Two brothers walked on the sand side by side, the silence of the day only interrupted by the waves crashing onto the shore. It was a picture of serenity, a private and quiet beach where it was easy to be one with nature. Pete barked as he ran a few feet ahead.
"So the doctors gave you a clean bill of health?"
"Something like that", Lucas shrugged. "I know I'll never be 100 percent but they say my cardiovascular system has recovered as well and as fast as it could have with HCM."
"That's good news, Luke. I'm glad", Nathan nodded. "So what are you going to do now? Back to New York?"
"I don't know. I mean, I like it out here. I don't think I'll live here forever but I want to stay a couple more months and work out with the specialists here. Then from there, who knows?"
"What about Brooke?"
Nathan posed the question carefully. He feared he was treading on dangerous waters.
"I don't know. I mean, you know pretty much what happened at the gym the other week. We talked…she said some things, I said some things but it's pretty much over. We both realize that. It sucks and it's sad but we're still friends and that's a good thing. I've always wanted us to get along for the sake of Harmony but it's even better when it's genuine."
"Is that how you really feel?"
"I guess. I mean, yeah. I love Brooke very much but it's too late for us."
"Okay."
"What?"
"What do you mean, what?"
"Come on, Nate. I know you, man. I know that look on your face."
"What look?"
"The one where you're dying to say something. So go ahead. You may as well put your two cents in."
"Nothing. I was just thinking. Did you ever hear the story about Dan's state championship game in high school?"
"Yeah. Whitey benched him."
"Not exactly. That's Whitey's story. See, the Ravens were leading, and Whitey wanted to go into a stall. Dan didn't want to, so at the end of the game, with everything on the line, he sat down. Refused to go back into the game."
"Really?"
"Yeah. The way Dan saw it, he lost the game but he won the argument. That was more important to him."
"Well that sucks. I could never do something like that to my teammates."
"Yeah…me neither."
"Wait a minute. Nathan, where is all this coming from? I mean, why did you just tell me that story?"
"The story itself was about basketball but the point, the moral itself, could pertain to anything in life."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning your marriage, after everything that has happened, could still have a real shot. Just like the team did in that story. Whitey wanted the stall, he called the shots for what he thought was best for the game. Maybe he wasn't always right and maybe he wasn't always nice and polite about it but he was doing the best he knew how."
"Come on, Nate. What are you saying? Are you saying Brooke is Whitey?"
"Well, yeah. And you're being like Dan. It's your turn to be the stubborn one."
"Dude, I am not being stubborn. Look, you know everything that we've been through over the past two years. It's been one big pain filled, anger drenched, plot twisting soap opera. Only it wasn't some cheesy TV show. It's my life, man. This was real and it happened to me. And a lot happened."
"You hurt Brooke, you tried to make up for it and she wasn't hearing it. Then you guys are divorcing. Then you're fighting like cats and dogs. Next thing I know you're best friends again about to become parents. And just when you were so close, everything got ruined."
"Thanks to our peach of a father", Lucas sarcastically rolled his eyes.
"True. Dan's sick plan was the cause of everything but you and Brooke weren't exactly innocent."
"What do you mean?"
"If you guys could have been mature and logical enough for two seconds, then maybe you would have quit with the stupid cat and mouse mind games. Going back and forth playing hard to get when deep down, despite the mistrust and the hurt, you both knew you wanted to work it out. Dan is like that dude Gargamel on the Smurfs. Every week he has a new plan, something new and evil designed to destroy and manipulate so he can take over everyone's lives. That's just the way he is. He'll smile right in my face and Haley's too but do you have any idea how many times he has tried to break us up? He has been relentless but it never worked. Know why? Because Hales and I wouldn't let it. We were stronger than that. Our love is stronger than that. And I remember a time when you and Brooke were stronger than that, too. Look, man. I know a lot of wild shit happened. I know you hurt each other badly but the bottom line is you guys love each other."
"Nathan, sometimes love just isn't enough."
"And sometimes it is. I know you're scared right now. Scared to open up. Scared to hope. I don't blame you but everything worth having is worth taking a risk for."
"I love Brooke and I love Harmony more than you could imagine. It's hard to put into words but I know you understand because you have that same love for Hales and Aidan and Tristan. I've lost her and it was my fault and so many times over the last couple of years, we were this close to maybe working it out. Bro, I lived for those moments. I hoped and I prayed we would get it together. And each time it happened and we came that much closer…bam! Something would happen or we'd get scared and go back to square one. I can't take it anymore. What happens if we give it another go and it doesn't work out?"
"But what if it does? And you'll never know unless you try."
Lucas defiantly shook his head.
"I can't."
"You love her?"
"Of course I love her."
"Then you can."
"Nate, I wouldn't even know where to start."
"Begin at the beginning. Nice and slow and easy. Remember back in Tree Hill how it was when you guys first hooked up? Brooke was flighty and aggressive and all she wanted to do was get drunk and have sex. What did you tell her that night at the Boat Burning festival?"
Lucas could remember like it was yesterday. Despite all the flirting and the suggestive come ons and the drunken stupors, he could somehow see right through. It was when she was normal and quiet, when she really smiled her real smile, not the fake cheerleading one but the real one that showcased her dimples. When her eyes sparkled or her hair blew in the breeze. That's when he liked her most. That's when he could see past the phoniness and the façade and know there was a real person in there. A girl beautiful on the inside as well who could be thoughtful, smart and sincere.
"I told her she didn't have to act the way she did. I told her she could just be herself around me. And I told her she didn't have to be the binge drinking party girl trying to get me in bed in order for me to like her."
"And what did you do after that?"
"We…I don't know. We started dating. We went out places and we talked and we got to know each other. We took it slow."
"Then what?"
"I don't have to tell you the rest. You know what happened. I fell in love with Brooke."
"Exactly."
"Nathan, I still don't get it."
"Start over, man. Right here, right now, wipe the slate clean. And don't worry about next week or next month or next year, just concentrate on where you guys are now. Take it slow and have fun while you're doing it. You say so much has happened in two years and it really changed you and Brooke. That's probably true. Maybe the problem was, you guys were so busy thinking and acting like the couple and the people you used to be. Luke, you aren't those people anymore and you never will be. You and Brooke are just gonna have to start over from scratch."
Lucas just looked up at his little brother.
"When did you get so wise?" he half joked.
"What can I say?" Nathan smirked. "It just comes along with the territory when you're naturally good looking, extremely witty, superbly talented and always right."
"You're a punk", Lucas laughed, playfully punching his younger brother in the arm.
"Yeah? And you're an even bigger one if you don't go get your family back."
"Nate…"
"Go!"
"Man, I…"
"Go! Here. Take my keys", he said tossing them. "You know where to find her, right?"
"Yeah", Lucas nodded.
"Then what's stopping you?"
-------
He pulled into the parking lot so fast that the tires screeched. Nathan would have a fit if he had known the wear and tear on his preciousspinning chrome wheels but oh well. If push came to shove, Lucas was perfectly willing to replace the set. Hell, at that point he would have been game to buy him a new Mercedes. He was a man on a mission and nothing else mattered.
He swung open the door, running like a mad man, almost out of breath as he called out her name. He garnered several strange looks from the other people in the building but he didn't care. Finally he came to the largest studio and sure enough there she was. Hair pinned up, minimal make up and black work out pants to match her leotard. Luke's breath caught in his throat as he watched her dance. He loved to watch her dance. She was a born dancer and she'd always loved it. Concentrating, she extended one leg backward in an arabesque before going into a pirouette turn. She was a portrait of graceand elegance at its finest from the beautiful linesher body created to the perfect pointed toe position of her pink ballet slippers. He stood watching her with awe until the music stopped and she finally noticed his presence.
"Hey", she smiled, obviously surprised. "Um, what are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry to bother you here but we have some unfinished business."
"Oh", she said. "I was wondering when you were gonna get to that."
"What do you mean?"
"Lucas, look. I know why you're here, okay?"
"You do?" he asked with a puzzled look.
"Yeah, I do. And I understand. It has to be done. I guess it should have been done a long time ago."
"Yeah…it really should have."
"Okay. So did you bring them? Once you sign, we can just FedEx them back to New York and…"
"Brooke, wait a minute. You thought I came by tobring the divorce papers?"
"Well yeah."
"No", he smiled. "Actually, I didn't. I, um…I came to ask you a question."
"Okay", she said with a confused look.
"I came to ask if I could have this dance."
She looked at him and waited for the laugh, some indication that he was only joking. That inkling never came. He just stood there with a serious but sincere expression.
"Lucas, what are you doing?"
"What should have been done a long time ago. Brooke, I've made a lot of mistakes and you know that. I made a huge one two years ago when I strayed from our marriage and maybe an even bigger one last week when I told you we shouldn't get back together. One event, one stupid night and one stupid mistake opened up Pandora's box and started a chain of events that only left heartbreak and despair. I don't know about you but I'm getting kind of all that devastation. I hurt you, you hurt me, we've done stupid things and we've said stuff that we didn't mean and should never have said in the first place. And right now we're both scared, hurt and angry and confused and still a bit broken from all the crap we've been through lately. But through it all, we never stopped loving each other and in my book that counts for a whole hell of a lot. Brooke, I'm not ready to give up on us just yet. I can't. We have one more chance, one last shot to give it an honest mutual try. We'll take it slow, no pressure, no time frames. We can just heal and work on being friends and getting to know each other all over again. No more head games. This is real and it's now and it's sincere."
"Lucas, I…"
"Brooke Scott, will you go out with me?"
"What?"
"On a date. I'll take you anywhere you want to go. We could see a movie or go to a club. Sailing, bungee jumping…I don't care. As long as I'm with you. So what do you say? Would you like to go on a date with me?"
She stared at him wide eyed like he was crazy then her lips finally broke out into a smile.
"Yes, Lucas Scott. I would be honored to go out with you", she smiled.
"Okay", he grinned like a little school kid. "Okay. Well, it looks like I've got a date to plan. Um, I guess I'll see you back at the house."
"Okay."
"Okay."
"Um, Luke?"
"Yeah?" he turned around.
"You forgot something."
"What?"
"Our dance", she said softly.
He returned her smile and slowly walked back over to her. The music started and Lucas with his two left feet, clumsily held her in his arms and swayed at the music. They laughed out loud the few times he stepped on her toes. It felt good. After all the trauma, finally a fresh start.