Disclaimer: You know the drill.... Sadly I own absolutely nothing.

She Will Be Loved ........... Chapter 6

"Behind Blue Eyes"

The next few days were proved to be extremely hard for Lucas. It seemed like everywhere he went, Brooke and Felix were there as well. And everytime he saw them together, his heart broke even more. He couldn't find himself to talk to her. He avoided her at all costs and she was beginning to take notice.

Carley had returned home after 3 years due to the fact that her aunt and uncle felt she should be home with her family and the pending bankruptcy. Although family really meant Brooke. The two were happy to be reunited and things were finally coming to place.

----------------------------------------------------------

"So Brooke, what do you have planned for us today?" Carley asked, sprawled out on Brooke's bed.

"About that....." Brooke started. Carley knew the look on her face.

"What now B?"

"I'm kinda..... going out.... with Felix today," she said slowly. Carley groaned.

"Are you really into him? He just seems so.... slimy."

"Carls he's really a nice guy. You haven't even tried to get to know him!" Brooke argued.

"Whatever Brooke. I just thought you might want to spend some time with your sister who you haven't had home in 3 years but apparently I was wrong," Carley said angrily, grabbing her hoodie and walking out the door.

"Carley wait!" Brooke watched her younger sister walk down the driveway and proceed to her car. 'First Lucas, now Carley? Who else is gonna be mad at me?'Brooke thought.

----------------------------------------------------------

Carley, in her '97 Saturn SC2, found her way in the middle of town. After finding a somewhat good parking spot, she began walking, hoping to find something that looked familiar. She stopped at a little cafe. She walked in to find the cafe to be very comfortable and homey. She sat down at the counter and waited as her order was taken.

"Carley?" she heard someone ask. She turned around to find Lucas standing there.

"Hey Lucas," she said as he sat down beside her.

"What brings you here?" he asked as he winked at Karen, who brought Carley's coffee. Carley looked at him questioningly. "Don't worry, she's my mom," Lucas said with a laugh. Carley breathed a sigh of relief before answering his question.

"Well, seems Brooke would rather spend the time with her little boyfriend than me so I decided to see how the rest of Tree Hill was," she explained.

"Ahh.... you don't like him either huh?"

"Is it that obvious?" Carley said with a smile. She didn't know why but she found herself very comfortable with Lucas. Now she knew what Brooke saw in him. "I don't know... I guess I just thought that if I came back, things would immediately return to how they were before I left. Just me and Brooke against the world. Now I know how wrong I was."

"I'm sure you and Brooke will find your way. It'll just take some time to adjust," Lucas told her.

"And how are you adjusting?"

"Adjusting? Not exactly. But hey what can you do?" he asked, playing with the napkin holder in front of him.

"You can tell her," offered Carley.

"Tell her what?" Lucas said, flashing that brilliant smile of his.

"Tell her you still love her." Lucas just looked at her. How did this girl who he hardly knew know how he felt. "Your eyes say it all. Everytime you see her, your eyes light up. And when you see them together, it's like your world crumbles." Lucas just shook his head and slightly laughed.

"You're good Carley Davis. I have to admit that." They sat in silence while Carley finished her coffee.

"Well I better get going. But you should really talk to her Lucas. You never know what might happen," she said, leaving a tip on the counter. Lucas just nodded as she winked at him and walked out the door.

"And who was that Lucas?" Karen asked, coming to where he was sitting and picking up Carley's empty cup.

"That would be Carley Davis, Brooke's sister." Karen's eyes widened.

"I didn't know Brooke had a sister."

"Neither did I until a few weeks ago."

"She's cute," Karen said, giving her a son a wink. Lucas just rolled his eyes and laughed.

----------------------------------------------------------

As Carley left Karen's Cafe, she found her name being called out again. This time she turned around to find Peyton Sawyer, her sister's best friend.

"Hey girl!" she said, walking up to Peyton and giving her a hug.

"Wow, you've changed so much. I almost didn't recognize you!" Peyton said, blonde curls bouncing in the sunlight. "Where's Brooke?"

"Heh... where do you think she is?" sarcasm in Carley's voice. Peyton caught on.

"Felix huh? Should've known."

"I really don't know what she sees in that guy. I mean honestly, is he really that good?" Carley asked. Peyton just shrugged.

"I guess Brooke just wants someone who feels the same way for her that she feels for him?"

"But she doesn't. That's the thing. It's like she's forcing herself to like him because he apparently confessed his true feelings for her."

"Who knows with Brooke? She's Brooke. You can't tell her what to do or how to feel," Peyton said, looking around. "Well hey, I gotta go get ready for tonight at TRIC. You gotta come, okay?"

"Definitely. If I can drag Brooke away from Felix long enough to help me find something to wear," Carley said with a wink. Peyton laughed and then stopped to stare at Carley. Carley looked back at her, confused. "What?"

"YOU have an awesome voice! You'd be perfect to sing tonight!" Peyton said excitedly.

"No way! I haven't tried to sing in years!" Carley protested.

"Please please PLEASE Carley! You don't know how much this will mean to me!" Peyton begged. At this point she was desperate and she needed any talent she could get.

"I'll think about it," Carley said, giving in. Peyton knew she had gotten her.

"Thank you!!! You won't regret it I promise!" Peyton yelled at her, after giving her a hug and almost skipping away.

----------------------------------------------------------

That evening, TRIC was open and overflowing with teenagers and adults. Lucas sat at the edge of the counter, watching everything that was going on around him. Felix had Brooke in the middle of the dance floor and she seemed to be having a good time. But inside, she was a wreck.

'Who am I kidding? Is this what I really want? Why didn't I just say no? Then maybe I wouldn't feel like such a horrible person.'But Brooke just continued to smile.

Meanwhile Carley stood by the edge of the stage, preparing to perform. Haley had finally convinced Chris this was where she wanted to be and came home to a nervous Nathan. The two had run into Carley earlier that afternoon and Nathan introduced her to Haley. Little did Haley know, Nathan and Carley had a serious past together. Nathan couldn't help but feel awkward with his now wife and ex-girlfriend.

Carley had asked Haley to accompany her on stage, hoping it might be better for the both of them if they went up together. With some persuasion by Nathan, Haley finally agreed to play and sing back up for Carley. Now all they had to do was wait until it was their time to go.

Hope you guys liked it! Don't worry the next chapter is definitely on it's way. Please keep reviewing! Good or bad, just let me know what you think!