I'm so sorry for killing off Jason. It was the last thing I wanted to do but brucasfanatic more or less summed up the reasoning behind it in their review. My own sister refused to talk to me for three days!

Chapter 12: A Stranger

Lucas ran all the way to Brooke's house and knocked gently on the door. It was Saturday afternoon and Lucas had been on his way to Tree Hill for a quick visit when he'd heard the news.

Shawn had been the one to call him and let him know what had happened to Jason. After hearing the details, Lucas felt a sudden pang of guilt for letting Jason drive after drinking. Shawn reassured him that it wasn't his fault and that it had just been an unfortunate accident but Lucas still couldn't shake the feeling that he was somehow responsible for it all.

After a brief phone call to Dan to explain why he was canceling their weekend, Lucas decided to see how Brooke was, hoping that Jason had managed to see her before the accident. At least so she knew that Jason was in love with her and wanted to make things work between them.

A teary-eyed Rachel opened Brooke's front door and hugged Lucas the minute she saw him.

"You're back," she said as she held him tightly, "I thought you went to Tree Hill," she sniffed.

"I changed my mind. How are you keeping?" Lucas asked. Rachel shrugged.

"I'm getting by. It's just…" she motioned inside.

"How is she?" Lucas asked.

"A mess," Rachel replied, "Obviously."

"Did… did Jason talk to her… before the accident?" Lucas asked. Rachel shook her head.

"No, no, they had the break, remember? Why?" Lucas sighed and shook his head.

"Oh, um, no reason. Can I see her?" he asked. Rachel bit her lip.

"Brooke doesn't want to see anybody. She's locked herself in her room. Hardly anyone has been able to get through to her," she explained, "I've been here since the morning and I've barely seen her."

"What if I could-"

"She doesn't want to see anyone, Lucas," Rachel told him firmly.

"Even me?" he asked.

"Especially you," she said sadly, "I'm sorry, Lucas, but I don't think you should come in. As much as it hurts me to admit it, you're part of the reason they took that break."

Lucas looked at the ground, "Well, could you at least tell her I'm here… if she needs me?" Rachel nodded.

"I'm sorry, Lucas," she told him sincerely.

"Me too." He replied.

Brooke struggled to keep her composure as the church service drew to an end. The entire church stood up as the organ began to play, signifying that everyone was to make their way to the cemetery for the burial. The pallbearers consisted of Jason's two brothers, and members of his basketball team, including Lucas and Shawn.

Rachel, who was sitting next to Brooke, steadied her friend as she got up, hoping that Brooke would be able to get through the next few hours as they still needed to go to his wake.

"Are you okay?"

"People need to stop asking me that," Brooke told her friend as she began following her boyfriend's coffin out of the church.

"People are just concerned. You can skip the wake if you want to. People will understand," Rachel assured her.

"No, I can do it. I have to do it," Brooke said taking a deep intake of breath, "I have to do it," she repeated as they left the church.

Out in the open air, Brooke felt slightly better. The confinements of the church had started to make her feel ill, although that may have been the lack of airover the last few days and the constant headache she had from crying all the time.

Brooke watched as the coffin was slowly lowered and people began throwing flowers on to it. She looked at her own deep, red rose and smiled as a wave of nostalgia overcame her.

Their first date had been a disaster to say the least. First of all, she'd arrived late after mishearing the time they were supposed to meet, he had then proceeded to spill his drink all over her, and they had a flat tire on the way home.

Although they'd initially been dying to get home after the unsuccessful evening, a song they both claimed as their favorite began to play on the radio and they had taken the opportunity to talk, and consequently found that they had far more in common than they realized.

By the time the roadside mechanic had arrived, Jason and Brooke were having a great time and were sad to see the night end. The very next morning, Brooke opened her locker to find a single red rose and a note from Jason, with the lyrics to what became 'their song'.

Brooke fingered the note she'd written on the rose for Jason and silently sang the words in her head. Placing a teary kiss on the rose petals, she threw it onto the coffin and watched as it descended into the ground.

Scarlett, clad in black, waited until Brooke was free before approaching her as people dispersed into various cars to leave the cemetery and make their way to Jason's wake.

"Brooke!" she called, garnering attention to herself from Brooke's friends. "Uh, can we talk?" she asked. Rachel began to tell Scarlett to go away but Brooke stopped her.

"Go ahead, Scarlett," she said quietly. Scarlett nodded, appreciating the chance Brooke had given her.

"I just… I just wanted to tell you how sorry I was. For everything. For trying to break you both up, for spreading all those rumors about you. I- I was just jealous because you had somebody special that used to be mine and I guess I kind of felt… replaced. I never meant for this to happen, believe me; I never wanted Jason to die. I'm really sorry for everything I put you through. I realize now that Jason loved you so much and nothing is ever going to change that. I should have realized it earlier. There was something in the way he looked at you, kind of like the way Lucas looks at you. I'm just really sorry and I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me for being such a… such a bitch," Scarlett said, close to tears.

"It's okay," Brooke said with a small smile, "I knew you didn't mean any real harm."

"Look, I know you probably hate me but… I don't know, is there anyway we could let bygones be bygones and just… be friends?" Scarlett suggested. Brooke nodded.

"Sure. Are you coming to Jason's wake?" she asked. Scarlett nodded, "Then I'll meet you there."

Brooke began to move away from Scarlett and towards her car when Lucas stepped out of the shadows. Brooke looked at him before turning away.

"Brooke," he began, "I just want you to know how sorry I am. If there's anything-"

"What do you want?" she asked.

"Uh, I just wanted to-" he began again.

"Leave."

"Brooke…"

She spun around to face him, "You wanted to come here for forgiveness, right? Or maybe closure? How about the fact that you finally broke me and Jason up? Is that what you wanted?"

"No! God, Brooke! I never wanted this to happen. Jason was my friend and so are you. I want to be here for you," Lucas told her.

"So you can pick up the pieces and give me a friendly shoulder to cry on?" she laughed bitterly, "It's not happening Lucas. You are not going to take advantage of me."

"Brooke, I understand that you're emotional and-"

"Emotional? You think I'm emotional? I'm crushed, Lucas. My heart feels like it's been torn into a million pieces and there's only ever been one other time I've felt like this, and surprise, surprise, you were there too." Brooke sighed, realizing that some people were looking at her.

"I'm sorry," Lucas said sincerely, "I never meant to hurt you."

"I've heard that one before too. You're like a stranger to me. You are not the guy that used to help me with my homework, or teach me how to score a basket. You… you've changed. I wish you'd never come to Beaufort. I don't ever want to see you again, Lucas," she said quietly.

"You're mad, just calm down and we can talk…" Lucas trailed off as he watched her shake her head.

"No, Lucas. I mean it. Don't ever speak to me again."

With those words, she left a speechless Lucas behind and climbed into the car that would take her to Jason's house so that she could say her final goodbyes.

She wiped the tears that we falling and realized that in the space of a few days, she'd lost both her boyfriend and her best friend again.

All that remained of them was a gravestone and a stranger staring at her from the distance.

Yes, she told herself, he's just a stranger.

To Be Continued…