Karen was in Lucas' room cleaning up and storing his belongings in boxes. She came across countless numbers of basketball cards and other sports memorabilia that she told herself she would put aside to see if Nathan or one of the boys wanted to take them off her hands. She had always known that her son enjoyed reading but it didn't occur to her just how much until she set out to look through them and decide what she was going to do with them. After a while, she realized that maybe now wasn't the best time to do this. It was still too painful being in this room. Just as she was about to close the door Karen spotted something on the desk. As she pushed everything else aside, she found an envelope addressed to Brooke. Next to the envelope was a velvet ring box. Karen felt her breath catch in her throat as she took the ring box in her hand and opened it. There was a beautiful diamond ring in the box. Her heart skipped a beat. Lucas was going to propose to Brooke. Oh gosh. I should give these to her. Karen thought as she snapped the ring box closed. Holding the ring box and the envelope Karen made her way out of Lucas' room and closed the door behind her.
"Morning, darling," Keith said as he grabbed Karen by the waist and pulled her in for a kiss.
"Morning, Keith," Karen said with a smile.
"What's that?" Keith pointed at the envelope and ring box.
"Just some things I found in Lucas' room. I was gonna start putting some stuff away but I'm not ready. I came across these as I was about to leave. The letter is for Brooke and I would imagine the ring is too."
"Oh ya? How come?"
Karen popped the ring box open to show Keith. His eyes grew wide with shock.
"An engagement ring? What are you gonna do with it?"
"Give it to Brooke. She should have it. Lucas didn't buy it for it to sit in his room untouched. He would want Brooke to have it."
Keith nodded in agreement. Just because Lucas was gone didn't mean Karen couldn't give Brooke the ring she had found in his room that was most certainly met for Brooke to wear. He only hoped that Brooke would appreciate the gesture and not get upset by it.
"Maybe I should wait. Haley said that Brooke's still in rough shape. I don't want the ring to push her over the edge again," Karen said a minute later.
"Honey, no matter when you give it to her, Brooke's going to get emotional. She'll take one look at the ring and know it's an engagement ring. The sooner you give her the ring, the better. Trust me," Keith said.
Karen knew he was right. Waiting to give Brooke the ring wasn't going to change the girl's reaction. Because no matter when it happened, Lucas would still be gone. She picked up the letter and the ring box before standing up to leave the house. As she walked past Keith, she stopped to kiss him before leaving for the café.
"Have a good day," Keith said.
"You too," Karen replied.
Brooke looked at herself in the mirror. She was dressed from head to toe in black today. Lately it was the only color she felt like wearing. With the rare day that she decided to throw a little color into the outfit. No one knew it yet but Brooke was stepping down as student body president today. She didn't feel like she could be fully devoted to the position with everything that had gone on and the last thing she thought the school needed was to be led by the heart broken, distracted girl that was Brooke Davis. As she checked her reflection in the mirror one last time Brooke dabbed her eyes where there were tear marks. It was only 7:15 and she had already bawled her eyes out. Brooke felt as if she was reverting back to spending her entire day in tears. Ever since the basketball season had ended and the Ravens won the state title, she was a mess. It broke her heart to know that Lucas wasn't there to share in the victory or take part in the trophy ceremony. All he had wanted to do since joining the team was win the state title. Brooke didn't think it was fair that he hadn't lived to accomplish that goal but there was nothing she could about it.
"Baby you would have been so proud of the guys. I know I was. And I still am. They dedicated their entire season and the title to you. Their trophy is in the trophy case along with a plaque that says "in memory of our fallen teammate, Lucas Scott. This one's for you buddy". Maybe I'll get the first place trophy at the classic this year. If I do, I'm dedicating it to you because without you I wouldn't have made it this far. I love you," Brooke said aloud as she grabbed her keys and her bag and went downstairs.
"You're looking rather cheerful this morning," Peyton said as Brooke walked into the living room.
"Am I?" Brooke asked.
"You are. And I must say, I'm thrilled. It's been a long time since I've seen you like this."
"We'll see how long it lasts."
"Come on, let's go."
The two girls left the house and hopped into Brooke's car and drove toward the school. For the first time since Lucas was shot Brooke wasn't dreading going to school but she couldn't say she was looking forward to it either. Right as Brooke pulled into the parking lot and stepped out of the car she heard someone call her name behind her. She turned around to see Karen walking toward her. That's odd, what's Karen doing here? Brooke thought to herself.
"Morning Brooke," Karen said sweetly.
"Morning Karen. What brings you to Tree Hill High this morning?" Brooke replied curiously.
"This." Karen pulled her hand from behind her back and revealed the envelope and the ring box.
"I don't understand?"
"I found them in Lucas' room this morning. The envelope is addressed to you and the ring box was on top of the envelope so I figured the two must go together which means the ring also goes to you."
Brooke took them from Karen gingerly. She opened the ring box and looked down. Almost immediately there were tears in her eyes. Staring back at her was a diamond ring. No, Brooke, that's not just any diamond ring. Oh my god, it's an engagement ring. He was gonna propose. He really did love me she said to herself.
"I'm sorry to do this to you before school but Lucas would want you to have it. Even now. The ring is yours if you want it," Karen said.
"Thank you Karen. I really appreciate it. This might sound corny but I feel weird doing it myself, would you put it on me?" Brooke replied.
Karen smiled as she nodded. She took the ring from the box and slid it on Brooke's left ring finger. She stood back and watched as Brooke smiled through her tears and the young girl stared at the ring on her finger. Peyton, who had been watching the whole thing, smiled as Karen hugged Brooke one last time before leaving.
"I told you he was the one for me. Now this ring proves it to the world. Lucas Scott and Brooke Davis are meant for each other. Even in death, he's the only one I want and I'm never taking this ring off. Not as long as there is a breath in me. I will die unofficially engaged to Lucas Scott, the greatest man ever to come into my life," Brooke said as the two linked arms and walked toward the building.
"You're crazy. You and I both know you didn't need the ring to believe you were well on your way to being engaged to Lucas but if that's how you wanna look at this ring, a symbol of your love then by all means, don't let me stop you," Peyton said to her best friend.
"Thank you."
"Hey what did Karen want?" Haley asked as Brooke and Peyton approached their friend who was at the picnic table with Nathan, Mouth and Rachel.
"Oh nothing. She just found a letter addressed to me in Lucas' room and she thought I should have it," Brooke said with a grin and she carefully hid her left hand. Peyton couldn't help but snicker a little at how smoothly Brooke had just lied.
"Oh ok," was all Haley said, followed almost immediately with, "Brooke Penelope Davis. What is that on your finger?"
"What are you talking about?" Brooke smiled innocently at Haley.
"That ring. Where did it come from?"
"Oh this. It's from Lucas."
"It's an engagement ring Brooke."
"I know it is Hales."
"Did you forget to tell us something?"
"Nope."
"Brooke."
"What?"
"If you didn't forget to tell us something how are you wearing an engagement ring from my dead brother?" Nathan asked completely dumbfounded.
"Because you idiot, Karen didn't just find a letter for me in Lucas' room. She also found a ring box holding this very ring which is obviously supposed to be mine. She wanted me to have it so she came over here to give it to me before I started my day. While it's not ideal to have my dead boyfriend's mother giving me the engagement ring he bought for me I'm glad she did. Like I told Peyton, I'm going to die unofficially engaged to Lucas," Brooke explained.
Haley squealed as she jumped off the picnic table and threw her arms around Brooke. She had known Lucas would propose but she didn't realize that the ring had already been picked out and purchased. Lucas had never told her that much, not that Haley blamed him. She did have a tendency to talk way more than she should at times.
"Well I guess I should say welcome to the family," Nathan said with a grin as he pulled Brooke into a hug.
"Thanks Nate. I appreciate that," Brooke responded as she returned the hug.
They broke apart just as the bell rang and the group of friends walked into the building together. Haley and Nathan holding hands; Mouth and Rachel walking with their arms linked with Peyton and Brooke behind them also joined at the elbows. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all. At least Brooke hoped it wouldn't. She made a mental note to stop at the cemetery on her way home to let Lucas know she got the ring and it was never coming off.
The morning flew by in a blur for Brooke. She had announced on the PA system that she was stepping down as student body president before the beginning of second period and shortly before lunch it was announced that Mouth was taking over. Brooke smiled as she heard that, knowing they were in good and capable hands. Brooke walked outside to join the rest of the gang at the picnic table for lunch. She had been dying to read the letter from Lucas all day long but had yet to find a moment to do so. Lunch seemed like a perfect time. As soon as she sat down Brooke tore the envelope open and unfolded the letter and started reading.
Cheery,
I wanted to take the time to sit down and tell you all the things I love about you. But as I sat down to do it, I realized there weren't enough trees in the world in order for me to have enough paper. I hope you'll forgive me.
You are the most amazing girl I've ever known. Nobody could ever compare to you. I was never a believer in love at first sight but then you walked by me that first time and I was weak in the knees. My throat closed and I swear my heart stopped beating for at least three seconds. In that moment Brooke, I knew you were the girl for me. All I had to do was find a way to make you see that. And as I write this letter, I can only hope that you see it now. But more than that I hope you feel because I know I do. I love you, Cheery, always and forever.
Okay, don't get mad at me, but this is the part in the letter where I get completely serious and maybe even a little morbid but I feel like I need to say this. Just in case I never get the opportunity to say it face to face. If something happens to me, I want you to move on. I don't want you to dwell on my being gone. You deserve to be happy and live a life full of happiness and love. I hope to always be the guy to make you happy and love you but if something happens and I don't get to do that, promise me you won't dwell on me. It would break my heart to know you were miserable. No matter what though, I'll always be with you. I'll be in your heart from now until death and beyond into our days of eternal life. I love you Brooke, you mean the world to me. That's it, no more morbid premonitions. At least not until next time. I'm kidding!
As you noticed, I gave you a ring with this letter. This may not be your fairy tale idea of a proposal but I have one thing I need to ask you. Brooke Penelope Davis, will you do me the greatest honor in all the world and please marry me? I'll be waiting for you at the docks at sunset. I don't want an answer till then.
I love you Brooke. Always and forever. Nothing can change that. You're all mine forever.
Love,
Broody
Brooke folded the letter back up and put in her bag before she reached up to wipe the tears that had fallen off her face. Lucas never failed to amaze her, but what's more than that, he never failed to make sure she knew just how much she meant to him. Brooke looked up to find Haley, Peyton, Nathan, Rachel and Mouth all staring at her questioningly.
"Well? What did it say?" Peyton asked.
Brooke thought about telling her but then she decided against it. No, this was private. Between her and Lucas, just the way it should be. Later on that night Brooke was gonna go to the docks, at sunset and she was gonna give Lucas the answer to his proposal. It didn't matter to her that he was dead and it would never actually become more than just a question written in a letter. None of that mattered. She still felt she owed it him to answer him.
"I'm not saying," Brooke replied.
Peyton stuck her bottom lip out and crossed her arms over her chest in hopes that Brooke would cave. It didn't work though, all it made Brooke do was laugh. Sometimes Peyton was impossible and now was obviously one of those times but that wasn't Brooke's problem.
"Come on Peyt. Let it be. If Brooke wanted anyone to know what's in the letter she'd say so but obviously she doesn't. You have to respect that," Haley said as she grinned.
"Aren't you a little bit curious about what it says?" Peyton asked.
"Of course I am. But I'm not gonna pout until Brooke tells me unlike someone else I know."
"Thank you Hales," Brooke said as she stuck her tongue out at Peyton.
"Kiss ass," Peyton said to Haley.
"Shut up. I am not."
"Ladies, play nice," Mouth said with a grin.
Everybody laughed at this. Mouth usually didn't get involved in trying to break up a verbal thing. He was normally the silent observer and nothing more.
As everyone was finishing up lunch Brooke got up from her spot at the table and wandered away from her friends. She suddenly had an overwhelming desire to be alone. Listening to her friends try and convince her to tell them what Lucas had written in the letter had gotten to be too much. When she was far enough away Brooke sat under a tree and pulled out the letter again. She looked at the date and her breath caught in her throat. Lucas had written this letter the day before he was killed. She just sat there, staring at the date. He was going to propose the day he died. They should have been happily engaged by now but instead Brooke was alive without Lucas because of Jimmy. A single tear slipped down Brooke's cheek. She didn't even bother to wipe it away. There was no use, there was sure to be more to come. Sure enough, not even two minutes after the first tear slipped down, there was a steady stream of tears pouring down her cheeks.
"Luke, I love you. So much, I'll never forget you. You'll always be a part of me. You wrote that I am all yours forever and I'm gonna live my life that way. From now until death, I belong to you and you alone. My heart is yours completely. I don't think I could ever love anyone half as much as I love you. All those things we talked about, us being a family and have kids of our own, I don't want any of that if I can't have them with you. Thank you, for the ring baby. It's gorgeous. I'm never taking it off. I'll wear it til every breath in my body is gone. I'll see you again someday," Brooke said quietly as tears continued to fall down her face.
A few minutes later, Brooke put the letter away again before she stood up to go to class. She wiped the tears from her cheeks and walked toward the building. Maybe she really was gonna be okay. Time was still the best judge and that was fine but just feeling like it was possible Brooke couldn't help but smile.
"Hey where'd you run off to?" Nathan asked as he caught up to Brooke.
"I just sat under a tree for a little while. I was rereading the letter from Lucas and talking to him a little bit," Brooke replied.
"Oh, so you're okay?"
"Ya, I'm okay, Nathan."
"I just wanted to make sure. You left pretty suddenly. And you didn't say anything so I had to make sure that everything was okay because of it."
"It's okay, Nate. I appreciate you looking out for me. And I know Lucas appreciates it too. He was lucky to have you as a brother, even if you can be an asshole sometimes you're a pretty great guy."
"Thanks Brooke. But I think I was the lucky one. Luke could have ignored me and pretended like it didn't matter we're brothers but he chose to be the bigger person and because of that I got to know my brother and I got to be a better person because I got to know him. If not for Luke I really don't think I would have fallen for Haley, I'd still be chasing my latest conquest for a one night thing. Instead, I'm married to the best girl in the world and I can't help but think Luke had a lot to do with that."
"I guess we were both pretty lucky to have known Lucas. He made us both want to be better people and I think, at least for me, it worked. The influence of Lucas in my life has been so great that I don't remember what my life looked like before I knew him or even before I fell in love with him."
Nathan and Brooke walked to class, arms linked while they kept talking about how much Lucas meant to their lives. Soon they were in front of Brooke's class. Nathan wrapped her in a quick hug and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
"Hang in there. It's gonna get better," he whispered before turning to walk the rest of the way to his class.
"You too Nate," Brooke said to his retreating figure.
"Hey, what are you doing kissing my husband?" Haley asked Brooke with a grin as she walked in and sat at the desk next to her friend.
"He kissed me. I didn't do anything. Besides, you know it was just a friendly thing Hales. Have you forgotten our hearts belong to other people?" Brooke replied as she stuck her tongue out at Haley.
"Relax, I was kidding. Of course I know it was a friendly thing. But that doesn't mean I can't have my fun and watch you squirm anyway."
"Evil. Luke would hate you for doing that to me."
"No he wouldn't. You forget, I was the best friend. He could never hate me. Believe me, he tried to so many times but it never worked. He would always come back begging me to let him be my best friend again. I always took him back because he was my best friend and I loved having him in my life. Luke was more than just my best friend, he was like a brother to me. And he always will be."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you Haley. It's just today is the first day I'm really beginning to feel like me since, well you know when. I'm not sure if I like it or not though because if I feel like this does that mean it's happening, am I moving on?"
"It's okay to move on Brooke. Luke would want that for you. He wouldn't want you to be stuck in the emotional trap you've been in. He'd want to see you living life with everything you have inside of you. Be the girl he fell in love with."
"I don't know if I can be that girl anymore Hales. It's hard to think about being that girl without him here. If I become that girl again, I dunno, I just don't think I can do it without Lucas here. He's the reason I became that girl, without him, I don't feel like I should be that girl anymore. This is all so hard. I've never been so in love with anyone in my life. Felix was just a fling and every other guy was just a good time between the sheets, if you know what I mean. God I was such a little slut! Then Lucas shows up and sweeps me off my feet and steals my heart."
Brooke felt the tears coming again. She tried to bite them back but it was no use. They were falling and they were falling fast. Haley reached over to grab Brooke's hand and squeezed. The brunette looked up at her friend and tried to smile at her but had no luck. All she could do was cry. A minute later the teacher walked in. Brooke pulled her hand away from Haley and furiously wiped the tears from her eyes. She didn't want the teacher to know she had been crying again. Lately whenever she cried during class the teacher would send her down to the guidance counselor to talk and Brooke was in no mood to talk to that woman today. In fact, if Brooke had it her way, she'd never talk to her again. The woman was supposed to make people feel better about things in life and yet every time Brooke ended up in her office, she left feeling worse then when she had been told to go speak to her. She wasn't doing that again.
"Miss Davis, is everything all right?" Mrs. Appleton, Brooke's math teacher, asked gently.
"Yes, ma'am. I'm fine, thank you," Brooke replied as she took a deep breath.
There was no way Mrs. Appleton would convince Brooke to go to the guidance counselor. If she needed to talk to someone it was gonna have to wait and then she'd talk to her friends but never again was Brooke talking to that insensitive bitch.
"All right, as long as you're sure."
"I am."
Mrs. Appleton smiled politely before returning to the front of the room to begin class. Brooke was relieved that for the first time in a while, a teacher actually believed her when she said she was okay. And even more than that, Brooke believed herself this time. Glancing down at her left hand Brooke's face lit up as the sun light hit the diamond on her finger. She was finally beginning to realize that it was okay to move on. Moving on didn't mean forgetting Lucas or the love they shared. Moving on meant not letting her grief get the best of her and ruin her life. No, she didn't want that because if she let that happen, that would mean Jimmy won. Even in death and the last Brooke wanted was for Jimmy to win.
"Hey, I'm going to the docks on sunset. I have to do something but I want you there. Pass the word on to the rest of gang. It's really important," Brooke said to Haley as they stood up at the end of class.
"Okay. I'll make sure everybody's there. See you later Tigger," Haley said as she hugged Brooke quickly before leaving to go find Nathan.
Brooke was standing there, smiling to herself as she stared down at the ring on her finger. She couldn't remember a time when she had felt closer to Lucas which struck her as odd because he was dead of course. It was almost like he had come back to life when Karen showed up that morning and Brooke saw the ring. Then again when she read the letter. She was so wrapped up in thoughts of Lucas that she didn't realize Bevin had come up beside her.
"Hey, who's the guy?" Bevin asked as she grabbed Brooke's hand.
"Lucas," Brooke replied with a genuine smile.
"What? But he's dead. Isn't he?"
"Yes Bevin, Lucas is dead. Thanks for the update. That still hasn't changed."
"Well if he's dead, how is he the guy that gave you this ring? And why are you wearing it on your left hand?"
"Bevin, your stupidity never ceases to amaze me. First of all, I'm wearing the ring on my left hand because that's the proper place for an engagement ring and second of all Lucas is the guy because he bought the ring before he died. His mom found it this morning and thought I should have it even though Luke's gone now."
"Why would you wear it though? You're officially on the market again now that Lucas is dead."
"No, Bevin. I'm officially still off the market because my heart belongs to one man and one man only. It doesn't matter to me that he's dead and never got the chance to give me this ring himself. When Lucas died, my love for him didn't. And it never will. I'll always love Lucas and it wouldn't be fair for me to give my heart to anyone else because they would never have half as much as Lucas does."
"I don't get it."
"Of course you don't. It's not your fault you haven't experienced mind blowing, head over heels, butterflies in the stomach all the time love. But you will. Someday and when it happens it'll take your breath away."
"Did Lucas take your breath away?"
"All the time. He still does. Just thinking about him is enough to knock the wind out of me."
"That's amazing. It must be so hard for you now."
"You know, it was but it's getting better. A little bit every day. I'm starting to realize that I can do this because even though Luke doesn't walk the Earth with me physically every day, he's always with me in my heart and knowing that is what has kept me going. Sometimes it's the very thing that has almost stopped me from going too."
Bevin had no idea how to respond to that. There were no words to express anything she could have been thinking in that moment. All she knew was that Brooke was amazing and it blew her away to see how strong she appeared to be despite losing the obvious love of her life before they even turned 18.
"Hey if it isn't my favorite sister in law," Nathan said as he came up along side Brooke and Bevin.
"Hey brother in law," Brooke laughed.
"Hales said you want us to go down to the docks with you at sunset tonight?"
"Yup. Just be there and you'll know why."
"You're not even gonna give me a hint?"
"Why would I do that?"
"Because you love me?"
"Nope, I love Lucas. Sorry. There's only room for one Scott brother in this heart and that has been filled by Luke."
"Ouch."
"Shut up you big baby."
Nathan pouted at Brooke who just swatted him playfully. Bevin watched as they fought back and forth. It was nice to see Brooke smile. And not just a fake smile either. Bevin knew the difference between when Brooke was faking it and genuinely smile. As she watched her captain with Nathan, there wasn't a doubt in her mind that the smile on Brooke's face was 100 percent genuine.
Later that night as the sun was starting to go down, everyone was at the docks. They were waiting for Brooke. She had called Karen and Keith to ask that they be there too because she felt that they should be there for this. Just as the sun dipped a little lower Brooke walked down to the edge of the docks. Everybody watched her expectantly, none of them knowing what was about to happen.
"Lucas you asked me to come to the docks at sunset to give you my answer. I'm here now and I have my answer," Brooke started as she looked around at her friends. They all held expressions of confusion.
"Yes, Lucas Eugene Scott. I would love to do you the greatest honor in all the world and be your wife," Brooke said as a tear slid down her cheek. She looked up to the sky and blew a kiss.
"I love you," she whispered before turning and walking back to her car.
Everyone that had been there stood in silent awe. They couldn't believe what had just happened. Brooke made the engagement official, despite Lucas being dead. She truly was going to die engaged to him.
There you have chapter 6…things are going to look up for the most part for most of the story now. With one notable exception really soon…Lucas' birthday. You know what to do!