Title: Where I Belong
Author: Kat (heartsmash)
Rating: Overall, R for swearing and some sexual situations
Pairing: Brooke/Lucas
Disclaimer: One Tree Hill belongs to Mark Schwann, among others. I am just taking the characters out to play - I'll put them back when I'm done.
Summary: How long does it take a person to realize who they're supposed to spend their life with?
Chapter One – Tears and Rain
For any high school student, prom is the culmination of everything. Most students know that graduation does not fall that far behind the extravagant dance and soon the summer before freshman year of college would fly by, making the 'real world' appear far more of a reality.
Brooke Davis knew where she was going after graduation. She would spend the rest of the summer in Tree Hill and then fly to New York City, where she would matriculate at the Fashion Institute of Technology and fulfill her dreams of clothing design glory. As it was now, Clothes over Bros was already taking off and was raking in a small profit much to Brooke's glee. However, she knew there were things that she wished had worked out differently in this point in time.
As she walked into the hotel that was sponsoring the prom alone, she wished that she was attending Tree Hill High's 'Time of My Life' themed prom with someone else.
And that someone else was Lucas Scott.
In truth, they hadn't been together for about five months but another fact was that her feelings for him never really just vanished. He was the first boy that she ever fell in love with and she wouldn't deny the fact that she still harbored feelings of love for Lucas.
But she had broken up with him because she wasn't truly sure that he was completely invested in their relationship – had he really missed her while he had went on the impromptu road trip with his mother? And if he had been all in, why hadn't he come clean about the kiss with Peyton in the library? And why hadn't he had just let her all the way in? There were a million questions that constantly plagued Brooke when it came to the she and Lucas.
Truthfully, Brooke had pushed him to Peyton the night of the championship game right after the Ravens had clinched the win. She remembered it like it was yesterday.
"Luke!" she said excitedly upon seeing him amass the crowd and streamers falling from the rafters
"Oh my God!" he said grabbing her in a tight hug, "Oh this is amazing!"
They removed from their embrace and Brooke removed a piece of streamer that had found its way into her mouth.
"This is a dream come true," Brooke said soberly, looking deep into his eyes but in the moment, knew she couldn't keep him. Looking to her right Brooke saw Peyton standing by herself taking in the chaos around her.
Brooke knew that she needed to let him go.
"So who do you want standing next to you?" she asked, gripping his upper arms. With a polite smile, she told him to go to her. Lucas listened and wasn't able to see the tears that gathered in her eyes as she watched Lucas kiss Peyton.
And now Lucas and Peyton had been together for nearly three months and seemed perfectly happy, all thanks to her handiwork. Brooke sighed and looked around for Rachel Gatina, who had decided to take Fergie, one of the guys that Lucas played at the Rivercourt with. She didn't see her yet so she decided to claim a table.
She walked across the dance floor to where all the tables were set up. Brooke nearly stopped in her tracks when she saw Lucas and Peyton putting their stuff down – he was holding her hand, much like Brooke remembered him doing with her. Brooke knew she shouldn't feel the way she did – Peyton and she were working on their friendship as were she and Lucas. Everyone was friends all around. 'But what if that's not enough?' her mind screamed.
Brooke immediately froze but Lucas kept his promise and came over to say hello, as both a gentleman and a friend,
"Hey Brooke," he said and gathered her in a hug, one of which she returned. "You look gorgeous."
She had held onto hope that he would compliment her gown. She had purchased it with him in mind. It was a teal, taffeta floor length gown with a scooped, beaded neckline that flared near the bottom. Her brown hair was wavy and all down, over her shoulders. Bright red lip stick and dark eye shadow finished off her makeup. It fit her like a glove, but that was one of the beauties of the gown.
"Thanks Luke, the tux suits you," she replied, meaning it. She had only seen him in a tux once before and that had been for Haley and Nathan's wedding.
Peyton came over to them and greeted her.
"So do you know if Haley decided to come tonight?" Brooke asked, knowing the now 5-months pregnant tutor was a little apprehensive to come to the prom even if she was with her husband, Nathan.
"I tried to convince her, but she was putting up a fight about the dress."
"Seriously?" Brooke asked, "The dress she picked was gorgeous – you couldn't even tell that she was pregnant in it!"
Lucas shrugged his shoulders. But as if she had heard the small group talking, Haley and Nathan walked through the door. Brooke was extremely glad to have another couple here to make things a little less awkward and rushed towards.
"Thank God you're here; I can't be left alone with them tonight."
"Okay Brooke, calm down," Haley said to her, rubbing her shoulder soothing, "Nate, Brooke's our third wheel for the evening."
""That's cool," Nathan replied, "Should we sit down?"
"Good idea, the baby's already kicking in time to the music," Haley said, rubbing a hand over her protruding abdomen
Brooke laughed at the already musically inclined child that Haley and Nathan had conceived. She followed them over to the table. Lucas and Peyton were already dancing much to Brooke's chagrin. She also saw Rachel and Fergie grinding near where the DJ was set up. This was going to be a very long night.
Nearly three hours later, the notes of a slow dance began to play and even Haley and Nathan jumped ship and left her to sit at the table. 'Alone again', she thought ruefully.
She was surprised when a hand was put out in front of her. Brooke looked up and saw Lucas' kind eyes looking down at her.
"Dance with me?" he asked
"But what about Peyton?" she asked immediately
"It was her suggestion. Come on, it's just a dance."
Timidly, she put her hand in his and allowed him to take her onto the dance floor. Brooke kept telling herself that it was only a dance and it meant nothing, mostly because it had been Peyton's suggestion.
I talk to you as to a friend
I hope that's what you've come to be
It feels as though we've made amends
Like we found a way eventually
But as Brooke locked her wrists awkwardly behind Lucas' neck, her theory went right out the window. Lucas' strong hands settled comfortably on her waist and after a moment of staring at the floor, she dared to look into his eyes.
It was you who picked the pieces up
When I was a broken soul
And then glued me back together
Returned to me what others stole
As Lucas and Brooke stared into one another's eyes, she practically forgot to breathe. She wished her eyes could communicate the one thought that seemed to be running a marathon through her mind, 'I'm longing to be lost in you.' Lucas opened his mouth to speak but he seemed to have trouble conveying his thoughts into words. But Brooke just nodded, she had a feeling that she knew what he wanted to say.
I don't wanna hurt you
I don't wanna make you sway
Like I know I've done before
I will not do it anymore
I've always been a dreamer
I've had my head among the clouds
Now that I'm coming down
Won't you be my solid ground?
Brooke wished she could just close her eyes and dance to the music, but his piercing gaze had an effect on her that she couldn't even begin to describe. She knew was powerless when it came to Lucas and that was a difficult situation because unless he broke up with Peyton, she couldn't have him.
The music ended and the beginning notes of Donna Summer's 'Last Dance' began to play. Brooke took it as a cue and pulled away from him.
"Thanks for the dance," she said, giving him a quick peck on the cheek before walking out of the ballroom.
She barely made it to her car before the tears began to fall.
Tears of regret.
Tears of pain for seeing them so happy together.
And tears for being alone.
She wasn't sure when it started to rain but it did. And even though she generally hated rain, she didn't mind it right now. Because it currently felt like the end of the world.
End Chapter One