Hey everybody! Thanks for your reviews, I love getting the feedback. Special shout out to Lucas'gr8 for being the only one who picked up on my subtle wording … (and possible hinting.) You guys are probably going to totally hate me for this chapter, but I've just got to put it in here. This story isn't totally fluff lol. I had to edit and rewrite this chapter a lot to make it fit (lol you should see some of the other versions. They totally suck.) So I hope you guys enjoy it… let me know.
Disclaimer: I own nothing… except for the icepack that is slowly nursing my feet back to health. Stupid pretty shoes.
At The Heart of It All
Chapter Fourteen
From The Past Comes the Storm
2:30 AM blinked from his alarm clock, brutally bright, the bold red letters showing no mercy. Lucas turned over in his bed with a sigh. He had been tossing and turning all night, thinking over the events of last night and how stupid he had been. How could he have just left her without saying anything?
Anna.
Even the sound of her name cut him deep, the syllables slicing him apart. That was why he had left Brooke lying there, on the verge of tears. Just the mention of her and he was instantly on edge… and he wondered when it was ever going to stop hurting.
He knew Brooke knew it wasn't just about sex. Lucas guessed that she was most likely right in the first place, they shouldn't do anything to jeopardize their delicate (as of lately) relationship. But he knew inside that he truthfully wouldn't have had any regrets. Actually, he was almost scared by the fact that he had never wanted anyone more than he had wanted Brooke Davis last night. Then she said those cursed syllables. Just the sound sent him back then, making him feel disloyal to what they once had, then angry over the fact that it was over and she still haunted him. A guilt trip that he didn't deserve.
He felt like even more of an ass when he thought of how much Brooke must be hurting at the moment. He hadn't spoken to her since shutting his bedroom door, no contact with her since that desperate kiss. Lucas wanted to talk to her, he really did… but what do you say to someone to apologize when you aren't even sure what happened?
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2:30 AM blinked from the alarm clock. It was the first thing that Brooke saw as she groggily opened her eyes, and she rather wished she didn't. A pounding headache had taken up residence, accompanied with a very nauseous settling in the pit of her stomach. This was the last time she partyed on a Sunday... even though she had promised Lucas that last time was "the" last time.Struggling to sit up, maybe go and find herself some water and an aspirin, she found that her efforts were hindered by a tan, masculine arm thrown territorially across her waist.
Oh God…
Her eyes followed the tan hand to a bent elbow, to a shoulder, to a neck covered in hickeys, and, stifling her urge to gag right then, up to a handsome face belonging to the scum of the earth, in her opinion.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Brooke wailed, letting out a scream that shattered the silence of the entire neighborhood, maybe even town.
"Haha… I can even make you scream in my sleep," the smug tone hung in the air as Felix made himself more comfortable, opening his eyes and wearing a lazy grin.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"Don't tell me you don't remember! It was some of your best work, in my opinion."
"Oh my God… oh my God… get out. Get out! Get the hell out NOW!" hyperventilated Brooke, panic starting to set in.
"But Brooke…"
"No Felix! Out! Get out! Get out of my room! Get out of my life! Get OUT! OUT! OUT! OUT!" Brooke shrieked, pummeling him with a pillow for effect and shoving him off the bed. "I HATE YOU! I don't even care what else you have to say, LEAVE!"
"Girl, I love it when you're feisty," Felix called as he exited her room.
And for the second time that weekend, Brooke went to sleep shattered, crying herself to sleep and wondering how she was ever going to face school in… 6 hours? She would have to see Lucas then… touch Lucas then. How could she possibly touch her best friend, such a great person, doing such a great thing for her, after his? How could she even look him in the eye? How could she drink when she'd promised him that she wouldn't? How could she keep doing this? Finally she lost the battle she had been fighting against her nausea, and eventually found her way to a troubled rest.
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The lockers were puke green, and Brooke had always hated them. Seriously, as if all the schooling going on didn't make them feel sick enough. They looked even worse in the dim fluorescent lighting of the main hallway. Then in walked a boy with golden hair and bright blue eyes, a sharp contrast to the never-ending bleakness. It was surprising to Brooke that when he saw her, his smile reached his eyes. But she would take what she could get. However, she dreaded the moment when he would come over and hug her as he always did. Couldn't he feel the guilt radiating off her? She definitely wasn't worthy of his smile, and she had almost come up with a reason to avoid his arms when he finally caught up to her and hugged her. She couldn't have moved if she tried.
"I'm so sorry, Cheery," he whispered into her ear, his breath tickling the sensitive skin.
At this she burst into sobs, thinking of all that she had done, and how he was still the one to apologize. Gently, Lucas led her to an empty classroom, confused as anything as to why she was crying, but willing as ever to allow her to shed her tears on his shoulder.
"I'm really sorry Brooke. I shouldn't have pushed it. You were right, as usual, and I'm so sorry. I totally overreacted. I don't even know why she still has that effect on me, even the sound of her, just—I—God, this is hard. I don't know why I acted the way I did, but there's no excuse for it when you were just trying to do the right thing. I'm sorry Cheery. Forgive me?" he pleaded, smoothing down her hair as she sat on the desk in as he stood in front of it. Her arms were around his neck and her face was buried in his chest and he could feel her tears slipping down. As he finished his little speech, he delicately lifted her chin with a finger to look her in her startlingly green eyes. They were red-rimmed and puffy, but she gave him a watery smile anyway.
"Yeah, we're cool."
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"So I hear that you're cheating on me," he began conversationally, shooting a sly glance at the brunette to his left, and smiling a little. This tone was light, but there was something dark in his eyes as they grazed over her, the court, and the river. Jealousy… suspicion… hurt… or maybe she was just imagining the whole thing. Nobody could ever really tell what was going on when Lucas was playing games (hints as to why he was so invincible on the basketball court). He was smiling though, that seemed to be a good sign. However, Brooke was completely startled. How had he found out! She had vowed to completely forget about what happened with Felix, even more, that Lucas would never, ever know.
"What!"
"Yeah… Peyton's been going around telling everybody that you like Jake Jagelski. Any idea where that came from?" he laughed, and Brooke forced one out too. The panic vanished from her, replaced with a heavy sense of guilt.
"Oh… that's just because I totally tore her apart over making out with Jake in a supply closet. Because of Jake and Haley, you know?"
"Vaguely."
"Yeah. I can't believe him. He's one of those guys that you think are really nice and, like,different, you know? And then he does something like that to Haley!"
"You sure you don't like him?" Lucas asked, his brow furrowed.
"Positive."
"Of course. I know how you feel about cheaters… you probably like him about as much as you like Felix, and God knows you wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole," Luke laughed, a golden sound that Brooke tried to burn into her memory. She had had so long to know him, and they had come so far in their relationship, but lately she felt that it was so fragile, so volatile, that any move could possibly blow it apart. If that happened, she knew that she would be lost, but for now, she tried to savor the memories of happy days with her best friend.
Broody, you've got no idea…
Brooke made a noncommittal noise in her throat, and turned her head up to look at Lucas from its previous position on his shoulder… just as he had turned his head down to look at her. Their lips met somewhere in the middle, and both were shocked into paralysis for a moment. But that only lasted a moment, until his tongue traced her bottom lip, and she eagerly responded. The kiss was sweet and achingly slow, and they broke apart smiling at each other. He playfully nibbled at her neck and---
"Ahem."
Someone cleared their throat awkwardly on the court, and both Lucas and Brooke's heads snapped towards the sound. Neither looked guilty, because they were a "couple", and socially acceptable couples could go a lot farther than they just did. They were expecting to see Bevin, or Theresa, or even Peyton or Felix, but not who was there. Brooke was immediately embarrassed, a flush covering her cheeks, but she was so shocked that her jaw literally dropped. She corrected herself when she realized how rude that was, and she bit her lip nervously, but Lucas's expression was much different. Shock. Joy? Pain. Guilt.
"Hello Luke."
Anna.
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Xo Sam