BRIGHT LIGHTS

Empty Apartment

Brooke pushed the big gold revolving door to enter the lobby of the skyscraper she worked in. The floor was tiled with a brownish marble and potted plants were placed supposedly very "zen-like" around the lobby.

Well the 1.5 million they spent on a zen expert wasn't from Brooke's pocket, so what did she care for?

Her Louis Vuitton workbag was excruciatingly heavy, it contained client files, stationary of all sort, and most importantly, her laptop. Brooke seriously felt like she was swaying every time she took a step. Brooke lugged the bag around as she made her way to the gold-plated doors of the group of elevators.

Many people were lingering in the lobby, shaking hands, talking, but most of them were reading the Wall Street Journal. People walked with urgency in their step. Nobody ever took one moment to open their eyes and realize the life they were blessed in. Their designer suits, designer bags, and the power they contained. One day, it would be too late when they opened their eyes.

Brooke walked past a group of men in black business suits shaking hands as they got ready to depart from each other's company.

Something made Brooke stop in her tracks and turn 180 degrees around.

"Lucas?" She said in disbelief.

The spiky-blond hair man turned his head and looked for who called his name. His eyes settled on the beautiful brunette dressed in a silky shirt and dress pants. Familiarity set in. "Brooke?"

Brooke grinned in excitement. She would know that gorgeous hair from anywhere. Lucas still looked the same, a little more mature and chiseled, but he was clean-shaven and his hair was gelled.

Lucas walked to Brooke in large steps. Brooke's heart beat rapidly as she anticipated his greeting. He looked a bit shy and apprehensive as he approached her. But he looked damn good.

Lucas wrapped his arms around Brooke and he inhaled her scent. Her hair still had that addicting raspberry smell.

When they stepped away from each other, Brooke was a little frightened by the electricity she felt. She smoothed down her satin shirt and nervously straightened her hair. "I didn't expect to see you in the Big Apple." She flipped the slightly curled ends of her hair over her shoulder.

Lucas gave her a smirk and cocked his head toward the group of men he was talking to previously. Brooke smiled at them with a sexy captivating grin.

"Guys, this is Brooke. Brooke this is Michael, Jay, and Eric."

Brooke held out her hand for each of them to shake.

Brooke had some small talk with them, but they left pretty soon after Brooke met them.

Lucas watched the three men walk off in the distance. When they exited through the double doors, he turned back to Brooke. "What are you doing here?" He shifted a bit on his polished shoes.

Brooke laughed at Lucas' nervousness. He always was too uptight. When they were going out, she always tried to loosen him up. Once he had, it had disastrous results. He became too confident, too sure. It might have been the reason he cheated on her. But she would never know, even though it plagued her for so many years. She looked up at Lucas' face. "Let's get out of here."

Lucas just nodded and took Brooke's hand. Brooke looked up at him adoringly. Lucas opened the door, and they walked into the golden sunshine. Snow caps lay on the sidewalk, gray and dirty from the passing cars.

Lucas led Brooke to a white Escalade, with shining rims. "Hop in." He gestured dramatically to his car. He seemed so proud of it, as he hopped to the other side and pointed the black controller. It beeped twice.

Brooke giggled a bit. The car was obscene. She popped the door open and climbed in, putting her workbag deep in the foot area. She felt like a 16 year old again, when she would get in the nice car with a guy. She traced her fingers over the smooth leather and glazed wood.

The ignition started as the key turned. The car hummed as Lucas navigated the car.

"Where to?" Lucas asked as they stopped at a red light. The light glowed as it switched to green.

"Let's go to a really good coffee-shop." Brooke answered, confident that it might move them to a level of "friends". "Just to catch-up. Right?" She looked out the window. It was such a glorious city she lived in. If you could look beyond the homeless people and littered trash, you could see something so breathtaking.

"Why are you going to New York, Brooke?" Haley asked with anguish as she paced the room. Brooke had just hit her with the news that Brooke was moving away.

Brooke stood with her arms crossed. Her decision was final, but she couldn't but feel a slight pang in her heart as Haley started crying. "Please don't cry Tutor girl. You know damn well that Columbia is a good school. I mean I know my parents got me there, but it's New York City! It's what I've been dreaming of for my whole life.

"No!" Haley came up to Brooke and put her two hands on her shoulders. She looked Brooke in her eyes. "You have everything here!"

Brooke turned her head. "Haley! Stop this. This place isn't for me. God damnit Haley, this place isn't for you either! You're better than this. You have to get out of Tree Hill!"

Haley nodded her head with understanding, a tear drop fell from her eye onto her cheek. "But why New York City?" She whispered.

Brooke closed her eyes as she imagined herself there. "It's cold. I mean, there's no feeling there. It's just granite and gray steel. But it has something special. It just doesn't give a shit. I'm telling you, the place is just cold. That's what I need. After all this Peyton and Lucas drama shit, I need to go away from somewhere that cares.

Lucas nodded. "So what have you been doing?"

Brooke shrugged. "Obviously, I went to college. I decided I liked the entertainment industry. . ."

"Why does that not surprise me?" Lucas joked.

Brooke playfully hit Lucas on the arm. "What's that supposed to mean???"

"Nothing. You just seem so Hollywood."

"Does that mean I'm bitchy, whiny, and self-centered?"

"Yes."

Brooke hit Lucas on the arm again. "Thanks. . ." She said sarcastically. She lingered her fingertips on his arm.

"Hey! Don't hit me while I'm driving. It can cause accidents." Lucas joked. He turned his eyes to meet the piercing gaze of Brooke. Brooke's breath was caught as the blue eyes stared intently at hers.

"You started it. And it wouldn't cause an accident. . . " Brooke shot back.

Lucas sighed disappointingly, as Brooke turned back to the window. "Well, Brooke. Your hotness is distracting." Lucas' eyes twinkled as he looked down Brooke's body.

"Mr. Scott, are you trying to seduce me?" Brooke asked seductively. She licked her lips. She could taste the Chanel lipgloss she had on earlier.

"Maybe." Lucas leaned over and kissed Brooke slowly.

Brooke returned the kiss back. "My place. Now."

The tires made a screeching sound as the car made a U-turn.

Brooke opened her apartment door as Lucas pressed up against her. His hot lips were on her neck.

Brooke fumbled with her jingling keys. She threw them carelessly across the room. She directed to Lucas to her bedroom, and they fell on the bed together. Lucas took off her shirt as Brooke unzipped his pants. Lucas kissed Brooke's neck, encouraged as she moaned in pleasure. He fingered her lacy red panties as she ripped the wrapper of a condom with her teeth.

Lucas leaned his head against Brooke's neck. "I've waited for this for so long." He whispered.

Brooke just closed her eyes.

The gray light filtered through the blinds. The outside lights mixed with the darkness of night. Brooke didn't know how long she had been lying there. The sheets were wrapped around her and she settled deeper against the satin gray of her pillow. Her dark brown hair was messy and tangled. She turned to feel the warm body of Lucas. She could still feel some of his sweat. His blond hair was messy as Brooke had pulled it many times.

Lucas' eyes fluttered and they met Brooke's hazel ones. "Hey beautiful."

"Hey handsome." She whispered to him and she pressed her naked body to his. The sheets rustled as they changed positions to mold perfectly against each other. "I love you."

Lucas smiled to himself. "I love you too, Brooke." He kissed the crown of her head. They both fell asleep in peace in each other's arms.

Sunlight came pouring in. Brooke sleepily pushed off the covers, but she realized she didn't have any clothes on. The night before's events came rushing back to her. She looked to the other side of her bed, where Lucas was, but it was empty. The bed was made again, the sheets smoothed down to perfection. Brooke thought everything was a dream, until she saw the three ripped condom wrappers, discarded on the floor.

She sank to her knees, back sliding against the white wall. It was happening all over again. The loneliness and unhappiness settled in. She was in this vast apartment alone, the modern black and white furniture sharp with their corners. She buried her head to her chest, the hot tears flowing down fast. The silence settled all around. The only noise heard were her sobs.

Waking up from this nightmare

How's your life, what's it like there?

Is it all what you want it to be?

Does it hurt when you think about me?

And how broken my heart is

We came together but you left alone

And I know how it feels to walk out on your own

Maybe someday I will see you again

And you'll look me in my eyes and call me your friend