Chapter 19

The Talk

Tree Hill High

Previously:

Karen left and Brooke turned to walk toward her locker when she again bumped into someone she had never seen before.

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"Oh I am so sorry. I should have been watching where I was going."

"It's okay I wasn't paying attention to where I was going either."said Brooke as she bent down to help pick up the fallen books. When they were both upright Brooke introduced herself."Well since we've already bumped into each other I think we should introduce ourselves. I'm Brooke Davis."

"Hi Brooke, I'm Alison Jennings. So is everyone here this clumsy?"

"No, just us."said Brooke laughing."So your obviously new here otherwise I'd know you. So where are you moving here from?"

"I used to live in Charleston."

"Really? My boyfriend lived there for a while, but he's back now."

"Good for you. I can tell your happy about that, you just started smiling out of nowhere."

"Yeah, just thinking about him makes me smile, but enough about him you look lost. Where were you headed?"

"Well I was looking for my locker so I could unload all these books and then I need to find my first class. Do you think you could help me Brooke?"

"Sure, what's your locker number?"

"It's 1065."

"Well you were going in the right direction. It's a little more over here though. There it is 1065."

"Thanks your the best."

"It's no problem. Now why don't you leave everything here and I'll show you to your first class."

They both start to walk.

"Thanks, it's History. Mr. Kelsner."

"Just a fair warning, that class is really boring. All he does is talk and talk and then he tests you on what he just said. I have him after lunch, but lets just say I hardly make it to that class."

"Well I can't wait. Thanks for the info."

"Just helping out my fellow classmate. Well since your new here, I'm sure you don't have any friends, so why don't you sit with me and my friends at lunch. I can introduce you to a couple of people."

"Really? You wouldn't mind me tagging along?''

"Of course not. I'm sure my friends would love to meet you. Just meet me in front of the cafeteria."The bell rang."Well I should go. Have fun. I'll see you later."Brooke walked off still needing to get to her locker. The second bell rang."Just great. I get to school early, but I still can't seem to make it to make it to class on time."said Brooke out loud. She quickly got what she needed from her locker and headed to class."Hey Tutor Girl."

"Hey. You know I actually thought you'd make it to class on time today. What was I thinking?"said Haley laughing.

"Ha, ha. I would have been here on time, but I met someone and we just started talking."

"Hello, Brooke. You have a boyfriend now, you can't just meet a guy and start talking to him."

"It was a girl Haley and she was lost so I showed her around."

"Oh sorry. So who is this girl?"

"Her name is Alison something. I can't remember, but she seems really nice. I told her she could eat lunch with us today."

"What? Is Brooke Davis, Tree Hills Queen Bitch actually being nice to someone new and it isn't a guy?"

''Hey I resent that. I am not a bitch...anymore. I was nice to you wasn't I?"

"First of all I wasn't new, and second of all come on Brooke you know you weren't. You hated me in the beginning."

"I didn't hate you."

"Well you didn't like me. You tried to keep me and Nathan apart remember?"

"I didn't necessarily want to keep you two apart, I just wanted to keep him and Peyton together so that she would stay away from Lucas. A lot of good that did though, but I apologized for that. I even fixed you two up on your first date. Do you remember that?''

"Yes, and I do have to admit that little excursion you sent us on was a lot of fun."

"You see I always promote love and happiness."

"If you say so Brooke."

"I do."

The rest of the class went by slowly and so did the next class.

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Karen's Café

Karen stormed into her café very angry.

"Is something wrong Karen?"asked Deb.

"I don't know you tell me."

"I have no idea what your talking about."

"Sure you don't Deb. I guess it completely slipped your mind that you harassed my son when he was a guest in your home. How dare you talk to my son like that?"

"Karen I..."started Deb, but was interrupted by Karen.

"I'm not finished. My son has every right to keep what Dan left him. He was his son too. Dan didn't do anything for him while he was alive and if Lucas wants to accept this stuff now that he is gone then he will. I'm not gonna stop him and neither are you. Do I make myself clear?"

"Karen I don't know what you heard, but I didn't say anything to Lucas."

"Don't give me that bull shit Deb. I am in no mood. I know you got upset when you heard that Dan left Lucas 25 percent of the dealership, I know you said you wanted to contest the will, and I know your son told you to shut the hell up. Am I leaving anything out?"

"I know I shouldn't have said what I did, but..."said Deb again being interrupted.

"I don't really care why you said what you did. I'm not a very confrontational person, but when you come after my son the way you did and practically humiliate him in front of a room full of people I get upset. If you even think about coming near my son again I will not be held responsible for what I do to you, now I want you to get your things and get the hell out of my café. You are no longer welcome here."

Deb collected her things and left without another word.

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Tree Hill High

It was now lunch time. Brooke found Alison waiting for her right where she told her to be."Hey I'm glad your here. After we get our food we'll go outside and I'll introduce you to my best friend and his wife."Brooke added the wife part just to see what she'd say.

"I'm sorry, did you say wife?"

"Yes, he married his girlfriend almost two months ago."

"Is she pregnant?"

Brooke laughed."No, but that's what I asked too when I found out. They're just in love. Crazy I know, but what can you do about it."

"Wow, well good for them, I guess."

"There they are. Hey you guys. This is Alison, the girl I told you about. Alison this is my best friend Nathan and his beautiful wife Tutor Girl. I mean Haley."

"Hi, don't pay attention to Brooke, she's never gotten over that nickname she gave me. I'm a tutor."

"It's nice to meet you both."said Alison.

"So how are you liking it here?"asked Nathan.

"It's great, but not everyone here is as friendly as Brooke has been. It's like just because I don't know where everything is, I'm an idiot."

"Yeah, people can be rude. If you would have moved her last year, Brooke would have been one of those people."said Haley laughing.

"Oh really? Is that true?"asked Alison looking at Brooke.

"I hate to admit it, but yeah. I used to be a bit of a witch."

"But she's done a lot of growing up thanks to me and Nathan."

"Okay enough talking about me, lets get to know our new friend."

The rest of lunch went on with everyone getting to know each other. Everyone went to their classes and soon the end of school was here. Brooke headed to the gym after changing in the locker room for practice. She saw Peyton was the only one in there. She went straight up to her.

"Hey Brooke, I'm sorry for everything that happened this morning. I don't think your a slut or anything, you know that. I was just mad."

"You can stop apologizing Peyton. I didn't come up to you to hear another one."

"Then why did you come up to me?"

"I kinda need a favor."

"What kind of favor Brooke?"

"Well I'm not gonna be here Thursday or Friday, so I need someone to take over practice for me for those two days, plus take care of my squad Friday night at the game. I don't really want to ask you, but you are the next in line if I can't be there so I have to."

"Why won't you be here?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but I'm going to Charleston."

"Really? Does Lucas know your just showing up there?"

"I'm not just showing up there. I'm his girlfriend and his mother asked me to go with her."

"She did?''

"Yes, is that so hard to believe?"

"No it's just.."

"Look I really don't want to get into this with you right now. Will you take care of my squad for me or not? If not, I'll just get Theresa. I'm sure she'd be more than happy to do it."

"No, don't do that. You do want the squad still standing when you get back right? I'll do it. It's only for two days anyways."

"Good, thanks."and with that Brooke walked away ready to start practice.

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The next two days came and went with Brooke talking to Lucas on the phone and everyone getting to know Alison better, which was a hard task seeing she was a very closed person. Peyton even stopped trying to talk to Brooke every time she saw her. Wednesday was here and Brooke waited for Karen outside of the school.

"Hi Brooke, I'm sorry I'm a little late. I wanted to make sure Kenneth had everything he needed while I was gone."said Karen as Brooke got into her car."Is that all your bringing? Lucas warned me you'd be bringing everything you owned."

"I'll be sure to thank him for that later. I normally do bring more than I need to, but I figured on the way back we'd have a lot of Lucas' things to bring."

"Smart, very smart Brooke. Are you just going to leave your car here the whole time we're gone? I could follow you home so you could leave it there."

"No, it's okay. Nathan is going to borrow my car while I'm gone. He'll take it to his apartment after practice."

"Well that seems like a great plan. You two are quite close aren't you?"

"Yeah, we've become really good friends."

"He seems like a good person now. Nothing like he used to be, when he was harassing my Lucas."

"He has definitely changed for the better."

"I wish I could say the same for his no good mother."

"I take it you didn't leave her in charge of your café?"

"No way in hell. Sorry. No after I left you that morning I went and gave her a piece of my mind. Of course she tried to deny everything and said I must have heard wrong. I simply told her she was no longer welcome in my café anymore."

"Good for you. I'm glad. I can't stand her anymore."

"You and me both. So Lucas seems pretty excited that your coming along."

"Yeah, I'm excited too. I don't think I could have waited until Saturday to see him. I miss him already."

"You two seem to be getting along pretty well."

"Better than ever actually."said Brooke a little uncomfortable with talking about her relationship with Lucas to his mother.

"That's good. Now I don't want you to feel uncomfortable with what I'm about to say and I probably shouldn't even be bringing it up. I know I'm not your mother."Brooke tensed up when she heard that comment dreading what was next."But I am Lucas' so I'm gonna ask anyways. What are you and Lucas doing about sex?"

"I'm sorry, what?"said Brooke barely audible. At that moment she wanted to be anywhere, but in that car with Karen.

"Sex. Are you two having sex already?"

"Umm...no."Brooke couldn't help but lie to Karen.

"Good. I know what being young feels like. All the hormones you kids have. I just want you two to wait."Brooke couldn't believe Karen was talking to her about this."I'm not trying to pry into you or my sons life, but he did tell me about your little scare earlier this year and I don't want a repeat of that. Trust me you don't want to get pregnant and ruin your life."

"Well you don't have to worry about that. It's not gonna happen again. I promised myself I wouldn't let that happen and it won't."

"That's nice to hear, but I still think it's best if you wait."

"We will."

"Now enough about that. I don't want you to think that I asked you to come along just so I could chew you out about the whole sex issue. I really want to get to know you better Brooke. You seem like a wonderful girl who cares a lot about my son."

"I do."

"That's good."

The rest of the ride was a lot less uncomfortable and spent talking as the two women learned a lot about each other. They soon reached Charleston and the apartment Lucas and Keith shared. Lucas greeted them outside. He ran straight up to Brooke and kissed her."I've missed you so much these last couple of days I've been here."

"Times sure have changed. It wasn't long ago Lucas was running up to me to give me a hug after not seeing me for days. Now it's all about the girlfriend."

Lucas let go of Brooke and went up to his mother."Don't worry mom, I missed you too."

"Yeah, yeah, nice to hear, now why don't you get Brooke's bag out of the car."

"Bag? As in one?"

"Yes, just one Broody. Your mom said you warned her that I'd bring a ton of bags. It was nice to make you a liar."

"Broody?"

"It's just a nickname I have for Lucas."

"Well then hurry up and get Brooke's bag Broody so we can all go inside and order something to eat. I'm starving and I'm sure there's nothing edible in that apartment and it would be a waste to buy groceries."said Karen.

"Sounds great mom."

Everybody walked into the apartment.

"Nice apartment Lucas."said Brooke.

"Yeah we liked it."

"You can definitely tell that men lived here."said Karen.

"What's that supposed to mean?"asked Lucas.

"Nothing, just that it could use a womans touch."

"I don't mean to change the subject, but who's gonna sleep where?"asked Brooke.

"Well my mom can have Kieth's room and you can sleep in my room."

"Lucas."

"And I'll sleep on the couch, what did you think I meant mom?"

"Nothing, now show us where the rooms are."

"Fine, your room is right there mom and come on Brooke I'll show you my room."

"You two behave yourselves. I'm just in here."

"We will mom."

"Lucas and Brooke walked into his room."Nice room Broody. Is that a picture of me? Was that always there or did you just put it up hoping it would help you get lucky?"

"No, it was always there. I told you I was always thinking of you."

"Good because there is no way we are doing anything with your mom here."

"Why? Your not afraid of her are you?''

Before Brooke could answer Karen walked in."Well it just so happens a friend of mine owns a restaurant around here. We could go and eat there. I'd like to talk to her."

"I don't feel like going anywhere mom and I'm sure Brooke's tired from the long drive. Why don't you go and then bring us back something when your done."

"Are you trying to get rid of me?"

"Of course not. It just looks like you really want to go."

"I do. I'll bring you both something later. I'll only be gone for a little while."

"Okay. Bye mom."

"Bye."

"Man I thought she really wasn't gonna leave. Come here."said Lucas grabbing Brooke and kissing her.

"I really missed you Lucas. I know it's crazy because you were only gone a few days, but I did."

"I missed you too. Now why don't you come here and show me how much you missed me."

"No Lucas. I'm serious, we're not doing anything while we're here with your mom."

"Why not. She'll be gone for at least an hour. That's plenty of time."

"I said no Lucas. Look I just had a very long conversation with your mother about our sex lives."

"What? You talked to her about us?"

"Not by choice. I had to. She kept talking about it. What was I supposed to do? Tell her to stop?"

"Yes!"

"Well I couldn't do that."

"What did she say?"

"She asked if we were having sex yet."

"What did you tell her?"

"What do you think I told her? I said no. I wasn't going to tell her that I slept with you before we even got back together. How would that make me sound?"

"I'm sorry, of course you told her no."

"She told me she doesn't want us to have sex. That we need to wait. She doesn't want us to have another scare like we did before."

"I can't believe my mom asked my girlfriend if she was sleeping with me."

"Well believe it, she did and it was pretty uncomfortable."

"I'm sorry about that."

"I know, but she's not here right now, we could at least make out."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

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Thanks for all the reviews. Read and review.

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Coming Up:

Alison meets Peyton.

Alison finds out something.

Brooke meets Lucas' Charleston friends.