Author's note: Thanks for all the reviews! Sorry I didn't get the review out by Christmas, I was sick  But here it is now…enjoy!

Chapter 11- What Do You Want From Me?

Oh and I don't know
I don't know what he's after
But he's so beautiful
He's such a beautiful disaster

"P. Sawyer, I can't believe that you leave tomorrow! It's so not fair." Brooke screeched into her cell phone as she drove towards the river court to see Lucas.

"Calm down drama queen, I'm not going that far. I'll only be a few hours away in Charlotte. You know I have to go. Jake wants to have this last month to get us and Jenny all settled in before classes start."

Brooke let out a huge sigh and frowned into her phone. They were staring right into the end of the summer and their impending separation. Peyton would be the first to go. Brooke was upset, but she knew Peyton was right, there was no other choice. Peyton and Jake had been lucky enough to get into the same school. They hoped that they'd be able to juggle their class schedules so one of them could always be with Jenny. Brooke knew she should be happy for Peyton, after all it had been obstacle after obstacle for Peyton, Jake and Jenny, and now it seemed like they were finally catching a break.

"I know, I know. I understand, but that doesn't mean I like it." Brooke whined some more.

"Well then, we'll just have to live it up tonight. You, me and Haley, this is it. This is our last night before everything changes."

"Tonight will be great. I can't wait. Will Jake be able to come?"

"Yep, he found a sitter for Jenny."

"Well then, it looks like we'll all be there. I talked to Haley a little bit ago and she said that she and Nathan would be there."

"We'll all be there huh? What about Lucas, is he coming?"

Brooke bit her lip, "Well, I kind of didn't tell him about the party."

"Brooke, seriously? If he doesn't already know he'll find out. Everyone has heard about this party. Why don't you just invite him to go with you?"

"I don't know if I'm ready for that."

"You really need to get over this Brooke otherwise you're going to lose him. You know I thought you were being a little ridiculous keeping it a secret before, when we were in school, but I tried to understand. But now we aren't even in school. Who cares who you date? High school's over. You don't have to impress anyone anymore."

"It's not that Peyton, really it's not."

"Then what is it?"

"I really don't know Peyton."

Peyton sighed loudly, "Listen Brooke, I have to go. Just let me say this. Lucas has put up with a lot from you. He's been more than patient and it's only because he loves you so much. He won't take much more. I don't want to see what you guys have come to an end just because you were worried about what some people at some party will think. But you're a big girl. You can make your own decisions. Just ask yourself if it's worth the risk, not telling him."

"Okay, okay. I'm hanging up now. Bye P. Sawyer."

Brooke flipped her phone shut and threw it onto the passenger's seat. She knew Peyton was right, she knew that not inviting Lucas was a huge risk. If he found out about the party and she hadn't invited him, or even mentioned it, it could very well be the last straw.

All she wanted was for the night to be perfect. Peyton would be leaving in the morning and Haley would follow in a couple weeks. All of Haley's hard work through high school finally paid off and she'd been awarded a full ride to NYU. Nathan of course had been awarded a full athletic scholarship to his choice of schools. He'd finally settled on Syracuse University in upstate New York. Brooke knew that Haley also being in New York was a huge reason for his choice.

It was hard to believe how much had changed in the past year. Just a year ago it was Brooke and Nathan who were together. Nathan and Haley barely even knew each other, and now, well now they were head over heels in love. When Brooke saw the two of them together she knew that it was meant to be that way.

Brooke still had three weeks to go before she headed off to school. Brooke hadn't done quite as well as she could have in high school, she just never applied herself as much as she should have. Thankfully she had done remarkably well on the SAT and she had gotten into almost every school she applied to. Finally, she settled on Meredith College in Raleigh. She was going to major in business with a minor is fashion merchandising. Meredith was one of the few schools with that program and it was also nice because it was only about 2 hours away from Tree Hill.

Brooke had always thought that she'd run like hell as soon as she could get out of Tree Hill. She always thought she'd go far away as fast as possible, but now she wasn't sure that was what she wanted. She had one tie to Tree Hill that she wasn't quite sure she could sever.

Lucas was staying in Tree Hill. He was postponing college indefinitely to stay and help his mom run the café and the club. She'd only opened the club a few months ago and she was struggling running both, so Lucas had offered to stay and help out where needed. His mother graciously took him up on the offer and turned the club over to him. She'd run the café and he'd run the club. As much as Brooke knew Lucas had also hoped to leave Tree Hill, she understood that he wanted to help his mother. Seeing his devotion to his mother only made Brook love him more.

They hadn't really talked about their impending separation but Brooke was hopeful that they'd be able to work something out. She wasn't ready to give up on Lucas, not yet. She wasn't going to let a couple of hours come between them.

Brooke pulled up onto the grass surrounding the river court and hopped out of her car. She smiled as she felt the sun hit her shoulders. Summer was by far Brooke's favorite season. She loved getting to wear her cute little skirts and sandals everyday.

Smiling at the sight of a sweaty, shirtless Lucas running around the court, Brooke headed over to take a seat on the bleachers to watch the game. Lucas caught sight of Brooke out of the corner of his eye. He stopped, smiled, and promptly got nailed in the head with the ball by Skills. Brooke laughed and sat down.

A little while later the boys began to tire out. Lucas headed over to Brooke. Brooke had stopped and picked up some water bottles for the boys, and they were extremely gracious.

"Damn Luke, I gotta get me a girl like Miss Davis here. She brings us water and let's face it, she's easy on the eyes." Skills winked at Brooke.

"Hey there, back off my woman." Lucas bent down and planted a soft kiss on the top of Brooke's head. She looked up and smiled at him.

They all sat around talking and joking around for a while. One by one the others left and it was just Brooke and Lucas.

"So Pretty Girl. What's on the agenda for tonight?"

"I'm just going to hang out with Peyton and Haley, its Peyton's last night."

"Oh yeah? What are you guys going to do?" Lucas asked Brooke, feigning innocence.

"We're not quite sure yet." Brooke spoke softly. She was beginning to think that Lucas already knew about the party.

"You're not going to possibly stop by this party I've heard about?"

"Ummm, I don't know. Maybe."

Lucas scowled, "Really? Cuz I saw Nathan at the store a few hours ago and he said that you guys were all going to that party. That you'd been planning on it for days. So I'm just wondering Brooke, when were you going to tell me about it?"

"Lucas, it's not like that. It's not like some big outing with all of us. It's really just for me, Peyton and Haley to spend one last night together."

"That's funny, because it sure seemed as though Nathan was going. Probably Jake too huh? That makes me wonder Brooke, why wasn't I invited?"

Brooke looked down at the ground, searching for an answer. Nothing came to her, at least nothing she wanted to say.

Lucas stood up off the bench and threw his towel to the ground. "God Brooke, I thought we were past this. I thought that we didn't need to hide anymore. I mean really, school's over. That was your excuse before, so what is it now? Do I embarrass you that much that you don't even want to invite me to a party with your friends?"

"It's not that." Brooke spoke softly.

"Then what is it?" Lucas stared down at Brooke, his arms crossed over his chest, awaiting an answer.

Brooke stood up, facing Lucas. "I don't know what you want me to say."

"I want you to admit it. I want you to admit that you're embarrassed to be seen with me. Come on Brooke, just say it."

Brooke stood there, saying nothing.

"Just because you won't say it doesn't make it any less the truth. I don't get why you care so much. So what, we're different. Truth be told, I think that's why we're so great together. We even each other out. You can be the biggest bitch ever and I'm not afraid to call you on it. In fact, any other guy might not be so nice about it. We have something here Brooke and it's real and it works. I don't know why you keep running from it."

"I don't know what you want from me."

"Oh come on Brooke." Lucas threw his hands up in exasperation. "You. All I want it you. You're all I've ever wanted and you know that. But you still keep pushing me away. And no matter how hard I try I can't figure out why. I can't figure out what it is that keeps you from just giving all of yourself to me. I really don't think it's just that you're embarrassed. Sometimes I think you're scared that when everyone knows about us then this thing will really be real. I think that's what scares you."

Brooke just shook her head. She knew he was right. She knew that was it, she had just never realized it before. She was scared for it to be real. Once it was real she wouldn't be able to run anymore, wouldn't be able to make excuses for not letting Lucas have all of her.

"You know what Brooke? I'm done. I can't go on like this. I love you so much and you just won't let all your walls down. I can't take it anymore. Don't worry about the party tonight. I didn't want to go anyways. I just wanted you to want me to be there. Have fun though, enjoy spending time with all the people who are important to you, well at least the one's you'll admit are important to you. And don't call me Brooke, ever, we're through. I've given you more than enough chances. I'm just all out. I can't give anymore. I'm sorry."

Lucas turned away and bent down to pick up his bag. He turned back towards Brooke and took one last look before walking away.

Brooke stood there watching him leave. Finally she cried out, "Lucas!"

"Oh come on Brooke, is there really anything else to say?" He stood there, pleading to her with his eyes for some kind of response. For something that would make him turn back, but that didn't come. She just stood there, all out of words.

"Good bye Pretty Girl."

With that he turned and walked over to his car, got in, and drove away. Brooke fell to her knees sobbing. He was gone and it was all her fault.