Chapter 26: Proof
Bart was walking down the street. He had been nervous all day because today was the day that he was going to meet and talk with his father again after ten years. He was skeptical about the story that his dad had told Brooke but deep, deep down inside he hoped that it was the truth. With the lost of his mother's support he hoped that his dad would be understanding and be there for him like he once was when Bart was only eight years old.
He stood in front of Karen's café, took a deep breath and stepped inside.
He scanned the café and saw that it was a slow day for Karen. There was one man sitting at the counter, a woman who was reading the paper, sitting at a table in the centre of the café. He looked over towards the corner and saw his father sitting next to the front window, reading a paper and having a cup of coffee. Bart gathered all his courage and stepped over.
"Um, hi." Bart nervously said as he took a seat across from his father. He saw his father look up and a smile formed on his face. Bart looked at his face and his brown intense eyes. He remembered his eyes they could let you run in fear when he was angry or let you feel that everything was going to be all right when he was trying to comfort you. "Bart I'm so glad that you're willing to do this." David replied nervously. Bart just nodded. "So I'm guessing that Brooke told you everything." David continued. "Yeah about that, sorry but I don't believe you. It all sounds too unreal." Bart coldly interrupted him. David smiled. "I know and I'm glad that you brought that up because to prove everything I have my old medical records with me plus some reports from counseling sessions." David handed Bart a brown folder with a considerable amount of papers in it. Bart opened it and carefully started reading everything. With every word that he read he got happier and happier.
Bart was about halfway but thought that he had read enough. He smiled at his father, suddenly he didn't feel like an 18 year old young man but like he was 7 again. "Dad, I've missed you so much." Bart admitted. He smiled. David did the same. "So can we start our life again Bart? I'm still sorry that you've gone through all that. No child deserves that, especially not one of mine." "It's okay dad, it was not your fault. I'm just glad that we can start over. So what have you been up to?" "I've been working as a handyman, you know just fixing things where they need me. It's not big money but I like it, helping people always feels nice." Bart nodded. "I'm sure it does." "So Bart I hear you're getting married." David asked smiling. Bart sighed. "Yeah, I am." "Something wrong son? If you're not ready, you're not ready." "No it's not that dad. I love Peyton with all my heart she means the world to me. It's just I wish mom could be more understanding. I mean this is going to be the most important day of my life and it wouldn't feel right if she wasn't there." Bart looked outside, fighting of a tear. "That's probably not going to change, I don't remember Martha as well as you but I remember one thing, she can be very stubborn." "You said it dad but I'll deal with her later. Now I would love to introduce you to Peyton." "I would love that son!" They got up, David paid his bill and they both left the café.
Lucas woke up with a smile on his face. He looked at his dresser and the picture of him and Brooke on top of it. They've gone through so much but always came out stronger than ever. He loved her, he was sure of that but than again he always felt like it always took too much effort. Effort that was worth it but was that something you had to do in a relationship? Come to think of it, Brooke was the only serious relationship he has been in. How could he know? How could he be sure? He knew that Brooke was the girl for him, the only girl but how long would that last. He was 18 about to go to college in New York and Brooke would be in L.A. with the whole nation between them who knew what could happen. That thought scared him, he wanted to believe that they would make it, that their love is strong enough to do the long distance relationship but so many others had failed trying why would it be any different with them.
Lucas stared at the sealing and smiled. Somehow he knew that they would make it, sure he wasn't sure what the future would bring for him, Brooke, them but somehow he knew, he knew. He got up and stretched his body. Grabbed some clothes and his basketball. A morning of shooting hoops at the river court should get him at ease again.
He walked in the kitchen and was surprised by Karen and Andy who both looked a little nervous at him. "Okay, what's up? I'm not on drugs so no need for an intervention." He joked. Karen didn't smile and sighed. "Lucas we need to talk." "Um can't it wait mom I promised the guys I would come and shoot some hoops." "No Lucas it can't please sit down." Lucas obeyed and took a seat. "So what's up? Are you pregnant?" Lucas chuckled with his own joke. "Could you be serious for just one second?" Karen replied a bit angry. "Sorry, go ahead." "Well Lucas honey, Andy and I are engaged." Karen smiled at Andy and he did the same. Lucas just looked shocked at them. "What engaged?! You've been dating for three months! Are you guys' crazy?" Lucas asked. "Lucas calm down, we make each other happy. This will work." Karen replied. "No it wont mom, sure everything's great now, which starting relationship isn't but this will never work and than I can pick up the pieces again and try to make you happy but not this time. Do what you want but don't expect any support." Lucas grabbed his basketball and stood up. "Please Lucas don't be like this." Karen begged him. Lucas turned around and looked in disgust at them. "I'm late, bye." He stormed out.
Karen started sobbing. Andy grabbed hold of her hand but he didn't know what to say. He knew how much Lucas meant to Karen and if he didn't approve than the marriage could be in danger of not happening at all. He squeezed her hand tightly and looked into her eyes. "Karen just give him some time, Lucas is a great kid, he'll turn around." "I hope you're right Andy." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Now can we go and tell my kid the good news." Karen looked puzzled at him. "Your kid?" "Yeah, Bart. I might not be his dad but he's my boy you know." Karen smiled. "Sure but if Lucas was meeting the guys he'll probably be at the river court." "Let's just go to my place, we can wait there." Karen smiled and tried to forget the confrontation with Lucas. "Okay Andy, let's go."
Lucas had arrived at the river court and saw that he was the first one there. He shrugged his shoulders and just started shooting. He was running up and down the court and was glad when he felt the muscles in his legs burning. It was like the pain was cleansing him. He smiled and took a seat on the bleachers.
Bart and Nathan were on their way to the river court. Nathan was driving and loudly singing along with his Wutang Clan CD. Bart looked amused at his best man, who after a while realized that he was being watched. Nathan turned the volume down. "What?" he asked a little embarrassed. Bart just shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing." He started laughing. Nathan looked angry at him. "You're just jealous of my skills man." He replied bitter. "Yeah that's it." Bart replied sarcastically. "Whatever man." "Oh, Nathan are your feelings hurt?" Bart smiled and Nathan couldn't help himself and did the same. "So how did everything with your dad go?" Nathan changed the subject. "Actually really good man. His story checked out and he's being really great. I took him to meet Peyton, he likes her and we talked about basketball the rest of the night. He still can't believe that his son is playing at Duke next year." "I'm glad B. That's great and even I still can't believe that you're playing at Duke because let's face it man you suck." Nathan smiled. "Oh, listen to mister 'I'm a huge rap artist in my car'." Bart quickly replied. They both sat in silence for a while. "I'm sorry Nate." Bart said sarcastically. "Me too B." Nathan replied in the same sarcastic tone. Bart turned the volume of the car stereo back up and now they were both 'rapping' along with the CD.
Nathan had just parked next to the river court when they saw that Lucas was already there. They saw sweat dripping from his face and thought that he had already been there for a while. "Hey Luke!" They both shouted from across the court as they got closer. Lukas just nodded at them and took another sip from his bottle. "Aren't we cheerful today?" Nathan joked. "I'm not in the mood Nate." Lucas replied bitter. "Something wrong Luke? Did you and Brooke fight again?" Bart asked hoping that he and Brooke were fine. Lucas looked up. "Nah, it's not that. Don't you know already?" Lucas asked Bart, Bart just shrugged his shoulders. "My mom and Andy are engaged." Bart and Nathan looked shocked at him. "Seriously?" Bart asked in disbelieve. "Yeah, seriously!" Lucas sighed. "Well I don't know what to think of that." Bart admitted. "I'll tell you what you should think; you should think that they're making a huge mistake. This will only end in heartache. How can they marry after only three months?" Lucas asked. "Luke that's love man, you can't explain it." Bart tried to calm him down. "Whatever man, they can do what they want let's just shoot some hoops!"
Bart got home exhausted. What should have been a relaxed afternoon of shooting some hoops became an intense 3 on 3 game in which none of them wanted to give an inch to the other. Even though he was tired he did feel fulfilled. He loved pushing his body to the limit; it was a sort of therapy for him, a way to process everything that was going on in his life. He threw his bag on the couch and made his way to the kitchen where he found Karen and Andy sitting at the table. "If it isn't Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove to be." He grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge. Karen and Andy looked surprised at him. "Lucas just told me everything and let me just be the first one to congratulate you two. I really think that it's wonderful that you found each other. I wish you the best of luck." Andy smiled. "Thanks Bart, that means a lot." Bart shook his head. "Don't even mention it, oh and Karen don't worry about Lucas. He'll turn around, I'm sure of it." "I hope so Bart." "He will, now if you'll excuse me I'm going to take a shower."
Peyton was in her kitchen and looking over the guest list for the wedding. She couldn't believe that in only one month she would be married. Everything did happen so fast. She still remembered the first time she saw Bart. Shy, friendly, sweet, breathtakingly hot and eyes that could make you melt. He still had hair in those days although his shaved look was starting to fade and being replaced with his regular messed up, in every direction pointing hair. When she met him back then she would have never expected of them going through so much but than again it was Tree Hill, no one had a quiet normal life here. She looked at the names again and was shocked by one of them. It was added in a hand writing that could have been of none other than Bart's. Hieroglyphics were easier to read than his hand writing. She read the name a second time and a third. "What's Jake doing on here?" She thought to herself. As if on cue Bart walked in and gave her a kiss. "Bart, what's Jake doing on the guest list?" Peyton asked straight to the point. "I thought we should invite him, I mean he has apologized and maybe if he sees us getting married, he can move on. You know?" "Maybe you're right but don't you remember how much pain he has caused us?" Peyton asked still in disbelieve. "Oh, I remember, believe me I remember." Bart thought of all that Jake had done. How he asked him to break up with Peyton, when he kissed her. He couldn't help to feel his hands form into fists. "But, he was in love Peyton. We do crazy stuff when we're in love." Bart smiled. "Okay, if it's fine by you, it's fine by me." Peyton smiled at her fiancé and wrote Jake's address on an envelope. "Hey come here." Bart grabbed hold of her arm and gently pulled her in a hug. He looked into her eyes. "You know I love you right?" Peyton grinned. "Yeah, that's pretty obvious. The feeling's mutual." Bart smiled and kissed her. After a moment of intense kissing he let go of her.
"So what are you going to do next year?" Bart asked. "What do you mean?" "Well I'm going to Duke but what do you want to do?" Peyton shrugged. "I haven't really thought of it. Just go to Duke with you I guess. Maybe do some business classes so I can open up a place like
Tric. I mean if I ever get the money for that." Bart smiled at her. "What?" Peyton asked, a bit offended. "We'll have the money, you can be sure of that." Peyton looked puzzled at him. "How?" "I went to get the check from Dan's dealership and let's just say that money won't be a problem for a long time." "Bart how much did you get?" Peyton asked, embarrassed for her curiosity. "Well, let's just say it ends with six zeros." Bart grinned. "Great now everyone will think I'm marrying you for the money." "What you're not?" Bart teased. "I you value your life, you will take that back." Peyton tried to playfully hit him but Bart grabbed hold of her arm and than her other arm. He held her arms together behind her back and his face was only an inch away from her face. "Bart let me go." Peyton laughed. "What, my blonde gold digger. Don't forget who's your sugar daddy!" Bart grinned. "Let me go so I can kill you." Peyton replied. Before she could do anything else Bart started kissing her. He gently let go of her arms and laid his hands on her back. Peyton laid her hands on his hips and slowly moved them up so they were around his neck. They moved to the living room without letting go of each other. Peyton pulled of his shirt. Bart stopped for a moment. "Are you sure, you're ready?" Peyton just nodded and started kissing him again.
Lucas was waiting at the front door of Brooke's house. He had just knocked and it was taking his girlfriend longer than usual to open it. When he saw the door open and Brooke appear he understood why it had taken so long. He looked at Brooke's wet hair and the towel wrapped around her body. He smiled. "Brooke, a towel? That's not your style." He teased. Brooke sighed. "Men are pigs." She stuck out her tongue. Lucas quickly grabbed hold of it and started laughing. "Didn't see that coming, huh pretty girl?" Brooke carefully shook her head. He let go of her and they went inside. "Now what do I have to do, to get that towel off you?" Lucas gave her a mischievous look. Brooke bit her lower lip. "Not that much, boyfriend. Just say you love me." "I love you Brooke Davis, more than anything in this world. I would die without you." Brooke smiled, put one foot on the lowest stair. She grabbed hold of her towel and threw it in Lucas' face, just before she ran up the stairs. After getting the towel out off his face Lucas quickly followed.
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