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

On the other end is Brooke Davis, the girl who's currently more vulnerable and yet to some people more beautiful than ever before. She was just sitting on her couch but has risen up to pace around the empty living room floor--that is until she dropped to the hardwood upon hearing none other that Lucas Scott…propose to her.

"Brooke, are you there?" rubbing his freshly-shaven head.

Perplexed, Brooke picks up her phone from the ground, unsure of what to say.

"Brooke, let's just get away from everything."

"Lucas…" her voice trails off into a light whisper of a question. There must be a reason she doesn't immediately decline, but at the same time, she can't accept. Lucas Scott proposing to her?? Oh, what's going on with today?

"Brooke, at least come to Las Vegas with me. It will help get your mind off Angie and everything."

"I want to, Luke. But you do realize you just asked if I wanted to get married tonight."

Lucas, one who had just sounded so serious, couldn't help but let out a brief chuckle. "Come on, Brooke. Get your firm butt over here. No marriage, just a few days of fun. You know you want to. Please, Pretty Girl, for me."

Short pause. "Fine but only because you asked so nicely. You better treat me as a goddess." Damn it. She could never resist him, despite how their relationship is strictly friendly. Really, they're just friends. That's all that was intended. That's it. Sternly platonic.

"Deal. Anything for you." Wow, is he flirting with Brooke Davis? And is she flirting back? He's a bit shocked that she agreed to this. Sure, Brooke would do anything for her friends, even spontaneously jumping onto the next plane to Sin City with him, but he's still a bit shocked by the new, tamer Brooke agreeing to his brash plea.

Oh, crap. There's still the broken-hearted Peyton. Crap! "Hey, Luke. I don't think I can go."

His heart drops. No, she can't take her words back! She agreed. On some level, he knows he really just wants her presence right now, especially after his last two girlfriends confessed their love for him and her supposed best friend pressuring him to pick someone. Yet all he wants is a friend, like Brooke, with him. "What? Come on, Brooke," he whined.

"No, what about Peyton?"
"No, not Peyton. Come here, and I'll tell you all about it. Don't worry."

Her phone buzzes. "Hold on, Luke. I got another call in." She puts him on hold and answers…speak of the Devil, Peyton's call.

"Hey, Brooke. I'm rushing over to meet up with Mia right now. I'll be gone for a week or so."

"What's going on?" asked the concerned friend.

"Mia said something about someone she met at one of her concerts, and he knows Ellie. He's there right now, so I gotta get there. Take care, and give Angie a kiss for me, okay?"

"Peyton, Angie's gone."
"Oh, no! Brooke--"

"Don't worry. I think I'm okay right now." Maybe since her rock, her Lucas is there, waiting to fill the void. As a friend, just as a friend.

"Brooke, I really wish I could be there for you right now, but you know that…well, he…"

"He could be gone if you don't meet him now," not too sure if she's talking her friend or herself. "I understand, so I hope you understand, Peyt. Lucas invited me to go on a trip with him to Vegas…I think we're both at a bump in our life with the Lindsey ordeal and all that."

"Oh, Brooke, go. I'll call you tomorrow." Peyton probably should care or be more concerned about Lucas and Brooke in Vegas, but she does care for her best friend and Luke. Surprisingly empathetic of their situation and highly concerned about this mystery guy, she steps on the gas pedal for a city on the outskirts in Georgia. Had this been a different moment, she might have gone apeshit over this.

"Lucas, I'm on my way."

They both smiled to their phones, trying hard to suppress their grins.

--

While waiting for Brooke's arrival, he walks to the gift shop. He notices flowers at full bloom. The summer between junior and senior year--he confessed his immense feelings for her, with all her luggage to California in the cab, and even kissed her. He can't help but let out a smile. He should have hid all her luggage and even her ticket. That way, she would have stayed in Tree Hill a bit longer. But then again, those raw 82 letters of hers may never have existed. Maybe things do happen for a reason. This sparks another Brooke memory. People that are meant to be together always find their way in the end.

The flowers at the gift shop were beautiful, prettier than the bouquet he brought his mom and fresher than the ones he picked from his garden to give to Brooke later that one day. Just to rekindle previous memories, he hand-picked a dozen lilies, three sunflowers, and one flaming red rose, which the salesperson wrapped superbly.

Lucas walked around the airport. Then, he feels a soft hand on his boney shoulders. With all those days and nights in the bar, he hasn't been at a gym or a basketball court in a while--except tonight, but Peyton's scribbles were a whole other story. "Hi, Brooke. You ready?"

"For marriage," she says with a smile. Her two deep dimples abounded her face, and he returned with his set, open-mouthed and all.

Those two. Despite all the heartaches, they still joked. He could always find a friend in her and vice versa.

"Your flowers, my fiancé."

She shoots back a stare before gladly taking them.

Lucas takes Brooke's suitcase for her. Always a gentleman. Hand-in-hand, the edgy-looking Lucas and the simple-seeming Brooke walk toward the corridor.

"Nice head, Luke," she nudged.

"Yeah, you should have seen it earlier today. I sported a Mohawk."

"Is that why Jamie's hair is like that today? Way to be an influence."

"You're one to speak. 'What's underneath all the clothes, Brooke Davis?' He runs around saying this, you know that?"

"Oh, God."

--

Just a few hours ago, Brooke was dreading the airport. And sure enough, Lucas picked up her pieces. Now here they were, picking up each other's remains at 10 PM, in the same attire, anticipating the endless alcoholic beverages and wild nights across the country.

She hands him her paper barf bag. Upon his glare, she teases, "What? I know your plane troubles."

Turning a light shade of pink because he really does get nauseous on the plane, he takes the bag. "But I got this," and takes out the purple monkey she gave him earlier today.

"Aww," and she pats his buzzed-cut hair. "I really love your hair. I like this look on you."

"I feel kind of bald though."

"Better than being hairy and oily like that guy," referring to a passenger on the other side of the aisle from them. "You had this haircut before."
"After I came back from Charleston, in the middle of junior year."

That was a good time for the both of them. Realizing his mistakes with the two girls, Lucas worked hard to mend his friendship with them. Along the way, he strengthened a permanent bond between him and the delight sitting beside him. And while their friendship strengthened, he fell hard for her. But right now, he couldn't help but feel nostalgic. Him and Brooke are still great friends, but life was so much simpler back then.

--