She Paints Me Blue

Author's Note: Do you really want to hear my whole spiel about the review thanks? That's okay if you do… see previous AN's! Thank you all dearly! It means a lot. I'd love for it to continue.

So, I did use a few more things from Friends. They were cute and I felt that they tied in well with this fic. One thing, I did use a quote at the end(reworded) so thank the lovely writers of Friends for that!

Thank you wonderful Ellie! You are in no way at fault for anything. Stop feeling bad.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of One Tree Hill, thankfully! And sadly, nothing of Friends.

Chapter Four: The Color Of My Love

Lucas gave a sigh as he took another bite from the bowl of Cocoa Puffs that was sitting in front of him. "It's okay," Lucas thought to himself as he lowered himself onto a stool. "It was silly. It was a silly crush. You're not in love with Brooke."

He knew he couldn't be in love with her. He knew he shouldn't feel anything for her. She was his roommate. They were friends. It would be wrong.

"Exactly. She's your friend, Brooke. Your friend…Brooke," he thought as he finished of the bowl of cereal and smiled to himself a little bit with satisfaction. Everything would be okay.

He looked up after hearing her door open, and saw Brooke quickly walking through the apartment to grab her keys and purse.

"Bye Sweetie," she called while quickly waving and headed out the door.

"It's your girlfriend, Brooke!"

Lucas groaned loudly as he pounded his head onto his fist in front of him.

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Lucas stepped into the apartment and closed the door behind him, then set down his keys and the box of pizza that he had brought home. Extra cheese, just how Brooke liked it.

"Brooke," he called out as he took a look around the apartment. He didn't expect her to be home. On the days that he would spend his whole day at the office, he would still be home before Brooke. She was so dedicated to her work, and that was another thing that Lucas loved about her.

He grabbed the television remote and turned it onto ESPN. He and Brooke had fallen into a comfortable routine while living together, but they also had fun. They equally enjoyed each other's company.

Some days he knew it was completely horrible that he was thinking about Brooke. Those were the days that he reminded himself that they were just friends, and that's all that they would ever be. Those were the days that he knew it was just a little crush and he would accept that.

Other days, he didn't think it was horrible. He wondered if he really did like her and if she would feel the same. He knew that they would be great together.

Then they're were the days where he wanted to completely erase everything in his brain, and just go back to how they were before Brooke had moved in. Even if it would break his heart.

Lucas was distracted by his thoughts as the phone began ringing beside him.

"Hello?" he asked after picking up the receiver. Seconds later, another man, very unfamiliar to Lucas, answered and asked for Brooke.

"She's not here right now. Can I take a message?" he asked as he reached for a Post-It that had been laying by the phone.

"Okay, Nickolas. I'll tell her that you called," he replied as he began writing down the man's name, and then heard his explanation. Brooke had met Nickolas at a party. He was calling her about a date.

Now Lucas knew that he should really just let it go. The worst part about it was that he jealous and he knew it.

A little while later he saw Brooke enter the apartment. "Hey Brooke," he said with a smile on his face as she made her way over to him. "I picked up some pizza after work."

He reached for the box at the counter and pushed it into Brooke's direction. "That's my favorite kind!" she squealed before giving a few claps and grabbing a piece. "You remembered!"

He nodded with a small chuckle before pulling out two Pepsi's for them. "Uhh, Brooke," he started as he reached for the folded paper inside his pocket that was carrying her message. He gave an inaudible sigh before stuffing it back in. "Let me get you a plate," he quickly stated before turning to grab a plate.

"I know you tend to get messy," he explained in a joking tone as he handed it to her.

"Lucas Eugene Scott, that's so unfair! I'm not messy. That pizza thing was one time, and it was totally your fault!" she replied as she playfully snatched the paper plate from Lucas' hand and slapped her piece onto it.

"How was that my fault?" he countered. It was perfectly normal for Brooke and Lucas to act like this towards each other. It was fun and comfortable. It was so right.

"Luke, you practically fell into me," she said as she formed an innocent smile on her face. One of the many faces of Brooke Davis.

"I practically fell into you? Brooke, I was a good five feet away from you! You were ranting on and on about some designer or something and you dropped it onto your shirt. I think it's perfectly clear that it was in no way my fault."

She simply raised her hand and waved it away, her dimples showing as she smiled.

"How was your day?" he asked her as they dug into the pizza and began talking about each other's days. It was a Thursday. As always, they would talk about how their day was, what their plans were for the upcoming Friday, they'd play around for a little bit, and then they'd watch Grey's Anatomy.

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The next night, Lucas arrived home a little late. He usually took a little while longer on Friday's so he could wrap up the week's work, and take home everything he needed to do on the weekends. Some people might call it boring, but he was quite satisfied with his life.

He came into the apartment to see Brooke already home. "Hey," he called as he set down his bag that carried his papers and laptop.

Brooke stepped out of the bathroom and greeted him. She was wearing a long, dressy halter top, with jeans and high heels. Brooke had always been one for looking nice. Lucas knew that. She dressed nice every day for work, like he assumed most people in the fashion industry did. However, at this moment he could tell that she was dressing for something different.

She was dressed like she had been on the nights that they had gone out, or the previous week when she had gone to the benefit. She also had on a larger than normal amount of jewelry.

"Hot date?" he asked in a joking tone as he neared her.

Unbeknownst to Lucas, he had been correct. She nodded her head before running a comb through the ends of her wavy hair. She quickly turned around, her back facing him.

"Can you put this on me?" she asked as she handed a necklace to him. He took the gold jewelry into his hand and reached it around her neck. She lifted her hair up to her head, and he softly clipped it together, as his hands grazed her shoulders briefly.

"Thanks," she said appreciatively as she dropped her hair and turned to face him.

"So what's up?" he asked her as she touched up a few spots of makeup.

He would never tell her this, but he knew that she didn't need to put that stuff on. She was so beautiful without it. She would get out of the shower on a Saturday morning, and wear no makeup, nothing but sweats, and have her hair up, and she looked fascinating.

"I met this guy Nickolas last week at that party, and he called and asked me out for drinks tonight. He got my cell number from a friend at work. He mentioned something about a message?" she stated confusingly, but quickly continued on much to Lucas pleasure.

"But I needed to get back to work. Anyways, he should be here in a minute."

Lucas gave a nod, somewhat disappointedly. However, he knew he should feel guilty about not giving Brooke her phone message.

"Okay, have fun Princess."

Both were interrupted from their conversation as someone knocked on the door to the apartment. "That's probably him," Brooke stated as she set down her makeup and turned to Lucas. "I'll just be another minute or two. Can you get it? Keep him entertained?" she asked as her face grew into the classic puppy dog look.

"Fine," he mumbled as he managed the best smile possible. "The things I do for you," he said as he sent her another smile and he made his way to the door.

The second he opened the door, he didn't like what he saw. The classic pretty boy. A perfect guy that could break Brooke's heart. "Hey," he said in the loudest tone he could manage.

The other man took a look around. "Does Brooke Davis live here?" he asked worriedly, wondering if her had gotten the wrong apartment.

"Yeah, she's inside. I'm her roommate. I'm Lucas," he continued as he extended his hand.

The other man grasped his lightly and shook it. "I'm Nickolas," the other man said. Lucas took a step back and motioned for Nickolas to enter. "She'll just be another minute," Lucas explained as he made his way over to the counter and propped his elbow onto it.

A few seconds passed in awkward silence. Deciding to break the silence, and learn a few things about the guy who would soon be taking Brooke out, he sparked up a conversation.

"So how did you guys meet?" Lucas asked, even though he already knew the answer. Nickolas went on to explain the previous event and the meeting between Brooke and Nickolas. They had met at the event that Lucas had opted out of going to.

"Are you in the fashion business?" Lucas asked in a tone that was slightly disrespecting. Lucas couldn't help but wonder… maybe he was gay? That would have made it a lot easier for Lucas.

Nickolas explained how he worked for the company that was releasing the clothing line that night.

"Are you and Brooke related or something?" Nickolas asked Lucas curiously. Lucas shook his head, not at all pleased.

"We're friends. Have been for a long time," Lucas explained and took a step further, somewhat intimidating. "A very long time. We're very close," he continued as he folded his arms across his chest.

"I'd really hate to see anything happen to her," Lucas continued, knowing full well that he was now somewhat threatening the man.

As if on cue, Brooke made her way into the living room, and quickly grabbed her handbag. "Ready to go?" Nickolas asked, tearing his gaze away from Lucas.

"Yeah, let's go. See ya, Luke," she said, sending Lucas a small wave.

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"What's on your mind, Luke?" Peyton asked as she looked up from the book she was reading. Lucas, Peyton, Nathan, and Haley were all at Nathan and Haley's apartment.

Lucas and Peyton were both in the living room. Nathan and Haley were both in the kitchen discussing something and, in the words of Peyton, acting all lovey-dovey. Jake was working overtime, and Brooke was still out on her date.

"It's nothing," he stated, not bothering to look up from his brooding.

"It's Brooke," she answered herself as she sent a perfected smile to Lucas.

"How did you…?" he trailed off, now looking up at Peyton.

"You think you're the first guy to want Brooke? I've seen guys act this way about her before, you know," she explained as she closed her book and sat up to face Lucas.

"It's just…," Lucas stopped, wondering if he should say anything to Peyton about it. Deciding for it, he continued, "I've been feeling something lately. I don't know, I could just be confused. But sometimes I'll just be sitting with her doing absolutely nothing important at all, and I just get this feeling," he explained and brought his hands up to his head.

Peyton smiled as she stood up and smiled down at Lucas, and over to Haley who was now listening. She had always loved the thought of Brooke and Lucas together.

"He's her lobster!"

Lucas looked up to Peyton, completely confused. He also stood up, sending a confused look to Haley. She shrugged, not attempting to understand what Peyton was saying.

"You know…lobsters," Peyton said as she smiled back and forth between the three, Nathan now involved in the conversation.

"Uhh Peyt, what about lobsters?" he asked, completely confused.

"Come on…lobsters! Lobsters fall in love and mate for life. You can see the old couples in their little tanks holding claws. You're her lobster!"

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Umm.. thoughts? Review? Thanks.