Disclaimer – see chapter 2.

Chapter 4 – Forget About Tomorrow

As she approached the doorway to the bedroom she could hear the sounds of her friend furiously throwing stuff in a bag. She tread carefully, knowing how volatile Brooke Davis could be when she was angry.

Pausing in the doorway she watched on as Brooke flew around the room like a category five hurricane, trying with all her might to slow the tears that were spilling over her cheeks.

"Don't you dare come in here and try to talk me out of this."

"Brooke, it's me."

The brunette looked up in surprise. The voice she'd heard had not been the one she expected.

"Where is she?"

"She went for a walk. Said she couldn't handle watching you leave." Cassie sat down on the edge of the bed as Brooke went back to her packing.

"Yeah well, she should have thought about the before she made out with my boyfriend. Again!"

As though saying the words herself had actually made the situation all the more real, Brooke stopped what she was doing, covered her face with her hands and sank down onto the bed as painful sobs took over her body. Cassie's heart broke as she saw all the anger drain out of her friend, quickly being replaced by an unbearable agony.

Knowing that words would make no difference at that moment, Cassie simply shuffled closer to the broken girl beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, patiently waiting until Brooke was ready to speak.

"How could she do this? After last time, how could she kiss him again?"

"I know it's no excuse but I think the situation they were in played a big part in it. From what I heard, Peyton was bleeding badly. If I had to guess, I'd say she thought she was going to die and it was her way of saying goodbye."

Brooke lifted her tearful gaze to her friend's face. "You knew about this?"

Shit. Wrong thing to say.

"Kind of. But Brooke you have to understand I was in an awkward position. When Lucas told me, he didn't know I was coming home. He probably never thought for a second that we'd all end up being friends. Plus it really wasn't my place to tell you."

Brooke sighed, knowing Cassie was right. "I'm sorry Cass. None of this is your fault. It's just pretty crappy finding out that your best friend kissed your boyfriend…twice."

"Try walking in on your best friend and your boyfriend in bed together."

That got through. Brooke, having quickly resumed her packing frenzy, stopped in her tracks, obviously not expecting such a revelation from her boyfriend's sister.

"You're kidding."

"I wish."

"But when, how? Lucas never told me."

Cassie laughed at that. "That's cause I never told him. You saw how he reacted when that guy at Tric hit on me. Can you imagine what he'd do if he knew about this. Never told my dad either."

It was obvious that Brooke was glad that the focus had switched from her onto Cassie, so she continued.

"I was in my junior year at boarding school. I'd been dating this guy Jeremy for about a year. I swear I was so smitten. As always he knew what to say and do to make me believe he was a decent guy. And I guess I fell for it. Then the seniors threw this party in the dorms and since he was a senior himself, I was invited. I took my best friend Kimmy along with me. You know, moral support and all."

Cassie was surprised at how much it still hurt to talk about. But she figured if anyone could understand what she had gone through, it was Brooke. She also thought maybe her own perspective on the situation might help.

"About half way through the party, I noticed they'd both disappeared. I figured Kimmy had hooked up with one of the guys from the football team that she'd been flirting with all night and that Jeremy was probably passed out in his room. So I went to check. And at the risk of torturing a cliché, the rest as they say, is history."

"Jeez, that sucks. So, I mean, what happened? How did you manage to forgive them?"

"I didn't. It wasn't long after it happened that I decided to come home. So I just avoided them both until I left. Pretty difficult when you live at your school, trust me."

"Or when you live with your best friend." Brooke said sadly, glancing around the room that she had pretty much grown up in.

"Yeah I guess. The thing is Brooke, afterwards, I found out just how wrong I was to ever have thought of Kimmy as my best friend. When I finally confronted her about it, she wasn't even sorry that I'd caught them. She just said that it was about time I knew the truth and that I'd have to deal with it. She was a real bitch. But Peyton couldn't be sorrier for what happened. She hates the thought that she might lose you. As for Jeremy, he was a jerk. It turned out that he'd already cheated on me with half the cheerleading squad anyway. I know you feel betrayed. I get that, trust me. But if I know one thing it's that my brother loves you. He's crazy about you. He'd never intentionally do anything to risk losing you. I can say that much for sure."

"She's right."

Both girls spun around to face the person that had spoken from the doorway. Peyton stared back at them with tears in her eyes.

"I understand if you hate me for this Brooke, but please don't be mad at Lucas. I kissed him. He didn't kiss me. He loves you."

The fact that her so called best friend was standing in the doorway, telling her about her own boyfriend's feelings, was the last straw for Brooke. Without saying a word, she picked up the bag she had quickly packed and pushed past Peyton, leaving both girls staring after her.

………………………………………………………

He just couldn't get his head around it. It didn't matter how many times he looked over the papers, it just didn't seem real.

Why would Dan sign the auto shop back to him? Was this just another part of his new game? Or could he truly be trying to make amends?

Keith found it hard to believe that even Dan could honestly think that giving back the auto shop would even begin to make up for everything he'd done.

"Penny for them."

Jumping at the unexpected voice, Keith turned to face his daughter, who was smirking at him in amusement.

"Jeez Cass. You trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Depends, did you leave me the car in your will?"

"Very funny." He swatted her playfully with the papers.

"What's this?"

She snatched them from his grip before he could stop her. He hadn't made a decision as to whether or not to accept the offer yet. Part of him wanted to march back down to the hospital and rip the papers up in his brother's face. But try as he might he couldn't deny that he'd loved the auto shop. It wasn't just a job; it was a part of him.

"These are the ownership papers for your old shop. Dan signed them back to you?"

As ever, his little girl missed nothing.

"Yeah, it looks that way."

"Ok so why are you sitting around here staring at them like they're going to disappear any moment?"

Keith sighed, already sensing the lecture he was about to receive. "I haven't decided whether to accept it yet."

"What?! Why the hell wouldn't you?"

"Watch your language."

The reprimand came out almost automatically and Cassie found herself wondering if he even realised he was saying it anymore. It really was quite funny.

"I'm very sorry Daddy." Her sarcasm was clearly back full force. "So seriously, why wouldn't you accept?"

Snatching the papers in much the same way she had, Keith tried to explain his reluctance. "I don't trust him. He never just gives something away. There are always strings attached."

"Ok so have a lawyer look over the papers before you sign them. Make sure there are no strings. Then, once you've scrutinized every inch of the contract, which I know you will, sign the damn papers!"

He opened his mouth to utter another one of his automatic reprimands, but Cassie cut him off.

"Sorry, sign the papers" she corrected with a sly grin. "Look Dad the way I see it, Dan never should have gotten his hands on that shop on the first place. He swindled you out of it. So really, he's not so much giving you something, as returning something that belonged to you in the first place. He owes you this, and it looks like he knows it." Throughout her lecture she had hunted around the room in search of something, and her eyes finally locked on the very thing she was looking for. She picked up the phone and thrust it at her father. "Call a lawyer."

"When did you get so smart huh?" Keith yelled after her as she headed down the hall toward her room.

"It's a gift."

…………………………………………………..

"Nathan, what is going on? This thing is tickling." Haley complained, referring to the blindfold that had been securely fastened around her eyes.

"I told you, it's a surprise. It's almost ready, just give me a minute."

Her confusion increased when she heard a shuffling sound and what she assumed was a rather heavy object being pulled across the floor.

"Ok seriously, I'm two seconds away from pulling this blindfold off myself. What's taking so long? I wanna see…"

The kitchen table had been successfully moved back to where he'd put it a year ago, and everything was now in place. All that remained, was to reveal the surprise.

"Alright alright I'm coming."

Gently gripping his wife's shoulders from behind, he slowly guided her a few steps forward, positioning her directly in front of the new object.

"You ready?"

"Yes please!" she giggled excitedly.

He swiftly removed the blindfold from her eyes and she gasped in disbelief at the item before her. The brand new keyboard had been placed in the same position that her old one had been, allowing plenty of room for her to practice. Just as before, a bright red ribbon had been wrapped around the gift.

"Oh my gosh, Nathan!" Without any warning, she launched herself into his arms, very nearly toppling them both to the floor. "Oh I love it! Thank you. Thank you so much!"

Seeing his wife so happy never failed to make Nathan beam with pride. He loved being the one to make her smile the way she was at that moment.

"Yeah well, I kinda figured I owed you one since I…you know…threw the last one at the wall." He hung his head sheepishly but his smirk gave away the humor behind his words.

Comfortable in the knowledge that they were able to joke about the situation now, Haley was quick to retort. "Yeah well next time I run off on tour, remind me to take it with me."

"Oh you are so gonna pay for that one."

"Really?" She arched an eyebrow seductively, stepping backwards as he began to slowly advance on her.

"Oh yeah. Big time. You better run."

She didn't need to be told twice. Laughing riotously, she took off down the hallway, her husband in hot pursuit.

…………………………………………………………..

"Hi you've reached Brooke Davis, well not actually Brooke Davis since I obviously can't get to the phone right now, but whatever. So leave me a message and I'll get back to you when I can. Chow people!"

"Brooke…it's me… again. This is the, uh, eighth time I've called. I guess you're avoiding me and I understand but please you need to give me a chance to explain." It took Lucas a second to realise that he was starting to ramble. "Anyway, please call me back, or come over, anytime I don't mind….. I love you pretty girl."

He flipped the phone shut and would have quite happily hurled it across the room if it weren't for the fact that he was desperate to hear her voice. Falling back onto his bed, he sighed heavily and closed his eyes. How had this happened? They'd been so happy lately. After all that had happened over the last few months, starting with the school shooting, they'd become closer than ever. And now…

Lucas honestly didn't know how he could fix the situation. Sure to him the kiss had been nothing more than a moment of weakness brought on by the fear that Peyton was dying. And he was pretty sure it was the same for Peyton too. But still he knew that to Brooke it was so much more than that.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't hear the soft knock on his door, and jumped slightly when it opened, revealing his tired and teary girlfriend. If he could even still call her that. God he hoped so.

He was on his feet in a flash, but his heart sank when he reached out for her and she stepped away, looking at him with pain filled eyes. Part of him wished that she would just yell at him. Scream and shout and swear. Because the expression on her face as she stood before him, terrified him more than any amount of anger ever could. If it hadn't been for the fact that her eyes betrayed her, it would have been hard to tell whether Brooke Davis was feeling anything at all. She was broken. And knowing that he had caused it sliced through Lucas like a knife to the flesh.

"Brooke…I…" The look in her eyes was killing him, making it almost impossible to search for words that would put things right. "I'm sorry."

A nod. One simple nod was all he got in response. As though he had told her something as simple as the time. And when she spoke, her calm and steady tone caused uneasiness to bubble in the pit of his stomach.

"What are you sorry for Lucas?"

"For everything. I'm sorry that I kissed Peyton, I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, I'm sorry for the way you found out. But most of all, I'm sorry that I'm the reason that you're hurting right now. I'm so sorry Brooke."

"Five times."

His eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "What?"

"You said I'm sorry five times just now. Six if you count the one before that. I'm sorry is easy to say Lucas. If you're going to end up apologizing for something, it's usually better not to do it at all."

"I know that. God Brooke if there was anything I could do to take it back, trust me, I'd do it."

"Trust you. See that's the problem Lucas, since we got back together, I'm not sure that I've ever been able to let myself really trust you." Her words weren't intended to hurt him. They really weren't. But she could see that they had. "What does that say about our relationship?"

He was getting desperate now. It was becoming abundantly clear that she was drifting away from him, and he felt powerless to stop it.

"I love you Brooke."

"I know you do."

The tiny ray of hope that had come with that sentence was quickly dashed with the next.

"But there's someone else that you love too. And I don't have the energy to keep fighting to win this constant battle for first place. I'm sorry Luke. I can't do this anymore."

He wasn't even looking at her anymore. He was staring past her even as she spoke, unable to digest the meaning behind her words.

Before her emotions could take over, she quickly turned and opened the door.

"Brooke…" he called out but it was a moment too late as the door closed behind her. He sighed and spoke the words that he wished she could hear. "You've already won."

…………………………………………………………………..

"I am sooo going to win this time. In fact, not only am I going to win, I'm going to take you both to the cleaners. Mom may've gotten lucky last time but it won't happen again."

"I think somebody is still a little sore from losing." Karen teased her daughter as she set up the monopoly board game at the kitchen table.

"Not at all Mommy dearest. Just looking forward to my payback." She held the dice towards her mother. "To show that there are no hard feelings, I'll allow you to roll first" she joked.

Karen pulled up her chair in between Keith and Cassie as the money was handed out. Rolling the dice, she smirked when they both landed on the number six. "Well whaddya know. Sweetie since your closest would you mind moving my character twelve spaces please."

"Uh, hello? Should I leave the room while you two duel it out for alpha female?" Keith teased. "How do you know that I'm not gonna steal the game?"

He was sure he should have been insulted when his wife and daughter simply shared a look, before breaking out into giggles.

Cassie was about to take her turn when a very glum looking Lucas entered the kitchen. Without even uttering a word to the three people gathered around the table, he began aimlessly wandering the room, opening and closing every cupboard door, though clearly not really taking in what was inside.

"Is there a hide and seek game going on that we don't know about?" Keith was the first to dare speak, all three instantly sensing that something was wrong.

Though she had a feeling she knew what had caused her brother's bad mood, Cassie waited for him to confirm her fears. She didn't have to wait long.

"Brooke dumped me."

"And you're hoping to find a new girlfriend in the refrigerator?" Cassie's words were sarcastic, but her tone was soft and sympathetic. It was obvious to anyone that Lucas was heartbroken.

Taking the hint, he swung the refrigerator door shut, and flopped down at the table beside his father.

"You wanna talk about it?" Karen prodded carefully.

He sighed and shook his head, smiling gratefully at his family. "Not right now." In need of a distraction, he looked at the board set out before him. "It too late to join in?"

"You sure you wanna go up against these two?" Keith gestured to the females at the table.

"Tell you what…lets make it interesting. Parent's against kids, losers have to do anything the winners ask for the next week."

Cassie raised her eyebrow at the two adults in a silent challenge, while Lucas finally cracked a smile, knowing just how competitive his sister could be, and thankful that he was her teammate, rather than her opponent.

Karen scoffed at the teens. Kids could be so foolish. "I hope you like chores."

The game had barely begun before the family was rudely interrupted by a harsh rapping on the front door.

"Every damn time! I swear can anyone in this town ever have a peaceful moment without something getting in the way? Who wants to take bets on what kind of drama it's gonna be this time." Cassie complained as her father went to answer the door.

She never thought she'd come to regret her words.

The door swung open to reveal a middle aged man with a slightly balding head and moustache, wearing a brown tweed jacket and a solemn expression. Lucas recognized him as the detective who had been at the school the day of the shooting. He'd also been there when Dan was shot.

"Detective Reeves…what can I do for you?" A sinking feeling stirred in the pit of Keith's stomach and even as he asked the question he knew he didn't really want to know the answer.

"Mr & Mrs Scott, Lucas…. Cassie" he greeted each of them.

Why had he paused before saying her name? The way he had spoken, and the way his gaze seemed to keep hovering over her, bothered Cassie.

"I'm, uh, afraid I have some bad news."

Despite having worked in the police force for twenty five years, eighteen of which he had been a detective, the seasoned professional could not for the life of him figure out how he was going to break the news to the family. After everything they'd been through, surely they deserved a break. Sadly, it seemed that it simply wasn't meant to be.

"I received a call a while ago from Tree Hill Memorial Hospital…"

Ok, that did it. Cassie officially felt sick to the stomach. If he didn't spit whatever it was out within the next thirty seconds, she'd be seeing her dinner in reverse. Fortunately for her, he seemed to be as desperate to get it over with as she was.

"It seems that… well um, I'm not quite sure how yet, but it seems that Dan Scott has escaped police custody."

………………………………………………………..

A/N – Dun dun dun!!!! Lol. I know, I know it's a cliffhanger but I couldn't help it. It seemed like the right place to end the chapter and I didn't want to go too far over 3000 words. So shoot me! Actually scratch that, please don't!

So what do you guys think so far? Your comments, good or bad (but constructive) would me much appreciated. Do you like that the story is focusing more on all of the characters? Is there anyone or anything that you'd like to see more of? Let me know xx