Hello lovely readers! Here is the next chapter I hope you enjoy! This is quite a long chapter that I am now just realizing as I post it, however it was fun to write and I had some inspiration from a few of you! Please enjoy!
Chapter 10: Choices.
It had been a few weeks since the party. Life has gone on as normal in the Davis Household. Brooke was slightly frazzled putting the final details on the wedding as well as finishing a clothes over bros original wedding dress. Julian and Lucas were only one week away from completing the filming of 'The Ravens' which they couldn't be happier about. Sam had been slowly becoming more involved with Taylor's new 'crowd' and had discovered that they weren't as bad as she had originally thought. Things were pretty normal other then-
"SAM!" Brooke yells from the back room of clothes over bro's.
Sam rolls her eyes and walks into the back. "Yes Brooke." Sam says in a fed up tone.
"What do you think of this, the neck line, is it too much, not enough?" Brooke says quickly with anxiousness.
"It's nice!..." Sam responds not really knowing what to say. She wasn't much of a fashion designer let alone a wedding dress consultant.
"Nice? I need more then that Sam!" Brooke snaps.
"Um. Well. I like it, it's a nice. Um. Shape I guess." Sam attempts.
"Ugh! Sam!" Brooke responds in dramatics. "I really need your help!" She cries dramatically.
"Sorry Brooke. This isn't my thing. Please call Peyton or Haley! Or anybody!" She responds. Practically begging. She had been with the "Brookezilla" as she had been referring to her Mother as of late with the wedding plans and details, Sam had been with Brooke for the past three hours and was beyond ready to leave.
"Sam! Peyton has an appointment with Sawyer, and Haley is away with Jamie visiting Nathan before his game! so your the best I've got!" Brooke says matter of factly. Stepping off the stool and walking towards Sam grabbing her hand and leading her over to the desk. Sam rolls her eyes.
"Okay! Now you can help me with the centre prices!" Brooke squeals in excitement.
"Greaaat. I'm so excited." Sam says sarcastically.
"Shut it." Brooke replies simply and sits beside her daughter.
As the two look through bridal magazines and browse through Pinterest for inspiration Brooke looks towards Sam.
"Sam. I know I've been a little. Well all over the place. I just wanted to say thank you. For all your help. I really appreciate it." Brooke says honestly looking into her eyes.
Sam smiles. Even though she despised wedding planning she did enjoy seeing Brooke so happy and excited.
"I know Brooke!" Sam responds genuinely.
Brooke looks at her teenager who clearly had, had enough wedding planning for the day.
"Hey. How about we get out of here. Let's go get a bite to eat." Brooke asks.
"THANK GOD!" Sam moans and jumps out of her seat dramatically. "Let's go!" She says with a smile.
"Hey! It's not that bad Sam!" Brooke laughs.
"Yeah... Okay. Well. You try working with 'Brookezilla" all day then tell me exactly how bad it is!" Sam says dramatically.
"SAM!" Brooke shouts at the name calling. Sam just laughs.
"Brookezilla huh?" Brooke says in a mocking tone. "I'll show you Brookezilla." She responds moving closer to Sam grabbing her and tickling her until she falls to the floor laughing.
"Brooke! Brooke! STOP!" Sam screams through her laughter.
"BROOKZILLA SHOWS NO MERCY!" Brooke yells through her laughter.
Brooke stops and the two lay on the floor looking at the ceiling slightly chuckling recovering from their laughing fit. Brooke turns her head and looks at Sam.
"What would I do without you?" Brooke whispers reaching up and moving a piece of Sam's hair from her face.
Sam smiles. "Same thing I would do without you." Sam responds genuinely.
"Alright kiddo. Let's go! I'm starving!" Brooke says while getting up and helping Sam up as well.
The two walk out to the car. But are stopped by a familiar face and clicking heals on the sidewalk.
Sam turns to look at Brooke after seeing Victoria approaching them.
Brooke looks up at the sun shinning down on the pavement, and makes a perplexed facial expression.
"Funny. I thought vampires couldn't come out until after dark?" Brooke asks mockingly.
Sam bursts out in laugher.
"Oh Brooke. Always with the dramatics." Victoria responds.
"Hello Mother." Brooke responds. "Do what do I owe this pleasure?" She asks mockingly.
"Is there a problem with stopping into visit my daughter, and-" Victoria pauses and looks to Sam. "My official granddaughter." She smiles.
Brooke was ready with a quick and sarcastic comeback, however decided against it. Before Sam's adoption Victoria had grown closer to Brooke and had begun to repair their relationship slowly, with the help of Samantha. Since the adoption Victoria had been attempting to make an effort to be involved. Brooke still remained skeptical over the relationship.
"So Let's go to lunch!" Victoria says.
Sam looks to Brooke who has a less than impressed expression on her face and walks towards the drivers side followed by Sam who hops into the back seat.
The three head for the local pizza parlour by Sam's request of course. They head inside and grab a table.
"So Samantha. How does it feel. To be a Davis?" Victoria questions.
Sam smiles shyly. "It's good. Feels like home." She says honestly. Brooke smiles.
"So what brings you to Tree Hill?" Sam questions Victoria.
"Well to visit of course!" Victoria responds. While taking a sip of her water.
Brooke and Sam look towards Victoria questionably.
"Alright fine detectives!" Victoria admits. "The company is experiencing some. Well. Setbacks. And I needed your help with some things. AND I wanted to visit so I decided to come by." She says honestly.
Brooke nods her head. "That's more like it." She says sarcastically. "Setbacks? What setbacks?" She questions.
"Well with the recent success of the new line, things were running smoothly until our competitors got wind of things. And well reduced prices and released a similar style choice. To say the least Brooke. We took a hit." Victoria responds.
"Okay. So what are you saying we have to do the same?" Brooke questions.
"No. We will not lower our standards to them." She responds in an appalled tone.
Brooke laughs. "Classic Victoria." She responds under her breath. "Then what do you suggest?" Brooke asks.
"A new line. I know it's a lot of work. But Clothes Over Bro's needs something new, exciting, and original something our competitors haven't seen." Victoria says excitedly.
"A new line?" Brooke questions dramatically. "Skater Girl was only released two months ago..." She sighs.
"Well. That's the business Brooke. We need fast and new." She says.
"Alright. Well. I can draw some things up, we can go from there. It will be a few months at least." Brooke mentions already feeling the exhaustion that a new line brings with it.
"Let's turn that months into weeks and we have ourselves a winner!" Victoria claims
Sam looks to Brooke taking a bite of her pizza, and watches as the drama unfolds between Brooke and Victoria.
"Weeks? WEEKS? Mother. Are you aware that I have my wedding coming up? I cannot throw together a new line in weeks!" Brooke states dramatically.
"Oh Brooke. You've done it before, you'll do it again. Enough with the dramatics." Victoria states taking a sip of her water.
"Dramatics?" Brooke asks with a raised eyebrow. "You ambush me, without notice 2 weeks before my wedding and expect me to just create a new line, just like that?" Brooke states as Victoria rolls her eyes.
"SO, anyways..." Sam states loudly breaking the conversation and tension before things were taken too far.
Brooke and Victoria both break their stare and turn their attention to Sam.
"You two need to learn to work with each other!" Sam states and turns her head towards Brooke.
"Brooke you need to see that Victoria is clearly stressed out and obviously needs help." Then Sam turns her head towards Victoria "and Victoria, you need to stop being such a bit-"
Sam stops mid-sentence and Brooke shoots her a look with her eyebrow raised. "Need to stop being so mean about it." She finished.
"Nice save." Brooke says shaking her head.
"Seriously! You two run a huge company, you need to get along at some point." Sam says maturely.
"Get along with her? Not even the Dolly-freaking-Lama could get along with her..." Brooke says comedically under her breath.
Sam chuckles slightly and rolls her eyes.
"Since when did you become such a wise and mature adult Samantha." Victoria says impressively.
"Well what can I say, I am mature beyond my years.. Plus I'm almost 16 so..." Sam brags.
Brooke laughs and rolls her eyes. "Yeah when she wants to be..."
Sam looks at Brooke, squints her eyes and sticks her tongue out.
"Oh well that's very mature and adult of you." Brooke laughs.
"Whatever. But you know I'm right. Work it out!" Sam states.
Brooke looks at Sam then at Victoria.
"Okay. I will draw up some sketches and see what I can do... I'm not making any promises." She admits.
"Great!" Victoria states simply.
The three finish their pizza and leave the restaurant.
"Hey so. I'm going to head to Taylor's." Sam says to Brooke as they walk down the sidewalk towards the car.
"Oh. Are you?" Brooke says with a slight smirk.
Sam rolls her eyes. "Can I go to Taylor's?" She asks.
"Yes." Brooke smiles. "I can drive you, you know." Brooke asks.
"Uh. No it's fine. I can walk." She responds.
"Okay weirdo." Brooke laughs. "Please be home for dinner, julian and I would like to talk with you about some things, okay?" Brooke says.
"Yeah sure. Okay bye!" She states then walks towards Victoria. "Please be nice." She whispers in her ear leaning in for a side hug. "Seriously don't add more stress to the 'Brooke-Zilla' that's seriously the last thing I need.." She laughs.
"SAM! I am not a 'Brooke-Zilla' quit it." She yells.
"Whatever you say..." She laughs and leans in for a hug from Brooke.
"Yeah, yeah. Get out of here." She says playfully.
Sam walks off as Brooke and Victoria climb into the car.
"Your really doing a great job with her Brooke." Victoria says honestly as they fasten their seat belts.
Brooke smiles and looks to Victoria. "Thank you."
"You know. I wish we could have had the relationship you have with Sam. I wasn't there Brooke. I'm reminded of that everyday and the truth is that I've been a horrible mother to you. I wish I could take it all back..." Victoria says in a low tone and disappointed tone.
Brooke's eyes fill with tears. "Well. We can start over." Brooke chokes out as she grabs her hand and holds it tight.
"I would love that Brooke." Victoria says honestly. Then shakes off the emotion she was attempting to hide.
Brooke drives home and the two hop out of the car and into the home to greet Julian. Who is very surprised to see Victoria but rolls with it.
The three catch up and begin to discuss the possibilities and ideas for a new line.
"Hey Sam!" Taylor shouts from the park bench.
"Hey!" Sam says walking towards the group. Since Taylor had become involved with cheer there had been some new friends that had been added to the group, Sam was okay with it, but they weren't exactly the type of people that Sam would have normally hung out with in the past.
"Alright so. Now that everyone is here. Let's get this party started." Hayden says as he pulls out a bottle of alcohol from his bag and takes a swig.
Sam pulls into Taylor slightly and whispers in her ear. "You didn't say we were drinking Taylor!" In an angry tone.
"I didn't know. I'm sorry. Let's just go with it. Plus we need to have some fun anyways Sam." Taylor says honestly.
Sam pounders the thought for a moment before being passed the alcohol. 'a few drinks couldn't hurt' she rationalizes with herself seeing the despair in Taylor's eyes.
Secretly as much as Sam had put off a 'I don't need to fit in' attitude she did want to be able to make new friends and stick with Taylor. She was afraid of loosing her, with Taylor in cheer Sam felt a bit left out. So if this is what it took. She would do it. She grabs the bottle after Taylor and takes a drink.
After a while the group decided to head to the beach, with the alcohol in their systems they were being loud and obnoxious as they made their way down to the pier. They found a spot with a fire pit and sat around.
At this point it was getting late, the sun was setting, and the group was drunk. Half were playing a round of beach volleyball, and the others just sitting and talking.
Sam and Taylor were tossing a beach ball back and fourth with some others not conscious of the amount of time they had been there. It was almost 8:00pm. Sam's cellphone was in her bag off to the side towards the fire pit. It lit up with each text message and phone call she was reviving from Brooke. Dinner was hours ago and Sam was supposed to be home by now.
"Where the hell is she!" Brooke yells as she texts and calls Sam angrily. "I told her to be home for dinner, now she's not answering me?" She says in a worried tone.
"Brooke she probably lost track of time. She's probably just fine, maybe her phone died?" He asks in attempt to calm Brooke.
"She should have called or texted before that and told me she was going to be late, this isn't like her Julian she always lets me know where she is." She says worried.
"Maybe I should call Taylor's Mom, she said they were just hanging out at her house." She sighs dialling in the number.
Julian continues to load the dish washer and clean up.
"Hey! Lisa it's Brooke. (Sam's Mom), I'm just wondering is Sam still there, she was supposed to be home for dinner hours ago and I'm just getting worried, she's not answering her cell" Brooke asks.
"Hi Brooke. No I'm sorry but Sam isn't here. Taylor is at an old friends house from camp for the night, I haven't seen her all day." She responds in confusion.
"Oh. Well I was under the impression that Sam was at Taylor's all day." Brooke says angrily.
"No they haven't been here Brooke. I will check and see where Taylor is and then text you back to see if she knows where Sam is." Lisa says.
"Okay great! Thank you, I'm sorry for he trouble!" Brooke says.
"No trouble at all. Bye!" Lisa says as she hangs up the phone and texts Taylor.
Taylor and Sam walk over towards the fire pit and sit down pulling their phones out of their bags.
"It's 9:00pm!" Sam yells in confusion." Then sees a flurry of text messages and calls from both Brooke and Julian. "I am so beyond dead." Sam laughs with the alcohol in her system.
"Shit. My mom is text me asking where you are?" Taylor says worried.
"Oh god. Okay I have to go." She says as she stumbles up.
"Sam. Your drunk. I can't let you go alone!" Taylor yells.
"I'll drive!" Hayden yells.
"Hayden you're drunk." Taylor responds.
"Um. Barley." He stutters.
Sam and Taylor look at each other with concern.
"Come on. It's fine. I'm fine. Let's go." He says as they walk towards the parking lot.
Though the alcohol was in their systems and impairing their judgement they both knew this wouldn't end well. But what were they supposed to do. Sam pulled out her phone still receiving texts from Brooke and responds.
Text: Brooke I'm &sorry. I lost tra/ck of time, 8'm coming home now.
After she hit the send button she seen the message she had sent with the typos, realizing she shouldn't have sent it immediately giving away that she was drunk.
Brooke feels her phone vibrate as she paces the living room. She pulls out to find the message from Sam. After the relief set in that Sam was okay it was quickly replaced with anger.
Brooke shakes her head with clenched teeth.
Text: Samantha are you drunk? Where are you! Don't you dare lie to me. I know your not at Taylor's.
Sam reads the text message from Brooke and takes a gulp, as they walk towards Hayden's car.
Sam's phone rings, she panics as she decides to answer.
Phone call:
"Hello?" Sam says in a nervous tone.
"WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU SAMANTHA?" Brooke yells.
"I. Um. Uh. I'm at the beach. I'm coming home now." Sam says attempting to not slur her words but failing.
"How are you getting home!" Brooke snaps.
"Uh. I'm getting a drive." She says over the muffled sounds of drunk teenagers in the back ground.
"NO!" Brooke shouts sternly. "Where are you Samantha, I will come and pick you up." Brooke says with worry.
"No. No. Please. It's fine. Hayden is driving were going to be fine. He's not even that drunk." She begs not realizing the words that had just left her mouth.
"HELL NO! Get out of the car right now Samantha or so help me god you will be grounded until you are 18." Brooke says sternly.
Sam takes a deep breath.
"WHERE ARE YOU!" Brooke yells.
"At the pier..." She sighs in defeat.
"I will be there in 5 minutes. DO NOT. Go anywhere. Do you understand me?" She yells as she grabs her keys and heads out of the door signalling to Julian that she would be back in 10.
Brooke hangs up the phone and drives to the pier. Her hands gripped tightly on the wheel and her face fuming with anger.
As she drives up to the parking lot she sees Sam sitting on the curb crying with Taylor comforting her. Brooke takes a deep breath and exists the car.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!" Brooke yells. As she walks towards the girls. Grabbing Sam's arm and pulling her to her feet.
"I'm. I'm. So sorry." Sam stutters.
"You will be!" Brooke snaps tightening her grip on her arm.
"Let's go!" She says pulling Sam towards the car. Looking over her shoulder to Taylor. "Taylor! Let's go!" She snaps.
"Um. No. I think. Im going to stay here or walk..." She stammers.
"Get in the car. I'm taking you home." She states with a no-nonsense tone as Taylor jumps up and gets into Brooke's car.
The two teenagers sat in the back seat looking out of the windows and enduring the silence and tension in the car as Brooke drove to Taylor's house. When they drove into the driveway, Brooke turned back to Sam. "I am taking Taylor inside. You will wait here, and not move. Understood?" She says sternly well knowing Sam had a habit of running away from her problems. Sam nods.
And Brooke and Taylor exit the car and walk towards the front door being greeted by Taylor's mom. They took Taylor inside as Sam sat in the back seat pondering her thoughts, now sobering up quickly due to the situation. After a short time Brooke made her way back into the car slamming the door behind her and starting the car.
"Brooke I am so sorry. Please-" Sam cried.
"Sam. Enough! I need you to sit there and think about what you are going to say to me when we get home. I can't talk to you right now. I am too angry." She states in a stern but calm tone attempting to cool down.
Sam nods her head and sits back in her seat, letting her silent tears fall. Brooke looked to the rearview mirror occasionally and watched as Sam looked out of the window and silently cried. Brooke let out a sigh letting her anger pass and replacing it with concern. This wasn't like Sam. She knew that something else must be going on.
As Brooke drove into the driveway and put the car in park, she turned back to Sam and let out a sigh. "What were you thinking sweetheart. Why didn't you call me?" Brooke says in a soft and motherly tone surprising Sam.
Sam looks up to Brooke in the front seat looking back at her.
"I'm so sorry. I should have called you. I'm sorry." Sam says honestly.
Brooke sighs. "Okay. Let's go inside and talk." She says getting out of the car.
Sam gets out of the car and closes the door behind her. The two headed inside. Once in the living room Julian walks into the room. "Where were you Sam! We were worried sick!" He yells.
"I know. I'm sorry." She says avoiding eye contact with Julian.
"Well sorry is not good enough Sam! You can't just run off and do what you please, you have people who care about you and worry about you." He says sternly. Then turns his head to Brooke, "Is that alcohol I smell?" He asks, then looks back at Sam.
Sam doesn't make eye contact and just stands in the room hoping this was all over.
"SAM!" He yells.
Brooke walks behind Julian and places her hand on his arm signalling him to calm down. Then looks back at Sam.
"Sam, go you your room please. I will be in soon, then we can talk." She states sternly.
Sam nods her head and walks towards her bedroom passing both Brooke and Julian and closes her bedroom door.
Brooke let's out a sigh.
"Has she been drinking?" Julian asks
"Yes. She was drunk, as well as all of the other underage feral cats down there as well!" Brooke snaps.
"Why would she be drinking? I don't get it. Wasn't she going to Taylor's?" He asks.
"She lied." Brooke says as se shakes her head in disappointment.
Julian throws his hands in the air. "I can't believe this." He sighs.
"To be honest. I'm not mad at her for lying to me, drinking, and not answering her phone, I'm just disappointed. I'm mad because I caught her about to get into a car with some boy who had been drinking. Honestly. How could she even think that is okay, she could have gotten herself or someone else killed. I'm beyond pissed off about that. But everything else. This isn't Sam. There is something else going on." She sighs.
"Alright well you better go talk to her" He says. "I guess our other conversation will have to wait.." He says as he walks towards the dining room table collecting the 'paternal-adoption papers' into a stack and placing them into the drawer.
Brooke looks over to him with sympathy. "Julian. Sam loves you. You know that right. Everything is going to be fine." She says in comfort.
Julian smiles slightly. "I know. Go talk to her. Find out what is going on."
Brooke opens Sam's door and finds her laying on her bed. She enters the room and closes the door. She walks towards Sam's bed.
"Can you just ground me, and get it over with. I have a head ache." Sam says with attitude not turning her body to look at Brooke's reaction.
"Absolutely not Sam, now drop the attitude and sit up" she says authoritatively.
Sam doesn't move.
"Samantha. Sit up." She orders.
Sam rolls her eyes and sits up, facing Brooke.
"Thank you." Brooke says.
"So Sam. Where do you want me to start. The fact that you lied to me about where you were going tonight, or the drinking, or not coming home on time, not answering your phone, having me worried sick about you, and then just to top it all off almost getting into a car with someone who had been drinking." She says with a slightly raised voice.
"I know Brooke. I'm sorry." She says simply.
"No Sam! I don't think you are. Because if you were you would know how incredibly STUPID it is to get into a car with someone who has been drinking and you would have never considered it!" Brooke snaps.
"I didn't get in the car!.." Sam shouts. Then mumbles under her breath "relax.."
Brooke raises her eyebrow. "You didn't get in the car because I called you, and told you not to, and that I was coming to get you. Other wise things could have ended very differently tonight." She says in response.
Sam stays silent and looks at the floor.
"I am so beyond disappointed in you Samantha." Brooke sighs.
Sam's heart felt that one. Though she tried not to show it. She hated the thought of disappointing Brooke. But also hated the fact that Julian had just yelled at her. Julian was more of a friend to Sam then a 'parental figure' and wasn't exactly ready for him to be so authoritative with her. She hadn't had a father figure in her life, at lease a decent one since Julian and she had trust issues. This had caused Sam to get her back up and become slightly defiant in her talk with Brooke.
"I'm sorry." Sam responds.
"Why did you lie to me, and since when do think it's okay to go out drinking at 15 years of age! Please explain?" Brooke snaps.
"Sorry." Sam responds again with slight attitude.
"SAMANTHA! You had better start explaining yourself. I mean it. When I ask you a question you answer it. Understood?"
Sam looks to the floor and sighs. Hiding behind her walls clearly wasn't getting her anywhere.
"I didn't know they were drinking, when I was on my way to Taylor's house she texted me and told me to meet her at the park. So I did. When I got there they pulled out the alcohol And started drinking, then they passed it to me and I had some too. We went to the beach and drank some more, I lost track of time, things got out of hand, my phone was in my bag and then I realized that you had been texting and calling so I freaked out, and then Hayden offered us a ride. I wanted to say no. But I didn't know what to do. I knew you were pissed, and you have a lot on your plate so I didn't want to bother you." She answers honestly.
"So you thought the better plan was to get into a car with someone who had been drinking? You thought I wouldn't be as angry? Brilliant plan Sam. I have to say. How did that work out for you." She snaps but then sees Sam's face drop, then takes a deep breath and refocuses herself.
"Listen to me. I am disappointed that you lied to me, drank alcohol, and let me go on worrying about you for hours after I had told you to be home for dinner, but I am beyond angry that you would think to get into a car with someone who had been drinking before calling me. Samantha. How many times have I told you to CALL ME no matter what. Sure I might be angry at first, but it is A LOT better then having you in danger being in the car with someone behind the wheel who has been drinking. Do you understand me?" She asks.
"Yes. I'm sorry." She says honestly.
"Okay. On to the drinking..." She exhales. "On what planet, do you think it's okay for you to be getting drunk on the beach with your friends at 15?"
"Well you thought it was okay at 15..." She mumbles under her breath but is heard by Brooke. Reality quickly sets back in as to what she had just let come out of her mouth when she looked up to see Brooke shaking her head with gritted teeth.
"Brooke... I. I. Didn't mean that."
"Watch yourself Samantha." She practically growls.
"You're right. When I was 15. I did think that, that was okay, and I was wrong. I didn't have a mother who cared about me as much as I care about you. Maybe if I would have, my experiences would have been different. But I will NOT allow you to make the same mistakes, and have the same regrets that I have. You are my daughter and I will not have you running all over tree hill getting drunk and putting yourself in danger. Not on my watch." She says with emotion.
"Brooke. I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that." She says as she allows a tear to fall from her eyes.
"Good." Brooke states.
"I just didn't know what to do. I didn't want to look lame, and since Taylor joined cheer, I just feel. I just feel like I'm loosing her..." She says as her voice cracks with emotion.
Brooke sighs as the mystery of the night had been solved. Brooke felt that this whole situation had to do with Sam's insecurities of loosing people in her life. She had a hunch that Sam was fearing loosing Taylor.
"Sweetheart. Do you really think that you would loose Taylor by not drinking alcohol?" She says honestly.
Sam looks down. "No. But her new friends are into that. And I'm just afraid that she will. I don't know. Like them better then me... and want to hang with them more so I figured I had to be 'into' what they were into" She says honestly. "Anyways. I know it's stupid." She shakes her head.
"It's not stupid Sam. It's not stupid to feel things and have emotion. You are human. And a teenager at that. Being a teenager can really suck sometimes. You are finding out who you are and who your real friends are. It's tough." She responds honestly.
Then grabs Sam's hand and hold it. "And let's face it Sam. You have lost a lot of people in your life. Speaking from experience. I know that can make you a little closed off and anxious about loosing everyone. But you don't have to change who you are just to keep someone in your life, or to compete with others and if you do then that person doesn't deserve to be in your life." She responds lovingly.
Sam looks to Brooke with tears in her eyes, she lets out a few silent sobs. Sam was beginning to really be able to open up to Brooke. She felt safe in her arms and though showing emotion made her feel insecure she would often cover this emotion with attitude and sarcasm however felt safe enough to fall apart some times with Brooke.
Brooke grabs Sam's arms and pulls her in for a tight hug holding her as she cried. And petting the back of her hair as she comforted her daughter.
Brooke whispers as she soothes Sam. "Babe. You don't have to change for anyone. You are perfect just the way you are. Pretending to be someone that your not only ends up hurting you and getting you into trouble. Trust me." She says as she rocks with Sam back and fourth continuing the hug then releasing her and looking into her eyes.
"Listen to me. I am disappointed in your actions tonight, but that does not change how much I love you. I want you to be able to call me when you are stuck and need help, I want you to trust that nothing you would ever do or say would ever make me change the way I see you or how much I love you. Do you understand me?" She asks seriously.
Sam nods her head and rubs her eyes. "Yes I understand." She responds.
Brooke then looks back into Sam's eyes and hold her arms for emphasis. "If you ever. EVER. Even think about getting into a car with someone who has been drinking EVER again. I will kill you. Do you understand me? Samantha that is incredibly dangerous. I could have lost you." Brooke paused and wipes the tears from her eyes. "Your life is the most precious thing you have, you have to take care of it. You are almost 16 Samantha and I cannot protect you from everything. You have to have a brain and think about your actions and the consequences that come from these decisions before you ever even consider doing something so irresponsible. I do not EVER want to have to have this conversation ever again. Understood?" She says filled with emotion.
Sam cried and held onto Brooke. "I'm so sorry. I was so stupid. I shouldn't have ever considered getting into the car. I promise. It won't happen again." She says honestly.
"Your damn right it won't." Brooke says releasing Sam from a hug. "But just to be sure it won't you will have a two week grounding to help to serve as a reminder." She states sternly.
Sam nods her head. After all this emotion she wasn't about to fight her grounding.
Brooke raises her eyebrow. "One week for the drinking and not answering your phone and making Julian and I worried sick, and another week for your decisions based on driving home. You will only leave the house to ride to and from school with myself of Julian, no boarding. I am taking your iPhone, and iPod, but you may keep your laptop only to work on a five page paper on the dangers of drinking and driving that you will hand in to Haley for extra credit in your English lit class, over the next two weeks. Understood?" Brooke asks.
Sam rolls her eyes. "Yes." She responds handing Brooke her phone and her iPod.
Brooke smirks slightly. She was getting good at this whole 'Mom' thing. She leans in and gives Sam a hug and a kiss on her forehead. "Get ready for bed. I will see you in the morning. I love you sweetheart."
"Night. Love you too." She responds as Brooke turns and walks towards the door but is stopped by Sam's voice.
"Mom! Wait!" Sam squeaks. Brooke's heart melted. Every time Sam had called Brooke 'Mom' Nothing made her happier. It had felt like each time the world has stopped spinning for a moment.
Brooke turned around to look at Sam. "Yeah babe?" She smiles.
"I'm happy that I have a Mom who cares about me so much, thank you." She says in a quiet tone.
Brooke's eyes fill with tears. "Well. I'm happy to have a daughter whom I love so much and who is as amazing as you are." She responds. "Even though she drives me crazy! Get to bed you lunatic. Goodnight." She says as she turns out the light and closes the door.
As she took a step out of Sam's bedroom she tripped slightly over Victoria's foot who was leaning against the wall outside of Sam's bedroom with tear stained cheeks and water filled eyes. Brooke looked up confused at Victoria.
Victoria looked into Brooke's eyes and grabbed her pulling her in for a tight hug. Brooke was completely caught off guard and confused. Was her mother showing affection? Brooke stood stiffened at first but then wrapped her arms around her mother and patted her back. "Um. Victoria..." Brooke questioned. "Are you. Um. Okay" she asked. "How. Um. How much did you hear?" She asked again still in the grip of Victoria, eventually being released then the two looked into each other's eyes.
"All of it. And honestly Brooke. I have no idea how you have turned out to be this wonderfully, amazing, beautiful person, and an outstanding Mother, when all you had growing up was me. I failed you Brooke, but that hasn't effected you. You continue to be a successful, caring, compassionate, and loving human being and I can't understand how when I was never there to do what you just did with Samantha. I'm so sorry Brooke. I'm just. So sorry." Victoria cried.
Brooke's eyes poured with her tears as she pulled her mother in and held her tightly the two continued to sob into each other's shirts eventually breaking apart and collecting themselves.
"I love you Mom. And I am happy you are here. And happy that you are trying. It's all I've ever wanted." Brooke says honestly.
Victoria smiles. "It's the least I can do to try to repair this beautiful mother daughter relationship that I have ruined over the years with my inability to love others."
Brooke nods her head in appreciation and shows her mother to the guest room in the house, after saying goodnight she heads back out into the living room letting out a sigh of relief.
Did that really just happen? She asks herself in disbelief. She sits on the couch and takes a moment to process her evening, takes a deep breath.
The End! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review and let me know what you think or if you have any suggestions!