A/N: I am sorry that I did not update yesterday. I was gone all day at the beauty salon and without my laptop, so I was unable to type it up. Some of you guessed it he takes her to the Rivercourt! This is going to be a fantastic chapter and I hope that you guys love it and please do review!! Next and last chapter hopefully tomorrow!

Chapter 4: The Rivercourt

The look on the brunettes face standing a mere few inches in front of him was priceless. She had never expected him to go there that was for sure.

Inside Brooke was overwhelmed and though she tried to hide it, she was failing immensely. Lucas had taken her to his mother's café to talk about Lindsey and he had taken her to Tree Hill High to talk about and let go of Peyton and now he had taken her here.

"Wow," she let out breathlessly as she walked onto the court, looking around it like she was seeing it for the first time.

He smiled at her behavior, watching her hand run down the rusted pole. "You like?" He let out huskily.

She looked over to where he stood watching her and gave him one of her dimpled smiles. "I just never expected you to bring me here?"

"Here?" he repeated feigning ignorance.

"This is our place," she let out. She lifted her hand to hair running her hand for the third time today through her ponytail. "You remembered."

"Of course I remembered," he smiled warmly at her and her heart involuntary skipped a beat. Then suddenly he was solemn, anticipating his next words. "I know that we never really talk about the relationship that we shared but I want you to know that I have never forgotten about it."

"Really?" her eyes had never left his deep blue ones since he had begun talking. She couldn't believe her ears.

He quirked his brow at her disbelievingly, "Always, you are such a big part of me Brooke." He slowly walked over to her pulling her hand into his and pressing it against his heart. "You were the first girl I ever loved."

She had to move away from him after that. Things were just getting so heated. She was falling for him all over again. "We shouldn't talk about this. It's in the past anyway," she replied softly.

He could tell that he had somehow upset her. "I'm sorry if I upset you."

She shook her head at him. "No, it's no big deal," she let out trying to sound nonchalant about the whole situation.



They were silent after that. Lucas racked his brain for any idea to break the ice until the perfect idea came to him. "I'll be right back," he informed as he jogged away from Brooke.

She was confused. What had brought on his sudden exit? She hoped he wasn't mad at her for avoiding the subject of their past relationship. She didn't want to talk about it. To tell the truth she had never really forgiven him for going back to Peyton, and although on some level she knew it was her fault for breaking up for him, she couldn't help blame him a little. She let out a sigh before walking over to the bleachers. She sat on them immediately feeling the coldness of the metal.

This place brought back so many memories for her. This was the place where Brooke realized for the first time that Lucas was finally letting her in. He trusted her with a place that was so dear to his heart. The Rivercourt.

Flashback

They were at the Rivercourt. It was evening. The sun had gone down and the court was nicely lit.

The guys Lucas used to play basketball with before he joined the Ravens are there. Pan down to show Lucas standing at the edge of the court with Brooke.

Lucas looks into Brooke's beautiful eyes, a smile playing on his face."This is my world, Brooke." He chuckles. "Or, at least it used to be."

Brooke just smirks at him, quirking her brow playfully. "I have been here before, you know?"

"I know,…" he replies truthfully. "I just never told you what this place is to me."

Brooke smiles as she listens to him intently. She doesn't know why, but this just feels like such a breakthrough.

"It's not just a court…" he continues. "It's where I came from, it's where I belong… it's my world."

"So do I get to be part of this world?" Brooke questions and although it sounds like such a silly question she is serious.

"The biggest part," he replies truthfully and perfectly.

End Flashback

Things had been so great back then. Often she had found herself wondering what had happened to them but then she would remember. Peyton. Peyton had happened. Peyton had changed everything when she had confessed her true feelings of how she felt about Lucas to Brooke. That had really been the end of her relationship, that exact moment. In that exact moment Brooke realized that she would lose Lucas. It all made sense. Why would he stay with her this time? Why would he be faithful to her this time? He wouldn't. He would end up going back to Peyton just as he had done in the first time and she couldn't take that.



Brooke shook her head trying to rid her head of these thoughts. She hated thinking about what could have been with her and Lucas and most of all she hated blaming Peyton for her breakup with Lucas. She knew deep down inside that though Peyton had been a big reason for Brooke breaking up with Lucas it wasn't the real reason. The real reason that Brooke broke up with Lucas is because she had been insecure. She had been insecure about their relationship. Ever since the first time that he had cheated on her she had never stopped thinking that it wouldn't happen again and though Lucas would try his best to convince her that these issues were of no concern she could not let these doubts pass.

It looked so bad. Peyton would constantly be around Lucas all the time. It seemed that whenever Brooke came to see her boyfriend her blond friend would be with him and it killed her. It killed her to think that history was repeating itself. She hated feeling like that. She hated feeling so vulnerable and out of control. She hated what the whole situation was doing to her. She hated how she was feeling ridiculous for even asking him to stay away from Peyton. She could remember that day like yesterday.

It was the day of Haley and Nathan's wedding. They were renewing their vows so that this time they could be joined together in front of all their family and friends. It was the day that Peyton had just informed Brooke of her feelings for her current boyfriend. Brooke was enraged. She couldn't believe the nerve of her best friend. And to believe she actually thought she was doing Brooke a favor by being up front this time. That was complete bull. Brooke was definitely pissed, but behind her anger was fear. She was scared. She was scared that she would lose Lucas all over again, so when she had went to Lucas asking him to stay away from her best friend she was saddened when he had to have an explanation for such a random request. She had clamped up on him after that telling him it didn't matter anymore before walking away.

That had been a hard day for her. Besides being informed of Peyton's feelings she was also informed of this kiss that her best friend and her boyfriend had shared not even a month ago.

She shivered just thinking back to that dreadful day.

"You ok," came Lucas's deep voice. She had forgotten that he was even with her for a while.

She turned to him smiling the best that she could. "Yes," then she turned her attention to the basket that was in his hands. "What's that?"

"You'll see," he answered with a grin as he made his way to the bleachers, sitting himself right beside her. He made sure to keep a reasonable amount of space between the two of them. Then he opened the picnic basket pulling out a chilled bottle of champagne and cold cut sandwiches.

He looked up at her smiling face as she lit up with question. "Where did you get all that Lucas?"

"I had the waitress make it up back at the café," he informed proudly.

"So, that's what you were doing in the kitchen," she responded now realizing why he had gone back there earlier in the day.



He nodded, handing her one of the sandwiches and watching as she took a small bite out of it. "Good?"

"Delicious," she responded moaning in pleasure. "Thanks."

"You are always welcome," he replied. Then his expression changed. He was plagued. The whole time he was retrieving the basket from his car he couldn't stop thinking about Brooke. He respected her wishes when she had asked him not to discuss their relationship but now thinking about it he really wished that he hadn't. He had talked about Peyton to get the proper closure he needed and he needed to do the same with Brooke. Despite what most people thought, Brooke was still very much in his heart. In fact, he still didn't know precisely why they broke up all those years ago.

"Um Brooke," he hesitated when her curious hazel eyes finally met his. "Do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Ask away Luke," she let out instantly. If she only knew what he was about to ask.

"What happened with us?"

The question had caught Brooke off guard. "Please Luke, why does it matter?" She pleaded, rubbing her hand over her face in frustration.

"I need to know Brooke," he let out meeting her frustration. His eyes were pleading with hers. "I needed to talk about Peyton and analyze our relationship in order to let her go and get closure. I am only asking the same from you. Please, I am getting married tomorrow and I need to get all of this stuff cleared before then."

How could she deny him? He was desperate obviously. "There are many reasons." She whispered her eyes on her hands.

"Like what?" he probed.

She took a breath before continuing. "I would say it was because I couldn't trust you. But it really is a long story." She paused. "Ever since you cheated on me with Peyton I have never completely trusted you." His eyes grew sad at this revelation. It had hurt him so badly to hear that he had lost her trust so long ago. "I tried to trust you but I just couldn't and then when Peyton told me that she still had feelings for you, I couldn't take it.-"

"She told you?" he was staring at her in disbelief as she slowly lifted up her head to nod at him. "When?"

"The day of Haley and Nathan's wedding."

"And you never told me," he spoke. He was staring through her, as if he was in deep thought.

"It doesn't matter now," she concluded. "I was insecure," she admitted truthfully. "I just knew something was going to go wrong with us and it did. We broke up and you went to Peyton and now you're going to marry Lindsey tomorrow so none of this really matters really," she concluded smiling sadly.



"I guess not," he mumbled. He had so much that he was trying to process. He had always thought that Brooke had broken up with him for the reason that she had told him of all those years ago, because she fell out of love with him. He had been wrong.

"Let's do something," she let out randomly as she stood up from the bleachers, dusting the crumbs from her now nonexistent sandwich.

He quirked his brow at the brunette puzzled and yet amused by her sudden enthusiasm. "What did you have in mind?"

"I don't know but let's do something. I don't want to talk about this anymore. This is your last night as a free man, let's do something fun."

He smirked at her. "Well I don't know what is fun to you but I know what I want to do."

"And what is that?" she asked looking at him skeptically.

"Come on," he called back as he stood from the bleachers jogging to the court. He reached behind the pole, pulling out a basket ball. "Think you can handle it?"

She smiled her famous dimpled smile. "You are going down Lucas." She stole the ball from him effortlessly dribbling to the hoop and shooting. It went straight in. "Do you underestimate the powers of Brooke Davis?" she asked dribbling the ball in front of her.

"I can take her any day," Lucas retaliated doing his best to block the ball from going into the hoop. It worked and Luke had stolen the ball effortlessly but he hadn't expected Brooke to stretch pulling her red tank up giving him view of her tanned stomach. He was mesmerized and she had taken the opportunity to steal the ball.

"Hey, you cheated," he yelled once the ball had gone through the hoop for the second time.

"I did nothing of the sort. I didn't make you look at me."

"But you knew I would," he added running a hand through his semi wet hair.

"I didn't say I was going to play nice," she replied as she made another basket.

She had beaten him easily. Between all the bending down and stretching up it was no problem. The wind was blowing slightly and she took this as an opportunity to let down her ponytail, shaking her brown locks wildly.

He stared at her in awe. She was absolutely beautiful.

"I'm surprised you didn't take me to the beach," she let out randomly as she ran her hand through her hair.

He nodded. "I could have taken you there, to the blue post, anywhere really."

She smiled. "Do you remember the night of the back to school bonfire?"



Flashback

"What's going on, guys?" Lucas let out as he approached Brooke a look of puzzlement on his face."What's up?" A lifeguard, clearly feeling threatened by him.Lucas just ignored him turning to Brooke. "You gotta second?" "Sure," Brooke let out nonchalantly. "What's up?" Lucas paused taking a step closer to her. "I'm the guy for you." He paused. "I know we're just part-time, that's cool. You know, do whatever, have your fun." Then he smiled at her. "But one of these nights, you're gonna realise it: I'm the guy for you, Brooke Davis."Brooke just looks at him, surprised as he turns away but turns back."" You'll see," he finishes with promise in his voice.

End Flashback

His blue eyes met hers in a secret moment. He smiled. "How could I forget."

"I was so surprised when you said that! I couldn't even have fun anymore," she giggled remembering that moment.

"I meant every word," he let out truthfully and the way he was looking confirmed his words. The way he was looking at her right now told her that he still felt the same way and Brooke couldn't shake how it was making her feel. Maybe there was still hope for them. She saw it in his eyes.

"Do you remember what you said to me that night at that party?"

"Which party Brooke?" Lucas chuckled. "There were so many."

"When you said that you were always the one fighting for me and I was never fighting for you." She was coming closer to him and he could see her hazel eyes glittering of mischief. What was she about to do? Then she was right in front of him her face as serious as he had ever seen it. "I said that I never would fight for you, and I meant it." His head bowed subconsciously at her words. "At that time…" she continued as she lifted up his head his blue eyes reaching her hazels. What happened next surprised even herself.

She latched onto his neck pulling him to her. That was when their lips met in what had seemed forever. She could hear him groan against her lips as he wrapped his hands around her waist pulling her closer.

He didn't know what he was doing. He wasn't drunk. He had had a glass of champagne but that definitely wasn't enough to get him drunk. He knew it was Brooke he was kissing and not Lindsey, so why couldn't he bring himself to break the kiss?



She pulled him closer. She had missed his kisses so much. Thinking back to Owens kisses, they were nothing compared to the man she was kissing right now. She needed him and for the first time in a long time she felt like he was reachable. She wouldn't allow herself to lose him this time, at least not without a fight.

He was on fire. His tongue plunged into her mouth playing all sorts of games with it. His hands were roaming all over her body and he couldn't think of one reason to stop his excursion.

Brooke was the one to break the kiss finding the need for oxygen overbearing. She broke away from him touching her bruised lips as she struggled to get control of her breathing.

"Wh…what was that?" he let out puzzled by her actions, realization of what they had done just hitting her.

She didn't stutter even though the look that he had given her was not motivating. "I love you Lucas," she confessed, giving him a peck on the lips. "And I know you love me too, I can see it in your eyes."

"I-"

He tried to protest but Brooke interrupted him. "I know this is sudden but I never stopped loving you Lucas. I haven't fallen in love with anyone since. In fact you are the only guy I have ever loved. But you are getting married to another woman tomorrow and I can't just sit here and watch you slip away from me again. You fought for me and now I am fighting for you. I love you Lucas."

He was in complete shock. He hadn't expected this nor did he know what to do about this. He was frustrated and angry and sad all at the same time.

He took a big breath before speaking.

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A/N: I know you guys are going to hate me for stopping it there but I have to. It is 2 am here and I have been typing for 3 hours not to mention I have been out all day and have church tomorrow! Tomorrow is Easter. Go to church and celebrate Jesus! I might not update tomorrow but the final chapter will be here by Monday! Please show your thanks by reviewing! Thanks!