A/N: Thanx for the reviews guys, they were gr8! Thank you stagediva23 for your idea! Hope you guys like this chapter and I'd love to hear any suggestions for where you want the story to go! Xoxo!
Lucas looked up from the black and red checkerboard and flashed Brooke a triumphant smile, "King me"
She groaned "This game is rigged; we should have known when the receptionist told us she found in the store room."
"You still have a chance"
"I don't think so, you have five kings and I have none." She pushed back from the table and walked to the window. Lucas let his gaze linger. He wondered how she could still take his breath away in the simple white tank top and snug black pants she wore. Her hair was up in a high ponytail making her look like she was sixteen again, back when she was his.
"Hey guys…You got a second?"
"Sure, what's up?"
"I'm the guy for you…I know we're only part time, and that's cool, do whatever ,have your fun but one of these nights you're gonna realize it, I'm the guy for you Brooke Davis, you'll see.."
"Lucas, are you even listening to me" Brooke asked him loudly as the memory faded
"Sorry I zoned out for a minute there..what did you say?"
"I said, I think we should just make it a tie" she said smiling. He laughed
"O.K Cheery, it's a tie"
"Good, now onto more serious things…We have to be responsible adults who keep our hands to ourselves at all times tonight" she said looking at him
"I think I can refrain from jumping on you Brooke"
"O.K, I was just putting it out there"
"I love Peyton; I'm not cheating on her"
"That's great Luke" she said standing up "I'm gonna go take a walk". She let the door slam behind her
"Damn it" Lucas said out loud as she left
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"So you want the right side of the bed or the left?" Lucas called out to Brooke who was in the bathroom.
She groaned. She entered the room and her gaze shifted to the floor. She knew hardwood floors could be cold, maybe he'd be warm enough if she gave him the comforter off the bed.
A knock sounded at the door before she could answer his question. She opened the door and the owner stood at the opposite end. She held out a stack of blankets. "These are for you"
"Thanks" Brooke said as she took the bundle and set them on the bed
"I thought you could use some extra blankets and I found an old air mattress"
"Actually we were just about to discuss who would get the floor" Brooke said "So you couldn't have come at a better time."
"Ah..Well then, that's good…Sleep tight" she said as she shut the door behind her
"Right..sleep tight..on the floor" Lucas muttered
"Not on the floor Broody," Brooke smiled kinking her eyebrow "On the air mattress"
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Brooke jerked upright in bed, her body drenched in sweat, her heart pounding. Her chest hurt and she could barely breathe
"It's just a dream, just a dream" she said to herself. Her quiet sobs woke Lucas who sat on the bed next to her pulling her into his arms
"hey, hey, hey…what's wrong?"
"Nothing, just a bad dream" she said
"Some bad dream to have you crying like this…..wait, you're dreaming about the robbery aren't you?"
She didn't answer him "Brooke..maybe you should talk to someone about this"
"I'm not crazy Lucas" she said pulling away from him and walking towards the window her back facing him. Lucas moved to her side , wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close
"I don't mean a shrink Brooke…Talk to Peyton, Haley, Nathan…damn it, talk to me Brooke…"
She turned to him and buried her face in his chest. She broke down, heart wrenching sobs that she had been holding in since the robbery
"There it is…let it out" he said holding her close
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Lucas looked down at Brooke who was sound asleep in the crook of his elbow, she had finally fallen asleep after more than an hour of crying.
"You're gonna be okay pretty girl…" he whispered as he brushed his lips across her forehead. He felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and eased out of bed, walking towards the bathroom so as not to disturb Brooke.
"Peyton" he said into the receiver
"Luke, did I wake you?" she asked
"No, I couldn't sleep, Brooke had a nightmare and I just got her back to bed"
"Is she okay?" Peyton asked the concern evident in her voice
"I don't know, I'm worried about her, she won't talk about it"
"She'll be fine, she's strong, and she's Brooke"
"That's just it, everyone thinks because she's strong she doesn't need anyone to lean on. Everyone needs a shoulder sometime Peyton" he snapped at her
"Look, I didn't call to talk about Brooke"
"I'm sorry" he sighed "What are you doing up so late"
"I miss you..It's weird sleeping here without you" she said quietly
"I'll be home tomorrow..I promise"
"O.K, I'll let you go to sleep…I love you Luke"
"I love you too"
"I think" he thought to himself before falling into a deep sleep