A/N: Hi everyone! No your eyes aren't deceiving you. This is an actual update. Sorry for the super long wait. Life got to hectic, and I had a hard time trying to catch up. The day I was going to actually start and write this chapter I was told by my mom that she scheduled me to get my wisdom teeth removed. That was not fun at all, and I admit that I was too sore yet also too lazy to actually open my laptop during the recovery. On top of that, the week after I got pink eye. I have no clue how the hell I got it, but I did and my eyes were swollen to the point that I couldn't even open my left eye. It wasn't pretty at all. But nonetheless, here is Chapter 25. I give this to you un-beta-ed. I will however re-post this chapter with all the corrections from my beta later on.
Special shoutout to: ciaranoelle, ObviouslyADreamer, craxygirl54, Princesakarlita411, dianehermans, Jibson4ever, dramionefan, and Chiamarie23. Thank you for reviewing my last chapter.
Disclaimer: Mark Schwahn owns everything unfortunately, but if he makes Season 9 crappy, I am fighting for rights to the show...just kidding :0)
~loserbelle~
Chapter 25
Brooke POV
I shut off the engine to my car and headed into the living room where I found Rachel lounging on the couch reading a magazine.
"Hey Rachel. Sorry you missed your lunch with Julian because you had to help out at the store. You could have called me to come in today," I greet her as I sat on the couch next to her.
"Don't worry about it slut. I don't mind helping out at the store, and besides I'm having dinner with Julian later on tonight," she replied as she set the magazine down on the coffee table.
"I did something today. I don't know if it was stupid of me to do so or if it was necessary for me to do."
"Okay…is it stealing a test stupid or sleeping with Chris Keller stupid?"
I glared at her for a bit before answering her question. "I told Lucas I was still in love with him and gave him one of the letters I wrote to him."
I stare at Rachel as an expression of disbelief washes over her face. "I'm sorry could you repeat that. I thought you just told me that you told Lucas that you were in love with him."
"Rachel! I'm freaking out here and you are not helping," I whined.
"Okay, start from the beginning," she says to me. "What made you decide to do this?"
"I was at the beach just trying to wrap my head around all that has been happening these past few months. Julian showed up and we started talking," I say before take a deep breathe. "I asked him how he was able to forgive Peyton and be willing to open up to someone again. He told me that I needed to stop thinking about the worst and take that chance."
"Seriously, if I didn't like the guy so much I would hit him for being stupid," I hear Rachel mumble before motioning me to go on.
"So then I kept thinking to myself, I owe it to myself to try again. I don't want the fear of what might happen to stop me from being happy. And, no matter how much I keep lying to myself, Lucas makes me happy. I don't care if it makes me sound selfish, but don't I deserve to finally put myself first."
"Well when you put it like that, Brooke you deserve it all," Rachel said before grabbing me in a hug. "So what happens now?"
"I guess we'll just take it one step at a time. I mean I forgive him for kissing Peyton and everything that has happen, but I never forgot. It's gonna take some time to trust my whole heart with him, but I know that one day I will. And Rachel, I can't wait for that day to happen."
"Okay stop with the emotional crap, you're going to make me cry, you bitch," she says before pulling away from our embrace. "Do you know when you'll talk to him next or meet up with him? You still have 3 more letters to give him."
RING RING
I look at my phone and feel a grin grow as I read the name of the caller.
"I'm guessing by the smile on your face that it's your broody boy calling," Rachel said. "Well what are you waiting for? Answer the phone."
I glance up at Rachel one last time before answering my phone. "Hello."
"Hey Brooke, it's me. I just wanted to know if you would like to have dinner with me and Jamie tonight," Lucas asks.
"I'd love to," I reply instantly. It would be a good to spend time with my two favorite Scotts.
"Okay, then. I'll see you soon, Pretty Girl."
I hung up the phone and felt a small smile grow.
"I'm guessing just by that look on your face that it was Lucas on the phone just now."
"Yeah, it was him. He invited me over to have dinner with him and Jamie. "
"Well what are you doing sitting around here for. We have to get ready."
I pull Rachel into a hug as we stand up for positions on the couch. "Thank you for always being there for me, Rachel."
"Thanks for being my best friend, Brooke."
We quickly got ready for our dinners tonight. I was excited about spending time with two of my favorite Scotts. I couldn't wait to talk to Lucas about the letter I gave him. I wanted to know what he felt about it and this whole situation.
After getting ready with Rachel, I got into my car and headed to dinner. I was a ball of nerves during the whole drive. I couldn't help but fidget with the different buttons and knobs in my car every so often. I pulled up to the sidewalk by the house and turned off my car. This is it, I thought to myself.
I reached the door prepared to knock, but before my fist made contact the door swung open to bright blue eyes.
"Aunt Brooke, you're here," Jamie yells before jumping up for me to catch him with a hug.
"Hey little man," I say to Jamie before placing him back down on the ground.
"Are you here to have dinner with us?"
"I sure am," I respond. A straighten up and see Lucas standing watching the interaction.
"Hey Brooke," Lucas says as he walks towards me and Jamie. He turns his attention to Jamie and says, "Hey Jimmy Jam, why don't you go wash up for dinner now."
Jamie looks between Lucas and me before heading to the bathroom.
Lucas POV
I turn my attention back to Brooke. "I'm glad you made it tonight." Not wanting to be too far away for her, I grab her hand.
She smiles up to me before responding, "I'm glad you invited me. I know we have so much to talk about, but can we do that after Jamie heads to bed?"
"Of course, there are so many things I want to ask you about."
Dinner is filled with laughter and smiles as Jamie tell us all about Chester, his time at school and playing at the playground. Thankfully after dinner Jamie grew tired and was ready for bed.
"Why don't you help him get ready for bed, while I clean up in here," Brooke says while picking up the dishes.
"You don't have to do that. I'll get it done later."
"Nonsense. I'll give us more time to talk if I do it now."
I lead Jamie to the spare room and helped him get situated for bed. Once he was tucked in I turned towards the door to head out. I lean against the doorframe and turned to him once more.
"Are you alright in here bud?"
"Yea, I'm good."
"Goodnight, Jamie."
Before I get the chance to leave, I hear Jamie's voice call out to me. "Uncle Luke, remember I talk from earlier today?"
"Yes, Jamie. What about it?"
"I still haven't made my decision yet. Just remember, I got my eye on you."
"I won't let you down Jamie," I chuckled. "If you need anything Brooke and I will just be downstairs."
"Goodnight, Uncle Luke."
I exit the room and was welcomed with the sight of Brooke leaning against the opposing wall. "Hey, I was just heading down."
She smiled at me as we both headed down the stairs to the living room. We situated ourselves on the couch.
"Did you want something to…" I start to say before she interrupts me.
"What did Jamie mean when he said that he's got an eye on you?"
"Oh, we were just coming to an understanding about something."
"An understanding about what," she asks as she kinks up one eyebrow just how I love it.
"Jamie just wanted to know what my intentions are with you. He wants to make sure that I'm going to treat his Aunt Brooke right this time," I say as I reach for her hand to hold. My smile deepens when she doesn't pull away.
"So…did you finish reading the letter," she asks with a hint of fear and uncertainty in her voice.
"I did. And I just want to say that I'm sorry that I didn't know you felt like that. I'm sorry that it seemed like I always placed Peyton before you. But you have to know Brooke, that during our relationship senior year, I loved you so much. I loved only you. I'm sorry that you felt that breaking up was the only way to go."
"That one night you told me that I didn't fight for you, and I told you I wasn't going to. Why was it so easy for you to believe that I wasn't," she asks as a cloud of sadness brushed over her face.
I really didn't know how to answer her. I could see that in her perspective she was fighting for me when it came to Peyton, and a whole bunch of misunderstandings just got in the way and ultimately ruined us.
"I told you before that if I ever got another chance with you, I would never let you go, but I did. I guess I just felt overwhelmed by everything that happened that I just gave up that night. I know that's a lame excuse, but seriously that's all I got."
She nods her head, but stays silent.
After a while she finally breaks her silence. "That night I broke up with you, I hoped for you to say more than just 'I'm sorry'. I kept thinking to myself that you would prove me wrong. I still wished that you would have stopped me from leaving," she says as tears start to fall from her hazel eyes.
"Don't cry, Pretty Girl," I say to her as I wipe the tears from her face. "I was an idiot. No, I am an idiot. You're right, I should have said more. I shouldn't have even let you go."
"Please don't break my heart again."
"I won't," I simply reply before placing my lips on hers.
A/N: I hope people aren't made for me ending it like that, but things are still building with Brucas. There are more things between them to discuss. They aren't going to jump each other right away.
And I know things aren't exactly rated M yet, but they will be.
But anyways I wanted you all to know that there will be 36 or so more chapters to this story...so around 61 chapters in total. I already know what's going to happen, but every so often I'll ask your opinion on a matter. I also have some pictures that will accompany some chapters so look out for that too. I also wanted to know if you guys wanted to know what would be happening next chapter so you are prepared for it or not?
Just for now- Chapter 26: Jeyton talk
Sorry for the long A/N's. But Review please. Tell me what you think of this chapter. Good? Bad? Let me know!
(P.S. who was happy that Brooke finally got her babies? I was!)