A/N: Thank you for the awesome reviews. And thanks to my beta: Leeese!
Disclaimer: Don't own OTH
Chapter Three
Brooke opened her eyes and stretched out. She turned to see that the bed beside her was empty. "Lucas?" she called, hoping that he didn't leave without saying good-bye. She pushed back the covers and climbed out of bed.
She then jumped as the bathroom door opened. She let out a relieved sigh when Lucas walked out of the bathroom. "Morning," he said cheerfully as he ran his eyes over her. "Is everything ok?"
Brooke nodded and managed a smile as she said, "I didn't know where you were. I thought you left without saying good-bye."
"I'm not that mean," Lucas replied. "In fact, I was hoping that we could have breakfast together before I head back to Nathan's house. And I'll even cook."
"You're the guest. You shouldn't have to do that," Brooke told him.
"But I want to," Lucas protested as he went over and kissed her sweetly. "Now what do you want to eat for breakfast? I can make us some scrambled eggs."
Brooke gave him a smile. "That sounds delicious."
Lucas returned the smile. "Great. I'll go and start making it," he replied before he left the room.
Brooke followed him out to the doorway. She pouted as she asked, "Do you have to make it right now? Can't we just stay in bed some more?"
Lucas laughed. "No offense but I'm starving. So how about we do that after breakfast?"
Brooke nodded. "It's a deal." She then continued to follow Lucas into the kitchen. She helped him find the items that he needed to cook. She then watched as he cooked their breakfast. "So why don't you come to Tree Hill more often?" she asked him curious. "From what I heard from Nathan, you only come here for holidays. I mean you are only two hours away and the restaurant can't keep you that busy." She hoped that he wasn't offended by her comment.
Lucas just gave her a smile. "Managing a restaurant is harder than you think," he replied. "And I know I should visit Nathan and Haley more often. He is my only brother. And I adore Haley. It's just that I can't seem to get away. Of course, now I have a great excuse for coming here more often."
Brooke smiled in return. "I sure hope so. I would love to see you again."
"Me too," Lucas agreed. "And I promise I'll come back this weekend."
"I can't wait," Brooke replied happily.
Brooke was sorting out her clothes when she heard someone knocking at the door. She frowned, wondering who that could be. Lucas had left an hour ago. So she knew that it wasn't him.
She went to the front door and opened it. She was surprised to see Peyton. "Hey, come on in," Brooke said, greeting her brightly.
"Thanks. I came by to invite you to have dinner with me and Jake tonight since you've been alone all day," Peyton replied.
Brooke nodded and smiled. "Yeah, that sounds nice. And I haven't been alone all day. I spent the morning with Lucas."
Peyton raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Lucas Scott? As in Nathan Scott's brother?" Brooke nodded. "Well, I'm not surprised with the way you two were acting with each other last night especially that kiss."
"Actually, we've decided to be friends," Brooke told her. "Neither of us is ready for a relationship right now."
"Come on, Brooke. You and Lucas seem to be really into each other," Peyton replied as she gave her a knowing smile.
"So you like Lucas more than Nathan?" Brooke asked curious.
"Well, I don't know him that well yet. So I can't really judge," Peyton replied. She then added playfully, "He was spending too much time with you."
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize that I was hogging him," Brooke said with a smile. "You can get to know him this weekend. He's coming back to Tree Hill."
Peyton raised her eyebrows. "Really? Why am I not surprised?"
"We're just friends and then we're not just friends," Brooke replied with a slight blush.
Peyton was confused. "Wait, what?"
Brooke gave her a look. "We're friends with benefits," she explained.
Peyton nodded understandingly. "I'm sure that will last long," she said sarcastically.
Lucas walked into the restaurant and looked around the room. He soon saw who he was looking for as she walked over to him. She embraced him in a hug. "Hey, I expected you back hours ago."
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. I met this most amazing woman at Nathan's and Haley's party the other night," Lucas said with a smile. "And I had to get to know her more. So I stopped by her apartment and we lost track of time."
Deb raised her eyebrows. "I see. Was that before or after you spent the night there?" she teased him. Lucas looked at her surprised. "When I called yesterday, Nathan told me you were staying the night at your woman friend's house."
"She's not just a woman, Mom. She is the woman I'm going to spend the rest of my life with," Lucas told her with an adoring look on his face. "I knew it from the moment I saw her."
"Lucas, you just met this woman. Shouldn't you spend more time with her before making a huge decision like that?" Deb asked him in a stunned tone.
"I know you and Dad didn't work out. But I believe in love at first sight," Lucas replied still smiling widely. "And don't worry. Neither of us is ready for a relationship right now so we have decided to be friends."
"You must be a little more than that if you spent the night over at her house," Deb told him.
Lucas looked at her feeling slightly awkward. "Do you really want to know about my sex life?"
Deb laughed. "No, but I do want to know more about this woman you met."
"Well, she moved to Tree Hill three months ago from Seattle. She's twenty-three and will have her twenty-fourth birthday in March. She's an only child. And she works at a clothing store downtown," Lucas replied. "That's pretty much all I got out of her. Nathan told me that she keeps the rest of her life very private. I guess it will take a little bit for her to trust me."
"Well, she can't trust anyone better than you," Deb replied with a smile.
Lucas smiled in return. "Thanks Mom."
Brooke let out a deep sigh as she unlocked the front door. She was tired from working all day. She was glad that she could finally go home and relax. She hoped that she wouldn't sleep too late tomorrow. She wanted to get up extra early so she could be ready whenever Lucas would come over. She couldn't wait.
She yawned as she walked inside. She went to the kitchen and put her purse on the table. She checked her answering machine and wasn't surprised to hear that there was a message from Lucas. She smiled to herself as she listened to the message. She then pressed the 'save' button before she headed to her bedroom.
She sat on her bed in front of her laptop. She opened it and waited impatiently as it came to the main page. She then went to Skype and was delighted to see that Lucas was online. She waited to see if he would do a video chat with her. She squealed in delight as he accepted.
"Hey Brooke. How was work?" he asked her.
Brooke sighed. "It was exhausting. I am glad to be home."
"I know what you mean. I've been really busy with the restaurant lately. But don't worry. I promise that I'm still coming tomorrow," Lucas told her with a smile. "I can't wait to see you again."
Brooke gave him a smile. "I'm looking forward to it. And you can see me now." She then made a big show of yawning. "I'm really tired. You don't mind me change while we talk, do you?"
Lucas returned the smile. "Not at all. And for the record, seeing you on here isn't the same."
"So what do you want to do while you're here?" Brooke asked as she took off her shirt. She made sure to stay in the view of the camera. She saw Lucas's face as he saw her.
"We can get to know each other more," Lucas replied. "After all, we're friends. And friends should know more about each other. And the view has suddenly just got so much better. Please tell me you're not just stopping with the shirt?"
"That's true, but we don't have to know everything about each other in one weekend, do we?" Brooke flirted.
Lucas laughed. "No, we don't. And you know what means?"
Brooke nodded. "More fun in the bedroom. What item of clothing shall I take off next, Lucas?"
Lucas groaned. "Man, you're torturing me Brooke. It makes me more anxious for tomorrow to come. Skype just isn't the same. And you should take everything off."
Brooke looked at the time. "Well, you can always come at midnight. That way, tomorrow has already come."
Lucas knew she had a point. "It's tempting."
"How tempting?" she asked as she slipped her bra straps off her shoulders. Lucas watched her intently and willed her to keep going.
"I really don't want to spend another night without you," Brooke said in a sudden serious tone. She didn't want to tell Lucas that she had trouble spending the night alone. The nightmares were still regular. And she had often gone next door to Jake and Peyton's apartment and slept in their guest bedroom. "Do you think you can come tonight, please?" she pleaded.
Lucas sighed before answering. "Alright. Do you think you can wait up for me?"
Brooke nodded. "Yeah, I'll be waiting. Just think, Lucas, you can take the rest off yourself when you get here," she teased. Lucas swallowed hard at the tone she had used.
"I'll be there as soon as I can," he promised her. He then grinned as he added, "Just don't get started without me."
"I won't," she said as she laughed. "And make sure you don't get any speeding tickets." They then signed off and Brooke shut down her computer. She didn't know why, but she always felt safer when Lucas was near. She was glad that he was willing to drive two hours just to be with her. That was a friend. She just hoped that they could be more than friends someday soon. His quick acceptance of her invite gave her the impression that she didn't have to worry.
