Chaos Theory- Seemingly random events all leading to a larger equation. Everything is unpredictable. A butterfly flaps it's wings in China and creates a tornado half-way around the world.

Brooke Davis threw her very last bag into the back of her best friend Peyton Sawyer's car. Today was the day… She and Peyton had talked about this day for as long as she could remember. They had had it planned since they were 6. Now it was finally here… the drive to college. Usually, kids parents would take them to their college, get them checked in, cry a little… and leave. Not Brooke and Peyton's. In-fact Brooke hadn't even told her parents where she was going to college… for all they knew she was off in some back ally dealing drugs or something. And Peyton's parents… well she had 2 dead mothers and her father was off at sea… so Brooke and Peyton were on their own.

"Ok P. Sawyer! This is it!" Brooke squealed shutting the trunk to Peyton's car and clapping her hands together. They were free! No one making them do anything… and she was loving it.

"Brooke… are you sure you don't want to just ride with Lucas and Nathan?"

"Why would we do something like that?"

"Brooke…" Peyton whined rolling her eyes at Brooke. She really didn't feel like driving all the way to New York, especially with Brooke.

"Look Peyton… they're guys! Plus… Deb and Karen are taking them, what fun is that? We're 18! We're finally free from parents and everything else! Lets just enjoy this! We can find us some hotties on the way… take them to NYU with us! Lock them in our dorm room and only let them out for sex!"

"If you say so" Peyton sighed agreeing with Brooke. She knew everything coming out of Brooke's mouth was complete crap. She could see it in her face. Brooke wanted to ride with Lucas more than anything… but ever since 2 weeks ago, when they had broken up so they would each have space for college, they were both driving Peyton and Nathan crazy. Brooke and Lucas had spent most of senior year inseparable. They were both so obviously head over heels in love with each other, and they were miserable apart. Only Karen had to open her big mouth and suggest that maybe it would be an easier adjustment for college if they went single. After all… they might meet new people. Brooke and Lucas had both reluctantly agreed… and it was a mutual, civil break up. Other than Brooke crying for 3 straight days to Peyton… and Lucas not leaving his house. Peyton thought it had gone pretty well… in fact when they had all gone to dinner the night before. Brooke and Lucas had even sat together… without making out. It was definitely a start.

"Don't give me that look Peyton"

"What? No look… too bad Haley isn't going to be with us though"

"That little whore… who says Yale is THAT much better than NYU anyway?" Brooke asked hopping into the car. She loved Haley and all… but she was kind of glad Haley was going somewhere different. After all she had lived with her for a year, and as much as she loved her tutor girl… They definitely didn't need to be at the same college.

"Everyone"

"Well while she is studying her little smart ass off… we can just party our dumb ones off"

"I just feel bad for Nathan… you know? I mean him and Haley were finally at an OK point" Peyton sighed double checking to make sure they had everything. Nathan and Haley had had a tough year. They had gotten a divorce and were now trying to work things out… together, only for the summer to end and them to be separated.

"He'll be fine… let him meet some New York chi—oh no"

"What"

"I forgot about the girls" Brooke whined running her fingers through her hair.

"What?"

"Well I totally knew NY was going to have some male hotties for me… but"

"Female hotties for Lucas?" Peyton asked watching as Brooke cringed. It was obvious she was still hurting and living with Brooke these next few months wasn't going to be fun.

"No! No… no… All the girls in New York are ugly… Peyton, tell me they're ugly!"

"I think you might want to start preparing yourself for the worst"

"What do you mean?" Brooke asked giving Peyton her sad puppy face. Why couldn't Peyton just be nice and comfort her? Tell her that Lucas was going to spend all his college life pining for her like he had done in high school. It would make things so much easier.

"So classes start in a few weeks… Lucas meets some girl in his English Lit. Class… she's into books and music and writing like he is and she asks him out…"

"I'll kick her little ass!"

"And you meet this hottie model who is totally into you… what are you going to do if Lucas kicks his ass?" Peyton asked trying to help Brooke see both sides. She wasn't sure why though. Brooke didn't care about fair. Brooke just wanted Lucas and she'd do whatever she had to to get him… or keep him from dating anyone else.

"Is he hotter than Lucas?"

"Brooke… come on, we both know you weren't dating Lucas for his looks… well not the 2nd time"

"Fine… is he as sweet as Lucas? As romantic? Damn it Peyton! Why did we break up?" Brooke asked, this time she was serious. Everytime she thought about their 'break up' it didn't make any since. They hadn't wanted to date anyone else all year… why was college going to be any different?

"Because you need to experience life without Lucas Scott, stay strong, who knows! You could meet the guy you want to marry here… just give it time"

"You drive… I'm gonna need a drink"

Lucas and Nathan waited by the car for Karen and Deb to finish their sob fest they were having in the house. Neither of them saw that the big deal was. It wasn't like Karen and Deb had been around THAT much during Lucas and Nathan's high school years. Now all of the sudden going to college was such a big deal…Lucas was starting to wish he had just ridden with Brooke and Peyton.

"So… how's life without Brooke?" Nathan asked finally breaking the tension between him and Lucas. It was still awkward, even after working everything from the past year out.

"Calmer…a lot quieter… I can actually save my money?"

"Sucks huh?"

"Pretty much… I even thought about going over there this morning to talk to her, maybe rethink this whole space for college thing" Lucas said, looking down at his shoes. Nathan knew what that meant… it hadn't gone well.

"Yea? What happened?"

"She and Peyton were already planning their first NYU dates"

"Sounds about right…" Nathan laughed. He felt bad for Lucas… It had taken him a long time to finally be with Brooke, and now the poor guy was lost with out her. Even worse, Nathan had a feeling Brooke, being Brooke wasn't having nearly as hard of a time.

"I don't know, I mean as much as this sucks for me… I guess it will be good for Brooke"

"Yea, but isn't she the only reason you're going to NYU?"

"Isn't Haley the only reason you are?" Lucas asked. What were they thinking? He and Nathan had both turned down Carolina for NYU… pretty much just because of Brooke and Haley. And now here they were… going to NYU as single men.

"Ok Boys…we're ready" Karen smiled coming outside with tear streaks down her face. Lucas wasn't really in the mood to give her any pity. In fact he didn't really want to talk to her at all, after all it was her who had put the crazy break up idea into him and Brooke's heads.

"I still think we should have just ridden with the girls" Nathan whispered as he climbed into the car.

"Lucas, where's Brooke?"

"Riding with Peyton, they're gonna meet up with us when we get there"

"Good… I need to make sure and tell Brooke bye and give her her present… there's no telling when I'll see her again" Karen said, her eyes filling with tears again.

"Mom…"

"I'm just saying… people grow apart in college Lucas, and I don't want you to spend all your time worrying about her, she's going to meet new people and so will you."

"All of this just because you don't like me dating her?" Lucas asked, he knew this wasn't the time or place to get into this but he didn't really care. It was going to happen sooner or later and sooner just seemed better.

"Lucas… you know I love Brooke, my god she became like my child over the past few years, but as much as I love you both… I think this is what you need"

"Nathan… just don't get any STD's…" Deb smiled looking back at Nathan.

"Thanks mom…"

"Lets hit the road"

Brooke sat in the car listening to her Pink Ipod as Peyton drove. Lucas had given it to her for her birthday. She didn't really like listening to music, but anything was better than having to hear Peyton's crap. Besides, it did give her time to think… What she was going to wear to her first class, what was the first thing she was going to do when they got there, if there were going to be any hott guys in her classes… and if she was even going to be able to like any of them even ½ as much as she did Lucas. Ok… so maybe thinking hadn't been the best idea. It hurt too much and before long she was going to start crying… and she sure as hell wasn't going to have that. Especially with Peyton right there…

"How the hell did they beat us here?" Peyton asked in seeing Nathan, Lucas, Karen and Deb waiting outside in the parking lot, already unpacked.

"Deb was probably driving…Look at Lucas standing there! He's wearing the shirt I gave him because he knows he looks good in it and it's going to drive me crazy! Jerk"

"Brooke… weren't you the one who said Karen had a good idea?"

"Yea… but he was supposed to say 'No she doesn't… I could never date anyone but you and all that good stuff" Brooke sighed. She couldn't believe Peyton was actually taking his side! It wasn't like she wanted to end things with Lucas… it just seemed like she didn't have a choice.

"Someone's a little selfish"

"Bite me"

"Hey girls… we were just going to grab some dinner" Karen said giving both the girls a hug and handing them each a gift bag.

"Great…dinner with the moms"

"Hey" Brooke smiled leaning in to give Lucas an awkward hug. This seriously sucked… especially since 2 weeks ago at this time they had been making out.

"Hey…"

"Awkward much?"

"Seriously… come here" Lucas laughed pulling Brooke in for a less awkward hug and a kiss on the cheek. He assumed that was ok… he hadn't ever had to do anything like this before. But Brooke didn't seem to mind… she even stood beside him holding his hand.

"How was the trip?"

"Ok… long… boring"

"Lets get you girls stuff inside…" Karen yawned opening Peyton's crammed full trunk.

"Brooke… did you pack enough?"

"Ha funny… and the Uhaul isn't even here until tomorrow, and guess who gets to unload it for me?" Brooke asked raising her eyebrows at Lucas. This wasn't so bad… it was like dating…without the kissing.

"Me I'm taking it?"

"Yep…"

"Don't worry about it Peyt… I got it" Nathan said offering to take Peyton's stuff for her since Lucas hadn't.

"Thanks Nate… We'll be up in a sec" Peyton smiled giving the guys and the moms time to get upstairs. She needed to have a serious talk with Brooke about her and Lucas's whatever that was. But before she could get a word out, there came trouble… or at least a hottie.

"You lady's need some help?"

"Sure…" Peyton smiled. This guy was perfect for Brooke. Totally the Anti-Lucas. Tan, brown hair, brown eyes… he looked like he was some California surfer…

"I'm Cole"

"Peyton"

"Brooke" Brooke smiled remembering it was ok to introduce herself. She still had it imprinted in her brain that she had a boyfriend, and that it wasn't ok to be a total flirt… at least she did until Peyton kicked her.

"You girls freshmen?"

"Yep…"

"Cool… its about time we got some hott freshmen on this campus" Cole smiled looking directly at Brooke. But instead of smiling back or blushing… she really just wanted to send the guy away… being with Lucas for so long had had a serious affect on her.

"See! Peyton! I told you all the girls were ugly!"

"Brooke… he's hitting on you" Peyton whispered

"I knew that…"

"That is if you don't have a boyfriend…" Cole smiled pulling out his cell phone. Brooke didn't know what to say… No, she didn't have a boyfriend, but what was to say she and Lucas wouldn't get back together like tonight or something?

"She doesn't"

"Good… I saw that guy with his arm around you and… I wasn't sure"

"That's her… brother" Peyton smiled totally lying. Brooke didn't know whether to be proud of her best friend or being so devious… or be mad at her for calling Lucas her brother!

"Good to know… and Peyton, I've got some friends…"

"He has friends…"

"Look… I don't want to interrupt, I know first day of college is a family thing, but here are my digits, give me a call sometime" Cole smiled handing Brooke a piece of paper with his number on it.

Nathan and Lucas watched out the window as Brooke and Peyton talked to some guy. Nathan could see Lucas getting madder and madder by the second. That had to suck for him… having to watch that. He was going to have to watch every guy Brooke dated now. Nathan was just glad Haley was at Yale, at least that way if she was with someone else, he didn't have to see.

"So let me get this straight… I get to un-pack her stuff, go to dinner, hang out with her, and watch her flirt with other guys…" Lucas sighed laying back on Brooke's bed.

"Yep… but she gets to do the same with you"

"I really don't like college"

"Come on man, you'll find someone, its not like you and Brooke were going to be together forever anyway… High school whatever's don't last" Nathan said, obviously speaking from experience.

"That's everything until tomorrow… we'll unpack then, lets go check out the town" Peyton said joining them in the room with Brooke lagging behind her.

"You kid have fun… Deb and I are going to head back" Karen said relunctantly. Lucas could tell she didn't want to leave, but he guessed Deb had said something to her about letting them be on their own.

"Bye Karen"

"Bye mom… I'll call you"

"I'll call you too" Karen cried giving Lucas one last hug.

"Bye"

"Alright… you guys ready?" Peyton asked once Deb and Karen were finally gone.

"I think I'm gonna stay here… try to unpack a little"

"Brooke Penelope Davis! You're in New York City! And in college…"

"And I'm going to be for like the next 4 years…" Brooke sighed sitting down on Peyton's bed. She wasn't in the mood to go out… or be anywhere near Lucas.

"Fine… Luke, Nate?"

"I'm gonna check out the library"

"Fine… Nathan?" Peyton asked getting frustrated.

"I'm in…we can leave these 2 to pine and whine all they want too"

"Sounds good to me"

Nathan and Peyton walked through campus together trying to take it all in. They were actually in college now… this wasn't high school anymore… it was real life. They were both quiet, usually when they all went out Brooke and Lucas were with them talking non stop about pointless stuff that always ended in them fighting, and then making out. Peyton guessed they didn't have to worry about that anymore.

"You think they're in the sack yet?" Nathan laughed looking at his watch. It had been a good 10 minutes since they left…

"No… I think they're serious about it. Its going to be hard for them for a while"

"We didn't have such a hard time after we broke up…"

"Yea… but that's because you were a jerk and I was like suicidal… bad mix" Peyton sighed rolling her eyes at Nathan.

"That's true…I can't even remember now why we broke up"

"Because you were a jerk and I was into Lucas"

"I think I was into Haley by then too" Nathan laughed trying to 1 up Peyton. He had forgotten how much fun Peyton could really be… They had been friends since they broke up… but not friends friends… at least not until summer.

"Probably… anyway, its funny screwed all that got"

"Tell me about it"

"I mean seriously… could you have ever imagined Brooke and Lucas would be the epic romance that they are now? Brooke Davis and Lucas Scott…" Peyton laughed still finding it funny how 2 people so deferent had lasted longer than any of them.

"Definitely not… I always imagined me and Brooke"

"Ew…"

"I know…" Nathan laughed.

"And then you and Haley… I guess its true what the say… opposites attract"

"How's Jake?"

"I don't know… I mean I get a letter every once in a while, but you know" Peyton said giving Nathan a fake smile. She hadn't talked to anyone about Jake in what seemed like forever, and she had forgotten how much it hurt.

"You know if you ever want to talk… or just hang, I'm here for you Peyton"

"Thanks Nate…Same for you"

Brooke stood at the edge of her bed waiting for Lucas to get off. Who did he think he was? Lying in her bed like he was the king of her dorm room. Last time she checked… they weren't together. Although him lying there all hott like that was getting to her, then it hit her… so what if they weren't dating, that didn't mean they couldn't have fun.

"Slide" Brooke said laying down next to Lucas. After all he was on HER bed…

"Isn't this breaking the rules?"

"Dawson and Joey did it"

"I don't want to end up like Dawson and Joey" Lucas laughed sliding over to give Brooke more room.

"Lucas… shut up and just kiss me"

"What?"

"I can't take it anymore! I will not have the first guy I sleep with at college be some random guy… we're having sex" Brooke whined sitting up so she could see him.

"But we're broken up"

"Your point?"

"My point… friends don't have sex" Lucas said taking her hand. This wasn't about sex… this was about Brooke not wanting to let go, neither did he… but seeing her look this hurt and upset was starting to make him see that maybe Karen had been right… they had to give each other space.

"Well these friends do… I think your mom was right, we need space, we need to be able to grow as people and all that crap… but I always said my first night at college I was having sex in my dorm room… and the only person I want to sleep with right now is you" Brooke whispered, letting the tears run down her cheeks. She couldn't remember ever hurting this bad, even after she found out about Lucas and Peyton…

"Brooke"

"Lucas… its too hard! I don't want to have to do this all over again"

"It's just going to be harder if we do it Brooke" Lucas whispered pulling her in to comfort her. He wanted so badly to just say screw it all and kiss her, to make it all go away for her so they could both stop hurting… but they both knew, that wasn't going to help anything.

"But I don't want anyone else Luke, this really hott fabulous guy gave me his phone number outside! And you know what? All I could think was sorry… I'm taken! Then I remembered I wasn't and Peyton told him you were my brother and"

"I think this is why we have to make sure this works Brooke. We're too attached" Lucas whispered kissing the top of her head as she cried into his chest. This was the first time he'd ever seen her cry like this and it was killing him.

"I like attached"

"Me too… but this isn't high school anymore Brooke, and we're going to end up resenting each other if we stay together right now… its all we know and when classes start, we're going to meet people, and make new friends and if we're together its going to be hard to do that…You know I'm in love you Brooke Davis…but the last thing I want is for you to miss out on something because we're together"

"I'm in love with you too you know" Brooke whispered after a long pause. She hated so much that he was right. Right now she just wanted to go back home and be in high school again, where her biggest problem was Rachel.

"I know…"

"But what if we break up and that goes away, Lucas I don't want to love anyone else"

"Someone once told me 'People who are meant to be together always find their way in the end' I'm not too worried about loving anyone else the way I love you Pretty Girl" Lucas whispered giving her one last kiss. Her lips were trembling and salty from her tears. He kept it short, but sweet…

"Just to warn you, I might hate the first girl you go out with that isn't me…"

"That's ok… I know I'll hate the first guy you go out with… actually I'm probably going to hate any guy you go out with"

"So no more sex?" Brooke laughed wiping her tears away with her sleeve

"As much as I hate to say it… nope. But"

"But?"

"You can come out with me" Lucas said grabbing her jacket.

"To Time Square?"

"Where else?"

"K… but you better bring your wallet because I'm hungry and I need a top to wear to the first day of classes"