"It had been a week since Brooke had seen Haley. Seven days had passed, and she had managed to avoid both Lucas and Nathan. The week has gone by completely uneventful, and she was so grateful. Tonight, though, would be the first time she had to work a dinner party, and she was nervous. She worked hard on her chores all day, and when she finished she went to her room to get ready for the evening. There were a couple new dresses left in her closet for her to choose from, both a little revealing for her comfort. She chose to wear the one that was a deep red, since red seemed to look better on her than other colors. It had a corseted top, and full skirt. Her cleavage was on full display, white lace outlining it. She did her hair in a bun on the side, and left a few tendrils out framing her face. She only applied enough make up to accentuate her features.

;""It's time," Rachel spoke from behind her. Brooke turned, and gasped at how good Rachel looked.

"You look gorgeous," she complimented. Rachel's dress was designed the same Brooke's was, only it was a deep shade of blue, that brought out the color of her eyes.

""As do you," Rachel winked. "Come," Rachel gestured for her to come to her, "don't want to be late."

Brooke followed Rachel into the house, where she was handed a tray of full champagne glasses. All of the girls were instructed to line up in the kitchen until the party got into full swing. It was a muggy evening, the breeze coming through the windows offering only a minimal amount of relief from the warmth. /div

"They're ready for us," Deb spoke from somewhere near the doors.

Soon all of the girls were filing out in a single line. As Brooke entered the parlor room, she was immediately greeted by the leering of men all dressed in suits, smiling lasciviously at all the girls. She walked through the room as she was instructed to do, offering drinks to men who didn't even try to hide they were ogling them from head to toe. She felt uneasy chills sweep through her body at the states of these men. She had never felt so cheap in her life. She swept through the room, avoiding the eyes of them, hoping to clear her tray soon so she could escape the stares.

"You're new," one man stopped her as he took a glass from her tray. She simply nodded, not being able to find her voice. "Dan Scott sure knows how to find the most attractive women to bring into this fine establishment," he ran one finger down Brooke's arm, and she had to swallow hard to keep the bile from rising in her throat. "You have a name, pretty thing?"

She tried to answer, but was afraid of what would come out of her mouth if she opened it. She had not yet had the courage to look up at the man, let alone speak to him.

"She is quite gorgeous," a familiar voice spoke, finally she looked up to find Lucas standing next to the man, his usual cocky grin on her face. Her stomach dropped even more. What hell he was about to put her through, she could only guess. "Brooke," he nodded towards her, "is her name." He answered the man's question for her.

"A fine specimen," the man spoke again. She finally looked him in his pudgy face. He had sweat gathered at his brow, and his beady eyes bore down on her, as though she were his last meal. "I can't wait until you're up for auction." Brooke blanched at that. What did it mean? She looked towards Lucas, who was staring at the man like the lowlife he was. She was surprised by this.

"Brooke," Lucas turned away from him to look at her, his face changing from disgust to that of indifference, just when she thought he had a human emotion in his body, "I think your tray is empty. You should fulfill your duty by going to the kitchen and replacing your drinks," he spoke in a condescending, yet commanding tone. She was grateful for the out, but flabbergasted. He was giving her an out, a reprieve, yet treating as though she was something he stepped in.

"Yes," she nodded, holding her head high. She would not allow these pigs to take away her pride, "right away, sir." She gave him a sickly sweet smile.

"Ohh! Defiance, oh how I like a little reluctance in my woman," the pudgy faced man spoke. "So much more fun to tame."

Brooke was about to tell the man where he could shove it, when Lucas got her attention, sending her a look to send her on her way, conveying she'd better leave now, because he could only offer so much help. She turned on her heel and practically sprinted for the kitchen. Once there, she threw her tray onto the counter before going through the door, and running through the backyard until she was concealed by the trees in the woods. Once she knew she was out of sight, she stopped and bent over, trying to catch her breath, inhaling and exhaling deeper than she'd ever had to. That room, that house, that atmosphere had been all consuming, strangling. She'd never felt so low in all of her life, and she'd been abandoned by her parents.

It was a few moments later when someone was next to her, rubbing her back, instructing her to breath in slowly, and out even slower. Comforting words were whispered in her ear. She had no idea how long she'd been out there, or how long this person had been trying to help calm her down. Slowly, her breathing slowed, and the world stopped spinning. As everything started to calm down, she was pulled into strong arms. She clung on for dear life, feeling safe, protected from those men inside that house.

"Match my breaths," the voice spoke, pulling her right against their chest, exaggerating their breathing to help her. Once the breathing slowed down, the tears started. "Shh," the voice comforted, "shh, it's okay. It's okay. That is not an easy environment. It's okay."

This went on for several moments before Brooke finally felt strong enough to pull away. She knew it was Lucas before she was able to see his face. She'd know his scent anywhere. She could tell he was present from a feeling she got when her back was to him. It was something she had been trying to deny since arriving to the house, figuring if she didn't acknowledge it, then it wasn't happening. He had a serious look of concern on his face, and she wished he didn't. It was easier to hate him when he was a cocky bastard.

"Why-"

He shook his head, not wanting to acknowledge that he'd been sweet and caring. Somehow she knew he felt the same way. That if they talked about why he had just done what he did, then they'd both have to admit they really didn't hate each other, and instead felt something different, something that couldn't be explained.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, looking away from him. "I-I thought I was stronger than that."

"It's overwhelming," he shrugged. "All the girls go through it their first time."

She closed her eyes, hoping that when she opened them, she'd be somewhere else. It didn't happen. "What did he mean by auction?" She questioned.

Lucas' expression turned from concerned, back to indifference. "I think you should maybe just thank me for my help, and we end this discussion there."

Her mouth fell open, unable to make sense that this was the same Lucas that had just calmed her down, and gave her an escape from a horrible situation.

"Close your mouth, pretty girl, you'll let bugs in," he turned from her, heading back to the house. "You should head back in once you've gained your wits. I'll cover for as long as I can, but father expects all his girls there."

He didn't speak again as he headed back into the house, and Brooke felt like she had whiplash from his mood changes. She didn't want to go back inside, but that was her job. She had received her first pay check, and she couldn't believe her eyes. She'd have more than enough to go to college if she kept working. She could grin and bear the stares from men much worse than pudgy face for that. She drew in a large breath, squared her shoulders, and with her head held high, she headed back inside. All she had to do was pass drinks, and bear the stares of society's creepiest men. She could do it. She knew she could.