Chapter 13: A Release

Two months later…

Lucas sighed as he came home from basketball practice. Tired and in desperate need of a shower, he dumped his bags by his bed and collapsed onto it, succumbing to the feelings of exhaustion that were overcoming him.

Since the funeral, he and Brooke had avoided each other like the plague. Barely speaking to one another, taking alternative routes to classes. Even cheerleading practice was moved to a different time slot.

Everybody within the school felt repercussions of the fallout. The school had lost one of their star basketball players, they retired Jason's shirt and in the two weeks after his death, floral tributes almost filled up the gym. The basketball team didn't play a game until three weeks after the funeral and even then, his absence was felt.

But the biggest change had been between Brooke and Lucas. The once united group of friends was virtually split down the middle. The girls choosing to be with Brooke, and the guys following Lucas. There were many phone calls between the two groups to co-ordinate who was going to which party and how they could avoid an ugly confrontation between Brooke and Lucas.

For the first time since Lucas moved here, he felt alone and abandoned. Without Brooke with him, it felt much like Tree Hill had felt when she moved.

Empty and incomplete.

The only difference now was that he didn't have Nathan, Haley, Peyton or Jake or anybody from Tree Hill to help fill that void.

Things had definitely changed, and everyday Lucas hoped that it would be the day that Brooke would at least walk down the same corridor as him, or look at him without contempt in her eyes.

He was still waiting for that day.

"Lucas, are you home?" Andy asked as he came into his step-son's room. Lucas gave him a small wave, "Geez, you look like death."

"I feel like it too." Lucas mumbled, "What's up?" he questioned.

"Oh nothing. You got a phone call while you were a practice. I took the number so just phone back after you've had some sleep," Andy explained.

"Who was it?" Lucas asked, "Because if it was Shawn, then he gave me the message at practice."

"They didn't leave their name. Just a number, do you know it?" Andy asked showing Lucas the piece of paper, "Is it familiar?"

Lucas scanned the number, his eyes not believing what he was seeing.

Of course he knew the number. He'd dialed all but one digit numerous times during the two months but never had the courage to finish it.

"That's Brooke's number," he said taking the piece of paper.

"Brooke? As in your Brooke?" Lucas nodded, "Maybe you should call her then."

Andy smiled as he left Lucas alone, hoping that whatever the phone call was about, it would bring a smile back to his step-son's face.

Lucas stared at the number for a further five minutes before picking up the phone and dialing in the number.

He held his breath as it began to ring, and then a sudden fear came over him.

What if she just wanted to yell at him? What if it was a mistake?

Before Lucas could change his mind, the phone picked up.

"Hello?"

"Uh, hi… Brooke?"

"No, this is her mom. Can I help you?"

"Is Brooke there?" Lucas asked.

"I'm sorry, she's with her doctor. Can I take a message?"

"Um, sure. Could you tell her that Lucas called. I'm just returning the call she left."

"Lucas? My god, it's been a while. How are you?" Mrs Davis asked, sounding cheerful.

"Uh, fine. Yourself?"

"I'm doing well. Brooke will be so glad to hear from you."

"Really?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah. After Jason's accident she was in a really dark place but she's been making progress."

"That's good to hear. Um, will you pass on the message for me?"

"Of course, dear. I'll tell her as soon as she walks in. Take care now," Mrs Davis said brightly.

"Thanks, Bye!" Lucas hung up the phone and breathed a sigh of relief.

Now just came the waiting.

Lucas awoke suddenly from his nap by the sound of the phone ringing. He lurched for it, answering it immediately.

"Hello?" he said.

"Hey, Lucas?" came the voice he'd been itching to hear.

"Brooke," he grinned, "You got my message. How are you?"

"Uh, I'm better. How about you?" she asked. He could sense the hesitation in her voice.

"I'm okay."

That was followed by an awkward silence on both ends.

"So… you called?" Lucas began.

"Oh, yeah. Look, Lucas, I know that the last two months have been kind of… difficult."

Understatement of the year, Lucas thought to himself.

"Look, I really would like to talk to you but not over the phone because… well, I hate doing things over the phone, you know? Could we meet up?" Brooke suggested.

"Sure, uh, when and where?"

"I'm not fussed. How about The Diner?" Lucas looked at his watch.

"It's 11.15pm. Wouldn't it be closed?"

"I have the keys. Beauty of being an employee," Brooke forced a laugh.

"Okay. How about we meet in… say fifteen minutes?"

"That's doable. I'll meet you there."

"Okay. Oh, Brooke?"

"Yeah?"

"It feels really good to hear your voice again," Lucas told her.

"You too."

Brooke drummed her fingernails on the counter as she waited for Lucas to arrive, hoping that Lucas would show up.

It had taken her two months to get up to this point and she wasn't sure if she had the courage to go through it all again.

Finally, the diner door opened and Lucas scanned the store for Brooke. She shyly waved him over to where she was sitting at the counter.

"Hey," he said, a smile forming on his face as he realized just how much he'd missed her. She returned his smile and even went up to hug him quickly.

"Are you hungry?" she questioned moving to behind the counter.

"Not really."

"Would you like something to drink? Coffee? Tea? Coke? Anything so we can have something to stir in case this gets a little awkward?" she babbled. Lucas laughed.

"A coffee sounds great," he told her. She smiled, relieved that she had something to do. As she made them both coffees, she nervously bit her lip, looking at Lucas several times and hesitantly forcing a smile.

When she was done, she handed him his coffee and motioned for them to sit in a booth where they could see the view of outside.

"So," he began, "You wanted to meet?"

Brooke nodded and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, "Yeah. I think it's been a long time."

"It has."

"I have a lot of things to say, okay? And so I think I should just say it. I'd really appreciate it if you just… just don't say anything, not until I'm done, 'kay?" Lucas nodded.

"Go ahead."

Brooke took a deep breath, "This whole situation between us – I never meant for it to go this far. When I told you at the funeral that I didn't want to see you again, I was overreacting and I was in a really horrible place at that time. I wasn't thinking clearly and, although I kind of mean those words in some sense, I didn't mean it to go this long. But once I'd gotten over what had happened, I felt it was too far for us to get back, you know?"

Lucas nodded.

"After the funeral, my parents wanted to me see somebody - a counselor who specialized in dealing with grief. At first I just thought it was just bull, but after the first few sessions, I realized that I needed it to get past everything. To stop blaming myself and everyone else for what happened. I know now that it was just an unfortunate accident."

Brooke reached into her bag and pulled out several envelopes, "The counselor told me to write letters to Jason. Telling him my feelings about the accident, him, myself and everything. There are about a dozen here and they really helped me to get through it."

Brooke brought out another envelope bearing Lucas' name, "This one is to you. I wrote it a couple of weeks back and in it is everything I wanted to say to you. I was going to give it to you but I think it's better coming from myself instead of just being words on a piece of paper. That's why I called you here."

Lucas nodded and Brooke sighed.

"I blamed you for the accident. I blamed you for breaking Jason and I up and I blamed you for every single problem I ever had since. The truth is that I know it's none of your fault. I was just conflicted with my feelings for both you and Jason, and I let my anger get the better of me. I'm so sorry for everything I put you through recently."

"Brooke, it's no-" Brooke raised her hand up to silence him.

"Let me finish. I was really in love with Jason. Crazy, head-over-heels, can't breathe, can't sleep type of thing. When we had that break, I kept putting off telling him how I felt and by then it was too late. Sometimes I wake up still thinking he's here and it's really hard for me to accept it sometimes. But I'm working hard to come to terms with it. Part of coming to terms with it all, is also forgiving and asking for forgiveness. So, I forgive you, and I hope you can accept my apology for the way I treated you. I just hope we can still be friends."

"Of course, Brooke. You were always one of my best friends through everything." Lucas told her. She sighed in relief.

"That makes me feel so much better. I was afraid you'd hate me."

"I have a little confession to make," he told her, wincing slightly.

"You do?" she couldn't hide her surprise.

"Yeah. The night Jason died… I was the last person to see him alive. At least I think it was."

"Yeah, I heard rumors about that."

"Did you know why he was driving so late at night?"

"No," she shook her head.

"It was because he was driving to you. That night I found him in the gym trying to make baskets and failing miserably," he laughed slightly at the memory, "We talked, mostly about you, and I told him that he needed to be with you. If you could see how much it was killing him not to be with you… I knew that you both belonged together. So I told him to tell you how he felt. I told him not to wait another day to see you and because of that, he was driving, and I totally forgot he'd been drinking beer. Brooke, I swear, if I'd known what would have happened, I would have done everything to prevent it. The last thing I wanted was either of you hurt." Brooke could see tears building up in Lucas' eyes and couldn't prevent her own tears from forming. "I'm so sorry," he apologized.

"It's not your fault, Lucas. Really, it isn't anybody's fault. Thank you for telling me that." She smiled through her tears and then laughed, "God, if Jason could see us now. Two losers sitting in an empty diner at midnight and crying into their cold coffees."

Lucas laughed with her, "He loved you. He still does."

"I know. I love him too." She reached out to hold Lucas' hand, "And I love you."

"Yeah, same here."

"I need you, Lucas. I need you to help me move forward and past this whole mess. I think Jason would have wanted us to be friends."

Lucas nodded enthusiastically, "Yeah. You know that I'm here for you, right? Through anything. I always have been."

"I know," she said.

"So… what happens now?" Lucas asked. Brooke shrugged.

"I don't know. I guess we go home, get some sleep and start a new day tomorrow. One where we can actually walk down the same hall and go to the same parties."

Lucas laughed, "That'd be good. So, you want me to drop you home?"

"No. Let's just stay here for a while. I want to talk to my friend and see what he's been up to." Brooke smiled, "Plus, the sun looks pretty nice from here. That is, if you can stay awake that long," she teased.

"Well, if we're going to do that, we're going to need more coffee," he suggested.

"I'm already on it," she said as she got up and disposed of their old, cold coffee before starting a new batch.

Lucas watched her move. She had a big grin plastered on her face and she looked as if a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Lucas also felt a sense of release as he realized that this was just how it was supposed to be.

Brooke and Lucas. Friends.

Who knew what they would become later?

To Be Continued…

Okay guys, the next chapter is the last one. So get ready…