Chapter 4

Lucas ended up leaving Lily with Brooke and he head to the school. Brooke got ready and brought the two children with her to the store along with Rachel. So far everything was going smoothly. Lily was a tame child and was preoccupied with her dolls whereas Angie cries whenever Brooke put her down.

Brooke picked up Angie for the fourth time and said, "Seriously, baby, mommy needs to work."

Both Milly and Rachel laughs at this. "If you ask me, Luke has been spoiling her by holding her all the time that's why she cries whenever you put her down."

Brooke gave Rachel an evil glare and turn to her paperwork's while holding Angie in her arms. Truth to be told, she didn't mind holding Angie too. She just loves her too much that she needs to be in contact with her all the time.

"Um Brooke, I need to tell you something." Millicent said nervously.

"What is it Milly?" Brooke asked as she placed the sleeping baby in the basinet.

"The executives at the New York office has been calling this morning looking for you. I guess with Victoria out of the picture, they're a little concern about a few things and would like for you to fly out there as soon as possible."

"Fly out there? Are they out of their mind!" Brooke yelled. Milly looked scared when Brooke yelled. "Sorry Milly, I'll call Phil right now and sort this out. Rach, can you watch girls for a bit?" Brooke asks as she handed Angie to her.

In Brooke's office, she sat on her chair and took a deep breath before calling the office in New York. She knew that once Victoria is out of the picture, the executives will have concern and truth to be told, she has some too. She doesn't know if she could run the business and be a mother at the same time. But she saw Angie's picture that was on her desk and smiled. She did the right thing, firing her mother, and adopting her daughter.

Brooke picked up the phone and called the office. "Hey Phil…listen I know things are a little bit crazy…you know that I had to do it…everything will be ok, I'll hire another person to replace Victoria but what I need you to do down there is take over while I find someone…Phil, I know it's a lot to ask but please. I simply cannot fly out there right now…yes I did a adopt…pls…thank you…ok, I'll call you if there's any update and I sent the fall sketches already. Thanks again Phil, bye."

Back out in the store, Rachel were playing with Lily when Peyton came in. She was shocked to see Lucas's little sister there.

"Hi Lily, what are you doing here?" Peyton asked the little girl. Lily looked at the stranger in front of her a moved closer to Rachel. She doesn't really know who Peyton is. "Is Lucas here?"

Rachel roll her eye and pulled Lily on to her lap. "No he's not here. He's at work."

"Then what's Lily doing here?" Peyton asked confuse.

Just then Brooke walked in and saw Peyton in the store.

"I'm babysitting her while Lucas's at work." Brooke said. She knew that her blond friend would be mad because yet again her and Lucas are spending time together. "Peyton…"

"I thought you were going to talk to him for me?"

Rachel wanted to say something but she knew she couldn't let Lily hear the words that would be coming out of her mouth.

"Peyton, i-- there hasn't been a good time--" Brooke started explaining but Peyton cut her right off.

"Hasn't been a good time or you don't want to? Brooke, what's going on here?" Peyton demanded.

"Look, this isn't the time or place to talk about this right now. Can we please talk about this later tonight?" Brooke begged.

Peyton let out a long sighs and walked out of the store without saying anything.

Rachel set down Lily and grabbed Brooke's hand and led her to the office.

"Brooke, you cannot let her treat you like?!" Rachel yelled.

Brooke let out a sighs and sat down on her chair. "Rach, maybe her and Lucas do really belong together. I owe it to her that I talk to him for her."

"You owe her shit! In fact she's the one that owe you! Brooke, stop pretending that you feel nothing for Lucas! Do you remember back in high school when you broke up with him? All the nights that you cried yourself to sleep?" Brooke looked at Rachel in shocked; she didn't know that the red hair knew that. "Yeah I hear you at night Brooke, and frankly I think you're stupid to think that Peyton belongs with Luke."

"They loved each other Rach, they just connect!" Brooke said in defeat.

"Connect my ass! Who was there to help Lucas when Keith died? Who was there when he needed venting about Dan? You Brooke, it was you! Yeah sure Lucas and Peyton like the same things but doesn't mean they belong together!" Rachel yelled in frustration. She wants Brooke to see that she deserve another chance with Lucas.

"Yeah but yet in the end, he went to her like I knew he would!" Brooke yelled back with tears in her eyes.

"Because you pushed him to her! You dumped him without so much of an explanation other than you stopped missing him which is bullshit! What did you expect him to do Brooke?" Rachel asked as she handed Brooke a clenex.

"Fight for me" Brooke whispered.

Rachel didn't hear what Brooke had said. "What?"

"I wanted him to fight for me Rach…"

"And he did Brooke…he did. But you were so consumed with anger towards Peyton that you didn't see it."

"What am I going to do?"

Rachel started to walk out of the room but looked at the Brooke one last time. "Listen to your heart. Enough with this sacrificing your own happiness just so your so called best friend can have hers. Brooke, all you do is give and give but when does ever Peyton do that to do? I just want what's best for you and my niece, because you two deserve it. Like I said, this is not high school anymore…"

Rachel walked out of the room leaving Brooke stunned. What Rachel had said was right. But how can she act of her feelings if Lucas didn't feel the same thing?

At Tree Hill High, Lucas and Skills were in the gym going over some new defense for the next game. They didn't see Peyton walked in the room.

"Lucas" Peyton said.

Skills looked at her and then back at Lucas, "I'll see you later man…good luck"

Lucas can only nod and looked at the woman in front of him. "Peyton."

Both stood awkwardly not knowing what to say to each other. "Luke, why are you avoiding me? I've been trying to get a hold of you."

"Peyt…I have nothing to say to you." Lucas snapped.

Peyton was hurt by his words. "But yet, you talk to Brooke." Lucas laughs softly, how did he know that Brooke's name would come up? "When you kissed me at Tric--"

"That was a mistake…something that never should've happened."

"No, you felt something when you kissed me that night!"

"Peyton, you kissed me!"

Peyton wiped her tears and looked at the boy that she loves. "What now?"

"Peyton, back then I did loved you but we grew up and as we did I realize that I was in love with someone else."

"Lindsey?" When Lucas didn't say anything, Peyton knew who he was talking about. "When your book got published and you went to New York, did see Brooke?"

"Yeah I did, see unlike you, she was there for me to celebrate when my dream came true!" Lucas said. He could never forget that night in New York with Brooke.

Flashback

Lucas and Peyton stood in the Rivercourt.

"Well … I have a question to ask you--but before … you give me an answer, I just want you to know there is a point to it, okay?" Peyton asked.

"Okay" Lucas laughs

"All right, uh … imagine a future moment in your life where … all your dreams come true, you know? It's--it's the greatest moment in your life and you get to experience it with one person… who's standing next to you?" Peyton asked Lucas

Lucas smiles before answering, "Hmm, Kate Bosworth--"

"Shut up! I'm serious" Peyton laughs

"Well, so am I"

"Luke … come on, I mean--It could be anybody, you know--your mom, Haley"

"Your boy, skills" Skills cut in.

"Who's it gonna be?"

Lucas smiles as he remembers a certain brunette. "Brooke"

End of Flashback

Peyton remembers that clearly. "Like you said she would be" she whispered.

"What?"

"You knew that she would be the one standing next to you when one of your dreams come true…" Peyton said in a sad voice. "Your new book, the comet that Lindsey was talking about, that was about Brooke wasn't?"

Lucas didn't answer Peyton but was surprise that she figure it out. Everyone thought that his new book was about Peyton so he just let it be, letting them think that it was about Peyton when in reality, his new book was about Brooke. "Peyton…"

"I was a fool thinking that maybe you're still in love with me but in truth, you love Brooke." Peyton started to walk away and turned to look at Lucas one more time, "What does she have that I don't have?"

Lucas looked at her for a brief second before answering, "My heart"

TBC