I woke up to see something blurry white looming around.
"Huh?" I said to myself. "What had happened?"
It took a while for my vision to focus, but when it did, I was greeted with a view which could mean only one thing. I was in the hospital.
I moved the fingers of my hands and toes to ensure that everything was still there an working. However, that's when my gaze fell upon one of my legs which was thickly plastered and gingerly placed in a stirrup of the bed. I could feel it throbbing, as I painfully wiggled it absentmindedly.
Looking around, I saw myself connected to a bunch of machines with wires running everywhere from my hands to my chest. But, where was Lucas?
I tried to peek and look out of the window that my room had. The blinds weren't covered completely as I peeked through the slits. And there he was.
However, it was the strangest sight I had ever seen.
There stood Luke, talking, or rather yelling at Clay and my mother.
I craned my neck, as if it would make me hear better.
"You can't just keep her with you!" Clay yelled, his voice had suddenly risen up as he didn't care about where he was. The nurses all became alert wondering whether they should call security or wait it out.
"Its been 17 years. Its too late to step up now. I can very happily take care of Brooke. Thanks but no thanks." Lucas argued.
Victoria was pressing the temples on her head, a clear sign that she was getting more furious by the second.
"You let me see Brooke right now or tell her to find another way to live her lavish life. I can cut all her finances in a second and if you know me little boy, you know that I won't even flinch while I cut all his credit cards myself."
"Oh dont worry. Brooke can fend for herself. Don't you read magazines, Victoria? Brooke is on number one in
rising designers. Everybody wants her clothes. Infact, she just signed a contract with Macy's. She gets full creative independence, full brand independence and a truckload of money. She doesnt need you." He chortled.
"Luke man, what you are doing isn't right. Forget my mom, I'll make sure things are okay for my sister." Clay tried to bargain.
"No offence Clay, I really do like you. But, I'm sorry. The last time when Brooke was hurt and she needed you, in order to take 'charge'", he said with air quotes. "You shipped her off. When she needed love and comfort and somebody to look after her, to be with her and tell her everything is going to be okay, you sent her away to be scared and alone."
"You do know rehab helped her right? She would be dead without it!" He yelled. I squeezed my eyes shut as I heard it.
"And how alive is she right now? She is lying in a hospital Clay! After getting shot and we have no idea when she is going to wake up, if she wakes up that is!" He said. I could hear the crack in his voice very evidently. It was as clear as day. Lucas Scott was scared. I wish he could just come in and see me up. There was no way I could call him, I had a tube stuck up my throat.
"Where will she even stay? I certainly am not paying any of her house bills!" Victoria smirked.
I could see Lucas roll his misty blues.
"Victoria, everything is not about money you know. Brooke can pay her own bills. She is perfectly capable. Besides, Brooke will be living with me. I will look after her and make sure that she becomes her perfect self again. And before you ask, yes, I spoke to my parents. They are more than happy to look after the girl they practically raised as their own as her real parents were off having a jolly time travelling to some exotic island than looking after the girl who stood waiting outside her school, sure that her parents hadn't forgotten her and that they would come to pick her up! She will be much happier with my mom who gushes over the dress she picked for her middle school dance, rather than a brother who says that the dress makes her look thick. So yes, Brooke stays with me." Tears welled in my eyes as I saw Luke fight for me, defend me. My heart was bursting inside as I couldn't control the flood that followed the slight drizzles.
"Who will pay for all of these medical expenses? These operations, the private luxury rooms, all those things cost a fortune." She still tried to fight.
"Brooke's insurance already covered everything. I knew all of her details, unlike you." He answered coyly. "Victoria, Clay; I think it is time for you two to go now. I got to go and see if everything is alright there. Goodbye, have a good life and please for God's sake, stay out of our lives!" He finished.
Victoria, never one to lose her ego strutted out as if she had just won an Oscar.
Clay still stood there and typical Victoria didn't even realise that he wasn't behind.
"Hey, you are a good guy. Look after my baby sis, okay?" He finished before looking towards my door to find me awake an watching. An instant smile spread across his eyes to see me awake and fine.
He gave me a secret nod as I too nodded my head with much vigour. It was our own way of saying that this was the right decision.
"With all my heart." Lucas answered his previous question.
Clay smiled, waved my way and walked out.
Thats when he saw me awake and stormed into my room.