"You look really handsome tonight, cousin. Very dapper," Brooke said, her eyes gleaming as she straightened Jake's lapels. Her touch was light, yet firm, hinting at the confidence she had in him.
Jake grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Thanks, Brooke. You clean up pretty well yourself," he teased, taking in her stunning crimson gown that hugged her curves like a second skin.
Brooke's cheeks flushed slightly, a soft giggle escaping her lips. "Why, thank you, Jake. I do try," she said, her voice lilting with genuine happiness. The dress was indeed a showstopper, and she felt like a million bucks in it. Her long straight chestnut hair was pulled up, twisted and pinned to the top of her crown to create this phenomenal formal updo. The heavy cut bangs are smoothed down to frame the top of her face and completes the over-all do brilliantly.
Her hazel green eyes sparkled with excitement as she spun around, watching the way the light played with the delicate sequins sewn into the fabric. It was like watching a kaleidoscope of colors as the gown shimmered under the soft lights of the room. She knew that the dress would be a hit at the party, but she couldn't help but feel a bit nervous even though she knew she shouldn't be.
Brooke knew that Dan hadn't said bring a plus one, but she knew Peyton would want Jake there. Brooke had butterflies in her stomach, she hadn't gone to a black-tie event in ages, not since her own family had hosted one for her sweet sixteen. But she was older and wiser now, and she had Jake by her side. As always.
The party was in full swing when they arrived. The grandeur of the Sawyer mansion never failed to take her breath away. The chandeliers cast a warm glow over the marble floors and the walls adorned with priceless artworks whispered secrets of wealth and power. The sound of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air, mingling with the smooth jazz playing in the background.
Brooke felt a sense of belonging as they stepped into the grand ballroom. She had been to countless events like this growing up, but there was something about this night that felt different. Perhaps it was the excitement of seeing Lucas again, or the thrill of surprising her best friend with Jake's presence. Either way, her heart raced as they approached the crowd.
Peyton had expressly told Brooke that her family was taking her away for the weekend for her birthday just yesterday, but Dan's unexpected invitation had thrown a wrench in the works. Brooke felt a pang of guilt for keeping the secret from her best friend, but she wanted to surprise her. Jake left her side to go chat with a few guys he knew from the university's basketball team, leaving Brooke to navigate the social maze alone. She graciously accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter, the bubbles tickling her nose as she took a sip, unaware of what was about to happen.
-x-
Lucas felt like hyperventilating when he saw Brooke walk in. She looked absolutely breathtaking in that crimson dress. It had been days since they had last seen each other, and the sight of her was like a punch to the gut. His eyes followed her every movement as she made her way through the crowd, her hips swaying to the rhythm of the music. Lucas was mesmerized by her even as he wondered why she was here at this private event. He knew Peyton didn't invite her—he heard her expressly tell Brooke that her family was taking her away for the weekend. He sure as hell didn't invite her, knowing that this night was the assigned night that he would make it official and propose to Peyton.
"Judging by the stunned look on your face I suspect you discovered my little surprise guest." Dan said deceptively calm, his eyes also on the beautiful brunette that entered the room arm-in-arm with Jake. Lucas head whipped around to look at his father, who only looked back at him smugly as he commented, "Although it looks like she brought a surprise of her own. Don't worry son, girls like her are a dime a dozen—"
Lucas whirled around to face him as anger set in. "Why would you invite her—she has nothing to do with any of this!" he hissed at his father, not wanting to make a scene but could feel the anger rising within him.
"I beg to differ Lucas. Do you honestly think I didn't know about your little affair?" Dan asked in that eerie calm voice that he always used towards his enemies. "I knew…I knew when you brought her to the cabin last month…I bet she goes down more times than the sun—"
"If you knew, then why are you doing this now?" Lucas interrupted, unable to stand the way his father was taking about Brooke nor comprehend what his father was telling him. "Why, put on such a production huh?"
Dan turned him around to face him completely as he answered with a deadpanned expression on his face, "It's one thing to sow your wild oats—it's another if it comes between our arrangement with the Sawyers. Your little…indiscretion has become a complication…a complication that will not hinder your future. You will still propose tonight—do you understand?"
Lucas felt like he was going to be sick. The room spun around him as the weight of his father's words settled in his stomach like a brick. He had to marry Peyton, no matter what his heart whispered to him every time Brooke was around. But as he watched her, laughing and mingling, he knew that it was going to be the hardest thing he had ever done.
The evening went by in a blur of forced smiles and awkward conversations. Every time Lucas looked at Brooke, his heart ached with a pain that was almost physical. He had to stay away from her, he told himself, for the sake of his family and their future.
"Welcome! I'm so glad you all decided to attend our little Peyton's birthday gala…our shy girl is around here somewhere…" Peyton heard her mother say as Lucas dragged her away from prying eyes.
"What's so important that you had to drag me away from my birthday gala Luke?" she asked breathlessly as they finally managed to find a room that was unoccupied. "What's wrong?"
Lucas began pacing back and forth as he said, "My dad wants me to publicly propose to you tonight—"
Peyton rolled her eyes as if to say that's all? And let out a soft laugh. "Yeah I know Luke, we planned this a few weeks ago—"
"No you don't get it Peyt!" he hissed, still pacing back and forth. "My Dad told Brooke about the party tonight to expose us and she brought Jake!" he said as he raked a hand through his otherwise perfectly gelled hair.
Her green eyes widened in complete shock and fear, "Oh my God—how did he know—"
"He found out when I brought Brooke to the cabin, and I guess he's had us followed ever since…"
She started ringing her hands as she asked in full panic mode, "Luke, what are we gonna do?!"
Lucas faced her and answered as best as he could. "I don't know! All I know is that the woman that I love and one of my best friend's will hate me by the end of the night."
Peyton's eyes searched Lucas's, "Do you think Jake will hate us too?"
"I don't know," Lucas sighed heavily. "I hate my dad right now. Brooke shouldn't be here to see this—we both know it!" he said as he paced around the room, his frustration palpable. He did not want to hurt Brooke or Jake.
"This is an impossible situation—"
Before she could finish what she was saying, Dan signaled for them to come out. They had to play this charade out until the very end. Lucas took a deep breath and offered his hand to Peyton. "Let's get this over with," he murmured, his eyes dark with regret.
Dan stood behind Lucas and whispered in his ear, "Do it now or I will make sure that your little girlfriend disappears for good. And make it convincing—the room will be watching."
Lucas exhaled and nodded his understanding, knowing that his father never said things he didn't mean nor threats he didn't fully plan on executing. His heart was beating a mile a minute as he approached Peyton, for once not from nervousness but from dread. He approached the curly blonde and took a deep, deep breath before taking her left hand in his and kneeled down before her.
Lucas gulped then said, "Peyton…I know I don't always show it, but you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Let's make your birthday the very special celebration it should be, by doing me the honor of becoming my wife and I promise you that I'll remind you of just how much you mean to me every day of our life together. Will you marry me?" the words were like ash on his tongue.
Peyton's eyes welled with tears but those tears weren't from happiness as she said, "Yes."
The room erupted into applause, the flash of cameras went off like a thousand suns and Lucas felt like he was trapped in a nightmare. He stood up and slid the ring onto her finger, trying his best to keep the smile on his face even though it felt like it was going to crack into a million pieces at any moment.
-x-
Brooke had been trying to find the birthday girl all night. Just as she spotted her, she disappeared again with Lucas. She wanted to follow them but was intercepted by Haley and Nathan who hugged her in greeting. By the time she caught sight of Peyton again she saw Lucas kneeling in front of her saying, "Peyton…I know I don't always show it, but you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. Let's make your birthday the very special celebration it should be, by doing me the honor of becoming my wife and I promise you that I'll remind you of just how much you mean to me every day of our life together. Will you marry me?"
"Yes."
Who knew one simple word would cause her so much pain. The room was spinning so fast, it was as if she had drank an entire keg without her knowledge. Blood was pounding in her ears, her entire body hot with hurt and humiliation as she felt herself being guided out of the building. There was no way that this was real. There was no way that her first serious boyfriend proposed to her best friend. There was no way that she witnessed that. Absolutely no way, she thought feverishly as she walked along with Jake who also had to be reeling from the unexpected proposal. He opened the door for her and walked around to the drivers side and got in before hearing a faint, "Brooke wait!"
"Stop the car." She ordered in a monotone voice, having heard Lucas' voice.
"Are you sure you want me to do that? You almost fainted back there—"
"I'm sure. Stop the car." She said in the same monotone voice. Jake did as she said and rolled to a stop. Taking a shaky breath she got out of the car and walked toward Lucas who was running to meet her.
"Brooke I'm sorry—" he began as soon as she was within earshot. But unfortunately for him, once he was close enough she couldn't fight her feelings of betrayal as she slapped him hard. Twice.
"Well I don't know who I hate more Lucas," she seethed as she stared daggers at him. "You—for being a lying bastard or me for believing your shit and betraying my friend in the process!"
"I didn't lie to you Brooke—"
"Really?! You're marrying Peyton after you both told me there was nothing going on between the two of you!"
Lucas exhaled then admitted, "Okay I admit that I did lie by omission but there really is nothing going on between me and Peyt—"
"You really expect me to believe that?! After that truly inspiring proposal you just gave her?! Lucas you played me for a fool this entire time!" She accused as hot tears ran down her cheeks unchecked.
"Brooke I—" he began but his words failed him. Especially when she wouldn't allow him to talk in the first place.
"What was I to you?! Some play thing that you decided to play with when you got too bored with your fiancée?!" she asked as him as she pushed his chest, unable to control the anger and hurt within her.
"Brooke, you know that's not how I think of you—"
Brooke shook her head in disbelief, "How do you think of me?! Huh?! Inquiring minds wanna know!" she demanded, practically shaking with fury. "Lucas, I just watched you propose to my best friend! Proclaiming your love to my best friend for the world to see—"
Lucas felt his heart shred to pieces at the devastation in her usually brilliant hazel eyes, "You know how I feel about you—" he began but she wouldn't let him finish his plea.
She pressed a delicate hand to her forehead as she asked, "Do I? I really thought I did—but that was before you pulled a complete 180 and got engaged to Peyton—"
"I'm sorry Brooke, please, just let me explain—"
"Yeah, you're right, you are sorry! Why don't you go screw yourself and then that whore who's now formally my best friend!" she started breaking down at the thought of not only losing Lucas the only boy that managed to pierce her heart but also the eight-year friendship with her moody soul sister who also resided there. "Oh God what was I thinking?! How could I be so stupid to believe that for one moment that you and I were ever going to live happily ever after in a house with a white picket fence with his and her matching cars?! I cannot believe I came all the way here for this—I'm the dumbest girl alive!" Lucas tried to comfort her and hold her, but she shoved him away.
"Brooke please hear me out—" he begged, trying to take her hand in his to keep her there while hating seeing her like this and knowing that he was responsible for breaking her heart.
She, of course, snatched away from him. "Why should I? Listening to you got me here—From this moment on you and Peyton are dead to me!" she hissed meaningfully.
Jake having seen enough jogged to her side and asked, "Are you alright Brooke?"
Brooke shook her head, sniffling, "No but I will be. I'm the bounce back queen."
Lucas exhaled then tried appealing to him saying, "Jake, listen man there are things you both don't understand—"
Jake shook his head and punched him in his eye, "That's for breaking her heart." He then punched him again this time in the jaw. "And that is for stealing my girlfriend." Jake watched in satisfaction as Lucas crumbled to the ground in pain then took Brooke's hand and led her to her car.
Lucas watched the love of his life and his best friend drive away from him without letting him explain anything and there was nothing he could do about it.
-x-
"Did that really just happen Jake?" Brooke asked hours later while sitting on the couch at their glam-ma's house. They both knew that they couldn't go home after what happened and they needed a safe place to lick their wounds so to speak. Jake—no matter how strong a front he put on—was just as devastated by the situation as well.
"It happened…" he said on a sigh as he stared unseeingly at the huge TV screen, before gulping down whiskey from the bottle. He hissed from the immediate burn then continued to say, "Your boyfriend proposed to my girlfriend—like we didn't exist to them."
"God, I need to drink amnesia juice after witnessing that. But I guess this is the closest thing." Brooke murmured more to herself than anything as she grabbed the bottle of Grey goose from the table. "How did this happen?" Brooke asked sadly, also staring aimlessly at the TV before tossing back vodka straight from the bottle.
"We let our guard down. We fell in love—" he answered bitterly before Brooke interrupted him.
"—and broken our rules for somebody that turned out to be a lying liar who lies." She said acidly as she changed the channel again in disgust when she saw a couple kissing in a commercial. "You gotta be kidding me!" She changed the channel quickly then smiled as she watched a murderer chase his victim through the woods. She pictured Peyton as she ran from her machete and grinned, "Much better."
"Jake…I'm sorry." She slurred an hour later, her eyes drooping from sleep.
"What for?" he asked, his eyes also lowering from drunken drowsiness.
"I encouraged Peyton to act on her feelings for you…had I known that she would do this—"
He hugged her close then sighed, "We both were blindsided Cookie. It's not your fault."
"You wouldn't have met her if it weren't for me! And I wouldn't have met them if it weren't for me…" she slurred, not sure if she were making sense but she still felt somehow responsible for this entire mess.
"It's not your fault. It's theirs." He reminded her. "They lied to us. They led us both on. They pretended that we were their entire world when they…" he couldn't finish, the pull of sleep was too powerful in his inebriated state. Brooke wasn't too far behind, her eyes closing for the last time for the night.
-x-
Lucas sat in the quiet of his room, the walls seemingly closing in around him. He had the curtains drawn tight, as if keeping the light out would somehow shield him from the harsh reality of the situation he found himself in. The sound of the rain tapped a mournful rhythm on the windows, echoing the turmoil in his heart. He put on his earphones, listening to Cold 'Wasted Years' on repeat, the lyrics cutting deeper with each pass. The melancholic tune mirrored the ache he felt as he replayed the events of the night over and over again in his mind. The song was a poignant reminder of the love he had lost—his eyes on the ceiling as he let out a ragged breath, feeling utterly defeated.
He had tried to call Brooke repeatedly, his thumb hovering over her name in his contacts like it was a button that could somehow reverse time. The phone remained silent in his hand, each unanswered ring a stab in his chest. He knew she was hurt, knew she was angry, but he had to explain. He had to make her understand that the proposal was not a betrayal but a twisted game orchestrated by his father—a game that had just claimed the prize that meant the most to him. The whiskey in his hand was doing little to dull the pain.
The door to his room creaked open and in stepped Peyton, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. She looked at him with a mix of sadness and confusion. "Lucas, I'm so sorry about earlier," she began, her voice quivering. "But we have to talk about this."
Lucas sighed, setting his phone down on the bedside table. "Peyt, there's nothing to talk about. You know how my dad is." He took a swig from the whiskey bottle, the liquid burning a path down his throat. "It's just business to him, always has been. Nothing else matters."
Peyton sat down next to him, her own heart a tumult of emotions. She knew the weight of their families' expectations, but she had hoped that somehow, Lucas would find a way to break free. "But you don't love me, Lucas. Not like that we both know that. And now Brooke—"
"Thinks I played her," Lucas murmured, the words feeling like a noose around his neck. "But I never meant to hurt her. I never wanted any of this. Neither did you! It's not fair to any of us."
Peyton looked at him with a mix of pity and anger. "No, it's not fair. But what are we supposed to do now? Jake won't take any of my calls or texts either. I haven't even tried to approach Brooke because I know she needs time but it's killing me that I can't talk to her right now...both of you are my best friends and I'm stuck in the middle of this mess," she whispered as she wiped away a rogue tear that had escaped her eye.
"My own dad set me up...for his own gain," Lucas growled, clenching his fists. The room was thick with tension, the silence only punctuated by the mournful patter of rain outside.
Peyton took a deep, shuddering breath and leaned closer to Lucas. "We can still fix this. We're not married yet. We can tell them it was all a misunderstanding."
Lucas stared at her, his eyes bleak. "A misunderstanding? Peyton, I don't know if I can just go back to pretending after what I've felt with Brooke. And you...you have feelings for Jake now. How can we just ignore that?"
Peyton bit her lip, her heart racing. "But Lucas, our families—"
She was cut off by the sound of a text notification buzzing on his phone. It was from Brooke, the screen lighting up with words that seemed to suck the air out of the room. "Stay away from me," it read, simple and stark. The anger in that one line was like a punch to the gut, leaving him reeling.
-x-
A day later Peyton was sitting on the couch, looking through a wedding magazine that her mother had sent over for a suitable wedding dress—it was the only thing her mother allowed her to plan for her upcoming nuptials. When the lock turned suddenly, followed by the knob turning, her eyes snapped to the opening door. Brooke was about to walk to her room when she spotted Peyton looking at her in obvious shock.
"Brooke—"
"I just came to get my things and I'm out of here." She said venomously before going into her room.
Peyton stood to her feet and debated whether she should go after her or allow her to do what she came to do then try to talk her out of it. Making a decision, she went to her room and said, "We really need to talk—"
"Do we?" she asked nonchalantly, putting her clothes into her suitcases.
"Yes, Brooke, we do."
She dumped what she had in her hands then said, "Fine. You want to do this now—let's do this. I don't know what hurts worse, you and Lucas sneaking around behind my back or you lying about it to my face!"
Peyton wasn't prepared for the hurt in her voice, "Brooke—"
Brooke shook her head then threw up her hands in exasperation. "Forget it. I'll just get the rest of my stuff later."
Panicked, Peyton reached for her as she begged, "Brooke wait! Don't go."
"Why shouldn't I?!" the brunette demanded heatedly. "Hm? Why shouldn't I walk out of that door and never come back?"
"Because…we have been best friends for eight years. We went through everything together, we told each other everything—"
Brooke scoffed, rolled her eyes and then said, "I must've missed the part where you told me you wanted to marry my boyfriend. So definitely not everything."
"Brooke you even said that you never thought you and Lucas would last—"
Brooke saw red. Before she knew what happened she slapped Peyton across her cheek then snarled, "Don't you dare! Don't you dare twist my words around to make yourself feel like you're not a backstabbing two faced bitch, Peyton, because you are. And you know it." She then took a deep breath and added, "I want you to understand something, as far as I'm concerned this friendship is over. And, if we never speak again for the rest of our lives, that'll be fine."
Tears streaking down her face partly from the pain in her cheek, the other part from the pain of the very real possibility losing Brooke. "So this is how it ends? An eight year friendship that survived four absentee parents, shoplifting, jail time and we can't survive one boy?"
"Not one boy. My boy!" Brooke said sadly.
Peyton looked at her friend her heart stricken with pain at the distance between them. She hadn't realized how much she had hurt Brooke until this moment. "Brooke, I'm sorry. Our families set this up long before he met you—we don't love each other like that, I swear."
Brooke looked at her but said nothing, she just continued to pack her things as if she hadn't heard her.
"Brooke, please, I'm begging you, don't leave like this. We have to talk—"
"I'm sorry but I can't, I'm not ready to talk to you. You're marrying my boyfriend—or ex-boyfriend, whatever he is to me now." She said with a sad smile before continuing to pack.
Peyton felt her eyes well up with tears. "You know that Lucas never loved me—"
Brooke stopped packing and turned to her with a look that could cut glass, "Don't even go there, Peyton! Don't you dare try to justify what you've done!"
The blonde looked at her, her own eyes wet with unshed tears as she whispered, "I love Jake and Lucas loves you—we didn't plan any of this! Our families did! And we're just pawns in their games, their business dealings!"
Brooke looked at her then at the suitcase. She sighed heavily before looking back at Peyton with anger. "You watched us fall in love Peyton and yet you said nothing! You knew it would end like this! You knew and you said nothing!"
"What was I supposed to do? Tell you and ruin everything?" Peyton snapped back.
Brooke slammed the suitcase shut. "You should have told him that he's a cheating, lying, son of a—"
"Brooke, please! It's not that simple!" Peyton pleaded.
But Brooke was already out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway. The sound of the door slammed shut, leaving Peyton in the cold silence of the room, the wedding magazine on the floor forgotten.
-x-
"Peyt?" Lucas called as he entered her room to find the room dark. He flipped on the light and saw her huddled on the bed crying. "Peyt what's wrong?"
Peyton looked up at Lucas, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She was holding onto the pillow for dear life. "Brooke was here. She said she's leaving, she said she never wants to see me again!" she wailed, unable to believe all of what happened in the last 72 hours. "I was so happy to see her but then she looked at me as if she hated me, she called me a backstabber!"
Lucas's heart sank even further, hearing the pain in Peyton's voice. He knew he had hurt Brooke deeply, but seeing Peyton in such distress was almost unbearable. He walked over to the bed and sat down beside her, wrapping his arms around her shaking shoulders. "I know you didn't mean for any of this to happen," he murmured, trying to offer some comfort.
Peyton buried her face into the pillow, sobbing. "It's all just a mess," she said between sobs. "Jake is hurt, Brooke is furious with me—I didn't mean for any of this to happen."
Lucas comforted his best friend as best as he could, his own heart ravaged by the chaos he had unknowingly unleashed. He knew that he had to fix things, but the weight of his family's expectations and his own love for Brooke made him feel like he was drowning in quicksand. He held Peyton tightly as her cries grew softer, the quiet sobs eventually giving way to hiccups. "We'll figure this out," he assured her, though the words felt like a lie on his tongue.
The following week was a blur of tense meetings and forced smiles. Lucas avoided Brooke as much as possible, the guilt and longing a constant knot in his stomach. Every time he saw her, he was reminded of the warmth of her skin, the sweetness of her kisses, and the promise of a future that now seemed like a distant mirage. The tension between them was palpable, a silent storm that no one else seemed to notice, or if they did, they pretended not to.
Graduation day dawned, a symbol of freedom that felt like a prison sentence to Lucas. He sat in the auditorium, surrounded by his classmates dressed in their caps and gowns, feeling trapped in a life he had never truly chosen. Peyton was beside him, her eyes sparkling with excitement as they waited for their names to be called. She reached over to squeeze his hand, her own trembling slightly. He squeezed back, a silent apology for the mess he had created.
As the valedictorian's speech droned on, Lucas couldn't help but scan the audience for Brooke. She was there, seated with Jake, her back as straight as the line of her jaw. He had hoped that time would heal the rift, but her cold glare told him otherwise. The ache in his chest grew stronger with every passing second, a constant reminder of the love he had lost.
When their names were finally called, Lucas and Peyton walked up to the podium together, their steps measured and in sync. They had practiced this moment countless times, but it felt like they were moving through quicksand now. The dean handed them their diplomas with a smile and a congratulatory handshake, but the joy that was meant to come with this milestone felt like a distant memory.
The crowd erupted into applause, the sound muffled to Lucas's ears. As they turned to face their friends and family, he couldn't help but seek out Brooke. Her eyes met his for a brief, agonizing moment, and the hurt in them was like a knife twisting in his gut. She had been his and now she looked at him as if he were a stranger—or worse, an enemy.
One minute Brooke was there and the next she was gone. He plastered on a smile and spoke to the well-wishers, hoping it would be convincing enough to mask the turmoil that was churning inside him. His father's stern look reminded him of his duty to the family, and to keep up appearances. He caught sight of Brooke and gasped, his heart skipping a beat as she walked away, her crimson dress a stark contrast against the sea of black and white.
He couldn't let her leave like this. After the ceremony, he pushed through the crowd, dodging proud parents and eager graduates, searching for her. When he found her, she was standing by her car, arms crossed and eyes red from crying.
"Brooke," he called out, his voice barely audible over the din of the parking lot. She didn't turn around. "Please, just talk to me."
Her shoulders tensed, but she didn't move. "There's nothing to say, Lucas," she replied, her voice cold and detached.
He took a tentative step forward, the rain now falling harder, plastering her hair to her face. "Brooke, I know I hurt you, and I'm so sorry. But I had no choice—my dad, he—"
"You had every opportunity to tell me about your so-called arranged marriage to Peyton," she spat out without looking at him. "But you chose to lie to me, to use me! How could you?"
"I didn't use you," Lucas said, his voice cracking with sincerity. He reached out to touch her arm, but she flinched away from his touch. "Brooke, I swear to you, I never meant to hurt you."
"But you lied to me. Over and over again," Brooke's voice was shaky with emotion as she finally faced him. Raindrops clung to her eyelashes, each one a silent accusation. "I loved you Lucas and what's worse is that I lost both you and Peyton—my best friend for most of my life!"
"You don't understand," Lucas tried to defend himself, his eyes pleading.
"God Lucas, I trusted you," Brooke's voice was barely a whisper, the raindrops mixing with her tears. "I gave you everything and you proposed to her, in front of everyone like it was some fairytale!"
Lucas felt his heart shatter into a million pieces as he watched her. He hadn't realized the depth of her pain until now. "Brooke, I didn't plan it like that," he said, his voice thick with regret. "My dad—"
"Your dad...was the only one willing to expose the truth," Brooke interrupted, her voice filled with a mix of anger and sadness. "And even then, you went through with it. You didn't even try to stop him. You didn't even try to tell me the truth! Not once!"
Lucas took a deep, shuddering breath. "Brooke, you have to believe me," he begged, reaching for her again. This time she didn't pull away. "I didn't know how to tell you. I still don't. I love you—I've never felt this way about anyone else. But my family, the company...it's all so complicated."
"Don't you think that if you both would have told me I would have figured out a way for you to get out of it?" She said, tears streaming down her face, mixing with the rain.
"Brooke, it's not just about me, it's about everyone. The merger, our families' futures..." Lucas's voice trailed off as he searched her eyes, willing her to understand.
"Did you love me?" she asked, pointblank, her hazel eyes searching his, looking for a spark of truth amidst the chaos of lies.
Lucas paused for a moment, the rain soaking his graduation gown and plastering his hair to his forehead. He took a step closer to her, his hand reaching up to wipe the wet strands from her face. "More than I ever thought I could love someone," he whispered, his voice raw with emotion.
"Then that should have been all that mattered." she said, her voice breaking with emotion, her eyes never leaving his. "You should have chosen me."
Lucas felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. "I wanted to," he choked out. "But I couldn't—"
Brooke scoffed, "Right. Goodbye Lucas," she said, turning away from him to open her car door.
He stepped forward and took hold of her arm, gently spinning her around. "Brooke, please," he implored, the rain now soaking through his clothes, making him feel as if the weight of his guilt was pulling him down. "I can't lose you."
Her eyes searched his, looking for any sign of the love she knew was there. "Then don't," she whispered. "Don't marry her."
Lucas said nothing, the rain soaking them both as he struggled to find the right words. The weight of his family's expectations and his own love for Brooke left him torn apart. He knew that walking away from the arranged marriage would shatter his father's plans and potentially ruin his family's legacy. But looking into Brooke's eyes, all he wanted was to hold onto the love they shared.
Taking it as a rejection, Brooke tore herself from his grasp and got into her car, slamming the door shut. Lucas stood in the rain, watching her drive away, feeling more lost than he had ever felt in his life. His heart felt as though it was being crushed under the weight of his responsibilities and his love for her. He cursed the fate that had brought them to this point and the cold, calculated world that dictated his life.
-x-
"Fight for the people and the things you love, no matter what, it will be worth it." Glamma Davis had once told her and Peyton once, and now those words resonated in Brooke's ears as she saw the engagement announcement of Lucas Scott and Peyton Sawyer plastered across the society pages. She couldn't believe that she had been so blind to the reality of their situation. Everything she thought had been real was a lie, a convenient cover for a business deal.
The pain was like a constant throb in her chest. Every time she saw Lucas, every time she heard his name, it was a reminder of the love she had lost, the trust she had placed in someone who had betrayed her so deeply. One part of her wanted to fight for Lucas, but another part of her wasn't sure how or if she should fight for him. He was the one that lied, he was the one that cheated…why should she be the one to fight? He wasn't worth it—
Her thoughts were interrupted by the vibration of her phone. She picked it up and saw it was a text from Peyton. Her thumb hovered over the screen for a second before she swiped it open. It was an apology, a plea for understanding. Peyton had never been the type to grovel but the words were there, begging her to see that they never meant to hurt her.
"Did you see the announcement this morning?" Jake asked, his tone flat as he handed Brooke a coffee.
Brooke took a sip, feeling the warmth spread through her, but it couldn't melt the chill that had settled in her core. "I did," she said, placing the mug down. She had moved in with Jake after the whole fiasco with Lucas and Peyton's engagement, seeking refuge in their shared anger and confusion.
Jake was just as destroyed as she was but he knew how to hide it better. He had been avoiding her, probably feeling guilty about the whole mess as well. But they were both victims here. Victims of a twisted game played by their so-called best friends.
"It's everywhere," Brooke said, her voice strained, as she stared at the photo of Lucas and Peyton on the cover of the newspaper Jake had handed to her. The sight of them together, looking so in love, was like a dagger to her heart. She couldn't believe Peyton would go through with the wedding after everything that had happened.
Jake nodded, his eyes dark with his own pain. "I'm moving out of Tree Hill. I just can't stay here anymore," he said, his voice tight with emotion. "It's too much."
Brooke's heart clenched at the thought of losing him too. "Where will you go?" she managed to ask, taking a sip of the scalding coffee to distract herself from the ache in her throat.
"Savannah's been calling my name lately," Jake replied, his eyes distant. "Think I'll head there for a bit. Get some space, some perspective."
Brooke nodded, understanding the need to escape the claustrophobic confines of Tree Hill. She knew that if she didn't leave, she'd never get over Lucas. "I'm sorry, Jake. For everything." She had been the one to set him up with Peyton, thinking that they would be perfect for each other, turned out she should have protected Jake's heart instead.
He squeezed her hand in comfort, "Don't be sorry, Brooke. You didn't know. We'll get through this, together. Like we always do."
The two of them stood there in the middle of her kitchen, the air thick with unspoken words. Brooke wiped the single tear that fell from her eye with the back of her hand and took a deep breath. "I'm going to miss you," she whispered, her voice hoarse from holding back the sobs that threatened to escape.
"I'll miss you too cousin." Jake said, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But it's not goodbye forever. Just for now."
She nodded, trying to smile, but it came out more like a grimace. "You're right," Brooke said, setting the coffee down on the counter. "I'll visit you, okay?"
"You better," Jake said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "I gotta go get packed. My flight leaves tomorrow."
Brooke watched him walk away, feeling the weight of the world on her shoulders. She knew that she had to move on from Lucas, but she couldn't help the love that still lingered in her heart. It was like a wound that hadn't quite healed, and every time she thought she was okay, something would remind her of him, making it throb with pain again.
Days turned into weeks, and Brooke threw herself into her work, hoping to distract herself from the ache. But one night, it all came crashing down as she found herself doubled over in the bathroom, her stomach in revolt. The room spun around her as she retched into the toilet, the sound of her own sickness echoing off the tiles. The realization dawned on her like a dark cloud—she was pregnant.
She took a deep breath then told herself that before she jumped to conclusions that she should go see Dr. Greenberg, who was her gyno. She didn't trust store bought pregnancy tests, too many stories of false positives, she needed to hear it from a professional.
Brooke bit her lip as she waited patiently in Dr. Greenberg's office, her knee bouncing rapidly. The walls were adorned with diplomas and serene nature prints, but she couldn't find comfort in the familiar surroundings today. Her heart pounded against her ribcage like a caged animal desperate for escape.
The door opened, and Dr. Greenberg walked in, a warm smile on her face as she took a seat across from Brooke. She placed the folder she was holding down on her desk and folded her hands. "How have you been feeling, Brooke?" she asked gently.
Brooke took a deep breath, her eyes darting around the room before settling back on the doctor. She listed off her symptoms one by one, hoping that maybe it was just a nasty bug or food poisoning. The nausea, the sudden aversions to certain smells, the exhaustion that hit her like a truck at the end of the day—all the classic signs of morning sickness. She couldn't bear to say it out loud, but she knew deep down what it probably meant.
The doctor nodded, her expression sympathetic as she spoke. "Well, after reviewing your symptoms and the blood test results, it seems like we do have a little situation here, Brooke," she said gently. "You're pregnant."
Brooke felt as if the air had been knocked out of her. She leaned back in the chair, staring at the doctor in shock. Pregnant? The word echoed in her mind like a ghostly whisper, taunting her with its reality. It had to be a mistake.
Her thoughts immediately flashed back to that one night with Lucas, a time when they had been so lost in passion that they hadn't thought about the consequences. They had been reckless, swept up in the heat of the moment, and now she was paying the price. The wall at her old apartment that she shared with Peyton, the sound of their bodies colliding with urgency, the taste of his mouth, the way his hands had roamed over her body like he owned it—it had all seemed so right, so perfect, until now.
Brooke left the doctor's office in a daze, her mind racing. She had to tell Lucas. But how? And what would he say? Would he be happy or would he feel just as trapped as she did? And then there was Peyton—how would she take the news?
The rain had stopped by the time she reached her car, but the gloomy skies mirrored her mood perfectly. She slid into the driver's seat and gripped the steering wheel, trying to steady her trembling hands. Taking a deep breath, she started the engine and began the drive back to Tree Hill, the weight of her secret growing heavier with every mile.
Brooke had always found solace in her glamma's house, with its warm, comforting aromas of baked cookies and the gentle hum of old jazz records. The thought of confiding in her was both terrifying and comforting. She knew Glamma would have words of wisdom, but she also knew that she would be disappointed in the choices she had made.
Pulling into the driveway, Brooke took a moment to compose herself before climbing out of the car. She felt like she was carrying the weight of the world with her as she stepped onto the porch. She could almost hear the squeak of the floorboards that had comforted her so many times in her past, but today they seemed to groan under the burden of her secret.
Glamma was in the kitchen, her back to the doorway as she hummed to the rhythm of a Sinatra tune playing softly in the background. The aroma of fresh apple pie filled the air, making Brooke's stomach churn. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, and cleared her throat.
Glamma spun around, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Brooke. "Oh honey, I didn't hear you come in," she said, wiping her hands on her apron. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
Brooke forced a smile, her heart racing as she stepped into the warm embrace of the house. "Just a bad day," she murmured, hoping to avoid the inevitable. But Glamma wasn't one to let things go unsaid.
"Is it about Lucas?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. "You know you can talk to me, Brooke."
Brooke took a deep breath, her eyes brimming with tears. "It's more than just Lucas," she whispered, her voice shaking. "It's everything."
She poured out her heart to her, even things she hadn't admitted to herself until that moment. The words tumbled from her mouth like a dam had burst, and she couldn't stop them if she tried. The love she felt for Lucas, the guilt over the pain she had caused, the fear of what her future now held—everything came spilling out in a rush of emotion.
Glamma listened with a mix of sadness and understanding, her face a picture of quiet resilience. When Brooke finally fell silent, she reached out and took her granddaughter's hand in hers, giving it a firm squeeze. "You know, sweetie," she began, her voice steady despite the turmoil in the room, "you can't always control the hand you're dealt, but you can control how you play it."
Brooke sniffled, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. "But what if this isn't a game, Glamma?" she asked, her voice small. "This is my life, and I feel like it's falling apart at the seams."
Glamma's expression softened. "Life isn't a game, baby," she said, patting Brooke's hand. "But sometimes, it throws us curveballs. It's how we catch 'em that counts." She paused, then continued, "You've got a tough road ahead, but you're not alone."
Brooke nodded, her eyes glued to the floor. The thought of telling Lucas was like a boulder in her stomach, heavy and immovable. But she knew she couldn't keep it from him. "What should I do, Glamma?"
Her grandmother's gaze was steady. "You need to talk to Lucas," she said firmly. "You can't keep this from him. He has a right to know."
-x-
Lucas stood in front of the floor-length mirror, tugging at the collar of his crisp white tuxedo. The fabric felt suffocating, as if the very threads were a physical manifestation of the guilt and obligation that surrounded him. The room was adorned with the finest decorations that money could buy, a stark contrast to the turmoil in his heart. His reflection stared back at him, a mere shell of the man he used to be, now a pawn in the grand chessboard of family alliances and wealth.
Dan, not wanting anything to crop up, had moved up their wedding date to two weeks after graduation. Lucas felt like he was drowning, the closer the day grew. Peyton, on the other hand, was a vision of serenity. She had always been the more mature one of the two, the one who understood the importance of family and duty. It was as if she had been born to handle this kind of pressure, while Lucas felt like he was about to implode.
Lucas tied his tie to his tux, a heavy anchor settling in his heart but he knew there was no way out of it. Brooke refused to give him the time of day and his friendship with Peyton had become a shadow of what it had been, both locked in a situation they hadn't asked for.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts and he called out, "Come in."
The door creaked open and there she was, a vision of grace in the doorway. Brooke, with her dark hair and hazel eyes, her hand clutching a elegantly wrapped shoebox sized box. She looked at him tentatively, her gaze flickering between his eyes and the present she held. The sight of her brought a pang of regret and a rush of warmth that made his heart ache.
"Brooke—"
"Seeing you again after all this time is like an exposed nerve. It hurts so damn bad that I don't know if I should do this…but I'm going to." She said resolutely, her eyes brimming with tears. "I'm here to give you this…There are 22 letters in here, and they're all addressed to you. I wrote them all a month ago, one a day, but I never sent them because I was afraid. I was afraid of getting my heart broken again, like before…" her voice started breaking as she continued on, "…cause you hurt me so bad and I was afraid to be vulnerable again. I was afraid of you and the way you make me feel. And I know that doesn't matter now after I rejected you so many times, but I just thought that you should know…this is how I spent my summer, Luke, wanting you. I was just too scared to admit it." She then took a deep calming breath then added, "If you're still willing to marry her after reading these then…I would have my answer."
Lucas felt his breath hitch in his throat. The last thing he expected was this, especially now with his wedding day looming so close. But he knew he had to read them, to understand the depth of her feelings and maybe find some clarity of his own. He took the box from her trembling hand and placed it on the bed.
"Brooke, I'm sorry," he said, his voice low and filled with genuine remorse. "But I need to know if there's any way we can fix this."
"Read them. And then you'll know," Brooke said, her voice barely a whisper. She stepped back, giving him space. "But you can't just skim through them, Lucas. You need to read every single word, feel every single emotion, because that's what I've been feeling all this time."
Their eyes met in the mirror, and Lucas saw the pain, anger, and love all mixed together in hers. He nodded slowly, unable to speak. Brooke took another step back, the door closing behind her with a soft click that echoed through the room like a gunshot. He was alone with his thoughts and the weight of the box in his hand.
He sat down heavily on the bed, his knees buckling under the burden of what he knew was coming. With trembling hands, Lucas lifted the lid of the box. The scent of Brooke's perfume, something sweet and floral, wafted up at him, and for a moment, it was like she was right there with him. The letters were neatly stacked, each one sealed with a kiss. He picked one up, his thumb brushing over the envelope, feeling the imprint of her lips. He took a deep breath and slid his finger under the flap, breaking the seal.
The words spilled out onto the paper like a diary entry, raw and unfiltered. Her love, her anger, her fear—it was all there, laid bare before him. Lucas poured over every word, feeling the ache in his chest grow with every line. Her confessions were a knife twisting in his soul, each one more potent than the last. The room seemed to close in around him as he read, the air thick with the weight of his own guilt.
The letters were a journey through the tumultuous months that had passed since that fateful night. Each page a testament to the love that had grown between them despite their best efforts to ignore it. He read of her hope, her longing, her eventual resignation—it was like watching a train wreck in slow motion. And yet, amidst the chaos, there was a quiet strength in her words that resonated with him, a strength that seemed to have been born out of their shared pain.
The last letter was different—thicker than the others, the envelope heavier. Lucas's hand hovered over it, his heart racing like a wild animal trapped in a cage. He knew what it was. Brooke had played her hand, and now it was time to face the truth. With trembling fingers, he opened the envelope and pulled out the folded piece of paper. It was a sonogram—a blurry image of a tiny being, no bigger than a peanut, but it was unmistakable. The room seemed to tilt on its axis as he read her final words, scribbled in shaky handwriting: "You can't always control the hand you're dealt, but you can control how you play it."
He sat there, staring at the image for what felt like an eternity. His child. The reality of it all crashed down on him like a ton of bricks. His mind raced with thoughts of what this meant for him, for Brooke, for Peyton—for everyone. "Oh God," he murmured, his hand shaking as he held onto the paper that contained a part of him.
The door swung open again, and Peyton walked in, her eyes filled with hope. "Lucas, are you okay?" she asked, noticing the open box of letters on the bed. She paused, the air thickening with tension. "What's that?"
Lucas looked up, the sonogram still in his hand. The room was silent except for the ticking of the grandfather clock in the corner. He couldn't lie to her—not now, not about this. "It's from Brooke," he managed to say, his voice hoarse. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to tell you that I can't do this, I really thought I could but I just can't," Peyton began, her voice shaking, "I can't marry you knowing that I love Jake and that you love Brooke."
Lucas looked at her, the sonogram still in his hand, his heart racing faster than it had ever before. This was the moment he had feared, the moment that would irrevocably change the course of their lives. "Peyton," he started, but she cut him off, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"You need to go after her," Peyton said, her voice barely a whisper. She took a step closer, placing a gentle hand on Lucas's shoulder. "Tell her what she means to you—because that's exactly what I plan to do with Jake."
Lucas nodded, his throat tight with emotion. He knew Peyton was right. He couldn't live with himself if he didn't at least try to fix things with Brooke, especially now.