TITLE: Back to You

AUTHOR: Dayz Sollers

SUMMARY: Post season 2 finale. As Brooke, Nathan and Jake come back from their summers away from Tree Hill, the group has to face the trials and tribulations of their senior year of high school, and find out what is really important to them. Mostly B/L but it will take a while. Be patient, it will get there. I promise. P/J and N/H also. Feedback wanted! Please R&R

Disclaimer: Don't own One Tree Hill, too bad for me.

Rating: PG13-maybe to an R later on
Category: Romance/Drama

Special thanks to WeightedTiarra, karaokediva419 and IntentionallyCruel for their reviews! Hopefully this chapter will continue to make you happy :-)

CHAPTER SIX- Second Chances?

Brooke had been surprised how easy it had been to fall back into her old routine. Hanging with her friends, going to Tric, talking to Lucas…life was getting back to normal. Whatever that was. So, on the night of the party she walked around her bedroom franticly picking up pieces of clothes. Peyton and Haley sat on opposite sides of her bed, each staring at Brooke with amused expressions.

"Why are you so nervous Brooke? It's just a party."

Brooke shot Peyton a dirty look and pulled up an electric blue halter top. The girls shook their heads no, and Brooke groaned. "Why is this so hard? I mean you're right it's just a party," her voice trailed off as she entered the walk in closet and pulled out a leather skirt.

"But it's not just a party," Haley grinned. "It's THE party." she watched as her friends faces questioned what she had meant. " You know, the party where you and Lucas get back together. It's like the announcement kiss, only before you know?" Haley made her way towards Brooke and pulled a red tank top down. "Wear this, pull your hair half up and leave half down. Now can we go already?"

Brooke rolled her eyes. "We are not getting back together. We're friends." She pulled the shirt on, and grabbed a pair of heels out of her closet. As she strapped one of them up, she turned to her friends. "Besides, maybe he doesn't even want to get back together."

This time it was Peyton to roll her eyes. "Okay Brooke, whatever you say. But we're telling you you're wrong. I was at the beach with him after you left. I saw the look on his face as he told me what had happened. That boy, he loves you. So maybe it's you who doesn't want to get back together."

Brooke started to protest, but bit her tongue. It was her that wasn't letting them be anymore than friends. How could she? After the pain he put her through, it wasn't easy to just forget about it.

"I just don't think it's that simple."

Haley groaned.

"And that's where you're wrong. You two love each other. Just put the past in the past and move on."

Peyton nodded.

Brooke threw herself down in her chair and sighed. "Like you're one to talk Tutorgirl. You and Nathan had the epic love. The Jack and Rose type love. And look at how that turned out. Nathan's becoming more and more like his old self, and you…you're just scared to make a move. You love him, so why aren't you fighting for him?"

Satisfied with herself she stared Haley down waiting for a reply. But none came, because Haley had known she was right. She grabbed her purse and walked towards the door. "So I'll make a deal with you Hales, you make a move. And I will. Now if you don't mind, Lucas is going to be here any minute."

"So, you know she's right don't you?" Peyton said as they made their way to her car. As they got in, Haley simply nodded her head and stared out the window.

"Look. Brooke is Brooke. She's straightforward and takes no prisoners. She isn't going to tell you what you want to hear just to make you happy. She'll tell you the truth, because she thinks you deserve that much. She might go about it wrong but she's got the best intentions."

"And I know that. And I know that she's right about Nathan and I. We were in love, but I can't fight for him."

"And why not?"

Haley shut her eyes, praying that tears wouldn't fall down her face. She looked at Peyton and sighed. "Because I don't deserve him. I left him remember? And he gave me a choice. And I didn't choose him. So he moved on."

"But Haley, what moving on has he done? I mean he spent the summer away where he didn't have to deal with anything. You don't know what's going on in his mind." Peyton tried to reason with her friend, and rounded the corner towards Tim's house. "Maybe you should just talk to him. See where his head is at."

As the car came to a stop, Haley thought about what Brooke and Peyton had said. Perhaps they were right, perhaps Nathan and her deserved a second chance. And it didn't hurt that if she tried, then Brooke would try with Lucas. She glanced down at her left hand and rubbed against the finger. She still couldn't bring herself to remove the ring.

She had signed the annulment papers three and a half months ago, but still the ring stayed firm on her hand. She had made a promise to him, to love him until death. And she had no intention on backing down from that.

Lucas stood by the backdoor of his house, which lead into Brooke's room and knocked. After a few minutes the door opened and Brooke stood smiling.

"Hi Broody."

"Hi Cheery. You look beautiful." He smiled. Hell, she looked more than beautiful. But he had always thought so. He reached for her hand, and she placed hers in his, shutting the door behind her.

"Well duh."

As they made their way to the car, Brooke turned to him expectantly. "I almost forgot." She handed him a small black box and he looked down at her questioning it. "Open it." She grinned.

He leaned against the door and pulled the top of the black box. Brooke stood impatiently waiting for him to say something.

"Well…"

He stared down at the necklace in the box and smiled genuinely. It looked like the necklace she had given him last year. He flipped the charm and looked at her.

"What's it mean?"

"Second chances."

Lucas couldn't control himself. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into a hug. They stayed there, happy to be in each others arms again. Lucas shut his eyes, and inhaled. He didn't know why but he couldn't resist. Her hair smelled like the jasmine oil Haley had given his mom for her birthday last year. They pulled apart, but didn't let go of each other.

He took a deep breath and leaned his fore head against hers. Their lips were only inches apart, and Brooke could feel the warmth of his breath against her lips. Trembling, she shut her eyes and waited for his lips. So when his lips didn't crash down on hers, she opened them not understanding why.

"We should get going."

TBC...

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