Thanx to foreverbrucas and photobooth romance for the support! I've tried to write longer in this chapter. And also tried to use the partitioning (the -phoenix-phoenix-phoenix-phoenix- thing) less. Hope you guys enjoy this chapter coz it brings to light why this fic is named 'Phoenix' in the first place. Weird name isn't it?

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"And this must be the guy you left me for." Jared said in a light, joking manner. His words, however, were painfully real. Brooke was the one who broke off their relationship permanently.

They were one of those couples in high school who were irritating everyone with their on again, off again romance drama. Of course every guy wanted to be with Brooke and every girl wanted to be with Jared. But everyone thought that they were off limits. They were made for each other. Nobody expected Brooke to give him the boot for some summer fling. Nobody expected Jared to get married to Macy, the cheerleader who always came in a far second after Brooke and who had followed Jared like a dog whenever she could back in the day. And absolutely no one expected Brooke to come to the wedding of the 'guy-that-was-made-for-her' with another guy.

'Who was this Lucas Eugene Scott?' everyone wondered. 'And what kind of a middle name is Eugene? It sounded like someone they've all beaten up in fourth grade.' He looked familiar to some, but they just couldn't put their finger on it.

Macy's glow and huge smile faltered when Brooke and Lucas made their appearance. Brooke looked absolutely stunning with her ice blue dress. To make things worst, she was in the arms of a ravishingly handsome blonde. Jared looked good as usual but there was just something about Brooke's new guy that just throws women off.

Macy hid her dismay. She'd rather die than to willingly agree that Brooke Davis has yet again outdone her.

Her unhappiness was short lived. Macy took the bouquet that was handed to her by Vanilla, her bridesmaid. It was time to do that silly wedding ritual. But she was excited though, to think that she held so much power.

Macy smiled as she turned away from the horde of girls gathered before her, each vying for the beautiful white bouquet. She threw it to the delight of her single friends who were shoving each other playfully and screaming hysterically.

The bouquet landed perfectly in her hands. Brooke held it up happily. The hoax was working more perfectly than Brooke could ever hope to imagine.

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"Ah, that was fun."

"So your idea of fun is sticking around stuck up people and lying to them all afternoon?"

Lucas and Brooke had snuck into a room to get away from the other guests for awhile. The little room they snuck into turned out to be a huge art gallery. Macy's father insisted that the wedding banquet be held one of the convention halls of his company. Being yet another opportunistic businessman, he could not resist any chance to promote his company to future investors- Macy's friends.

"You just had to expand the truth once or twice, Lucas."

"You're very good with your euphemisms."

"Thank you." The two stopped talking when they sensed someone entering the hall.

Lucas's gaze fell on a painting near them. It was of a phoenix.

"Well, UCLA boy, tell me. What's this painting about?"

"It's about love."

"Hot sex?" Brooke asked, puzzled.

"No. Legend has it that The Phoenix would build a nest, made out of fire. It then lays an egg in the burning coals of the fire and the egg hatches into a new Phoenix. In doing so, it dies and its nest ironically its funeral pyre. This picture is about that. About how real love is all about sacrifices. A love so deep it could kill you."

"I like my interpretation better." Brooke said simply, leaving Lucas to join her friends again.

Lucas felt something strange as he watched Brooke's retreating form. He shook it off, thinking that it was the stuffy wedding guests who were getting to him.

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Brooke felt all strange after leaving the gallery. She felt herself needing to look up from time to time to see where Lucas was. To make things weirder, each time she looked up, she would instantly lock eyes with Lucas.

Brooke was stumped at herself. She couldn't be attracted to the pump attendant, could she?

'No,' she decided. 'It was definitely the Armani suit.'

She was lost in her thoughts for awhile and did not realize that Lucas was approaching her with two glasses of freshly squeezed orange juice in hand. Brooke started sneezing.

"Orange juice?" Lucas said, with a smile, handing the glass to her. Brooke looked disgusted and pushed his hand away.

"No thanks." She said abruptly. Brooke saw the disappointed look grabbing his whole face and apologetically explained.

"I'm allergic."

"You're allergic to oranges? Little Miss Meany is allergic to oranges?" Lucas teased, keeping his voice low.

"Oh, wow, Lucas. Now you're getting your material from Mr. Men and Little Miss books. I'm impressed." Brooke hissed back.

"At least I can read."

"What's wrong with us? We were civil to each other in the gallery."

"It must be the stuffy people around us."

Brooke smiled. "Let's blow this joint."

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