Author's note: Hey guys! I know I haven't updated my other stories in a loooong time and now I'm starting a new one out of the blue. But I got some writing block for the other 3 stories and this idea have been in my mind for a few days, so I decided to give it a try. Tell me what you think and don't be mad at me because of the other stories. I'll update them as soon as I find my inspiration back.

The fanfic is named after a song by Trading Yesterday.

The beauty and the tragedy

Chapter 1

"Hey, it's me. Look, I'm at the airport and I've got two tickets to Las Vegas. Do you wanna get married tonight?"

"Oh, shut up, you, moron."

Lucas laughed when he heard her voice.

"So, what do you think?"

"Lucas Eugene Scott, that's so gross in so many ways. First, ew. Second, you are my best friend. Third, I'm your brother's wife. Forth, are you really so messed up that you bought two tickets to Las Vegas?"

He sighed. He really needed Haley right now.

"Well, I came to the airport and thought about buying them and going to Vegas, but I decided I had to really make up my mind."

"Can I ask who the second ticket was for?"

That was the problem. Lucas didn't know who he truly wanted.

"I have no idea. I just don't know what to do."

"Luke, stop thinking about it. Just forget about reason and logic and let your heart decide."

It sounded so easy. But it was not. At least for Lucas Scott this was the hardest thing in the world.

"I thought that a little vacation from Tree Hill would be a good thing, but when I was about to do it, I realized running away never solves anything."
"And you are right. Trust me, I know it very well. You need to face your issues and then it's gonna be alright."

"You're a smart girl, you know that, Haley James Scott?"

"That's what I've been told. Now go home and sleep on it. You'll deal with your messed up love life tomorrow, k?'

"Thanks, Hales."

"You're welcome, Luke."

They hung up and Lucas sighed. She was right. His life was messed up. Hell, when it hasn't been? Why couldn't he for once be absolutely sure about his feeling, about where his heart was. Why did he always have to be torn between two girls? Or were they only two? Was there a third option? He was sure he missed Lindsey and Peyton's return has changed things for him for sure, but what about the hazel-eyed dimpled brunette? Hell, there hasn't been anything romantic between the two of them for years and he never thought he could consider her in this way again, but those last few weeks with Angie when they were almost like a family felt so right to him it was almost scary. Did Brooke really become an option again? Lucas wasn't sure. All he knew was he was conflicted and he really needed to figure it out for everybody's sake.

*-*-*

Brooke was still mad at Victoria. How dared this woman do this – threaten her to steal her own company form her? She really had a nerve. But she wasn't going to deal with her now. What mattered was that she was still waiting for the adoption agency to call her that Angie's home safe. Just when she thought about it, he cell rang.

"Hello?"

"Miss Davis, I am from the adoption agency. We're calling you to inform you the baby you took care of, Angie, arrived home and she is now with her parents who thank you for everything you did for her."

It was like a huge weight disappeared from Brooke's chest. She was alright.

"Thank you for calling me. I've been going insane not knowing if she was ok."

"Well, she is more than ok and it's because of you, Miss Davis. Remember that."

The woman hung up. Brooke felt so happy that the little girl she grown to love so much was really alright. God, that made her feel complete again. But suddenly, she started missing her so much more, the loss once again hit her. Tears formed in her eyes. She couldn't be alone right now. She tried calling Peyton, but she went straight to voice mail. Brooke sighed. Today, she needed her best friend more than ever. And she wasn't there. She knew Peyton didn't know and she didn't meant to make Brooke feel abandoned, but somehow it happened. She wasn't there. Someone else was. She called another number.

Lucas was home and he was thinking about his situation right now when he heard his phone ringing. He looked at the caller ID and picked up immediately.

"Hey, how are you?"

Her voice was a bit shaking when she spoke to him.

"The agency called me. Angie is home safe. And I know you wanted me to tell you when they called me, so…"

She was trying to pretend to be ok. He could feel it. She was crying and he knew it.

"I'm on my way."

They hung up. Brooke sat on the sofa and couldn't help but be grateful he was coming. Lucas always made it better for her. After all, he was Lucas Scott. And she was Brooke Davis.

*-*-*

"Hello?"

"Hey, Peyton. It's me."

What? Where did he have her number from? Why was he calling?

"What do you want from me?"

He sighed. He knew she was probably going to react this way, but he needed to hear her voice.

"I just wanted to check on you. I know what date was yesterday and I wanted to make sure you are ok."

He still remembered. It was hard to believe, but he did.

"It was the anniversary of Ellie's death and earlier tonight, my artist Mia called me from her tour that she met a guy that knew her. That plus all the crap in my life lately makes me miserable."

"I'm sorry, Peyt."

"Like you care."

"I have always cared and I always will."

She couldn't listen to him anymore. Not now with this huge mess in her life.

"I've gotta go."

She was about to hung up, but…

"Hey, you still there?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you for calling."

"You are welcome, Peyton Sawyer. You are welcome."

Then they hung up. Peyton felt strange. It was the first time she heard his voice in such a long time. And he called her right now. She couldn't think about it any longer. She couldn't think about anything at all. She switched her cell off and played the music so loudly she couldn't hear anything else.

*-*-*

Lucas was driving to Brooke's place deep in his thoughts. And they were about the beautiful kind-hearted brunette. He was still amazed how selfless and loving she was and he wanted nothing more than to help her, to take her pain away. And now, he was at her doorstep and knocked at her door. And when she opened, he saw her sadness and his whole being leaned his to her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

"She's gone, Luke. She's really gone."

She was crying her heart out. Her broken once again heart to be exact. And he was going to help her make it whole again.

"I am here. And I'm not going anywhere. I will always be here."

She looked at him and she knew he meant it. And she felt safer.

They sat on the couch together and she rested her head on his chest, still sobbing quietly.

"You are rescuing me, you know it, right?"

"I promised you, remember?"
Brooke remembered it clearly. She remembered these promises they made to each other and she knew that no matter they made them years ago, they still meant something. To both of them.

*-*-*

It was really late when Peyton came home, around 2 AM. She tried to be as quiet as possible not to wake Brooke. But when she went into the living room she saw her best friend in the arms of the man she loved, they were both sleeping. It surprised her. Yeah, they have gotten closer lately, but this, it looked so… intimate. She has rested her head on his chest and one of her hands was on his stomach, he has wrapped his arms around her. It was friendly, but somehow, it looked so much more that Peyton felt a bit jealous. But this was ridiculous. The hard day and the drink were making her imagining things. She needed to go to sleep.

*-*-*

The next morning, Lucas woke up early, but when he looked at the sleeping girl in his arms, he didn't move. He didn't want to wake her. She finally seemed peaceful and he wouldn't trade that for the world. She moved a little closer to him and he smiled. She used to do this back in high school. It was good to see that hasn't changed. Just as he was watching her and thinking about going back to sleep for a while more, her cell rang and Brooke woke up. She saw the caller ID – Victoria. She couldn't deal with her mother right now. She didn't want to. She looked at Lucas and they smiled at each other.

"Good morning, Sleepy head.'

"Good morning to you too. Have you been awake for a long time?"

"Nah, I woke up 1 or 2 minutes before you."

She nodded and tried to find the best words to express her feelings and thoughts.

"Luke, I could never thank you enough for what you did for me yesterday. It's just… If it wasn't for you, I couldn't have made it through that hell of a day. So, thank you for saving me, Lucas Scott."

He smiled.

"Thank you for letting me, Brooke Davis."

*-*-*

Lucas had left about half an hour ago and Brooke was now eating breakfast, thinking about the broody blonde man who helped her so much when her brooding blond best friend came into the room looking like hell.

"P. Sawyer, what's wrong?"

Peyton sat next to Brooke and said in a low voice.

"Ask me what is not wrong, it would be easier to answer that."

Brooke looked at her really worried.

"Hey, what happened, tell me."

"What was Lucas doing here last night?"

Was that all about? Peyton was acting jealous. It was ridiculous. If only she knew… It was probably the right timing to tell her.

"Angie went home yesterday. And Lucas was here for me, because I was a mess. I guess we fell asleep as he was comforting me while I was crying my heart out."

Suddenly, Peyton felt so guilty for suspecting anything.

"Oh, Brooke, why didn't you tell me? I should have been there…"

"You already have so much in your plate, Peyton. I didn't want you to worry about me."

"I still wish you told me."

"Well, it looks like you had a rough day anyway. What happened?"

Peyton sighed. There were things she hadn't told Brooke about and she didn't think it was the right time for big confessions, so she just said:

"Too much past coming up at the same wrong time."

Brooke noticed Peyton didn't want to talk about it, and she was already late for work.

"P. , I have to go now, but I promise we'll talk about it tonight, k?"

The blond nodded and Brooke left.

"It's gonna be a long day."

That's what both of them thought.

*-*-*

The day was harder than Brooke thought it would be. She missed Angie so much, and she felt bad for Peyton. Millie and Mouth were both leaving. And plus, Victoria was still the same bitch. Brooke was trying to sound so sure and strong when they talked on the phone that it exhausted her. She wasn't going to let go of the work of her life so easily. Even though it was so damn hard. She locked her sketches, took her things and walked to the door. There, she turned to look around the room.

"This is my store. This is my life. This is what I wished for."

She turned the lights off and turned around to go home.

And then she saw him.

He was wearing a mask and he pushed her back inside. She screamed, but there was no one to hear her. He pushed her to the ground and hell began.