Brooke peeked in the oven and smiled a satisfied smile at what she saw. There browned and baked to perfection was her lasagna. She could only pray that it tasted as good as it looked and smelled. Taking it out of the stove, she placed it on the counter to cool. One of her favorite dishes to eat, to her surprise it hadn't been that hard to make. A recipe and a few lessons from Haley later and she practically had it down pat. She'd never been the domestic type, unless you counted the whole sewing thing. But that had been a self taught talent given her love for clothes and anything fashion. Cooking and cleaning were a whole other story.

As the years passed and she had lived the fast life as a traveling dancer, she had grown more and more accustomed to catered food and hired help. But meeting Cameron Drake had changed her. She had settled down with him for the normal life. In Tree Hill they owned a beautiful home they had taken special interest in fixing up. By day she ran her academy while he did local photography gigs. The nights were spent quietly and happily together, just like a real family…the family Brooke had never had.

"Hey," came a familiar voice as the back door opened. "What smells so delicious?"

Brooke grinned, practically jumping into Cameron's arms.

"Me."

He playfully rolled his eyes.

"Besides you. Is that lasagna?"

"Haley's famous recipe coming right up. I've got salad and garlic bread and wine, well beer for you. Hope you're hungry, babe."

"I am and beat, too."

He had just returned from a traveling job that had him working just across the border in South Carolina.

"How was it?" she asked, preparing the table.

"Pretty good. I can't complain. The pay was decent and the drive wasn't too bad. It was a good day."

"Well, I'm glad to hear it and I'm glad you're home. I missed you."

"Missed you, too, babe…oh before, I forget. I happened to take a look at the front of your car and it looks like there's a small scratch on it. Looks like you dinged it against something."

"Oh that. It's no big deal. Actually, I was gonna have you look at it last week when it happened but it totally slipped my mind."

"What happened?"

"Some jackoff backed into my car downtown."

"Did they leave a note?" Cameron frowned.

"I talked to him. We looked at both our cars and they seemed fine at the time."

"Did you get the guy's contact info? I mean, it shouldn't cost a lot to fix. Hell, I could probably buff it out myself. Still you might want to let him know what he did."

"Oh I don't need any contact information, trust me," she rolled her eyes. "It was Lucas of all people."

"Lucas? You mean, Nathan's brother?"

"The one and only," she sighed.

Cameron shrugged.

"Small world."

"Tell me about it," she muttered. "Anyway, it's a stupid scratch and I'll call the dealer and drop it off at their body shop. It'll be fine. The last thing I want is to have a chat about it with Lucas Scott."

Cameron nodded as he dug into his dinner.

"This is good, babe. I mean it. You've outdone yourself."

"Glad you like it, Boyfriend," she winked.

"So…"

"So…"

He made a face.

"Brooke, can I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"I mean, can I ask you something without you getting mad?"

"I don't know. Is that a trick question?" she teased.

Cameron leaned back in his chair.

"Tree Hill is nice and all but relationships are kind of weird here, complicated. Usually I mind my own business but I have to know, what is the deal with Lucas?"

Brooke stiffened.

"What do you mean?"

"He seems like a nice enough guy and Nathan is cool. I know he was married to Peyton and all and they split but then he shows up to Haley's party with a fiancée. I don't know, that just seemed kind of strange."

"It's a long, sordid saga but nothing Lucas Scott does surprises me."

"Sounds like there's some history there," Cameron half joked.

"There is," Brooke answered quietly.

He noticed that far away look in her eyes.

"What, did you guys date or something?"

"It was a long time ago."

"Is he the one you told me about that morning on the porch? Is he the guy that came between you and Peyton?"

"You mean the jackass that lied and cheated and totally broke my heart? Yeah, that would be him and yeah Peyton was involved but that was like 100 years ago and it's all water under the bridge now and I have agreed to be civil to a certain backstabbing blonde so I would really appreciate it if you let bygones stay bygones and quit bringing up things that are really going to make me mad."

Cameron knew when to stop while he was ahead. He was no fool. That sometimes fiery temper was one of the things that had attracted him to her. Brooke was an unusually animated and passionate person and her anger was no exception. He had learned to read her body language. She was tense and shifting in her seat, her eyes had narrowed and darkened and she was speaking whole paragraphs in one breath. Yeah, it was definitely time for a change of conversation.

"Okay. I don't want to bring up old news, especially if it's gonna upset you. I apologize. We can talk about something else."

"Fine."

"Fine. I was gonna tell you anyway, the funniest thing happened at work today actually…"

"You know, it's so typical of him to do what he did. You know, bringing that little tramp over to Haley and Nathan's."

So much for a change of conversation. He had opened a can of worms and although the nature and topic was clearly irritating her, Brooke was on a roll and everyone knew there was no stopping Brooke Davis when she was on a roll.

"I thought you didn't want to talk about it."

"I didn't. I don't. But since you brought it up…"

"Okay," Cameron accepted the bait. "What makes Caylan or whatever her name is, a tramp?"

"You mean besides dating and accepting a ring from a married man?" Brooke helped herself to another generous sip of red wine. "Cam, are you kidding me?"

"I guess it's not the classiest thing in the world."

"Well, she's not and neither is Lucas."

"You gonna tell me the whole story?" he looked his girlfriend in the eye.

She exhaled.

"It was a long time ago."

"I know."

"I was young, it was the start of junior year. Peyton and I were best friends, cheer co-captains. We were the most popular clique in school, we had money and all that other stuff that is oh so important in high school."

"Okay."

"I, I was different back then. Kind of stuck up…and bitchy…and mean. And if you think I was bad, you should have seen Nathan. He was a total ass."

"Nate?"

"Oh yeah. Cocky, hateful, selfish…you name it. But it kind of had to do with the way he was raised. Dan Scott wasn't exactly the best influence. Anyway, everyone in town knew that Lucas was Dan's illegitimate son. He went to school with us but he kind of kept to himself and his own friends. The thing is, they were both awesome basketball players. Nathan was the star of the team, Luke was the star of the River Court. One day the coach discovered Lucas. It was drama and more drama but eventually he joined the team."

"How did Nathan take that?"

"Like a real sore loser. They hazed the hell out of that kid, it was awful. But Lucas toughed it out. That's just the kind of guy he was. He didn't give up, he stood up for himself."

"And eventually the guys came around, right?"

"Eventually. But it was more to it than that. See, Nathan and Peyton were the it couple and…"

"Wait a second…you mean, Nathan and Peyton used to date?" Cameron scratched his head.

"Yeah. Stay with me, babe. You said it yourself, Tree Hill is way complicated. Anyway, it was only the most dysfunctional teen relationship in the history of teen relationships. Fights, drama and make up sex like every week. It wasn't working out and they knew it but Peyton and Lucas kind of had this weird connection thing going on."

"He liked his brother's girl."

"Basically which pissed Nathan off even more, if you can imagine. So he went after Haley because Haley and Luke were best friends. The plan was to deflower and dump her to get at Lucas."

"That's mean. Nathan? He really loves Haley."

"Now he does. That was over ten years ago. Karma is a bitch…he really did fall for her."

"And Lucas and Peyton?"

"They had their shot but she walked away."

"And?"

Brooke shrugged.

"He was hot and I liked him and we sort of became flirty friends and we started dating. He was…I don't know. Lucas was different. He was really smart. He was into his books and literature and stuff. And he was deep. He cared about things and about people. I had never met anybody like him. Honestly I thought it was just gonna be a fling but it turned into more. I, I fell in love with him. For the first time ever, I gave someone my heart."

"What happened?"

"Peyton happened. I caught them sneaking around behind my back. I couldn't believe it. My best friend and the boy I loved. It sucked. It really hurt. I mean, she knew how much I cared for him. She betrayed me anyway. She threw a lifetime of friendship away over a guy."

"Did they stay together?"

"They said they didn't."

"You don't believe them?"

"Like you said, it was a long time ago but I don't know what I believe. Sometimes it's like Peyton only wanted Lucas when someone else had him."

"Did you ever forgive her?"

"As hard as it was, I forgave both of them. We all actually had a pretty close friendship but I never forgot how they betrayed me. Anyway, my family was going through hard times financially until my dad got a job out in California. I left Tree Hill at the beginning of that summer to be with them."

"So you left on good terms?"

"I left with Peyton swearing I was the best friend she'd ever had. I left with Lucas telling me that he had made a mistake, that he really loved me and wanted to be with me. I was young and starting over, senior year of all years in a brand new place. It was a lot to take."

"You still loved him?"

"I don't know. I guess a part of me did. I was confused. But after all their tears and heartfelt speeches, it felt like my plane didn't even take off before those two got together again. It was like I never existed, like they couldn't wait to get me out of the picture. I felt lied to all over again. Anyway, I started a new life and everybody went their separate ways and that was the end of it. But I never forgot, Cam. It made me look at people different. You might think it's petty or stupid but my whole life I had only trusted two people…Lucas Scott and Peyton Sawyer. They both let me down. It made me be more cautious. I guess I never got over that betrayal until now."

"Man," Cameron shook his head. "That was intense. I don't think we had this much drama back in Oklahoma."

Brooke smiled.

"Then you're lucky."

"But it's over now. Things happen for a reason. You moved on and you had a great life. Yeah, Lucas and Peyton split up but it sounds like they had a great life together too, at least for a little while. Maybe it's time to let go and forgive them."

"Peyton hurt me and it changed the way I felt about her and our friendship. It is hard to get over that but I'm trying. The inner bitch in me can't help but take a few tasteless jabs here and there but I have made peace with the situation. I've started being nice to her. I doubt it will ever be the way it used to be between us but now I actually feel kind of sorry for her."

"I don't know Lucas but he doesn't sound like a bad guy. Sometimes people do dumb things but not because they're bad."

"I totally agree. It's not like he's evil or something. I mean, he's nothing like his father. He just doesn't think and he totally sucks when it comes to women. I don't know what the hell is going on with him and Miss Teen USA, though. That one was just way out of left field, not to mention tacky as hell."

"Maybe he loves her. Maybe she's a good girl."

"Puh-leeze. Not that I care. I mean, I can forgive him for the past because now I have a pretty great life and he has for sure made a mess out of his. It isn't my problem. For Nathan and Haley's sake, I will be civil to him and try to tolerate his jail bait but I seriously doubt we'll be inviting those two over for dinner anytime soon."

"Whatever you say, Brooke."

"You brought it up. You wanted to know the story and there it is."

"Yeah…there it is. Tree Hill's love triangles. Go figure."

"Try love rectangles or triangles plus one or…oh hell, I don't know. I was never good at Geometry. Anyway, Jake and Peyton used to have a thing for each other way back in the day. Who knows? Maybe they'll reconnect."

"Just thinking about all this gives me a headache. Promise me one thing, Brooke."

"What?"

"No matter what, you'll stay out of it. I think it's best we steer clear of all this drama. I just don't want to get involved."

Brooke put her hands up.

"I could not agree more. Now enough about everyone else…"

She stood and smiled seductively, walking over to him and sitting on his lap.

"You cook me a dynamite meal, give me some good gossip, now you're sitting on my lap rubbing my thigh. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were trying to seduce me."

Brooke feigned innocence.

"Why, Mr. Drake! Whatever gave you that idea," her eyes twinkled.

"Are you?"

"I don't know. Is it working?"

"Oh hell yeah," he grinned kissing her.

She hopped up, smiling.

"Goody! Last one upstairs has to stand in the back of the shower."

"Brooke…" he got serious for a moment, grabbing her hand.

"Yeah, babe?"

He looked uneasy for a moment.

"Things are cool. You sure none of this is gonna affect us?"

Brooke gently stroked his face.

"The past is the past and the drama that's going on now has nothing to do with us. My life with you is perfect and I want to keep it that way. Nothing will ever come between us, Cameron. I mean that. I love you."

Just one look at that dimpled smile was enough to melt his heart and any lingering doubt away.

"I love you, too, Brooke Davis."