Nathan reached for his cell, trying to grab the phone before the call forwarded directly to voicemail.
"Yeah?" he answered breathlessly, not having time to check the Caller ID.
"Nate? Hey, it's me. It's Brooke."
"Brooke, what's up?"
"Nothing much. Just checking up on you. It's that time in between lunch and dinner rushes and I actually have a few minutes to breathe."
"You guys were busy?"
"Slammed. Be glad you missed it."
"That's good. I'm glad business is picking up."
"You do remember what today is, don't you?"
"Yeah. It's Wednesday."
Brooke rolled her eyes. Men!
"Not just any Wednesday but it's the Wednesday. Today is your big day, stud! Did you forget?"
Nathan smiled.
"I know, I know. Of course I didn't forget, especially with you reminding me fifty times a day. I was just messing with you."
"Are you getting ready?"
"Yeah. I'm on my way to the grocery store as we speak."
"Got the list we went over?"
He was looking right at it.
"Got it."
"Good. Sounds like everything is under control. Well, you try to have a good time and call me if you need me."
"I will keep you posted."
"Thanks", she sighed. "Catch you later."
Nathan noticed a hint of sadness in her voice.
"You okay, Brooke? I know you must be tired but you sound kind of pissed off."
She took a deep breath.
"I am and I'll give you one good guess why. Who is Tree Hill's number one mood killer?"
"Lucas?"
"Bingo! Ding ding! You are the grand prize winner", Brooke said flatly.
"What did he do now? I thought everything was okay. You seemed to be getting along after the race."
"That's what I thought too until he turned all psycho on me yesterday."
"What happened?"
"Who knows? Everything was hunky dory and then I invited him to hang out with me and he turned back into the evil bastard he was when I first met him. No explanation, no nothing."
"Sorry, Brooke. I wish I knew what was going on."
"It's not your fault. You can't help it if you're the good brother. I mean, I do wish I knew what it was that set him off but I am so over it now. I'm not gonna put up with him disrespecting me and talking to me any old way he pleases."
"Good for you. You shouldn't have to deal with that. You deserve better, Brooke."
"I'll be okay. Don't worry about me. You just concentrate on having a good time with Haley tonight."
He sighed.
"I will."
"Good deal. Then I guess I'll hear all about it when I see you later."
"Tonight."
"Not if you're lucky", she managed a giggle.
Nathan smiled as he hung up and headed outside to his car. He got in and took another glance at the folded grocery list in his hands, the words etched in Brooke's neat penmanship. Pot roast, fresh vegetables, bread, chocolate cheesecake. The expensive bottle of red wine he had stolen from Royal and Mae's prize stash sat on the front seat. He took a deep breath. It was on to the store and then the beginning of his date with Haley.
It should have been a happy time, marked only by the usual nervous stomach's butterflies of anticipation. But Nathan couldn't concentrate. He could he have a good time when poor Brooke sounded so miserable on the phone? Damn that Lucas! He wasn't surprised that the sudden change of heart hadn't lasted even though Nathan had prayed this time that it would. The mood swings and temper tantrums had come and gone over the years. Nathan had idly watched as Dan, Karen, Keith, Haley and even himself had bore the brunt of Luke's wrath often but enough was enough. Brooke shouldn't have to endure it as well. What had she done wrong? It wasn't right and it wasn't fair.
From Deb's house to the grocer was nothing more than a few blocks, then a left headed to midtown and the highway. It was simple enough but he grimaced as his ghostly white knuckles gripped the wheel. The car passed the turn and ventured instead downtown, making the right turn onto the bridge. He pulled up to the River Court and sure enough there the culprit was.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Lucas asked, not even looking up.
"I need to talk to you."
"Why?"
Nathan shrugged.
"What can I say? I guess it's all true. I guess I am my brother's keeper after all."
Lucas smirked. He already knew what it was about.
"A little one on one?" he threw the ball.
Nathan tossed it right back.
"No thanks. I don't have time."
"Got a hot date or something?"
Nathan narrowed his eyes.
"Something like that."
"Figures", Lucas muttered.
"Anyway. What's eating you, man?"
"Why do you ask that?" Lucas made a jump shot. "My life is great."
"Cut the bullshit. What are you doing to Brooke? Why are you being such a dick to her?"
"Why are you worried about it?"
"Because she's my friend."
"Friend, huh? Okay."
"Luke, what the hell?"
"Nate, don't start, man. I mean it. Mind your business. This has nothing to do with you."
Lucas went for a basket but Nathan blocked it with one hand.
"It has everything to do with me. I'm tired of your crap, man. Somebody needs to stand up to your ass."
"Whatever went down between Brooke and me has nothing to do with you even though you insist on constantly butting in my life. It's really admirable that Tree Hill's Crown Prince wants to step in and defend Lady Brooke's honor but I suggest you back off now and quit while you're ahead."
"You want to be an ass? That's fine. Be an ass, Lucas. Hell, you've been one practically since the day you were born. We're all used to that. I can deal with your shit because I have tough skin and over the years I've learned to just ignore you. But I won't let you mistreat, Brooke."
Lucas' jaw tightened.
"Get out of my face, Nate."
"Oh I'm not in your face…yet."
"Are you threatening me?"
"Call it what you want but if I hear of you being disrespectful towards Brooke again, consider that a promise."
"Nathan, I am about to beat your ass."
"Good. Go ahead. It's about time you picked on someone your own size."
"Give it up, little brother or your little mystery date just might not recognize you with your eyes swollen shut."
"That's not gonna happen. And this has nothing to do with my date."
"You sure about that? Because I think it has everything to do with your date."
Nathan chuckled.
"So that's what this is about, Luke? You found out."
"You could say that."
"How?"
Lucas laughed.
"Does it even fucking matter?"
"Look, dude, I was gonna tell you…"
"Nathan!"
"It just happened, okay?"
There they were. Those famous words. Lucas felt his whole body tense.
"Get away from me!"
"Lucas…"
"You think I'm joking right now?"
"No. Look, you have a right to be pissed off and I should have been upfront with you from the start but don't take this one out on Brooke."
"Screw you."
Nathan shook his head.
"Why the hell do I even bother? I take back my apology. You don't deserve it and better yet, I don't owe you one."
"You're pathetic, Nate. Give it up. She'll never really want you."
"Really? What's the matter, Luke? Do I hear jealousy and fear in your voice? Afraid my date will like me better than she liked you?"
That was it. He had done it. It was the ultimate challenge that left the older brother seeing red. With ruthless aggression, he charged his body full into Nathan's, both men crashing on the ground. Powerful fists flew as they pounded each other without mercy. The fight ended with a bloody Lucas on top of an equally bloody Nathan. Adding insult to injury, he took the last vicious swing, landing a blow that grazed the top of Nathan's forehead.
"You want some more, bad ass?"
Nathan just lay there gasping for air as he tasted the blood inside his mouth.
"You're not even worth it, Luke", he groaned.
Lucas stood up and picked up the basketball.
"I won't forget this, man. Not by a long shot. And one day you'll regret it, even more than you're regretting it right now."
"Lucas…"
Lucas threw the ball and it landed hard against Nathan's already bruised and sore chest.
"Have fun on your date…brother."