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Chapter Fourteen: A Pocketful Of Nothing
Brooke opened the front door to the Scott mansion. After two days of making excuses to stay at Peyton's, she had finally decided that she'd overstayed her welcome. Peyton had told her to stay as long as she wanted, but Brooke could see that Peyton really wanted to spend time with Jake and have her house back.
Brooke had no other option but to return home and face Lucas and their situation.
"Brooke! You're home," Karen said brightly, "Everything alright?" Brooke forced a smile and nodded.
"Yeah, sorry about that. I didn't realize that it was such a huge project."
"At least you're putting in effort."
"Apparently not enough," Brooke said, "I'm going to head to my room and take a shower. Who else is here?"
"Royal and May left on Monday afternoon, Dan is at the dealership and Lucas is at the Rivercourt," Karen explained. Brooke nodded. "We missed you."
Brooke smiled, "Yeah, again I'm really sorry," she apologized before heading into her room. Closing the door behind her, Brooke let out a big sigh, relieved Lucas wasn't in the vicinity.
"Brooke?" someone knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Brooke called.
"Karen. Can I come in?" Brooke opened the door for the older woman and allowed her to come in.
"What's up?" she asked.
"I was going to ask you the same question. I've asked myself a few times whether I should talk to you and I don't mean to pry but… were you lying about the reason you stayed at Peyton's?" Karen folded her arms.
"Karen…"
"Brooke, I know I'm not your mother and it's not my place, but I am your legal guardian. Something is definitely different about you lately and you can hide all you want, but sooner or later, the truth has to come out," Karen said. Brooke nodded and sighed.
"Okay, fine. I lied, but I really don't want to talk about it."
"Was it a boy?" Brooke almost wanted to laugh.
"Sort of."
"You know you can talk to me about anything, don't you? I would have thought you knew that by now," Karen said sitting on Brooke's bed. Brooke sat down next to her.
"I do know that, Karen, and thank you. It's just some stupid stuff – it's no problem. I'll get over it soon," Brooke reassured.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
"Because I've been trying to get it out of Lucas and he won't say anything either. He's different too. Did something happen? Like did you have a fight or something?" Karen asked.
If only, Brooke thought to herself.
"Something like that. I don't really want to discuss it," Brooke said, "It'll blow over," she promised.
"Well, if you ever change your mind…" Brooke nodded.
"I will. Thank you." Brooke said. Karen smiled before she left the room.
Brooke wasn't left alone for long, within five minutes; Dan arrived home and immediately went in search for her.
"Nice to see you again," Dan smirked as he stood in the doorway.
"Hey, Dan." Brooke said feeling uneasy, "How was work?" she asked trying to break the ice.
"Interesting. I got a visit from Mr. Sullivan today." Brooke froze.
"Oh."
"You know Mr. Sullivan, don't you? He's your World History teacher. Say, what was that big project that you had to spend two days away on?" he asked.
"Um, the French Revolution," Brooke frantically searched for the first thing that popped into her head. At least she thought she was studying the French Revolution.
Dan thought for a moment, "That is very strange. I was talking to Mr. Sullivan, he likes to be called Mitch actually, and he's a nice guy. Anyway, we were talking about cars and the subject of your project came up in our discussion," Dan paused and looked at Brooke's expression. "Turns out, he can't remember setting you a project to do. Apparently you're not even doing the French Revolution. Isn't that funny?"
"Hilarious," Brooke muttered under her breath.
"I just find it strange that you'd be doing a project on the French Revolution, when you're supposed to be doing Oliver Cromwell and Charles I. And I also find it surprising you left all your World History textbooks here too."
"You were in my room?" Brooke questioned. Dan ignored her.
"Interesting fact about Oliver Cromwell; nobody is sure if he's a villain or a hero. I mean, sure he wanted to make Britain more democratic, but his methods… well, they were brutal. He managed to have Charles I executed; he also ruled three kingdoms without actually being a king."
"What's your point?" Brooke asked.
"I don't have one, actually." Dan mused, "I just thought it was interesting. Maybe you should make notes about that – seeing as you obviously haven't been paying enough attention in class to know the difference between Charles I and Louis XVI." Dan told her.
"Yes, Dan," Brooke said as she gritted her teeth.
"Brooke, I did warn you about lying to me. This is your last chance, got it?" Brooke nodded, "Oh, and Mr. Sullivan expects to see your project on the French Revolution tomorrow morning," Dan grinned as he left the room.
Brooke rolled her eyes and cursed Dan under her breath. With no other choice, she opened her World History textbook and began reading up on the French Revolution.
"Hey Dad," Lucas said as he entered the house and spied his dad in the living room, "Is Brooke home yet?"
"Yes, but she's busy studying." Dan told his son. "Why, was there something you wanted to talk to her about?"
"Uh… it can wait," Lucas said, "Just something about school. No big deal," Lucas said as he excused himself and began walking down the hall. Dan called him back.
"Lucas, I need to talk to you about something."
"About what?" Lucas asked as he walked back into the living room.
Dan produced a leopard print bra from a bag next to him, "Care to explain this?"
Lucas stared at his father as his stomach lurched, "Do you care to explain it? It's a bra, Dad."
"Which was found in your room."
"You were in my room?" Lucas said incredulously, "I told yo-"
"I don't care about that right now, Lucas. Why do you have this in your room? Or is there something you want to tell me about yourself?" Dan shot back.
"Dad…"
"Listen, son, I have no problems with you… sowing your seeds-"
"Oh, Dad! Can we please not talk about this?" Lucas asked feeling suddenly embarrassed.
"I'm just here to warn you that you better be careful. Don't think that I don't see girls going to and from your room at all hours of the night. I know what goes on in my house. Everything." Dan emphasized the last word especially.
"Yeah, of course," Lucas said.
"I don't want you to make a mistake that costs you your whole basketball career. One accident and that's it, Lucas. It's over."
"Like what happened to you?" Lucas questioned.
"I'm not proud of what happened, but sometimes mistakes do happen and there's nothing you can do but face up to your responsibilities. I have a nice life here and I don't regret marrying your mother." Dan said. Lucas smirked.
"I was actually talking about that knee injury of yours," he said as he got up, "But nice to know you love me," Lucas rolled his eyes discreetly.
"You know, Lucas," Dan said trying to change the subject from his mistake, "This looks familiar. Where have I seen it before?" he asked looking at the bra. Lucas just shrugged.
"Victoria's Secret?" he hazarded much to Dan's lack of amusement. Satisfied to gain the upper hand, Lucas left his father and wondered down the hall to where his and Brooke's rooms were situated.
He pondered speaking to Brooke but something inside him decided against it.
They'd have plenty of time to talk soon.
Brooke sighed as she pressed 'print'. Basking in the hum of the printer as it got to work, she stretched out, her muscles aching. She'd just written up a fifteen page project on the French Revolution, thanks to Dan Scott, and she was tired.
She rested her eyes for a moment but a knock on the door spoiled it.
"Who's there?" she called, hoping it wasn't Dan or Lucas.
"Karen," came the reply as the door opened.
"Hey, Karen. Is dinner ready yet? I'm starved!" Brooke said. Karen shut the door behind her, "Okay, that's not a good sign." Brooke muttered, "What's going on Karen?" she asked.
Karen looked at the girl.
"I know what happened." Brooke stared at her.
"You do?" she stuffed her hands in her pockets.
"Dan told me everything," Karen explained.
"He did?" Brooke bit her lip, "Listen, I'm sorry for-" she began.
"Oh, you don't have to apologize," Karen interrupted.
"I don't?" Brooke was confused.
"No, it's completely Lucas' fault."
"It is?" Brooke frowned.
"Yes, he should not have brought a girl into this house, especially with us away and you in the next room. He acted completely irresponsibly," Karen said.
"Girl?" Brooke inquired.
"Yes. The one he brought home Saturday night. Isn't that why you were both arguing?" Karen asked.
"Oh, yeah!" Brooke quickly agreed, "Exactly why."
"Well he's being punished appropriately now. You know, you could have told us. You don't have to protect Lucas all the time," Karen told her. Brooke forced a smile.
"Okay."
"Good. Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes," Karen smiled. Brooke returned the smile but the moment Karen left, it fell and she sighed.
Lucas was sure to hate her now.
Due to his grounding, Lucas didn't join the family for dinner that night. Brooke didn't know if she was more disappointed or relieved about that. Either way, she was hoping for some back-up because she was getting glares and smirks from Dan all night.
"Oh Brooke, I almost forgot, that girl Bevin called while you were studying," Dan said suddenly, "There's a problem with your routine for the Cheer Classic."
"What?" Brooke dropped her fork on the table, "W-w-what kind of problem?"
"Oh, something about… the music?" Dan tried to remember.
"What about the music?"
"Something like how another two teams are using the same song," Dan said shrugging flippantly. Brooke's eyes widened.
"I have to go," she said jumping out of her seat.
"But you're not finished!" Dan said.
"Forget that!" Brooke retorted.
"Sit down!" Dan instructed. Brooke cast a desperate look at Karen.
"Karen? You were captain of your team. This is important!" she pleaded.
"Dan, she's right. If something was wrong with Lucas' basketball team, you'd move heaven and earth to sort it out," Karen said.
Dan sighed, "Fine. But if you don't win first place…" Brooke thanked them both and ran into her bedroom to get her cheerleading gear, and phone Peyton.
"Peyton?"
"Yes?"
"Is your house free? Of course it is, listen I need you to phone all the cheerleaders and get them down to your place now!" Brooke instructed.
"But I'm on a date."
"And?"
"With Jake."
"So?"
"Brooke, I am on a date with Jake at my house... in my room. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Peyton questioned.
"Yeah, I do, Peyton. But this is for the good of the team. We need to do some major re-thinking of our routine and we have… ten days to do it in!" Brooke said, "Please, Peyton, please?" Brooke asked. She heard a sigh.
"Fine. I'll call them now." Brooke almost squealed with relief.
"Thank you, Peyton. I love you and I will so make it up to you and Jake. Seriously, I'll buy you a ton condoms and whipped cream!" Brooke promised. Peyton chuckled and hung up.
Lucas knocked on Brooke's door.
"Are you going somewhere?"
"To Peyton's," Brooke told him.
"But you just came from there," Lucas reminded her.
"Well, change of plans."
"Brooke, I think we need to talk."
"About what?" Brooke didn't look up at him.
"You know what," Lucas said, "I've been doing som-" Brooke held up a hand to stop him.
"Lucas, can we not do this now?"
"Why not now?" he asked.
"Because I have nine cheerleaders waiting for me," she said.
"Let them wait. We have to talk!"
"No, Lucas! This can't wait. Because some stupid teams chose the same music as we did, we have to find some new music."
"So?"
"So? So we have to rework our whole routine to fit the new music. We have just over a week to do it in or we're not ready for the Classic!" Brooke said trying to find her pom-poms.
"Screw the Classic. This is more important!" Lucas grabbed her arm.
"Get off of me!" Brooke practically yelled, "This is important to me, Lucas. I'm their captain and if we're not perfect at the Classic, it's my fault. No-one can expect less than perfection from me and if I'm not prepared, the team isn't prepared. I don't want to lose because we've worked our butts off these last months and those girls deserve nothing less than first place." Brooke practically yelled.
Lucas clenched his jaw.
"Fine, go to your stupid practice. I hope you lose!" he retorted.
"You are such a child sometimes," Brooke complained.
"Whatever," Lucas said as he left her room, "I just can't believe you're putting pom-poms before me."
"It's not like that," Brooke began feeling slightly guilty.
"Oh, it's exactly like that. Just go, Brooke. You're right, it doesn't matter. What happened wasn't exactly different from any other weekend. You're just another girl," Lucas said, knowing just how much he was hurting her, but her refusal to talk about it was beginning to get on his nerves and he couldn't stop himself.
"Oh yeah?" Brooke said slinging her bag over her shoulder, "Well you're just like every other guy."
"How's that?" Lucas asked. Brooke walked past him.
"Inadequate."
With that, she walked down the hall and out of the front door, leaving a fuming Lucas in her wake.
To Be Continued…
I must warn you, I am purposely keeping Brooke and Lucas apart for a little while (only a little while). They have a lot of obstacles to overcome in order to be on the same wavelength. But just stick with it because things can only go up from here - right?