Thanks for all the reviews. Hope you enjoy the update.
"Here you are," Alex said to Brooke as she walked into her room after school on Monday. "I take it that the reason you weren't at school today was because you were recovering from your weekend with Andy?"
"Actually no," Brooke replied as she looked up from her sketches. "The reason why I didn't go to school today was because my mom and dad let me take the day off to drive back from Tree Hill."
"Tree Hill?" Alex asked as she frowned. "What were you doing there?"
"Don't play dumb with me Alex," Brooke said as she stood from her chair. "You know fine well why I was in Tree Hill. I found out what you did to my phone."
"I thought you wouldn't want the interruptions while you and Andy were busy." Alex said as she smirked.
"Well FYI me and Andy didn't get busy," Brooke told her as she glared at her. "And I won't be seeing him again. So you and Carrie will have to find some other girl to keep Andy company while you're with Cooper and Nick."
"Brooke don't be like this," Alex said. "You and Andy are perfect together."
"No we're not," Brooke replied. "And you know why?"
"Why?"
"Because he's far too old for me." Brooke told her.
"He's only 25." Alex pointed out.
"And I'm only 16." Brooke told her.
"Nearly 17." Alex corrected.
"He's still too old," Brooke told her. "And he's not Lucas."
"I thought you were done with that loser?" Alex asked as she rolled her eyes.
"How dare you?" Brooke said as she walked the few steps towards Alex and slapped her. The sound of Brooke's hand connecting with Alex's cheek echoed slightly in the room.
"You bitch!" Alex said as she looked at Brooke in shock and held her cheek.
"Says the one who almost caused me to lose my best friend," Brooke said in an angry tone. "Now get the hell out of my house. I never want to see you again."
"That'll be pretty hard considering that we go to the same school and have the same classes." Alex pointed out in a smug tone.
"Well that can easily be changed," Brooke told her. "Now go. Before I give you more than just a slap."
"You're going to regret this Brooke Davis," Alex said as she headed towards the bedroom door. "Trust me, you're going to wish you hadn't done what you just did."
"Whatever." Brooke said as she glared at the retreating brunette.
She then followed her to make sure that she was definitely leaving. Once Alex was gone, Brooke returned to her bedroom. However, instead of returning to her sketches she walked into her closet. She then pulled a box from one of the shelves and headed back into her bedroom. She went over to the bed and sat down before she opened the box. She then took out a writing pad and pen and began to write. A while later when she was done, she slipped the letter into an envelope and sealed it before she wrote on the back. She then placed it back into the box along with the other letters that she had written, before she put the pad and pen back inside and placed the lid on top.
~X~
"Mom, can I talk to you?" Brooke asked that evening.
"Sure sweetie," Victoria said as she looked up from her magazine. "What's wrong?"
"Do I really have to go to school at Ryburn Academy?" she asked as she sighed.
"I thought you were settling in there well," Victoria said as she closed her magazine. "You seemed to be getting along great with Alex and Carrie."
"Well I'm not," Brooke said as she frowned. "It was Alex's fault that I forgot Haley's birthday. She deleted things from my phone; including a picture of me and Lucas."
"I see," Victoria replied. "And you think that by changing schools it'll help?"
"No I don't want to change schools," Brooke said. Victoria gave her a puzzled look in response. "Can I not do home schooling? I know it was one of the options that you and daddy were talking about before you decided on Ryburn."
"You want to be home schooled?" Victoria asked in surprise. Brooke nodded. "But what about cheerleading? I thought you enjoyed that."
"I enjoyed it in Tree Hill when I was cheering with Haley," Brooke pointed out. "It's just not the same here. Please mom. I've given it a lot of thought and it's what I want."
"Well I can't promise you anything Brooke," Victoria told her. "I'll have to discuss it with your father first."
"Thanks mom." Brooke said in a quiet tone.
"Brooke is it just this falling out with Alex that's brought on this sudden change of heart?" Victoria asked as she gave her daughter a concerned look.
"No it's not," Brooke admitted. "I just feel like I don't fit in at this new school. I know it's only been a few weeks but that school just isn't me mom. I think I'd be better off doing the home school thing."
"What if it doesn't work out?" Victoria asked her.
"Then maybe you'd consider letting me stay with Haley and going back to school at Tree Hill High like I was going to before I decided to come here with you and daddy." Brooke suggested.
"Like I said I'll have to discuss it with your father first," Victoria said as they heard the front door close. "I'll let him relax a little before I talk to him."
"I'll be in my room." Brooke said as she left the lounge. She greeted her father as she passed him in the hallway, before she headed into her room and closed the door.
~X~
Lucas and Nathan were led on their beds, staring at the paper in front of them with thoughtful expressions on their faces. They were both writing letters to send home.
"You know, I don't know why I'm writing this," Lucas said as he sighed. "I bet Brooke doesn't even read it."
"She might," Nathan replied as he looked up from the letter he was writing to Haley. He frowned as he added. "I'm craving a burger. Is that strange?"
"Not for you no," Lucas replied as he laughed. "Or are you going out in sympathy with Haley?"
"I'm going to write it in the letter and ask," Nathan replied with a chuckle of his own. Lucas laughed louder at Nathan's reply. "Along with the date and time so she can tell me if she was craving a burger when I was."
"I can just imagine you having sympathy pains when she's in labor." Lucas said as he laughed.
"Man I hope I don't," Nathan said as he pulled an unimpressed expression. "And if I do, I hope we're not out on some mission at the time."
"That would be kinda funny," Lucas said as he chuckled. "I can just imagine the radio call. We need a med evac because Nathan's in labor."
"Oh ha ha you're so freaking funny," Nathan replied as he rolled his eyes. "Are you sure your parents didn't drop you on the head when you were a baby?"
"Maybe," Lucas replied. "They probably did the same to Haley as well. I mean why else would she want to date you?"
"My good looks, witty sense of humor and not to mention my sexy as hell body," Nathan said in a playful tone. "Man I really want a burger now."
"You're making me want one now," Lucas said in an almost whine. He then dropped his pen before he said. "Let's go and visit Ian and see if he'll be kind enough to make us a burger."
"I hope he'll make two," Nathan said as they stood from their beds. "Because there's no way that I'm sharing a burger with you."
~X~
"Brooke honey, can you come into the lounge?" Victoria asked as she poked her head around Brooke's bedroom door.
"Sure," Brooke replied as she climbed off her bed. She then followed Victoria to the lounge. "Did you talk to daddy yet?"
"Yes she did," Richard answered as Victoria and Brooke sat on the sofa. "So you want to be home schooled huh?"
"Yes." Brooke confirmed.
"Well your mother and I have gone over the figures and it'll save us some money hiring a tutor rather than pay the fees for Ryburn," Richard told her. He grinned as he added. "And you know how I like to save money where I can."
"So you'll let me do it then?" Brooke asked in a hopeful tone.
"I don't see why not," Richard replied. He then looked at Brooke firmly as he asked. "That is if you're a hundred percent sure about this."
"I am." Brooke told him.
"Well I'll start looking for a suitable tutor for you tomorrow." Richard told her.
"Can we arrange a schedule for subjects that I'll actually need for a job?" Brooke asked. "I was thinking like if I did business studies I could go to work with you and mom for that and you could teach me the business side of things."
"That's a good idea," Victoria said. "There's no better place to learn than the workplace."
"I agree," Richard said sounding impressed. "So what other subjects would you want on your schedule?"
"Some kind of design thing would be good," Brooke replied. "I'd need math obviously for the accounts side of things. And whatever else you think would benefit me."
"I have to say Brooke you've surprised me with this request," Richard told her. "And it's a good surprise. And I'll make sure that I find you the best tutor for what you want to do."
"I'm guessing that you want to come and work with me and your father when you're older?" Victoria asked.
"Well yeah," Brooke replied. "I just assumed I would be anyway. So the more I learn now, the better I'll be when I go to work. Plus it'll do me good to have something I want to do to focus on."
"That's good to hear," Richard told her. "Just don't make it so that I regret agreeing to this okay?"
"I promise you I won't." Brooke told him.
"You better not," Richard told her. He then smiled as he said. "Now come over here and give your old dad a hug."
"Thanks for doing this daddy," Brooke said as she went over and hugged him. "I promise I won't let you down."
~X~
Lucas, Owen and Clay were busy suiting Nathan up before he went to investigate reports of a bomb being spotted. Once he was fully suited up, Nathan began to head down the dusty road towards where the bomb was. Lucas, Clay and Owen took cover and observed the area with their guns at the ready. As they watched, smoke seemed to appear from where Nathan was.
"Hey James, can you hear me?" Owen asked Nathan through the radio. "What's going on with the smoke on the side of the road? Over!"
"Creating a diversion." Nathan replied.
"From what? Is there a threat? Scott, get up on the wall!" Owen ordered Lucas as he tried not to panic. Lucas obediently climbed up onto the wall. "Tell me what you see Specialist!"
"All right. I got him. He's walking down range." Lucas replied as he caught sight of Nathan.
"James the smoke is killing my visibility," Owen said into the radio. "Where are you in relationship to the IED? Are you within 100 meters yet?"
"I don't know. I'll tell you when I'm standing over it." Nathan replied.
Nathan emerged from smoke and continued to walk down the road. As he walked, a taxi came speeding through a blockade that had been set up. The soldiers that were manning the blockade tried to stop it, but failed. It continued heading towards Nathan at the same fast speed. Nathan saw it, pulled a gun out and aimed it at the driver. The car screeched to a halt.
"Oh no! A car's stopped in front of him!" Lucas informed Owen.
"Shit!" Owen muttered to himself. He then went on the radio. "James! Come back now!"
"EOD just pulled a nine on a car. Want me to send back up?" Felix asked Owen through the radio. He was part of the blockade.
"I got it." Nathan replied to them both.
"Baker, Keller." Felix instructed to two men who were with him.
"Negative! Negative! Stand down!" Owen ordered. "The blast will come up the block. Stay clear around the corner. EOD has the situation under control. Over."
"Where you going?" Nathan asked the driver of the car.
"Hold your fire on my command." Owen's voice said over the radio.
"Want to back up?" Nathan asked the driver as he tried to keep his cool.
The driver didn't move. Julian and Chase ran to the car to give Nathan back up. Both told the driver to get out of the car.
"What are you doing? Back up. Hello?" Nathan said as he fired a couple of shots at the ground near the cab's front right wheel. "You wanna get back?"
"Shit." Owen muttered as he climbed on top of the Humvee and saw Nathan shoot the windshield of the car. It shattered as the bullets ripped through it. Nathan then went up to the driver's door and pointed the gun at the driver, before he pointed behind the car.
"It's that way," Nathan told him. He then put the gun against the drivers head. "Back."
"The nine is now pressing into the driver's forehead." Felix said over the radio. The driver then slowly backed away from Nathan. Nathan kept the gun on him as he did. Chris and Julian then pulled him out of the car and dragged him away.
"Well if he wasn't an insurgent, he sure the hell is now." Nathan said to Owen through the radio.
"Roger that, it's real funny!" Owen said in a sarcastic tone as Nathan continued down the road.
He saw a skinny, scruffy looking cat walking down the road as he moved and he wondered what Haley would think if she had seen it. He stopped as he reached his location and looked around. He saw wires that led into a pile of rubble and crouched down to get a closer look. He moved some rubbish out of his way and his eyebrows rose in surprise at what he saw. He pulled out a battery from the device as he said.
"Found something. Hell baby!" He then cut the wires. "Gotcha! All right. All right we're done. Good to go. Good to go."
"Come down Specialist." Owen said to Lucas who was still perched on the wall.
"Roger!" Lucas replied as he breathed a sigh of relief and jumped off the wall. As he did he missed seeing Nathan look at the bomb again and see another wire.
"Ah, got a wire. Hang on. Oh, where are you going?" Nathan said into the radio as he followed the trail of the wire. He groaned inwardly at what he found. "Secondary."
"Shit. Take cover. Get in the wall, get in the wall," Owen said to Lucas and Clay. They took cover and Owen moved behind the Humvee as Nathan pulled on the wires and revealed six more bombs that were all connected together.
"Oh boy!" Nathan said as he took a deep breath. He then began to disarm them one by one.
~X~
"Brooke I've found you a tutor." Richard said at breakfast the next day.
"Already?!" Brooke asked as her eyes almost fell out of her head. "How did you manage that?!"
"I was talking to a business contact last night and he mentioned somebody who I thought would be perfect to be your tutor." Richard told her.
"Who is it?" Brooke asked curiously.
"Her name is Lindsey Strauss," Richard replied. "She's got teaching degrees in the areas you specified as well as some other useful areas. She was also looking for a job, so the timing couldn't be better."
"When am I meeting her?" Brooke asked.
"Your mother and I have rearranged our schedules to see her this morning at nine thirty. She's coming here after she's taken her son to daycare." Richard told her.
"So you won't have to go to school." Victoria added.
"And if everything is fine with Lindsey, then you won't be going back to the school and I'll be getting a refund on the fees I paid." Richard said.
"I have to go and empty my locker," Brooke said. "Or will they do that and forward my things here?"
"Well we'll have to go to the school to finalize everything, so I don't see why you can't tag along and do that then." Victoria told her.
"I hope Lindsey is nice," Brooke said. "I don't want one of those severely strict tutors that will be punishing me for looking at them the wrong way."
"We'll see if she is or not when she gets here," Richard told her. "You know I actually prefer the idea of you having one on one tuition. That way I know that if you're struggling with any of the subjects, the tutor will be there to spend time to focus on helping you. Rather than worrying about splitting their time in a class full of students."
"Me too," Brooke agreed earning her a surprised look from her parents. "When Lucas took the time to explain Shakespeare to me on the web cam, it was amazing how I was actually able to understand the text. And the times Haley took the time to explain things to me about other subjects helped too."
"Hopefully Lindsey will be able to do the same," Victoria said. "Now get eating so we can get the place cleaned up before she gets here."
~X~
"I'm impressed that you didn't blow yourself up while you diffused those bombs," Lucas said as he and Nathan warmed up ready for a basketball game at the base. "Luck must have been on your side today."
"There was no luck at all Luke," Nathan replied with a cheeky grin. "It was my cool nerve and expertise that saved the day."
"Cool nerve?" Lucas asked before he erupted into hysterics. "Oh man that's a good one. I bet you were shitting bricks really."
"Honestly there was a moment where I thought that was going to happen," Nathan admitted. "But it didn't."
"I think Owen did," Lucas said as his laughter died down. "Especially when you created that smoke screen."
"Yeah so did I," Nathan replied with a chuckle. "As for the smoke screen it was a spur of the moment thing. Hey did you see the cat that went running past?"
"Where?" Lucas asked as he looked around them.
"Not here you dumbass," Nathan replied as he rolled his eyes. "On the street when I created the smoke screen. It looked like a bag of bones with fur on it."
"No I didn't see it." Lucas replied.
"Well I did," Nathan replied. "And the first thing that came into my head was what would Haley think if she saw it."
"If Haley had seen it she would have taken it home and fed it up and begged my parents to keep it," Lucas replied with a smile. "Brooke would more than likely do the same."
"Yeah you're probably right," Nathan replied. He then paused before he asked. "So are you not quite so bitter towards Brooke now?"
"No," Lucas admitted. "You made me see sense before I did something really stupid."
"You mean like boning Rachel?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah," Lucas replied as he frowned. "I can't believe that that thought actually crossed my mind."
"Well word is that Ian and Chris have done exactly that." Nathan told him.
"You're shitting me?" Lucas asked in a shocked tone.
"Nope." Nathan replied.
"Where did you hear that?" Lucas asked.
"I overheard Rachel talking to Quinn when I went to get a band aid from her." Nathan explained.
"Damn," Lucas muttered. "She really didn't waste any time did she?"
"Nope," Nathan agreed. "Which is why I'm really glad that you didn't go and sleep with her."
"Me too," Lucas said as he shuddered. He then decided to change the subject. "You ready to start the game then?"
"Most definitely," Nathan replied. "And just so you know, I'm going to beat your scrawny ass."
"Yeah right," Lucas replied as he laughed. "You've never managed that yet, so why would I let you now?"
"Let's just get on with the game so I can prove to you I'm gonna beat you." Nathan replied as he chuckled and headed over to where the other guys were gathered ready to play the game.
~X~
"So when I go to work with you and daddy do I get paid?" Brooke asked in a playful tone as she and Victoria walked through the mall together.
"I don't see why not," Victoria replied. "It'll be the start of learning to be responsible with money."
"So there won't be anymore credit card?" Brooke asked in a slightly worried tone.
"I think you'll be able to keep that for emergencies," Victoria replied. "But your father and I will be paying you well Brooke."
"I hope so," Brooke replied. "I have to look great for when Lucas comes home remember."
"From that comment I take it that you've worked through the issues you had with him." Victoria remarked.
"Yes I have," Brooke replied. "This weekend made me realize a lot of things. And one of them was how important Lucas is to me."
"I see," Victoria replied in a soft tone. "I'm glad that you've resolved the Lucas issue after what he did. I hated seeing you so down."
"I hated being down," Brooke told her. "But I think I'm on the way to being up again. If you know what I mean."
"I do sweetie," Victoria replied. "Now why don't we go to the salon and have a pamper session?"
"That sounds pretty awesome," Brooke told her. "My hair needs some TLC."
"I hope Alexander is working today. He worked wonders with my hair the last time I was there." Victoria said.
"I miss Kylie doing my hair. In fact I should have asked her to do it when I had her do Haley's pamper afternoon on Saturday," Brooke said as she frowned. "I feel like having a complete change."
"MacKenna is supposed to be one of the best hairdressers at the salon," Victoria told her. "If she's free and working you could ask her what she thinks would suit you."
"I feel like having a lot cut off," Brooke said in a thoughtful tone. "And maybe even change the color."
"You'll be able to discuss all that in the consultation," Victoria told her as they reached the salon. "It looks pretty dead in here. It looks like we're in luck."
"I'm looking forward to getting this make over." Brooke said as she and Victoria went through the door.
"Just don't be having anything radical done Brooke," Victoria told her. "If you want to work in the business world you need a hairstyle and color that makes you look professional. So you won't be having any of these psychedelic colors that you see people with these days."
"Don't worry mom, I'm not having a color like that," Brooke assured her. "I have something in mind that will be perfect for business."
~X~
"Mom!" Haley yelled as she stuck her head around her bedroom door. "My clothes don't fit me again!"
"What do you mean they don't fit?" Karen asked as she walked down the hallway towards her room.
"They don't fit as in I can't get anything fastened," Haley said in an upset tone. Karen went into her bedroom and closed the door. "Even my sweats won't stretch over my ass."
"What about the maternity clothes we bought you a couple of weeks ago?" Karen asked.
"They're too tight," Haley said as she sighed. "I'm glad I kept the tags on them so you'll be able to exchange them for a bigger size."
"Scott must have had a growth spurt." Karen said as she began to fold the clothes that were strewn on the bed.
"I think it's my ass that had the growth spurt," Haley said sounding close to tears. "I'm so glad that Nathan isn't here to see how fat I am right now."
"You're not fat sweetie," Karen assured her. "I know you may feel like it but I assure you that you're not. I was ten times the size you are when I was pregnant with your brother."
"You were?" Haley asked as she sat on her bed.
"Yes," Karen replied as she continued to fold the clothes. "And my legs were like two tree trunks. You couldn't even see where my knees were and I had no ankles."
"How did you cope mom?" Haley asked as she sighed.
"By wearing things that resembled marquees," Karen replied. "And your father was kind enough to massage my feet and the place where my ankles used to be."
"I wish Nathan was here to do that to mine," Haley said in a glum tone. "I really miss him mom. I wish he was back here."
"I know you do honey," Karen said as she stopped her folding and went and sat beside Haley on the bed. "I've lost track of the amount of times I wished that your brother had chosen a different career. Don't get me wrong, I'm proud of what he's doing. I'm just worried that he won't come home."
"Same here," Haley said as she leaned her head on Karen's shoulder. "Can you go to the store and change the clothes for me mom. I really have nothing to wear. Well apart from my bathrobe and the dress Brooke made me."
"Of course I'll go and exchange them for you," Karen replied. "You need something to wear. What did you wear to school?"
"The dress that Brooke made me," Haley told her. "It was the only thing I could get into. I got a few odd looks in it with it being a formal looking dress. And I was so worried about damaging it."
"Well I better head to the store then before it closes," Karen said as she stood. She then went over to the other bed and continued to fold the items up that she would need to take back. "Where's the bag for them Haley?"
"It's in the closet," she replied. "I'll get it."
"I think we'll have take out for dinner tonight. Is there any particular thing you're craving?" Karen asked as Haley retrieved the bag.
"Fajitas," Haley said in a longing tone. "All day long I've been daydreaming about sinking my teeth into a nice fattening fajita."
"What filling do you want?" Karen asked in an amused tone as she placed the clothes into the shopping bag.
"Chicken," Haley told her dreamily. "And can I get like triple cheese on them?"
"Sure you can," Karen replied. "Now I'm going to go and ask your father. I'll let you get on with your homework."