Sorry it took so long to update. I actually had it written but I've been busy trying to get a new job. And Yay for me I got one. Thanks for still reading. Well here we go!!!

Hidden Away Part 4

Lucas woke up a little later than usual. Actually, it was a routine to sleep in on Saturdays and then to go out for a run. He was still feeling depressed, but he thought a run could help clear his mind.

When he opened the door he noticed the envelope float to the ground. When he picked it up he recognized the familiar handwriting and sighed. Anything from Brooke at this point was not a good sign because he knew how upset she was. He began to walk as he read the letter.

Dear Lucas,

I'm not really sure how to start off this letter. I don't want it to seem like a 'dear John' letter, but that's kinda what it is. It's a bit cliché, but I really can't help it. So I guess I might as well go with it. So... by the time you read this letter, I'll be gone. I left a little while ago, maybe a few hours before you got up. I know how much you like to sleep in on Saturdays. You have always been such a rebel. Ha-ha. But I must say 8:30 isn't really sleeping in, that's still kind of early. What kind of teenager are you? Just kidding. Oh and I'm really sorry if I'm ruining your morning run and please be careful while you read this letter, I don't want you to get run over on your way to the café. Anyway, I'm leaving town. My parents are the only ones who know where I'm going, but I wouldn't bother asking them. Mostly because I told them not to tell anyone and they probably forgot where I went anyway. They were never the most attentive parents. Now I don't want you freaking out, I have my reasons for leaving and I don't want you to think you're the reason for why I'm leaving because you're not. Here's the thing, in the past few weeks, I realized that my life isn't going in the direction that I hoped it would. I'm not happy with the person I've become. I don't like being the brainless cheerleader who whores herself around town. One thing I've learned from being with you is that I don't have to be that person. I can be so much more and there is more to life than hooking up with random guys, and that I don't have to use sex to get a guy to like me. Everything that has happened with you and Peyton and even Nathan and Haley has given me the reality check that I needed. I need to change who I am, start over and be the person I want to be. And the only way I can really do that is if I leave Tree Hill and go somewhere where no one knows my past. Don't think I'm crazy, because I'm sure you have felt this way, too.

Ok, so now that you know that I'm leaving, I wanted to let you know my feelings. Well ever since I laid eyes on you I was attracted to you. Ok so at first it was sexual attraction and I just wanted to get into your pants. But here's the thing, that night you came and got us from that frat party, I saw that there was so much more to you. You are this bright, insightful, sensitive, caring person. When I saw that I realized that, I wanted you so much more. I wanted you to love me with your whole heart, because you have such a beautiful one. When we were together, I was the happiest person in the world. You showed me a different side to life and I hope I did the same for you. Of course, I think I drew you into the dark side and I hope I didn't get you into too much trouble. When I fell in love with you, I was so scared. I have never felt that way about anyone and it frightened me. I never knew you could feel that strongly about another person. But what you did hurt me so much and I felt like a broken person. This hurt is also another feeling I never thought I could feel. The betrayal of the two most important people in my life broke my heart. But as time has passed, I am on the verge of forgiveness, for you that is. Mostly because one you're a guy and I should have figured that any guy, even you, would screw me over and two I knew you still had some underlying feelings for Peyton, but I just refused to acknowledge them. As for Peyton, I don't think I could ever forgive her. She broke the cardinal rule: don't cheat with your best friend's boyfriend. I always knew she had some sort of feelings for you, but she would always deny them. So I went for you, but here's the thing I never denied my feelings for you. Sure my feelings weren't the purest, but at least I was honest. I let her know straight out that I was interest in you. If she had just told me how she felt I would have backed off. Because really her happiness is all I ever wanted, but now I'm not so sure. That kind of hurt is something you can't forgive. But who knows, maybe with this new start, I can forgive and maybe forget all this drama. Which I must say we created a lot of that. I'm sorry about the way I acted about being pregnant. It's a scary thing, thinking you could be pregnant when you're only 16. I mean how am I supposed to take care of a baby, when I can't even take care of myself? Though I must say the idea of having your baby is the best and worst thing in the world. It's the best because the idea that the man that I truly loved, helped me create a new life and it's the worst because I know that you'd only be in our lives because of a faulty condom and not because you love us. I know that you fear being like Dan, but you could never be like him, you have a good heart. It's what made me fall in love with you. The one thing that will never change though is that you're my first love and for that I will always love you. Nothing could ever change that, no best friends, no teenage pregnancies, nothing.

Anyway, even though I'll be gone, I have a few requests. I want you to be happy. I want you to be the person you were before you became the backstabbing bastard. I want you to be that sexy intellectual that you were when I met you. I want you to be that caring person that you were before all this sex stuff clouded your mind. I want you to focus on your goals, be the man that your mother raised. I want you to have the future you always wanted. I want you to get that full ride to the college you always wanted and I want you to have a successful life. I want you to be the friend you used to be. Look out for the people who care about you, because friends and family are the most important. I'm really glad that you and Nathan can finally settle your differences and I'm really glad that you both have Haley, because she brings the best out in both of you. I want you to have a good life. I know that this seems like a lot to ask, especially from someone who isn't even around, but I know that you can do it all. I have all the faith in the world in you. Promise me that you'll do this.

I'm sorry that this is the way it's ending, but this is how it's got to be. It's the best for everyone. Please don't try to contact me. I don't think I could handle it. Still, I don't want you to forget about me, but if you could please only remember the good stuff, because that's what I will do with you. Good-bye Broody.

Love always,

Brooke "Cheery" Davis

When Lucas finished reading the letter, he was crying. Then he looked up and found himself in front of the café. It was kind of scary how well Brooke had gotten to know him in their brief time together.

As he sat down at the counter Haley came out of the kitchen.

"Hey Luke. How was your morning run?"

"It didn't happen." Lucas said as he shook himself out of his thoughts. Brooke had been right again, reading her letter caused him to miss his run.

"Are you ok? It isn't like you to miss your Saturday morning run." Haley asked with a worried tone.

"Um. Well I was a bit preoccupied. Brooke left me a goodbye letter. She left town, Hales." Lucas was becoming increasingly confused and upset. He didn't know how to feel about his ex-girlfriend's departure.

"What do you mean she left town? She was just here." Haley asked in confusion.

"She was here? Did she say anything? What happened?" Lucas asked quickly.

"Yeah, she came in for some breakfast. She was acting kind of weird at first. Really quiet. Totally un-Brooke. Anyway, we started talking, you know she can be really nice if she wants to be?" Lucas nodded to her ramblings.

"So we come to an understanding and she asks me if we could be friends. And I agree to it. Figures." Haley huffs a bit. "She wants to become friends just as soon as she's about to leave town."

Lucas and Haley sat in silence for a few minutes, trying to get over the fact that Brooke Davis left town.

"So... About this letter, what did it say?"

"Find out for yourself." Lucas slid her the letter and she read it quickly.

"Wow." Haley said. The silence filled the room again.

"You got her pregnant." Haley smacked him on the back of the head.

"NO!! It was a false positive. The home pregnancy test said she was, but the doctor said she wasn't." Lucas said as he tried to protect himself from Haley's wrath.

"Oh, well that's a relief. Wow, I can't believe everything she wrote. Kinda deep. Very sincere."

"I know. But you know she was wrong about something. I don't care how much she denies it. It's my fault. I'm the reason Brooke Davis left Tree Hill." Lucas laid his head in hands.

"Lucas Scott. You're not the reason Brooke left town. It says so in the letter. Why would she tell you that you weren't the reason for leaving, if you were?"

"But, Hales, I broke her heart. I broke her spirit and because of my mistakes she left town to become another person."

"Luke she left town to find herself. To be someone she can respect and that others will respect. She wants to change the negative image that she created here. She wants to be someone new."

"But I liked who she was. I don't want her to change."

"That's not for you to decide. I mean she referred to herself as 'the brainless cheerleader who whores herself around town.' I hate to admit it, but that's kinda how she was."

"No, you don't understand. I liked the person she was when we were alone. She was so different Hales. She was sweet and loving and caring. The way she acted in public was just a front. She was actually scared to put her actual feelings on display because she didn't want other people to think she was weak. She had all these little quirks that she kept hidden from other people. It was actually really cute."

As Lucas spoke about Brooke, Haley saw the love he still carried.

"Well maybe she thought if she left town she could be this person that you're describing because if she goes to a place where no one knows her past she will be more readily accepted. And we both know that Brooke needs to be somewhere that she can be accepted."

Lucas didn't know what else to say. Haley was right. Brooke needed to live her own life and find herself. They all did.

"Hey Hales, do you think it's possible for me to go back to the person I used to be?"

"Of course. The person you were is still inside of you, you just have to look deep inside your heart and find him. Lucas you're still a sweet, caring, intelligent person, you just need to get your priorities straight."

Lucas smiled. "Thanks Hales."

"Um Luke, are you thinking of changing back to your old self for you or for Brooke?"

"A little of both. I need to start thinking of my future, I wanna be happy. And even though Brooke isn't here, I want to keep this promise."

Lucas looked at the letter longingly. Thinking good thoughts of Brooke.

R&R. Thanks for reading