"Have I ever told you just how proud I am of you?"
Peyton smiled as she looked over at Jake, so handsome in his dark suit, slim and tan, brown hair spiked up. God, she loved that man.
"Let's see…not in the last hour", Peyton giggled as she checked her watch.
Giggling. Jake Jagielski was surely the only man who had ever made Peyton Sawyer giggle in her entire laugh. But he somehow just had that effect on her…the ability to make her feel loved and happy and just warm all over. She would certainly need him by her side for the event of the evening. It was her first "one man" or "one woman" show in Chicago and it had been the talk of the art world. Gallery owners, potential auction bidders and other more noted artists would all be in attendance and the room was slowly starting to fill up. But more than that, Peyton was most nervous to showcase her talent to her childhood friends who had also promised to attend. More than ten years later and it was funny how their opinions still counted more than anyone else's.
"Are you ready, Pey?" Jake asked as he surveyed the scene. "Everyone's starting to show up. Time to introduce yourself to some very important people."
"I…I'm ready, I guess. It's just that…well, do my shoulders look okay, babe?"
"Your shoulders?" Jake asked with a furrowed brow.
Peyton was stunning in a Valentino original that showcased her incredible arms, bare back and cleavage line. Diamond jewelry and blond cascading curls only accented her near flawless appearance.
"Yeah…my shoulders. How do they look?"
"Fine, I guess", Jake answered with a laugh. "You look gorgeous all over, I don't see what your shoulders have to do with anything."
"I…oh never mind. It's a long story", she sighed with a smile. "Now let's go mingle. I'm ready."
They worked the crowd with smiles and conversations on various original pieces. The night was going well and Peyton was thrilled, non more so when she saw Nathan and Haley enter the room. As always the youngest Scott brother was looking dapper in his suit while his bride shone in a silk, off the shoulder peach colored number. Her auburn hair had been swept up into an elegant up do. The four old friends exchanged hellos and hugs.
"Oh Pey, your work is absolutely amazing!" Haley gushed. "I'm serious. I love it. I have just in mind the piece I want to buy to hang over the foyer, right Nate?"
"Whatever my wife wants", Nathan smiled as he gave Peyton a peck on the cheek. "Whichever piece Hales chooses, I'd be honored to have itin my house. You're a great artist, Peyton. Always have been."
Peyton blushed at the comment. It was nice to see that Nathan Scott had so evolved from the egotistical, self righteous asshole he had been when they had dated so long ago. Finally he had turned into the man she knew he always could be.
It was calming to have Nathan and Haley there for support but Peyton missed her other friends as well. The night wouldn't be the same without Lucas and Brooke. No soon as the thought passed through her brain, she spotted one half of the couple.
"Luke!" she grinned, hugging him. "I'm so glad you came."
"I'll take one of everything", he joked.
"Yeah? Keep talking like that and I might hold you to it. You could certainly afford it. I thought you were bringing a friend."
"Oh. Anna? Something came up and she couldn't make it."
"What about your other better half?"
"I thought Brooke would be here by now. We flew separately, something came up with her work."
The old friends chatted and sipped wine. It had been a great night so far and Peyton was relaxed until her eyes scanned the door.
"What's wrong, Pey?"
"Oh God. I am glad I had that first glass of wine but now I'm really starting to regret the second."
All eyes shifted to the entrance where Gordon was standing, looking like a million bucks in his tuxedo, eyeliner applied to perfection and eyebrows plucked beautifully.
He instantly recognized the party and strutted over, head held high and making no secret that he loved how his presence could captivate an entire room.
"Well, if it isn't my lovely family", he grinned, shaking hands with the men and planting kisses on the cheeks of the ladies. "Everyone is looking lovely…not as lovely as me but hey, we can't all be perfect. Nice to see everybody. Nathan…Haley…Scrumptious, I mean, Jake…and hey Judas."
"Nice to see you too, man", Lucas smiled, shaking his head.
"And the divine Miss Sawyer."
"Go ahead and say it, Gordon. I am totally prepared. Go ahead. Tell me my shoulders look…"
"Great. Just like the rest of you", Gordon winked. "Nice job on the art. You're very talented. I'll have you know that I will be purchasing your two most expensive pieces…one for my home, one for my office. After all, what's a cozy living room and work space without a Peyton Sawyer original masterpiece?"
Everyone smiled as Peyton and Gordon exchanged winks. He had always been a good guy and now Peyton knew exactly what Brooke had seen in him over the years.
"Now I know Divas travel in packs", Haley laughed. "Brooke can't be too far behind."
"Actually, I need to talk to y'all about Miss Thang. You know how they say people have brain farts? Well Honey Child's skipped that part and went straight into full fledged cerebral diarrhea."
"What are you talking about, Gordon?" Peyton laughed.
No one was laughing a few minutes later when Brooke made her grand entrance. The dress was designed by Versace and it was soft orange in color with full sleeves and a plunging neckline that had nothing on the shocking front split that travelled all the way up her thighs. Hair curled, make up perfect and diamonds everywhere (even on her shoes), she was nothing short of stunning. When she arrived it was as if all the air had left the room. No one could talk or think, only concentrate on the undeniable beauty before them.
"Wow", Jake commented. "Brooke looks…"
"Gorgeous", Lucas said, finishing up the sentence in a near whisper.
"But that ain't all", Gordon started. "Judas, there's something you should know. Diva…"
Too late. Before Gordon could get the words out of his mouth, the friends all watched in horror as an equally striking tall, dark and handsome figure slipped an arm around Brooke's waist.
"Isn't that the Felix guy from Brooke's baby shower?" Haley asked. "I thought he was her boss."
It was so silent you could hear a pin drop and everyone certainly heard Lucas Scott's jaw clench.
"Calm down, Judas", Gordon breathed. "I tried to warn you. Don't make like DMX and lose your mind up in here."
"Hello, Friends", Brooke cheerily smiled as she greeted everyone. "You all know Mr. Felix Colwell, a very close, personal friend of mine. Felix, you know Gordie of course and here's Nathan and Haley, Jake Jagielski, Peyton Sawyer and Lucas Scott."
The group exchanged awkward greetings and hearts temporarily stopped when Felix extended his hand to Lucas. A large collective sigh of relief was breathed when Luke grudgingly accepted it.
"Thank God for Jesus", Gordon muttered under his breath.
"Nice job, P. Sawyer", Brooke grinned. "Friend, I am so proud of you. This is incredible and you've come such a long way from those freaky drawings you used to do in your bedroom when we were in high school. I cannot wait to buy some of your stuff."
"Me too", Felix grinned. "You are a very, very talented artist."
"Duh! Totally. Pey is up there with Monet and Rembrandt and Michaelangelo and the rest of those famous dead people", Brooke added.
"Oh Brooke, you're embarrassing me", Peyton blushed.
"Don't be embarrassed", Felix added. "Your work is mesmerizing. Just the other day I took the girls, you know, Brooke and Harmony to an Art Museum and…"
"Brooke, can I see you? Now!"
Lucas looked like he was on the verge of having a seizure and his invitation was much more of statement than a polite request.
"Okay Luke but in a minute. I was just…"
"No, Brooke! Now. Right now."
Trying her best to avoid an even bigger scene, Brooke followed her husband into the main hall.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"Pardon me?"
"Oh Brooke, save it! Don't play cute with me. Why the fuck are you here with him?"
"Felix is my friend and when I told him what was going on tonight, he asked if he could join me. He appreciates fine art and has no qualms about shelling out big bucks for it. I thought that would definitely help out Jake and Peyton."
"Well, he isn't wanted here!"
"By whom? Because I don't hear any other complaints. Gosh, why are you being such a prick tonight, Lucas? I'm sure your date must be having the thrill of a lifetime."
"Anna couldn't make it and even if she could, it wouldn't have been a date. She's just my friend."
"Okay. Now that we have partaken in this ridiculous conversation, I say we rejoin our friends inside…"
"Brooke, I'm not done with you."
"What now, Father?"
"Real funny. I can't believe you show up with that guy wearing that dress."
"What's wrong with my dress?"
"You mean, what's left of it? Yeah, Brooke, real appropriate. You're someone's mom for Christ's sake."
"Well Felix didn't seem to have a problem with it."
"Oh I bet your little friend didn't."
"By the way, he's not my friend…he's my date. Now if you'll excuse me."
"Brooke, I said I'm not done with you!"
"Yeah? Well I'm done with you", she said as she walked off.
Seething, he stood there for a minute before downing a few glasses of champagne. Of all things to do, Brooke had really crossed the line. The more it festered inside his mind, the angrier he became. After almost two bottles of champagne, he returned to where the presentation was being held. Jake and Peyton were in deep discussion with a prominent gallery owner while Nathan, Haley and Gordon were happily chatting with other guests. Off in a corner, Brooke and Felix were standing close, both smiling and speaking in hushed whispers. Feeling a fiery rage burning and building within, a slightly tipsy Lucas marched over to the couple, roughly pulling Felix by the arm so that the two men were face to face.
"You want to explain what the fuck you're doing, man?"
"You want to get out of my face?" Felix asked calmly.
Brooke immediately separated the two.
"Felix, walk away. Please. Lucas, out in the hallway…pronto!"
He complied and Brooke could barely contain her anger.
"Are you out of your damned mind?"
"Are you out of yours? And you blame me because the stupid paparazzi hounds you all the time! It's because of crap like this, always bringing attention to yourself, falling all over that sleaze bag… "
"Oh, great! This again? You…"
"You want people to talk? Keep it up, because this is a surefire way to keep your name in the headlines. This is stupid, Brooke! And maybe I can't tell you who to hang out with but I don't want that son of a bitch around my daughter anymore!"
"She is my daughter, too!"
"Yeah, well let's just pray it won't be like mother, like daughter in this case. For Harmony's sake because when it comes to you and Mary, the apple didn't fall too far from the tree, did it?"
Then it was Lucas' turn to walk away. Brooke fought back tears of anger. Knowing what she had gone through with her mother, his last comment had definitely been a low blow. Trying her best to get through the evening and not ruin it anymore for Peyton, Brooke returned. Felix was still composing himself.
"Hey. I'm really sorry about that. I had no idea that was gonna happen. Anyway, I think my soon to be ex has had a little bit too much to drink. You don't deserve any of it and it's really not about you…it's about me."
"It's cool. Don't worry about it."
"Are you sure?
Felix nodded and smiled at her.
"What?"
"Nothing…it's just that you look incredibly hot tonight. You're a special woman, Brooke and believe me, it's gonna take a whole hell of a lot more than a drunk, jealous soon to be out of the picture husband, to keep me away."
Nathan who had been keeping one eye on Brooke and her new "friend" and one eye on his increasingly disgruntled older brother, decided to take charge.
"Hales, I'm gonna get Luke out of here before something bad happens. I don't want him to do something he'll regret later and I don't want this to ruin Peyton's night. Let me get him back to the hotel before this gets any more out of control."
Haley nodded in agreement and kissed her husband as she nervously joined Jake, Peyton and Gordon. They watched as Nathan whispered a few words and Lucas stood up to follow him out.
On the way out, with Brooke out of earshot, Felix and Lucas crossed paths once more.
"Have a good night, you punk bitch", Lucas taunted.
"Actually, I've been having a crummy night but your wife is about to change all that", Felix smirked.
"Dude, shut the fuck up", Nathan said to Felix before turning to Lucas. "Just ignore him, bro. Come on. We're going back to the hotel."
"Stay out of this, punk!" Felix said to Nathan.
"Hey! You got a problem with my little brother?
"No", Felix said, looking Lucas up and down. "Maybe I got a problem with you. But you're lucky… I'm not gonna do this in here."
"That's too bad", Lucas said breaking away from Nathan's grip. "Because I am."
Lucas threw a right hook that sent Felix airborne.
"Whoo child!" Gordon screamed.
All attention had turned to the ensuing grapple. Lucas grabbed Felix who threw his own punch. Lucas, bloody nose and all, quickly rose to his feet, charging his opponent.
"Lucas! Stop it!" Brooke yelled
Her cries fell on deaf ears as both men sank to the floor, still struggling.
"Stop it, I said! Dammitt, Lucas!"
Nathan grabbed Lucas while Jake grabbed Felix in order to separate the two. Peyton and Haley looked horrified while Gordon danced around like Muhamad Ali, throwing fake air punches and saying things like, "Get him, Judas".
"Nate, get your damned hands off me", Lucas yelled.
"Not until I get your drunk, stupid ass outside!"
"Dude, you're my little brother! You're supposed to have my back!"
"I do but that was not the time and place, man. Luke, sometimes you just don't think!"
When Lucas had calmed down outside, he and Nathan were joined by the others. Haley carefully applied ice to his face.
"Pey, I'm not sorry for decking that jerk but I'm really sorry for screwing up your night", Lucas apologized.
"It's fine", Peyton shrugged.
"I could see why you snapped, Judas", Gordon added. "Yeah you cheated and you lied first but that was a long time ago. And everyone knows how sorry you are because God knows we've heard you whine it enough. I don't know what Diva was thinking, bringing him here. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something is up with that cat. He is bad news! I'm glad you punched him. Shit, I told Diva about all this silly old mess. She's got that fool riding in a plane that you bought, holding the baby you half made and visiting the house you'll still be paying a mortgage on long after that divorce is final. Shit, it's a wonder you didn't go O.J. on her ass."
Lucas sat on the curb and tried to ignore his stinging face. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a stretch limo pull up and Felix escorted Brooke to it. Felix got in first and for a minute Brooke just stood there, maintaining eye contact with her husband. For a while it looked like she might say something, instead she shook her head sadly and disappeared into the limousine. All Lucas could do was sit on the ground. With his lip and nose bleeding, what else was there to do? He had done enough already.