Sorry about the bold last chapter…I don't know what is wrong with me. Please review!

Chapter 2: Since U Been Gone

I'm so moving on yeah, yeah….

"So I didn't even catch your name," The guy said flirtatiously. "I'm Lucas."

Brooke stared at his outstretched hand before hesitantly shaking it. She wasn't used to guys shaking her hand, or for that matter flirting with her. She was usually the aggressor, or at least she used to be. Yes, it was easy to say she was ready to change who she was, hell, start a new relationship. But when the reality actually hit and she was here talking to what seemed to be a nice guy, it wasn't quite as easy as it sounded.

"Brooke," she answered trying to sound cheerful. God, she hated that he had done this to her. Made her feel like this any time she was in a close proximity to another guy.

"Pretty name for a pretty girl,"

"Wow you did not just say that," Brooke chuckled. "Worst line ever." She joked. Maybe it wouldn't be as horrible as she had originally thought. She could totally be just friends with Lucas.

He laughed along with her. "So are you from around here? I've never seen you before. I definitively would have remembered seeing you somewhere." He grinned.

"There's the flattery again." She grinned back and it was then that she realized this had been her first real smile in what felt like forever. Sure she had held her head high and plastered on more fake smiles then she cared to recall, before it had been too much and she had to get out of there. But here she was with some stranger who knew nothing about her past and that was something in itself to smile about. For the first time since it happened, she was starting to feel something again. And that was enough for her.

His apartment was not what she expected. It was small and pretty cramped. When she had been on vacation the New York she had always stayed in lavish hotels, nothing like this. But it was almost refreshing and kind of a reality check. This was probably the kind of place she was going to have to get. She was going to have to get a job, find a place to live. Without the help of daddy's credit card. That was the scary part. Thinking about starting in the real world and being on her own sounded cool but with the lifestyle she was used to, this was definitely going to be a challenge.

"This might burn," Lucas came out with peroxide and pored it over her cut. IT dissolved to white and Brooke shut her eyes.

"You could have told me how much it was going to sting." Brooke grabbed her leg in pain.

"What have you never gotten hurt before?" Lucas said sarcastically, not really thinking it could be true.

"No, I never get hurt." Brooke replied matter of factly.

"Never? Please tell me your kidding." Lucas stared at her in disbelief.

"Well I get hurt," she whispered "just not on the outside." Brooke looked down to the floor. Why did she say that? Now she was going to have to explain herself and that was not something she wanted to share.

"What do you mean?" The question Brooke knew was coming.

"I just had some problems with my ex," she answered slowly, not knowing how much information she wanted to reveal to someone she didn't know. But maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea to tell someone that didn't know her. Maybe an outsider opinion would help her. And if not, it's not like things could get any worse.

"He cheated on me," she continued, "with my best friend," she choked on her last words. They still wounded her. How could the two people she cared most about in the world do that to her?

"Wow, that sucks," Lucas commented. "Well, if they couldn't see how great you were then it's their loss."

"How can you say that? You don't even know me."

"What are you trying to tell me your crazy or something?" Lucas raised his eyebrows questioningly at her and Brooke laughed.

"I'm just good at reading people," he went on "And you seem like a nice person."

"Well thanks I guess. You seem pretty nice yourself." Brooke blushed. She never said things like that.

"What was his name?" Lucas asked and she looked away. She had trying to pretend that he didn't exist. Avoiding talking or thinking about him at all costs. She looked into the blue eyes of the boy sitting in front of her. They were a different color than the other boy's but still just as nice. They seemed much warmer and welcoming than his ever did.

"You don't have to if you don't want-"

"Nathan," Brooke interrupted him. "His name was Nathan," she repeated this time more for herself. Just saying his name was a weight of her shoulders.

"Just tell me if I'm being too nosy but are you still friends with your best friend?"

"No, you're fine," she reassured him. And actually this was the first time she really got to tell the story. Her story.

"Not really. I mean I just couldn't even be near the two of them together. I just had to get away. So here I am." She shrugged. There wasn't much more to say.

"So you don't have anyplace to stay? Cause I have an extra room if you want it?" Brooke glanced around the apartment. Sure it was small, but it was a lot better than anything else she was going to find in her price range in one day.

"Really? I mean it wouldn't be forever just until I get on feet." He nodded and she squealed happily. She ran over and gave him a giant hug.

"Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Oh my god this is going to be so much fun!" She let out another squeal and he laughed. She would definitely be an interesting roommate.

"So is this my room?" she pointed to a room that was pretty much empty. Before Lucas had a chance to answer Brooke's cell phone rang.

"Answer it," Lucas encouraged after seeing Brooke's hesitant glances. Unknown number flashed on her caller id but she answered it anyway.

"Hello,"

"Brooke don't hang up, this is really important. Nathan's in the hospital."

"Well, tell your boyfriend I said hi. Bye, Peyton." And with that she hung up.

Next Chapter: Behind These Hazel Eyes