Brooke couldn't help but smile as she watched the last child being picked up by her parents. The last thing she had ever seen herself doing was teaching a ballet course for beginners but truth be told, the three, four, five and six year old girls were among her favorite students. Kids had never been Brooke's thing but surprisingly she had been a natural at teaching them from the very beginning. She was patient, encouraging and kind and the little girls simply adored their beautiful instructor, often times staring up in awe at the life size posters of Brooke competing at various international championships that happened to grace the walls of the studio.

It was her last class of the day so she quickly did a last minute walk around before locking up and hopping into her own vehicle. She was headed home where she could relax. Tentative plans included a brief stop at the grocery store followed by a trip to the gym. By that time, Cameron would be home and she could spend the rest of the evening lounging in her boyfriend's arms. As she pulled out of the parking lot, she couldn't help but notice the unusually warm and balmy air. As she drove further towards town, the sky had turned noticeably darker and the swollen clouds had released a few drops of rain onto her windshield.

Humming a tune to herself, she frowned as her vehicle was forced to come to a stop in the center of downtown. It was a traffic jam ahead, pretty large by Tree Hill standards. Annoyed, Brooke ejected her favorite CD from the player and searched for a decent FM radio station to listen to. She groaned out loud as nearly every frequency she turned to she heard the irritatingly loud and shrill drawn out beeping sound.

"We interrupt this program to bring you an important message from the Emergency Broadcast System. This is not a test. We repeat, this is not a test. A tornado warning is now in effect for the following areas, Craven County and New Brunswick County until 6:17 p.m. This alert has been issued to the prior named areas because a tornado is imminent. Funnel clouds have already been sighted above Wrightsville Beach and radar indicates that conditions for this type of weather is impending. If you are caught outside, seek shelter in a reinforced building or as last resort, in a ditch or low lying spot. Cover your head with your hands. The safest place to be in a tornado is in a basement. Seek shelter in the lowest floor of a building in an interior room or closet and stay away from windows. If in mobile homes or vehicles, please evacuate immediately and find substantial shelter…"

Brooke nervously glanced around. It was mid day but she had never seen the sky look so dark or so frightening.

"So much for the freaking grocery store," she sighed, impatiently tapping her fingers against the steering wheel.

She turned the radio completely off as she sat back in her seat. Her phone rang seconds later and she smiled when she saw who it was.

"Babe!"

"And hello to you too, sexy Photographer Boy," she grinned. "I was just thinking about you."

"Where are you?"

"Stuck downtown in some pretty funky traffic jam, I mean, in Tree Hill of all places. Can you believe that? Anyway, if this moron in front of me will try to drive like he actually has a license, I might actually be able to make it to Front Street."

"Brooke, baby, I want you to listen to me. Park and find shelter in the first open business you see."

"Cam…"

"I'm not joking around. Take a look at the sky. There are warnings all over TV and radio. I'm an Oklahoma boy so trust me. I don't know much but I sure can tell you about photography, hog wrestling, and twisters."

Brooke tried to stifle a giggle.

"Hog wrestling? Oh Boyfriend, you're so sexy when you go all Jethro on me."

"Brooke…"

"Okay, okay. I promise. I'm gonna pull over right now."

"Good. Lay low and be safe. I'll talk to you soon. I love you."

"You, too."

She hung up and shook her head. Perhaps her flair for the dramatic had rubbed off on her country boy after all. It was just a stupid storm with a lot of wind. Besides, she was only miles away from their home. There was no doubt she could make it, she thought just as she heard a loud sound. Brooke shrieked as she saw what looked like a piece of plank coming right towards her windshield. She hurriedly unclasped her seatbelt and put her hands over her head. It landed with force, cracking the glass, leaving her thankful it hadn't been her face that had taken the impact. Maybe her Oklahoma man knew what he was talking about after all. She pulled over, not even caring that it was in front of a fire hydrant. The sky was all but black in the middle of the day and the wind felt like it could take her off her feet at any given second. She wandered down the streets looking for a place to take cover…

"You know, living here, I've been through my share of hurricanes but I think this takes the cake," Karen Roe worriedly mumbled as she stared out of the window of her café.

"Yeah, Mom, it does look pretty bad," Lucas commented.

He had just been in the neighborhood hours before and had decided to come down and help his mother out for a few hours. Now both were glad he had.

"Do you see any people out there?" she asked.

"Nah. I think everybody is pretty much inside. I don't know, though. I feel like I should put something over the windows."

"There's no time. I think we should take cover in the hallway outside the pantry."

He nodded as she was already ahead of him. He turned to follow but heard a banging sound.

"Mom, get on the floor!" he called out.

"Lucas!"

But he had already turned back to investigate. And it was in the nick of time. There pounding on the door for dear life was Brooke Davis.

"Brooke…" he said opening up and letting the wind literally blow her in.

It took a while for the pretty brunette to catch her breath. Lucas took another good look and couldn't help but smile. Shooting him a stare of disdain, she put her hands on her hips.

"I suppose you find my Wizard of Oz audition out there somewhat amusing?" she asked, her voice dripping with raw sarcasm.

"No. Um, I mean, I'm glad you're here. Not here but you know. I'm glad you're safe. It's crazy out there."

"You're telling me. One second it looked like just a bad storm, the next I had to park and get out and find someplace safe."

He looked at her. Windblown, disheveled, feisty and all, she still was so beautiful.

"You did," he answered softly.

Brooke immediately stiffened.

"What's so funny, I asked you."

"Huh? Oh nothing. It's just, you know, it's not everyday the wind blows to your front door a beautiful woman in a tutu."

Brooke looked down at her ensemble and frowned. Slippers and all she was still wearing her work attire. Her plan for the grocery store had been to slip on a pair of jeans over the outfit but the tornado of the century had made her forget all about changing clothes.

"I am not wearing a tutu, you idiot. It's called a leotard."

"Oh."

"And it's not like I'm wearing this for my health or to create the latest fashion statement. I am a dance instructor and I did just finish teaching a ballerina class."

"Okay," he shrugged, still obviously amused.

"I did," she reinforced, uncomfortable that he was teasing her. "And don't call me beautiful."

"Brooke?" Karen appeared from around the corner. "I thought I heard your voice. What are you doing here?"

"Karen, hey. I kind of got caught in the storm. I couldn't find anywhere else to go. Sorry…"

"Don't apologize. I'm just glad you're alright," she reached out. "Here. Let's go into the hallway. It isn't safe to be in front of the windows."

Brooke nodded and followed and so did Lucas, hands shoved in his pockets. Talk about awkward moments.

"I was trying to get home because I didn't think it was gonna be that bad. Now I'm kind of glad I didn't make it. I'd hate to be alone at a time like this."

Lucas' eyes bulged.

"Oh shit…"

"What's the matter?" Karen questioned.

"Caylan. Mom, she's at the house all by herself. She's probably scared out of her mind."

He couldn't believe it. In the middle of the chaos he had forgotten all about his fiancée.

"It's okay…"

"Mom, it's not okay," he stood. "I've got to get to her."

"Lucas Eugene Scott, you would be out of your mind to try to leave in this kind of weather. Besides, Keith already called. He closed the shop at the first warning and headed home. Caylan will be fine."

He breathed a sigh of relief. If he couldn't be with his girl, the next best thing was Keith. He always knew how to take care of things in any situation.

"I'm still gonna call," he pulled out his cell and frantically dialed. "Dammitt! No signal."

Brooke and Karen checked their phones as well. Both had the same fate. Lucas tried the landline but the circuits were all busy.

"Great," Brooke muttered. "What do we do now?"

"We wait," Karen sighed. "It'll be okay. Everybody's going to be fine. We're in the safest place possible. I'm going to get us some blankets and bottled water."

"Mom…"

"It's fine. It's just in the pantry," Karen had already gone, leaving the two alone.

Lucas nodded and Brooke rolled her eyes.

"So…" he began.

"You know, this really doesn't require conversation."

Ouch!

"No, it doesn't. But at the most we could be in our very last moments on Earth and at the very least, an incredibly awkward and uncomfortable few minutes hiding out. I don't see where a little chit chat would be that much harm."

"Believe me, if it is my last few moments on this planet, I don't want to spend them chit chatting with you."

"Can I ask you something?"

"If I say no you're still gonna go for it anyway so you might as well."

"Why do you hate me so much?"

Brooke made a face at him.

"You flatter yourself way too much. I wouldn't dare put forth the energy it would take to hate you."

"Last time we saw each other we talked about Peyton and I tried to explain and…"

"I wouldn't let you."

He nodded.

"I know you wouldn't. But I know what happened a long time ago upset you. Look, if you don't want to talk to me or if you still want to be mad at me, I guess I'm just gonna have to deal with it. But I am glad you and Peyton buried the hatchet."

"You know how it is," she shrugged nonchalantly. "Hoes before bros."

Lucas chuckled.

"I just really wish I knew what I did to piss you off all those years ago. I mean, before you left things were cool between us. We were friends. And I told you that…"

She stopped him right there. The last thing she needed was a recap on his admission of undying love.

"I know what you said."

"And I never heard from you again. I'd just like to know why."

Oh no. Those baby seal eyes and soft voice and broody squint weren't going to do the trick that time. No way! He was opening up a whole new can of worms and she wasn't willing to go there.

"I had my reasons but that's old news now. Besides, like it mattered anyway. You certainly had no problem moving on."

"Brooke…"

"Here we are," Karen returned with the promised items.

"Yeah," Brooke repeated icily. "Here we are."

What had she meant? What was she about to say? Lucas couldn't help but curse his mother's lousy timing.

"Hopefully, it will be over soon."

Brooke stood.

"You know, it looked pretty rough out there but if anything was gonna happen, it probably would have already. I think I'm just gonna go…"

"Brooke, please," Karen begged.

Lucas bit his lip frustrated.

"Look, if this is about…"

But the sound that came next halted him mid sentence. It was like a freight train headed right in their direction at full speed combined with a 737 taking off down the runway at an airport mixed with a crashing waterfall. It made the hairs on the backs of their necks stand at attention with the anticipation building like something in a blockbuster action film. It felt like it lasted forever but it was less than a minute. Whatever it was barreled their way and there was the sound of glass breaking. The women screamed out loud and a brave Lucas pushed them both to the floor and draped their bodies with his own. And then it was over…

"Oh my God," Brooke trembled.

"Is everybody alright? Brooke? Mom?"

"We're fine," Karen tried to catch her breath. "The good news is I think it's over."

"And the bad?"

All three looked at each other. Silently they went out to inspect. As suspected the wind had shattered the main window to the café. Besides minor debris scattered about, that was the extent of the damage. Looking outside it was plain to see some businesses had faired much worse. But the important thing was, everybody was alive, safe and uninjured. Lucas watched as people began to emerge. Brooke stood in a corner on the phone with Cameron. He had his own calls home to make but one more thing had to be done before. As she stood shaking slightly in a corner, Lucas walked over and wrapped a blanket around his ex girlfriend's petite shoulders.

"Luke…" she started to protest.

"Are you okay?"

"I, I'm fine. Cam will be here in a few minutes."

"Okay," he nodded. "Can I just say one more thing?"

She was in too much of shock to argue.

"What?"

"I can't change the past, Brooke. And I know we're all different people now with different lives so stuff that happened in high school shouldn't even matter but for what it's worth, I want to apologize. You're a great person and a great friend. If I ever did anything to offend you or hurt you or anger you, then I am truly sorry. And I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but in case Peyton didn't tell you, it's not like we were hooking up while you were still in town or even right after you left for California. I waited for you, Brooke. I waited a long time to hear from you and Peyt and I both missed you a lot. We grew closer as friends then it turned into more from there. But neither one of us ever forgot about you and we never stopped missing you. And everything I said that day you left, at the time, I truly meant it."

Brooke opened her mouth but no words came out. Her heart pounded. He was standing so close to her and for a few fleeting seconds what had taken nearly a decade to put behind her, was now suddenly very real again.

"Baby, are you okay?"

They turned around. It was Cameron.

"Cam…"

He hugged her.

"I was so worried about you. Thank God you're alright."

"Yeah, um, Lucas and Karen were here and they let me hide out."

Cameron looked up at Lucas and extended his hand.

"Thanks for taking care of my girl."

Lucas nodded and shook it but his eyes had never left Brooke's.

"No problem. Um, if you two will excuse me, I need to call home and check on Keith and Caylan."

He went to do so and Cameron tightened his embrace on a Brooke that was shaken up from more reasons than one. He placed a kiss on her clammy forehead.

"You sure you're okay, babe?"

She closed her eyes and bit her lip, clinging closer to him. It appeared more than a tornado had come and turned Tree Hill upside down.

"I'm gonna be."