"Lucas?" Brooke called through the hard rain. She knew he wasn't there; nor was he going to be there. Not now...she'd ruined that one already. But saying his name made the thought feel good, and that's all she wanted right then. To feel good. And he was the only thing that ever truly did that.
The rain kept coming down harder and harder on her head, never ending. Brooke fought to pull up her hood over her head, and she crossed her arms to her chest. Where was she left to go now? Her parents had written her off long before now for numerous things, Peyton was on and out of her life, no thanks to Brooke's pride, and Lucas? She pushed him out too. Just because she was "afraid". The one thing she truly loved in her life; the one thing that loved her for her. And she pushed it out.
Brooke had nowhere to go. She was alone. But she was back in Tree Hill, and that was a start. She'd left Tree Hill right after she broke things off with him. About 2 weeks after Haley and Nathan renewed their wedding vows. About a week after Nathan recovered from the accident; about a week after Cooper's funeral. Quite frankly, she was surprised she made it that far.
Peyton accused her of "not even loving" him. How could Brooke not love him? That boy was everything to her. Everything, plus her life, plus more. Without him, there was no her. And she knew it. But maybe, maybe Peyton was right.
She wasn't. And Brooke just now figured that out. A month later, hoping it wasn't too late.
Brooke sat down on the curb, right across the street from Karen's Cafe. She just watched inside it from across the street. She wrapped her arms around her knees, pulling them close to her chest. A place that was just like home not too long ago, seemed like a whole different life now. Not to her, no. To them? She wasn't in it anymore. The cafe was packed, just like every other Friday night after the big game. Cheerleaders, jocks, even random kids that just wanted to eat there. Friends congregated in there making it the ultimate go-to spot of Tree Hill.
Then she saw him. He walked around the counter, sliding a rag across it to someone who was standing by a sink. He wasn't smiling. Part of her hoped that he hadn't smiled since she'd left, part of her hoped that he'd move on and just stop making her feel the way she felt.
Inside the cafe, Lucas slid up on a stool across from his mom. They'd just won the championship game, and he was ecstatic, even though it was hard to ever be happy without her. He didn't know what true happiness even was until he met Brooke Davis.
"Luke! Congratulations!" Haley said as she ran from around the counter and hugged her best friend.
He hugged her back with a smile. "Too bad I didn't play, huh?" he said.
"Oh, but you're still part of the team. And the team won playoffs. So congrats..?" She smiled, as she tried to make sense of her logic.
He nodded. "Where'd Nathan go? I thought he said he was going to come by."
"He is. He went home first to change and shower and stuff. I promised your mom I'd come by to help her out, I figured it'd be crazy in here tonight."
Lucas looked around and nodded, cupping his hands. "Yeah...it's been good for her."
Haley nodded, and then took a second look at Lucas, noticing her best friend wasn't happy. She knew he was hurting still at Brooke's absence. She knew he missed her like crazy, and she was positive that he was still in love with her like no other. It was just going to have to take him some convincing this time. That is, if Brooke ever came back.
"Haven't talked to her?" Haley finally asked, pursing her lips.
Lucas looked at her quickly. "What?" he asked. "Who."
"Who," she repeated. "Seriously, Luke. Who am I referring to?"
Lucas looked down at his hands and shrugged. "I don't know where she's at, Hales. She hasn't called in a long time now."
"So call her," Haley said. "The phone goes both ways you know."
"Haley. She left me. She broke up with me. I shouldn't have to go chase her..." Lucas said slowly, realizing what he was saying.
Haley shrugged. "Who else is going to do it?"
Lucas shook his head. "I don't even care anymore. I'm over it. She...she doesn't know what she wants. So...I'm over it. I'm over all of it..."
"But you're not over her."
Lucas looked at her, not saying anything, when Peyton sat down next to him. He looked next to him to see who it was, but looked back at his hands.
"I know, not the thrill it used to be, huh?" Peyton joked.
Lucas chuckled a little bit.
"What's up?" Peyton asked to no one in particular.
"Nothing," Haley said for him. She knew as well as anyone else that Brooke was an iffy subject around Peyton. Especially when she was around Lucas at the same time. "Just talking about tonight's game."
Peyton nodded. "Pretty sweet, huh? Playoff Champs!"
Lucas forced a smile and nodded. "I know, I know. It's amazing."
Brooke wiped her eyes from the rain, the tears, at that point she couldn't tell which was which. She looked up from the ground, where she'd been staring for some reason, and saw someone walking down the sidewalk. There's nothing opened at this time of night on this side of the street, Brooke thought to herself, now go across the street and have fun with the rest of my world.
But the body kept coming. As it got closer, she recognized the walk.
"Brooke, what are you doing out here!" Nathan asked, pulling her up from the ground.
She pulled her drenched hood down, realizing it was now doing her no good. "I don't know," was all she could say. She didn't know what she was doing, actually.
"Well come inside, you're going to get sick," he told her. He started to walk across the street, with his hand on her back to lead her, but she didn't budge. He looked down in her eyes.
"Nathan, Lucas is in there. And Peyton. And everyone else that hates me. Speaking of which, why are you even talking to me right now?" she said.
"Nobody hates you."
Brooke scoffed, and sat back down on 'her' curb at once. "Wanna make a survey outa that one? I have my money on me," she said. "Wait, I forgot. I have no money, my parents hate me too."
"Brooke, quit the freakin act. And quit feeling sorry for yourself. You left Lucas. You just left Tree Hill like it meant nothing to you. And it was you who walked out of your world. It never left you."
She nodded. "You're right," she said, as her voice choked up again. "And yeah, I've regretted it. That's why I'm out here, and not in there. I can't talk to them. I can't look them in the eye. In fact, I wouldn't even be talking to you if you didn't force me to-"
-"Go talk to them. Especially him," Nathan said. "Brooke, Luke's a wreck without you. He loves you. Not-"
"-and Peyton, too."
"Peyton," he said. "Brooke. Lucas does not love Peyton. He loves you. How many times is someone going to have to tell you that until you realize it?"
"I only get told. Well...I only got told," she said, she had tears in her eyes. Nathan sat down on the curb with her. "But he looked like he loved her more than me."
"It's not true," Nathan said, lowering his tone. "Just...just go in there and talk to him."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"I wouldn't want to talk to me either," she said as she looked at Nathan. "He's not going to want to talk to me."
Haley looked at her watch. "Where's Nathan?" she asked to no one in particular.
"Call him up," Peyton said, hitting the countertop.
"Gosh, it's crazy out there," said Rachel, as she walked through the door and walked over to them, pulling her hood off her head.
They all just agreed without saying anything.
"Haley, Nathan's out there with some girl," Rachel said.
"Whatever."
"No. I'm serious. It sure looked like him over there anyways. He's sitting on the curb..."
Haley walked around the counter and headed to the door just to look. She tried to make out the body next to him for a distance. "Oh my gosh." She knew who that girl was. Haley turned around and walked over to the counter.
"Who is it?" Peyton asked.
Haley widened her eyes and looked at Peyton, then to Lucas. "Oh my gosh."
"Hales, who is it?"
"Brooke," she whispered.
Lucas felt a shock go through his whole entire body. It's crazy how that girl's name made him do that every single time. Lucas looked out the window at the figure next to Nathan, who was now standing up. He nodded. It was her. He knew that body like his own, if not better. His Brooke had come back.
Peyton looked at Lucas and leaned her chin in her hands with a heavy sigh.
"Lucas, what're you still doing in here?" Haley asked him. "Go. Go out there right now."
Lucas looked at her, and then back out there. He couldn't just talk to her and make everything okay just like that. But, he certainly couldn't just leave her out there, now alone. He heard the bell on the door ring, accompanied by Nathan.
Nathan walked over to him, but Lucas spoke up first. "Don't talk to me, I know."
"Get out of here."
"I can't talk to her," Lucas said. "I can't act like everything's all right."
"Then don't. But if you don't go out there, don't expect her to make the first move," Nathan said. "That girl is as stubborn and narrow minded as...you."
Lucas wanted to smile at that one, because it was true. Lucas sighed and walked over to the door. Brooke wasn't sitting on the curb anymore. She was gone. "Wha-?" Lucas pushed the door and ran outside. He looked around, both sides of the street, up and down them. He saw her walking the opposite direction slowly.
He ran across the street after her. Once he got a little closer to her, a reachable distance, he slowed down. "Brooke," he said. He winced as soon as he heard himself say her name.
Brooke felt a chill go through her body, and stopped. Did she really just hear what she thought she heard? She turned around just to see. And there he stood. 3 feet from her was the man she came back for. All she came back for.
They just stared at each other, neither of them knowing what to say. The rain was pounding harder, but it didn't take their eyes off of each other.
"Why, Brooke?" was all he said.
Brooke crossed her arms to her chest tightly, wishing he could just hold her again; protect her from the world, the pain, everything. He shielded everything that hurt her, and now without him? It was killing her.
Lucas put his hands up. "I...have nothing to say." He took a step back, starting to give up.
"I love you, Lucas."
Lucas was breathing harder and he looked away.
"I...," she started to cry. "I can't do this. Not now."
Lucas put his hands in his pockets, not saying anything.
Brooke shook her head and turned back around to walk. She got about 5 steps before she heard, "Don't give up, Pretty Girl."
She stopped and turned around. "What?"
Lucas watched her, not knowing how else to say it, to make her understand that he didn't want them to end this. Ever. That he loved her too much just to throw it all away with risks of misunderstandings.
"Lucas, I couldn't take it anymore," she said. Tears formed in her eyes. "You were obviously in love with Peyton, and probably still are. And...I just couldn't get hurt again, okay? I needed to leave you before you hurt me more again."
Lucas walked closer to her. "Is that what you thought? That I was in love with Peyton?"
She looked at him confusedly, and nodded. "You were, Lucas. You might tell me now that you weren't, and that you loved me, but you loved her too. I...I couldn't do it. I'm sorry."
"Brooke, listen to me," he said. "I was not in love with Peyton. I was in love with you. I still am. Not Peyton. Ever."
She shook her head and took a couple of steps back. "I...gotta go."
"Brooke! Stop!"
She kept walking, and he let her go. What else was he supposed to do?
"Well where's she at now!" Haley asked him, after he explained everything that'd happened. It was just them two sitting in the cafe; Lucas promised his mom they'd clean up and close it up so she could get home and rest. Besides, he didn't want to go home.
Lucas shrugged. "I don't know," he said, looking outside, seeing that it was still raining hard as ever. He was worrying about her again, but he didn't want to. He couldn't help not to though.
"And...you're sitting here. Acting like you don't care," Haley said, taking a drink of her hot chocolate.
"Well it's not like I can do anything now," he defended himself. "Who knows where she's at?"
"Exactly."
Lucas looked at her. "Don't turn this around on me-"
"-Lucas, she came back to Tree Hill. Obviously, it was for you. What more are you wanting her to do?" Haley asked. Brooke had left them all, but Brooke was still good friends with Haley, despite the fact that she hadn't even heard from her while she was gone. "And it's not like she could go far in this town. Especially tonight..."
Lucas bit his bottom lip and looked back outside. "God, where'd she go?"
"Knowing her, probably on some bench. Stubborn..."
Lucas held up his hand. "I get it."
Haley looked at her watch. "Look," she said. "I got to get home, Nathan should be back from Tim's by now."
Lucas slid off of his stool and put their mugs in the dishwasher.
Haley walked over to the door and put her hood up. "Okay, fine," she said. "I'll call her, all right?" She knew that he was insinuating on that all night, but she just now decided to give in.
"Thank you, Hales. Thank you." He walked over to the door, both of them anticipating walking out into the storm. "Let me know if you get ahold of her and stuff. I...yeah."
"And I'll tell her to call you, and she'll agree to it right away, and you two will live happily ever after." Haley nodded at her fake optimism. "There's a plan."
Lucas smirked. "Yeah," he said. "Just let me know something, okay?"
She nodded. "I'll call tomorrow." And they both pushed out of the door, heading opposite directions.
"And why did you walk here again?" Lucas asked himself, as he opened his door. He'd hoped, with every part of him that he'd see Brooke's body laying on his bed; just like she'd been the night of the memorial party she threw at the school. But there was no body. No Brooke.
He walked into his room and took off his wet shirt. He walked to his closet and looked through his sweatshirts, pulling out his Keith Auto Body gray hoody. Brooke loved that sweatshirt. He slipped it over his head; he could smell her scent in it. It was like both of their scents had collaborated into one, and it was perfection to him...
Haley walked into her apartment at about 11:30 and found Nathan laying on the couch flipping through channels. He sat up when he saw her come in. "Where've you been?"
"Oh, talking to Lucas," Haley said, as she sat down on the couch next to him. Nathan shut off the tv.
"So what happened with Brooke and Lucas?"
Haley sighed with a shrug. "Never heard from Brooke again. And Lucas came back in and said he talked to her. I'm supposed to call her tonight..."
"They're not together?"
Haley pursed her lips and shook her head. "No. And we don't know where Brooke went...I was hoping maybe she'd be here."
Nathan looked around. "I haven't seen her."
"Hmm," she thought. "Nathan, it's storming like crazy out there. Should we go find her? I mean...for her. Not to push her or anything."
"Haley, Lucas and Brooke need to be together," Nathan said flatly. "Push or no push; they need each other. And they know it, we know it. Everyone does."
"Well what're we supposed to do?" she asked raising her shoulders.
Brooke walked to her old house. She stopped in front of it and stared, getting drenched by the neverending raidpour. A memory sweeped through her mind: "What are you gonna miss most about me?"
"I can only choose one thing?" "Yes, and it has to be something good. Not...how much you'll miss hanging out with me, or how hot I am." "Mm...neither one of those, huh?" "No." "I'm gonna miss the girl behind the red door."
Lucas. He's been there all along. It seems like a totally different life back when they were just good friends; she almost wanted that back. But she knew that was gone. It was now them as a couple, or no "them" at all. She just wanted him back.
She felt the phone against her thigh in her pocket vibrate, and she opened it, running closer to her old house to get out of the storm. She sat on the porch. "Hello?" It was too dark to see her caller id.
"Brooke. Where the hell are you?" she heard.
It certainly wasn't Lucas's voice, that's all she knew. "Nathan."
"Are you outside somewhere?"
"Sorta," she said, watching the storm. She was shaking, being drenched from head to toe sure took its tolls.
"Where are you?" he asked again.
"At...my house."
"Your house," he repeated. "And considering you're basically homeless...this would be...?"
"At my old house, Nathan."
"You know the people living there or something?" he asked. This was the most he's talken to her in a long time.
"No."
He scoffed and shook his head. "Get out of the storm, Brooke."
"I'm not going to Lucas's, if that's what you're insinuating," she said, stubbornly.
"I'm not insinuating anything. Me and Haley just want you out of the freaking rain."
"Let me talk to Haley real fast, please," Brooke said. She'd missed her other best friend.
"Promise you'll do something."
"What?"
"I think you know," he said. Then he was off the other end before Brooke could say another word.
"Brooke," she heard Haley's voice.
"Ahh, Haley," Brooke said, feeling a sense of relief to hear her voice on the other end.