A/N: Okay here it is! The 2nd chapter! But there are a few things I need to point out before I get to the chapter. Everything from Season 1 to early Season 4 has happened EXCEPT:
1. Nathan and Haley's second wedding and the limo accident afterwards. Oh and their annulment in season 1 did go through, they just live together.
2. Peyton kissing and telling Lucas she loved him during the school shooting.
3. Peyton telling Brooke she was in love with Lucas and Brooke breaking up with Lucas.
4. Nathan borrowing money from Daunte and Haley getting run over by Daunte.
5. Anything to do with Psycho Derek and Peyton. Meaning, they never even met!
6. Lucas never wrote his novel.
Okay sorry about that! Just needed to clear those things up! Anyways, thanks to everyone that reviewed the intro! That's what keeps me going so keep those reviews coming! And special thanks to Morgan! You have no idea how much you helped me with this chapter!!!! It's now going to start when they're back in high school.
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Everyone had just left the cemetery. Everyone except Lucas and Brooke. Lucas just stood still, staring at Keith's fresh grave. He still couldn't comprehend how this happened. How could his childhood friend shoot his uncle? The uncle that meant so much to them as kids. He didn't know how to act, what to say, how to feel. All he knew was that Keith was gone and it was all his fault.
"Luke, we need to go. Your mom is expecting you to be at the house by now," Brooke said quietly as she grabbed his hand, trying not to notice when he flinched at her touch. She knew this was hard on him. It was hard on everyone.
"No, you go on. I can't leave him," Luke mumbled as Brooke looked up at him to see fresh tears rolling down his cheeks. "Lucas, you can't just stay out here. Come on, I'll drive you home."
"Just go Brooke! Leave me alone!" Lucas shouted as she jumped back and let go of his hand. "Hey, I know it hurts, but you can't shut everyone out. You need to talk to me!" Brooke pleaded as he finally lifted his head to look at her. When she met his gaze, she didn't see the eyes of the man she loved. Instead, she saw the cold, distant eyes of someone that just went through a terrible tragedy.
Lucas held Brooke's gaze for a few seconds before looking down at the grave again, whispering, "Leave me alone." Brooke didn't even bother trying to say anything. She just turned around and walked out of the cemetery.
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At Karen's house
Brooke pulled up to the curb outside of the house and let herself cry for a few seconds before wiping her eyes and walking in the house. As soon as she walked in the front door, she was face to face with Peyton, Nathan, and Haley.
"Hey you, how's the leg?" Brooke quietly asked Peyton as she saw her standing with the help of crutches. "Oh, it'll be okay! How's the boy?" Peyton asked back. Brooke looked at the three of them for a moment with a sad smile before she answered, "I wish I could say the same. But he's far from okay.
"I just don't know what to do anymore. He won't talk to anyone, he won't eat. He wouldn't even leave the cemetery. He yelled at me to leave him there! He's closing everyone out and it's not good for him!" Brooke cried.
"Brooke, it's gonna be okay!" Haley assured her as she gave her a quick hug," This is just how Lucas is. I know him and he's gonna…."
"Wait that's perfect! Haley, you're his best friend! You know him! If anyone can get through to him, it's you!" Brooke interrupted. "I don't know Brooke. Lucas tends to like to keep things bottled up," Peyton pointed out. "No, Haley, you have to! Please? No one else can get through to him! Can't you just try?" Brooke begged with her pouty look.
"Fine! But I'm taking your car! Gimme your keys!" Haley mumbled with a small smile as Brooke handed over her car keys. She gave Nathan and quick kiss before heading over to the cemetery. One look could tell Haley that Lucas had already left, but she knew he didn't go home. There was only one other place she knew to look for him.
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"I thought I'd find you here," Haley called out as she stepped onto the roof of the café. Lucas was just standing by the edge with a piece of paper in his hands. He didn't even bother turning around, just waited until she was next to him to hand her the paper he had.
"Here, I'm taking my predictions back. Not gonna come true now anyway, not without Keith." "Luke…" Haley started before he interrupted her. "My mom thinks that this was my fault!" "She would not say that!" Haley exclaimed with a shocked look on her face.
"Yeah, she pretty much did! I shouldn't have gone back into that school," Lucas whispered. "She's wrong! Luke, Keith would have gone into that school whether you were in there or not, because that is who he was. This is not your fault!" she said as she wiped away one of his tears before continuing," You did what he did Luke! You went back in there to save a life; otherwise we might have been at Peyton's funeral!
"He loved you a lot Luke, just like we do. And so does Brooke. You think none of your predictions are gonna come true? Look at the first one on your list. 'This year, I'll try again with Brooke.'"
"It doesn't even matter anymore Hales! Without Keith, nothing matters! Besides, I don't even know what to say to Brooke. She just looks at me with pity in her eyes and I really don't want that!" Lucas said as Haley stood up to put their box of predictions back in the wall. She walked back over to him and pulled him into a hug.
"She doesn't look at me the way you do. No one does," he whispered in her ear. Haley leaned back and gave him a questioning look right before he pressed his lips to hers.
"Lucas," Haley whispered," You shouldn't have done that." "I wanted to," he whispered back. She looked at him for a second before throwing her arms back around his neck and crashing her lips against his.
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Back at Karen's
"So everyone has gone home and all the dishes are done and Karen is now resting in bed. What do you say we go grab some food Brookie?" Nathan asked her as he dried his hands on a dish towel. The two of them had acted as the hosts for the wake since Karen was inconsolable and Lucas was MIA.
"I dunno Nate. I think I should wait for Luke to get home," Brooke answered. "Brooke, he's with Haley. He'll be okay. Come on, let's go eat. And don't think I didn't notice you not eat all day!" Nathan laughed as they walked outside to his car and headed for the pizza joint in town.
Two Hours Later:
"Who would have though Brooke David was this good at pinball?" Nathan laughed as she won the fifth game in a row. "One of my many secrets!" she said with a grin. They had been at the pizza place for a while now, and thanks to Brooke's flirting and charm, talked the guy at the counter into serving them beer even though they are underage. Now, after two meat lover's pizza, five games of pinball, three games of air hockey, and eight beers each, they were both on their way to being very drunk.
"Oh, you mean like your secrets of how you got so good at air hockey too! Or maybe how you can eat more pizza than me and still look that good?" Nathan asked with his famous smirk on his face. "At least someone thinks I look good," Brooke muttered as she sauntered back to their table to refill her beer from the pitcher.
Nathan couldn't help but watch Brooke as she walked, wondering what that comment was supposed to mean. He also couldn't help but notice how good Brooke really did look. She was still in her dress she wore to the funeral, but had ditched her black heels she was wearing, now walking around in plain black flip flops, her hair was up in a messy bun, and all of her makeup was nearly gone due to crying.
But Nathan could swear he had never seen anyone look more beautiful than she did at that very moment. Of course, he couldn't' admit that to anyone. He was with Haley. And Brooke was with his brother. End of story right?
Maybe not….
A/N: Okay there it is! What do you think? Like it? Hate it? Review and let me know! Oh and I forgot to say this earlier….I don't own OTH or their characters!!!!
