Brooke's POV

Brooke's house

I stood in front of the mirror, tugging at my too short and tight dress, while I wondered if it was a bit too sexy for a 'business meeting'. Tonight Julian and I wanted to meet for the first time and go through the first draft of my costumes. I had already prepared a lot and was really proud of my work. But most of all, I was looking forward to seeing him again. That's why I needed an extra long time to choose the right outfit. My hair, that I wore loose, was brushed until it fell silky and glossy over my shoulders. And I also had put a lot of effort into my make-up. Not to mention the procedure to remove all hairs from my body. And I couldn't have helped but bought new underwear. Black lingerie, matching to my skintight black and gray mini dress. Not that I intended to take it off, but you never knew what the evening would bring. I went to the fridge and looked inside. I had wine and beer, depending on how the evening would proceed. When it suddenly knocked on the door, my eyes went to the clock in alarm. He was too early! I wasn't ready yet. I straightened my top and went to the door. But it was not Julian who greeted me, but Haley.

"Wow, Brooke! Do you want to go out?"

I let her in and then quickly closed the door behind her. "No, I have my first meeting with Julian," I explained.

"In this outfit?" Haley raised her eyebrows in amusement.

"Is it too much?" I asked unsure and looked down at me.

"Depends on what you expect from the evening." She chuckled. "It definitely looks more like 'let's make out on the couch' than 'look at my draft'."

She was right. "I'm changing my clothes," I said with a sigh and was about to leave the room when she grabbed my arm.

"The question is what you really want, Brooke. Apparently it's not enough for you, to just work with him. You want more, right?"

I nodded sheepishly and lowered my head.

"That's fine."

"No, it's not," I said in frustration. "I'm not 17 anymore, Hales. If I start a relationship now, then it should be something permanent. I had enough affairs in the years before. What I'm looking for right now is the man who stays with me forever."

"Wow. Are you talking about marriage? Well, if I were in your place, Brooke, then maybe I wouldn't mention it towards Julian. I mean, there is nothing that drives men away quicker than the mention of marriage."

"You're married too," I said, frowning irritably.

"Yes, but the beginning was not so easy. And I don't know if we would have married if I hadn't been pregnant. But you're right. Meanwhile, marriage is even fun. But in the beginning it was hard work."

"I just want to do it right this time," I admitted with a sigh. "At that time we reacted on impulse. I want to create a basis for us this time."

She assessed me from top to bottom. "Yeah, you're right. You should change your clothes. Otherwise you will send out the wrong signals."

I ran to my bedroom, pulled a pair of light blue jeans and a peach top out of the closet and ran back. "Better?" I held my clothes up in the air.

"You should probably wear a loose blouse over the top. But then it's perfect," Haley said.

I looked at her thoughtfully. "Why are you here?" When she started to grin and look embarrassed on the floor, I dug deeper. "Spit it out! What's the reason you came to my place?"

"Peyton told me that you have your meeting with Julian today," she confessed. "And I just wanted to give you moral support. I think I came in time."

"Right..." I sighed and tugged at my dress. "I'll change quickly. And if Julian's coming, tell him I'll be back in a minute." I was about to go to the bedroom when she called me back.

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself, Brooke. I mean, if you expect too much from this evening, you may just be disappointed."

She was right. Maybe I should just wait and see what the evening would bring and not force anything. "Thanks, Hales!" I hugged her briefly and then ran in my bedroom to change my clothes.

Julian's POV

I had stood in front of the wardrobe forever and then decided for a black jeans, a white T-shirt and a plaid shirt. After all, it was not a real 'date', just a business meeting between Brooke and me, and I wanted to make a good impression. Not too formal, but not too casual. In any case, I brought a wine, in case we would sit together after the official part of our business meeting. Not that I planned something in particular, but I just wanted to be prepared. That's why I also put some condoms in my bag, along with the wine and the film script. Although I was well prepared, my heart was pounding when I finally stood at the door and knocked.

"Hi, Julian! Come in! Do you want something to drink?"

I pulled the bottle out of my bag and put it on the counter in the kitchen. "I brought wine. I hope that's okay for you?"

"Perfect. Shall we take a look at my designs right now?"

She looked incredibly sexy in her outfit, reminding me of the high school girl I fell in love with back then. She was so beautiful. Even more beautiful and desirable than I remembered. And while she showed me her costume drafts, I had to control myself, not to grab and kiss her.

"Phew, are you feeling as warm as me?"

She took off her blouse, tugged at her top, and I could only stare at her. The wine bottle was empty, and Brooke got up to fetch a new one. "Do you have candles somewhere?" I called to her. I don't know where I suddenly got the idea from, but I had the feeling a lit candle would add to the romantic mood. Candles, wine, perhaps soft music in the background. I closed my eyes for a moment. Gosh, I seem to have watched too many romantic movies lately. Next, the hero would kiss his sweetheart and then carry her into the bedroom.

"Candles and a lighter are in the drawer right behind you."

I got up, went to the cupboard and opened the drawer. I saw the candles and the lighter, but it was something else that caught my attention. I pulled out the black and white picture and stared at it in disbelief. In the top corner was Brooke's name and below was a date imprinted. It took me a while to get what I was holding in my hands.

"Oh, no...!"

I heard glass splintering on the floor and turned to Brooke. She stood rooted to the spot in front of me, staring at me with wide, horrified eyes. The wine bottle she had just taken out of the fridge lay shattered at her feet, the wine running unhindered across the floor.

"Julian... I... please let me explain!" She stammered.

I stared at the ultrasound image. "Is that... yours?" I managed faintly. I saw her eyelids flutter.

"No," she said softly. "Not mine... ours. It was ours."

"You... you were pregnant?" When she nodded and burst into tears, I felt as if someone had just pulled the rug out from under my feet. I clung to the edge of the table because everything started to spin in front of me.

"I'm sorry..."

Tears rolled down her pale cheeks as she looked up at me and begged for forgiveness. But I just wanted to leave. Without a word I turned around, stuffed the script into my pocket with trembling fingers and ran to the door.

"Julian!" She ran after me and blocked my way before I could open the door. "Please, let's talk about it!"

I had seen my mother try to kill herself, I had witnessed my parents getting divorced, I hadn't been able to walk for several months after my car accident and had thought my life was over. But I had survived all that and had fallen back to my feet. But now, for the first time in my life, I had the feeling that I would never recover from what I just learned. I pushed Brooke aside, opened the door and ran away.

Brooke's POV

When Julian left, I broke down crying. All the hopes I had for a fresh start with him were shattered like the bottle of wine on the floor. I don't know how long I've been lying on the floor, whining over my messed-up life before I finally got up and called Haley.

"Can you come? I need you," I sobbed into the phone. It was good that she didn't ask any questions and promised to come over right away. When she finally stepped into my house, she didn't come alone. Peyton was with her.

"Are you all right?" Haley asked worriedly.

Peyton held out her phone to me. "Lucas called me earlier and told me that Julian sent him a text saying that he would withdraw from the contract. He doesn't want to do the movie." She frowned questioningly. "What happened?"

Both glared at me and I knew that I had to say something. "He found out about the baby," I said in a strangled voice, wiping my eyes. "He searched for candles and then found the ultrasound image in the drawer."

"Oh, no!" Haley exclaimed. "What did he say?"

"Nothing, he just ran away," I said in a low voice.

"It was probably a shock to him," Peyton guessed. "The last time I talked to him, he couldn't wait to see you again. He still loves you, Brooke," she professed.

"Not anymore." I shook my head sadly. "Now he hates me."

"What should he hate you for?" Haley shook her head. "That you lost your baby? That wasn't your fault."

"You should have seen how he looked at me, as... as if I had killed his child," I said, noticing tears forming in my eyes. "He hates me for not being able to prevent it."

"No, Brooke, don't say that!"

When Haley put her arm around me and comforted me, I let the tears run free.

"I have no idea what he's up to now, but I know he lives in the hotel. I'll go to him and talk to him," Peyton said firmly. "Maybe he listens to me and I can persuade him to reconsider his decision again. After all, this is not just about you and Julian, but also about Lucas and me. And for Lucas, it's important that this movie will be made." She looked at Haley. "Will you stay here and take care of Brooke?"

"Sure, I'll stay here," Haley promised.

I was glad that at least one of my friends stayed with me, because I didn't want to be alone right now. When Peyton left, I picked up the ultrasound image of the floor where Julian had dropped it and put it back into the drawer. "I should have been honest with him from the beginning," I said softly. "He had a right to know."

"You tried," Haley said. "You called him back then. Can't you remember?"

I nodded. "It's been 5 years. I should have just found time between then and now to tell him in person. Instead, he had to find out that way."

"I'm so sorry, Brooke. I know how much you had looked forward to this evening and a reunion with Julian," Haley said sympathetically.

I forced myself to smile. "Do you want a hot chocolate?"

She nodded. "Yeah, why not. Chocolate heals all pain."

I looked at the floor where the broken bottle was still lying. "Let me quickly remove the glass pieces, and then we'll both drink a nice cup of hot chocolate." I went to the back, got a bucket and rag, and began to clean up the mess.