Brooke walked up the steps to her summer home. Her hand reached for the doorknob and froze there for a moment. She'd have to face Lucas now. Brooke quietly turned the knob and slowly opened the door just wide enough for her to sneak through. She squeezed through and silently shut the door.

The sound of the television in the living room traveled down the hallway. They were watching an episode of Friends. Brooke wondered if Luke was in there, and a moment later she heard his laughter. And it too floated down the hallway, and brought a smile to her face.

But instead of moving in the direction of the living room, she tip toed up the stairs. Brooke grabbed an outfit from her dresser and went off into the bathroom. When she did talk to Luke, she wasn't going to be sweaty. She wanted to look and smell good.

Twenty minutes later, Brooke got out of the hot shower and got dressed. She changed into a black skorts set, and a teal and blue patterned silk halter. All along the bottom edge, beads hung down onto her exposed midriff. She flipped her hair over, and sprayed hair spray in her hair. She applied her make up and looked in the mirror. She smiled in approval.

Now it was time to find Lucas.

Brooke left the bathroom and headed down stairs, hoping to find Lucas still down there. She went downstairs and walked down the hallway towards the living room. She tried desperately to quell the nervous butterflies fluttering in her stomach. She walked into the living room, her presence unnoticed.

"Luke," Brooke said, announcing her presence. "Can I talk to you upstairs?"

Luke looked from Peyton and Jake to Brooke. He got off the couch and walked over to Brooke.

Brooke and Lucas walked upstairs and into the bedroom they shared in silence. Luke sat on the bed and Brooke silently shut the door. Slowly she turned around to face him.

"I'm sorry...about running off like that," Brooke said not meeting his eyes.

Lucas grabbed her hand and gently pulled her to him. "It's ok," he told her softly. Luke and Brooke walked over to the bed and sat down. "What's the matter?"

"It's just...you scare me Luke. I loved you with all my heart and you lied to me and cheated on me. And so then we became friends again. I don't think I can handle losing you completely out of my life," Brooke admitted to him, her eyes getting glassy. She was trying her hardest not to break down. "And now...you come here and you show me all that stuff...and say you still have feelings for me," she continued on, her voice wavering. "Ok so we could go out again. Suppose it doesn't work and we don't speak to each other again...then what? I do love you Luke, more than you could ever know. But I don't think I can handle losing you again."

He brushed a piece of hair out of her eyes. "You won't lose me."

"You can't promise that," Brooke told him, taking his hand and lacing her fingers with his. "So if you're not sure or you have any doubts-"

"- I've never been surer Brooke. I want and need you in my life," Lucas broke in.

Brooke tried to force back the tears that were now stinging her eyes. She'd wanted this for so long. Always dreamed of Lucas telling her these things, but now it wasn't a dream. It was real, which meant logic and reason had to play a part. "What about school? There's a LOT of distance between Tree Hill and Nebraska."

"I know," Luke said. "But you could always move out to Nebraska with me. We could get an apartment together and you could finish out college at the local community college. After that you could move on to a University," he told her as if it were the answer.

"And what happens if we break up?" she asked him, trying to think practically. "Then I'm out in Nebraska, instead of Tree Hill."

"I could move back."

Brooke shook her head. "And let you give up everything for me? I can't. You've worked so hard Luke. This was your dream."

Lucas looked into her eyes for a few moments, really noticing how Brooke had changed since high school. "I don't want any of it Brooke, if it means I have to live my life without you."

Brooke smiled at him and placed a soft kiss on his lips. "I love you Lucas, I always have and always will. Let's see where this week takes us," she suggested, "before we make life altering plans."

"Since when did you become the brain in this relationship?" Lucas asked, smirking.

"About the time you cheated on me," she teased.

"A mistake I regret to this day."

Brooke grinned. "You better."

Lucas kissed her softly at first, until Brooke returned the kiss. And then they could hear yelling from the room next door.

"Just go away Nathan!" Haley yelled. "Leave me alone."

Nathan shrugged. "It's my room too for the week."

"Then I'll be sleeping on the couch."

"If I move from in from of the door you could," he said to her, trying to hide his amusement.

Haley stared at him for a moment. "What the hell do you want from me?"

"I want to know why you hate me so much!" he shouted back at her.

Haley sarcastically laughed. "Me? Hate you? It is tempting but I don't. What I don't get Nathan is why you barely spoke two words to me the whole trip, except when we were arguing."

"Yes it was awkward for me. Being so close to the first person I really loved and still have feelings for. And wondering whether or not I should say the things I've wanted to say," Nathan told her in a normal voice now. "I stopped trying to deny it Haley. I still love you. And I know you still love me."

Haley stared through Nathan. "I don't love you."

"Damn it Haley!" Nathan yelled. "Stop denying it," he said moving towards her.

Haley stood there at first not knowing what else to say to him. She took that opportunity to slip past him and head to the door. Haley turned the handle and slowly started to open it.

Nathan sighed and looked at Haley opening the door. "Why do you always have to run from me? From what you really feel?" he asked.

Haley turned around to face him, hot tears stinging her eyes. "Because if I don't...I'm afraid I'll end up hurt," she whispered.

Nathan walked over to her and held her for a moment not wanting to let go of her. He looked down into Haley's eyes. He wiped away a tear that was sliding down her cheek. "You will never get hurt when you're with me."

Haley hugged Nathan tight and just let her tears fall. "I still love you Nathan," she said softly. "I never stopped."