Fishbowl Diaries
Chapter 12
Actually. I always felt. I must look better in the rear view.
"Please!" Britney and Bentley pleaded. Pulling at both her hands.
"How could i not accept an offer from the two of you." Brooke said with a smile.
"Yay!" They cheered. As they lead her out of the entry way and into the living room.
Lucas sighed deeply. Putting a smile on his face and followed them into the living room.
Awhile Later
Lucas couldn't help but notice as he moved throughout the party. How everyone reacted to Brooke. Especially his children.
"We've been worried about you. You kind of dropped off the face of the planet." Nathan mentioned.
Haley engulfed her in a hug.
Brooke smiled hugging her back.
"We didn't think you would show up." Haley added in.
"Is everything okay.?" Peyton asked.
"Did we scare you off.? It can be hard for newcomers to join our friend group.?" Rachel asked.
"It has nothing to do with any of that. I've never felt more welcome or at home anywhere. In all my life." Brooke admitted.
"All that matters is that you're back." Haley added in.
Peyton noticed the looks that were going on back and forth between Brooke and Lucas.
"Feel free to hang out. The party is gonna be winding down soon enough. We'll be heading out with our kids. And Lucas could always use the help. Cleaning up."
You have my number. If you want to talk about anything." Peyton suggested.
Brooke let go of the breath she was holding.
"Thanks. I may give you a call sometime soon." She replied.
...
Everyone eventually made their way out of the home with leftovers.
Lucas would re open the cafe in a day or two.
He have Nixon and Lilly freedom to do whatever they wanted.
He began to clean up downstairs.
...
"That is one expressive book collection you have Nix. I love you're sketches. And you're paintings. You are a natural talent. What are you into lately.?" Brooke asked.
Nixon turned from her and revealed his camera.
"Can we take a picture together.? It's one of those vintage disposal cameras where you get the picture right away." Nixon asked.
Brooke smiled. "I would love too. And vintage is just another word for old. Which is very much in now." She replied.
She wrapped her arm around him. As they smiled. Then made a silly face.
Once the photos were out of the camera. Nixon handed her one.
The expression on Brooke's face softened as she put it away in her purse.
"Brooke can we have a sleepover.? Me and You. At you're house. Sometime. I want to be friends. I know you're already friends with our dad. But i think us being friends would be even better."
"Plus we can do fun girl stuff. Dad doesn't like." Lilly suggested.
"I'll have to ask you're dad. But i would love nothing more then for us to be friends Lilly." Brooke replied.
"I wish we had a mom like you. It's only ever been just the three of us." Nixon added in.
Brooke found herself blinking back tears. She didn't only care for Lucas. She cared for these kids as well. It was so consuming and un expected.
"Miss Davis has to go home now. And the two of you need to get ready for bed." Lucas proclaimed.
Brooke didn't make it out of that room with a hug from both Lydia and Nixon.
...
When Lucas and Brooke made it downstairs.
He handed her a tote bag.
"Leftovers. I hope you enjoy." Lucas said.
Brooke took ahold of the bag and looked to him.
"Is this how it's going to be from now on.? We're polite and civil. Remain neighbors and friends to some degree." Brooke questioned.
"Exactly. I wasn't looking for a relationship. I wanted to be friends."
"If you never kissed me. There wouldn't of been all this confusion amd weird tension between us."
"I was perfectly happy and living my life before you got here." He replied.
"That's bullshit and you know it! You were hiding! And burying yourself in routine. Because it's safer then going after what and who you want." Brooke proclaimed.
"I can't be you're safety net or you're back up plan!"
"My children are getting emotionally invested in you. And i won't have that. Just so you can create distance. Move on. And leave them heartbroken."
"I never asked you to care about me or them. You did that all on you're own. What do you want from me Brooke.?" Lucas questioned.
"To stop living in denial. To live in the present. To feel."
"Going through life on you're own. Is easy. Caring about people takes work and time. I hope you find peace Luke."
"Because of you and those kids. I found it." Brooke proclaimed. Turning from him as she left the home.
...