Chapter Nineteen

"Finding Brooke"

Carson found Lucas in Brooke's bedroom. He was laying on the bed, looking at the ceiling. He wasn't really in the partying mood.

"What are you doing up here?"

"Thinking."

She laid down next to him. "Wow she has a nice room."

"Yeah its pretty cool."

"Where is the princess now?"

"Out."

She nodded. "Cool."

"Do you need something?"

She reached over and rubbed his chest. "You."

He sat up. "What?"

"Come on Luke I know you want me."

He stood up. "Have I been leading you on or something?"

"Baby lay down. I know you want me, just let me show you how much I want you."

She put her arms around him and tried kissing him but he threw her arms off. "Carson stop. I don't want you. So stop."

He walked out of the room, but paused. Carson followed him, and he shut Brooke's bedroom door. No telling what Carson would do to her room.

He went downstairs and found Peyton in the kitchen. "Carson is really annoying."

Peyton grinned and clapped. "He finally sees it!"

"Stop."

"So, what made you see it?"

"She tried seducing me."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah."

An hour later, Brooke was still sitting in her car. She had the air conditioner going and the radio blasting. She was bored out of her mind. It was about ten o'clock and she hadn't even had a drink yet.

Two cars had gone by, and neither had bothered to stop. Brooke had her flashers going and everything.

Lucas was in the kitchen talking to Jake when Haley and Nathan walked in. Lucas asked, "Is Brooke coming in?"

Nathan looked confused. "Brooke? She was supposed to pick us up but never showed."

Carson walked in just then and started listening.

Haley added, "Nathan walked to a gas station and we came here after waiting forever for Brooke. We figured she got side tracked."

Lucas said, "She left over an hour ago to go get you guys."

"Imagine that," Carson said.

Lucas looked at the counter next to where Carson was standing and noticed a butcher knife. "Peyton is that the knife?"

Peyton exclaimed, "I swear that wasn't there two minutes ago! I am going crazy."

Lucas said, "Has anyone tried calling her cell?"

Peyton picked up the kitchen phone and dialed. Brooke's ringtone was Usher and Carson's jean pocket started going off. Everyone stared at her. She blushed as she ignored the ringing of her pants.

Lucas looked at Nathan and Haley, then Peyton, then the knife, and finally Carson. She was avoiding all eye contact with them. He put the pieces of the puzzle together.

"Where were you?" He demanded to Nathan.

"What do you mean?"

"Where were you when you ran out of gas? Where did you tell Brooke to meet you?"

"The corner of Madison and Johnson. Why?"

Lucas grabbed his keys. "I have to go!"

He jumped in his truck and started off. He knew the way Brooke went to get there because they used to go that way all the time.

Two minutes later, he saw a car with its flashers on. He pulled up behind and saw the licence plate BROOKE. He knew it was her car.

Brooke saw in her rearview mirror a car pulled up behind her. 'Thank God.' She got out, "Thanks..." She trailed off when she saw Lucas standing in front of her. "Luke..."

"Are you okay?"

She ran into his waiting arms, hugging him tight. "How did you know?"

"I put two and two together when Nate and Haley showed up without you."

She continued hugging him. "I was so scared. No one would stop."

"I know."

She looked him directly in the eye. "Thank you for coming for me."

He gave his traditional smirk. "I wouldn't be anywhere else."

He kissed her gently, not wanting to let go. She smiled into his lips, murmuring, "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too." He drew back after a few minutes of sweet kisses. "Lets see the tires." She showed him each tire. "Damn she did a good job."

"Yeah," Brooke agreed.

He pulled her back into his arms. "I see her now. The real Carson. She is a complete whore and I am sorry I never trusted you enough to believe you."

"She's a good con."

"She tried to seduce me tonight. I was laying in your room and she came in."

"She said she was going to. What did you do?"

"Pushed off, told her how it was."

"Good. Glad you see things my way."

He kissed her waiting lips once more. "There's no other way."

She shivered. March weather wasn't warm. "Lets get out of here," she said.

"Good idea." He reached in and turned off the ignition. He then shut and locked her door. "Come on."

They rode the rest of the way back to Brooke's snuggled together. Each time they approached a stop light he would give her another kiss. She was back where she was meant to be.

They pulled up and walked inside hand in hand. When they reached the kitchen, Peyton rushed over and gave her a huge hug.

"Where have you been?"

"Long story."

Peyton looked down at their hands with questioning eyes.

Nathan called, "Brooke are you alright?"

"I'm fine, thanks to Lucas," she said, cuddling up close to him. Carson walked into the kitchen and Brooke narrowed her eyes. "No thanks to that bitch."

Teresa asked, "Carson?"

Lucas said, "It's a really long story."

"Its ten thirty. We have time," Haley said. They all walked into the den and shooed out anyone who was in there. Carson tried to leave but Jake stopped her and made her sit in a chair. Nathan, Haley, and Teresa sat on one couch, and Lucas and Brooke sat together on the other. Peyton sat on Jake's lap on the love seat and Tim stood next to Carson, making sure she didn't try to escape again.

Brooke whispered, "You tell it."

Lucas began, "When Nathan and Haley called Brooke, Carson over heard and grabbed the knife Peyton was using. She went outside and slashed Brooke's tires. All four. Brooke had no clue, so when she started driving her tires slowly lost air. She had to come to a stop on the highway. Carson had also taken Brooke's cell phone. When Nathan and Haley came back, I started getting suspicious because Carson had just invited me for sex. I turned her down of course, but then when Brooke's phone was in Carson's pocket I knew what happened. I drove the way to where you guys were supposed to meet, and halfway there I found Brooke."

Peyton's mouth dropped open. "Wow."

Haley glared at Carson. "Are you really that cruel?"

Carson smirked.

Teresa said, "Wow you are so off the squad."

"Oh yeah? How? I read the rule book, and you can't kick me off without a reason."

"You think this isn't a reason?"

"This happened off campus, so it doesn't count."

Teresa forewarned, "Oh we will make it count."

Carson stood up. "Whatever. Can I go? I will charge you with kidnapping."

Tim gladly let her walk out. "Damn."

Brooke said, "My words exactly." She yawned and rested her head on Lucas's chest. Lucas rested his chin on top of her head, rubbing her shoulders.

Two hours later, everyone but Brooke, Lucas, Peyton, and Jake had gone home. They were cleaning up.

Peyton and Brooke were throwing paper plates and cups into bags. Peyton commented, "Tough night."

"Nice night."

She smiled. "I'm glad you guys are together again."

"That makes two of us," Brooke beamed. "These last couple weeks have been hell."

"I know, I've been living them with you," Peyton kidded.

Jake walked in. "Peyton we better get going. Told my mom I'd be home by two."

Peyton asked, "Are you going to be okay?"

Brooke waved her off. "I got my man. I'm good." She smiled. "Seriously, thanks for everything. You are more than a friend could ask for." She gave Peyton a hug. She then hugged Jake. "Same goes for you. Now go home and take care of that baby."

After they left, Lucas walked into the room. "Everybody gone?"

Brooke flopped onto the couch. "Yep." Lucas plopped down next to her. "I'll try not to be so possessive."

He grinned. "I understand that you don't like to share."

"That I don't," she said grinning, grabbing his shirt and pulling him in for a kiss.

Author's Note: Wow thanks to all my devoted readers and reviewers! Sadly, Trusting You is coming to an end. only one or two chapters left. (you didn't think i would end it without some kind of revenge, did you?) but don't worry-- I have a sequel in the works. thanks again

-Emilie