THE RED DOOR
By Linkie
Disclaimer: Still don't and probably will never own anything of the great TV show One Tree Hill… I'd like to own Brucas though, so I could have my way with them…
The Title and the song used is Safest Place To Hide and it's by the Backstreet Boys, I know it's sound cheesy but I actually like their last CD, even if I'm not a complete fan of their music.
A/N: Thanks everybody for your reviews. And so sorry for the wait, my summer job is taking over all my time!
Story background: Set during season 2. Brooke's father lost their money and finally found a new job in San Diego and wants to sell the house of Tree Hill. Brooke doesn't want to join her parents in California so she goes to live at Peyton's. Lucas Roe and Nathan Scott are still brothers but they don't know each other. Nathan knows that his father had another child before him but doesn't even know that it was with Karen. Karen came back numerous times to Tree Hill alone so Dan concluded she had lost their child. Lucas, a very pregnant Karen and Andy leave LA to go to live in Tree Hill. Karen told Andy about the fact she wanted him to know who his father was. Brooke is friends with Peyton, Nathan, Haley, Mouth, and recently with Rachel.
Chapter 5: Safest Place To Hide
It seems like yesterday when I said "I do"
And after all this time
My heart still burns for you
If you don't know by now
That you've won my heart
Take a look inside me
And watch my heart strings come undone
"Where were you?" Haley turned into the bed and placed a hand on his strong chest, breathing softly. She had told him she didn't want to rush the things with him, but couldn't let him stay outside. It wasn't because it was freezing, but above all because she needed him to know she still cared. They wouldn't have sex, for sure, but she wouldn't let him sleep on the couch either. It would tire his muscles out, and he needed to be in excellent shape for his game of Saturday. Nathan Scott was the captain of the basketball team. It wasn't a thing she should make light of. Nobody did: his father, his mother too, she, of course, Nathan himself, their friends… She was proud of his accomplishments, even if he was a little too obsessive over it sometimes. It wasn't his own fault anyway; his father had made him acting this way. He had to be perfect, to do what he was told without making a mistake. He didn't have the right to make a single error. Dan wouldn't take that as an answer.
"I was just…hanging out with Mouth…and Peyton." He lied, closing his eyes so he wouldn't see her scrutinizing him. Thank God Mouth had come after all. He didn't know if he would have lived with doing something with the curly blonde haired. He liked her, a lot, but he didn't have the heart to hurt his wife, his Haley, who had been everything to him in the past. He wondered if he still loved her though… or if it was Peyton that he loved? Was there just the idea of cheating exciting? He didn't have deep feelings for Peyton, maybe just some physical attraction…but love? How can you love two persons, differently, but so passionately? Was he just desperate, lost?
"You could have told me, I would have hung out with you all. You know they're my friends too." She was slightly offended she hadn't been invited over. Nathan snorted, ready to retort something that might make her feel wrong about her whining.
"I would have if I was sure you didn't have a recording session with your friend Chris tonight." Haley looked up at him hurt by his comment and kept her tears from falling from her eyes. How could he doubt her love and faithfulness after all the trials they had faced together?
"You aren't playing fair Nathan! You know that Chris isn't even my friend! Heck, I don't even talk to him anymore, in fear you might get mad at me!" She exclaimed getting up suddenly. She wrapped herself in a robe and crossed her arms in front of her chest, sighing deeply.
"Right…" He muttered, rolling his eyes at her, he didn't believe what she was saying about Chris and her not talking; it was too big to be true.
"I can't believe it's starting again! I thought we had passed this state of arguing over your possessiveness and sickly jealousy." She added as she watched him getting up as well, and noticed the look of sorrow in his eyes.
"I can't stand the sight of him with you! Just to know you two are singing the same chorus together is killing me inside Hales! I love you and I do trust you, it's him that I don't trust."
"Well, if you trusted me, you wouldn't make a scene right now." She pointed out, remaining calm, and he took her arm in his hand as she was about to leave the room.
"Hales, just let me explain…"
"I'm so fed up with all of this! I need some air."
"That's it! Just run away from the problem, like always."
"I want you gone out of the bedroom when I get back. You can sleep on the couch tonight, that's all you earned and that's all you deserve anyway." She dryly told him before opening the door of the bedroom. She took her coat and slammed the front door behind herself, not caring that she was still in her pyjamas and bedroom slippers.
I know I promised you forever
Is there no stronger word I can use
To reassure you when the storm
Is raging outside, you're my safest place to hide
She watched as the car stopped in front of the house and knew it was Brooke coming back from the hospital. She also knew that Lucas had proposed to drop her home. She couldn't help but feel happy for Brooke. The guy seemed to be a great 'opportunity' for her to forget her bad experiences with relationships with boys. She noticed Brooke leaning in the car and crossed her fingers that it might be for a goodnight kiss. The moon was almost full so even if she couldn't see the details, she knew something might have happen. Finally, the brunette got out of the car and waved a last time at the driver, who took off as soon as she reached the door.
"So?" Peyton asked excitedly as soon as her bestfriend passed the front door. Brooke couldn't help but rolling her eyes at her and turned to hang her coat, sighing.
"What?" She asked rolling her eyes and Peyton rolled her eyes back at her, knowing that she knew what she was talking about. Brooke was never that secretive with her relationships, so what was so special about Lucas Roe that she wouldn't tell her anything. She was sure that even Haley knew more about it than her. And it wasn't really fair since Brooke and she were bestfriends since longer.
"He dropped you back, uh?" Of course, Brooke knew Peyton had been watching them from the window, she had seen the curtains moving from outside. She threw her bag on the sofa and flipped her hair off of her shoulders before turning to leave without a word.
"I'm gonna take a shower." She finally stated as she noticed Peyton wasn't moving from her spot. Peyton caught up with her as she climbed the stairs and took her arm in hers to stop her. The waiting was killing her and she knew Brooke enjoyed every moment.
"Oh c'mon, tell me what happened!" She was almost stamping her feet, and Brooke let out an exasperated sigh. What was to tell anyway? Things were going slow…slower than they ever did. Lucas Roe was quite a boy and she wasn't sure if she could give her heart to him, especially since she didn't know him that much. She was confused.
"Nothing, okay?" Brooke blushed as she answered and Peyton did the 'I don't buy it' look. They both broke into a smile and continued their way to Brooke's room.
"Brooke Penelope Davis, I know you, so stop lying." Brooke pulled off her shirt, revealing a black laced bra, and turned to look at her bestfriend with a small smirk on her face. She needed to know everything, didn't she?
"Peyton Elisabeth Sawyer, I never lied to you. We just …talked." She said quietly and Peyton noticed that she looked a little sad about it.
"That's all? You guys spent hours together and all you did was talking? Right." Peyton knew Brooke since they were six; she knew her bestfriend wouldn't spend so much time with a hot guy without doing more than talking, except if the guy was a friend. Brooke didn't know much of the platonic relationships boys-girls. Most of the guys she was friends with now, had been her boyfriends in the past, including Nathan.
"I can't believe you! I don't know him, he doesn't know me either. What do you think would have happened?" Peyton was forgetting one thing: Lucas wasn't like the other guys, and they both had spent their time in a hospital. Try to have a romantic interest there…
"I don't know…anything, a kiss." Peyton pouted and Brooke rolled her eyes, standing in only her panties in the centre of the bedroom. She was perfectly comfortable with her body and didn't really care that her bestfriend was in the room, glancing at her. She put her hands on her hips and bit her bottom lip slightly.
"A kiss is obviously something, Pey." She finally let out and Peyton did the winner face.
"Then you guys are something because you kissed him goodnight, and don't tell me it's not true, because I saw it."
"You might have been fantasizing because the only thing I did was kissing him on the cheek, okay?" Brooke almost shouted and slammed the bathroom door behind her, slightly angry. Don't get it wrong, she wasn't angry at Peyton, but at herself for being so frustrated about what had happened in the car. A kiss on the cheek wasn't enough for her…and she hoped Lucas was feeling the same.
Can you see me, here I am
I need you like I needed you then
When I feel like giving up
I climb inside your heart and still find
You're my safest place to hide
Nathan woke up to the sound of a car honking in the street and rubbed his eyes groaning. He hadn't got much sleep tonight. He had been waiting for Haley to come home but had finally fallen asleep, on the couch. He sat up and stretched his arms before getting up. He walked to the bedroom yawning and opened the door quietly. He frowned when he saw Haley wasn't in the bed. Where the hell was she? "Haley?" He called but no answer went to trouble the peacefulness of the room. It seemed like she hadn't slept there at all. He walked to the bathroom but knew she wasn't there either, he wouldn't have heard the water running if she was. In last resort, he could call her cell, hoping she had it on her. He just wished nothing had happened to her last night, because if it was the case, he would never forgive himself.
"Hi! You're on Haley's cell but I'm not available for the moment as you can see. Let me a message and maybe I'll call you back if you're not my enemy!" Was he her enemy? Where had she spent the night? If something had happened to her, someone would have called him for sure, uh? He was her husband after all… She was probably just making him pay for the nasty things he had said to her. He had to call her friends though… maybe she had crashed at one's home? Peyton/Brooke, Mouth, maybe even Rachel or Bevin… He decided to try every one of them. First Brooke…he would rather talk to her than to Peyton after what had happened last night.
"Hi? Brooke Davis' cell?"
"Brooke, you know it's me, so keep it casual." Nathan said with a laugh and she giggled a little at his answer.
"I know, I just thought it was funny. What do you want handsome?" She asked him, ending her laugh and turning back serious.
"You don't know where Hales is, I suppose?" He questioned but he already knew she probably wasn't with her. If she was, Brooke would have already told him something like 'she doesn't want to talk to you' or 'I'll pass her to you', or 'did you call to have Haley?'… Brooke didn't know where she was either.
"Uh no…"
"Oh."
"Wait, you lost your wife?" She asked and couldn't help but chuckle. Nathan hopped on the counter of the kitchen and kicked his shoes on the floor.
"It's not even close to be funny, Davis." He used her name to call her when he was mad so Brooke knew it was important. She was about to ask him something when he finished. " Don't tell anyone, not even Peyton, I trust you."
"What happened?"
"We had a fight last night, lots of arguing and yelling…and she left the house telling me that when she would be back, I better had to be on the couch. I wanted to wait for her but I kinda dozed off. And this morning I wake up, and she's not here." He said kinda annoyed, angry at his wife and the whole world and also at a loss.
"You know it's almost noon. Maybe she came back, slept in the room and left before you woke up. I know how you are when you're sleeping, and believe me, even an earthquake wouldn't wake you up."
"So, you really think I shouldn't worry about it?"
"Yeah… just go take a shower, you stink."
"Wha- Brooke, that was pretty mean of you." He said and couldn't help but laugh a little at her comment.
"Well, I can smell you through the phone." She added with a giggle and Nathan wondered what had made her so in a good mood today. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a pip signalizing that she had a double call.
"Right. Look, I better go, seems like you're getting another call."
"Yeah thanks. Hey, why don't you come over this afternoon? It'd be nice to hang out, don't ya think?"
"Yeah okay. See ya."
"Bye Handsome."
"Bye Gorgeous."
Nathan hung up the phone and smiled to himself. How could he be so stupid…almost noon… of course she wasn't there anymore…it was logical she wouldn't… At least, Brooke had succeeded in something… making him laugh a bit and realize he was overreacting.
You see colors no one else can see
And every breath you hear a symphony
You understand me like nobody can
I feel my soul unfolding like a flower blooming
Brooke's face broke into a smile when she noticed who was calling her: Lucas Roe. She breathed out to cool down and answered. She didn't know where he had found her number, but didn't really care. If he gave himself the ways to do so, he might feel the way she was feeling when she was in his presence.
"Hi Lucas." She said trying to contain her excitement but didn't succeed very much. She heard him smile into the phone, which automatically brought a smile to her lips. She had the feeling this day was going to be a good one.
"How do you know it was me?" She heard him asking and she chuckled, hadn't he never heard of technology or was he born like in 19th century?
"It's called Caller Id, Lucas." She said, while seeking through her closet to find a pair of pants adequate to go with her brown top. She decided to go for jeans since she didn't find the pants she was searching for… Probably Peyton had taken it. Her bestfriend was taller and thinner than her but they still could fit in each other's clothes, which was fun…more on Peyton's side than on Brooke's.
"Ah yeah, stupid me." There was a pause…not very long, not very awkward, but Brooke Davis didn't like the silence.
"It's okay, I was just teasing you. So, why did you call?" She asked interested, and maybe hoping that he was calling to ask her out or something. He cleared his throat and she wondered if it was because he was nervous.
"Uh, well, I was wondering if you were available this afternoon."
"It might be possible, why?" She asked with a flirty voice and then caught herself doing it and kicked herself. It wasn't anything concrete after all.
"Well, could you meet me at the Café at…let's say…5?" The time was quite surprising. If it was a date, he wouldn't ask her to meet in the afternoon. Then again, she didn't know much about him or his ways. Maybe they would like spend some time before things got serious?
"Sure, I mean, I don't have better things to do today."
"Great, see you then."
"Bye Lucas." They both hung up simultaneously and Brooke threw her phone on her unmade bed before bouncing excitedly on the floor.
"Yeah!" She said to herself in a whisper. She ran out of her bedroom and rushed into Peyton's. This one didn't notice her since she was working on a drawing, with her earphones. "P. Sawyer, I have great news!" She squealed and Peyton turned on her back, putting her Ipod on pause.
"Hey B, glad to see you're talking now. I was afraid you might have lost your tongue yesterday." She commented sarcastically, putting her hands behind her back, and watching the brunette making her way to her desk. Brooke sat on her chair and placed her hands on her knees.
"Sorry about it, I was kinda mad at myself. But here I got some good call." She told her with a high voice that almost made her deaf.
"Would the caller be Lucas Roe, by any chance?" Peyton asked raising an eyebrow and Brooke nodded with a big smile on her lips. She got up from the chair and crawled onto the bed lying next to her on stomach.
"Yeah, I have a da- an appointment with him this afternoon."
"You were going to say a date, uh?" She teased her a little, nudging her sides and Brooke's face broke into a grin.
"Pey, it's only an appointment, okay, no big deal." She said with a funny face and Peyton laughed at her attempt to keep a cool face.
"Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself?" She inquired and Brooke first smirked, and then whined ever so slightly, knowing she was right.
"Shut up, ok! It's a date, you happy, now?"
"Not particularly, but I can tell you definitively are."
"Right." She rolled her eyes, feigning the evidence and brought a hand to her face, slapping her forehead. "God, what am I even going to wear?" Peyton ignored her question and continued on her reasoning.
"C'mon, that Lucas guy is totally hot for you. You should definitively go for it."
"Okay, so what am I wearing?" Brooke asked again with an exasperated tone and Peyton threw her head against her pillow, giggling stupidly. Brooke looked at her annoyed and got up. She placed her hands on her hips and waited until the curly blonde had calmed down so they could go to her closet and find the ideal clothes for her 'date' with the handsome Lucas Roe.
When this whole world gets too crazy
And there's no where left to go
I know you'll give me sanctuary
You're the only truth at all
You're the road back home
Brooke entered the Café, astonished but pleased to see there weren't any customers inside. So, that was a date, and she was ecstatic about that idea. Lucas had probably closed the Café for the week, the time for him to find someone to take care of it while his mother was on bed rest. She walked inside quietly, letting the door open, so the wind could give some freshness, since the air conditioning was off. She brushed some strands out of her face and wiped the sweat off of her forehead with the top of her head, breathing softly. Here, she was going to have that date with the guy that completely turned her on, and she was perspiring badly. She surely wasn't a pretty sight… Her eyes scanned the room, searching for Prince Charming and she found him leaning against the counter, on the phone, appearing to be laughing. His smile was amazing by the way. She cleared her throat to make herself known and Lucas turned around, waving and smiling warmly at her. She smiled back and waved at her turn, feeling slightly stupid. She stood up for a few seconds and finally let her feet joining him. She sat on the stool next to him and placed her hands on the counter, patiently waiting for him to end his conversation. She couldn't help but overhear him talking into the phone and even heard that it was a female voice at the other end. Jealousy invaded her. How could she have been so clueless to think a guy like Lucas Roe would be free?
"Yeah okay… Look, I really have to hang up now, but I'll call you later."
"Bye, I love you too."
"Sorry, that was a friend, from Calif. I called her to tell her about my mom and we kinda got caught up by everything."
"Oh." Brooke Davis was actually speechless. What did he mean by 'friend'? Just like a friend-friend or a girlfriend? I mean, you don't say 'I love you' to your friends, right? She had to be close.
"She was talking about my all of my other friends and all the gossip coming around the school, you know what I mean?" He said then got up, walking to the coffee machine. "Want one?" He asked and she nodded softly. He took two cups out and poured some streaming coffee inside.
"Oh yeah, maybe too much." She answered his previous question and put her elbows on the counter, slightly leaning forward. "So, why did you want to see me?" She asked the question that was burning her lips since the moment he had called her.
"Uh, see, you know that my mom can't take care of the Café and it'd be quite a drama if we put it on a temporary closure?" He began and she nodded slightly. She had talked a little with Karen and could see that project was her whole lifetime one.
"Yeah?"
"Well, I wanted to know if you were okay to help me find someone and maybe give me a hand after school and the week ends, and some evenings too?" So, that meant they would spend more time together, even if it was to work. It was interesting, uh?
"Depends… I mean, if it's not too many hours?" She didn't want a part time job to take over all of her free time because she had other activities, like shopping, hanging out with her friends and of course studying…
"I didn't get the number of hours counted yet. But I already asked your friend Rachel if she would be okay to work here too since she's in need of money and she said yes."
"Rachel asked you about it?" She said and exploded in laugher immediately while Lucas lifted an eyebrow, confused at her strange behaviour.
"Yeah, why are you laughing?" She couldn't be mocking him, could she?
"Rachel is far from being poor, believe me. She's living in the same residential area as you." She stated and Lucas's eyes widened at the revelation. Why did the girl need to work then? She surely could ask her parents for money or anything.
"Really?"
"Yeah, I guess she just wanted to get close to you, you'll just have to tell her you're not single… or gay." She said jokingly and he chuckled a little, running a hand through his hair, thinking of something.
"No, let her think that I'm a potential boyfriend, I'll make her work so hard that she won't ever pull tricks on me."
"Okay, that'll be fun. Don't get me wrong, I like her a bit, but she's just…"
"Your competition?" He filled her sentence and she nodded willingly, happy to see he understood her position.
"Yeah, that's exactly it."
"So you have a thing for me too?" He leaned a bit against the counter with a flirtatious smile and she leaned forward too, shrugging. She drew back before he could imagine something would happen and smiled knowingly.
"You're so full of yourself! I wasn't talking about you or anyone else…just the fact she wants everything I want."
"So, you don't want me? Not even a little bit?" He pulled his hand out and pouted when she shook her head, laughing
"Stop it really! Besides, I have a date tonight. Why did you think I was dressed up like that?" She lied but he couldn't tell if she was telling the truth or lying. After all, he didn't know many things about her life. The verity was that she wanted to make things hard on him, just a tiny bit. She wanted to be sure they stood a chance together, and most of all, she had to know if he wasn't just a player. After all, she had heard a part of his phoning conversation and was wondering about the girl he had talked to. And there was that plus: he probably would be jealous, even if it was only a little. THAT would make her day!
"You look amazing by the way." He flirted and she bit her bottom lip seductively. She glanced at her watch just for the sake of distracting herself from his inquiring gaze.
"So when am I starting?"
"How about tomorrow?"
"Sounds great." She only answered and he grinned at her. She thought he looked even cuter when he wasn't brooding.
"What time?"
"You're lucky I'm on a good mood. Let's say 10 am, so that leaves you your Sunday early morning."
"You're too nice, you know that?" She pinched his cheeks and he laughed a little, his eyes glinting a bit as her fingers went in contact with his skin. He looked straight into her eyes and when she met his gaze, she couldn't help but blush a little. His eyes were so deep, so blue. She only knew a person with this gaze, it was Nathan. It was the first thing that had attracted her to him when they had gotten together years before…
Can you see me, here I am
Standing here where I've always been
And when words are not enough
I climb inside your heart and still find
You're my safest place to hide
My safest place to hide
Mayor Daniel Scott watched from afar the scene beyond his eyes. The two teenagers seemed to get along well together. Actually, Brooke Davis could get along with any guy who had a working penis. It was a harsh thought on his son's former girlfriend but he was stating the truth. He wouldn't be able to count the number of partners of one night the girl had had during the last month. The boy with her was Karen's son and was approximately the same age as Nathan. He had made inquiries about Karen, Andy and 'their' son and had learn that Lucas wasn't Andy's but with unknown father. He could be his long lost son, he had to be…
I know I promised you forever
There's no stronger word I can use
To reassure you when the storm
Is raging outside, you're my safest place to hide
Can you see me, here I am
Standing here where I've always been
When I feel like giving up
I climb inside your heart and still find
You're my safest place to hide
You're my safest place to hide
TBC…
A/N²: Okay guys, I have to say I had a hard time writing the last part with Brucas. I didn't want them to get together so suddenly, so I found interesting to give him another love interest…and I'm not talking about Rachel! About the small Brathan, there will be more of their friendship in the next chapters; I'm actually just trying to set the last things that need to be set. Also, I wanted at first that Dan appeared in the chapter, but finally decided against. But he'll be here, in next chapter, I promise. It also took me time to find an adequate song for this chapter…not always easy to find something that fits all the scenes of a chapter…
Okay so for next chappie:
Dan/Lucas encounter
Brooke/Nathan friendship
Haley/Peyton confrontation: little trailer...
"Do you realize you're not even close to make him happy if you continue acting this way? He's hurting Haley."
Why do you care anyway? It's none of your business."
"Right. Nathan is my friend, you are too. I' only trying to help but if you don't want my opinion, fuck yourself."
And of course, more BRUCAS!