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 5

"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." – Helen Keller

The past few days had been bliss in Lucas's point of view. (A/N: The past few days would be about 4 days…last chapter ended on Friday night this chapter takes place on Wednesday) Brooke Davis had finally stopped running from him and with that they had been spending almost every minute of free time with each other. Slightly difficult with Lucas's wayward schedule and Brooke's staff meetings, but they each understood that their separate careers were important to them and that understanding was something that Lucas was enjoying. She was the first girl he'd dated that understood he wasn't blowing her off for his job, his hours was just a normal thing.

The only thing he was worrying about now was the upcoming engagement party that they would be attending. It was actually tonight and as the hours went by Lucas grew more and more nervous. Consciously he knew that he had nothing to worry about, her ex-fiancé was getting married, nothing could happen between him and Brooke but nonetheless he was still nervous and apprehensive about the night to come.

Lucas swiveled his chair around so that he was facing the large window in back of him. It was a habit, now that he couldn't play basketball, to stare out the window at the world below and contemplate his problems until he came up with a solution. Brooke had been becoming increasingly curious about his refusal to talk about anything that happened to him during his college years to make him stop playing basketball. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell her, but the topic was so painful that he didn't want to broach the subject.

A loud banging on his door broke into his thoughts and he sighed. "Come in."

"Luke you look like your dog died. What's the matter?" Nancy asked.

"Hello to you too Nance." He said with a smile on his face. "What brings you to my office?"

She flicked her strawberry blonde hair over her shoulder and glared at him. "Your brother and his latest antics."

Lucas groaned, not wanting to add Nathan's problems to his already overloaded workload. "What'd my idiot brother do now?"

Nance raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. "He didn't call you yet?" She laughed. "He must be afraid of how bad he's going to get yelled at."

"I've been busy with a couple other clients I haven't had time to make any personal calls." Lucas sighed. "What is going on and how bad is it?"

"On a scale of one to five I'd make it a ten." Nancy said. "Haley kicked him out the apartment."

Lucas tried to hold back a laugh. "Are you kidding me? What the hell did he do to deserve that one?"

Nancy looked into her briefcase and pulled out a tabloid spreading it out for Lucas to see and then reading the headline. "Young actress and basketball star seen exiting hotel room." She opened up to the feature story. "They even have pictures from the security tapes."

Lucas groaned louder. "My brother is an idiot."

Nancy smiled. "Damage control on both of our parts is needed for this one Luke. You take the personal front and I'll deal with the tabloids."

"Damnit Nance, why is my brother such an asshole?"

She looked at him. "Luke you don't want me to answer that."

"Stay here, I'm going to go call him and make sure he's not on the streets somewhere drinking."

Nancy laughed as he walked out the office.

Lucas sat down in an empty conference room and dialed his brother's cell hoping that he wouldn't blow up at his too wild younger brother. "Hey Nate." He said when his brother answered. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Nathan groaned not wanting a lecture. "Luke, Nance is going to handle it don't worry about it."

"DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT?" He yelled. "I'M YOUR AGENT AND YOUR BROTHER IT'S MY JOB TO WORRY ABOUT YOU!"

"Calm down Luke, none of it's true." He said.

Lucas ran a hand over his agitated features. "Nate they have pictures from the security tapes of the hotel room. Why exactly were you leaving the room at three in the morning with some girl that isn't Haley?"

"Pictures don't mean anything Luke."

"They obviously meant a lot to Haley since she kicked your cheating ass out of the apartment!" He growled.

"I wasn't cheating on her."

"Oh no of course not, you were just having some innocent fun with the next pretty chick that came your way." Lucas said sarcasm heavy in his voice.

"Look Luke, you don't know what you're talking about you weren't there."

"Thank God I wasn't, you wouldn't be alive."

Lucas could tell Nathan was rolling his eyes at that comment. "Where are you staying?" Lucas asked softening his tone.

"My old penthouse, I never sold it."

"I'm coming by there tomorrow, I would come tonight but Brooke and I have a date."

"You don't have to come at all you know." Nathan said hopefully.

Lucas snorted. "You wish."

"I'll see you tomorrow Luke."

"Yeah…" Lucas said before hanging up the phone. He stood up and walked back to his office to catch Brooke and Nancy engaged in a staring match.

"Hey Brooke, what are you doing here?" He asked.

She looked at him and gave him a tight smile. "I thought I'd drop by, I didn't know you would be busy." She said casting a meaningful glance at Nancy.

He wrinkled his forehead in confusion. "Nancy McAllister meet Brooke Davis my girlfriend, and Brooke meet Nancy, Nathan's publicist."

Brooke glared at Nancy before getting up and pecking Lucas softly on the cheek. "I thought I'd take you out for lunch."

He gave her an apologetic smile before declining. "Nathan's got himself into a big mess and Nancy and I have to pull double duty to fix it."

Brooke automatically looked concerned. "What happened?"

"I'll fill you in later, but can you do me a favor and take Hales out for lunch instead?" He asked. "She's probably at her studio right now."

She nodded. "Sure, I'll do anything to help."

He sighed in relief glad he didn't have to feel guilty about not immediately dropping his work and running to see his best friend. He scribbled down her address then gave Brooke a thank you kiss ushering her out the door. "Thank you so much."

She smiled. "No problem, I'll call you later okay?"

He nodded and watched her go before closing his door and turning back to Nancy. "What the hell was going on when I walked in here?"

Nancy shrugged and rolled her eyes. "Your girlfriend doesn't like me."

"Is that even possible? Everyone likes you!" Lucas said.

"I guess she sees me as competition."

Lucas rolled his eyes at that one. "Right…"

Nancy shot him a sexy grin. "Now Lucas, you weren't saying that a couple years ago."

"Nance, key words a couple years ago I haven't thought about you in that way in a long time."

She threw one of his lounge chair pillows at him. "You're so extremely flattering I just wonder where you get all your charm from."

He grinned. "Let's get back to work."

-

Brooke entered the studio with a bag from Subway glancing around to see if she spotted Haley. She did and her heart went out to her, she was sitting in one of the booths crying her eyes out. Brooke squared her shoulders and entered the booth ready for some serious boy bashing.

"Hey Haley. I've come with lunch." She said smiling softly.

Haley quickly wiped her eyes and hurried to stifle her sobs. "Brooke, hi…what brings you here?"

"Lucas was worried and sent me because he couldn't get away from work."

"Yeah I'm sure he and Nance will be bogged down for days with the latest shit Nathan pulled." She said eyes filling with tears again.

Brooke set down the food and separated it, taking a bite into her sub and contemplating what could possibly garner this reaction from the girl. "Want to tell me what happened?"

"My husband is a cheating asshole what more can I say?" She said bitterly.

"I need a little bit more information to work with Haley." Brooke said.

"I was out of town for a day or so, came back and was assaulted by reporters asking me if I approved of my husband's sexual activities while I'm away. I asked what they were talking about and they shoved this tabloid in my face." She said shoving the tabloid at Brooke.

Brooke whistled low as she skimmed through the articles contents. "Have you talked with Nathan about this?"

"I'm too angry to think rationally right now Brooke. I just kicked him out and told him I'd talk to him later."

"I don't think I should be hearing about my husband's life through magazines! Especially about things like this." Haley said rubbing desperately at her eyes.

Brooke reached over the small table and hugged her tightly. "Nathan's an ass Hales, but he's your ass and you need to talk to him about this before it grows into a bigger situation then it already is."

"I don't even want to deal with this anymore." Haley said sadly. "It's been like this since high school Brooke. Nathan would mess up and Lucas would be there to pick up the pieces and talk me into staying with him. I can't handle Nathan and his ways anymore. All it does is get me hurt."

"Maybe Lucas would always try to talk you into staying with him because he knows no matter how angry you are or how stupid Nathan can be you two love each other and you two have the real thing." Brooke said. "Marriage is a work in progress Hales, especially when you're a famous musician who always has to be away and a superstar on the court who's on the road for six months at time."

Haley wiped her eyes again. "I know our schedules are hectic Brooke but that's never been a problem for us."

"It probably has Hales, you two just never took the time to recognize it as a problem." She said gently.

Haley looked at her and smiled gratefully. "Thank you so much Brooke." She hugged her. "I needed someone to tell me this. You may not be Luke but you're a damn good substitute."

Brooke grinned. "I try, so are you going to talk to him?"

Haley nodded. "Yeah I am…and I want to try marriage counseling."

"Good, I'm praying for you two okay?"

Haley nodded again. "Tell Luke that he needs to keep you."

"Hales you're okay now right?" Brooke asked just to make sure. Haley nodded so she decided to ask her a couple of questions. "Do you know anything about Nancy?"

Haley looked at her strangely. "Nancy as in Nathan's publicist?" She asked, when Brooke nodded she did as well. "Yeah, she's been his publicist for a couple of years now so I know her pretty well. Why?"

"Did she and Luke ever have something going on?"

Haley shrugged. "They were good friends before Luke suggested she become Nathan's publicist. They met in college I think and Nate said that Luke liked her for awhile but nothing ever came from it. You're not worried about Nancy are you?" Haley said laughing. "Those two like to flirt with each other but it's nothing serious."

"I know from experience that when men say they're just flirting it can quickly turn into something else."

"You're really worried about her?"

Brooke smiled slightly and nodded. "I'm not a trusting person Haley."

"You don't have to worry about Luke, he doesn't have it in him to cheat on someone."

"I didn't say I was worried about him." She muttered. "Nancy looks like a piranha."

Haley giggled. "If you get to know her she's a sweetheart, and you really have to disregard the comments that she and Luke give each other they've been like that for awhile."

Brooke waved her hand. "I'm sure."

-

The irrational jealousy that Brooke felt around Nancy was transferring over to their date and she could tell Lucas was beyond irritated. She had given him the cold shoulder all night and when he had finally gotten fed up and asked her what was her problem she had blew him off then to. She sighed and grabbed his arm before he could enter the hotel ballroom where the engagement party was being held.

"I was being a bitch earlier, I'm sorry it's not you." She said.

"Yes it is you've been like this since you've met Nancy." He countered.

She blushed and silently cursed whatever magic powers Lucas had in order to figure that one out. "We'll talk about it later, I don't want to fight with you this evening is going to be stressful enough."

He gave in and nodded. "Alright, we'll talk about it later."

They entered the ballroom and were in awe by the fantastic decorating. The party's theme was A Midsummer's Nights Dream and it suited the atmosphere well. Everywhere they turned silver trinkets adorned the ceiling their reflections of light creating designs and patterns on the wall. Brooke took Lucas's arm and led him over to where Tim, Theresa, and Peyton were standing.

Brooke pasted on a fake smile and greeted Theresa with a short hug. "Theresa it is so good to see you, the party is beautiful."

"I'm so glad you could come Brooke" She took Brooke's present from her and handed it to Tim who left to go put it on the table. "Who's this fine gentleman you have with you?"

"This is Lucas Scott my boyfriend." Brooke introduced him. He smiled and took her hand kissing it, and then turned to give a small wave at Peyton.

"Well why don't we let the boys talk while we catch up." She said as Tim returned. "Tim, why don't you take Lucas over to Jake and you can get to know each other."

The two men left and Theresa led Peyton and Brooke over to a small table. "I'm surprised you two came."

Brooke rolled her eyes and tried to keep herself from mauling the skinny bitch. "I thought it'd be rude to turn down your invitation."

"That's the only reason why you came?" She asked.

"No I wanted to hear for myself how much shit you fed Tim to actually get his cheating ass to marry you." Brooke hissed.

Theresa face burned red and she raised her hand to slap Brooke but Brooke caught her hand with a warning look. "Don't act like you don't deserve it you backstabbing slut."

Peyton gasped and hit Brooke lightly. "B, this isn't the time or the place."

"I'm glad someone wants to be a little bit civil towards me." Theresa said her eyes watering.

Peyton glared at her. "You deserve everything she throws at you, just not at your engagement party."

Brooke dropped Theresa's arm and took a step backwards. "What'd you expect me to do when I got here Theresa?" She asked. "Forget all the crap you did to me last year and run to you with a warm heart and open arms? If that's what you wanted you must be crazier than I thought you were."

"I wanted us to start over Brooke." Theresa said quietly. "You've done good for yourself. You have a new boyfriend, a good career, and a cozy life. I just thought we could move on."

"Oh I'm moving on alright." Brooke sneered. "Without you or Tim and it's going just fine."

Tears threatened to spill down Theresa's face just as Tim walked up observing with Jake and Lucas trailing behind him. "What the hell is going on?" He demanded. "Couldn't wait to get your digs in on my fiancée?"

Lucas glared at him. "Back off asshole, she probably deserves everything she's getting."

Brooke smiled gratefully at him. "Tim I don't know what your or Theresa expected me to do here. Act like I'm the happiest person on Earth to be invited? I don't think so!"

A crowd was starting to grow around the six of them interested in what could be starting a fight in the middle of the beautiful engagement party. Everyone was surprised to see Theresa near tears and a red faced Tim yelling at Brooke, who most people in the party had known to be one of Theresa's best friends.

"Brooke why the hell are you acting so childish? Let bygones be bygones we wanted this animosity between the three of us to be over with but all you do is drag it out."

Brooke choked back a laugh before point an accusing finger at him. "Tim you cheated on me for HALF A YEAR with my SLUT of a best friend, then a year later you expect me to come to your party with all smiles? I'm not that forgiving Tim, what I really want to do right now instead of yelling at you is SHOOT YOU, I DETEST THE SIGHT OF YOU!"

Tim rolled his eyes. "Brooke like I said before grow up. You got cheated on, oh well life goes on."

Brooke stared at him blinking back tears; she couldn't believe how insensitive he was being. "You know what Tim. Fuck you." Brooke said softly. "I don't even know why I came here to put up with this from you."

"Because obviously you had some insane belief that if you came here I'd come running back to you on my hands and knees. Get real Brooke, Theresa is better than you any day of the week. You're just a bitter little girl who takes out her problems on everyone else."

Lucas scoffed and pulled Brooke behind him eyes narrowing dangerously. "Look Tim or whatever the hell your name is don't delude yourself. You are not that hot and not that rich for anyone to be falling all over you. You are a cheating bastard that took advantage of Brooke's love for you. Trust me when I say she's way over you and the thought of her even having an inkling of feelings left for you besides hate is a laughable matter. So why don't you take your big ass ego and stick it up your ass, Brooke is better off without you."

He turned to Theresa. "And you, you're even more delusional than Tim. You really expected Brooke to come back and congratulate you for marrying her ex-fiancé? She thinks you're a brain dead slut with no goals in life but to find the next rich thing to attach yourself to so go ahead and keep being a parasite, we'll be on our way."

Theresa let out a loud sob at that and threw herself into Tim's arms. He gave them a friendly wave before dragging Brooke outside of the ballroom and out to the car where they leaned against it.

"Thank you Lucas." Brooke said. "For sticking up for me back there."

He wiped away the tears that were falling at a slow steady pace down her face. "You didn't need to hear any of that. You shouldn't have come."

She smiled. "I know, I don't know why I did." She opened the car door and got in leaning heavily against the seat. "Maybe I thought that if I saw them again I'd finally get some answers for all the crap they put me through."

"Did you get any?"

"Tim's a jerk and always will be one. That's enough of a reason for me."

He nodded and took one of her hands in his. They lapsed into a silence as Lucas pulled out of the parking garage and headed towards Brooke's house. She stopped him and looked up at him with a vulnerable look in her eyes.

"Lucas…" She whispered. "I don't want to go home tonight."

"Are you sure?" He said just as softly.

She squeezed his hand. "Yeah I'm sure."

He made a U-turn and drove to his penthouse, ready to do anything it took to see a smile on her face once again.

TBC

A/N: -snickers- Too bad I don't write sex scenes! This fic is rated PG anyway XD.