As Brooke was running quietly, she had just spotted Lucas in the distance. This man troubled her, in a way she couldn't explain. However, something inside her told her not to approach him. But she decided to do the opposite. She approached him slowly, trying to keep her calm despite the excitement that was rising inside her. Lucas finally noticed her and a smile appeared on his face.

Lucas : Hey, I see that you can't do without me anymore.

Brooke : And besides, I guess you think you're funny.

Lucas : I wonder if you believe in destiny. Because we keep running into each other, don't we?

Brooke was thrown off by his question. Destiny? It was a concept she had never really taken seriously. But then why this strange coincidence for them to meet again?

Brooke : To tell the truth, I don't know, maybe it's just pure chance.

Lucas suggested that they go for coffee together, to chat about anything and everything. Brooke felt a surge of excitement mixed with apprehension. She quickly looked for an excuse to escape, stammering incoherent words about an imminent meeting.

Brooke : Uh, sorry... But, uh, how do I say... I'm expected.

Lucas : First of all, you don't want to give me your number, and then you try to avoid my invitations, what should I understand? I'm not your style?

Brooke : Well, yes... Well, no... Well, you understand me.

Lucas : That's my age, right?

Brooke didn't answer. He seemed disappointed, but he smiled anyway, as if he understood her reluctance. As Brooke resumed her run, she felt his gaze weigh on her, like a promise of future meetings. The mystery surrounding her intrigued her, but she wasn't ready to dive into the unknown yet. Yet, deep down, she knew that this meeting was no coincidence.


A little later, Brooke came home. Peyton and Haley were comfortably installed on the couch, their eyes glued to their respective computers.

Brooke : Hi, what are you girls looking at?

Haley : We got our schedules for college. And guess what? We start tomorrow.

Brooke's face lit up with a look of surprise at first, then turned into an expression of understanding mixed with empathy.

Brooke : Wow, tomorrow already? That's fast. I thought we'd have another day or two.

Peyton : You sound like you're nervous.

Brooke : I admit, a little.

Peyton : It's normal to feel a little apprehensive about a new step like this.

Brooke : Yeah, it's true. It's just that everything is so new to me... I don't know what to expect.

Haley : Well, I'm telling you... You're going to have to work.

Brooke : That's for sure.

Haley : Don't worry, we're all in the same situation, we just don't show it. And you'll see, it's going to be great.

Brooke : Well, it's not that I'm bored, but I'm sweaty and I need a good shower, so I'll leave you for a moment.

Brooke had just gotten out of the shower, the warm water soothing her tired body from this busy day. She put on her pajamas, letting the fabric slide over her still warm skin. A light autumn breeze caressed the curtains of the open window, filling the room with freshness. As she was about to dive into her bed for a moment before going to eat, a thought crossed her mind. She had to call her mother. She grabbed her cell phone from the nightstand and dialed her number. After a few rings, her mother finally picked up.

Victoria : Hey sweetie...

Brooke : Hey mom...

Victoria : How are you, sweetie?

Brooke : I'm fine. You'll never guess what happened today.

Victoria : Go ahead, tell me...

Brooke : I got a job. I'm going to work at a little cafe near campus.

Victoria : Oh, that's great, sweetie. I'm happy for you. And how's it going with your roommates?

Brooke : I'm lucky , they're great. In fact, Haley helped me get this job.

Victoria : And when do classes start?

Brooke : Tomorrow.

Victoria : Already!? I thought you were starting in two days!?

Brooke : Me too, but apparently the start of the school year was brought forward.

Victoria : Well, I just have to wish you good luck. In any case, it looks wonderful where you are. I'm glad you're happy there. It reassures me.

Brooke : Yes, Mom, I really am.

The conversation continued for a while longer, exchanging small talk and words of love. Then, Brooke hung up, a smile on her lips, grateful to have such a loving mother and to have the chance to live this new exciting adventure.


The next morning, the alarm went off, breaking the peaceful silence of the room. After a long night of sleep, the big day had finally arrived, her first day at university. Today, she would finally discover what this new adventure had in store for her. She prepared herself for the occasion.

In the kitchen, Haley was already preparing breakfast. Her face was radiant, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. Brooke and she exchanged a knowing look, sharing this day that was going to be full of promise.

Brooke : It's too bad Peyton isn't with us in class, the three of us would have had a blast.

Haley : Unfortunately for us and fortunately for her, she chose medicine. But don't worry, I feel that the two of us, we're going to tear it up!

They left the apartment, hearts pounding, and headed toward campus. The cool morning air enveloped them, sending shivers of anticipation through their minds. The streets slowly came alive, students rushing in every direction, each with their own dreams and aspirations. Finally, Brooke and Haley reached the amphitheater, imposing and majestic. The doors slowly opened, revealing the vast and welcoming interior. Students began to stream in, slowly filling the rows of seats. The excitement was palpable in the air, mixed with a hint of apprehension. They settled in, carefully choosing their seats, ready to absorb every moment of this first day that marked the beginning of an extraordinary adventure.

Haley : You know, I can't wait to see what our teacher looks like. I wonder if he's hot.

Brooke : Oh Haley, always focusing on guys' looks. Is that all you care about?

Haley : Admit it, it wouldn't hurt to have a little distraction in class, right?

Brooke : Sure, but let's at least hope he's competent. I prefer a smart teacher to a hot one.

Haley : Oh, sure, smarts count too. But a little charm never hurts.

Brooke : You always have an answer for everything. We'll see how it goes. Who knows, maybe our teacher will be the perfect combination of charm and smarts.

As Brooke sat in her seat in the classroom, chatting with Haley, the wait for the professor was making itself felt. Suddenly, the door opened with a familiar creak and the professor entered. Brooke's heart beat a little faster as he walked towards the podium. She looked up, eager to find out who her professor would be for this year. And then, she couldn't believe her eyes.

Lucas : Hello everyone, let me introduce myself... I'm Lucas Scott. I'll be your law professor.

Brooke's law professor had just walked into the classroom and when she saw him, she was speechless.

Lucas : Hello everyone, let me introduce myself... I'm Lucas Scott. I'll be your law professor.

Brooke found herself frozen, her heart pounding. Her mind was racing with confusion and shock. How was this possible? How could Lucas, this guy she had met at a nightclub just a few days ago, be her law professor?

Haley : Hey, isn't that the guy from last time?

Brooke : Yes, he is.

Haley : Oh my, you're in trouble, sweetheart.

Brooke : I know, it's crazy. I didn't expect him to be my law professor at all.

Lucas suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his eyes scanning the classroom as Brooke and Haley whispered quietly. When he caught sight of them, he stared at them for a moment, a glint of surprise in his eyes, before he became serious again.

Lucas : If these ladies would be so kind as to be quiet, we can certainly continue.

His gaze pierced Brooke, and she suddenly felt uncomfortable. The classroom echoed with Lucas's words. The words slid over Brooke, but her attention was captured by the glances that crossed between him and her, loaded with a tension that she could not ignore. Each exchange of glances was a silent duel, leaving her perplexed and icy at the same time. The minutes stretched, the class progressed, but the atmosphere remained electric. Brooke felt the inquisitive glances of the other students, but her mind was elsewhere, absorbed by this silent confrontation with Lucas. Finally, the class came to an end. Lucas paused, then, in a firm voice, he asked Brooke to join him at his desk.

Brooke : You wanted to see me?

Lucas : Yes... I wanted to ask you to forget what happened between us these last few days.

Brooke : I don't know what you're talking about. Nothing happened, we just talked.

Lucas : I was right the other day, you're very intelligent and you understand everything. Because of my job, nothing can happen between us.

Brooke : I understand, don't worry, anyway, I'm here to work, nothing more. I know very well that we have to respect the limits of our respective roles.

Lucas : Exactly. I'm here to help you as a teacher, not to create complicated situations.

Brooke : Thank you for clarifying things. Is that all you had to say?

Lucas : Yes, you can go.

Lucas' words echoed in Brooke's head again as she walked through the classroom doors. A heavy ball seemed to have settled in her stomach, heavy, hard to ignore. She tried to chase away this indescribable feeling that overwhelmed her, but it persisted, insistent like a shadow that refused to disappear. She felt disappointed, deeply disappointed. She had hoped, perhaps even subconsciously, that something could happen between them. Lucas, with his discreet charm and his crooked smile, had managed to capture a part of her attention. But his words had been clear, sharp, unequivocal. Nothing could happen between them. Brooke walked, her eyes fixed on the ground, trying to hide the bitterness that invaded her heart when Haley approached her.

Haley : So? What happened?

Brooke : Not here please.

Haley : Okay, let's go get something to eat, you can tell me when we get out of here.

Brooke and Haley walked to the campus park, each holding their sandwiches and cold drinks in their hands. They found a bench under the shade of the trees and made themselves comfortable.

Haley : So, what did he tell you?

Brooke : He told me to forget about our nightclub encounter. He made it clear that nothing would happen between us.

Haley frowned, thinking about his words.

Haley : Well, I guess that's understandable, since he's your professor. Are you disappointed?

Brooke looked down, feeling a weight on her heart.

Brooke : Even though I've pushed Lucas away a few times, I can't deny that it does something to me, you know?

Haley placed a comforting hand on Brooke's shoulder.

Haley : I understand, it's hard when you realize that feelings run deeper than you thought. But maybe it's better this way, you know, to avoid some complications.

Brooke nodded slowly, taking her words in.

Brooke : Maybe.

They sat there, silently sharing their support for each other, as the soft murmur of college life surrounded them in the bustling park.


The days went by at a crazy speed. Brooke was juggling her classes and her job, which took up a considerable amount of her time. Tonight, she had agreed to go out with her coworkers. She carefully prepared herself for this night at the nightclub with them. The music was already resonating in her head as she chose her outfit, opting for something just elegant enough without overdoing it. She took a quick glance at the time on her phone and realized that Haley and she were already late. She rushed to finish her makeup and hair routine, trying not to stress herself out too much. After all, it was an evening for her to relax, to have fun, to forget a little about the stress of her studies and her work. Once ready, she looked at herself in the mirror, adjusting a rebellious strand of her hair before taking a deep breath. Even though she felt a little nervous about going out to a nightclub, she knew it was an opportunity to take her mind off things. She grabbed her keys and her bag, double-checking that she had everything she needed. Then, she and Haley headed out the door, ready to face the night and leave her worries behind, if only for a few hours.

Brooke arrived at the nightclub with Haley, it was the same as last time. Their colleagues were already there, sitting at a table. They joined them.

Chase : Hey girls.

Brooke : Hey everyone. How was your week?

Quinn : It's been pretty busy between classes and work at the cafe. And you guys?

Chase : Same, between law school and work, I don't see the time go by.

Haley : And yeah, that's student life! But at least our job gives us enough to pay for our outings here, right?

They burst out laughing, nodding in agreement. The music and the atmosphere were in full swing. Chase invited Brooke to dance, and without hesitation, she accepted. Finding herself now on the dance floor, the spinning lights illuminated the room, the music pounding in her ears. The touch of Chase's hands on hers instantly soothed her, and she let herself be carried away by the captivating rhythm. Each movement freed her from the weight of the responsibilities that weighed on her shoulders. The steps followed one another fluidly, and she felt alive, free, in the present moment. Yet, as she let herself go to the music, her gaze met that of Lucas, sitting at the bar, his expression betraying a hint of jealousy. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw him staring at her intensely, his dark eyes scrutinizing her every move. Brooke felt a mixture of surprise and confusion as she realized he was looking at her like that. Emotions were jostling inside her, and a part of her wondered what this meant. A palpable tension hung in the air, as she wondered how to react to this sudden jealousy. She headed to the bathroom after that little dance with Cahse, but she was interrupted on her way by Lucas who pinned her against the wall. He looked at her intensely and asked in a firm tone:

Lucas : What are you playing, Brooke?

Brooke : I'm not playing, Lucas. You're the one who told me that nothing would ever happen between us.

He stared at her intensely, letting the silence hang heavy with innuendos. A sensual tension settled between them, electrifying the atmosphere. Without another word, Brooke decided to move away and resume her walk to the bathroom, leaving behind her an atmosphere loaded with ambiguity.


The next morning, Brooke was getting ready to go to class with Haley. She felt a growing apprehension at the idea of seeing Lucas in class again after the palpable tension of yesterday. She went to the living room, trying to ignore the knot that was forming in her stomach. Haley was already waiting for her. Her eyes scanned his face with perceptible worry.

Haley : Are you okay?

Brooke : Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little nervous about going to class.

Haley : I'm here if you need to talk, okay?

Brooke nodded in agreement, grateful for his unwavering support.

Together, they walked toward campus, the silence punctuated only by the sound of their footsteps. As they approached the classroom, Brooke felt her heartbeat quicken. She dreaded the confrontation with Lucas, the words exchanged yesterday still fresh in her memory. Lucas was already sitting behind his desk when she entered with Haley. His gaze met hers briefly, but he quickly looked away, an unreadable expression on his face. Haley gave Brooke an encouraging look before taking her place next to her.

During the class, the atmosphere was tense, loaded with unspoken words and unease. Lucas and Brooke barely exchanged a glance, each preferring to avoid eye contact. At the end of the class, as Brooke put her things away, Lucas approached her, his expression marked by a certain hesitation.

Lucas : I wanted to apologize for last night, I shouldn't have reacted that way. Maybe we could talk at the end of the day? If I invited you to dinner to clear things up, would you accept?

Brooke : Okay, I accept, but don't get your hopes up, it's just to clear things up for both of us.

Lucas : That's fine with me. Let's meet up tonight at 7pm at Luigi's?

Brooke nodded slowly, feeling a glimmer of optimism break through the tumult of emotions. Maybe the tensions could be eased, words could heal what was broken.