Haha, feel so clever because of this title... Do you get it? Huh, Huh? Do ya? Wow, I took too much cold medicine.
Chapter 20: New This, but Wish I Knew That
Brooke wrung her hands nervously as she waited to find out if her designs had made finalist. Her hand rubbed soothing circles on her stomach as she listened to her professor speak to the auditorium full of her classmates.
"The winning project will be given the chance to participate in Homemade Designs's winter show. I have narrowed the field down to three projects, but will withhold the names of the creators so not to create biased opinions. Each of you will vote on your favorite at the end of class next week. The display boards will be out in the hallway for you to look at after this class is over."
After that, Brooke tunned out the entire lecture. She figured she wasn't alone by the anxious looks being thrown around the room throughout the hour. As soon as the class was dismissed everyone grabbed their things and rushed out of the room. Having taken a seat near to the front, Brooke was forced to wait as the hoard of students in front of her pushed and shoved their way through the two openings. She hugged her arms tightly around herself, feeling very small and delicate around the angry fashionistas. She noticed after her "bitch attack" last month (as Peyton kindly referred to it) that she felt her hormones were having the opposite effect, instead making her feel like a fish out of water.
"You're Brooke, right?" A blonde, curly haired boy smiled next to her. She had noticed him a few seats down from her and guessed he couldn't get up fast enough either. She nodded and flashed a overwhelmed smile. "I'm Nick. I was wondering if you wanted to grab a quick lunch after checking out the boards out there."
She flashed her left hand, "I'm not sure if my husband would like me on a date."
He chuckled and raised his hands in surrender and showed his own left hand, "I'm sure my wife would not like that either."
"Just lunch then? I don't think I've met a guy without an alterior motive before." She quirked an eyebrow and planted her hands on her hip. Giving the guy a quick up-down, it was clear this Nick guy seemed pretty plain.
"Oh, I do," he admitted with a crooked, guilty smile. "I sat behind you last week and got a peak at your design project. It was hands down the best work I have seen in a long time."
"I have to say it's nice to be admired for my work and not for my," She cleared her throat and looked down at her body. He got the hint, "Especially from guys looking over my shoulder." He flushed a scarlet color she only saw on Haley. "Come on, we'll go check out the boards and then we can hit up the Starbucks around the corner. I really want one of their brownies."
They reached the hallway and Brooke stopped dead at the projects in front of her. "Wow." Came from the Nick guy beside her.
"That's my project!" She squealed, quickly clamping her hand over mouth when some of the other students stared. She diverted the attention by pasting on an angry look and glancing around her innocently as if it were someone else who had exclaimed it.
Nick chuckled and pointed to the third board, "That one's mine. I almost feel bad stealing it from some college kid."
"You aren't in college, too?" Her brow furrowed in confusion.
"Nah," He shook his head, "Well, I take this class, but I am almost thirty-five years old. I just like to take some classes here and there to keep up with everyone else. I actually own a design company."
Brooke's jaw dropped and her eyes widening in amazement. "Which one?"
"Nick-Nak's." He laughed, "The name wasn't my idea, but-"
"No!" Brooke laughed, "I've heard of you! I love that name. My friend, Peyton, and I saw your store a few months ago and you inspired the nursery I designed for junior here. You're located about twenty minutes from my house!" She laughed, rubbing her stomach.
"That's flattering," He smiled genuinely.
-.-.
"Come on, Meg." Haley whispered encouragingly over her shoulder as they wound through the busy Charlotte streets, following an increasingly fast-paced Nathan. "Your father has a mission, apparently." She rolled her eyes and continued the harrowing journey of dodging people while nearly jogging. A science she had yet to master. Only adding to the difficulty, she was grasping a slow kindergartner's hand and her large canvas bag. "Nathan, this better be a worthwhile trip because I almost ran over an elderly man. Not like it was really my fault or anything, he stepped in front me, but it's really the principle of the- Nathan? What are we doing here?" A look of confusion overtook her face as she noticed the boutique they were in front of.
"Buy something. Buy it all, I don't care." He smiled and led her into the store. He placed his hand on her lower back, absently tracing her 23 tattoo with his index finger. He replaced Haley's hold on Megan with his own, giving her hand a squeeze to get a giggle out of her.
"This is straight out of Pretty Woman," She laughed, simultaneously gaping at the expensive looking clothes around her.
He quirked an eyebrow, "Are you implying that you have hooker tendencies? I'm not so sure I am comfortable with that, Haley."
She swatted at him, "Oh, shut up. What in the world would I need with any of these dresses? Most are worth more than I make in a month, and I am not exaggerating." She said, looking at a price tag and then letting it fall pointedly.
"Hales, you never know when you are going to need one of these dresses." He shrugged with an odd glint in his eye. "And it is also a good thing I am paying."
A smiling woman dressed in all black dress clothes and smiled adoringly at Nathan, "Mr. Scott. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. What is it exactly that you are looking for?"
He smirked wildly and his eyes dared Haley to object further. She sighed in surrender and Nathan turned back to the sales woman, "Something sexy and sophisticated, preferably something that hits at or above the knee, just because I like her legs" He replied his well practice husky tone as Haley reddened with embarrassment more every second. He paced around the store, looking at some of the displays. "Something not too dressy, but still party attire. And definitely something that shows off her boobs. Oh, and throw in some of these high heels. They'll show off her butt."
Megan giggled uncontrollably, even harder when Nathan winked at her. "Daddy said boobs and butt!"
Haley frowned with disapproval and led Megan to a chair where she could calm down, but she too had trouble keeping a smile off her face. "Have you gone completely crazy, Nathan?"
"Only for you." He quipped effortlessly over his shoulder. She made a show of rolling her eyes for Megan.
"Mrs. Scott? Would you like to have the models display the clothing before you try them on?" Rachel, the brunette sales woman, plastered on a smile that made Haley grimace a little.
She shook her head and set her purse down at Megan's feet, "No. Just lead me to it..." She sighed heavily and gave a last glare at Nathan who wore a dopey grin as he dropped into the chair next to his daughter. Immediately Megan took her notebook from Haley's bag and challenged Nathan to tic-tac-toe.
Sixteen dresses, twenty-four smirks, and forty-two games of tic-tac-toe later, Haley came from the dressing room one more time. She looked throughly pissed and Nathan smiled brightly at her as he gave her an intense up-down. She saw his eyes cloud over with lust and subconsciously wrapped her arms around herself.
Rachel spoke up, "This is a black, v-neck, chiffon, pleated tea length dress- it hits at mid calf, but can be shortened. It's a new arrival, one of our originals."
Nathan sat there in amazement. It was paired with those shoes he liked and a beaded necklace that pointed the attention to her cleavage. "Perfect. She looks perfect. We'll take it, all of it."
Haley changed back into her regular clothes and when she came back, Nathan was paying. She almost shrieked at the price, but Nathan pulled out his platinum credit card and swiped it without a second thought.
"This was too much," she poked him in the ribs before letting her head fall on his shoulder as the three walked out of the shop and back to their car.
"You're worth it." He reassured her genuinely. He paused for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. "You want to go buy a car?"
She choked back a laugh, "What? A car? Nathan, be serious."
"I am!" He chuckled with a defensive note. "In case you didn't know, I have millions of dollars and I was thinking I kinda suck at being a millionaire. Why let it all just sit in a bank? Why not live a little, ya know?"
Her face changed from amused to worried, "Nathan, is something wrong?"
"Nope. Daddy loves you." Megan smiled up at them.
They smile back down at her, but Haley returns to her worried stare. "Hales, nothings wrong. I promise. I just want to spend a little money on you, that's all."
"Nathan, a little is less than fifty bucks. A lot is the two thousand dress you bought me." Haley crossed her arms. "I don't need.. Things. I just need you, okay."
He nodded but looked a little detached. He wrapped his arms around her and mumbled into her neck, "I just want to know you are taken care of Hales. I worry about you two. It sucks that I can't get out of this contract. I wish they would just trade me already."
"Nate," She soothed and smiled at Megan over his shoulder. "We are just fine. We miss you, but we get by-"
He pulled away from her and let out an angry groan, "You shouldn't just get by though, Haley. You two deserve the best."
Haley smiled and pressed a kiss into his lips, "You're just perfect for us, Nathan. Don't go doubting anything. Everything will turn out okay. I promise."
-.-.-.
"Lucas," a cool voice greeted him. He looked up from his paper to see his father smiling down at him. "Here on your lunch break, too?"
He folded his paper back up and set it on the seat next to him, "Yeah, I just ordered. Do you want to join me?"
"I'd love to." Dan nodded and sat down in the seat across from his son. "How is Brooke doing?"
"Great, she's really excited for the baby."
Dan raised his eyebrows questionably, "And you?"
"Am I excited for the baby?" Lucas clarified and Dan nodded. "Yeah, I am, but at the same time scared to death. I feel like everything is spinning so fast and I just want to sit still and tell it to stop for a second."
Dan chuckles at his feelings, "It will, things will settle down." He cleared his throat and drank some of his water. "How are you doing, outside the baby, I mean?"
"I'm holding up. Work has been extremely demanding ever since they announced the job cuts and plans to redesign departments." He sighed woefully, rubbing his temple to ease the building headache.
Dan's face contorted to concern, "Is your job on the line?"
Lucas shook his head, "I don't know, no one does. Basically, with the new departments, everyone is either getting fired or getting a new job. Some of the older guys don't like it and are resigning entirely."
"Did you think about quitting?"
Lucas shook his head, "How could I? I have a baby on the way and Brooke is still working on her designing degree." Truth is, he had thought about quitting. Right up until the reality hit him that he was having a child, a baby girl no less.
"Lucas," Dan started seriously. "Take it from a man who knows, you keep wearing yourself out for a job you hate, and you'll regret it. Then you will resent Brooke when she starts her career off of your income. Find something you love. Didn't you always want to be a writer? You can come work for me while you write it, if you decide you need the paycheck." He stood and pulled a ten out of his wallet. "Do your family a favor and make yourself happy before the baby comes. Trust me on this son." And with that Dan Scott left the Café, leaving a confused and exhausted Lucas in his wake.
-.-.
"Thanks, Shane. See you next week." Peyton nodded at her boss as she left the Thud magazine office. Humming slightly to the song blaring from her headphones, she ripped open her paycheck and glanced woefully down at the amount staring back at her. Jake's student loan payment was due next week, as was hers the following week, and her check wouldn't cover it. Jake's check did not come until next Friday and typically, that went to the regular bills. In her state of worry, she ran into a man coming out of the post office. Quickly, she apologized profusely and bent down to pick up the mail she knocked out of his hands.
"It's really okay. It's not everyday a guy gets attacked by a beautiful woman." The dark haired man smirked at her and she raised her eyebrows at him. "Lame line? Yeah, sorry. Not my best work."
She chuckled, "You are new to Tree Hill aren't you?"
He flashed a mock-guilty smile, "What gave me away?"
"Well, first, the address on your mail is a house that has been on the market forever- rumor is it's haunted. Second, this is a small town, therefore you would have known that I am engaged." She smiled, flashing her engagement ring. "And third, Lucille, the town crossing guard and biggest gossip, told me last week that a single man was moving here from Boston."
He bit his lip to keep from smiling, "Just outside Boston, actually." He stuck out his hand, "Matthew Bronston."
"Peyton Sawyer." She shook his hand. "Welcome to Tree Hill, and good luck with those ghosts."
"Yeah, uh thanks. Are you -I mean- do you work at Thud?" He stammered and looked at her intently.
She frowned with confusion, "Yes. I draw a comic and do some editing, occasionally."
"How would you like to do 'some editing' full-time?" He grinned hopefully.
"Depends, does full-time mean money?"
"A lot of it, actually." His begging eyes stared down at her. From Peyton's perspective, he seemed like a decent guy, he had on a black and white Tally Hall band tee on underneath his black suit jacket.
"Where at?"
"On the other side of town. At a magazine I own. I used to be located in Boston, but my mom got sick so I moved back down here to be with her. I'm sure I can find something interesting for you to work on."
She dug around in her purse and finally pulled out a card, "Here, call me with the details. I have to go." She walked away quickly, remembering she left Jenny at the Café and smiled to herself. A lot of it, actually. Gosh that sounded good.
-.-.
"Take a break. I know you didn't come all the way over here just to grade Biology quizzes." Owen teased, brushing a stray hair away from Meredith's face.
She swatted away his hand and glared at him. "Owen, stop. I need to grade these, and you keep distracting me. Today, I handed back those section reviews I graded with you and gave half the class 5 points out of 4 instead of the other way around. I value my job, and I doubt the principal's daughter would like a 2/16 when she only got two wrong."
He leaned away from her and held up in hands in defense. "Don't blame me for your dyslexia." Slamming her book shut hard, she shook her head and packed her things back into her teacher's bag. "Oh, so you're just going to leave?" He asked with a defensive edge in his voice.
Meredith spun around in anger, "Yes." She smiled tightly. Quickly, she stalked the short distance to the front door and flung it open, yelling back into the house at him, "And don't you dare roll your eyes, Owen Daniel James! I know you are." She heard his loud and heavy footsteps following her. Swiftly, she took a step out the door and ran smack into someone that wasn't there before.
"Excuse me," The conceited, miffed voice came from a skinny brunette with a glare set in her teal colored eyes.
Owen reached the front door and leaned on the frame, letting out a long sigh. Meredith shot him daggers with her eyes. "Who is this, Owen?"
He squinted hard at the newly arrived brunette, "Trouble."
"Who are you?" The brunette cocked an eyebrow and crossed her arms over herself. It's times like these she remembers why she liked hanging out with guys more than girls in high school. Girls were viscous and catty and... I hate girls. She thought.
"I am leaving." Meredith smiled curtly, sent one final glower to Owen and walked the short distance from Haley's porch to her car.
Owen mumbled a goodbye after her, before redirecting his attention to the pursed-lipped woman in front of him, "Carrie Dolan."
"Let's not play the name game, Owen. You've wasted more than enough of my time." She spat, breezing past him and into the house.
To the air, he bowed and extended a hand sarcastically, "Carrie, would you care to enter my sister's home?"
"Don't be prick. On top of everything else." She rolled her eyes. "I am here for a reason."
"Which would be?"
In one swift motion, she pulled out a manilla envelope and pen, slamming down in front of him. "The lease papers on our house, you know, the one we lived in together before you up and ran away."
He scoffed angrily, making a great showing of taking the pen in his hand and scribbling down his name. "You got what you wanted all along, didn't you?"
"You know what, Owen?" She started, stuffing the papers back in her bag. "Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. I am not really sure, but I am sure that I spent way too much time on your sorry excuse for a life. You should spare that poor woman the misery and just end it now."
"Thanks for the advice, I'm sure you are highly qualified to speak about my relationships when you were screwing anything in pants for most of ours." He shook his head bitterly and swung the front door open again. "Get out."
She pointed a finger in his face, her eyes shooting angry bullets into his. "You are hypocrite, and we both know it, Owen James. You don't do commitment well. You'll find that out sooner or later, and so will she."
-.-.
"How was your class today, pretty girl?" Lucas whispered, lazily wiping away the hair on her forehead in circular, soothing motions. She shifted slightly in the doctor's office chair and laced her fingers through his.
"Terrific. Guess what?" Brooke grinned and whispered back excitedly.
He let his head lean against the wall behind him, "What?"
"My project made the finals and I met this guy, his name is Nick. We had lunch together. He owns his own interior design company- Peyton and I went there once- and he offered me my own line in it, but I told him I always had the dream to start my own company. This day has been so great Lucas. How was yours?"
"Congratulations, Brooke. That sounds great." He murmured genuinely. "My day was long and exhausting. I am glad you had a good one."
Brooke frowned, "Lucas, I thought the busy season was over once the kids started classes."
He shrugged helpless, letting his eyes flutter close. "There's been a panic in the department because someone heard they are cutting jobs. Everyone is trying to save their own ass, including me."
"Lucas," She sighed. "Is this really what you want to be doing? Whatever happened to writing that novel?"
He shrugged pointlessly again to avoid the subject entirely. A sinking feeling cut threw her. She was finally getting to do exactly what she had wished for, becoming a mom and starting her designing career, but was it at the expense of her husband's happiness? A small knock was heard from the doorway a moment later and Lucas picked up his head and rubbed his eyes. The doctor's cheesily cheerful voice filled his ears and he fought the overwhelming urge to roll his eyes. "Mr. and Mrs. Scott. How are you both today?"
"We're good, and hoping for good news...?" Brooke smiled tentatively back, answering for both of them. Lucas held her hand, rubbing the back of it reassuringly with his thumb. He felt like he should be engaged and listening carefully to the appointment, after all, this was his baby girl they were talking about, but with every droning word about test this and test that, Lucas found himself farther and farther away. "...Make yourself happy..." His father's words echoed in his mind as if they were on a loop.
"I'm going to quit." He said with a manic, determined grin on his face. Both Brooke and the doctor looked at him strangely.
"Quit what, Luke?" Brooke asked, with an amused and very confused smile playing at her lips.
He chuckled and shook his head. Make yourself happy...
Notes: Uh, yeah. Decently long chapter. Sorry about the short delay. It's the dreaded back to school rush. Id give you guys some hint at the next chapter but Im not sure right now what I am going to do with it.
Shout Outs:
Naleyluv: I am glad you enjoyed the classroom scene. I loved writing it. I'm not sure exactly when I am going to end this story, like I said, whenever I feel like it. I'm glad you felt for Peyton though, she will peace it all together eventually.
Nathanlvr: Haha, I loved your sequel ideas, but I am only ending this story because I want to focus on my next story. It's a sequel of my completed story, A Perfect Pair. It's kind of an important story for me so I want to give it my all. So, sorry, but there will be no sequel for this one :(. I really did like that drugged and cheating idea though... maybe in a different story or something.
xSmile: No, he came in through the door. Thanks for the review!
HaleynNathan23: First, thanks for the review. Loved the feedback, as always. Second, Peyton's time will come to be a mother, sooner or later. Third, I'm am so glad you liked Megan with Nathan in the last chapter. I was nervous and putting it off because, well. I'm not really sure why, it just makes me freak out a little. I am really glad though with how it turned out.
deli41321: Okay, so. I am so happy that you enjoyed Nathan and Megan in the previous chapter. It means alot. For some reason, writing their scenes terrifys me. Also, I am really glad you felt for Peyton, that was another hard scene to write. She'll get her time though..
Thanks for all the feedback, as always. Have a lovely day.