Chapter 11

Brooke: Lucas.

That was all she could say. It was like she was saying all of these things in her head but none of them were coming out of her mouth. There was so much she wanted to say to him, so much she had to say to him. But none of those things were coming out of her mouth. All she could do was stare. Stare at the guy who stole her heart all those years ago, and never gave it back. He still had it. He would always have her heart. And that was something that scared her to death. Cause she broke his.

Lucas: Hey, Brooke.

Brooke: I... I can't believe --

Lucas: That I'm here?

Brooke: Yeah.

Lucas: Yeah, I had a feeling you wouldn't.

Brooke: Oh, my God. Well... um, sit down. Sit. Um... how's life been treating you?

Lucas: Pretty good. Just graduated from USC... been busy writing a book.

Brooke: Wow. Wow, that's great. That's really great.

Lucas: Yeah.

They both sat there in an uncomfortable silence. You could just cut the tension with a knife. It wasn't like he was lashing out at her, or even giving her dirty looks. But it was in his eyes. That sparkle that she used to see in his eyes every time she looked at him was gone. It was now replaced with an emptiness that was only visable to Brooke. It was something that only she could see, cause she had been the one that caused it.

Lucas: So how have you been doing?

Brooke: Me? I'm -- I'm doing great. I'm, um, I'm following an internship at Vogue magazine.

Lucas: Really? That's, um, that's big.

Brooke: Yeah. It's a really big deal for me.

Lucas: Well, that's great, Brooke. I'm happy for you.

Brooke: Thanks. So, um... do you -- do you live in New York now?

Lucas: Actually, yeah. I, uh, I moved here a couple of months ago. After I graduated.

Brooke: Oh.

Lucas: So, um... I'd love to stay and catch up and everything, but... I'm actually on a break now and I have to get back to work, so --

Brooke: Oh. Okay. I understand.

Lucas: So I'll see you around?

Brooke: Yeah. Yeah, sure.

Lucas: Okay. It was nice seeing you, Brooke.

Brooke: You too.

Lucas then got up and walked out of the café. Brooke just sat there and watched him go. She watched him walk away... just like she walked away from him. Brooke just sat there, still a little uncomfortable. She then started to think about what Lucas said about when he had moved to New York and what Haley was about to say when they were still on the phone...

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Two days later.

The airport.

Brooke: Hi, traitor girl.

Haley: Brooke.

Brooke: You knew. All this time, you knew!

Haley: In my defence, I tried to tell you on the phone.

Brooke: Yeah, well, you were a little late, weren't you?

Haley: Brooke --

Brooke: It's okay. I guess we all knew it had to come.

Haley: How'd it go?

[Haley gave her a sympathetic smile.

Brooke: Exactly how I knew it would. Short sentences, a dozen uncomfortable silences...

Haley sighed and gave Brooke an apologetic smile. Nathan then walked over to them. Brooke's sad face then quickly turned into a hilarious at the sight of Nathan walking over to them dragging almost a dozen suitcases along with him. Haley turned around to see what was so funny and broke out in laughter herself. They both walked over to him and relieved him of the weight of all those suitcases.

Brooke: Hey, Nate.

Nathan: Hey, Brooke.

When he was finally able to stand up straight, he gave Brooke a hug and smiled at her.

Nathan: How've you been holding up?

Brooke: Pretty good. If you take out the little surprise I got a couple of days ago, thanks to your wife here.

[Haley gave Brooke a look.

Haley: You're never gonna let this go, are you?

Brooke: No.

Haley: Great.

Brooke laughed and picked up two suitcases.

Brooke: Come on. Let's go.

Nathan and Haley smiled at each other and then walked after Brooke with some suitcases in their own hands.

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Brooke's loft.

After Haley and Nathan had completely settled in, they went to sit at the kitchen counter in Brooke's kitchen and just started to catch up. They had been sitting there for almost an hour just laughing and talking. Haley and Nathan laughing at Brooke's crazy stories, and Brooke laughing at Nathan and Haley's. So after avoiding that particular subject for the whole hour, Brooke knew it was coming. It was inevitable.

Haley: So, um... I know I already asked this, but... how did it really go?

Brooke: I already told you how it went.

Haley: Brooke.

Brooke: It went fine. We exchanged hello's, we talked for a little bit, catched up... and then he went back to work.

Nathan: That's it?

Brooke: That's it.

Haley: You didn't exchange phone numbers or anything?

Brooke: No. I don't even know where he lives. Look, you guys, I know you're supportive of me and Lucas and all but... I don't think things are ever gonna get back to the way they were. I mean, the way things were wasn't even that great.

Haley then took ahold of Brooke's hand and gave her yet another sympathetic smile. Brooke smiled back.

Brooke: Okay, enough this. Let's do something fun. What do you guys wanna do tonight?

Haley and Nathan then looked at each other, knowing exactly what the other was thinking and then looked back at Brooke.

Nathan & Haley: Sleep.

Brooke: What? Oh, come on, you guys. It's your very first night in New York city. This is the city that never sleeps, remember? You can't go to bed at...

She then checked her watch.

Brooke: Ten! It's way too early.

Haley then took Nathan's hand and started dragging him towards the bedroom.

Haley; Goodnight, Brooke.

Brooke: Oh, come on! Okay, fine. I'll go by myself and tomorrow when you hear how much fun I had, you'll wish you came with me.

Haley: Tomorrow when we'll see you hurling in the bathroom, we'll be glad we didn't.

Brooke: Ugh, I hate you both.

Nathan: We love you too, Brooke.

Nathan and Haley then disappeared in the hallway and Brooke let out a small laugh.

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The next day.

Haley and Nathan walked into the kitchen where, to their surprise, Brooke was busy making coffee and breakfast.

Brooke: Good morning.

Haley: Morning.

Brooke then noticed the looks both Haley and Nathan were giving her and quirked an eyebrow.

Brooke: What?

Haley: Nothing, it's just... what happened to Brooke's big night of fun?

She faked a very cheery and high pitched voice which made Brooke chuckle.

Brooke: It's no fun when you're alone.

Haley and Nathan chuckled.

Brooke: So... what's on the schedule for today?

Nathan and Haley then did that thing again where they both look at each other, knowing what the other is thinking.

Brooke: Okay, you two have got to stop doing that.

Haley: What?

Nathan: What do we do?

Brooke: That thing where you know exactly what the other's thinking. It's annoying. It's so... married.

Haley then held up her hand to show Brooke her wedding ring and Brooke rolled her eyes.

Brooke: Not my point. What's going on?

Nathan: Well, we were kinda... we were gonna meet Lucas today and hang out with him.

Brooke: Oh.

Haley: Why don't you join us after work? I mean, you two can catch up some more and --

Brooke: Haley.

Haley: I know, I know, things aren't the way they were, but is that such a bad thing? I mean, you yourself said that the way things were wasn't all that great. And... maybe now you can start over.

Brooke: Okay, I appreciate the matchmaking efforts, but... it's just not gonna work out. Things are just too... complicated.

Haley: Well, uncomplicate them.

Brooke: Easier said then done.

It was then that they heard the doorbell and they all looked at the door in curiosity, seeing as it was pretty early in the morning.

Brooke: Who would be here this early in the morning?

Nathan: Maybe it's Lucas coming to uncomplicate things.

Brooke laughed as she started to walk towards the front door.

Haley: Shut up!

When Brooke reached the door and looked out of her peep hole, all she saw was the back of someone's head, which showed very blonde and very curly hair. Brooke opened the door, knowing exactly who it was.

Brooke: Peyton!

Peyton: Hey!!

Peyton then quickly brought Brooke, who was very surprised and not so comfortable, in for a hug. Haley and Nathan looked at each other again, sensing more trouble coming ahead.