Hi guys! I'm sorry for the huge delay with posting this chapter- life got in the way... Anyway- my exams are finally over for this semester and now I have time to write again! I know that you waited for a really long time for an update, so this is an extra long chapter for all of you. I really hope that you'll enjoy it... Thanks again for everyone who's been following this so far- you guys rock!! ;-)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the OTH characters.
Chapter 21
Brooke knee naturally brushed against Lucas' leg as she wholeheartedly laughed at a silly story about Jamie, which Lucas had told her. They had been sitting side by side for a while now, and the casual conversation that Lucas maintained with her truly managed to put Brooke at ease and erase the discomfort that she had priorly felt due to Lucas' lack of distance from her. His wise choice for the conversation's topic- the young boy that Brooke loved so dearly, who was the only thing that had managed to make her completely happy at this time, also added to the tenseless atmosphere that spread throughout the room.
"That kid is just amazing…" Brooke noted in between her laughs, causing Lucas to nod in agreement. He watched Brooke genuinely smiling as she thought about her godson and couldn't help but grin in response. He suddenly felt an inexplicable urge to slip his fingers into the two gorgeous dimples that appeared on Brooke's cheeks and caress her soft skin, but forcefully restrained himself, knowing that the gesture would be inappropriate. Lucas didn't really know where these thoughts were coming from and why the hell was he thinking like that, but it was a simple fact that he couldn't take his eyes off of Brooke. As he continued staring at Brooke, admiring her beauty, which suddenly stood out to him even more than it usually would, she averted her gaze and got caught in the intensity of his mesmerizing eyes.
"What?" Brooke nervously laughed, trying to understand why he was looking at her like that. She recognized that look in his eyes- it was the one he used to affectionately and admiringly stare at her with back in high school, when they had been a couple. As she felt herself sinking into Lucas' emotion-filled orbs, Brooke abruptly averted her gaze, knowing that she couldn't afford to lose herself in him.
"Nothing…" Lucas simply smiled at her, looking at her reassuringly when she dared to look back at him. He had almost told her that she looked very beautiful at that moment, but understood that he needed to take baby steps with Brooke if he didn't want her to shut herself off and run away from him.
"So…" Lucas cleared his throat, trying to think about a safe subject that he could talk about, "Have Angie's parents spoken to you yet?" he questioned.
"They called the day that you left and told me that she's doing great" Brooke told Lucas with a sad smile, suddenly rising to her feet and walking away from him and over to the store's counter.
Lucas guiltily looked after her, thinking that he had upset her with his question, but restrained the apology that had almost slipped out of his mouth when he saw Brooke reaching for her bag and rummaging through it for something. He remained quiet as he witnessed Brooke pulling out an envelope and returning back to his side.
"This also arrived in the mail today…" Brooke handed him the packet, tucking her hair behind her ear as she watched Lucas carefully. Lucas opened the envelope up and chuckled as bright pictures of the baby he had grown to love almost as though she was his own filled his eyes.
"She looks so cute in the clothes that you made for her…" Lucas laughed and remarked as he browsed through the images of the bubbly, healthy baby before him, enjoying to see the evidence of her safe return to her home.
"Yeah…" Brooke distantly said with a vague smile, obviously drifted into a different place by her thoughts about the small girl that no longer brightened up her home.
"You truly did a great thing for her, Brooke…" Lucas' hand found its way back to Brooke's back and gently stroked it in soothing circles.
Sitting in her empty store with a sore, tender stomach and only having pictures with which she could remember the sweet baby that had captured her heart, Brooke could feel tears pricking in her eyes as she wished she could go back in time to when things seemed much more simple. The gentleness and care with which Lucas was treating her only triggered her emotions even more, forcing Brooke to bite her lower lip in order to keep her tears from falling.
"Hey, come here, Brooke…" Lucas quickly pulled Brooke in for a side hug, holding her to him securely. Brooke let him keep her body in his arms, but mentally detached herself from him, taking deep breaths and focusing on pushing her emotions away, as she didn't want to lose control of her emotions, realizing that there would be no going back once her first tear would be shed.
"Brooke…" she heard Lucas' voice softly addressing her, "What happened to you while I was away?" he gently asked as his hands carefully stroked her back, urging her to speak, yet causing her to draw away from his touch, so she wouldn't be tempted to do so.
"I don't really want to talk about it right now…" Brooke quietly replied and took a deep breath, her eyes looking down at her fidgeting fingers. As she sensed Lucas quietly sighing with concern from above her, she made herself look up at him and forced a small smile for his sake, "I'm really fine now, Luke…" she said, not convincing him the slightest bit.
"Yeah…" he halfheartedly replied, nonetheless, as he didn't want to pressure Brooke. Sensing that he needed to change the mood, Lucas quickly offered, "Have you eaten lunch yet, Brooke? Because I was thinking of treating you to Italian food…" he suggested, purposely picking Brooke's favorite food in order to make it harder for her to refuse.
"Actually, I…" Brooke began to speak with a rekindled smile, yet didn't have a chance to finish saying, as Jamie suddenly barged into the store, followed by Nathan, who was carrying a big box in his hands.
"Aunt Brooke- we brought you pizza!" he happily declared, bouncing onto Brooke's lap joyfully and immediately causing her small, slightly fake smile to be replaced with a beaming, genuine one.
"What's with you Scott boys trying to feed me? Are you trying to make me fat??" Brooke jokingly questioned, tickling her godson's sides and causing him to laugh and wiggle on her lap.
"You're… not fat… aunt… Brooke…" Jamie replied through his laughter, finally causing Brooke to stop tickling him.
"Alright little man, show me that pizza!" Brooke hugged Jamie's small body and said, causing Jamie to point over to Nathan, who held the pizza box in his hand.
"Is there a slice for me too?" Lucas questioned teasingly, only now attempting to gain his small nephew's attention.
"Umm…" Jamie awkwardly looked between his godmother and godfather, contemplating what to say. Even though nobody directly told him that, Jamie had realized that his uncle hadn't been visiting him since the day in which he had seen him causing Brooke to cry in the guestroom, and understood that Brooke was uncomfortable around Lucas. Not wanting to say anything that would hurt either one of his godparents, Jamie finally said, "Only if that's O.K. with aunt Brooke…" causing the three adults in the room to chuckle due to his intelligence and sensitivity.
"Well?" Lucas teasingly challenged Brooke, who pretended to be contemplating her decision, enjoying the position of power she was currently in. He raised his eyebrows at Brooke with an awaiting smile, and slightly chuckled as a mischievous smirk appeared on Brooke's face.
"I guess you can have a bite of my pizza…" Brooke shrugged, causing Jamie to smile and Nathan to laugh.
"A bite, huh?" Lucas chuckled, yet continued pretending to play along with Brooke's little game.
"Yeah, Luke- you heard her" Nathan joined in, enjoying to tease his brother, "It's one bite- take it or leave it…" he shrugged, as if he had just offered Lucas the best bargain there could have been.
"What do you think, Jimmy-Jam?" Lucas turned to the small boy, his last possible ally, for support, yet Jamie, who was still held tightly in Brooke's arms, had already picked his stand.
"I told you, uncle Lucas…" Jamie shrugged with a wide smile, "Aunt Brooke decides… My hands are tied…" he said, causing Brooke to kiss his head triumphantly.
"You know what I think?" Lucas smirked, ready for a sweet payback of his own, "I think that if I tickle aunt Brooke, maybe I'll get two bites…" Lucas playfully said, rising to his feet and causing Brooke to squeal and run away from him. Just as Lucas was about to reach Brooke and playfully grab her, Nathan gripped his arm tightly and pulled him back.
"You'd better not, Luke…" Nathan gently warned him, keeping the tender state of Brooke's stomach in mind. He didn't want to embarrass Brooke by telling Lucas about her visit at the doctor's earlier that day, yet couldn't help but act upon instinct and protect her by preventing Lucas from touching her sensitive skin, which had still been stitched up that morning. Nathan maintained a serious look as he kept his hand firmly on Lucas' arm, causing the blond to look at him questioningly.
"Nate?" he confusedly asked, not understanding why Nathan had stopped him with such force and conviction, as Brooke was finally laughing and feeling comfortable around him. He was about to question Nathan about what was going on when Jamie's happy, hopeful voice piped in.
"Does this mean that you and uncle Lucas are friends again, aunt Brooke?" Jamie wishfully looked at her, his emotion-filled eyes melting her heart.
"Of course we're friends, little man…" Brooke laughed and playfully pinched her godson's nose, amused, once again, of his observant and intelligent nature. After hearing Brooke's response, Jamie's eyes immediately lit up, as if she had just given him the biggest present he had ever seen.
"So can uncle Lucas come over again, like he used to?" Jamie excitedly asked, his genuine enthusiasm causing the three adults to laugh.
"Sure he can, buddy" Nathan ascertained his son with such a confident tone, that Jamie's smile widened even more.
"Can he come over today?" Jamie's eyes sparkled as he tried his luck, looking at his father pleadingly.
"I don't know about that, Jamie…"
"How about tomorrow?" Jamie immediately argued, not even allowing Nathan to finish his sentence off. He turned over to Lucas and told him "I really want you and Brooke to play 'Rock Band' with me…" he said, smiling at Lucas irresistibly.
"Actually, Jamie, I need to talk to you…" Brooke's dimpled smile was instantly replaced with a serious expression as she spoke. She took Jamie's small hand into hers and walked him over to the sofa, seating him across from her so she could face him easily.
"What is it, aunt Brooke?" Jamie sincerely questioned, sensing the change in his godmother's demeanor.
"You know how much I loved living so close to you lately, right?" Brooke began, receiving a silent nod from Jamie, who wanted to give Brooke the space to finish speaking, "Well, even though it was really awesome- I'm gonna have to go back home tomorrow…" Brooke tried to explain simply, yet Jamie upsetedly rose from his seat and tried to sprint away from Brooke, only to be gently grabbed by her and pulled onto her lap.
"Jamie-" Brooke hugged him and kissed his temple in an attempt to appease him, yet Jamie discontently cut her off.
"You promised me that you won't leave me!" he exclaimed, reminding her of the guarantee she had given him right after he had lost Quentin.
"I'm not leaving you, buddy" Brooke reassured, nudging his cheek with her nose in an attempt to settle his spirits.
"I don't want you to go…" Jamie insistently protested, turning on Brooke's lap and looking at her with pleading eyes, "Please, aunt Brooke" he begged, truly breaking Brooke's heart.
"This just means that I'm finally better, little man…" Brooke tried another tactic, this time finally managing to soften up Jamie's frown, "Aren't you happy that I'm getting better?" she questioned him softly.
"Yeah…" Jamie grumbled as he looked down at his hands. He truly hated to admit that Brooke's departure of his home now made sense to him.
"Hey… Come on- I'll still come over all the time and you know that you can come and see me at my place whenever you'd like to…" Brooke tried to cheer him up, failing at getting him to meet her warm gaze. Feeling terrible for making the little boy so sad, Brooke raised her eyes up to Nathan and looked at him helplessly.
"I'll tell you what, Jamie" Nathan, who remained quiet so far in an attempt to allow Brooke and Jamie to speak, finally interfered, "I bet Brooke would love to come for dinner tomorrow and if Lucas doesn't have any plans- he could come too and we could all eat together and play with you…" Nathan offered, immediately managing to put a hopeful expression on his son's face. The little boy looked up at Brooke expectantly and, upon receiving a consenting nod, turned his wishful eyes over to Lucas.
"Please, uncle Luke!" Jamie's puppy eyes immediately got to Lucas, who couldn't help but nod agreeable. As he saw how happily his nephew was smiling, a playful thought entered Lucas' mind.
"Only if I get an entire slice of pizza, though…" he made his condition, causing all those present to laugh. As the pizza box was finally opened and all four pulled a warm slice into their hands and began eating, Jamie's eyes fell on Brooke once again.
"Aunt Brooke?" he addressed her, a quizzical expression on his face.
"What is it, handsome?" she asked him with a genuine smile, enjoying the calming feeling of being surrounded by the three Scott boys she cared for so much and felt so protected and cherished amongst.
"Are you really gonna make Daddy wear women's clothes?" Jamie scrunched his nose and sincerely asked, his question causing Lucas to choke on his pizza.
"You… You're gonna do what?" Lucas questioned with disbelief throughout his coughs and laughs as Brooke instinctively tapped his back, so he could breath properly again.
"Are you O.K.?" Brooke looked at Lucas with slight concern, which instantly faded as soon as Lucas stopped coughing and nodded at her reassuringly, "Good! Because you're gonna model for me too!" she announced, the priceless expression on Lucas' face throwing Jamie, Brooke and Nathan into a fit of laughs.
"Brooke…" Lucas tried to refuse, truly uncomfortable with the thought of letting Brooke make a fool out of him.
"Oh, come on, Luke… What happened to 'anything for you'?" Brooke questioned, effectively silencing Lucas and receiving her second "volunteer" model for the new sketches she already had in mind. As Lucas buried his face in his hands and shook his head, unable to believe what he had just agreed to do, Brooke couldn't help but giggle and add, "Don't worry, Luke- I'm gonna make you really pretty…" causing Lucas to groan, but everyone else to loudly and wholeheartedly laugh. It was official- the old Brooke Davis had finally risen from the ashes, and even Lucas, despite being the victim of the situation, couldn't deny that it was truly great to finally have her back…
Rachel watchfully looked at Brooke as the brunette kept herself busy straightening her house up after the two of them finally moved back in. The brunette seemed to be working nonstop since her visit to the doctor's the prior day- either sketching and sewing or loading and unpacking her belongings, that Rachel was beginning to feel like her head was spinning. She, Haley and Nathan had all tried to tell Brooke to take it easy, but the lively girl wouldn't hear of it, seemingly needing to let out all the energy she had stored since being attacked. Even after bidding Haley, Nathan and Jamie goodbye several times, due to their reluctance to let her go, swinging by her store to grab some working materials, neatly unpacking all of the possessions she had brought over to the Scott residence and spending the entire afternoon sewing her new designs and cleaning the house, Brooke showed no signs of slowing down. Rachel decided to remain silent, yet keep a watchful eye over her friend, knowing that Brooke would refuse to listen to her advice until she would finally wear herself out and would be left with no choice but to be guided to bed, to get some rest.
"I'm sorry that the room isn't ready for you yet…" Brooke fussed over and about Peyton's former room, trying to tidily collect the belongings that the blonde had left behind inside a box. Even though Peyton hadn't actually moved out of the house, it technically belonged to Brooke, leaving her with the authority to decide that they could no longer live under the same roof and that her redhead friend was much more deserving of the extra bedroom the house had to offer.
"I don't get why you're bothering with that bitch's stuff" Rachel honestly told her, unable to believe how delicately Brooke was handling the possessions of her backstabbing friend, "You should throw that junk out of the window…" she sincerely offered, bringing a small smile to the brunette's face.
"Why are you folding her clothes??" Rachel incredulously exclaimed as she watched Brooke carefully collecting the remainder of Peyton's items from the room, receiving a gentle shrug from the brunette. Brooke knew that Peyton didn't deserve her delicate treatment, yet couldn't bring herself to throw Peyton's items away, even though Peyton had certainly thrown their friendship down the drain.
"You've got too good of a heart, Brooke…" Rachel sighed and said, unable to stop herself but say, "Just don't pity her like you always do when she comes crying for forgiveness again…" she warned.
"Don't worry, Rache… She really blew her last chance this time…" Brooke quietly said, continuing to collect the rest of Peyton's stuff. When she finally finished, Brooke suddenly felt an acute wave of fatigue washing her over, causing her to slightly lose her balance.
"Hey… Come sit down…" Rachel immediately grabbed onto her friend and seated her on the bed, knowing that Brooke had finally hit the point of exhaustion that she had been anticipating. Watching Brooke grabbing her head, which appeared to be slightly spinning, Rachel guided Brooke into a lying position on the bed, "That's enough running around for today, missy…" Rachel half jokingly lectured Brooke as she adjusted the blankets, so that they were wrapped around her friend, "You should get some rest, so that you'll have energy to play with Jamie tonight…" she reminded Brooke, who tried to protest to Rachel's attempts to take care of her and rise up from the bed.
"I'm really fine…" Brooke argued, yet Rachel most certainly wasn't going to allow Brooke to wear herself out even more.
"Then just get some beauty sleep, so you'll be all pretty for Lucas…" Rachel joked, receiving a playful smack from her friend.
"You know we are just friends!" Brooke exclaimed, not even realizing how red her cheeks had become due to Rachel's remark. Rachel just shook her head and laughed. It was completely obvious that Brooke had strong feelings towards the blond Scott, yet Rachel was actually happy that Brooke was being careful with her heart around him due to the pain he had put her through in the past.
"Then why are you blushing?" Rachel pointed out, causing Brooke to be speechless for a moment, before she bit back.
"You mean, like Owen was blushing around you yesterday?" Brooke challenged, now leaving Rachel at a loss of words.
"He… I didn't… Whatever, Brooke…" Rachel stuttered, causing Brooke to giggle at her friend's sudden nervousness.
"You know that I don't mind you going out with him, Rache" Brooke looked at Rachel sincerely and honestly spoke, taking her friend's hand in her own. When Rachel didn't reply, confirming Brooke's suspicions that she also felt attracted to the bartender, Brooke softly added, "but are you sure that's a good idea, honey? I mean- the guy works at a bar…"
"I'm sober now, Brooke" Rachel cut her off defensively and slightly snapped.
"I know, sweetie… I just want you to keep it that way…" Brooke gently told her, looking at her caringly.
"I won't let anything get in my way of that, especially not a guy, so don't worry…" Rachel ascertained Brooke, a smile forming on her face due to how much Brooke seemed to be caring about her. When Brooke smiled at her back, deciding to trust Rachel's judgment, Rachel's added playfully, "Not even an extremely hot one…" causing Brooke to gasp and giggle.
"You are seriously hot for him!" she exclaimed, receiving a pillow in the face from Rachel.
"Go to sleep, Penelope… You're not making sense anymore…" Rachel joked, peeling the pillow from Brooke's face after a short moment.
"Fine…" Brooke giggled and finally snuggled into the blankets, giving in to her exhaustion at last, "Just wake me up in an hour. I still have some work to do before we go to dinner tonight…" Brooke sleepily asked Rachel, closing her eyes as her tired state took over her.
"What work exactly is due tonight?" Rachel inquired with disbelief, glad to see Brooke finally motivated to design again, but fearing that she was overdoing herself.
"You'll see right after dinner…" Brooke mumbled into her pillow, already half asleep, causing Rachel to shake her head with amazement. There was no question about it anymore- Brooke was back to being the crazy girl she knew and loved…
"You look so pretty, aunt Brooke!" Jamie excitedly greeted Brooke that night, as she stepped into his house, wearing a casual dress, simple make up applied to her face, and carrying two huge bags in her hands.
"Thank you, handsome" Brooke happily smiled at the small boy, walking with him into the house, the bags still held securely in her hands.
"What have you got there?" Jamie curiously inquired, his eyes moving between Brooke and Rachel, who was right behind Brooke, waiting for an answer.
"Don't look at me, kid… I have no clue as to what Brooke's mystery project is…" she truthfully said, obviously sharing Jamie's curiosity.
"Let's just say that we're going to have an artistic performance after dinner…" Brooke winked at Jamie, causing his eyes to widen with enthusiasm.
"Are these the clothes you made for daddy and Lucas?" he guessed, causing Brooke's grin to broaden. She secretively nodded at Jamie, causing him to laugh excitedly, as he was happy to be part of her plan now.
"Are you moving back in here, Davis?" Nathan entered the living room and teasingly asked as he saw the big bags that Brooke was carrying.
"Why, do you miss me already?" Brooke playfully grinned at him, causing Nathan to chuckle. "Don't worry, Nate- I'm quite comfy at my own place. This is just a little surprise for later…" she casually said, now causing Nathan's smile to disappear.
"O.K., now I'm really worried…" Nathan admitted, only partially kidding, the hints of his genuine embarrassment causing Brooke, Rachel and Jamie to burst out laughing.
"What's going on in here?" Haley questioned as she entered the room, looking at her husband with a smile.
"Oh nothing, Hales… I'm just having a pep talk with one of my models for tonight's fashion show…" Brooke finally revealed, causing Nathan to groan with awkwardness and everyone else to stifle laughs.
"Is that so, Brooke Davis?" Haley questioned with an amused smile, her attention averting to the door seconds later, through which Lucas entered.
"And here comes the other one!" Brooke gladly announced, this time causing all those present to chuckle, with the exception of Lucas, who didn't understand what the commotion was about.
"Hey guys… What did I miss?" he questioned, unable to help but smile at the sight of his friends laughing so freely and happily.
"Oh nothing…" Brooke replied through her giggles, her natural dimples poking their way through her cheeks. Lucas' eyes lingered on Brooke for long enough so that everyone managed to realize that he was staring at her, but he truly couldn't stop looking at the breathtaking sight of Brooke's beauty. Finally, when Brooke's eyes met his for a moment and then shyly slipped away to the floor, Lucas nervously cleared his throat and looked away.
"So, Jimmy-Jam- are you going to show us how to play 'Rock Band' after dinner?" Lucas quickly questioned, trying to shift his focus off of the gorgeous brunette before him. His attention was averted right back to Brooke, however, when his small nephew mischievously smirked.
"Oh, I think aunt Brooke has a much better plan for tonight…"
"Alright, boys- who wants to go first?" Brooke cheerfully questioned the Scott brothers after they all finished eating dinner, receiving non-coherent grumbles in response. She had actually gone through the trouble of bringing three white sheets from home, with which she was currently covering three packets of clothing that she placed, each on a separate chair.
"You guys are such babies!" Brooke rolled her eyes and exclaimed when neither guy volunteered for the task, "Fine, I'll decide- Nathan, you're first!" she declared, receiving an unhappy look from the young brother.
"Oh man! Why do I have to go first?" he all but whined, causing Jamie and the three ladies in the room to laugh slightly.
"Because this was your brilliant idea!" Brooke replied contently, and as if that wasn't enough, cheerfully added, "And because you, my friend, have two sets of clothing to model!" she announced, causing Nathan's head to sink into his hands.
"Alright… Let's get this over with…" Nathan grouchily said, rising to his feet to the applause of those present, much to his embarrassment.
"That's the spirit!" Brooke perkily told his as he came up to her, his face wearing a huge, discontented frown. "Alright, hot-shot… first of all, just so you won't have any excuses- I present you with…" Brooke suspended the revelation of her first creation, causing Nathan to look at her with expectance and slight concern, "A cool superhero cape!" she announced, pulling the sheet off of the chair in the middle and revealing a blue cape with a big "N" on its back.
"Cool!" Jamie exclaimed with genuine thrill as his father smiled with relief, picking the cape from the chair and wearing it proudly, marching back and forth in the living room to the applause of his friends and family.
"This is actually really nice, Brooke!" Nathan complimented, causing Brooke to smile gladly.
"Why, thank you, Nate…" she gleefully said, proud to see how he was showing off her work, "I think that it's time for a clothing change, though…" she said, causing Nathan to shrug, but Lucas to look at her with mortification.
"This is for you, Nate…" she handed him one of the wrapped up packets of clothing and gestured for him to go and change into them in the other room. As soon as he left, Brooke approached Lucas with the second packet, "And this, Broody-boy, is for you…" she handed him the last packet, motioning with her head for him to go and try the unseen clothes on.
"Do I really have to?" Lucas groaned like a little boy, causing Brooke's dimpled smirk to reappear as she nodded, "I can't believe this…" he mumbled as he walked away with the closed bag, causing Jamie, Rachel, Haley and Brooke to laugh at his childlike behavior.
Ten seconds later, the four of them heard Nathan calling out with surprise from the room he had gone to, and quickly afterwards Lucas' relieved laughter could be heard as well.
"Brooke, what have you done to them?" Haley quizzically looked at Brooke, who was laughing to herself with enjoyment.
"Oh, you'll see in a second…" she promised, "Are you ready, boys?" she asked after several moments, receiving two positive replies from the Scott brothers.
"Alright then…" she said, walking over to close the shutters of the living room and dimming the lights to create a different atmosphere to the room. Right after she covered the windows, Brooke was almost certain that she could hear something rattling in the bushes near the window, but forced herself to keep her calm, not wanting to show any signs of weakness on her first day of renewed independence. She took a deep breath and forced a smile, telling herself that she must have simply heard the wind, before turning around and truly managing to regain her confidence. Clearing her throat dramatically and winking at Jamie playfully, Brooke began to announce.
"From the creator of Clothes over Bros' I am glad to present you with a brand new line… Nathan, Lucas- please come out!" she theatrically invited them, causing Rachel, Haley and Jamie's jaws to drop with surprise upon seeing Nathan and Lucas dressed in fashionable men's clothing, "Those designs that you can see right here are the first rough-cut samples on my brand new line- Clothes for Bros', a new line targeted at a whole new market, which Clothes over Bros' has so far been dismissing" Brooke professionally explained as Nathan and Lucas strode across the living room, pleased with the nice surprise and the stylish new look that Brooke had given them.
"Those look really awesome, Brooke" Haley praised Brooke's work, truly admiring the wonderful hand-made clothes that her talented friend had made.
"Just so you know- we plan to keep those!" Nathan announced on behalf of himself and Lucas, causing Lucas to nod agreeably.
"Fine… But just so you'll know- both of you are gonna model these and more during my next board meeting, when I kick Victoria's butt" Brooke made a term of her own, causing both boys to nod in agreement.
"It's a deal!" Lucas said, glad that he could help Brooke with her troubles with her company, even without knowing exactly what they were about.
When Jamie suddenly tried to hide a yawn into his palm, but got caught by all the adults before him, Haley and Nathan suddenly looked at the clock and realized how late it was.
"I think it's time for someone to go to bed…" Nathan smiled at his son and lifted him up in the air, carefully tossing him onto his shoulder.
"But I'm not… tired…" Jamie protested, yawning once again and causing Brooke and Lucas to laugh and look at the little boy fondly.
"Listen to your daddy, little man…" Lucas told his nephew, ruffling his hair affectionately.
"Bye, best boy ever!" Brooke came up to her godson and, standing on her toes in order to reach Nathan's shoulder, to which he was currently pressed, gave Jamie's cheek a big kiss, "I'll see you again soon" she promised Jamie and smiled at him reassuringly as he waved to her while being taken upstairs.
"This was really nice, Haley…" Rachel honestly said, causing Haley to nod her head at her appreciatively. Both of them were glad that they had been able to get over their differences and come to a new understanding.
"It really was, Hales… Thanks for everything…" Brooke said, referring not only to the meal and evening that they had just shared, but for the entire period of time during which they had lived together for her sake.
"You're welcome… Both of you…" Haley warmly smiled at both girls, glad that she had managed to make a new friend and help an old friend back to her feet.
The three girls and Lucas walked up to the door, bidding Haley, and then Nathan, who had returned downstairs, goodbye, afterwards walking over to the driveway.
"Do you need a ride home?" Lucas offered when they reached his car.
"My car's right over there, so we're fine…" Brooke smiled at Lucas politely.
"Didn't you want to swing by Tric to talk to Owen, though?" Rachel spoke out just when Lucas was about to turn around and go to his car. She remembered Brooke telling her how she felt like she owed Owen an apology for speaking to him harshly the day before. Rachel had even attempted to convince Brooke to let her come along, as she didn't want Brooke to be in the club by herself again, after what had happened to her there, but Brooke wasn't willing to even consider to allow Rachel into a bar, where the temptations she was forbidden to be near would be surrounding her.
"I'll drop you off and head there afterwards. It's no big deal…" Brooke tried to tell Rachel, but the detour that she would have to make in order to do that made no sense to Lucas or Rachel.
"Brooke, your house is on my way… Why don't I drop Rachel off?" Lucas proposed, causing Brooke to hesitate before she nodded.
"Yeah… O.K…." she finally agreed, realizing that Rachel would be safe with Lucas and that she could return home sooner with this arrangement. "Thanks, Luke" she expressed her gratitude, coming up to him and giving him a friendly hug.
"Anytime, Brooke…" Lucas smiled and said, pressing her small form to his strong one for a long, secure hug. The two of them continued holding each other for several moments, each enjoying the feeling of the other's warm, comforting form. When they finally drew apart, Rachel looked at them with a wide smirk, yet refrained from saying anything. She watched Brooke walking over to her car silently, yet already knew for certain that her brunette friend had a truly deep, undeniable connection with the blond boy who was currently standing by her side, watching over Brooke as she approached her car.
Left alone all of a sudden, Brooke felt slightly uneasy suddenly walking over to her car on her own and driving away solely, as Rachel and Lucas turned to the opposite direction, yet took a deep breath and forced herself to be strong.
"Everything's gonna be fine" she said to herself in her heart, pulling herself together with all of the courage she could muster. Brooke kept telling herself that nothing would happen and that she would be perfectly fine alone, but didn't know that she wasn't quite alone- that there had been someone watching over her at Nathan and Haley's house, who was currently following her car in the path that she drove. She didn't realize that this very person would make her, once again, regret her decision to let herself handle things on her own…
AN: I know, I know... I'm being mean both to Brooke for putting more troubles in her path when she is finally back to herself, and also to you guys with another evil cliffhanger... Don't hate me though- I promise that you will get all the drama you deserve next time (and I mean big time now!!) including answers to who is following Brooke and what will happen when she encounters this person. It could be really awesome to hear what you thought about this chapter- whether you liked it, if it was too long and any other thoughts that you had, as your reviews are keeping this story alive!
This is all until next time! ;-)