"Yoo hoo, earth to Brooke!"

"What?"

Peyton rolled her eyes.

"Brooke, what the hell is your problem? You know, I was all content to spend a relaxing day visiting museums then capping it off with dinner in the Village. A nice, normal happy day. But no! Who barged in my room at the butt crack of dawn this morning demanding that we not only come to the gym and work out but do yoga! Yoga and Peyton Sawyer do not mix, okay? These crazy positions are not normal and I've already heard something pop in my knee like four times already. Anyway, I came here for you and I'm doing this all for you... and you're not doing anything except sitting there and looking cute in your little blue leotard. I asked you a question and now you're not even talking. What's up with that?"

"Sorry, I didn't hear your question and for your information, I am too doing something. I…I'm stretching. Yeah, that's it. Stretching."

"If that's your story", Peyton smirked. "Want to tell me the real deal now? The truth? I honestly hope you're not still being weird over that guy. What was his name, Lonely Boy?"

"His name is Lucas."

Peyton grinned in disbelief.

"Lucas, huh? So I take it you guys are still steaming up the computer lines."

"I love the way you make it sound so Danielle Steele but sorry to disappoint you, P. Sawyer. We're just friends. It's more of a Judy Blume relationship."

"Maybe so but that still does not excuse the fact that you, Brooke Davis, has a cyber crush on one of your little fans."

"It is not, I repeat, NOT a crush, okay? Put some ice on it, will you?" Brooke yelled as she tossed a towel at her.

She was half smiling but Peyton could sense she was getting irritated.

"Seriously, Brooke, what's up?"

Brooke breathed a deep breath and proceeded to tell her best friend the entire story as they got comfortable in the sauna room.

"...Do you get it now? Lucas is not just a regular fan. I really like him."

Peyton sighed as she relished in the hot steam.

"Okay, let me get this straight. You meet this guy, some random fan because of a dumb contest 'he who shall not be named' put on your website for free publicity. The guy writes this decent poem that for some reason fascinates you beyond all reason. He refuses the prize, which was a date with you but for the last few months, you two have been e-mailing back and forth almost daily?"

"Yeah."

"And now you say you like him? What does that mean, Brooke?"

"What do you mean, what does it mean? I like him."

"There are different kinds and stages of like. Do you like him as a friend? Or do you just like the fact that he's a fan? Do you have a crush on him? Or God forbid, is it more?"

"I don't know", Brooke smiled like a smitten schoolgirl. "I don't know. I can't really label it. I know it sounds crazy but we really connect. It's a vibe, like chemistry. Do you believe in fate, Peyton?"

"Oh God, shoot me now", Peyton shook her head.

"No, I'm serious. It's like Lucas and I were supposed to meet for some reason. It's beyond a crush or even a friendship. It's like it's destiny."

"Okay, either you need to seriously lay off the booze or the heat in here is starting to get to you. Brooke, are you hearing yourself? Are you nuts? It's a stranger."

"To you maybe but not to me. We've really gotten to know each other."

"No. He knows you because your life is an open book. This guy can Google you and find out your favorite food, your grandmother's name and everything else stalkers can find out about stars. You're out there, you have your own site even. But what do we really know about this guy? Nothing except for what he tells you and since there is no way to verify it, for all you know it could all be one big lie, part of his scheme to prey on innocent young women."

"I know that Peyton. I mean, duh, I'm not a dummy, you know. You're absolutely right…but you could be wrong. What if he is exactly who he says he is? No lies or pretenses. He's just who he is. This incredibly smart, philosophical, poetic young man."

Peyton sighed. Brooke had always been naïve and trusting when it came to the opposite sex. Her mother, Elizabeth Davis, used to joke that one day poor Brooke was going to end up on the back of a milk carton. Much apparently hadn't changed over the years. Peyton hadn't seen her friend that far gone since, since…the initial arrival of Felix Domingo.

"Are you gonna date him?" Peyton asked.

"I don't know", Brooke laughed out loud. "No. Probably not…"

"Good, because hooking up with your fans can't be the smartest idea in the world. You'll never know if they like you for the person you are or the personality they see on TV. You never know if they're even bothering to get to know the real you."

"He does know the real me."

"Brooke!" Peyton protested in exasperation. "Just look, promise me that no matter what happens, you will not sleep with this guy."

"Pey…"

"I mean it. Raise your right hand and swear. No, pinky promise me."

"Uh oh, the pinky promise?" Brooke smiled. "Somebody means business."

"Brooke! Come on. Promise. Even if he turns out to be cute."

"Cute? How cute? Like 'guy we saw this morning at Starbucks, attractive cute' or 'Brad Pitt cute'?"

"Doesn't matter. Whether it's Emmanuel Lewis cute or Johnny Depp cute. Pinky promise. Come on. Say the words, girlie. 'I, Brooke Davis pinky promise and swear on my almost lifelong friendship with Peyton Sawyer that I will not fuck the Lonely Boy…even if he's a dead ringer for Jude Law'."

"Fine", Brooke sighed as she repeated the words, raising her right hand and linking pinky fingers with Peyton. "Dude, you are such a killjoy!"

Peyton just shook her head and grinned.

"You'll thank me for this later. Trust me."

"No, I won't and can we not talk about this anymore, please?"

"Fine", Peyton smiled, satisfied. "Dead issue."

Brooke waited uncomfortably for a few more minutes until she could no longer hold her tongue.

"Okay, just one more thing. It was strange the other night. I asked Lucas to comr to New York and…"

"You what? Are you nuts?"

"Just listen, Pey. He didn't want to. Just like he didn't want to do the whole date thing. Said he was busy with school and stuff but…but I don't buy it. This might sound stupid but as much as we do connect, and I know he feels it too, it's like he doesn't want to meet me. That really bothers me, you know? I wonder why he won't meet me."

"Let's see, either he's ugly or crazy, has been on America's Most Wanted, or he's married with a wife and like ten kids."

"Where in the hell do you come up with this crap?" Brooke rolled her eyes.

Peyton loved teasing her.

"Whatever you say, kid. Keep picturing in your mind George Clooney and instead, you'll end up with George Burns."

Brooke rolled her eyes.

"Thanks for the love, Friend. Your support of my feelings means the world to me."

"Fine, fine. I will be serious. Now, the only way to know if this Lucas guy is truly avoiding you is to invite him somewhere else. Preferably somewhere very public and well lit."

"Pey!"

"Sorry. Anyway, you say he lives in North Carolina, right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Try to meet him and set it up so everything is taken care. Leave him with absolutely no excuses, then see what happens."

Brooke nodded. Once again, Peyton was right. Brooke would just have to see for herself. What was so special about Lucas? Was he somehow her dream guy? Brooke had to know and she was bound and determined to find out.