So much good feedback that I couldn't help but quickly right the next chapter for you guys! Curlylizard97- I greatly appreciate that you have been in such wonderment of what's going on with Lucas and I assure you it will be fully revealed soon. Although I have a feeling you may have caught on ;) And Texasunniest – I promise to answer all of your questions in due time. This chapter will give you a little more insight on Lily. Also both Brooke and Lucas are in their junior year of high school, similar to the first season of the series. As much as I do love Haley and Lucas' dynamics I wanted to explore the underlying relationship between Peyton and Lucas because I believe the show contorted their chemistry into love when actually it was just a really good bonded friendship. But that's also coming from a diehard brucas fan. Special thanks also to dianehermans, lilohb, and BpDs89.

One last side note, because I know all of you are dying for more BL I assure you it is in store. But I also enjoy the build-up. Hang in there guys, you will get your BL smut J

Review please! It's been pushing me to keep up with updating this story a lot!

Chapter Four - Daylight

Brooke woke up tangled in unfamiliar sheets with a pounding headache. She looked over realizing that the room she was in was one she had never seen before. At her last school she had a bit of a bad track record for waking up with this same feeling, except thankfully this time she was fully clothed. In fact she also realized she was alone in this strange room, although clearly it belonged to a guy.

The comforter was a navy blue paired with the dark gray of the sheets. There was a night stand beside it with an alarm clock and a pair of headphones. To her right was a desk that faced a window that was closed with blinds. The desk was organized, much to her surprise. A laptop rest on the center accompanied with a few papers and a pen. To the right of the desk was a shelf filled with books so used that every bind was broken.

Brooke leaned forward, reading a few of the titles. Most of them were classics from what she could tell, like Dickens. On top of the bookshelf was a row of three picture frames. Bingo. She recognized the faces of the first one immediately. A younger Peyton Sawyer was doubled over in a laughing bit not facing the camera accompanied with the boyish grin of Lucas Scott.

Just as Brooke was about to get up and take a look at a much happier version of her neighbor the bedroom door opened. She hurriedly laid back down, afraid that she was going to meet Mr. and Mrs. Scott in bad light. To her relief she recognized the gray hooded figure as he quietly shut the door behind him. As he set his tattered basketball beside his desk Lucas noticed the now awake girl in his bed.

"You're up." He said softly. Brooke suddenly realized that just because she was clothed didn't mean she kept her hands to herself last night. Or that he did the same. Just as she was about to ask him what they did last night she caught sight of the pillow and blanket that had clearly been used on the floor beside the bed.

Never in her life had she encountered a boy with such chivalry. Many had carried her home when she had partied a little too hard but none had ever slept on the floor for her. In fact she was usually eagerly greeted by hungry hands under her shirt before she even had time to come to fully.

Lucas stood there beside the bed for a moment more before interrupting her epiphany – "I'll go grab you some water and advil." Taking her silence as a terrible hangover, Lucas hurried back down the stairs to fetch her something to ease the pain. Brooke opened her mouth to stop him but was hit with a wave of sharp pain in her forehead. Water and advil actually sounded pretty appealing.

A few moments later he burst back in with a full cup of water and two orange pills in his hand.

"Here you go," he knelt beside the bed holding out the pain relievers for her to take which she did graciously before passing off the cup of water. "That should help."

"Thank you," her voice was especially raspy which she could account to her previous night. Luke nodded his head in acknowledgment before standing back up and taking a seat in his desk chair. "Did I – well, did you take care of me last night?" she locked on to the bluest part of his sad eyes, seeing once again, another side of Lucas.

Lucas nodded slowly, clearly uncomfortable with taking credit for an act he considered minuscule. "I was going to take you back to your own room but realized I didn't actually have a way to get in." he paused, shifting in his chair for a moment. "but don't worry, I slept on the floor and –"

"Thank you." Brooke sat up from the bed cutting off his sentence. "Thank you so much, Lucas." He fell silent as he looked at her.

"Don't mention it, Brooke." he tried to gain his composure from the genuine gratitude that seeped through her statement. They both fell silent again until Brooke scoffed with a dimpled grin on her face.

"Can you imagine what kind of first impression that would be to my parents if they met you while carrying me to my room?" Lucas chuckled, leaning back in his chair. Brooke laughed harder as she pushed her hair out of her face. "I would kill to see the look on their faces."

"Evening, Mr. Davis just carrying your daughter to bed. Oh! And by the way, welcome to the neighborhood!" Lucas broke out laughing a little harder at the image. The two fell into a laughing bit and Brooke took notice to the fact that this was the most loosened up she had ever seen the brooding blonde.

There wasn't a thing about Lucas she didn't like. He was tall and built, but he wasn't busting out of his shirt with bulging biceps. His skin was tanned and rough, a negative to her paled tone. Although his smile was rare it was the cutest one she had seen to date. Brooke wished to see a lighter side of him, to see him happy. But also she kind of admired the quiet side of him too. He was thoughtful and genuine. The compassion he displayed to her in the last 24 hours was evident and she was sure she wasn't exclusive to this kindness. More than anything Brooke wished to pull him out of his shell.

"Are you hungry?" Luke stood and opened his binds, allowing sunlight to flood in. Instinctively Brooke jumped up and swung her legs to the side of the bed.

"Starved!" Lucas seemed pleased by her enthusiasm.

X

Lucas sipped the last bit of his coffee as Brooke finished her breakfast. Sitting across from her at a place that felt more like home than anywhere else was oddly comfortable to him. Despite the fact she had drank enough for the both of them the night before she seemed unfazed by it.

"I can't believe Nathan's mom has such a cute little café! And you were right the food was perfect!" Brooke crossed her legs and admired the restaurant. Lucas felt the slightest pang at the reference of Deb owning this place. It was Karen's café. His mom had worked so hard at building the atmosphere and creating the menu. When Luke was younger he recalled all of the long hours she invested on creating a home for tree hill within her business.

After what happened his Aunt Deb had taken over the place to keep it running. Sitting here now was the first time he had spent a morning drinking this coffee since his mom passed.

"Yeah, it's a pretty great place." Lucas agreed as he stared at the bench he spent most of his adolescence bouncing on as his mother worked diligently. Don't do this now. He reminded himself of his company and the fact that this was his idea. Why did he insist on taking Brooke to the café? After all this time away from it? Lucas was starting to confuse himself, and clearly puzzling his Aunt as well.

"Lucas, honey. Haley said you were here. I haven't seen you come over in awhile." Deb held back the urge to ask him how he was as she made her way to the table but thought twice as she took notice in the pretty girl sitting across him.

"It's good to see you Aunt Deb." Lucas stood to hug her which took her by surprise. He was so much like his mother in that way. So much damn love in his heart.

"You too. I saw your sister come in yesterday, she seems to be loving school!" Deb noticed as the brunette tilted her head slightly in interest at the mention of Lily.

"Yeah, she's been making a lot of friends and I think she's working on joining a few clubs." Pride was thick in Lucas' voice at the mention of his sister.

"Lovely, she's always had a good head on her shoulder. The both of you. Anyways I have to go back before Haley loses her mind but come by soon? Your Uncle Keith would love to see you too and even though Nathan will deny it he's been talking about you." Deb turned to head back to work as Lucas nodded his head in agreement.

Luke turned back to Brooke who was watching him curiously as he took his seat again. "Speaking of Lily, I actually have to go. I promised to pick her up from a friend's house and I don't want to keep her waiting."

"Mind if I come along for the ride?" Brooke was forward and it was new to Luke. Nobody other than Peyton ever asked to come along anywhere with him when it came to these sorts of errands. Normally he would insist on going alone but he would be lying to himself if he wasn't starting to enjoy Brooke's company.

X

They pulled up in front of a large house and Lucas shut off the engine. "I'll be right back!" He slammed the door behind him and made his way up to the top steps of the huge blue house at the same time as the double doors opened and a petite dirty blonde girl emerged.

Brooke watched their interaction as Luke put an arm around his sister who looked about 12. As the two made their way over to the truck Brooke took in her features. She looked a lot like Lucas in some ways. Her hair was a lighter blonde than Lucas' but her smile directly resembled his. The only real difference was that unlike the blue of Lucas' soft eyes, hers were a light brown.

"— twenty minutes, Lucas! I spent twenty minutes watching their cat drink water and walk circles." Lily exclaimed dramatically as she opened her door in the backseat. Luke went around to the front and got back into his side.

"Don't they have a tv or something?" Lucas turned the key in the ignition and started up the loud engine of his truck.

"Well yes, they have a tv Lucas but I did not want to wake the rest of those lazy asses up!" The way Lily enunciated his name made Brooke smirk to herself. Luke shook his head and drummed his fingers on the wheel with a small laugh.

"Bring a book next time." He stated, cocking an eyebrow in Brooke's direction noticing her amusement in the conversation.

"Bring a book?! Lucas, I love you. I really do. But how many damn times do I have to tell you that bringing a book does not solve any of my issues." Lily threw her hands up in the air exasperated before dropping them back to her lap. "I know you love to bury your nose in those things but I need a better solution!"

Brooke couldn't suppress her giggle this time and both the Scotts stopped to take acknowledgement of her.

"Oh, Lily. By the way this is my – Brooke, this is our neighbor." Lucas gestured towards the passenger seat. Lily put her hands on either side of the front chair to peer over and get a better look of their company.

"I know you! Brooke Davis right? She's the girl every one has been talking about!" Lily turned back to Luke to get some sort of confirmation.

"I'm not sure I like the sound of that but yes, Brooke Davis. And you must be Lily?" Brooke smiled at the fireball sitting behind her. She completely juxtaposed the calm energy of her brother.

"Yes!" Lily exclaimed as she plopped back into her seat and Lucas pulled out of the driveway. "I can't wait to tell the girls that I'm neighbors with Brooke Davis."

X

Lucas pulled back into the driveway of his house just as the afternoon sun was at it's highest point in the sky. The three piled out of his car while Brooke and Lily continued their conversation that endured the entire ride home. Luke smiled at the sight of them, pleased to see someone connect with his sister so well. Just as Lucas was about to invite the two of them inside he noticed the black SUV that was also parked in the driveway.

Luke turned white as a ghost and stood stiff for a moment. He turned back to Lily to try and get her attention but it was nearly impossible. He could see the kitchen light was on through the window which meant Dan had probably already poured himself a glass of scotch. A sign that made Luke's stomach knot up.

"Lily, I'm going to go inside." Lucas knew he had to get in there first to shield her from the inevitable chain of events that was about to go underway. Lily nodded dismissively as she continued to ramble about Project Runway.

"Where you going, Broody?" Brooke broke the conversation to lock eyes with him. Lucas forced himself to shake the hypnosis he was sure to fall under if he kept the stare.

"I've got to go. But today was fun. I'll see you soon, okay Brooke?" He said hurriedly and turned back to the house, awaiting his fate.