Love, Lies, and Loss
Disclaimer: I own no rights to One Tree Hill or any of its characters.
A/N: Be gentle please! It's been a long time for me. Also, the accident never took place.
"Brooke!" Haley Scott yelled.
"I'm sorry! I just couldn't tell him. He is so happy with Peyton. I can't ruin that for them. After everything Peyton and Lucas have been though, they deserve to be happy," Brooke Davis stated.
"So you think lying to them is going to make them happy? Brooke, at some point they are going to notice."
"Haley, I can do this on my own. I don't need anyone's help. I've already talked to my parents. They are none to excited, but they agreed to loan me a little bit of money to get on my feet."
"So how do you plan on keeping this from everyone?"
"I'm going away. Right after graduation I'm going to New York."
"What are you going to do in New York?" Haley asked.
"Everyone tells me that I have great talent as a fashion designer. I figure, no place better to start then New York."
"So you think that you can just up and get a job in New York and make it big?"
"No, but I have to do something. I can't stay here. Not anymore."
"Brooke, be serious here. We can do this together. You don't have to be alone and Lucas will help…you know he will."
"I know. That's why I have to leave. If he finds out about this, his entire life is ruined. He won't let me do it on my own. I can't put him through that. He can't know Haley! This is just something that I need to do and I am done discussing it," Brooke choked out as she began to cry.
"Fine, I guess there is nothing I can do to change your mind. If I didn't believe in you so much, I would be calling Lucas right now. Just remember after you leave, you always have friends here. Nathan and I will always be here for you. If you ever need anything and we can help, give us a call."
"Thank you Haley," Brooke hugged Haley.
Brooke left the apartment and started on her way to the next conversation she must have. She knew Lucas would never understand why she was leaving and that's the way she wanted it. A new start was what she wanted and no one was going to get in her way of that.
"Luke," Brooke said as she walked through the door of the café, "Can I talk to you for a sec?"
"Of course," Lucas Scott replied, "What's up?"
"I need to tell you something. It's very important and I know you aren't going to understand, but I need you to listen and please don't argue with me."
"What's wrong?"
"I'm leaving after Graduation…," Brooke began.
Lucas cut her off, "Leaving? Where are you going?"
"Please, will you just listen to me? I'm going to New York. I want to be a fashion designer and I'm going to be. I need to get out of Tree Hill and start a life, a real life. I'm sorry Luke. This is just something that I need to do."
"Brooke, is this because of us?"
"No, this has nothing to do with us. It's about me. I'm sorry," Brooke walked out of the café before Lucas could see her tears.
Lucas watched through the window as Brooke walked away.
"Luke, you look upset? What did Brooke say?" Karen Roe questioned her son.
"She said she's leaving for New York after Graduation."
"Well, why would she want to do that?"
"She wants to live her dreams I guess. There isn't much I can do about that."
"Oh Luke, I'm sorry."
"It's okay mom. Brooke and I are over. I'm with Peyton now."
"I know honey, but it doesn't mean you don't still care about Brooke."
"I gotta go meet Peyton. I'll see you later," Lucas kissed his mom on the cheek and left her café.
Luke couldn't figure out what was up with Brooke. Why would she just want to leave like that? Well, everyone else was going away to college in the fall, why shouldn't she too? Luke pondered as he entered the home of Peyton Sawyer.
"There's my beautiful girl," he kissed Peyton as she greeted him at her bedroom door.
"Hey, I was wondering if you were ever going to show up," Peyton led Lucas to her bed as they continued their make-out session.
Lucas broke up the intervention, "Brooke's leaving."
"I always love hearing her name in the middle of us making out," Peyton replied quite upset.
"I'm sorry. I just can't figure it out. She said she's leaving for New York after Graduation."
"Well, maybe it'll be good for her. She hasn't had the best of luck in One Tree Hill. Maybe she just needs to get away from everyone, and us. I know it has to be hard for her. Seeing us together all the time, I know how it feels. I don't know Luke. We have all been through a lot together, but we aren't always going to be together. It's life. People leave."
"I know. I'm just going to miss her."
"Luke, do you still have feelings for her?"
"I'm always going to. I've never loved Brooke the way I love you. I've never shared with her what I share with you, but I still love her."
"Are you sure? I don't want you to decide after she's gone that you'd rather be with her."
"Never," Lucas began to kiss Peyton. It was the most passionate and caring kiss that he had delivered to her yet.
"I love you Peyton Sawyer. I lost you once and I'm not about to do it again."
"I love you Luke," Peyton hugged Lucas as he kissed her forehead.
A/N: I hope this didn't suck to horribly bad. Let me know what you thought and I will make the next chapter longer. I didn't want to do to much for the beginning.
