One Last Kiss
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from One Tree Hill!
People's thoughts are also in this style of writing.
A/N: Someone asked if anyone else knew about what happened to Brooke on her 14th birthday, well to answer the question, no, only Peyton knows what happened, nobody else.
"Junk, Junk, Bills, Junk" Brooke muttered as she flipped through her mail.
"Morning Brooke" Peyton smiled as she walked into Brooke's apartment.
"Peyton" Brooke greeted but kept her eyes glued to the pile of letters in her hands.
"Junk?" Peyton asked as Brooke grunted with frustration.
"Yes, but not just my junk, Nathan's junk too and some guy named Mr. O. Jay which by the way makes him sound like orange juice which is just ridiculous" Brooke rambled as she threw the letters on the table with frustration.
"Whoa Brooke, calm down and walk away from the mail" Peyton laughed as slowly approached her. "What's up with you? You seem extra grouchy this morning"
Brooke glared at her "I'm just sick to death of having to forward this stupid shit up to Cali for Nathan and then back to the mail guy for Mr. Orange man" Brooke muttered "God everything is such an inconvenience"
"Everything? Or Someone?" Peyton asked curiously.
Brooke groaned loudly with frustration "God Peyton! I do not need this from you today ok?"
Peyton sighed "Ok, seriously...what's up Brooke?"
"I'm just sick of everything Peyt...everything is so damn messed up"
"Now are we talking about the mail here or two hot 17 year old guys?" Peyton asked cautiously.
"The latter" Brooke sighed.
"Are you finally ready to talk about Lucas yet?" Peyton asked
"He came over last night..." Brooke trailed, not sure to tell Peyton what happened or not.
"Ok? And what happened?"
"We just talked and stuff...and he told me a few things" Brooke said hesitantly.
"What things?" Peyton asked, urging the brunette to continue.
Brooke took in a deep breath "He told me that he loved me"
"Well it's about time" Peyton muttered and Brooke sent her an icy look "Sorry" Peyton apologized as she threw her hands up in the air "I hope you told him that you loved him too"
Brooke shook her head.
"Brooke!" Peyton shouted "Are you stupid? The guy confessed his love to you and you didn't say anything back? What's wrong with you? Did you even say anything at all?" she asked in disbelief.
"I told him he should leave" Brooke sighed.
"Why?"
"Why? Peyton I have a boyfriend! A boyfriend who I care about!"
"I know" Peyton said "But it's obvious that you still have feelings for Lucas"
"Lucas and I have a history together…he is my first love, that's it" Brooke sighed.
Peyton smiled slightly.
"What?" Brooke asked a little confused.
"You said Lucas is your first love" Peyton stated.
"Yeah and?" Brooke asked confused.
"You said is not was"
"You ok Luke?" Keith asked as he noticed how quiet Lucas was this morning.
"Fine" Lucas shrugged, however he couldn't stop replaying last night's events over and over in his head.
"Are you sure son?" Keith asked worriedly.
"Have you ever wondered what your life would be like if you did things differently?" Lucas asked changing the subject slightly.
"I have in the past yes" Keith said honestly "But I wouldn't change anything because that's what brought me to where I am today"
Lucas nodded looking down at the table.
"Why, has something happened Luke?"
Lucas shook his head "No, it's nothing" he said before standing up "I'm going to go to school, see ya" he waved before leaving the kitchen and a curious Keith behind.
"Can I ask you something Brooke?" Peyton asked hesitantly as the two drove to school in Peyton's car.
"Sure" Brooke answered as she looked out of the side window.
"If Lucas broke up with Anna…do you think you guys would get back together?" Peyton asked curiously as she side glanced at Brooke who looked in deep thought.
"If you asked me this two weeks ago then the answer would have been yes…now, well, I'm with Jake"
"So, if Lucas came up to you today and told you that he wanted to get back together with you, you would reject him?"
"Not so much reject Peyt…but, I've been with Lucas before and it hurt people, I won't do that again knowing that it will hurt Jake and Anna as well…I mean, Jake makes me happy, I feel safe with Jake"
"Safe?" Peyton asked with a raised eyebrow as she turned her head to face the brunette before looking back at the road.
"Peyton I am tired" Brooke sighed "I'm tired of taking chances and ending up losing in the end…being with Lucas is emotionally too much hard work…I don't even know how I feel about anything anymore"
"So what? You are with Jake because he is easy?" Peyton asked but frowned at her choice of words.
Brooke turned to look at her with a single eyebrow raised and a small smile playing on her lips.
"Ok, let me rephrase that" Peyton laughed "Are you with Jake because the relationship between you guys isn't hard work?" Peyton asked trying to come up with the right words.
"I'm with Jake because I have feelings for him Peyton…and it's different from Lucas, me and Jake…we work, I mean, with Lucas I thought about him every second of the damn day and I ended up losing concentration on a lot of important things in my life…with Jake, Jake is sweet and kind and caring and he helps me, you know? I feel secure with Jake, like when I am with him I feel like everything will be ok and that I am safe… but with Lucas, we didn't have that security, everything was new and challenging" Brooke explained.
"But isn't that how it's supposed to be?" Peyton asked "Love isn't supposed to be easy, just because you feel safe with a guy doesn't mean he is the one for you"
"I'm sick of taking chances Peyt…I just want to feel safe for once" Brooke said sadly looking down.
"Ok" Peyton nodded "You deserve that…after everything that has happened to you, you deserve to feel safe and secure, so you should make things work with Jake, if he makes you happy then I am happy for you"
Brooke smiled "So no more Lucas remarks?"
"No more" Peyton smiled "Unless it's something really good" she smirked and Brooke laughed lightly.
"What would you say if I told you that I was thinking about breaking up with Anna?" Lucas asked hesitantly as he approached Haley in the tutor center.
Haley frowned as she looked up "I would say that you were crazy and that Anna is a great girl"
"Yeah, but she's not the girl" Lucas sighed as he sat down.
"Is this about Brooke? Because if it is Lucas, leave her be…she is happy" Haley sighed.
"She's not happy Haley" Lucas said slightly frustrated "Not as happy as she was with me" he said confidently.
Haley rolled her eyes slightly "Ok, this arrogant side of you has to go Lucas…I get that you don't like her with Jake, but he does make her happy. And Brooke makes him happy too so just leave them alone" Haley warned.
"But what if I don't want too?"
"Stop thinking about yourself Luke…think about what Brooke wants, what Jake wants and what your girlfriend wants"
"You are making me sound like a right selfish jerk" Lucas muttered.
"You are selfish jerk…but a loveable one" Haley smiled and Lucas rolled his eyes.
"Ha-ha" he muttered sarcastically "So…you don't think I should break up with Anna?"
Haley shook her head "No I don't…but you are asking the wrong person Luke, Anna is my friend"
"Well then who should I ask?" Lucas asked frustratingly.
Haley looked up "Trying looking in the mirror and ask yourself" Haley said "It's your life Lucas…no one else's"
Lucas sighed heavily as he put his head in his hands.
"Peyton, can I talk to you?" Lucas asked hesitantly as he approached Peyton who was standing at her locker.
"Sure" Peyton said confused, she wasn't exactly friends with Lucas so she was curious to know what he wanted.
"Ok…um, well can I ask you something?" Lucas asked slightly nervous.
"Yeah ok" Peyton answered curiously.
"It's about Brooke"
"Oh" Peyton said quietly.
"What did you mean about what you said yesterday at the café?" Lucas asked.
"Oh that, nothing" Peyton said shrugging it off. After talking to Brooke this morning, she knew that Brooke was happy with Jake and she didn't want to jeopardize that, especially since Brooke has a lot going on right now.
"Well it didn't sound like nothing" Lucas urged, desperate to know what Peyton's comment meant. "Please Peyton…I just want to know if Brooke still has feelings for me, especially after what you said about it hurting her to see me with Anna"
Peyton sighed and cursed herself in her head for making that damn comment to Lucas "Look Lucas, just forget I said anything ok? Brooke is with Jake now and she is happy"
Lucas groaned with frustration "So why did you even say that to me then?"
"I thought Brooke was still into you, but I was wrong…she is with Jake, so just leave her be Lucas" Peyton said but soon regretted it as she saw the sad expression appear on Lucas's face.
"Right" he mumbled.
Peyton sighed loudly "Ok, whatever, I lied" she muttered.
"What?" Lucas asked confused.
"I still think Brooke is into you, but you still better leave her alone Lucas" Peyton warned.
"Why? I mean, you know her pretty well right?"
Peyton nodded.
"Well if she's into me, then why do I have to leave her alone?" Lucas asked.
"Because just because she still has feelings for you doesn't mean she wants to be with you Lucas" Peyton said softly "She's going through a lot right now and what she doesn't need is you confessing things to her or pressuring her into things that she is not ready for"
"I'm not pressuring her" Lucas cut in.
"You might as well be" Peyton said "Just leave her alone Lucas, at least in a romantic way" she warned.
"Why?"
"Because Brooke needs a friend right now…and she may not be ready to let you in as anything more"
Lucas looked at her confused slightly…this whole situation was confusing him.
"You are with Anna…and Brooke is with Jake" Peyton said shrugging as she glanced past Lucas to see Brooke looking over confused and a curious expression on her face.
"Listen, if Brooke asks, I just told you to back off and leave her alone, you got that?" Peyton warned looking back at Lucas.
"Why?" Lucas asked for about the millionth time.
"Just do it" Peyton said sternly before walking away.
"What was that about?" Brooke asked approaching Lucas who still stood confused by Peyton's locker.
Lucas turned, surprised that Brooke actually came over to talk to him "Oh…uh, well…Peyton just told me to back off and leave you alone"
Brooke raised an eyebrow "She did, did she?"
"Yep" Lucas nodded, nervously balancing from side to side, shifting his weight from each foot to the other.
Brooke knew he was lying, she could just tell by looking at his body language "Is that all she said?" she pushed.
"Yup" Lucas answered.
"Lucas?" Brooke asked innocently.
"Yes?" Lucas asked back, nervously.
"What did Peyton really say to you?"
Lucas sighed, knowing Brooke wouldn't see through his little tales "Ok, well…she just said that you could use a friend right now"
Brooke again raised an eyebrow, still not sure if Lucas was telling the exact story but decided to drop it anyway "Ok" she nodded.
"What's going on with you Brooke?" Lucas asked softly "Why do you need a friend?"
"Peyton is just being…Peyton, that's all" Brooke shrugged, hoping Lucas would drop the conversation topic.
"I know there's more to it than that" Lucas urged.
"Just drop it Lucas" Brooke muttered annoyed "I gotta go"
"Brooke…" Lucas sighed.
"Don't" Brooke warned before turning around and walking away.
"Hey Haley" Peyton smiled as she entered the café after school to see Haley had already started her shift.
"Hi Peyton, what's up?" Haley asked as she wrapped her apron around her waist.
"Nothing much…but can I take three coffees to go?" Peyton asked as she sat on the stool at the counter.
"Sure, they won't be long" Haley said as she walked into the kitchen just as Lucas and Anna walked into the café hand in hand.
"Peyton" Lucas said as he and Anna said down at the counter, just one seat separating Lucas from Peyton.
"Lucas" Peyton answered as she thought about the conversation they had earlier. She knew that just by looking at Anna who was caressing Lucas's arm that the girl had no idea that Lucas was contemplating about breaking up with her.
"So uh…what are you doing here?" Lucas asked her, trying to make conversation.
Peyton shrugged "Just ordering coffee for me, Brooke and Jake"
"Oh" Lucas answered as he looked down, his thoughts of the brunette were interrupted by two males laughter filling the café. Lucas turned his head to see his father with another man, walking in with smiles on their faces.
"Well Well, if it isn't Dave Lee himself, back in Tree Hill after all these years" Karen smiled as she walked out of the kitchen.
Peyton's head immediately turned around and to her surprise there was Satan himself, David Lee, the younger brother of Dan Lee. She immediately stood up, causing her stool to fall to the floor as she fumbled with her purse trying to make a quick exit, however all of the attention had turned on her.
"Peyton, are you ok?" Lucas asked confused as he saw the panicked look on the curly blondes face.
Peyton didn't answer as she caught eyes with David who smirked at her.
"I…Uh…I gotta go" Peyton muttered as she stumbled quickly to the café doors.
"Peyton…your coffee!" Haley called after her but Peyton didn't even acknowledge her as she quickly left the café.
Haley looked over at Lucas with a confused expression on her face and Lucas shrugged, not knowing what had just happened.
"Lucas, I want you to meet someone" Keith smiled as Lucas stood up to greet the guest. "Luke, this is an old friend of mine David Lee, Dave, this is my son Lucas"
"Nice to meet you kid, I remember the last time I saw you…you were like this big" Dave smiled as he used his hands to show the height of him.
Lucas smiled politely as he shook the man's hand.
"David was my best man at your mother and mines wedding" Keith explained "We were best friends in high school and college"
"Cool" Lucas answered nodding but then realizing something "Wait, Lee?"
Dave chuckled slightly "I see you have heard of my family name?"
Lucas nodded slightly.
"David is Dan's younger brother" Keith said as Lucas looked slightly surprised.
"Right…so that makes you Brooke and Nathan's uncle?" Lucas asked.
"It sure does, but I haven't seen them in a while…you know them?" Dave asked.
"Brooke is Lucas's ex-girlfriend" Keith cut in smiling and Lucas sent him an icy stare, he hated it when people referred to Brooke as his ex, it made it sound like they weren't close or connected anymore.
"Ah I see" Dave chuckled "Brooke is the heartbreaker huh?"
"Something like that" Lucas muttered.
"So, how are my niece and nephew doing? I heard about what happened to Cooper, must have been hard on them" David said, a sad expression on his face.
"Yeah it was…and Nathan is actually living in California now" Lucas explained.
"Really?" David asked surprised "Well, I'm not surprised, he probably wanted to get away from my ass of a brother" David laughed "I don't blame him for running to the other side of the country"
"Yeah" Lucas nodded agreeing.
"So is Brooke not with him?" Dave asked curiously.
"No not anymore, she was…but she is back in Tree Hill now" Lucas smiled.
David nodded "I will have to go and see her…it's been a while"
"So Dave…what brings you back in town?" Keith asked smiling.
"Well it's been a while…" David started as Lucas excused himself and went back to Anna who was talking with Haley.
"Who was that?" Anna asked curiously
"An old friend of my Dad's" Lucas said glancing back "He is also Brooke and Nathan's uncle"
"Oh" Anna said not really wanting to talk about Brooke Lee.
Haley looked over at the guy curiously, maybe she was looking too much into things but she was sure that he was the reason why Peyton somehow freaked out and ran out of the café, and now hearing that he was a Lee, well that just made things even more interesting.
"There you are Peyt, where have you been? You took forever" Brooke moaned as Peyton walked into her apartment.
"Sorry" Peyton mumbled as Jake looked up from the couch.
"And she doesn't even have our coffee!" Jake groaned "Did you forget?"
"Uh…Yeah" Peyton stuttered and Brooke frowned.
"What's wrong? Are you ok?" she asked worriedly, noticing her friend looked a bit shaken.
"I…Uh, Brooke I need to tell you something"
"Ok? What is it?" Brooke asked concerned, she could tell by the look on Peyton's face that this was not good.
Jake stood up sensing that the girls needed to be alone "I'm going to head off to the River Court, call me if you need anything" Jake said giving Brooke a quick kiss before leaving.
"Ok Peyt, what is it?" Brooke asked softly as she placed her hand comfortably on Peyton's arm.
"He's back Brooke" Peyton got out.
"Who? Who's back Peyton?" Brooke asked confused.
"Your uncle…David, he is back"
Brooke's eyes widened slightly as she stood back in shock. 'Oh shit'.
A/N: Hey, well…I bet you all have a lot of questions to ask me? Don't worry though, you will find out who exactly David is soon and how this all effects Brooke and Peyton.
And I apologize for the lack of Brucas in this chapter…and Bake for all of you who like them lol. But there will be some in the next chapter, so please review…the more reviews I get the faster I will update lol! It's true!
I just want to say thank you to every single one of you who reviewed, it really means a lot, especially the long ones! They inspire me the most! So yeah, thanks again for reviewing the last chapter and don't forget to review this one…and I will update soon! I promise!
