AN: Thanks so much everyone for your amazing reviews. They mean a lot to me and im glad you like where the story is going so far.

Ended with a cliffhanger last time but im sure you could all guess who the blue-eyed broody was lol. Hope you like this chapter

After what seemed like a whole lifetime flashing before her eyes, Brooke felt a tug at her hand only to find herself being brought to the shocking reality she was living.

"Brooke, sit down…..people behind us haven't cursed you enough?" It was Rachel who had pulled her down on her seat, but Brooke didn't even reply. Her eyes stayed fixed on the blue pairs that reflected hers on the other side of the court. She had always dreamt of this moment but never thought it would actually happen.

Her heart was racing beyond normal and she felt her stomach tumble…the same sensation he gave her eight years ago, the night he confessed his true feelings for her and all she did was apologize and leave him standing there in the room that they shared for a few months. She didn't know what to do or how to bring herself out of such gaze.

She couldn't help but wonder, was her mind playing tricks on her…was her eyes in dire need of glasses….or has her heart become so desperate of his sight that it had created it in her head. She didn't know any of the answers to those questions. All she knew was that what she was feeling was real and couldn't help but wonder…..what was going through his mind right now? Was he feeling the same things? 'Perhaps not' was her answer. If only she knew……..

And after all those years and the pain as we part
You will always still have that effect on my heart

He sat there mirroring her. The same brooding look intensified in his features. All of a sudden the game has become the least of his concerns. Only one thing had his attention, one person to be exact. And it was the same person who had captivated his heart and soul all those years,

Blinded by the light you shine
The colors fade completely

He never expected to ever see her again despite it being all his heart's desire. Even in her jeans and a simple shirt, and from such a far distance, she was still able to make him go weak at the knees. Her slender exquisite body still made its unique beautiful figure amongst a crowd of other hundreds. But like always, it wasn't those things that had captured him, it was her amazing heart and intricate facial features that always let the inside of her soul known to him and only him. Just like her, he felt himself being frozen in a time capsule and he had no hands in it.

They finally broke away from each other's gaze. Brooke becoming slightly uncomfortable and trying her best to avoid his eyes, she concentrated more on the game. But it was like watching mute TV. Mere objects and images moving before her eyes but nothing actually being processed of it through her brain. All she could think about was the person sitting opposite of her holding a great part of her past and now her present.

The game finally ended. She could make out Adam's figure around the players as they hugged each other in the manly ordained manner congratulating each other on their victory. She waved back to him with a warm smile, once again the guilt overtaking every inch of her. Her eyes drifted to the other side of the court where they had wandered far too many times during the game, but he was no longer there. She continued looking at the now empty bleachers thoughts of him conquering her.

"Let's go……You're so not ok tonight" Rachel once again interrupted those thoughts and Brooke didn't know whether to be angry at her or thankful. She sighed heavily hugging her small jacket to her chest as they both made their way out and towards the outside of the locker room area to wait for Adam.

"That was such a great game" Rachel cheerfully commented watching Brooke lean her back against the wall obviously tired. Brooke couldn't help but give out a soft laughter

"Oh yea?..What was the score then?" she asked in a mock tone knowing too well that the game had the least of Rachel's attention. If it wasn't for the dark haired stranger who had intruded on their conversation earlier in the night, Rachel wouldn't have made it to the halftime
"Ah whatever. I got his number didn't I?" she flashed her best friend a wide toothy grin holding the palm of her hand up only a few centimeters away from Brooke's eyes.

Brooke laughed again "argh, get your popcorn smelling hand away from me" she playfully swatted Rachel's hand away from her face as both girls continued their playful fight.
She pushed her hand one more time away from her face giving out a louder laughter but soon all of this was interrupted by the calling of her name from a distance

"Brooke?..." she froze, her back to the source of the sound. It was far too familiar and now she was only hoping her ears weren't the ones playing tricks on her. In one swift motion, she turned her body around only to meet his eyes once again

"Lucas…?" she uttered his name out loud for the first time in many years

"Oh wow, I…." he stumbled on his words. Seeing her for the first time in many years and being this close to her was like a memory from a dream that had haunted him for too long "I thought I saw you earlier…..thought I was hallucinating or something. but wow look at you" his eyes lingered to every other inch of her body returning back to her face.

He couldn't help but notice the smile slowly forming on her lips yet he could tell how nervous she was from the way she brushed her fingers through her chocolate brown hair- a habit he had carefully noted about her too long ago when they were together

"Lucas…" she repeated phased by his propinquity as he walked closer to her. "What are you doing here?" she asked unaware that her words might have come out the wrong way. Immediately she followed them by a nervous chuckle that seemed to come out of the both of them "ha, Sorry…it's just….seeing you again is…"

"yea I know. " he cut her off trying to relief her from stumbling on anymore of her words "well, you know me and basketball, we go all the way back" he crossed his two fingers together in a silly gesture.

Once again she let out a soft laughter. He sure hadn't lost his sense of humor…. Her eyes lingered on as if studying his face. She couldn't believe her eyes. A few weeks ago, the thought of ever speaking to him again would have been absurd to her. She had already given in to the fact that he was a part of her past that she will only be connected to through her memories and nothing more. As much as that thought bothered her and how she hated to admit it, she had secretly hoped for the opposite. But since when are her hopes ever turned to realities? She continued to study his face, his eyes still had that sparkle in them whenever they reflected hers. He had grown a little bit thinner (if that was even possible) but his hair was still about the same height as she had last seen him and evidence of potential facial hair appeared on the line of his jawbones.

"well…?" he interrupted her thoughts making her eyes jerk back in place settling back onto his "Do I at least get a hug?" he smiled and slowly opened his arms for her.

Her lips twitched into a smile as she hesitated at first, but the urge inside her dying for his touch was stronger than anything else. She found herself walking towards him and as gracefully as humanly possible, she threw herself in his arms. At first the sensation was overwhelmingly uncomfortable, but the second she felt his arms wrap around her fragile waist and hers snake behind his neck, she relaxed. Her eyes closed for a few seconds and a pained look flashed over her face making sure that he wouldn't be able to see it.

However, she knew he could almost feel it in their proximity. He, too, closed his eyes taking in the scent of her hair that reminded him so much of days he longed for.
The sensation was too overwhelming for them almost electrifying. They both felt the need to let go but neither of them made an attempt, until Brooke was first to initiate it.

She quickly blinked and slid out of his arms once again finding herself looking in his eyes. "So…" she took a few steps back realizing one of his arms was still around her waist. He noted her reaction and immediately pushed his hands in the pockets of his jeans making sure to keep the distance between them "How come I've never seen you around here before?..." she asked him once again brushing strands of her hair with her fingers

"Well, I just moved in the city like a month ago…..you know…business" he nodded and she did the same in acknowledgement of his words not knowing what else to say. A shadow of discomfort once again appeared between them.
"erm, how about you? I thought you'd be in California now. You know" he shrugged his shoulders lightly as he spoke "living the high life"

Brooke gave out a short chuckle "nah, turns out the high life over there isn't as appealing as you'd think. I moved out long time ago and I work here now in a magazine"

Lucas watched her as she spoke, her eyes still fluttered occasionally when sarcasm appeared in her tone of voice….and when she smiled, her whole face lit up in cheerfulness. She was still the same Brooke Davis he had last seen in Tree Hill. The same Brooke Davis who broke his heart without even knowing it.

"Well, listen. Do you have time? I mean…we can go get a bite to eat and catch up" he offered
Brooke hesitated. She looked behind her and saw Rachel standing noting every bit of the exchange that had just occurred between her and the blue-eyed stranger. She had almost forgotten about her….and most importantly about someone else.

"erm. No. Actually. I have to go." She finally replied "I'm waiting for…." It was a long pause as she swallowed on her words "some friends"
She didn't know why she lied but she did. Suddenly she had become conscience of the ring she bore on her finger and like a reflex, she buried that hand underneath the jacket she was carrying.

Lucas nodded in disappointment and glanced over her shoulder at the other brunette standing not too far away behind Brooke. He noticed her give him a flirtatious smile that he only returned with a subtle one of his own before having his eyes settle on Brooke once again

"Alright. Well, here is my card. Call me whenever and maybe we can meet up and you know. Catch up and stuff" he handed her a white card and she took it willingly. Their fingers brushed against each other for a millisecond, but it was enough to send shivers down their spines. It was nice to see they still had that effect on each other…nice and scary at the same time.

"Sure"
"alright…It was great seeing you again" he took a few steps back and waved one last time before turning his back completely and disappearing in the crowd near the exits. She watched his back noting the slightest things about him, down to the way he walked. He hadn't changed one bit.

"Who was that stud?" came a voice from behind her. She rolled her eyes and sighed heavily, her fingers still fumbling with the card in her hand. "Engaged yet you still score numbers of hot guys. Lucky b!tch" Rachel teased her as she nudged her side lightly.
"He's an old friend. From high school" even though she didn't feel the need to clarify anything to Rachel, Brooke needed to say those words to remind herself of where they stood and that Lucas really was 'only' a friend, at least that's how they had ended things the last she had seen of him eight years ago

Rachel raised an eyebrow a sly smile forming on her lips "didn't know such a hick town like yours can have that degree of hotness in its guys. Boy did I go to the wrong school or what"
Brooke rolled her eyes at her. It wasn't the first time Lucas had struck the fancy of her friends. He was good looking and she couldn't blame any girl for not being attracted to him. But at the same time, she couldn't stop it from bothering her. This was 'her' Lucas. Sure enough they weren't together anymore and most likely never will be, but still……He was her ex-boyfriend, her broody, her heartbreaker, and even her cheating bastard.
"He's alright" she shrugged her shoulders obviously lying.
"Are you kidding me?" Rachel almost squealed "they don't make them that hot for no reason, you got to hook me up" a broad grin appearing on her face she beamed at Brooke helplessly
Brooke gave her a look and shook her head "didn't you just hook up with some random like an hour ago?"
"So? I like to explore my options. It's not like I promised myself to him with a ring?" Rachel stuck her tongue out at her but Brooke was only taken aback by Rachel's final words

She fell silent looking down on the card in her hands then at the ring that shone on her finger. Before she could give out another sigh, she felt two arms wrap around her waist and soft kiss on her neck.
Startled at first, she jerked in the familiar arms

"you scared me" she turned around now facing her fiancé to be greeted by another kiss, this time it was planted right on her lips
"Sorry I was late. Had to finish the press conference" he apologized genuinely and she just smiled "So anything interesting happen while I was away?"
Brooke just stared into his eyes, one hand caressing the side of his face. A small smile formed on her face and she shook her head slowly "no" she answered in a whisper.
Adam returned her smile with a lingering kiss then slid his hand into her as the three made their way to the exit.

She looked one last time at the card in her hand then pushed it into her purse taking notice of Adam's hand that held her own, a ring emphasizing their union….and in the other hand, a card threatening it.

So i know by now you all hate that Adam guy lol even though he is such a sweetheart...hope you liked it and please R&R Next: Brooke faces more confusion and becomes torn between her past and present