I want to thank you all for your support while I've been on a brief hiatus. I've been writing this chapter during my study breaks and days off and I finally finished it today. I was going to post it after my last exam, but I figured that you all deserved something just for being so awesome.

I only have two exams left and then a couple of after-exam celebrations, which should bring me to the end of next week. But after that, I have two and a half months of freedom to write!

Enjoy!

Chapter Twenty Four: You're About To Break My Fall

Almost two months had passed since Christmas and though Brooke and Lucas didn't talk about college, it always lingered on the surface of every conversation.

Lucas filled in the college applications when Brooke was out, or he was in the library. Places free of Brooke's presence so that neither of them had to talk about it.

Of course, Dan did nothing to help as he rambled on and on about the newest scholarship offers at the dinner table. He didn't notice Brooke's downcast eyes as she nervously played with his food, or why Lucas kept attempting to change the subject. Finally, Karen had to ban Dan from talking about colleges at the dinner table, despite his protests.

Even their friends didn't talk about college near Brooke or Lucas, knowing it would only really bring an awkward end to the conversation. The rest of the gang were all the same age and dating people in their age group. College wouldn't be an issue for at least another year. But Brooke and Lucas' current situation forced them to think about the future, and the repercussions of that.

After all of his applications had safely been posted and out of the way, Lucas felt a heavy weight being lifted from his shoulders.

He literally ran back home with a spring in his step and gently knocked on his girlfriend's bedroom door.

He poked his head inside and grinned at her as she lay on her stomach, reading a magazine.

"Hey," she said, "You look happy." Lucas allowed himself in.

"I am happy."

"Care to tell me why?" she asked. Lucas decided not to tell her about the applications, knowing it would probably bring them both down.

"Because you're the best girlfriend in the world," he said.

"But you already knew that," Brooke grinned. He bent down and gave her a kiss, kneeling at the foot of the bed so that he was at her eye level.

"Guess what I did," Brooke looked up questioningly.

"What?"

"Well, I know somebody's 17th birthday is coming up," Brooke's eyes widened and she shut her magazine.

"Yeah?" she asked excitedly.

"How about we go away next weekend to celebrate? Just you and me," Lucas suggested.

"But my birthday is the weekend after that," Brooke said, "Remember?"

"Yeah, I know. But Peyton and Haley have told me that I've got to keep that weekend free for you, so…" he pulled out two plane tickets, "do you fancy a weekend in Palm Springs?"

Brooke's jaw dropped as she looked at the tickets in his hand.

"Are you kidding me?"

"It's all set. I figured that since things have been a little… tense lately, we need a break." Lucas said truthfully.

Brooke smiled, but it quickly faded, "Wait? How are we supposed to go to Palm Springs without your dad getting suspicious?"

"Already taken care of. My mom's going to tell him that we're visiting her parents."

"Oh, do they live there?" Brooke asked.

"Nope, but my dad doesn't know that. As long as he doesn't have to see them, he doesn't care where they are."

Brooke dropped a kiss on her boyfriend's head, "Broody, this is fantastic. Thank you."

She crawled off her bed and picked up the phone.

"What are you doing?" Lucas asked.

"Calling Peyton and Tutor Wife. I need to go shopping!" she bounced excitedly and Lucas shook his head, pleased to see a genuine smile on her face.

Haley, Peyton and Brooke sat together in Brooke's backyard, cooling themselves down with three fans and an array of cold drinks, and many different bottles of sunscreen and music playing in the background.

"Why does it have to be so hot?" Brooke complained as she rubbed another layer of sunscreen onto her skin.

"Oh, shut up. You know you love it," Peyton said, her eyes peaking over her sunglasses. "It means you don't have to visit the self-tanning place for a while."

"For a long while," Haley added, "Because someone is being whisked off to Palm Springs in tomorrow."

Brooke grinned, "Yeah, all thanks to my Broody. Have I told you how much I love him?"

"Yes, many times," Peyton said, "In fact, if you tell us one more time, I'm going to have to be forced to take drastic action."

Brooke giggled and Peyton turned to her.

"Seriously though, dude. I'm really pleased for you. You've seemed a little down these past couple of months. It'll do you some good to go away for a while," Peyton told her honestly, still dancing around the true reason behind her friend's recent subdued nature.

"That goes for me too," Haley joined in, "If only my husband would get the hint that I want to go away for a while."

"Didn't he offer to take you to Atlanta to see your parents?" Brooke asked.

"Yeah, but I didn't take it. I felt kind of bad making him work harder than he already is just to scrounge up enough money for a trip. We're finding it hard to make ends meet just as it is. Plus, it's not like I never talk to them. I was just thinking more along the lines of going away for a weekend. Somewhere local…" Haley mused.

"Maybe we girls should all take a vacation somewhere. Summer is coming up and I think we can wrangle a weekend free from our boyfriends. What do you think?" Peyton asked.

"Isn't summer still five months away?" Brooke frowned.

"It never hurt anybody to plan these things in advance," Peyton replied.

"Well if it continues being this hot, then maybe we won't have to go anywhere. Why on Earth do we have a heat wave in mid-February?" Haley complained reaching for a drink.

"Global warming?" Brooke hazarded just as the house phone began to ring. "Urgh, I'll be right back."

Brooke got up from her chair and slipped her flip-flops back on her feet, running slightly to pick the phone up.

"Hello, Scott Residence," she spoke into the phone clearly, her hand holding a pen that was poised over a notepad. Sometimes Dan would receive business calls at home and the family was well-trained to take down any important details for him.

"Brooke?" the young girl froze as she heard the voice. "Is that you?"

"Mom," she said clearly surprised, "How did you get this number?"

The woman chuckled, "Is that how you greet your mother?" Brooke didn't reply, "Of course I know where my own child lives."

"Is everything okay?" Brooke asked, wondering why her mother was calling her after almost seven months of no communication.

"No, no, everything is fine. Did you get my letter?"

Suddenly it clicked. Her mother was responding to the muffin baskets Lucas had sent and then following up. She was probably wondering why Brooke never replied.

"Oh, yeah. I did."

"I thought so. The gift was a lovely gesture, Brooke," her mother told her. "It was nice to hear from you."

"Um… is there any reason you're calling me?" Brooke knew what she sounded like, but she wasn't really in the mood to talk to her mother.

"Well, I was wondering, since it is your father's birthday coming up, that we should go see him. Together. As a family," her mother explained.

"Aren't you still in rehab?" Brooke asked.

"Oh, no. I was out of there weeks ago."

"Oh, congratulations," Brooke said.

"So what do you think?"

"Uh… I don't know," Brooke tried to think of an excuse.

"Honey, we haven't seen you for a long time. It would really cheer your father up for him to see you. Not to mention that I'm aching to see you too."

Brooke became slightly incensed.

Her parents never gave a damn about her before. They used to go months without seeing Brooke. Sometimes a rare phone call home would suffice for them to continue their globe-trotting adventures.

And now everything had changed because of some stupid muffin baskets.

"Mom…"

"Please come, Brooke. You owe us," her mother's voice became slightly more sinister. Brooke sighed and gulped.

"Fine. Just a couple of days. When?"

"Tonight."

"What?" Brooke froze.

'No, not this weekend,' Brooke closed her eyes tightly, 'anything but this weekend.'

"I thought you could come down tonight and spend the whole weekend with us. We could go to the spas and have dinner, Just like we used to when you were a little girl."

"But we haven't done that in such a long time," Brooke said.

"I know, honey, and that's why it's important to me," her mother reasoned.

"Mom, I can't. I have plans this weekend. Plus, it's a little short notice," Brooke apologized.

"Well, how about next weekend? I'm sure your father than wait an extra week for his birthday. You're free that weekend, right?"

Brooke sighed, wondering if her mother had any idea what she'd just said.

"I can't," she told her mother coldly, "It's my birthday next weekend."

There was a pause on her mother's end.

"Oh, that's right. You were born a week after your father's birthday," her mother said before her tone brightened, "That means we can celebrate them both this weekend."

"Mom!" Brooke snapped, "I can't come this weekend or next, I have plans."

"Well what is your father going to think when he sees his daughter didn't even remember his birthday?"

Brooke sighed, "You can't guilt trip me…"

"Brooke, please? It'd mean the world to both of us. You don't have to see us again if you don't want to. Just this once, please?"

She'd never heard her mother come so close to begging before. Finally, she relented.

"Okay," she said, "I'll be there tonight."

Her mother's joy at the news was only matched by Brooke's frustration of having to disappoint Lucas.

Lucas almost danced down the hallway of his home. He stopped at Brooke's door, knocking on it gently before opening it.

She was packing.

"Hey," he grinned as he entered the room and leant against the wall, "I thought you'd already packed."

Brooke didn't reply but Lucas spied that she was taking out the swimsuits and dresses she'd bought, and replacing them with sweatshirts and pants.

"Aren't you going to be hot in those clothes? It's supposed to be sunny in Palm Springs."

Brooke stopped what she was doing and looked at Lucas apologetically.

"I'm not going to Palm Springs," she told him, "I wanted to tell you earlier but I didn't know how."

Lucas scratched his head, "Wait, what are you talking about?" He crossed his arms.

"My mom called this afternoon. She wants me to go to New York and spend the weekend with her. It's my dad's birthday so I've got to go visit him."

"And you couldn't have picked a different weekend?" Lucas asked in anger.

"Lucas, I'm really sorry. I did try and get out of it but if I don't do this then I might lose my parents forever," Brooke tried to explain.

"Because you gave a crap about them during Christmas, right?" Lucas snapped.

Now it was Brooke's turn to be angry, "I can't believe you're not being so supportive of this. You're the one who sent them those stupid muffin baskets which started this whole thing off!"

"Yeah, I wanted you to talk to your parents, not ditch me the night before we're meant to head up to Palm Springs. You know, lately things between us were kind of weird and I thought that this trip could be a way of getting things back to there way we were but no! We're fighting," Lucas complained.

"I don't want to fight, Lucas. You know I'd rather go to Palm Springs with you, but I just can't. If I back out on my parents now, they're either going to want nothing to do with me, or they're going to keep calling me. I don't want any of that. The least I can do is make peace with them now and get it over with. I love you, Lucas," Brooke told him moving closer and wrapping her arms around his waist.

Lucas removed himself from her grasp, "Evidently not enough," he shot back.

Brooke sighed, "Okay, what is it going to take for you to forgive me?" she asked. "Because I will do anything."

"Don't go." Lucas replied.

Brooke rolled her eyes, "I can't do that, Lucas."

"You said anything," he contended.

"Stop making this harder, Lucas," Brooke pleaded, "I don't want to leave on bad terms. Plus, it's only a weekend."

"Yeah, a weekend that cost me-"

"Is this about money?" Brooke interrupted, "Because I'll pay you back for the money you spent on those tickets if it means you'll stop acting like an ass over this. I'm sorry that I'm going to see my parents, okay? And I promise I'll make it up to you when I get back."

Lucas silently gave in, "When do you leave?"

"Tonight. Karen's already offered to drive me to the airport and my mom booked my ticket," Lucas let out a sigh.

"Fine," he relented, "Go."

Lucas turned to leave but Brooke stopped him.

"Wait, aren't you going to drop me off to the airport?" she asked. Lucas shrugged.

"What's the point? My mom's going with you anyway. Seems like you don't even need me."

"You need to stop acting like a jerk, Lucas," Brooke said as she took out her frustration on trying to close her suitcase. "I told you I'm sorry a million times, isn't that enough?"

Lucas didn't say anything.

"Brooke, honey! We need to get going." Karen's voice broke the uncomfortable silence.

Lucas just shook his head and sulked off to his room, leaving Brooke alone to feel the guilt of possibly ruining their relationship.

Karen entered Brooke's room to see the young girl staring down at her suitcase.

"I take it Lucas didn't react well?" Karen asked. "Don't worry, Brooke. When Lucas was seven, he wanted to go to Disneyworld, and we agreed to take both boys but that week, Dan had an emergency and we had to cancel. Needless to say Lucas sulked that whole week, refusing to eat his vegetables or listen to either of us. He caused us such hell. But eventually, he forgot about it and things went back to normal a couple of weeks later. And we did manage to take them to Disneyworld later that summer."

Karen could see from Brooke's expression that she didn't understand the point of the story.

"What I'm saying is that give Lucas some time to cool down. Go to New York; meet up with your parents, and come back home. Lucas is going to realize that he misses you and was being stupid and I almost guarantee that things will be okay between you two. He knows you're the best thing that ever happened to him," Karen advised.

"Are you sure?" Brooke asked. Karen nodded.

"I'm his mother," Karen said, "So, are you ready to go?"

Karen and Brooke made their way through the house and into the car. Lucas waited until he heard the front door slam shut and the car zoom off before looking at the plane tickets in his hand.

An expensive weekend for two in Palm Springs. It was supposed to be the best weekend of their lives.

But now all the plans were ruined.

Lucas looked at them once more and threw them in the wastebasket next to him, sinking his head into his hands as he did.

The ringing of the phone almost made him jump. Hoping that not all was lost, he picked it up.

"Brooke?" he asked.

"Dude, no!" came the very masculine voice of Tim Smith, "It's The Tim!"

Lucas groaned, "Don't call yourself that, Tim. And why are you calling?"

"Somebody's pissed off."

"Tim!"

"I just called to let you know there's a rocking party at my house tonight," Tim said excitedly.

"Isn't there one at your house almost every week?" Lucas asked.

"Well, yeah, but this is going to be the best. My parents are out of town on their second honeymoon and I decided we're going to have… Oktoberfest!"

Lucas frowned, "But its February."

"So?"

"Tim, you can't have Oktoberfest in February!"

"Why not?" Tim sounded disappointed.

"You know what? Never mind," Lucas sighed.

"So, are you coming?" Tim asked, "You've been so busy with Brooke these past few months, you've been missing out on the party circuit."

"We went to your last party," Lucas reminded him.

"Well, yeah, but you're still missed. What time are you and your lady coming?"

"Brooke's in New York this weekend," Lucas tried not to let his frustration about the situation rise.

"Awesome! That means you're a free man tonight."

"No, Tim. I'm not in the mood to go to any parties," Lucas told him.

"Aw, come on! Nate's going to be there. Everyone is. Live it up!" Tim tried to convince his friend.

Lucas was about to refuse the offer but he spied the discarded plane tickets in the trash.

"Okay," he said, "Fine, I'll come for a while. But only because I need to loosen up," Lucas agreed.

"Alright! It starts at eight but you can come whenever!" Lucas hung up on 'The Tim' and shook his head.

There was one benefit to having a girlfriend out of town.

And Lucas was determined to drown whatever sorrows he had.

To Be Continued…