Author's note: Thanks again for the great reviews, swedishblonde, mony19, and especially karaokediva419. Sorry that there weren't any updates over the weekend, I am usually pretty busy and don't get to it.

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Chapter 4- Ghosts From Year's Passed

"Oh my God, Nathan, never mind I asked that. I don't want you to think that I am spending time with you to like get back at him or to get dirt on him or anything. When I am nervous I just talk and talk and talk and don't always think about what comes out before I say it. And honestly I have been wondering all night and it just kind of burst out…" Brooke was yelling at herself in her head for asking that so soon, she swore to herself that she would learn to get a handle on this nervous rambling.

"Woah, calm down Brooke. It is okay, I knew that you would be curious, I didn't expect you to ask so soon, but whatever. I will fill you in on Lucas if you promise to answer me a question when I am done." Nathan figured that was the best way to get her to really open up about some things he was wondering about her.

"It's a deal." Brooke was relieved that Nathan wasn't looking at her like she was a crazy person, she definitely felt like one.

"Okay, well after we graduated high school Lucas couldn't figure out where to go to college. Because of the HCM basketball was long gone for him, and when he had applied to schools he applied to basketball schools. He had applied to Chapel Hill because he really liked their literature program, basketball didn't factor in to that choice, but they had wait listed him. He signed up for classes at community college but then Chapel Hill called him at the last minute and told him he had been taken off the wait list and could start in a few weeks. So he was at Chapel Hill all four years."

"Wow, that is an awesome school. Good thing he kept up on his grades even when he was on the team." Brooke was glad to hear this stuff, but what she really wanted to know was what had happened with his love life.

"So he graduated when we did, he had a double major in English and Philosophy with a concentration in literature. He is going on to get his master's at Chapel Hill, he wants to end up as a college professor in the end."

"He will be good at that, he always had a passion for reading. I know that he will love to share that passion with students." All Brooke could think was, hurry up and get to the good stuff.

"Well, I can tell by the blank expression in your eyes that that isn't what you really want to know. So onto his love life…" Nathan knew that that was what Brooke was really asking about, but he kind of enjoyed watching her squirm. "He was pretty broken up about the Peyton thing, but when it was all said and done he claimed that he wasn't that surprised. He knew that him and Peyton hooking up again was more about convenience, they were the only two left in Tree Hill that summer. He said that he knew he never had all of Peyton, that part of her belonged to Jake. It was still hard on him though."

"Well at least he finally learned how it felt to have your heart broken." Brooke just burst out, "Oops, I don't mean to sound mean, there is that not thinking before I say things thing again."

"It's okay. I know how it feels to have your heart broken. So, Lucas didn't date anyone seriously for his first two years of college, then he dated this one girl for a few months, but it just didn't work out. At the end of junior year he started dating this girl he had known throughout college but never really realized he had feelings for. They have been together every since."

"Well I hope that he is treating her right."

"Brooke, I promise you that Lucas learned his lesson, he treats her right. She isn't someone who would put up with anything less." Nathan was relieved to get all that out, he knew Brooke wanted to know it, now the explaining was done and he could get to some questions of his own.

"Well thanks for that Nathan. I am glad he is happy now. So what did you want to ask me?" Brooke was biting her lip nervously, there were some things she just didn't want to talk about.

"I am curious to know if you have had a serious relationship since Lucas? I know that you had a really tough time with all of that. Obviously, I know that you didn't have another serious relationship in high school, but what about college?" Nathan was sure Brooke had moved past it all, she probably had an amazing boyfriend right now or something.

"No, I haven't had a serious relationship since Lucas. I tired a few times in college, but I just had a hard time letting people in. After all the stuff that happened with Lucas and Felix, I just kind of shut my heart off. It was for the better though, I studied a lot and of course did cheerleading, so I just kept busy with all of that. I guess I figured the busier I was the less time I would think about wanting a boyfriend. After a few years I really didn't think about boys all that much." Brooke was almost embarrassed to admit this to Nathan. She had almost always been involved with someone in high school.

"I understand completely. I was the same way. Since Haley I haven't been able to let anyone in." Nathan felt bad for Brooke because he knew all about the heartache she had endured. "Who would have thought that you and I would be sitting here having this conversation?"

"Yeah, we definitely were two of the biggest heartbreakers at Tree Hill High weren't we? Sucks though doesn't it?"

"What?" Nathan could see all of this emotion behind Brooke's big brown eyes.

"When the heartbreakers become the broken hearted."

"Yeah it definitely does." Nathan looked thoughtful for a few minutes.

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They finished up their meals and had coffee, afterwards Nathan drove Brooke home. When they arrived at her house he walked her to the front door, "Brooke, I have really enjoyed spending time with you tonight. I would really like to do this again sometime, hopefully sometime soon."

"I would love that Nathan, I had a really good time too." Brooke was glad he had had a good time and she really wanted to see him again.

"What is your schedule like next week?" Nathan hoped he didn't sound too eager.

"Well I start work on Monday…."

"How about I cook you dinner? It will help you relax after your first day. My mom is out of town for a few days so it would be just us, she has a gorgeous house with a pool and Jacuzzi and everything." Nathan hoped to persuade her.

"That sounds great." Brooke laughed to herself, he was trying so hard to talk her into it when she would have said yes in a second.

"Great, good, I'm glad. Why don't you give me a call sometime this weekend for directions?" Nathan was relieved that she had agreed.

"Okay, I will. Thanks again for dinner tonight, I had a great time."

"You are very welcome, I had a great time too." Nathan leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "See you Monday."