Thanks again for everyone who has been reading and reviewing the story! Another thanks to everyone who has put the story as a favorite or on alert, it really means a lot. I want to quickly apologize about the title… the story took a different direction than I first intended and the title doesn't really seem to fit and there is another story with the same title that was written first. Ooops! Anyway… I hope the story isn't disappointing and you guys are still enjoying it.
Ch. 10
Brooke was still staring at Julian's profile, transfixed by the neon orange ear plug sticking from his ear, when she heard a couple of amused chuckles and murmurings from the other first class passengers, namely her supposed friends and Julian's accomplices. She blushed furiously while he was blissfully unaware of the commotion he created. "Wooo! Brooke has met her match!" She glared over her shoulder across the aisle at Nathan as he mocked her to a smiling Haley.
"Hmmm… small world that my match would just happen to be sitting next to me, huh Nathan?" Turning her wrath on the beaming Haley she glowered "Hoes over bros Haley, hoes over bros." and shook her head. Her anger was short lived as Jamie's head popped up "I thought it was clothes over bros, Aunt Brooke. What's a ho?"
Brooke smiled sweetly at Haley and then explained to Jamie, "Yo mama." Haley threw her pillow over at Brooke and the three laughed. Brooke looked up at Julian, but he continued to flip through the pages of the script, giving her the impression he was deeply engrossed, but his amused grin showed he was still able to listen to the exchange.
Julian would wait a couple of minutes and turn a page in the script, but there wasn't a chance in hell that he could actually concentrate enough to read after finally being next to Brooke again. He had made the decision to travel to Tree Hill about thirty seconds after Haley invited him to visit. The personal and professional arrangements that were necessary for him to relocate to North Carolina took most of the week, but the hardest part was keeping it a secret from Brooke. He sighed remembering how difficult it was for him to stay away from her for so many days, but he had hoped that distance would make her heart grow fonder and be more favorable towards his accompaniment. Glancing at the seething woman next to him, Julian was beginning to doubt his decision.
Brooke was livid and ecstatic. She couldn't believe her friends would set her up for this surprise, but she was secretly thrilled. She was battling an inner struggle trying to decide how best to approach the situation. She had sent Julian away and even though she had secretly wanted him to fight for her and be with her, now that he actually was she didn't know what to do. She was too stubborn to simply welcome him back with open arms, but she was too happy to be bitchy and resist him. The fact that he was here and willingly sacrificing his career and his life to be with her scared the shit out of her. Was she really worth everything Julian was possibly giving up?
The bulk of the flight was spent in silence, but not for a lack of trying on Nathan and Haley's part. Brooke, however, managed to ignore their attempts to start a conversation and closed her eyes as the days activities were beginning to wear on her. She didn't resist as she felt herself drift into sleep or when she felt Julian's arm curl around her shoulders allowing her body to rest in the nook of his arm. She relaxed and felt the tension leave her body as her head settled on Julian's chest. She slightly smirked at the sound of his heart beating faster as she snuggled in closer to him. Eyes closed, Brooke licked her lips as she imagined what type of reaction was going on beneath the script in Julian's lap. A sigh escaped her lips in response to the light circles Julian was tracing on her arm and then her breathing was slow as she fell asleep.
Julian was surprised that Brooke silently allowed him to hold her or at least let him function as her pillow during the flight. He was thankful for the script in his lap that hid his growing erection as she snuggled into his chest. Brooke's knowing smirk and her not too subtle lip lick, did not go unnoticed by Julian, but he didn't mind and would totally be played if it meant he got to be this close to her, to touch her, to inhale her unique fragrance. As Brooke slept, Julian could give up the pretense of reading the script and was able to savor the moment of holding her. Julian removed the ear plugs and focused on her rhythmic breathing. It only took a few minutes before Julian was also sleeping for the remainder of the flight.
Unfortunately for the two, the flight landed in Tree Hill and the airline staff expertly prepared to get Brooke off of the plane first. Julian reluctantly removed his arm from around Brooke and he tried to ignore the coldness his body felt now that she was no longer napping on his chest. He helped to get her things, but when Brooke went to protest his assistance, Julian simply reinserted his ear plugs without a word and continued to help. Brooke continued to protest and Julian continued to ignore her until she threw her hands up in frustration and reached up to his ear, yanking the bright orange plug from his closest ear and loudly said "I know you can hear me Julian!"
His grin only seemed to infuriate Brooke more and she viciously threw the ear plug across the plane when he responded. "No need to shout Brooke." Haley ducked to avoid being hit in the face by the flying ear plug and looked apprehensively at Nathan. The couple engaged in a silent dialogue questioning the appropriateness and logic of their decision to invite Julian, and this was Brooke's reaction before she knew the full extent of the situation. Nathan finally shrugged at Haley and kissed her on the top of her head. She sighed and hugged Nathan. What's done is done.
Jamie was excited! This was only his second flight on an airplane and he was happy to return home. He had missed his rabbit, Chester, and was looking forward to telling his friends about New York. He was also excited because his Aunt Brooke and Julian were going to be staying with him. His young mind speculated about the fun and mischief the three would have as he began to plan the first night of their extended slumber party. Jamie eagerly ran to hold Julian's hand and then tugged him ahead to catch up with Brooke. "Aunt Brooke, you and Julian can sleep in my room." He added with all the swagger of a six year old, "I have a bunk bed."
Julian could not contain the laughter that erupted and made sure to thank Jamie to avoid hurting the young kid's feelings, "Thanks Jamie, that's a great offer. I've always wanted to sleep in a bunk bed." He looked over Jamie's head to Brooke with an ear to ear grin. Brooke wanted to resist encouraging either of them, but she allowed a grin to break across her lips and she winked at Jamie. She hoped her godson wouldn't be too disappointed that his slumber party idea was never going to happen.
Brooke was about to question where exactly was Julian planning on staying when they were bombarded upon entering the small baggage claim area of the Tree Hill airport. Brooke was overwhelmed by her welcoming party. Peyton, Lucas, Mia, Chase, Mouth, Rachel, and Owen were all waiting for her with signs and flowers. She began to tear up again as she was embraced by arms from every direction. Unlike New York, there were a few photographers capturing her reunion with her friends, but most of the pictures were being taken by her loved ones. Everyone was asking questions and speaking at once and Brooke thought she had never felt more at home.
An hour later the entire group and more had relocated to Nathan and Haley's house. It was practically a reunion of their graduating class from Tree Hill High that gathered to give their well wishes to Brooke. The teenage friends reminisced about their high school parties and carefree times over wine and beer as they danced and sang along to music. Jamie had reluctantly spent the night with his grandmother, Nanny Deb, to allow the adults an evening to celebrate Brooke's homecoming and recovery.
Brooke looked across the room at Julian over the top of her wine glass and smiled until she felt a light punch on her arm and then one of her favorite terms of endearment, "Slut."
"Whore!"
"Bitch!" "Bitch!" Both girls laughed as they said the last insult together. Rachel threw her arms around Brooke and hugged her tightly. Rachel settled on the sofa, hanging over the edge to be as close as possible to Brooke's wheelchair. Brooke moved her head backward as the smell of alcohol from Rachel overwhelmed her, she knew by the vacant look in Rachel's eyes she was drunk. Rachel nodded her head towards Julian and lifted her eyebrow, "Who's the stud?" Brooke looked at Rachel with narrowed eyes, silently warning her he was off limits. Unfortunately, Rachel was too inebriated to pick up on Brooke's nonverbal claim to Julian. Rachel pursed her lips together in a kiss and tossed her long auburn locks over her shoulder. She drunkenly laughed and pushed up from the sofa and made her way across the room to Julian, slowly stumbling along the way.
Under normal circumstances, Rachel seducing the new guy would be funny and prompt jokes from Brooke and the others. But Julian wasn't just any new guy, and as much as Brooke had been avoiding him since they entered Nathan and Haley's house, she was disturbingly aware of his presence. Peyton hastily took the spot recently vacated by the drunken Rachel to catch up and console Brooke. "Don't worry, Rachel's so drunk she'll probably pass out before she reaches him." Peyton took Brooke's hand then winced as Brooke squeezed her hand so fiercely she heard a popping sound. She followed Brooke's glare to see Rachel's leg in the air and Julian disappear. Peyton shook her head vehemently "no" at Lucas and tried to get his attention away from the stripper moves Rachel was performing.
Julian was intently talking to Lucas while occasionally looking up to check on Brooke. He had intentionally positioned himself across the room from her, so that he could watch her without being too conspicuous. Julian was too busy trying to convince Lucas on the merits of his favorite director that he didn't notice the approaching redhead. He felt her hands on his shoulders and then quickly felt Rachel's legs wrap around his waist. Before Julian had a moment to realize what was happening, Rachel was straddling his lap and his hands instinctively reached up to her waist to make sure she was secure. She grinned at him and said, "Hi, I'm Rachel. We haven't been formally introduced."
Julian laughed uncomfortably, frantically looking at a laughing Lucas for help, and twisted his torso to try and look at Brooke over Rachel's shoulder. However, Rachel interpreted his movement as a sign of his approval of her approach and she began to grind faster into his lap. Lucas chuckled and laid a hand on Rachel's shoulder, "Easy girl, this one's taken." Rachel stopped gyrating against Julian and looked at him carefully. Julian shrugged his shoulders and weakly nodded his head in agreement with Lucas's statement. Rachel remained on Julian's lap and then leaned closer to his ear. "If you're taken, then why are you enjoying this so much? Besides, taken doesn't scare me. It just makes me want you more. Just ask Haley." With those words, Rachel licked Julian's ear and then kissed his neck. She stood up and then walked away from him, as she got closer to Brooke she gave her a wink, oblivious to the pain in Brooke's eyes.
Julian was finally able to see Brooke after Rachel passed by her heading into the kitchen. His sheepish grin quickly turned into a concerned frown once he made eye contact with her watery hazel eyes. He excused himself from Luke and stood to make his way to Brooke. However, Brooke had already asked Peyton to get her wheelchair towards the room Nathan had arranged for her downstairs. Julian tried to maneuver past the dancing people and follow Brooke, but Rachel appeared in front of him and grabbed his waist. She purred seductively into Julian's ear, "I knew you'd come looking for me."
A month ago, Julian would've been tempted by the easy red head and enjoyed a night of meaningless, no-strings sex; however, right here, right now he was desperate to find Brooke. He politely shook his head and removed her hands from his waist, "Sorry, Rachel but I'm looking for someone else." She pouted and threw her arms back around his waist, grabbing Julian's ass with a raised eyebrow. "Now why would any man go looking for someone else when you have a horny supermodel in his arms?" She lunged forward to sloppily kiss Julian's mouth at the same moment Brooke had turned to say goodnight to Haley before entering her room. Unfortunately for Julian, Brooke retreated into her room before she saw him push Rachel off of him.
"What the hell Rachel?" Julian practically spat at a bemused Rachel. "I told you I'm not interested." Julian scanned the room to see if Brooke had seen Rachel's latest tactic and was furious the girl wouldn't leave him to find Brooke. If Rachel wasn't a close friend of Brooke's and a longtime friend of the others, he would've been much harsher and insulting, but he was trying to be polite to avoid causing an awkward situation for everyone.
Feeling suddenly sober in the wake of public rejection, Rachel rolled her eyes at Julian's protest and loudly proclaimed "Sorry Julian. I wouldn't have wasted my time if I knew you were gay." Several of the other partygoers stopped their dancing and drinking to watch Rachel toss her hair and stomp away from the laughing Julian. He didn't care what Rachel thought and just needed to get to Brooke.
Crossing the kitchen and living areas to find Haley took Julian almost an hour. It seemed the crowd in Nathan and Haley's house had multiplied quickly as the night progressed and the party showed no signs of waning. Julian finally reached Haley and had to shout to her over the din of the party. "Have you seen Brooke?"
Haley looked at Julian sympathetically and nodded her head. She took his hand and began to lead him back through the party towards Brooke's room. She knocked on the door, but it was impossible to hear a response with all of the noise. She opened the door to Brooke's bedroom and the two entered the darkened room. Closing the door behind them, Haley flipped the light switch to find Brooke in bed apparently asleep on the bare chest of Owen. Before Owen had a chance to say anything, Julian chuckled and walked out of the room and grabbed a bottle of tequila heading toward the door. His cry "Fucking unbelievable!" was drowned out by the crowd.