It had been one week since Brooke left with her family. Lucas missed her terribly, but they spoke on the phone and through text every day and night. Karen had noticed a change in her normally brooding son, a happier change. She recognized the look of being in love.

"Talk to Brooke lately?" Peyton asked. They stood in the lobby of the theater waiting on Jake.

"Last night. She seemed happy. She made some friends."

"Yeah, Leah and Chloe, right? They sound…interesting."

They shared a laugh. "they took her to a biker party. She tell you that?"

"Yeah, can you imagine that?"

They laughed again. Jake entered, causing Peyton's face to light up like the night sky during a full moon. Luke noticed this and looked away as they kissed.

"Hey, man, how's it going?" Jake and Lucas fist bumped and headed into the theater.

After the movie, the three of them decided to grab lunch on the Market Street Docks. It was nice hanging out as friends with Peyton. There was no tension, no drama, only calm and relaxation.

Lucas missed the friendship he shared with Peyton last year. At one time he had been crazy about her, wanted to be with her forever. But she hid her feelings for him until he moved on with Brooke. Lucas didn't realize which girl he was in love with until he had hurt both. Peyton moved on to Jake, and Lucas thought they were good for each other. Peyton never smiled at him the way she smiled at Jake, with her entire face. Peyton didn't get Luke's heart racing the way Brooke did. Brooke Davis did something to him, she drove him crazy and he was in love with their madness.

"So, I've been thinking," Peyton spoke up, a mouthful of sandwich. After she swallowed, she continued, "how would you two feel about a roadtrip?"

"Where to?" Jake asked.

"New York. To see Haley," she knew this was dangerous territory with Lucas, especially if they didn't tell Nathan. Those big green eyes of hers moved from Luke to Jake.

He struggled to find an answer. Luke and Haley hadn't left things on good terms. He didn't even know she had left town until the next day when he stopped by the apartment. Nathan had destroyed everything of hers and drank until he passed out on the floor. Lucas had to help him to the couch, and that's when he found out Haley had left town.

Luke called his best friend several times, only to be told she couldn't talk right then. After weeks of unreturned phone calls, he stopped trying.

"Yeah," he finally said, "I'm in. Let's go this weekend."

"I'd love to go," Jake said, "but it's my time with Jenny. Nikki is out of town for a couple of weeks."

Lucas and Peyton shared an uneasy look. Given their history, should they go on a trip together? Brooke would become psychotic if she knew they were on a trip alone. Lucas and Peyton knew there was no running from their past.

"You two should go," Jake continued, "I'm sure Haley would love to see you."

"You're okay with Lucas and me going?" Peyton questioned.

"Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Jake knew of their past, everybody in Tree Hill knew, but he loved Peyton and he trusted both of them. Besides, he knew how much Lucas loved Brooke. Jake gave him the advice to try again with her.

It started getting late so Luke went home, leaving Peyton and Jake to say goodnight.

Karen and Keith were on the couch watching a movie, looking cozy next to each other. He grinned and sat in the chair.

"Mom," Karen looked over at him, paused the movie, "Jake is covering my shift at the café this weekend."

"Okay, why's that?" Luke never asked anyone to cover his shifts.

"Peyton and I are going to see Haley."

"That's great, Lucas. You can take the care package I put together for her."

"I will. We're leaving Thursday morning."

Luke changed for bed then called Brooke. She answered on the third ring.

"Hey, you," she said in her usual seductive way.

"Hey, you, back," he grinned, "What are you up to?"

"Nothing, really," there was laughter in the background.

"You're not at another biker party, are you?"

She laughed, "No, not even close. Leah and Chloe are staying here tonight. We're just hanging out."

"Alright, well, I'll let you get back to your fun. I just wanted to say I love you and I miss you."

"I love you, too. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay. Don't have too much fun."

"Oh, you know me," she said coyly.

"Yeah, exactly," they laughed. "Goodnight, Pretty Girl."

"Goodnight, Broody."

That night, Lucas dreamed about Brooke. When he thought about her, he couldn't contain his excitement about the future. The way she looked at Keith's would-be wedding, wearing that strapless dress and her hair curled, she was so beautiful it hurt. They danced at the river court that night, neither one wanted to end the night, to let go of the other.

He thought about Haley and Nathan sneaking off to get married. Luke didn't want to hide anything about his relationship. He was the guy for Brooke, he was going to marry her someday. And when that day came, he wanted the world to be a part of it. He wanted their friends and families to witness the promise of forever. They were only eighteen years old, but Luke couldn't imagine life without Brooke. For the first time, he was truly in love.

The ringtone belonging to Nathan woke him. Half-asleep, he answered, "Nathan, what's up? It's 6 a.m."

"Sorry, man, look, I need your help. I have to get rid of this mess."

"What mess?" Then it registered with him and his tone became stern, "Haley's stuff."

'Yeah. I can't have it here anymore. Can you help me?"

Nathan wanted to trash everything, but Lucas wouldn't let him. They compromised and rented a storage unit. The packing and moving took them all day. Nathan wasn't in the mood to talk, so they had the music playing loudly. The sun was setting when they finished.

"She's coming back, Nate. You know that."

"Yeah, but she's not coming back to me. She made her choice."

"You gave her an unfair ultimatum."

"She kissed him, Lucas. Did she tell you that? Haley kissed Chris. Twice."

He didn't know. The look on his face told Nathan that he didn't have a clue. Haley left that out of the conversation. Now his anger and frustration were directed at her.

Knowing it would hurt Nathan, Lucas didn't mention the upcoming road trip to New York. He needed his own answers, and maybe he would come home with answers for Nathan, too.

When Brooke called that evening, Luke was over at Peyton's. they were making a road trip play list.

"What are you two up to?" She asked, a smile in her voice. Lucas turned on speaker-phone so they could all talk.

"Planning a road trip," Peyton shouted from her computer.

"Oh exciting. Any place I know?"

"A place you love, actually," Luke told her. He leaned over Peyton's shoulder to tell her he had the new Travis album.

"That's awesome, you guys. When I get back home we'll have to plan a trip together. Go see a show or something."

"Sounds great. Gavin Degraw is touring this fall," Peyton told them.

"Perfect. I love Gavin!" Brooke shouted.

Lucas didn't want the call to end, so he left Peyton alone with the music. He talked to Brooke on his walk home.

"Is Summer over yet? I miss you like crazy," he told her, wishing she was walking beside him.

"Oh yeah? What do you miss most?"

"The girl behind the red door."

"Lucas," his romantic talk amazed her every time. "I miss being behind that red door. The door here is black and boring. I miss Tree Hill."

"Tree Hill misses you. Bevin is bored out of her mind without you. She stops by the café every day."

"Tell her to come see me then. Don't get me wrong, Leah and Chloe are great, but they're not you guys. Chloe's boyfriend has a tattoo on his head. Can you believe that?"

"California's a big change from North Carolina, I guess."

"Baby, you have no idea. I can't wait to come home. To be with you."

"I can't wait either. I love you, Brooke. I really do," he sighed heavily as he unlocked his bedroom door.

"I love you, too, Lucas. Call me tomorrow, okay? I'm gonna go for a swim."