Brooke awakened, her bright eyes slowly fluttering open. She looked over to the heap of blankets on the floor but there was only an empty space. Except for rumpled covers, there was no indication that he had ever been there. She began to wonder if he had left her or if it had been a dream. Then she heard the hoarse but nevertheless shrill scream if her roommate, Peyton. Brooke dashed towards the back. There was Peyton, runny nose and all, standing in the middle of the hall in a tank top and panties. Lucas was in front of her.
"Sorry", he kept apologizing. "I'm sorry."
Peyton grabbed a towel and hastily covered her lower portion.
"I see you two have met", Brooke yawned.
"Sorry. I was just looking for the bathroom. Brooke, you were sleeping and I didn't want to wake you…"
"It's okay. Peyton, this is the infamous Lucas Scott. He came into town last night and it was kind of unexpected and you were sick so I didn't get the chance to tell you."
"It's cool", Peyton nodded, her voice still scratchy. "Um, nice to finally meet you."
"Same here", he said, extending his hand.
"Uh trust me, even with a giant bottle of Purell, you wouldn't want to shake these hands", she smiled. "But it's still good to meet you and just make yourself home and I uh, promise to find a robe from somewhere."
She winked at Brooke before disappearing into the bathroom. Brooke smiled at Lucas, barefoot in his jeans and wife beater, cane in tow. She couldn't help but blush seeing the way the thin material clung to ever muscle.
"Can I make you breakfast?" she offered.
"Okay but I thought you said you weren't much of a cook."
"I'm not but I make a mean bowl of Cap 'N Crunch", she winked.
"Sounds good", he smiled as he took a seat.
He watched as she moved around the kitchen and prepared something for them to eat. She couldn't help but notice that he was watching her with a big smile on his face.
"What?" she finally asked.
"Nothing, it's just that…well, are you always this beautiful in the morning when you first wake up?"
"Actually, I am", she responded with a sexy grin that made Lucas laugh out loud. "So, what are we doing today? I mean, assuming that you're going to stick around."
"If you'll have me."
"I think I can accommodate a handsome, unexpected guest in my otherwise busy schedule."
"Well in that case, I want to do all the New York tourism stuff first timers are supposed to do. I want to see Macy's and Bloomingdale's. I want to walk around Times Square. I want to see the Statue of Liberty and pay my respects to the memorial site at Ground Zero. I want to eat hot dogs and cotton candy and Icees until I'm sick. I want to ride the subway and see the Empire State Building and the museums. And I want dinner at The Hard Rock Café and after Coney Island, I want to end the night with a carriage ride in Central Park."
Brooke laughed out loud.
"Okay. Sounds like you've got the rest of the week planned."
"Is that too much?"
"No. No, it's perfect. I doubt that we can fit all that in for one day but we'll definitely try."
They exchanged smiles then took turns in the shower and getting dressed. They got a semi early start and set about doing all the things Lucas had mentioned. He bought her a chili cheese dog from a hotdog vendor and they rode the subway around the city a few times just for the hell of it. She showed him the Empire State Building and then they walked over to where the Twin Towers had once stood. They mouthed silent prayers for all those who had lost their lives tragically and innocently before moving on to a few museums. Next were the famous shopping sites and Brooke laughed as Lucas was probably wishing he had never suggested that part of the day. After all, Brooke Davis could try on shoes for hours and hours. After doing a few more things on the list, they ended up at Coney Island.
It was a blast and Brooke couldn't remember the last time she had been to Coney Island. She felt like a little kid again. They shared a snow cone and he won her a gigantic pink stuffed elephant. They rode the bumper cars over and over again and spent the whole evening giggling like school kids. Brooke couldn't remember the last time she'd had so much fun. Being a New Yorker, she sometimes took for granted all there was to do in her City. Spending the day with Lucas had renewed her love and passion for New York…and for life.
"You see that? We have to do that."
"What?" Brooke asked as she bit into a caramel apple.
"That right there."
Brooke looked up wide eyed. There it was. The infamous, dreaded Cyclone. 2,640 feet, 60 miles per hour, with an 85 foot drop. The most famous and one of the oldest roller coasters in the country.
"The Cyclone?"
"Hell yeah. The granddaddy of them all."
"No. No way. Sorry. Can't do it."
"Brooke…"
"What? I am not, repeat, not getting on that damned thing."
"Why?" he grinned. "You scared?"
"Yeah!" she laughed. "I'm not ashamed. I'm terrified. I am not a rollercoaster kind of gal."
"Why not?"
"Because I'm scared."
"Why? What exactly are you afraid of?"
"I don't know", she shrugged. "Of the fall, I guess. That first drop. It's a long way down and it's really fast and scary and…"
"It's freefall. You can't see where you're going, you just have to feel. And it's scary and your heart drops in the pit of your stomach but it's thrilling and exciting at the same. Isn't that the way life is supposed to be?"
Brooke looked at the twinkle in his eye.
"I can't…"
"Trust me", he said seriously as he extended his hand.
Something about her already did and she found herself following his lead. They climbed into the first car and the attendant secured them in with the safety bar. The roller coaster took off slowly with a loud rumble as it traveled up the hill of the track. The view was spectacular as Brooke's heart began to race. The car stopped for a second at the highest peak of the track.
"Lucas!" she said rather panicky.
He gave her a grin and he grabbed her hand as it began to descend. Brooke screamed at the top of her lungs the whole ride until a minute or so later, it finished its journey.
"You okay?" he laughed. "I have never heard someone scream that loud before in my life."
"Ground! Solid ground!" Brooke screamed as she praised the pavement beneath their feet.
"It wasn't that bad."
"Easy for you to say and stop laughing because it's not funny!"
"Admit it…you had a good time."
"Whatever. I would never do that again!"
He looked at her and winked.
"Yes you would."
She looked up at him and couldn't help but feel warm all over. Suddenly she felt like dancing as if she was walking on a cloud of air. Her face broke out into a wide grin as she slipped her hand in his bigger one.
"Okay", she smiled. "Maybe I would."
