Okay guys, this is actually the first fic I wrote, but I am going to revamp it some for this site...I already have a great deal of it written so the more you guys comment to quicker I will post the chapters! I hope everyone likes this...Let me know what you think. I promise it gets better!
Chapter 1:
Lucas botched wedding had occured three months and 7 days ago. Tha night Lucas had left town without so much as a word to anyone, and no one had heard from him since.
"I bet he went to find Lindsey in New York." Brooke said to Haley as they ate a quick brunch. It was a June Saturday and the sun was beating down on the two friends as they ate at the boardwalk. Luckily, it was still cool enough with the breeze fromt he water to eat outside at their favorite cafe.
"Well, I haven't hears anything from him, Which is so unusual." Haley responded, with a tilt of the head. "And every time I call him his phone says 'voice mail box full.'" She did the last part imitating the electronic voice she heard.
The second part of the sentence Brooke thought in her head as Haley said it aloud. She would never admit to anyone how many times she had tried to call him over the past three months, how much she had longed to hear his voice or see his smile. But instead of dwelling on him, she pushed him out of her mind as she did every time and changed the subject, but she couldn't push him out of her heart.
"So is Jamie excited about his birthday party next weekend?" She asked, impressed at how easily she changed the subject from Lucas.
"Yeah, but he is just wondering if his Uncle Lucas will make it back." Haley said, not seeming to catch Brooke's subject change maneuver.
"There is no escaping him," Brooke thought as she stuffed the last bite of her strawberry crepe into her mouth. "I'm sure he won't disappoint Jamie," she said aloud, "or me," she added silently.
After brunch Brooke walked home. The house was so empty now that Peyton had gone back to L.A. Peyton knew the only way for her to get over Lucas was to dive into her music so she went in search of a new talent. Brooke was happy for her friend's big chance, but she ached for her too. She was well aware of the hole Lucas Scott could leave in a girl's heart. Now that they were both gone she knew her work was the only thing that would make her forget about the emptiness in her ownlife, well, the only nonselfdestructive thing anyway. Brooke walked over and hit the answering machine on the side table.
"You have five new messages." It said in a robotic voice.
"Whoa, five messages since brunch, I'm popular." she thought with a smile and she hit play.
"Message one: Miss Davis, this is Donna Ridgeway with Neiman Marcus...Message deleted"
"They should have called the office." She thought. The next two were solicitors; one was Millicent, but the last one...
"Hey B. Davis! Why are you not answering your cell, I had to call the house" The machine said, Brooke checked her phone confused, but had no missed calls. The message continued, "You'll never guess who I ran into out in L.A.! Call me if you want the details. I love you!" It had been Peyton of course.
"She sounds happy," Brooke thought. But with this realization she couldn't help but feel a little sad. "Maybe Lucas gave up on Lindsey and went after her." Either way, the last thing Brooke wanted to hear about was a Pucas happily ever after even if she was her best friend. So she decided she was glad her friend was happy but wasn't going to call back right away.
Monday morning rolled around and it was time for Brooke to fly to New York with Millie. And I dreary Monday it was.
"Now here is the trip's itinerary, and here is the list of public appearances we might be able to squeeze in if they are abbreviated." Millicent said handing Brooke a folder full of papers.
"Thank you so much." Brooke said appreciatively, "I guess if I ever want to get back to life in Tree Hill then I better find a CEO and fast."
" That's part of what this trip is about. Now let's hurry up, that plane isn't going to wait for us." Millicent suggested with a smile.
Just then Mouth came in from the car, grabbed their bags, and said, "I'm gonna miss my girl while she is away." As he sent a lovesick glance in Millie's direction.
"Awww, I'll miss you too, Mouth." Brooke teased and winked at them both. All three friends burst into laughter as they walked out the door.
Haley sat at the piano busy working on a song. She had the patio door open and a cool morning breeze was blowing her wavy hair. The summer was her time to concentrate on music-especially in the mornings before Jamie woke up. As she played the piano Nathan came over and kissed her on top of her head.
" I love listening to you play." He said in a voice still traced with sleep.
"Thanks." Haley responded dreamily, leaning back against him. She was just thinking she could stay like that forever when...
"Momma! Daddy!" Jamie yelled as he ran down the stairs in an oversized Ravens jersey he had been sleeping in.
"Jimmy-Jam!" Nathan screamed, breaking away from Haley and sweeping him up into a big hug. "So little man, what do you want to do on day one of James Lucas Scott's birthday week celebration?" He asked.
"Well I was thinking I wanted to eat ice cream for breakfast, go swimming, and then go to the rivercourt with just the boys--sorry Momma." He said with enthusiasm.
" Well that's fine with me Baby, everything except the ice cream breakfast." Haley told him., with a knowing glance.
"But Mom-ma!" He whined and stomped his little foot.
" Your Mom's right Jamie" Nathan said. "We need real food if we want to have energy to play with the guys tonight."
"Yeah!" Jamie shouted. he thought any idea his dad had was the greatest ever.
"Well I'll get started on that breakfast of champions." Haley teased as she got up from the piano and headed for the kitchen, leaving her two guys wrestling on the living room floor.
"If this flight gets delayed for another minute someone is going to Have serious hell to pay!" Brooke said through her teeth. "I've already missed my taping with David Letterman and a radio interview," she whined as she plopped down into one of the uncomfortable airport chairs.
"I'm sure we'll be cleared for takeoff soon." Millicent told her, trying to help her relax. "In the meantime, I'll check again on our flight status."
"And I'll go see if the Barista is back from her break at Starbucks." Mouth added. "...extra foam, right?"
"Thanks you guys," Brooke said sheepishly. She was so lucky to have people like Mouth and Millie in her life...people who were so considerate of the feelings of those around them. "I'm sorry I'm being a total bitch I just really need a distraction, you know. And this trip was suppose to be my distraction."
"A distraction from what?" a familiar voice said--It sounded close, but also far away like she was in a dream. Brooke whirled around in her seat and looked up to find...
"Lucas!" She screamed with a mix of shock and sheer delight. And she ran to give him a huge hug.
"Hey, Pretty Girl," He said so naturally as his hug enveloped her.
At this Brooke pulled away and looked at him quizzically. "How could he just say that to her, after everything they had been through, after everything he'd been through?" she wondered. He must have not even noticed he said it or her completely confused expression because he immediately turned and started saying hello to Mouth and Millie. "I bet he didn't even realize he said it," Brooke thought, "So much for my distraction."
"What are you doing here man?" Mouth asked his smile stretching from ear to ear as he gave his friend that handshake-hug guys do.
"Well, I just got in from visiting my mom in New Zealand and now they won't let me leave the airport, I've been here like five hours. And they won't even let people got into certain areas." He said rubbing the back of his head, "I don't know what is going on."
Brooke smiled to herself, "At least he hasn't been in L.A. with Peyton," she thought.
"Whatever it is, it must be the reason why our plane is delayed" Millicent commented, "We have been here a little over five hours too."
"Yeah, I'm sure it is." Brooke said only half listening.
"Well I'm gonna go try to grab that coffee," Mouth said "Luke, you want some?"
"Nah, I'm good man," Lucas said, "But thanks."
Mouth walked off and Millie trailed after..."I'm going to see if there is an update on our flight status" she yelled back behind her.
So Brooke was left alone, sitting--with Lucas...
"So how have you been over these last few months?" Lucas asked, tunring to face her. "You look good."
"Thanks," Brooke mustered, smiling a little. She couldn't help but smile around him. "Oh, I've been fine. Just spending time with Haley and Jamie mostly. But how have you been?"
"Well, I'm okay now. I wasn't when I left though. I just had to get away, away from the place where everyone thinks everything is all about me and Peyton." He said, getting kind of intense on the last line. "I had to sort through some stuff."
Brooke started to look at the ground, she knew he was refering to her along with others.
"I'm sorry Brooke," Lucas continued noticing the guilty expression covering her otherwise beautiful features, " I know you thought she and I were meant to be or whatever..."
"Is that what you think?" Brooke thought, but instead she said "Well I just wanted my two best friends to be happy." mustering up a fake smile as she turned her face upward to look into his eyes.
"And I thank you for caring about me," he said, gently touching her leg. "But she is not my love anymore. Yes, I did love her once-in high school, but I grew up and changed and she, well, she stayed exactly the same." Lucas said.
Brooke just nodded listening intently. She didn't know what else to do.She was basically on emotional overload right now, what with her aggrevation over the flight, Lucas's nickname slip, and now his Peyton admissions.
He continued, "I needed to be free from the Lucas and Peyton bandwagon that haunted me and basically ruined my relationship with Lindsey."
"Oh, so it is over between you two then?" Brooke asked wanting to hear him say yes, but half scared he'd say no.
"Yeah, I went to New York after her but she said it was just too hard. She said she would always feel like she had to compete with Peyton."He said, crossing hand hands between his legs as he tok a certain interest in his shoes.
"I know that feeling." Brooke said, throwing her hand over her mouth as soon as it popped out. "That was not suppost to leave my mouth," she thought. But she was about to shut down emotionaly, and emotionally crazed girls can not be responsible for their actions. "I'm sorry, Luke. I didn't mean to say that. I have to go," She said, as she jumped up from her seat and tried to bolt away. All she could think was, "Get away from here as soon as you can, Brooke. Don't let him se you like this"
Too late. "Brooke, wait" Lucas said, standing up and grabbing her arm. He spun her around and as he did he saw the tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Lucas let me go." Brooke said under her tears as she jerked away heading for the bathroom.
As she was running away, Mouth and Millie were just coming up to join the two. "Brooke, wait." Millicent called, running after her when she saw her friend headed in the oppostie direction.
"Dude, what happened while we were gone?" Mouth asked, as he looked from Brooke's shrinking figure back to Lucas.
"I have no idea," Lucas responded with a hurt look on his face, as he sunk back down into the chair, head in his hands.
Okay all...let me know what you think! If you want more or if not...just let me know...I really like writing this fic and it is my first one I wrote so keep that in mind! Please read and reviews...reviewslove!
Audra