Ellie Harp once said, "Every song has a coda." Is this my coda?

It's been exactly 5 hours since the wedding. The wedding that could've marked a new beginning; a new chapter of my life. It was my only escape from this square, then a triangle, that I have built. I thought that marrying Lindsey would end it all. I thought that I get to bury my feelings for my exes if I married her. At least I owe it to her to give her my name. She wasn't just a girl I used to cover my feelings for Peyton. Or for Brooke. No. She was a girl I loved. Genuinely. But apparently, she thought it wasn't enough. She felt that my heart was on someone else. And I'm afraid that she was right. Fate had other plans for me. For us. And I'm still trapped.

Everyone was probably going ballistic right now. They probably don't know where to find me. But there's someone who should know where I am right now. Wait, who am I kidding?! That was back in high school, and she probably doesn't remember that, aside from the Rivercourt, the beach will always be the place where I can brood, as she says. They see me as Lucas Scott who always saves everyone from their downfall, and that I always have that "hero complex." But I'm not. I'm just human who fall at some time, too. The difference is, it is me who needs saving now. And nobody knows and notices that. Not even her.

Take time to realize,
That your warmth is. Crashing down on in.
Take time to realize,
That I am on your side
Didn't I, Didn't I tell you.

"Penny for your thoughts?" a raspy voice asked me.

I shrugged but didn't say anything.

"I always knew I'd find you here."

"Brooke, if you're here to lecture me about being an idiot for not marrying Lindsey, save it. I think I realized that on my own, thank you very much."

"Woah! Easy there, Tiger. I wasn't going to?"

"Then why are you here?'

"Hey! You're not the only one who has the right to brood. Just because I call you Broody doesn't mean you own that word already. And just because you call me Cheery doesn't mean I have to be cheery all the time. I have my fair share of problems, too, you know."

"Yeah, right! And that is coming from a very famous fashion designer."

"Ok, fine! I came to see how you are! Is that such a crime?!"

"Brooke Davis, you have the uncanniest knack of being sarcastic to me when I don't need it the most."

"Part of the charm, I guess. And I'll take that as a compliment."

Silence filled the air.

"Talk to me," she said.

"About what?"

"About everything that's in there."

"Oh. Don't worry, I can handle it on my own."

"You know what your problem is? You want to keep those feelings bottled up inside every time. You pretend everything's fine when they're not, just so people can think you're perfect. You're just human, Luke. You have walls, I know that. But you just have to let people in. You have to let me in."

So that came out a little harsh. But I know what she meant. I know what she was trying to do. She's trying to get through my walls and I have to let her in. I owe it to her.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said----"

"No, it's fine. You're right. I just…I just feel so lost, you know."

But I can't spell it out for you,
No it's never gonna be that simple
No I can't spell it out for you

Before I knew it, I was crying. I was pouring my heart out to Brooke Davis. Back then, it was the other way around.

"Come here, Luke." She took me into her arms and just listened to me cry. For the first time in 4 years, I felt home. I felt safe and secure.

"I miss Keith. He always knew what words to say to comfort me. He's a dad I never had. I don't know what to do anymore."

"You always know what to do. You're Lucas Scott. You're the only guy I know who always has the answer to things."

"Not this time."

"Lucas…"

"NO! Ever since you and Peyton came back, my life has been in a downward spiral," I said, pulling away.

"You're seriously blaming us for letting these things happen to you. That's a little immature, don't you think? I can't deal with you right now. Tell me when the Lucas Scott I know is back. The Lucas Scott that is not immature," she said, getting up to leave.

"I'm sorry. That was totally uncalled for. I'm angry and frustrated and lost…I just…my brain's all over the place right now. What I meant earlier was that I was kinda out of it when you and Peyton came back."

"What do you mean?"

"Before you came back, my life was on track. I was working on my new book and I had a great relationship with Lindsey, and…"

"And then what?"

If you just realize what I just realized,
Then we'd be perfect for each other
And will never find another
Just realized what I just realized
We'd never have to wonder if
We missed out on each other now.

"My feelings resurfaced. I thought I loved Lindsey. I thought I did. But then, when she left me at the altar, I realized that no one could ever replace who's in my heart."

"Lucas, sorry to say this. You are an idiot, to be honest and blunt. You proposed to Lindsey when you're completely in love with Peyton still. And don't even drag me and Peyton into your mess. You know why I came back, and one more reason was for Clothes Over Bros. Yah, Peyton did come back for you. But she also wanted to get a fresh start in the town she called home. Messing up with Lindsey was all you. Lucas, you can't just----"

"It's not Peyton."

"---blame this---what?!"

"It's not Peyton. I mean, I thought it was. But she's not."

"What are you saying?! You and Peyton were like madly in love with each other. Come on! You're the Lucas and the Peyton. Of course you love her!"

"Take note, we were. And Brooke, there's no the Lucas and the Peyton. I feel like we were just clinging on to the past so much and never really moved on from it. We never really had a proper closure. But, like you said, we're not in high school anymore. It's time to move on."

"Then why the hell did you propose to her then?"

"You mean propose to her with the ring I bought for her, but went to Lindsey's finger earlier, but not before putting it on your own first? Is that what you mean?"

"Yes. I think I made myself clear with my question. And your point is?"

"Don't you get it, Brooke?"

"Get what? That you're an idiot? Yes, I do get that part. But the why-are-you-being-such-a-nonsense-right-now is what I don't get."

"It's you, ok?"

"It's me what? I'm the idiot? No, Luke! You're the idiot one here!"

"Brooke, you know what I mean."

"No, I don't get what you mean. And if just stop speaking in such an author-like manner here, I'll think I'll understand you. Come on, Luke. Don't throw words at me like you're writing a chapter of your book. A girl in need of layman's term here!"

Take time to realize
Oh-oh I'm on your side
Didn't I, didn't I tell you.
Take time to realize
This all can pass you by

Didn't I tell you

"I love you."

"Ok, now you really are an idiot! No! Wait, scratch that! You're psychotic and neurotic and crazy and everything that is synonymous to that!"

"Look! I've given enough thought about it and it's you who I want to be with."

"Yeah, right! I bet that's the same thing you said to Lindsey and to Peyton."

"I love you, Brooke. It's you, for real."

"No, no, no, no, no! This- is- not- happening! Ok, Brooke, you need to calm down. This is just a dream. This is just one of your "Lucas nightmares" wherein he's saying he loves you when, in reality, he's not. You're going to wake up soon and realize it's just a horrible dream," she said while talking to herself.

"Brooke, calm down! You're rambling! You're talking to yourself and saying things I don't know about. I think you're overreacting."

"I'm overreacting?! My ex who was just about to get married this morning and who is still currently in love with my bestfriend just said he loves me! How can I not overreact?!"

"What's so wrong with saying I love you when it's the truth?"

"You can't ok?! You can't!"

But I can't spell it out for you,
No it's never gonna be that simple
No I can't spell it out for you.

"Brooke, I'm pretty sure I can choose who the hell I want to be with."

"You're right! You can choose whoever you want! That's the thing! You chose Lindsey and you were just about to marry today, but you didn't! And then you chose Peyton! And now me! You are so messed up! Luke, listen! You can't, ok?! You can't choose me! Not again!"

"Why not?!"

"Because you're meant to choose Peyton. I was out of the picture a long time ago!"

"Brooke! Please! Who the hell gave you the idea that I'm meant for Peyton?! Would you just forget about her for one minute and actually think about yourself! It's not always about her!"

"You're right! Our relationship is not always about her! But your life is always about her and around her! And even if Peyton is out of the picture, you still can't!"

"Why?! You're making this hard!"

"Because!"

"Because what?!"

"You had me, Lucas! You had all of me! You had all the chances in the world! You just blew them away!"

If you just realized what I just realized
Then we'd be perfect for each other
And we'll never find another
Just realized what I just realized
We'd never have to wonder if
We missed out on each other now.

"Brooke, that was then! I've changed. Things changed."

"Oh, really?! Have you changed when you and Peyton were kissing in her office behind Lindsey's back? Sounds like déjà vu, right?"

"I wouldn't do that again, Brooke. Especially not to you. I won't hurt you again. Trust me."

"Now you're speaking of trust?! Lindsey gave you her trust, Luke, and look where it got you. Am I supposed to be assured that it will be different this time?! No!"

"Brooke, I know I hurt you pretty bad. But things changed."

"You think it's about that? You think I'm still talking about what happened to us way back in high school? You're wrong, Lucas. I'm talking about the present. Believe it or not, I got over those things you put me through in the past. It was painful. But I have to move on. For me."

"How many times do I have to tell you I'm sorry?"

"How about you mean it? I don't need that. Those are just words, Lucas; two words that tend to be overlooked and not taken seriously. You've said that a lot of times before and that didn't make me feel a lot better."

We both fell silent.

"Why me again, Luke?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you were with Lindsey. You've been pretty much chasing Peyton around. Why me all of a sudden?"

"I missed you."

"That's it?! Just because you miss me? Well, I'm pretty sure that you miss Rachel, too, and I bet you're choosing her now because you miss her. That's shallow, Luke."

"I missed you, all of you, every single day. I tried to brush those feelings away by writing my book because it was unfair to Lindsey. But no matter what I do, I always think about you. I see your face everywhere, on the television, on the magazines. You're not that hard to avoid. You brought everything in me, Brooke. You were there when my first book came out, when my dream came true. I never realized that until reality hit me. I'll never be over you, Brooke Davis."

She stood up and brushed the sand off her. No way! I'm not letting her go again! She started walking. Fast.

"Brooke," I said, touching her shoulder. She turned around and I did what I had to do. I kissed her with all the love and passion I could ever muster. God, I missed her!

I encircled my arms around her waist, while she encircled hers around my neck. Need to know if she feels the same way. And somehow, this answers all my fears and uncertainties. With all hesitation, she pulled away.

"Where does this take us?" I asked.

She let go of me and started walking away again. Now I'm officially confused! A minute ago, she just kissed me and I swore that she feels the same way as I do. But now, she is pulling away from me again.

"Brooke! NO! You're not going to walk away again!"

"You want to know some answers?"

"Yes."

"That kiss didn't take us anywhere, Lucas."

"What do you mean? Do you think that was a mistake?"

"A mistake is something you regretted doing. And kissing you is not something I will ever regret of doing."

"Then be with me."

"I can't. I'm not laying my heart on the line again, Luke."

It's not always the same
No it's never the same
If you don't feel it too.
If you meet me half way
If you would meet me half way.
It could be the same for you.

"I don't understand it. You let me in before."

"But you didn't let me. Besides, that was a long time ago. Like you said, things changed."

"Still not getting it."

"You reopened my wounds, Lucas. You pried them open. I thought I recovered from them. Now I realized that I haven't yet. And you doing this is not helping me. Lucas, you had me, then you let me go. Now I'm not sure if you can have me back."

That was a slap on the face. Having the love of your life say that you can't have her back basically means the end of the world.

If you just realized what I just realized
Then we'd be perfect for each other
And we'll never find another
Just realized what I just realized
We'd never have to wonder
Just realized what I just realized

"Brooke, do you still love me?"

"I love you, Lucas Scott, and I always will. More than you know."

"So what now? What am I supposed to do?"

"I can't tell you that, Luke. It's your life."

"I can't do anything without you."

"I'm sure you're going to be just fine. Lucas Scott is going to change the world someday and he doesn't even know it. You always find your way, Lucas. I'll always be here for you."

"And you?"

"I'm going to busy myself with work. I have a lot of thinking to do, and I believe you need that, too."

"And us?"

"People who are meant to be together always find their way in the end. Don't you ever forget that, Lucas Scott."

Missed out on each other now
Missed out on each other now

Yes, this day was truly an eventful day for Lucas Scott. Two girls he genuinely loves had just left him. Can a guy's day get any worse?

Brooke was right. I have a lot of thinking to do. But at least I had my moment of clarity. I realized one thing that I should have realized a long time ago..

I love Brooke Davis. I love her. Lucas Scott loves Brooke Davis. Lucas Eugene Scott loves Brooke Penelope Davis. I think there's no other way of putting it. .I'm not letting her get away again. After all the rollercoaster I've had with girls, I am sure I have learned my lesson and it's Brooke who I want to be with.

Brooke Davis is the one for me, and she'll see it.

Realize

-------------

AN: Hi! I know it's been like a year since I last updated! But you'll be seeing more of me since school's out and summer began for me! I have more time to write Brucas stories. I'm still thinking whether I should continue my past stories and completely start over. Anyways, please review! Let me know what you think!

And also, I'm a beta- reader now! Yay! LOL! So those who want my services and want me to beta- read their stories, please PM me! I'd be more than willing to be of help!

--cheery