Brooke couldn't stop thinking about Lucas, about everything he had said to her the past few weeks. They had hung out some since that day at Karen's but he seemed different she wasn't sure how but he was different. They never talked about what he said and he never asked her to tell him what she was going to say. The truth maybe she was avoiding him some but not as bad as she had the first few days, when they hung out she made sure she wasn't alone with him, that Jeff or Rachel was always around which wasn't hard since they were her best friends. She made sure to keep her necklace tucked under her shirt so no one would make a comment about it and if they were in the car played a CD or something so that damn song didn't come on again. She was doing the best she could to keep people from bringing them up and their past.

However Brooke wondered would it be bad to let Lucas back in? To tell him how she felt and all he meant to her, would it really be that bad. She knew he loved her but it still scared her getting hurt again like before, because it hurt her so bad. Her thoughts were so caught up with Lucas she hadn't listened to a word her professor was saying and just decided to skip out of class early.

"Sorry." Brooke apologized when she bumped into someone, she didn't look at him just pick up all her purse and the stuff that feel out of it, and shoving her book back into her book bag.

"Brooke?" she heard the voice say and her body tensed up. She knew that voice god did she know that voice. It was a voice that had been stuck in her head for weeks and months. A voice she prayed to god she would never hear again, but she was hearing it and she didn't want to look up. She just wanted to stay looking at the ground knowing that if she looked up it would be real that he would be in front of her and all her worst fears would come back to her. "Brooke is that you?"

Brooke slowly looked up at him, closing them tight and shaking her head to get the tears away, he couldn't be there he shouldn't be there. She didn't speak, didn't move just stood there looking at him, he looked the same his hair was still jet black and his eyes were still that dark brown that until that night Brooke never saw as evil. Brooke slowly backed from him still not talking, but making sure to keep her eyes locked on his before turning the corner and taking off.

"Nice shot man." Cam a guy on the basketball team told Lucas.

Lucas had tried out a few weeks back and made the team, since the coach already heard of him and knew how well he played he didn't object to a try out and when he saw him play in person he didn't object to putting him on the time but made sure Lucas know he had to earn his spot and so far he was doing a hell of a job of it.

"Thanks." Lucas smiled taking another shot and making it, nothing but net.

"Scott!" the coach yelled and Lucas spun to look at the older man. He wasn't like Whitey at all other than his age. He was tall and skinny but very intimidating much like Whitey, he wouldn't take crap from anyone but he was fair when it came to coaching. He didn't play favorites even if he hated you he wouldn't let that change you playing or not.

"Yeah coach?" Lucas asked.

"You're starting the next game be ready." He didn't really say but more ordered as he walked back into his office leaving the guys to finish up taking their last few shots, then went to the locker room to shower and change.

Brooke didn't know where to go; she didn't know what to do. For the first time in almost a year she felt dirty and scared and was afraid if she turned around the corner again she would see him. She hadn't felt this way since that night at Lucas's house and she got that call, then it hit her who she needed to see who would make her feel safe again. So Brooke took off to the one person she knew would protect her.

"So what you up to tonight?" Cam asked as he and Lucas walked into the gym.

"I don't know yet man, I may just stay in I'm not sure." Lucas shrugged taking a sip of his water, as they walked out of the gym and towards their dorm rooms. Turned out Cam's dorm building was right next to Lucas's and they had become fast friends, hanging out a lot going to club and parties. Lucas at first was a little hesitant on it all because he was still trying to get Brooke back but he knew Rachel was trying so figured if he had fun it was no big deal.

"Yeah well I think I may go out… I haven't decided yet," Cam said "I was actually thinking…" he started but stopped when they heard someone scream behind them.

"Lucas!" a teary eyed Brooke called as she ran towards him.

"Brooke you ok?" Lucas asked as he turned to see her, but before he could say anything else she all but tackled him wrapping her arms tight around his neck and sobbing into his chest. "Brooke what's wrong?"He asked pulling away from the hug and wiping the tears that were falling and she just held on to his arms not wanting to let go.

Brooke tried to talk but every time she would open her mouth another she would just start crying more.

"I…he…" she got out but more tears came.

"Ok…ok baby I need you to breathe for me ok." Lucas said trying to calm her down but it was no use. Her body was shaking, she couldn't seem to catch her breath and she looked like she just saw a ghost, "Brooke you are scaring me what's wrong?"

"I was in class, I couldn't think…my mind…my mind wasn't focused on anything, I just kept thinking about you…so I left class…" she said taking a deep breath then going again "Then I walked out of class and I turned and ran into someone…" her voice cranked and she feel back into him crying.

"Who did you run into Brooke? Did someone hurt you?" he asked concerned but she just kept shaking her head no. "Brooke…" he said grabbing onto her arms and brushing her hair out of her face "Who was it?"

"Him Lucas, he is here." She cried. "God I feel so dirty again, I bumped into him, he touched me again." She cried hugging him tight, feeling safe in his arms and never wanting him to let go of her.

"Who Brooke? Why do you feel…" he started but stopped as his eyes grow big remembering

Flashback

"Lucas, he made me feel so dirty. I couldn't look at myself for weeks, I wouldn't leave the house. I would just stay at home with my parents and brother. Not a day would go by where I wouldn't think about what he did too me, took from me and every time I would think of it I would feel so gross and dirty. But then when I'm with you I don't feel like that ever, I don't even think about it, but now I feel that again." She cried as tears again filled her eyes. "Please make me feel clean again Luke please. I need you; I need you to make me feel clean again."

Flashback Over

"Where is her Brooke?" Lucas asked and Brooke just cried again "Brooke!" he repeated and she just pointed towards the way she ran from "Cam stay with her." he said walking past her and towards where she was. He looked around but saw no one, just some teachers talking and a few students but none could have been him, Brooke told Lucas what he looked like and none of them even resembled him. Which a part of Lucas was kind of glad for because he knew if he saw the guy right now he would kill him. He turned and walked back to where Brooke was and found Cam trying to comforter her but since he had no clue what was going on he wasn't sure what to say or do, and thanked god when Lucas came back over to them.

"He wasn't there," he said as Brooke again throwing herself into his arms crying.

"Why is he here Lucas?" she asked begging for someone to tell her that it was a dream he wasn't here, she didn't see him or crash into him.

"I don't know Pretty Girl," he whispered brushing his hand through her hair "I don't know." Lucas felt her tears soaking into his shirt but he didn't care, she needed him and he was going to be there for her, "Hey," he said lifting her chin to look at him and knocking away the tears "He is not going to hurt you ok? I am not going to let him hurt you or even get near you ok?"

Brooke just nodded then laying her head back into his chest, feeling safe in his arms again, and knowing no matter what he would protect her.

"Come on let's get you home." He said picking up his gym bag he had dropped and wrapping his arm tight around her as they walked towards their dorm. Lucas didn't know what to do, he wanted to protect her if she let him but he also knew he couldn't be with her all the time. However right now it didn't matter his Pretty Girl needed him and he was going to protect her anyway he could.

Review please :))