Unfinished Symphony


Disclaimer: These characters belong to Mark Schwahn, J.J. Abrams, and the CW, I own none of them. No copyright infringement intended.

Summary: This is the story of Felicity Porter and Lucas Scott, on their journey to finding individual happiness and true love. Both made a brash decision, after graduation, to follow their respective high school crush, Ben Covington or Peyton Sawyer, across the country to college. As fate steps in they will soon learn that, "sometimes it's the smallest decisions that can pretty much change your life forever."

Spoilers: Their crush's may have gotten them to USC but it is Brooke Davis who makes them stay and believe!

Also, unlike in the show "Felicity", which is set in NYC, my story takes places in reverse, with them in college at USC, in Los Angeles, California. OTH's Lucas Scott, a literary student and aspiring author and Peyton Sawyer, an art history student and music production assistant, join Felicity Porter a pre-med student and Ben Covington, an undecided student-athlete. Brooke Davis, Felicity's roommate, fashion merchandizing student and clothing designer and Jake Jagelski, a struggling single father and LA musician are also main characters. Felicity's Noel Crane, a NYC native and computer-programming student is Lucas and Ben's RA.

Author's note: I hope you like what I have so far. Reviews are welcomed and loved!

Unfinished Symphony

…I know that I've imagined love before

And how it could be with you

Really hurt me baby, really cut me baby

How can I have a day without a night

You're the book that I have opened

And now I've got to know much more…

It was a beautiful day in sunny Los Angeles, not a cloud in the sky. It was perfect weather for the first day of school, and Felicity was experiencing just that; her first day of college. She was alone, miles away from her family, but for some reason she felt more whole, and stronger than she'd ever felt in years.

Felicity stood for a moment, taking it all in before she embarked on the rest of the days tasks. The campus was amazing; it was so open and inviting. More and more thoughts rolled through her head as she walked up to the section of the campus marked off for freshmen orientation.

She was scared, lonely, excited, and as always a tiny bit awkward, or as she liked to say; she was quirky. Nonetheless, she made her way through the masses, finally finding the booth marked for students with last names that fell between P-S. Felicity followed the sea of students, and got in line with everyone else.

There had to be more than 200 people in line ahead of her, but there was nowhere else to go, there wasn't anything she could do about it now. She knew registration was going to take forever, and with that realization her nerves finally got the best of her, as they often did, and her inner most thoughts emotions came piling out, hitting her all at once.

"Oh my gosh what was I thinking? Going to college in California…at USC…following Ben? I mean do these people even wear clothes? Every girl around me looks like a freaking sports illustrated supermodel, and look at me, scrawny curly haired mess, with hush puppies on! I'm and idiot, such an idiot…it was only a yearbook, I can't believe I actually am here right now, because of a damn yearbook signing. I mean, he probably wrote the same thing in every pathetic girl's book that he didn't know!"

Felicity was nearing her breaking point; she could tell. She had been about 5 seconds from a complete meltdown, when she heard someone behind her laughing, softly, in her direction. It wasn't a malicious laugh; in fact, it was sort of comforting in a way, like an "I know what you're going through" type of laugh.

She quickly spun around to meet the student behind her, who was beginning to address her.

"Are you okay, you sound a pretty stressed. I take it you aren't from California?" The lean, blonde headed man asked.

"No, Connecticut…how'd ya guess" She replied, embarrassed.

This guy must have been listening to her all along, but up until that point she hadn't even realized she had been blabbing out loud!

"Well, neither am I…It's Lucas, Lucas Scott, Tree Hill, North Carolina, born and raised." He said proudly. "And the lack of flesh showing gave it away."

"Uh my name is Felicity Porter, and yea I mean can you believe what these people are wearing, half of them have more revealing daywear than my swimwear is."

"Well, glad to meet you Ms. Porter, it's nice to find someone who understands the concept of clothing around her…now what's this that I heard you mumble, about a yearbook getting you here, all the way from NYU…I don't know if I believe it" He said with a smirk.

"It's sorta a long story, well actually its really not, well I guess that depends on your definition of long…"

She was getting tongue-tied as usual trying to explain it. Eloquence was not Felicity's forte, well at least when she had an audience. Just then an image, and outline of a person, appeared in the distance. It was like everything else in time stood still in that moment. It was a man, she affirmed, and he was standing at the top of the staircase, looking down on every one. Yep…tall, blonde, and handsome, the outline of his face matched, it had to be Ben.

…The curiousness of your potential kiss

Has got my mind and body aching

Really hurt me baby, really cut me baby

How can you have a day without a night

You're the book that I have opened

And now I've got to know much more…

You see, back where Felicity came from, Ben Covington…he was a legend, a hometown hero of Darien, Connecticut.

He was perfect; he had it all, she thought: looks, money, popularity, talent. Four years of high school she had watched him, from afar, waiting for the day when she might get up the courage to talk to him. And then one day it happened, she did it.

It was the day of their high school graduation. That day Felicity Porter walked right up to Ben.

"Hey, will you sign my yearbook?' She had asked.

Like the perfect gentleman that he was, he had been more than happy to oblige such an innocent request. Now the hard part, for him, was deciding what to say. He barely knew the girl. He sat down to write it, not wanting to ever look impolite. His mother had taught him too well.

By the time he had finished writing, and gave her back her yearbook, Felicity was entranced.

"Thanks" was the only thing she could get out of her mouth, while she frantically scanned his words to her.

Dear Felicity,


Here it goes. I watched you for four years, always wondered what you were like, and what was going on in your mind all that time when you were so quiet, just thinking. Drawing in your notebook. I should've just asked you, but I never asked you. So now, four years later, I don't even know you. But I admire you. Well, that makes me sound crazy, but I'm okay with that. So take care of yourself.

Love, 
Ben

P.S. I would've said, "Keep in touch," but unfortunately, we were never in touch.

Keep in touch? She thought. Ben wanted to keep in touch with me!

So in that moment, Felicity took another huge chance, and called out to him, right before he would have walked out of her life forever…

"Hey Ben, where are you going to college?" She yelled.

He turned back to say, "USC, playing basketball there, have a good summer," and waved good-bye.

Felicity was then brought back to reality, from the snapping of Lucas's fingers and waving of his hands in her face. The line was moving.

…Like a soul without a mind

In a body without a heart

I'm missing every part…

To Lucas it had been plainly obvious that she had been daydreaming of a different time and place. That was a feeling, which he was all too familiar with. In fact, I guess you could say that he two had his own little secret agenda in coming to California. Yes, he had also changed the course of his life, rather last minute. So, he related very much so to this new girl he just met. Like she had picked up and followed the illustrious Ben Covington, he was following the one and only Peyton Sawyer.

It's humorous actually, he thought. How we define ourselves…in the choices we make. Because…there is no rhyme or reason to any of it, no code or manual programmed into us…nope, we're left to only our own devices. And sometimes we manage to lift past them, to go beyond the quiet resilience of a dream…that is when we truly discover who we are, or uncover who we can be. One thing I do know is that the person you want to be does exist…somewhere on the other side of hard work, faith and belief. And, it's there, beyond the heartache and fear of what lies ahead, that our greatest truth and happiness is found…

…You're the book that I have opened

And now I've got to know much more…

So, sometimes it's the smallest decision, like asking someone to sign your yearbook, which can change your life completely…forever.

****The lyrics used are from Unfinished Symphony, by Massive Attack****