Authors Note:
Here it is, finally! Its done. I wrote the last part of this chapter at least six times. I went so many way with it but nothing worked till this. I hope you like it. I want to ask you guys my faithful readers a request. My board is doing the board awards for favorite fan fics, and I was hoping you guys could also go and vote. Some many amazing authors and new fics have been nominated (and yes a woman's worth and unbreakable are in the running). So check that out. As always check out my space on what's going on in both my fics, and what I'm currently reading. Timeless by Cath is amazing. She is giving me a run for my money. I'm not sure if I am doing Unbreakable next I actually think I might, but then again tonight I could be in the middle of my board meeting and decide to write A woman's worth so we shall see. Well enjoy! Leave me a review it might get me to write the next chapter faster. I'm excited about it; I'm going to get deep into Haley's head. A thanks to all my girls who read it, told me what they love what it needed. But this one is for Maggie, my other southern friend. Thanks Maggie! For everything and for Cath who made me write this story. Enjoy Kaos.
Chapter 10
Nobody knows it but me?
"We've already met," Lucas interrupted as he looked at a pale faced Brooke. "Hello Brooke, do you remember me?"
Brooke couldn't believe her eyes, it wasn't possible, it couldn't be him, it had to be a dream. She quickly closed her eyes and opened them back up, hoping to god she would wake up in her bed, but she didn't. She could feel his gaze upon her, practically burning a hole in her back. She couldn't move, she felt like she was standing in a pile of cement. A large lump began to form in her throat; her palms grew sweaty as she gripped her cell phone for dear life. She took a small, deep breath and flashed him a smile.
"You look familiar, but I'm sorry where do I know you from?" She said, praying to herself that he would follow her lead. She nervously fiddled with her watch as Haley gave her a confused look. She hated to lie but she had no choice, she couldn't risk anyone knowing what had happened two months earlier. She didn't even want to imagine Haley or Peyton's reaction towards her reckless behavior.
He gave her another wickedly sexy grin. "We met this past summer, remember the hottest night in July?" he said, quoting the exact words she had whispered in his ear that night.
"Yes," she answered him back coolly, trying to seem un-phased. "Um, a mutual business associate introduced us at some random event. Um, I can't seem to remember your name though, was it Luther?"
Haley stood in the middle of her two friends listening to their conversation and felt like she was invisible. She stood watching them, looking back and forth between them. Luke's huge smile and the way Brooke was trying so hard to seem completely nonchalant. Something was up; she could tell, she knew Brooke better than anyone, she had grown up with her. Brooke was nervous, she kept moving around the cell phone she was holding and looking around the room. She wasn't her normal calm, cool, collected Brooke self - she was off big time. But what really struck a cord was the way she was trying to avoid Lucas' gaze.
"Brooke, this is Lucas, Karen's son. You know, the one who is heading up the campaign. How do you two know each other? Where did you meet again?" She asked, hoping one of them would shed some light on what was going on. She wanted to see what would happen next, but before either of them could say a word they heard a loud scream coming from the cell phone.
"Shit!" Haley said when she realized that the scream was coming out of Brooke's cell phone.
"Brooke give me the phone," she said as she grabbed it from her friend.
"Peyton, no oh god. Sorry. Hold on, let me go somewhere quieter," she said into the phone.
" Guys I'll be right back," she said as she hurried away leaving Brooke alone with Lucas, forgetting all about getting to the bottom of what was going on between them.
"So we're finally alone Brooke, or is it Ava today? " Lucas said peering into Brooke's eyes after Haley left. "Or maybe it's a combination: Brooke Ava or Ava Brooke? Either way I'm happy to see you again. This time you're wearing a bit more clothes. I never would have thought you would be the conservative type. You're not wearing panties under that dress, are you? Just like that night, easy access? You know you could have at least said goodbye, I went to get bagels and when I got back you were gone."
Brooke gritted her teeth as she scanned the room waving politely at someone she vaguely knew. "I have no idea what you're talking about,' she hissed.
Lucas began to chuckle, prompting Brooke to give him an evil stare. "Oh darling, I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. Don't act like you don't remember; I saw your face when you saw me. You owe me five dollars by the way, those bagels were expensive and they went to waste after you vanished."
Brooke ignored his comment as she scanned the room to see if Haley had walked back in yet, and she smiled and waved at Karen, who was staring at her with a peculiar expression on her face.
"Are you demented? I told you I have no idea what you're talking about," Brooke said as she began walking away from him, hoping to make a clean get away, but not getting very far before Lucas stepped in front of her.
"Okay, if that's the way you want to play it, I'm game," he told her as he put his hand on her shoulder, leaned in, and began to whisper in her ear. "I'll refresh you're memory. How about a little play-by-play. I remember that night so clearly. You in that little, itty, bitty red dress, with those killer stilettos. I had you up against the wall, your thong ripped on the floor, you begging me for..."
"Stop! Stop it you son of a bitch," she said biting her lower lip. She felt the urge to slap him, but she couldn't; there were nearly a hundred people around them including the press and the last thing she needed was for anyone to find out about her little escapade, or to end up on Page six.
"Admit it, and I'll stop."
Brooke forced a smile on her face as she watched Karen walk towards them. "Okay fine, yes you're right, now shut up about it. I don't want anyone to know."
"Really," Lucas said, feigning surprise. "I would have never guessed. I'll keep your secret, but its going to cost you."
"You're scum. A true gentleman would never tell."
"Well see, the problem here Miss Davis is that I'm not a gentleman. And I enjoyed our tryst and wouldn't mind doing it again. How about dinner, tomorrow night, my place? I make an amazing lamb stew."
"When pigs fly," she answered him giving him a daring look, waiting to see what he would his response would be.
He was just about to answer her back when his mother came up to them, interrupting the moment.
"Brooke sweetheart what are you doing here with Luke, is he bothering you?" she asked as she gave her son a quick hug. From the moment that Haley introduced her to the pretty brunette, Karen had taken an immediately liking to her. Brooke was the type of woman that Karen had always envisioned for one of her boys. Not only was she warm, caring, and family oriented, but she was successful as well. Karen admired that the most. Brooke Davis stood on her own two feet - she didn't depend on anyone, she had gotten to where she was by working hard. She was her own woman: no nonsense, the complete opposite of Hilarie. If only Nathan could have met a woman like Brooke instead of the cold, "English bitch," as Lucas referred to her.
"Um, no Karen," she lied. Her palms were getting sweatier and sweatier as the minutes slowly ticked by.
"Where's Haley?" Karen said as she looked up at her son whose eyes never left Brooke.
"Good question," Brooke replied as she breathed a sigh of relief, thanking god she finally had a reason to escape. "I'm going to go find her, excuse me."
Lucas watched with intrigue as Brooke made her way out the room. In a million years he would have never imagined that he would come face to face with Ava again, or that she would be Brooke Davis, Haley's manager and cousin. Since he had become friends with Haley, he had heard a million stories about her, Brooke, and Peyton. He had never expected for the Brooke Davis that Haley spoke so fondly of to be Ava, the brunette whom he had seduced one hot summer night. He was still in shocked. He had caught a brief glimpse of her walking across the room and had done a double take, because for a brief moment he thought he was dreaming. The legs, the hair, the way she walked across the room and her laughter, that's what had finally made him realize that he was right; it was Ava, he could never forget that laugh. He had walked by her, hoping to catch her eye. She had been standing in the middle of a group of people, and he had been just about to approach her when he heard her introduce herself to someone as Brooke Davis, Haley's manager. Confusion had set in as well as the need for answers, and he had walked away hoping to find Haley so she could explain, and he had. He had found Haley with Nathan, and just before he could question her, Brooke joined them. The expression on her face at the sight of him spoke volumes. Miss Brooke Davis had a few secrets, and he was one of them.
"If I were to ask you to do something for me Luke, would you?" he heard his mother say, interrupting his thoughts. Karen gave her son a small smile, as she sweetly asked him the question.
"Of course! What do you need? Do you want me to take Charlie off you're hands for a few hours, or do you want me to help her with her latest school project. She got an A the last time I did."
"Stay away from her," Karen replied in a calm tone.
"From Charlie?" Lucas said in confusion.
"No darling, from Brooke Davis."
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Yes you do, I know you, I gave birth to you. I see the way you were talking to her, the smile on your face, Lucas it's a bad idea. This project is too important, there can be no distractions, scandals, or bad press, it needs to run smoothly. You getting involved with Brooke, well it can't happen."
"Mom…"
"Brooke is a nice girl. She's not some model, or socialite that you usually sleep with. Now you can deny it all you want but I know they way you operate. I know what type of woman you attract. Brooke Davis is an essential part to this project as well as a part Haley's family. You know how important it was for me to get Haley to agree to do this project, I couldn't bear losing her because of some scandal. You may be my son, and I adore you but I know who you are, I'm not deaf or blind. I've heard all the stories. This isn't some flavor of the week, a skinny blonde who you have a one night stand type of thing with, Brooke is different."
"Mom…"
Karen raised her hands in the air in protest. "Luke I'm not kidding stay away from her, its an order from your boss. Business only; nothing else, no moonlight walks, or spur of the moment trips to my house in the Hamptons. I don't want to even see your name with hers in any of the gossip columns. Is that understood?"
"Yes," Lucas hissed.
"Good now where is your brother? Oh god, I hope he isn't starting trouble. He is still so bitter about replacing his whole campaign. Has he said anything to you Luke?" Karen asked him as she brushed off a piece of hair off the shoulder of his jacket.
Lucas was just about to answer her, when he spotted Nathan making his way towards them and he didn't look happy.
"I'm going to fuck you up Luke," Nathan gritted out when he reached them.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Hillarie just bought me this shirt and look what your latest conquest did to it, I told you it was a bad idea to hire her, she is obviously stupid as well as bad mannered. Look at my shirt."
"Oh shut, up the shirt was ugly, its not a great loss. And Haley is not my latest conquest, she's my friend."
Nathan started to laugh. "For how long? Please, you being friends with someone of the opposite sex that's a joke. We all know your reputation…the panties are probably already off."
"Fuck you asshole. Go fuck that pole over there, it probably has more warmth than the ice bitch."
"Ugh, you asshole…At least I don't have a relationship phobia"
"Wow, phobia, is Hillarie teaching you new words in bed instead of spreading her legs," Lucas said mockingly, and he was just about to say something else, when Nathan began to lunge at him, being pulled back by Karen.
"Boys! Boys! We're in public, the press is here. Stop it this instance." Karen hissed as she put on her biggest fake smile and looked at all the people staring at them. " I wont have either of you making any trouble today of all days. I'm ashamed of both of you, how dare you do this today. Now, we are going to go and mingle. Nathan change your shirt, Andy has some in his office, anything is better than the one you were wearing. And Luke, go and talk to the Neiman Marcus buyer. And remember what I said, stay away from Brooke, and if you sleep with Haley I will castrate you myself. Is that understood boys."
"Yes, ma am." They both grumbled as they both gave each other evil stares.
"Excuse me?" Karen asked them raising her right eyebrow, "I can't hear you."
"Yes mom we get it," Nathan said as Lucas nodded his head up and down in agreement.
"Good, now go and stay away from each other, if I get another scene I will make one of my own, and put you both in separate corners facing the wall. I don't care how old you are, I'm still you're mother." With that Karen flashed them both a smile and walked over to her husband.
Luke sighed as he made his way through the crowds towards the Neiman Marcus buyer, with his mother's words ringing in his ears, he had learned the hard way not to mix business with pleasure. Miss Davis had certainly made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him, but he couldn't help be intrigued. As he walked up to the buyer, he spotted her again. She was standing next to Haley, talking to a group of reporters, and he watched her as she smiled politely. He stared at her, unable to take his eyes off her face. She looked different than she had that night he had met her. She wore less make up, her dress was more conservative, and her hair was pulled back into a knot, but she was still breathtakingly beautiful. He watched as she gave Haley a teasing look, and for a brief moment his mind flashed back to her standing in front of him, smiling and pulling him out of the club. Who was she really, he wondered? Who was Brooke Davis and why had he not been able to get her out of his mind these last few months? And what else was she hiding?
----------------------
Brooke slammed the front door behind her, dropped her briefcase, cell phone, and purse on her living room floor, and headed straight to the kitchen. She flicked the lights on, and took out a bottle of Jose Cuervo tequila.
"Today has been a horrible day. The type of day that only this will make it a little better, or at least me a little more numb," she said out load as she grabbed a shot glass out of her cabinet. She poured the amber liquid into the empty glass before bringing it to her lips and letting it slide down her throat in one fluid motion. She could feel the burn as it traveled into her system.
She didn't bother to put the bottle back she just grabbed it and the shot glass, and went back to her bedroom. She poured another glass for herself and downed its contents again.
"Great, not only am I a slut but I'm a drunk too." She said as she poured herself another round as her phone began to ring. Brooke stared at it as it rang and rang. She always answered her phone no matter what time it was. As Haley's manager and lawyer she was always on call, but today she didn't want to be bothered. Whatever was going on would have to wait till the next day. The only thing Brooke planned to do for the rest of the night was get drunk, and have a nervous break down.
She took her shoes off, peeled off her dress, and walked into her bathroom. It had been a long day; she turned on the water and poured a capful of bath beads into the tub. As she took off her nude, silk stockings, beige thong, and matching bra images, of Lucas Scott's cocky smile flashed into her head. She was still stunned she had run into him, the last thing she ever expected was to see that stranger from the bar she had met months before, or for the man to turn out to be Lucas Scott. As she slipped into the tepid water, she closed her eyes, wondering what was she going to do. There was no way to avoid him or the situation, it was obvious he knew who she was and remembered everything about that night. The worst part was that there was no way to avoid him, she was Haley's manager and he was heading up the campaign; they would see each other no matter how hard she tired to avoid it. There were contracts, meetings that were already scheduled, trips to LA, Paris, Rome, and Haley. Haley, who was spending a lot of time with him, and had even called him her new best friend. It was all too complicated, and Brooke couldn't think about it anymore. She tired to relax as the warm water began to ease the tension out of her muscles, but she still couldn't shake him out of her head.
"Well it must be bad if you're drinking straight tequila," she heard Haley's voice say.
Without even opening her eyes she answered her, "What are you doing in here? And how did you get in?"
"One, I have the key, and two, you left so fast today we didn't get a chance to talk," Haley said as she took the glass from Brooke's hand and downed a shot. "So are you going to tell me what the deal is, or are you just going to drink till you're so shit faced that you drown?"
"Let it go Hales. I just want to be alone."
"Now, I know you must be drunk if you actually think I would leave. Now are you going to tell me or do I have to ask Luke what happened between you two, because one way or another I'm going to find out what's going on, and don't even try to tell me it's nothing."
"Nothing happened Haley."
"Bullshit!"
"Hales…"
"Don't Hales me. You ran out of there so fast, you didn't even say goodbye to Karen. And Lucas started asking me all kinds of questions. 'Is her middle name Brooke or Ava, maybe her middle name is Ava? Is she married, who is she dating…' so no matter how many times you tell me nothing happened, I know something did. So spill…"
Brooke just sat in the tub motionless, not sure what to do. She was starting to feel the effects of the alcohol. The whole day had been a nightmare and she just wanted to cry, not talk about it.
"Come on Brooke, you'll feel better if you let it out. I'll help you anyway I can."
Brooke started to laugh. "You help me? Please, you've done enough. You, Seba, Dominic, and Peyton. It's your fault, it's your fault that I'm in this mess. Do you have any idea what my life is going to be like from now on because of you four?"
"Our fault? What the hell did we do? Brooke what are you babbling about?"
"What did you guys do? That's a laugh. Okay let me see. Um… the personal add, the pictures of me in the white Dior bikini plastered all over the internet, with a profile that only Peyton could have thought up. Um …lets see if I can get it straight, I like kayaking, jogging, listening to undiscovered artists in underground clubs. Did I miss anything?"
"You forgot the whole cooking fine French cuisine, which you mastered at the Cordon Blu." Haley answered her trying hard not to laugh. She had told Peyton, Dom, and Seba not to do the add, and had tried so hard not to give them pictures of Brooke, but she hadn't been able to resist.
"And don't try to deny, it I know you helped them. Those pictures were of me in the South of France from last year when you and I went together. I don't know how I'm going to be able to show up at the shoot next week."
"Oh Brooke, come on it was funny, you have to admit it was funny, and they didn't mean any harm by it. No one on the crew has even seen it, besides I told them to delete it. You should be happy you got tons of responses, you had 100 in less than twenty-four hours. Granted some of them were creepy, but hell at least there was some interest."
"Whatever! Maybe you should go out with the let-me-lick-you-up-and-down-with-my- tongue guy, or the nudist, hell you go out with all of them," Brooke scoffed. "That ad was the beginning of this mess, and you're all always on me about getting laid, about getting out there having fun, and the way I used to be didn't help either. This is all your fault too, oh god, I'm so humiliated. "
Haley rolled her eyes. "Brooke I told you already, quit babbling. Whatever you did is not our fault. Look, we care about you. You breathe, eat, and sleep work, and when you're not working you're with Riley, who by the way has a better social life than you do, and that's just sad. You haven't had sex in god-knows-how-long, and when you go out, you go out with the most boring men."
"So what? Why does that bother you, it's my life not yours. I'm happy, that's all that matters."
"Happy, yeah right. It doesn't bother us; it worries us. Peyton and I have known you forever. We've been through it all with you. Once upon a time you use to put us to shame; there wasn't a party you weren't at. Remember when we use to go clubbing? Making bets on who could leave with whatever hottie we agreed on. God you practically always won. How many designer purses of mine did you win? How about in high school and college, you used to fuck around with football players, baseball players, and basketball players; if there was a player you fucked him. Remember the dry eraser board, don't tell me you've forgotten about it? It was the highlight of our junior and senior years in high school, some of the best sex we ever had."
"How could I?" Brooke grumbled not liking the way the conversation was heading, and after the run in she had earlier, the last thing she needed was to remember the way she use to be.
"You always beat me, I don't how but you always did. You got more points for having sex in the weirdest places. Wait how many points for fucking the college frat boys?' Haley asked, forgetting all about the connection she was trying to figure out between Brooke and Luke.
"Depends on the fraternities? 40 for Delta, 60 for Sigma, and 30 for Kappa," Brooke answered as she stifled a giggle.
"You were a legend Brooke, god you and that little red dress you had. Do you still have it?"
"Thanks Hales, but I sound like a whore and no, I don't have that dress," Brooke lied, as her cheeks turned red. Not only did she still have the dress, she had worn it the night she had met Luke.
"You're not a whore, you are just in touch with your sexual side, just like I am. We both discovered what we could do with a faucet early on, and we've never looked the other way. We're the same Brookie, both of us love to experience sex, the feeling and the orgasms. Which is why I have a hard time understanding how you spend your weekends cooped up in this apartment." She had promised herself not to do this, not to get on Brooke again, but she couldn't help it, Brooke's lifestyle worried her.
"I don't spend the weekends cooped up in my apartment. I go out. I had dinner with the plastic surgeon last week," Brooke answered her in a defensive tone.
"And you were home by nine."
"His beeper went off," Brooke said as she poured herself another shot. "He's dedicated to his patients."
"That's not the point. Look, I understand that you don't want to be in a relationship. I was there to pick up the pieces after Parker, but darling it's been seven years. Seven years of you being super woman, and sacrificing a big part of you life. I'm not saying jump into a relationship, but at least get your feet wet. Get laid, have some sex, go dancing, and have some fun with other people besides me or Peyton, when we drag you out of the house."
"I go out, you're making it seem like I'm a hermit."
"You are a hermit. I just want you to be okay."
"I am."
"You're not but I'm not going to keep bitching about it. I am, however, going to keep digging until you tell me what happened between you and Luke."
" Nothing. Haley, look can we just drop this whole thing? I already did this with Peyton a few days ago when I wouldn't go out with some singer guy she knows. I haven't been into musicians in years, I don't know what she was thinking, I swear I cannot wait till this baby is born." Brooke said to Haley as she said a silent prayer hoping Haley would drop the whole Luke discussion, knowing full well she wouldn't.
"She's worried about you, love. And so are the rest of us. Once upon a time you were a big romantic, you wanted that big house that we used to ride our bikes by every day; the one with the two golden retrievers, children playing in the yard, and a husband. What happened to that dream? Where did you go Brooke?" Haley asked her wondering where she had gone too as well. Somewhere along the way the two of them had lost their ways.
"I'm still here Hales, I just grew up. I learned some hard lessons along the way, but I'm still standing. Look, go home and pack, we have to be in LA tomorrow ."
"Yeah you're right but you know what, I'm not leaving here until you tell me all about this thing with you and Lucas," Haley told her as she handed her a towel. "So start talking, I have all night, I can sleep on the plane."
Brooke reached for the towel and rolled her eyes, there was no way out, Haley wasn't going to let it go. She wrapped herself in the towel and walked back to her bedroom, Haley following right behind. She took a deep breath and sat down on her bed. She had to tell her, there was no way around it, and maybe, just maybe it would help if she got it out.
"Do you remember that week in July when you went to Tree Hill?" Brooke said softly.
"How could I forget that week, Dom and Seba working at my mom's café, the twenty plates they broke and the coffee they spilt; that week was classic. You stayed in New York, I thought you were crazy, it was so hot but you had to finish the contracts for the new NBC special."
"Yeah it was hot. I got into a fight with Peyton that day about how I have no life, and you were telling me to go out and get laid. I couldn't concentrate; I just sat here in front of my desk trying to figure out why everyone was always on me about my life. I started thinking about everything you guys said, and then Peyton's words kept ringing in my ear. 'You've lost it Brooke, you don't have it.' It was so aggravating."
"Oh Brooke sweetie, she was just kidding. You know how Peyton is."
"Yeah I know, but that night I just couldn't get it out of my head. It was so hot Haley, and the city was like a ghost town. I just stood in the middle of my bedroom and wondered why I cared so much what Peyton thought. Then I walked into the closet, and at first I was just going to grab a nightgown, but then I saw the dress."
"What dress?" Haley said before realization set in, "oh, that dress."
"Yeah that dress, the red fuck-me-dress I wore in college…"
"It's a great dress."
"Yeah I know. So I took it out held it in front of me in the mirror. I stared it, I started remembering. It was like I was in a trance Hales, all these memories of me in the dress at those parties, or when I was with Parker…."
Haley listened intently at Brooke, watching as her eyes sparkle as she told the story.
"So I put it on," she continued as she poured herself another drink. "I curled my hair, took out my new strappy sandals, and I went out. I went to a club, the one that Seba is always raving about. And I danced, I drank, I got hit on, and I loved it. But I wanted something else, the dancing, the drinking, the flirting wasn't enough…"
"Why do I have a feeling this is where Luke comes into the picture."
"He walked into the club and I saw him. Hales he wasn't even the type of guy I normally go for, but there was something about him, something I couldn't quiet put my finger on. He smiled at me, gave me this cocky smile and before I knew it he bought me a drink."
"Here we go!" Haley said knowing exactly where this story was heading.
"I kissed him. We were talking and laughing next thing I knew, I just kissed him. I couldn't help it, I wanted him, I wanted to do something that the old Brooke would have done. The kiss was amazing, I haven't been kissed like that in years and then…."
"Then?" Haley asked her breathless leaning closer to her, not wanting to miss a syllable that came out of Brooke's mouth. "Then what?"
"I took his hand and we went out to the back of the club. There's an alley…"
"Yep I know it well."
"We umm…"
"Brooke just spit it out, I don't judge, remember."
"I know," Brooke said, hesitating for a brief second before deciding to continue with her story. " We fucked Haley." She whispered.
"HOLY SHIT!" Haley screamed as she leapt off the bed. "No way. Oh god Brookie, spill, I want details. Don't leave anything out. Oh god I have to get a mental picture of this. Was it good?"
"It was more than good Hales, is it was fantastic. It was so amazing; I could barely catch my breath. The kisses, they were so long, so deep, not those little peck type kisses, but the ones where you think the guy is going to eat you up." Brooke closed her eyes as she remembered Luke's tongue jamming into hers, the way he bit her lips, the feeling in her stomach as he pushed her up against the wall. "His hands where all over me, I kept telling him to hurry that I wanted him inside me. He put on protection, while he kept kissing me. I ripped his shirt open…"
Haley watched as Brooke ran her hands through her hair taking a deep breath before continuing with her story, she was obviously drunk. In the last few years, Brooke had grown more reserve, but as Haley watched her she could tell that a bit of the old Brooke was back thanks to the alcohol she was consuming. "Before I knew it he had ripped my thong off, and was inside me, my legs wrapped around him. I remember pulling his hair when I came; I remember the orgasm he gave me. I felt so free, so out of control, it was like a rush, the ultimate rush. When he finished I was mad. I didn't want it to be over, so I went back to his place…"
"And you spent the night." Haley continued for Brooke. "And the next morning?"
"The next morning reality set in, so I send him to get bagels, I told him I was starving. The minute he left I got dressed and went home. I grabbed my stuff, packed a bag and headed to Tree Hill…"
"A week earlier than you had originally planned. I remember you were acting all jittery, I didn't get it back then, and then Peyton told us who the baby's father was, so that kind of took the attention off you. Wow, Brooke."
"Yeah, tell me about it. The last thing I expected was to ever see him again, and here he is. He is the one heading up the campaign Hales, what am I going to do?"
"Nothing, you're going to do nothing. So, you had a one night stand with Luke its no biggie."
"That's easy for you to say."
"Look he is a good guy. Plus think of all the late nights you two will be working, and the sex you'll be having…maybe you can even have some sort of a relationship. You never know Brooke, this might be the one."
"What! Are you crazy Haley, I'm not having sex with him again, and he is certainly not the one. Please, Luke was a one night stand that will never happen again, he probably forgot all about it already. I want you to stop all this talk, there is not going to be any sort of relationship - no sex, no nothing. Any relationship that I have with him will be strictly professional, that's all. Now, you will never ever repeat a word of this to anyone, especially Peyton. I want you to promise me…"
"What, you wont let me put it in your online profile?" Haley teased. Before Brooke could say a word, the door bell rang. "I'll get it and easy on the Tequila, I don't want to have to hold your hair while you puke all night long."
"Yes mom." Brooke replied as she walked over to her dresser and took out a pair of blue silk pajamas. She slipped them on as she heard the door close. "Who is it Haley?" she asked as she grabbed a brush and began to run it through her hair.
"Um, it's for you, Ava nice alias by the way." she heard Haley say. Brooke looked up and stared at Haley who was holding an enormous wicker basket filled with a million bagels. "There's a card."
"Oh no!" Brooke said as she sat down on her bed. "I can't… Hales, you read it."
Haley opened up the envelope and took the card out. She read the sentences and started laughing.
"Oh god what does it say?" Brooke asked mortified.
"Try one and tell me what you think tomorrow night, you know the place, wear red." Haley answered her. "Brooke sweetheart I don't think he is going anywhere."
"Oh god Hales, what I am going to do!"
"I don't know sweetie but I guarantee you this. Your life won't be boring anymore, not at all."
