Chapter Two

"Break" Doesn't Always Mean Stress Free

Christmas break couldn't have come any sooner for the students at Wake Forest. After weeks of pressure from her boyfriend, Lucas Scott, Brooke Davis gave into him. She was going to go back to Tree Hill, the place she loathed for 17 years. Part of the reason she decided to go back was because she had no where else to go, this was also the reason Eliza Thomas tagged along.

Eliza's parents, two of the most prestigious prosecutors in all of South Carolina, somewhat disowned her after the birth of their grandchild. Lets just say had Eliza gone back to Livingston, World War III would have erupted.

The three all drove separately for the short trip to Tree Hill. Lucas led the pack in his new Toyota Four Runner which he bought himself as a graduation present. Brooke followed him in her 2003 BMW Beemer. Lilia rode in her car seat, patiently throughout the two hour drive. Third in the caravan of cars was Eliza driving her brand new Lexus GX470 SUV.

Money, to Eliza's parents, made up for everything. When they missed her first day of elementary school, they took her to Disney World. They missed her Miss Teen USA Pageant when she represented the state of South Carolina. In return they bought her the Louis Vuitton luggage she had so desperately longed for all season. And when they refused to witness the birth of their grandson, they bought her a new car. A forty five thousand dollar Lexus SUV to be exact.

Eliza ran her fingers through her blonde hair and turned to the back seat. Reed was asleep in his car seat, pacifier in mouth, blanket in hand. His curly auburn hair was almost as messy as her own and his porcelain skin made him look like something out of a FAO Schwartz catalog.

She stepped a little harder on the accelerator to catch up to Brooke, who at the time seemed to be paying attention to everything except the road. Applying the perfect color and amount of lip gloss, while talking to Lucas on her cell phone, and checking up on Lilia every other second. Brooke nervously ran her free hand over her hair, down her neck, and began playing with her necklace Lucas had given her on Lilia's six month birthday. It was a silver pendant with LDS, Lilia Davis Scott, engraved. Brooke decided she "had to have one" when she found out every single famous mother was wearing them. She never expected it to mean anymore to her than any other piece of jewelry. It was. It meant that she was a mother.

As Lucas drove, he watched an anxious Brooke out of his mirrors. "Just calm down," He said into his cell phone to her as he switched lanes, "It's not like you have never been there." He adjusted his baseball cap on his head and then readjusted it three seconds later.

Brooke sighed into the phone and said, "I know, but still... Lucas you don't get it. I waited my whole life to get the hell out of there. What the hell am I doing going back?" She heard Lilia begin to cry from the back seat. "Hang on baby doll."

"Okay." Lucas said as he changed the radio station. Finally landing on a semi-decent station. Britney Spears came on. Digusted, he changed the station. Oh, Elton John Crocodile Rock, so much better.

"No," Brooke said, "Not you. Lilia."

"Oh," He said, feeling his face begin to blush.

"Don't be embarrassed." She knew him so well.

He laughed and smirked at her. How did she know everything he was thinking? He wondered to himself if she knew what he was thinking about right now. Probably, he said to himself.

"What did you say? Did you say something to me?" Brooke asked, rambling.

"No... nothing." He reached into his pocket and threw a piece of gum into his mouth. Again, it was like Brooke knew what he was thinking.

"I think I have to pee." She bit her lip and ran her tongue across her teeth. She looked back at Lilia, who had fallen asleep. "I need some gum too."

Lucas looked down at his hand and saw the gum wrapper. "I just put my last piece in my mouth."

"I know," She said watching Lucas pull off at the exit. "That's what made me think of it. Well that and the fact that I have the grossest taste in my mouth. Damn garlic."

He pulled his car into a parking place at the Shell Station and watched Brooke do the same. Several seconds later, Eliza pulled in. She looked frazzled and somewhat confused. "I almost passed this place," She said, reaching into the back seat of her SUV and pulling out Reed. "Glad we stopped though. I need a soda or something and I have got to go to the bathroom."

"Me too," Brooke said, adjusting Lilia on her hip and walking toward the gas station with Eliza. She turned around to look at Lucas. He followed close behind the pair. She winked at him and he thought to himself, "How did I get so lucky?"

Once Brooke, Eliza, and the kids got out of the bathroom they stocked up on the necessary goods. Brooke grabbed three bags of Gummy Worms and a Mellow Yellow. When she reached for the drink Lucas said, "Like you really need that much more caffeine in your system. You are jittery enough about going home." She squinted her eyes at him and questioned giving him the finger, but did not. For the children's sake of course. Eliza decided on a Snickers, Reese's Cups, Pay Day, Almond Joy and a bottle of Diet Caffeine Free Coke. When Brooke saw this, she couldn't help herself, "That Diet Coke definitely does not make up for four candy bars, but good try."

"I'm sorry Miss Fitness Guru." She said, throwing the candy bars and soda onto the checkout table. Pointing to Brooke's bags of gummy candy, she said "Low fat I presume?"

Brooke nodded, opening one bag offering her a single worm. Eliza shook her head and held up the candy bars, wiggling her eyebrows. Brooke choked on the gummy worm, laughing. Eliza began hysterically laughing.

Lucas took them both by the arms and led them out of the convenient store. "I can't take you two anywhere."

Their laughing ceased and Brooke hit him on the arm, Eliza did the same. In unison, they said, "Can so." Then they looked at each other and the laughing started up again.

Lucas rolled his eyes, jokingly and said to Brooke, "Want me to take her for a little while?" He pointed to Lilia who was in his arms.

She nodded and said, "Love you. See you at home." She cringed at the last words. Lucas could see how nervous she was. Her hands were shaking so that she could hardly grip the steering wheel.

Before she closed the door Lucas said to her, "Don't worry, B. It'll be just like old times." He winked at her and began to put Lilia in the seat that was in his car.

Trying to give him a smile, she thought to herself, Yeah just like old times and I am so excited because the old times were so much fun. You cheated on me and I ended up pregnant. She watched her trembling hands start her car. As she pulled out of the parking lot after Lucas she said, "Let's just hope none of that happens again." She put her sunglasses on her face and pulled onto the highway, trying to catch up.