Chapter 11...
"I Have Loved You"
Jessica Simpson
We filled the air with promises
Took them up so tenderly
But life never asks you what you want
It's just gonna have its way
Sometimes it doesn't give like it takes
Six Weeks Later
Brooke, Peyton, Madison and I sat in Karen's Café waiting for our coffee. "I am the luckiest man alive." I said as I put my arm around Madison. I pulled her close and kissed her head.
"You are pretty damn lucky." Peyton said, taking a sip of her water.
"Hell yeah you are. We are three hott girls." Brooke added. "Some hotter than others." She nudged Peyton. "Ain't that right?" Brooke's dark brown hair was perfectly straight and shined when the sun hit it. I recalled all the nights Brooke and I had spent together. She was fun, but nothing was too serious.
Peyton rolled her eyes, "You are so witty." Madison smirked at Peyton's comment. I watched her run her fingers through her hair. She was so beautiful.
Brooke leaned into the table, "Anyone heard the latest Tree Hill rumor?"
I shook my head. Madison answered, "No, but I am sure you have dear."
"Well, obviously," Brooke retorted. "I heard Nathan and Hailey left Tree Hill because Hailey is pregnant and she didn't want her parents to find out." She sipped on her latte.
Madison shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense." She lifted her coffee cup. "They are married. We know she they waited to have sex." She drank her coffee. Underneath her breath she said, "Unlike some people."
"What did you say?" Brooke snapped back.
"You obviously heard me. I said, unlike some people. Meaning you."
"Why are you standing up for them? They screwed you over." She ran her long, manicured fingers through her hair. "Actually, you didn't get screwed at all, huh?
"You're right," Madison said, "You're the one who always gets screwed, not me."
"You know you're just the rebound girl." Now she was fighting dirty. "Lucas' been with me, Peyton and how convenient, he's with you now."
Madison stood up. She stormed out of Karen's. Peyton chased after her. "Damnit Brooke." Peyton said as she ran out the door. Madison and Peyton stood outside the main window.
"What the hell was that all about?" I stood up to go outside and talk to Madison. Before I knew what was going on, Brooke kissed me.
"Remind you of anything?" She asked with a seductive smirk on her face. She ran her hands down my back. I pushed her away.
Madison stood at the window, in shock. She saw Brooke kiss me. I watched a single tear drip down her face. "Damnit."
I ran outside. Madison jumped into her SUV. "Madison!" I called after her. She started her Explorer.
I jumped into my car and drove after her. I tried to call her cell phone, but there was no answer.
She pulled into her driveway. I got out of my car before her. I ran up to her driver's side door. Her window was rolled down. I opened her door. The light in her car turned on. Her face was tear streaked.
She stepped out of her car. We walked, silent, to her front door and took a seat on the steps leading to the porch. "Why did you kiss her?"
"I didn't kiss her. She kissed me."
"Why did you let it happen?"
"What was I supposed to do?"
"Don't answer a question with a question Lucas." She still sounded calm.
"I didn't let it happen. I didn't know what to do."
"Do you still love me?"
"Of course I still love you babe." My speech was interrupted by a ringing cell phone.
Madison reached into her purse. "Hello? Hey. Good. Yeah, it healed really well. Okay, well I'll call you back later. Lucas. Yeah. Okay, bye."
"Who was that?" I asked her, reaching for the phone.
She pulled it away from me. "No one."
"No really. Who was it?"
"None of you business."
"I will make it my business. Who was that?"
"Nathan."
I was jealous. Madison had always had feelings for Nathan. "What's he doing calling you?"
"Nathan and I have been friends longer than you and I."
"So that gives him the right to call you all hours of the night?"
Madison looked at her watch. "It is eight thirty. Anyone is allowed to call me at eight thirty." She looked me in the eyes. "What crawled up your ass anyways?"
"Nathan." I said. I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket. "I am going to call him."
She pulled the phone out of my hand. "Get over it." She said. "I'm over it and I was the first one mad." Her white teeth broke her perfectly pink lips into two parts. She put her arms around me and embraced me in a hug. "I was the one who was supposed to be mad here." Her head rested on my shoulder and kissed me on the cheek. "I can't stay mad at you though."
"I still want to call Nathan." I watched her throw my cell phone at the oak tree in her yard. "Hey..."
She put her finger over my lips, "Shh." She wiped my lips with the bottom of her shirt. "I had to wipe you Brooke goo off your lips before I kissed you." She leaned in and kissed me. I pulled her onto my lap. Her legs dangled over mine. She leaned her head in close to mine. I looked out into the sky and thought to myself, "First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have this wish I wish tonight... I wish Madison's always happy..." And with that, she kissed me on the cheek.