Author's Note: Here's Chapter nine, hope you all enjoy. Chapter ten is coming up right after this one :D Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. As always, Read/Enjoy/Review!
Chapter 9: Of All The People In The World
" You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today."-Abraham Lincoln.
A month has melted by, bringing with it a new year and sending Olivia's wedding planning to a fever pitch. Unbeknownst to my best friend and soon to be sister in law I'm dealing with my own demons. I run my fingers over the papers spread out over my desk, the taunting notes staring back at me.
' Do you know who I am yet Brooke?'
' Blake never loved you Brooke.'
' He died because of you.'
' I'm watching you Brooke, all of the time, I'm there. And soon, I'll come to finish what I started.'
I jump slightly when Olivia's voice breaks through the room and I quickly gather the papers stuffing them back into the folder, closing the filing cabinet with a quick click.
" There you are, we have to go we're all ready late," Olivia says her eyes distracted as she types feverishly on her Blackberry.
" Late for what?" I ask stepping away from the desk grabbing my purse.
" Our hair appointment. I told you about it yesterday," she murmurs not looking up from the phone, " We have the hair appointment at eleven, and then the rehearsal dinner is at six, and I know you didn't forget about that because well, the dinner is here." She looks up at me her blue eyes shining at me and I smile.
" Of course I didn't forget the rehearsal dinner, I only have perfect strangers walking around my house setting up for this shindig," I say snatching her phone out of her hands her eyes widening in shock.
" Brooke, give me my phone back," she says crossing her arms over her chest.
" Absolutely not," I say slipping it into my purse, " You need to relax okay? Tomorrow is the big day, and every time I look at you, your either taking a phone call, or your emailing someone, you need to just relax. You've done your part, now its time to trust the amazing wedding planner you hired to finish it. Not to mention between your Mama, and my Mama, nothings going to go wrong."
" Are you sure?" she asks as I link my arm through hers and lead her through the house, " I'm so nervous Brooke. What if something goes wrong?"
" Then it goes wrong," I say opening the door to the car for taking her by the shoulders when she gives a weak groan, " Liv, nothing is going to go wrong. Tomorrow is going to be the greatest day of your life. And today, all you have to do is just breathe okay?"
" Your right, of course your right," she says smiling at me. I nod my head closing the door before I walk around the front of the car. I will do everything in my power to make sure my best friend has the best day tomorrow, that nothing will ruin. Not if I have anything to say about it.
I stare in the mirror taking in my new appearance. My brown hair is darker, shinier, and longer thanks to the magical hands of the stylists at Frederic Fekkai's Hair Salon. I wasn't too thrilled when Olivia begged for me to have extensions added to my hair, but when she explained the look she wanted, for her wedding, I understood, and complied. After all they can be removed. A point Liv assured me of. I turn from side to side smoothing the soft pink material of my dress happy with the way that it feels and looks. I must admit for someone who is so messed up on the inside, I sure now how to cover the outside.
Tomorrow my best friend marries my brother and while the happy event should be first and foremost on my mind I cant stop the panic that threatens to skitter up my spine. Panic induced by being surrounded by so many people. And though I know the bruises have faded thanks to time, it doesn't stop the fear that somehow people will still somehow know what happened. That I will be known as that girl, for the second time in my short twenty one, almost twenty two years of life.
What I live in fear of the most though, is its gone. The one thing in the world that held my deepest, darkest secret is gone. So the night that I was attacked in my own apartment not only was every tie and anchor to Blake stolen from me, but so was my past. I clutch onto my dresser as I grasp to rein in what little control I have.
" Well, well, would you look at you?" a soft southern drawl comes from behind me and I let out a shriek of surprise whirling around, coming face to face with the stranger.
" Veronica?" I question the smile plastering to my face as I run to her outstretched arms hugging her tightly.
" Who else would it be?" Veronica asks holding me at arms length her crystal blue eyes scanning over my face, " My baby's getting married tomorrow, and her best friend, my other baby has grown into such a beautiful woman. Let me have a look at you." She circles a manicured finger and I oblige her by twirling slowly only to have her cluck her tongue at me. " Does your Mama know about your tattoo?"
" Yes m'am," I answer blushing slightly when I remember the hell my Mama raised when she saw it.
" Well, then I guess I can save you a second lecture," she says her vibrant eyes suddenly growing sober, " You know, Paul and I, we were real sorry to here about Blake. Liv told me how much he meant to you." I sigh slightly, my eyes welling up as I try fervently to blink the tears away, " How are you holding up?"
" As well as can be expected," I answer hollowly, " I take it one day at a time."
" You know Brooke, I'm going to have to give my little girl one hell of a pep talk tomorrow, but I want to give you one right now. Sit with me," she says pulling me lightly behind her, and we settle down next to each other on my bed. " You've been through a lot in your young life Brooke, too much. And I just want you to know how proud of you I am, and to tell you that my daughter couldn't have chosen anyone better for a best friend. I know that you have your Mama, but don't you ever forget that both Paul and I are here for you too."
" I know, thank you," I say my tears constricting my throat as she hugs me close. Sometimes its nice to hear that your not completely alone.
I stand shivering in the cold air of the night, trying to stop my teeth from chattering. Why Olivia insisted on an outdoor wedding ceremony in February is beyond me. She swears its because that's when the air is the cleanest, and that very well may be, though I doubt it, it doesn't change the fact one bit that its freezing. I look around the area that by tomorrow will be completely transformed, and smile despite the fact that I'm pretty sure I'm going to freeze to death. Tomorrow is going to be perfect.
" Okay people, the sooner we get this over with the sooner we get to go to the rehearsal dinner," Caleb calls out, standing on top of a chair to get everyone's attention.
" Thank God," I mutter moving towards Olivia who stands with Caleb's coat hanging around her shoulders.
" Wait we cant start yet, the best man isn't here," Liv chatters, her lips tinted blue from the cold.
" Best man? Caleb found a new best man?" I ask as the hot ball of confusion somehow sinks in through the cold as I search the small group for an unfamilair face.
" Yeah, Brooke," Liv turns towards me her hands taking mine, " I would have told you sooner, but." Her voice trails off as a sudden hush falls over the small crowd that is the wedding party. I turn my head to see what has everyone so captivated, and that's when I see him. Michael.
