Hello lovelies! Sorry for the long time between updates... I have written and changed this chapter several times and thanks to my husband and my friend April (simplyaprillyn) I have finally gotten it to a point where I LOVE IT! So I hope you all enjoy it too... Thanks to all of you who are still reading, there's one more chapter after this so stay tuned.
Thanks!
Krystal
Chapter 9:
'You have reached Lucas Scott, leave a message if you want me to call you back,' Brooke heard the sound of Lucas's voicemail pick up for the fifth time today, "Hey Luke, it's Brooke, you told me you were going to come by this morning so we could leave after I broke the news to Julian and you aren't here and you aren't picking up your phone. Call me please." Brooke hung up her phone and stared at the wedding dress still hanging perfectly on the dress form. Brooke jumped when she heard a knock on her door. She ran to open it and sighed, "Hey tutor girl."
"I wasn't who you were expecting?" Haley said with a sad smile.
"You're one of my best friends I am always happy to see you," Brooke saw the expression on Haley's face and shrugged, "Have you seen Lucas?"
Haley let out a deep sigh, "Brooke honey we should sit down." Haley sat down on the bed and waited for Brooke to join her, "Luke asked me to give you this. He left to go back to New York this morning." Haley placed a small sheet of folded paper in Brooke's shaking hands.
"Of course he went back to New York this morning. This whole thing was a joke to him wasn't it." Brooke opened the note and read it to Haley, "Pretty girl. There are no words.. I had to return to New York.. I only hope you will forgive me someday.. I love you.. Lucas." Brooke crumpled up the note and stood up. "Hales do you think you can call the make up and hair people, the ceremony is in two hours, I need to know what is keeping them. I'm getting married today."
Haley nodded her head as she recalled the conversation she had with Lucas a little over an hour before.
*Flashback*
"Please spare me the lecture Hales," Lucas squinted his eyes and furrowed his brow, "I have a plane to catch."
"When Nathan told me you were leaving I had to see it with my own eyes. So you're just going to run away?" Haley folded her arms across her chest, "You go through all this trouble to tell Brooke how you feel and now you're leaving Tree Hill without the girl that holds your heart? What changed between last night and this morning?"
Lucas hurried past her and continued to stuff his clothing haphazardly in the open suitcase on his bed, "I was thinking a lot about me and Brooke and if I'm honest with myself, she deserves better. I mean we all know my track record, I will grow restless and we will break up. It's inevitable." Lucas threw the last pieces into his suitcase and zipped it up, "So the way I look at it I am doing Brooke a favor."
"I was wondering when we were going to see this version again," Haley shook her head, "I knew you were too much of a coward to actually let yourself feel anything real for anyone but yourself. Safe flight Luke."
*End Flashback*
"How is Brooke holding up," Nathan asked Haley as she came into the room where everyone from the bridal party was getting ready.
"She's great," Haley's face scrunched, "It seems a little bizarre, I mean a few hours ago she was going to call off her wedding and I just left her with the hair and makeup people her mother hired."
Peyton adjusted Jake's boutineer, "Did she look upset?"
"Yeah," Jake added, "We all know that she has had feelings for Lucas for years. He spent this entire weekend trying to get her to call off the wedding, she makes a plan to do just that and he takes off. Something is not right with all of this."
"She was upset when I gave her the note, then a few minutes later she asked me to figure out where the hair and makeup team was." Haley paused, "Maybe she just had cold feet last night and Luke heading back to New York is a blessing."
"I still think we should tell her about Julian and his goons kicking Lucas's ass last night." Nathan said, pacing the room.
"What are you talking about?" Chase asked.
Nathan took out his phone and found the picture he had taken of Lucas's face, "Here get a look at this."
"Jesus," Chase said, before handing the phone to the others, "Julian did that?" Nathan nodded, "Someone needs to tell Brooke."
"We should probably go talk to her," Rachel motioned for the girls to follow her out.
Haley shook her head, "Victoria is with her now, she said they were not to be disturbed. The next time we see Brooke it will be when she's about to walk down the isle."
"That isn't going to work," Mouth said from the balcony, "What if we tried calling her?"
Millie opened her seafoam green satin purse that matched her bridesmaids dress, "Why did Brooke pick this color anyway? It's awful."
Rachel did a twirl in the mirror and simulated throwing up, "It was the only color that wasn't a shade of beige that went with the Air Force dress blues uniform. Believe me we tried everything else."
Millie found her phone and nodded, "I'm going to call Brooke," Millie quickly dialed Brooke's number and waited for her to pick up.
"Millicent Huxtable how may I help you?"
"Hello Mrs. Davis I was looking for Brooke, can I talk to her please. It's kind of important." Millie began to fidget, she could never put her finger on it but Victoria Davis always made her feel like a child awaiting punishment.
"I'm sorry Millicent that won't be possible at this time." Victoria responded in a harsh tone, "Brooke is getting some pre-wedding pictures taken and Julian has requested a prayer shot, not exactly sure what that means but I was told it's an Air Force thing. What ever your important issue is I'm sure one of the other girls can help you fix it." Victoria hissed, "Please make sure you're early for the bridal processional Millicent, Brooke is determined to have the ceremony start on time."
Millie wanted to answer but was met with a dial tone, "Why is BITCH-toria like that? She is always so mean."
"Not a clue, she has been scaring me since our girl scout days" Peyton said, "It was a nice idea to try and call her. It was worth a try, we should all head over to the ceremony site and pray for a miracle."
Chase and Mouth noticed the ominous dark clouds forming in the distance, Chase turned to the room, "At the very least we should pray for rain."
Brooke stood in the gazebo and struggled to take a deep breath, she was nervous. She couldn't recall the last time she was nervous about anything, "Mom. Did you check with Sarah on the status of the tents? There is no way we can move the ceremony inside and I know I felt a few sprinkles fall on my head when we got out of the car." Brooke sat down at the small vanity and reapplied a fresh coat of pale nude lip color and adjusted the clip holding her large poppy headpiece and birdcage veil in place.
Victoria gazed out at the clouds, "If you had agreed to a New York wedding we wouldn't have had this rain, humidity issue," Victoria paused, "Sarah had her assistants purchase dozens of umbrellas, the tent people were stuck in traffic the last I checked." Victoria looked at her Cartier watch and continued, "If we start a few minutes early we should beat the rain darling."
"I should call Haley," Brooke went searching for her cell phone, "See where they are."
Victoria waved Brooke away from her handbag, "I am sure they are close I will call them. Just sit here and look beautiful honey."
Fifteen minutes later Brooke was going to go search for her bridal party herself when Haley, Rachel, Millie and Peyton rushed inside the gazebo. "Great you're here, let's go get me married before we all get washed out."
Haley couldn't stop staring at the two large silk poppy flowers clipped in Brooke's hair, "I thought you were going to wear a full length illusion veil?"
"I decided this one worked best with my dress." Brooke looked down at her ball gown style white wedding gown with pearl, crystal and mesh encrusted bodice. She had to remind herself to watch where her arms rested or she risked cuts and scratches from the dress's massive amount of exposed metal boning. 'I wanted to design my own dress, mother had talked me out of it.' She frowned, "Grab your flowers ladies, it's time to get hitched."
The girls froze, "But the ceremony isn't supposed to start for another thirty minutes, I thought?" Peyton asked, confusion registering on her face.
"I am trying to beat the rain," Brooke pointed down to her bodice, "I would like to not begin my first day as Brooke Baker as a hot rusted mess."
Before any of them could speak again, Sarah, the wedding planner peaked her head inside, "Come on ladies, the ceremony is starting in less than five minutes."
Haley watched as Millie, Rachel and Peyton walked down the isle before her. Her heart was racing, she wanted to tell Brooke about the fight between Julian and Lucas, the fight she was almost certain had caused Lucas to flee Tree Hill, but she knew now was not the right time, 'When exactly is a good time to tell your best friend that her fiance has a violent side?' She wondered. Sarah motioned for Haley to start her walk and she smiled the biggest smile she could muster without drawing attention to herself. She locked eyes with her husband and knew precisely what he was thinking because she felt it too... Uneasiness. She got to the end of the isle and listened as the string quartet begun playing the Wedding March. There was nothing left for her to do without causing a scene, she let out the breath she forgot she was holding and lightly shook her head in Nathan's direction.
Jake listened as the ceremony proceeded along, he took out his phone and quickly wrote a text that said: When is the speak now or forever hold your peace part? And showed it to Nathan, he shrugged and wrote back: This isn't a movie man, they don't really do that anymore. Jake put his phone away and looked at Peyton who was fidgeting, he stared at Haley who also seemed to have trouble being still, but the one that shocked him was Rachel, she was biting her lower lip and appeared to be fighting back tears. Jake didn't know what came over him but he stood up and closed his eyes when he heard the preacher stop the ceremony and a hush fell over everyone in attendance huddled under several massive umbrellas, "I have something I need to say."
"It can wait till after the ceremony young man," The preacher said with a smile. "Now please take your seat."
Jake swallowed hard, "No I'm sorry sir it cannot wait." Jake forced his way over Chase and Nathan and was now standing in the isle. He looked at Peyton and quickly averted her eyes before he lost his nerve to continue, "Brooke honey, you are one of my best friends and I am sorry to do this right now but I can't let you marry Julian. He isn't the man you think he is and I would not be able to live with myself if you married him without knowing the truth."
"Jacob Russell Jagielski you better explain yourself right this minute." Brooke huffed before putting her hands on her hips to keep herself from fainting from the anger that was spreading throughout her body.
"Julian and his Air Force buddies beat Lucas to a bloody pulp last night and threatened him if he didn't leave Tree Hill." Jake said as he felt a hand on his shoulder, he turned around to see a man in dress blues, he immediately noticed the signet ring, "Here comes one of them now."
Brooke gulped, "That's impossible Julian was at the hotel with Troy and Robbie last night. Plus he never would have done something like that," she turned to Julian, "I told you yesterday about Lucas's heart condition. I told you that any excessive stress on his body could cause another heart attack." She shook off the horror that flooded her mind and watched as Chase, Mouth and Nathan stood up and joined Jake in the isle.
"I suggest you get back to your seat bro," Chase said before pushing his hand into Troy's chest. "You're not so tough when you're the one outnumbered are you."
Nathan took out his phone and found the picture of Lucas's battered face and walked up to the flower covered altar, "Davis I am so sorry. Lucas told me he was going to tell you everything that happened this morning. I still don't know what spooked him and made him leave town."
He handed Brooke the phone and she gasped at the sight of Lucas's perfect face looking so broken staring back at her. She dropped the phone to the ground and brought her shaking hands to her face, "Explain yourself Julian."
Julian's soft expression changed to an angry scowl, "Unbelievable, you're the one that owes ME an explanation, I watched Lucas leave your bedroom last night. What was he doing in your room at 3:00am huh? I don't need to see the pictures of his face," Julian turned to Nathan, "I know what we did to him."
Haley put her hands on Nathan's shoulders to prevent him from lunging at Julian, "Think of your contract."
"Are you the reason Lucas left Tree Hill?" Brooke questioned.
"No," a voice called out from the end of the isle, "That honor belongs to your father."
Brooke saw Lucas and ran to him, she touched his blackened eye and choked back tears, "What are you talking about broody?"
"Your father threatened my mother's business and promised to leak to the press about the real reason I withdrew myself from draft contention." Lucas lowered his head, "I shouldn't have ran, but I got to the airport and realized I couldn't live with myself if I let you go through with this wedding. I love you Brooke and I would rather watch my life crumble around me than see you marry a psychopath."
Brooke turned around, "Daddy is it true? Did you threaten to sink Karen's business and expose Lucas's heart condition?"
Richard Davis stood up from his chair and adjusted his tie, "I did. You deserve a better man than Lucas Scott, a life as a military wife would give your life some much needed structure. I hoped it would open your eyes to charity work and other philanthropic endeavors and cure you of this ridiculous notion that you can be a legitimate fashion designer."
Brooke's eyes welled with tears again, "Designing clothes isn't a hobby Daddy. I am going to be a fashion designer some day. People love my designs, I have had multiple internship offers since returning from Paris." Brooke looked away, "Why isn't that good enough for you?"
"Your mother and I didn't want you to regret your life when you woke up in ten years and you were still living pay check to pay check." He pointed in Lucas's direction, "That one aspires to be a novelist, what kind of life would that provide for my only daughter?"
Brooke heard the thunder roll and crash in front of her and small rain drops begun to fall on her face, "A life full of love should be enough." She reached for Lucas's hand, "I am in love with Lucas, I should have NEVER let this wedding happen in the first place. Julian, even though I feel like I have no idea who you are right now, you deserve someone who loves you and only you. That person isn't me, my heart has belonged to Lucas Scott for the better half of a decade and I would wait a lifetime for him to figure out he loves me back." She felt the hot August rain pelting her face, "I am so sorry everyone." Brooke hiked up her dress and bolted towards the Davis house far in the distance, determined not to look back.
"Brooke," Lucas called out behind her. His heart was racing, 'how do I get her to stop?' he wondered to himself. He had an answer, it was mean, but it would work. "Ahhh," Lucas clutched his chest and collapsed into the damp grass.
Brooke heard Lucas cry out and turned around to see him on the ground, "Oh my Gawd Lucas!" She screamed as she ran back towards him and fell to the floor beside him, "Where is your phone? I need to call 911."
Lucas reached for her wrist, "That isn't necessary pretty girl." Lucas kissed her palm and stood up, "Your concern has healed my wounded heart."
Lucas offered Brooke his hand but she didn't accept it, instead she started slapping him in the chest, "That is not funny Lucas Eugene Scott!"
Lucas pulled her into him and laughed, "I had to get your attention somehow. I am sorry, I promise to never do that again unless I am really having a heart attack." He felt the metal boning from Brooke's dress poking his chest, he pulled back and squinted at Brooke's odd appearance. He laughed and removed the large poppy fascinator that was drooping from the rain, "What on Earth are you wearing?"
Brooke looked down at her dress, "Come on," Brooke put his hand in hers, "Let's go get dried off before I have to face the firing squad."
Lucas stopped moving, "Everyone is already here, let's get married pretty girl." Lucas heard the words come out but he could hardly believe them himself.
Brooke laughed, "You just criticized my dress and my handmade head piece and you think I want to marry you today?" She softly kissed his lips, "I appreciate the gesture though."
"I'm being serious Brooke, how often is that all of the people we care about are in the same place at one time?" Lucas was shocked again by the words that passed his lips, "Marry me pretty girl."
"No," Brooke giggled. "I was supposed to marry someone else today that is just tacky. Plus this," Brooke motioned to her wet mud stained dress and head piece she was still holding, "Is not a good look for a bride's big day. I let Victoria railroad every important decision concerning today, even down to the dress I am wearing." The rain was really starting to come down, "Now can we please go get out of these wet clothes before the metal in my dress acts as a lighting rod and we get electrocuted to death."
Lucas laughed, pulled her into him again and kissed her hard, "We can't have that, I just got you back and I don't think my heart can take losing you again."
Brooke deepened the kiss and when she pulled away she said, "I'm not going anywhere Lucas." She grabbed his hand and started pulling him towards the Davis family house, "Besides you just asked me to marry you before we even went on our first date, this relationship just got interesting."
"It will be an adventure I wouldn't be happy taking with anyone else." Lucas spun her into him, "I love you Brooke Davis, I am sorry I made you wait so long to hear it."
"I love you too Lucas and you have a lifetime to make it up to me." Brooke turned around and kicked a puddle of muddy rain water at him.
Lucas sucked in a sharp breath and growled, "You're going to pay for that that pretty girl."
Brooke hiked up her dress again and began to run, "You have to catch me first broody."
So what did you all think? I hope you loved it. Tomorrow I'll be posting the final chapter so keep your eyes peeled.
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Thanks again for reading!
Krystal
