Lucas cursed out loud as the telephone rang yet again. He had just sat down and forgot to bring the cordless with him. Not that it even mattered…he would prefer that it stay off the hook. It rang nonstop. The computer's e-mail "new message" prompter flashed nonstop. Faxes were pouring in nonstop. It was driving Lucas absolutely crazy.

Crazy, in fact, would be a perfect word to describe the events of the month that had passed since Brooke Davis had won her Daytime Emmy. The actress that once couldn't get arrested was now the toast of the town. Quitting Guiding Light as planned, Brooke's plans of riding off into Southern obscurity had been rudely interrupted with offers of all kinds of work. Tim's Blackberry was full of appointments for meeting with various producers and directors wanting Brooke for theatre, primetime series and movie. For the first time, they weren't requesting for her to audition, they already wanted her for the role.

Brooke was thrilled and seeing her so happy made Lucas happy. Still it was a lot to deal with. Life had definitely changed. Dan had agreed to let them spend the summer at the beach house until they found an apartment closer to Wake Forest. They were looking but Lucas couldn't help but see the other things his girlfriend had on her mind. He sighed as the phone finally went to voice mail. Everyone wanted a piece of Brooke Davis.

"Boyfriend! I'm home", she bellowed a few minutes later as the front door swung open.

"Hey", he smiled, standing up to greet her. "I missed you. You left early this morning."

"I know", she kissed his lips. "I had to drive to Wilmington."

"Wilmington?"

"Yeah. Tim called and said I had to meet these producers who are shooting a pilot for a new series. So I went with them and we met and I read and they love me and once all the paperwork and the details are worked out…I think it's gonna be a go!"

"Really?" Lucas asked dully.

"Yeah! Oh babe, I'm so excited. Can you believe it? My very own show! I actually get first billing on the credits! How cool is that?"

"Yeah…I, um, I'm happy for you, Brooke."

Brooke frowned.

"You don't sound very happy. Actually, you look kind of pissed. What's going on, baby? Talk to me."

"Nothing, it's just that we…I don't know. We made all these plans about a place and…"

"What?"

"Now you're going to L.A. or New York to work on your show. I think it's best if I just move back into the dorms next semester…"

Brooke laughed out loud.

"Luke, what are you talking about? I'm not going back to New York or to California. The TV show shoots right here in Wilmington. That's why Tim thought it would be perfect. It'll air on the WB at 9 on Tuesday nights and guess what, of all things, I get to play a snobby, shallow rich girl who loses all her money but finds strength in herself to be a better person. It's an ensemble cast, kind of a teen drama type of thing but what the hell? Sounds fun, right?"

Lucas smiled.

"Wilmington?"

"Yeah…Wilmington. I told you. It's you and me from now on. Nothing comes between us."

He closed his eyes as he held her, inhaling the delicious scent of her freshly shampooed hair.

"I love you, Brooke Davis, you know that?"

She nodded and smiled, kissing him again.

"Lucas, there's something I need to talk to you about. You got a sec?"

"Sure. What's up? Everything okay?"

"You know what this Emmy has done for me, right? I mean, six weeks ago I was a second away from the Washed Up Hall Of Fame and now everything has changed. People recognize what I can do and now I have jobs and shooting this pilot is a real chance at something. I mean, look how popular Dawson's Creek was."

"I know. Brooke, I'm proud of you and I'm happy for you. Really, baby."

"Tim says he has been receiving lots of calls about me. Apparently a lot of people want me for endorsements and guest appearances and all kinds of stuff."

"That's great, sweetheart. You deserve all the success in the world. I know how much your career means to you and I'd never try to hold you back. I am happy that the show will be here but I do understand there will be times you'll have to work out of New York and Los Angles and all kinds of places. It's all a good experience and I'll support you 110 percent on any offers that you want to do."

"Oh", Brooke mumbled, nervously twiddling her thumbs. "Because Tim called me on the way over here and there's one offer in particular I received. It sounds kind of silly and you're probably gonna laugh...I know I did. Well anyway, they asked and I...I mean, I thought about it and all but it's really kind of ridiculous. I probably won't do it even though it is a ton of money involved. I don't think I want to and I don't know how you feel about it because I really don't know how I feel about it..."

Lucas furrowed one brow. He could tell she was stalling.

"Whatever you want, Brooke. This is your life, your career. I love you, I support you...there is no experience I want to hinder you from. What is it?"

"You're so gonna laugh, baby."

"What?"

"I've been asked to be in Playboy magazine...naked. Isn't that funny?"

Brooke looked up nervously at Lucas. He was not laughing.

"Playboy?" he said after what seemed like an eternity of awkward silence.

"Yeah...Playboy."

"You mean like naked? Like showing...everything?"

"Yeah...I guess."

"Are you actually considering doing it?"

"I don't know", Brooke shrugged.

"So that means you are considering it then?"

"Yes...no. I don't know, Lucas. I wanted to talk to you about it first."

Lucas Scott was known for his liberal, non judgmental views and his laid back, open minded, easy going personality. Brooke had hoped and expected him to be more at ease with the situation.

"Well, uh…"

"Knock, knock anybody home?" they heard Haley call from a few feet away.

"It's open", Luke yelled. "We're in the living room."

Haley arrived all smiles with little Brittany in tow.

"Hey Baby Girl", Brooke cooed as she bent down to pick the child up. "Did you come to visit Brookie?"

Lucas sighed, heart pounding. On one hand, Haley and Brittany's interruption was like being saved by the bell. On the other hand, it was an intrusion on a conversation certainly worth having.

"You guys okay? We didn't interrupt, did we?"

"No", Lucas sighed. "It's cool, Hales. We're glad to see you."

"So how is everything going, Madam Emmy?" Haley teased.

"Great? Guess who is the new star of a WB teen drama being filmed in Wilmington?"

Haley screamed and jumped up and down with Brooke.

"That is so exciting! I am happy for you! Gosh, when Dawson's Creek was filming, I died to be an extra and one day I finally convinced Lucas to skip school with me so we could go apply. They had all the extras they needed for that episode but we still got to hang around the set and I got Joshua Jackson's autograph! He was so cute", Haley squealed.

"Well if…when…whatever, my show takes off, you can be an extra anytime you'd like."

"You are the best!"

"I know", Brooke grinned. "You know, I'm really happy. For a while I went through a rough time and it looked like I was gonna be finished before I really even started. But now things are starting to look up. Everything is really changing."

She smiled as she nestled into Luke's arms. He smiled as well but his was an unconsciously forced one. Brooke was right…everything was changing and he had no idea how to deal with it.