Equal But Opposite Reaction
By: Sari
Disclaimer: No, I don't own OTH. If I did Brooke and Lucas would be back together and Felix would be in a ditch somewhere. Haley wouldn't be going insane and she and Nathan would be back together.
Summary: AU Brucas. Successful bachelor Lucas Scott meets hard to get, feminist Brooke Davis and a rollercoaster ride occurs as both begin to fall in love.
Part 3
"If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew to serve your turn long after they are gone, and so hold on when there is nothing in you except the will which says to them: 'Hold on!'" - Rudyard Kipling
Brooke lounged leisurely in the Manhattan office of Filly magazine. Surveying her work she couldn't help but smile at how life was working out. Less than 48 hours ago she had met and already had two dates with Lucas Scott, the charismatic man that had swept her off her feet. Last night when she had come home from their dinner she had immediately called Peyton and of course Peyton had responded with her usual psychobabble.
- FLASHBACK -
Brooke kicked off her shoes as she walked into her small apartment. Walking to her room she picked up her house phone along the way punching in Peyton's phone number. They had both already agreed that Brooke would call her when she got home no matter how late it was. She changed into her pajamas while she waited for Peyton to pick up.
Peyton answered voice muted and breathing heavy. "Hey Brooke."
"Did I wake you up? You sound like you just ran a marathon."
"Couldn't find the phone and I didn't want to wake Jenny up." She said. "So tell me what happened."
"I got the contract."
Peyton groaned. "Brooke, that was a given I could care less about that. What happened with Mr. Scott?"
Brooke rolled her eyes. "The benefit was fun. I met his brother and his brother's wife. They seem nice."
"Brooke you have got to be kidding me. Tell me the details now or I'm hanging up."
She laughed and gave in, knowing she would tell her eventually. "If I wasn't on a strike from men I would so go after him." Brooke admitted and Peyton squealed. "He's charming, intelligent, funny, and best thing of all different."
"B, he sounds like heaven. Can't you just try it out?"
"Peyt we went through this, I'm not ready to go out with any new guys anytime soon."
Peyton sighed. "Was he interested in you?"
Brooke smiled remembering how heavy Lucas had laid the compliments. "Yeah but I told him I just wanted to be friends. We're going out again—as friends—tomorrow."
Peyton snorted and Brooke could have sworn she heard the girl mutter something under her breath. Regardless Peyton spoke up and asked. "Oh where?"
"I don't know I haven't decided yet. I volunteered to pick the place."
"How about you bring him to my showing?"
Brooke's eyes widened, she knew she was friends with Peyton for a reason. "Peyton you're a genius! Your showing is midday so I'll bring him there and then we'll go to the park for lunch."
"The park for lunch? Are you sure you're not trying to lead this guy on? That sounds a little romantic to me."
"Peyton you and I go to the park all the time, it doesn't mean I'm trying to lead you on!"
"You never know, I know you think I'm sexy Brooke." She joked.
"Ok, hanging up now."
Peyton laughed. "See you at the showing."
- FLASHBACK -
Brooke glanced at the clock. Lucas should be there any minute and then they were off to the showing. He had seemed excited when she had called, telling her that he hadn't expected her to call at all and that he would have had to track her down.
There was a soft knock on her door and then it opened to reveal her secretary. "A Lucas Scott is waiting for you in the lobby."
Brooke nodded. "Tell him I'll be down in a second." The secretary left and Brooke snatched up her bag and stuffed the essentials in it. Walking briskly to the elevator she made her way downstairs on the elevator. The doors opened to reveal Lucas looking at all the magazines scattered around the office. He looked up as he heard her step into the lobby and gave her a bright smile.
"Looking lovely as usual Brooke." He complimented her.
"And you seem to never run out of those compliments Lucas."
"Seeing you inspires them."
She blushed. "We should go."
"Are we taking a taxi? I have one waiting outside."
She nodded and followed him out to the taxi where Brooke told the man where to go. They settled back and Brooke felt the urge to know more about the man sitting next to her.
"How about another session of QA?"
He locked his gaze on hers, shrugging. "I didn't think I was that interesting."
"What you told me yesterday is still nagging me." She confessed. "Your relationship with your dad versus his relationship with Nathan."
"Oh…" He murmured comprehension dawning on him. "It's really simple. Nathan's my half brother, when Dan was in high school he got my mother pregnant with me and ditched her and a couple months later in college got Nathan's mother pregnant but stayed with her."
Brooke stared at him. "You're not serious."
He laughed. "I told you I came from a dysfunctional fairytale of a life."
"I interrupted you continue." She urged.
"My mom fell in love with Dan's brother Keith and they got married and moved to Florida. Dan on the other hand finished college opened up a chain of car dealerships and then retired to Florida a couple years later. I met Nathan when I was seven or eight. Deb—Nathan's mother—and my mom were good friends and decided that Nate and I needed to have a relationship so Nate and I got really close.
Dan was pissed off at this because he really didn't accept me as his child. When I was 13, Deb died and Dan snapped, he took my mother to court. He petitioned for custody of me and because he's Dan Scott he won. Couple years later when Nate and I got sick of his control issues is when he kicked us out and basically blamed me for Nate's 'bad behavior'" Lucas finished.
Brooke shook her head in disbelief as the cab pulled up to the front of the gallery. "We're here." She said. As she got out of the car she threw another comment back at him. "I see the dysfunctional part of your childhood but not the fairytale part."
Lucas shrugged. "Another story for another time."
They entered the gallery and Brooke searched for Peyton, she pulled him towards the back of the room where she had spotted the curly blonde's head. "Peyton!" Brooke shouted. "You have an awesome turn out!"
Peyton nodded looking proud of herself. "Yeah, the man I told you who made the preorder told all of his friends." She acknowledged Lucas a few minutes later. "Lucas, good to see you again."
"Likewise Peyton, you have some amazing talent." He remarked gazing at some of her pieces.
She smiled and Brooke beamed, happy that he noticed. "Thank you."
Brooke and Lucas browsed the small gallery and Brooke gleefully watches as Lucas was continually awed by her best friend's work. "Your friend is seriously talented." Lucas murmured as he looked at a dramatic painting done in various shades of black and white. "Haley would love this one."
Brooke grinned. "Peyton's been painting since we were teenagers."
"Oh really?" He asked. "How'd you two meet?"
"It's actually really sad how we met." Brooke said, smiling sadly at the memory. "I was high off of something once again trying to get my parents attention but this time I got high at a party with a lot of overage guys. Things got too rough and Peyton cam and saved the day. She was drunk, but not drunk enough to notice that those guys would hurt me if I let them which in my state was bound to happen. She dragged me out the party, got her friend to drive us to her house, and got both of us sober enough for her to yell at me."
Lucas smiled. "Stayed friends forever after that?"
Brooke laughed. "Yeah right, that would have been too easy. I got so pissed off at her, some girl telling me how to live my life who I didn't even know, that I slapped her and told her to mind her own business. She hit me back and we started fighting right there in the middle her living room. Then we became friends forever."
Lucas chuckled. "Sounds amazing." He looked up at the painting again and Brooke could literally see the wheels turning in his head. "Can you call Peyton over here?" He asked.
Brooke nodded and went off to find her, bringing her back a couple of minutes later. Peyton looked curiously at him. "What can I do for you Lucas?"
He pointed at the painting behind him. "My friend Haley loves modern artwork, and I was on business for her birthday so I think this painting would be a perfect 'I'm sorry' what do you think?"
Peyton smiled brightly. "I think it'd be perfect. How about you Brooke?"
"I think it's a great idea."
"Well then." Lucas said. "I got the opinions of my very gorgeous friend Brooke, and her very talented friend Peyton so I know this is the right thing to buy. How about I give you 2500 to take it off your hands?"
Peyton gasped. "Lucas it's really not that expensive…"
"But it deserves to be that expensive." He countered. "So I'll write you a check. I should make it out to you?"
Peyton nodded before turning to Brooke a surprised look on her face. "We're talking later." She mouthed to her and Brooke nodded subtly.
Lucas tore the check from his checkbook and handed it to her. "Would you be able to deliver it to her address?"
Peyton nodded again. "Sure, if you go over to that desk in front you can give them this check and the painting number and we'll take care of everything."
Lucas nodded and walked away. "Brooke I'll be right back."
Brooke watched him go and smiled at Peyton. "I told you he was great." Brooke said.
"Yeah I know I'm just trying to figure out why he's still on the market and why you aren't trying to snatch him up."
Brooke gave her a warning look. "We've established why I'm not."
Peyton threw up her hands. "What is the matter with you? You find a great guy that is actually interested in you and you go and act like this!" Peyton said exasperated with her.
"I don't know him well enough yet…" Brooke tried.
"Bullshit Brooke! That can't be the only thing that's holding you back."
"I don't really know what's holding me back. Okay Peyt? I like him, I admit that he's a great guy and I'm having fun hanging out with him but relationships just aren't what I'm looking for right now."
Lucas returned then and seemed to notice the volatile atmosphere because he immediately asked what was wrong. Brooke smiled disarmingly and suggested they go to the park now.
"Peyton, I'll see you later okay?" Brooke said.
Peyton nodded giving her a look that said "jump on the chance while you still have it." Before waving to Lucas and walking off.
Brooke and Lucas exited the gallery and made their way down a couple of blocks until they ran into the park that Brooke was talking about. "So are you going to tell me what just happened back at the gallery?"
"I'd rather not." She murmured.
Lucas sighed and spotted a vendor selling hot dogs and fries. "Well are you hungry? I feel like clogging up my arteries some more."
Brooke cracked a smile. "Sure."
Brooke tried hard to cheer up for Lucas's sake but she couldn't help thinking of Peyton and her view of her as a bitter woman scorned by love. Brooke inwardly groaned, that was exactly what she was. Tim had screwed her over so in turn she was screwing over everyone else she met. She needed to break herself out of that cycle and fast.
"I suddenly feel as if I did something wrong." Lucas said as they sat side by side on a park bench. "You look depressed and you're basically silent."
She plastered on a fake smile. "It's not you Luke, its personal problems."
"Can I help?"
She shook her head. "It's probably something you wouldn't understand." Then she paused and remembered something that Peyton had said. "This might seem out of the blue, but Peyton brought up something that got me thinking. Why don't you have a girlfriend?"
Lucas laughed. "You girls are getting more straightforward everyday!"
"If you don't want to answer…It's probably not any of my business." Brooke said blushing, now that she thought about it the question did seem kind of weird.
He waved off her sort of apology. "Naw I'll answer it, it just caught me by surprise." He took another bite of his hot dog and then swallowed thinking thoughtfully. "I guess it's my job." He started. "Or at least that's what I lead myself to believe. I usually go through women like water. I'll find someone I like and then they'll leave me because of the hours I work at the agency. I haven't met a girl yet who understands how important my work is to me."
"So your lack of a girlfriend is due to your insane hours at work?" She asked skeptically. "Lucas, you're the head of your company if you really wanted to be the type of person who spent time with your girlfriend all you had to do was give some of your clients to other agents at your agency and work a regular 9 to 5 job."
"Yeah I could…" He started.
"I think you don't want to." She said. "You just haven't found the right girl that'll wow you so much you'll change your lifestyle for her."
He looked at her long and hard. "Well you're just full of all sorts of good advice today."
Brooke grinned, and then decided to use Lucas's line on him. "Only with special people."
"So I'm a special person to you?" He asked.
"You have a convenient way of twisting words around to suit you." She commented.
"You didn't answer my question." He pointed out.
She smiled. "I don't think it's going to be answered, so you shouldn't look for one."
He stood up stretching and reached for her hand. "I have to work tomorrow." He said. "But I want to see you again."
Brooke blushed. "Already?"
"I enjoy spending time with you Brooke, you're different from other people I've met." Lucas said. "And I know, again with the compliments." He grinned cutting off the statement he knew was coming. "My brother, Haley, and I usually have dinner together on Friday's. Would you like to come as well?"
"I wouldn't be imposing?" She questioned.
"Not at all, Haley would probably be glad I found a new friend."
Brooke chuckled. "Then I would love to come, I can get a second opinion about you."
"Isn't your opinion enough?"
Brooke looked down at her feet and then up again into his warm crystalline blue eyes. "I don't think I trust my judgment around you." She admitted softly.
He grinned widely at her. "Then you answered two of my questions from before. Yes, I am special to you and yes, I do have an effect on you." He took her hand and they walked to the sidewalk where he called a cab for her, paying the fare before she could reach for her wallet. "I'll call you tomorrow when I'm free."
She nodded. "See you Friday."
"I can't wait."
-
Lucas watched the cab drive away and glanced at his watch. Noting that it was only seven he called a taxi for himself and headed for Haley's house. He was falling for Brooke and fast and he needed his friend's opinion.
He arrived at Nathan and Haley's place and was glad for once his brother wasn't hanging around. As much as he loved his brother and his opinion most days he pretty much figured that Nathan would laugh at Lucas's uneasiness. Haley swung the door open before he could even knock.
"How'd you know it was me?" He asked.
Haley rolled her eyes. "Lucas you're the only one who shows up at my house at all times of the day and night without calling plus Miss Lou saw you coming up and felt the need to call me."
Lucas smiled. "I don't think Miss Lou likes me."
"She doesn't like that you're not married but I am and you always seem to be here. She thinks I'm cheating on Nathan."
Lucas choked back a laugh. "She thinks I'd have an affair with my brother's wife?"
"She's 83 and paranoid, she probably thinks you'd sleep with her." Haley joked.
Lucas cringed. "Jesus Haley, no mental images please!"
"So what's going on? You usually show up at my house with a reason." Haley asked and immediately noticed Lucas's confident exterior shrink a little.
"I'm confused about Brooke." He said. "I want to know if I'm just setting myself up for heartbreak again. She was actually asking me why I didn't have a girlfriend yet. I mean how big of a hint can she give me that she's not interested?" He said in despair.
Haley patted him on the shoulder. "She wants to be friends with you Luke, she didn't promise a relationship. Knowing you though you'll wear her down in a couple of weeks."
Lucas grinned. "I am pretty persistent."
Haley giggled as she remembered on of his girlfriends that both she and Nathan hated but Lucas had fell head over heels for her. "Remember Girl # 8, Stephanie?"
Lucas groaned. "Don't even remind me! I chased her for almost a year and she turned out to be a gold digger that killed people for their money."
Haley burst into hysterics. "Remember Lionel? Her ex-boyfriend that called you and warned you about her?"
Lucas started laughing as well changing his voice so it had a higher pitch. "I'm telling you man! Stephanie is one crazy woman! Don't let her rope you into marrying her or you won't last six months! You'll be buried in the ground before your next birthday!" He mocked.
"Then when you broke up with her she started stalking you!" Haley said howling with laughter now.
He shivered, that was the only part that had been seriously frightening. After Stephanie had been kicked out of his penthouse she had shown up again begging for forgiveness. After seeing her nearly everywhere he went he ended up placing a restraining order on her that was still active to this day.
"Thanks Hales." Lucas said as they began to settle down.
She cocked an eyebrow and waited for him to continue. When it didn't look like he was going to elaborate she questioned him. "Thanks for what?"
"Taking my mind off my life. Sometimes I get so sick of it."
She hugged him. "Luke, that's what I'm here for."
TBC
A/N: The quotes at the top of each part are just quotes that I think match that particular chapter. I had an anonymous review by someone named Sarah who said that I didn't quote Newton's law of physics correctly. I know that, if I had quoted it directly I would have cited Newton's name, but since I didn't you can infer that it's not the exact wording. Reviews are my drug 3