Brooke hated the feeling of losing control and she had definitely lost it, she thought as she walked into the smoke filled club. The music was loud and the place was packed, so full that she almost couldn't see Nathan sitting in the VIP section. He noticed her and motioned for her to join him and his friends.

"Listen up everubody. This is a very special friend of mine. We kind of grew up together and by chance tonight I happened to run into her after not seeing her in ages. Let me introduce you to everybody."

Brooke smiled and shook hands with various basketball players and their wives and girlfriends. Although she didn't know them all by name, she recognized faces and based upon the lavish treatment their party was receiving, it was pretty safe to say she was hobnobbing with the NBA's elite. Despite being so rich and famous, everyone seemed to be gracious and friendly. Brooke chatted casually with Nathan for the most part then joined Megan for a beer and game of pool. To Brooke's surprise, Megan was an excellent and was as down to earth and friendly as she was beautiful.

As the hours passed, Brooke relaxed considerably and although she was having a pleasant time, her attention kept diverting to the developing scene in the middle of the dance floor. There was Lucas whooping it up, surrounded by at least five scantily clad girls, having a blast dancing. The girls were all over him and like an octopus, he happily returned the favor. Every five seconds he was downing a shot of whatever anyone was handing him and loving every moment. Brooke shook her head. This was not the man she knew. Of course he liked to party and have the occasional drink, but it was never like Luke to get belligerently, sloppy drunk and make an ass of himself. And shaking his ass on the floor? Hell, she'd practically had to hold a knife to his throat during the senior prom! Closing her eyes, she vowed to remove the image from her brain. She wasn't Luke's mother, wife, or keeper. What he chose to do now was simply none of her business she told herself as Megan nailed another difficult shot. A few minutes later she sank the eight ball and as Brooke looked up, the corner of her eye barely caught Lucas slipping out of the club. Concern filled her being as Nathan walked over and announced that he wanted to take over Brooke's place and be the one to defeat his girlfriend.

"Go after him", he whispered in her ear.

Nathan didn't have to say it twice. Brooke hurried out the exit and looked around the busy boulevard. Lucas had only made it about a block up the street, slumped over the sidewalk.

"Hey Broody", she said in a soft voice.

"Hey Cheery", he muttered, using the nickname he had given her to counter "Broody".

"Are you okay? Do you need anything?"

"I'm fine", he mumbled, not looking at her. "I'm just trying to catch a cab back to the hotel."

"My car is here. It's parked out back. The hotel isn't far and it's on my way home. I could give you a ride."

"No thanks."

"It's cool. I'm just a little worried. It might take a while to get a taxi to stop and you're in no condition to drive yourself anywhere. I'd feel better if I dropped you off", she said in a pleading voice.

Too tired and drunk to answer, Lucas simply nodded his head and followed her to the parking lot. They climbed in the car, the soft tunes of a local alternative rock station was the only thing breaking the silence. Although the drive there took less than ten minutes, to the passengers inside the car, it felt like a lifetime. Lucas leaned his head against the car window for support as Brooke parked it in the lot of the Ritz Carlton. She got out and slowly opened the passenger door, gently guiding Luke to his feet. They arrived on the top floor and he fumbled around in the pockets of his jeans for his wallet and room key. A few seconds later he opened the door. Brooke stood there and he invited her in. The room was nice and the view was breathtaking. He opened the balcony door and it was hard not to get lost in the soft summer breeze.

"You want a drink or something?"

Brooke shook her head.

"I'm fine", she answered as he poured himself a glass of ice water.

"Thanks for the ride", he said in a voice that was barely audible.

"No problem. I just wanted to make sure you would be okay and all."

"I'm okay", he said, standing up and nearly falling over.

"Lucas, let me help you..."

He tried to resist but was helpless as she helped him lie down on the bed. His breath reeked of Jack Daniels and tequila as she removed his shoes.

"Lie down. Nathan will be here soon."

He closed his eyes and she was overcome with the urge to touch him, hold him, take care of him...

"Why?" he whispered.

"What?"

"I just need to know one thing, Brooke. What happened to us? Why did you leave?"

She closed her eyes at the mere mention of the question that had haunted her for years.

"Luke..."

"Answer me", he said. "You owe me that much."

Brooke was cornered between a rock and a hard place. Her heart pounded lightly and her stomach was tied in knots. Emotionally, she was not ready to deal with him. Not now, maybe not ever.

"I can't do this with you right now...", she sobbed as she grabbed her keys and ran for the door. "I'm sorry, Lucas."

Brooke pulled the covers over her head and prayed she could stay there forever but the alarm clock was relentless. No matter how awful she felt, she had a job to do, commitments to fulfill. In a trance almost, she showered, dressed, and fought her way through the morning traffic to work. No amount of make up could hide the visible circles underneath her eyes or the worry tormenting her heart. She was ate up inside with confusion and hurt. The minutes of the day seemed to drag on like an eternity.

"Get yourself together", Tarah had whispered along with a reassuring hug. "Things will be okay."

Brooke knew fully well she had to get herself together. Life had to go on as it had before Lucas had fallen back into her life. She was an independent woman and it was important to regain that control. After work, she enjoyed a lengthy work out at the gym, an hour in the spa, and treated herself to a home cooked meal. A hot bubble bath was the perfect finisher to a long and treacherous 24 hours. For hours she indulged in the garden tub letting all her tears and frustrations out for a final time. After drying off and changing into an over sized white tee shirt, she relaxed on the sofa to watch a little television. The Mary Tyler Moore show, one of her all time favorites. Brooke smiled. She had come along way from that loving to shop, shallow cheerleader who lived for the latest episode of the "Real World". She had grown up and was a different person now. A glass of wine and a classic television show was just as fulfilling as a shopping spree at the mall or hitting up the hottest clubs with her girlfriends. It was a TV Land marathon and after three episodes and two glasses of wine, Brooke found herself dozing off. A knock at the door jarred her from slumber.

"Hold on", she called out, not bothering to grab her robe.

It was late and since Tarah lived only a few blocks away, it wasn't uncommon for the woman to stop by. She unlocked the door but kept the chain latched, opening up to see who was on the other side. It wasn't Tarah, the lone figure was a tall and slender male.

"Luke... is that you?"

"Can I come in?" he asked quietly.

She stood back and allowed him to enter her place, quickly excusing herself to fetch her robe. She slipped it on and desperately tried to do something with her still damp, long locks.

"Can I get you anything? Something to eat? Coffee, water, tea, soda pop?"

"No thanks, I'm good", he responded. "This is a real nice place you got here, Brooke."

"Thank you", she nodded. "Look, if you don't mind me asking, how did you find out where I live?"

"Your Gran", he grinned sheepishly and it made her smile as well.

She should have known who was behind it all.

"Big surprise there, huh? I'm glad you came over. I wanted to apologize to you, you know, about the other night and all."

"Why?" he asked with a hurt tone. "Running away is what you do best."

His words stung like a fist.

"I deserved that one", she admitted. "I was wrong but I sincerely hope you didn't come over here to throw insults at me."

"I honestly don't know why I came here", Lucas said, looking her in the eye for the first time in years. "I just had to. I guess I came here to find out about the truth. I need to know, Brooke. You can't run and hide anymore."

He was right and deep down she knew it.

"I don't know what to tell you, Luke. What do you want to hear? The truth? What truth is that?"

"Damn you", he cursed, getting up. "Would you quit talking in circles? My God, I'd respect you a hell of a lot more if you'd just play it straight with me for once. Be honest, Brooke. Tell me how me and my basketball just wasn't good enough for you."

"Oh, that is such bullshit! Lucas, you know damned well it wasn't like that."

"What was it like, then? Please enlighten me because I have no idea."

"I wasn't with you because of basketball or where you lived or what kind of car your parents drove..."

"Why were you with me?"

"Because...

"Because what? Just spill it, Brooke. Tell the truth. Confessions are like potato chips, why stop with just one?"

Tears stung Brooke's eyes. The confrontation had been years in the making but no amount of preparing mentally had readied her for their face to face meeting.

"Because you were different. Because you were a sweet boy with a good heart. Because you treated me like a human being, like a lady...like I was actually something special. Because I loved you, Luke."

It hurt him to see her cry but the anger built up inside for so many years would not allow his demeanor to soften.

"Well if you loved me so much, you sure had a shitty way of showing it."

"Yeah? Maybe I did. Maybe I made mistakes, Luke. I live with that every day. And you have a right to be mad and yell at me and hate me. I guess I deserve that. But I did love you. I loved you very much and that is the truth. And when I left, I still loved you. It wasn't over for me then and I don't know if it's even over for me now because...because I still love you."

There it was. Words and feelings trapped inside for so long were now out. Brooke closed her eyes and immediately wished she could recall those fateful last sentences. Just by the look on his face she knew right away that she had said too much. But it was too late. The words had already been spoken. All cards were on the table and it was time for both of them to face the music.