Chapter 8 - Saturday

Lucas and Brooke arrive back at two in the morning, and find both Peyton and Jamie asleep in the couch, Jamie lying on Peyton's arms and an open book in the floor. They scene was so sweet that Brooke and Lucas just stood there for a couple of minutes, watching the two blondes. Brooke picks up Jamie and takes him to Lucas room, to be diapered, and Lucas picks up Peyton to take her to her bed. As Lucas is carrying her, Peyton wakes up.

"Luke? Is this a dream?"

"No, sweetie. You were asleep in the couch when we got home, so Brooke is tucking Jamie, and I was hoping not to wake you up." Lucas sets Peyton down in her bed, covers her, and gives her a kiss in the forehead. "Goodnight, blondie."

Peyton grabs Lucas arm and whispers. "Lie down with me, Luke, for old times sake."

Lucas steps back a bit and replies sadly. "I can't. We will talk tomorrow." He steps out and closes her door, as Peyton begins to cry silently in her bed.

Lucas heads to his room, where Brooke is just placing sleeping Jamie in the port-a-crib. "She asked me to lie down with her. For comfort, not fun."

Brooke looks at him and after a pause, gives him a big smile. "Here is a huge surprise – you could just do it. It wouldn't really bother me."

Lucas gives her a sharp look. "Really? Let's say I believe you ninety percent."

"Wise... so do I, I guess."

Anyways, I couldn't risk it. But it is not only that. I can't help being affectionate with her. I love her, she means a lot to me, and she is hurting. But I keep sending her seriously mixed signals."

"I know. She is going to see we are back together very fast tomorrow morning. We can't hide from someone who knows us both as well as she does."

"Lindsay saw it yesterday. She asked me straight, and I couldn't lie to her. By the way, I asked her to join us for the picnic."

"That's fine. We need to come clean to Peyton tomorrow. I see two choices: we sit her down tomorrow morning and have a "talk", or we go the high school way and just kiss in front of her. I prefer the second way, because I think we should have our "talks" with her separately."

"I agree. Just kissing in front of her may be a little harsh, but it should give her some time to absorb the news in her own way. I hope. Just keep it casual, try not to gloat."

Brooke giggles. "I'll try, broody. I'll try to keep the gloating under wraps, but it is not going to be easy..."

"Good night, pretty girl.

"Good night fiancee. Thank you for everything."

"Nothing to thank." And with smile. "Better yet, you already thanked me plenty..."

Brooke smiles back. "I'd do it some more, but we have a long day tomorrow."

"Very well, rain check."

"Rain check."

oooooooooooooooo

Lucas woke up to an empty room, at half past eight. He brushed his teeth, put on sneakers and a track suit and went to look for Jamie. Lucas found him playing and having a spirited baby-talk conversation with himself, with Peyton watching him and sipping a cup of coffee.

"Jamie is really amazing. He is clever, relaxed, funny and easygoing. Jenny, at the same age, was much more demanding and fussy. It's not that I didn't love caring for her, but Jamie makes it so easy. I could just watch him play by himself for hours."

"I was told that baby Haley was like that. I see a lot of Nathan, and even myself in Jamie physically, but I get he has a lot of Hales in personality. Did he eat? Did you? I could make some pancakes. I assume Brooke hasn't shown up yet."

"He ate, I didn't. I would love some pancakes and I haven't seen Brooke yet today. How was the party yesterday?"

Lucas grabs a cup of coffee and goes to the kitchen counter, to work on the pancakes. Do you want some eggs too?"

Peyton nods. "Yes, please, over easy."

"The party, well, it was very interesting. I enjoyed playing celebrity power couple with Brooke. But the fashion world has a really nasty underbelly, specially exploiting young women, and this was exposed during the party too. Overall I liked it. I understand we will be doing this occasionally, and I actually look forward to it."

Peyton fell silent and appeared to mull over Lucas' answer for a long time, while Lucas loses himself in the mechanics of cooking. Finally, Peyton said. "I've actually helped organize some of these celebrity functions for SIA. I know the music and fashion worlds are very different, but I can imagine how the party went yesterday, the dealing, the backstabbing, people seeking influence, contacts or some kind of advantage. Brooke, of course, is a fairly big player and I can imagine her holding her own in this stage. But you? The sweet, thoughful, slightly shy boy I've known quite well would not enjoy this very much. What changed? Do you know?"

Lucas just smiles to himself, which appears to unsettle Peyton a bit more. "I am not sure, Peyton, but I think there are two things. First, you may not know me quite as well as you think. I've tried very hard to hide this in the past, but there is a bit of Dan Scott in me. Sure, he is an evil asshole, but he can be very good with people. The second thing is my job this past year. As Whitey's assistant, and even more, as head Coach of a college team, I have found myself more and more relying on my Dan side to do my job. I have needed to understand people in the fly, what really makes them tick, and I had to get them to do what was required. I learned to trust my instincts with people. This came into play in a big way trying to be Brooke's wingman yesterday. I actually enjoyed myself, and she was very, very pleased with the results."

At this point, Lucas zones out a bit, recalling exacly how Brooke expressed her satisfaction. Peyton places both elbows in the kitchen counter and holds her head in her hands, clearly going into some serious brooding. Lucas sets a plate with eggs and pancakes in front of her, which Peyton ignores. while placing another in the microwave for Brooke and digging into his own plate. A couple of minutes later, a chipper Brooke shows up in the living room, wearing a purple jogger, pink sneakers and a high ponytail. She immediately sees that Peyton appears a bit out of it, and looks at Lucas, silently asking if they should proceed as planned, which Lucas answers with tiny nod. Lucas then says out loud, "Good morning, pretty girl."

Hearing the old nickname, Peyton lifts her head in surprise, as Brooke says "Good morning, tutorbaby, goldilocks and boyfriend." She picks up Jamie in passing, and goes up to Lucas, standing in the tip of her toes, gives him a sweet little kiss in his lips. As she turns around, Peyton is running from the living room, going into her room, and loudly banging her door.

Lucas shrugs at Brooke and says: "well, that was that. Breakfast?"

Brooke looks sadly at the doorway Peyton disappeared into. "Sure. I think we better give her some time and space."

oooooooooooooooo

Lucas placed an order at Zabar's for the picnic, including lox, bagels and cream cheese, pickles, chips, egg salad, rugelach for desert and white wine and iced tea in chilled containers. He was arranging this in a large backpack, together with plastic implements, while Brooke sat on the floor, playing with Jamie. About an hour after banging the door, Peyton came back quietly to the living room. She had a track suit and sneakers too, had tied her hair in a messy bun and applied some make up. She looked sad and resigned. She picked up her breakfast plate, warmed it up a bit in the microwave, and sat down to eat it, with a fresh cup of coffee on the side. Lucas and Peyton kept silent, while Brooke kept her one-sided play conversation with Jamie. Finally, Peyton finished her breakfast, placed her dishes and silver in the dishwasher and turned to Lucas and Brooke, breaking the silence.

"All right guys, I just have one question. How long have you two been back together?"

Brooke answers it. "Two days. It happened when we met for lunch at my office."

Peyton appears a little relieved with this. She looks at Brooke, then at Lucas. "OK, here is the deal. First, this hurts, bad. I don't understand how Lucas could be seriously proposing to me and ten days later be back with Brooke. I need to understand this if I am going to move on. On the other hand, I am not really ready to talk, not right now, so I am going to California tonight, and we'll talk when I get back. Second, I love you both and I need you two backstabbing assholes in my life. I don't really have anyone else. I also know that you both love me, that you are not doing this to hurt me. I realize it is not about me at all. I am going to try very hard to get past this, so that we can still be friends. There is a tiny part of me that is actually happy for you. Third, today is about Jamie, the picnic, so, as long as you two don't rub it in my face, we will pretend everything is fine. What do you say?"

By the time Peyton finishes her speech, Brooke is crying. "Thanks, P. Sawyer. This is good. We will be ready to talk it over whenever you feel you are ready. We would really like to keep you in our life too." Brooke gives a small smile. "No threesomes, though." Lucas and Peyton flinch a bit and stare at her. "Too soon?"

Lucas replies. "Too soon."

Peyton asks. "So, should we be going?"

"Actually, we are waiting for Lindsay, my editor. She has been working hard on Ravens, and she was curious to meet you and Jamie, so I invited her to join us today. She is a bit older than we are, sweet and very smart. You will probably like her. She should be here in half an hour, or so. In the meantime, pretty girl, would you mind getting Jamie ready, while I finish packing the picnic?"

"Sure, broody."

"I'm going to make a phone call. Tell me when she arrives." Peyton is going to call this interesting looking guy whom she met at SIA the day after the proposal. Maybe set up a date for the following week.

ooooooooooooooo

Lindsay knocks on the penthouse door, and Lucas answers with a smile. "Hi Linds!" He then steps back and checks her out. "You look very nice, babe." Lindsay is wearing a short, sky blue sundress, low white sandals and loose hair, with dark glasses pushed up.

Brooke comes up, with Jamie in her arms. "Of course she looks nice. That's one of mine. She does fill it out very nicely, though." Brooke circles her finger around, asking for a twirl from Lindsay. She is clearly embarassed, a little flushed, but complies with a flourish. "Nicely filled from behind too. Wanna do a little modeling on the side? You look nicer on this dress than the girl we used on the ads for the spring line."

Finally Lindsay gets her power of speech back. "Hi Lucas, hi Brooke. I assume this little sweetheart is James Lucas Scott. Can I carry him? "

Lucas replies. "Oh, he will be happy to go with anyone."

Lindsay picks Jamie up. "Hi Jamie, it's very nice to meet you." And she gets a nice smile from the little boy as reply. "and a charmer, too." Lindsay gives a flirty smile towards Lucas. "I hear Scott boys are hard to resist..."

Brooke puts an arm around Lucas waist and pretends to be jealous. "This Scott boy is taken, sweetheart. If you behave, Haley and I might let you have a shot with that one in your arms, but you're gonna have to wait a bit." Brooke is clearly charmed by Lindsay, including the sweet-natured flirting with her fiancee. "Come on, let's sit a bit. Lucas, would you warn Peyton? Can I offer you anything, Lindsay?"

"A glass of water, please. And please, call me Linds." Lindsay places Jamie sitting on his playmat, and sits down on the couch, crossing her legs and receiving the water from Brooke. "You know, thank you. I should say I am crazy for Clothes over Bros. I think half my wardrobe comes from your line."

Now Brooke was a bit embarrassed. "Thanks, Linds. It is nice to be appreciated."

"Did you mean it about modeling?"

"Sure. We like to mix in "real" girls with the professional fashion models in our adds and, occasionally, on the runway. We find it actually enhances the marketing impact with the customers."

"You know, I grew up this shy, bookish, a little chubby girl. Things changed in college, but I guess one stays the same on the inside. I always had this hidden little fantasy of doing a runway or a glamour photoshoot, so if you can really use me, give me a call. I would be totally thrilled, and I would love to see my father's face."

"I have a couple of dresses in the summer line which I think you would be perfect for. You're a size four, right? Give me a contact number, and I'll have the casting department call you for a fitting and a contract next week."

Lucas came back with Peyton in the middle of this dialogue. "Brooke, did I hear this right? Are you corrupting my editor?"

Both girls start giggling, and Brooke says. "Don't get your underwear in a knot, broody. I'm just expanding her horizons. Linds, this bony ass creature here in Peyton Sawyer, artist, music producer and my best friend. P. Sawyer, this is Lindsay Strauss, Lucas editor and the newest Clothes over Bros model."

The two girls check each other out. Lindsay breaks the silence. "God, you're gorgeous. It's very nice to finally meet you, Peyton."

"Thank you, it is nice to meet you too, and you don't look so bad yourself."

"Brooke, did you ever ask Peyton to model for the fashion line?"

Brooke looks thoughtful. "That's a good question. The answer is no, but the reason is complicated. First, Peyton is much closer to the typical model in physical type than you or me, so I have a ton of girls that more-or-less look like her in the line-up. But the most important reason is that, in my mind, her dress style is this rocker girl type, that looks absolutely incredible on her, and has nothing to do with the CoB material." With that, Brooke pauses and looks a little abstracted. "You know..., that gives me an idea. P. Sawyer, sweety, would you like to work with me in designing a few outfits in the badass rocker girl style, maybe a little sluttier than your usual, for CoB?"

Peyton looks surprised. "I don't know, Brooke, I would love to try." And she adds with a smile. "Can we reuse the flaming heart?" She looks sideways at Lucas. "We could even put the number three back in the middle..."

Brooke smiles at that. "That's an interesting idea." And looking at Lucas, "however, I'll keep number three for myself." She turns to Lindsay. "The flaming heart used to be the trademark of CoB, but we've moved away from it recently. I always felt a little guilty that Peyton didn't see a penny for that." And turning back to Peyton. " What I would really love is to get from you a few other original ideas for graphic memes that we can use, first in this rocker girl line, but later to reuse for the mainstream." Brooke turns to Lindsay. "Peyton has this incredible talent for making up powerful imagery that stays with you forever. You should try to get her to do artwork for the cover of Ravens."

Lucas joins in. "That's a very good idea. It's a bit early to discuss cover art, but I know I would absolutely love that. Should we go? Where?"

Lindsay replies. "I guess I'm the only native, so I'll make a suggestion. I know the perfect place, a little shaded meadow with a view, a bit out of the way. It's probably some three miles from here, so you might want to take a stroller."

"I didn't bring a stroller, because both Jamie and I love to go around with the baby bjorn. I'm going to carry the picnic stuff. Do you want to do the bjorn, pretty girl?"

"Sure. Would you mind taking the baby stuff bag, P. Sawyer? Linds, you just show us the way."

oooooooooooooo

The place Lindsay chose was a little grassy hill, with enough trees for a nice shade, overlooking a bike path and a pond. It was a very nice lunch, excellent food, playing with Jamie, talking mostly about TV series, fashion and basketball. After a few hours, they all knew that Lindsay would probably become part of their little family, assuming, of course, that she got along with Nathan and Haley as she did with them. The strain between Lucas, Peyton and Brooke was there, hanging around like the proverbial monkey in the room, but it didn't seem to spoil the day. At some point, Jamie was napping right between Lucas and Brooke, who appeared to have fallen asleep as well. Lindsay was sitting against a tree, looking at the three of them napping and Peyton, who had just finished picking up the remains of the picnic into a garbage bag, approached Lindsay. "Is this seat taken?"

Lindsay pats a place in the blanket besides her, and Peyton sits. Surprising both Peyton and herself, Lindsay puts her arm across the other girl's shoulder and pulls her close, and Peyton rests her head on Lindsay's shoulder. They stay like that for a bit, both looking at the napping trio, both feeling oddly conforted. Lindsay breaks the silence. "They are incredible together." And hugging Peyton a bit harder. "It must be so hard..."

"I've been here before." An oddness in Lindsay's tone penetrates Peyton's awareness, and Peyton looks in her eyes. "You are in love with him too!"

Lindsay laughs softly. "Not in love. I don't think it will ever get to that. More like a totally hopeless girlish crush. Today they are subdued, I assume out of respect for your feelings. They were full on yesterday at the party. God, I was wet just looking at them. I swear if they had invited me when they went to their room yesterday I would have gone without thinking twice."

"I don't think they ever did a threesome, but I suspect they would love to try it with the right person. Right now, they are probably just getting back together, but in a while, if you still feel like that, let Brooke know, and you'll quite possibly get your wish..." Peyton sighs, "Things are too complicated between the three of us for that ever to happen, but, to be sure, I would definitely add that to my fantasies." Peyton pulls Lindsay's face in and gives her a lingering, soft kiss on the lips. It doesn't light any fires, but it puts a big smile in both girl's faces. Peyton continues. "Yeah, you'll do just fine."

"Did you ever do it with Brooke?"

"No. I've never done it with any girl. I kissed Brooke a couple of times, once in middle school because we were trying to teach each other how, and once in high school because I was drunk and channeling my hidden inner dyke. Brooke likes to experiment, but she has no real interest in girls. In fact, since she got on with Lucas, back in junior year, I am not sure anyone but him has really lit her fire."

"It's funny. The book, at least as he wrote it initially, plays down their relationship, casting the two of you as this star-crossed couple. Looking at it now, this seems wrong."

"He wrote the book after she dumped him in senior year. He was really, really broken up, losing basketball, Keith and Brooke more-or-less at the same time. The book was his therapy, a way for him to try to process all his losses. I think he was projecting in the book what he wanted us to be, not what we really were. All this time, I bought what he wrote in the book, hook, line and sinker. Now I am beginning to see things a little more clearly."

"You know, getting to know you, talking to you and seeing the two of them together is giving me a completely different take on the book."

"That's still only part of the story. You have to know Haley and Nathan, see Lucas with both of them, if you want to really get it. Lucas was still pretty broken up when I left to California. If he is well now, that's Nathan, Haley and Jamie's doing. They healed him. I don't think Lucas and I ever got a full shot at being together. In high school, we never really got going in junior year, and later he was too sad and confused. Brooke kept a huge part of his heart. When he was finally well enough to come after me and ask for a life together a couple of weeks ago, I was the one too broken up and confused to give it to him. Now, I am beginning to feel like myself again, and he is back with Brooke, probably where he belongs anyways."

"You mean you are OK with them?"

"No. But I will be. I love those two way too much to give up on them. You'll see, I'll stand beside her at their wedding, as I promised her long ago, and all my tears will be happy ones. "

Lindsay laughs. "Cheesy, much? I sure hope so, sweetie. You deserve it, and they deserve it too."

"Well, at least I have company, as third wheel in their date."

"If this was a date, it was a double one. If I am not mistaken, we were the only ones making out today..."

Peyton laughs. "True. Don't expect a repeat performance, though. You're not really my type. Too sweet."

Lindsay caresses Peyton's face and smiles. "I can be a little less sweet... but you are not really my type either. I guess I really like dick. But when you come back, let's go out. Maybe find a couple of nice boys help us get a certain writer out of our minds."

"You're on, slut."

A couple of hours later, as they walk back to the penthouse, Brooke looks at the two blonde girls, noticing how close they were behaving. Being Brooke, she didn't even blink. "You two are acting a little squirrely. Did you guys make out while we were napping?" The two girls stare at Brooke, speechless. "You did it! I can't believe it."

Lindsay flushes deeply with embarrassment, but Peyton is made of harder stuff. "It was just a little fun between friends, B Davis, nothing serious."

Lucas looks at the sky and mumbles. "I wish I had seen it..."

Lindsay stares at the ground while Brooke turns to him. "Keep your pervy mind to yourself broody boy. The blondes, either one or both together, are off limits to you now."

"I know, pretty girl." He looks at the three girls and smiles softly. "I guess, I'll have to leave it to my imagination. I am a writer. My imagination is pretty good." He gets a hard slap on the chest and a kiss for his comment.

ooooooooooooooo

As Lucas, Peyton and Jamie are leaving the penthouse, Brooke first gives Peyton a big hug. "Have a nice trip P Sawyer. Please call."

"I'll be back next in a week. I'll keep in touch. Bye, B. Davis."

Next Brooke kisses Jamie, who is already hanging from Lucas chest in the bjorn, facing out. "Bye, tutorbaby. I love you so much. I'll miss you."

Next Lucas looks at Brooke. "I'll be back on Wednesday night. Date on Thursday?"

"Sure. Victoria will be back, so be ready."

"I will. I love you, pretty girl. I'm going to miss you like crazy."

"Likewise, broody." Lucas holds Jamie a little out of the way with one hand, and Brooke's head with the other, while they exchange a deep, passionate goodbye kiss. "One for the road."

"One for the road, pretty girl. I'll be seeing you."

oooooooooooooooo

At the airport, as Lucas and Jamie head to their gate, Peyton kisses Jamie goodbye. "Bye little Scott boy. It was a lot of fun." She gets a wide, four teeth smile in return. "Bye Luke."

"Bye Peyt. I'm really sorry."

"Don't be. I'm beginning to see that the two of you belong together, you always did."

"That's what I believe too. Thank you, but we still need to talk."

"I know. We will see each other in a couple of weeks, I guess. We will talk then."

"It's a date, Peyt. Have a nice trip."

"You too, Luke. Bye."

"Bye."