Chapter Fifteen:
"In life, when you are faced with an unfortunate circumstance, there is no book. There is no guide. There is no right answer on how to get to the other side. You just wake up one day and you have two paths in front of you. One where you go up and one where you fall. Choosing the path to rise is most certainly not the easy path but it is the brave one".
Megan POV
"This is what you call a date", I crack up laughing at the scene in front of me. Ryder practically kidnapped me after cheerleading practice today and took me to the Café.
"Yeah I told you I liked this place", Ryder smirks taking my hand leading to a booth in the back. Thankfully none of my family members have seen us yet. "It kind of reminds me of New York".
"This is the spot where I've dreamed of going there", I blush looking down at the table.
"Maybe one day you can go", Ryder laughs forcing me to glance up in enough time to see him wink.
"There's no point now that my Mom's moving back home".
"Well you can always go just to see the city".
"Sounds nice, but I'm okay with waiting. I'm heading to Hawaii Saturday for Christmas", I shrug like it's no big deal.
"Now that is an awesome Christmas present".
"Yeah were visiting my Grandmother that actually owned this cafe and my "Aunt" Lily who is the same age as me". Why did I even mention that last part? It's really hard to explain Aunt Lil and trying to make my life sound normal isn't helping.
"Should I hear all about that on the first date or save for awkward family talk for date number three", Ryder laughs with that lopsided smile.
"I don't think I will ever be ready to talk about it", I sigh looking down at my hands. He reaches over the table and grabs my hand, lacing my fingers with his.
"Well then we won't. How about we talk about just you and I. Tell me what kind of music you like. And if you say One Direction or Justin Bieber I'm walking out".
Blushing immediately I look up and smile along. "I'm a sixteen year old girl; of course I like five hot guys who can sing".
"So you like musicians", Ryder smirks raising his eyebrows.
"I prefer basketball players with a sexy smile. But if Harry Styles were to walk in here right now, you'd have no chance", I tease earning a chuckle from him.
"I'll remember that. However I think you should know we're being watched".
With that I take a glance behind me to see my parents sitting at the counter. I awkwardly catch my Dad's eye as he tries to pretend to look at something else. Great.
Brooke POV
"She totally just caught you staring at her", I whisper to Lucas hitting his arm. He had just picked me up from the airport and promised to take me to get coffee before we headed home.
I just called Tree Hill home again. That really sounds good.
"She's been hanging around the new kid in school lately. I don't like it", Lucas mutters under his breath taking another glance at Megan.
"So that's Ryder huh", I ask looking over too. He's cute. Like really cute for a sixteen year old boy. He catches my eye and I see him start laughing at something Megan says.
Yeah Meg is definitely going to kill us. She gets up out of the booth and looks directly at me. She's smiling, like her full grin dimples shown smile. I can't help but grin back.
"Mom you're home", Meg cheers as she jogs over into my arms. Squeezing her back tightly I kiss her cheek as she lets go.
"Yeah I decided to come back a day early. I didn't think you'd be here", I smile putting my hand threw her hair. She closes her eyes at my contact but her smiles never leaves her face.
"Yeah I'm with my friend Ryder", she blushes giving me a look that lets me know she hasn't told Lucas anything.
"What are you guys doing here", he adds making us both turn to look at him.
"Were just hanging out", Meg mumbles barely making eye contact.
"Well your Dad's buying me a coffee and then we're unpacking all my stuff at the house. Will we see you soon", I announce putting an arm over her shoulder to bring her body into me. She hugs my waist laying her head on my shoulder.
"Yeah I'll be home in less than an hour", she sighs leaning to kiss my cheek.
I see her send a look to Lucas since he's still staring at Ryder. She hits him on the arm and walks away.
"I told you, it's quick for you to become the favorite again", he slurs giving me a small smile.
"Maybe if you weren't being the over protective father when she has a crush you'd gain some cool points", I laugh picking up my coffee and walking out the door.
I can feel Lucas follow me then quickly. "She has a crush on him", he practically screams. The next stage of having a teenage daughter; dating.
I stop mid walk to stare at him. "How couldn't you tell"?
He looks away with an expression on his face I can't read.
"I saw her look at him in school the other day. I literally thought I was transported back in time", Lucas sighs casting a glance down at me.
"To what", I whisper and then again I am caught in his gaze. I can't help but bore myself into his piercing blue eyes. Or notice how he hasn't shaved in a couple of days, or the fact his hair is at my favorite length.
"To when you used to look at me like that", he sighs reaching his hand to put a piece of my bang behind my ear. I try to ignore the goose bumps that follow.
"It was a long time ago", I reply demanding myself to speak. I can't just let him sweep me off my feet like usual.
"I know it was. There's just some things you can't really forget, you know", he whispers letting his smile fall. He's staring at me like he used to do, when he used to be able to read me. But there's a wall up now, and there's no way he can break it down that easily.
"All too well", I shrug reaching up to stroke his cheek. His eyes close shut once my hand touches his skin. I go to take my hand off but he catches it.
"Don't", he grunts making me fall into his stare.
"Let's not start something we can't finish Lucas", I barely let out regaining my consciousness. What were we just about to do? Kiss? Why? So we can have even more drama. I still haven't even talked to Julian about moving back home. How is he going to feel if I tell him I kissed him too?
Before he can answer I turn away to head to the car. I didn't even want to hear what he had to answer back to that.
Megan POV
"So I'm guessing that's your Mom", Ryder adds when I sit back down at the table.
"In the flesh, she's home early, and I don't know why", I smile trying to think of the reason. She told me yesterday she'd be home on Wednesday, but she's with Dad today. There's something going on between the two of them. He didn't even tell me she was coming, he usually gives me a warning, and especially if he was picking her up from the airport.
"Do you need to go find out", He questions putting his hand over mine that's on the table.
I frown immediately and look him in the eyes. "Yeah I think something's up. You're not going to hate me right"?
"I don't think that's possible. Go deal with your Mom. Call me later", he smiles standing up from the booth. I stand up too with my backpack and smile when he pulls me into a hug. I feel his lips next to my ear and try to ignore the tingly sensation I feel in my spine when he kisses the side of my head. I could have stayed in his embrace forever.
With my head down I walk out the door and turn to my right to see my parents sharing and intimate stare. Mom's holding his cheek and I don't think I've ever seen them look at each other in years like that before. It's so passionate and so powerful at the same time. And that's when I see that both of them are still so in love with each other. When are they ever going to stop pretending?
As I try not to get notice I quietly turn around deciding that walking the long way home is a better idea.
Truth is I really didn't want to leave Ryder; it was the first time I truly smiled all day. Not the fake one I put on for cheerleading or some of my friends. It was a genuine I am so happy smile. And he makes me do it so easily. This Aunt Peyton drama has me really messed up. I don't even know how to feel about it.
It's kind of like when Mom and Dad told me that Santa Clause wasn't real when I was in fourth grade. Everything I thought I knew about Christmas was just a made up story. I remember how disappointed I was that I was being lied to for so many years. That everything you thought you knew about what Christmas really meant was really just a story. None of it was real. And that's how it exactly feels. Knowing that Aunt Peyton's role in my life is somehow a lie.
I feel more betrayed than anything. They've been keeping secrets from me my entire life, and I want some kind of answer. But most importantly I can't help but wonder why I had to loose Aunt Peyton now, when I need her the most?
Lucas POV
When I walk into the guest bedroom Brooke has most of her things piled high on the bed. She's having trouble putting all of her clothes away. It seems as if the dressers are already filled but she doesn't have enough room in the closet for the rest. That would probably be because the guest room is filled with a lot of old stuff. Stuff I hope that she doesn't go sneaking through.
"How's it coming in here", I interrupt her as she seems to be on her tippy toes putting shoe boxes on the top shelf in the closet. She seems to be struggling so I walk behind her and push the box up. Brooke turns around blushing when I noticed I had my hand on her back.
"Thanks", Brooke mumbles trying to not look into my eyes. I utter a welcome and step back.
"I figured you wouldn't fit all of your clothes in there", I add looking back to see the pile.
"No I guess I'll keep them in my suitcases".
"You can hang some of your stuff in my closet", I shrug knowing I have half of my closet space unfilled. Plus it's only for the time being, right?
"That would be awesome", Brooke laughs with a grin and begins picking up her clothes. I leave her room and make my way across the hallway to mine.
It's a lot different from a married couple's bedroom to a bachelor. I have a king size bed in the middle of the room. There are two night stands next to it but you can definitely tell which side I sleep on. There's a picture of Megan and I from this summer smiling brightly on the beach. Next to it is my alarm clock and a couple of books I read before I go to bed.
My walls are plastered with family photos of Megan, Jamie, Lydia, and Lily. The biggest one from when they were all together last Christmas. There are pictures from Nathan and Haley's wedding. A picture of Uncle Keith and me from when I was a child. And of course, hung right in the middle of the room, there's our family picture. It's Meg in the middle along with Brooke and me on either side. When Megan won her first cheerleading competition she was about seven years old and of course Haley had her camera. Brooke was the proudest Mom in the whole stadium, and the loudest. Her face has that dimpled smile, the one that could stop traffic, and she has her arms wrapped around Meg. I'm smiling bright to but I'm not looking at the camera like the girls are doing, I'm looking at them.
Brooke literally drops the clothes on top of my bed to look at it.
"You remember that", I laugh walking towards the picture. My heart flips a little when I look at Brooke. She has the same exact smile on as she did that day.
"Of course I do", she whispers peering away from the frame to look me in the eyes.
Do we always look at each other this way? Because right now I know she is staring straight into my soul.
"Lucas", she begins to say but bites her bottom lip instead. I want to groan out loud now. She knows that when she does that, I go insane. No, I'm not falling for this again. I'm moving on.
"Please stop biting your lip", I whisper trying to look anywhere but at her mouth. It's too tempting.
"Why", Brooke softly breaths and it sends goose bumps down my neck. She's smirking now.
"You know why", I gulp staring her down.
She laughs and even darts her eyes towards my lower torso, checking me out.
"Hello", Megan screams from downstairs. And just like that the moment was gone. We'll always share that weird inappropriate flirting thing on each other and it not gets awkward, except in front of Meg.
Megan appears in front of the door way and I can tell from her facial expression there's something wrong.
"Meg", I say which makes her roll her eyes at me.
"For once I want you to be honest. I need answers, and I want them now". It's then that I notice she isn't really talking to me; she's staring at her Mother.
"Why are you here early", Megan grumbles out making Brooke laugh.
"I told you already. I wanted to come back a day early to move my stuff in before we went to Hawaii".
"You know I know the truth about Aunt Peyton, that's why. And you think I need saving or something, right"?
This is another moment when I know Megan's just like Brooke, she hates being vulnerable.
Brooke can't even answer her because we both know that's the truth. I am the one who called her.
"I appreciate it but I really don't even understand why Aunt Peyton said the things she did. And you're the only person who can explain it. So please fill me in on why I just lost one of the most important people in my life".
Brooke sighs putting a hand threw her hair trying to think of an answer. I wish I could come in and rescue her in this moment but quite frankly I don't even hold any of the answers for this either. "The truth is Peyton and I haven't been friends for a very long time. She hates me because I left your father and you".
Megan rolls her eyes at that and I can tell she's holding in tears. "Why does she hate you because of that"?
She lets out a long breath and she starts biting her lips again, something she does also when she's nervous. Brooke darts her eyes to match mine but I shrug my shoulders, nothing can help this situation but the complete honest truth.
"Because she has secretly been in love with your father since we were in high school".
"You got to be kidding me right", Megan says after a long awkward moment of silence. It was like she knew exactly what I was thinking. I'm just too dumbstruck to think of what to say. So I start laughing.
Brooke looks at me like I was crazy but I just can't help it. It's literally one of the funniest things I've ever heard. "I don't get why this is so funny Lucas", she replies with a hurt expression on her face.
"How isn't it funny? I can't believe this is the reason you guys aren't friends, again! Didn't we solve this problem in high school before? She found out we were having Megan and ran to get engaged to Jake. I mean she was a bridesmaid at our wedding. I told her to her face so many years ago that I was in love with you and only you. I haven't thought about Peyton that way since junior year, or wouldn't even now that we're divorced. For crying out loud she's Megan's God Mom. That is it in my eyes".
"Why do I feel like so much stuff happened between you guys way before I was even born", Megan laughs out loud and it makes Brooke and I laugh along with her. She literally has no idea.
"Look Meg I want you to know it has nothing to do with you the reason Peyton and I aren't friends. It is all between us. I see that you really love her and that she meant a lot to you, but sometimes we don't really understand the people we think we love. And they sometimes can hurt us without meaning too. The reason she hurt you was to get back at me. And you don't need her in your life if she's going to do that, okay", Brooke replies which seems to actually make an effect on Meg.
"Your right, it just sucks you know. Thinking that someone loved you so much and then it all turning into a lie", Megan laughs at the last part but I know it's to hide her crying.
"Oh sweetie please don't say that she does love you. She, well she has a really hard time dealing with other things. And it's way too hard for you to understand. Hell I don't even understand it and we used to be best friends. But in the meantime, don't stress it. Don't even worry about it. You have some things you really need to focus on. Being sad about this isn't going to make it any better". Brooke does have a point. A huge point since after Hawaii we have the appointment with the new cardiologist in Charlotte.
Megan nods her head, wiping the tears that did fall during Brooke's speech, but sends both of us a small smile. That smile that lets me know she's going to be okay. Sometimes the people we love need to be reminded just how strong they actually are.
"What do you say we go downstairs and order some takeout, my treat", Brooke adds as she walks over to Meg hugging her. Megan immediately wraps her arms around her too and I smile in relief. Maybe things can go right back to normal, even after everything. We can only hope it is.
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I want to hear what you guys think! I'm doing my best to update more. I just have to really think what I want to write more. Next is the Ravens Game and then it will be the HAWAII TRIP! Is anybody ready for a BRUCAS REUNION, FAMILY TIME, or how about Megan and Jamie adventures?! I know I am. Thank you to every one who has reviewed and read this. It means the world to me. I love you all and hope you guys like where I am going. Thank you again.
