Brooke was looking at the map and looking up at her surroundings time and time again. What happened to Los Angeles, it completely changed, Brooke used to be able to navigate her way around with her eyes clothes. Now with a map, her eyes open, it feels like her eyes are still closed.
"Lost?"
She turned around, a boy starred at her. "Well I have a map, look stupid with walking around in circles. I'd say, yes."
"What are you looking for?"
"My house."
He laughed. "You wanna narrow it down a bit."
"Look, I just came here from North Carolina, I graduated from high school and I'm coming to live with my mother. And nothing seems to be the same as it was the last time I was here."
"When was that?"
"Before I was in high school, at least." He started laughing. "Okay, this making fun of me is so wrong."
"I'm not making fun of you, really. But in all the time you were gone, did you think that maybe at least one thing would change?"
"No!"
"Okay then we have bigger problems than I thought."
"So you can help me?"
"I can try. What's your destination….and please don't say your house."
"Merriment Avenue."
He was surprised. "Wow, I never thought…"
"Yeah, my mom is like royalty around here…or whatever. So, can you help me?"
He looked at the map and at his surroundings. "Do you have any money?"
"So now you're gonna charge me?!"
"No, you need a cab. Your 'house' is about thirty miles from this spot. You look in great shape, so walking there might not frazzle you, but it's like a hundred and some degrees out here."
"I almost got run over trying to track down a cab. That's why I'm looking stupid walking."
"Come on." He grabbed her hand and walk towards the street.
"You know, I can get you arrested for kidnapping, I'm sure even in Los Angeles it's a crime."
They stood on the curb, he signaled for a cab and one pulled up to them.
"How did you do that."
"Magical powers." He opened up the door for her. "Your chariot awaits."
Brooke took a look at the cab. "Yeah, the Fresh Prince rings a bell right now." She saw him starting to walk away. "So...you're not gonna help me get there, just leave me defenseless. No offense to the cab driver, but he could drop me in San Diego for all I know. Please!"
"Fine, but as soon as we get there, you buy me lunch."
"Who says?"
"Do you want me to come."
"Okay, okay, you drive a hard bargain."
"So do you."
They were riding in the cab, Brooke looking at every sight that passed her eyes. She then looked over at him, he was checking his cell phone.
"Thanks."
"Your welcome."
"I just don't know anyone and I was really scared and I just needed someone to assure me that I wasn't totally lost."
"Again, you're welcome."
"So, where do you want to eat?"
"I was joking, I just ate."
"No, the deal was, I buy you lunch, even if it's ice cream."
"Ice cream? That's so not a food."
"It's edible, it's food."
"Play-Doh is edible too, doesn't mean I'd eat three square meals of it."
"So you really don't want any thanks for how I treated you?"
"Just become this big and famous designer and mention that a guy helped you find a cab your first day in LA."
"Designer, how did you know that?"
He picked up her sketch pad. "It fell out while you were walking around."
"So what if I never saw you again, my sketches are in there."
"Exactly, reason for me staying with you while you treated me like crap."
"Again, I'm sorry."
"Thank you."
"So, besides rescuing a damsel in distress, what do you do?"
"I work at my father's company."
"That narrows it down."
"He's a movie producer. I'm like an intern or something. I just help out on projects, occasionally give my input."
"I guess everyone listens to you since you're the boss' son?"
He chuckled. "Hardly. They still find me to be this little kid running around my dad's office playing with the toys he had his secretary go and buy."
"Why not start your own?"
"Without my dad, I'd be flat broke, so…no solution there."
"Same here."
"What, you're dad controls everything you do?"
"No, my mom. I started a company while in high school, clothes over bros. And I wasn't doing so well, so I finally called my mom and asked for her help and it's like she took over and made it her company."
"And you're living with her?"
"She has all the ideas. Without this, I'd never have my mother. We haven't always had the best relationship, it's been like non existent for the past…entire life."
"We have one thing in common."
"So, mystery man, do you have a name?"
"Yeah, I do."
Brooke sat there, waiting. "And that's when you share that valuable information."
"No."
The cab stopped, Brooke sort of recognized the neighborhood.
"This is it."
"Yeah, the sign…Merriment Avenue, that's a good idea."
"Thanks…mystery man, you saved me." She kissed him on the cheek.
"Your welcome, Brooke."
"Davis."
"What?"
"My name is Brooke Davis."
"So when I see you on a billboard I can remember you and remember that I helped you find your way in LA."
"Yeah, and maybe one day I can see your movie on a TV screen and find out what your name is."
Brooke opened the front door, forgetting the house looked more like a hotel lobby.
"Mom?"
She came down, dressed in a business suit and looked like her usual self…frustrated. "Hey Brooke, your flight was okay."
"Yeah, I had a little bit of trouble finding my way here, but I got some help."
"Good, I was wondering where you were, I had you on the schedule for fifteen minutes ago?"
"You scheduled your daughter in?"
"Yes, we have meetings set up and I had to know when you would be here so we can have the meetings with both of us here."
"Oh, okay."
"So, how are you?"
"Tired. I just want to take a bath and relax."
"No time for that…there's a meeting in an hour."
"Mom, I just got here. I need time to rest."
"Brooke, those who build a business don't rest. Those who rest never know a business. Think about it."
Brooke tried to fight back but knew that Victoria knew what she was talking about…or seemed to. Brooke knew how to draw and what's in style. But beyond that, she's pretty clueless.
During the meetings Brooke gained a new talent…keeping her eyes open and nodding off at the same time. So many numbers and ideas, they all were boring her.
"So, what do you think?" Victoria sat in front of her.
Brooke sat up in her chair. "It's great."
"Good, because I already signed off on everything."
"Wait, you signed off? I thought this was my company, I make the decisions, I distinctly remember you saying that."
"Honey, it's business. Fifty-fifty. You'll see, once you get more in the business, you'll see. Just don't worry that pretty little head of yours."
"Mom, since you're doing the meetings, making the decisions, what am I doing?"
"The clothes. Without those designs, we have no company. Cheer up, your life is about to change, you'll see."
That night Brooke was sitting in her bed trying to fall asleep, but kept thinking about her misadventures in the city. She felt excited about thinking if she'd ever see that guy again…too bad she doesn't even know his name. How is that possible to ever see him again. It's not like they walk the same routes. She got her sketchpad out and started looking at her designs.
"Great, I left my pens in my bag." She got up and the sketchpad fell in the floor. "Great, wonderful day, could things get worse?"
A piece of paper fell out. "Hmm, what's this?" She said out loud.
Julian…yeah, my name is Julian…shocked? Speak if you dare…
Brooke smiled and dialed the number written below the cryptic note.
"Hi Brooke Davis."
"Hi Julian…whatever your last name is."
"That comes later. So, I guess you found the note."
"Yeah, but why so cryptic. I mean, saying your name isn't so personal."
"Because calling me would say that you cared. Not calling would make me know that not giving my name didn't make any difference."
"Hmm, who taught you that trick."
"I've been around a lot of people who kiss up because of who my dad is. I've learned how to get around."
"So, what are you up to."
"Talking to a really beautiful girl in the middle of the night…oh, and waiting for my dad's meeting to be over?"
"It's like almost midnight, meetings still?"
"Yeah, he's an all-nighter kind of guy. Never sleeps."
"But you have to be there?"
"Well since I made a comment about wanting to be a producer, I have to be at the meetings, be like the other producers. So I guess that means no sleep for me."
"That will be my life…" Brooke paused when she heard background noise. "The meeting got out?"
"Yeah, I'm gonna let you go to sleep, and my dad is coming towards me. Night sleeping beauty."
Brooke played along. "Goodnight prince charming."
Paul looked at Julian.
"Fall asleep again."
"I might have. It's pretty late."
"The life of a producer."
"If I was living the life of a producer, I'd be in the meetings and not twiddling my thumbs outside on the couch."
"Are you saying you don't want to be a producer."
"You know what, just forget it. I don't want to be a producer because all I do is sit around here and do nothing. So forget it."
"Then what will you do with your life? You have to make decisions."
"I could be more productive as a shoe salesman."
"As long as it fits just right, as your mother says."
"Don't bring her into this."
"What has gotten into you?" He saw Julian start to walk away. "Julian, don't walk out on this conversation."
"You taught me how."
Julian walked out of the building.
