Brooke looked back at her house for the last time, her bags already on the cab waiting for her outside. This house held so many memories, some bad, like her attack, or finding out about the wedding. But most of them good, all her time with Angie, the moments she shared here with Jamie, bringing Sam here…having Lucas around her. She shook her head and turned off the lights, stepping out and locking the door behind her, she had no idea when she'll be back. She knew she would come back, Tree Hill was her home, and her family was here, her real family (Haley, Nathan, Jamie, Millie, Mouth); but right now she needed to get far away, before she shattered into pieces beyond repair.

As she was waiting on the airport she send a text to the only person who knew she was leaving, Millie, the girl was like a guardian angel, always there for her. Brooke knew what she had asked for her was a lot, but Millie could see how this was tearing Brooke inside, so she agree to do this for her. After telling Millie she was about to go and confirming everything was set for tomorrow, she turned off her phone and boarded her plain.

—-The next day (The wedding day) —-

It was 9 am when Haley James- Scott knocked on the door of Lucas and Peyton's house, ready to help her friend get ready for her big day, today Peyton Sawyer would become Peyton Scott. The blonde opened the door and pulled Haley inside, nervous energy exuding through every pore of her. Haley look around, "Where's Brooke?", she thought the brunette would be the first to arrive. Peyton turned to looked at her, "She hasn't arrived, I thought you knew where she was". Haley shook her head no, but took charge of things. She eased Peyton telling her Brooke was probably at the store giving the final touches to her dress before coming over, she send the blonde to take a shower while she fixed her breakfast, texting Brooke and asking where she was while Peyton was on the shower.

At Naley's house, the groom wake up and stretched on the guest room bed, wanting to follow the tradition, he had spent the night at his brother house so he wouldn't see the bride until the ceremony. Lucas then got up, brushed her teeth and walked down to the kitchen. Jamie was sitting at the table, while his brother was cooking something. "Hey man!. How are you doing on your last hours as a free man?", Nathan asked jokingly, and Jamie looked up at his uncle and watched him carefully. "I'm good, I'm not nervous or anything like that", the broody blonde answered, lying to his teeth, truth was for the last couple of days he had been wondering if this was really a good idea. Quickly reassuring himself he loved Peyton and wanted her to be is wife, but for some reason he had this weird feeling on his stomach, and had catch himself worrying about a certain brunette.

Lucas sat down next to his nephew and ruffled his hair as Nathan placed 3 plates of scramble eggs and bacon in front of each of them, sitting himself in front of the two blondes. The youngest Scott kept glancing between his dad and his uncle, finally after a few minutes he blurted out the question that he had been dying to ask for months, "Uncle Luke, why are you gonna marry Peyton instead of Aunt Brooke?. She's so much cooler, and she's much prettier, and she loves you and you love her". Jamie asked as if this was the most obvious thing in the world, how could none of the grownups see that?. He was still wondering why his uncle was marrying the wrong girl, when it was so clear to his 5 year old self to see what was right in front of them.

Both adults didn't thought it was obvious, both of them choking on their food as his question. Lucas had no idea what to say, he was not expecting this question at all and much less from Jamie. Nathan seeing his brother helpless face, stepped in, "Buddy, why do you ask that?. Your mom and I told you people get marry because they love each other". Jamie nodded at his dad, "I know, but then why is Uncle Luke marrying Peyton. He loves Aunt Brooke". Lucas caressed his nephew's hair, "Look J-Luke, this really complicated, but people love in different ways. Yes I love your aunt Brooke, but just as a friend, I love Peyton more".

For the first time Jamie looked at his uncle as if he was completely crazy, and shook his head vigorously, "No, uncle Luke, that's not true!. Mommy is your best friend and you don't look at Aunt Brooke, like you look at mommy. You look at Aunt Brooke like my daddy looks at mom!, you even smile all goofy like on the movies when Aunt makes a pout of when she winks". Lucas was at a loss of words, and so does Nathan. How could a five years old see those things that not even Lucas himself had noticed? As silence fell upon the kitchen, both grown men thought back to all the times Lucas and Brooke were together. None of them said anything, they knew voicing what they were thinking would had bigger consequences. When Jamie said those things, they could say it was a child's mind, but if any of them voiced that, in fact, everything Jamie said was right, then everything would be more real.

As the minutes ticked by, Jamie sighed in disappointment, stepping down of the chair, shaking his head slowly, "I never want to grow up. Grownups are too complicated and are never happy", and with that he ran up to his room, leaving two Scott men stunned into silence. When did the five year old, became wiser than them?.

—-

11 o'clock. Half an hour ago a person had showed up, with a bag and said Brooke Davis had hired them to come and get the bride ready. That had come as a complete surprise to both the girls that was not the plan. They were supposed to get Peyton ready or more like Brooke was, they had agreed between Haley and Brooke, they would do Peyton's hair, makeup and nails. And now there were two people in the room, one working on Peyton's manicure, while the other was doing her hair, but still no signs of the brunette.

Haley had tried calling her cellphone and house phone but she only got her voicemail on both. By now Haley was officially worried, and she knew Peyton was too, not wanting to make her more nervous she went outside to the porch and dialed her husband. She had explained to Nathan the situation and asked if he could go to Brooke's house and check on her. This was Peyton's wedding day and she was sure the only way Brooke would miss it is if she was seriously hurt, and that thought scared both of them to death. What if Brooke as really hurt?.

—-

Nathan was looking frantically for the car keys, Haley's call had really worried him, it was not like Brooke to just not show up to anything Peyton related. Brooke Davis was always there for her friends, even stepping over herself, so he was fearing something serious had happened to her. Lucas walked into the living room to see his brother looking for something and the look on his face made him curious, "Nate?, what's up man?. What are you looking for?". Nathan glanced up and quickly went back to the search, "My keys, I need to go out real quick", he didn't know if he should tell Lucas.

"Nathan, what's going on?, You look worried, is something wrong with Hales?". Nathan sighed, he had to tell him, "No, Hales is fine. Look man, I'll tell you, but you have to promise you'll stay here okay?. I need you to stay with Jamie….It's Brooke. She hasn't shown up at your place and Haley had called her a hundred times and she's not picking up. We all know Brooke wouldn't miss this wedding, so we're worried". As Nathan was talking, Lucas just wasn't processing his words. Brooke wasn't with Peyton, that was not Brooke, she would never do that. A cold dread feeling crossed through Lucas body, he knew deep inside something was very wrong. "I'm gonna head to her house and see if she's there, and then I'll go to the store". Nathan had his keys and was on the way to the door. At the mention of the store, suddenly an image came to Lucas' mind. The image of a battered Brooke, with two black eyes, busted lip, and covered in cuts and bruises, the attack. He felt dizzy just thinking that Brooke could had been attacked again, he wanted to go and see for himself if she was okay, but by the time he snapped out of it, Nathan was gone and he was left to worry his mid out in this house.

Mere 15 minutes after Nathan left, the doorbell rang. Lucas got up and ran to the door, flying it open. He was not expecting to see Millie standing on the other side. She was casually dressed, but had a weird look on her face, she seemed anxious. Millie forced a smile towards the blonde man, "Hi Lucas. Uhm…it's good that you're here-". She was cut off by a very worried Lucas, "Millie! do you know were Brooke is? Have you talk to her?, is she okay?", the desperation was clear in his voice.

Millie shifted uncomfortable, "Brooke….she-she asked me to give you this", she said in a fast and shaky voice, reaching her hand out and giving him an envelope with his name on it. He recognize the handwriting, and looked at her with a frown of utter confusion. Millie saw he was about to ask something and she beat him to it, "Listen Lucas, I can't tell you anything, so please don't ask me. Brooke is my best friend and she asked me not to tell. Just…just read the letter". She shoved the envelope in his hand and turned around and quickly got i her car and left.

Luke walked back into the house, his blue eyes glued to the letter. He was beyond confused before, but now, as he stared at the white paper in his hands, he was scared. He hadn't opened the envelope yet, but something inside of him was telling him this was not good news. He was brought back to the last time Brooke Davis had wrote him a letter, before he left after Keith's death. Back then Brooke's letters had helped him through the dark period of grieving away from Tree Hill, the girl in those letters and her love for him gave him hope, but now Lucas was scared that whatever was on this letter would forever change him. He sat on the couch and took a deep breath before opening the envelope and slowly taking out the white sheet of paper.

Broody,

Wow, it's been years since I dare to call you that anywhere but in my mind, I'm sorry if it's weird that I address the letter to you like that. But I just needed to call you that one more time before you become somebody else' husband, my last time feeling you this close. That nickname was something that was just yours, just between us. You were my Broody and I was your cheery, boyfriend and pretty girl, remember?. There was never another boyfriend or another Broody for me…but I know I stopped being your pretty girl, now that's Peyton's title. I heard you call her that once. I guess I use it now because it's my last thread with a fantasy alternative universe where you're mine instead of hers.

By the time you read this letter I'll be long gone. I asked Millie to give you the letter this morning so that you didn't try to look for me, even when I know you wouldn't look for me on the day you're gonna marry the only girl you've ever loved. It's pathetic how much saying that still hurts me, maybe because once upon a time, I believe in a fairytale where the good guy actually loved me. But dreams are just that, dreams. And then reality come crashing in, and reality is that fairytales don't exist. Fantasies aren't real, in real life the good guys cheat and break your heart, and Prince Charming never fall in love with the town slut.

I've should had learned my lesson years ago…I thought I did. I thought I had moved on, but I was kidding myself. How could I moved on when I never stopped loving you?. Deep down I still kept that glimmer of hope that one day you'll open your eyes and see that love in my eyes, and finally return it. But that's never gonna happen, because there's not love you can return, you don't love me like that, and I think I've finally accepted that. In a few hours you'll marry the woman you truly love, the one you've loved all your life. As you said it in your book, you and her were always meant for each other, everything else…what we had, was just a denial of the truth, that you and and always will be in love with Peyton Sawyer….

I know now that what we had never meant much to you, but to me it meant everything. You were my everything Lucas. And I'll keep those memories for both of us. That night in New York, when your book was launched, and we pretended to be engaged for one night, that was the best night of my life. Even if it was just a lie, for a few hours I got to pretend I had you back, that you loved me and want me with you for the rest of your life. I wanted to stay that night with you, when you asked me to stay and kissed me, every fiber of my being was screaming at me to stay and make love with you, the reason I left was because I knew once morning came, you would turned and look at me, naked in your bed and realized you made a mistake. Knowing you, you would had apologize and feel bad, and I knew seeing the regret in your eyes, hearing you say you were sorry for something that for me would had been the greatest night, would crushed me. You know, that night when I came home, Victoria was hysterical, she ranted on about how wrong it would be for me to marry, how much I had to lose. and all I could think off was how I would had given anything for that ring to be meant for me for real, that I had lost it all when I let you go in high school. I told her you were the one boy I might had lost it all for.

After that night I had hope that maybe there was still something to save, that maybe this time Peyton would understand and we could have a chance. And then your book came out and I read it. I never knew words written on a paper could hurt so so much. But seeing how you could put our entire relationship in one chapter and then dismissed it as just a denial. You'll never know how much reading your book hurt me Lucas, with each page I died a little more. By the end of the book I realized, you never loved me, and I finally understood why it was so easy for you to cheat on me with Peyton…I was just a distraction until you could be with her. I was just stupid enough to really give you my heart. The day finished your book I placed it on my bedside table, with the page about your revelation marked, and I swore to myself that whenever I felt like I missed you, whenever I felt like crying from the ache on my heart where you used to be, I'll read it again and remember the pain. I promised myself never to let anyone else all the way in, never to let someone get as close as you got, because they could break what was left of my heart.

And it worked, until I came back to Tree Hill and saw you, about to marry someone else. And for some reason, as much as it hurt to see you marry another woman, I was happy just with see you happy. Unlike Peyton, I knew you never really loved me, so why fight your wedding?. Lindsay was a good person and made you happy, that was all that mattered to me. It hurt more to see you in pain after Lindsay left, than to see you with her, your pain and sadness had always hurt me more than my own. But then you were there for me and Angie, and again I was high school Brooke, I was once again, that stupid teenager that open up her heart and I made the mistake to allow myself to dream, dreamed with you and a family.

And when my dream turned into a nightmare, I was once again alone. The night of the attack, I screamed for help, and after he left, when he left me there beaten and bleeding….I screamed for you, Lucas! I called out for you, but you never came. You were too busy having a passionate rekindling of your relationship with Peyton in Vegas. Once you promised to rescue me, Luke, but that was one of the many promises you broke. It was very sad to be reminded once again, exactly what place I have in your life. I honestly don't know why it surprised me, I've always known I come way behind Peyton on your list. Ever since I came into your life, everytime I've needed you, you were too busy saving Peyton to be there for me. I don't think you ever realized how many times and how easy it was for you to leave me and ran to Peyton's side whenever she called. But everytime you did it was just one more confirmation that I just would never be good enough for you in comparison to Peyton. She always came first for you, no matter how many times you said you loved me, that I was everything to you, if Peyton called I became invisible. And I always wondered, what she had that I didn't, and now I know. The thing Peyton has that I never had, is your heart.

It took me years to finally, truly accept that I have no hope with you, that I never had a hope, just wishful thinking. But the fact that I finally face the truth and accepted my reality, doesn't mean it hurts any less. And for the first time since high school, I'm choosing myself. I choose to put my pain and my feeling before Peyton's, and that's why I had to leave. Knowing you lost is one thing, but having to witness you profess your undying love to her, watching you say I do and promise forever to her, would just be more than I could take. I'm sorry for doing this like this, for running in the night, but I couldn't say goodbye. What would I say?, I need to go because after all this years I'm still in love with the groom, Because it hurts more than words can say to watch him marry my so called best friend?. How pathetic would it be to admit that while making Peyton's I closed my eyes and pretend it was for me?. Back in high school I made the decision to put Peyton's feelings and her happiness before my own, and I broke up with you because she confessed to me on the rehearsal dinner for Naley that she was in love with you. At first I thought that we could still be together, even if she had feelings for you, but when you told me about the kiss, I knew I had to let you go, because she was the one you wanted too, and you prove me right. Still today, you keep proving me right. But now I'm choosing my heart and my pain over hers, and I can't submit myself to that slow death.

I wish you are happy with her, I really do. Because still today, your happiness is what makes me happy. I'm sorry I'm doing this like this, but I hope you know, I do wish you only the best. Be happy Lucas, finally be happy.

Love you,

Your Cheery.

By the time Lucas finished reading the letter, the tears were falling freely down his face, he didn't even bother wiping them, because they weren't going to stop soon. Everything Brooke had wrote felt like a punch that left him breathless, reading her say how she realized he never loved her, how she didn't mean anything to him, her words tightened the vice grip around his heart. Reading this letter was like looking into Brooke's heart, seeing things as she saw them, and for the first time Lucas could grasp just how many times and how much he had hurt her. The sole fact that Brooke left believing he never loved her was driving him crazy. He scanned over the letter again, his eyes stopping at the part of the attack. Brooke hadn't opened to anyone about that day, he haven't forgiven himself for that, and he doubt he ever would. After coming home from his romantic elope trip to Vegas, and finding out Brooke was attacked, and especially after seeing her. Lucas was so mad at himself, he had promised Brooke he was there for her, he had promised she could count on him, and years ago he had promised to rescue her as she rescued him, and yet when she needed him the most he wasn't there. Knowing now that she called out for him, and he was miles away with Peyton was making him physically sick. Lucas closed his eyes as memories flooded his mind, images and memories of all the times he left Brooke to go rescue Peyton. He replayed in his head all the times he put Peyton's feelings and needs before Brooke's, and it was just now that he really saw the look on Brooke's eyes, and it broke his heart to see the hurt and pain, that sadness that she knew how to mask so well. He hated himself for never seeing it before, Lucas loved Brooke, he did, more than anything, but now he realized he never showed her that love.

Lucas couldn't breath, finding out how Brooke had felt for years, looking back and see so clearly all his mistakes staring back at him, and specially finally having the answers to questions he's been asking himself for years, and realizing he lost Brooke because of his own actions hurt more than he ever thought possible. He had lost Peyton for 2 years before, and he kept on living, now he had lost Brooke for merely half a day and just the thought of never seeing her again, was making it hard to breath. Now Jamie's words made sense, with all his innocence, Jamie saw past all the masks he and Brooke put up for everyone, even the ones they put on for themselves and saw their real feelings, he was just too stubborn to admit it. And now it was too late, she was gone….Brooke left, heartbroken, hurt and completely mistaken. She was out there somewhere, thinking Lucas didn't love her, while he was here, sobbing loudly because he never stopped loving her and he was too stupid to see it.

He didn't registered that his sobs had become louder, to the point that they brought a very concerned Jamie down from his room. The little boy saw his godfather a crying mess on the couch and ran to hugged him. "Uncle Luke, why are you crying?", the boy asked in a sad, quiet voice and he wiped away his uncle's tears. Lucas that was holding on to the boy tightly, tried to compose himself, "I'm just very sad, buddy". "Because you're getting married?", he asked hesitantly and Lucas gave him a small smile. "No Jimmy-jam, is about someone else". Jamie looked at him for a few minutes, "Are you sad because Aunt Brooke went away?". This question shocked Lucas, his blue eyes widening in surprise, "H-how do you know your aunt is gone, Jamie?". The mini Lucas, tilted his head, frowning, "Aunt Brooke told me yesterday when I spent the day with her", he said as if it was the most normal thing.

"Buddy, what did Aunt Brooke told you?", Lucas knew Brooke was close with Jamie, but he never thought their relationship was so close that the only person to know about her plans of leaving would be the five year old. "She said she was sorry, but that she had to go away for a while on a trip. I asked her if she was going to Disney and if I could go with her, but she said no. She said she was going far away and that she would love to take me, but she wasn't sure when she'll be back. She then began crying just like you, she hugged me tight and said that maybe it would take her a really long time to come back, but that she would call me every day and that later she would ask mom and dad to let me go and spend some holiday with her", the boy's face fell and he pouted sadly, "She was so sad, uncle Luke, and I hate to see her cry like that. She looked so little, so I just hugged her and kissed her. She then told me about how he friend Rachel would like me when I went to visit her". And there it was, a hint, a way to find Brooke. He needed to find Rachel. He needed to find Brooke and tell her how wrong she was, and how he still love her as much as back in high school, and to ask for her forgiveness on his knees.

He then remembered a little detail, he was supposed to get marry in a few hours. Lucas stopped crying and paced the living room back and forth. He couldn't marry Peyton, that he was sure of, but how did he cancel the wedding just hours before it. Brooke had planned this in a way that even after her confession, he would marry Peyton, assuming he wouldn't call it off the same day. But Brooke didn't considered that Lucas still loved her and wanted her back. He grabbed his keys and put shoes on Jamie, before leaving Nate a note and walking out of the house, he needed to fix this wedding mess first.

—-

10 minutes after delivering that to Lucas, Millie stepped out of her car in front of the tiny house, this time the delivery came along a big white box of Clothes Over Bros, with a beautiful handmade Brooke Davis original wedding dress.

Haley answered the door quickly, surprise and then relief washed over her as she took in the girl in front of her, "Millie!, Oh thank god you came!. Do you have any news about Brooke?, do you know where she is?". Millie was again uncomfortable, but Brooke did told her she was able to tell Nathan and Haley she left and why. Millie looked at the shorter woman and sighed, "Where's Peyton?". Haley then informed her Peyton was on her bedroom getting makeup. Millie nodded and pulled Haley to the living room, leaving the big box on the couch and sitting with Haley, "Haley, Brooke is gone", she blurted out. Hale expression went from confusion to shock, "Gone?, what do you mean she's gone?, she would never miss Peyton's wedding!".

Millie shook her head softly and made a pained face, "Haley, Peyton's wedding to Lucas is exactly why Brooke went away. A couple of days ago Brooke finally snapped, I don't know what happened, I just know a few nights ago I got a call from a neighbor saying there was someone at the store at 2 am. When I arrived I saw Brooke's car outside, and when I came in I found her curled up into a ball on the floor sobbing her heart out. She broke down, Haley, she finally broke down hard. I took her home and stayed with her, she finally told me that she couldn't do this anymore, pretending to be okay and happy about the wedding when she was actually crumbling down inside. That she couldn't be the maid of honor and watch Peyton marry the man she still loves. So after a day of crying, she decided she couldn't witness them getting marry, so she went away. And she's not sure when she's coming back".

AN: So what do you think guys?. Would you be interested on a second part about the letter Brooke left to Peyton?. Let me know.