Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters. Except Carlucci , I've always wanted a gay bet friend so I'm living vicariously through Brooke Davis.
"How can there be no flight out of this place?" Brooke yelled dramatically flopping down into her bed with a grunt.
It was day three out of 7 on the joyous reunion she, Chase, and Rachel had decided to partake in. Rachel had managed to stall Brooke's return to New York for two days saying that she had some business to attend to in a nearby town, but alas today Brooke decided to take matters into her own hands, and her attempts came out fruitless.
"Because everyone's fleeing this town to go somewhere interesting for the summer and get away from the horrible people here!" Brooke exclaimed answering her own question. "I hate people!" she whined.
Rachel shot an annoyed look at Chase and spoke. "Get your fat ass dressed we're going out tonight."
"Where is there to go in this town?" Brooke grumbled.
"Tric," Rachel replied simply causing Chase to wince, knowing what the result of this might be.
"Bullshit!" Brooke yelled. "There isn't any way in hell I'm showing up there!"
Rachel glared at Brooke by way of the mirror. "Can you do it for Mouth at least; he really wants to see you."
Brooke frowned, hating Rachel for taking the guilt approach. "Is Tric even open anymore? I mean we were the ones that kept it running so well with the entertainment, and Karen and Deb are in the city now," Brooke asked.
"You shouldn't know that," Chase cut in, "Unless you want them to know the truth."
Rachel smirked, "Maybe she does, hopefully get on everyone's good side again."
"Ohh," Chase replied with a similar taunting tone, "I get it now. Brooke's playing innocent card, she tried that with me too, except she didn't last for very long."
"Yea well she only does that with people she really likes," Rachel replied with a sneer Brooke was too used to.
"I'll get ready if you guys shut up," Brooke said getting up from the bed with a glare.
Rachel and Chase made a 'zipping the lip' motion while 'throwing away the key' as Brooke walked out leaving the two with big smiles on their faces.
"By the way Chase," Brooke yelled from the hallway, "I wasn't the one begging for more in the back seat of the car at Rachel's party. Clean Teen."
Chase frowned and Rachel laughed heartily, "And the bitch is back," she mumbled with a smile.
"Pretty good turn out tonight huh?" Haley asked leaning over the bar while sipping a Shirley temple.
"Yeah, pretty good for the middle of June, especially since people are all away on vacation during this time," Peyton said fixing a virgin cocktail for a customer who, in her opinion, was a tad underdressed in her corset and miniskirt.
"Hey baby," Lucas said coming up behind her with his arms around her waist and a kiss on the neck.
"Hey Luke," Peyton replied leaning into him and placing her hands on his.
Haley had to resist from rolling her eyes. As much as she was happy for her best friend Lucas, she couldn't help but think about how cliché and scripted their whole relationship seemed; it lacked passion.
The four of them had gotten their cooling off time and had decided to trash all the tension that had built up between them since the 'reunion'. Although Lucas still had a problem with all three of the visitors in town, Peyton on the other hand felt that her issue was with Brooke and not so much with Rachel. The way she saw it, Rachel was just a pawn that Brooke had in her game and that Rachel had no choice but to protect Brooke out of obligation.
Haley and Nathan however felt horrible for their lack of justification they had put up for Brooke, and were just waiting to see her and Rachel again so they could make up their differences.
"Where are Bevin and Skillz tonight?" Nathan asked placing a hand on his wife's knee knowing exactly what she was thinking, and trying to get her mind off if it.
"Wedding plans to attend to," Haley replied.
"It's great that everyone's starting to settle down," Peyton said with an attempt at a hint to Lucas. Lucas stiffened and had no idea what to say to her unspoken suggestion. "Right Luke?" she asked with a smile, not seeing the look of panic that was crossing his face. Is she really thinking about marriage already? He thought.
Trying not hard to laugh at his expression, Nathan decided to help his big brother out. "I wonder where Mouth is," he said changing the subject.
"I'm right here," a voice from the end of the bar said. The group turned to see Mouth walking towards them with Rachel's arm linked through his, Rachel sporting a gorgeous emerald green baby doll dress with scattered sequence on it, complementing her auburn hair.
"This is the part where you all act surprised that the slut didn't skip town again," Rachel commented with her usual smirk.
The group minus Lucas laughed as a whole, not paying enough attention to the woman in his arms to be surprised that she found humor in Rachel's comment. He was too busy concluding that this meant Brooke was still in town also.
"Cute dress," Peyton said as a means of semi-apology.
"Thanks, it's a Clothes over Bros original, not yet released in stores yet. Brooke likes me to try out all her new looks in public before sending them out to be reproduced. I'll be sure to let her know that her clothes were appreciated from a very non-biased point of view," Rachel said with a leer and a wink before grabbing Mouth to go and find a booth with her.
Peyton just sighed and stared after her about to make a remark but Haley cut in. "We'll be right back," she said dragging her husband with her in the same direction Mouth and Rachel went. Peyton glared at her friends' disappearances again before turning to face her boyfriend who wore his far away, contemplative squint on his face.
"What you thinking about Luke?" she asked wrapping her arms around his neck, thus snapping him out of his daze.
Brooke. He should've answered, since that would've been the truth, but naturally he didn't as to avoid a fight with Peyton. "Just how gorgeous you look tonight," he said reflexively, not even skipping a beat. Peyton just smiled up at him and placed a firm kiss on his lips, unbeknownst to the new club goer that was gaining the attention of the many teens present at Tric.
"Rachel can we talk to you?" Haley said with her husband in tow approaching Rachel and Mouth who were seated at a booth. Rachel looked up from the autograph she was signing and gave the two a scrutinizing once over before finishing the autograph and motioning for them to sit.
"Do you have any advice for me, I'm thinking of going into modeling too?" Rachel's fan said as Haley and Nathan took a seat.
Rachel looked the girl up and down, she had judgmental air about her, clad head to toe in visible designer that wasn't high fashion, just high priced. "You're not better than anyone, so don't think you are," Rachel said simply. "Leave now," she added successfully ridding the booth of the girl.
"Wow," Mouth said laughing, "that was awesome." Rachel just smiled to herself and looked at their two new visitors at the table.
"So were you just bored with the Stepford couple over there or did you want an autograph too?" Rachel asked in her usual manner.
"This is going to be harder than I thought," Haley mumbled to her husband.
Nathan smiled slightly and took the wheel, "Rachel we wanted to apologize to you. Everything you said was right, and we feel terrible."
Rachel said nothing but instead moved her gaze to Haley, with an eyebrow raised.
"What?" Haley asked as if she were being accused. "Oh come on he said it for the both of us!" she complained but was quickly nudged by Nathan. With a glare she apologized, "I'm sorry alright you were right."
Rachel smiled quickly. "It's about time you two realize I'm always right. But I'm not the one you should be apologizing to. I'm not the one who took the rumors that she was pregnant just to protect her friend," she replied. "So we're fine, but I would be more concerned about her feelings. After all, I'm a cold hearted bitch that could care less what you say about me," she finished simply with a smirk everpresent.
"Well how are we going to talk to her if she won't ever show her face to us?" Haley shot back frustrated.
"Oh come on you're smart, you'll figure out a way. Excuse me photo opp," Rachel replied getting up and disappearing into a crowd of frantic teenage girls.
Haley, Nathan, and Mouth stood up confused and walked to the bar to a similar Lucas and Peyton, both with similar expressions.
"Is Rachel really that big now?" Peyton asked after seeing Rachel catwalk into the crowd causing more screaming for the now rather large group of flustered teenagers.
"I don't know," Mouth replied.
Noticing one of his players going to join to crowd, Nathan pulled him aside. "Eric, what's all the craziness about? Rachel Gatina?"
"Not only Rachel! Brooke Davis the creator of Clothes over Bros is here too! I can't believe it!" the tall blonde's girlfriend exclaimed before pulling herself and Eric into the swarm.
Peyton rolled her eyes. "Seriously it's not like she found a cure for cancer. She's in the fashion business for god's sake, it's not exactly a tough business to get into."
Lucas said nothing, but instead gritted his teeth, he couldn't deal with see her again. It was just too… complicated.
"Lucas it's getting a little too crazy," Haley said motioning to the growing mass that was becoming a little rowdy. "Maybe you should get them out of there and put them on stage, at least that way there'll be some kind of order."
"They'll be fine Haley," Lucas replied quickly averting the gaze of his girlfriend.
"Lucas man, she's right this is starting to become dangerous with all these kids huddled so close to the exit, it's a fire hazard," Nathan replied feeling his responsibility as co-owner of the club taking over.
"Then you take care of it," Lucas replied to his little brother.
"No way, your mom left you responsible for these kinds of things, so go do your job," Nathan shot back winning the battle.
Lucas sighed deciding to put away his pride and personal feelings for his duty as manager of Tric. "I'll be right back," he said.
"Luke wait!" Peyton exclaimed, "Let me do it," she said.
"Peyton it's not your job just leave him be," Mouth said stopping her and letting Lucas go take care if it.
"Why should he have to do extra work just because some designer waltzes into town?" Peyton asked. She was answered with silence.
As soon as Brooke walked into Tric she felt like she had made a mistake. She was greeted with the sight of Lucas and Peyton kissing behind the bar, as perfect a couple as they always seemed to be. The only reason she was even here was to find Rachel and try and make the best of this mini vacation that God has so graciously given her. Not. But just as she spotted Rachel at a table with Mouth, Haley and Nathan, her view was obstructed by a peppy teenager that reminded her a lot of Bevin.
"Oh my gosh are you Brooke Davis? Of course you are, I'd know your face anywhere. I love your clothes. In fact, I'm wearing your underwear right now," the girl said excitedly. "Do you wanna see?" she asked preparing to give herself a wedgie.
"No! No!" Brooke exclaimed. "I believe you!" she said back politely as she could, not putting the girl out.
"Would it be totally lame if I asked for an autograph?" the girl asked pulling a pen and paper out of her purse.
"No not at all," Brooke replied with a smile. These people were who made her as famous as she was, and she would be grateful for that her whole life. She owed them a pleasant Brooke Davis, not a cranky broody one.
"Oh my gosh thank you!" The girl exclaimed turning her back on Brooke.
"Actually do you mind…" Brooke started but was cut off the by the girl running to a nearby table exclaiming, "I just got Brooke Davis's autograph! She's right there!"
"Keeping this quiet…" Brooke mumbled to herself before putting on her paparazzi smile as a group of girls quickly came over. Oh boy.
"What the hell took you so long?" Brooke said through her teeth as she smiled and posed with Rachel for yet another picture.
"Sorry, Haley and Nathan had to talk to me," Rachel said, her smile never leaving her face.
Brooke's smile faltered as she turned to Rachel. "About what? Is everything alright?" she asked.
Rachel turned to her friend and frowned. She didn't actually tell Brooke about the speech she had scolded their ex-friends about. How would she explain that she totally bitched out the people they had come to see exactly? Lucky for her, a not so welcome distraction entered the mass of teenagers, pushing back that explanation for another time.
"You two are causing too much craziness here," Lucas said sternly causing Brooke to flinch and look up at him, and as hazel met blue thousands of emotions came rushing back for both of them.
Lucas and Brooke were both left speechless. Lucas couldn't help but look Brooke up and down and vice versa. While Brooke was dressed classier in a tight fitting navy dress which screamed Clothes over Bros couture, Lucas was dressed in his usual casual outfit of washed denim jeans and a thermal, leaving Brooke admiring his arm muscles still present from basketball.
They were both taken out of their thoughts by Rachel clearing her throat. "Lucas, we're not one to disappoint a crowd, you know that," Rachel spoke harshly, keeping both of their minds out of the gutter.
"Well you can't expect this crowd to just stay here, you're right in front of the exit, so why don't you two just make a run for it?" he spat back. Like you did last time.
"Oh come on we're giving you business right now," Rachel replied, "Tric's profits have been down since your mom and Deb left, so you might as well take advantage of us here tonight."
Lucas squinted, "How did you know my mom and Deb left?" he asked cause Brooke's eyes to widen.
"Luke, just tell us what you want from us exactly!" Brooke exclaimed, unable to keep the softness out of her voice when saying his name. Both Rachel and Lucas seemed shocked for a moment but both quickly recovered.
Scratching the back of his head, Lucas let out a heavy sigh before motioning for the girls to follow him, leaving the fans groaning in displeasure. "If you're going to draw this much attention then you might as well do it the proper way," he grumbled leading the girls to a back room.
"Rachel I'll have Peyton or Haley do a quick intro on your two and you can go out first, then you can go out next," Lucas said, not even turning to Brooke to let her know that she was the second 'you'.
"Fine," Rachel said plopping herself down onto the dressing room's couch as Lucas nodded and left the two to go and talk to Haley and Peyton.
As soon as the door was shut behind him, Brooke let out a frustrated scream. "I hate this town!" she yelled.
"No you don't, you hate that the guy you left in this town is still extremely taken, extremely gorgeous, and extremely giving you the cold shoulder," Rachel said with a smirk getting up and examining herself in the mirror.
Brooke threw a nearby throw pillow at the Red Head, barely missing her head and hitting the door which suddenly swung open. Brooke jumped and Rachel turned to see who it was.
"Rachel, you're up," Lucas said with extreme seriousness still in his voice.
"See you on the other side boss," Rachel said to Brooke before sauntering out of the room letting Lucas hold the door open for her.
"I'll come back for you when it's your turn," Lucas said shortly, about the close the door.
"Wait? Lucas? Can you just stay with me please?" Brooke asked, before even thinking about what she was saying. Crap.
"I don't think I'm the kind of company you want," he replied. Oh, he wanted to stay, but at the same time he was so angry her… yet so attracted… it was hard to explain. He began to walk out but was stopped by her raspy voice cutting through the air.
"It's just that… I get really nervous during these things. I mean it's all eyes on you and especially with younger people, what I say really affects them and I just don't want them to go in the wrong way," Brooke said more to herself but still knowing that Lucas was there.
Lucas paused. Her voice was so soothing to hear, despite the nervousness that she was trying to convey to him.
"I just don't want to mess this up… it all just seems like such a dream you know?" Brooke continued.
"You gave up a lot to get where you are now," Lucas replied, a bit more softness in his tone. Brooke looked up at him.
"They weren't all things that were easy to leave behind," Brooke said looking him in the eyes.
Lucas held the gaze a little longer than he wanted, letting himself drown in her eyes. He was in deep and he barely knew it. But as quickly as he was engulfed was he pulled out of his thoughts by the image of his girlfriend entering his mind.
"You made it seem otherwise," he said with hardness returning into his tone. Brooke just dropped her gaze to the ground. "You'd better go out there, you don't want to miss you're call on to stage."
"Yea, wish me luck," she said straightening her dress out and walking out of the room past Lucas, his scent invading her nostrils and she breezed past him, a little too close to her liking. Lucas breathed in at the same time, allowing himself to momentarily be distracted by the familiar scent.
"Good luck, Cheery," he whispered to her figure disappearing to the stage.
Reviews welcome!