"What'll it be, honey? Pick your poison."

Lucas took a look around and sighed and shrugged.

"I don't care. Whatever it is, make it hard and strong."

The bartender smiled and winked at him as she began mixing a concoction that included a few shots of Bourbon.

"There you go, sugar. A Dixie Whiskey. That ought to do the trick."

Lucas nodded and took his drink elsewhere. How did he always get roped into these things? He hated it. It was Dan and Karen's wedding anniversary. The Who's Who of North Carolina's elite society was in attendance. Lucas found the whole thing stifling, if not a tad ridiculous.

In the center of the room were his grandparents. He smiled at Mae. She was entertaining the other ladies, probably discussing something as innocent and grandmotherly as quilting. But a few feet away was Grandpa Royal. As usual the guests flocked to him like flies on fresh shit and he loved it, standing there with his chest proudly stuck out in that expensive suit while he sipped expensive Brandy and smoked even more expensive cigars.

Then there were his parents. Lucas could down a whole drink just thinking about them. They were pathetic. So was their farce of a marriage. They certainly had a nerve to even dare host a party celebrating their anniversary. The relationship was barely held on by a thread. But nevertheless at the same time each year, the entire family went through the motions. Karen, looking like a knockout in that low cut designer black dress, worked the crowd with her confident smile and dynamic business savvy charm. And a few feet behind her, as always, was Dan the Man. He followed in a rumpled suit, one hand shoved deep in the pockets, the other keeping a death grip on the glass of watered down Whiskey. Briefly the eyes of father and son met and Lucas had no problem showing his disdain. In his world, his father was the most weak and feeble of creatures. Dan could sense the contempt and quickly averted his eyes away.

"So, I can't believe I let you talk me into this."

Lucas looked up. He had never been so glad to see Nathan in his life.

"What's up, bro?" they knocked fists.

"I am officially declaring this one a suck fest", Nathan dismally announced.

Lucas chuckled.

"If I have to be here and suffer, then so do you, little brother. We're a team, remember?"

"A team?" Nathan repeated, slightly amused. "That's original."

"Come on, dude. You can't leave me here with this pack of wolves."

"You could always talk to Dan."

Lucas rolled his eyes.

"I'd rather not. Just look at him", he sneered. "He's like a pound puppy."

Nathan shook his head. Had their father always been like that? Not according to the few stories Deb had shared with him. Dan Scott had once been described as a confident, fun loving, strong man. Whatever he had been over 20 years before, now he seemed to be a self conscious, miserable, nervous drunk. Nathan secretly wondered as he had so many times during his life, what things would have been like if Dan had chosen to marry Deb.

"I feel sorry for the guy", Nathan sighed. "He can't help it."

Lucas wasn't so sure.

"No, Nate. That's where you're wrong. No excuses. You can always help it."

The bitterness was plainly evident in his voice and Nathan found himself just as uncomfortable around his brother as he was everyone else.

"Natey? Love, is that you? Come on over here and give me a big kiss! There's someone I want to introduce you to."

Lucas chuckled and raised his glass as Nathan actually breathed a sigh of relief. Saved by the bell, so to speak. Mae was summoning him over and that was fine with Nathan. At that point, his grandmother was about the only one at the party he could stomach.

Lucas watched his brother leave. Mae was of course the exception to dreaded Scott rule and everyone loved her but it had even taken Nathan a long time to warm up. It was hard for the younger brother to associate himself with the people he felt had hurt and long disrespected his beloved mother, Deb.

"Empty glass? You know that's a Scott party foul."

Lucas smirked. Uncle Keith was standing behind him at the bar.

"You made it."

"Where else would I be? Now can I get you another round? What are you having?"

Lucas shrugged.

"Whatever is good."

Keith returned with two Gins and Tonic.

"I see your brother managed to make it."

"I see yours did too", Lucas quipped as Dan was furiously lapping up the last sip in his glass.

Keith laughed heartily.

"You know old Danny Boy."

"Unfortunately."

"Oh don't be like that, Luke. This is supposed to be a celebration."

"Forgive me if I don't feel much like celebrating."

Keith bit his lip.

"Sorry. I forgot. This is about Haley, isn't it?"

Lucas shook his head.

"No. Actually for the first time it isn't. I mean, I feel bad things went down the way they did but we're both relieved its over. Hopefully we can be real friends again one day but I'm moving on and so is she. Hales deserves her freedom and she deserves to be happy."

"Speaking of moving on, where is the lucky lady who is your date tonight?"

"Don't have one."

Keith dramatically put his hand over his heart.

"What? Lucas Scott all alone? No beautiful lady friend?"

"Not tonight."

"Losing your touch?" he smirked.

"Doubt it. I'm just not interested. Not tonight."

"Turning over a new leaf, eh?"

"Maybe."

"Well, good for you. I guess an old dog can learn new tricks after all."

Keith nodded but lost all interest in the conversation as he noticed Karen walk by. They had long ago since given up on subtle. Lucas wanted to gag as his mother gave Keith "the nod", the one many horny cheerleaders and groupies had given him indicating they wanted to hook up after the game.

"Maybe you should give that a try", Lucas dryly suggested.

"I think I will. Um, I have to uh, hit the restroom. I'll be right back. Hold my drink?" he handed it to his nephew, already walking off and following the married Karen like a dog in heat.

Lucas wanted to scream. He hated it all so much. Why did he even bother? It was torment.

"Turn that frown upside down and never fear because the Tim Man is here!"

Lucas chuckled in spite of everything. Tim Smith. Why did the poor guy have to loudly announce himself before he entered a room.

"Hey, Tim."

"Nice suit. Calvin Klein?"

"Ralph Lauren", Lucas answered.

"Dapper but not nearly as cool as what I'm wearing. Check it out. Sorry I didn't tell you beforehand but I was afraid your envy of my good taste would make you want to get an exact replica of my fine duds."

Lucas burst out laughing. Tim looked like a broken down pimp in that old hideous purple thing.

"Yeah right, man. Hey JJ Evans from Good Times called and he asked that you stop raiding his closet."

Tim would not be deterred as he grinned and lit a cigar.

"This is lame."

"Tell me about it."

"What do you say we blow this off and find a real party to crash?"

Lucas sighed. Anything had to be better than where he was.

"Whatever. But I'm taking your ass home first so you can change."

"Fine", Tim sighed. "Only because you're my best friend and I respect your insecurities and fears that I'll steal all the pussycats away."

"Oh yeah", Lucas said sarcastically. "That's exactly it."

"Want to hit the titty bar?"

Lucas frowned. The strip clubs were all the same. It was getting pretty boring.

"Nah."

"You're no fun, Luke. Look, we'll start downtown, loosen up and bar hop, then hit the clubs so I can wow the ladies with my new dance moves."

"Oh yeah", Lucas took another drink. "The Carlton Banks dance gets you laid every time."

"You know it", Tim grinned proudly. "But what's wrong with you? You're even more brooding and moody than usual."

"I'm cool. I'm just tired and being here doesn't help stuff."

"Well Dr. Tim has the prescription you need, boy. Take a right and check it out. Look at that little hottie in the red dress. Damn! She is fine! And I'll even be a good friend and let you have her and I'll take her not as hot friend in the white."

Lucas just shook his head in disbelief.

"You trying to get us locked up? Those girls are 17!"

"For real? How do you know?"

"They're the McCullen's granddaughters. Dude, you're just sick."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Damn…what's the consent age in North Carolina again?"

"Tim!"

"What? I was just asking. Don't bite my head off. It was just a question."

Lucas smiled.

"Why do I even hang out with you? You're dumb. Plain and simple."

"Hey, I'm just trying to have fun and get you laid tonight. That is the plan."

"Actually, I was thinking about going home and chilling with a beer after this. Law and Order is on."

Tim whipped his head around so hard and fast, he almost looked possessed.

"Law and Order? Dude, my great aunt Sally, the one with all the cats whose house smells like mothballs, watches that. Are you like 60? Come on now. I'm trying to have fun."

"Maybe that is fun for me. And maybe getting wasted and bar hopping and dropping cash at the strip club is played out."

Tim touched Luke's forehead.

"Do you have a fever?"

"Get off me, dude!"

"I never thought I'd see the day when Lucas Scott gave up the women."

"Who said I was giving up?"

"Taking a break?"

Lucas shook his head.

"No."

"Then what? What the hell is going on?"

"I'm just chilling out for a while, pulling out of the game. Besides, there is one girl in particular…"

"Who?"

"You don't know her."

"Luke, I know everybody in this godforsaken town."

Lucas took a deep breath.

"She's funny…I mean, her sense of humor is wicked. And she's really nice. She has a great heart. And she's interesting and she's not the type of girl you get tired of. And she's smart too. It might not come off that way at first but she really is. I like her. I like spending time with her and the way she makes me feel."

"Does she have nice tits?"

"Tim!"

"What? It's a legitimate question."

"Man, be for real. This girl is special."

"So she has a nice ass?"

"Why do I even bother? It isn't about that. It isn't physical. I mean, she is sexy as hell and beautiful and gorgeous but not just on the outside. There's much more to her than that. I don't know a lot about her but I like what I do know…and what I don't know, well, I intend to find out."

"You're whipped", Tim declared. "You haven't even hit it yet and you're whipped. What a sad day for mankind. Who is she?"

"Brooke."

"Brooke? Wait, you mean Deb's Den Brooke? Your roommate Brooke?"

"Yeah."

"I thought you couldn't stand her."

"She's growing on me."

Tim shrugged.

"She is pretty hot but I must warn you, I've seen her giving me the eye a couple of times."

"Whatever."

"Well, she lives with you. And you work together. Buy some flowers, get her drunk, dig it out and then get on with life."

"Not this time", Lucas shook his head.

"You're really serious, aren't you?"

"I am. I had a great girl once and I screwed things up with Haley. I don't want to be that guy anymore. I want to be that pitiful drunk over there in the corner like my father. I want something else…and I think I want it with Brooke."

"I think you need a cat scan but whatever. It's your life, Luke."

Lucas smiled.

"I know."

"You're a changed man", a despondent Tim shook his head and downed his drink.

Lucas couldn't help but grin. He had felt that way for weeks but now others were beginning to notice as well.

"Yeah", he nodded, putting the drinks down. "I know that too."