Extended Summary: Brooke is devastated when Nathan walks away from her on their wedding day. She turns to her best friend, Lucas, for help, unaware of the deep feelings he secretly harbours for her. As he helps her cope with the ruining of a relationship she had such high hopes for, they begin to grow closer and are forced to struggle with the transition of their relationship from best friends to something so much more.
Author's Note: I apologize sincerely to everyone for taking three weeks to get this chapter up. Now, a lot's happened but I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. I hope all the readers and great reviews continue with following my story. Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed, it means a lot to mean. The next chapter's already done so it should be up in 1-2 weeks and it's my favorite so far. All the future chapters should take about two weeks to be up. Here's a long one for the long wait. I apologize about the wait and please enjoy and leave feedback to help me! Thank you.
--
The smell of fresh cooked eggs and bacon awoke her from the sound sleep. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eye with her hand.
The door opened, and Lucas came waltzing in, holding a tray in his two hands, beautiful smile on his face.
"Good morning, beautiful," he greeted her, walking over to her side of the bed and placing a soft kiss on her forehead. He placed the tray down in front of her, reaching over to each side of it and pulling down the wooden legs attached to it so it sat neatly in front of Brooke.
Brooke looked down at the tray, a small smile playing at her face at the less than elaborate although time consuming breakfast he cooked up for her: the classic sloppy eggs and smiley bacon, and two pancakes covered in syrup. To the side stood a glass of milk and at the front of the dish lay a single red rose.
"For you," Lucas said, picking up the rose and handing it to Brooke, placing a subtle kiss on her cheek.
"Thank you," Brooke replied softly.
Lucas smiled. "And how are we this morning?" he asked, sitting at the side of the bed in front of her.
"Tired," she replied, heaving a sigh. She looked down at the tray of food, regaining her smile. "But hungry."
"Well then eat up. I spent all morning slaving away over the hot stove. Lucky for you I didn't pass out from exhaustion."
She smirked as she picked up her fork and knife, cutting off a piece of the pancake. "Drama queen," she muttered with a small smile, eating the bite off her fork.
"What was that?" he asked, leaning over to her. "Drama queen? I'm a guy in case you forgot." He nodded pointedly, stealing a slice of bacon off of her plate to which Brooke scowled to.
"You're still very dramatic," Brooke pointed out. "You should have gone into acting instead of whatever you're in now. What is it again? Accounting or something?" she teased, and Lucas was happy she was slowly loosening up again.
Rolling his eyes playfully at her he said, "You know my job, Brooke, even if you do constantly refer to it as, and I quote, 'something to do with sports.'"
"I don't see what the problem is," she said, shrugging her shoulders. He raised his eyebrows and she took a sip from her glass. "I know, like, nothing about sports. 'Something' is at least in the general are of sports, you know. You should be pleased I know that much," she told him, raising her own eyebrows and nodding at him.
Lucas laughed and shook his head, reaching over to grab a bit of her eggs this time before her hand swatted him away.
"My eggs and bakey," she told him childishly.
He couldn't help but let out a deep laugh at her words. "'Bakey'? I haven't heard that one since the first grade."
"I know," she said, smiling as her fork played with the eggs. "How did it go? 'Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey,'" she sang in a quiet voice as she tried to remember the old tune they used to sing as children.
They both laughed and Lucas was pleased Brooke finally let out a laugh of her own.
The phone rang loudly, and Brooke's laughter died down as she stared at it. For a moment neither of them moved and then Lucas said, "Guess I should pick that up."
"That'd make sense because it's yours," Brooke mumbled and he rolled his eyes before hoisting himself off of the bed and reaching for the ringing phone.
--
Doorbell chimes and loud knocks awoke Haley from her nap that evening. She walked downstairs, letting out a yawn before opening the door.
"Brooke," she said, eyes opening wide at the sight of her friend. "Hi. Uh, come on in." She moved aside, pulling the hem of her blue tank top down and following her friend into her house.
She hated to ask, because she already knew the answer, but it was the only thing Haley found herself able to say. "How are you?"
Brooke wrapped her arms around herself as she walked through the foyer and into the living room. "I'm alive," she said.
Haley let out a breath and nodded. "Uh, I'm going to go put on some coffee," she told Brooke, who nodded quietly in return.
Taking off her coat and resting it in between her hands, Brooke sat on the olive sofa. Her hand on the armrest, she scratched her head as she awaited Haley's return.
"So," Haley said as she walked back in, dirty blonde hair tied back in a ponytail now, offering Brooke a warm smile, "what's going on?"
Brooke paused before speaking firmly, "I need to do something and you need to be there with me."
Haley's eyebrows creased in worry as she asked, "You know I'd do anything for you, Brooke, but what do you need me for?"
"I want to go to the apartment...but I don't want to see him alone," she said, praying her friend wouldn't see her as a coward.
"Are you sure this is such a good idea? So fast, only a day after the wed—" She stopped herself before she could speak more, lowering her eyes when Brooke said nothing. "I mean, after Saturday," she stuttered.
Brooke rolled her eyes. "You can say it, Hales. A day after the wedding, the wedding that didn't happen."
"Right." She swallowed the lump in her throat before continuing. "Why do you want to see him?"
"Because I deserve a damn explanation, don't I?" asked Brooke.
Haley nodded her head before looking up and asking Brooke, "Why didn't Lucas come?"
"He can't come. If Nathan were there, he'd probably kill him. I'd end up dragging them away from each other and it'd end in disaster."
Again Haley nodded her head in understanding. "You sure you want to do this tiger? This soon?"
Brooke nodded her head. She wasn't about to be talked out of it, and she was sick because of him. "I have to. For me."
Haley agreed and hugged her friend before they headed toward Haley's door. "Ready for this?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
--
Lucas opened the door, eager to question the person on the opposite side. "What's wrong, Mom?" he asked quickly, ushering her inside. "What'd you have to come all the way over here to tell me?"
In walked his mother, Karen Roe, holding a wicker basket, sunglasses perched on her head. She placed the basket on his kitchen counter and walked into the living room.
She stood in front of him and pulled him into a hug, asking, "How have you been, my boy?"
"Okay."
When she pulled back they moved to sit on the couch.
"So, what's up?" he asked.
"I actually came to see Brooke. Where'd she go?" The girl was like a daughter to her, and it was in Karen's nature to worry about her.
He shrugged, sitting back. "Beats me. She mumbled something about doing it for her and then ran out before I could ask any questions."
"And you didn't go after her?" she snapped, frustrated with him.
"Her car was pulling out of the driveway before I could rush down the stairs," he protested. "Besides, I'm sure Brooke's fine. She's probably with Peyton or something."
She sighed. "I'm sorry, I just-I'm worried about her. I know she needs space but she was just left by the man she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with. I can't even begin to imagine what she's going through."
"I know, Mom," he said, picturing Brooke's tear stained face, "but Brooke's always been fine on her own and I'm sure she just needed one of her girls right now."
Karen pulled off her sunglasses and rested them in her hand, playing with the edge of them. "I just can't believe Nathan would do this. He left her on their wedding day, no words to her or nothing. He was supposed to be the one to take care of her and love her forever."
"Yeah, right," mumbled Lucas, rolling his eyes.
Karen looked down at him. "You shouldn't hate him. He's your brother, and I'm sure he has an explanation. It was just a pretty low thing for him to do to her."
"I have all the right in the world to hate him right now," Lucas said, voice rising. "I saw how heartbroken she was, Mom. I took her home and I held her all night while she cried. I had to assure her that there was nothing wrong with her," he yelled, "and any guy who makes Brooke think otherwise is a guy I can hate," he finished, slumping back onto the couch.
"You sound like you care about her a lot," his mom said softly.
"Of course I care," he said quickly, "I lo—"
She raised her eyebrows expectantly, on his tail for an answer. "Love?" she asked in a knowing tone.
Lucas paused, searching for answer. "She's my best friend, Mom. I love her like a sister," he confirmed with a nod.
"Whatever you say," Karen mumbled, standing up and moving to the kitchen.
--
They pulled up to the white condo and Haley noticed Brooke's nervous gaze.
"Brooke, it'll be alright. We'll go in the house, find Nathan, kick his ass, and everything will be alright," she comforted her, placing a hand on top of hers.
"I wish it was that easy," Brooke said as she opened the car door and they both stepped out.
They walked towards the door, side by side, and Brooke stopped at the door. "Maybe I should go in by myself," she said to Haley, squinting her eyes, biting her lip nervously.
Haley gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand, letting her know she'd wait outside for her.
Brooke knocked on the door, once, twice, and when he didn't answer she gave the knob a quick turn and was surprised to find it unlocked.
She shrugged at Haley and walked inside, and immediately, the feeling that something wasn't right hit her.
As she walked through the one bedroom apartment, she couldn't help but marvel at its décor, having picked out everything herself.
The living room was the biggest room in the house, the second being the master bedroom, and it had taken a while to complete—and there were still a few last hand touches to be done.
"Nathan," Brooke called as she walked inside.
Receiving no answer, she continued into their bedroom. "Nathan," she called again.
Walking inside, she stood in the middle of the room, letting out a breath when she realized he wasn't there either.
The open closet caught her eye, and she squinted as she walked towards it, eyes widening when she saw it void of his clothes.
That's odd, she thought, her hand trailing down the fabric of one of her hanged coats before closing the closet and standing helpless once more.
She walked on into the bathroom to find his toothbrush missing as well. Her steps were slow as she walked backwards, eyes fixed on the cup in the bathroom, which held one, pink toothbrush.
Her back hit the wall and she stopped, eyes never moving.
She didn't want to believe it; she didn't want to believe he'd left.
She ran into the room then, opening his drawers, becoming frantic as she found nothing after nothing in each one; they were all empty.
Everything of his was gone.
And then she stalked back to the closet, ripping the doors open and rummaging through her clothes like a mad woman.
Her frantic moves stopped then, as she realized it wasn't there. His suitcase was gone, packed with all of his belongings and he had left her for good.
--
Haley let out a breath and wrapped her sweater tighter around herself, swaying back and forth as she waited for Brooke. It had been a while, and she hadn't heard any screaming or shouting.
She supposed that was a good thing.
But then she looked at her watch, and when she saw another five minutes had gone by, she decided to see what was taking her friend so long.
The door creaked as she opened it, and she walked slowly and hesitantly inside.
"Brooke," she called, frowning when no one answered.
She didn't hear their voices, only silence and she continued on into the master bedroom.
She called her name again, becoming frantic when she was met with no answer.
When she walked in, Brooke was standing still in front of her open closet, eyes transfixed on something inside.
"Brooke," Haley said softly, walking over to her side. She placed a hand on Brooke's arm. "Where is he?"
Brooke said nothing, her eyes didn't move, and Haley followed her gaze, eyebrows furrowing when she saw the closet only half-full.
"He's gone," Brooke croaked, confirming Haley's thoughts.
"Oh, Brooke," Haley said, turning to comfort her friend.
Brooke shook her head and simply took a few steps backwards until she came to the edge of the bed. Eyes still on the interior of the closet, she sat on the bed, placing her folded hands between her thighs.
Haley moved over to her, sitting next to her. "You want to go home, Brooke?"
She didn't answer.
"We could go have some lunch," she offered, frowning when Brooke didn't answer again.
Haley sat up slowly and moved out of the room, taking a glance at Brooke who had yet to take her eyes off of the closet.
"Come on, pick up, pick up," she muttered as she held the phone against her ear.
"Hey, this is Lucas. Leave a message and I'll get back to you."
"Damn you, Lucas Scott," Haley mumbled to herself, waiting for the beep.
"Lucas, it's me, Haley. Listen, Brooke and I are at her apartment. ...Something's come up and I don't know what to do. ...Just come as fast as you can."
She hung up, holding the phone to her chin. She sighed, hoping Lucas would get here quickly because she really didn't know what to do.
--
"Do you think she'll be okay?" he asked as he and his mother sat on the kitchen table, eating their lunch.
"Eventually. Brooke Davis is one strong girl," Karen said, setting one arm on the table. "She's been through a lot and that's only made her stronger. I don't see how this would be anything different."
"Remember that sleepover? In second grade?"
She smiled fondly at the idea of their life-long friendship. "Which one? There were quite a few sleepovers that year."
"The one in December. We had a snow day and you let Brooke sleepover because she didn't want to go home."
"I remember," she said with a nod. "What about it?"
"I heard your conversation with Brooke that night, the one about her family situation."
Karen tiptoed down the hallway, careful not to wake the sleeping children in the nearby bedroom. She peered in Lucas' room and smiled at her son. His blonde hair was more rustled than normal and he looked peaceful, asleep with a smile on his face.
The little girl on the floor next to him wasn't the same. Karen heard soft cries coming from her and could see her tiny body shaking lightly.
Furrowing her eyebrows, she opened her son's door widely and walked in, finding Brooke crying into her pillow.
She reached down next to the little girl and put a hand on her back, putting a finger to her lips when Brooke turned quickly.
"Sh," Karen said.
Brooke sat up in her place, rubbing her eyes with a tiny fist.
"Brooke, sweetheart," Karen whispered, "are you okay?"
The little girl shook her head, beginning to cry again.
Not wanting Lucas to wake up, she grabbed Brooke's hand and walked her out of the room. Picking up the tiny seven year-old and setting her on her lap as they sat on the couch, Karen wiped at Brooke's tears, rubbing a hand on her back.
"Want to tell me what's wrong?" she asked softly.
Brooke nodded before whispering, "I miss my mommy and daddy. But I shouldn't. They don't love me."
Karen blinked, stunned with no words on her tongue. "Brooke, of course your parents love you."
She shook her head. "But they don't. Mommy and daddy are never home anymore, only Amelia."
"They're just busy with work, Brooke. You know, I work a lot at the café and Keith works a lot, too. Sometimes Lucas has to go to his grandparents' house after school. But we don't love him any less."
"But it's different. My daddy's always working and never home. And mommy just stays out all day. They both don't want to see me. That's why Amelia's there so much." Her voice was small and quivering as she tried to hold in her tears, and it broke Karen's heart to see her this way.
Karen didn't want to tell the little girl that she had had the same feeling, knowing it would only be the confirmation she needed. She opened her mouth to speak but Brooke cut her off.
"Daddy used to love me a lot. We'd always watch 'A Little Princess' together. I'd wear my pink princess costume and he used to tell me I was his little princess." Karen stroked the little girl's soft brunette curls softly, urging her to speak what she had to. "But one day," Brooke continued, letting a small hiccup escape her, "he stopped watching it with me and him and mommy didn't see me anymore. They stopped coming home during the day and left me with Amelia all the time. That's when they stopped loving me."
Karen took the little girl in her arms and held her as she cried, not sure of what to say.
"I love you, Karen. I wish you were my mommy," Brooke whispered, burying her head in the woman's shoulder.
"She broke my heart that night," Karen said as they recalled the memory.
Lucas was about to say something but the short beep of his phone went off. He walked over to it, pressing a few buttons before holding it to his ear. His facial expression changed as he listened to Haley's message, and he ran to get his coat.
"What is it?" Karen asked, following him into the doorway.
"Haley. Brooke and her were at the apartment and she just told me to get there as fast as possible. I don't know what happened. I'll call you," Lucas said as he kissed her on the cheek and ran out the door.
--
Haley heard a knock on the door and went to answer, relieved to see Lucas. "Luke, thank God. I don't know what to do with her," she said as they took quick strides to the bedroom.
"Why are you two here, Hales? How could you bring here the day after it happened?"
"Excuse me for listening to my friend and trying to help heal her pain," Haley said in defense to herself. "Don't you go and yell at me. I didn't do anything. She asked me to bring her here."
Lucas calmed down, stopping in his steps to put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry Hales. I'm just worried about Brooke."
Haley sighed. "It's okay," she said, offering a small smile.
"What happened?" he asked.
"Nathan left, like, totally left. Everything of his is gone."
Lucas eyes widened and then lit with fire, his fists clenching at his sides. "Where is she?"
Haley led him upstairs to where Brooke was still sitting on the bed; in the same position she was when Haley left her.
Lucas paused in his steps in front of the door for a moment, but then he rushed over to her, bending over and talking to her in a soft voice. "How about we go home, okay? You can rest and we'll deal with everything later?"
To Haley's surprise, Brooke nodded her head, still not allowing a word to escape her lips, and followed Lucas out of the apartment into his car.
"I'll take her home with me and I promise I'll call if anything changes. I'm sure she'll want to see you later anyway."
"Thanks for all of this, Lucas. I knew she'd listen to you." Haley hugged him and watched as he climbed into the car and drove off before doing the same herself.
--
Brooke and Lucas arrived at his apartment a few moments later and without saying a word; Brooke went off to bed, closing the door on her way.
Lucas was confused by her behavior. Last night, she wanted him with her and was clinging to him, like he could help her. But tonight, she was silent and very distant.
He brought a pillow and blanket over to the couch, opting to sleep there over the bedroom since Brooke seemed to want to be alone. No need to start any unnecessary issues, he thought.
Lying down on the couch, he thought back to the memory he shared with his mom. Brooke never really had parents or any family that paid attention to her, and now, with Nathan leaving, it was just all too much for her. Lucas only wished she wouldn't become too distant and hoped she would let him help her.
"Night, Brooke," he whispered into the air before falling asleep.
--
Lucas was awoken the next morning by the bright sun.
He glanced at the clock. 10:42, it blinked at him. Shit, he thought to himself, standing up, raking a hand through his hair.
He walked to his bedroom, knocking on the door before opening it and walking inside.
She wasn't asleep on the bed like he thought she would be. Walking through to the bathroom, he frowned when he didn't find her there either.
Walking back into the living room and passing into the kitchen, he stood shell-shocked with only one thought in his mind:
Brooke was gone.
--
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