Peyton cursed as she missed the shot. Granted she was a mediocre pool player at best, she knew she should have made that shot. She also knew she wouldn't get a second chance. Brooke Davis, as prim and proper and girlie as she was, could sink almost any pool shot including the awkwardly placed eight ball near the center of the table. She sized up the position and put the stick behind her. Then leaning backwards and sideways, she sank the shot to win the game with one quick motion.

"Wow", Peyton said, as she took a sip of beer. "I am impressed, dude. What the hell was that Matrix move all about?"

Brooke sighed as she refilled her mug with beer at their favorite hang out, The Whiskey.

"I don't know. Want to play again?"

"And have you kick my ass for what, the fifth time tonight? Sure", Peyton grinned.

Brooke nodded as she arranged the balls and powdered up her stick.

"Your turn to break, Pey."

Peyton looked at the sad eyes and blank expression of her friend. The last month Brooke just hadn't been herself and Peyton couldn't pinpoint why. Maybe because Savannah Spaulding had been in the world's longest soap opera coma still or may be because Tim wasn't having much luck coming up with decent parts for her. Brooke had become quiet and more reserved and she was avoiding auditions like the plague.

"You want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Brooke asked.

"Whatever you want. Whatever's bothering you."

"I'm fine", she shrugged. "Just thinking."

"About?"

"I don't know, Pey. I have a question for you. Are you happy?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you happy? You know, with yourself and your life and the choices you've made."

"I guess", Peyton shrugged. "I mean, things could be worse. Granted, I always had this mental picture of myself living abroad like France or Italy and being this famous traveling artist. It didn't work out that way but I don't think I did too bad for myself. I live in the City, which I love and I get to work for you, which isn't half bad either. I have plenty of friends and I get to do all the things I want so…yeah, I guess I'm pretty happy."

"But have you ever made a mistake? Like done something really bad that you couldn't quit thinking about and you'd do anything to take it back."

"Of course", Peyton shrugged. "Haven't we all? That's just a part of life and unfortunately, we don't get take backs. But I think if you make a mistake, no matter how big or small, as long as you learn from it, then in a way, you become a better person."

"I guess", Brooke nodded. "I don't know. I never thought of it that way before."

"What about you? Are you happy?"

"I used to think so. I mean, I love acting. I really do. It's like the only thing I was ever good at that made me truly happy. My career is in the gutter now and I can't help but think it's my fault. Sure Felix did all the dirty work but I allowed him to. And I also let him put me on this pedestal like I was better than everyone else. Sad thing is, I started to believe and in the process, I kind of lost myself. I treated a lot of people badly for no reason at all."

"Now you just have to put all that behind you and find yourself again."

"You want to know something weird, Pey?" Brooke asked.

"What's that?"

"When I was a little girl, I used to dream about being a big famous star and everyone would want me in their movies and the fans would want my autograph and best of all, all the guys would want me. I had the biggest crush on Ben Affleck and I just knew someday we were going to end up together. That never happened of course but it was just as nice going to clubs and parties and premieres and having all this crazy attention from hot guys. They were beautiful and sexy and rich and most of all, they wanted me. At the time, that fast life was great. I loved it. I didn't know any other way and I didn't want to but now…I don't know. Because when it's all gone, it's really gone. What's the point of being beautiful or having money or being the next big thing, if at the end of the day, you have no one to share it with. God, you must think I'm a moron…"

"No, I don't think you're a moron. I think that is the most honest, most genuine, thoughtful comment I've heard you say in a long time. Partying and having fun is cool but you're right. There is more out there."

"You ever get lonely not having a boyfriend?"

"Sure. I'm human, right? Don't get me wrong, being single in the city can be fun and I like to keep my options open and date around but it would be nice sometimes to come home to something other than an empty bed. Hey, you remember Jake Jagielski?"

"Yeah."

"He was a cool guy. We were so young but being with him totally changed my life. And it's funny now because every guy I date, I always compare him to Jake and no one will ever measure up to him. I know it's unfair but I can't help it. We're still young but sometimes I think heis 'the one'."

"How do you know?"

"That Jake is the one?"

"Yeah."

"I don't know, I just do. I feel it inside, I guess. Nobody has ever made me feel like that. He's so smart and sincere, our lives are just so parallel, you know? And I've never had that with any other guy and it's kind of nice. Everything I've ever wanted is right there with him."

"But he's not here."

"I know. He's out doing his thing in L.A. and I totally respect and support that. For now we're just friends but we have a good thing and I'm absolutely crazy about him. It's special but for now being together is not an option. My life is here and his life is in California but we talk all the time and I really feel that if it's truly meant to be, one day we'll make our way back to one another."

"I get what you're saying. Lucas… I can't even begin to explain. You think I'm crazy but I can't stop thinking about him. I don't really know him but in a way I know so much because we've spent so much quality time just talking. He's an amazing person and I really like him. I've never even seen a picture so that tells me I like the person on the inside. It doesn't matter what he looks like because in my heart, he is beautiful. There is something about him that makes me really want to get to know more, hell everything about him. I don't know why but I have to see him, Peyton. I just want to show up wherever he's gonna be, totally surprise him and then..."

"Tell him that, Brooke. No, I might not understand exactly how you feel about this guy and I might not agree with it but you're a big girl and it's your life and your happiness. Sometimes, you just have to take that first step and do what you have to do."

"I know but I don't want to scare him and for some reason I feel like he's holding back on me. I mean, we get along so well yet it's like he's afraid to meet me in person."

"Find him and surprise him just like you said."

"How? I don't even know his last name."

Peyton thought to herself all night of a way to help her best friend. As they arrived back at the apartment, she had a brainstorm.

"Hey, Brooke, when Lucas e-mails you, what's the address? Juno, Mindspring, Yahoo, what?"

"AOL."

Peyton booted up her personal home computer.

"Watch and learn. I have an idea."

"Pey, what are you doing?"

"Give me his screen name and full e-mail address."

Brooke complied as Peyton clicked on the keys.

"Hey. Brooke, check this out."

"What? What is it?"

"I got him. I think I just found our mystery man."

Brooke was about to jump out of her skin as Peyton pulled up a written profile of Lucas taken from his e-mail information.

Brooke mouthed the words slowly aloud, "Lucas Eugene Scott, aged 21, Tree Hill, North Carolina."

Peyton smiled.

"That's a start."

"Now what?" Brooke asked.

"Okay, there has to be a way to find more. What do you know about him? Think back to any clues he might have given you."

"I don't know. We have his full name,his age, legal city of residence..."

"Didn't you say he was in college?"

"Yeah. He's a psychology major."

"Think Brooke. Any city he mentioned, any sports team, any landmark or mascot, or…"

Brooke thought long and hard.

"I don't know. Gosh, I can't remember anything."

"Come on, Brooke."

"Um…one time he said something about a demon…"

"Demon!" Peyton grinned as she typed. "That's it! Bingo!"

"Bingo?"

"Look here. Demon deacons fight song. That's Wake Forest University, Brooke. With what we have, we should be able to track this guy down in no time."

"How?"

" There have got to be some public college records...or better yet, let me try something", Peyton said.

Brooke paced back and forth.

"Pey…"

"Done! Mystery solved!"

"What did you do?"

"I tapped into the university e-mail and college files. There is detailed information available and also a picture."

Brooke and Peyton stared in disbelief.

"Oh my God, is that legal?"

"Of course it is…I think."

"Where did you learn how to do that? That's freaking awesome! Who would have known my bestest friend in the whole wide world is a Sherlock Holmes super sleuth?"

"You so owe me, kiddo", Peyton grinned. "Tomorrow Starbucks is so on you."

Brooke sat in the seat Peyton had been occupying. She took a deep breath before looking at the screen. Her eyes scrolled down as she made mental notes of what she was reading: Lucas Eugene Scott, Social Security Number 123-45-6789, born on February 1, 1984, legal residence 3704 Manchester Dr. Tree Hill, NC...

Brooke's eyes scanned the screen until she came to the picture. As far as she could tell, it was a student I.D. Finally there was the face she had been waiting to see for months and it was the face of a god. Brooke stared at his hair, blue eyes, that perfect nose, those sexy lips...

"Holy cow, Brooke! Dude, I so take back all the shit I was giving you. This guy is a total fox!"

Brooke sat open mouth and mesmerized.

"He's even more beautiful than I imagined...if that's possible."

Peyton smiled at her friend.

"Well there he is. Mr. Deez Nuts, Mr. Lonely Boy, Mr. Lucas Eugene Scott. So. What are you going to do now?"

There was only one thing to do as far as Brooke was concerned.

"I have to meet him."