A/N: So it's been an unusual time without me starting another story! lol. I had this idea and just had to start writing. I have to warn you though this is not going to be a usual open subject. Enjoy this new story!

Summary: Everything appeared to be fine when suddenly it wasn't. What happens when an unexpected disease occur? Lucas gets sick…but not the kind of sick you think

Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of its characters for that matter.

Note: This starts in season 3 after the school shooting and Lucas does NOT have HCM in this story.

All of this happened so suddenly that they didn't have the time to prepare before it hit the small town of Tree Hill like a ten ton block. How could such anger and hatred live within such young kids? How could all of this lead to men killing other men? Kids killing other kids? When did the world become such a cold-hearted place where living feels like a burden to some people?

In such a short amount of time, some life ended, others were shattered. Lucas was one that had his life shattered. In a few hours, he had his life broken. One of his former friends he used to care for had brought a gun into school, shot one of his best friends, took his brother and sister-in-law hostage and killed his uncle.

Luckily, Peyton and the others came out fine…but what about Keith? What about the man Lucas considered as a father? The only father he ever had. And what about Karen? 

She had finally realized how much she loved Keith. They were gonna get married. Then in the blink of an eye, all of that was over…

Lucas was lying on his bed thinking about everything that happened lately. He could hear muffled cries from his mother's bedroom. He really wished he could just do something for it but he couldn't. His mom kept pushing him away when he proposed to help her.

At least he had Brooke. She was the one who had been there all along and helped him through rougher times. She was the one he could rely on when he felt helpless.

He was yanked from his own thoughts when the girl he was currently thinking about made her entrance in the room.

"Hey boyfriend! Ready to go to school?" she asked on a soft tone.

"It's today?" he growled.

She nodded her head softly. Lucas sighed.

"Then I guess I'm ready…"

"Are you sure you're okay, Luke?" she inquired, worried.

"Why wouldn't I be? I get to go back into the school where I was once trapped in the library" he spat.

She sighed and sat next to him. It took her a second to regain her composure then she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.



"I know this must be hard for you. It's hard for all of us but you'll be okay. And Peyton can't wait to see you" she explained.

Lucas attempted a smile. It was weak but the effort was there. Brooke smiled back and kissed him on the lips.

"Let's go" she said offering him a strong hand. He grabbed it and pulled himself off the bed.

They grabbed their bags and walked together on their way to Tree Hill High. In front of the school, Brooke felt Lucas tense a little. She gripped his hand tighter to give him strength.

"I'm here" she whispered into his ear.

For a second they looked into each other's eyes. Lucas pulled a smile at last. Their fingers intertwined and they walked toward the large building.

Inside, something seemed different. The ambience just wasn't the same. They both felt it. The first face Lucas really saw was a familiar face.

"Hey guys! Brooke, are you still coming to the party tonight?" Rachel asked when she reached them.

Brooke turned to Lucas "Only if you come" she told him.

Lucas sent questioning looks towards Rachel. She rolled her eyes. "You haven't heard of it for that's obvious! Well there's a party at Tric tonight. Peyton set it up. She wants 

everyone to be together after what happened. I just past Nathan and Haley. They're coming as well" she rambled.

Lucas shrugged without obvious disagreement. Brooke looked at him with pleading eyes.

"Ok. I'll be there" he simply said.

Rachel smirked. "Great. I'll see you two tonight!" exclaimed she.

Brooke waved her hand whilst Rachel left on her course to recruit more people for the party. Lucas felt the sudden urge to move. An eerie wave of well-being washed over him. Brooke was with him, his friends were gonna have a party, finally everything was turning good for him. This couldn't be better.

"Are you okay?" she asked seeing the sparkles shimmer in his eyes.

"Actually, yeah! I'm really good! I think this party is an amazing idea!"

Brooke's smile faded. "Is it because Peyton thought of it?" she jerked coldly.

"What? What does Peyton have to do with this? I'm talking about us! It'll be great to spend the night together!", he sounded really joyful and sincere about it. Brooke couldn't resist. She melted everytime her eyes locked with his. They kissed.

"At least one of you is not a fan of PDA" a laughing voice spat. Brooke turned around and saw Peyton for the first time since she last saw her at Keith's funerals.

"Goldilocks!" she exclaimed before running in her friend's arms.

"Soft Brooke, I'm on crutches, remember?" she asked happiness obvious in her voice.



Brooke was so happy to see her best friend that she almost forgot she was hurt. Lucas was smiling as well. He was as happy as Brooke to see Peyton up on her feet.

"Peyton! It's so good to see you" he said.

She thought that sounded odd because of the things she said in the library but she took it as he wasn't angry with her, which was a good thing since she felt guilty for it.

"You too, Luke! How you holdin' up?", she smiled at him.

"Really good, actually. I just wish I could help my mom. She's a train wreck right now" he admitted. Peyton made a grimace.

"I'm sorry"

"Me too" Lucas chimed.

Brooke looked from one to another. "Don't be! I'm sure she'll be okay" she reassured.

Lucas winked. "I hope so"

The three of them got to their next class. Brooke had to go different ways since she was in calculus. Peyton and Lucas went in literature together. They promised Brooke to meet her later then they left.

Brooke looked at them one last time before she left. She knew she was being selfish but she couldn't help it. She was jealous that the guy she loved saved the girl she loved.

Lucas and Peyton had a place aside from each other in literature. For what seemed like hours, the teacher rambled on about a book Lucas read some time ago. Since he knew it 

pretty well, he figured he could do something else. Peyton noticed how distant he was which was unusual since this was Lucas's favorite class.

"Luke" she whispered. His head snapped up.

"Are you alright?"

His eyes were shining, even more than she ever seen them. "Yeah, why?"

"You're not listening" she noted.

"I have nothing to learn from someone like him" he motioned to the teacher.

Peyton frowned. She looked at the teacher then back at Lucas. He was writing something. Already, since the beginning, the teacher knew that Lucas wasn't listening but now he was talking and that was disturbing him.

"Mr. Scott, I bet you must have something really interesting to say to Miss Sawyer for you're not listening" the teacher exclaimed.

All heads turned toward Lucas. Peyton thought he wasn't going to reply. She had a surprise when he did.

"Actually, yes. It's even more interesting than what you have to say" he snapped, putting emphasis on the word you.

Peyton's eyes grew as wide and round as balls.

"I assume that what you are doing must be better than the work of a professional writer himself" the teacher went on.



"It sure as hell is! I read this book so long ago and the work of a five years-old learning to write would've been better than this crap! My work is better than this crap!" Lucas spat with amusement.

"Then shall we share with the rest of the class?" the man proposed.

Peyton knew Lucas too well. She knew that he was just like her and hated to show her work to others.

"I readily would but I'm afraid my genie would be overrated in a class like this"

Lucas laughed to himself. Peyton couldn't believe her ears. When did he become so self-assured?, she asked herself. Though, the teacher didn't share Lucas' opinion. There were no traces of fun in his face.

"Maybe your 'genie' would be used properly in the principal's office" he spat.

Lucas started laughing oddly. He gathered his things and walked out of the class, making sure to slam the door on his way out.

Peyton met Brooke outside the school after the most awkward class she had ever attended. Brooke was surprised by the look on Peyton's face and Lucas's absence.

"Hey Peyt…where's Lucas?" she asked eyeing over the place, trying to catch a glimpse of where her boyfriend could ever be.

"He's…in Mr. Turner's office" Peyton admitted.



Brooke looked at her with big question marks in her eyes. Peyton explained everything to her. Throughout her speech, Brooke hadn't spoken a single word.

"He what?!" she finally said.

"You heard"

Brooke couldn't believe what she was hearing. That made no sense at all. This wasn't Lucas-like. He was always so kind and sweet. She was definitely going to find out.

Loud music was blasting from the speakers. More and more teens were starting to get in the club. Only Tree Hill High student were allowed in the club that night. It was a special theme for those who lived to most horrific event and wanted some time to get it off their minds.

For the moment, everything was fine and everyone seemed happy. Brooke and Peyton came together. None of them had seen Lucas since the literature class incident. Maybe he wouldn't show at all although Brooke highly doubted it.

She stayed around Peyton who was name DJ for the night. Haley came by to drop a little 'hi'.

"Hey Brooke!"

"Haley! It's so good to see you! How are you?"

"Coping I guess…Nathan and I have been pretty disturbed by the school's events and we're just trying to hold on the best we can" she admitted.



Brooke sighed. "I'm so sorry you guys had to go through this"

Haley frowned. "I feel sorry for Jimmy more than for us. He was the one who needed help"

Brooke was seeing things Lucas's way and since Lucas wasn't that sorry for Jimmy, she pretty much felt the same way. Haley, though, was gifted to see the good in everyone.

"I wish I was as strong as you" Brooke admitted.

"Brooke, you are! You are one of the strongest person I've ever seen even though you don't see it, you are!"

Brooke smiled. "thanks.."

They hugged and swayed back and forth for minutes.

Peyton touched Brooke on the shoulder. She broke free from Haley's arm to look at where Peyton was pointing. There she saw Lucas. He seemed in trouble. Brooke and Haley combed the crowd to get to him.

Lucas was currently nagging some guy about how stronger he was. The other guy had a good six inches taller than Lucas did and he had arms like jail guys.

"Lucas, what are you doing?" Brooke shouted. Lucas turned and saw her. His eyes lit up.

"Hey gorgeous! You here for the show? Smartass punk is going to get his ass kicked" Lucas spat to the guy. The other growled like a bear. Haley felt this wasn't going to end up well.



"Lucas come on, drop it off and come with me!" Brooke yanked his arm. She pulled Lucas out of the way.

"Your little girlfriend won't save you!" the giant shouted.

Meanwhile, Peyton was watching all of it for afar. She felt a little tap on her shoulder.

"What is it, Hales?"

The person behind her cleared her throat. Peyton turned around and her eyes widened. She smiled widely.

"Hey! What are you doing here?!" she exclaimed definitely surprised to see him.

"I heard about the shooting and I remembered you were from that school so I thought I'd drop by and see if you are okay" he said.

"That is really sweet! Like a rock star coming to see if the little girl he met was ok"

The guy rolled his eyes. "Right I'm a rock star meaning that I don't have feelings!"

Her smile quickly dropped. "That's not what I meant"

"I'm just kidding! You should see your face", he laughed. Peyton smiled.

"Well, thanks for coming Mr. I'm-A-Rock-Star-With-Feelings Wentz" she chuckled.

"You're welcomed but, you know, my friends call me Pete" he giggled.

"Alright Pete"



She poked back again on the dance floor where Lucas was now out of sight. She tried to find him with her eyes but it felt like he totally disappeared.

"So I'm sorry if I bored you" Pete joked.

Peyton spun with a worried face. "Oh sorry, it's not you I was just trying to check on a guy" she explained.

"Let me guess, taller and hotter than me?"

She rolled her eyes. "Oh sure! No really, he has a girlfriend but that's not the point. I'm worried about him, he's been acting really weird today" she confessed.

"Did I meet him?" Pete asked.

"Yeah, I think I introduced him at the 'Friends with Benefits' concert. He's the tall blond guy who's mom owns the club"

"Right I remember. I also remember how you looked the last time and I can tell you you're even sexier"

She totally blushed. She was thrown right back onto the surface of earth when she heard an all too familiar voice in the microphone. She spun and saw Lucas up on the stage. Pete got closer to her and watched the show as well.

"So hi everyone, I'm Lucas! If you guys didn't know, I was in that school the day of the shooting. See, I went back because of my brother. If he hadn't ran up into the building I wouldn't have. Lil' brother, I want to thank you because if it hadn't been of me going 

back, Peyton over there would be dead", he pointed her so everyone spun. They applauded.

Pete looked at Peyton who was now red like a lobster. He then clapped his hands with the rest of the crowd. On his side, Lucas seemed to feed himself with the people's recognition.

"Yeah, I'm the hero babe! Though, something escapes me. Why are we here tonight? We make a party when two people died that day. That Jimmy kid, who cares?! He was so full of himself that he shot up the school! What a prick! He could've just stayed in his whole and be forgotten!"

The whole club went hushed. What the hell was he talking about?

"Is he on drugs?" Pete softly asked into Peyton's ear. She shrugged with a disgusted look on her face.

Lucas went on again. "This guy killed my uncle for no reason!" he shouted. The heavy silence fell again until Lucas burst out laughing. They all looked at him.

"Let's party on! Peyton put some music on" he yelled.

With total absence of mind, she put a song on. Lucas yelled like a crazy fool and jumped off the stage. Unfortunately, no one was waiting for that move so he fell flat on his face. That made most of the people laugh including Peyton's surprise guest.

"Why are you laughing?" she asked.



"Sorry. I just know how bad it hurts…" Pete was biting his cheek not to laugh. She looked at the spot where everyone got and started laughing as well. She couldn't help it.

"He's such a klutz!"

Brooke ran over to where Lucas jumped. He was already getting back up and ready to party again.

"What's wrong with you?" Brooke asked.

"What's wrong with having some fun?" he asked.

Brooke's face got red with anger. She grabbed his arm so tight that he could feel her nails. She yanked him out of the club and into the parking lot where she started to yell at him. Haley and Nathan were there as well.

Peyton watched them leave. "Maybe I better go" she said.

He didn't say a word but followed her out.

Lucas was laughing uncontrollably.

"What is wrong with you?!" she screamed. "Are you high?"

Lucas was laughing even more when he noticed Peyton coming.

"Does it take drugs to be happy? I'm just merry okay!" he chuckled.

"Luke, maybe you should just calm down" Nathan said.

Lucas looked at him with disgust. "Don't break my fun! Just shut the hell up!" he spat.



"Lucas what's happening with you?" Haley asked concerned.

He stopped to take a breath then grabbed his head and started weeping.

"I don't know ok! Just leave me alone!" he spat. He ran off and kicked the garbage cans on his way. After that, he just lost his balance and fell flat on his butt. At that point, nobody dared laughing.

"Lucas it's ok" Brooke said kneeling next to him.

"You all hate me now! I see the disgust in your eyes! You are all ashamed of me!" he cried.

"We're not" Pete said when no one answered. Lucas looked at him.

"Who the hell are you? Right, little rock star thinks he knows it all!" he snapped.

"Lucas, shut up" Nathan said.

"That's what I thought. You all hate me. I gotta go" he snapped.

He got up really fast and ran off. They all watched him go without saying a word or making a move.

So that's the way the story starts. It was long but I needed to put things in place. Thought I'd add Pete cuz it'd be fun. He won't really be in the story though just hanging out with Peyton whilst Lucas has Brooke. I'll try updating this frequently if you guys like it. Just tell me what you think. Thanks for reading!