Callison-Thank you for the review, glad you're ejoying it so far.
Mary C-Thank you for your kind review. I'm glad you're hooked, this is such a personal story for me. I appreciate your words.
Olivia-This will be a Brooke/Clay story. There will be a little brucas, but strictly in a platonic sense. I'm not sure if Quinn is going to be appearing in this story yet or not. Keep reading.
simplyaprillyn-Thank you for your review. This is my first fanfic, I write in my spare time. I'm currently in nursing school so I had to stop writing anything other than assignments for school. I thought about writing a fanfic that was rattling around my head for a while and out this story came. I hope you'll keep reading and telling me what you think.
Krystal-Peyton will be coming soon. The over the top baby names is going to be explored more and more as Brooke's pregnancy progresses, they are just going to keep getting more and more outlandish. Any crazy suggestions you would like to see thrown into the mix?
Guest-Yes Brooke is carrying the babies for Leyton. The reasoning behind Brooke doing it will be revealed soon.
Guest-Nathan is one of my all time favorite character progressions in OTH history. He's shaping up to be the backbone of this story I hope you like it.
Guest-So happy to hear about your excitement for Clay/Brooke. I don't know why the show never explored them as a couple but I think they could have been great and unlike Julian he didn't any prior relationship with Peyton.
Guest-Thank you so much for your review.
Contagious Chemistry
Chapter 3: I got 99 problems but clothes ain't one!
You can't force chemistry to exist where it doesn't in the same way you can't deny it when it does. - Anonymous
"Brooke?" Haley called out as she let herself in, her eyes immediately fell to the trail of clothing leading to the master bedroom. She stopped in the doorway and frowned, "what's wrong tigger?"
Brooke threw herself down on the floor and looked up at Haley, "I can't figure out what to wear on my date with Clay. I think I might need to just cancel."
Haley offered Brooke her hand and pulled her to her feet, "come on how about I make you a cup of tea and you can tell me what this is really about."
Brooke's shoulders relaxed and she reached for her silky robe, "this is the first time I'm going out since," she looked down at her exposed belly, "I took on renters. I want it to go well and today is already shaping up to be a huge disaster."
Haley laughed at Brooke's weak attempt at humor, "Clay knows you're pregnant… I'm not sure what all this fuss is about."
"When you were pregnant you and Nathan were married, this is different and I can't believe the possibility of dating wasn't anywhere on my list of possible awkward scenarios when I agreed to do this for Lucas and Peyton." Brooke wrapped the robe tightly around her small frame, "I can just reschedule with Clay when this is all over."
"You're being ridiculous Brooke," Haley replied as they walked in the direction of the kitchen, avoiding the strewn about clothes. "Did you try on everything in your closet?"
"No…" Brooke bit her bottom lip, "just the maternity stuff."
Haley fills the electric kettle and shakes her head, "I know we went over this already, but the bump is just going to get bigger with each passing month. Most of this non-stretchy stuff isn't even going to fit you through the end of the week let alone the end of the pregnancy." Haley closed her eyes and sighed, she hated when she talked to her friends and she heard her mother's voice, "I'm sorry. Spend your money on whatever you want to spend it on."
"Don't do that tutor mom, you're right about my spending." Brooke reasoned, "sometimes I'm really frivolous. Maybe after we get through this crisis you can help me organize all this stuff and cart a lot of it away to charity."
The kettle whistled and Haley poured the piping hot water into two waiting mugs, opened two slips of tea, and left them to steep, "do you want to go out with Clay today? That is the first question you need to answer."
"I've been thinking about this since I got home last night and I don't feel like I can go out with him right now… it feels like cheating or something."
Oh here we go, Haley thought before speaking. "Cheating on whom exactly?"
Brooke reached out for her mug and blushed, "Lucas and Peyton I guess. The twins?" she ventured. "I was picking out something to wear and everything I put on made me look... pregnant. Before you say anything I know I'm pregnant, I just wanted today to be about me." She swallowed the quiver of her voice before going on, "I'm such a horrible person, what the hell is wrong with me?"
"Nothing is wrong with you Brooke." Haley hugged Brooke's shoulders from behind, "come on let's go find something for you to wear on your date."
"There isn't going to be a date Hales," Brooke pouted.
"Yes there is." Haley insisted, "now where is he taking you?"
"He isn't," Brooke bit her lip, "I told him I would give him a tour of Tree Hill."
Haley laughed, "so it will take about twenty minutes, unless you add the River Court, then the whole thing is about thirty minutes."
Brooke narrowed her eyes at Haley, "I was thinking of taking him to Airlie Gardens - it's just outside of Tree Hill."
"Oh, that's a great idea Brooke. Nathan and I almost got married there," Haley shined at the memory, "we decided on the Orton Plantation at the eleventh hour. Now it's closed to the public, I'm glad we went that direction, although the lovely Bottle Chapel at Airlie would have been beautiful too."
"I've loved Airlie since I was a little girl… only thing Ted and Victoria gave me that was worth anything." When Brooke was a child she would often go the the gardens with her nanny and when she outgrew the need for a babysitter Airlie became the quiet serene place she would go to think and confide her deepest thoughts to. Now as an adult Brooke has held an Azalea Membership since she graduated high school, even with Haley and Peyton around, Airlie was like a third best friend - one that always listened and never faltered. When she made the decision to help Peyton and Lucas she was sitting on one of the great stone benches under one of the many moss covered oak trees on the grounds. She was sitting in the middle of the new azalea blossoms when she received the call informing her that her blood tests had returned with the news everyone was hoping for - she was pregnant. Lastly, when she had told Clay Evans, a man she had just met that Tree Hill had so much to offer she had instantly thought of Airlie and how surprised she was at her desire to take him there.
"Why do you have only dresses laid out then?" Haley asked, pulling Brooke from her wayward thoughts.
"It's warm outside and I truly believe I am being baked from the inside out. I wasn't going to wear heels or anything, if we walk the entire circumference of the gardens it's just over a mile, even I wouldn't do that much walking in anything other than a tennis shoe."
"Okay, let's see these two then." Haley pointed to the two dresses laid out on Brooke's bed.
Brooke untied her robe and Haley giggled, "what?"
"Are you ever not a fashion goddess?" Haley folded her arms across her chest, "even your panties look designer."
"Hey," Brooke pouted, "I love these briefs, and they fit over the bump." Brooke defended her right to wear a navy blue brief with white polka dots, "he isn't going to be seeing them anyway, these are for my eyes only… and well yours obviously since you're staring tutor mom."
Haley tossed the seafoam green dress to Brooke and watched on as she pulled it over her head, looking at the tiered layer dress with shoulder ties made Haley think of one thing and one thing only, "it looks like a nightgown."
"I know," Brooke frowned, "I thought so too. I guess that leaves option two." Brooke quickly pulled the cotton floral maxi dress with crochet bodice over her head and let out a deep breath, "what do you think of this one?"
Haley gave Brooke a once over, she was glowing from head to toe. "Well it's official, I hate you. You have got to be one of the prettiest pregnant women I have ever seen."
"Stop it, I have seen you with child twice and both times you looked like you swallowed a basketball. Besides, I am trying to not look pregnant today, did I succeed?"
"Yes tigger you did," Haley took a seat in the wingback chair in the corner, "have you told Peyton about your date yet?"
"No," Brooke answered, "I am going to tell her when she gets home tomorrow. Should I have called her, I didn't tell Luke either." She finished with an alarmed tone. "Should I have told them before I accepted the date invitation?"
"No honey, it's fine. Finish getting ready, I will drop you off on the way to pick up Jamie and Lydia." Haley replied in a soothing voice. Knowing Lucas like she did, she's certain he's going to have an opinion on Brooke dating while she's carrying his children but that is a topic for another day, Brooke is frazzled enough…
Brooke heard the door chime at Clothes over Bros and looked up with a smile, "hello stranger."
"Sorry I'm early," Clay grinned, "I wasn't sure how long it would take to find a parking space." She came around the counter and Clay let out a gasp of air, "wow. That is some dress." Some dress, what the hell is some dress you idiot! He scolded himself before continuing, "I mean… you look beautiful." Much too beautiful for my shabby blue button down, cargo shorts and boat shoes.
She giggled when he adjusted his collar, "I think you look great too." She began, practically reading his mind, "it's going to be another warm one today, how else would you dress? A full suit? We would have spent most of the day in the hospital with you reeling from a bout of heat stroke." She shook her head, "that wouldn't have been any fun."
"No, probably not." Clay felt his mouth dry and he wanted to scream. Stay calm man, she's just a girl.
"Well I am typically not open on Sunday's but I figured C/B was a good place to start our tour." She motioned around her, "this is Clothes over Bros, my flagship store, my first baby."
"Impressive," Clay looked around at all the delicate items of clothing, "why Clothes over Bros?"
"That's a long story…" Brooke pulled her leather purse off the back counter and took out her keys. "Short answer I was getting over a bad breakup, I needed a distraction and C/B was born. No good hoe lets her bro get in between her and her clothes." Jesus that sounded better in my head, "We can get into the longer version another time. I want to show you the rest of Main Street then we're going to need a car. You mentioned that you drove here right?"
"Yes," Clay answered quickly, "sadly the Batmobile is in the shop so we'll have to settle for Claudine."
Brooke locked the glass door and linked her arm with his, "so how deep does the affinity for comic books go?"
"So deep," Clay laughed as his expose skin tingled under her soft touch. "I could tone it down if you would like."
"No, I kind of like it. When I made B-Dazzle's costume Jamie gave me some comic books to read."
"Any favorites?"
"Yes, I like Archie and The Walking Dead."
Clay spun his keys in his hand, "wow really. Nate and Haley let Jamie read The Walking Dead?"
"Oh goodness no. When I went to the comic book store the kid behind the counter recommended it - gory but gratifying all at the same time."
He stopped walking, wanting to geek out over Brooke talking about comic books but instead he ran his free hand through his hair, "back to the tour."
"Alright," Brooke looked up. "This is Karen's Cafe. Karen is Lucas's mother, Haley runs things now mostly. At the end of the street is Max's Music shop, TRIC and Red Bedroom Records. TRIC is the nightclub Karen opened when we were in high school, Red Bedroom is Peyton's label and her and Lucas just bought Max's to reopen to the public sometime soon." Brooke licked her lips, "this is Tree Hill."
"This is it huh?" He said before surveying the quiet brick paved street.
"Yep, small town. Would you be interested in seeing my favorite place in all of North Carolina before we come back here and have lunch at Karen's?"
"I would love you-" Clay cleared his throat, damn nerves "I meant to say I would love to. I'm sorry it has really been a long time since I've gone out, clearly that is starting to show."
Brooke put her head on his shoulder, "you're too hard on yourself. Relax please or the next stop isn't going to be any fun."
Easier said than done, she doesn't see what I see. Being out with such a gorgeous woman is not something I am used to, "you have a point." Clay stops in front of his black corvette stingray, "Brooke I would like you to meet Claudine… Claudine - Brooke Davis."
Now it was Brooke's turn to gasp, "oh my. She's beautiful, what year?"
"1966." He unlocks her door and opens it, the gentle breeze kicked up and Clay caught a whiff of Brooke's dainty floral perfume. He let her get in the car and walked around to the driver's side, when he reached for the handle his hands were shaking. Why didn't I just rent a car? Claudine was painstakingly restored over the course of eighteen months with his father in law Sam Shaw, the finishing touches were complete only a week before Sara took her final breath on this earth. Sara wouldn't want you to be alone, it's been six years… It's time to move on - maybe that can be with Brooke? He got in the car, "where to beautiful?"
Lucas and Nathan were heading to the cafe after an intense game of one on one at the River Court, "I can't believe I beat you."
"It was luck Luke, don't let it go to your head." Nathan muttered as he bounced the ball. "I had too much beer last night."
"You stopped drinking before the rest of us did," Lucas reminded with a giant grin.
"Whatever," Nathan huffed. He spotted Clay and Brooke together by the corvette and his expression softened. They both look like they're enjoying themselves, that's terrific news. "Come on brother let's cross the street."
"Why? We can cross at the light in front of the cafe," Lucas wonders. "Like we always do. What's up?"
"Nothing, there just aren't any cars coming." Nathan knew for a fact Lucas didn't know about Brooke's date with Clay or their one on one would have turned into a brooding session on the bleachers. If they crossed the street now, he probably wouldn't even notice them.
Lucas looked down the street, "fine. I guess we can cross, you better be prepared to pay up lil brother. I'm starving," he saw the Clothes over Bros sign illuminated in the front window, "that's weird."
Shit, Nathan thought, "she's a grown woman Luke. You aren't the boss of her, she can do what she wants."
"What are you talking about?" Lucas frowned, "are you coming down with the flu or is alzheimer's hitting you early?"
"What are you talking about?" Nathan parroted back to him.
"Brooke left a sign on at Clothes over Bros?" Lucas scratched his head, "who's a grown woman?" Before Nathan could answer Lucas heard a giggle - Brooke's giggle. He watched as Brooke drove off in Clay's car, "why are Brooke and Clay together?"
"She was giving him a tour of Tree Hill," Nathan answered quickly.
"That doesn't require a car," Lucas said out of breath, "this is pretty much it. What are you hiding Nate?"
"Nothing man, let it go." Nathan tossed him the ball, "I could really go for a chocolate milkshake right about now."
"Are they on a date?" Lucas pondered, "she didn't say anything about a date when I dropped her off at home last night. Why wouldn't she have said something?"
"Because it isn't your business Luke." Nathan slapped his back, "you have been a little intense with her lately. Is it because Peyton is out of town right now?"
"I have not been tense with her," Lucas sniped. "I have my concerns, that's all. I mean what do we really know about that Clay guy. He could be a serial killer."
Nathan let ot a loud chuckle, "he isn't a serial killer. He's been my agent for five years, he's harmless. Now come on, let's get a milkshake."
Lucas couldn't quiet the thoughts jumping in his head at the moment, he and Brooke didn't have secrets. Ever since they reconnected as friends during college they had an understanding - full disclosure always. When he and Peyton asked her about being a surrogate her main concerns had been weight gain and aunt privileges, he never in a million years thought Brooke would even want to date in her current condition. Does Peyton know about this? Why hadn't she said something to him? "I think I'm going to just head home Nate, rain check on the milkshake?"
"Don't do this Luke." Nathan scowled, "I'll throw in a piece of your mom's famous chocolate cake. Haley has finally gotten the recipe down."
"She's pregnant with my kids Nathan, how would you feel if you saw Haley going on a date with some random guy when she was pregnant with Jamie or Lydia?"
"Not even remotely the same thing, Brooke is pregnant with leyton babies. Yours and Peyton's, Brooke is just keeping the babies safe for a while. It's like she's not even pregnant, once those babies come, she becomes auntie Brooke and you and Peyton become parents."
Lucas let that last part really sink in, "I guess you're right. I don't have a right to be mad," Lucas nodded in reassurance. He may not have a right to be angry right now, but he couldn't help the hurt now brewing in the pit of his stomach.
Write a review to let me know what you thought of this extra long chapter. I am already working on chapter 4, hoping to have it up sometime tomorrow. I know some of you might be upset by the end of the this chapter I want to stress this is not a Clay/Brooke/Lucas triangle story. I think I mentioned before that this story has special meaning to me and I was pulling a lot of it from a real life experience that my family shared.
Next chapter will explore the rest of Clay and Brooke's date, Peyton comes home and Lucas continues to be uneasy about the idea of Brooke dating while being a surrogate.
Alex