A couple months later

It was nearly 8AM and Lucas Scott sat by himself on the picnic table at Rivercourt. He was sweaty and his cheeks were rosy pink from playing basketball. Lucas pulled his grey hoody sweatshirt over his sweat-soaked tank top. He picked up the basketball and tossed it back and forth between his hands and focused intently on the orange ball. He was so focused that he didn't here the footsteps approaching.

"Hey, Broody,"

Startled, Lucas dropped the ball and looked up. He saw Brooke, wearing a short pink skirt, walking towards him. Her hands were tucked into her white jacket. She took a seat on the bench, where Lucas's feet were resting. Brooke leaned back until her back rested on the edge of the table and looked up at the sweating Lucas.

"Thought I'd find you here,"

"You were looking for me?" Lucas suddenly felt uncomfortable"If you're the ex-boyfriend who cheated on me with my ex-best friend, then yeah, I was looking for you,"

After Lucas and Brooke broke up because of his fling with Peyton, things were never the same. Peyton and Brooke were no longer best friends, but they were still civil towards each other. Brooke and Lucas, on the other hand, barely said a word to each other.

Knowing that Brooke was looking for him, not only made Lucas even more uncomfortable, but it made him curious to find out why. "I…uhhh..Bro.." Lucas stuttered.

A laughing Brooke interrupted, "Relax, Lucas. I'm not here because of that. Although, it would be fun to make you feel even more guilty…"

"Brooke, listen. I really am sorry about everything and the way I handled things. You deserved better,"

Brooke nodded here head, "Keep going,"

"Brooke, I'm serious. You're a beautiful girl, inside and out,"

"Yeah, I am. Aren't I?" Lucas laughed, finally realizing that she was kidding around.

"And as much as I 'd like to hear more about me being hot and so beautiful," Brook continued, "I came to tell you something,"

"Ok,"

"I want to say 'thank you',"

Confused, Lucas looked at Brooke for more answers.

Brooke giggled at Lucas's puzzled face, "And you're supposed to be the smart one here. Look when I was with you, before the whole Peyton thing, you treated me like a person and wanted to know the real me. You listened to me, you cared about me and for some strange reason, you didn't want to just sleep with me like all of those other guys," Brooke paused to think for a moment, "You did think that I was hot, right?"

Lucas laughed, "Yes, Brooke, I think that you're beautiful,"

"K, Good. I was just making sure that I still got it," winked Brooke. "Lucas, I don't blame you for going for Peyton. I admit that it did hurt, but I realize now that what you and I had, was just fun. And I know Peyton wouldn't have done that to me unless it was for love...even if it was a really rotten thing to do to your best friend. But I'm just as guilty,"

Lucas forehead wrinkled as he thought about what she had just said. He remained silent, waiting for her to explain. "I knew Peyton had feelings for you and I still went after you. She never admitted that she liked you, but I could just tell just by the way her face lit up every time I mentioned your name or even by the way she just stared at you. I even noticed that you do the same thing when you're around her too...kinda pathetic if you ask me," Brook giggled. "But seriously, you and Peyton really do love each other and you two are right for each other. Anyways, I'm just going to stop rambling here. I just thought you should know that,"

"Thanks,"

"Yeah. Um…you haven't heard from Peyton have you?"

Lucas shook his head 'no', "Why? Have you?"

"No, I was just wondering. I mean I know that we're not really best friends anymore, but we've been through so much together. I can't help but worry about her,''

"Yeah, me too,"

Brooke wasn't really used to expressing so many feelings to someone other than Peyton. Brooke soon began to feel a little awkward sitting there with Lucas. She decided to change the subject, "So, tell me. What are you doing here so early in the morning?"

The look of sadness on Lucas gave Brooke the answer. Brooke returned the same look. The two sat in silence for a couple minutes as they both secretly hoped and prayed for Peyton to come back.