Hey everyone. So, I finally decided to update. Sorry for taking forever and a day. Anyways, I wanted to address a review I received about regarding my writing style. I apologize to any of you if you find my writing to be full of grammatical mistakes, as well as any other mistakes. These are completely unintentional. I may make a few, or I may make a lot. I am a person, and I make mistakes. I don't have a BETA, or whatever the heck that is. I don't have time to have someone edit my stories. I am a full-time college student, and I barely have time to write these stories. So, I will make mistakes. I would like to point out in Chapter 1, I wrote, "Brooke wiped the black ivory off of Karen's face." I never intended to use ivory, since ivory is white. Mascara cannot be white! I am so retarded sometimes. Ooops, my bad. I think I met to sayebony. Anyways, I apologize for that mistake and others as well. I have never had any complaints from anyone, except from one particular reviewer whose name I shall not mention (fake cough). As a matter of fact, I have been praised several times for my grammar. But anyways, if any of you have issue with it, please let me know. There are kind ways for constructive criticism, and there are cruel ways. But I trust in all my reviewers! Moving on. So, here's the third chapter. It's a little bit of Naley and a lot of Brucas. To all Brucas haters, you should not read this if you do not have an appetite for this particular couple. However, there is a bright side for Leyton fans. I promise you, there will be Leyton in this story. I didn't say I would conclude the story with any of these couples, but know they are all included in this story. So, enjoy, and please remember to read and review. I appreciate all my faithful reviewers. Love you guys!

Chapter 3

Yesterday and the Day After Yesterday

The sunlight gleamed through the purple-tinted curtains as it fell upon her reposed form. She yawned beneath a mass of golden tresses as she stretched her right arm across her body. Her wandering arm was in search of a certain asset of his. To her dismay, she groaned as she realized his absence. Reluctantly, she opened her eyes and observed his empty spot. She laid her hand upon this spot, and her fingertips felt the cool area. She sighed in frustration and abruptly rolled over on her backside. Where in the hell was he? He had abandoned her to wake up alone once again. "Oh well," she thought to herself. "At least I don't have to wake up and see Dan." Haley cringed at the memory of Dan Scott, and she recalled the instant she woke up to stare him in the face. It was the morning after Nathan and Haley reconciled by making love. She woke up to find Nathan gone and Dan standing in the doorway; he was wearing his usual smirk.

Luckily, this time she had decided to stay at the apartment as she fell asleep in Nathan's sculpted arms.

She groaned again as she forced her tired legs over the side of the bed. She shivered as her feet touched the cold carpet. But before she could even attempt to stand, she heard the front door slam. Rolling her eyes in annoyance, Haley flung her body back against the mattress.

"Brooke, could you not slam the front door!" Haley's head protruded past the edge of the mattress. Therefore, she viewed her environment as upside down. She looked as if she were a nine-year-old experimenting with the feeling of blood rushing to her head. Her angelic face turned many shades of red as her brain was subjected to the rush of blood. Just then, a figure appeared in the doorway, and Haley gasped. The figure was carrying a bag and two cups of coffee. She smiled when she realized it was not her roommate, but was actually her husband. "Hey, you're not Brooke," she observed from her ridiculous point of view. Nathan's lips formed into a smile as he observed his wife's head hanging upside down. He laughed.

"No, I'm not, and what the hell are you doing?" He shook his head as he placed the bag and the cups on the night stand.

"I'm attempting to wake up," she mumbled and attempted to sit up. Her attempts to rise were cut short as she suddenly felt an immense weight pressed against her. She laughed as she realized all 180 pounds of her husband were impeding her efforts.

"Nathan, what are you doing?" Haley raised her head and met Nathan's wanton gaze. He smiled as his baby blues greeted her brown eyes.

"I'm waking you up," he murmured. She smiled before his lips met hers. His mouth tasted of mint, and she savored every second of his taste. With his arms secured tightly around her tiny waist, Nathan pulled her into an upright position like a puppet. She smiled warmly as she leaned her face against his neck.

"Mmmmm, I could do this every morning," she sighed happily. Nathan raised an eyebrow.

"Well, why don't we?" he asked as they parted, and he reached for the styrofoam cups on the night stand. Haley ran a hand though her disheveled hair as she pondered. She took the cup from Nathan's hand and sipped the contents.

"That's easy for you to say. You see, I got this roommate. Her name is Brooke." Nathan nodded understandably.

"I know, but we're married, Hales. A husband and wife should live together. Move in with me," he offered. Haley snickered, and Nathan frowned at her reaction. "What?" he asked.

"Are you kidding me? No offense, but I don't find the idea of waking up within close proximity to Dan particularly appealing."

"Well, then we'll get our own place," he added.

"And with what money, Nathan? I barely make minimum wage at Karen's," she sighed in exasperation.

"We will figure something out, I promise." Nathan placed his coffee on the night stand and reached for Haley. "Besides," he paused to pull her body into his, "I don't want to live one more second without you. Ever since Keith died, I realized that time is precious. I have to be with you." He kissed her head as she stroked his arm lovingly. She smiled sadly as she thought of Nathan's words.

"That's good," she paused as she looked up at him, "because I have to be with you." Nathan smiled and bent down to smooch Haley. Haley sighed after they parted. "Now all we have to do is tell Brooke."

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

The brunette had kept her promise. Just minutes before her boyfriend's eyes closed, she quietly slipped beneath the pale blue sheets. He sighed happily and smiled as he felt her body heat radiate through the covers.

"Hey there, pretty girl." She smiled as Lucas drew his arms around her and pulled her into his chest. She burrowed her face into his neck as she could still smell the remnants of his aftershave and feel his stubble graze her nose. She felt his body relax as he held her in his arms.

"How did you know it was me? You haven't even opened your eyes. You know, I could've been any random girl when I crawled into your bed," she teased as her nose brushed his. He opened his eyes and smiled at Brooke's quip.

"It's Monday night, isn't it?" Lucas asked.

"So, what does that have to do with anything?" Brooke leaned her head back against her pillow with a curious expression on her face.

"I've got a schedule to keep. You're usually reserved for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays," he added as he closed his eyes again. Brooke frowned in confusion.

"Well, who's reserved for the other nights?" She arched an eyebrow. Lucas smiled at her question. Even with his eyes closed he could still detect Brooke's bemusement.

"You don't know her." By now, Lucas had opened his eyes. He could not resist the urge to see her reaction. Brooke opened her mouth in shock and swatted Lucas, who was delirious in laughter.

"Lucas!" she exclaimed between giggles. He rubbed her knee gently as they both stopped laughing.

"Relax babe, you are the only one who occupies my bedside." Lucas turned his body toward Brooke, propped his elbow against the mattress, and laid his head on his hand as he looked at Brooke. Brooke was examining her cuticles as she lay on her backside. Lucas reached across the bed and placed his hand over Brooke's occupied ones. She looked up at him questioningly. "I always know when you're around. It's like this intense feeling I get," he professed as he locked eyes with her. His intense stare sent shivers down her spine, and she shuddered.

"What kind of feeling?"

"I don't know," he sighed. "It's kind of hard to explain," he paused as he pondered her question. "Sometimes my heart will just skip a beat for absolutely no reason at all. And then you're near me. Sometimes my heart will just beat so fast that I can't even think. And then you're near me. You have no idea what kind of effect a girl like you has on my heart, do you?" His earnest eyes searched her face for an answer. An infectious smile overtook her lips, and she gazed at him in wonder.

"You have no idea what kind of effect a guy like you has on my heart, do you?" she replied. There it was. It was a mutual exchange of love. It wasn't necessarily the three little words, but it was enough for them. It was their method of expressing their emotions. They expressed their love by the way he tucked her hand in his as they walked to school, by the way they gazed at one another during classes, by the way Brooke attempted to cook a meal for him, and by the way Lucas gave her chicken noodles the week she was sick. Although, Brooke's meal ended up being a disaster, love was an ingredient to her efforts.

Lucas' heart skipped a beat at the sound of her words, while her heartbeat thudded loudly against her rib cage. Finally, he could bear no more, and his lips crashed down upon her mouth as they tasted one another. His tongue somehow found its way into her mouth, and she moaned with pleasure. His hands found her waist line as his fingers worked on unbuttoning her jeans. Her hands grasped his back in tension at the feeling of his hardness pressed against her leg. He finally located the stubborn button as he unzipped her pants. He found himself astonished when she pulled away from his grasp. Her eyes were full of anticipation as she attempted to cover her lower half with the blanket. Lucas looked at her in disbelief.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Shhh," she raised her finger to her lips and pointed to the door. "I heard your mom in the hall," she explained. Lucas glanced toward the doorway as a feeling of great disappointment overcame him.

"I'm sorry. I should go check on her," he replied. He looked at Brooke with an apologetic face, and she nodded.

"Of course. I'll be here when you get back." He smiled as he opened the door. She never questioned his motives, and she understood him better than anyone else did. He loved that about her. Grateful for her presence, Lucas quietly stepped into the hall. A fleck of light bounced off the walls in the hall, and Lucas gingerly stepped toward the light and into the kitchen. There she was. Lucas could never remember his mother looking worse. She was clad in an oversized, pink robe, and her hair appeared disheveled. She sat in ruins at the kitchen table. Her hands gripped a cup of steaming coffee. Karen noticed Lucas lurking, and she looked up in surprise.

"Couldn't sleep either, eh," Lucas asked as he sat across from his mother at the table. She nodded as she sipped at her coffee cup.

"Nope," she declared with a sense of defeat in her voice.

"I know what that's like. I haven't slept a wink since..." Lucas choked on his words as he nearly mentioned the forbidden name. Karen put her hand over Lucas' in comfort.

"Lucas, it's okay to say his name. I promise you, I'm not going to cry anymore. I am all cried out," Karen replied weakly.

"It's just hard to say it," Lucas added.

"Yeah, I know," Karen nodded her head sadly as Lucas looked at her in curiosity.

"So, how long are you going to do this to yourself, mom? You need to get some sleep." Lucas eyes were full of concern as his mother looked away.

"I don't know. I guess I'm just not very tired. It's like I don't want to close my eyes. Every time I close my eyes, I see Keith's face." Lucas listened as his mother continued. "I'm scared to close my eyes again. I'm scared of what I see. And who knows what will happen once I open them again." She looked at Lucas as she spoke. "Will you still be here when I open my eyes?" He sighed as he patted Karen's hand.

"I'll tell you what you'll see when you open your eyes again. You'll see me, and you will see all the people who care about you. I'm not going anywhere. I can promise you that." Karen smiled at her son's words as she finally stood.

"Well, I think I am going to try to get some sleep. I think you should do the same," she pointed at Lucas, and he grinned.

"Okay, mom. Sweet dreams." And with that, Lucas pulled his mother into a warm hug, and the two shuffled down the hall in to their respective rooms.

"Oh and tell Brooke I said hi," Karen bellowed as she closed her bedroom door. Lucas smiled as he realized his mother knew him better than he thought she did. He shook his head and quietly entered the room.

"My mom's okay. She just couldn't sleep," he mentioned as he struggled to see the pathway to his bed. "Nothing like a little Lucas time to cheer her up." He yelped in pain as his foot made contact with something sharp. Lucas knelt down and closed his hand over the stubborn object. The suede material felt soft against his skin, and he realized the culprit was Brooke's shoe. She must've carelessly thrown her boots off before she joined him beneath the covers. A smile caught his lips as he thought about what was waiting for him beneath those covers.

He sighed contentedly as he sat down on his horizontal-striped comforter. Lucas laid down and instinctively turned his bodyto his girlfriend's direction. She was laying on her right side, but her face was disguised by the darkness of the shadows. "So," Lucas delicately brushed her arm as he attempted to distinguish her face. He grinned seductively at her hidden features. "Where were we?" No response came from her motionless form. Lucas raised an eyebrow at her silence. "Brooke?" He stroked her cheek, but still received no answer. Lucas raised his head off the pillow in order to hear her speak. Instead, her light breaths could be heard, and he saw her small chest rise and fall rhythmically. He chuckled softly as he hung his head in disappointment. She was asleep.

It was always like this. Every time they were about to make love, something would happen to prevent it. It happened constantly. A few weeks before, his mother had called in the middle of an intense make-out session over at Brooke's place. She insisted he come home to fix the plumbing. The week before that, Brooke's parent's called her when she was half-naked and straddling Lucas' hips. Now, it was his mother again. He couldn't remember the last time he and Brooke had made love. In fact, the last time he could recall having sex, was when he and Brooke were confined to her apartment due to the horrendous rain storm. Lucas smiled at the memory.

They had had another fight, which wasn't particularly unusual for the passionate pair. But this fight had been their biggest one of all. And it was all based on one stupid phrase he had previously used in an old letter to Peyton. He had used the same words in a love letter to Brooke. Of course, Brooke reacted the way any insecure woman would react. First, she nearly gave Lucas an aneurism after she deliberately struck him in the head with her favorite flashlight. And then she ran out in the atrocious rainstorm in part of Lucas' stupidity. It was his duty as the loyal boyfriend to chase after her and desperately seek an apology. And then he answered the dreaded question: how do you feel about Peyton? Damn, how many times was he going to have to answer that question? Lucas looked at her face as the rain pounded their bodies, and a deep longing filled her eyes. But she needed an answer. Hell, she deserved an answer, especially after all the torment she had experienced with him. So, he told her the truth. He cared about Peyton. And he did, of course. Truth is, he would always care about Peyton. They shared an emotional connection that perhaps Brooke would never understand. In fact, it was a connection he couldn't seem to comprehend. He didn't think he would ever understand it. Maybe it was meant to be that way.

But of course, there was the mortifying speech, but he had to admit, he was quite suave when the situation required his finesse. And Brooke and Lucas melted into each others' arms. Despite all the raucous thunder and determined rain, they took no notice, as the two lovers stood out in the middle of the street, melting in each others' arms.

And then there was that spectacular kiss. He felt as if he had just been struck by lightening. It was the best kiss he had ever shared with anyone. It was the kisses of all kisses. In fact, this kiss put all their other kisses to shame. As always, the best was saved for last when Brooke and Lucas lay atop her bed and made tender love. It was a night he would never forget. It was the best night of his life.

He smiled as he looked over at Brooke's sleeping form. "Oh, well," he looked over at Brooke, "at least she's finally sleeping," he told himself. Brooke's forehead felt warm to his lips' touch as he kissed her good night. "Sweet dreams, pretty girl," he whispered as he snuggled beneath the covers. His eyes grew heavy with sleep as he placed his hand over her hand, and he beamed at the touch of her soft skin. Lucas yawned happily as he felt himself doze off. He had a feeling that he was going to get some sleep tonight all on account of Brooke's presence. And then there were two.