Week 14:
"Ok ladies! Ujjayi!" the instructor called out.
Brooke slowly filled her lungs with air and than exhaled, letting her stomach compress. She repeated this process slowly.
"Ok, everybody up!" the young woman in her 30's said with such energy and excitement "Let's squat" she decided
they all pulled their chairs in front of them.
"Ok girls relax that buttocks!"
"Oh my gosh" Rachel snickered
"Ow! Ow!" Haley laughed as she held on to Rachel's arm.
Brooke looked over at them.
"Sorry, sorry" Rachel smiled
Brooke faced forward again. Breathing in and out slowly.
"Ok, everybody down slowly" the instructor whispered
"Thank god" Haley whispered
she was stretching muscles she didn't know she had. And she had already had a baby.
"Now, for the cobblers pose!"
"Speaking of cobblers, Macy's is having an amazing shoe sale" Rachel whispered
"We should definitely go" Haley nodded
"I saw these really cute-"
Brooke gave up trying to stretch her pelvic muscles. She grabbed her things and entered the room.
Haley and Rachel scrambled to catch up with her.
"Brooke! Slow down" they finally reached her.
"I was trying to take that seriously" Brooke informed them.
"So, we're we" Rachel smiled
"Oh yea, we're they pumps or flats?"
"Pumps"
"Rachel" Haley nudged her
"Damn it" the red head cursed
"You guys are my friends, you supposed to be there for me" Brooke whined
"We are! But yoga just isn't our thing" Haley explained "Why cant we just walk or something?"
"Because that's not fun" Brooke complained
"And neither is stretching our bodies into positions they don't belong into" Rachel whispered.
"I was on the verge of hyperventilating" Brooke admitted
"Come on" Haley laughed as she put her arm around Brooke.
"Now I'm thinking this is much more your style" Rachel said as they crossed the street and entered a nail salon.
"I think your right" Brooke laughed.
"Since when do you read the paper?" Nathan asked as Chase flipped through the pages.
"I'm looking through the want ads" Chase nodded, feeding Ryan a bottle at the same time.
"You really need another job?" Nathan asked confused
"Dad, you lost" James crossed his arms.
"Well I don't like Candy land anyways" Nathan informed his son.
"Because you loose, every time" James said as he took out a book.
"Brooke's going to be out of work soon, and were going to have five babies…that's going to expensive" Chase sighed.
"Well maybe going to the press isn't such a bad thing. That woman on TLC, the one with sextuplets…they even gave her a tummy tuck" Nathan nodded
"I'm not going to use my kids, their not a freak show" Chase shook his head.
Although a tummy tuck for Brooke would be nice. Very nice.
"Well maybe Lucas can give you a job, at the restaurant" Nathan suggested
"Doing what, bussing tables?" Chase laughed
Talk about a blow to the ego.
"Or a waiter, tips would be really good, right?" Nathan reminded him.
"Maybe, but definitely not at Luke's' Chase shook his head.
"Could Brooke get you a job at a club or something? Maybe a bartender?" Nathan asked
"That's the thing, I don't want Brooke to know" Chase added.
"Your not going to tell her? She may be pregnant but she can still work" Nathan reminded him.
Both Haley and Rachel worked up until they went into labor.
Haley because she like to work, Rachel because she had to work.
"Could you imagine that conversation. I know your carrying a basketball team but do you mind getting a second job?"
"True…but…you cant do it by yourself" Nathan said as he took Ryan and began to burp him.
"my mom did it, so can I" Chase said as he circled an add.
Ryan burped loudly.
"I guess he agrees"
"That was amazing" Brooke exited the saloon, invigorated.
"Much better than the Cobbler position, right?" Haley laughed
"Hahaha. Well now I'm hungry" Brooke informed them.
"I know the perfect place"
"On the house" Lucas said as he presented their table with all the goodies they could ever want.
"And that's why this is the perfect place" Haley smiled
"Can you sit for a minute?" Brooke wondered as she scooted in, making room.
"Actually I'm taking care of something in the kitchen, but I'll be back" Lucas winked as he walked away.
Rachel watched as Brooke smiled and than looked out the window.
"Can I ask you a questioned without you completely freaking out?" Rachel asked softly.
Brooke looked up "No promises" she laughed
Rachel looked over her shoulder. She could see Lucas was busy.
"Do you ever…think about how your life would be different if you chose Lucas over Chase?" she asked
Haley nearly chocked on her drink.
Brooke's jaw originally dropped, but she quickly closed her mouth.
"Why would you ask that?" Brooke wondered.
"I just…I see the way he looks at you-"
"We're friends" Brooke nodded
"But the night of the opening-"
"Nothing happened" she stated.
"Well maybe something should have…" Rachel looked down at her plate.
"I cant believe your saying this to me" Brooke sat back
"I love Chase to death, he's an amazing guy." Rachel informed her "But part of me always thought you and Lucas made more sense" she whispered
"Was that before or after you tried to steel him from me?" Brooke crossed her arms.
"That was high school Brooke" Rachel explained "and FYI…before… during and after"
Brooke covered her face, "I cant believe you would bring this up…here…and now"
"Brooke I'm sorry-"
"Everything ok?" Lucas asked as he sat down next to Brooke.
Brooke whipped away the last tear and stared at Rachel.
"She's just a little upset, Rachel ate the last brownie" Haley covered.
"Don't cry" Lucas laughed as he put his arm around her "Theirs plenty more. For everyone" he smiled as he rubbed her belly.
Brooke smiled at Lucas.
"Oh my god" Haley whispered
Everyone turned to see what she was looking at.
"Is that-"
"Cooper" Rachel whispered to herself.
"Did I forget to mention he's in town?" Brooke busied herself by buttering her bread.
Rachel stared at her.
Now they were even.
"What me to get rid of him?" Lucas asked Rachel
"Please" She said with a sigh.
Lucas exited the booth and made his way to the front door.
"Lucas!" Cooper smiled as he hugged the kid. The kid who had became a man. "This is a nice place you got here" he nodded.
"Thanks" Lucas blocked his view of the booth "But nows not really a good time. You think you could come back later?" he wondered
"Are you kicking me out?" Cooper asked confused
"No, it's just…not good timing" he nodded
Cooper looked around
"Is she here?" He asked softly.
"Come on Coop, I don't need any trouble in my restaurant-"
Cooper pushed passed him. Lucas wasn't his nephew.
Lucas motioned for his two security guards to follow him.
Cooper spotted the girls in the corner and made his way over to them.
"Oh god," Rachel covered her face.
"Rachel, can we please just talk?" he asked once he reached them.
"She doesn't want to talk to you" Haley spat
"Well how about you let her tell me that" he argued with Haley.
"Cooper just get out of here" Brooke informed him
"Shut up, both of you. Rachel! Just look at me" Cooper pleaded
She kept her head down.
"I want to see my son" he gritted
"Because all of a sudden you care?" Haley laughed.
"What would you know-"
"I know you have no right being a father" Haley spat.
"Rachel!" He pounded his fist on the table and the three girls jumped.
"Excuse me, your going to have to come with us" one of the security guards put his arm on Cooper.
"I'm going" he snatched his arm out of his grasp.
Rachel watched as the security guards escorted him out of the restaurant.
"I'm sorry" Rachel covered her face as she cried.
"It's not your fault that he's a jerk" Haley comforted her.
Brooke squeezed her hand.
"Just ignore him and he'll stay away" she whispered
Rachel was silent.
"That's what you want, right?" Haley asked
Rachel let go of Brooke's hand.
"Yea, that's what I need" she nodded.
The girls made their way back to Brooke's apartment.
"Hey" Chase smiled as Brooke entered.
She smiled back. She always thought it was amazing how his face lit up when she entered the room. She wondered if her face lit up as well?
"Hi" she kissed him lightly on the lips.
"Everything ok?" he whispered as she watched Rachel quickly gather her things.
"Not so much" she whispered back.
"thanks so much guys" Rachel said as she grabbed the diaper bag and the bottles off the counter.
"Any time" Chase smiled, still holding Ryan.
"We'll bring these down to the car" Nathan informed the girls as they headed out of the apartment, Chase behind him, after giving the baby to Brooke.
"Rachel, are you mad at me?" Brooke asked the girl.
"No Brooke, just disappointed" she laughed as she took Ryan from his godmother.
"I only saw him two days ago! I didn't think you would want to see him"
"Well thank you for making that decision for me!" Rachel shouted as Ryan began to cry. "I'm sorry-"
"You don't think I know what's best for me and my child?" Rachel laughed "Well take a look in the mirror Brooke and start worry about your kids…not mine"
And with that, Rachel stormed out of the apartment, leaving Brooke and Haley speechless.
Brooke placed a hand over her growing belly.
"she didn't mean that" Haley whispered
Brooke nodded, trying to hold back the tears.
Haley exited the apartment as well. And after a life time, Chase returned.
"What's wrong?" Chase asked her
"Nothing" Brooke shook her head as she rummaged through the kitchen.
"Obviously something is wrong, and nobody wants to own up to it" Chase followed her.
"We ran into Cooper today. And Rachel found out that I ran into him earlier in the week" She said as she grabbed the ice cream out of the freezer.
"where did you see Cooper?" Chase asked confused
"Luke's
restaurant-"
"So you saw Lucas…" Chase handed her a spoon.
"Yea, and it's a good thing he was their, he had to have his security guards escort Cooper out of the place" Brooke sighed, she spooned some ice cream into her mouth.
But she quickly spit it into the garbage can.
"Yuck" she contorted her face.
"You love Butter Pecan-"
"Not any more" she tossed the ice cream in the garbage.
Chase watched as she plopped down on the couch. He followed her in, placing a pillow behind her back.
"doctor says you should try and not lay on your back" he whispered, kissing her cheek.
"Your to good to me" she smiled.
"Yet your still with me" He sat down on the floor in front of her.
"Always" she draped her arm over his shoulder.
"Maybe Rachel and Cooper can make it work…being that she's too good for him" Chase shrugged as he held her hand.
"Are you comparing me to Cooper?" she gasped as she sat up.
"No" Chase said firmly "I'm just saying…I did worn you-"
"So your saying I told you so?" she asked
Chase smiled, taking both her hands in his.
"I love you" he smiled
"Uh huh" she laughed.
"but I gotta go" he stood
"Where?" she asked confused
"Just, gotta go do something" he explained "a guy thing" he nodded
"Ok" she nodded
"See you later" he smiled before closing the door behind him.
As he got in the car he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the news paper clipping. Job number two, was just a few miles away.
Hours later, Brooke leaned up against a wall in her bedroom, practicing some more yoga. But she was getting bored.
She paced her room, finally deciding to take a trip down memory lane. She flipped through a photo album, landing on a photo of her and Rachel just after graduation.
They were the best of friends. Always had been, always would be.
Perhaps she shouldn't have kept Coopers appearance from her.
"I'm home" Chase entered, exhausted.
"I'm going out" she nodded as she jumped up.
"What?" he asked confused.
"I have to go apologize to Rachel, or I wont be able to sleep" she informed him.
"Ok, be careful" he called out, plopping down onto the bed.
All the way to Rachel's home she rehearsed her speech. She was only trying to protect her friend and her godson. She never meant to make any decisions for her.
All of her thoughts seemed to disappear as she knocked on the door and Rachel opened it
"Brooke, what are you doing here?" she laughed
"I just wanted to apologize" Brooke pleaded "I'm so sorry"
Rachel sighed "Brooke it's ok, I get it" she nodded
"No, you don't. I thought I was being a good friend. I wanted to protect you and Ryan" Brooke tried to explain.
"and I really appreciate it, I know you didn't mean any harm" Rachel told her
"Exactly." Brooke nodded
"so we're good?" Rachel asked in a hurry.
"Yea! I just wanted to let you know, that I trust you with my life" Brooke laughed "And tell you that I know your smart enough not to get mixed up with Cooper-"
"Who's at the door?" Cooper appeared, shirtless with bed hair.
"Brooke-"
Brooke stepped back. She than realized what she had been to blind to see. Rachel's lips were swollen, her shirt was not buttoned correctly and her hair ratted.
"I didn't mean to interrupt" Brooke said as she slowly backed away.
"Brooke wait!" Rachel called out to her.
But Brooke kept walking.
Rachel closed the front door and leaned against it.
"Don't worry about her" Cooper said as he kissed Rachel's neck softly.
Suddenly Ryan began to scream.
"Kid's Crying" Cooper informed her
"thanks" she nodded
She pushed him off as she made her way to the nursery. This would be the first time Cooper saw Ryan. Since when he arrived, Ryan was already asleep.
Rachel picked him up but he was still screaming.
"wow" Cooper whispered
"Yea, can you hand me a diaper" Rachel laid him down on the changing table.
Cooper looked around, scratching his head. The screaming was affecting his thought process.
"Cooper" Rachel said aggravated "over there"
"Oh" Cooper said as he grabbed the diaper from out of the bag.
He handed to her.
Cooper simply peered over her shoulder, watching as the little boy flailed his arms and legs.
"How come he's all red?" he wondered
"Because he's screaming" Rachel stated the obvious.
"Why is he screaming?"
"Because he's a baby, that's what they do" she told him
"Can you make it stop?"
She turned and looked at him
"NO Cooper! I cant make him stop! Because he cant talk! He cant tell me what he wants. He cant tell me where it hurts! So how can I make it stop?" she asked him
Cooper rubbed his hands together, and than over his face.
"You know what?" he asked
"What?" she said as she finally changed the diaper and through Ryan over her shoulder.
"I'm going to go" he whispered
"What?" she asked confused.
"I gotta go" he nodded
Her jaw dropped, but than she realized. She wasn't surprised. This was when Cooper usually let. Just after sex and just before things got serious.
"Please tell me your kidding?" she whispered, with one last attempt.
"I'm sorry" he shook his head.
As if on cue, Ryan began to cry again.
Cooper fled the room and than the house.
Rachel let a few tears slip out before patting Ryan on the bottom.
"we'll be ok, your ok." She cried.
"I'm ok"
