New story time! Firstly, Thank you so much to everyone who reviewed my last story, I love reviews so much (hint hint) and I was totally blown away by the response.
I'm so psyched for this story, I've been planning it for a while and I promise it will be awesome! The first couple of chapters are a bit of build up, and then the proper story will start around chapter three probably…you'll see what I mean when we get there.
Background info: Not much of this needed…if you haven't read 'the Camping Trip' that might be a good idea, because it sets up some stuff for this story. Basically, it starts with Brooke going to college, and will go on from there, jumping some bits and there'll be some flashbacks (in italics) and stuff…it's all pretty self explanatory. This isn't AU really, but it's in the future so obviously some stuff's different. It will be centred on Brooke and Lucas (though mostly Brooke at first), who have broken up for college. The others will crop up in a few chapters.
Random Author's note on colleges: I know very little about American colleges, not being American or in college, so bear with me. I've found out some basics from various sources, but if anyone happens to be at college at the moment, and wants to tell me some stuff about how it works (especially stuff like majors), or point out any glaringly obvious mistakes I've made, that would be great!
I think that's quite enough from me, so, on with the story!
Brooke opened the door to her room. Her new college dorm room that is. As she did so a girl came up behind her and watched as she went inside.
"Is this your dorm?" she asked.
"Um…yeah," Brooke replied, still getting used to that idea.
"I guess I'm your new roommate then."
Brooke turned round, dropping her suitcases on the floor, and the other girl came into the room and did the same.
The two girls eyed each other up. The other girl had dark red hair, tied back in a messy ponytail. She was about the same height as Brooke and had bright green eyes. She held out a hand, "Caroline Grey."
Brooke smiled and shook it, "Brooke Davis."
They both looked round the room. It was medium-sized, with two beds against adjacent walls. Each had a small bedside table next to it, and a chest of drawers at the end. In one corner were two desks, with shelves above them.
"Which bed do you want?" Caroline asked.
Brooke shrugged, and sat down on the one facing the door, testing its bounciness. "I'll take this one."
"Without testing the other?" Caroline asked, smiling a little.
Brooke rolled her eyes and smiled too. "I'll take my chances."
They began unpacking their bags, talking a little as they did so. Most of Brooke's stuff was still in the car so she just had a few bags.
"So where are you from?" she asked.
"A pretty small town in the south of Iowa, I doubt you've heard of it. How about you?"
"Tree Hill, I'm sure you haven't heard of it. It's in North Carolina."
"You don't really seem like a small town girl," Caroline said, "I thought you were from LA or something."
"Well small town girls aren't really how people think."
"Tell me about it!" The two girls laughed. "Are you excited about college?"
Brooke considered this, "I've been up and down." she said. "This morning I was totally psyched, but then, I kinda keep thinking about what I'm leaving behind."
"Yeah I know what you mean, I'm going to miss everyone."
Brooke nodded; she really was.
"Is that your dad?" Brooke was putting out some pictures on her dresser, and Caroline pointed to one of her with Peyton and her dad, Larry.
"No, that's my friends dad. My parents are kind out of the picture."
"What just that one, or any of them?" Caroline said, deadpan. Brooke looked up at her and smiled.
"My best friend had parents like that, always jetting of somewhere, I guess some people just aren't made for the job."
"Yeah…I don't really resent them for it anymore."
"Wo, hot guy!" Caroline was looking at the rest of the pictures. "Boyfriend?" she asked.
"Er…"
"Ex?"
"Yeah. He's one of my best friends though."
"I see, yeah I think I would have jumped him too if my best friends looked like that!"
Brooke laughed, "Actually he was friends with my other friend, Haley, for years, and she never did anything."
Caroline looked surprised, "Gay?" she asked.
"Nope, she married his brother!"
"Wow. Your town sounds almost as exciting as mine…and I'm not even being sarcastic."
They continued talking even when they'd finished, lying on their newly chosen beds. They swapped stories about high school and it turned out Caroline had been much like Brooke; a party girl, who also seemed to have had her heart broken a couple of times.
"Well this Lucas guy sounds pretty amazing," Caroline said, when she'd been asking about him for a bit, "I would have changed for him too."
"Well I didn't really change for him," Brooke said, "I just…kind of re-evaluated some stuff after what happened with him and Peyton."
"And your still best friends with this girl?"
Brooke nodded, "Forgive and forget."
Caroline gave her a sideways look, "I bet that was easier said than done."
Brooke laughed, "Yeah…we had our ups and downs."
They spent most of the first day together, getting to know some people on their corridor, and finding out about their classes.
At around nine they headed back to their room. Caroline took out her phone.
"I'm just going to call my parents…I'll, er, go outside."
Brooke nodded, smiling. They had gotten on really well that day, but still, they'd only just met. She could understand that Caroline would want a little privacy.
Brooke slipped off her shoes and lay down on her bed, her eyes drifting to her own cell that was lying on her bedside table. She chewed her lip. Her fingers were itching to call him, but her head was telling her not to. It had only been one day, she needed to get on without him.
Still, it was the first day of college. She had a lot to tell him. It was understandable that she wanted to call him…
She hesitated for another second, and then reached out for her phone. There was a message on the screen: 'one missed call'. She knew she should have taken it with her. Pressing the button to recall the message, she lifted the phone to her ear.
"Hey Cheery…it's me." Brooke smiled as she heard his voice. "So it's been like twelve hours or whatever, but I figure the first day is a big deal so I'm allowed to call, right? Anyway, just wanted to see how everything was going, but knowing you you're probably out at some college rager already." He chuckled and her heart skipped. "So call me back when you're sober, love you, bye."
Brooke ended the call and shook her head, laughing to herself. She speed dialled two and waited for him to pick up.
"Hey." She could picture him smiling on the other end of the line.
"Hey. I got you're message. And for your information I am perfectly sober, thank you very much. I was just meeting the people down the hall."
He laughed, "Okay, my bad. How's everything going?"
"Really good actually. My roommate's really nice, and the dorm's nice…it's all good."
"Cool. Classes?"
"Er…I just got my timetable…they all sound good. I've heard a little about some of my professors and apart from some pervy old guy I have to watch out for they all sound great."
"Good. Well I'm glad to hear everything's going well."
"Yeah. What about you? You're leaving tomorrow, right?"
"Yup, I'm just finishing packing up the last of my stuff."
"Wow." Brooke nodded as the door opened and Caroline came back in. "Oh sorry, do you want me to…" she stuck her thumb behind her. Brooke shook her head and covered the mouthpiece, "No it's fine."
"Call me from Stanford, okay? I've gotta go, serious roommate bonding to be done." She saw Caroline smile out of the corner of her eye.
"Sure. Have fun with that, go easy on her, kay?" He chuckled and Brooke laughed.
"Alright! Talk to you soon, love you."
"You too, bye."
"Bye."
She hung up and placed the phone back on her bedside table, letting out a small sigh.
"Lucas?" Caroline asked cautiously.
"Yeah," Brooke smiled.
Brooke talked to Lucas a couple more times in the first week. She was gradually getting used to him not being around all the time, helped by the fact that college life was so hectic she had little time to think about it.
Falling asleep at night was the only time when she really missed him. When she allowed her mind to wander as she began to fall asleep, she always found it landed on a certain blue-eyed boy.
They had spent most of the summer as friends, deciding it was best to ease into being apart by not being a couple. Of course, every now and again this idea went out the window when their feelings got the better of them and they found themselves waking up in bed together. They allowed a morning to pass as if things were still how they used to be, and then they would get dressed, and try to carry on.
As the summer gradually ebbed away, these nights became more and more infrequent, until when they left for college they been 'just friends' for a few weeks.
Until it came time for Brooke to actually drive away…
They stood next to Brooke's car, the boot filled with boxes, and bags on the back seat. Brooke dug her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, and Lucas sighed, squinting up at the Sun before looking back down at her.
They were outside Peyton's house, where the gang had all spent the night together. Everyone had just said their goodbyes to Brooke, who was the first to leave, and then discreetly gone inside so she and Lucas could have a minute.
"So…" Brooke began. She wanted to say something…anything, to let him know how she was feeling. But she couldn't find any words to express the knot that was twisting in her stomach, coupled with a deep sense of security he had given her that everything would be okay.
"Um…I thought you could have this," Lucas said, bringing his hands in front of him, holding his grey hoody.
Brooke smiled as she took it, running her fingers of the material, softened by years of wear.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I mean, you don't have to wear it or anything…I just thought, it's practically yours anyway, so…"
"Thanks Luke." She saved him from having to explain himself any further.
They stood for another second, and then Lucas gently cupped her cheek with his hand, and kissed her softly. She met his kiss, knowing as soon as he touched her what he was going to do, feeling that it was just something they both needed. They broke apart reluctantly, and she leant her forehead against his, closing her eyes as she memorised his fingers on her skin.
"I love you," he whispered.
She opened her eyes and met his, "I love you too."
His arms wrapped around her and he held her tightly, the moment of the kiss fading, as they returned to friends once more. "I'm going to miss you Cheery."
"Me too. Don't get too Broody without me, okay?"
He smiled, and she couldn't stop a tear from falling. He wiped it away, and she looked down. "God, I already did this with Peyton!" She smiled and wiped away another.
"I'll talk to you soon, okay?"
"Yeah."
She opened the car door, and Lucas turned around, calling the others from the house. They all came out, and she hugged each of them, just briefly. They had had lengthy goodbyes earlier. She finished with Lucas, lingering for just a second.
"Bye." She said simply, as she got into the car, her eyes holding his.
They waved her off as she drove away, a few more tears rolling down her cheeks. She turned on the radio and leant back in her seat, looking forward down the road.
By the end of the first week Brooke was starting to settle into college life. She and Caroline were firm friends, and their dorm was gradually becoming famous for being a hub of talking and fun.
Luckily, they both made it onto the cheerleading squad, although it was a close thing as Brooke managed to get on the wrong side of the captain in the first practice, after she overheard her boyfriend comment to a friend that Brooke was hot.
On her second weekend in New York, Brooke visited Nathan and Haley in Princeton.
Haley greeted her with a massive hug.
"Tigger!"
"Hey Hales!"
"How's everything going?" she asked, as Brooke detached herself from her and went to hug Nathan, who was standing behind Haley chuckling at her exuberant greeting.
"Great. New York's amazing! Nice apartment," she said, with an approving nod, as she followed them inside.
"Yeah, we were really lucky, it's bigger than we expected."
They went into the kitchen and Brooke perched on a counter as they talked about their first few weeks. After a minute Brooke noticed delicious smells were coming from somewhere.
She looked around, then turned accusingly to Haley, "Are you cooking?"
Haley grinned, pleased with herself. "Yup."
"Since when did you turn into a little housewife? Wow, what are you making?"
"Roast chicken with potatoes, gravy and brocolli."
Brooke nodded, impressed. She turned to Nathan, "Did you know about this?"
"That Hales could cook? Er, yeah," he said chuckling, "I do live with her Brooke."
"I figured we couldn't live on pasta forever, so I've been learning. It's been fun actually. I picked up a little over the years from Karen at the café, but now I can actually do pretty good meals."
"Nice! Well, I look forward to tasting it."
When the food was ready they all ate, and Brooke found that Haley was actually really good at the whole cooking thing.
"I'm surprised Nathan hasn't doubled in size since I last saw you guys!" she said, laughing.
"No chance of that. These college coaches are really strict. Seriously, it's like they've all been taking lessons from Dan!"
"Oh yeah, Lucas said they were working him pretty hard."
"Have you talked to him much?" Haley asked, a little cautiously.
"Quite a bit, he sounds like everything's going well."
"Yeah, I spoke to him last week. He asked about you so I wasn't sure how much you'd spoken."
"He probably just wanted a second opinion," Nathan said chuckling, "I swear he worries about you way to much."
Brooke laughed, "Well you can tell him next time to believe me when I say everything's going great, okay?"
Haley smiled, "Sure."
They spent the afternoon shopping in Princeton, and then Brooke said goodbye to them both and headed back to New York.
The weeks started to slip by, full of papers to write, parties to go to, and friends to chat with, and soon Brooke found she was fully immersed in college life…
So that was just to kick things off, sorry there wasn't a lot of BL, but there'll be more later. Please review with opinions, suggestions, or just to say you read it! Ooh, and also tell me what you think everyone should study, because I'm having a hard time deciding. I love any feedback I get, so go on, hit that button and I'll try and UD soon.