S/N: Lucas is a basketball star, but he wants to be a writer but is struggling with it. And just so everyone knows, Haley/Nathan and Brooke/Lucas all live in California. Rachel is currently living with Brooke, trying to overcome her drug addiction. Sorry, there was no Brucas in this chapter! There will be for sure in the next!

Italics= Flashbacks

Thanks to all those who review!!!

~*~

The sound of a phone vibrating woke Brooke, as she struggled to ignore the irritating drone of the phone. A pounding pain in her head furthered her annoyance.

What time was it?

Where was Haley?

Where was she?

"Mmmhhhmmm.." Brooke grumbled into the pillow, turning over on her side. She forced one eye open, then the other, her hazy surroundings quickly becoming lucent.

"I am so going to hell." She whispered, as she observed the sleeping form next to her. Travis. He moved slightly, while his bottom lip trembled as a tiny snore departed from his lips. His blonde hair was messed up in a sexy, I-just-had-wild-sex sort of way. Normally, she would have considered it a turn on. But, not when she was the one who he had done the deed with.

She was married for God's sake. Well, at least by law. And not for much longer, if she had anything to say about it. Still, a stab of guilt seemed to constantly plague her as she slipped out of the tangle of sheets, and retrieved her scattered clothing.

Dior dress. Check.

Her Vintage Dior clutch. Check.

Patrick Cox stilettos. Check.

Her limited edition La Perla bra. M.I.A.

This was not good. Pushing aside the blaring voices in her head, telling her to find the missing lingerie, she opted instead to clothe her naked body, and get the hell out of whatever hotel she was currently in. Slipping on her dress, she glanced warily at the stirring body wrapped in the twisted bed sheets. She silently urged him to fall back into his blissful slumber, pausing all movement to make sure he did just that.

How could this have happened? She recalled blurred parts of the evening. Spotting Travis for the first time, Haley leaving her in the bathroom to fend for herself, the numerous downed flutes of champagne, some sort of conversation with Lucas, finding Travis waiting for her beside the bar and assuring him she wasn't really married. And, the rest was history. History that was now doing more than just stirring.

Shit. Travis looked back at her, a blank look written in his brown eyes.

"Brooke?" He said in an even more confused tone. She wished he didn't look so appealing, or the fact the she did indeed want to rip the sheets off of him.

"Oh, hey… I was just going to get something to eat," She stammered, "Did you want anything?" She flashed him a cunning smile, hoping he wouldn't press the issue. It was a one night stand. The clean escape was part of the deal. Not the awkward goodbye.

"If I say no and let you leave, will you at least give me your number? Your real number, that is." Travis said simply. The way that he had basically just read her like a book was annoying the hell out of her.

"I'm sorry, but this can't happen again." She said softly, running a manicured hand through her lengthy mane of auburn hair. It hung wildly around her face, in the same manner as the man who stared back at her.

"Was I that bad?" He laughed, reaching down and in one fluid motion, slipping his discarded jeans back onto his lean frame.

"Trust me, that's not the problem. It's just, I'm m-." She stopped speaking, the impending word tasting like venom on her lips.

Married. Lucas had slept with Peyton when they were married. She had given herself to Travis, a guy she barely knew. When did it all stop losing meaning? Maybe legally she was bound to Lucas, but not in her heart.

"I'm just not into the whole dating scene." She clarified, pressing her lips together tightly. She looked away as he reached down, and encased his well defined chest with a homely black t-shirt.

"Who said anything about dating?" He shot back, walking over to the shaken brunette.

"Okay, you know what, fine. But, I meant what I said, this can't happen again." She rolled her eyes, ripping off a sheet from the pad of hotel paper perched on the desk beside her. Scribbling her cell phone number onto it, she handed it to him.

"That's what they all say." He grinned, and he managed to produce a grin on her face. He reached out to tuck a lock of fallen hair back behind her ears, but she was already leaving. A hushed goodbye was offered and she was gone, the faint presence of her signature Imperial Majesty perfume still lingering in the air.

~*~

"God, it was horrible. It just felt so much…like high school me." Brooke exclaimed, wrapping her hands tightly around the warm mug filled with freshly brewed coffee.

"Well, none of this is really that surprising if you ask me. A diamond ring does not change the slut that dwells within," Rachel Gatina mused, pouring herself a cup of steaming coffee before sitting down beside Brooke. "You know what they say, a leopard can't change his spots. It's the same thing, here. You can play the role of the devoted wife, but underneath your still Brooke Davis. Not Brooke Scott."

"That's still no excuse for cheating on your husband or wife, Rachel." She moaned, pressing the palm of her hand against her forehead.

"Whatever. It was revenge sex and you earned it. Lucas, on the other hand, has no excuse. Especially when you look at who he slept with," Rachel grinned, patting Brooke lightly on the back. "Well, look on the bright side. At least you don't have to go to group therapy for your drug addiction today."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I totally forgot," She cried, "How did things go last night?"

"I had to sit through an hour of a constant bitching, and was sandwiched between an overeater and an alcoholic. It wasn't pretty." She shrugged, her brown eyes glistening. Brooke smiled, noticing the common sparkle in her friend that had been hidden for so long.

"You'll get there, Rachel." Brooke said softly, reaching over and squeezing her friend's hand.

"You will too. We'll get there together." Rachel smiled, taking a sip from her mug. "You know you could come with me tonight. I'm sure they allow people with sex addictions to attend."

"Bitch." Brooke bit her lip, glad despite everything to have Rachel here with her. She didn't know how she could have handled coming back to her big, beautiful, empty home. The home she'd resided in with her husband, the home that she'd planned to grow old in. The home that constantly haunted her with memories.

"Whore."

"Slut."

"Brooke." Rachel replied, "I got you there."

~*~

"Shit!" Brooke griped, as she tried to drag her Louis Vuitton suitcases out of the taxi. She would have preferred taken her usual stretch limo, but she had arrived home a day early, and had given her chauffer, Paul, the night off. She had been in New York for a fashion show for the weekend, and had her plane had landed a mere hour ago.

"Here, let me help you ma'm." The taxi driver offered, stepping out of the car to assist her. Grabbing the bulking luggage out of the backseat, he placed it gently on the paved driveway.

"Thank you." She replied, a smile slipping onto her lips. She couldn't wait to burst through the doors of her entrancing home and into the arms of her husband. Mrs. Scott. It had been almost a year and a half since, Lucas had slid the simple diamond ring onto her fingers, and asked her to marry him. Be with him and only him, forever. Looking down at the inelaborate ring on her finger, a warm feeling crept into her face. She could still picture him looking up at her expectantly, the fear of being rejected barely hidden in his eyes. He hadn't had enough money at the time to buy her a nicer ring, but for her it had been enough. He'd always been enough. Which was why, she still wore the same ring, even though Lucas had offered time and time again to upgrade her wedding ring.


"Have a good night, ma'm." He tipped his hat towards her, stepping back into the cramped car.

"Wait! Here, take this." Brooke beamed, handing him a wad of money out of her purse.

"Thank you, that is very generous, ma'm." The man looked at her, a wiry smile on his face.

"And you have a good night, also." She waved back at him, pulling the suitcases behind her, as she strode towards the house. Opening the gates, she quickly walked past the stone fountain bordering the walkway, and the basketball hoop lining the driveway. She was so glad to be back. To be home.

Fumbling with the keys, she hurriedly unlocked the front door. She straightened her Stella McCartney white summer dress, and ran a quick hand through her long hair. Adjusting the thin yellow headband in her hair, she walked through the door suitcases in tow. The house was eerily quiet, and she was careful to be just as silent, as she crept up the stairs.

She left her suitcases in the hallway, deciding to deal with them in the morning. She just wanted to spend the remainder of the night in Lucas's arms. Grinning, she stood still as she heard shuffling noises from behind the closed bedroom door. Maybe, Lucas had heard her and was coming to welcome her home.

"Lucas?" Brooke whispered, as she opened the door, the smile etched on her face, quickly vanishing. The bedroom was dimly lit, but she could make out two things despite this.

Lucas and Peyton.

Peyton and Lucas.

Both of them together in her bed.

~*~

The doorbell sounded releasing Brooke from reliving her past. It had been a month since, the incident. Surely she should have moved past it to some degree, by now. Lifting herself off the couch, she pulled down her white tank top which had ridden up. She looked down at her black Juicy Couture yoga pants, and freshly showered body. Who would be here at this hour?

She swung the door open, a grin spreading across her face. "Well, well…if it isn't Mr. big basketball star standing on my doorstep. What's up?"

"Uh…Could I crash here tonight? I mean, would you mind? Haley and I…she…we had a fight." Nathan said sheepishly, shrugging uncomfortably in his gray hoodie.

"Does Haley know you're here?" She smirked, leaning against the door frame. She hated to admit it but, she was getting some twisted sort of pleasure from this. It gave her a sick sense of satisfaction to know she wasn't the only one in the world, with marital problems.

"Not really," Nathan admitted, "Okay, no." He added, reaching behind him to reveal his black suitcase. "She threw this at me, and told me to get out. I have nowhere else to go."

"Come in, Nate." Brooke said softly, taking the suitcase from his hands. He looked so dejected and torn, as he stepped through the door. His blue eyes were dull and distant, as he offered her a feeble smile. He reminded her so much of herself it scared her. He was always the strong one. The indestructible Scott.

"Are you hungry? I just ordered some Chinese." She told him, setting his suitcase down on the marble floor of her spotless kitchen. Her resplendent kitchen. The same kitchen she had spent hours decorating, with Lucas. The very kitchen that they had planned down to the vase of roses set on the counter. That was Brooke's life on the surface. Planned and perfect. Yet, underneath it was completely artificial.

~*~

"Lucas, stop!" Brooke giggled, retying the back of her white apron. It was splattered with mix from the box of brownies, she had been attempting to bake.

"What? You don't need this on to cook!" He complained, wrapping his sturdy arms around her tiny waist. "Or this…" He added, his finger playing with the strap of her green tank top.

"Okay, you need to leave. You are an unwanted distraction, Lucas Scott," Brooke whined, "I want to welcome the new neighbors into the neighborhood. It's what a good wife would do."

"And a good wife would not tease her husband by looking so damn sexy…and then, tell him to get lost." Lucas mumbled, nuzzling her neck as he pressed her against the counter.

"Lucas, I'm a mess…and the brownies will burn!" She cried, a dimpled grin on her face. She felt herself involuntarily tremble as his fingers grazed her collarbone, retreating down her chest. God, he had always had that effect on her.

"Actually, they already did…I just didn't have the heart to tell you." He smirked, "But, if it will get you out of those clothes..."

"I can't believe you! You let them burn!" Brooke shrieked, pushing him away from her. She bent down opening the oven, to retrieve the scorched deserts.

"No, that was all you." Lucas chuckled, his light blue eyes lighting up as he watched her. The look of pure dismal on her face was enough to remind him of the many reasons why he loved her.

"Well, it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't been distracting me! God, how do you ever expect us to make friends here?" Brooke fumed, setting the pan on top of the oven.

"For starters, I wouldn't give them those." He grimaced, as he looked down at the brownies, and slid his arms around her chest. She rolled her eyes, sighing loudly for emphasis, and untangled herself from his arms.

"You are not helping." She grit her teeth, grabbing the mixing bowl of remaining brownie mix. Scooping up a spoonful of the mix, she flung it at him, a wicked smile on her lips. "Oops…" She said innocently, as the mix landed in the middle of his thin white beater. She aimed the spoon at him again, this time hitting him on the side of his face.

"And you are a dead woman walking, Brooke Scott." Lucas spoke seriously, lunging at her before she could react. She dodged him, dropping the mixing bowl in the process. It landed with a clatter on the hard floor. He quickly scooped it up, turning around to retaliate against Brooke.

"Why are you running, baby?" He laughed, chasing the fleeting brunette through the spacious house. He cornered her in the dining room, her hazel eyes dancing like flames as she watched him.

"Lucas, put down the kitchen utensils!" She told him, as her neared her.

"Or what?"

"Don't test me." She growled, as he approached her, armed and ready.

"Then tell me, you love me."

"What?!"

"Just say it."

"Fine. I love you, Lucas Scott." She said sweetly, hoping it would be enough to make him cease fire.

"I love you too, Brooke Scott." He grinned, before grabbing a handful of mix and throwing it at her.

~*~

"Brooke?" Nathan's voice brought her back to reality. He looked down at her a concerned look on his face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, sorry. I'm just tired." Brooke smiled, "Do you mind, if I just go to bed? You can sleep in the guest room. Rachel, will be back later tonight, so I'd lock your door."

"Sure go ahead, and thanks for the heads up." Nathan laughed, grabbing his suitcase. "And Brooke?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry for what Lucas did to you."

"Me too." She gave him a half-smile, and turned around. "Goodnight, Nate."

"Goodnight, Brooke."

~*~

The tears fell from her eyes as they did most nights. She laid in her spacious bed, curled up under her comforter, alone. Just like every night since Lucas had been gone. She wondered if he was alone, if he ever pressed his eyes shut and pretended she was next to him. Learning to live without him was going to be a struggle. But, it would be a struggle she could win.

Rising from her bed, she reached under her bed and slid the box of letters out from under her bed. Opening the first one, she read the last few lines slowly to herself. Rereading each word over and over again.

I love you, Brooke Scott and I always will. Even, if you don't love me anymore.

I'm sorry,

Lucas Scott

He'd sent the letter a few weeks ago, and she remembered her heart unwillingly fluttering upon seeing his name on the envelope. This was her secret. No one had to know. Placing the letter back in the box, she sealed it tightly pushing it far under the bed.

It was over.

It was for the better.

Then why couldn't she just let it end?

~*~