BRIGHT LIGHTS
Author's Note:
-Lilybee2003: Thank you for the fabulous review. It really made my day. The song is "Empty Apartment" by Yellowcard. I sort of cut and pasted with the lyrics, so it's not exactly the real song.
-Christine: You as well as some other people, I assume, are confused if Lucas cheated on his fiancée with Brooke. The answer is: Yes. I purposefully tried to make it the dramatic ending of last chapter, but obviously it didn't go over well.
Enough of my chatter.
Time Stands Still
A piano played softly in the background. Champagne glasses clinked together and bubbling laughter rose up in the air.
Brooke did the math in her head. She saw Lucas six months ago. Did Jay say fiancée of one year??? No, it couldn't be right. Lucas was engaged?!? He was a cheating son-of-a-bitch.
Realizing that everyone was holding their breath, Brooke took the initiative. She held out her hand to Angela. "It's a pleasure to meet you," she said politely. Your fiancée, the guy you're going to marry cheated on you and I'm the other woman! Brooke's mind screamed.
Angela smiled such a genuine smile that it could warm anyone's heart. "You're so polite! I'm just glad that Jay, here, found someone he really likes. How long are you here for?"
"A weekend," Brooke responded with a smile.
Angela's face lit up. "I have to take you shopping then. LA is so expensive, but I know some great places that the clothes are so awesome."
This was getting too hard for Brooke. She couldn't hate Angela. The whole thing made Brooke even guiltier in the fact that Angela was one of the sweetest people. Damn Lucas. This wasn't even her fault, and now she felt guilt. She needed to dump it all on Lucas. All on Lucas.
"I have to go to the ladies room." Brooke announced. She gave everyone a smile and headed away. Brooke really had no idea where she was going. She could walk on this oriental carpet with chandeliers forever, living such a glamorous life. Everything was so glitzy, it just radiated bling.
Brooke heard heavy footsteps behind her. Ah, there you are. It was weird to know that she could feel his presence when he wasn't even three feet behind her.
"Brooke!"
She heard her name being called and stopped in her tracks. This was turning into such a corny romance movie. The whole affair and now this elegant party where the lovers have a confrontation were movie must haves. This is the effect Los Angeles had on people. She turned slowly, adding dramatic effect. Brooke inwardly giggled inside at how corny it was, but she loved it.
Lucas came to a stop in front of her. His cheeks were flushed and his hair was a bit tousled. "I can't believe you're here," he breathed.
Brooke smiled a bit. "Why did you do it? Again?"
Lucas looked into her eyes with his intense blue ones. "Brooke, you were my first girlfriend. The people you first love always have a piece of you." He shuffled and looked down at the floor. "I thought I wouldn't ever see you again. We didn't exactly have good closure in high school."
Brooke shrugged, but she knew what he said was true. "I'm sorry I ran away," she whispered.
Lucas nodded. "I am too." He hugged Brooke, squeezing her tightly to his body. He rested his chin on the top of her head.
Brooke could feel tears spring to her eyes. Why did Lucas have this effect on her? It was ridiculous. She was with Jay now. "Oh god, we're like sappy forbidden lovers." Brooke mentally felt like hitting herself in the head as she felt Lucas' body stiffen. They weren't lovers, Lucas was engaged. She just added salt to the wound.
Both of them let each other go.
Lucas looked at Brooke with sorrow. "Maybe we should just forget it-."
Forget it?!? He can live with the guilt? But this isn't my fault. Brooke saw Jay coming towards her through the crowd."Let's go and party!" Brooke exclaimed, regaining her chirpiness while wiping stray tears away.
Lucas followed Brooke's line of vision to his best friend who had a confused look on his face. "Maybe this isn't the time to talk about it."
Brooke nodded.
Lucas offered his arm and Brooke gladly took it. "You could've left me a note," Brooke joked as they walked back into the ballroom.
"Keep in touch?" Brooke asked as soon as they almost reached Jay.
"Will do."
"There you guys are!" Angela exclaimed as she saw the two of them approach her. "You guys took forever."
Lucas shrugged and put his arm around her shoulders. "Sorry, Ang." His blue eyes were focused on Brooke.
Jay clasped his hand in Brooke's. "Well, it's time to go to the theater and watch a bunch of people talk extensively about shit."
Lucas and Brooke's eyes connected one last time before they walked away from each other in the arms of someone else.
Brooke walked out of the building, truly exhilarated, into the driveway loaded with black shiny limos. Smoke wandered from the cigarettes of the smokers that were lurking near the golden entrance. She loved the warm California air as it engulfed her. It was lazy and the pace was slow; the exact opposite of New York. To a career-minded woman like Brooke, she wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.
Jay led her gently by her waist to a limo she wasn't quite sure how he managed to distinguish. People on the sidewalk gaped at the people pouring out of the building in expensive dresses and tuxedos. Brooke was always the center of attention, she was starting to drift from it in New York, but here she was again.
The world was high school, just on a grander scale.
"That was so cool!" Brooke gushed as the limo sped along wide boulevard.
Jay grinned; he was so glad that Brooke was happy. This girl is truly one of a kind. He though as he watched Brooke's eyes light up and her smile increase as she talked about the show.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Brooke squealed. She threw her hands over Jay's head and gave him small kisses on both cheeks.
Jay hugged Brooke's body closer to him. "No problem. Anything for you."
"Aw, Jay, you're too sweet!" Brooke playfully hit him on the side. In New York, she was this huge cold-hearted bitch. Jay just brought out the playful and happy side of her. The only other person who had ever made her feel this way was Lucas. Lucas was caring and sweet. There was no one else like him. Brooke thought about Lucas everyday, seeing him again from their brief encounter made her wish she could just kiss him again. To have him hold her again and twirl her hair around was all she ever wanted.
Jay lifted his body up as he reached for something in his pocket. "Brooke. . ." he started.
The daydream cleared. Brooke cleared the thoughts of Lucas from her head. She shouldn't be thinking about him when she was with someone else. Jay was everything a girl could want-he was gorgeous, smart, and great in bed. Brooke even felt a spark with him. Then why did she always think about Lucas?
Brooke sat up, her hair slightly disheveled. Jay had a serious look on his face. He held a small black velvet box in his hand.
Brooke was stunned. She couldn't manage to move or speak, or think in that matter.
Jay opened the box with steady fingers. In it sat a white gold band with the words LOVE engraved. He looked in Brooke's eyes. "Brooke, I love you."
Brooke felt the air go out of her. Jay's eyes expecting face awaited in front of her. "I love you too," she managed to squeeze out.
Jay kissed her lips. He slipped the ring on Brooke's fourth finger-where a wedding band was supposed to go.
Brooke smiled and gazed admirably at the shining ring.
"It's a promise ring. A promise to each other," Jay whispered.
Brooke closed her eyes in content and inhaled Jay's strong cologne. But was she making decisions too fast?
The limousine stopped in front of a nightclub that looked ultra-exclusive. The red velvet ropes withheld crazed photographers while regular patrons tried to get themselves in.
Jay and Brooke walked up to the terrifyingly huge bouncer. He had tattoos running down his large biceps. His bald head, sunglasses, and all black clothes made him look so ominous and somewhat sadistic.
Jay held up some card and flashed it in the face of the bouncer.
The bouncer looked down with disdain at Jay who even though at 6'1, was a midget compared in height. His face turned into a snarl.
Oh my god! He is going to kill us! "We're going to die!" Brooke exclaimed in grief.
Both men turned to her questioningly.
Brooke fumbled, trying to recover. "I just said, 'We're going to pie.' I mean. . . Fly."
"Jay," the bouncer started in a big rumbling voice. "This one might just have to be put in a hospital. I mean you've dated crazy girls before but this one takes the cake. You should check her in somewhere. I told you to stop dating these whores that only like you for your money. I mean, look at her. She may be hot, but she's only good for one night."
"Bob!" Jay exclaimed. He made a slitting throat gesture.
Mortified and outraged, Brooke spun on him. "And what it that supposed to mean?" She stood as tall as she could, but she only came up to his chest. It didn't stop her from turning angry or abusive.
"Nothing," the bouncer held his hands in front of him in defense.
"Brooke. . ." Jay tried to calm her down.
"Can you believe him?" Brooke asked angrily. "How dare he insult me like that?" She threw an evil look at the bouncer. "Jay beat him up!"
Jay looked at her in disbelief. "Excuse me?"
"Yeah, I told you to beat him up." Brooke said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.
A small crowd was gathering. People peered over one another in curiosity. Even some of the photographers had stopped taking pictures of the celebrities that were arriving.
"Brooke," Jay whispered urgently. "He's like a giant."
"Fine, I'll beat him up!" Brooke said as she got ready to kick some ass. Nobody had ever messed with her and gotten away with it.
"Oh god. This is so embarrassing." Jay couldn't take anymore of this. He pushed Brooke into the club entrance as she tried to fight her way out.
They entered the dim lit club with music blaring and people in trendy clothes dancing with each other.
"Can you believe him? The nerve!" Brooke complained loudly over the blasting music.
Jay led her to the velvet VIP area. He pushed away a curtain into a much quieter atmosphere. Red velvet covered the entire area, and already, several celebrities were drinking fashionable drinks and talking away.
They both sat in a plushy Victorian booth.
"Hey you guys!" Angela said with enthusiasm as she spotted the couple. Lucas tagged along after her.
"You didn't tell me Lucas was going to be here," Brooke whispered to Jay.
Jay looked strangely at Brooke. "Why wouldn't he be here? It's the after-party. We all know that the party doesn't start until the after-party."
"Right."
Lucas and Angela settled into chairs across from Brooke and Jay. Awkward conversation ensued. Well, at least it was for Lucas and Brooke. Jay and Angela talked easily without noticing the lack of conversation from Lucas or Brooke.
A song with a fast and catchy melody came on.
"I love this song!" Angela exclaimed, jumping out of her chair. "Lucas, let's go."
Lucas shook his head. "Nah, I'm okay."
Angela looked slightly hurt. "Well, Jay, at least will you dance with me?"
Jay got up. "Sure, Brooke?" He offered his hand.
Brooke refused also. She wasn't in the mood to get all sweaty and grind tonight. Plus the dress she was wearing was in no way, shape or form, going to be rubbed against random strangers on the dance floor.
"Please, Brooke?" Angela tried persuading.
Brooke shook her head once again.
Angela shrugged. "Okay. Fine. Party-poopers." She teased. Jay and her joined hands and walked off.
Brooke and Lucas watched them depart.
"They get along really well, don't they," Brooke started.
"Yeah. They've been friends for a long time."
Brooke leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table. "Longer than us?" The candle flickered and the flame bounced back and forth.
Lucas stared at Brooke's lightly lit face intently. "No probably not."
Brooke was about to say something, when she noticed how hot it was. "It's so humid in here," Brooke exclaimed. "My hair is probably frizzy." She touched her hair self-consciously.
"Your hair looks beautiful," Lucas whispered. He brushed a lock out of Brooke's eyes. His hand rested on her forehead and his face was so close to Brooke's.
They both realized how close they were at the exact same moment.
Lucas cleared his throat. "So, let's get some fresh air."
"Yeah."
Brooke followed Lucas out of a side door. They climbed down the black steel fire escape into the dark alley. The alley was immersed in darkness except for a few places of light from a fluorescent bulb. A few moths fluttered around.
Brooke gazed up at the sky. It was perfectly clear with the stars shining brightly and the moon glowing. "It's so beautiful."
Lucas looked up. Brooke could feel his hand on the small of her back through the thin silk of her dress.
Brooke looked up and down the alley. A feeling of déjà vu came to her. "Doesn't this look familiar?"
"What?" Lucas asked questioningly. It dawned on him. "Yeah, the night you got me drunk and I got the tattoo. Then Keith kicked my ass."
Brooke smiled meekly. "Sorry. But it was a great night." Brooke remembered Lucas' hot breath and his lips pressed against hers.
"Yeah, that was really a fun night," Lucas mused.
"I think that-." Brooke was interrupted as Lucas pressed his lips to hers. She opened her mouth and slipped her tongue in his mouth.
Lucas pressed Brooke against the wall and kissed her passionately. Brooke slipped her hands under Lucas' shirt and felt his hard body.
Lucas squirmed over her. "Wow, that's cold."
Brooke stopped mid-kiss. "What?"
Lucas backed away and took out Brooke's hand from under his Dolce shirt. A glint shined from Brooke's hand. Lucas read held her hand closer to his eyes to read the inscription on the ring.
"Oh god," they both whispered.
Brooke snatched her hand from Lucas'. She hiked up her dress. "You know, this isn't fair. To Jay or Angela. You know, maybe you should just go home, or away. Let's forget about it. Please." She ran back up the steps, her heels clicked the metal and made resounding hollow sounds.
The door slammed shut.
The alley was empty just with one confused heartbroken soul left in it: Lucas.