Undiscovered

Chapter Fifteen

Ghost of a Good Thing

I guess it's luck, but it's the same

Hard luck, you've been trying to tame

Maybe it's love, but it's like you said

"Love is like a role that we play."

But, I believe in you so much

I could die for the words that you say

But, I believe in you so much

I could die from the words that you say

but, you're chasin' the ghost of a good thing

Haunting yourself as the real thing

It's getting away from you again

While you're chasin' ghosts

-Dashboard Confessionals: Ghost of a Good Thing

"Davis!" Jerry screamed from his office. He was Brooke's boss, who she absolutely hated with a passion.

Brooke walked into his office with a fake smile plastered on her face, "Yes Jerry?" She asked sweetly.

Jerry sighed and stuck a cigar in his mouth, "You're our best journalist here Davis," he said lighting the cigar, "I need you to interview the Los Angeles Lakers," he said as he puffed out a cloud of smoke, "They got some rookies on the team who got on the team straight out of college and I want you to interview the guys."

"Okay," Brooke said as she wrote down the information on a pad of paper, "Do I need to travel for this?"

Jerry laughed and then started uncontrollably coughing. "No, they're going to be in New York for a game," he said after his coughing fit had ended, "I'd never send you away Davis," he said with a wink.

Brooke ignored the wink, "Is that all you need?" She asked hoping that she could get out of there as soon as possible.

Jerry smiled at her, "Yup, do you want a cigar?" He said as he held out a big fat cigar.

Brooke smiled and shook her head, "I don't smoke," she said as held on tighter to her tablet, "I'll get right on those interviews," she said and then left the room. Brooke sat in her office and crumpled up a piece of paper, "Davis for three points," she said announcing for herself as she threw the piece of paper at the garbage can. She missed and groaned, "I suck," she said out loud as she turned her computer around and started typing on the computer.

"You're definitely more of a cheerleader," she heard a familiar voice behind say.

Brooke turned her chair around and saw her curly haired friend standing in the doorway, "Peyton?" She exclaimed as she got up from her chair and ran over to her friend and gave her a big hug, "How have you been?"

Peyton hugged Brooke tighter, "I've been okay. How have you been?"

The embrace ended and Brooke looked around her New York office and smiled, "Pretty good, but my dreams of becoming a professional cheerleader never came true," she joked.

"I'd have to say this is a much better job," Peyton teased.

Brooke nodded, "Definitely," she said, "So, what brings to you New York?"

"Lucas is playing," Peyton said as she sat down in a chair in front of Brooke's desk, "He plays for the L.A. Lakers."

Brooke sat down at her chair and smiled, "What a coincidence! My boss said they got some new players on the team and I have to interview them."

Peyton laughed, "At least you'll know them."

"Yeah," Brooke said as she doodled on the paper in front of her, "So, what have you been doing all these years?"

Peyton sighed, "Lucas and I got married about a year ago. We were going to invite you, but we didn't know where to send the invitation," she said off Brooke's look.

Brooke waved her hand, "Don't worry about it."

"Well, we got married and he got drafted onto the Lakers and he couldn't be happier. I have a job as a cartoon artist," Peyton said.

"No kids?" Brooke asked.

Peyton laughed nervously, "Kids? Not yet, when he gets done with this basketball thing we want to have children."

Brooke laughed, "Good idea."

"Where'd you go?" Peyton asked quietly.

Brooke bit her bottom lip, "I drove to Florida," she said as she exhaled deeply.

"Florida?"

"Yeah, my aunt and uncle live down there and I just drove and drove. They took me in, and I finished high school down in Florida. Then, I went to the University of Florida and did their newsletter there. People noticed my skills and the rest is history and I ended up here," Brooke explained as she twirled in her chair.

Peyton laughed, "How's the love life?"

Brooke shrugged, "I never really had one. I've been so busy with work and everything."

Peyton's jaw dropped, "Are you kidding? Brooke Davis, queen of Tree Hill High, never got into another relationship?"

"I went on dates," Brooke said with a laugh, "But nothing ever got serious."

"Because of Nathan?" Peyton asked.

"I guess," Brooke shrugged, "I haven't even mentioned his name since the day I left," she said with a nervous chuckle.

"Why did you leave?" Peyton asked as she leaned back in her chair.

Brooke bit her lip, "Well, I walked into Nathan's house before I came to your house and I saw him and Haley kissing on his couch and I just told myself that I was done."

"I never knew," Peyton said as she looked at the hurt in her former best friend's eyes, "I waited for you Brooke."

Brooke sighed and leaned back in her chair as tears swelled up in her eyes, "I'm sorry Pey. I couldn't come back."

Peyton got up from her seat and went over to Brooke and hugged her, "It wasn't the same without you," she said into Brooke's shoulder as she cried.

Brooke closed her eyes as tears raced down her face, "You have no idea how many times I just wanted to come back and see you guys, but I couldn't."

The embrace broke and Peyton wiped her eyes, "I look back and realize how stupid high school was," she said with a small laugh.

"Did they get married?" Brooke said as she brought a tissue to her eye.

Peyton sat back down in her chair and rested her elbows on her knees, "Yeah they did."

"Was it a beautiful wedding?" Brooke asked with pain in her voice.

Peyton swallowed, "It just wasn't right. Even Lucas said that he was marrying the wrong girl."

Brooke smiled, "Good old Lucas."

"Yeah," Peyton said as she brushed the curls out of her hair.

"Are they still together?" Brooke asked as she looked down at her fingernails.

Peyton shrugged, "I honestly don't know. They moved to South Carolina a couple weeks after the wedding, and Lucas and I haven't talked to them since."

"Oh," Brooke said a little upset and a little relieved.

"Were you thinking of getting back together?" Peyton asked as she played with the material on her jeans.

Brooke rolled her eyes, "Pey that was 6 years ago we both probably changed. I mean, he's probably still with Haley anyways since they are so in love," she said sarcastically.

Peyton laughed, "It's good to be talking to you again Brookie." She said using her old nickname for Brooke.

"I missed you best friend," Brooke said as she smiled. Their moment was ended by a knock at the door. "Come in," Brooke said annoyed.

Jerry opened the door and smiled at the two young ladies, "Hello," he said to Peyton with a sleazy wink. "Davis," he said snapping his head to Brooke, "I need you to get started on the interviews. The newcomers will be at this restaurant," he said giving her a piece of paper, "I know you'll do great," Jerry said and then walked out of Brooke's office.

Brooke looked at the slip of paper and sighed, "Time to go see the hotties on the basketball team."

Peyton laughed and stood up, "Do you want me to give you the number of my hotel?"

Brooke nodded and smiled, "Yeah sure," she said giving Peyton a piece of paper. Peyton wrote down the hotel name and number. Brooke wrote down her number and her apartment number and where it was located. They exchanged pieces of paper, "We should get together tonight."

Peyton nodded and gave her friend a hug, "Call me after the interview and we'll see what we can do in this big city."

"I'll take you to a fabulous restaurant," Brooke said with a wink. She waved at Peyton as the elevator door closed.

Brooke got her briefcase and made her way down to the restaurant where she was supposed to be meeting the players. Brooke thought about the conversation her and Peyton had earlier. She hadn't talked about Nathan since the night she left, Brooke had definitely thought about him a lot, but the sound of his name just upset her and made her want to cry.

She walked down the street and saw the sign to the restaurant. Brooke walked inside the restaurant and saw a group of men sitting at a table all wearing L.A. Laker jackets. Brooke ran her fingers through her hair and headed towards the table. The first person she saw was a more built Lucas Scott. He got up and gave Brooke a big hug, "Hey," he said as he hugged Brooke and kissed her on the cheek.

Brooke smiled, "Hey stud," she said, "I saw your wife earlier today."

"She's beautiful isn't she?" He said with a smile.

"She always was and she always will be," Brooke said sweetly.

Lucas smiled, "I'm a lucky guy."

Brooke winked at him, "So, who are the hotties sitting over there?"

Lucas laughed, "I'm glad to see Brooke Davis hasn't lost her charm."

Lucas and Brooke laughed and she didn't notice the brown haired boy coming up to them, "Luke, you're married, you can't start flirting with other girls," he joked.

Brooke turned and saw Nathan standing right there beside her, "Nathan?"

Nathan turned and saw Brooke standing right there beside him looking as beautiful as ever, "Brooke," he said softly.

Lucas looked at the both of them and smirked, "Now this should be interesting," he said as he made his way towards the table.

"Well, well, well," Brooke said as she crossed her arms and weakly smiled, "How have you been since the last time I saw you cheating on me?"

Nathan cleared his throat, "We need to talk about some stuff Brooke."

"There's some pretty hot guys on your team," Brooke said ignoring Nathan's request, "Any of them single?" She said sarcastically as she walked towards the table and shook hands with the other players.

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