So season 3 of OTH is wrapped!... well at least for extras... its sad, but it gives me A LOT more free time, so that means more writing and more updating! Hope you guys enjoy this chapter!
"Knock knock… Lucas, we made it for the…" Karen started as she opened the door to Lucas's room. Of course Lucas was no where to be found, and Brooke was asleep in his bed. She wasn't really surprised… nor did she really care at this point.
"Hi… Karen"
"Isn't there a rule against this?"
"Uh…possibly… I don't usually read the rules and… oh shit Lucas… don't come out naked" Brooke whispered to herself trying not to imagine how awkward that one would be…
"I give up… Come here… are you ready for today?" Karen asked giving Brooke a big hug. At least she was dressed, which was more than Karen had expected.
"Nervous… but so ready"
"That's my girl"
"Wow… you look so… good" Brooke said shocked at how big Karen had gotten since she and Lucas had seen her last. But big really didn't seem like the right word to use, especially since Karen was being so nice… so Brooke decided good would work better.
"3 more months before little Amy"
"It's a girl?"
"Don't tell Lucas…" Karen whispered, she wanted to surprise Lucas with a sister. Not have him dreading one, like she figured he was. Being an only child for 19 years had really done a number on her son.
"Mom… Keith, knocking is good" Lucas sighed, coming out of the bathroom in his boxers. Knocking must have been one of those things parents forgot to teach their kids in Tree Hill… because no one ever did it.
"Sorry… we didn't expect to find Brooke asleep in your bed, we were going to surprise her… you look good, healthy… Brooke are you taking care of him?"
"Best I can" Brooke smiled. This was turning out to be an ok morning… even though Karen was here, ½ her stuff wasn't finished thanks to Haley and Peyton's sudden exit yesterday, and the fact that she and Lucas were exhausted from talking all night.
"I'm gonna go pick up some breakfast… you guys want anything?"
"The usual…"
"I'm fine" Keith sighed sitting back on Nathan's bed. Obviously tired. Lucas hadn't thought to ask Keith lately how Karen's pregnancy was affecting him.
"I'll ride with you, Keith can stay and keep Brooke company"
"Great! You can totally try on all my slinky little tops I don't have ready for today"
Lucas walked downstairs to the car with his mom. She was in a really good mood today for once… she actually seemed happy to see Brooke… and hadn't even started the lectures by the time they got in the car. Lucas wasn't sure if this was a good thing or not. Sure it was nice she was being so nice and friendly… but on the other hand, that usually meant something was wrong.
"Brooke seems calm" Karen sighed trying to fit into Lucas's 2 seater. This car definitely wasn't made for pregnant women.
"You should have seen her yesterday… I thought she was going to have a nervous breakdown"
"She'll do fine… I never worried about Brooke when it came to this sort of thing, you on the other hand"
"I have no idea…" Lucas answered before she could even ask the dreaded question. 'What are you going to do with your life?' she was asking it more and more frequently lately, and the truth was, he had no idea.
"I know, but you will… so how's dorm life?"
"Cramped…"
"I don't even want to know how you 2 fit in that tiny bed" Karen laughed until she started to actually think about them in bed together.
"It's not comfortable…"
"God… I never thought I'd say this, ever… but I've been thinking about it and maybe you and Brooke should look into an apartment"
"Mom… are you ok?" Lucas asked giving his mom a weird look. It was strange enough she was being so nice to Brooke today…but now she wanted them to live together?
"Lucas I've given up on pretending that she's just some fling until you meet the girl you're going to marry. If you are going to marry Brooke then you should at least live with her before, that way when you do get married you aren't completely blindsided like Keith and I were. Dating is one thing Lucas but living together, sharing everything… that's a whole new experience. I think it would be good for you 2"
"You realize what your saying right?"
"Yes…and I think this will either make or break you 2. I'd rather you 2 do this and know for sure before you make any drastic decisions. And this does not give you permission to marry her any sooner… or get her pregnant, even though I know that works both ways… just talk to her about it." Karen smiled trying to re-assure Lucas that she was on board with this. She just wasn't going to tell him she had ulterior motives. Not bad ones… she just really needed a back up place, especially now with the baby coming.
"Are things ok with you and Keith mom?"
"Don't worry about Keith and I…We just jumped into a lot really fast. I wish we'd had time to live together, learn each others little routines and bad habits before throwing marriage and a baby into the picture."
"Little routines and bad habits?" Lucas sighed, knowing Karen was talking about Keith's drinking. He'd been fine when Lucas had left at the end of the summer… but my Christmas things definitely looked as if they had gone downhill. He guessed it was the stress of marriage and a baby… but still…
"Keith gets up every morning about 5, drinks a glass of milk and when he comes back to bed his breath smells terrible… every morning… and at night before he goes to bed, he watches ½ an episode of South Park, scratches his nose and falls asleep. Doesn't Brooke have little things like that?"
"Nothing that bad… she wont sleep unless my arm's around her waist"
"That's not bad… Lucas that's sweet, it probably makes her feel secure" Karen smiled. She could see that… Brooke had always been a very touch person.
"Who'd of ever thought Brooke Davis liked to cuddle…"
"I used to spend a lot of time worrying about you with her, wondering if she was making things harder for you then they actually had to be. It took me a while to realize it wasn't about her making it harder for you, it was you making it easier for her. Do you think Brooke Davis would be in college right now if she hadn't had a reason?"
"I don't worry about her, she'll do great in whatever she does as long as she applies herself and likes it" Lucas said completely confident with what he was saying. After all how many freshman college students had their own clothing line?
"Peyton and Haley on the other hand… I worry about"
Brooke showed Keith each individual shirt, skirt and dress as he dozed in and out on Nathan's bed. It was kind of annoying considering Brooke had never had anyone fall asleep while looking at her clothes. She found herself making noises on purpose to wake him back up every 30 seconds or so.
"Brooke those really are amazing" Keith finally yawned… even though Brooke was only half way finished showing him everything she had out.
"I know… and thank you, now if they'll just fit those stupid models…I told them eating was wrong but who knows if they listened" Brooke laughed. Then there was a twist of the door knob. She really hoped it was Lucas back with food. Just because she didn't want her models to eat, didn't mean she couldn't. But to her surprise it was Peyton… looking like even more on a wreck then she did.
"Brooke can we talk?"
"And there's one of my favorite models…Sure… Keith's here but he like's gossip"
"Actually… I'm going to nap a little while, Karen hasn't been sleeping" Keith yawned closing his eyes back. Brooke wasn't sure how Karen lived with that man. She loved him and all… but he just seemed kinda needy.
"Sure… ok P. Sawyer spill, and fast because we have like 5 hours before we're on"
"I… I just wanted to explain about yesterday"
"How you, Haley and Faith totally abandoned me? Totally forgiven" Brooke said actually kind of glad that they had all bailed last night. It had given her time to calm down and do everything herself
"Good… because I need your help now, and you cant tell Lucas"
"Tell Lucas what?"
"I'm pregnant" Peyton whispered so keith couldn't hear. Brooke could barely hear… or else she didn't want to hear. Peyton pregnant! Somehow Brooke had actually expected it a little. That was just Peyton's luck. Here Brooke had been having sex almost all year, and nothing. Peyton has it twice in 2 nights… and snap. She's pregnant.
"What! Peyton! No! Oh my god, sweetie, come here!"
"I don't really know what to do"
"What do you want to do?" Brooke asked wondering if this was what Peyton wanted. She had never seen Peyton as the motherly type… especially now.
"Brooke, I don't even know whose it is"
"Right… well who knows?"
"Just you, Haley and Faith" Peyton said quietly, making sure not to add Keith to that short list.
"Haley knows!"
"She took me to get the test"
"Does she know there's a chance it's Nathan's?" Brooke asked trying to figure out for the life of her why Peyton would even tell Haley! Of course Haley would say something about it to Nathan… not on purpose of course, but still!
"No…"
"Ok then…hey, its gonna be ok! Worst comes to worst, I could totally be aunt Brooke! Who says either of them even has to know right now? At least until you figure some stuff out" Brooke smiled hugging Peyton. She was trying her best to be supportive even though she wasn't sure if Peyton knew exactly what kind of a mess she was actually in.
"Thanks… ok, now I've got to get ready for a fashion show"
"Peyton… you don't have too, if you'd rather"
"Nope…I need to keep my mind off of this…"
The rest of the day went on completely flawless for once. For once Brooke had everything completely ready to go on time… everything fit the 'models' and believe it or not Lucas actually made it on time with Karen and Keith. There were a few really good competitors but in the end Brooke's stuff had great reviews, which was a relief to her. The last thing she needed was for her clothes to suck like her grades. After talking to a bunch of random reviewers, and snagging Lucas away from all the little blonde hussies trying to steal him, Karen and Keith went back to the dorm to lay down and Lucas decided to take Brooke out to dinner to celebrate, and discuss his mom's idea with her. He was actually nervous. He'd never even thought about living with Brooke… of course he knew it was going to happen at some point… but some point had always seemed so far into the future he hadn't given it any thought at all really. Although, as Karen had reminded him… they had technically lived together before, of course he wasn't sure that really counted considering they weren't together and it was only for a few weeks. Lucas decided to take her somewhere pretty casual, that way it didn't seem like some huge deal and make everything awkward. So of course that meant Chili's.
"How'd you know I wanted a cheeseburger really bad?" Brooke asked finally finishing her food. She was so glad she'd finally gotten past that stage of being afraid to eat in front of Lucas. Of course it had only lasted like… a week when they first started dating, but still. She didn't know how some girls did it.
"I'm good like that…"
"How cute were your mom and Keith when people asked them about the baby?"
"I'm worried about them…" Lucas sighed, pretty much making Brooke want to slap him. If he got this nervous about his mother and Keith having a baby, then how was he ever going to make it through having his own kids… which would hopefully be hers too, but she didn't mention that part.
"Why?"
"Well Keith more than them really"
"Hey… no brooding tonight" Brooke said changing seats in the booth. It was impossible to talk to Lucas sitting across from him… besides how was she supposed to sit 'with' him if he was on the other side of the table?
"Sorry… so I think my moms on drugs"
"Why?"
"She thinks we should live together" Lucas said figuring now was as good of a time as ever to bring it up. But Brooke didn't seem that shocked or anything after he said it…
"She better mean 'we' like you and me, and not 'we' like you and her… because I so have you next"
"She means like you and me"
"Your mom… Karen Roe… Scott thinks we as in you and me… should live together" Brooke laughed not believing what she was hearing.
"Yep"
"Well Lucas, you know they say you should always listen to your mother no matter how old you get…"
"This doesn't freak you out, even a little?" Lucas asked seeing how un-phased Brooke was by this. She seemed totally calm and cool about the whole thing, and it was making him nervous.
"What? Your mother thinking we should live together… or actually living with you?"
"Both?"
"Lucas… it just means a bigger bed, more privacy and I don't have to run back to my room every morning to get clothes… some days, we wont even have to get dressed" Brooke whispered in his ear. She was definitely liking this idea, in fact she couldn't believe she hadn't thought of it before.
"You've put way too much thought into this for me to be just mentioning it now"
"And… it kinda worries me you haven't… Lucas, I know you're a guy, and you guys do that thing where you don't look into the future, not to mention the fact that you and change don't exactly get along… but we don't have to make this some big deal, its not like we're the ones getting married or having a baby…"
"It doesn't worry you we're 19?" Lucas asked, still worried and letting it show.
"It didn't worry you at 17 to tell the whole world you wanted me and only me… why should this worry me now?" Brooke asked climbing onto his lap. Who'd of thought that one day she'd be the one re-assuring him about their relationship.
"So you really want to do this?"
"Only if you do"
"I do" Lucas smiled feeling a little better, especially now that he knew this wasn't going to throw them for a loop.
"And… I get to decorate"
"Of course…"
"And we're getting a dog" Brooke said excitedly. She hadn't even thought about that! She'd always wanted a dog… but her parents were completely anti-animal.
"No Dogs…"
"Yep… we need a dog"
"Only if it's a presentable dog… no poodles or Chihuahua's" Lucas sighed knowing he wasn't going to win this one… or anyone from now on.
"I like Chihuahuas… fine…"
"And it has to have a decent name"
"Gucci" Brooke said without a pause. She'd had this planned for years.
"We're not naming our dog Gucci"
"Wanna bet? Fine… what do you have in mind"
"Sherlock" Lucas said trying to think of anything better than Gucci.
"No"
"No?"
"Nope… I don't want one of those stupid little nosy sniffy dogs that smells crotches… and that's what dogs named Sherlock do" Brooke said patting his shoulder.
"Because dogs named Gucci… they"
"Are high end dogs…"
"I'm scared to hear what you'll want to name our children one day" Lucas sighed shaking his head at his girlfriend.
"Prada and Dior"
"You're kidding…"
"Of course I'm kidding… come on, lets get out of here" Brooke whispered kissing him. She wanted to start on this like, now.
"Back to my mom and Keith?"
"Nope… we need to look for apartments because I really want a big bed we wont fall off of"
"Tonight? Brooke… we have nothing for an apartment… not to mention money" Lucas whispered brushing her hair out of her face. She looked beautiful when she was excited.
"Yea… well we'll just have to find one where someone died or something… you know, cheap?"
"Cheap"
"Ok… think of it like this boyfriend… the sooner we have an apartment, the sooner we move in, and you know what you're supposed to do the night you move in?" Brooke giggled getting even more excited.
"No…"
"Have sex in every room"
"Every room…" Lucas trailed off kissing her. This idea of living together was getting better and better.
"Yep"
"So I was thinking one of those with like… a lot of rooms"
"I bet you were…we should probably get out of here before they decide we're doing that whole indecent exposure thing again" Brooke whispered pulling him up from the booth. She really wished they had an apartment now…
"Yea"
"Wait…"
"What?" Lucas asked stopping before they got to the car.
"Actually… Luke, go see you're mom and Keith… I've got some things to take care of…k?" Brooke sighed giving him one last kiss.
"Want me to come…"
"I wish… but I think I need to do this one alone? Call me in the morning?"
"Sure"
Peyton sat alone in her dorm by the window reading some of Brooke and Lucas's sappy love letters. She knew she shouldn't… but they were just too funny, and sweet at the same time. She spent a lot of time laughing at them… and wishing she had someone who cared enough to write to her. You could always tell the difference between Brooke and Lucas's. Lucas's were always very sentimental and cryptic. Full of quotes from dead people mixed with his own words. It made Peyton wonder if Brooke actually knew what he was talking about sometimes. Maybe Brooke did understand them. Either way, Lucas's were always sweet and they made Peyton happy that he was that happy. Brooke's were always the most heart wrenching. Simple and too the point. Until Peyton had actually read some of the letters, she hadn't known exactly what Lucas really meant to her best friend. It showed her a side of Brooke even she'd never seen. It made her wonder how Brooke could write some of that… how she could be so honest… and trust someone so much. Peyton could feel herself starting to cry again, she hated this. Avoiding everything wasn't working, and as usual she'd probably be alone to deal with it all.
"P. Sawyer…" Brooke whispered opening the door to her room. It was dark and quiet as usual.
"Wow… Brooke Davis in our dorm…"
"Hey… are you reading my letters"
"No…" Peyton lied, badly considering she was still holding one in her hand.
"I like reading them too… you ok?"
"I don't know… where's Lucas?"
"With his mom and Keith… We were totally about to do it too, when I realized there was someone else I needed to be with tonight" Brooke smiled walking over to her best friend. In the light by the window she could see the tear streaks down her cheek and neck.
"Cheating on him?"
"With you… come here lover"
"I miss my mom" Peyton cried hugging Brooke tight. She was so glad she was there right now, that Brooke always came through when she really really needed her.
"Aw… Peyt, which one?"
"Either! I don't know… you'd think with 2… I'd have one alive right now when I needed her"
"You've got me…" Brooke smiled hugging Peyton tighter. She could feel the tears swelling up in her eyes too now. It was a really good thing she hadn't let Lucas come like he had wanted too.
"I have no money… no where to live, Brooke"
"Peyton, don't cry! Look at me, if you want to do this, we can make money… and besides, Lucas and I are getting our own place… and I really need another girl around to keep the power…"
"Brooke, I couldn't as you for that" Peyton sobbed. Brooke could feel her shaking as she cried and tried to get words out.
"You didn't, I'm asking you…"
"Won't Lucas care?"
"I think he'll be happy to have you there" Brooke smiled, at least she hoped that'd be the case. After all it wasn't like Peyton could stay here if she decided to have the baby.
"Will you stay here tonight? Like we used too, after my mom died?"
"Of course… I even brought our favorite movie…"
"Clueless?" Peyton laughed as Brooke pulled the beat up old VHS out of her pocketbook.
"What else?"
