I toss and turn deep in the covers of my navy blue comforter. Sweat is perspiring on my forehead. It seems as though each time I fall into a slumber, I have the same dream. The same damn dream that completely tears me apart inside.

"Lucas…Lucas, please help me. Please, I'm so scared Luke. I'm so alone."

I hear her voice while I stand in the deserted hallway. I have a bat in my hold and my guard is up. I'm not sure exactly who or what I am going to find. My feet move slowly against the floor. I don't want my sneakers to make any squeaks along the tile. I don't want any attention to be directed towards me, I want to remain unseen.

"Luke, I need you. I can't…I'm just getting so tired." I hear her broken voice swirl all around, echoing off the hallway walls. I spin around trying to pinpoint where exactly my girl is.

"Where are you baby?" I whisper to myself as I round the corner and see the blood smears. There is blood splatter across the frame, along the doorway, and puddles on the floor. I swallow the lump forming in my throat as I close my eyes and take a calming breath. I cannot panic. I need to remain completely focused at the moment. My goal is to find her, to make sure she is okay, and get her to safety. I need her to be okay. I can't lose her, not now and definitely not like this.

"Lucas!" I hear her screams grow with a bit more fear as my head starts to grow warm with angst. The bell sounds above me at the same moment a shrilling bang rings through my ears.

"Peyton!" I scream as my eyes shoot open and I sit up quickly in my bed. Placing a hand to my chest I can feel my heart race beneath my palm. I am panting as the tears burn in my eyes. Gripping the sheets tightly in my fists I release an exasperated groan before throwing the blankets from my body and rising to my feet. Heading into the living room I sit on the couch, scratching at the back of my head.

"You know it's three thirty in the morning Luke. You really need to get some rest. You have a lot of students who need to learn from your knowledge." I hear whisper as she moves to sit next to me on the couch. Resting her hair on my shoulder I instantly bring my arm to rest around her frame.

"Another bad dream Luke?" She questions softly and I reply instantly.

"Yeah…I can't shake it Hales. I want to. I want to forget all of it. I want to push aside everything that is my past and start all over. Peyton isn't coming back. It's that simple." I mutter looking down at my hands and I feel my best friend shift beside me. She instantly brings her lips to my cheek and kisses me softly. I feel her fingers run through my hair and I look at her with a weak smile.

"I met Brooke today." She states simply. "I know I should have told you earlier at the café when you were rambling on and on about this stunning beauty." She pauses rolling her eyes and then carries on. "I sat with her at lunch. She was outside, alone. We talked for a while. She seems really nice Luke." I nod in agreement with Haley's statement. I may not have gotten to have the longest conversation with the girl but from what I have seen as well as heard; she doesn't seem that bad.

"I get the feeling she has a lot of sadness. She's seems a little lost, like she is in more pain then she lets on." This comment sparks my attention. I didn't really notice any of this. Brooke Davis seemed quite put together when I saw her today, confidant, feisty, and self-assured.

"Are you sure Hales? I mean she seemed just fine in class."

"She practically cried outside when we were talking. She seems to have a lot on her plate right now." Haley voices.

"And you're telling me this because?" I ask wondering what is making Haley tell me all of this information. Is she warning me to step back? I haven't really even tried to pursue anything; I'm not going to pursue anything. She's my student. I witness the look Haley is displaying and I quickly make known,

"She's my student Hales." It is the same line I have been feeding to myself all day. She is my student meaning she is off limits. She is my student, meaning she is out of my reach. She is my student, meaning I could lose my job over the impure thoughts I've been harboring for her all day long.

"And you are my best friend. You haven't so much as gone on a coffee date with another woman since Peyton…well it's just been a long time Luke. I never hear you speaking about woman. For a while Nathan and I started believing maybe you were gay." She teases and runs her fingers through my hair once more. "I have known you for many years Lucas Scott. I know what you are thinking before you even confess it."

I scratch my head and pull slightly out of Haley's grasp. Turning to face her directly I question what has been building in my mind.

"So what are you saying Haley? I need to back off? She's broken and she's hurt. I'm a fucking mess myself. You saying to let her be?"

"I'm saying…"She pauses and takes my hands in hers. Smiling whole heartedly at me she softly speaks. "I'm just saying to be careful Luke. Your heart is still grieving over Peyton Sawyer."

"Scott." I interrupt and then shake my head at my own stupidity.

"Luke…"

"She was a Scott Haley. She was my wife, if only for a moment of time Peyton Sawyer was my wife."

"But she isn't anymore. Even so…" She shrugs her shoulders at me and shakes her head while adding, "Even so, you've proved my point. Your heart is still grieving Luke. And this girl, this Brooke Davis, she seems like a really nice girl. But I can tell she is also grieving as well. That girl is shattered in so many places, I can just tell. The two of you are so fragile…and yes, you are her teacher. I don't believe that is going to stop you though. I do feel like you are going to try and get close to this girl. You might fight it for a while but I see it, and I know. All I am saying is to tread carefully buddy…for your sake, and her own."

~~~~SSS~~~~

"Good Morning Class, welcome back. All glad you could make it once again. How was everyone's day yesterday?" I hear a few grumbles, mumbles, and a few muttered responses but my mind isn't focusing on their replies. My eyes have sought out to find a certain brunette and I frown realizing she is not present. Looking to my watch, making sure it is the right time to begin I sigh before reaching for the dry erase marker. Turning towards the board I quickly scribble the lesson for today.

"So I know it's just the start of the year but it is never too early for an assignment." I hear numerous objections and I smile to myself remembering it was only a few years ago I was too, one of these objecting students. Turning to face everyone I begin to voice.

"We are all human beings. We live our life each day with struggles and obstacles. Some of us are brought up in unpleasant households; some have experienced great hardship, suffered great losses, been torn away from the people that they care most for. I want you all to write a paper." Again the room is filled with many groans of discontent. Smiling at my students I carry on. "Come on guys this is your chance to really open up. Dig down deep and let us know what it takes to be you. What someone like you has to experience day in and day out. Let us feel your hurt alongside of you. I want raw, deep emotion. This should be easy right? You know your own pain more than anyone else. I just want you to express it. Put it into words. What is your greatest sorrow?" Walking up and down the aisles of desks I boast. "There are no specifics on the length of your work. I would appreciate more than a paragraph but, if that is all it takes you to sum up your struggles, fine by me. This is an at home assignment. I want it printed and a finished copy on my desk in two weeks' time." Checking my watch once more I shake my head at Brooke's absence and walk back over towards my desk. Taking a seat I lean back in my desk chair. "You can all start brainstorming for the rest of this period." A hand is instantly thrown up and I call on one of my female students.

"Yes Vanessa?"

"I was just wondering. What was your biggest sorrow Mr. Scott?" She bites the tip of her pen and lets her tongue toy with the plastic cap. I force myself not to roll my eyes at the girl. Some of these girls in this town, they are too desperate it seems.

"I've experienced a lot of sorrow in my life Vanessa."

"But your biggest sorrow, come on man you're making us answer the same question." A male student with the name Ryan adds. "It's only fair if you let us in on yours. Tell us what you'd write about." I hear a chorus of "Yeahs" and I sigh. Taking a deep breath I nod at my class and just as I am about to open my mouth a faint sound of heels running down the hall disrupts my students as well as my own focus. Smirking to myself I walk over to the door to the classroom and bring it open rather quickly. I hear the figure on the other side of the entry gasp as I voice.

"Well, well if it isn't Ms. Davis. Please, would you like to join us? I remark as I open the door for her to enter, her body brushing past my own as she makes way into the room. I watch as she briskly takes her seat. Her arms cross over that perfect chest of hers and a deep shade of red begins to present itself on her cheeks.

"Brooke? Any explanation on why you are twenty minutes late for my class? It's only your second day. You aren't making that great of an impression." I inform. Just because this girl captivates me, just because the sight of Brooke Davis alone makes me salivate; it doesn't give any reason for me to favor her. How fair would that be to my other fellow students? I watch as she raises an eyebrow at me before biting the corner of her lip.

"I didn't realize I was making an impression on you at all Mr. Scott." She fires back and I have to stifle the smile that threatens. But then once again I take into consideration my status in this room. She can't possibly think its okay to talk to one of her teachers like that? I look around the class and notice the smirks as well as chuckles from others. A few are sitting there mouth agape as Brooke looks down at her slender fingertips. Sighing and shaking my head I almost can't control her name spilling from my lips.

"Brooke"

"Look I'm sorry okay. I just…there was a few things I needed to take care of. I didn't realize I was going to be this late. Or late at all, honestly." She looks at me pleadingly. I know that she is secretly asking me to drop the subject. Maybe I will, if only for now. I am a fair teacher, my students' typically like me. But I will not let a student disregard my stature. Even if said student is none other than Brooke Davis.

"Fair enough. Just don't let it happen again."

I watch as relief washes over her face and I wonder just what made her late this morning. Why was she always running around? What really went on in the life of Brooke Davis? Turning towards the dry erase board I point once more towards the assignment at hand.

"How about you all start working on the assignment? Or at least start brainstorming. As for my story, I guess you all will just have to wait to hear it."

~~~~~SSSSSS~~~~~~