A/N: Thanks to everyone for the reviews! This chapter is dedicated to Summer who is my best muse. Your thoughts always make me smile. Hope that was a good enough shout out lol. Also thanks to: April, nemo123489, ifonlytheyknewthetruth, Michelsita, OTH.daddy'sgurl.06, Angelic Prefect, Polia, and Haley Bub for reviews.
ifonlytheyknewthetruth- You asked me ifPeyton liked Jake in this story? Well I hope that would be clear from previous chapters, but hopefully this chapter will clear that up.
Michelsita- Thanks so much for your long and in depth review. I loved hearing your thoughts and thanks for your support and pimping off my fic on the JP thread of FanForum. Big Hug
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Chapter 16: Promise Me
Brooke's POV
As I stood here listening to Peyton try to defend her actions for the second time in the past year I got more and more frustrated. She was just about to give me more excuses when her phone rang. She looked down at it, back up at me, and then turned it off. She placed it back in her pocket like nothing had happened.
"Who was that?"
"It was a wrong number."
"That's another lie. When does it end Peyton? It was Lucas wasn't it?"
"Yes, but…."
"Unbelievable! Of course he calls you. It makes perfect sense. I run off all upset and who does he run to? It always comes back to you. I bet you guys planed this. He tells everyone he's sick and gets you to tell me about this kiss so that he doesn't have to right? What are you gonna do break up with me too?"
"What are you talking about Brooke? Calm down and listen to how crazy you are being right now. He was calling to see if I had found you. We are all out looking for you because we love you and we are worried about you. We should be worrying about Lucas. Don't you see Brooke? It's all about you. It always has been."
"Yes especially when you guys were making out in that motel."
"Oh my God will you just let that go already! We made a mistake. And you are not even making sense right now!"
"It makes all the sense in the world to me Peyton. Lucas loves you and always will. And I know you still love him."
"You're right Brooke. I do love Lucas. He is a great guy and an amazing friend. But that's it. I am not in love with him. I'm in love with Jake."
"For now. But how long will it last this time? I can never tell with you Peyton. First it's Nathan. Then it's Lucas. Then it's Jake. Then it's Lucas again. Then it's Pete. Now it rolls back around to Jake. Where is the wheel gonna spin next Peyton? I'm getting kinda dizzy here."
"That's not fair Brooke. I know you've had your share of guys."
"Not fair? I'll tell you what's not fair. That while you were having all these guys, I only had one that I cared about. And you keep taking him."
"I'm not taking him anywhere!"
"Want to know what else is not fair? Constantly going through life worried about when your best friend is gonna betray you again. And when the man you love is finally gonna realize that she is who he really wants to be with."
"Listen Brooke. There is no passion between Lucas and I. I'll admit at a time I thought he was everything I ever wanted, but that was because I hadn't seen what the world had to offer. I had only ever been with Nathan. And no offense to him or anything, but he was an asshole. I realize I was fooling myself into thinking I was in love with Lucas because I wanted that feeling so bad. To have someone treat me like I deserved to be treated and look at me like I was something special. But loving Lucas was convenient and I never truly returned that feeling."
"Then tell me this Peyton. Why did you kiss him again?"
"Two reasons. One being that I was shot and didn't know what was going to happen."
"You mean this was during the shooting?" Peyton nodded. "It wasn't when you two were alone all summer?"
"Of course not Brooke. I told you all Lucas did was obsess about you all summer. Brooke this and Brooke that. How I am gonna convince Brooke to take me back? Blah, blah, blah."
This conversation was finally getting better. "Good. Okay then, go on."
"So I was sitting in that library bleeding. I felt so scared and cold. I wanted some comfort and to feel safe. Lucas did that for me. He saved me and I had to repay him. It was a thank you kiss. I wanted to show him my gratitude. He's always there when I need him. He's just that type of guy and I know he would do it for anyone. That's why I told him I loved him."
"That's all there was to it?"
"Yes. I swear on my Dashboard, The Cure, and Keane albums."
I let a little smile break through. "You promise on Jimmy Eat World and Fallout Boy too?"
"I promise on the rare imports."
Even in a serious moment like this Peyton was still the music girl with all the references I never understood. But whenever she talked about music it was no joking matter "You must be telling the truth then. Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Honestly I didn't even remember at first. I had lost so much blood who the hell knew what I was saying. I had no idea what had happened. By the time everything had started to come back to me in the hospital, everyone was dealing with so much of there own stuff. You were taking care of both me and Lucas and we needed you. I didn't want to risk not having you here when it was the best thing for both of us. Plus Lucas had just lost Keith and I know he wasn't ready to lose you. It wasn't my place to tell you."
"Well in that case I guess I have to believe you." Suddenly Peyton jumped and wrapped her arms around me in a big hug.
"Thank you Brooke."
"There's one last thing. You said two reasons. What was the second?"
"Well, this is the part that might make you mad again."
"Spill."
"I needed to make sure there was nothing there. We were in such an intense situation that it was now or never. I didn't trust myself and I had to prove it one way or another once and for all."
"And?"
"Nothing. Not a spark. And don't tell Lucas this for fear of the precious male ego, but I pretended it was Jake. After it was over I looked at him and he had Jake's face. I think I was starting to hallucinate and shortly after, even through the delusions, I knew it couldn't be Jake because I didn't feel the same way. When I kiss Jake it's like the world stops and I feel this electricity pumping through my heart. I know it sounds cheesy and like a stereotype, but I feel the fireworks and see stars. But with Lucas... it felt like I was kissing my brother."
I burst out laughing. I love Lucas to death but that was the best news and the funniest thing I had ever heard. I should tell Lucas just to see the look on his face. He'd be devastated. That's just priceless. "Thanks for that P. Sawyer. That was just what I needed to hear."
"Great. Now all I need to do is tell Jake."
"You just did." We both turned around to see Jake standing behind us. Peyton sucked in a breath and looked at him with a white face.
"Well, what do you think?"
"I think we need to go and create some of those fireworks." Peyton let out her breath and ran over to him with a smile.
"So we're okay?"
"We never weren't." Jake then leaned down and kissed Peyton. I smiled watching this sight. Oh yeah there was definitely electricity. Peyton looked like she was melting into a pile of goo right before my eyes. They were really in love and I had nothing to worry about. Peyton was a goner and Jake Jagielski was the only one who could take her. And I had only one person who could do the same to me. No matter how disappointed and upset I am with him right now, I have to be with him. He makes me both crazy and sane at the same time and that was a great feeling. We keep each other balanced.
"Well okay you lovebirds. As much fun as it is watching you two play tonsil hockey, I got to go find my man." Peyton let go of Jake's lips long enough to come over and hug me again.
"Good. You two are the best friends a girl could ask for and you deserve each other. Plus he has probably left you a hundred messages by now."
"I hope so. I could listen to him grovel all day." Peyton laughed and then called out to me as I got into my car.
"So we're okay?"
I stuck my head out of the window. "We never weren't." I winked at her and then drove off. As I left the mall parking lot I looked in my rear view mirror to see Peyton and Jake making out again. They didn't waste anytime. That's what I have to do. I'm not wasting anymore time. I turned on my phone to call Lucas seeing it say I had fifteen messages. Well it wasn't a hundred but it'll do.
Brooke where did you go? We are all worried about you. I'm so sorry you had to find out that way. Trust me I wanted to tell you more than anyone but I just wasn't ready to give it all up yet. I know now it was stupid to risk everything else I have just for basketball. I love you. Please call me back. I'll come and get you no matter where you are. Bye.
As I listened to him everything came flooding back to me. I had been so upset by finding out Lucas and Peyton kissed, that I forgot all about Lucas's heart. How could I be so selfish? Why did I always think everything was happening to me and that I was all that mattered? That was something I had to stop. I continued to listen to the messages.
Please Brooke it's been an hour and I am really scared. I don't want anything to happen to you. I'm sorry I told Peyton. I only did it because she was there. You had left and I had no one to talk to. Haley had just come home to deal with Nathan and I felt alone. I would have called you but I didn't know how you would take it after how we'd left things. And I didn't want to make things worse. I didn't want you to run further away. Please come back to me. I've been everywhere I can think of and Peyton's looking for you too. I'm on my way home right now. If you can forgive me meet me there. Otherwise I'll be lost. I love you.
I smiled. In each message he made sure to tell me that he loved me. Was I going to meet him? Who was I kidding? There wasn't a question in my mind. Of course I am. I'm and addict and this guy's my drug. I pull into Lucas's house ready for my next fix. I walked up the stairs and opened the door to Lucas's room. He wasn't there. I walked into the kitchen to see Karen still cleaning up.
"Oh Brooke you scared me."
"Sorry Karen. Is Lucas here?"
"No he's not. They all went out looking for you a couple hours ago."
"That's odd. I got a call from him about a half an hour ago saying he was on his way home."
"Well he's not here." Karen looked very worried.
"Are you okay? I know I just ran out of here without thinking of anyone else. I'm sorry. I know you must be really upset."
"I am. But right now all I want is Lucas to come home where I know he's safe and I can look after him."
"That's all I want too." She grabbed me really hard and started to cry on my shoulder. "It's gonna be okay Karen. Everything will be alright. I'm gonna call him." I pressed speed dial one and waited, but there was no answer. "He didn't pick up."
"I have no idea where he could be."
"I have an idea. We'll both be back soon okay?" I let go of her hand and ran for the door. "Don't worry. Just relax."
I got in my car and started to drive. Where would he go? He said he was on his way home. Then a light bulb went off in my head. Where was the one other place in the world Lucas felt at home? The Rivercourt. Why hadn't I thought of it before? Of course that's where he was. It was his world and I was the biggest part of that world. Shortly I arrived but I didn't see him there. I looked out to the court but it wasn't lit up and was totally dark. My spirit dropped. I thought I knew him. But I was wrong again.
I started to turn around when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. There was something on the court. As I walked closer I noticed it was the outline of a man. Oh no. I started to run with all my power across the court and my worst fears came true. It was Lucas. I dropped to my knees to find him passed out. I picked his head up and placed it into my lap. I shook him a little. "Lucas?" Then I shook him a lot. "Lucas!" He wasn't responding. How is that possible if I just saw him moving? He must be slipping in and out of consciousness. This is not good. This is very bad.
I immediately started dialing 911. "Hello. Yes I need an ambulance. I'm at the Tree Hill Rivercourt. No it's not for me. My boyfriend has a heart condition and he must have collapsed. No he's not conscious right now but he was just moving. Okay thank you I'll be waiting." They told me to stay calm and that someone was on there way. Stay calm? How was I supposed to stay calm? Suddenly I felt his head move. I looked down to see his eyes open.
"Brooke?"
"I'm hear baby. I'm gonna get you some help. Just relax and stay with me okay?"
"I'm so sorry Brooke. I didn't want this to happen."
"I know Luke, I know. Don't think about that now. Just think about good things and that you're gonna be fine."
"This must have been what Peyton felt like. It's getting cold."
"No Lucas! Don't say that. Please just hang on. An ambulance is on its way."
"I want to tell you something just in case."
"Nothing is going to happen to you. Do you hear me?" At this point I was in tears and I could barely speak clearly.
"I love you Brooke. You are the most important person in my life. I want only the best for you. Promise me that you'll have a good life and that you won't let the next guy treat you the way I did."
"Stop it Lucas. You're terrifying me. You treated me great. You did what you thought was right. You did what was in your heart."
"And my heart is flawed. Be more careful with the next one."
"There isn't gonna be a next one."
"Justpromise me."
"I promise." He reached up and touched my face. I heard the sirens in the distance. I looked up. They were getting closer. I looked down to see him close his eyes. "No Lucas. Fight it." The ambulance pulled up to the Rivercourt and two EMTs were running onto the court. But it was too late. He was gone.
Next up: Could this family really deal with another trajedy? What about Nathan? Stay tuned. I'm evil. Hehe.