Chapter 20:

A soft knocking woke Brooke up the next morning. She pulled out her cell phone and saw that it was only 5:45 in the morning. She groaned and hid under her pillow but the knocking wouldn't stop. She knew that it wasn't loud enough for Peyton to hear so she finally got up to find out who it was. She looked through the peep hole and her irritation was replaced by an involuntary smile. She opened the door and Lucas looked at her with a sheepish look and a shrug.

"Morning. I'm sorry it's so early but I was going for a run and I passed by and I just needed to see you."

"Morning," she grinned. He strode forward and gave her a soft kiss that escalated into a deeper kiss. He backed into the apartment and towards the couch she had been sleeping on until they both had landed on it with him on top. "Mmm. I was so scared that yesterday was just a dream," he got out between kisses.

Brooke was lost in how good he was making her feel. He started nuzzling her neck as she arched her body into his to get as close to him as she possibly could. She couldn't take it anymore, she brought his lips back up to hers and opened her mouth to invite him in. Fighting herself from losing control, she pulled away when his hand had slipped under her shirt.

"Luke."

"Sorry. I got a little carried away. It feels so good to be with you again, Brooke."

"I know what you mean."

"I better go. I have to get that run in and I'll let you get back to sleep."

"How am I going to be sleep after that wake up call?" she teased him.

He grinned and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead before lifting himself off of her. Sweetly, he tucked her back into her covers before one last peck and standing to leave.

"I'll be here early to pick you up tonight."

"I'll be ready. Have a good day."

"You too. Bye." He turned the knob and opened the door. He was about to leave when he turned to her again. "Um...I was actually thinking. We don't have much time left. I was hoping you could stay with me the rest of the time. Nothing has to happen, I just want to spend as much time with you as I can. We're probably going to be out pretty late tonight anyway, I can see if they have any rooms at the hotel we're going to be at. I don't want to pressure you though."

Brooke thought about it. It would be dangerous to be sleeping in the same room as him but she did agree that she wanted to be with him as much as she could before she left. Peyton would understand and a bed with Lucas would be so much more comfortable than Peyton's couch. "I'll be packed when you come to get me," she said shyly.

His eyes lit up and he nodded and left.

Brooke couldn't help but squeal into her pillow. She eventually fell back asleep. Peyton went to her early class and when she came back, Brooke was ready and dressed for thier quick shopping trip. Haley arrived soon after with the car so that they could go to the mall. They had decided to have some lunch first and it gave Haley and Peyton some time to grill Brooke again.

"So Brooke, Nate told me that he and Luke made a visit to you early this morning on thier run," Haley brought up. Brooke looked at her confused.

"Nate was there?"

"Wait, when was this?" Peyton asked curiously.

"This morning. Early this morning."

"Nate also said that he was waiting downstairs forever for Luke to come back down. What were you guys doing?"

"Nothing like you're thinking of. He came by and said that he had to see me. We may have kissed for a few minutes and then he left."

"And..."

"And you obviously know Hales, why are you embarrasing me by making me say it out loud?"

"Peyt doesn't know!" Haley defended herself.

"Fine, he asked if I could stay with him until Sunday so we could spend some time together and I said yes. I hope you don't mind Peyt."

"No way! I say go for it!"

"You guys are terrible. Nothing like that is going to happen for awhile. We're taking it slow."

"I'm all for being careful Brooke," Haley started. "But think about it. You're not going to seem him for another month. Do you really want to leave without you know?"

"Tutorgirl! I'm shocked!"

"What? Just because I waited until I was married doesn't mean I don't understand how you just need to do it sometimes."

"Obviously, since you got married at sixteen! Way to hold out Hales." Peyton laughed.

"My how things have changed. I want to wait to have sex and Haley wants me to go for it. We've only been back together for like twelve hours."

"Please. That doesn't count. The two years you guys were wasting wanting to be together counts for me, how 'bout you Peyt?"

"Sorry, Brooke. I'm with Haley on this one. You guys have enough sexual tension. No need to prolong it another month. You guys don't fall under the normal rules."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's actually positive. I just think that you guys supercede normal dating rules. You guys have overcome so much."

"I don't know. We were very physical last time and look where it got us."

"True. But last time, your heads and you hearts weren't in the right place. This time, you're both there." Haley added.

"We'll see. It's easy for me to turn him down now, but it has been over two years. I don't know how strong I can be with him in the same bed as me."

"Really? There's been no one else?" Haley asked.

Brooke shook her head.

"Then what the hell are you fighting it? You've obviously been waiting to be with him again. If you try and tell me that the opportunity was never there, I
am never going to believe another thing you say Brooke." Haley said.

"I guess it always has been him," Brooke sighed. "Even if I didn't know it."

After circling around the subject for another ten minutes, they decided it was time to find something to wear that night. Brooke decided on a plain black strapless dress with a flared skirt to her mid calf. Peyton went for a short midnight blue slip dress. Haley bought a skin tight white dress with thin straps that went to about her knees. After finding some matching shoes, Haley dropped Peyton and Brooke off so that they could all get ready. Peyton took a shower first so Brooke took the time to get a bag ready for the weekend. She was still in her robe, finishing up her hair and makeup when she heard the doorbell ring. She groaned and worked a little faster knowing that they were going to be calling her to leave pretty soon. Sure enough, there was a knock on the door a few minutes later.

"Come in! I just need two more seconds."

"No rush, I just wanted to see you."

She turned and gasped as Lucas came in looking incredibly handsome in a black suit and a silver and black tie for his fraternity. Instinctively, she ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck. He caught her and brought her up for a sweet kiss.

"A guy could get used to getting a greeting like that. Hey babe. I missed you."

"I missed you too." She gave him one more kiss before wiping the lipstick off his lips with her fingers. "You look hot, Mr. Scott."

"So do you."

"Stop. I'm not even dressed."

"So, I don' think anything can beat the sight of you in robe."

"Lucas!"

"What? I'm a guy!"

"Go back out there! I'll be there in second."

"Hurry, kay?"

"I will." She couldn't explain it. Her lips were drawn to his for one more kiss before Peyton yelling at them broke it up. "You guys better not be on my bed. We have to leave in ten minutes. Don't make me get you Lucas!"

"I better go," Lucas sighed, rolling his eyes. He let go of her reluctantly and went back to wait for the others. Brooke slipped on her dress and shoes and retouched her lipstick and joined them a few minutes later. Lucas had been sitting on the couch watching ESPN, stood up when he saw her and pulled her off to the side.

"I was wrong about the robe earlier. You look beautiful," he said, giving her a kiss on her forehead and wrapping his arm around her waist.

"Thanks Luke," she replied resting her head on his shoulder.

"Oh guys, hold that pose. I want a picture!" Haley yelled, pulling out her digital camera. "I'll email you guys a copy."

They were finally all ready to go and piled into Nathan's car for the drive to the hotel. Lucas asked them all to wait a second as he took Brooke's and his bags to check in and had them sent up to the room before they walked into the ballroom that the frat had rented out for the dinner. Peyton excused herself to go find Pete.

"It feels like prom, do you guys do this often?" Brooke asked, looking around at the black and silver decorations and tables.

"Probably once a quarter." Nathan explained, trying to loosen his tie, only for Haley to tighten it right back on.

"We just got here Nate, let me get in some good pictures before you strip down to your wifebeater this time!"

"Fine, fine. Why don't we go get everyone some drinks, Hales? We can go say hi to everyone along the way."

"Ok, you two behave. We'll see you guys in a little bit."

They walked away and Lucas immediately pulled Brooke from her chair onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her waist and gave her a sweet, long kiss. "I thought they'd never leave," he mumbled into her mouth.

"Mmm-hmm," she replied. She moaned as his tongue exlored her mouth and he gently tugged at her lips. There was no one who could kiss her like he did.

"Save that for the room, kids!" Peyton interrupted, standing to a cute red-headed guy. "Brooke, this is Pete. Pete, this is my best friend, Brooke. You know Lucas."

"Nice to meet you Pete."

"You too. I've heard lots about you Brooke. I guess she does exist, Scott."

"Hey man," Lucas said, leaning over Brooke so that he could knock fists with Pete and then discreetly trying to wipe off the lipstick from his face. He was turning a little red. Most of the guys were used to the shy Lucas Scott, who looked almost afraid when a girl came up to him. He lost some of that shyness whenever Brooke was around him. "Why couldn't Tracy make it?"

"She had a soccer game in Kentucky. They left this morning. Luckily, Peyt here didn't mind tagging along."

"Of course not! What am I gonna sit at home while all my friends are partying? I would've found a way in with or without you Pete!"

"I don't doubt that for a sec, Peyt. Thanks for helping me out. Tracy's relieved too. If it wasn't you, I would've had to ask Carrie and Tracy hates her!"

Brooke heard Carrie's name and couldn't stop the frown from forming. 'That girl sure does get around.'

"Oh, I'm sure that she's here too," Peyton said. "She would never miss one of your parties."

"She's actually umm...Mike's date...so they're gonna be at this table." Lucas revealed. Brooke looked down at him and arched her eyebrow at him. He just grinned in return at the irony and sqeezed her hand.

Haley and Nathan, who had scored a bottle of champagne and glasses came back and started pouring. Brooke took one for herself and shared with Lucas as she didn't plan on taking her own seat soon.

Eventually, Mike and Carrie arrived. She was wearing a super short, super low, super tight red dress with matching 3 inch heels. Brooke glanced over at Peyton and Haley and they just giggled. Lucas gave her a kiss on the cheek and then whispered into her ear, "Be nice."

She looked innocently back at him and whispered back at him, "I'm always nice," before she began to nibble on his ear. He had to control himself from yelling out since there were so many people there already. He had to pull her away shaking his head at her or else he would have embarressed himself. He looked over at Mike and Carrie to greet them. He didn't want to be rude.

"Hey guys, how's it going?" He was trying hard to maintain his voice but with Brooke fidgeting in his lap, he found it rising a little.

"Not much. Hey Brooke," Mike said. He was smiling so Brooke assumed he was over her rejection.'Typical guy,' she thought to herself.

"Have you met Carrie?"

"We've actually met a couple time, right Carrie? Nice to see you again."

"Yeah," Carrie said into her champagne glass.

The president of the frat called all of the brothers to the front to indicate that they were starting so Lucas lifted Brooke up and gently placed her back in her own seat. He kissed the top of her head and followed Nathan up to the front. They stood as the president introduced the pledges for that quarter and the new guys shook everyone's hand and were given some paper which was the next step to thier initiation. Finally, the president announced that dinner would be served so the guys could return to their seats. Dinner went smoothly. Lucas and Brooke had scooted over so that there was no distance between them and he could eat her left over steak and she could eat his mashed potatoes. She leaned against him with his hand rubbing circles in her back as everyone finished up and started talking about school and classes.

"Are you bored?"

"Uh-uh. I like being here with you."

"I like you here with me too."

After dinner, the frat had arranged for the bar to open up again and for a dj to come in. Brooke had dragged him to the dance floor but once they started making out, they ended up in the corner, with Lucas very close to leaving a mark on Brooke's neck.

"Lucas, don't you think I'm a little too old for a hickey on my neck?" she gasped as she could feel her neck burning under his lips.

"Maybe, but I can't really leave one anywhere else until we get up to the room."

"Why don't you hold off on that for awhile? I think my lips are feeling a little neglected," she said, pulling them up so that his tongue met hers. Thier kissing was getting frantic but neither of them could help it. They just hoped that they were far away from everyone so that thier moaning and groaning couldn't be heard.

Meanwhile, back at thier table, thier friends would look over every so often and laugh.

"Man, I didn't think Luke was into the whole PDA thing," Pete declared. He had been to how many parties with the guy, with girls throwing themselves at him, and never once had he seen his friend this open.

"Brooke makes him do a lot of things he wouldn't normally do." Nathan laughed. "She's the reason for the tattoo. They got drunk and he got it to match hers."

"When did they get together anyway? He introduced her as a friend on Tuesday." Carrie asked obviously annoyed and not having fun.

"Yesterday, but it's been about two years coming." Haley said slowly so Carrie would understand. "It was inevitable."

"Doesn't she live in California? Do they really think that it's going to work?"

"Yes!" Peyton and Haley answered, starting to get angry at her.

"You have to know the two of them to understand," Nathan tried to explain. "It might not be easy but in the end, they're going to end up together."

"I'll believe it when I see it."

Peyton and Haley just glared at her, choosing to ignore her. Nathan's cell phone which had been laying on the table startd to light up. The screen indicated that he had a text message from Lucas. Flipping it open, he saw:

We're heading up. See you tomorrow.

Smirking, he relayed the message while Peyton and Haley reveled in Carrie's pout to the news.

Upstairs, Lucas was having a hard time containing himself. He remembered that he promised to take it slow and nothing had to happen but in the elevator up she kept nibbling on his ear. They made it up to their room and as soon as they got inside he picked her up and walked her over to the bed, never having to stop from kissing her. Hastily, he removed his jacket and tie. They both got thier shoes off and they fell onto the bed, him being careful not to crush her with all his wieght. She was quickly trying to get all the buttons of his shirt undone and then removing his dress shirt. Once he was free of that, he broke away for one second before lifting the wife beater off of him. She groaned to see those abs again.

"You've been working out a lot," she groaned just as his tongue plunged into her mouth.

"Um-hmm."

A few seconds later, she stunned him by pushing him over. He was confused then aroused as she straddled his waist and began to leave a trail of kisses from his lips down his chest down to those abs. She licked a trail on the defined lines and kissed every area. She could feel him excited under her and she knew that they were getting past the point of no return but she wasn't ready to stop just yet. She made it down to his belt and was starting to undo it when the blood came rushing back to his brain and he knew that if he didn't stop her now, he wouldn't be able to do it at all. His hands grabbed hers and she looked at him in shock.

"Brooke, what about taking it slow?"

"Lucas,I don't know if I can."

"Do you still think it's the right thing to do?"

"Yeah...I think so."

Sighing, he sat up and kissed her hands. "Then we'll wait. We have forever for this. I swear Brooke, you're it for me. I can wait for you until your sure too." He brought her into him tightly so that she was resting against his chest, her head resting under his chin.

"Oh, Luke."

"It's ok Brooke. Why don't you go get changed? We can just sleep."

She nodded and grabbed her bag before going into the bathroom. When she had come out, he was in his boxers sitting under the covers. She slipped in with him. He slid down and she settled under his arm. She laid on his shoulder with her arms around his waist and her legs wrapped around his. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and gave her a sqeeze so that she knew for sure that he was alright with this.

"Good-night Brooke."

"Night, Luke."