"Hey Brooke." Lucas greets me with a soft smile.

I give Peyton a help-me-out-of-this-awkward-situation look and she responds by standing up.

"I'm just gonna go get a coffee. I'll be back." I watch her walk away. Bitch. I'm so going to remember this.

I put on a fake smile and try to talk to Lucas like I hadn't just broken his heart. "So what's up Luke?"

His face becomes stoic, almost like he's trying to hide his emotions. "You've made it clear to me that you don't want to be together anymore…but I don't want you out of my life Brooke. I was hoping we could still be friends."

I give him a smirk. "We've never been friends, Lucas."

He attempts to smirk back. "Well we can be like before, just minus the kissing."

"Are you okay with that?" My voice is laced with concern. I don't want to lead him on again.

"If it means having you in my life then I'm more than okay with it."

I offer him a genuine smile just as Peyton comes back and sits down, empty-handed.

"Where's the coffee, P. Sawyer?"

"They were…out."

"Anyway, Lucas here is invited to my 'surprise' party, right?"

Peyton gives us a knowing look and whips out an envelope from her bag. She hands it to Lucas.

He gets up to leave and I shout to him "Gifts required!"

That went way better than I thought it would.

BD

So it's been about a week since the Lucas incident at the diner and now I'm sitting with him in the library finishing some homework. We've actually been getting along pretty well. I admit it's nice to be able to talk to him. I mean I'm not in love with the guy, but I do love him in a friendly way.

He actually kind of reminds me of Peyton. Maybe I should set them up…

Nah. They'd never work. That's to much broodiness for one relationship to handle.

I'm brought out of my thoughts by the sound of my cell phone vibrating on the wooden table. I check the message.

I want to take you out after cheerleading for your birthday. Maybe go to the beach? R.

How cute. Rachel wants to take me out because tomorrow is my suprise party and we won't get any alone time.

It'll be freezing. B.

Lucky you. R.

How does that make me lucky? B.

You'll have me there to keep you warm. R.

I literally laugh out loud, almost snort actually, which is slightly embarrassing. Lucas gives me an amused look before going back to his essay.

You are so cheesy. But I guess it sounds fun. B.

BD

I watch Rachel as she hurriedly takes her blue RAVENS t-shirt off and replaces it with a tank top that she grabbed from her sports locker.

"Baby why are we rushing?"

"I don't want to see Nathan; he might make me hang out with him if I do."

I could press her, ask her why she still hasn't broke up with him, but I decide not to. I don't want to spoil the night.

Moments later we get into her car and enjoy a silent ride with only the soft hums of the engine and the occasional whisper.

We walk along the beach, right where the sand meets the water. For a while we just loosely hold hands and enjoy the atmosphere.

I was right. It was cold. But it was beautiful all the same. The scene around me was just so…I can't even describe it right. It was just breath-taking. I knew Rachel felt the same way but we hadn't talked the entire time. There was this sort of peace between us, a feeling of knowing what the other was thinking.

We just wanted to take it in, this feeling of happiness.

Eventually, as the sky darkened, Rachel pulled out a blanket for us to lie on. We stared up at the sky. For the most part it was starless…empty even. But the moon was full and bright and oddly fascinating.

"Where do you see yourself in the future, Brooke?"

Rachel almost startled me with the seriousness of her question. I turn towards her and then look towards the sky, hoping it will give me the answer.

"I don't know. I guess I see myself as a famous fashion designer. You know the fame and fortune. Like Vera Wang or something."

I pause. "Or at least own my own store. That'd be nice."

Rachel laughs, but not mockingly. It's like she's laughing because she knows one day I will achieve my dreams and that doubting that is just silly.

"What about you Rachel?"

"I applied to college for nursing. Me with a real job? Trust me; I know how weird that sounds."

Rachel also pauses and I can tell she's looking for the right words. "I want to be able to help people, you know? Be apart of something bigger…"

She trails off. "I want to try modeling too though. Maybe it could pay my way though college."

"Can't your parents pay for it?"

"They refuse. They want me to follow what they do. And I'm just not interested."

A silence falls over us and I push over so that I'm now cuddling into Rachel's side.

"But there's something much more important that I see in the future."

I lift my head slightly so I can look at her. "What's that?"

"You." I briefly bring my lips to hers.

I rest my head back on her side and wrap my arms around her. Her arms just get tighter around me.

We fall asleep on that beach. Freezing, but warm all at the same time.

Truly happy for the first time in a while.