A/N: So I'm sure you're pretty much disappointed that I updated so late again. I'm so sorry, but life just got in the way, and I didn't have time to finish and polish everything. So, here it is. Thank Yous are at the bottom.
Title: Dinner Turned Engagement
Chapter4: Pretension Isn't So Bad
For the fifth time that week and for two weeks now, Brooke had woken up to an unfamiliar surrounding. Her walls weren't purple, nor were they accented by flowers. Neither was there a painting of the French Riviera. There wasn't a dresser with a mirror on it. Instead, the walls were colored peach, and even though there was a painting of some sort, it wasn't as beautiful as the one Peyton had painted for her. The bed, although soft didn't feel as comfortable as her old one, neither did the pillows smell like the one she was used to.
She pushed every wrong detail in the back of her mind when she heard someone knock on the door, which by the way wasn't red but white. She then sees a blonde head peeking through. "Hey, did I wake you?" Lucas asks with half a smile on his face, looking at her still covered in sheets.
"No, I'm up. I just didn't feel like getting up yet." She answers as she propped her elbows up, giving him a smile, dimples and all. The sheets fall from her chest revealing her frame which looked so smooth under a very elegant night gown.
"Okay." Lucas cleared his throat tearing his eyes from her, and then continued. "Anyway, I just came to tell you breakfast is ready and that you can get some if you want." He tells her, still not allowing himself to enter the room.
"You can come in, you know?" Brooke says teasingly. Even though they had known each other for an extremely short time, she already felt comfortable around him. "I mean, this is your house. I'm just practically staying over." Her voice turning out to be sarcastic.
Lucas' eyebrows furrowed with what she said. He thought she was really okay with the arrangement. Before he realizes what's happening, Brooke already starts apologizing. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out the way it did." Brooke told him as she bit her bottom lip. She even covered her face with a blanket.
Lucas' frown turns into a smile. The brunette just looked all too adorable for him to even be upset. "I'm really sorry it had to come to this." He tells her as he finally steps into the room, taking a seat at the edge of the bed. When she took the blankets off of her face, she had a half smile on, and then nodded at Lucas telling him it's really nothing to worry about. Her face then turns into a frown. One you couldn't possibly miss. So when Lucas saw the change in expression, he had to ask. "Hey, what's wrong?"
Brooke just shook her head. "It's just that…do you know that every morning since I moved in here, you always come get me for breakfast? And also, before you leave, you always say sorry like everything is your fault, when it's not." She told him truthfully, and Lucas couldn't appreciate her words more.
"Well, I just want to make sure my guests are properly accommodated." Lucas tells her in a silly tone as he slightly tipped his head sideways as if thinking of something. Brooke chuckled a bit with his attempt at humor, then shaking her head with a smile on her lips. "Anyway, like I said, breakfast is served." Lucas continued as he got up from the bed and walked towards the door, but before he left he added, "You wouldn't want it cold."
Brooke then got up from her bed with a content face on. She heaved a sigh of relief, and tried to think as positively as she could. So maybe waking up to a totally unfamiliar bedroom for the next three months or so wouldn't be so bad. At least she wasn't alone on mornings, and that someone actually calls her for breakfast. That's a good thing, right?
An hour later, Lucas had his apron on and started making chocolate chip pancakes. Just then, Brooke walks into his kitchen wearing a white ruffled top and high waist slacks. He was sure he called her for breakfast, so in a disappointed tone, he had to ask, "Are you leaving?" He turned his glance from her to the pancakes then back again.
Brooke's face turns into a light color of red. "Actually, I was looking for something to eat." She admits as she focused her glance on the ground. She then waves a hand at him, "But it's okay, I'll just pick something up on my way to work." She continues, a bit embarrassed to be looking for food now, when he had called her earlier for breakfast, and then pointing towards his garage where her car was parked.
"Actually, breakfast got cold." He starts off with a tight lipped smile, and then continues. "So, I decided, I'd just make you my favorite." He says as he broke into a grin as he finished cooking another set of pancakes. When she didn't reply, he asked. "Are you running late?"
Brooke shakes her head no, and then raising an eyebrow as he saw him serve four pancakes in a plate and placed them in front of her. "Then you should have those." Lucas told her as he pointed to his cooking. "No, you made those for yourself. So, I'm just going go and pick something up on my way to work." Brooke tells him and Lucas couldn't help but take a little offense. First he called her for breakfast, which then ended up getting cold. Then he decided he'd cook her pancakes, and now she's making him eat all of them?
"Not a fan of pancakes, I guess?" He asks her as he glanced at her with a questioning look; Brooke just offered him an apologetic look. Lucas knew no one had ever resisted his pancakes before, so, what makes Brooke Davis any different?
"No, it's really nice of you to do all these—" She stopped when she noticed Lucas giving her a look as he sat across her. "Oh, fine. I'll eat." Her eyes grew wider as she took the fork Lucas held out to her. "But I don't think I can eat all these, I'm not that hungry." She warned him and started to dig in.
He couldn't help but to stare at her as she took a bite, watching out for any reaction. Somehow, he felt like he wanted to please her. So when no particular reaction happened, he couldn't help but ask, "So? Is it good?" Brooke looked at him and answered nonchalantly, "its fine" and then started chewing again. After finishing the whole plate and a cup of coffee, Brooke breaks into a grin confusing the blonde.
"Do I have something on my face?" Lucas asks and Brooke just smiles as she shakes her head no. "You do realize that you've been watching me eat the whole time, right?" She teased which made Lucas squirm a bit. "You barely touched your food." She continued, and then glanced at her watch.
"Well, it just fascinates me, how you're going about not really being hungry earlier when clearly, you are." Lucas teased back as he pointed to her now empty plate. Brooke's eyes grew wide at his words. "Lucas Scott!" Brooke hissed playfully, as if offended by him. "Brooke Davis." He says in reply, mimicking her tone.
A comfortable silence sets in, and Lucas finished setting the dishes in the dishwasher when Brooke spoke. "Well, I should be going, and thanks for breakfast." Brooke turned around and started to walk away, but stopped when he said, "I'll drive you." She looked at him, and cocked an eyebrow. "What?" He asks.
She slightly tipped her head sideways, as if wondering, and then a smile crossed her lips. "You really don't have to do that. I drive by myself all the time." She tells him, not wanting to be a burden to him, and to let him know it's not his responsibility. "I know, but I want to. Plus, it'll be good for the press." He tells her with a smile, and she just nods, because if she was being honest, stilettos and driving don't exactly match.
Lucas pulled over his car at the lobby of Brooke's office building. He was shocked when he realized Brooke's lips crashing into his. All movement felt slow as confusion crept in. "What was that for?" He asked when she pulled away just mere seconds after their lips touched. "For breakfast." She started, "But mostly, for the guy that's holding a camera outside." She informs him with a wide smile, then opened the door and stepped outside. Lucas' confusion becomes clear as he felt the slightest of stings when he heard Brooke say it was just mostly for the camera.
Brooke walked in to her office to see her petite assistant rushing to her. "Did I get any important calls while I wasn't here?" She asked, still walking towards her office.
"A lot came from reporters who called you yesterday." Millicent answered, to this Brooke wasn't surprised. She just nodded her head and continued walking. "Also, Oprah called and wanted to schedule an interview with you and your fiancée." To this, Brooke stopped dead on her tracks and looked seriously at Millicent.
"What did you say? Because I think I just heard you say Oprah called?" Brooke asked beginning to get excited, but still shocked from what she had heard.
"Don't worry, I had the same reaction when I realized she wasn't kidding that it's her." Millicent shared and Brooke just gave her a look. "Oh yes, Oprah, as in Oprah Winfrey, diamond covered birthday cake. Yeah, her." Millicent added and Brooke looked to her like she wanted to jump in joy. "She said if you're free next week she would really love to have you. So, should I call them for the schedule?"
"Yes! Of course!" She answers excitedly, then after a few seconds, her face falls as a realization hits her. "I mean no, not yet. I'll have to talk to Lucas first." She tells Millicent, seemingly oblivious as to why Oprah Winfrey would want her in her talk show with Lucas Scott.
"Oh, okay. Brooke, but—"Millicent nervously said as Brooke opened the door to her office, only to see Victoria Davis sitting leisurely on the couch. "Your mother is waiting for you." She continued when Brooke turned to face her with a questioning look.
"It's okay Millie, you can go now. We have some things to talk about." Brooke said giving Millicent an understanding look, which brought relief a sigh of relief to the petite girl. As soon as Millicent was gone and the door was closed, Brooke felt the need of an explanation from her mother. "Why are you and dad doing this?" She hisses as she realized her day is already ruined.
"Oh, Brooke, honey. Don't you understand, we only want what's best for you." Victoria told her, and Brooke was just tired of it. Every time her parents do something to her without her knowledge, it has always been their excuse. "How is a fixed engagement the best for me mother?! Because take it from me, it isn't." She tells her quite hatefully, but Victoria just shrugs.
"Oh, don't worry honey. I'm sure everything will workout just fine." Victoria explains as if fixed marriages were the most normal thing in the 21st century. "Your father will be thrilled to know that everything is working out aright." Victoria continued and Brooke's jaw almost dropped.
"Didn't you hear anything I said?" She asks in an exasperated tone. When it was clear that her mother wasn't going to say something else, she continues. "Do it is that you want to do, but I want you to know, I'm not going to marry some guy you picked for me because you think he's what's best for me." She tells her as she looked at her straight in the eye.
Just then, Victoria prepared to leave with a smirk on. Something Brooke didn't want to see, because every time she sees her mother with it on, she ends up doing what they tell her. "I hate my life!" She says in frustration. Just then, Millicent comes in. "Brooke, there's a delivery for you." She tells the brunette as a delivery guy comes in, flowers in hand. First to come were a mixture of red and white roses. Millicent just smiled at the thought while Brooke froze at the sight. The guy then goes back out, only to enter bringing the whitest of tulips.
"Can you sign here please." The delivery guy instructed, bringing Brooke out of her trance. She took the pen and signed it; feeling like air was just knocked out of her. When the guy left, she felt she needed to seat. "Aren't you going to check who it's from?" Millicent couldn't help but ask as she marveled at the beautiful arrangement before her. "I already know." She muttered under her breath as her shoulders fell. As it did, memories from before came flooding back to her.
"Red and white roses? Why?" Brooke asked as she admired the beautiful arrangement. "No particular reason." He shrugs and the brunette just eyes him with a look. "Well, because I heard that red roses meant passionate love, and the white ones, mean purity." He tells her and she breaks into the widest of smiles. "And I realize, that describes my love for you." He tells her, and was rewarded by a kiss.
"I love you." She tells him as she smiled into his lips. "I love you too." He replies, and in that moment, Brooke felt nothing else mattered; she was in love, and to her, that's what's important.
"I can't believe you missed it." Brooke says in an angry tone, trying to push back the tears. "No, I can't believe you forgot about it." She cried as she poked him in the chest. "Please don't cry, Brooke. I didn't forget it." He tried to calm her. This wasn't how he pictured it, things just got in the way so his surprise got a little delayed.
"I'm sorry, our trip came in late, and I needed to put up all this stuff, and it got delayed. Please don't cry." He apologized as Brooke gazed at his fully decorated room, wherein a large banner was hanging, reading "Happy Birthday Brooke" in large letters and under it were a few sentences that could still be read even from a few feet away. "I love you, and you're the best thing that ever happened to me." It said, and Brooke just continued crying.
"Please stop crying. I'm sorry you thought I forgot." He tells her as he kisses her hair. "I love you." She just says, as tears of disappointment were replaced with tears of joy. "These are for you." He walks in then grabbing a bouquet of flowers. "Red and White roses." Brooke took notice as a big smile crosses her lips and he just nodded, "and white tulips?" She asks.
"Yes, I knew I was going to be a little late, so I had them put white tulips, they mean forgiveness. I hope you forgive me." He tells her then handing her the bouquet. When Brooke had it in her hands she took out a single white tulip and held it out to him. "Here, I forgive you." She tells him with a dimpled smile, as he enveloped her in a tight embrace. "I love you Brooke Davis." He tells her as his nose grazed hers. "I love you too Chase Adams."
She tried to blink back the tears, she didn't know how long she was staring blankly, but maybe it was long enough for Millicent to notice. "Brooke? Are you okay?" Her assistant asked as she was brought out to her thoughts. "Yes, of course, why wouldn't I be?" She put a brave face on and got up from her chair, then towards the delicately arranged flowers. "They're beautiful." Millicent told her, and she just nodded. There was a card for each of the arrangements. She went to the roses first. It read:
My feelings for you haven't changed.
I still miss you, everyday.
It was a lot to take in. There wasn't a name placed on it, but she already knew who it's from, and that kind of scares her, especially when she hasn't talked to the one who sent them for four years already, and still has tha effect on her. She then moved over to the white tulips, and she couldn't help but smile at their beauty. She flipped the card open, where it read:
I didn't hope for things to end up the way they did.
I'm sorry for ever hurting you, I hope someday,
You could find it in your heart to forgive me
After reading those words, that's when she felt pain creeping into her. The feeling she had managed to bury for a long time now, the feeling that makes her to just want to cry and question everything about her because it just hurts too damn much. But she doesn't let it happen, a lot has changed in four years and she's not as vulnerable as she was before.
Or maybe, that's just what she wants to tell herself. "Do you want me to put them on a vase?" Millicent asked bringing her out of her thoughts again. She shakes her head no, and maybe there was something that Millicent saw which made her think the brunette needed her space. She left the confines of her boss' office, a little worried with her unusual behavior.
Lucas was still crazed about what had happened earlier. It was a total surprise in his part, and if he was being honest, to him, it felt so real, only, it really didn't. "It was just a peck. Just a peck. It's a normal thing. You thank someone; you give them a peck on the lips!" He tried to reason with himself, saying every word out loud as he sat alone in his car. He grunted, then hitting his head on the wheel. He then hears his phone ring.
"Hey Nate, what's up?" He greets him casually, nothing really hitting his realization as to why he's calling. Besides, his brother calls him on a regular basis, so it's really nothing unexpected. "What do you mean what's up? Practice was thirty minutes ago! Where are you?" Nathan asks him irritated; besides it wasn't like him to miss practice anyway. "Oh shoot. I totally forgot. I drove Brooke to her office." He tells his brother who did sound all too pleased.
"Whatever man, just get your ass down here. Coach's getting angry." Nathan ordered. "Do you have any extra shoes?" Lucas asked and Nathan couldn't believe he's asking him that right now. "What? How could you be thinking about that now?"Nathan asks irritated again. "I don't have my things with me. Do you have any?" Lucas asks and when he heard his brother say yes, he drives to their home court dressed with pants and a polo shirt.
Lucas arrived at practice to see his team mates almost dying. They were a team, and if someone makes a mistake, everyone else suffers. That's the one rule coach Isaiah gave them, and he always made sure as hell it is followed.
"Lucas Scott! Suicides! Now!" That's the first thing he heard when he entered the court. He hasn't even changed his clothes. He was wearing slip ons, and their coach is expecting him to do suicides? But instead of complaining, he just obeyed. Three hours later, breathing seems to be a little harder for everyone, and their clothes were all soaked in sweat.
"We have a game tomorrow night. Now, I expect you boys to get as much rest as you can tonight. No partying, no drinking. I want to win, and I'm sure you do to, just make sure you don't do anything foolish tonight. One's mistake is everyone else's." Coach Isaiah told them and then they were dismissed.
"I can't believe he made me run in this!" Lucas stifled a laugh as he looked at himself in the mirror. "Just be thankful that's all he did. You could still be running out there if we didn't have a game tomorrow." Nathan told him as he patted him on the back. "I guess." He replies then shrugs.
"So how's living with Brooke?" Nathan asked as casually as he could, but Lucas saw right through it. "Are you sure you're the one who wants to know? Or Haley just made you ask that?" Lucas asked as Nathan just rolled his eyes. "What? I can't know what's going on in your life now?" He says as if taking offense, but Lucas knew better. "God, you're whipped." Lucas teased, and Nathan just waved a hand at him.
"So? Are you going to tell me, or do I just bring Haley there all by myself?" Nathan threatened, knowing how Lucas dreaded that right now. Sure, Lucas loves Haley, she's his best friend, but her being pregnant and hormonal is a different story altogether.
"It's okay. I mean, it's pretty much the same, the only difference is I cook for two people now, which is a good thing. I mean, I get to have company on mornings. It's not that bad actually." Lucas told Nathan with a pretty content smile on his face. Nathan nodded and realized that maybe what happened wasn't so bad after all.
"So is she coming to the game tomorrow?" Nathan asked, to that Lucas never really had a particular answer. "I don't know, I haven't asked her yet, maybe if she doesn't have anything to do." He tells his brother who just nodded again. "Well, it'll be good if she comes. The team is actually looking forward to meeting her, hell, even coach is." Nathan shared which made Lucas tense a bit.
"They are?" He asked and his brother just nodded. "Hell yeah, that's the first thing the guys asked me this morning. Don't worry, they'll probably like Brooke." Nathan shared, and Lucas couldn't help feel a little lucky, in their eyes of course, Brooke Davis is his fiancée. "Of course, I mean, what's not to like, right?"
"So, where are you headed now?" Nathan asked as he carried his bad on one shoulder and both of them walked out of the court seeing coach Isaiah, as if waiting for the two of them. "I don't know, back home, I guess. Hey Coach." Lucas told Nathan then turning to their coach who was sitting by the bench.
"So, are we going to win tomorrow?" Coach Isaiah asked eyeing both of them. "I'm pretty confident that we will." Nathan answered with attitude, and Lucas nodded in agreement. "So Lucas, are you bringing your fiancée tomorrow?" Coach Isaiah asked, turning his attention to the blonde, who looked surprised by the question. "Uh, sure coach. She'll be here." He answers hastily, not realizing what he just got himself into. "Well, I'll see both of you tomorrow then." He tells them and walks towards the locker room.
"I thought you haven't asked Brooke to the game?" Nathan asked wondering about Lucas' answer. That's when he froze. "I haven't." He says deadpan. Nathan couldn't stifle a laugh, earning a glare from the older Scott. "This isn't funny." He tells him as he paced around the parking lot. "Come on, it was a little funny." Nathan replied and continued laughing. "What are you going to do now?" Nathan asked as he shook his head. "I guess I'll just have to ask Brooke a favor?" Lucas replied, his eyebrows furrowing.
He went straight home to shower and change into clean clothes. It was a quarter past four when he arrived at Brooke's office. He walked in seeing people doing their own jobs. He then notices a curly brunette wearing eyeglasses approach him. "Excuse me, how may I help you sir?" She asked as he looked up to the blonde. "Uh, I'm here to see Brooke Davis, I mean, just Brooke." Lucas stuttered, not really used to the environment Brooke is working in.
"Do you have an appointment?" The girl asked him, and honestly he almost laughed. He figured she wasn't a basketball fan, because if she was, then she should've recognized him, right? Either that or she hates the Knicks. "No, I don't have one, but—" He stopped when he heard someone gasp "Oh my God, it's Lucas Scott." He then turned to face the source and smiled at her, then turning his attention back to the curly blonde.
"Oh my God, you're Lucas, Brooke's Lucas. I'm so sorry." The curly blonde panicked, as she practically sent her boss' fiancée away. "It's okay, I should've called first." Lucas told her which relieved her a bit. "Thank you, anyway, I'm Millicent, Brooke's assistant." Millicent told him and he figured that with the first name basis, the two are close. "Oh, it's nice to finally meet you; Brooke's told me so much about you." Lucas lied. So maybe, that in fact is a lie, but there too is a great possibility that Brooke talks about her employees, right?
"Really?" Millicent asked in excitement, and Lucas just nodded with a smile. "Oh right, I'm sorry, but Brooke has an interview with Vogue. I could tell her you're here if you want?" She offered and Lucas was still a bit hesitant. "Nah, I think I'll just sit here and wait." He replies then taking the couch just outside Brooke's office. "Can I get you anything, coffee, soda…?" Millicent asked and Lucas nodded. "Coffee would be nice."
Thirty minutes later, Lucas was still waiting outside Brooke's office finishing four B. Davis magazines already. "Your magazine is pretty good." He says trying to make conversation with Millicent who was busy doing something on the computer. "It is. It just doesn't cater to women, but to men as well." Millicent replied. Talk about PR. Lucas just nodded and scanned more pages. "They'll probably be out soon." Millicent told the blonde, giving him a sympathetic look. "I hope so." Lucas replied and they both laugh slightly. "The flowers you sent are really nice." Millicent told him and he was just confused, I didn't send any flowers. He thought to himself. "Uh, thanks? I guess." He replies and shrugs.
Just then Brooke comes out of her office with two people, a girl who looked slightly older than them, and another was a guy, who in Lucas' words, definitely takes dressing up seriously. She wouldn't have probably noticed his presence until Millicent eyed Brooke then shifted her glance to him. The two people then followed and got excited when they saw him.
"Lucas, what are you doing here?" Brooke asked surprised to see him there, and then approached him to greet him with a kiss on the cheek. "I wanted to talk to you about something." He whispers in her ear and she just nods. "Anyway, let me introduce you to this nice people." Brooke began. "This are Andy and David, they're from Vogue." Brooke introduced, "Guys, this is my fiancée, Lucas Scott." They all shook hands and the two gushed, in which Lucas then found out that David is gay.
"We really had a nice time with you Brooke. It was nice meeting you Lucas." Andy said as she and David prepared to leave. "Good luck with your game tomorrow." David chipped in. Lucas nodded and thanked them. "It was nice meeting you too." With that, the two left. "Anyway, this is my assistant Millicent." Brooke introduced again. "Uh, yeah, we've met earlier." Lucas said and Millicent smiled nervously. "She actually kept me company, while I was waiting." He added and Brooke smiled. Millicent had proved to be a great asset and friend to her.
"Thanks Mill." Brooke told her in which she replied, "It's nothing. I'm just doing my job" with a big smile on her face. Brooke and Lucas then went in to Brooke's office to talk. Upon entering, Lucas couldn't help but notice the flowers on one side of her office. "Nice flowers." Lucas hinted as soon as he was seated. He saw Brooke stiffen a bit at the mention of them, but shrugged it off. "Millicent thinks they're from me." He continued.
"Lucas—" She tried to speak, but he didn't give her the chance to. "I know, it's not my business. I just, I know we just knew each other a weeks ago, and we don't really know a lot about each other, but if you need to talk, you can come to me. We all have our skeletons in our closets, right?" He finished using the same words she had told him. She nodded, understanding what he's trying to say.
"So, now that we got that out of the way, I need to ask you something." Lucas began and Brooke eyed him playfully. "Uh-oh. That doesn't usually turn out good." She jokes and they both laugh a little. "Seriously, what is it?" Brooke continued. "Well, we have a game tomorrow, and I was wondering if you'd like to come." He tells her, and Brooke didn't answer yet, so he continued. "I mean, that's just if you like, if you don't then that's fine too. I mean if you're free, that would be great, but if you're not—" He stopped when Brooke cut him off. "Lucas. I'd love to." She said with a smile. Lucas had a glint of happiness in his eyes. He didn't know why, but it just made him happy.
"Is that all?" Brooke asked and Lucas just nodded. "Can I bring Rachel and Peyton?" She asked again and his smile just grew even wider. "That would be great. I'm sure Haley would love the company." He tells her as she clapped her hands, pleased to be watching basketball tomorrow. "It's been a long time since I've been to a basketball game." Brooke told him feeling a little nostalgic. "So I guess I'll just see you at your house?" Brooke says and Lucas knew it was his cue to leave, but somehow, something urged him to ask. "Aren't you leaving yet?" He says and Brooke just shook her head no.
"I still need to finish some sketches; it might take me quite a while." She explains and he just nods. "Can I stay?" He asks and Brooke's eyebrows furrowed. "What?" Lucas asked with a shy smile on his face. "You really don't have to do all those things that you're doing." Brooke tells him, making sure he knows she appreciates everything he's done. "I know, but I want to." He replies and she just rolls her eyes. "So, can I stay?" He asks again. "Just don't tell me I didn't warn you when you end up boring yourself." Brooke says in a playful tone as Lucas just nodded with a content smile.
Three hours later, Brooke was finally finished, and Lucas was playing with his keys. Millicent had left about two hours ago, and Brooke thinks they're the only two people left in the office. Her clock already read 8:57 pm. "I'm so sorry, it took me so long." Brooke apologized as locked up, Lucas beside her. "It's okay. I insisted on staying, remember? Now I know quite a while for a designer meant three hours." He teased and Brooke's face falls. "Hey, I was just kidding." He tells her to be met by a smiling face.
"I'm starving." Brooke tells him as she got into his car. "I think we should just do take out. I don't think I'll be able to cook." Lucas informs her and she couldn't help but feel a little bad about it. "I'm sorry." She tells him again. "Hey, the next time you say sorry, I might kiss you." He meant for it to come as a joke, but ended up being awkward. Good thing he knew how to deal with awkward. "So I think we should just get Chinese." He suggests, and Brooke just nodded. "I second that."
It was already a quarter before ten when they arrived at Lucas' house. Lucas gave Brooke the keys to his house and told her to go on with the food as he locks up. Five minutes later, he walks into the kitchen to see Brooke still waiting for him. "I told you to go eat already." He tells her taking a seat across her. "It's fine. It was just another five minutes." Brooke tells him handing him a pair of chopsticks. "Dig in." Lucas instructed and they both did.
"I'm so full." Brooke whined as she rubbed her belly, Lucas stifling a laugh. "This is so not funny." She tells him when she saw a smirk on his face. "It's a little funny." He replies, chuckling a bit, Brooke laughing with him a bit. "Okay, it was a little funny." Brooke told Lucas as he got up from his seat and started cleaning up. "You should rest, I'm sure you're tired." He tells her, putting the Chinese boxes into the trash can.
Brooke couldn't agree with him more, so as much as she wanted to help him clean up, she just nods, but not before thanking him. "Thank you Lucas." She began and he just waved a hand at her. "No, I mean, you don't have to do all these things but you do them anyways, and I just want you to know, I appreciate it." Lucas smiles at her appreciating her words. "You're welcome. Good night Brooke." He simply replies, and with that, Brooke goes to her room. "Good night Lucas."
Not long after that, Lucas finds himself lying on his bed assessing the day he had. To him, it had been pretty eventful. Brooke kissed him, twice, both of them she didn't mean. He had practice wearing a polo shirt and pants, which had never happened before. Also, he became acquainted with Brooke's work environment, which to him, appeared to be really stressful, but aside from everything, he also found out, that she too, had a past, and like him, wasn't really ready to face it yet. He drifted off to sleep as he thought how surprised he was when she kissed him.
The next morning, Brooke woke up to the same unfamiliar room again, but she felt something changed. It didn't feel as uncomfortable as it did the first few days. Somehow she thinks she's getting used to it. She glances at the clock which reads 9:43 am. Slowly, she got up and went to the bathroom. She did notice something though, Lucas hadn't called her for breakfast, and somehow she felt bad. She just shrugged the feeling off and stepped into the shower. Thirty minutes later, she's in her robe when she hears a knock. She sees the blonde head peek through, just like she had for the past week, and she couldn't help but smile.
"Breakfast is ready." Lucas called then looking surprised when he didn't saw Brooke in bed. "I'm here." She says when she sees his confused face. He then turns toward the direction of her voice to see her in only a robe. He had to clear his throat to speak. "Uh, breakfast is ready." He says again. "Yeah, I heard." She teases playfully. After telling him he can come in yesterday, he still hasn't changed his ways and refused to step into the room. "I'll just wait for you downstairs." With that, he closed the door, not even letting the brunette reply.
Five minutes later, Lucas saw Brooke emerging from the stair wearing only an over sized shirt and a pair of shorts with her hair falling loosely on her shoulders; he couldn't help but gulp at the sight. If only we were in a different situation, he thought to himself. "You're early." He said as soon as she reached the table, and he was pulling out a chair for her. "Thanks." She told him, and then when he nodded, she continued. "I promised myself not to let breakfast get cold again, until I'm here, of course." She says jokingly, and he agrees by nodding.
"So we're having bacon and eggs?" Brooke says as she saw the platter in front of her. "Yeah, I kind of woke up late, so I really didn't have the time—" Lucas apologized again and Brooke gave him a look. "What?" He asked. It seemed like he did that a lot since she moved in. "It's just that every morning someone apologizes, either you or me. I mean, you cooked me breakfast, you shouldn't apologize, and instead I should thank you. Right?" Brooke asked him and he nodded getting the logic behind it.
After breakfast, Brooke is the first to stand up, getting a questioning look from Lucas. "What are you doing?" Lucas asked as Brooke began to grab the plates and started cleaning up. "Oh sorry, aren't you finished?" She asked putting down his plate. "No, I'm done. I mean, what are you doing?" He asked again, and Brooke gives him a dimpled smile. "I'm cleaning up. It's about time I get useful around here." She replies and grabs his plate again. "You don't have to do that." Lucas replies, grabbing the other plates and she just eyes him.
"Of course I do. I should learn these things you know. Otherwise, it'll be a disaster in my house when I get married." She says jokingly, not realizing what she just said. "Oh." Was Lucas' first reaction, but he managed to say more. "So you worked out things with him?" He asks after getting the need to. Brooke places the plates on the counter and looks at him seriously. "What did you say?" She asks and he doesn't know how to answer.
"I—" He tried to apologize, but Brooke's phone started ringing. "Hello?" She answered it, leaving Lucas just standing there. He just then moved onto cleaning the dishes and cursing himself for ever bothering to ask about her personal past life. When he was finished he leaves the kitchen only to find Brooke sitting on the couch in his living room. "Brooke…" His voice almost breaks, which he didn't know why, considering they're not even that close.
"I'm sorry." They both mutter at the same time, and as their eyes meet, both develop the smallest of smiles in their faces. "I…It's none of my business, and I shouldn't have asked." He continued and she nodded. "I'm sorry for not being able to tell you yet. But for what it's worth, I want to, I just—" She would continue, but he had finished the statement for her. "Find it hard to talk about it. I know, I feel the same." He says and she smiles because of the fact that he does understand.
"See, I was right. We haven't broken our record. We both still apologize." Brooke says with a silly grin. "Well, tomorrow we'll try." Lucas added and she smiles at the idea. "Anyway, are Peyton and Rachel coming?" He asks and she stands up from the couch with a nod. "Actually, it was Rachel who called, just confirming if we're still on." She informs him and he just smiles. "Haley would really love to have company." He adds and Brooke was just looking forward to meeting her again.
"Anyway, I kind of have to leave early, so I won't be able to drop you off at your office, so…" His voice drifts off when he sees her nod. "That's okay. I called Millie earlier, told her I won't be in today." She tells him and his face goes from happy to worried. "Why, are you okay? Is something wrong?" He asks and she shakes her head no, quite amazed with the care he's showing. She shakes her head no. "I have some things to do. You really don't have to worry." She tells him and he gives her a half smile.
"We're really doing great with this whole pretend thing, aren't we?" Lucas says out of the blue and Brooke just gives him a nod. "It's not so bad for me, you know. I get to have company on mornings, and eat with someone at breakfast." He tells her and she gives him a grateful smile. "I know what you mean. Like, now, someone actually calls me for breakfast. Everything isn't so bad huh?" She says and he smiles, a very genuine one. "Yeah."
"So what's your jersey number again?" She asks from out of nowhere, which kind of confused him. "Uh, Three. Why?" He answers as he cocked an eyebrow at her. "Nothing. Anyway, what time are you leaving?" She asks again, which intrigued him more. "Uh, after I get ready?" He wasn't sure if that was the answer she wanted. "Okay. I'll try to get ready real fast." She tells him as she speeds up to her room, leaving him confused. "Okay?"
Thirty minutes later Brooke was ready wearing an oversized green printed top and a pair of white shorts, plus a pair of green flat strappy sandals on. When she went to the living room, she was surprised to see Lucas as if waiting for her already. "You're done?" She asked, quite amazed. "Uh, yeah." He replies as he scratched his head. He took in the sight in front of him, and it won't take a fashion expert to say that Brooke Davis looked nice, not scratch that, she looked beautiful. "So, do I look okay?" Brooke asked as she turned around to let him see the whole outfit. "You look beautiful." He replies, and she is pleased with his answer.
"So, where are you going?" He asks as he lifted his bag on his shoulder. He also noticed that Brooke and him had a good height ratio. "I just need to pick up some things." She grins and then notices the shirt he's wearing. "Can I get one like that in the mall?" She asks as she points onto his white shirt where the logo of the Knicks was printed. "Uh, yeah. Any sports apparel store, I think?" He answers as they both reach the garage.
"So, do they also personalize it?" She asks again, then pointing to the name printing at the back where it read: L. Scott. "Oh, I'm not sure." He replies and she just nods, and then inserts the key to her car as he opened the gate. "I'll just see you at the game." She says and with that, she drives away. Lucas couldn't help but smile, he realized Brooke Davis is definitely a cut above the rest, and then he wished they were at different circumstances.
"So, tell me about living with the hot blonde, and by that I don't mean Peyton here." Rachel smirked as she pointed to her friend beside her who just rolled her eyes. Brooke didn't reply as she examined the fabric in front of her. It was until Rachel nudged her that she entertained the question. "He's really nice." She answers shortly. Of course, Rachel couldn't accept something like that, she needed details. "Okay, so define nice." The red head followed up while Peyton just silently listened, a smirk on her face.
"He wakes me up and calls me for breakfast, drives me to work, let's me eat Chinese, that kind of nice." She tells her friend effortless. "Aren't you a seňorita." Peyton chirped in, in which Brooke gave her a small smile. "It's pretty good actually. I get to have company on mornings." She told them as she moved from fabric to fabric, looking for the perfect one.
"And you get to have free tickets to games too." Rachel added which Peyton would have to agree. No matter how much they refuse to admit it, they do miss their cheerleading days, watching as teams win and lose. "And kisses too." Rachel added, to this, Brooke had to turn to her and give her a look. "They don't mean anything." She tells the red head and both Peyton and Rachel just shrug. "If that's your story." Peyton replied.
"Okay, thanks for coming with me." Brooke turned to face her two friends who just rolled their eyes at her. "Hey, we're just happy you're bringing us to the game with you." Peyton shrugged and Rachel nodded. "Anyway, I still have to pick up something, here are your tickets and I'll just meet you there?" Brooke squinted her eyes at her two friends who caught glances at each other first before nodding. "Alright, we'll see you later." Rachel replied as she snatched the tickets from her hand and they all kissed each other goodbye, and went separate ways.
An hour later, Brooke finds herself in a FUBU store, looking for Knick shirts. She then sees a blue, a white and an orange one. Different names were printed at the back, but none of them having it plain. So when she didn't find any, she decided to ask the clerk. "Excuse me, do you have these shirts in plain back?" She asks as she raised the blue ladies tee she's holding. When the clerk answered no, she just nodded her head and decided to get one in particular.
"Okay boys, I expect you to do your best tonight. If we win this game, our chances of getting into the finals go higher. N.Y. Knicks on three!" Coach Isaiah ordered. "One, two, three, N.Y. Knicks!" Everyone's voice boomed with determination, and prepared for the coming game. "So, is Brooke coming?" Nathan asked as soon as everyone went their own way. "Uh, yeah. She's also bringing Peyton and Rachel with her." Lucas informed and Nathan nodded, quite pleased.
"So I read the newspaper this morning, there was a picture of you and her kissing. Looked pretty real." Nathan hinted, as if asking his older brother if there is anything going on. "Yeah, she saw a guy with a camera, thought it wouldn't be improper if she doesn't give her fiancée and goodbye kiss. Didn't mean anything." He continued trying to sound as casual as possible, Nathan just shrugged. "Let's win a game." Lucas says out of the blue then ran out of the locker room.
When their team emerged, just like any other game, the crown cheered, only this time he had Brooke with him. Lucas' smile became wider when he saw her wearing the blue version of the shirt he had worn earlier. He had to shake his head in amusement when he saw her turn her back, only for him to see his name printed on it. "Man, your girl is hot." Tim told him with a pleased look as they jogged towards the courtside. He had to shake his head at Tim's words, and then turned to look at Brooke again who was all smiles. He then realizes that Tim is right.
"Okay, I need all of you to focus now. I especially mean you Lucas." Coach Isaiah started and which a lot of the boys laughed as they knew about Brooke's presence. "Now, just pass the ball around and keep shooting three's first. Garnett is bigger than Nathan so we need to focus on outside shooting. Got it?" Coach Isaiah finished and everyone nodded. Nathan got what he meant and he totally understands. "Okay, N.Y. Knicks on three. One, two, three." Everyone placed their hands together. "N.Y. Knicks!" Their voices boomed and the crowd cheered.
Nine minutes into the second quarter of the game and the crowd were already up in their seats. It was a close game and each team scores just after the other one does. "Lucas, ball." Nathan shouted as Lucas gave him a chest pass. Nathan does a fade away, and scores. "Nice play man." Lucas told him as they went to defense. The cycle goes on and the second quarter ended with both games tied. Both teams retreated to their own locker rooms and the crowd went to get drinks.
"Rachel and I are going to get drinks, do you want anything?" Peyton asked both Haley and Brooke who were sitting beside each other. "I think I'll just have some iced tea." Haley answered and Peyton then turned to Brooke. "Iced tea for me too." She replies and with that, her two friends were gone.
"So I'm glad you came." Haley started with a smile when she turned to Brooke who smiled back. "Yeah, me too. Lucas told me you'd love the company." She shared and Haley nodded. "Yeah, it's usually just me and some wives of the boys, and I'm not really that close to them so I'm really glad you guys came." She shared and Brooke felt good about what Haley thought of her. "We should hang out more often, I think we'll really have fun." The brunette suggested and Haley couldn't agree more.
"So, how's living with Lucas? I hope you're not too bored." Haley asked and Brooke was actually surprised with what she said. "No, everything is actually going good. I mean, other than the fact that you know, that, I think moving in is pretty great." She admits truthfully, and she could see a glint of happiness in Haley's eyes. "Well, that's really good. Lucas hasn't been with anyone for a pretty long time." Haley shared and Brooke was taken aback by what she just told her.
They then both noticed the big screen in front of them where their images were displayed. They had big smiles on and was soon later changed into kissing couples. "Nice shirt, by the way." Haley took notice and Brooke slightly tipped her head. "Yeah, I saw Lucas wearing it earlier. I just thought it'd be nice for everything." She explained and Haley couldn't agree more. "I'm sure the sales for that will suddenly skyrocket." Haley added, which confused Brooke. "Skyrocket? Why?" She asked and Haley's eyes grew bigger. "Because you're wearing them." She says and Brooke felt flattered.
Ten minutes later, Rachel and Peyton were back, drinks in hand. "That was fast." Brooke noticed and Rachel just had this goofy face on. "Well, being hot and fab helps." She says and Brooke just rolled her eyes at her as if telling Haley to ignore her. "What, it's not my fault that someone offered to buy these for us!" Rachel told the brunette as she handed her two large iced teas.
"So Haley, I listened to your songs. They're pretty good." Peyton remembered. She was browsing through some artists a few days ago and she came across the name Haley James."You're a singer?" Brooke asked excitedly. "Uh, yeah, that was a long time ago." Haley answered quite uncomfortable with the subject. "Yeah, I noticed that too. Why'd you stop?" The blonde asked again, this time Haley didn't know what to say anymore. "It's a long story." She simply replies and Peyton decided to drop the subject.
Both teams emerged from both sides again and the crown roared. Haley noticed something changed in both Lucas and Nathan's faces. It oozed with determination, which made her smile. The buzzer for the third quarter sounded and the clock started running again. Seven minutes into the quarter and the Knicks are up by ten, them having to thank Lucas for shooting five consecutive three point shots. The Celtics then calls for a timeout and the court is cleared. "Okay, you guys are doing good. They did that to break Lucas' momentum. Just continue what you're doing and if you see Nathan free, pass him the ball. Don't get sloppy now. N.Y. Knicks on three. One, two, three." Coach Isaiah finished and once again, they return to the court full of spirit. "N.Y. Knicks!"
"Go Lucas!" Brooke shouted which managed to top everyone else's. Lucas must've heard it because he turned to look at her with a big smile. Everyone around Brooke looked at her, including her friends who had questioning looks on their faces. "What? I'm cheering." Brooke tells them defensively. With that, they all focus back on the game.
Soon enough the buzzer sounded to end the third quarter, the Knicks leading the Celtics by eight. "Okay, we're still good here. Nathan, I need you to guard Garnett better, and continue making points on the inside." Coach Isaiah ordered and Nathan nodded, not losing focus. "Skills, just keep passing the ball until it's only eight seconds in the game, that's when you try to shoot." Coach Isaiah continued, in which Skills replied "You got it coach." Full of spirit. "Now, Lucas, try getting back your momentum. Tim, Jack, try shooting threes too. Don't be afraid and take the shot, okay? N.Y. Knicks on three. One, two, three. N.Y. Knicks!" With that, the players were back on court.
"You think they're going to win?" Brooke asked no one in particular as she started shaking on her empty iced tea cup. "Of course they're gonna win!" Someone from behind answered which she didn't mind facing as she didn't want to tear her focus on the game. The next thing she hears is the other side roaring because Garnett scored and drew a foul from Nathan. Some fans booed as Garnett missed the free throw, the Knicks getting the rebound.
"Go Nathan!" This time, it was Haley's turn to shout. He must've slightly heard her faint voice compared to the roaring crowd when he looked at her before the inbound. Five minutes remaining on the clock and once again, the game was tied, Coach Isaiah had called for his second to the last time-out. "Okay, just five more minutes. I need you guys to hold on. Pass the ball to Nathan every chance you got. Okay? We can do this. N.Y. Knicks on three. N.Y. Knicks!" With that each side roared to cheer for each team again.
"Let's step it up, little brother." Lucas told Nathan as they both walk back into the court, giving each other a high five. The crowd cheered louder and the team's morale was boosted. They weren't co-captains for nothing. The resume of the game meant a more aggressive offense and a tighter defense. The buzzer then sounded and the announcer signaled there were only two minutes remaining in the game.
Nathan was finding a hard time to box out bigger guy than him so he always passes the ball out. When there was only five second in the shot clock Skills passed it to Tim who attempted a three and made the shot. "Yes!" Lucas said in delight when they turned to defense. "Good work man!" Nathan added as they now took the lead by a point again. Fouls were drawn here and there and each team were on the penalty. "Okay, just, be brave and shoot." Lucas told Skills as the guy stood on the free throw line.
"Okay, be brave and shoot. Here goes nothing." Skills said as he made the first throw, swooshing it into the net. The other boys clapped and they were again a point ahead. "Just one more man." Nathan said and Skills only nodded. When the ball left his hand, he knew it was going to go in so immediately, the team shifted back to defense.
With only less than thirty seconds left, Ray Allen sinks a lay-up, putting the game into a tie again. "Just pass me the ball man." Lucas whispered to Tim who was getting the inbound. "Alright." He said and nodded. "Go Lucas!" Brooke shouted from the courtside again, not managing to hold off the excitement she's feeling, or the nervousness that their team could lose. She then sees Lucas give Nathan a nod. With seven seconds remaining, Tim passes the ball to Lucas as he step behind the ark. "It's a three!" Garnett shouted and ran towards the blonde to block it. To his surprise, Nathan Scott was waiting under the net. It wasn't a three, it was a lob pass, the next thing he sees was Nathan Scott doing an alley oop. With that, the clock stopped, leaving more than a second into the game. The Knicks leading the Celtics by two. As the green team inbound, they hear the crowd roar louder. The Knicks had won.
"Oh my God! We won! We won!" Brooke jumped in excitement as she hugged Haley and then Peyton and Rachel who were also equally excited. They all see the boys jumping together in a circle as Coach Isaiah shook hand with the Celtics coach. "Come on you guys, let go down there." Haley told them as she tugged Brooke's hand. Together the four of them left their seats.
"That was a nice play Lucas, Nathan." Coach Isaiah told them and they just both nod, relieved that they won their game. "I'll see you boys later." Coach Isaiah said and with that he left. "Did you really think it was gonna work?" Nathan asked and Lucas just shrugged. "I'm just glad it did. I'd hate to lose the first game Brooke went to." He answered as he saw the girls coming.
"Honey! Congratulations!" Haley exclaimed and Nathan enveloped her in a tight embrace. "Congratulations you guys." Peyton and Rachel chirped in, as Nathan decided to introduce them to the team first. "So, did I tell you that what you did was awesome?" Brooke looked up to Lucas with a big smile. Before she realized what was happening, his lips were crashing into hers. She reciprocated the kiss, although confusion was everything she had at that moment. "What was that for?" She asked, still with a smile on. It wasn't something forced, because if she was being honest, she enjoyed it. "For the cameras." He answered and she nodded. "But mostly for me, because we won." He finished and she couldn't put the pieces together yet.
She didn't have anything to say. It was like, what happened got her speechless. "So, let me introduce you to the boys." Lucas told her then ushered her to the rest of the guys where her two friends were busy talking. "Hey guys." He spoke and everyone turned to him. "I know you've been waiting for this, so don't act all innocent on me now. I'd like you all to meet Brooke, my fiancée. Brooke, this is the team." Lucas introduced, and next thing she knows they were all greeting her.
"It's nice to finally meet you. I'm Tim." Tim was the first to speak and the other guys followed. "Skills here, Josh, Drake, Marvin, Alex, Sam, Chris, Ethan." They all spoke and shook her hand one by one. When they were done, most of the guys retired towards the locker room while Peyton and Rachel told Brooke they'll go ahead. "Are you sure you can't wait for us?" Brooke asked, not quite thrilled with the idea. "Nope, we need our rest! Cheering is tiring." Peyton answered and the three hugged each other goodbye. "We'll talk about it tomorrow, promise." Rachel added before they left.
So they did see the kiss. Brooke thought to herself. "Hey Brooke, so, my coach kind of wants to meet you." Lucas said as Nathan and Haley walked together towards the locker room. "So you're parading me to everyone now?" She says in a silly tone, but Lucas obviously took it the wrong way. "I'm sorry, they were just really—" He stopped when Brooke walked and grabbed his hand. "Come on, where's that coach of yours?"
So yeah there. The guy is in fact Chase. Who did you expect anyways? So, I have a little problem about Lucas' past. I'm not sure about what I have already, but do you have any suggestions about what he could've done for him to go to jail and for Nathan and Haley to hate him. Suggestions are very much appreciated. Anyway, thanks for reading and don't forget to review. )
Special thank yous go to these people who went the trouble of letting me know what they thought:
Brooke6404
B.Nguyen
tifa1984
PeterClaire
psiek
LeaCharmedOne
othfan326
ILoveYouTooPrettyGirl
TeamSophia
brucas224
Brooke D.
sweetchristie03
You'll find out about their 'skeletons' soon. I just need more ideas so I could fix everything up. If you think some parts are a little off, like they shift from one mood to another, I'll try to make it better next time. I'm having quite a hard time with the descriptions now, and I just badly wanted to update. Lol. Anyway, like I said, if you have any suggestions about Lucas' past, I would really love to hear them. I haven't started the next chapter and will still be waiting for your suggestions if there are any, so I don't know exactly when it'll be up. Anyway, thanks for reading. )