Brooke and Lucas pulled up in front of the Scott family home. Lucas had told Dan and Deb that Brooke would be joining him and they had agreed to let Brooke stay in one of their spare bedrooms.
"Ready to do this?" Brooke asked. Lucas sighed and shook his head.
"Not really. I don't really want to face Dan," Lucas told her truthfully. Brooke patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry, Broody. I'm here and it's only two nights. Plus, you can make excuses like you're driving me to the mall, or we're meeting Peyton or something," she said. Lucas gave her a half-smile and the two got out of the car, leaving their suitcases in the car.
They rang the doorbell and Lucas shifted nervously, he glanced at Brooke who also looked nervous, "Don't worry," he told her, "it's okay to be nervous," he reassured both himself and her.
"It's not just that. It's weird to be back in this place again," she whispered referring to their town. The door opened and Deb stared back at them.
"Lucas. Brooke," she said, "How nice to see you both," she greeted allowing them in. They both hugged her briefly and walked into the living room, where Dan was sat.
"Son," he said looking up at Lucas, "Welcome home," he pulled Lucas into a hug, and Lucas clearly looked uncomfortable. Dan then looked at Brooke and grinned, "Miss Davis, it's lovely to see you again. I hear you'll be staying with us for a few days," Dan then pulled Brooke into an awkward hug.
"Hi, Mr Scott. Thank you for letting me stay," she said as sweetly as she could without wanting to vomit.
Lucas and Brooke sat down and listened to Dan talk about basketball, Tree Hill and his dealership before making their excuses and going to get their suitcases from the their car.
"Please tell me there's a lock on my door," Brooke pleaded, shuddering at the thought of Dan all over her. Lucas put a reassuring arm around her.
"I'm sorry, but he's at the dealership most of the time. And it's only-"
"-two days," Brooke finished off for him, "Keep reminding me."
Brooke and Lucas finished their breakfast and got into their car. Brooke had suggested that Lucas dropped Brooke at Peyton's before he went to the Rivercourt, and then they'd all meet up for lunch.
"Too bad Nathan and Haley are in Florida," she said to Lucas as she looked around the surroundings that brought back so many memories, "It would have been a nice little reunion."
Lucas nodded, "I guess we came a weekend too early. They come back to North Carolina next week."
"Maybe they can come play in Beaufort," Brooke suggested, "I mean, we have a pretty good club… not to mention your living room is the size of one."
"It's not that big," Lucas said thinking of his new home in Beaufort, "But getting Haley to play would be a good idea," Lucas agreed as they pulled up to Peyton's house.
"Are we here already?" Brooke asked in disbelief. She'd chosen to surprise Peyton with her arrival so hadn't told Peyton she was coming, "God, I remember the journey being longer."
"Want me to come with you?" Lucas asked, seeing Brooke's hesitation. Brooke shook her head.
"No, it's okay...but," she paused as she turned to Lucas, "what do I say? I know her sexuality shouldn't really change her or anything, but it's kind of weird. Am I supposed to…?"
"Start with 'hello'," Lucas suggested, "and I can assure you that once you meet her, you'll be back in your old habits. Nails, gossip, etcetera," he told her. Brooke nodded and got out of the car.
"I'll call you when we're on our way to the Rivercourt," she said.
"Okay," Lucas started the car up again, "And don't worry, you'll be fine," he added as he drove off.
Brooke looked at the house in front of her. She could remember countless times where there'd be no hesitation for her to walk into the house as if she owned it. It didn't matter if Peyton was in the shower, in the middle of dinner, or still in bed with Jake; Brooke had no qualms about walking in.
But now Brooke was having second thoughts. She hadn't spoken to Peyton for a while, and if it hadn't been for Lucas, she wouldn't even have known about the changes in her friend's life.
Finally, Brooke took a deep breath and started to walk towards the house. She rang the doorbell before she had time to change her mind.
"Who is it?" came a yell from the upstairs window. Brooke smiled to herself as she heard Peyton's voice.
"Uh, delivery for P. Sawyer," Brooke replied, trying to hide her actual voice.
"Leave it on the doorstep."
"You need to sign for it," Brooke couldn't hide her grin. She heard Peyton groan at little and then footsteps coming down the stairs. Brooke held her breath as the door slowly opened.
"Wha-" Peyton began as she opened the door and saw who was standing there.
"Surprise!" Brooke squealed with a huge grin plastered on her face.
"Oh my god, Brooke!" Peyton ran forward and hugged her friend, "What are you doing here?"
"Lucas is here to visit Dan so I tagged along. Am I going to be standing out here forever?" Brooke said, reminding Peyton that she was still standing outside. Peyton let her in and they went into the living room.
"When did you arrive and where are you staying?"
"Last night. I'm staying at Dan's with Lucas," Peyton made a face, "I know, I know. But it's not bad. I lock my door to keep the pervy old man out." Brooke explained to Peyton.
"You could stay here," Peyton offered.
"No, it's okay. I hear you've already got yourself a roommate," Broke winked as Peyton blushed, "Lucas told me the news."
"That's a relief. I was wondering how to break it to you. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before."
"It's no problem, although it would have been nice to hear it from you first."
"I know. I was just worried about what you'd think of me. I mean, everyone was pretty shocked and I didn't know how you'd take it."
"Are you kidding?" Brooke said, "You know you can tell me anything. Just because I live in Beaufort, doesn't mean we can't still talk. I missed you."
"I missed you too, Brooke," Peyton put an arm around her. Brooke smiled.
"So, how did it happen? A drunken moment during a party? Got bored of boys and decided to experiment? What?"
"Brooke, you don't want to hear about this," Peyton began blushing even more furiously.
"Um, hello! This is me, remember? I'll consider it a personal insult if you don't tell me every single detail – and most importantly – how Jagielski took the news." Brooke said all in one breath.
"Okay, okay. Well, I never told you this, but ages ago while you were still here, Anna and I kissed. She was confused and she thought that maybe I felt the same but I didn't. Then she moved and we began emailing and pretty soon – I don't know, I'd fallen in love with her somehow. And she came to visit and things just happened. So… I told Jake and Anna told her parents. Jake was shocked to say the least but he respected my decision and he moved back with his parents and Anna moved in."
Brooke listened to her friend's account of her change in relationships, "As long as you're happy, right?" she said. Peyton nodded.
"I am happy. Very happy," Peyton beamed.
"Then I'm happy," Brooke said.
Lucas took a well earned break from shooting hoops with his Rivercourt friends, having forgotten how good it felt to do so. He took a heavy gulp from a nearby bottle of water and took a moment to bask in the sunshine.
"So, man, how does it feel to be shootin' it with us again?" Skills asked him as he sat down next to Lucas. Lucas grinned.
"So good. Beaufort's nice, but Tree Hill is just… home."
"Yeah well, I don't see you complaining about that big ol' pad you've got up there," Skill laughed, "Remind me to drop by sometime." Lucas nodded.
"Sure, I'd love you all to swing by," Lucas sighed contently as he closed his eyes for a moment.
"Speaking of, what's this I hear of you bringing along Brooke Davis?" Lucas looked up at Skills.
"What of it? I was coming to Tree Hill, we both used to live here, she came along for the weekend," Lucas explained.
"You sure that's all that's going on? I know you, man, and I know how you felt about Brooke way back when. I also remember how bummed you were when she left. How much do you want to bet that you chose to move to Beaufort because of her?"
Lucas shook his head, "Coincidence?" he offered, "Andy wanted to start up a new business, Beaufort came up and I just agreed," Skills raised an eyebrow.
"Well, that's your prerogative. Just don't screw it up again this time."
"We're not even dating. She's got a boyfriend back in Beaufort. We're just friends." Skills snorted.
"I'll believe that when I see it. Speaking off, here she comes now." Skills nodded over to where Brooke and Peyton were making their way towards them.
"Is it lunchtime already?" Lucas asked getting up.
Brooke and Peyton grinned as they approached the boys, Peyton running up to hug Lucas and say hello. Brooke greeted the guys at the Rivercourt and sat down at the bench, where they talked about Tree Hill, Beaufort and Lucas.
"I'm hungry," Brooke mused out loud after some time.
"I'll get you some food," Mouth piped up to their amusement.
"Is Karen's Café still open?" Brooke asked, realizing that Karen was now in Beaufort. Peyton nodded.
"Deb owns it now. She still kept the name though," Peyton explained casting a glance to Lucas, who confirmed it.
"Let's go there then," Brooke said as the gang made their way to Karen's.
Brooke and Lucas spent most of the day and the next morning apart as Lucas was busy with Skills, Fergie and Mouth, as well as Dan, and Peyton and Brooke had decided they'd rather go shopping. They met up for breakfast and dinner but other than that, they'd hardly had any contact.
Brooke sighed as she finished packing up her belongings on Sunday evening. She'd said her goodbyes to the Rivercourt guys and Peyton an hour previously and had retired to Dan's house to pack up her suitcase.
Lucas knocked on her door, startling her, "Hey," he greeted.
"Hey, stranger. You all packed?" Lucas nodded, "Two days isn't nearly enough. Next time, we're coming here for a week!"
Lucas laughed, "So, there's a next time?" Brooke nodded.
"Yeah, but I think I'll stay with Peyton. No offence to you or Dan but I am so much more comfortable in a house full of lesbians than Dan. Did you see the way he was oogling me over dinner?" she shuddered, "I am so out of here." Brooke said.
"Well, at least you didn't spend too much time with him. He wanted to do 'father/son' bonding time which more or less consisted of him trying to beat me at basketball and telling me how good he was in college before his injury sidelined him," Brooke chuckled.
"I think that's it," she said marveling at her suitcase packing skills, "When do we leave?"
Lucas looked at his watch, "Well, we could go now. I said goodbye to Dan and there's a box of chocolates on the coffee table from us, just to say thanks," Lucas explained.
"That was nice of you. Any chance you put arsenic in them?" she joked.
"Nope, sorry. I'll think of that next time."
"Well, I'm all ready to go. I'm packed, fed and I have Haley's email address so I am definitely emailing her and making her come down to Beaufort," she said proudly.
"Good girl. Are we going then?" Brooke nodded and Lucas helped her with her suitcase.
Once they were loaded into the car, Brooke sat in the car and pulled out her phone.
"Hey, baby, it's me. Uh, Lucas and I are leaving now and so we should be home soon, although it probably won't be until 10pm because there's a bit of traffic, so I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow morning. Take care," Brooke hung up the phone.
"Jason?" Lucas questioned. Brooke nodded.
"I got his voicemail so I left a message. I'm so tired," she yawned.
"Well, you'll have plenty of time to sleep in the car," Lucas said as he started the engine, "Say goodbye to Tree Hill. We're going home."
They smiled at each other and started their long journey back to Beaufort, not realizing that once they'd get home, they'd have a huge mess to clean up, thanks to Scarlett.
To Be Continued…
Author's Note:
I apologize for the delay in getting this chapter out. I now have an actual plan for this story so yay!
I want to thank everyone who has reviewed so far. Your comments mean so much to me and I hope you continue to show your support.
I also have to mention that, unless I work really hard, this will be the last update for about a week or so. I'm going to Greece on Wednesday and I need to pack and stuff. It's only a 5 day trip but it's a really intense trip as I'm in a new place every day.
Hopefully, I'll be able to write the chapters up while I'm on the plane/coach rides/free time so you won't have to wait much longer.
I apologize for this but it's a really important trip as I need to see as many temples/sculptures/pots as I can before my exams in June.
Please continue supporting this story as you have so wonderfully before and I'll see you all in a week!
Tejal x