Brooke stood in front of the grimy door. She felt like she had to bathe just being in the building. She grimaced and tried to shake it off. But it wasn't just the door that freaked her out. It was the whole situation. She was Brooke Davis, for god's sake! Her whole company respected her and saw her word as gold. Why was she so nervous standing before a dilapidated door that hopefully her child was behind? But the moment she thought of that question, she answered it. Because Sam, only with her three days, had already challenged her, but not only that, Brooke was scared. Scared of messing this up. She was a risk taker, this was true with her friends, her relationships, her work, but with Sam it was different. A risk could mean losing it all. It could mean losing the precious daughter that she had only recently gained and was excited to form a relationship with.
Some movement in the apartment brought her back from her thoughts. Tightening her grip on the oversized purse she was holding, she knocked on the door.
The door opened and a girl that looked a bit older than Sam appeared. Her face was stone serious, "Well, well, if it isn't the celebrity fashion designer herself." Tamara said with her hand still holding the door.
Brooke recognized her as Tamara, one of Sam's best friends. Ms. Thrice had dropped off a box of stuff that belonged to Sam. Within them there were photos and many of them had the girl standing in front of her, " It's ridiculous how much she looks like you."
"You must be Tamara?" Brooke said trying to be polite, "Can I come in?"
Tamara opened the door further. Brooke tried to maintain her calm. How could they live in such a dingy apartment?! But she pushed that thought to the back of her mind.
Tamara could see the look of horror that Brooke was trying so hard to hide. She rolled her eyes, "So I'm assuming you didn't leave the comfort of your Beaver Cleaver neighborhood to come to Southside 'cause you wanted to talk to me, right?"
Brooke could tell that Tamara was not happy to see her, "I found this address in Sam's things. Is she here? I don't see her."
Tamara sat down on the mattress that lied on the floor and started folding some shirts. She quickly looked at Brooke with worry in her eyes, "Look don't be mad at Sam. I was the one that told her not to go. I wanted her to stay with me."
Brooke figured that much, "That's okay Tamara. I just want to know where she is now."
"She left like an hour ago. Don't know where though, so don't bother asking."
"You're not worried about her? You don't even know where she's gone?" Brooke said a bit annoyed that this girl was folding shirts, meanwhile her so called best friend was AWOL. Tamara glared at Brooke, "You sure have guts, considering what you did to her on the radio." She spit back.
Brooke frowned, realizing now why this girl was being so despondent with her. She wondered if all of Sam's friends had heard her misstep on the radio. 'Not even a week, and all her friends already hate me.' She thought. Brooke turned and found a chair. She took out a wipe and cleaned it causing Tamara to almost burst out laughing at Brooke's prissy move.
She gingerly took a seat as Tamara stared her down, "Look Tamara what I said on the radio, it was a mistake. I regret it."
Tamara wasn't having it. She was going to make damn sure that Brooke felt as bad as she made Sam feel, "Quit lying! You feel bad because you got caught saying it! You would've kept it moving had Sam never brought it up!"
Brooke swallowed hard. Why did she suddenly feel like she was being interrogated?
"That's where you're wrong. The moment I said it, I felt like the scum of the earth. And that's alot for me to say considering how fabulous I am!"
The girl looked at her with confusion. Who talked about themselves like that? She automatically pegged Brooke as the complete opposite of all foster kids nationwide. But she continued the conversation, "Why didn't you take it back then, huh? You know you had a kid going into the interview."
Brooke sighed, "It's business, you wouldn't understand."
Tamara stood up, grabbing a duffel bag and harshly putting the shirts into them, unfolding them in the process, "Well what I do know is that Sam is not some fashion line. She's a person! Actually she's a fourteen year old, who up until two years ago still thought that her mom was going to come and rescue her. Then when it happens, she finds out that her mom can accept her as long as nobody knows about her, right? Because the way I see it, you care more about your damn business than your fucking daughter."
Brooke was stunned. She saw the tears angrily forming in the girl's eyes. She really did love Sam. "Congratulations on further breaking a girl that was already broken. She didn't need that!" She stopped herself and modified her statement, "She doesn't need that!"
Brooke stood up so that she was at eye level with Tamara, "You're right, she doesn't need that. I made a mistake, and I'm paying for it now. I'm gonna make it up to her, I will."
Tamara would do anything to just go back in time and never have convinced Sam to try and get herself moved to California with her and Marcus. "And how are you gonna do that?" She asked harshly.
"I have a fashion show in New York tomorrow. So I'm heading to New York tonight."
"Fuck you! Are you an idiot?!" Tamara bellowed.
Brooke waited for her to stop screaming so she could finish her statement, "Are you done?" The girl stayed quiet, challenging her with silence. "Like I was saying, I'm planning on announcing that I'll be stepping down as Chief Operating Officer. I'll become lead designer, and still be consulted, but I'll be able to stay in Tree Hill."
The girl's eyes widened. She had not expected that, at all. "Oh." Was all that came out of her mouth. Maybe the woman in front of her really did care for Sam. It was an odd feeling to recognize, but she saw it in Brooke.
Brooke sat back down, "I was hoping to catch her here, so we could talk about it. I have to be at the airport in two hours."
Tamara cleared her throat then sat back down on the mattress. They stayed quiet for a while. Brooke could tell the girl was ruminating over her words, deciding whether or not she trusted her. After what seemed like hours Tamara looked back up. She was now willing to talk to Brooke about Sam. She felt that she needed to tell her certain things, to make sure that Sam would be okay without her. She checked her watch, "Marcus'll be home soon." She whispered to herself, but Brooke heard her. "Who's Marcus?" She asked curious.
"My boyfriend. He owns this joint."
Brooke could tell that Tamara had grown up in the fast lane. She hoped to God this wasn't the case for Sam, "How old are you Tamara?"
"16. But I've been friends with Sam since she was 6 and I was 8. Sam had just gotten to Clydesville. She was a little runt. I just felt the need to protect her, and she was so, so sweet."
Brooke tried to imagine a six year old Sam. But the image of her being all alone in a group home frightened her. She was suddenly grateful for Tamara.
"Thank you." She said sincerely.
"For what?" Tamara asked.
Brooke's eyes twinkled, "For protecting Sam. She's small as it is, I can imagine she needed you a lot."
Tamara thought carefully about what she was going to say next, "Look, Sam, she's like my little sister. I mean, she's my best friend, but she's still younger than me, and my whole life, I'm the one that's-"
Brooke looked directly into her eyes, "Been there for her?"
Tamara's jaw tightened, "Yeah. And now, that's not the case. She's with you." She almost growled, "Some woman that can't seem to get her priorities straight." Brooke wanted to defend herself again, but thought it was pointless. She'd have to show it through actions.
Tamara continued, "Sam's sensitive."
"What?" Brooke said surprised by the comment, Tamara looked at her as if she was dumb and said it slower, "She's Sen. Si. Tive." and kept going, "She's sarcastic as hell, but that's 'cause she doesn't like people to know that's she just an emotional nutcase."
Brooke realized what Tamara was doing, she was telling her everything she could about Sam. She was trying to pass on all that she could to make Sam's transition easier, as if it was one parent to another. Brooke smiled warmly at her, "Okay." She said softly, nodding her head, compelling Tamara to keep going.
"So you know that means that she can be stubborn, super angry, or you know, just break down."
Brooke massaged her own hands as she listened, "She does that with you...break down?"
"Yeah, and only with me...and Jack. But that's it. So don't expect her to just do it with you 'cause you're her mom. You're still a stranger, alright?"
Brooke nodded. She wanted to ask about Jack, but didn't want to cut Tamara off, she was on a roll.
"She also gets sick easily. You know cold and flu, ear infections. Small stuff like that. I don't know if it's 'cause of all the problems she had when she was little, but she's pretty weak in that area, so take good care of her when she's sick."
Brooke felt like she should be taking notes but just nodded intently, "Alright."
Tamara then got up and went into the other room. She handed Brooke a faded teddy bear and a plain light yellow blanket, "Here." She said plainly.
"What's this?" Brooke asked taking the items, but assuming already that they were Sam's. "She sleeps with them, has since she was three. She forgot them here when she came from Joann's place. But I guess she didn't need them with you."
"Why's that?" Brooke asked confused as to why a girl who slept with a teddy bear and blanket for eleven years didn't even seem bothered by the fact that she didn't have them. Tamara shrugged then frowned, "I guess she felt," She whispered a bit dejected, "...safe, for the first time." She couldn't help but feel jealous that Brooke provided that and no one else could. Brooke could see it in Tamara's eyes, like she was taking Sam away from her. "Hey?" Brooke said quietly.
"What?" She replied annoyed.
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" She asked sincerely confused.
Brooke picked up her purse, "For making you feel like I'm taking away the one person in your life that matters most to you."
Tamara's eyes glistened, but she refused to cry. She just nodded.
"But she won't be far Tamara. You're free to come by my house and Lucas's whenever. And she'll still go to school with you."
Tamara just nodded, but she knew it was going to be different. They were now going to live in two different worlds. She knew that this woman was going to adopt Sam sooner or later. No, things were not going to be the same any longer.
Brooke sighed as she checked her watch. She had to get going, "If you get a hold of her before Lucas or I do, can you just, just tell her to come home. Or at least tell her to tune in to my fashion show. I'll make an announcement then."
Tamara could only agree. How could she say no? Brooke Davis, the sought out designer was in Southside Tree Hill looking for a girl she just met. "Fine."
That's all Brooke needed to hear. She then took out $200. "Here Tamara. Use them for what you'd like, although I hope you use it for what you need."
Her eyes widened, nobody had ever given her so much money, "Wow, thank you."
"No problem. I hope to see you around my house."
Tamara quickly put the money in her pocket, not responding to Brooke's last comment. With that they parted ways.
…. ….. …..
It was late at night and Sam sat on the beach. She was planning on going back to Lucas's, but was scared of what he was going to do. Would he be mad? He didn't really seem like the mad type. As her thoughts rolled in her mind she felt someone sit next to her. "Hey kid." Said the voice. She jumped a bit not expecting someone to sit next to her. It was Julian. "What the hell you scared me!" She said annoyed.
He laughed, "Sorry. What're you doing at the beach?" He leaned in and gave her a gentle and playful push, "You have a whole lot of worried people waiting for you."
Sam sighed and played with the sand between her hands, "I'm going back tonight. I just needed time to think."
He was glad he found her at the beach. This was where he liked to come and think, so he thought he'd give it a gander and walk two or three miles of the shoreline.
"I love this place too. It's pretty chill."
She turned to him, "Why aren't you in New York? Don't you live there?"
He grinned, "I spend a lot of my time here too. Brooke and me are engaged, so her home's my home and vice versa. I'd like to take you to my house one day too." He said it so easily, but it still caught Sam by surprise. How could he be so open with her? They had only recently met. She shook it off, "Okay, thanks. That'd be cool." He bent his knees and lazily rested his arms on them, "Brooke's in New York right now."
Sam felt something catch in her throat. Really, again? After their fight, she still decided to fly off. Her business really did mean a lot more to her. She was lying when she told Tamara she wanted Luke to have custody of her, but now she wasn't so sure if it was still a lie. "Fuck her." She said to herself, but Julian still heard it. He put a hand on her arm, "Hey." He said very seriously. She turned to look at him, "I'm sorry, alright. You just don't get it."
He let her arm go, "I was there. I know what happened, But you didn't let me finish kiddo. Brooke has a fashion show tomorrow and a pretty big announcement. You should watch it."
Sam rose her eyebrow at him. Julian could see Brooke in her expression and almost laughed at how eerily similar it was."Why should I?" She said defiantly.
He thought for a moment, "I'll tell you what. You won't have to watch, it'll be all over the news. Well celebrity news that is, if you follow that kind of stuff."
Sam looked at him suspiciously. She wanted so badly to lay on his shoulder and relax, but thought it was too soon. "I think I'm gonna go now."
He stood up, "Let me take you. It's a pretty far walk back to Luke's." It looked like she was about to say no. "Please?" He added.
She gave in. Julian was a good guy. She approved. "Okay, sure."
…. …. ….
When they got to Luke's it was already midnight. Julian watched her go up the steps and then go inside. He smiled and then headed off. Once inside she found Peyton watching television, this time fully clothed, "H-hey Peyton." She said tentatively. Peyton turned around. Her lips curled into a wide smile, "Oh Sam, thank God you're here!" She went over and gave her a huge hug. It came to a surprise to Sam. She just limply waited for Peyton to let her go. "Luke's in the shower. Let me text Brooke, she's been worried sick over this.
"She has?" Sam asked. Peyton looked at her, and spoke less excitedly and more maternally, "Of course, Sam. She cares deeply about you. We all do."
Sam sat down, "I guess, but I don't want to talk to her, so don't expect me to." She said lifting her legs up onto the couch. Peyton definitely saw Brooke's stubbornness in her, "No worries Sam." She said chuckling to herself.
When Luke came out of the shower he saw Sam sitting down on the couch. When Sam saw him, she looked down embarrassed. They had such a good night together yesterday, then she had to go screw it up. "Uh, Peyton left. I'm sorry. She said she thought you and me needed to talk."
He dried his hair with his towel and then went over and sat next to Sam, "Midnight?" He said questioning her time to get home.
"Well congratulations you can tell time. Want a medal?" She grumbled. He kept staring at her until the silence made her look back up at him, "I'm great at telling time. But you don't seem to be." He said not breaking his stare.
She played with the hem of her shirt, "Yeah, about that…" Why was she nervous? She was never nervous about dumb stuff. She usually couldn't care less, why was it different this time?
He waited to hear what she was going to say. He knew how to deal with teenagers. He was a gym teacher and basketball coach. But this was different. He couldn't send this misbehaving child to a parent, because all of a sudden, he was the parent. He suddenly wished Brooke were sitting next to him. He wanted them to do this together.
"Sam?" He asked thinking he waited long enough. She exhaled, "I'm sorry, alright? You happy now? Can I go?
"I know why you're upset." He tried to say kindly.
She didn't want to get into this, "Good, then you should know why I wasn't at the dumb interview. I'm tired, and I don't want to talk about this. So just back off dude." She got up and picked up her stuff. He then heard his bedroom door close.
He massaged his neck, "How the hell do you do this?" He said thinking out loud. He looked to the bedroom that was supposed to be hers. No bed yet. Damn furniture company. He wished there was so he didn't have to sleep on his couch again. But it would be there by tomorrow. Their reunion had not gone as planned. He wasn't nearly as punitive, and Sam wasn't nearly as open. It would get easier. It had to get easier...right?
He looked at his phone and dialed the one person who'd help him. Thankfully Haley picked up after two rings, "Luke what's up?" Haley's voice came through the phone.
Luke kept staring at his bedroom door, where his tiny child slept. She barely made it to 5 feet 1 inch. She was probably more like 5 foot and a half. He wondered where her stature came from since he was tall and Brooke was average height. "Haley, I can't do this. I don't know how to be a dad."
Haley, the mother of an eleven year old Jamie was no nonsense, and had no sympathy for Luke, "Lucas get out of your head. This isn't the time to be brooding. Is Sam home?"
He took a deep breath, not ready for Haley to put him in his place, "She got here like twenty minutes ago."
"It's midnight, and she just got home? That's inappropriate Lucas. I get that she's mad, but no matter how upset she is, she cannot run off without telling you where she is."
"But Hales, all this is new for her."
"I'm not telling you to yell at her, I'm telling you to talk to her. Make sure she knows why this is wrong."
"I tried! She just stormed out."
He could tell that Haley was getting frustrated with him, "So you grab her, sit her back down, and try once more. You lost this one, since she's probably already asleep. But Luke you need to grow up and talk to her, not friend to friend, but parent to child. The sooner you figure that out, the easier your life will be."
Lucas sighed heavily feeling stressed out, "What if she runs away? I can't let that happen."
Haley was silent for a moment then spoke once more, "You make damn sure she doesn't. Being a parent means not being liked all the time because their well being comes before their adoration."
They talked like this for a few more minutes. Lucas had a newfound appreciation for all the dads out there.
… … ….
The next morning Sam was quiet from the moment she got up and in the car as well. She wasn't trying to fight anyone, she just wanted to get out and into a comfortable environment. An environment where she knew her place and exactly how to act. Sam understood Southside High to a tee. She was Sam, and she hung out with a middle rung group of friends. She wasn't bad ass, but no one tried to mess with her either. It wasn't like her two new homes, where she had an inner battle of trying to figure out where she stood with her parents. Lucas didn't really seem like a father, and Brooke, well Brooke had made it clear to her that she didn't want to be her mother. But, yet, they were still here? And why did all these strangers, like Julian and Peyton feel so worried about her as well? This was all so new.
Lucas had parked his car only to realize that Sam was completely out of it. He snapped his fingers in her face. She jumped up, "What the hell?"
"Sorry, you were just in the zone."
She unbuckled her seatbelt. He checked his phone, there was still 20 minutes before her school started and he would just have to make do with being late to his first class. He hadn't gotten the guts to talk to Sam, and knew he had to do it now. "Wait Sam, before you go, let's talk, alright?"
"And if I don't wanna talk?" She questioned him. She really didn't.
He let go of the wheel, realizing he was still holding it stiffly. "Then you'll listen."
She realized she wasn't getting out of this one. So she let go of her bag and sat back down.
"Sam, I know this is all new for you, and it probably is weird having Brooke and I be the ones in charge, but that's where we are now. I trusted you to come home and you didn't."
"I did." She pointed out. He gave her a small glare, "Yeah, at midnight! We needed you there at the interview."
Sam frowned, "I don't know what you want me to say."
Lucas didn't really know what he wanted her to say either, "All I want is for you to come home at a decent time, and if we need you earlier, then at the time we say, without me having to worry that you'll be coming in at 1 in the morning. You had me worried Sam."
Sam looked up into his eyes, "Okay. I'm, uh, I'm sorry Luke. I'll be back early today."
Lucas nodded with a bit of a mischievous smile, "No need. Your interview is today at 5:30 again."
"So be there at 5:15?" She asked nonchalantly.
"No, we're not taking any chances. I'll be here right after school, so don't make me wait too long champ."
Sam wanted to argue, but his use of the word champ softened the blow. She just grabbed her bag roughly, "Fine whatever."
"And Sam?"
Sam sighed. Was she ever going to leave the car, "Now what? More fatherly advice?"
He chuckled, "No, Brooke's coming back today, and-" He noticed her face harden a bit, "and I think you should just be nice. She made a mistake, I know, but trust me she'll do everything in her power to fix it."
Sam looked outside, but she realized she needed to get something off her chest, "I know she will. All I'm saying is that what she said, there must've been some truth to it. I don't think…" Her voice trailed off in danger of spilling too much.
Lucas didn't want her to close down, "You don't think what?"
Sam played with the zipper on her backpack. Should she say it? "I don't think someone that wants a child would say those words."
His heart went out to Sam. She was afraid, and he knew it. Afraid of not being wanted...again. "Champ, Brooke, well, she doesn't like to be wrong. She doesn't like not knowing that she might not be good at something and mess it up. You, Sam, you are the one person in her life right now that makes her feel that way so she's scared, scared because she knows she's not giving you up, but she doesn't want to mess you up. And that, that's way out of character for Brooke Davis, trust me."
"I'm already a messed up kid."
Lucas leaned in and kissed the top of her head, "We all are Sam. We all are."
She nodded, "I'm, I'm gonna go now." Feeling grateful for his affection, but not showing it outwardly. She got out the car and into school, thinking about all that Lucas had said.
Sam stepped out of school expecting to see Julian's truck but was painfully surprised by a black limo garishly parked in front of the school, the driver was holding up her name on a piece of paper. She instantly knew that this was definitely Brooke's doing and not Lucas's.
Tamara stared at what was in front of her and burst into laughter, "Oh my God Sam, Brooke's really trying to get killed out here."
"Bye T." She grumbled. She had to leave as quickly as possible, before the whole school saw the spectacle. A limo for poor beat up Sam? In what world? She heard some of the jeers coming her way, "Yo Sam, who's your sugar daddy!?" A boy yelled. Sam ignored the boy and walked up to the driver, "Listen, if you don't wanna die put your damn sign down."
The man holding the sign was no idiot. He was tall and muscular, he bent down to Sam and spoke with a low voice, "Little girl don't disrespect your momma." She looked at him insulted. "Who do you think you are?" She was not used to anyone being her mother, let alone others considering someone to be her mother.
He said nothing else and opened the door, and sure enough Brooke was in there distracted by her phone, but not to worry Sam's frustration brought her back, "Are you delusional or high?! Because only someone so far gone would bring a limo to Southside!"
Brooke shot her head up. She had also called Haley and gotten an earful from her. She knew she had to be strong willed in this situation. She narrowed her eyes, "I'm perfectly fine. Are you delusional? Because I'm convinced that's the only reason you think it's okay to talk to me, or any adult, for that matter, like that."
Sam scoffed heavily and just sunk into the seat across from Brooke, "You really can't do this Brooke."
Brooke watched her and then spoke less harshly. She knew this was probably embarrassing, and she had never pegged herself as an embarrassing person, which made it all the more worse for her. "Sam I know this isn't ideal. I had just gotten back from New York and Lucas called me freaking out that he was in charge of detention duty which he couldn't get out of. So I told him I'd pick you up."
Sam wasn't giving in, "In a limo?"
"I was at the airport when he called. The agency sent me a limo to go to a spa, which they usually do after a big fashion show, except this time I had it come here. I didn't have time to go back home, Sam." She hoped Sam had nothing snarky to say after that. But unluckily for her, she did. "Congratulations, you were selfless...for once."
Brooke could feel hurt and anger rising in her blood, but she had to stay calm. She knew Sam's words were because of what she had said the other day. Sam looked out the window and watched as they started leaving Southside. Brooke saw Sam, and saw all those years she wasn't there for. "Samantha." She said in a firm, but gentle tone.
Sam looked at her, with less anger in her eyes, but with more hurt.
"Sam I...I won't be going to New York that much anymore, except for major fashion shows which are only three times a year. I can work from Tree Hill."
There was a silence between them except for the low hum of the car. "I wanted to let you know." Brooke added awkwardly.
"I already knew." Sam said quietly, "T. showed me the news."
Brooke was once again grateful for Sam's friend, the girl she had previously pegged as nothing but trouble. "Oh." Brooke could only say. For some reason, she expected Sam to be outwardly grateful for the gesture, but then silently chastised herself for such stupid reasoning. "Did Lucas talk to you already about-"
Sam already knew what she was going to say, "I know, I know. Come in at a reasonable time. Don't make you guys worry, blah, blah."
Brooke knew Sam wasn't used to being parented, so she didn't plan on yelling, or chastising her further. "I know this is new Sam. But we do it because we want what's best for you. You can't do some of the things that you used to now, but we'll work it out together, okay?"
Sam knew that. She wasn't dumb and didn't like being talked down to, "I'm not a child. I know that." But Sam's despondency was also to make Brooke mad. She wanted her to bail, just like she expected her to do. After all, it was her, not Lucas that gave her away. She would not give in to Brooke. She wouldn't.
Ms. Thrice's words rang in Brooke's ears, "She's still a child remember that...Sam's not an adult, although she tries to act tough."
Brooke didn't fall into Sam's trap. She stayed calm then went over and sat next to her in the car. Sam who was looking out the window, turned to look at her.
"I'm sorry Sam. What I said on the radio it wasn't right, and I was wrong, so, so wrong."
Sam went back to the scenery outside, "Brooke I don't feel like talking about this now."
Brooke nodded, and agreed after all she didn't want to upset her before her interview, "Okay." Her words sounded dejected.
Sam, forgetting about her plan to not let Brooke get to her, felt bad when she heard the hurt feelings in Brooke's voice. "A limo Brooke, really? Could you be any more of a priss?"
Brooke saw the smug smile cross Sam's lips and shook her head, "Look it won't happen again, alright?"
"Or at least tell your big lug of a driver to not come out with a dorky sign with my name on it."
Brooke burst out laughing, "Andre did that?! I told him not to!"
Sam gave in and turned to look at Brooke, "Yeah he did! You really bring your whole entourage to town don't you, damn."
Brooke laid back into the seat. They still had to talk, but it was nice to see that Sam wasn't mad enough to not joke around with her. "You nervous Sam?"
"About my interview? Nah, it's Thrice. She loves me, I'm pretty sure I could set this whole town on fire, and she'd find a loophole for me to not get in trouble."
Brooke rolled her eyes. Great, Thrice was talking about limits, and rules, because even she fell for Sam's schemes. "Well let's not do that alright?"
Sam chuckled, "I'll keep your suggestion in mind."
Once at Lucas's home, Brooke fell onto the couch, exhausted. She closed her eyes and planned on resting until Ms. Thrice came. Sam put her things into Lucas's room and found it surprising when Brooke was still there. "Brooke?" Sam asked getting closer. Brooke didn't open her eyes, she was too tired. "Hmm?"
"You're not leaving?" Sam asked sincerely.
This caused Brooke to open them up, "Of course not. Did you think I was?"
Sam spoke a little sheepishly, "Well you guys did your interview, so I thought you'd just drop me off."
Brooke sat up once Sam sat on the couch and turned on the television, "Sam I'm here for you. Whether you need me or not, I'm staying."
Sam felt the genuinity of her statement, "Thanks." She said smiling at Brooke and turning back to the TV. It was that moment that she decided to stay with both Brooke and Lucas.
The interview came and went and Thrice spent an extra ten minutes lecturing Sam and telling her to behave with her parents. That made Brooke feel so warm inside, she was Sam's mom. Her actual mom. She heard the chairs scraping the floor and knew that they were finished. She stood up and anxiously made her way towards them. Ms. Thrice smiled at Brooke, "I was planning on calling you, but since you're here I'm giving my recommendation for Sam to stay with both of you." Brooke felt huge relief flood her, "Thank you Ms. Thrice."
"You can call me Stacy." She then turned to Sam and held her face in her hands, "You." She said then pointing towards her with her finger, "You be a good girl Sam." Sam blushed. Ms. Thrice was the only person she let say those types of things to her. She was the most stable adult in her life, and also knew her the most. "I will...geez." Ms. Thrice smiled and kissed her cheek and gave her a big hug, "Bye Sammy. I love you."
Sam watched her leave and then closed the door. Brooke was elated, things were finally completely official. They were her biological foster parents, as odd as that sounded.
"She's great." Brooke said.
That was the one thing they could both agree on, "Who Thrice? Yeah, she's the best social worker. Gets on my case, but I love her anyways."
Brooke heard the word "love" come so easily from Sam's mouth, and her heart ached for those words to be said towards her, but she knew that would take time. And in all honesty, she felt like she didn't deserve those words. She left Sam alone, to fend for herself.
Sam realized that this was the part where Brooke would leave back to her house. She saw Brooke picking up her things. But having spent the afternoon with her she wanted to keep being around her, as much as she hated to admit it. But she wouldn't say anything, she'd just have to stay and wait for Lucas.
"Hey Sam, you up for some ice cream?" Brooke asked. Lucas wanted to meet up with them at the ice cream shop they went to before.
"At Ralph's again?"
Brooke nodded, "Yeah, Luke just got out. It'd be nice to go, all three of us, right?"
"Yeah, yeah that sounds cool. But, uh.."
Brooke could sense the apprehension in her voice, "What's wrong? You don't wanna go? It's okay if you don't feel like it."
"No, I do! Promise. It's just-" Sam really didn't want to sound childish, so she quickly came up with an excuse, "It's just I didn't finish my week with you!" She said quickly.
Brooke looked confused, but realized what Sam was trying to tell her. She grabbed the keys from the table, giving Sam an inviting look, "Well we should go ahead and finish it up then. Go on and get your stuff. I'll wait in the car."
She watched Sam head into the room. Tamara was right, Sam was a softy underneath it all.
… …. ….
All three of them sat around the table. Sam with her usual of chocolate on chocolate on chocolate. This time Brooke got a strawberry milkshake.
"Sam slow down." Brooke told her, "You're gonna get a-"
"Brainfreeze!" Sam said holding her head. Brooke rolled her eyes.
Both Lucas and Brooke sat next to each other, while Sam was on the other side. Lucas stepped up to the plate, "So Sam Brooke and I have some rules."
She looked up with a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. But had an annoyed look on her face. Brooke thought Sam looked so young, it was kind of cute.
"Sam you're going to have a nine o clock curfew during the week and a midnight curfew during the weekends. Changes will come based on the situation." Luke said.
Sam swallowed her ice cream, "Nine?! Am I 5? That's so lame!"
Brooke rose her eyebrow, "It would've been ten had you not been out all night already."
Sam sunk into her seat. She forgot that one down side about having parents was all the rules. Oh well, she'd just have to find a way to break them without getting caught.
Lucas spoke up, "And Sam you need to always be respectful, meaning you can't curse at us, or anyone really. We won't tolerate it."
"So don't get caught, got it." Sam responded. Brooke stiffened, "Samantha, please be serious."
Sam laughed, "Take a chill pill grandma. I got you, I won't curse."
"I am not a grandma!" Brooke said horrified at the statement. Lucas put his hand on Brooke's arm, "Brooke, honey, calm down. She's just trying to rile you up."
Sam shrugged and took another spoonful of ice cream.
Brooke composed herself, "And Sam, there's the obvious ones don't lie to us. Don't go sneaking around."
Sam then jerked her head up. She knew just how to mess with them, "Can I have sex?"
"What?" Lucas almost choked on his spoon. Brooke dropped the straw instantly.
"Are you already having sex?" Brooke had to ask, considering Tamara and her boyfriend. Lucas looked at Brooke angrily, "Brooke what the hell are you saying?!"
"I'm just checking Luke!" Although she was terrified of hearing the answer.
"I'm not having sex!" Sam said butting in, "I just wanna know if I can...you know, do it."
Lucas didn't even give Brooke a chance to answer, "Hell no Samantha. And trust me you don't want me to find out that you are. Is that understood?" His voice was strict and no nonsense. So much so, that Brooke and Sam both looked at him in astonishment.
"Answer the question Sam." He said.
Sam shook her head, "Got it...damn."
"And Sam" Brooke said trying to lessen the tension, "If you break these rules you will be grounded. And you'll probably have to end up doing work and chores either with Luke or me."
"Is there more, or are you guys done?" Sam answered now getting annoyed with it all.
Brooke smiled, "if we think of more, we'll tell you." She couldn't help but see how Sam really did look like her only her eyes were a blue hue, and Brooke's were green. She was perfect In Brooke's eyes.
Lucas was still upset as he thought about his little daughter in the arms of an ugly bestial highschool boy. Brooke punched his arm, "Luke snap out of it! She already said she's not having sex."
Sam laughed loudly, "Luke, come on!" She said giving him a gentle nudge. Luke pretended to still be upset. Sam stood up, "Come on Luke." She went over and he took his chance. He grabbed her, "I got you!" He said playfully. Sam let out a light scream not expecting him to pick her up. She felt him tickle her, and she started laughing in a whole hearted manner, causing people to turn around, but he didn't care, and neither did she. "Stop it! You big jerk!" She said still laughing. He stopped and gave her a big hug, "Do you enjoy giving me a heart attack champ?"
Brooke watched Luke take Sam in his arms and be so playful with her. By the end of it Sam's hair was all over the place. When they stood up Brooke gently turned Sam around and started fixing her hair, "You look like you were in a hurricane." She said light heartedly. "Well if Luke hadn't surprise attacked me like that! I'm gonna get you back!" She said holding still as Brooke combed through the hair with her fingers, then clipped it back into place. She patted her shoulder, "Perfect. Come on." It was a natural moment, that any stranger would confuse as a mother, daughter, and father out together. A happily married couple with a teenage daughter.
…. ….. …..
It was getting late. Sam had already gone to her room, but Lucas and Brooke were still up in her kitchen drinking coffee. Luke was giving her the same stare that he gave her back in his home. Brooke looked away, "Stop Luke. We can't."
"I know we can't." He said softly and then stared into his coffee cup. "Today was nice, at the ice cream shop, I mean. It was nice, you, me, and Sam."
She nodded as she went to put her cup into the sink, "I know it was." When she turned around Luke was only inches from her face. "Lucas." She whispered.
He put his finger to her lips, "Goodnight Brooke Davis." He whispered back. He then kissed her on the cheek.
They stared at each other. He pushed some of her hair behind her ear, "Take care of our baby." He said as he turned to leave. Brooke didn't realize that she felt flushed and her heart was pumping. "Damn you Lucas." She said out loud. He just had a way with her. They were crossing into dangerous territory and she knew it. She was headed to her room, but wanted to say goodnight to Sam, and hopefully talk for a bit.
She knocked, but didn't hear anything. She slowly opened the door and found Sam lying on her side with her knees pulled up close to her chest. Her earbuds were in, and she was clutching her teddy bear and blanket as she read a book. Brooke noticed that Sam was absentmindedly chewing on the tip of the blanket. She already knew Sam was small, but seeing her like that in only an oversized T shirt that she borrowed from Brooke and panties, made her look childish and vulnerable. Brooke wondered why anyone in the group home would have wanted to pick on such a small child. She then closed the door behind her. Sam heard it and let go of her safety nets quickly. Brooke sat down on the bed, "Hey Sam."
Sam sat up, the shirt hanging off her, "Who gave them to you?" She said about her teddy bear and blanket, as she took out her earbuds. She didn't seem to mind that Brooke saw her with no pants.
"Tamara." Brooke answered softly.
Sam looked at Brooke impressed and wide eyed. Brooke actually went to that part of town, "You went to Marcus's?"
Brooke nodded, "I found the address in one of your jeans. I went looking for you."
Sam subconsciously played with the blanket, but it wasn't lost on Brooke.
"Ms. Thrice also brought me a box of your things. I haven't looked at anything except for the pictures at the top. So don't worry. It's waiting downstairs for you, okay?
Sam nodded. Brooke got closer and put her hand on Sam's knee, "Sweetie, those things I said, I am truly sorry. I know I hurt you, but know that Sam, no matter what I said on the stupid radio, I. Love. You. Understand?"
Sam's eyes only blinked at her.
"I've loved you since the day I gave you up. Every day I thought about you. And it was driving me crazy. So I threw myself in my work, completely. Work became my distraction."
"Brooke, did you, did you ever stop thinking about me?" She suddenly sounded so needy to Brooke. She was scared. Brooke shook her head, "No, no Sam. Sweetie I never did. You don't know how hard I had to work every day to push you to the back of my mind, because I would've gone crazy if you were on the forefront. Sammy, I love you. Please believe me. I love you."
Sam had never felt this way when she heard those words. Not when Ms. Thrice said them, not when her crush said it to her back when she was twelve. This was different. For the first time the dream of her mother saying "I love you" had come true.
Sam let the tears pool over her eyes. Her head shook up and down "Thank you. Thank you for staying with me here in Tree Hill."
Brooke leaned in and gave her a strong hug. Then kissed her on the forehead, "Oh Sammy. You don't need to thank me, sweetheart."
A.N: It was a long chapter. Let me know if you guys prefer them long or short! They'll be a few weeks time jump in the next chapter, so we could really start getting to the nitty gritty! Thank you so much for all your feedback. Please continue to review, and let me know if you have any suggestions! I'll keep on writing as long as you continue reviewing :)
Also, what do you guys think of me adding angsty chapters sooner rather than later? I think it's too soon for Sam to kinda break down and stuff. Don't be afraid to tell me a scenario you'd like to see play out (aside from Brucas, I got that from everyone's reviews lol). I usually add them in. Just PM or post it as a part of your review.