"Hey fatso!" I heard someone yell as they shook from my sleep.
"Huh?" I answered rubbing the sleep of my eyes.
Thats when I looked up and yelled!
"Rachel! How are you here?" I asked delightedly.
"What, can't a girl come to meet her best friend?" She tried to play dumb.
"Oh my God!" I exclaimed as I quickly got on my knees and pulled her into a hug.
Once we were more settled, I began gruelling her for answers.
"How did you get here? Don't you have some more time at the facility? Did you sneak out!?" I yelled as all extreme possibilities came to my brain.
"Relax Brookie. I'll tell you everything soon enough. First tell me, how have you been?" She asked me. Her eyes shown as I saw genuine concern in them.
Rachel was like the older sister I never had. She had come to the facility around two months after I had. Her parents too were never around as they went on splendid vacations to the Italian Riviera leaving their daughter to look after herself. She was the definition of a party girl and when they realised that, they sent her over to clean up her act stating that 'they were respectable people in the society and couldn't accept her as their daughter.'
Honestly, Rachel was an amazing girl. Yes, she got to your nerves, a lot. But that was when you didn't know her. Under all the facade was a heart of gold. And I was glad to have seen that and met the real Rachel Gatina.
"I'm fine. Hanging there. Going to school, cheerleading. Lucas has been taking great care of me and I really appreciate that." I answered.
"Speaking of, where did Lucas go anyway?" She asked looking around.
"Huh? When did you meet him?" I asked sort of confused.
"Who do you think let me in?" She countered.
"Oh! So now Broody lets random strangers enter the house! We shall need to have a talk." I spoke.
"Oh relax Brooke. It's Lucas who got me out of the facility. He called me and said that you needed help and that I could be of assistance since I was with you in New York all those months. He also said that you mentioned me a lot and missed me." She smirked as I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, anyway. He made some calls and god knows how, but he got me out! He was even willing to pay for my plane ride to North Carolina. He is a sweet guy B... As long as he doesn't act that stupid again."
"Oh please. Enough with that drama." I said as glimpses of the past clouded my vision. My hands absentmindedly rest on the stomach, stroking it. Hoping to feel a flutter or some movement. But there was none.
'Maybe it is time to move on.' I said as I let out a deep sigh.
Just then I heard a knock at the door as Lucas stood there.
"Hey girls. So I went and got us some breakfast from Karen's. Maa isn't there but the food's still good." He commented as he moved his hand to indicate that we follow him.
"Come on Rach. Karen's has the best food ever!" I bounced up in my cheery ways. "Luke! You better have my Chocolate Chip Pancakes!"
"With extra chips!" He sang in the same tone I had used which got me to giggle.
"Yeah, you both a definitely crazy!" Rach remarked as she saw our little spectacle of affection.
We sat an ate in peace. It was a Saturday, which meant no school.
The whole time Rach and I kept talking sixteen to a dozen as she filled me up on what happened at the facility after I was gone. Lucas just sat there, listening to us talk, most definitely bored.
"I cannot believe Cassandra tried to throw a party in the Common Room. That's like the dumbest idea ever. They have Cameras there!" I commented as I took a sip of my frappe.
"Yeah, she always was a little cuckoo in the head!" Rach joked.
Our banter was broken by the sound of some loud music. We both looked at Lucas who fumbled to get his phone out of the pocket.
"Yeah Nate. Awesome. I will be over in a few minutes." He answered practically jumping off the chair he was sitting on.
"Hey, so Nate and some of the boys are playing ball at the River Court. Can I go?" He asked looking directly towards me.
"Yeah sure! Have fun. Haley is going to come over for Science in fifteen minutes anyway. Lets see if I can convince her to go to the mall with Rachel and I instead." I said, pulling my tongue out for emphasis.
"Best of luck with that. Even Nate hasn't been able to do that and they are dating! Anyway, are you two good? Do you need anything?" He asked. The caring side of him came so naturally. I liked that.
"Okay. Call me if you need me, okay." He instructed and was out of the door after that.
"So, what do you think?" I asked Rachel.
"He is a great guy Brooke. He is madly in love with you and will do anything to make you happy. But, its high time both of you let go of the iron walls that you'll have built so high around your hearts."