Author's note: Sorry about the delay! My life has been absolutely crazy this week. I'm already halfway through the chapter so I'll make a little bargain with all of you. I promise to finish the chapter and post it by Christmas if I get 8 reviews on this chapter. I know you guys can do it. I promise, this next one is a good one, tons of drama. So come on, leave me some reviews.

Chapter 10- Blue Eyes

Hold me tight
Hold me tight

Lucas walked towards Brooke's, head down, hands jammed in his pockets. He walked quickly, trying not to think too much about what he was about to do. Knowing he had hurt Brooke with his outburst earlier was bad enough, but knowing he had hurt her and she had no idea why made it even worse.

Lucas hadn't meant to fly off the handle like that, but it was like he couldn't stop himself. She had no idea of knowing, knowing why her simple question hit such a nerve. He shook his head as he remembered the awful things he said to her. Saying that she wanted him to play so he would be popular and then it would be okay for them to be together. He felt sick when he remembered the pained expression on her face.

Reaching out to the red door in front of him he knocked lightly and then entered. It was rare she actually got up to answer the door, and her parents were never home, he always just went in. He headed up towards her bedroom and could hear her talking.

"It was awful, it really was. I didn't know what to do, what to say. He just looked so angry."

Lucas heard her pause and assumed she was on the phone since he didn't hear a response back. Knocking on her bedroom door lightly he slowly opened it. Her eyes widened at the sight of him standing before him.

"I gotta go Haley, I'll talk to you later."

Brooke lowered the phone back into its cradle.

"I'm kind of surprised to see you here."

"I know, I figured I had some explaining to do."

Brooke crossed her arms over her chest causing Lucas to continue, "And some apologizing too."

Her expression softened a little with that remark. Brooke backed up so she was leaning against her headboard. She gestured for Lucas to sit down on the bed with her.

"Let me just start by saying that I am truly sorry for going off on you like that. I know that you weren't trying to do anything besides asking an innocent question. I tried to turn it into more than that and I was wrong."

Brooke nodded, silently letting him know she was accepting his apology while at the same time telling him to continue. Lucas was still amazed that he could get so much from a look.

"I know I've told you about my father, and how he left when I was young, but I've never told you anything else about him. He left when I was five. I barely remember him, but the one thing I do remember is him teaching me to play basketball. We'd spend hours out in the backyard on this makeshift basketball court. The hoop was down pretty low so I'd be able to make baskets. It was on that shabby little court that I found my love for the game. After my dad left, the only time I felt connected to him at all was when I played basketball."

Lucas paused, looking towards Brooke. He could see that the anger had disappeared from her eyes, now all he could see was sympathy and understanding.

"I played on a team in junior high and I quit. All the politics game got in the way and I felt my love for basketball beginning to slip away. I couldn't have that Brooke, I couldn't let the one good memory I had of him disappear because of stupid politics. When I quit I vowed to never again play on a team. I just couldn't risk losing my love for the game my father taught me."

Brooke reached her hand out, taking Lucas' hand into hers. "It seems like he loved you very much. Can I ask why he left? You've never told me."

Lucas nodded and looked off into the distance for a minute.

"He just couldn't be here anymore. This town, it was so small and he felt stifled. He had bigger dreams than this. Things weren't so good between him and my mom either. I know that he loved me though. I've known that every minute of every day. I still remember the day he left. I remember it like it was yesterday Brooke."

Brooke nodded encouraging him to continue. She could see tears forming in his eyes, knowing this was painful for him she reached out and took his other hand, giving him a little squeeze to let him know she was there for him.

"The day he left he picked me up from kindergarten and we drove towards the house. We were almost there when I noticed the suitcases in the back seat. I asked him where he was going and he said he was taking a trip. He said he'd be gone for a while, but that I'd be okay. He told me to take care of my mother, and he told me that now I was the man of the house. I was only 5 years old and he told me I was the man of the house. I remember crying, telling him I didn't understand, I didn't understand why he had to leave. He told me that he needed to. He told me he loved me and told me he always would. Now I look back and wonder how he could just say that, say he loved me and still leave me. He told me that he just had to go, that one day I'd understand. Then he leaned over me and opened my door. I got out and stood there on the lawn, watching him drive away. I can still remember the sting of the tears on my cheeks. You know the worst part Brooke?"

Brooke shook her head.

"He was wrong. To this day I still don't understand why he had to leave. My mom has tried to make it clearer, hoping that I when I was older I'd be able to understand that sometimes you have to follow your dreams. She hoped I'd understand that his dreams were bigger than Tree Hill, but I just can't. I just can't understand how he could leave me if he loved me as much as he said he did. It just doesn't make sense."

Brooke began to speak softly, with caution. She didn't want to further upset him. "There's this quote that I've always loved. 'If you love someone set them free.' Maybe that was it. Maybe he felt that if he stayed here he would start resenting you because you would be the only thing keeping him here. Maybe he didn't want to see that happen, he didn't want to taint his love for you. Leaving may have been the only way out he could see."

Lucas looked thoughtful for a minute, as though he was digesting her words. "I never thought of it that way."

Lucas turned towards Brooke and smiled. He leaned over and pulled her into his arms. They sat there for a few minutes, holding one another.

As Brooke pulled away from his embrace she looked him in the eyes. "Well as far as explanations go, I'd say that one was pretty much rock solid."

"So I'm forgiven?"

"You're forgiven. But Lucas, just talk to me next time. We're still learning about each other, it's impossible for me to know what parts of your life you hide from. If I say something that reminds you of something bad tell me, don't just run from it. I want to know all your secrets."

Lucas smiled. He didn't know what to say. Across from him sat the most amazing girl he'd ever met. She was beautiful, smart, caring, she was everything he could ever want. He wanted to tell her how much he cared but he couldn't, he couldn't find the words. So instead of saying the wrong thing he just sat there, staring deep into her eyes.

"I have to tell you something Lucas."

"Anything."

"I think I'm falling in love with you. And to be completely honest it scares the hell out of me, but it's still happening. I can't stop it. I think that's how I know it's real."

"You think you're falling in love with me or you know you're falling in love with me?"

"I know I'm falling in love with you."

Lucas pulled Brooke into her lap, "Well pretty girl, I'd say that's a good thing."

Brooke smiled up at him, "Oh yea? And why's that?"

"Because I'm pretty sure I've already fallen. I've known it for weeks. You're all I can think about Brooke. From the minute I wake up to the minute I fall asleep. Then you're there in my dreams. When I see you my heart literally speeds up. I find everything about you absolutely intoxicating. I wonder how I got so lucky…"

Brooke reached out, placing her finger over his mouth to silence him, "Shhhhh. Don't say anything else."

Lucas looked confused, "Why not?"

"Because I just felt it. Right then, when you were talking. Whatever was holding me back and stopping me from just letting go and loving you, well it's gone. And I want you to just hold me tight while we enjoy this moment."

"What moment?"

"The exact moment where I realized that I am head over heels in love with the boy with the most beautiful blue eyes I've ever seen."