Chapter 14

Truth doesn't make a noise

"Something's different" Nathan said quietly as they sat on the porch brandy in hand.

"Yeah, it's colder out here"

Nathan smiled, "You know I'm talking about you"

Lucas grinned then sipped the brandy, "Yeah. This is a new shirt"

"You're a jackass you know that?"

"And you my little brother," Lucas said, "are a married man – who's the bigger ass?"

Nathan gave a little laugh, "What's the deal with you and Brooke?"

"I don't know what you mean."

Nathan shifted in his seat and leaned closer to him, "I see the way you look at each other, those private smiles, those insinuated inside jokes."

"So we don't want to kill each other anymore."

Nathan nodded, "Nice ring."

"Thanks," Lucas said with a smile, "But you have one too, it's my graduation ring from Duke."

"Not the one on your finger Luke," Nathan said with a weary sigh, "the one on hers."

It dawned on him, "No. No you don't. Don't even go there."

"I just want to know what's going on," Nathan said laughing, "we leave you for a night – you wake up with her underwear in your room. We leave you for a week – you are practically engaged and playing house."

"The ring was a gift," he said simply.

Nathan nodded, "So where you planning on taking this?"

Lucas was confused by the question.

"Nowhere. This will all be over once we get back to New York."

"Is there a reason why it has to be?"

Lucas tried to think up excuses in his head – there was no way he was going to admit to Nathan that he had thought they fit together in ways he hadn't fit with anyone.

"Different worlds."

"Bullshit reason."

Lucas shrugged, "You're going to have to take it."

"Fine," Nathan retorted getting up, "but I'll have you know I've never seen you look at anyone like that before."

Nathan paused, "Except probably Peyton…"

Lucas didn't say anything.

"I appreciate you trying to get back at me for the prank I played on you."

Nathan shrugged, "I understand that you were afraid that Hales and I wouldn't have believed that you were up to good. I understand you locked me in that damn room because you are a twisted jackass… but I'm very grateful for what you did. I have no reason to get back at you. And I'm serious Luke"

x-x-x

"I can't believe he did that, "Haley said turning to face Brooke on the bed. Brooke smiled, she hadn't either – but after spending so much time with him, she realized that was exactly the sort of thing Lucas would be prone to doing.

"Do you know Samantha was in on it?"

"From work?"

She nodded, "Sam was the one who gave him all the names of people I was close to. She said he was really, really sweet."

"I can imagine," she said dryly, "how was the honeymoon?"

"Amazing, we spent so much time together – we can't wait to start the rest of our lives."

"Don't make me puke," Brooke said with a smile.

"We'll start shooting the DVD tomorrow."

Brooke nodded.

"I was really sorry about leaving you alone with Luke," she said after a while, "but you two seem to have gotten along really well."

"You can say that I guess," Brooke said evasively.

"What's with the ring?" Haley asked suddenly.

"Nothing," Brooke said flippantly, "it's supposed to be on my right hand and I think I'll do that now."

"You're my best friend Tigger, did you think I wouldn't see the way you look at him" she winked

"Damn it hales…I let myself fall and I don't know how I could have been so stupid" she groaned

"Hey don't beat yourself up about it, The Scott men have a way of making you fall before you even know you slipped"

"Are you going to tell him" she asked

"No Haley, and don't say anything, not even to Nate, it would never work"

They lay there for half the night – talking about the wedding, about Brooke's new designs but Haley never once brought up Lucas again and Brooke was glad she didn't.

x-x-x

It was freezing when they returned to New York. Brooke couldn't believe that they had traded up the island sunshine for this. The flight back was almost as awkward as the first– Lucas was stuck to his laptop again while she sketched and Nathan and Haley cuddled. Brooke figured that it was time she got used to not having Lucas near her, or paying significant attention to her, this was the way it would be.

They chit-chatted in the limo on the way back to her apartment but the conversation was strained. Brooke tried to ignore the sense of foreboding within her. They had their fun and it came to an end, like any natural course of things. There was no need to be melodramatic about it. There was no need to shed tears or curse fate for making things the way they were. No. If she was going to come out of this situation with anything, that would be her dignity. She wouldn't mope – she wouldn't confess her feelings. She would say goodbye and wish him well in life. Yes, she decided, that would be the dignified thing to do. After they hauled her baggage into her apartment, she walked him to the door.

"It was fun," he said eventually.

She nodded, "That it was."

God, where was the friendly banter – why was everything so stiff and formal.

"Brooke," he said as he turned to go. "Why does Haley call you Tigger?"

She laughed out loud "Back in high school, whenever I wanted a guy, I'd wait in the back of his car, and leave a leopard bra in the backseat"

He smiled "There's no one like you Brooke...Thanks for everything. After Peyton I thought I could never care about anyone again – you've been a good friend."

Friend? Her heart dropped to her stomach – then to the floor and shattered. She hoped it didn't show on her face.

"Well I try my best," she said forcing a smile, "and I think we should keep this friendship up. Meet for drinks a couple nights per month and all that jazz."

"Definitely," Lucas said.

"Let's kiss and make it law."

Lucas leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers –Brooke hoped to God she was able to catch the tear before it fell.

"Goodbye Luke," she said softly.

"Goodbye pretty girl"

Then, she closed the door. Suddenly, she didn't feel like unpacking anymore. She didn't feel like sketching anymore. The only thing she wanted to do was to curl up in bed and cry until she forgot that any of this had ever happened.

Lucas stared at the closed door. Friend? Did he tell her that she was a good friend?

God, that was as far away from 'I think I love you' as one could get. But, after a while he started thinking that it was for the best. They wouldn't have worked out anyway. But, it would have been good to try, he thought angrily to himself. No, he thought. It was good to cut her loose now, he only thought he was in love – as things would have gotten downright nasty if he stuck around until he was dead sure and things didn't work.

He walked slowly to the limo wondering what she would do if he were to turn around and run back up there then begged her to try to make it work. Yet, even as he turned towards the building – he knew it was a dumb idea. Why was he assuming that she had any feelings for him at all? After all, she could have asked him to stay – but she didn't. And she didn't look particularly heartbroken – she was fine.

No. What he needed was to go to Tric and drown his sorrows in vodka. Lucas smiled grimly as he instructed Tim to take him home. After drowning his sorrows in Brooke – he was sure that nothing else could quite compare again.

x-x-x

"You're stupid for letting her go" Nathan said to him as they headed for the showers

"I told you Nate, we wouldn't have worked" Lucas said angrily "can you drop it"

"Lucas, when I got back and saw your face I knew something had changed, she makes you happy big brother, and I assure you that doesn't come around often…listen when that whole prostitution thing happened with Haley I had to ask myself, could I live without her? So ask yourself the question Luke, can you live without her?

"No" he mumbled under his breath

"What?"

"No" he said smiling "And I don't want to"

"Then go get her dumbass" he said smiling as Lucas grabbed his keys and ran towards the door.