Disclaimer: don't own One Tree Hill or any of the characters. I also don't own the song Such Great Heights by The Postal Service.

A/N: I worked faithfully every night at this but since it's taking so long (and work is kicking my ass), I figured I'd post this part of Brooke's surprise party as one chapter and then the next part as the next chapter whenever I get it done! If you like it, hit me up with a review…I love any comments or ideas. xo

I am thinking it's a sign that the freckles

In our eyes are mirror images and when

We kiss they are perfectly aligned

20, 19, 18…

As the clock ticked down, all Lucas could feel was the beat of his heart and the feel of her eyes on him. Almost as if they were silently willing him onwards.

It was as if he were seeing everything in slow motion. He was aware of the time ticking down in their first playoff game as the Ravens were behind three points.

As he watched the ball move towards him, he side stepped the opposing player and stole the ball in mid-bounce. And there it was – just him, alone, dribbling towards the basket.

Lucas got cornered by two defenders and passed the ball to Nathan who hungrily searched for an opening; a possible way to score a three pointer, while Lucas managed to shake off his opponents.

And there it was – Nathan's pass, which Lucas had been expecting.

5, 4, 3…

The instant the ball left Lucas's hands, he knew it was as good as in. Their playoff run – Whitey's last chance at a State Championship – was safe.

2, 1…

The roar of the crowd was deafening as the Ravens swamped Lucas with back slaps and high fives while the cheerleaders separated with them. Lucas stepped away from the crowd and instinctively, his eyes sought for her.

Looking into Lucas's eyes always managed to take Brooke's breath away. It was as if the instant she locked eyes with his – green on blue – everything else was forgotten. All the pain, all the doubts, insecurities and guilt seemed to vanish. It was just them; that was all that mattered. For one minute, they were perfect; despite their imperfections.

And I, have to speculate that God himself

Did make us into corresponding shape

Like puzzle pieces from the clay

True, it may seem like a stretch

But it's thoughts like this that catch my troubled head

When you're away, when I am missing you to death

It was during that state of peace of mind caused by Lucas's eyes that Brooke found herself drawn closer and closer to him until their faces were grazing each other. Brooke blinked as she felt something wet on her face, until she realized that it was from the sweat dripping off of Lucas and then she broke out into giggles, which unbeknownst to Brooke, caused her dimples to deepen while Lucas just smiled adoringly at her.

Maybe, just maybe – she mused to herself – things could be this simple. When words became involved, things complicated. But like this, in this moment, she knew that she whole heartedly and irrevocably was in love with Lucas Scott. And for once, she wasn't scared that he was instead in love with someone else – namely Peyton.

"I missed you, Brooke" Lucas whispered into her ear and just like that, the moment was over and the spell was broken. When it came to their relationship, maybe some things were better left unsaid.

*

Peyton paced outside of Lucas's door as her mind replayed the scene that she'd witnessed tonight after the basketball game, over and over. She'd seen Lucas step away from the swarm of the bodies of his teammates and saw his eyes searching the crowd – searching for someone.

For one minute, her heart had leapt and lurched in her chest as she thought that maybe he was looking for her. But then his eyes had moved past her, almost as if she hadn't even been there at all and instead, landed on Brooke.

It was in that moment that Peyton felt a feeling reminiscent to the one she used to feel when she drove by a car accident. You never wanted to stop and gawk, but somehow you did, anyway.

It is the human condition, after all, to be inexplicably drawn like a moth to a flame to things you know you don't want to see. Things you know will end up tearing you apart and breaking you down. In short, it is the human condition to be a masochist - which was why Peyton was here.

"Peyton?" Lucas asked as he swung open the door to see her pacing around outside.

"I need to talk to you, Luke" she replied as she walked into his room, holding her breath that Brooke wasn't in there.

It was then that she turned around to face him and noticed that he seemed dressed up.

"Hot date tonight?" she joked awkwardly.

Lucas shook his head, "Nah, actually, there's a surprise party for Brooke"

"Oh," Peyton said while her mind was reeling. Had it really gotten so bad that she wouldn't be invited to Brooke's birthday party?

"Yeah… sorry, was there something you needed to say, Peyt?"

"Yes – yeah, you know what, there is." Without breaking stride, Peyton marched over and tried to passionately kiss Lucas. Tried would be the key word because their lips touched for about one second before Lucas broke away, shouting at her.

"What the hell, Peyton? You can't just kiss me whenever you feel like it – God."

"Well sorry if I'm in love with you, Lucas. There, I finally said it."

And then, there was silence while Lucas tried to process her words.

"Peyton," he said in a gentle voice which she knew, didn't bode well for her, "I'm sorry. I know we can't help the ones we love, which is why I don't love you. Sure, maybe on paper we'd look like a perfect couple because we're so similar but I just don't feel anything more than friendship for you. You know I'm in love with Brooke, Peyton."

Peyton numbly nodded before whispering, "I have a confession to make. I told Brooke that I was in love with you the night before Nathan and Haley's wedding. That's why she was – is – so upset with me."

Lucas's blue eyes hardened into ice and he said nothing; nothing other than, "I think you should go. I have to get to the party."

As Peyton walked out of his door, she wondered, how many more bridges would she keep on burning before she had nothing – or no one - left?

*

"This is so all your fault if Lucas gets pissed" Haley hissed at Rachel as they attempted to support a completely hammered Brooke up the walk to Rachel's house where everyone was waiting to surprise her.

"oh, bite me, tutor-wife" Rachel retorted back while Haley mentally tried to remember what she actually liked about Rachel, other than the fact that Brooke now liked her.

Brooke slurred out a mess of unintelligible words before beginning to gravitate towards the ground again, which forced Haley and Rachel to concentrate on the immediate present – Operation Get Brooke Sober.

Of course, it had been Rachel's idea to take Brooke out for dinner after the basketball game as a way to get her out of the house so that it could be prepared for the party.

Brooke had gone grudgingly; only agreeing to head out whenever Rachel called Haley for back up support. Then, at dinner, a group of guys from another table had kept on sending over bottles of wine, which Brooke had successfully managed to drink.

Meanwhile, Haley had been forced to pour her glasses of wine into Brooke's whenever she was distracted so that Rachel wouldn't notice anything. Poof – Brooke suddenly had a magically refilling glass.

And here they were – one sober, one drunk and one completely hammered.

The threesome finally made it to Rachel's door and entered the dark house while Brooke giggled cheerfully.

"It could be worse, Hales – at least she's being a happy drunk" Rachel said, while Haley nodded.

"I'm scared that she's just trying to work through the pain with it, though" Haley sighed.

Rachel snorted. "Says the girl who was pouring her wine into Brooke's glass, whenever she thought that no one was looking – by the way, Haley, you do have quite the glow about you of late…"

Haley could only gape in shock while Rachel smirked. "Nothing gets by me, Tutor-wife, or should I say, Tutor-mom. And don't worry, I can keep a secret."

Rachel chuckled again and hauled Brooke outside to greet the party, leaving Haley behind with a stunned look on her face.

She had to tell Nathan before it got out. The question was – how?

*

A/N: What'd you all think? Next chapter – there will definitely be one, maybe two, newcomers, a drunk Brooke (with lots of Brucas), and with one of the newcomers, a secret from Rachel's past.