A/N: Set after the season 2 finale. Dan didn't get burned but its still just him and Peyton for the summer.
Chapter 1
Two weeks since Brooke left. Six weeks until she came home for Senior Year. Lucas was marking off the days until she got home. He had spoken to her every single day since she left but she never mentioned the kiss. He didn't feel he could bring it up. He had been lonely since his mom left for New Zealand. The house felt so empty. He had no one to talk to, really. I mean he talked to Peyton but her mind was elsewhere, with Jake. He needed someone to talk to badly. He was really worried about his HCM. He had been working 2 jobs barely sleeping and he still was only able to take half the prescribed dose. He hoped it would be enough.
The next two days were tough. He had to work a 12 hour shift at the Cafe and then he went on to work a 6 hour shift at a bar downtown. The money was good but the long hours were starting to take their toll. He had the same shifts the next day. The highlight of his day was a ten minute phone call to Brooke. She seemed to be having a great time in California. Hot weather, hot guys, beaches, parties, she barely had a spare minute but she always made time to talk to him. The minute Brooke picked up the phone and heard Lucas' voice she knew something was up.
"Hey" Lucas greeted Brooke, sounding tired.
"Hey, you ok?" Brooke asked knowing something was up.
"Yeah,
I'm just beat...you know how it is" Lucas sighed
"Are you sure there isn't more to it, you've been feeling beat the last
couple of times I've been talking to you." Brooke pushed the subject.
"I'm fine, I've just been working hard is all. I just need a good night's sleep"
"Ok if you say so. So how's life with you? Any news"
"Nah not really..." Lucas was too tired to keep up a conversation and he still had 4 hours to go.
"Well you'll never guess what I did today"
"Shop?" Lucas cut her off
"Well that too, but I got a job! Me a job! Aren't I great"
"Hey well done Brooke you rock! What are you doing"
"Well
its just a couple of hours a day, I'm working in a huge fashion store.
It's so fancy! I don't need to work but I'm getting kinda bored just
sitting around you know how it is"
"Not really, remember I'm working 2 jobs at the moment just to get by"
"I don't understand. You don't need to work THAT much Luke. You are just putting pressure on yourself"
"I don't have a choice. I gotta work"
"You've never had trouble with money before. Your mom has been sending you money right"
"Yeah but its not enough"
"Not
enough for what? What could you possibly need that much money for. I
mean you NEVER shop you'd rather walk around with holes in your shoes
than shop"
"You wouldn't understand...Look I gotta go my manager is
looking for me" Luke rushed to get off the subject "Talk to you
tomorrow"
"Yeah sure..." Brooke agreed a little taken aback at Luke's reaction.
AN: Hey, this is my first fic on fanfiction, please R&R! Thanks!