DISCLAIMER: DITTO TO THE PREVIOUS
THANKS to Diane, Trish and the guests reviews. Here is the next chapter.
Chapter Nine
Knock. Knock.
Brooke's head tilted to the side at the hesitant knocks, sitting on the roof of Karen's Café the last thing she expected was to be interrupted. Few people ever came up here, Brooke knew it had to be either Haley or Karen so she wasn't surprised when her son's grandmother popped her head through the door, "hi honey" Karen smiled and Brooke sent a shaky smile back, wiping her eyes and cheeks even as she said hi back.
Very slowly Karen joined Brooke, putting a comforting arm around the younger woman, "what has Brooke Davis hiding up here?"
The sound that came from Brooke's throat broke, muffled by her emotions Brooke tried again, "I… I told Ephraim I need time"
"Brooke" Karen sighed pulling her closer, "I'm so sorry"
"I worked so hard to get my life back" Brooke's hands went up in front of her, "now it feels like its slipping away all over again"
"You did the right thing" Karen said as her hand rubbed Brooke's back. With her head to the side Brooke looked at Karen, "you're just saying that because you're on Team Lucas"
Karen chuckled, "maybe" which made Brooke smile even as she wiped away more tears. The moment turned more serious as the two of them sat there alone in the silence, Karen continuing to soothe Brooke until all the brunette's tears were gone, their heads leaning against each other Karen looked out at the view, her voice soft "you're the strongest person I know, Brooke Davis, you find a way in any situation and you'll figure this out too. If you need time, take it. Go home, relax, I'll look after things here, we can get Haley to bring the kids home with Lucas-"
"No" Brooke stopped Karen and sitting up by herself she composed herself, "Lucas was right, Jamie is our son and we have to learn to work together"
The pride shone from Karen and she tried to hide her satisfied smile, with a nod she gave Brooke a quick squeeze. The action encouraged Brooke, feeling more at ease with her decisions she stood up and took in a deep breath "what did you two organize?"
"Lucas was going to meet me back at the house"
"Good, good" Brooke tried to feel more comfortable with the idea of spending time with Lucas yet nerves managed to find their way inside her, "okay"
"Brooke" Karen stopped Brooke before she could get lost in doubts again, "it's going to be okay"
A small smile relaxed Brooke's features as she remembered something, "that's what you said when you found out I was pregnant"
Their eyes met, and neither one was sure if Karen had been right all those years ago.
…
The door slammed shut with a loud bang as Lucas stormed into Haley's apartment, still bristling from his meetings with Dan and Nathan the blonde was holding in all the emotions that threatened to burst out. He needed an outlet, a way to control himself. In jail Lucas had used physical violence and exercise to contain himself, now he was out he still had five years worth of frustration inside him.
Frustration with Dan, with himself, with the knowledge he'd missed years with his family, with his friends, and that he had been locked up while Dan was living life as mayor.
Resting his hands on the kitchen table Lucas spread his legs and dropped his head, rough breaths coming from his chest. The little calm that had him standing still was gone the moment Lucas recognised the papers he was now staring at, more guilt filled him and his hand shot out to scatter the papers across the table and floor.
The next thing Lucas knew he was throwing the fridge door wide open and slamming it shut, he repeated the action three times shaking the items on top and making a photo of Haley's sisters fall to the ground.
On the fourth go Lucas stopped abruptly, his eyes landing on the beer that was left over from the other night. Something twitched inside him, he blinked and was holding a bottle not quite sure how he'd picked it up.
Seconds ticked by turning into minutes. In emotional pain Lucas closed his eyes tightly and sucked in a deep breath. Strong fingers curled around the bottle and then Lucas opened his eyes, clenched his jaw and grabbed the rest of the beer. Taking the alcohol to the sink he poured them out one by one, watching the amber liquid disappear down the drain.
…
It had taken half an hour for Brooke to be ready for Lucas knocking on her door, she'd cleaned her face, made sure she wasn't going to burst into tears, rehearsed what she was going to say in the mirror and eventually grabbed a magazine and sat at the kitchen table to wait for the knock.
As much as she wanted to not let Lucas run her life anymore Brooke found herself staring at the same glossy page for ten minutes, having reread the small paragraph over and over again and still not knowing what it was about. Slapping it shut and sliding it away Brooke glanced at the clock and frowned, if Lucas wasn't there soon she'd have to leave to pick up Jamie and Lily by herself.
Five minutes went by before Brooke grabbed her phone and dialled Lucas' number, he didn't answer the six times she called him. At first Brooke was worried, then angry and then disappointed, and when she grabbed her keys and headed for her car not one inch of her was surprised.
After knowing Lucas for seven years being let down by the brooding blonde was something Brooke had become accustomed too, she expected it.
There was one thing Brooke was grateful for when she parked her car and hopped out, on seeing Jamie's wide smile Brooke was grateful she hadn't told her son that his new daddy was picking him up today.
Moving away from Haley and Lily, Jamie quickly walked to Brooke who had gotten down and spread her arms for her son to hug her. Though her eyes watered tears didn't fall, Brooke squeezed Jamie tighter and silently cursed Lucas.
The sight touched Haley and the teacher grabbed Lily's hand and went to join Brooke and Jamie, it wasn't until she saw Brooke's red eyes that Haley remembered Lucas was meant to pick the kids up with Karen today, "hey… you?"
"I'll explain later" Brooke whispered and stood picking Jamie up, "lets get you home" she taps his nose before winking at Lily, "and how are you pretty girl?"
Suddenly beaming at the attention Lily abandons Haley to grab Brooke's free hand, "awesome, thank you"
"Awesome?" Brooke asks and Lily nods, Haley smiles a little when Brooke looks at her with an amused expression, "you hear that, she's awesome. How were they anyway?"
"Little angels, by far my favourite students" Haley answered and followed Brooke and the kids back to the car, even helping to strap Lily in as Brooke made sure Jamie was done.
"Be back in a second" Brooke tells the kids and sends Haley a look, together they closed the doors and stepped away from the car.
"What happened?"
"Lucas never showed" Brooke hissed.
"Did you call him?"
Brooke gave Haley a look that clearly said do you think I'm stupid "of course I did, he didn't answer"
"I'm sorry Brooke" Haley rubbed her friends arm before Brooke stepped back, already reaching for the driver's door.
"Thanks but its not your fault…" she rolled her eyes, "I better get these guys home" then Brooke let the door go to return to Haley, grabbing her friend in a hug Brooke closed her eyes, "thank you for everything" she whispered into Haley's neck before letting go.
"You're welcome" Haley whispered back and waved at Jamie and Lily as Brooke drove them away. Once the car was gone Haley noticed the black car parked across the street, she couldn't see through the window but uneasiness poured inside her.
Turning from side to side Haley searched the dying crowd of the school, only a few students and teachers were left over, and she saw the tall figure standing by the building.
Dan Scott smirked at Haley, saluting before he walked away. Haley saw only smugness, she never saw Dan stop around the corner at the sight of the boy waiting for him, "you only have me Danny" Keith smiled cruelly, "I will never leave you."
…
The kitchen window of Karen's house gave the perfect view of the back yard and from where she stood Brooke could easily see Jamie going in circles on his scooter.
"I'm done!" Lily called out to her, Brooke turned back to the little girl who was kneeling on a chair so she could comfortably stir the cookie dough that they were making.
Quickly checking on Jamie once more Brooke reluctantly moved from the window and checked on Lily, "looking good, Lily Roe"
"Taste good too" the girl gave a cheeky grin before sticking two fingers into the mixture and scooping out a blob that went straight into her mouth, "mmm"
Brooke didn't blink, she copied the move and licked her lips dramatically "that is good" and she took some more.
"Noooo" Lily giggled, "you'll eat it all"
Not rebutting the comment Brooke tugged a strand of Lily's chestnut hair and walked back to her previous spot, she checked on Jamie before leaning down into the cupboards to grab the tray she was looking for, "get a spoon, Lil"
A chair shuffled in the background and when Brooke closed the cupboard, tray in hand, Lily was back on the chair holding a spoon ready.
A few minutes later Brooke was watching Lily carefully dropping the cookie dough onto the tray between her checks on Jamie. There was a smile still on her lips from Lily sneaking some more dough when Brooke turned to check out the window and felt her heart drop at not seeing her son.
"Jamie?" Brooke asked quietly before racing for the nearby door, she was pushing it open as she screamed "JAMIE?"
"Mom"
Brooke looked down, her hand going to her chest, "don't do that" she told her son, getting down on her knees she dragged him into her arms.
"Do what?" Jamie asked confused.
Her heart returning back to normal Brooke relaxed her death grip on her son and looked into his face, she cupped his cheeks, rubbing her thumbs against his soft skin.
Then Jamie smiled and Brooke felt his dimple against her fingers, she moved her hands to his shoulders and her breath caught. Though Jamie had her colouring she saw more and more of Lucas in him every day and his smile reminded Brooke so much of her son's father, "nothing" Brooke replied not wanting to scare her son, "just don't leave the backyard"
"I didn't do that" he frowned.
"I know, I know" Brooke stood, not dropping her hands from his shoulders she checked the backyard before leading him through the door, "lets play inside now"
"I'm making cookies, you don't get any" Lily sung not looking up from her task as Jamie walked into the kitchen, Brooke shutting the door behind them.
"I can if I wanna"
"Nuh-uh, only if you help"
Forgetting his mother's odd behaviour Jamie ran over to the kitchen table to climb up onto the one next to Lily, in his hurry he didn't even think it strange his mother didn't tell him to walk.
Brooke on the other hand still felt a sense of dread, her hands rubbed against her pants but for some reason she kept glancing back at the window, the hairs on her neck standing up.
"Mom!"
Dragging her eyes from the window Brooke turned to the kids, "what?"
She stepped forward and then stopped when she saw something through the corner of her eyes, almost like a shadow going by the window.
"Just wait here" Brooke changed her direction mid step and went back to the kitchen door leading outside, she clutched the handle for a long moment before going to turn it.
The yard was empty and the sky a clear cloudless blue, it looked like something from a painting and Brooke felt foolish as she closed the door again.
"Mom" Jamie called again and smoothing a loose strand of hair behind her ear Brooke went to her son, "coming"
Behind her a shadow moved under the door, an unheard creak on the porch not even registering to the three people innocently inside, and then the shadow was gone.
…
In Tree Hill the nightlife centred around one place, Tric, the nightclub owned by Karen Roe that regularly held all ages night and was the place to be for anyone in the town between sixteen and thirty. Most nights the dance floor was packed and the bar surrounded, it was the place you went to be with people not to be alone.
Lucas Scott sat at his usual barstool with his usual bartender across from him, with the smell of smoke in the air and a shot in his hand. He stared at the liquid, swirling it in the small shot glass.
The Blue Post was not Tric yet it held a certain appeal for the brooding ex-con that was currently drowning in self-pity and disgust.
"Your girl's here" Hank, the bold and muscular bartender told Lucas as he looked over the blondes shoulder. Lucas twisted his head to see Haley searching the bar from the entrance, her shoulders falling when she finally saw Lucas, "she's not my girl" he mumbled, twirling the shot again before placing it down on the bar.
Haley walked between the pool tables and slipped in beside Lucas, "well at least Hank didn't have to call me this time. What are you doing here, Luke?"
"Nothing" his tone lacked emotion, "just nothing"
Eyes going to the shot glass Haley raised her eyebrow, "what, all the beer at my place not enough?"
"I didn't drink it" Lucas told her, he moved the shot glass away from him, his eyes still staring at the liquid inside it.
"He's been staring at the thing the whole time he's been here" Hank told Haley and she sighed. Covering Lucas' hand Haley waited for his blue eyes to turn her way, "what are you doing here?"
When he didn't answer she sat up straighter, "let me rephrase that, what are you doing here instead of with your son?"
"He's better off without me" Lucas explained simply before rolling his head back to the shot glass, swirling it again he droned out blandly "you're alllllll better off without meeee… I fuck everything up"
"Come on, I'll take you home"
"It's not my home" Lucas shook her hand off.
"Luke!"
"What?" he yelled, his eyes bulging out as he stared at her, "what?" he asked again, "it's not. I don't have a home, I don't even have a life here"
"You have a son here" Haley hissed getting in close, "but if you're not careful you really will have nothing" and she took the shot from his hand and quickly drank it herself before storming off.
Not moving Lucas slowly looked up, Hank raised his eyebrows, "another?"
For a second Lucas contemplated it but he shook his head and abandoned his stool instead, "not tonight"
"Good choice"
"I'm bound to slip and make one once in a while" Lucas winced and lifted his hand in a slight wave before heading in the same direction Haley had disappeared.
By the time Lucas was standing outside Haley's car was already gone, and he stood, hands on the back of his head as his friend drove away.
But if you're not careful you really will have nothing.
…
The knock was not unexpected, Brooke resisted looking up towards the sound, and instead she flipped the page of the magazine and determinedly read the article about Hollywood's latest marriage failure. A few seconds went by before the knock came again, slightly louder and more insistent. With a huff she dropped the magazine and got up from the couch heading for the front door, wrapping the light gown around her as she went, "your late" Brooke was saying even before confirming it was Lucas on the doorstep.
Lucas froze when he saw the door swinging open, the confined anger that was coming off her in waves hit him and his careless actions were staring him in the face, "I'm sorry"
"So am I" and she slammed the door in his face. Muttering to herself Brooke went straight for her bedroom, missing the little boy who stood in the shadows.
Jamie's brow was creased, he stared at the door for a moment before turning back around, his little feet treading gently to not make noise as he returned to his room a second after Brooke shut her door and leaned against it.
A deep sigh left her and then she straightened up when the door on the other side of the room started to open, "Brooke?" Lucas asked.
"Go away, you're good at that"
"I-"
"What?" she yelled her arms out as Lucas walked further into her sanctuary, "what excuse do you have this time? Huh. Because I am dying to hear it" before he could answer Brooke stepped forward and hissed "do you ever even think before you do or say something, what if Jamie had known you were meant to pick him up today, what was I meant to say to my son when he asks where his daddy is?" she stepped closer still "because he has been asking that for years"
"It won't happen again"
"See to it because you are quickly running out of second chances" and when the words left her mouth Brooke blinked shocked to see that during their altercation they'd ended up standing right in front of each other, her eyes ran down his chest and then back up, she gulped, "you should go"
This time Brooke was surprised when Lucas meekly nodded and left, the cocky and pushy Luke she'd seen glimpses of gone as he did simply what she said. And she wondered if this time he really was sorry.
…
Brooke walks closely behind me still shaking from how close she was to going through with it, I can see it in her face but I know she wouldn't have she just needed that push. Brooke might pretend that she doesn't need me but she does, she needs all of us right now.
I swing the door open and pull her in with a hand on her waist, Brooke's arms are wrapped around herself and her face is down. My mother looks up from where she sits at the table and I pull Brooke close t my side, it lasted a mere moment before Brooke pushes me away and takes a few steps forward, she doesn't want to need me right now.
Mom walks right over to Brooke and cups her face, "Brooke?" she asks and gets no answer so my mother's clear blue eyes fix on me instead.
"Ma, Brooke and I are having a baby" I make sure I sound sure of this and all I see is understanding in Mom's eyes. It was Mom who told me to go pick up Brooke when I told her what was going on, such a different reaction the pregnancy scare last year.
All Mom does now is wrap her arms around Brooke and pull her close, "it's all going to be okay".
(Extract. An Unkindness of Ravens, Page 302)