Chapter 10

Falling to Pieces

Lucas woke up with a killer stomach ache that made him wince. Then he sat up too fast and was greeted with a nice throbbing between his eyes. Great, he thought, just great! He hadn't had a hangover in years but he had the distinct feeling he was about to make up for lost time.

It was a stupid idea getting that drunk but what other choice did he have? There were so many decisions to make, life altering choices and he didn't want to think anymore. Jake had shown up with a case of beer, at the perfect time, Lucas was going stir crazy at the mansion. They had gotten an old basketball out of the garage and they had driven to The River Court. It had been their favorite place to hang out at when they were younger a basketball and a case of beer was all they ever needed. Now ten years later it was still all Luke had needed. The night before he had felt free something that he hadn't felt since he had gotten the phone call from Keith telling him that his brother was dead. Jake being the good friend he was didn't ask questions. They just shot hoops and drank beer it felt like the good old days, when they were younger and had no responsibilities. They talked about everyday things Jake's work, his girlfriend Peyton, his new car. Lucas for his part talked about his travels, places that he had visited, girls he had slept with. It was a reunion of sorts, two old friends getting together to discuss the simple things in their lives. The reunion lasted into the wee hours of the morning. They had gone back to Jake's loft where Lucas pounded more beers and whatever Liquor he could get his hands on to drown his sorrows away. And it had felt good at the time. But that was last night. Now it was another day and he was sick as a dog, in pain, and he smelled like a brewery.

Sighing, he got up and headed for the shower.

Jake had said to make himself at home and that was a godsend. Lucas had needed to get away. He turned on the faucet and groaned out loud as steaming hot water poured over him. Maybe he was hiding out at his friend's house but where else did he have to go? As much as he loved his grandmother, he couldn't face her just yet. It was too much.Luke thought back to when it was simple. When he and Nathan were little boys. Lucas had worshiped his grandfather, Royal, and the feeling was mutual. Royal had already pre written the Scott boys' destiny...they were to finish school, take over the family business, marry debutantes and start a family of their own as to continue the magnificent dynasty. Lucas took a deep breath. If Royal could see him now. The old man was probably spinning in his grave. Lucas had done just the opposite. He shunned everything that was expected of him and ventured out on his own. He lived his life for himself and he was happy. He loved his job, his friends and living abroad. He would have been miserable in Tree Hill with the boring nine to five, hosting stupid parties, chipping golf balls and marrying the homecoming queen that had come from a good family.

He knew he could never be happy with that type of life, so he had run away and never look back leaving it all to his baby brother. Reliable Nathan, who had gone to Yale and study business, who had always followed the path that Royal had set up for them. While Lucas wasn't prepared to play the game, Nathan had. He had gone to the right school, the right social functions, was dating the right girl, Nathan had always done the right thing or so everyone thought. He had led a double life one that had left a child. A child that had sucked Lucas back to Tree Hill, the place he had swore he would never go back to.

Royal was long gone. Nathan was dead. His parents were dead. It was just him and Mae and little Drew, this tiny, helpless, defenseless baby that was not only his flesh and blood, but his responsibility. Lucas was trapped, obligated and he hated it. But Royal Scott had taught him that you never turn away from family. He had done it once and Nathan had died. He wouldn't do it to Drew. He needed to get away from it all and a night of boozing and crashing at Jake's pad had been just what the doctor ordered. He needed a hot shower and he needed to be alone. Alone. At least he thought he was until he heard the loud crash in the living room. Grabbing a towel, he carefully stepped out of the bathroom. He peered into the living room and saw Brooke Davis.

Brooke was pissed. In her hands were the diaries. Haley James' personal journals that held the key to everything. The explanation as to why her life had been ruined. She had wanted to get her hands on them so bad that she had stooped to Taylor's level and paid her off. Now they were in her hands and for her eyes to read and she couldn't bear it.

Peyton had told her to go to Jake's and relax if she needed to. Peyton had even given her a key, saying Jake wouldn't mind. Now she was there but relaxation was the last thing on her mind. She was mad! Angry! Pissed off! Furious! Didn't she have a right to be? Not only had she tragically lost the love of her life fiancé, but he had died with his "other woman", the mother of his child, seedy, classless gutter trash that had been sneaking around with Nathan for years. Brooke had been

shocked...devastated...hurt. Still she had kept her cool and was ever the proper lady but now she'd had it.

Anything in sight that was breakable, she broke it. She banged the diaries against furniture, punching, screaming and cursing as she went along. She was in a rage!

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! What the hell are you doing"

Great! Lucas Scott.

"What are you doing here"

"Well for starters, not trashing Jake's place. He let me crash here for a while but I asked you first."

"None of your damned business."

Dealing with the spoiled princess of Tree Hill was not how he had envisioned starting off his day.

"Just calm down, Brooke."

How dare the brooding loser tell her to calm down, she thought.

"Just shut up and leave me alone"

"Shut up and leave you alone? You're the one coming here acting all psycho destroying property that's not even yours."

"Yeah I am but so what? You don't tell me what to do and you're not the boss of me! What? I don't have the right to be mad"

"Look", he sighed. "About Nathan..."

"Don't you dare even speak his name"

Her face was flushed and her hair was disheveled. He had never seen her look so...out of place. So much for Miss Prim and Proper.

"Brooke..."

"Don't Brooke me! I loved him! I gave him everything! And I thought he loved me, too! Boy was the pretty little rich girl stupid or what"

"Brooke..."

"Love, honor, protect, and cherish? Ha! What a crock of shit! He was supposed to protect me! He was supposed to love me but all he did was break my heart and knock up some gutter hussy! And I'm supposed to sit on my hands like a good little society girl and take it"

With that, she began her tirade again of breaking and throwing everything in sight. For a second Lucas could almost sympathize but he was in no position to handle a tantrum.

"Brooke, stop"

But she wouldn't.

"Don't talk to me, don't try to calm me down, and don't feel sorry for me! You're the last person I want advice from! Know why? Because when I look at you, I see him and right now I hate both of you! You are uncaring, ignorant, loser and..."

In the midst of her rant, he unwrapped the towel from his waist and threw it her. It hit her smack in the face before falling to the ground, leaving her wide eyes staring at his naked manhood. Brooke was appalled.

"What" he shrugged with a smirk. "See something you like"

All her frustration mended together and she let out one final agonizing shriek as she ran at him, tiny fists clenched, punching him in the chest. As much as he was tempted, the Southern gentleman in him wouldn't let him hit a woman, instead he restrained her. But Brooke Davis was tougher than she looked. And stronger! She had a death grip around his neck with those perfectly manicured nails. As he backed up towards the bathroom, she was still on him like a bloodsucking leach.

"Let go", he warned with a grunt.

She ignored him so in a quick motion, he turned around, slinging her into the shower bay and hurriedly turned on the cold water. Brooke screamed and Lucas tried not to laugh as she looked like the melting Wicked Witch from The Wizard of Oz. But it had worked. At least she wasn't hitting him anymore. At least she wasn't breaking anything.

Finally she shut the water off, drenched to the bone and make up smeared everywhere. She cursed in frustration, stomping past him seething all the way outside. She took out her cell phone and made a call. "Is your offer still good because I'm on my way."