Chapter 14:
The next day Brooke actually got to rest a little bit. Peyton had left early to spend the day with Jake and Jenny since they were all leaving pretty early the next morning. Nathan and Haley had said that Deb was taking them to some luncheon that they didn't want to go to but she wouldn't take no for an answer. Lucas had said that he needed to catch up on some studying. They agreed that they would all meet up for a nice dinner so that they could all say good-bye to Jake and Jenny properly.
With some time to kill before she even had to get ready for dinner, she decided to go get some breakfast at the cafe and maybe catch Karen. Luckily, when she walked in, it looked like the morning rush was just dying down and Karen was behind the counter.
"Hey sweetie, what a nice suprise. Grab a seat and I'll have your favorite to you in a sec."
"Thanks Karen."
Soon, Karen had brought over a cup of cofee and a warm banana nut muffin and took a seat next to her. Brooke was glad that she didn't have to ask Karen to talk to her. Karen had some kind of mother radar that told her when she was needed.
"So why are you all alone, Brooke? I didn't think that Peyton and Haley would let you out of their sight for a second."
"Yeah, I thought so too, but Peyt needed to spend some time with Jake and Jenny and Deb took Haley and Nate to some luncheon."
"Oh my, I knew that she didn't want to go to that stuffy thing. I didn't think she would drag Haley and Nathan with her." They both laughed.
"Where's my son? I'm sure that he would love to spend some time with you."
"He needs to catch up on some studying. This trip was unexpected to say the least. I guess he was in the middle of mid-terms.I can't believe he came when I heard how much he had to do."
"Well, Luke always did have a soft spot for you. I'm reminded of that everytime I see his tatoo."
"C'mon Karen, be honest. It's grown on you hasn't it?" Brooke teased. She laughed when Karen arched her eyebrow and didn't smile.
"I've missed that laugh around here Brooke. I want you to visit more. You're always welcome to stay with me."
"Don't promise something you'll regret! I just might take you up on that."
"I'm gonna hold you to that. Now tell me, how are you going, despite everything?"
"I'm okay. Really. When I moved to California, I got to start over with a clean slate. No one knew about my reputation so there were no expecations. I got to be more of myself but at the same time I couldn't if that makes any sense. When I was here, everyone looked at me like the easy, rich cheerleader. They never took me seriously. I got to my new school and I actually got good grades."
"That's not so hard to believe, Brooke. I know that you can do anything you put your mind to. I think it started before you left, Miss President."
"I know. It was just a little easier when people didn't have this picture of what I was supposed to be like. On the other hand, because they didn't know me, I don't think they could fully understand me. either. I have friends but they're more like, let's go shopping or a party friends. I haven't been able to find that person I could call at two o'clock to just talk to because I was lonely, you know? I don't have any Peyton's out there. I think that's why it was so great when I started to get close to my parents."
"Are you going to be okay out there by yourself, Brooke?"
"I'll be fine. It was nice to have them around for once but I'm used to being on my own before. I'll adapt."
"Oh Brooke, you're too young to be thinking that way."
"That seems to be a theme with me."
"If it gets to be too much, promise me you'll call me. I've already decided that I'm going to call you once a week to check on you."
"Karen, that's really not necessary."
"For you maybe, but it is for me if I want to sleep at night. I know that you only lived with me a couple of months, but you're the little girl I never had. I can't help but worry."
"Speaking of little girls you've never had, why don't you have one with Uncle Keith? I was so happy when Peyton told me that he came back and you got married! You deserve to be happy, Karen."
"Thank you, and so do you. I don't know about anymore kids. It would be nice but I think that I'm closer to being a grandma than a mom again."
"Is Lucas...um...with someone that seriously?" Brooke asked with a look of shock.
Karen grabbed her hand and shook her head furiously. "No! No, nothing like that. I just meant that I was getting up there in age."
"Oh, okay, not that there's anything wrong with that. With all this drama, I haven't gotten around to asking him if he's seeing anyone."
"No, he's not. Would it bother you if he was?"
"I know that it shouldn't. He has every right to find somebody but when I heard you say...it felt like my heart sunk into my stomach. I've already had this talk with Peyton, Haley, even Lucas a little bit. I'm not sure how I feel except that I'm not ready to think of him that way again."
"Totally understandable. You're both so young, Brooke. You don't have to decide who you're meant to spend the rest of your life with just now. Look where it got me, I didn't find him until I was almost forty. But if it means anything, I think you would make each other happy and I couldn't imagine my son with anyone better if I could pick her myself."
"I'm sure that he would love that!" Brooked joked and Karen joined in her laughter.
"There has been something I've been meaning to ask you Brooke, I couldn't let you leave this week without inviting you home for Thanksgiving. I don't know if you have plans set with your aunt but I would love it if you could stop by."
"I don't even know if my aunt and her family celebrate Thanksgiving. If they do, they'll probably throw some huge party."
"Well, you are officially invited to stay and spend Thanksgiving with us. In fact, I am not going to take no for an answer, even if I have to buy the non-refundable tickets today."
"Umm...I dunno."
"Do you have plans?"
"No, but..."
"No buts. I'm going to book the ticket tonight. I'll have Lucas pick you up at the airport that Wednesday night. Let me know if you have classes and I will plan accordingly."
"You don't have to go to the trouble, Karen. I would love to come for Thanksgiving and I can get my ticket and ride. That's too much."
"It's not. You're apart of my family Brooke. You have been since I saw how much you cared for my son when he was in the hosptial. I don't want you to ever feel like you can't come to me and I know that Keith feels the same way."
"Thanks, Karen."
"Don't need it but while we're at it, I expect you here for Christmas too."
Brooke laughed and impulsively gave her a hug. Karen smiled and patted her on the back.
"See, this is why I like you Brooke, you listen to me. If only Lucas weren't so stubborn."
"Oh c'mon, You have a great son and you know it."
"I do, don't I? And now that you're going to be home more, we're all complete."
"You sound like Peyton and Haley. I swear they are like Duke tour guides trying to convince me what a great school it is. I think that they're using this week to convince me to transfer."
"I think that's a great idea!"
"Karen!"
"Okay, okay. I will stop while I'm ahead. I actually better get back to work. Let me know if you need something."
"I think I'm actually going to head over to the cemetary for awhile. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye, sweetie."
"Thanks again, for everything. Bye."
Brooke felt lighter as she exited the cafe. Her conversations with Peyton, Haley, Lucas and Karen were starting to convince her that she wasn't as alone as she thought. For the first time in awhile, she was beginning to think that things might actually turn out alright. It was a small step but at least it was one in the right direction.
Peyton had leant her car to get around so she drove herself to the cemetary. The pile of dirt was gone and they covered it with sections of grass and all the floral arrangements were piled on top of the lone plot. The headstone wouldn't be placed for a couple weeks so she could visit it when she came back for Thanksgiving."
"Hi Mom, Dad. I hope that you're doing better up there. I think it's probably better, huh? There's so much drama down here. I'm doing better though so I hope that you aren't too worried about me. Karen's already invited me for the holidays so I'm going to be able to visit you more than I thought, which I'm happy about. I didn't want to stay with Aunt Katherine. No offense Dad but she's a big snob. I feel bad for Michael. I think I should probably try and talk to him more. We're going to be the only ones left when Aunt Katherine is gone.I don't want him to be alone. I know how hard that can be. I decided to stay in North Carolina for about a week. I'm going to be staying with Peyton at Duke. I missed her so much. I can't believe they've all just opened up their arms to me again. I'm pretty lucky to have them. Well, I better be going. I'll come say good-bye on Wednesday. I promise. I love you guys."
Brooke headed back to Peyton's where she did a little drafting. Like Lucas, she was going to have a lot of work to catch up on when she got back to school so she needed to get some in whenever she could. Before, she knew it, it was actually getting late. She threw her pad onto the table so she could take a quick shower and get ready before Haley and Nathan came to pick her up. They were going to a nice Italian Restaurant by the Riverfront so she decided to dress warmly. She put on a gray sweater with a big cowl neck, black slacks and black boots. She put her hair into soft waves and slightly up. She was just putting on some lip gloss when the doorbell rang. She ran downstairs to open it and let Haley, Nathan and even Lucas in.
"Hey guys, I'm almost ready. I just have to switch purses. Two secs I promise!" she yelled as she disappeared back upstairs.
Lucas didn't even hear what she was saying, all he could think about was how beautiful she looked when she opened the door. Brooke had always been gorgeous but he noticed that she had a more mature style about her. She wasn't showing as much skin but she still made his knees weak. He decided that he couldn't go down that path of thinking so he turned his attention to the sketch pad on the coffee table. It was a sketch of some sort of high rise building. It was simple but it was really good. He couldn't believe that Brooke was going to be designing buildings. Nathan was looking over his shoulder and gave a whistle.
"Wow. She's good."
"Let me see!" Haley yelled, not wanting to feeling out. "Wow. I thought Peyton was the artist. I didn't know Brooke could draw like that."
"Yeah, I didn't know either," Lucas said, wondering what else about Brooke he never got to find out.
"Are you guys snooping?" Brooke asked as she came down again.
"Yes, Brooke! This is amazing! I can see why you went into architecture," Haley gushed.
"Thanks, I was torn between that and fashion design but I figure this way, I don't have to deal with bitchy models. I'm ready."
"Ok, then, let's roll," Nathan said directing them towards the door and to his car.
Lucas held open her door before getting back into the back with her. She couldn't help but notice how good he looked in his khaki slacks and black button down shirt. He smelled good too, but then again he always smelled good. They got to the Riverfront parking and walked a short distance to the restaurant where they found Peyton and Jake waiting with Jenny on his shoulders. She looked adorable with her curly blond pig-tails and little sailor outfit.
Jenny remembered her from the other day and since she was more comfortable she gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek like everyone else. Brooke's heart melted as Peyton taugh her to say Auntie Brooke, but it came out more like 'Auntie Booky'.
Brooke laughed as Peyton and Jake tried to get her to say it right.
"No! I think she says it better. I'll just change my name so that she is saying it right."
"The only one of us she can say right is Haley, she likes to add -ey to everyone's name if you haven't noticed. Peytey, Lukey, Natey, Haley."
"It's adorable!"
They were seated in the corner which they actually preferred. They could get loud if they really got into it. Dinner went by quickly as they eased into light and funny conversations. Before they knew it, they were sharing a big brownie sundae dessert. Jenny had more of it around her mouth than she was getting in her mouth to Jake's chagrin.
"Jake, I don't think she's going to be able to go to bed anytime soon with this sugar rush," Haley said.
"I was afraid of that. I just didn't have the heart to tell her she couldn't come with us after I had left her with my parents all yesterday."
Brooke admired Jake. For becoming such a young dad, she could tell how devoted he was to being there for his daughter. And she saw how Jenny had quickly attached herself to Peyton again. A stranger walking past the three of them wouldn't have a hard time believing that they were a family. Brooke could just see Jenny calling Peyton 'mommy' and she knew that would make her friend so happy. She was drawn out of her daydream when everyone started getting up. Peyton, Jake and Jenny decided to walk down the pier so they said their good-byes to Jake and Jenny with promises to seethem soon. Brooke took her turns to give them big, hard hugs.
"Thank you for coming, Jake.You don't knowo how much it means to me.I loved seeing you both again."
"It was good seeing you too and I know that Jenny loves you already. I'll see you next time you come home, kay?"
"Promise. Take care of yourself and Jenny, Jagelski."
"Same goes for you. Bye Brooke."
"Bye, now go! I don't want to start crying again!."
She waved as he walked away with Jenny resting against his shoulder and Peyton intersecting her arm with his. She wished she had her camera with her.
"You ok?" Lucas asked. He saw that she had started to get teary-eyed.
"Yeah. It's just hard having to say good-bye to everyone again."
"It doesn't get any easier huh?"
"I guess not."
"Alright, guys. Let's go. If I know the both of you, neither of you have packed and we're supposed to leave early tomorrow," Haley said.
"I don't know what you're talking about Tutorgirl."
"Uh-huh. You better not still be packing when we come pick you up tomorrow."
"Fine, fine. I will pack tonight. I promise. It's a good thing you have a big SUV, Nate, I brought a lot of clothes."