A/n: Fair warning this is a pretty long-ish chapter filled with lots of Brucas. Thank you all for the support and the faith you all have in me by the way. Enjoy!

Chapter Three

What are the Chances?

It was a regular Sunday morning when Lucas decided to head out and get a cup of coffee in his favorite coffee shop. Ever since arriving to New York a year ago, he found this little coffee place that served some the best coffee he ever had. It was a small place, nothing too special but it reminded Lucas so much of his mom's coffee shop back in Tree Hill that he couldn't help but to feel at home whenever he stopped by.

He entered the small establishment, the bell above the door announcing his arrival and instantly all heads inside the place turned. More than half the staff knew Lucas since he frequented the place more than once a week.

"Hey Lucas." a young blond girl greeted him with a smile when he approached the counter. It was no surprise that the girl knew his name; after all he was a regular.

"Hey Stacy, how's it going?"

"Oh you know normal, nothing out of the ordinary. How's life going for you in that big company of yours?" He smiled kindly at her, Stacy was one of the few people here he really talked to.

"It's been getting better." Lucas answered with a smile.

"That's good to know… would you like your regular hun?"

"If you mean my usual coffee with cream and sugar then yes." She smiled at him; sometimes he was too cute for his own good.

"Okay one regular coffee with cream and sugar coming up." Stacy said as she turned around to make his drink. Lucas got his money out from his wallet and dropped it on the counter adding a little bit extra for the girl who always greeted him with a friendly smile.

"Here you go Luke." Stacy said as she handed him his cup. He thanked her and found himself an empty seat. He got out his worn out copy of John Steinbeck's The Winter of Our Discontent and began getting loss in the world of Ethan Hawley.

A little while later, Lucas was on his third cup of coffee and still reading his book when he heard a very familiar voice call out his name.

Brooke who had been running since early in the morning like she usually did on Sundays stopped by a little coffee place called The Coffee Lounge that caught her interest. She didn't know what it was about the place but she wanted to check it out. She got inside and immediately smelled the familiar scent of coffee and sighed in content.

She went to the counter, ordered her coffee and paid the young girl. When she turned around to look for a place to sit, she saw the familiar face of the guy who had been invading her thoughts since she met him. Of course after her engagement with Julian those thoughts were slowly leaving her but every now and then the blond man would pop back again making her feel guilty.

"Lucas?" Brooke questioned, still not entirely sure that was him. Her eyes could have been playing her tricks so she had to make sure.

Lucas looked up at hearing the familiar voice and his eyes widen in surprised. He couldn't believe it. After not seeing her for a little over a month she was just standing there in front of him. He tried so hard to find out who she was but there wasn't much he could do since he didn't know much about her.

She stepped a bit closer to him and he noticed that she was just as surprise to see him as he was to seeing her.

"Lucas." Brooke stated more assure than anything that it was really him. He liked knowing that she actually remembered his name and it made his stomach do all sorts of twists and turns. The only thing he didn't like was that he didn't know her name or else he would have answered back properly.

"Pretty Girl?" That name fitted her perfectly so that's what he went with. He hoped though that the name didn't make her feel uncomfortable or anything like that because he didn't know what else to call her.

Julian was sitting in his mom's living room waiting for her and his brother to return from picking up his sister Peyton from the airport. He wanted to accompany his mom and brother but his mom had other plans and told him he was to just wait for their return. He could have easily just shown up but knowing his mother she would have thrown a fit if he disobeyed her orders.

Just a few weeks before he returned from his trip to L.A. his sister was offered an internship in London for some sort of artistic related thing he wasn't too sure about. It was six weeks long and Julian hated that he wasn't able to at least see his sister before she left.

When he was away he missed his girlfriend and family dearly but Peyton was the one he missed the most. Ever since they were kids they formed this special connection, one that was really important to him. When his mom and Larry (Peyton's dad) got married after her mom Anna died and Julian's dad Paul abandoned his family, they had been there for each other. She was his sister though not by blood but still his sister and he would do anything for her.

"Julian Baker what a pleasant surprise." a woman's voice declared. Julian who was sitting in the large elegant living room in his mom's house looked up to find the presence of a beautiful brunette girl he had known for most of his life.

"Theresa Miller." Julian simply said as he stood up to greet the newcomer. "What brings you to my mother's house?" he asked curiously.

"Need I remind you that my best friend lives here and that it just so happens that she is coming back after six very long weeks?" Theresa told him in a matter-of-fact tone.

"I know but Peyton isn't here yet so…"

"She's on her way." Theresa answered immediately knowing what he was going to say. "She texted me and said they would be arriving in ten minutes or so."

"Hmm…why don't you wait for her somewhere else then?" Julian suggested, trying to play it cool as if her presence didn't bother him at all. In reality though, Theresa made him uncomfortable because of her obvious attempts to flirt with him. Despite everyone saying it was just some innocent flirting, Julian didn't like it and he was more than sure that Brooke hated it when she had to witness such display.

"Oh Julian, I know things are still a bit awkward between us after what happened that night but we shouldn't let that affect our relationship today."

"Uhh what?" Julian asked a bit confused.

"There's no need to deny the obvious sexual tension we have. Let's just give into our urges, you know you want too." she said seductively as she got closer to him.

His eyes widen in disbelief, he couldn't believe what she just said. Sure they slept together but that was a long time ago, way before Brooke came into his life. He was confused as to why she was offering herself to him. He thought that after that night they weren't going to talk about it ever again but he was wrong.

"Brooke doesn't even have to find out. It can be our dirty little secret." Theresa continued with her obvious attempts to seduce him. She raised both her hands and started rubbing Julian up and down his chest. Julian had enough and harshly removed her hands from him.

"Okay I've been trying to be a gentleman like my mother has always taught me to be with women but this is too much. Theresa…" Julian started saying as he took a huge step away from her. "…you need to understand that what we had was just one drunken night filled with lots of regrets on my part."

"Oh Julian what happened between us wasn't just meaningless sex and you know it."

"Theresa I'm engaged in case you don't remember. I love Brooke so please just stop."

"What does Theresa need to stop doing Julian?" a curly blond haired girl asked. Both Julian and Theresa turned around and saw Peyton Sawyer, Julian's step-sister and Theresa's best friend standing in the living room's doorway.

Julian immediately left Theresa's side to go and hug his sister. "Nothing baby sis, just talking here with your friend." Julian lied, hoping Peyton believed him. They were closed so it wouldn't surprise him if she called him out on his bullshit since she always tended to do that.

Peyton simply gave him a look that meant a talk was in order later on. She hugged him one more time feeling happy to be back home after six long weeks. "I missed you so much!" she exclaimed happily.

"Me too Peyt." he responded with a huge smile on his face. "How was the internship?"

"Simply amazing…the best experience of my life." Peyton turned to look at Theresa. "And how has my best friend been while I was a way?"

"Oh you know here and there but mostly everywhere. Now come here Blondie because you're brother has been hogging you way too much for my taste." Immediately both girls embrace both happy to be in each other's presence again.

Julian watched with a fond smile. Even though Theresa drove him completely crazy and frustrated him, he had to admit that girl loved his sister and that was something that he appreciated from the brunette.

"Oh goody Theresa is here already." Alexander said drily. Julian turned around and saw Alexander Norris, his older brother walking to the living room with his mother Sylvia right behind him. It was no secret that Alexander didn't like Theresa, something that Julian sometimes shared with his older brother.

"Don't you dare start Alexander. This is a joyous occasion and you will not ruin it with your comments." Sylvia Baker said as she came into the room.

"Mother I know Peyton being back is great and all but what's so joyous about that?" Alexander jokingly asked while looking at the blond girl who was already rolling her eyes at him. "I mean seriously we have to deal with her depressing moods and her horrendous taste in music again!"

Everyone shook their heads knowing that he was just playing around. "Well how about that all three of my kids are finally here together with me." Sylvia replied, smiling at the three most important people in her life. She loved her family and even if Peyton really wasn't really her daughter, she loved her just like one because that's what her late husband Larry would have wanted.

"Oh Theresa what a pleasant surprise." Sylvia finally acknowledged the brunette and sent her a knowing look. "I hope while waiting for our return that Julian treated you with the upmost respect and courtesy."

"Oh believe me he did. In fact we arranged to go out for dinner later on just to catch up." Theresa responded nonchalantly.

"Actually-" Julian tried to correct what Theresa said but was interrupted by his mother.

"That's wonderful!" Sylvia replied with excitement. "You guys haven't spent much time together since Julian started dating that girl." she said with such distaste in her mouth. "Honestly Julian I don't know what you see in her when you have a wonderful girl right next to you."

"Mother!" Julian growled with annoyance. Peyton couldn't help but to worry because she knew that face he was sporting. It was his angry face, a face he rarely showed but when he did it was bad.

Ever since Julian began dating Brooke, Julian and her mom had been getting into arguments about her. It was no secret that Sylvia hated Brooke and how she was disappointed with her son's poor choice in girlfriend. Thankfully for Peyton, she wasn't here to witness the big confrontation between Julian and Sylvia when he told her he was going to marry Brooke but from what she heard from Alexander, things went from bad to worse.

Alexander sat down on the nearest couch and simply smirked knowing that his mom was about to be put in her place along with a certain girl he dislike for no reason other than the fact that she was annoying.

"That girl as you call her is my fiancée and it's about time you respect her!" Julian barked. "When are you going to get it through your thick head that I love her and that she is going to be part of this family whether you like it or not!"

"Over my dead body Julian Baker!" Sylvia responded angrily. She couldn't believe that her son was raising his voice to her once again over that girl she considered to be a no good, gold-digging low-life. "She is not good for you Julian and soon you will realize that she is just trash!"

"Mom please don't do this again…" Peyton tried to intervene but her pleas went unnoticed by the older woman. "Julian just stop please." Peyton said as she looked at her brother with concern.

"Mother I love you with all my heart but I will not stand while you insult my future wife. I love Brooke and if you…" He swallowed hard to say what he was about to say. "...if you don't accept her fine then don't but just don't expect me to have a normal relationship with you after this."

"Just what are you saying?"

"As much as it pains me to say this I think it would be best if I kept my distance from you. Until you learn to accept Brooke then I just don't want to be near you anymore."

"Julian…"

"Goodbye mother." Julian abruptly said as he turned to leave the place he once called home. Everyone was in shock not knowing what to say or what to do until Peyton went after Julian. She had barely managed to catch him before he got into his car.

"Julian!" He turned around and smiled sadly at his sister. "Mom she was…umm god Julian I don't know what to say." Peyton told him feeling bad about this whole situation.

"It's okay Peyt this wasn't your fault. It was our mother's fault."

"She's wrong you know about Brooke. I think she's a good person." Peyton told him offering him a shrug.

"She is amazing but what I don't get is why you don't defend her when mom is going off on her rants." Julian accused her and Peyton couldn't help but to feel bad for that. The truth was that no matter how much she liked Brooke, her mom and best friend came first above anyone else. She didn't know how to tell this to Julian so she was thankful when his cell phone rang and interrupted their conversation.

Julian saw the number of who was calling his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. His caller ID said it was 'out of area' and he had no idea who could be calling him.

"Hello?" Julian answered roughly and when he heard the other person on the line speaking his demeanor quickly changed. "Oh hey umm what's going on?" he asked the other person on the line. He took a brief look at Peyton and saw the confused look on her face. "Umm I'm actually busy right now so I can't talk. No I'm not with her but I am with my sister so I really can't talk now. Listen I'll call you later…okay bye then."

"Who was that?"

"Oh…it umm was some person from work." Julian said a bit too nervously for Peyton's liking.

"So what did that person want?" Peyton asked curiously wanting to know what had made her brother so nervous all of a sudden.

"Ahh well y-you know just work related stuff." Julian answered quickly, just wanting Peyton to drop the topic. Luckily for him Theresa started calling Peyton and Julian couldn't be more than thankful for the welcome distraction. "Bye Peyt I'll uhh talk to you later." he told her and then quickly got on his car before she had a chance to respond.

Peyton furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. Her brother was usually confident but that mysterious call made him a bit too nervous. Something was up with him and Peyton wanted to know what that was because she had never seen Julian act so frantic.

Pretty Girl.

Somehow that nickname made her heart swell up with happiness. Besides her family and Haley, no one else had given her a nickname and it sucked because she was a person who gave out nicknames to everyone. Not even Julian had a special nickname for her and he was her boyfriend.

Brooke took him in and realized that he was dressed casually today. He looked good wearing a simple gray hoody sweater that seemed to be extremely comfortable, combined with some black sweats. He looked more relaxed than the last time she saw him and she smiled, happy that he wasn't under any kind of stress today.

"Lucas h-how have you been?" Brooke softly asked at the still shocked blond man. She hoped that he remembered her from the few laughs they shared and not from the way she left without telling him her name.

"I tried looking for you." Lucas blurted out and mentally slapped himself when he realized how stupid and desperate that sounded. She probably just came over to be polite and here he was making a fool of himself by making that comment.

Brooke looked away ashamed that he actually showed interest in her by trying to figure out who she was when she could have easily told him her name in the first place.

"Look I'm sorry about the whole not giving you my name thing." Brooke said in an apologetic tone. She looked at Lucas and saw how he was just staring at her as if she hadn't spoken. Brooke figured he was probably mad at her for that incident. "Anyways umm I just wanted to say hello so I uhh guess I should go."

"Would you like to sit down?" Lucas asked immediately not wanting her to leave just yet. She should have said no and just walked away but he was looking at her in such a cute way that she agreed and sat down across from him immediately.

"I thought you might have been mad at me or something."

"I could never be mad at someone as pretty as you." Lucas told her with a boyish grin which made her blush a bit. She bit her lip, she knew this was so wrong but she couldn't help herself. Lucas was just too gorgeous for his own good that it made her wonder if he was always like this with every girl he met. She frowned, somehow the thought of him being with other girls made her feel uncomfortable.

"I still should apologize. That was a very rude thing of me to do when you gave me your name and I didn't."

"I'll tell you what Pretty Girl." She blushed again and smiled like she had never smiled before. "How about…" He leaned up on his elbows on the table to get closer to her. "…we start all over."

"Wait like a redo?" she asked wanting to make sure.

"Yes like a redo so…hi I'm Lucas Scott." Lucas formally introduced himself as he held out his hand like the first time they met. Brooke shook her head but complied with his idea.

"Well Lucas Scott, it's very nice to meet you. My name is Brooke…Brooke Davis." she responded as she took his slightly large hand into her small one. The instant her hand touched his, it was like a jolt to her system and she was more than sure that Lucas felt the same thing. It was just like last time that Brooke didn't know what to think of this.

She awkwardly let go of his hand and looked at him to find him smiling at her. He didn't seem affected by their contact so maybe she had been wrong and he didn't feel a thing. Little did she know that Lucas was over the moon trying to play it cool and act like their exchange had not affected him.

"What?" Brooke asked, feeling self-conscious as she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Is just that this is like a dream come true." She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion wanting him to explain himself. He took a deep breath because what he was about to say wasn't something he would just say to a girl he didn't know. He was going to be upfront, something he rarely was and he just hoped he wasn't going to be making a fool of himself.

"I know we don't know each other that well," Lucas started saying and Brooke couldn't help but to giggle at how nervous he looked and sounded. He kept running his hand over his blond hair making his hair go all over the place. "but when we met in the park a few weeks ago I just felt this strong connection. Ever since then, I have wanted to see you again. As lame and as weird as it sounds I've missed you." Lucas said whispering the last part and a gentle smile found a way to her face.

Although she looked relatively calm, inside Brooke was surprise that he felt that way because ever since that day she too had felt something. She wasn't sure if it was that connection he was talking about but she felt something more than platonic.

She wanted to tell him that too so without realizing what she was doing, Brooke raised her left hand to touch his cheek. "Lucas I-"

"You're engaged?" Lucas questioned in a surprised tone as he looked at her finger that held her diamond ring. She immediately put her hand down and closed her eyes. What the hell was she thinking? She was engaged and about to tell a complete stranger that she wanted to see him again too. That she too has been thinking about him ever since that fateful day.

She was a terrible person because Julian didn't deserve this when he had been nothing but faithful to her since they met. She owed it to Julian to not screw up a three year relationship for a guy that she didn't even know.

"Yeah I am actually."

"I-I'm sorry I didn't know. Umm when I said those things I wasn't aware…I uhh I should go." Lucas quickly said wanting to just leave and forget that this ever happened. This is why he was never upfront with girls because things never worked out how you wanted them to. He got up, gave her a weak smile and left without saying another word.

Now Brooke could have easily let him go and continue living the life she was living but something about seeing his retreating form made her heart ache. She quickly got up and went after him not exactly sure why but just wanting to stop him from leaving her.

"Haley James you actually showed up today." a broad-shouldered man stated as he placed himself behind the bar. He started wiping it clean with an old rag that was used for cleaning. The aforementioned girl raised her head from the table where she was writing on a piece of paper. She was sitting near the bar where her friend was currently behind and he could tell right away that she was working on her music sheet.

"And what is that supposed to mean Owen Scott?" Haley asked raising her eye brows at him.

"Oh nothing you beautiful waitress." Owen replied with a cheeky grin. Haley simply rolled her eyes; she knew what he was talking about. Whenever something important came up for Haley, she would ask someone to cover for her. Lately she had been asking people to cover her more than usual since her life had become so hectic. It helped that she was good friends with everyone in the bar she worked in and that her boss was a pretty laid back guy who was actually good friends with her parents.

"Oh shut it Scott." Haley said with a grin of her own. She got up and went behind the bar when she noticed that he was starting to get ready for the night. "Always the hard worker huh Owen?" Haley asked while she helped clean out a few shots of glass, and organized the liquor bottles behind them.

"Well you know me…so anything new going on with you?"

"No not really." Haley answered.

"Sucks…what about that best friend of yours?" Owen asked curiously. He had met Brooke a couple times when she dropped by and she had made a huge impression on him. She was sweet, outgoing, charismatic and above all a very loyal friend.

"She's doing good. I already told you about her engagement to Julian right?"

Owen snorted knowing fully well about that stupid decision Brooke made. "Yeah and I'm still not too happy about that so that's not something I want to talk about right now. But wait, didn't you also happen to mention some guy she met prior to her engagement with he-who-shouldn't-be-named?"

"Wow you really don't like Julian huh?" she asked and he nodded his head at her. "Oh and that guy you're talking about? It was nothing just some random guy she met that she hasn't even seen again."

"Oh really? From the looks of things he really made an impression on her..."

"She had a small crush but she told me she was over it. Now she's with the love of her life ready to tie the knot with him." Haley stated in a dreamy tone. It was no surprise to Owen; Haley ha always been such a romantic.

"Haley James I am a bartender." Owen stated while she gave him a 'duh' look. Of course he was a bartender, that's what he has been doing for the past five years. "I'm a people person and I know people. When I met that guy I knew immediately that he wasn't the one for Brooke."

"And what makes you think that? Julian is a great guy who loves Brooke." Haley defended Julian because she seen how happy he made Brooke over the past three years. Anyone that made her best friend that happy, was a great person in her books.

"Ah but that's where you are wrong Haley. Julian is not the guy he wants people to think he is. That guy has his secrets and he isn't the innocent man he claims to be either."

"And you got all that from the few times you've seen him?" she asked a bit incredulous at Owen's judgment of Julian.

"Yup." he simply said while continuing to get the place ready for the night.

"You're unbelievable." Haley said as she started walking away from him and back to her seat.

"Thanks!"

"Wasn't a compliment you idiot!"

"You know Haley; work is never dull when you're around." She flipped him off; she wasn't in the mood to deal with Owen anymore. Owen let out a laugh, if anyone could get under Haley's skin it was him and he loved that.

"You're just going to let some chick flip you off O?" Nathan Scott asked loudly when he saw the exchange that his older brother and some girl were having. Both Haley and Owen turned at the sound of the newcomer.

When Haley saw who it was her breath caught her throat. Standing a few feet away was probably one of the best-looking guys she had ever seen. He was tall, well-built almost like Owen and was extremely handsome. This guy was very sexy and Haley had never felt more attracted to a guy than she was now.

"Nathan what are you doing here?" Owen asked. Haley raised her eyebrows, so this was Owen's brother? She always imagined what his brother looked like because Owen sometimes talked about him but she never imagined that he was this gorgeous.

Owen still looking at his brother waited for him to answer his question. No one from his family but Nathan knew that he was working in a bar. If his family, his father in especially found out that he had dropped out from school to work in a bar then all hell would break loose. He had never wanted to become a lawyer like his father wanted him to in the first place. Because of his parents pressure though, he agreed but he soon found that being a lawyer wasn't something he wanted to do. He wanted to do something else, something that was uncommon for a guy who came from a rich family so he started working simple jobs until he found that bartending was something he was good at.

He started working at a sleazy bar called The Hitch but the environment was all wrong so he started looking for other places where he could put his skills to work. It wasn't until he met a very young Haley who happened to mention that there was a place she knew that was looking for a bartender. The rest was history, he became good friends with Haley seeing her as the little sister he never had and was given the job as a bartender in Safe Haven.

"Need to talk to you." Nathan replied as he took a few steps towards where Owen was. Haley noticed that he was limping a bit and started wondering what had happened to him.

"Hold up I need to put some stuff on the storage room so just make yourself comfortable." Owen told him before he lifted a box from the floor and headed towards the storage room. Nathan nodded and looked around the place his brother worked at. He had never set foot into this bar before because Owen was very strict about him visiting him at his work place.

He couldn't imagine his brother working in a place like this so Nathan was confused as to why he did it. He kept looking around the bar trying to see what Owen saw in it when his eyes landed on some girl who was looking at him with this look that he couldn't quite describe. Of course he was used of girls staring at him after all he was Nathan Scott but this girl was giving him a different look.

When Haley saw that she was caught staring at the newcomer, she quickly ducked her head and pretended to be looking at her music sheet. He kept looking at the strange girl and smirked, she was totally blushing. She was so into him but it was no surprise to him because most girls were. That girl wasn't anything out of the ordinary though. She was really pretty he had to admit with her honey blond hair cascading down her back making her look real sweet but she wasn't strikingly beautiful like most of the girls he was used of seeing.

"So what's your name?" Nathan asked her and laughed to himself when her eyes widen at his question.

"H-Haley." she whispered so low that Nathan wasn't sure if she even said anything.

"Come again?" he asked as he took a few steps towards her. Haley saw that he was trying not to add pressure to his left knee and again wondered what happened to him.

"Haley James." she said again but in a much louder and confident tone. She couldn't believe that this beautiful man was just standing there talking to her. She would need to have a word with Owen about keeping good-looking guys away from her but for now she was simply ecstatic to have met him.

"Ahh so you're the famous Haley James my brother has been talking about."

"Owen talks about me?" she questioned a bit surprised.

"Yeah a little too much if you ask me." he said rolling his eyes. "He's always talking about what great girl you are and how lucky he is to have a friend like you." She would have to tease Owen for this later on but for now she was happy knowing that he thought so highly of her even when they weren't at work.

"So…how's the sex between you guys?" Nathan asked her casually after seeing the content look on her face.

"Excuse me?" Haley said all surprise and not believing he asked her that. "Your brother and I are just friends." she clarified feeling a bit offended by his question.

"Well I just assume you two were fucking since he talks so much about you." Her eyes widen with shock at his vulgar language. He might be gorgeous looking but right now he was being a total jerk.

"I'm sorry but you must have me mistaken because I don't sleep around with friends." she said a bit annoyed at his assumptions.

"Well how about with strangers?" he remarked with a grin. Sure she wasn't the type of girl he usually slept with but to him sex was just sex and nothing more.

"Are you implying what I think you're implying?"

"Only if you want to baby." Nathan said with a sexy smirk that made her knees go weak but she wouldn't give him that satisfaction.

"You're gross and really stupid if you think for one second I would ever sleep with you!" Haley angrily said as she stood up to gather her things.

"Oh please you know you want me."

"Not if you were the last guy on earth." She gave him a disgusted look and turned to leave. "Tell Owen I said bye and that I'll see him later." she told Nathan without looking at him before leaving.

Nathan smiled to himself. He liked challenges and something told him Haley was going to be fun to play around with until he got what he wanted from her. It wasn't even that he was attracted to her no; it was that she was the first girl that turned him down and no one turned him down.

Owen came back a couple of minutes later and saw his brother sitting in the table that Haley previously occupied. He looked around the bar to see where she was but she was nowhere to be found.

"Where's Haley?" he asked curiously.

"She had to leave…by the way O; your girl is such a prude!"

"Haley is not my girl and what the hell did you say to her?" Owen asked knowing full well how his brother was. He most likely said something that upset Haley or else she would have still been here.

"Oh nothing." he said with a sly smirk.

"Nathan…"

"Chill dude! All I asked was how the sex life between you guys is and she went all girly on me."

Owen took a deep breath to calm down. No wonder Haley left; she was offended by his question and the sad part was that his brother had no idea how wrong of him was to ask that. Sometimes his brother could be a complete idiot. He loved him but he was an idiot.

"Why are you here Nathan?" He didn't want to deal with him anymore so he decided to get to the reason of his visit instead of explaining to him why he was in the wrong. He would have to apologize to Haley later.

Immediately Nathan's face turned serious and Owen raised his eyebrows in surprise wondering what was so important that got him that way.

"Dad left an hour ago. He was wondering why you didn't see him off."

"So daddy dearest finally left. I was wondering when he was going to leave." Owen replied with such scorn. It was no secret that the older Scott brother wasn't too fond of his father but Nathan had thought that in the three weeks his father was home, that their relationship would have gotten better.

"Don't be a dick Owen."

"You know how I feel about Dan, Nathan. If you expected any other reaction from me when you told me he left then you were mistaken." He turned away from him. "Now if you excuse me I have things to do."

"He stayed three weeks with us Owen! That has to mean something!"

"Yeah for you!" Owen snapped, turning to look at Nathan with a look of hurt in his eyes which he quickly covered with anger. "If it wasn't for your injury he would have left after a few days!"

"You don't know that." Nathan replied a bit unsure. He saw the look of hurt Owen briefly had and wondered what was up with him. Usually his brother acted like their father's trips didn't affect him anymore but that look was starting to make Nathan reconsider some things.

"Yes I do! It's what he always does!" Owen yelled with irritation. He wasn't sure why his brother was so blind to their dad's actions. "He just comes for a few days and then leaves just like that without a care in the world."

"Dad cares Owen is just that you make everything difficult for him." Nathan said pointing his finger at him.

Owen shook his head in frustration. Nathan was never going to get why he was so mad at their dad for. He had always been on their dad's side not seeing his many flaws that Owen saw. Like he previously told Haley he was a people person and he knew people really well and just like Julian, Owen knew his father was keeping things from them.

"You know what Nathan just leave because right now I feel like punching you in the face so bad and believe me that is not a good thing." Owen turned around heading towards the backroom of the bar and left without saying another word.

Nathan stood there unable to process what had happened. He knew his dad tended to leave for long periods of time but he always retuned. His dad was a good man who was always there for his family no matter what and nothing that Owen said was going to change his mind. He took one last look at the place his brother worked in and left.

"Lucas! Wait!" Brooke yelled from behind. Lucas's shoulders tensed but he ignored her voice as he continued to walk away. He just couldn't face her. He made such a fool of himself. "Lucas, please." Brooke pleaded. Her voice sounded so desperate that he couldn't help when his feet came to a complete stop.

When Brooke finally caught up him, she saw that his back was to her. "I'm sorry." she apologized when she got nearer.

Lucas turned to see her and gave her a tight smile. "Why are you apologizing? This was my fault; I shouldn't have said what I did." Lucas told her as he took a look at her ring once more and winced. He still couldn't believe that she had a boyfriend let alone was engaged to him. God he was stupid, he should have paid more attention and not let his mouth run off like it did.

"No Lucas, I-I…god this is so hard!" she yelled in frustration. He chuckled at her despite the situation. "Don't laugh this isn't funny!"

"I know is just that you're so cute when you're all agitated." Lucas told her with a smile as he pushed the loose strands of hair off her face and behind her ear, softly caressing her cheek. It looked like a very intimate moment between two people who didn't know each other and when Lucas realized just that he immediately pulled his hand away. "Sorry…" he muttered embarrassed.

She blushed; she couldn't help but to feel something more when he was caressing her cheek with such tenderness. Lucas Scott was probably one of the sweetest guys she had ever met.

She was so screwed without a doubt.

"I-I should probably head out." Lucas whispered softly as he took a step back from Brooke. She didn't want him to leave just like that so she took a hold of one of his hands with her own. Lucas looked at their intertwined hand and couldn't help but to think how right this felt.

"Wait please don't leave yet." Brooke told him looking very vulnerable at the moment. "I know that given our situation things are a bit awkward but I would really like to get to know you Lucas…as a friend of course."

"Brooke I don't think that's such a good idea." he said shaking his head as he unclasped their hands. She looked hurt for a moment but managed to cover it up with confusion.

"Why not?"

"Brooke…" he said running a hand through his hair. "I like you and since the moment I saw you I felt something for you. Us being friends, I don't think it will work."

"Please I know that this sounds weird because we don't know each other that well but I need you in my life. I can't explain it but I just…having your friendship would be better than not having anything at all."

"You have a boyfriend Brooke. I don't think he'll appreciate his girl being friends with a guy." Lucas tried to reason. Although her offer was tempting because yes he had to agree that having her in his life as a friend was better than not having her at all, he was still unsure about being friends with a girl he already liked so much.

"Julian is a great guy." Brooke treaded cautiously not sure if mentioning her boyfriend in front of him was a good thing or not. "And besides he knows I have guy friends and doesn't mind at all."

"Brooke...I don't even know if this can work. We don't even know each other!"

"Lucas." she said smiling a bit because she knew she was this close to convincing him. "The fact that we don't know each other is the reason why we should be friends. I think you're a great guy and I would love to get to know you better." She saw that he was still contemplating things. He seemed so broody right at this moment and she honestly loved that look he had on right now. "It would be a shame if you just walked away without giving this a chance."

He looked at her and saw that she had this little pout on her. He knew the reasons why he should stay away from the beautiful brunette but with that adorable pout of hers and the way her eyes were pleading with him, he knew he was going to give in to her request.

"Pretty please!" she added just in case he still needed more convincing.

"Fine!" Lucas finally agreed. Brooke was so happy that she hugged him excitedly making him stumble back a bit with the force of her excitement. "Are you always this convincing when you want something." he whispered right next to her ear making her shiver.

She pulled her head back to look into those gorgeous blue eyes and immediately felt something she had never felt before with another man that wasn't Julian. She wanted to kiss him so badly and she could tell that he wanted that too but just as she was about to lean closer to him, she stopped herself from doing it by stepping away from him.

She gave him a nervous smile not sure if he knew what she was about to do. "I'm actually very good at convincing people."

"Well Miss Davis, it seems there's a lot of things I need to know about you isn't there?"

"Well lucky you." Brooke said giving him a friendly smile before turning around and walking back in the direction of the café they were in. "Coming Luke?" she asked looking over her shoulder to look at the blond and he slightly smiled in response.

"Yeah lucky me." Lucas muttered to himself as he ran to catch up to Brooke. He had a feeling things were about to get a lot more complicated but seeing the happy smile on Brooke's face, he wouldn't have it any other way.

To Be Continued…

Hope you all liked this chapter. A little more background info on Julian, more Haley, Nathan and the introduction of Owen :) BL saw each other again and it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship! And yes things are about to get complicated.

Please Review!