Chapter 15
"Pictures Fade Away but Memories are Forever"
Lucas awoke the next morning with a massive hangover. His head was pounding as he sat up and looked around the room. What shocked him the most wasn't that he wasn't in his own room, but that Brooke Davis was sleeping next to him. He couldn't remember what happened the night before, but he hoped that it wasn't something he'd regret. Brooke began to stir, and soon her brown eyes were smiling at him. "Good morning, Broody," she said in her usual cheerful tone. She noticed that he didn't look too good. "How's your head?"
"It's pounding," he whispered.
"I've got just the thing for you."
Brooke climbed out of bed and headed towards the bathroom. Lucas couldn't help but stare at her body; it was perfect. She returned a few moments later and handed him a glass of water and two aspirin. "These should help with the headache," she said.
Lucas was grateful for the aspirin. Though they weren't as strong as the pills he got from Benny, they still helped his headache. "Thank you," he replied after taking the two aspirin.
There was a brief silence as Brooke waited for Lucas to speak again. She was hoping that he'd tell her what happened the day before. When he didn't say anything she decided to ask. "Are you going to tell me?" she asked.
Lucas raised his eyebrows. "Tell you what?"
"Tell me what happened yesterday that caused you to go and get wasted. I know that's not like you, Lucas."
There was a long pause as Lucas debated whether or not he should tell her about what happened with Peyton. He barely knew Brooke, and wasn't sure if he could trust her, but one look into her brown eyes told him he could. "I walked in on Peyton and Jake together" he whispered. It hurt to say those words.
"What do you mean you walked in on them together?"
"I walked in on them making out on her bed."
Brooke gently rubbed his back. "I'm so sorry, Lucas." She knew that he was the last person than deserved something like this to happen. "Do you want to go out for breakfast with me?"
Lucas nodded his head. "I'd like that."
"I have something I have to take care of first; do you want to meet in the café in an hour?"
"That sounds great." Lucas was looking forward to going out with Brooke.
Peyton was sitting on her bed as she put the finishing touches on her latest sketch. The sketch was of Lucas standing by himself while she and Jake were together. On the top she had the words "it was only a kiss." She felt bad for hurting Lucas, but she was happy that she could be with Jake. There was a soft knock on the door, and Brooke entered a few seconds later.
"Hey Brooke," Peyton said in a somewhat cheery tone.
"That's it?" Brooke asked as she sat down on Peyton's bed. "You're not going to tell me what happened last night?"
Peyton was shocked by Brooke's words. How could she possibly know about what happened yesterday? She decided to play dumb. "What are you talking about?" she asked.
"I know what you did to Lucas," Brooke spat. She noticed the shocked look on Peyton's face. "How could you break his heart like that?"
"I didn't mean to…it's just that Jake came back and…"
"And you just figured that you'd kick Lucas to the curb," Brooke interrupted. "That's cold…even for you, Peyton."
"It's not like that. How is Lucas?"
"So now you care about his feelings? You left him shattered. I found him drowning out his sorrows in the park."
"I didn't mean for him to find out like that."
Brooke rose to her feet. "You just stay the hell away from him or you'll have me to deal with." She started heading out but turned around and said, "I thought you were better than that, P. Sawyer."
After leaving Brooke's Lucas didn't go home. Instead he found Benny and his crew hanging out in there usual spot under the bleachers. Benny stepped forward when he saw Lucas approaching. "Back so soon, Scott?" he asked in a cocky tone.
Lucas flashed a couple of twenties in his face. "Just give me the stuff," he said.
Benny turned to one of his guys and snapped his finger. The guy handed Benny a packet; which Benny handed to Lucas after taking the money. "Pleasure doing business with you, Scott," Benny said before going back to his friends.
Lucas opened the packet and popped two of the pills. He was too the point where he needed the pills just to make it through the day. He was addicted, but he refused to admit it.
Brooke entered the café and looked around, but she didn't see Lucas anywhere. She saw Haley standing behind the counter so she approached. "Hey tutor girl…have you seen Lucas?"
Haley looked up and smiled when she saw Brooke. The two girls had become pretty good friends since she started dating Nathan. "Hi tigger, and no, I haven't seen him."
Brooke looked down at her watch. "I guess I am a little early." She laughed when she saw the confused look on Haley's face.
"Why are you meeting Lucas?" she asked.
"It's a long story," Brooke responded. She looked out the door and saw no sign of Lucas. "…But it looks like I've got time to tell you."
"And I expect every detail," Haley added.
Brooke told her everything. She started with how she found a drunken Lucas at the rivercourt, and gave her every little detail of the previous night. Then she told her what Lucas had said about Peyton, and how she paid her a visit before coming to the café. Haley was furious when Brooke finished telling her story, and she practically shouted, "Why that cold hearted bi..."
She was cut off as Brooke put her hand over her mouth. "Everyone's staring, Haley."
Their eyes directed towards the door when they heard the bell jingle, and Lucas entered moments later. He smiled at his two friends and then joined them at the counter. "Hey Broody," Brooke said as he sat down next to her.
"Hi Cheery…Hi Hales."
Lucas and Brooke excused themselves and then sat down at one of the booths. They sat next to each other and Haley took their order. When she was gone Brooke asked. "What are you thinking about right now?"
"I'm thinking that I want to do this…" Lucas leaned in and planted a long kiss on her lips.
The tile of the chapter is a lyric from the song "Sonny" by New Found Glory.