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Chapter 37

You Mean Nothing

Brooke woke up early the next morning but spent some much needed time alone. After ordering an enormous breakfast, of which she ate very little of due to nerves, she ran herself a bath and soaked until lunch. It was a pleasant morning and a great start to what she hoped would be a good day. Her first stop would once again be Karen's café and she could only hope that any reunion she might have would go better than the one she'd already had with Lucas.

She had prepared herself for the anger but the feelings that came rushing back when they accidentally touched was out of this world and God help her, she hadn't been ready for any of it. Her feelings towards her ex-boyfriend and her ex girlie best friend were all still very confusing and seeing Lucas the night before made it all that more complicated. Seven years was a long time to hold on but letting go was easier said than done or so she was learning. Running her fingers though her hair she gave the rear view mirror a quick glance and told herself not to fret. Karen would be excited to see her.

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Scanning the restaurant, she saw they weren't very busy. The only customers around were two small children and an elderly couple.

"I'll be right out," a female yelled from the back. "Just take a seat wherever."

Tutor-girl.

Her voiced had matured over the years but Brooke still recognized it.

"Excuse me, Miss."

She turned around and noticed the little girl from the table.

"Yeah, sweetie?"

"You're pretty."

Brooke chuckled.

"Well thanks," she said. "I'm glad you think so."

"You know this is my grandma's café," the little girl said with pride.

"I figured it might be."

"My grandma makes the best hot cocoa. Did you know that too?" she asked completely infatuated with the woman standing front of her.

"I sure did," Brooke smiled. "I used to get them all the time when I lived here."

"Really?" she asked. "You used to live here?"

Brooke nodded.

"Once a upon a time, yes."

The little girl grinned from ear to ear.

"Want to come sit with me and Landon?"

Brooke nodded.

"Sure. I could use some company."

"Good! You can sit by me," she said excited.

"Okay."

The little girl held out her hand and Brooke hesitated. She hadn't had much experience with kids and she didn't seem to mind or even notice. Taking the girl's hand and giving it a squeeze she let her lead her to the table by the window.

"So what's your name?" she asked the little girl.

"Brooklyn." She took a seat. "What's your name?"

Brooke let out a small grasp.

It wasn't Haley's daughter…it was Lucas and Peyton's child. Taking in the girl's piecing blue eyes and dirty blond hair Brooke cursed herself for not realizing it before. The child sitting just a mere few inches from her was proof that Lucas didn't love her… that he never had.

"Br—Penelope," she lied.

"Pen-el-pee," she sounded out. "Do you have a best friend?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat Brooke looked to the boy in front of her and wondered if he was their child as well.

She smiled weakly.

"I used to."

Now she had much more than a best friend, she had a sister

"You don't anymore?" the boy asked curious.

Brooke shook her head no.

"Not anymore," she said softly, remembering that they both wanted the same boy and in the end it tore them apart. "We had a disagreement a long time ago."

"You mean like a fight?" Brooklyn asked.

Brooke looked to her left.

"Something like that," she replied.

"Brooklyn and I fight all the time but we're still best friends, right?" he asked Brooklyn.

She nodded firmly.

"Right."

Siblings that were best friends unheard of yes but impossible no.

"Are you two brother and sister?" she asked, the curiously getting the best of her.

"Nope, we're cousins," Landon explained.

"Best friend-cousins," Brooklyn confirmed with a smile.

"You can be our best friend too," she offered. "You know since you don't have one."

Brooke smiled despite herself.

"Thanks," she whispered sincerely.

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She hadn't seen Brooke in years but the minute she heard the husky, upbeat voice she knew it couldn't have belonged to anyone else. Looking her over, Haley noticed the changes in the woman that had been her good friend at one time. She was lighter now, not by much though, maybe 5 pounds. But her presence was different. This wasn't the Brooke Davis she knew.

Brooklyn noticed her first.

"Aunt Haley come met our friend," she yelled across the café.

Haley walked over and smiled.

"Brooke it's so good to see you," she said. "Lucas mentioned that you were back in town."

Bending down she gave her son a peck on the head and took a set.

"It's lit—" Brooke started but was interrupted by Brooklyn.

"I thought you said your name was Penelope."

"Uhh…" she smiled uncomfortably, not sure what to tell the girl.

Haley saw her struggling and answered for her.

"It's her middle name," she guessed. "I've just always known her as Brooke."

Brooke looked at Haley and mouthed a 'Thank You'.

"You know my Daddy?" the little girl asked just now catching Haley's comment.

Brooke nodded.

"I did many years ago," she leaned back into the booth. "We…um, we were friends at one time."

"Really?" she asked. "That's so cool! Does that mean you know my mommy too?"

Haley reached over patted Brooklyn's hand.

"Let's talk about something else, sweetie..."

"No, it's okay," Brooke assured her, still a little unsure herself why she was answering the little girl. "I know P. Saw—I mean Peyton. We grew up together."

"Cool!" she jumped in excitement. "Did you and Mommy have sleepovers and stuff?

"Many of them. We would stay up super late watching horror movies, eating cookie dough and ice cream," she laughed at the sudden memory. "It was a good time."

Too bad it hadn't lasted.

"They were best friends," Haley added in, looking at her son who was still very much engrossed in his new comic book. "Just like you and Landon."

Brooklyn thought about what her aunt had said and then looked at Brooke.

"Did you and my mommy have a fight? Is that why you don't have a best friend anymore?"

Brooke hurriedly looked to Haley for help. She couldn't possibly tell the child the truth.

"Um you see…" Haley smiled, now that it was her turn to hesitate. "Brooke, uh I mean Penelope and your mom grew apart when they were teenagers and then Penelope moved away."

Brooklyn pondered for a moment and the children seemed to accept Haley's answer.

Haley signed in relief…she was good at a lot of things but lying wasn't one of them.

"Hey guys I have an idea why don't we leave Brooke to it and we go get some ice cream?" she suggested. "I hear that Sam added a new flavor."

You didn't have to ask Landon twice, not that Haley figured he'd be a problem. It was Lucas' daughter that she had her doubts about. Brooklyn seemed to take a real liking to her namesake and she wasn't one to take no for an answer.

"Aunt Haley, I want Penelope to come too," she insisted, turning towards Brooke she commented, "I like Penelope better."

"Br—Brooke?" a voice called out.

She knew that voice and was almost too scared to look up and confirm who she already knew it was. Thankfully Brooklyn did it for her.

"Mommy!" she stood up in the booth and ran over to her mom. "Guess what?" she asked excitedly.

"What babe?" Peyton asked reluctantly, looking down at her daughter.

"Penelope's here!"

Peyton smiled shyly.

"Pene—Penelope?" she stumbled over the unfamiliar name.

"Did you know her as Brooke too?" her daughter asked oblivious to the tension in the room. "I like Penelope better."

"No. No, I mean yes," she walked towards the table. "Penelope's her middle name. She never used it growing up."

Eyeing Peyton as she came closer, Brooke couldn't help but think if seeing Lucas had been hellish, the reunion about to take place was going to be much worst.

"Hi, Haley." she didn't take her eyes off of Brooke. "When did you get back in town?"

Her voice was whisper like and she was desperate for the woman in front of her to say something, anything. Peyton took a seat and Haley grabbed her son's hand, also reaching for Brooklyn's.

"Come on, guys. Let's give the two of them some time alone," she said.

Brooklyn wanted to stay but her aunt had already pulled her to the counter away from the two women.

"But…"

"Give them some time, honey. Your mom and Brooke haven't seen each other in seven years."

"How have you been?" Peyton asked once the kids were out of earshot. "Are you staying long?"

There were no words for what Brooke was feeling. A part of her wanted to reach across the table and bitch-slap Peyton for ruining her life and the only meaningful relationship she had ever had. But the other part, the part that had missed her best friend wanted nothing more than to act like they were okay and only days had passed since they had last spoken. Not being able to do either, she just sat there staring at her lap unable to make eye contact.

"Brooke?" Peyton asked again, wondering if she was going to speak to her. "I know this probably isn't the place but I wanted to apologize. Look, I never meant…"

"Don't," she whispered her head still down. "Please don't go there."

Peyton nodded.

"Okay. Okay, I won't." she whispered.

"Yesterday," Brooke finally spoke looking up as she laid her hands on the table and unwillingly looked towards the counter. "Brooklyn is beautiful," she commented softly, taking in the girl's features and recalling the child's loving and accepting nature. "A perfect mix of you and Lucas."

Peyton swallowed hard.

"Thanks," she muttered swelling with pride for her daughter yet knowing how painful it must be for her once best friend.

Lucas, never having a good sense of time decided to walk in at that very moment.

"Daddy!" Brooklyn ran from her seat and jumped into her dad's waiting arms.

And it was then that his eyes caught Brooke's.

"Oh gosh," Haley murmured to herself. "This isn't good."

With Brooklyn still in his arms he walked over to the girls.

"Brooke," was all he managed to say.

Brooklyn climbed out of his arms and looked at Brooke and then her mom sensing that something wasn't right. She looked up at her father.

"What's wrong Daddy?" she asked, not understanding why everyone was being so quiet and closed off.

Lucas looked down at his daughter and lightly squeezed her shoulder.

"Go sit with Landon, babe," he said. "I'm gonna talk with Mommy and Brooke."

"But Daddy…" she started.

"Please?" he asked again.

He watched his daughter walk away and wondered want he was going to say now that she was gone. He went to take a seat across from Brooke and next to Peyton but decided against it. The last thing he needed was Brooke thinking he and Peyton were together. Although judging by the square ness of her shoulder and her blazing eyes she already did. Instead he stood.

"The happy family I see," Brooke said with malice.

It pissed her off that after everything that had happened; they had still found happiness in each other.

"No," they both said looking at each other. "We're not together."

"Do you two honestly think I'm gonna believe anything that comes out of either of your mouths?" she laid her hands on the table. "It wouldn't be the first time you have lied to me, now would it?"

"Brooke…" Lucas began.

"Don't Brooke me," she commanded. "I'm not stupid so please don't insult my intelligence."

"I swear to you Brooke, Lucas and me aren't together," Peyton vowed.

She looked to her ex-best friend.

"Okay, fine," she said. "Where do you live Peyton?"

"I live…well, I'm staying at my old house with Brooklyn. My dad left it to me when he died five years ago," she explained.

"And you Lucas?" she asked, purposely ignoring the last part and the pain in her chest at Peyton's confession.

Lucas looked to Peyton, feeling completely trapped.

"Brooke…" he started with hesitation.

"Just answer the question, Lucas," she said, fearing the outcome yet already knowing the answer.

"Look you don't understand…" he started again.

"Just tell me!" she raised her voice.

"I'm staying with…I'm staying with Peyton," he admitted.

Brooke smirked.

"Big surprise."

"No, you don't understand," he repeated taking a seat.

"Enough!" she replied, the gesture not going unnoticed. "I'm so sick of your excuses, Lucas. I would have thought after last night…"

"Last night?" Peyton asked looking to Lucas. "You saw her last night? And you didn't tell me?"

"Omitting the truth from your precious Peyton, Lucas?" Brooke asked, bitter that the duo still had the power to hurt her. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"She's not my precious Peyton, Brooke," he said getting tired of repeating himself.

Why did it always have to come back to Peyton?

"Whatever Lucas," she muttered still not believing a word he had said. "It doesn't matter, I mean why should it? It's not like I care about either of you. Neither of you mean anything to me."

She made sure to look them both in the eyes as she lashed out. Somewhat satisfied that the hurtful words were sinking in, Brooke grabbed her purse and proceeded to the door, done with the conversation. Neither blonde moved.

"Penelope!" Brooklyn yelled, jumping off her chair and running towards the fleeing brunette. "You can't leave."

Brooke stopped at the door willing herself to keep her emotions in check, if only for the little girl behind her.

"Listen…"

"Please don't leave," the girl begged. "I want you to stay."

Fearing what would be said to his daughter Lucas dashed out of the booth.

"Brooklyn?"

She faced her father with tears beaming in her eyes.

"I don't want her to leave Daddy."

"Sweetie…"

She swallowed hard, turned, and stooped down to the girl's level.

"It was very nice meeting you Brooklyn," she tussled the girl's hair. "Maybe one day before I go back to California we can have some ice cream."

"You promise?" she looked at her with her big blue eyes and Brooke found herself agreeing.

"Of course."

"Sweetie why don't you go see Mommy?" Lucas looked down at his daughter. "I think she's getting lonely all by herself."

Brooke winced at the title. It shouldn't have but it hurt.

"You promise about the ice cream?" Brooklyn looked to Brooke once more.

"I promise," she said.

"Okay," she smiled and walked away.

"Thanks for that," his eyes found hers as she looked up at him.

"She's just a little kid, Lucas. I would never say anything to her just to hurt you."

"How would I know that, Brooke?" he asked. "Remember? I don't mean anything to you."

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tbc...