Chapter 5

"The Places you have come to fear the most"

"Can I get you something to drink? Wine?"

Brooke turned her eyes from the windows, "Beer?"

Nathan nodded, "Let me go get some glasses."

She smiled, "its okay. I can drink it from the bottle."

While Nathan disappeared into the kitchen, she observed the apartment. It was comfy, she concluded. And huge. When Nathan had insisted that they went back to his apartment, she had no idea that his apartment would have taken up the last three stories of the building.

It wasn't all modernistic and cold. There were a lot of warm colors – flowers, artwork.

"I love the colors."

"Haley," he said simply.

"Are you guys going to live here after the wedding?" Brooke asked as she sat in the red loveseat.

Nathan shrugged, "It's all up to her. We might go look at some houses upstate."

Brooke nodded thoughtfully.

"So what do you do for fun?"

Nathan laughed, "You wouldn't believe me."

"Try me."

"I get a six pack and play Play station until I feel my IQ start to drop"

"How do you feel your IQ drop?" Brooke teased.

Nathan smiled as he slid into the other end of the chair, "Quite simple actually. Usually around the time I start to have full blown conversations with the players."

Brooke laughed out loud, "Now that is crazy."

"How about you?"

"I sketch, dance, sing in the shower."

"Here was I thinking you cooled down from a tiring week by heading off to the shooting range…" he teased

Brooke smiled, "I had to be the tough one."

Nathan circled the rim of his beer with his index finger, "I'm not trying to take her away from you. You don't have to hate me for that…"

"I…"

She was cut short by the doorbell and Nathan signaled at her to hold that thought while he got the door. Brooke sank back into the couch. She didn't hate him. She was a bit jealous maybe. Was she that obvious though? She took a sip of the beer before turning towards the door. Lucas was standing there, face red… sweating. Brooke smiled; she had never seen Lucas so unkempt. She was about to say something when a glimpse of Nathan's face assured her that his friend was having more than a bad fashion day.

"Sit down Luke," he was saying, "I'll get you something to drink."

But Lucas had other plans. He grabbed the nearest vase of flowers and slammed it against the wall. Brooke jumped. Those poor lilies would never be the same again.

"Luke," Nathan said softly, "sit down man. Sit down and relax."

This time Lucas allowed himself to be led toward the couch.

"She's engaged to him," he slurred running his hand through his blond hair continuously while fidgeting in the seat.

"It's O.K" Nathan said consolingly, sitting next to his friend.

"Engaged," Lucas said again, more frantically this time.

"You're better off without her" Nathan said reassuringly.

"Maybe you're right" he answered

Brooke was silent. She had no idea what was happening but Lucas seemed drunk, very drunk. And she had a terribly sinking feeling that he might cry.

"How did you get here Luke? Please tell me you didn't drive."

"Nah," he slurred, "I walked."

"You walked from Tric?"

Lucas nodded, "Yeah I did."

Nathan let out a frustrated sigh, "Brooke, can you stay with him while I get his car?"

But before she could answer, Nathan was already calling for his driver to come around with the limo. Brooke nervously scooted next to Lucas

"Do you want some water?"

When he didn't respond she said quickly, "I think I'll get you some."

She swore softly. She was happy that Haley had found love, honest. But why couldn't she have found love with someone 'normal.' She swore she would have a heart attack if Lucas felt the urge to confide all his sordid secrets to her. Or if he cried.

Brooke shuffled around the kitchen, why the hell did he need such a huge kitchen anyway. When she eventually found a glass, she filled it with water. What the hell was going on?

"Here goes nothing," she whispered.

Lucas was sitting listlessly on the couch. Brooke almost smiled; Even in a drunken stupor Mr. Scott was still a beautiful male specimen.

"There you go."

He reached out for the glass and took a sip.

"I loved her."

Brooke sighed,

She looked at Lucas. Damn. He was near perfect looking, but he looked so broken.

"She was my everything"

Brooke was speechless; she didn't see that one coming. Lucas stared ahead for some time. Then after a moment, he slammed the glass against the wall.

Brooke jumped.

"God," she snapped, "can you stop breaking things in Nathan's house."

He looked at her. His eyes were glassy with tears Brooke knew he would die before he shed.

"You don't understand."

"No I don't." she conceded, "but you need to calm down."

"It's only been a month"

Brooke moved closer to him, placed her hand on his shoulder and massaged it soothingly.

"Things will work out."

He shook his head and murmured that they wouldn't. Then, damn it, he allowed the tears to fall.

Panic filled Brooke

"Don't Luke," she pleaded, "Please don't."

Gently she moved her hands towards his face and used her thumbs to stroke the tears from his cheek. He closed his eyes as she continued stroking his cheek, running her other hand through his hair.

"Relax," she whispered. After some moments Lucas grabbed the hand which was stroking his hair stunning Brooke. She withdrew from him.

"Sorry," she murmured although she was not entirely sure why she felt it so necessary to apologize for what she had done. In an instant the sad, broken Lucas she was comforting was replaced by the Lucas she had grown to hate. But just as quickly, his expression changed to one she couldn't quite comprehend. Brooke was still trying to gather her thoughts when his mouth crushed hers.

"Lucas," she murmured against his lips, pushing him away.

"One kiss," he said softly. Brooke closed her eyes. One kiss never did hurt anyone.

But she was wrong. He parted her mouth gently with his tongue, softly touching it with hers. Then he was savoring her. She could still taste the lingering scotch but was overwhelmed by his warmth, his gentleness. She tentatively kissed him back playfully sucking on his tongue, his lips – gentle bites and nips. Brooke pressed her body closer to him, encouraging him to deepen the kiss but when his hand roamed under her blouse and traced feathery circles along her spine, she snapped back to reality. She pulled away from him, half dazed, waiting for her pulse to return to normal – her blood to cool.

"Damn," she whispered breathily.

Lucas gave a tiny smile, "Damn indeed."

x-x-x

Pounding. God, he would give anything for the pounding to stop. Lucas turned over in bed wondering if he should risk opening his eyes. He didn't think it was such a good idea, so he did it slowly. He half opened one eye before he was assaulted by sunlight, so he closed them quickly again. Somewhere beyond the pounding, he knew it would be wise to get it over with. He opened his eyes quickly. When he got over the assault of the sunlight, he looked around the unfamiliar room.

"You're up."

The voice. It was feminine and sultry and Lucas panicked.

"Here you go."

She handed him a bottle of Advil then a glass of water. Her hair fell straight down her shoulders.

Haley smiled, "I hope you don't mind, I spent the night."

Lucas shook his head, "I think I'm the one who's supposed to be saying that."

She laughed, "No. You were out like a log all night. Nathan was really worried about you."

Lucas was quiet.

"How could you bring yourself to even be nice to me after what I did?"

Haley stunned him by laughing again and pulling her black robe closer to her. Then in a dead pan voice she said, "How are you so sure those pills weren't laced with poison."

After some seconds her laughter filled the room again, "I know that you were only trying to look out for Nathan. I am happy to know you love him as much as I do…"

"You mightn't believe me," Lucas started, "but if I had known the truth, I would have never have brought it up."

She nodded and Lucas could tell it still pained her to talk about it.

"Do you fully trust me?"

Lucas paused, "No."

She smiled, "I admire your honesty. Brooke doesn't trust Nate either but they're trying to be friends. I think we should try too."

Lucas nodded but mention of Brooke brought back unbidden thoughts. Kissing her was stupid. He frowned. No amount of alcohol or depression should have allowed him to do something so stupid. He felt his anger rise. Damn her. Damn her for reacting the way that she did. He could still smell the lavender of her skin and the vanilla of her hair. But worse yet, he could still taste her. He could feel her lips move against his.

"Remind me never to drink again," he said ruefully, "I do stupid things."

Haley smiled, "Don't we all. Let me go make some breakfast."

Lucas allowed himself to sink back into the bed, thoughts of Brooke flowing through his mind. Who kisses the woman who annoys him most in the world? God he was in idiot!