The smell of rubber and body order roamed this gym. The smell was hard work and dedication. There was no other smell. There was no smell of disappointment, envy, hatred or sadness. I thought about my time here, my time playing basketball for coach. I could see it in the blink of an eye, I looked around and saw the crowd roaring, the cheerleaders cheering and the basketball players playing. But when I blinked, I was back at the empty gym. That moment happened so fast, clear as day. The thought of basketball, made me think of Peyton. Basketball brought me to her, made me fall in love with her. I don't hate Peyton for leaving, I'm actually happy that she was in my life. She showed me things that no one else can show me, she was my other half but now my half is gone. There was no beauty, only destruction. I thought back to the championship game, of how I chose Peyton over Brooke. Sometimes I thought that was the worst mistake of my life. I wondered what would have happened if I chose Brooke. Would she say she loved me too? Would she never leave me? I need something forever.

"What's up Lucas?" Skills said, tossing the ball in his hand. I turned around as he walked in. He had this smile on his face like he was just had sex with a hot girl. Nathan came in from behind him, having the same smile on his face. I didn't know exactly know what they were smiling about but I guess I will find out sooner or later. Skills and Nathan stood side by side, still having the smile on their face. I stared at them, waiting for them to tell something that I don't care about. "What's going on?" Skills asked me. I squinted my eyes.

"What's going on with you two?" I laughed; Skills and Nathan looked at each other in confusion.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Nathan shrugged his shoulders.

"You and you," I pointed at the both of them. "Why are you guys giving me that look?" I asked them. Nathan huffed, the smile faded away.

"Alright, you didn't tell us your ex's are back in town." Nathan raised his eyebrow. Skills stared at me for a moment, my heart started to race.

"Ex's?" I raised my eyebrow. That was plural, as in more than one. They both nodded, they were as scared as me. Skills stared to get nervous and so did I. "I don't understand." I said to the both of them.

"Peyton flew in last night and Lindsay came in this morning." Skills informed me; I turned around for a second. The first thing that came to my head was Brooke. She said she wanted nothing to do with Peyton and she never liked Lindsay. It was going to be a complete mess. I know the first place that Peyton is going to go, to Brooke. It was like the return of the ex's.

"What are they doing here?" I turned around.

"Peyton came to our house this morning; she told us that she didn't like California. She just…came back home." Nathan shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know why Lindsay's back."

"Me either." Skills said before I asked.

"I have to go warn Brooke." I tried to walk off but Skills grabbed my hand. I turned back around to hear what he had to say.

"Watch your back." Skills said to me, knowing how crazy Peyton can get. I walked out of the school very carefully, watching every corner with my eye. I didn't want them to confront me, not yet. I didn't have the energy to talk to all of them. It only took me a few minutes to show up at Brooke's shop. She had these big glass windows to where she can look outside and we can look inside. I watched as Millicent and Brooke talked to costumers and looks busy. Brooke looked up and saw me out in my car. She waved at me with a beautiful smile. I waved back. I looked to right, I could see Lindsay walking up. I looked to the left and I could see Peyton walking with shopping bags in her hand. I quickly jumped out of my car and ran into Brooke's shop. Brooke was a little shocked how I was running towards her with my head down. I grabbed Brooke and we both hid behind the check out counter. Millicent was just standing over top of us, confused just like Brooke.

"What- What are you doing?" Brooke asked. I placed my index finger over my lips and whispered Shhh! "Okay, Lucas. You are acting really weird." Brooke told me. I told her to shh again and she did. Millicent looked up, seeing Peyton and Lindsay make eye contact.

"Oh my god." Millicent swallowed.

"What?" Brooke poked her head out, looking at Peyton and Lindsay talking to each other. Her eyes became wide, her mouth was open and she gasped. Brooke quickly hid back against the checkout corner. She was breathing heavily. "What are they doing here?" Brooke whispered.

"I don't know. Skills and Nathan told me. I just found out a few minutes ago." I shrugged my shoulders.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god." Brooke repeated, closing her eyes.

"It's not as bad as you think." I shrugged with a nervous smile.

"Oh really Lucas. Two of your ex's outside of my door…want to talk to me." Brooke said calmly but she seemed a little angry.

"I don't see how that's a bad thing." I lied.

"They both hate me!" Brooke raised her voice a little.

"Oh my god, they're coming in. What do you want me to say?" Millicent panicked. I looked up, seeing them come in. I dunked back down.

"Just tell them where not here." Brooke said to her. Millicent looked down in confusion, that wasn't the best idea. They would come back.

"What?" Millicent said to her.

"Tell them where not here." Brooke growled, we heard the ring of the bell and we just froze. Brooke and I held our breath. I heard the clicking of Peyton's boots and the hells of Lindsay shoes. They stopped, took in a deep breath.

"Do you know where Brooke is?" Peyton asked her, Millicent swallowed.

"You just missed her, she left a while ago." Millicent smiled nervously. I didn't think they were both buying it, they were pretty smart girls. "Anything else?" Millicent asked, trying to keep the conversation short.

"Well, tell that bitch we're looking for her." Peyton asked, giving Lindsay a look. Brooke raised her eyebrow, I thought she was going to stand up but she didn't.

"Do you know where Lucas is?" Lindsay asked her, that's when I really started to listen.

"He's pretty busy too…you know? Being a best-selling author and coach for the ravens…it can be a pretty busy life." Millicent ran on. "You know, Brooke's pretty busy as well. You might not be seeing them for a while." Millicent swallowed again, she was nervous and I could tell by her shaky voice.

"Brooke and Lucas are out…together?" Peyton asked Millicent. Millicent didn't know what to say.

"I don't know." Millicent quickly said.

"I think your lying." Lindsay told her.

"Well, I'm not. Now, if you don't want to purchase any of these clothes…please leave." Millicent asked nicely but was firm. Lindsay and Peyton stepped back for a second.

"Where does Lucas live, I want to see him. Since I can't find him anywhere else." Lindsay said to her. I tapped Millicent on legs, telling her that it was okay to tell them. I was going to have to face them, listening to what they were saying. Brooke tapped me on my shoulder, she was shaking her head no. Millicent huffed.

"At his old place…just down the street." Millicent said quickly.

"And where does Brooke live? I want to see her, I have some questions to ask." Peyton asked her.

"Well, if you have questions for Brooke. I'll be happy to give her a message." Millicent was started to get paper and a pen but Peyton stopped her.

"No, I like to talk face to face." Peyton nodded. I looked over at Brooke; she had this sad look on her face. She didn't like what was going on.

"She lives with Lucas. They both live together." Millicent confessed. Peyton and Lindsay laughed but they were a little shocked.

"Thank you." Lindsay said angrily. We sat there for a moment until Millicent said that they left. I helped Brooke off of the floor, she dusted herself off. She looked over at Millicent and told her to take a break, she needed it.

"What are they doing here?" Brooke asked again.

"Peyton just wanted to come home and I don't know why Lindsay is here." I told her the truth.

"Did you know they were coming back?" Brooke asked me, she sounded a little hurt.

"No, I didn't know they were coming back. As soon as I heard they were in town…I came here." I tried to explain. I didn't know what Brooke was thinking in her head. She seemed so distant. Brooke mumbled something under her breath. "What?" I asked her, she looked up at me.

"They're here for you." Brooke answered. She walked away and went into her back office where she practiced her work. I watched as she left, her beauty was fading. Soon, everything will fade.