Jack," she smirks back with an ooze of sarcasm.

There's that Jack again…

"Why Jack? Do you not like my name or something?" I ask her. More contemplation goes through that clever, beautiful head of hers.

"I don't know your middle name, so Jack will have to do," she shrugs. I give her a disbelieving cocked brow.

"So, you gonna tell me your middle name?" she asks, avoiding my silent 'What's the real reason?' question.

"So you can nickname me the way I nicknamed you? No way. That's a total rip off," I respond.

"I could just call you Julie B," she laughs.

Oh god.

"Like I haven't heard that one before," I deadpan, "I hope you're not losing your wit, Davis."

"Just saving the good stuff for later, Baker."

Usually I love traveling – whether it's by air, by sea, or just rolling down the highway behind my favorite wheel. But once in a while, a trip becomes the worst one imaginable simply because of the people you encounter or the delays you stumble across.

I hated traveling today.

And then I got into Brooke's car and the hatred rolled away.

Brooke's POV; Naley residence

After an emotional low and an emotional high within the span of one car ride, a relief washes over me when we arrive at Nathan and Haley's house. Relief - because I'm tired of wondering if the car ride would have been different if it had been anyone else, besides Julian, in the car with me. A question at which I come to the same conclusion – yes, it would have been very different. Relief - because I'm anxious to see what talent Jamie has in store for us. So of course, I grumble to Julian to hang up the damn phone so we can go inside.

Haley answers the door and motions us to come in, with a devious grin on her face. She doesn't lead us to the kitchen, but to the dining room. Something was going on…

"Haley, what's going - " I stop.

Surprise – shock – bewilderment – all of it seemed to have capitalized my body because I could not take my eyes off of the scene that was in front of me. And I could not prevent my lips from forming a huge O on my face. There's a humongous, kid crafted, 'Happy Birthday' banner on the wall, a few balloons scattered around the room, gifts sitting in a tiny pile in one corner and a cake in the center of the dining table. And around that table, are Nathan, Jamie, Sam, Chris, Mouth, Millicent, Skills, Deb, and Haley with freaking huge, 'We got you good,' smiles on their faces.

"Surprise," Haley whispers as she throws her arms around me.

"What the?" I utter, too shocked to fully return Haley's hug. "Oh my god. You guys…"

"Happy Birthday, Aunt Brooke," Jamie smiles from Nathan's arms.

"Did you know about this?" I turn to Julian. Before he answers, his dancing eyes give him away.

"If I say, no, will you drop your threat to hurt me?" he asks.

"I knew you could have paid for a damn taxi - " I call him out and playfully shove is forearm, getting a laugh out of the crowd that has come to honor and celebrate my 23rd birthday.

"Hey. Normally, one would be thankful for something like this," Julian says, feigning pain and rubbing his arm.

"I am, guys. This is incredible," I say in awe as I admire the sight even longer. Nearly everyone I love is around this table and I have no other words to convey. "I don't know what to say."

"I do. Get your tushy over here and blow out your candles so we can have some cake already," Chris insists pretty greedily. He already has a knife, serving utensil, and plate ready. I just notice that he's wearing two party hats, one over his right ear, and another slanted on top of his mess of hair.

"We bribed him with cake if he helped blow up the balloons," Haley explains Chris' anxiousness.

"There's, like, six balloons," Julian points out.

"Yeah…He 'accidentally' popped most of them," Haley complained, using finger air quotes for the word accidentally.

"Or sucked the helium out of them," Nathan added.

As the surprise slowly fades from my system, I hug each and every guest, taking more time to talk to some guests more than others. Since I hadn't seen Mouth, Skills, and Deb in so long, I attempt to take the time to see how they are doing. I especially want to know how Mouth and Millicent are. But that time is cut short because Chris, and even Jamie, really wants some cake. Chris even proves my Old Keller joke when he practically begs me to cut the cake.

After a semi decent version of 'Happy Birthday,' Jamie and Sam help me blow out all 23 flaming candles and the extra one for good luck. No lights were turned off the entire time – not even before when I first came in. And no sudden screams of 'Surprise!' either. Nathan and Haley are smart like that, knowing that after my attack, the darkness or sudden yelling may have scared the shit out of me in a bad way, not in a good one.

During the entire party, Haley and Nathan, are in charge of the camera and take dozens of pictures during the party.

Of course, a quarter of them are of Chris making goofy faces with either Jamie or Sam. There's a picture of Sam and Jamie smashing cake into Chris' face. And another where he returns the gesture.

And another quarter of them are photos of me, Haley, and Nathan making goofy faces as well. A picture of Haley and I pretending to sneak up on Sam and another of Nathan and I making fish faces.

Haley somehow managed to get a couple of pictures of Julian and I fighting…one is of us having a serious tug of war with the guitar controller.

And Nathan got a hilarious picture of Julian bench pressing Jamie with Haley's gaping face in the background.

During the night, Mouth and Skills reconnect with Chris…after Chris first apologizes for hitting on Millicent at the wedding. And Mouth, Skills, and Julian enjoy a game of Rockband. I hug Skills like crazy when he beats Julian. And Skills hugs Deb like crazy when she beats both Sam and Haley at the same game. Nathan, in shock, calls it beginner's luck. Afterwards, Deb and I have some girl talk and she asks about the attack and how I've been coping. We have a shooting range date next week.

After a lot of laughter, conversations, games, food, a ten minute hoops game of girls versus boys, and one half of a karaoke session later, the night is dwindling down to an end and Mouth, Millie, Skills, and Deb leave. The rest of us stay behind to help clean up and some of us stay merely to finish the cake.

"We know your birthday was last week, but we thought you'd be more surprised if we waited a little bit," Haley comments as we wash and dry the dishes.

"I was very surprised," I tell her, "I don't think I've ever had a surprise party that was this - "

"Awesome? We know. Little Scott is the man, or…kid," Chris pipes in from the kitchen table, cutting another slice of cake for himself.

"You thought up all of this for me, Jamie?" I turn to the little man that's helping Nathan put away the dishes that I dry. Now I know why Nathan and Haley convinced everyone to have the party tonight instead of tomorrow. Jamie probably begged to invite Julian and Chris, and that wouldn't have happened if Lucas and Peyton were around. And I still needed to have a talk with Lucas and Peyton before I could party with them, especially after I refused their birthday gift to me at their reception.

But I don't want to think about that craziness right now. I just want to enjoy the rest of my birthday – even if it is just the bunch of us cleaning up and washing dishes. Yup, tonight is essentially one of the best nights, in a long time.

"I thought of the party last week," Jamie says proudly, "and Sam thought about the surprise part. She said your face would look funny when you walked in. And she was right." Jamie's toothless grin peeks out.

"You should have seen your face, Brooke," Sam adds as she and Julian come from the dining room carrying a full bag of trash.

If only they could see my beaming heart.

Haley's POV; Naley residence

The doorbell rings again, but at a questionable hour. Well, maybe not totally questionable. It's just past eleven o'clock and Brooke, Sam, Chris, and Julian are still here disturbing the quiet and eating our food. But Nathan and I let them hang out past bedtime hour because the party made Jamie so hyper, he wasn't going to go to bed anytime soon, anyway. And Nathan wanted to finally beat Julian at that video game.

Thinking its Mouth or Skills on our front steps, I swap Jamie from my lap to Brooke's and go answer the door.

Boy am I wrong.

"Lucas. Peyton. What are you guys doing here?" I nervously ask the two blondes standing before me. I step out onto the porch and halfway close the door behind me. I really don't think Brooke can take more than one surprise today, so I hope my stepping out is an indicator that the two should leave. Maybe they would think the party is over. Well…technically it was over.

"Jamie called us about Brooke's surprise party. So we thought we'd give her a little surprise ourselves," Lucas explained, his hands holding a blue bag. Is that the same gift Brooke was talking about last week? And Jamie called Lucas? When? Oh crap.

"The party ended like an hour ago - " I try to explain.

"We know she's still here, Hales, her car is out front," Peyton interrupts me as she steps past me to get inside. Pretty soon, Lucas follows suit and I'm immediately right behind them. I know they're family, but didn't they ever hear of being invited in?

"Guys, wait!" I try to stop them. Brooke had just had one of the best birthday parties in her life, and now her two best friends might inadvertently ruin it within a few minutes.

"Brooke?" Lucas yells out as him and Peyton head for the family room area. I hope Julian hears and he does the right thing and exits out the back door. Actually, I hope everyone hears and they all run off somewhere and hide. I quickly stifle in a laugh at the thought of Julian and Chris hiding in a closet.

Lucas and Peyton walk by the dining room and see the remnants of decorations. And they also see Sam and Chris having an arm wrestling fight. Although, I'm not sure they know its Chris since his back is towards them. For all Lucas and Peyton know, Chris left Tree Hill when Brooke kicked him out of their wedding two weeks ago.

"Sam!" Lucas greets and tries to get her attention – I guess to ask where Brooke is.

"Lucas!" Sam's eyes bulge out. I didn't blame her.

"Lucas?" Chris whispers as he cautiously turns around to face the new visitors.

"Chris?" Peyton's face lights up at the sight of her old friend. Lucas, however, doesn't share the same enthusiasm.

"Goldie," Chris gives an uneasy smile.

"Brooke?" Lucas utters her name when he and Peyton spot probably the most surprising thing either has ever seen in their entire life.

Brooke laughing with Julian and high-fiving Jamie, who is on Julian's shoulders. But the laughter dies once the two notice their exes standing across from them with wide eyes.

"Lucas," Brooke mutters with shock.

"Julian?" Peyton says, her voice verging on angry.

"Peyton," Julian's eyes stay surprisingly still as he gently removes Jamie from his shoulders.

Jamie remains silent, feeling the unusual and unexpected tension that has filled the air.

"Sam," Brooke motions for her foster child to take Jamie and leave the room.

"Chris," Sam, grabbing Jamie's hand, now motions Chris to follow suit. He begrudgingly does as he's told. And everyone remains silent until the trio has left the room.

"Haley," Lucas turns to me, trying his best not to explode. Oh no, the tips of his ears are pink.

"Nathan!" I scream for my husband's butt to get into the ring of fire.

"Uh oh," he mumbles when he sees the two blonde newlyweds and the rest of us standing on edge. I indicate for him to wipe the icing that has somehow gotten on the corner of his mouth. This is going to be a long night.

Once Peyton and Lucas stepped into the house, all the tension sparked in a span of less than one minute…and with the utterance of only eight names.

The next 10…20…100 minutes, who knows what the hell is going to be said or what the hell is going to happen.

"Uh oh" is right.

Brooke's POV

And then comes the time where you have to decide whether you want to close the box on Jack…or leave it open.

Two different boxes. Two different Jacks.

I made my decision on one a long time ago.

And now it's time for the other.

A/N: dun, dun, dun. hehe i always have fun saying that. Did you guys like it? Didn't like it? I sort of condensed the party stuff because all the dialogue was making the chapter way too long. But if you guys want a glimpse of the dialogue i came up with...i can make a one shot of it later.

So, tell me what you think about what's going to happen, what you hope doesn't happen, whatever you'd like. I love reading your reviews, and they really help get the juices flowing...which i will definitely need once the drama really picks up.

Well, I'm rambling like Julian does when he can't stand the silence of Brooke...so I'll leave on a good note. Keller rox my sox off and Brulian may soon rock their socks off….hahaha, we'll see if that's a spoiler or not…