What Is A Youth
What is a youth? Impetuous fire.
What is a maid? Ice and desire.
The world wags on.
A rose will bloom
It then will fade
So does a youth.
So does the fairest maid.
Brooke stared out of the window as she watched the tress whiz by her. It was the quietest she'd ever been in a vehicle with two other people. She quickly pulled out her sidekick as she felt it vibrate in her purse, texting Jake the address she was headed to before dropping the phone back into the small clutch.
It had been three weeks since her sister came to live with her and since Nicki Smythe had stepped back into Brooke's life. Both the events had been more positive than she expected. Nicki had stayed out of her way for the most part and when they were forced to work together, she was always polite. It seemed as if Lucas was right after all. And Sam had adjusted nicely, making friends and exceeding in her studies already. Brooke had been nervous about the chip on her shoulder and the stories from her aunt of the young girl seeming to have a knack for getting into trouble but so far everything was great. At least it was until her phone rang.
Now she was in the backseat of Nathan's SUV sitting behind Peyton of all people on her way to the mall and for once her mecca was the exact opposite. As Nathan screeched into a parking place the three of them jumped out of the car, walking briskly to the store the manager had called from.
Brooke immediately made a beeline to her sister and her accomplice, her face visibly frustrated.
"Brooke," Sam began. "I am so sorry. We…"
"What the hell were you thinking?" Brooke yelled. "I can't believe this Sam; I can't believe either one of you!" She pointed from the darker brunette to the honey brown one. "Have you two completely lost it?"
"Answer her!" Peyton was suddenly behind her former sister-in-law. "Elizabeth Rebecca Scott, I think she just asked you a question and I'd like to hear the answer to it."
"I'm so sorry Mom," Liz replied with tears in her eyes. "It wasn't Sam's fault; it was all mines."
"I highly doubt that," Brooke scoffed.
"It's true," the curly haired girl pleaded. "I was trying to impress Dean."
"This Dean again," Peyton shook her head. "By stealing?"
"Who is Dean?" Brooke looked between the other three females in front of her before glancing back at Nathan who seemed to be smoothing over the manager of the store. "Samara!"
"He's this guy from school and Liz is wrong, it's totally my fault." She shook her head. "I told him before about how I used to shoplift and when he saw us here today, he thought it would be pretty cool." She shrugged. "Liz just kind of got pressured into it."
"And when the manager grabbed me Sam tried to get the item from me so he wouldn't find anything but then the security guy showed up," Liz continued the story. "And then they called you guys."
"And what happened to this loser Dean," Brooke asked even though she already knew. "Let me guess, Romeo took off."
"Yeah," Sam said. "Look Brooke, it's not really that big of a deal. It was just a pack of these pen and pencils in one; this guy," she motioned to the manager, "he's just going overboard."
"A pen!" Brooke's voice went up an octave. "We are her over a pen?!?" She threw her hands up in the air. "You just sit there till I come back." She stormed over to the manager who still seemed engrossed in his conversation with Nathan. "What exactly is the hold up here?"
"I'm sorry Sir, this is Brooke Davis; Sam's older sister and guardian," Nathan introduced. "This is Mr. Phelps."
"I was just explaining to Mr. Scott here that it isn't the items value but the principal of the matter," the older brunette man began.
"Look Mr. Phelps, it was a fricken pen set," She was frustrated by the whole situation and already running behind for the gala she was supposed to be attending. "We will be happy to pay you for the item as well as guarantee that our children will never come back to do anything as asinine," she glanced over at the girls pointedly, "again."
"I'm sorry Miss Davie but that is not the point," he replied. "I plan on pressing charges."
"Are you serious?" Peyton had wandered over. "This is ridiculous. Nathan, give him twenty dollars, it couldn't possibly cost more than that."
"Ma'am," Mr. Phelps shook his head. "That's not how we handle things here. Obviously that is part of the discipline problem your teens are exhibiting."
"Do you seriously want to go there mister because my lawyer is on his way right now and he will keep this in court so long your stupid little store will go bankrupt." Brooke turned to Nathan. "I agree with Peyton, give him his twenty dollars Nate."
"But…" Nathan began but was cut off by both his wife and friend.
"Give him twenty dollars!" they screamed in unison.
Nathan tried to hand the man the money but he refused it.
"Take it," Brooke took it out of Nathan's hand before tossing it toward the man. "Let's go girls…move!" Brooke watched as the two teens stood up quickly and began to walk out the store. "Discipline problem," she scoffed. "Let's go guys."
Peyton and Nathan strolled inside of The Go Red Gala, smiling for all the cameras before walking over to the bar and ordering a couple of drinks.
"Cheers," Nathan held up his glass before clinking it against hers.
Peyton smiled. "Cheers," she repeated before taking a sip of her vodka tonic. "Wow, this place looks great. Your mom and Karen did a really good job."
"Yeah," he nodded in agreement. "I was surprised Dan didn't make her pull out but I guess he cared more about the appearance of the good publicity of Phoenix Cosmetics and House of Scott working together for a good cause. Too bad, he can't just let this stuff go with Uncle Keith."
"Hey," she placed her hand on his chest. "Let's not talk about that tonight, okay. Let's just forget about all that and the fact that we had to save our daughter from juvy and just enjoy the evening." Her green eyes looked up at him. "What do you say?"
"I say I married a really smart lady," he smiled before giving her a quick kiss. "Hey, my little sister just got here," he said looking over his wife and waving her over. "With a date."
"Isn't that the mayor's son," Peyton nodded. "Impressive."
"Hey Nathan; Peyton," the blonde beamed as she made her way over to them. "This is Skills Taylor; Skills, this is my brother Nathan and his wife Peyton."
"Nice to meet you," Nathan shook the other man's hand.
"You too," Skills replied before shaking the other blonde's hand. "Bevin has said a lot of great things about you." He looked around. "So, your mom helped put this all together?"
"Yeah," Nathan nodded. "She's a real decorator."
"She's not a decorator Nate," Bevin shook her head. "She works in the lab with the perfume."
The other three laughed at her before Nathan shook his head. "Of course she does Bev. Let's go get our seats."
Brooke checked her face in the mirror one last time as the limo pulled up outside the gala.
"You look beautiful," Lucas said. "Just as beautiful as the last three times you looked at yourself."
"Shut up okay," she fake pushed him. "I had to rush because of Sam and Lizzie's crime spree. I can't believe we're late."
Lucas shrugged nonchalantly. "I'd rather be here with you anyways." This earned him one of her famous dimpled smiles. "Although Lily just sent me a message and said Nathan and Peyton got there just fine."
"Well Nathan's a guy; it doesn't take guys much time to get ready and Peyton," she waved her hand airily. "She's never really cared about her appearance or whether someone sticks her on a worst dressed list. Sometimes I think she strives to be there."
"Behave," he laughed as the driver opened the door for them and then stepped out of the vehicle, holding his hand out to assist her. "It's show time."
Brooke took the hand she was being offered as they strolled through the entranceway, smiling as their photo was taken over and over. After a few minutes, they managed to get all the way inside.
"Champagne," Lucas offered as one of the waiters walked by. At her nod he grabbed two glasses off the tray, handing her one. "To us," he held up his glass.
"I'll drink to that," she replied. "To us," she clinked her glass against his before taking a few swallows of the sweet bubbly liquid. "Looks like your mom and Deb got the good stuff."
He laughed. "Speaking of my mom and Deb, can you believe they are at the same table with Dan and Uncle Keith?" He motioned towards the two couples sitting with the mayor and his wife, Charles and Autumn Taylor.
"I'm just glad we won't be sitting there with them," she leaned in to him so no one else could hear her. "Can you imagine the tension at the table with your dad and Keith pretending to like each other while they smile at the mayor?" She stole a glance at the table. "We probably should go say hi though."
He rubbed his neck nervously, the last thing he wanted to do was go over there. "I guess you're right; just give me a second." He downed the rest of his champagne in record time.
"Liquid courage huh?" she followed suit before putting her arm in his. "Okay, so we walk over, say hello, and get out as soon as possible. We'll call it Operation…"
"Keep the hell away," he interrupted, making her laugh a little louder than she wanted too.
She covered her mouth. "Sounds good, then we go find the table we're stuck at."
"I think I found it," he glanced over to where his brother, his brother's sister, and his sister all sat. "It looks like we're at the kiddie table."
"I really don't know about this," Liz said as they stood outside of a white house where the music was blaring.
"Look, we can always go back." Sam shrugged. "You were the one who called me remember? You said Dean and Jack were both going to be here. I can always go home before my sister reconsiders her decision to take me in."
"Brooke would never do that," Liz replied. "Besides they are all at that gala tonight."
"Okay, are you arguing against this or for it?" she peered at the other teen curiously. "Because now I can't tell."
"Me either," the younger girl shrugged. "I can't decide I we should be staying or leaving…"
"Hey," a red headed girl ran out of the house followed by two boys. "I told them you weren't going to chicken out." She smiled as she ran towards them, holding out a beer can. "Here."
Liz started to shake her head but when she looked behind the girl to the deep chocolate brown eyes of Dean staring back at her. "Mmm," she lifted the can to her mouth and took a sip of the bitter liquid.
"I guess that answers that question," Sam mumbled before they followed Melissa and the others inside.
"Ladies and Gentleman," Deb spoke from the podium in the center of the stage. "I am Deborah Scott and on behalf of myself and my co-chair Karen Roe-Scott, I'd like to thank you all for being here tonight and welcome you to The Annual Go Red Gala."
The paused briefly as the audience clapped.
"As you all know, this gala annually raises money as well as awareness for heart health." Karen spoke. "What many of you may not know though is that heart disease kills more people than all of the cancers combined."
"And in most cases it can be prevented through diet, exercise, and a positive mental attitude," Deb added.
"And on behalf of both of us as well as The American Heart Association," Karen added, "we'd like to thank you all for your generous contributions…"
After they were done with their announcements, Brooke found herself chatting with Jake and Haley on the terrace while Lucas spoke with a business associate.
"So," Haley nudged her friend. "Are you and Lucas…"
"Back together," Brooke shook her head. "No, although sometimes I think it's sort of heading there."
"Well you guys look really cute together," she replied.
"That's because you don't know the whole story," Jake turned to his girlfriend, knowing his best friend was shooting daggers from her eyes.
"Here he goes with the big brother routine," Brooke rolled her eyes.
"I'm just looking out for you," he held his hands up in surrender. "I just want you to be careful."
"I know but he's changed a lot since then," she looked up at him, her hazel green eyes big and pleading. "Can't you just try to get along with him Jake, for me? And Haley likes him too…"
"I do," his girlfriend turned her chestnut eyes up at him as well.
"Fine," Jake huffed. "I can't fight both your puppy dog eyes."
"We know," Haley laughed. "And speaking of putting aside differences," she turned to her friend. "Maybe you can forgive Peyton."
"Haley," she pleaded.
"Brooke," she said softly. "It's time," she paused briefly. "Now's your chance."
"Hey," the blonde in question strolled towards them. "So this is where all the cool people are, huh?"
"Hey Peyton," Haley said before pulling on Jake's hand. "I think my guy owes me a dance. We'll see you guys later."
"Bye," Jake said as they went back inside.
"Was it something I said?" Peyton asked.
"No," Brooke shook her head. "They're still in that lovey-dovey faze. Speaking of, where's your husband?"
"Dan grabbed him," she shrugged before an awkward silence washed over them. "Wow," she walked over to the edge where a rose bush sat in the corner. "These are beautiful." She breathed in deeply, taking in the floral scent.
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, old time is still a-flying," Brooke paused as she remember the old poem. "And this same flower that smiles today, tomorrow will be dying."
Peyton turned around. "What?"
"It's just a poem by this Herrick guy," when the blonde still looked surprised. "Lucas, he used to make me read stuff." She laughed. "I guess it's true though; time isn't as long as we think it is."
"No, it isn't." Peyton replied with a shake of her head. "I remember when I was Sam and Lizzie's age; it just went by so fast."
"Any regrets?" the brunette asked with a raise of her eyebrow.
"That I was in such a rush to grow up," she answered truthfully. "I regret some things I did as an adult too," she paused briefly. "Like hurting you; I am sorry."
"I know you are," Brooke nodded. "It's just, I lost my baby while you were making the moves on my husband and that made me lose all three of you. You were my best friend Peyt."
"I'm hoping I can be again," she tilted her head.
Brooke sighed deeply. "I don't think we'll ever be able to be friends like that again but I'd like to not dislike you anymore."
"So not friends but not enemies," Peyton said. "Acquaintances."
"Yeah," Brooke nodded. "Something like that." She peered inside at another blonde who seemed to be waving her over. "Looks like Lucas needs to be saved; I'll see you around Peyton."
"Yeah, you too." Peyton smiled cheerfully.
"Nate," Brooke nodded as she passed him heading out while she entered.
"Hey," he stood in front of his wife. "What was that about?"
"Just stopping to smell the roses," Peyton looked up at him. "I think things are finally getting back on track between me and Brooke."
"Good," he nodded. "I knew sooner or later you guys would work it out." He exhaled deeply. "Now, have you had enough of this place because I'm ready to go home when you are?"
"Went that good with Dan huh?" she didn't need him to answer. "Okay, lead the way."
"Would you slow down," Sam commanded from the back seat. "And stop turning back here every time I say something; pay attention!"
"Geez Sam," Dean shook his head from the driver's seat. "I'm paying attention, isn't that right Elizabeth?" He winked.
"You seem fine to me," Liz said from her position between him and another boy in the front as she leaned against his shoulder.
"That's because your vision is blurry," Sam mumbled underneath her breath. She hadn't even wanted to go out to this other party, especially not when she was unsure of how much alcohol Dean had consumed but once Liz hopped in the car she felt weird about letting her go off someplace with three boys and a barely conscious Melissa.
"Hey relax," a boy she thought was named Kevin nudged her in the backseat. "It's all good; I thought you were adventurous."
"Yeah, what did you do in all those big cities?" Dean turned around. "Just sit there?"
"Look at the road," Sam yelled as the made a turn around a blind corner, drifting into the opposite lane.
"Just relax…" Dean stopped mid-sentence as a truck skidded towards them, slamming on the breaks.
Liz screamed from the front as the bright lights of the truck blinded her. "OH MY GOD!"
