A/N: Update. Okay, so I had no idea how passionate One Tree Hill fans were! My lord do you guys love the show! I thank you all for your reviews. It means a lot when you take the time to post your thoughts and comments on what I have written. So feel free to abuse me ;)

As a heads up, I'm a huge Brucas nut! So stick with me ;)

Rae - Have I never told you how twisted I am? Heh! This is just the beginning...

As ever, I disclaim! Please read and review!

Just get your purse, get your shoes, and get out. The mantra rolled around in Brooke Davis' head over and over again, until her lips twitched slightly, verging on repeating it out loud.

Nearly stumbling over an electrical wire, she caught herself on the hand railing attached to the stairs. Using her own momentum to her advantage, Brooke swung around the rail, her feet thundering down each of the stone steps. At the bottom, she sped forward, smashing as hard as she could into the door to the dressing room. The ancient hinges groan under the force, the door swinging wildly open. Had anyone been stood behind it, they would have been knocked for six.

Not that Brooke cared. Her scantily clad form tore into the dressing room, by passing girls and stage hands, crashing into others. She spotted her belongings resting on the far table. With renewed effort, she hurtled around the side of a chair, hand lunging towards her purse.

Brooke's hands were a blur, ripping off her sandals, grabbing at her heels. They were on her feet in a second, the other footwear crammed as best they could be into her purse. Reaching for her jacket, Brooke stopped. The tips of her fingers traced the lining of the leather material. The tactile contact brought with it a fresh wave of sadness to Brooke's stomach, spilling upwards into her throat.

It was Lucas's jacket.

They had spent the afternoon together, being silly together, laughing and talking. It had been one of the most perfect moments in the history of their relationship. Brooke had lost herself so much in Lucas's deep blue eyes that time had escaped her, and before she knew it, she was late. Not having time to get what she needed from home, Lucas had given his jacket to her for her to wear. It had been a simple gesture, not uncommon between couples. But it had melted Brooke's heart none the less.

Sniffing back the fresh wave of tears, Brooke whipped around, careening off. It was getting too much, and she wouldn't be able to stay in control a second longer.

Clearly not looking where she was going, Brooke didn't notice Lucas until she was upon him, running into his toned chest at full speed. Feeling the air forced out his lungs, Lucas gasped, gripping Brooke between his arms, crushing her to his chest. He had done so to stop them both from tumbling to the ground, but also because he knew it was the only way he could stop her from running away.

"Brooke…would you just…please…" Fighting for air, Lucas sucked in oxygen in animated gulps, all the while trying to still the animal brunette thrashing in his arms. Man was she tough. Just holding her against him was becoming a job of work for the elder Scott brother.

"Get…your hands…off me Lucas…let me go!" With a concentrated effort, Brooke shoved as hard as she could, knocking Lucas totally off balance. A look of shock touched his features as he registered his girlfriend's considerable strength, as he staggered in an effort to stay upright. Hell clearly had no fury like a Brooke scorned.

"Would you just let me explain, please? C'mon Brooke…" Lucas reached his hand forward, his voice pleading, aiming to grab the arm of Brooke. She shrugged him off, throwing an entirely icy stare his way as a warning to keep his distance.

"There's nothing to explain Lucas. You've made your bet, now go and pick up your prize." Sneering the last word, Brooke gripped at the handle of her purse. It hadn't been sealed properly, and as a result, the contents spewed everywhere. Make up cascaded in all directions, causing Brooke to groan in frustration.

Dropping to her knees, her hands reached for cylinders and boxes, stuffing them as best she could back into her purse. Lowering himself to ground level, Lucas attempted to help his girlfriend, earning himself a growl for his efforts.

"Brooke, why are you doing this? What did I do?" It was becoming a far too regular occurrence, as far as Lucas was concerned. One minute, everything was fine in their relationship. They were both blissfully happy, wrapped up in each other's love. The next, Brooke was verging on the psychotic, doing everything she could to get Lucas out of her life. He'd said it before in a fit of desperation, but now Lucas was starting to wonder if his diagnosis was correct. Brooke Davis was psychotic. At the very least, she must have some personality disorder. How else could you explain the change in demeanour?

"If you're asking me that," she scoffed, rolling her eyes, "then clearly there's a bigger problem here than I thought." Reaching out for a tube of lip gloss, Lucas got there first, snatching it completely out of Brooke's reach.

"Is this because I bid on Peyton? Is that was this is about? Brooke," Lucas whined, rolling his own eyes to the sky, "what do I have to do to prove to you that I love you? Obviously me telling you a thousand times a day is not getting the job done. Please, tell me. What do you want from me?"

"Maybe to pick me over her, just once!" Brooke heard the hysteria in her own voice, imagining the kind of attention she was drawing. "For once Lucas, why can't you choose me over her? You say you love me so much and you couldn't even pick me at a stupid charity auction. You chose her."

Her hand reached up to her face, brushing away a tear tumbling down over the round of her cheek. Lucas considered his words. Saying the wrong thing now would cause Brooke to flip out at monumental proportions. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. Peyton just looked so sad. No one bid on her…and she just seemed really miserable. I was just trying to be a good friend."

"Oh get a grip Luke! She always looks miserable. It's her 'thing'. Poor tortured brooding Peyton Sawyer with those big 'just show me love' doe eyes. Every time she pulls this crap you drop everything and go running." Grunting in frustration, Brooke stood back up to her full height, Lucas following suit.

"I don't drop everything..." Lucas found his own defence weak. He could only imagine how Brooke would take it.

"Maybe not everything. But I always seem to end up on my ass, don't I?" Slinging her hair back over her shoulder, Brooke's eyes flittered towards the exit. She could make a break for it now. Just turn and run. She could get inside the safety of her car and leave this dramatic train wreck here.

"You're totally overreacting about this Brooke. There is nothing going on between me and Peyton. You need to start believing that, because I don't know how much more of this jealousy I can take." Lucas truly looked downtrodden, as if going through this same routine with Brooke was weighing heavily on him. And it was. No matter how much he wanted to believe otherwise, Lucas could never shake the feeling that Brooke was looking for some reason to end things between them. It was slowly wearing Lucas down.

Narrowing her eyes, Brooke's voice came out as in a viscous hiss. "Jealous? Excuse me?" Hands finding their usual place on her hips, her glare would strike fear into the bravest of hearts. "Don't you dare! Don't you dare try and turn this around on me. I am not acting like some jealous school girl. You went behind my back with Peyton Lucas! When you were supposed to be together, you were hiding in the stacks playing suck face with her! You broke up with me, to be with her!"

Lucas opened his mouth to mount some kind of defence, but the words wouldn't come. "How the hell did you think I was going to react? It's not some dumb-ass blonde you bid on, it's the girl you chose over me to be with," Brooke stopped mid sentence, as though the meaning of her words were suddenly sinking in for her, "you chose her over me. Just like tonight. Your one bid…and you picked her. Well I so hope your bid is worth it Luke…because it's cost you me."

Shaking her head, the brunette snapped her purse shut. Turning her back to Lucas, she began to head for the exit, keeping her back to Lucas. If nothing else, there was no way he was going to see her cry. Not again.

Lucas could only watch her walk away, possibly out of his life. Part of him felt like his heart was breaking. He was losing the love of his life. And yet, part of him was positively livid. How could be expected to be in a relationship with that girl? She just could not let the past go. No matter how much he apologised, or told her that he loved her it was never going to enough. Brooke would never let go of the fact that he cheated on her with her best friend. And if that were true, why should even bother trying anymore? They were just never going to get past it.

I'll tell you why, you moron, because you love her with every fibre of your being. Now stop feeling sorry for yourself and go get her before its too late!

Taking solace in his own sense of reason, Lucas broke into a light jog, following after the love of his life. He could only hope he wasn't too late.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Dan? Why did you bid on Haley? What game are you playing?"

Gritting his teeth in fury, Nathan clenched and un-clenched both fists at his sides. Were he not surrounded by people filing out of the gym, he would love nothing more than to pound the living hell out of Mayor Dan Scott. And if he kept up that nauseating grin, he probably would anyway.

"I was just getting into the spirit of charity son," Dan smiled, practically oozing smug superiority, "as the Mayor, I should be leading by example, so I whole heartedly support this good cause."

"Why Haley? There are ten other girls you could have chosen. Why my wife?" Silently, Nathan was pleading with Dan to say the wrong thing. He just needed an excuse to wipe the floor with this sorry excuse for a human being.

"Well she is my daughter-in-law Nate. I thought your lovely wife and I could take this time to get to know one another a little better. After all, we haven't had more than a handful of conversations since the two of you got married. I'd like to become friends with the girl that stole my son away." On the surface, Dan appeared to be joking. But anyone who knew him could tell he was deadly serious in what he was saying. On some level, Dan blamed Haley for taking his son away, and that fact hadn't escaped Nate.

Finding the excuse he needed, Nate had his father up against the nearest wall, fist raised to connect with Dan's jaw. He would have landed the punch, had Haley not intervened. Both her tiny hands gripped Nate's wrists, pulling his arm back with all her might. "Nathan, no! He's not worth it!"

She looked like a rag doll hanging from his toned arm. In all reality, had he wanted to go through with the punch, there would have been no way for Haley to stop him from doing so. But Haley didn't want Nathan to punch his father. So despite his misgivings, he would do as his wife wanted.

Releasing his grip on Dan, Nathan lowered his fist, turning to face his wife. Reaching her hand up to cup his jaw, her face beamed with pride at his restraint. The loving look was replaced by a cold glare as she regarded Dan. "I think it's a good idea, actually. I've always wanted to get to know the man who forced my husband to emancipate himself." Flashing an entirely false smile at the Mayor, Haley focused her attention back to Nathan.

"Hayles, are you sure?" Hands resting on Haley's waist, the younger Scott brother drew her closer, "I don't want to get hurt by Dan and his games. This can't end well."

"I'll be fine Nate," Haley assured, leaving a gentle kiss on his lips, "It's only till midnight, and you can come pick me up." Smiling, she squeezed Nathan's hands in her own. Nathan's head turned from his wife, to scowl at his father, before turning back to Haley. This was a bad idea, and he knew it. But Haley had made her decision. He would just have to live with it.

"Alright. But you stay in public places," Nathan instructed, concern flickering his eyes, "and if he does anything, and I mean anything you don't like, you call me straight away. Make sure you keep your cell phone one." Just once phone call and he would be there so fast to pound on Dan he wouldn't know what hit him.

"I will. Thanks baby, I love you." Wrapping her arms around her husband's neck, Haley pulled him closer to her. Their lips met in a soft kiss, Haley revelling in the feeling of his soft lips caressing hers. Even after all this time, just his kiss was enough to send butterflies fluttering to a frenzy in her stomach.

"I love you too," Nathan grinned, reluctant to release her hands as she walked towards his estranged father. His words for Dan were all together less pleasant. "And I'm warning you. If you pull any kind of stunt with her, I swear you will live to regret it."

"Don't worry son. I'll be the perfect gentlemen." The Cheshire cat grin curled Dan Scott's mouth into a repulsive curve, causing Nathan to feel sick to his stomach. He could only watch on as Dan wrapped his arm around Haley's shoulders, guiding her towards the car park. This was the worst idea in the history of bad ideas. But there was nothing he could do about it now. Unless…

The thought crossed Nathan's mind in an instant, bringing a smile to his own lips. The younger Scott didn't see any reason why he couldn't follow his father and his wife for the evening. Surely that wasn't against the rules of the charity auction? Besides, they would never have to know he was there. Everybody would be a winner. Dan could play his game, Haley would tell him to get stuffed, and Nathan would feel a whole lot better if he could keep and eye on them both. Reaching into his pocket for his car keys, Nate congratulated himself on his own brilliance. Haley would be so proud. Moving towards the parking lot, Nathan became distracted by a commotion at the doors to the gymnasium.

Turning over his shoulder, Nathan looked in time to see the sight of a scantily clad Brooke Davis running as if for dear life. Her warm brown eyes, glistening with tears seemed to notice him as he saw her. All at once, she changed her direction, heading straight for him.

Brooke had clearly been crying, and didn't look as though she could stop herself. Lifting both his arms, Nathan caught her as she collided into him. Her cheeks were streaked with tears, as her petit body trembled in the cold.

"Nathan…would you give me a ride?" Her teeth chattered slightly, matching the rhythm of her trembling body. In a vein attempt, Brooked hugged her arms around herself, trying to keep warm as best she could in such little clothing.

"Uh, sure Brooke…but isn't that your car over there?" With his free arm, Nathan motioned to parking lot, where Brooke's car was parked. Not that he minded giving her ride, but it seemed an odd request, all things considered.

"Yes," she shivered, "but I lost my car keys. So will you?" Okay, so technically her keys had fallen out of her bag when she had dropped it in the dressing room. But there was no way she was going back down there to find them. She would sooner walk home, beach-wear and all.

"Alright, c'mon. My car's just over here." Placing his hand on the small of her back, Nathan guided her towards his car. So much for plans to follow Dan, he mused to himself. Still, Brooke was clearly distraught about something. If he were any kind of friend, he would try and help her. Not that he knew what the hell he could say. Emotional turmoil was not exactly Nathan's area of expertise. The best thing he could suggest was a picture of the one you hated, a tin of red paint and a lot of vodka.

By the time Lucas made it out of the gym, he was already too late. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Nate closing door to his car, Brooke clearly seated in the passenger's seat inside. Breaking into a full speed run, he yelled for all he was worth. "BROOKE!"

But he was too late. Nathan had already started the engine, and his car pulled out of the car park at a considerable speed. Coming to a stop where Nate's car had been, Lucas rested his hands on his knees, doing his best to get his breath back. He had taken entirely too long to get up here, and now Brooke was gone. What was he going to do now?

"Lucas?"

The elder Scott brother stiffened slightly, not just at the mention of his name, but because of who had said it. Standing to attention, he craned his neck to the side, to the source of the voice. Stepping into a pool of light glowing from the street lamp above, Peyton smiled softly, nervously fidgeted with the zip on her jacket. "I guess we have to talk."

Taking solace in his own sense of reason, Lucas broke into a light jog, following after the love of his life. He could only hope he wasn't too late.