Lucas slowly led Brooke through a tiny back door on the second floor of the library. Brooke's facial expression changed from entertained to confused as they entered a cramped abandoned hallway. With ever step a clicking noise could be heard thanks to Brooke's heels. Lucas rolled his eyes at her as he shot gave her the 'are-you-serious?" look.
"You do know it's just detention, right?"
Brooke shot him a glare and ignored his question. Her eyes scanning the surrounding hallway. The walls seemed to be closing in on them as each second passed.
"Where the hell are we? I've never been here before?"
Lucas didn't respond, but he stopped walking. She noticed he was pointing up. Her eyes followed the direction of his finger. There was a grubby sign that read 'Roof Access. Do NOT Enter!' Lucas began climbing up a ladder whose black paint had begun chipping off and sticking to his hand. Luke pulled a small red lever and slowly opened the tiny overhead door which opened up to the sky above. He pulled himself up over the edge before extending his hand down to Brooke. He laughed when he noticed the look on her face.
"Here, grab on. I'm not defective you know."
Brooke just stared at him, smiling to herself on the inside.
"Are you kidding??! I can't climb in heels!!"
"Fine then, go back to the library for all I care." Lucas turned away slowly, now she was bound to come up.
"Wait Luke!"
He was right.
"I'm coming! Now help me."
Lucas smiled to himself and held his hand out, pulling her up.
Brooke glanced around…Lucas had clearly been up here before. She saw a ratty old blanket folded up along with some stray empty beer bottles.
"Up here often?"
Lucas let out a dry laugh and began walking towards a storage shed in the corner of the roof.
"Every fucking Saturday, Princess."
Brooke didn't respond as she looked over the edge. God, they were so high up. She's always been a little afraid of heights, but with Lucas she didn't feel that fear for some reason unknown to her. Lucas walked over to a small storage shed in the corner of the roof and emerged back out with a CD player.
"Borrowed it from the teachers lounge."
Brooke looked at him in disgust, why would anyone steal anything.
"So you stole it?"
"No, I'm just using it! And yes, I'll take it with me after we graduate. You like Blink-182?"
Brooke nodded her head silently, she kinda knew who they are…I mean she's heard of them before. "Yeah, I guess."
Lucas laughed slightly, knowing she had no idea what she was talking about. "Well what do you like?"
Brooke thought it was funny how she had been asking herself the same question earlier this morning.
"Fergie?"
"Ew."
"Justin Timberlake?"
"Gross."
"Nickelback?!"
"Ok! Enough!!! Somebody's really mainstream now aren't they?"
Brooke rolled her eyes, so what if she only likes what's popular. Lucas continued on his rant.
"Punk, metal, 80's hair metal, riot punk, ska?!"
She looked at him like he was one of those crazy homeless guys who smelled like piss.
"What the hell is ska?"
"Catch 22. Less than Jake."
She continued to just stare at him with that blank look on her face.
"Ok, nevermind. Let's see what I've got here. Alkaline Trio, Coheed, Rise Against, Third Eye Blind, Blink+44, Bon Jovi…the list just goes on and on princess."
"And why exactly did I come with you again? I should have listened to Nathan and just ignored you."
Lucas let out a dry laugh and cleared his throat before leaning down to be eye level with Brooke.
"Princess…you couldn't ignore me if you tried."
Rolling her eyes, she looked away from Lucas. "Whatever makes you sleep better at night, Scott"
But he was right in some respect. Something about Lucas Scott was appealing to her. Maybe it was the fact that he didn't give a fuck what people thought about him. Maybe it was his badass reputation. Maybe because he's everything she's not. Lucas Scott tried not to be like anyone else, while Brooke Davis was Tree Hill's very own trend setter. They were exact opposites.
Lucas suddenly spoke. "Have you ever given yourself a theme song?"
Brooke didn't say anything, honestly she didn't even know what he was asking her.
"Excuse me?"
He ignored her…again.
"I've given myself a lot. But the two best are Blink songs."
"Where are you going with this?"
Lucas sighed deeply. "I'm trying to strike up conversation, princess. You don't seem to be trying." He paused momentarily before regaining a soft, sarcastic composure. "What's My Age Again: that fits me perfectly. And then 'Shut Up' That's like it was just written for me."
Brooke shook her head with a small smile on her face.
"I've only heard the first one. And I don't see how a song about shutting up suits you, you never seem to stop talking."
Lucas lit up again, not even bothering to offer her one. "You'd understand if you heard it and knew what my life was like."
There was yet another awkward silence…which surprisingly Brooke broke this time.
"I'm sorry about what Nathan said, it wasn't appropriate." Lucas smiled softly and turned so he was looking at her.
"Why are you apologizing Princess? He's the one who said it, not you. I guess his daddy's taught him well..."
Brooke noticed the bitterness in Lucas' voice.
"Nathan got everything: the family, the money, the support, the game, the love. And what did I get? Shit. Squat. Zilch. You know, I can basketball too? Except I'm not allowed to."
Did Brooke actually feel sorry for Lucas Scott? "Why not?"
"Wait I lied…Dan Scott did give me something, his fucking genetic heart disease. And then he threatened me that if I tried out, he would fuck me up more than I already am. Besides, God forbid his bastard son be on the same court as his REAL son." Brooke was silent for a second, "I'm so sorry Lucas."
"Yeah whatever. You've never even looked at me before, let alone spoken to me before. You don't care, so technically you aren't sorry. Hell I was surprised you knew my name this morning, but then I realized you must have heard it from my brother making fun of me."
Brooke winced slightly. Jesus, Lucas had a good perspective. "Listen Luke, we all have our share of problems, I'm listening to you hate the world so I'd be a little more friendly if I were you. Unless you just want me to leave."
Lucas turned on the CD player, having Rancid turned down lower than usual.
"Fine, bitch about your life to me. I'm all ears Princess."
Brooke sighed and thought for a second, was she really going to let him see what she was really like? Lucas saw she was hesitant and smiled softly as he lifted her head up with his finger. "You want me to bitch first?"
Brooke laughed. "Yes, please do."
"Well! I'm actually quite good at this, believe it or not. Where to start? I hate school. It's like everyone is up against me. Me vs. the World. You probably wouldn't get it…you've never been a reject."
"Oh, but I completely get it. Every morning I wake up and get dressed…and then I find myself staring at my own reflection. Everyday I have to please everyone: my friends, my team, my family, even people who I don't talk to. I have to look perfect no matter what and then I have to face them."
This was one thing Lucas didn't understand. "Why are you even friends with them? They should like you for who you are. Try wearing no makeup one day….hell you'd still be drop dead gorgeous and you know it. Try not being fake. See what would happen."
Brooke let out a dry laugh as she flipped her hair behind her shoulders.
"They'd be horrified. Imagine what people would say!"
Lucas laughed as his blue eyes fired up. "I'd say: Welcome to the dark side, princess. We have more fun."
She smiled a real, genuine smile, exposing her dimples.
"You should smile more often, it's cute."
"The dimples? They're a face deformity."
Lucas flicked the cigarette butt down on the ground and dug his hands into his pockets as he stomped on it.
"Cutest deformity I've ever seen."
Brooke looked down at her feet, blushing. Did Lucas Scott just make her stomach flutter? No, she must be hungry or something.
"And I hate being labeled, being stereotyped. It's like a bunch of kids are telling me what I'm allowed to be. I'm not allowed to smoke and like literature and basketball at the same time. It's forbidden. If you think about it today's a great example of the many high school labels. Let's see Nate's the dumb jock, Haley's the dork/brains, the blond chicks the loner, you're the preppy princess cheerleader Richie, and me….well I'm just the lower than dirt stoners."
Brooke was silent, this bothered her more than anything. She hated being shoved into a certain category. It was like she was limiting herself so she could only be what people wanted her to be.
"I'm sick of being the slutty, stupid cheerleader." Her voice was almost a whisper. Lucas turned so that he was looking straight into her deep brown eyes.
"Ok first of all: you aren't stupid. You seem smart…just confused at times. And secondly, you aren't a brainless slut, you're just single. There's nothing wrong with having a little fun."
Brooke laughed, leaving a warm smile on her perfect face.
"Thanks, that makes me feel a whole lot better"
"I'm just being honest! Telling it to you like it is!"
Brooke paused for a second.
"You know, you're not as bad as you seem Scott"
"And you're not as bitchy as people say you are Princess. All those jealous chicks don't do you justice."
kinda short, i know. but i'll be updating quicker once schools done. review, i get more inspired. :)
