Chapter 7: Unwind
Brooke felt a lot happier after the confrontation with Felix that morning. Although at first she'd been a little hesitant to explain to people what happened when they questioned her appearance, Lucas was on hand to help her avoid some of the more personal questions.
However, by the time lunch came around, she was tired of the questions and ended up slipping into the nearest restroom to apply some cover up. She knew that it wouldn't cover up the gossip, but at least she could get by knowing that she'd faced her fear, looked it into the eye and told it to buzz off.
And she had done it proudly.
Brooke was in even higher spirits when she saw Peyton grinning.
"Hey friend," she said sliding into her seat, "how do you feel?" she asked as she opened her yogurt.
"I feel mighty fine. How about you?" Peyton answered, Brooke shrugged.
"Like things are back to normal. I like normal."
They laughed and greeted Lucas and Nathan as they joined them at the table.
"Ready for tonight?" Brooke asked taking a bite of her yogurt. Lucas nodded enthusiastically and then glanced at Nathan who didn't give a reply.
"What about you, Nathan?" Brooke questioned.
"I'm up for it, it's just Haley."
"Tutor Girl?"
"She just told me she's got to go to the studio and lay down some tracks with Chris."
"That's not all she's laying down," Brooke said a little louder than intended. Peyton kicked her and she apologised, "Sorry, joking."
Nathan shook his head, "It just seems like she's spending more time with Chris than with me. She was late for formal because of it and," he sighed, "it's like he's stealing my wife."
"I wouldn't worry, Nathan. Haley has a good head on her shoulders and you should trust her. She doesn't want guys like Chris." Peyton assured him.
"I do trust her. I don't trust Chris. We don't know anything about him except he's arrogant and rude and-"
"Just like you?" Brooke offered, earning a look from Nathan. "All I'm saying is that maybe the reason you don't like him is because he's just like you. Tutor Girl is only spending so much time with him because he can help her with her music. Because I've spent all of five minutes with the guy and that was more than enough for me. Peyton's spent time with Chris and hated him from the minute he pouted at her. So don't worry," Brooke told Nathan.
"I know, I know but she doesn't Chris. You've all heard what she can do,"
"Yeah but our faith in her doesn't mean she has faith in herself. If Chris hadn't refused to play at Tric's opening night, then Haley wouldn't have gone up there. Without Chris, she'd never have even entered a studio. Not that I'm saying she needs him, but she does need someone other than her husband and her friends telling her she's good. Some outside influence is good for people. For example, say if we told you that you were a brilliant basketball player and could turn pro, what would you think?" Brooke asked.
Nathan shrugged, "Uh, thanks, I guess. But I always hear it from you guys anyway."
"But if, say, some basketball scout or whatever told you the same thing, what would you think then?"
Nathan sighed and nodded his head, understanding where this was going, "I'd take it seriously and think I was. I get it. Thanks Brooke."
Brooke smiled proudly.
"That was actually some good advice, Brooke. Well done," Lucas said, surprisingly amazed by Brooke's ability to get some sense into his brother.
"I know," she said, her smile growing wider, "Now that the marriage crisis is over, can we talk about tonight?"
"What about it?"
"Well we need some supplies. Peyton, you grab some music-"
"Not that emo crap she listens to all the time!" Nathan complained.
"Hey, I like that emo crap!" Lucas defended.
"Yeah, well, you would." Nathan sighed.
"Like I was saying, Peyton is on music duty. Nathan and Lucas, you're job is to go get some alcohol."
"My dad has a cupboard full of-"
"No offence, Nate, but I've seen it and it's kind of 'old man'-ish. I know a place downtown that will get us some stuff cheap."
"Whose going to sell alcohol to two 16 year old boys?" Lucas questioned. Brooke smiled and produced two pieces of card from her purse.
"Here you go. Freshly made when I skipped History this morning. Here's the address," she said handing them another piece of paper, "and we'll meet at the beach house at 6pm."
"What will you be doing?" Peyton asked.
"I'll be… taking care of food. Just leave it to me. Oh, and we are keeping this a small affair. Sort of like a slumber party." Brooke explained.
"I'm sorry, can I get that again? Brooke Davis is hosting a small beach party?" Peyton chuckled until she was met with a glare, "No, I mean, small is fine with me. Whatever you want."
"Remember," Brooke said finally, "6 pm sharp."
"Where the hell is Brooke?" Lucas asked Peyton as she helped Nathan and Lucas with the alcohol.
"I was just about to ask you that question," Peyton replied. "I've been standing out here for ten minutes. Nathan, do you have the key?" she asked.
Nathan nodded and produced the key to his dad's beach house.
"Where's Haley?" Peyton questioned realising that they were missing someone. Nathan gave a shrug.
"She's supposed to be here."
"Maybe she's with Brooke." Lucas offered.
"Maybe she's with Chris," Nathan said bitterly, "Let's just get inside." Nathan moved forward to unlock the door and Peyton and Lucas exchanged worried glances.
They helped each other bring the alcohol and stack of CDs inside, along with some extra blankets and pillows.
"Brooke is officially twenty minutes late." Peyton complained, "I'm calling her."
"No need," Lucas said from the window, "I just saw her car pull up. I'm going down to help her," he said practically running out of the door.
Peyton smirked, amused by Lucas' excitement, "Somebody's in a hurry. You think there's something going on with them?" she asked Nathan, who gave another non-committal shrug.
"Nate…" Peyton said softly, "She does love you. Don't doubt her feelings for you. This is Haley we're talking about."
"Yeah, well I'll believe it when she's here to tell me that herself." Nathan got up and made himself a drink, "Want one?" he offered. Peyton shook her head. "Suit yourself."
Peyton sighed realising that once Haley did show, it was not going to be pretty. Thankfully Brooke and Lucas were here to help her out.
"Where have you been?" Peyton asked once Brooke got through the front door.
"I was at the café whipping up some food for us. And I brought some ingredients so you and I can make chocolate fudge shortcake." Brooke grinned, "Oh, and Haley's picking up some more food and movies"
"You saw her?" Nathan asked. Brooke nodded.
"Yeah, she says she'll be here soon – once she's finished with Chris. Don't worry about it," she told Nathan, "But until then – everyone help themselves. Lucas and Nathan can go out to the beach and set up a camp fire, and we'll join you with the food, drink and music," she instructed.
Lucas and Nathan watched the two girls run around the beach trying to chase each other. Brooke pushed Peyton playfully in the sand and run off, only to stumble and fall over, letting Peyton manage to take the advantage and push Brooke into the water.
"Think we should stop them before somebody gets hurt?" Lucas asked. His brother shook his head.
"Wait until they're wet. I hear white clothes go see-through." Lucas chuckled.
"You have a wife," he told Nathan.
"Do you see her anywhere?" Nathan asked, "Sorry," he apologised when he saw Lucas shake his head, "I just miss her."
"Have you told her that? Or have you just told her that you hate her spending time with Chris? Nathan, Haley probably thinks that you just hate Chris and not that you miss her."
"I do hate Chris."
"But the important thing is that you miss her, which is the point you have to get across if you want her to stop spending so much time with him."
Nathan sighed, "She's late, you know. It's 8pm now and she still hasn't shown."
"Yeah," Lucas said. He'd noticed Haley's absence but hadn't made it known as he didn't want to irritate his brother. "I kind of hoped you hadn't noticed."
"I always notice because she's always late." Nathan complained.
About ten minutes later, Haley finally arrived, apologising profusely for her tardiness. Nathan refused to look her in the eye and only gave a small shrug when she appeared, before getting back to playing PlayStation with Lucas.
They'd abandoned the beach for a little while as it got colder and Peyton and Brooke were both soaked from pushing each other in the sea. Brooke and Peyton took Haley into the kitchen as they made cakes.
"What took you so long?" Brooke asked, keeping her voice intentionally quiet.
"Uh… Chris wouldn't let me leave without perfecting the vocals."
"You could have just left, you know. I'm sure he wouldn't have minded if you'd left early and continued tomorrow."
"Peyton, do you know how hard it is to book studio time? And in the real world you can't just leave a studio session."
"But you can leave your husband?" Brooke asked, garnering a look from Haley, "No offence, Tutor Wife, but you're not a world-famous singer who has to produce a million albums. Not yet. Right now you have a husband and high school to get through and as I see it; you're neglecting both."
"Am not," Haley muttered. Peyton backed up her friend.
"It's true, Hales. You're spending so much time with Chris that I bet you're hardly finding the time to do your homework. What did you get on that pop quiz in English?"
"That's not the point. Chris could really help me get far in my career."
"You're only sixteen, you're not allowed a career yet." Brooke told her. "Look, you can hate us for having our own opinions about this, but right now, you have a marriage to fix."
"Me? Nathan's the one who's not supportive!"
"Haley, he bought you a keyboard! He stood in the front row when you played at Tric and he's attended every one of your shows since. How can you even say that?" Peyton told her.
"Look, I'm sorry we all seem to be going on at you about this, but Nathan's been miserable lately and I really think you need to talk to him." Brooke continued.
Haley looked at her two friends and then at her husband, who was busy keeping his eyes on the game, "Maybe you're right. I'm going to go talk to him." Haley excused herself and made her way to Nathan, interrupting his game. Lucas decided to leave them alone and joined Peyton and Brooke in the kitchen.
"So, they're talking?" Lucas asked the two as he took a lick of some melted chocolate. Brooke slapped his hand away and nodded.
"Yup. I'm going back out on the beach, coming?" she asked Peyton and Lucas.
Peyton shook her head, "I'm going to stay here just in case there are fireworks from the not-so-newlyweds."
"Lucas?" Brooke asked. Lucas thought about it for a moment and nodded. Peyton gave him a friendly wink as he followed Brooke outside.
They sat on the sand, watching the small camp fire dance around in the night, making small talk and wondering how Haley and Nathan were getting on.
"My parents called," Brooke said suddenly. Lucas looked at her.
"Really? What happened?"
"They just wanted to let me know they're coming home tomorrow morning. They want to see me and talk about stuff."
"How long have they been away again?"
"About a month. They went… I don't even know where. But money is starting to get tight and so I guess they'll be staying here for a while."
Lucas nodded, "Does that mean you'll be moving back home?"
Brooke shrugged, "Probably. I haven't told them about what happened with Felix."
"Why not?" Lucas asked.
"I didn't want to worry them. They said they left a load of messages on the answerphone this week that I didn't answer. I just told them I'd been staying at Peyton's while her dad was away."
"Oh," Lucas seemed disappointed that she hadn't mentioned him.
"How am I going to tell them, Lucas? I mean, how can I tell them that our next-door neighbour's son hit me? They don't even know we were dating."
"Just tell them. You don't even have to mention him by name if you don't want to. Anyway, you still have bruises and cuts so unless they're blind, they're going to wonder what's happened."
"I guess you're right. I just… I don't want them to think I'm not capable of being left alone. That I'm weak."
"But you're not weak, Brooke. You stood up to him in front of the whole school." Lucas reminded her of her earlier victory.
"I guess." Brooke said resting her head on Lucas' shoulder. "Did I thank you?"
"For what?"
"Everything?"
"You don't need to, Brooke." Lucas told her as they watched the fire slowly die out.
"Lucas?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you."
To Be Continued…
