Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill or Gilmore Girls
Note: Okay, so I've had this idea in my head for a while and I've been trying to push it away but I can't! So I have to get it out! Maybe I'm the only one who will like it, who knows…give it a shot then tell me what you think!
Warning: For the record, I love Lucas and Brooke, so the only way that I could bring myself to make another pairing was well…just make sure you have tissues!
Pairing: Brooke (One Tree Hill) and Jess (Gilmore Girls).
P.S. Yeah, I know, it's going to be tough making this work.
If I Ask You Again
"P.Sawyer, since when do you take longer than me to get ready?" Brooke let out an impatient sigh as she flipped through Peyton's CD's, not even bothering to read the names.
Peyton glanced at her through the mirror, "Well, since Jake came back."
Brooke rolled her eyes, "You could look like you just got hit by a car, and that boy would still be head over heals for you. Let's gooo!"
Peyton laughed as she grabbed her purse. Brooke was right of course, but she was still scared that she loved him more than he loved her. She looked down at the ring on her finger, reminding herself that he wasn't going anywhere. It wasn't an engagement ring, more like a promise ring- a promise that he would never leave her again.
Peyton looked over at Brooke, she finally looked happy. It had taken her a long time to smile again after the accident. Sure, she was still breaking down daily, but it was better than thirty times a day. Peyton turned her eyes back on the road, willing the tears that always came to stop. As much as it hurt her, she knew that Brooke hurt a thousand times worse.
Brooke knew what Peyton was thinking about as they turned into the parking lot. She could always tell when some one was thinking of him because when they were, they would never look at her.
Peyton pulled her keys out of the car, "Ready?" Brooke felt herself slipping into that darkness again as she watched a couple walk into the café holding hands. Biting her lip she tried to pull herself out. "Um, just give me one sec."
Peyton nodded, knowing that in a few minutes Brooke would come in, her make up redone and her cheeks fresh from tears.
It had been a regular day. First school, then to Karen's, then to the gym for another night of basketball. Brooke remembered everything about that day.
"Hey pretty girl.." Lucas smiled as Brooke entered the café.
"Hey yourself." Brooke smiled back, lacing her fingers through his.
"Ready for the game tonight?" Lucas nodded as he took a sip from his coffee.
"Yeah, it's going to be tough though. I should actually be practicing right now…" Brooke proceeded to make her pouting face and tightened her grip on Lucas's hand.
"No way! I have dibbs on you until the game starts!"
Lucas laughed, "Am I your property now?" Brooke stood and pulled Lucas to his feet. "That's right boy toy, now let's go rent movies for tonight!"
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"Brooke, we are not renting this again!" Lucas places The Notebook back on the shelf. They had probably rented that movie 20 times- in the past week.
"Broody!" Brooke frowned as she scanned the racks again.
"Titanic!" Brooke smiled, grabbing the case.
Lucas shrugged, at least it had some action in it.
"Will we have enough time to watch it before the game?" It had become a ritual with them, watching a movie before the game to get both of their minds off school for a while. Nathan and Haley always made fun of them, calling them "grandma and grandpa."
Brooke smirked, "Yeah, if we fast-forward through all the action scenes."
Lucas shook his head, he should have known.
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"That.Was.So.Sad." Brooke wiped her eyes with a tissue. She had seen it before, but not in a while.
Lucas sat silently watching the credits. There was a weird expression on his face, one that she had never seen before.
"Broody, don't worry, Rose and Leo were together in he end!" She lightly punched him on the shoulder.
"You wouldn't wait for me would you?" Lucas finally turned his gaze to Brooke.
"After the game? What are you talking about?"
"If I died, I wouldn't want you to wait for me Brooke." For a second Brooke wanted to smile, thinking that Lucas was just trying to freak her out because she made him watch the movie. When he didn't laugh though, she grabbed his hand.
"Lucas, you are freaking me out."
"If something happened to me, I would want you to move on. That's all I'm saying." Brooke didn't know what to think about this.
"Is something wrong?" A flash of pain flew across his face, too quickly for Brooke to decide if it was really there.
"No, I'm fine. I just wanted to tell you that." Before she could say anything else, he quickly kissed the top of her head and stood up.
"I have to go warm up. I'll see you at the game…I love you." He smiled, erasing his earlier expression.
Brooke nodded and smiled, telling herself that Lucas was just in a weird mood. "I love you too."
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"And the Ravens need to make one more shot to win the game with 10 seconds lef!" Mouth shouted the obvious over the roaring crowd.
Brooke could feel the adreneline pumping through her has Nathan threw Lucas the ball. This could make or break her night. If Lucas made it, well it would be a good night for both of them, but if he missed, she would be going home alone.
Brooke watched as he made his way down the court, everyone was screaming and jumping around her. Peyton and Haley were on either side of her. Everything was the same as any other game. But then-
Suddenly Lucas' face changed. He paused, letting the ball roll down the court. The crowd was yelling at him, "Lucas! Get the ball! Nathan! Skills!" No one was running out to him. But Brooke, she knew something was wrong.
Her world suddenly shifted into slow motion. Dropping her pom poms she ran onto the court, ignoring the cries of Peyton, the crowd, Whitey. Finally, after what seemed like forever, she reached him. He reached out a hand and placed it on her arm for balance.
She remembered that his grip was numbingly tight.
"Lucas! What's wrong?" Lucas looked at her, his eyes filled with pain and something else that Brooke couldn't decide. The tears began to fall as finally Whitey made his way over to their side.
"Lucas, son, what's the matter. Tell me what is hurting you." Lucas' face turned to Whitey.
"I…HCM…"He couldn't say anymore, and he didn't need to. Whitey's face turned pale as the realization hit him.
"We need an ambulance!" His voice boomed through the crowd, but Brooke was no longer hearing anything. Her last conversation with him was flashing through her head, "If something happened to me, I would want you to move on."
She pulled Lucas to her and slowly sat them on the ground. She could her Nathan, Haley, Peyton, Jake, even Rachel calling her and his name, but she never looked up.
"Lucas," She tried to keep her voice strong, but it came out in a tone that she had never heard before, "Don't let go okay? I need you to stay with me. You are going to be fine. I love you-"Her voice cracked as she felt him squeeze her hand lightly, "I love you too much for you to leave me."
Finally, he looked at her. Looking back, she had no idea what gave him the strength to speak.
"Brooke, you said that you wouldn't wait for me…I need you to promise me now." His voice was weak, but it was lined with a seriousness that broke Brooke's heart into a million pieces.
"Lucas, I…"
"Promise Brooke."
"I promise." She whispered, the ambulance had arrived now and she could see the paramedics running towards them.
"I love you Brooke."
"I love you Lucas."
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Brooke pulled open her compact and began wiping away the smeared mascara. This routine wasn't anything new to her. A year. A full year had passed since Lucas' death, and yet, Brooke still felt as empty as she did that night.
Opening the car door, she breathed in the cool, spring air. Walking towards TRIC, Brooke smiled at the thought of seeing Nathan and Haley. They went away to Duke together and came to Tree Hill about once a month. Brooke, Peyton, and Jake had all stayed in Tree Hill. Jake stayed for Peyton. Peyton stayed for TRIC and the new art department that opened up at the local school, and Brooke stayed…Well Brooke stayed because she didn't have anywhere else to go. Sure, she had been excepted by NYU, very impressive with her grade. Peyton had helped Brooke make a potfolio of all her clothes and designs which apparently impressed the school. However, when the letter of acceptance came, Brooke pulled back. She just couldn't leave.
The club was loud and packed, just the way it had been for the past few months. TRIC had really turned into the place to be. Brooke scanned the crowds for a familiar face.
"Brooke! It's great to see you here!" Rachel smiled at her from a seat at the bar. Ever since…well they had become friends recently and Brooke actually enjoyed her act-now think-later way of thinking. It was refreshing.
"Hey Rachel, any cute boys tonight?" Brooke and Rachel always had the same conversation. Brooke would ask her about the nights prospects, Rachel would pick one for each of them, and Brooke would thank her, pretend to walk towards the guy before beelining it to the DJ room.
Yes, she had promised Lucas, but it was just too soon.
"Well, I have my eye on that blond over there, and for you…him." Brooke turned to see who she was pointing at. He had short black hair and was about her height. His eyes were scanning the room in boredom- he seemed to be alone. Brooke couldn't help thinking that he looked like a young Rocky. She also couldn't help her reaction when he looked at her. Instead of looking away quickly, a habit she had picked up to prevent guys from talking to her, she stared straight into his eyes.
They stayed like that for about thirty seconds before he looked away.
"Nice Brooke! You don't even have to talk to him to get him hooked!"
Brooke nodded. She had a weird feeling building up in her. But before she could process it more,
"Brooke!" A pair of arms wrapped around her before she could blink.
"Haley! I've missed you!" Brooke returned the strong hug. She really did miss Haley. They had become really close friends the summer of senior year.
"Hey Nathan!" Brooke reached over and hugged Nathan who had been standing behind Haley.
"Hey Brooke…How's everything going?" Brooke smiled, she could hear the caution in his voice. She was so lucky to have friends like this. Even though she knew they hurt too, they always took care of her.
"Everything is fine…Have you seen Peyton?" Brooke had yet to spot the blond herself.
"No, we are going to go look for her. Want to follow?" Haley grabbed Brooke's hand to pull her along.
"Sure." Brooke let the smile grow. It was nice to have someone to hang onto.
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"I'm going to get some air." Brooke had been sitting in the crowded both for thirty minutes and needed an intermission. A lot of things had changed in the past year, and her love of parties was one of them. Sure, she still liked to go out, but she couldn't last all night like she used to.
Walking out into the night air, she sat down on the fire escape only to find she wasn't alone. Sitting a couple steps down was Rocky junior.
"Um, hey." Brooke didn't know why she felt the need to talk.
"Hey." His voice was just like she imagined it to be.
"I'm Brooke."
"Jess."
"Why aren't you in there?" Brooke pointed behind her, not really even caring about the answer.
"Why aren't you?" His response was quick, surprising her.
"Just needed some air." He looked at her when she said this, as if he didn't believe her.
"A girl who likes like you, wearing jeans and an old sweatshirt, is not just out here because she needs air." He said it like he was 100 sure he was right.
Brooke looked down at her sweatshirt. When Karen asked her if she wanted anything of his to keep, this was the only thing that came to mind. She barley ever took it off.
"A girl like me?"
"Yeah."
"What is that supposed to mean?" She was getting a little aggravated with his short responses.
"It means," he said, turning his body to face her, "if I ask you again, will you tell me what's really wrong?"
Looking at him, Brooke didn't know how or why, she just knew that yes, if he asked her again, she would tell him.
A/N So? Any thoughts? I just needed to get this out of my system. Let me know!
