Thank you for the reviews, I know some of you were disappointed about Lucas still writing The Comet about Peyton... Stay tuned, this chapter explains it further. PLus a slight change, I decided to change the Albert Camus quote I used last chapter, so it's been updated to note the change... The new quote is from Albert Camus's book The Plague.

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I've been thinking it over for years, while we loved each other we didn't need words to make ourselves understood. But people do not love forever. A time came when I should have found the words to keep her with me, only I could not.

Lucas smiled, "what does it mean Luke?" Haley asked.

"It's Albert Camus," Lucas paused with a smile, "and it means Brooke loves me."

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Chapter 4:

Brooke stared across the table at Julian who was studying his menu, his brow furrowed, "so I was thinking of making a research trip to Tree Hill in the next two weeks it would be really great if I had a native to show me around." Julian smiled.

Brooke took a deep breath, "I haven't been back to Tree Hill in almost ten years. Why can't Lucas help you?"

"Normally that would be a great option, but Lucas is going to be in New York for three weeks," Julian looked at his phone, "something to do with his latest book," Julian found what he was looking for, "an editors meeting. I guess the publishing house is shooting for a release next spring to piggy back off the free press of Ravens's release."

"I'm glad he's still writing," Brooke said without looking up from the menu, "I didn't read The Comet, is his next book also a novel?"

Julian smiled again, "I don't think anyone read The Comet, that's part of the problem. The publisher had Lucas signed for a three book deal. They want to get this new one out quickly to finish up his contract." Julian looked at his menu again, "he said they were excited with his latest drafts though, they're trying to market him as the next Nicholas Sparks."

"Well good for him," Brooke paused, "so what is good here?"

"Alright enough about Lucas," Julian smiled, "why don't you tell me something about you."

Brooke paused, "what do you want to know?" Brooke put her menu down, "I am an open book."

Julian laughed and put down his own menu, "oh really. Alright well lets start with something easy, are you single Brooke Davis."

"Yes, LA guys make me nervous, they primp and style more than I do. The only other people I mingle with are actors and models and they are pretty high maintenance," Brooke sipped her water, "so I am presently unattached. You?"

"Divorced actually," Julian nodded for the waitress to come over, "I got married because I thought it was the next step. If I ever do the whole marriage thing again it's going to be with someone that keeps me on my toes."

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Haley heard a knock at the door, "oh hey Luke, you look awful."

Lucas came inside and started pacing, "thanks Hales. I didn't really sleep last night." Lucas pulled the letter out of his pocket, "this really threw me for a loop."

Haley felt confused, "I still don't understand how you got that Brooke loves you from that note." Haley tossed an orange at him, "eat..." Haley paused, "because it sounds like you choked."

"I did choke," Lucas started peeling the orange, "but I can change it. Brooke is coming to Tree Hill next month for the reunion I can finally tell her all the things I've wanted to. We belong together Hales, I just have to fight for her."

"You're forgetting one crucial thing though Luke," Haley put her hand on her hip, "Brooke wrote that note at least ten years ago... Maybe longer."

"That doesn't matter," Lucas ran his fingers through his hair, "she's single right? I know her and Chase broke up years ago. I could ask Mouth if she's seeing anyone." Lucas bit into an orange slice, "the only problem is Julian."

"Julian?" Haley asked, "what does the studio guy hoping to turn Ravens into a movie have to do with Brooke."

"Well Nathan thinks I'm over-thinking," Lucas said.

Haley interrupted, "which is probably accurate."

Lucas glared at her, "Julian said he would whatever he needed to get Brooke to sign a release for the film. He had even made a comment about possibly contracting Clothes Over Bros to do the costuming for the entire shoot. And you met him Hales he's totally Brooke's type."

Haley laughed, "who knows what Brooke's type is Lucas, we haven't seen her in years." Haley put her hand on his arm, "I really think you should go home and try to get some rest, you're starting to scare me a little"

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"So how about some free styling advice," Julian asked pointing to the racks, "I think there might even be a few pieces from Clothes Over Bros."

"Oh, your motives for inviting me to this shoot have now become clear Mr. Baker," Brooke said flipping through the rack. "What are the ads for?"

"You know it," Julian, "besides you asked me out remember." Brooke looked at him and couldn't help but smile back, 'this boy could be trouble,' she thought.

*Meanwhile In Tree Hill*

As Lucas was driving back home, he decided to call Julian to get some answers, 'I'll start by asking about the release' Lucas thought to himself. He punched Julian's cell number into his phone and dialed. 'Blue tooth makes this so much easier' he thought while the phone rang.

"This is Julian," Julian said into his phone, his hands were full of clothing options, so he had to lift his shoulder to hear the call.

"Julian, it's Lucas Scott," Lucas took a deep breath, "I just wanted to check status on Brooke Davis's release. I wanted to check on the script and see what that does for the projected fall shooting time line."

Julian motioned for Brooke to come clear one of his arms, "what did you say the ad was for again?" Brooke asked turning back towards the rack, "I think I have some idea of the direction, just wanted some clarification."

Lucas's eyes grew big when he heard her voice, "Julian where are you? Am I disturbing you? If so I can call back."

"Ya," Julian hesitated, "it's for Harvey's Seatbelt bags," Julian said to Brooke before returning to the phone call, "no man we're fine. I'm getting the release this afternoon. The script is going to be FedEx'd to you Monday to look over for your final approval and as far as I know once you give it the green light we will start securing the budget and locations. Shooting will begin late August, early September."

"Oh... OK" Lucas stammered, 'why did he say we're fine,' "are you still planning on coming out to Tree Hill soon, I am trying to see if Nathan or Haley would be available to show you around."

Brooke heard Julian talking about the Ravens movie, she gathered the items from his right arm, "thank you for holding those," she separated the rack into the ensembles she liked and the ones she didn't think complimented the handbags. "If you're done with me I'm going to go for a quick swim before I head to the office."

Lucas knew that time it was Brooke he heard, "that might not be necessary," Julian said, before he continued he sounded a bit muffled and said, "here don't forget your clothes."

Lucas almost swerved into a car driving next to him, "is the studio contacting someone for you? It really isn't any trouble to get someone here to take you around and since they're my friends we can get them cheap," Lucas forced a laugh, "and by cheap I mean free."

"Lucas, really that won't be necessary. Don't worry I have everything under control. Now they're calling me over to the shoot. Have a great day, we'll talk at the end of the week," Julian hung up. Lucas drove the remainder of the way home in silence his mind wandering to all the different reasons why Julian could be telling Brooke to get her clothes.

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Brooke got in the office at about 9:30 smelling of the salty ocean water. Millie was waiting for her at the elevators, "Legal looked this over, it's pretty standard. It basically says you give up the right to sue them if you don't like the portrayal."

Brooke smiled, "do you have a pen?" Millie handed Brooke a pen and she signed it on the way to her office, "no need to messenger it over Mills, I'm meeting Mr. Baker this afternoon for an early dinner."

Mills stopped in her tracks for a moment, "oh really?" She hurried after Brooke and followed her into her office. "So does that mean this morning went well?"

Brooke came in and picked out an outfit from the rack and turned to Millie, "he's pretty amazing. I hardly ate anything at breakfast, we just talked about our likes and dislikes. He could be trouble Mills."

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Lucas sat on his stoop for what seems like ages when he heard his phone ring, "Lucas Scott," he answered.

"Hey it's Julie, just confirming your flight plans for Sunday night. A car service will take you to your hotel and that same car service will pick you up Monday morning to bring you to Woods Publishing."

"Thanks Julie," Lucas said, "I'm really pleased with my latest draft. I hope everyone at Woods likes it."

Julie said, "I emailed you some cover options too... Everyone so far is impressed, Red Door is looking promising." Lucas saw Peyton's car park in front of his house, "Have a good day Mr. Scott."

"Thanks Julie, you too." Lucas hung up and smiled, "what are you doing here, come to give me another beating?"

"You were always such a baby Lucas Scott." Peyton looked down at him and put her hand on her back, "can we go inside, if I sit down there with you I won't be getting back up."

"Anything you say Peyton," Lucas opened the front door, "my mother told me never to cross a pregnant woman."

"I wouldn't recommend it," Peyton went inside and sat down on the recliner Lucas had in the living room, "so what did the note say?"

Lucas looked at her, "playing dumb doesn't suit you Peyton, I'm sure Haley told you all about it before you headed over here. We don't exactly do these impromptu visits anymore."

"No we don't, after The Comet came out I didn't really know how to talk to you." Peyton said rubbing her stomach, "I still don't understand why you wrote it anyway. I was already in Savannah, you were already with Lindsey."

"That's easy, I'm still in love with you Peyton." Lucas said with no expression on his face.

"Shut up Scott," Peyton said hurling a pillow in his direction.

"The editors told me readers were clamoring for a follow up to Ravens. Everyone wanted to know what happened to Lucas and Peyton." Lucas scratched his head, "so I gave them the happy ending they asked for." Lucas paused, "Lucas and Peyton in Ravens grew up got married, had a few kids and lived happily ever after."

"You know that made you look like a stalker right?" Peyton asked with a smile.

"Sure," Lucas laughed, "writing it was hard. I was with Lindsey and we were fighting a little about my lack of commitment and here I was writing about an love story I no longer believed in, but Lindsey wanted that life, the house, the white picket fence, the kids... whole nine yards. After the book came out she told me I was still in love with you and needed to get myself together."

"You aren't still in love with me are you Luke?" Peyton hestitated, "because I have moved on and I'm happy. Jake and I are happy in Savannah. We have Jenny four days a week, we're having a baby soon." Peyton folded her arms across her chest. "We want you to be happy Luke."

"I want to be happy Peyton, believe me I do." Lucas grabbed her hand, "I'm so happy you and Jake found your way back to each other. I love you as my friend, one of my best friends, but I don't have any romantic feelings for you I promise."

Peyton let out a sigh of relief, "that's great news Luke."

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Brooke's phone buzzed with Millie's voice, "Mr. Baker is here."

"Great," Brooke answered, "give me five minutes, then send him in." Brooke was zipping up her cocktail dress when she heard a knock on her door and Julian peaked his head in.

"Ready to go beautiful girl?" Julian said, looking her up and down.

"Yes," Brooke felt his eyes on her, "hey, this is a business dinner. You want me to come to Tree Hill with you and do the costuming for Ravens I want to hear you woo me."

Julian grunted slightly, "well then you should have worn a different dress." Julian pulled her into an embrace and brushed his lips softly against hers.

Brooke pulled back, "didn't you hear anything I said?"

Julian smiled down at her, "yes I did, you told me I needed to woo you." Julian grabbed her hand and winked. "Come on lets go, we have reservations."

Brooke felt her cheeks redden as Julian guided her to the elevators, "reservations?"

"That's what I said beautiful girl, we have reservations. Now no more questions," the doors opened and Julian stepped into the elevator car.

He never let go of Brooke's hand, 'oh dear he is going to be dangerous,' Brooke thought to herself as the doors closed.

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So what do you guys think? Next chapter Brooke is going to to go Tree Hill with Julian... Will she run into Lucas while she's there...

Thanks for reading!

Krystal