Title: Paint it Black

Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill.. .or the song Paint it Black by The Rolling Stones

I see a red door and I want it painted black

No colors anymore I want them to turn black

Lucas pulled the car up to the curb in front of his house, not bothering to pull in the driveway. He shut the car off and dug in his pocket for his cell phone. He sighed, struggling with the thought of calling her. She had said that she needed time and he was trying to respect that. But he was worried about her, the way she had left the reception..

He scrolled thru the numbers until he came to hers and pressed send. After a few rings the voice mail picked up, hanging his head he got out of the car and walked up the sidewalk to his house. Lost in his thoughts, he never noticed the car parked on the other side of his house.

He walked into his bedroom and went straight to the dresser, throwing his keys down. He was starting to empty his pockets when he heard a sound behind him. Turning he saw Brooke sitting on his bed crying.

"Brooke, what is it?" he asked as he walked over to the bed and sat down beside her.

With tears in her eyes, she looked up "I just came by to tell you that I am going to say at Nathan and Haley's while they are gone" she brought her hand up to wipe the tears off her cheeks.

"Brooke," he sighed "I know you are mad at me, but you can stay here. We can work this out" he grabbed her hand and placed it between both of his.

"No," she cried "I can't stay here" she pulled away and stood up.

"Tell me what is going on" he questioned as he got up from the bed to walk around in front of her "When you left the reception you said that you had some thinking to do, and I respected that, especially after what I told you" he grimaced, "But there is something else going on, isn't there" He still could not believe that he had told her about the kiss. He took full responsibility for the kiss because he hadn't stopped her. In truth, he hadn't wanted to. But that hadn't been what they were fighting about…

She glanced away and drew her hands up to rub her arms. Still in her dress from the wedding he mistook her gesture for being cold. He shrugged out of his jacked and placed it around her shoulders. He saw a sad smile appear on her face as she looked up at him again.

"I just feel betrayed Lucas, and not just by you" She said shakily.

His stomach clenched "Brooke, Please don't be mad a Peyton" he pleaded "it's not her fault, I should have told you and I know that" he quickly continued "and I am sorry."

Her eyes narrowed "I have to go" she avoided his gaze as she walked toward the door

"Brooke" he started, only to be cut off by her

"No, Lucas" she half shouted, then took a deep breath to calm herself. "I have to clear my head, I need to get out of here" she paused "be by myself for a while. I'll call you when I figure some things out" she opened the door to leave.

"Wait" he called out to her, rushing across the room to grab her by the arm. "I understand" he smiled and shook his head "Just be careful and call me, no matter what time it is, just call my cell phone"

"Oh Shit!" she gasped

"What" he asked worriedly as she closed her eyes and shook her head. "Brooke" he said impatiently.

"My cell phone" she said irritably "I left it at Peyton's." She spat her name out.

"What is going on between you two? You were fighting before I told you about the.." she glared at him "before the wedding" he corrected.

"I don't want to talk about it" she refused and sighed "I guess I'll just go over and get it. God I hope she is not there" she said bitterly.

He grimaced and looked at her with the disappointment showing on his face.

"Whatever" she rolled her eyes and jerked her arm away. Pulling his jacked off she tossed it at him "I'll call you later" she walked out the door without another word.

He watched her leave, wondering just what in the hell was going on. Neither Peyton or Brooke would tell him, and he was beginning to get suspicious. This wasn't just another fight between them, this was serious.

He felt torn, he knew he needed to be there for Peyton but he knew Brooke didn't want him to talk to her. Their relationship was on shaky ground anyway, he didn't want to push it.

Why did he have to bring up the Chris Keller thing? "Stupid" he grimaced as he brought his hand up to smack his forehead.

His eyes were drawn to the door standing open. The door he had painted Black the day after he found out about Chris Keller and Brooke.

And Peyton had been there for him that day….

flashback

(Pan across to Lucas at his back door, painting black over the red.)

Peyton walks up the steps and sits down " Painting while angry? That's original."

"Like cutting your hair." He says sarcastically

Peyton smiles, but it fades "I'm guessing you don't wanna talk about it."

"Good guess."

"Well, for what it's worth, Brooke feels awful"

"To be honest with you, Peyton, right now… that's not worth too much."

"OK, I know you're upset."

"No, not really. I'm more…" he pauses " disappointed… than I am upset". (goes back to painting)

"Luke, Brooke made a mistake, OK? Kinda like we did and she forgave us."

"Yeah, well she has a really funny way of showing it. But, you know what? She made it perfectly clear that we were non-exclusive. I made the mistake of thinking we were meant to be with each other. I won't make that mistake again."(Lucas finishes painting the door black.)

end flashback

But he had, he had made the mistake of thinking the past could remain buried. That he could be happy, living a lie.

With a sigh, he shut the door and walked over to the closet, throwing the jacket down on the bed. He knew one thing, he had to get out of this tux. He paused at his desk, looking at his computer. Strictly out of habit, he clicked on her webpage. He was surprised to see she had her webcam on, but she wasn't in front of it.

He quickly sat down in his chair. Looking closer at the screen, he saw something ..

It was her. She was sitting on the floor beside her bed with her head in her hands. He sat watching anxiously as she finally lifter her head.

His heart nearly broke, the look on her face was pure anguish and he could tell she was crying.

Without hesitation he got up, grabbed his keys off the dresser and walked out.