Chapter Eight – Good Bye Brooke, Hello New Opportunities
Soft music played as Lucas helped you younger brother greet the wedding guests. After directing a few of guest to which side of the chapel they should sit out he saw Brooke's powder blue BMW drive by. He knew Brooke was in the back room, but why Peyton was driving Brooke's car, he wasn't sure. Probably for a quick coffee run, or some other meaningless errand like that. Not wanting Peyton to see him, until the last possible minute before the wedding.
"I need to take a piss." He told his younger brother, Nathan. Smiling at a few guests he recognized, he made with way through the crowds of guests and to the Gentlemen's restroom. Just as he was about to pull open the door, Haley walked out of the Ladies room.
Haley smiled at her friends. "Hey handsome, sneaking off already?"
For a minute Lucas wondered if Haley knew about him and Brooke. But quickly knew that she didn't. She looked more nervous about having to stand up in front of all these people while the man she loved married another woman. Not pissed off at Lucas for sleeping with the "other woman" behind the man she love's back.
"As if that wasn't what you were just doing in there." Lucas chuckled. "If you can do it, so can I."
Haley smiled and shook her head. "Actually I was changing my tampon." Reaching in her purse she pulled another one out. "Need to borrow one."
"Actually, I do." Lucas laughed. "Who knows, it might come in handy when I'm in there masturbating."
"Nice." Haley pretended to gag. "Real nice." Haley put the tampon back in her purse and looked around. Taking in her surroundings, she sighed.
"You okay?" Lucas asked concerned.
"He's really going to do it." Haley sighed heavily. "He's really going to marry her…" Her voice trailed off, as fought back her tears.
"Tell me about it." Lucas pulled Haley back into a hug and kissed her forehead. Haley hugged him back. She thought she could deal with this, but she feared this was a battle she was about to loose.
"God, I'm pathetic." Haley sighed pushing away from Lucas. Looking up at him she smiled and whipped away a stray tear. "I'm sorry. I know this must be hard for you too."
"Not really." Lucas rolled his eyes brushing off the comment. "Me and Brooke have been over for along time. We're just friends."
Haley nodded and smiled. "I wish it was the way it is with you and Brooke with me and Nate." She sighed resting her head against Lucas chest.
Brooke Davis frantically checked her appearance in the vanity mirror, making sure her hair was fine, her make-up hadn't smeared, and that her dress was on her correctly. Amy, one of her bridesmaids, and Nathan's friends' girlfriend had come down with the flu and canceled last minute. Luckily Haley wore about the same size as Amy in formal dresses, so Peyton volunteered to drive over the Amy's house and pick up the dress for Haley to change into.
Where the hell is she? Brooke asked herself just as Peyton ran in through the door with Haley's new bridesmaid dress in hand. "Thank god!" Brooke exclaimed.
Peyton smiled. She could tell her friend was nervous. "Where's Haley?"
"Oh my god!" Brooke spun around the room looking for her. "I don't know." She said giving up on spinning, it was making her dizzy and her head hurt.
Peyton grabbed Brooke's arm reassuringly. "I'll go find her. It's going to be just fine, Brooke. Calm down.
Brooke nodded trying to catch her breath. "I think I'm going to go sit down."
Peyton laughed. "Alright. You go do that and I'll get Miss James." Peyton watched her friend sit down in the small arm chair across the room before going off the find Haley. Searching through the chapel, which was already filled with at least one hundred forty-five of the two hundred invited guests. Just in the nick of time, she spotted Haley across the room, near the Ladies restroom. Perfect, I'll just pull her in the bathroom with me, change her real quick, and we'll go back to Brooke together. Peyton thought. Wait a minute? Who is that she's with? Lucas Scott! God, why doesn't he ever listen? Peyton didn't have time to argue with Lucas for being there, or she would, instead she just rushed over to the two.
Peyton practically ran to Haley.
Haley was startled by her friend approach. "Oh my god, Peyton! Why did you run over here?"
"No time to explain. Come on." She said between breaths. "We have to change you and get you to Brooke. Like now." Peyton acknowledged Lucas' presence. "I'll speak with you later." She warned him. "Don't pull anything stupid, you got me?"
"But-"
"No time." Peyton told her. "We have to make like Michael Jackson and beat it, before Brooke bites our heads off"
Haley shrugged at Lucas and mouthed the words 'thank you' to him as she let Peyton pull her back into the bathroom. Peyton waited outside of the stall as Haley changed dresses. Throwing the dress she wasn't wearing over the stall to Peyton, she unlocked the door and stepped out. The dress looked amazing on her. It was a dark auburn like Peyton's, Theresa's, and Bevin's but for some reason it looked breath taking on Haley. But the girls didn't time to gock over how beautiful the other one looked. They quickly made their war out of the bathroom, past a worried Lucas, and on their way back to Brooke.
Brooke was back on her feet when Peyton entered followed by Haley.
"Wow, you two look great." Brooke exclaimed pulling Peyton and Haley into a tight hug. The girls returned the hug a little less enthusiastically.
"Me?" Haley laughed. "My god, Brooke look at you!" she exclaimed.
"I know, huh?" Brooke smiled and spun around. "Thanks."
"Who is it" Haley asked Brooke about the designer of the dress.
"Mine." Brooke smiled sheepishly. "I designed it."
Haley's eyes widened. "Amazing!"
Bevin walked up to the three babbling girls. "They're getting read to start!" she exclaimed.
The girls lined up in a row. Jenny was first, as flower girl. Behind her was Peyton, Haley, Bevin and Theresa, the bridesmaids. And last, but certainly not least was Brooke Davis, soon-to-be Brooke Scott, the bride.
As Theresa stepped into place next to Bevin, the music was quid and Brooke walked out. Every guest in that chapel turned to watch the gorgeous bride. Except Lucas Scott, that is, he kept his gaze straight forward. Peyton was the only one who seemed to notice, where Lucas' gaze was. She wasn't quite sure if it was because he didn't care, or if he just couldn't stand to look at her, as if the thought of finally loosing her was too much. Either way Peyton didn't care. But what Peyton didn't know, was the Lucas was watching. He watched as the beautiful bride made her way down the isle, smiling at his brother.
The priest turned his gaze from Nathan to Brooke. "And now, Brooke, please repeat after me; I Haley, take you Nathan.
Brooke smiled. "I Brooke Penelope Davis, take you Nathan Daniel Scott. To have and to hold, from this day forward. In sickness and in health. For richer or poorer. For better or worse. I promise that I will love and cherish you and will deny all those that would come between us. I make this promise for eternity. I promise that I will keep forever. Until the end of time. Till death do us part."
The priest smiled. "I now declare you man and wife." He turned his attention to Nathan. "You may, now, kiss your bride.
Brooke smiled happily. Nathan leaned in, and for once, when Brooke kissed Nathan, she was thinking about Nathan…
But what Brooke didn't notice was her bridesmaids. Peyton sighed and smiled. She was happy for her friend, she really was, but in the pit of her stomach, she ached. She was worried. Worried that this love story wouldn't have a happy ending. Worried that Brooke would stray away from Nathan again. Worried the Nathan would find out. Peyton turned towards her Haley whipped away a tear. Most would think it was a tear of joy, but Lucas new different. It was a tear of sadness. A tear of loss. A tear they both shared. That's when he knew it was over. "Good Bye Brooke." Lucas muttered under his breath. Trying not to pity himself, he turned his attention to Haley and smiled. She smiled back. Hello Miss James. He thought.
