Brooke cursed out loud as she limped into the Starbucks. Peyton, sick at home with a flu like bug, had abandoned her. Not only that, she had stepped in a huge pile of dog crap and survived an unfortunate collision with a disgruntled bicyclist. And as if her day couldn't get any better, she had just lost a freshly manicured fingernail to the stupid door. After ordering a hot chocolate, she sipped it as she began the six block walk back to the apartment.

"Excuse me, Miss Davis, can I get your autograph, please?"

Brooke was stunned. It had been a long time since she had heard that request. She had missed it actually. At the height of her success, it had been a mere necessity that was both a burden and an annoyance. Now it had gone back to being surprising and flattering.

"Um…sure", she replied, turning around. "What's your name?"

"Lucas...but you can just make it out to Lonely Boy or Deez Nuts. Whichever alias you feel comfortable with."

Brooke's eyes nearly popped from their sockets. Sure enough, it was him.

"Lucas. It…it's really you. Oh my God. What are you doing here?"

"Well, I woke up this morning and I said to myself, 'Self, today seems like a good day to go to New York City'. So I caught the first Amtrak train out and I arrived at Penn station, which is ridiculously huge by the way, just in case you hadn't noticed. Then I realized I didn't know anyone here so I started walking around like the tourist dork that I am, hoping to run into a very beautiful and hopefully forgiving TV star that wouldn't mind being my tour guide. I guess this is my lucky night."

"How did you find me?" she asked softly.

"Hey, you're not the only one that knows how to play detective. I remembered you describing where you live and the Starbucks you come to every evening around this time that's located by The Whiskey bar. So I asked around and uh…here I am."

"Um, what happened to..."

Lucas smiled weakly.

"Physical therapy is going great...I'm slow as hell and still a little wobbly but I can get around now without the wheelchair. I use this cane."

"That's great", she said. "I'm glad you're doing okay."

They stood there just staring at each other speechless and breathlessly as a light rain began to sprinkle.

"Here", he said, taking off his jacket and handing it to her. "So you won't get wet."

"Thanks. But what about you?"

"I'll be okay."

"Hey, I don't want you to get all wet but my place is still a few blocks up if you want to come in..."

"Thanks. I'd like that. Um…I was hoping we could spend time together, you know, talk."

"Okay...we could go back to campus. It isn't too far but if you don't feel like driving, I understand."

They were quiet and soaked to the skin by the time they made it to Brooke's door.

"Make yourself comfortable", she said, handing him a Diet Coke. "Unfortunately this living room also serves as my bedroom and the couch doubles for my bed. I'm sure you were probably expecting the penthouse."

Lucas shrugged.

"This is cool."

"My roommate, my assistant you talked to, Peyton, she's in the bedroom, her room. She has the flu or something."

Lucas nodded as Brooke handed him a warm blanket as they were both chilly from the weather.

"So…", she started. "How do you like New York so far?"

"I like it. It's big. It's so different from anything I've ever seen in New York. I was standing in the middle of Times Square earlier tonight and I remember looking up and seeing all the lights and the people and the tall buildings and thinking this was the greatest place on earth."

"Yeah. I guess it is pretty spectacular."

"Look, the real reason I came here is…I owe you an apology, Brooke, a huge one. When you came to Wake before I was out of line and I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I understand. I shouldn't have just showed up like that. It was a stupid idea."

"It's not okay. I had no right to be mean to you like that. Brooke, that's not my style and I think you know it but uh…look, I got hurt because of a car wreck with my uncle. It left me temporarily partially paralyzed from the waist down and I was ashamed of the wheelchair. You know, it's funny, when I was in the hospital I was pretty down. My sister in loves Guiding Light and she used to watch it in my room. I guess that's how I started watching too. I thought you were the prettiest girl I had ever seen. I don't know, even then when you were just a face on the television screen, I felt something…like this connection, like I had to know more about you. God, I never imagined I'd ever talk to you much less become your friend. Normally I would have jumped at the chance to meet someone like you but I didn't want you to see me like that...I guess I was afraid of how you would see me."

Brooke listened intently before nervously brushing her hand against his.

"Lucas, you got to know the real me. Why couldn't you trust that I was better than that?"

"I did trust you. I guess it was myself that I didn't trust. But anyway. I made a mistake. That's why I came here hoping I could explain and somehow fix it all."

"Know what I saw? That day in the library?"

"No", Lucas shook his head.

"The most beautiful boy in the whole world."

Lucas looked away as he blushed. It was all still so surreal for him. He could not believe that he was actually in New York City, face to face with Brooke Davis, having a conversation in her apartment.

"Is this weird for you?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Two strangers meeting and talking and finding out that it's really not so strange after all. I mean, I agonized all day over what I was doing and what I was gonna say to you. But being here…it's perfect. It just makes sense. I really get you and I feel like you get me, too. Is that weird?"

"Yeah", she chuckled softly. "It's weird that you're exactly right. It's weird that I feel so comfortable and so safe and so vulnerable all at the same time with you. It's weird how you know me…how I show you a piece of myself a lot of other people don't get to see."

Lucas smiled.

"When you first wanted to meet me, I was scared. And when you showed up at Wake, I was scared. And traveling up here today, I was scared. Know why? Because when we chat, it was perfect. We had fun and we could be goofy and candid and serious and all these different emotions at the same time and it just seemed to fit. I didn't want to lose that, Brooke. And I was afraid that if we met, somehow it would all change. That seeing each other would make it different and we'd lose what we had…whatever that was."

"And how do you feel now?" she asked softly.

"Happy", he smiled. "Happy to be here…happy to be with you."

They continued talking all night and into the wee hours of the morning. Eventually, Lucas nodded off. Brooke retrieved a pillow and blanket to make him more comfortable, pulling the covers up to his chin as she studied the peaceful and relaxed expression on his handsome face. Brooke took her own place a few feet away on the couch, the sound of Lucas' soft, even breathing gently lulling her into her own sleep. Calmer than she had been in months, she lay there just staring at him with a huge smile plastered on her face. His visit and their subsequent talk had exceeded her wildest expectations. She couldn't describe what she felt and what they had but whatever it was, it was nice.