Bridge to Nowhere, Stranger I Will Disregard

It had been two long days since the incident. The world before Brooke Davis and Lucas Scott was that of silence. No phone calls lasting until two in the morning. No late dinners. No conversations filled with excessive flirting.

Nothing.

Neither had picked up the phone to call or even attempt to talk. They'd stared at their phones, hoping the other would call or wishing they would find the courage to pick it up themselves, but it never happened.

And so the days following that Friday afternoon were filled with silence.

"Okay Brooke, something's up. You've been on that bed for two days," Haley said, sitting down on the edge of Brooke's bed as she brushed a stray hair from the brunette's face.

"It's … the weather," Brooke lied as she plastered on a fake smile. She knew she couldn't get anything past Haley, but it seemed as if this wasn't something she wanted to tell even her roommate.

"Brooke, the weather is gorgeous," Haley smiled at her friend's lame attempt. "If you actually went outside, you'd know."

"I just …" she paused before continuing, "Do you ever want to just stay in bed forever and avoid the whole world?"

"Yes, but … you can't. You've got to face it sometime."

"I know." Her response was almost a whisper. It was almost as if she just wanted to believe for a split second that it was true.

"Is this about Lucas? Because I just came from his and the only words that came out of his mouth were about you." Haley rolled her eyes, thinking about her best friend's glum state.

Brooke paused before answering. "How is he?"

"Well, he looks exactly like you right now. He's staring at the phone too."

Quickly Brooke dragged her eyes away from the phone, not wanting Haley to see her suffering as well.

Haley chuckled. "I'm not going to pry but I am going to pull you out off this bed. C'mon missy, it's time for school."

"Do I have to?"

"If you want that C+ in biology, you better get up."

Holding out a hand for her to take, Haley grinned as she heard Brooke moan. Pulling her off the bed, Haley slowly walked out of the room, a bit disappointed her friend, who she had begun to think of as almost like a sister, didn't want to confide in her. Sure, Brooke was popular and almost the complete opposite from her, but after having lived with her, Haley had started to believe that they were more than just roommates, but best friends.

Putting her hand on the door frame, she turned back around to see Brooke standing in front of her closet wondering what she could wear.

"Are you okay?" Haley hated being helpless.

"I'll be fine," she said as she tried desperately to flash a famous Brooke Davis smile.

Haley again turned to leave in defeat.

---------

If only this was another day.

Hugging her books tight against her chest, she walked towards the doors leading to the hallway.

"Hey Brooke!" Turning her head she saw Bevin, her fellow cheerleader and friend, walk towards her.

She was always so chipper.

"Oh hey Bevin." She smiled a weak smile which was unnoticeable to the dirty blonde who was already in the midst of telling Brooke her latest encounter with Skillz.

Some days it was all she talked about, but usually Brooke didn't mind. It helped her get her mind off things she tried to forget.

But today, it seemed nothing could.

"So, anyway Skillz did the sweetest thing last night, well he does a lot of sweet things, but last night he came to m-"

There he was.

The blond hair blued eyed boy.

Lucas grabbed his books from his locker as he prepared for his next class wondering how he would manage to get through this day, until he heard Bevin's voice. Turning hopefully to see who she was talking to, he saw her walking down the hallway.

There she was.

The girl with the most amazing smile.

He couldn't move from his position. He couldn't help but stare, not even daring to move a muscle for fear that if he blinked he would lose a moment with her.

Brooke couldn't help but gaze into Lucas' eyes until she realized if she continued, she would never be able to let go of him. Turning away from Lucas as if she hadn't even seen him, she continued to walk the halls almost like nothing had occurred.

Watching her walk past him as if he wasn't there, Lucas couldn't help lean back into his locker and close his eyes in frustration. Turning back around, he slammed his fist into his locker. All he wanted to do was hold Brooke.

All he wanted to do was love her.

"Hey man, bad day?" Nathan asked as he approached his brother.

Lucas couldn't help but glare at his younger brother.

"Haley said something's up with you."

"What did she say?" Lucas sighed.

"Well, that you were having problems with a certain beautiful brunette."

"I just don't get her. Her reasoning is beyond me."

"Have you talked to her?"

"Not after that night we …" Lucas paused as he noticed the error of his words,"After she broke up with me."

"Talk to her. If that doesn't work, groveling always works for me."

Lucas chuckled as he grabbed his last book and headed towards class alongside his brother.

This was going to be a long day.

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Three days ago, Brooke remembered complaining to Lucas about how they didn't have enough classes together. One just wasn't enough.

But today she was thankful for their limited class time together.

All through English class, Brooke felt Lucas' eyes on her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw those piercing blue eyes looking at her. It was painful just being in the same room with him.

"Hey P. Sawyer!" Falling down next to Peyton, who as always was focused on her sketchbook, Brooke was glad it was lunch. It meant half the day was almost over.

"…Hey Brooke" Peyton was a bit taken aback she was still was talking to her after the outburst.

"I brought you some freshly baked cookies courtesy of Tutor Wife," she said as she pulled out a container filled with delicious treats.

"Brooke, about what I said the other day-"

"Do you want chocolate chip or sugar?" Brooke interrupted brightly.

Peyton paused before answering as she stared at Brooke a bit in confusion. "…sugar."

Maybe forgetting was the way to go.

---------

The last bell. Grabbing her books, Brooke hurried out of the classroom. All she had to do was grab some books from her locker and then her day would be over.

Walking past the fellow THHS students chattering and clamoring, she turned the corner.

Only to see him standing there waiting.

Waiting for her.

His hands were in his pockets and his eyes stared into hers, never looking away. Trying desperately to avoid him, Brooke prepared to walk past him, only to be stopped by his words.

"Are you happy?" It was such a simple question.

"What…?" Brooke asked, surprised by his sudden bluntness.

"Brooke, are you happy?" Lucas stepped closer to her.

"Don't do this," she shook her head slowly, pleading.

"Don't do what?" His response was defensive but his frustration was beginning to get the better of him.

"Don't be like this…" Brooke looked up at Lucas with tears threatening to spill.

"I just want to be with you Brooke…" His voice was soft as he lifted his hand to touch her face.

"No, you can't," she said as she stepped back to avoid his touch.

"So, I can't love you?" Lucas asked frustrated.

"No! Peyton…I need her to be happy." Brooke's voice began to break as tears fell from her eyes.

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"How can I get through the day knowing you're not happy?"

"You have to pretend."

Lucas stared at Brooke in her fragile state. He wanted desperately to be the guy to rescue her. "Why are you doing this?"

"Just … stop," she whispered, unable to even look at him without tears falling.

"Then tell me you don't love me."

"Lucas..." Looking up at him, she was at a loss for words.

"I need to hear it Brooke. Tell me you don't want to be with me."

She said nothing.

His lips lifted into a sad smile as he raised his hand to gently stroke her tear-stained cheek before letting his hand drop and turning around. He left her standing there.

Only he could make her feel this way.

Only he could she ever love.

Turning around, Brooke watched Lucas walk out of the school. But she knew this wasn't right. She wasn't supposed to feel this feeling again.

She needed to forget.

Roughly wiping away the tears from her face, Brooke slowly opened her locker only to come face to face with memories.

The photo booths. The kisses. The stolen glances. The surprises. The smiles.

No guy had ever done anything even remotely close to what Lucas had done to prove he was the guy for her. No guy could ever be like Lucas Eugene Scott.

Take a deep breath, Brooke slowly began to take down the pictures, and then the decorations until her locker was just simply … a locker.

A plain, blue locker.

AN: So sorry I haven't updated in a long time. I deeply apologize. I promise I'll post my next update faster since I've already started writing it so expect a new chapter in a week or so. I pinky swear to that. Anyway, I want to thank my three new betas, Cari, Miranda, and Justine who helped me with this chapter. Please review to my story. They make me smile and more inspired to write.

So I hope you enjoyed the update, be sure to click the REVIEW button to tell me if you liked it or not. MUCH LOVE.