What Is A Birthday Anyway?

Author- Emily-Grace Mendes (Brookebynature)

Disclaimer- I own none of the following characters, so please don't sue me.

Summary- It's Brooke's birthday and where is everyone? She sure as hell doesn't know, but there is someone that cares. Someone who'll give up a great oppertunity to make her feel loved. Part 1 of a short(ish) story

A/N- So I know I should be focusing on my current story (Life is what you make it) but i couldn't resist writing this since I've just had a similar experience last weekend. I've got some more ideas for one shots about these two, I just can't help myself!

I loved writing this, so I hope you enjoy it too. Please leave me a review at the end :)

Chapter 1-Wishing and Remembering

She hadn't expected her parents to come home. Not really. She'd hoped they would, asked God if maybe he could let her enjoy a birthday with her family. But she'd been asking that for years, so why would this year be any different?

She didn't even have Lucas. He was away at some basketball day-school in Charlotte but he was coming home later that night. He'd told her that it was on her birthday, and that he would stay in Tree Hill and they'd all hang out. But then Nathan got a letter to say that he should attend the school too, so Brooke had decided that it wouldn't be worth it anyway. Besides, she wasn't going to let her selfishness stop Lucas from doing something he needed, wanted to do.

Lately they'd become so much closer-not to the point of where they were a couple, but close enough so that they would hang out usually every night, stay over at each other's houses sometimes on weekends, and even pretend to be together when they went out partying and someone they didn't like was hitting on them. They both were ready for more-hell, they'd been ready for ages. Neither wanted to make the first move, and if they were honest, they were scared that they would spoil what they had now. And what did they have?

They had something that they treasured more than anything, something real, something that a lot of people envied. They had security in each other.

"You ready Cheery"
"Just gotta………Damn it! Remind me not to let Haley borrow my shoes again"
"Everything o.k?" Lucas laughed, walking towards Brooke's closet.
"No" Brooke whined . "Haley totally stretched my Jimmy Choos and now they're falling off my feet"
"Just wear another pair then"
"Lucas, I can't just 'wear another pair' These totally complimented my shirt"
"Brooke your shirt looks fine"
"Fine? Well jeez thanks Luke. You look fine too"
"Wrong thing to say?" he laughed "You have no idea about how to compliment a girl"

Lucas pulled her in to him, wrapping his arms around her.
"You look beautiful" he whispered. She pulled away and studied his face to see if he was being sarcastic. "Thanks Luke" she replied, kissing him softly on the cheek.
"So, to the restaurant"
"Hell yeah, I'm starving" she laughed, playfully swatting him away.

This morning Brooke had opened her cards, scrutinising the writing on the envelopes in the hope that there would be something from her parents. Nothing. She had no idea why she felt that it was important that she had to have a card from them. They barely acknowledged the fact that she existed, so a birthday wasn't going to be any more special than any other day in the year. It wasn't like other people weren't in her situation. Peyton didn't even have a Mom any more, she'd dies when they were young and barely understood what was going on. Her dad was always working away, and even when he came home, it wouldn't be for long. Then there was Lucas, who hadn't even known his dad for the first 16 years of his life. Keith had left after the wedding, and nobody had seen him since.

So why was it that she was making such a big deal of things? Brooke let a few tears fall, but then stopped herself, angry for the mess that she was in.

"Your anniversary?" the waitress asked after she had taken Brooke and Lucas's order. Brooke shook her head, but smiled. Lucas squeezed her leg with the hand that was resting there. Brooke smiled wider and placed her hand on top of his as the waitress recited the order to them before going to get their drinks.

"We must look like a pretty good couple Broody" Brooke said sexily, giving Lucas a wink.
"Just pretty good"
"O.k, we must look like a really hot couple"
"Yeah and just think, we'd look even better if you'd worn the good shoes" Lucas laughed.
"Lucas Eugene Scott! You can not insult a woman like that, especially over dinner!" Brooke said as she smacked his hand away from her knee, shooting him a playful glare.

The food arrived and Brooke carefully watched the waitress place Lucas's plate in front of him, checking to see if there was anything she wanted. The waitress turned around after putting Brooke's plate down, and Brooke quickly stuck her fork into his fries, getting as many as she could on the end.

"Hey!" Lucas replied indignantly, glaring at Brooke, who gave him an innocent look.
"What"
"That" Lucas replied, pointing to the pile of fries on her plate. Brooke shrugged simply, but gave him a wide smile, displaying her dimples. Seeing her smile, Lucas could find no more mock insults, and settled on returning the smile, placing his hand gently back on her knee.

The phone rung, sending Brooke back into the present.
"Hello"
"Happy Birthday Cheery"
"Hey Lucas" Brooke replied somewhat sadly "Uh oh, Cheery doesn't sound so cheery"
"I'm fine" "You get a card off your parents yet"
"Yeah, it came this morning" Brooke lied, feeling herself go red at the thought of not telling Lucas the truth. Lately, they'd been so open and honest with each other that even a small lie to cover up how she was feeling felt wrong.
"See? I told you they wouldn't forget" Lucas said "You're always right" Brooke replied, forcing back tears.
"O.k, well sorry I can't talk for longer, but I've gotta go" Lucas said, closing his eyes, knowing full well that Brooke was lying to him. He thought they were past that, that they didn't have secrets from each other any more. Although he knew that was hypocritical of him. He was keeping one of the biggest secrets from Brooke, and it was killing him not telling her that he still loved her, but he knew it would hurt her even more if she wasn't ready, or if she didn't feel the same way.
"O.k" Brooke whispered, her salty tears now silently falling from her hazel eyes. "I'll talk to you later"
"Bye Cheery" Lucas said in his most convincing voice.
"Bye Lucas" she whispered as she put the phone down, the tears showing no sign of stopping.

You like? I'll continue if you do...