Brooke was sitting in the auditorium where her class just graduated. Everyone else was outside with their parents, taking pictures and crying. She tugged a bit at the black gown she was wearing, the one that every other senior had been wearing over their clothing.

"This is it," she said softly to no one in particular. She looked around at the empty seats, feeling a pang of sadness come to her. How could her parents not come to her graduation? She let out a sigh, shaking her head a bit.

"Hey, Pretty Girl." Lucas had come into the auditorium after searching for Brooke outside. She raised her head, giving him a half-hearted smile. "Hey boyfriend," she said.

He walked over and sat beside her on the stage, slipping an arm around her shoulders. She rested her head on his, letting out a heavy sigh. "What's wrong?" he asked with obvious concern in his voice.

She shook her head a bit, trying to push the topic away. "It's nothing. I just can't believe I'm leaving for New York tomorrow," she said, feeling Lucas tense a bit beside her.

It had been a touchy subject ever since they'd gotten back together. She was going to New York to study fashion, and Lucas wasn't sure if he wanted to follow. She had been trying, unsuccessfully, to convince him to go.

"Oh," he said, bringing her back to the present. "About that," he said, letting his voice trail off. Brooke slid off the stage and crossed her arms over her chest, trying to fight away the tears that she could feel in her eyes.

"Just end it now, Luke. If you don't want to go, tell me." She kept her back to him, knowing that if she looked at him she'd fall apart. And right now, she couldn't afford that.

"It's not that I don't want to be with you," he tried to explain. Brooke quickly turned around to face him, an angry look on her face.

"Forget about it, okay? I'll just drop my dreams and stay here with you, just so you can be comfortable." Her voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Brooke," he said, sliding off the stage. He reached out to touch her, but she stepped away from him. "I want to be with you, but I can't go to New York. There's nothing up there for me."

"What about me?" The pain Brooke felt was obvious in her face and Lucas could feel his heart shattering into a million pieces. A few tears fell from her eyes and she quickly looked away, trying to compose herself. "I can't do this, Lucas. If you're not willing to go with me, then I'm not willing to wait. Either you come with me, or we're over."

Lucas wanted to take her into his arms, but she walked away too quickly. Watching her retreating body, shaking with her sobs, he knew that it was over. He knew he wouldn't go with her. Knowing that fact, he turned on his heel and went to find his family.

----

A week later, Brooke stood at the airport, gripping the handle of her suitcase. Rachel stood beside her, having been the one who drove her to the airport. "Ready?" the red-head asked, turning to face her friend.

Brooke took in a breath and nodded slightly. She turned to meet the other girl's gaze, a smile coming to her face. "I can't believe I'm actually doing this. New York, here I come!" she said with a giggle of excitement.

"You certainly have the bitchy attitude to get along up there," Rachel teased. Brooke glared at her before adding, "Then you should go to Las Vegas. Get paid for being such a slut."

The two laughed and shook their heads. Brooke's laugh, however, felt empty to her. There was no sign of Lucas here, and she hadn't heard from him at all over the past week. She could feel the tears coming to her eyes again, glad that she had the excuse of leaving town to explain her emotions.

A female voice came over the intercom system, announcing the final boarding for Brooke's flight. It was now or never, and part of her wished it was the latter.

After a long embrace, Brooke headed towards the terminal and handed over her ticket. Turning to wave at Rachel, she quickly got onto the plane. She sat down in her assigned seat, taking a deep breath.

"Well," she said beneath her breath as she looked out the window, "Time to leave your heart, Brooke Davis. Say goodbye to Tree Hill."

Meanwhile, Lucas Scott was lying in the bed of one of his closest friends. He hadn't slept the night before, knowing that Brooke was leaving for good. His eyes glanced at the clock, his heart aching with the idea of her boarding her plane. She'd be in New York in a few hours. He still had time to join her…

"Luke?" He glanced over, seeing Peyton awake. He gave her a slight smile, his hands sliding beneath his head. "Morning Sawyer," he said. She slid a bit closer to him, comforted by the sight of him beside her this early in the morning.

"How long have you been up?" she asked, her eyes looking up towards his. He shrugged a bit, glancing towards the clock. Since I came over, he thought to himself. Returning his gaze to Peyton, he replied, "A few minutes."

She nodded a bit, resting her head on his chest. He shut his eyes, trying to find comfort in the action. All he could think about, however, was Brooke. He could see her so clearly sitting in the back of his car the first night they met, dressed in nothing. Well, aside from the mittens she had been wearing.

George Bernard Shaw's words echoed through his mind; "There are two tragedies in life: one is to lose your heart's desire, the other is to gain it." His eyes opened again, looking down towards Peyton. He'd lost his heart's desire already and here, in his arms, was another girl that loved him completely. Perhaps he could make it work with her.

He leaned up a bit, moving one hand beneath her chin. She looked up to him, a confused look on her face as he tilted his head to one side. His eyes closed as he leaned closer to her, feeling her warm lips against his.

Peyton quickly kissed him back and he could feel the love she felt for him. If he couldn't have what he wanted, perhaps he could give someone else what they wanted. So there in his room, while Brooke was headed for New York, Lucas convinced himself that being with Peyton was the right thing to do.