A/N: I know its been a while and I'm sorry. Thanks to those that have reviewed and are still reading this. I've closed the poll regarding Haley but there wasn't a winner, instead it was a tie between Nathan and Jake so I will work with that and see how things develop. Enough from me, enjoy this chapter.

Mind Games

Brooke was standing, watching everybody have a good time. This didn't reflect her mood as she was moping. Her plan wasn't going the way she had intended. She was only go to stay at the party for a couple of hours and then sneak away with Peyton but that wasn't going to happen. She threw her intention to stay sober out the window and embarked on an assault for the nearest drink.

"Are you going to leave any players for the rest of us?"

Brooke scowled, not in any mood to deal with the squad member that just approached her. "I don't have any claim on them." She answered, hoping that it would be the last of the conversation.

"Like you don't. You and Nathan are stuck like glue, while Jake. I guess I don't even need to explain." Brooke's attention followed where the girl was pointing and she sees
Jake looking back at them, smiling.

"They're both free to date whoever they want. Why does it bother you, jealous much?" Brooke spat back.

"I'm not jealous. I could get either of them just like that." She clicks her fingers.

"So why are you wasting your time with me then." Brooke walked away before the other girl got a chance to respond. The burning sensation ran through her body as she downed the drink in her hand. She spots Peyton watching her and she debates her next move. She notices the blonde take a few steps in her direction but instead of going to meet her, she turns and walks in the opposite direction. Nathan grabs her attention and she throws herself into his unprepared arms.

Lucas had finally made his way to Theresa and they were currently making out. Lots of cheers were going on around them but that didn't seem to stop them. In fact, a lot of couples were hooking up, with some of them making use of the extra rooms available.

Peyton was standing near the music watching all of the commotion. She was asked to look after the music and had mostly brought records but in thinking that she would be spending most of her time with Brooke, she had her i-pod hooked up to the stereo. Her plan had taken an unexpected twist in the fact that she wasn't spending anytime with Brooke, partly having herself to blame for it. After Lucas had left the two of them, Peyton continued her strange behaviour regarding Jake. This annoyed Brooke and she walked away in a huff. Peyton couldn't help but mentally kick herself. Instead of going to talk to Brooke, she surveyed the rest of the party, concentrating on the brunette in particular.

A pissed off Brooke marched across the room with Nathan following behind. He had filled her in on his conversation with Haley and she was furious. She found the target of her anger and turned the girl round to face her. "I should so kick your scrawny ass out of here for what you said to Haley."

"It wouldn't leave Nathan with much eye candy then." The cheerleader said, grinning at Nathan.

"Where do you get off saying that I'm using people?" Brooke spat, digging her finger into the girl's shoulder.

"You mean it isn't true because people like us and people like her, just don't mix." Rachel waved her hands around for added effect.

Brooke stepped closer to the red haired girl. "She's my friend so stop stirring up trouble."

"Whatever you say. This conversation is getting boring. I'll catch you later." The cheerleader said while slowly dragging her hand across Nathan's body.

Tim walked up to them and interrupted. "I would so tap that."

"Shut up Tim." The two of them said in unison.

Brooke rolled her eyes. "I need a proper drink." She walked over to the drinks table while Nathan followed behind her.

"I thought you were having a night off."

She poured herself a drink and drank it in one go. "That was until Peyton and Rachel."

Nathan was slightly confused by her answer and pressed for an explanation. "What's wrong with Peyton, is it Jake?"

Brooke nodded her head and downed some more drink. Peyton was still watching Brooke from across the room. She knew that the other girl would start drinking after their little spat. It wasn't even a proper argument, not that they could have one in the middle of a party. There was huffing, puffing and a storming off. The blonde really thought that she would be able to get through the night without causing any problems between the two of them but that went out the window pretty quickly. She was thinking of calling it a night when Skills and Mouth stopped her in her tracks.

"Is it just me or is Lucas drunk?" Mouth asked, watching Lucas staggering around. This surprised him, as he had never seen Lucas like this, in fact no one had. Lucas was one of the few teenagers that didn't really drink so this was a completely new side to him.

"He is but don't let him hear you as he thinks he's sober." Peyton recalled Lucas' earlier words.

"What brings you of all people to a party like this?" Having known Peyton for a long time, Skills knew that this would be the last place you would normally find her.

"I'm starting to ask myself the same question." Peyton watched Brooke take a seat next to a bunch of people drinking games and joined in. Brooke was drinking and drinking fast; this worried Peyton. She wanted to go and talk to Brooke but she opted against it. "I'm just gonna go grab some air guys."

Peyton walked out the back to take a seat. She breathed in the air and mulled over the events that lead her to her current position.

"I think it's time you tell her straight up what's going on in that head of yours before this gets out of hand." The voice woke Peyton up from her daze and she looked around to see where it had come from.

Haley had moved her head round, from where she was sitting, so Peyton could see her. "Don't shut her out. I know what you're like so just tell her whatever it is."

"You could make a girl feel like their going crazy and hearing voices in their head." Peyton chuckled.

"Sometimes things have to be said."

"Are you my conscious now?" Peyton took a seat next to Haley.

"Tutor girl and conscious." She pretended to really think about it. "I guess I can work with that. Are you going to listen?"

"Maybe. I'll just stay out here until I'm ready to take your advice."

More people had sat down to play spin the bottle. It was mostly filled with cheerleaders and jocks. Though Brooke was around it, she wasn't actually playing; she had been continuing her assault on alcohol. Rachel walked over and saw an opportunity to play a little game. "Ok, I think we should play truth or dare instead." She turned to Jake. "As you're the birthday boy, you get first pick. Truth or dare."

Jake thought about it briefly before giving his answer. "Dare." This was exactly the answer that she wanted. She was one of the many people that thought something was going on between Brooke and Nathan and she had her eye on him. "I dare you to kiss Brooke."

Brooke, who wasn't paying much attention at the time, quickly swung her head round when she heard her name. "What?" She said when she saw the eyes that were on her.

"Jake has to kiss you. That's his dare." One of Jake's teammates informed her.

"I'm not playing." Brooke replied, getting up from the table.

"Are you going to refuse the birthday boy from completing his dare?" Jake questioned, getting up and walking towards the brunette.

"You know that the birthday boy gets a birthday kiss anyway." Rachel taunted Brooke. She didn't want to comply with the request, for many reasons.

"Come on Brooke." Brooke shook her head at his words. "Please." Jake pleaded.

Everybody else started chanting Brooke's name. "You don't want to upset the crowd." Brooke looked around and rolled her eyes at the commotion everyone was making. Jake quickly pulled Brooke closer to him and kissed her. The people around cheered. The instant feel of his lips felt wrong and instead of kissing back, Brooke pulled away which earned an instant groan from those that were chanting before hand. Rachel wore a big grin as she saw Nathan standing there watching. She was unaware that the person who would be more hurt would be standing in between him and Haley. Brooke backed away from Jake and turned around. Her hazel eyes immediately connected with a pair of hurt green eyes. Peyton had walked back into the party with Haley when they stopped to talk to Nathan. All three of them heard the chanting and managed to see Brooke and Jake kissing. Peyton had already seen enough and before Haley or Nathan could stop her she walked out the front door. Brooke quickly walked up to Haley and Nathan.

"Brooke." Before Haley could finish her sentence, Brooke interrupted her. "Please, not now. I need to find her."

Peyton had run so quickly to her car that by the time Brooke reached outside, the blonde had already sped off. Peyton was more than upset, all of her fears were confirmed and she wanted to get as far away from everybody as possible. Peyton couldn't believe what she had seen, after everything Brooke had said about Jake, with her own eyes she witnessed them kiss. She was unaware of what had led to it and it wasn't something she was questioning. Putting her foot down, she was heading for the first place she thought of.

Nobody at the beach house knew what was going on and continued partying. "Do you think the two of them are going to be ok?" Haley asked. She was worried for the both of them.

"I'm not sure. The two of them have enough issues without Jake being involved. This could probably be too much for them to come back from."

Rachel walked over and stood close to Nathan, making sure there was contact. "It's getting awfully hot in here. I'm going to hit the water but I don't have a swimsuit. I hope no one catches me swimming naked." She walked away but turned, winking her eye before she left out the door.

"I think she wants you." Haley started laughing.

"It does seem that way." Nathan answered. He was embarrassed and a little bit turned on by that. He shook off both feelings and went to get himself some more drink.

Haley sneaked out the same door that Brooke chased Peyton out of. She wanted to discreetly see if either of them were still around and if they were ok. She couldn't find either of them so she turned to go back in. She was stopped by the sound of sobbing, this turned her around and she looked to find the owner of the tears.

"Brooke." She surprisingly asked.

"I've blown it this time. I can't even find my keys to go after her." Brooke sobbed.

"You can't seriously drive in the state you're in." Brooke looked up at her, showing the mess on her face caused by her tears. "I didn't mean it like that. I was talking about the fact you've been drinking. Why were you kissing Jake?" Haley sat beside the sobbing brunette.

"He kissed me for some stupid dare that Rachel was making him do. I shouldn't have let him do it. What am I gonna do?"

Haley pulled Brooke closer, wrapping her up in a hug. "I guess you fight to win her back."