Surfaces
Disclaimer: Don't own anything, although I wish I owned Chad.
Rating: T.
Spoiler: Five years post-5.12 "Hundred".
Summary: It was funny how in her most drunken moment, Brooke chose to think that Lucas's feelings for her had "resurfaced", rather than developed again.
A/N: Hi you guys, thank you so much for your kind reviews on the last chapter. I'm really excited about this chapter, because even though there's still no actual Brooke/Lucas interaction, I'm introducing another original character, this one is NOT a girl hehe, and also look for a special blast from the past at the end. Thanks for reviewing!
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Chapter 10: In Dire Need of Conversation
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As soon as Lucas stepped out into the busy sidewalk, the feeling of being in New York hit him with full force. Not even the busy JFK airport or the sheer impossibility of getting a cab had quite the same effect on him as taking a walk in Midtown on an early warm morning.
There was just something so unique about feeling like he was a part of the city again that for the first time since arriving, Lucas had a genuine smile on his face. In the sheer madness of the last week, Lucas completely forgot how much he loved the city. Although most would be surprised that someone as domestic and with as many ties to his hometown would love the Big Apple, Lucas did.
Perhaps it was because of all the baggage associated with Tree Hill that made him love the ability to disappear into the crowd in a busy Manhattan street. Maybe that's why Lucas loved New York so much, and there were other reasons too; reasons that ironically relocated across the country now, instead of being here with him.
Lucas promised himself he wouldn't think of her, for at least a day. He was acting like a pathetic, lovesick teenager and it was interfering with his other responsibilities. He might have been writing for the past three days, probably more so than in the last year, but he wasn't attending to his publishing duties.
He'd gotten away with communicating with the marketing team, Emily, and Jack over the phone or through email, but today he decided to face what was going to be his inevitable reality for at least the next three months: life without Brooke in New York. He told himself he could handle it, but things were just not in his favor, especially when he realized his apartment building had a nice view of a huge billboard, advertising Brooke's fashion line. Forgetting her would be extremely difficult.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, Lucas looked up to find himself in front of a café he had frequented a couple times on his previous stays in New York. The popular breakfast spot was crowded but Lucas managed to locate his friend and business partner from across the room. It was kind of hard not to spot Jack Stone in a crowd of people when he had his feet propped up against a chair and was strumming his guitar. The dark-haired musician, who reminded Lucas in appearance of his own brother, looked up just as the blond approached him, "This seat taken?" Lucas asked, smiling warmly.
"Luke, finally." Jack moved his feet off the chair and put his guitar away.
"I see you haven't abandoned your hobby since I saw you last." Lucas teased.
"It's been like two and a half weeks. Think of something original to say next time." Jack rolled his eyes.
A native New Yorker, Jack moved to San Francisco to work in his grandfather's publishing company, then called Stone Publications. Jack did clerical and grunt work for a few years, mostly because his grandfather, Richard, had never agreed with Jack's free spirited, bohemian, musician lifestyle and Jack had yet to prove himself. That quickly changed when grandfather and grandson bonded over their love of literature and poetry. Jack slowly began working his way up to manager and eventually started working on acquiring new talent for the now struggling publishing house.
That is how Lucas found Stone Publications, or more accurately, how the company found him. After unsuccessful attempts at finishing the second novel, Lucas decided to put his English degree to good use and sent out resumes to various newspapers and publishing houses all over the country. However, due to his lack of experience and just one book under his belt, offers were few and usually had some huge disadvantage, like moving to Texas, which Lucas absolutely despised during his cross country track.
The only offer that seemed reasonable was from Stone Publications, so Lucas accepted it. As he found out later, the assistant editor quit because he wasn't getting paid on time and although Richard was repulsed at the idea that an amateur, meaning Lucas, would be working at their company, Jack managed to sway his grandfather after purchasing him a copy of An Unkindness of Ravens.
Richard immediately approved hiring Lucas Scott.
Lucas couldn't remember what he anticipated when he first arrived in San Francisco, but he knew instinctively that he would be working in a fantastic environment when he met his employers. Despite differing opinions, the Stone men were united by their passion for literature and that was something Lucas could definitely relate to. Jack took Lucas under his wing, overtime becoming one of his closest friends, not just his coworker. He didn't know much about Lucas's past and it was refreshing for Lucas to hang out with someone who didn't judge him or his actions based on the "hero complex" everyone in Tree Hill thought he had. But although Lucas loved his job, business was slow.
Stone Publication was struggling financially and worst of all, Richard's health began to slowly decline. Jack was devastated as he realized his time with his grandfather was limited and he was doubly terrified of protecting Richard's legacy.
Slowly, as Richard and Jack spent more time at various doctor appointments, Lucas found himself in charge of a massively debilitating publishing house. Lucas had been preparing the company for bankruptcy for a couple of months when he piqued the attention of a local reporter who was interested in understanding why someone as successful as Lucas, had to take a job working at Stone publication, instead of writing an equally riveting follow up to his bestseller.
The interview was awkward and uncomfortable for Lucas, because the reporter was throwing questions at him that Lucas could not answer for himself, but the attention he received, gave him an idea.
Pretty soon, Lucas was using his small time fame to pick up new talent and secure eager investors. By that time, Richard had only a few months to live and Jack suggested that he turn over half the Stone Publication ownership to Lucas. Richard agreed and that's how Raven Publications was born.
Originally Jack just wanted to add Scott to the name, but the image consultants Lucas hired suggested a new name to go with the revamped image and Jack, remembering why he had decided to hire Lucas in the first place, immediately suggested Raven Publications be the new name for his grandfather's company.
Needless to say, Lucas was overjoyed, finally he had found something outside of writing that he appeared to be good at. Jack was at peace, because now his late grandfather's legacy was preserved. He had finally proved himself.
"So where are we on the space?" Lucas asked, after they ordered coffee and eggs.
"I put down the deposit last Thursday and I got a great deal from one of my grandfather's old friends who promised to do renovations for half the price."
"Jack the resourceful." Lucas toasted with his glass of water.
"Sometimes it helps to have friends in high places." Jack winked and for some reason his words made Lucas think of Brooke, resulting in an inevitable frown.
" Have you spoken to Emily yet? She's been harassing me over email and cell since I got here."
"Yes." Jack replied moodily, "Unfortunately I had lunch with her a couple of days ago. She said she knows I don't like her, but that she was scared of being in the city without you for a whole week." Jack added and Lucas couldn't help but chuckle.
"Women are so blunt aren't they?"
"Yes, except when you need them to be." Jack commented dryly.
"I assume we're talking about Sara?" Lucas asked.
Sara was Jack's long time girlfriend, who worked as a registered nurse at NYU Medical Center. It seemed uncanny that someone as free spirited as Jack could be with someone as conservative and high strung as Sara, but according to Jack their differences were the reason why they worked as a couple. Thinking back to their tumultuous and long distance relationship, Lucas could agree and disagree, but he was no expert on love and would never judge Jack of all people.
"So what about you?" Jack asked, between mouthfuls of eggs.
"Nothing going on." Lucas mumbled, not knowing why he lied except that if he decided to divulge his entire history with Brooke now, it would take them all the way through lunch and dinner and away from business.
Thankfully Jack didn't press the issue just continued to eat. In between bites he told Lucas about the next couple of days and the necessary preparation for the book release party that Friday night.
Lucas welcomed the distraction.
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Brooke was stretching in preparation for her morning run when Rachel walked out into the backyard and plopped down on the lounge chair next to her.
"Stop working out so much. You're making me look bad." Rachel teased, taking out a cigarette and a lighter from her hoodie.
"Stop smoking so much, you're making yourself look bad." Brooke quipped back.
"Uh huh, says the girl who smoked with me last week." Rachel reminded, lighting the cigarette.
"Totally different circumstances." Brooke replied and Rachel frowned, regretting bringing up anything associated with the events of last week.
"Don't pout. You'll get wrinkles." Brooke said, eliciting a smile from her friend.
"I'm fine Rach. Stop worrying."
"I hope so." Rachel mumbled, and the moment passed. She was relieved that Brooke's attitude was getting back to normal. The last few days she was going to work, began sketching again, and spent hours on the phone with the NY office, arguing about something or other. Rachel welcomed the old Brooke, not that she minded that since Lucas left, Brooke had been doing nothing but shopping, getting spa treatments, and watching old movies. But, Rachel knew that Brooke was just trying to distract herself as much as possible from the impromptu meeting with the love of her life, and when that didn't work, she resorted back to work.
Nevertheless, Brooke was coming back to herself, and as bossy and demanding as that person was sometimes; Rachel wouldn't have it any other way.
"So I talked to this guy I used to work with after you and I, you know, stopped talking, and back then he was just a talent scout, but he worked his way up and made partner last year. They have an office in San Francisco and they're interested in auditioning some models for the August show. I'm going to go see them sometime this week." Rachel informed and Brooke stopped stretching for a moment.
She heard the hesitance in Rachel's voice when she mentioned them not speaking and she instinctively knew that Rachel was still hurt by Brooke's decision to fire her so many years ago.
"Have I told you lately how sorry I am for doing that to you back then?"
Rachel rolled her eyes, although internally she thanked Brooke for still caring. Not very many people would still feel guilty over something they did seven years ago, especially since Rachel had done far worse to Brooke.
"Brooke, you know I'm over it. Besides I've done a lot worse to you and should be the one apologizing."
Brooke shook her head, sitting down next to her, "No, that person, she wasn't you, that was your addiction controlling you. I, on the other hand, have no excuse for letting my demented mother get to me."
"Oh, Victoria." Rachel laughed, "How is she doing these days?"
"God knows." Brooke sighed, "Most I hear from my parents these days is the occasional postcard from Aspen, and that's only from my dad."
"That's okay." Rachel declared, draping an arm over Brooke's shoulders, "You and I don't need parents. We just need hot boys, money, and booze."
Brooke laughed; glad her friend was trying to lighten the mood.
"Speaking of hot boys, how is that Aleksandr doing?"
"Still as pompous as ever, but he's a really great distraction. Plus I get to shop for him, what could be better?" Brooke said with a smile, but Rachel saw the underlying sadness in the brunette's eyes. She obviously missed Lucas more than she was willing to admit and Rachel wondered if she herself would ever find a love so intense that just two days could throw her into such an emotional frenzy. However, she also didn't know whether to pity Brooke or be jealous.
"You miss him a lot, don't you?" Rachel asked quietly and felt Brooke's body tense besides her.
"Yes, I do. But I can't put everything on hold. I realized that I lost a week's worth of work; sulking and dwelling on the situation I created myself. If I didn't want him to leave, he would have stayed. I know Lucas and he would have put everything on hold to give us a chance."
"Yes, but would it last?" Rachel asked delicately, "You did the right thing."
"Well, we will never know now. He's in NY and I'm here and I have to face my personal issues before giving him my heart again."
When Brooke put it in that perspective, Rachel felt like cautioning her friend against getting into anything with Lucas even after three months' time. All that Rachel could remember from high school was Brooke crying herself to sleep after breaking up with Lucas and Rachel also remembered Brooke when she visited her in rehab after fleeing from Tree Hill.
Despite battling her own demons at that time, Rachel recalled Brooke's disoriented appearance and bloodshot eyes. Then she presumed that Brooke was so emotional over seeing her friend in such a debilitating state, but now Rachel knew better.
Although that motivated Rachel to get better, she realized now that Brooke was having her own internal battle then, specifically she was nursing a broken heart. She only found about Brooke sleeping with Lucas much later, and didn't even know the whole story until even later, because it didn't seem to be something Brooke could tell her over a postcard.
But Rachel eventually learned that Brooke had given up Lucas for Peyton again and Rachel swore that if she ever ran into the blonde, she'd give her a piece of her mind.
"So, Rach, how do you feel about an overnight trip to LA before things get too hectic at work?" Brooke interrupted the redhead's thoughts.
"Sure but why?" Rachel asked, curiously.
"Peyton's record company is based from Los Angeles." Brooke replied, already mentally planning out an itinerary, only to assure herself that seeing Peyton would bring her closure rather than a bunch of bad memories.
"Right." Rachel murmured, thinking she might actually get her chance to tell Peyton what she really thought about her.
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It had been an extremely stressful morning at Raven Publications. The renovators Jack hired to convert the old dance studio into a publishing house were on schedule but tonight was the book release party and they had to poor all their energy in setting up the building adjacent to the company's new home to accommodate the 200 expected guests due for Emily's big debut. Lucas and Jack had talked it over and proposed the idea of hosting the book release party in the empty space next door instead of an upscale restaurant or lounge, which would be extremely impersonal. Emily was overjoyed at the idea and took a bossy attitude with caterers, the marketing team, and renovators, basically taking over the job that Lucas and Jack hired people for.
That morning, Lucas showed up to work at 9 and already the place was bustling with people running around and placing decorations everywhere. In the midst of it, he saw Emily and Jack arguing over something and he immediately broke it up. Jack complained about Emily being too bossy and not knowing her place, while Emily was upset that Jack was impeding her ability to say her part in a gathering that was in her honor.
By the time Lucas smoothed out the argument and separated his two colleagues, he realized he needed to pick up his suit before the dry cleaners closed and he also needed to prepare his speech for tonight. He did not like the amount of publicity this event was gathering only because he hated public speaking and preferred to keep a low profile at such events, but unfortunately he had learned that Raven Publications would need all the publicity they could get if they hoped to survive in New York City.
So after bidding goodbye to Jack and Emily, making them swear to be civil to each other, he decided to walk the 20 blocks back to his apartment, mulling over his speech on the way.
That was his state of mind when, nearing his apartment, a basketball rolled to his feet and he stopped it with his foot. His suit was draped over his shoulder, but he picked up the orange ball and inspected it. He didn't even have time to notice the familiar signature scribbled on the ball, when he heard an even more familiar voice calling to him from a small distance.
"Lucas Eugene Scott, get your butt over here!"
Lucas couldn't hide his smile as he sprinted towards his best friend and wrapped his arms around her.
"Hales." He laughed in to her hair as he managed to lift her off the ground for a second,
"I missed you so much."
"Hey, what about me Uncle Luke?"
Lucas pulled back and inspected the boy standing close to his mother. Lucas was taken aback by how old his nephew looked. He was now 9 years old, his hair was becoming darker, but his eyes retained that trademark blue color that all Scott men possessed. He was lankier and his smile was more reserved, but judging by how he grabbed the basketball from him, it seemed like the love of the game was in his blood permanently.
Lucas could only think about how similar Jaime was to Nathan, just the unsure, innocent look on his face reminded Lucas of his little brother.
"You are my number one." Lucas smiled, embracing Jaime as well.
It didn't enter his mind that Haley remained silent through their exchange until he looked up at her and could tell she was pissed.
"Hales…" His voice trailed off, already an explanation prepared for his lack of correspondence in the recent months, but she cut him off,
"If I hadn't found out from Karen that you were moving to New York and if Jaime and I didn't have summer vacation, and if Nathan wasn't playing against the New York Knicks on Monday, when would I have seen you? Huh? You couldn't bother to call?"
Her arms were crossed over the light blue top she was wearing and her stance reflected her irritation with him, but when Lucas caught her eye, he knew she had missed him and was only giving him a hard time.
"I'm sorry Hales. Things have just been so hectic. Why don't we go inside and we'll catch up?" He suggested, and Haley laughed.
"You are so dodging my question. You should never be too busy to check in. Everyone else is just as busy as you and they have time." Haley continued, making sure Lucas knew he wasn't off the hook.
"Uncle Luke. You're in the dog house." Jaime commented as he dribbled the ball and Lucas couldn't help but laugh.
"Yup, but how about we go inside and you and I can see what we can do to calm your mom down." Lucas motioned towards the brownstone and Jaime nodded,
"Mama, c'mon lets go, you can never stay mad at the Scott men for too long." He teased and ascended the stairs.
Haley rolled her eyes and followed, but not before Lucas stopped her and she turned around, her mock annoyance already fading.
"I really did miss you Haley." Lucas declared genuinely and Haley nodded, "I did too, but you have some explaining to do." She warned and Lucas agreed.
"You have no idea." He murmured to himself and pulled out his house keys.
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