Chapter Three
Leaving Him Behind
Brooke let herself out of her powder blue VW bug, securing the locks. She left her bags in the back seat. There were too many to even think about removing. She slowly walked up the pathway to the house she considered to be her second home. She hoped with everything that Peyton was there. She could very well still be with everyone else they had plans with.
Using her set of keys, she let herself into the house and went straight up the stairs in search of her best friend. Opening the door without bothering to knock, she was rewarded with the smiling face of her blonde best friend."Hey, Peyt."
"Brooke. What are you doing here? I thought you'd be spending your last night in town entangled in bed with your boyfriend."
Brooke shook her head."What boyfriend?"
Peyton's eyes widened as she shook her head."You guys broke up again?"
Brooke nodded."Yeah, and it's getting old. I should have known this was gonna happen. He always does this when I have to go out of town. He just wants to be able to mess around while I'm gone and make it to where I can't be mad at him when I get back."
"Which you never are Brooke. I hate to say it, but you let him do this to you."
"You don't think I know that. I do. I know our relationship pretty much sucks, but there are good times too."
"Like what? When you two are having sex?"
"Peyton stop. You're acting as if this is just some stupid casual thing. It's not. We love each other."
"I know you love each other Brooke, but enough is enough."
"I know, but it's hard. I love him and I don't know how to be without him. I mean it's not like he's the only one that messes around during our breaks."
"That doesn't make it okay Brooke."
"I'm not saying it does. I'm just saying...I don't really know what I'm saying."
Peyton nodded."Nathan's not all that bad, but if you two want this relationship to work this has got to stop."
Brooke nodded."Yeah, I know, but what can I do about it now. It's done."
"Fine then just go to Paris and have fun. If you two get back together when you get back then that's when you need to have a talk."
"I guess you're right. I just feel like this time is different. I mean I told him it was for real this time."
"It might be Brooke. You two might just be over. How do you feel about that?"
Brooke shrugged."I don't know. It sucks."
Peyton pulled her into a hug."You'll be fine. You're going to Paris for craps sake. You do know it is filled with hotties."
"Says the girl that just told me two wrongs don't make a right."
"Yeah, well that was just me trying on something new. How did it go over?"
"Not so well."said Brooke with a laugh."Oh, I almost forgot. Guess who just found out they have an older brother?"
"You?"
"God no. Nathan."
"What? How did that happen?"
"I guess Dan was with this other woman first or he cheated on Deb. I think Nathan said they are the same age so I guess it's the cheating thing."
"That's unbelievable. How is he taking the news?"
"I don't really know. I yelled at him for being late so we started fighting. I didn't know that that was why he was late."
"Is he happy about this?"
"What do you think? Of course not. You know Nathan doesn't like to share the spotlight or anything else with anyone and the guy is moving into his house."
"Are you serious? Nathan must be flipping out."
"Yeah, thank god I'm leaving tomorrow. I don't think I could put up with Nathan and his mood swings."
"This is gonna be interesting. Do we know anything about this brother? Is he cute?"
"I don't know. We didn't really get the chance to talk much. We went straight into the name calling."
"Aww, classic Brathan, argue now, ask questions later."
"Will you quit calling us that? It was cute in the beginning, but now it's just annoying."
"Dude, whatever. So what are we gonna do before you leave?"
"I would suggest we go out and get drunk, but we do that all the time."
"And that's a problem because..."
"You're right. Let me change and then we're out of here."
Brooke took a sip of her drink and set it down."This was a good idea. I thought that spending my last night with my jerk of a boyfriend was what I wanted, but being here with you is exactly what I needed before I leave. What am I gonna do there without you P. Sawyer?"
"You're gonna get laid a lot."she said with a laugh.
"I am not, well maybe I will. That would teach Nathan a lesson. I need you to keep an eye on him while I'm gone. Just count how many girls he's with. That way when I get back I can tell him I was with more."
"You're horrible Brooke."
"I learn from the best."
"That would be me."said Peyton as she called over the bartender."Yeah we'll have a couple of shots of Vodka...each."she laughed.
"I love the way you think P. Sawyer. I'll get these though. You've already gotten the first two rounds."
"Knock yourself out."
Brooke pulled open her bag when a very masculine hand stopped her."Let me get those for you."he said as he looked at her.
Brooke turned her head to see what horrible face belonged to that hand. There had to be a reason he wanted to buy these drinks. They probably had to be drunk to think he was cute. She was pleasantly surprised to see the piercing blue eyes that stared back at her. He wasn't so horrible, in fact he was pretty fine. If he wanted to pick up the tab for these drinks, then so be it. She visibly looked him over and watched him smile as she did so. He knew exactly what she was doing."Go ahead, why don't you take a seat and join us too."she gave him a sexy smirk.
"Don't mind if I do."he ordered himself a beer and paid for everything."So what are you two ladies doing here tonight."
"We're just hanging out before I leave."said Brooke.
"Where you going?"
"Away."
"Mysterious, I like that."
"I bet you do. So you here with anybody?"
He shook his head."No, why you interested?"
"Maybe, you're not too bad to look at."
"I'll take that as a compliment."he let out a laugh."You want another drink?"he asked as he watched her take her second shot.
"You buying?"
"Yeah, I got it."
"Then yeah, I'll take another."She turned to Peyton."What about you P. Sawyer? You wanna shot? He's buying."Brooke gave him a quick smile before turning back to her friend.
"No, I'm good. Thanks. I'm actually gonna go. I'll see you when you get back."she stood up to leave.
"Wait, no. Don't go Peyt."she stood up and grabbed her hand.
"No, it's cool. I see you're interested in this guy and since you and Nathan aren't together and he's probably out screwing some whore, go for it. Like I said have some fun. You deserve it. Call me if it doesn't work out and you need a ride home."
"You're the best P. I love you and I'm gonna miss you. I'll call you as soon as I land."
"You better and don't worry, I'll keep an eye on that jackass."
"Thanks."she gave her best friend one final hug before letting her go. Brooke turned back to the guy who tried to seem as if he hadn't paid attention to the two girls."You still here?"
"Yeah, I thought I'd see if you wanted to play a little game of pool, that is if you didn't leave with you're girlfriend."he smiled.
"Girlfriend? Try best friend."
He held up his hands."Hey, if she's you're girlfriend then so be it. I think it's sexy."
Brooke rolled her eyes."I should have known you'd give a jackass comment. Lucky for you you're hot enough that I'm still interested in spite of you're lousy sense of humor. Lets play."she sauntered over to the table and looked back. Of course he was checking out her ass."Hey horn dog, the table is over here not on my ass."
"I know where the table is, but this view is so much better."
"I know."Brooke bent over to collect the strewn about balls and let out a small laugh when the guy let out a moan as he watched her give him a better view."So you ready or what?"
"I'm ready. What do you have in mind?"
"The game, you crazy."
"Right, I forgot about that. What are we playing for?"
"Okay, if I win, you buy me another drink and if you win..."
"You take me home."he finished for her.
Brooke scoffed."You're forward."
"What can I say. I know what I want."
"Now those terms just don't sound fair to me. If I win all I get is a free drink."
"Trust me if I take you home I'll be fair to you, I'll be better than fair."
"Oh, yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Well then you're on. Let the games begin."she gave him a sexy smirk.
"Now if make this shot I win and you lose. You ready for that?"he asked.
"I'm more than ready."Brooke watched him take his shot and it went in."Well it looks like you're the big winner, in more ways than one."she said with a laugh. It was funny that he thought he actually won, but he didn't. She let him win.
"It appears that way. I'll still buy you that drink though. Lets go to the bar."
"You're already taking me home. You don't have to get me drunk."
"You're already drunk."
"I guess I am. What's another drink gonna hurt?"she laughed and accepted the shot placed in front of her."Okay, lets go. I have an early flight in the morning."she grabbed him by the hand and led him out the back door. She allowed the door to close before she threw him against the wall and kissed him hard. She parted his lips with her tongue and dove in. He tasted like beer, but she didn't mind. She continued to kiss him as she felt his hands begin to roam over her body.
He kissed her hard. This girl seemed to like it rough and that's exactly what he was going to give her. He removed his lips from hers and began to kiss her neck. He smiled into her skin as she let out a soft moan. It was the most beautiful sound he'd heard in a while. He couldn't wait to hear what other sounds she made when she was aroused.
Brooke began to trail her hands down his chest and stomach. She quickly began to loosen his belt.
"What are you doing? This doesn't look like your house. You're supposed to take me home, remember. I won the game."
"Yeah, well lucky for you I'm willing to do it right here. We don't have to go anywhere."she said before working on his belt.
"If you're sure."
"I am."she said as she kissed him again. She pulled down his zipper as her phone began to ring. She cursed who ever it was for interrupting.
He could tell she was distracted and wanted to answer it."Just ignore it. It will stop."he kissed her hard.
Brooke kissed him back as the phone continued to ring. She pushed him off of her and pulled out her phone."I have to get it it might be important."she looked at the screen and saw Nathan's name flashing. He was calling her now. How unbelievable was that? She motioned to the guy to be quiet so she could answer."Hello?"
"Brooke? Is that you? You sound funny."
"Yeah, I'm just out with Peyton. We're at Blue Post drinking."
"You're drinking? Aren't you leaving first thing in the morning?"
"Yeah, and?"
"And nothing. Look I'm sorry about earlier. I want to see you."
"Right now? I'm kinda in the middle of something."she said looking at the guy standing in front of her.
"Yes right now. I need to see you before you leave."
"Fine. I'll be right there."she hung up."Sorry Pool boy, but we're gonna have to have a rain check. I gotta go."
"I see that. You do know you lost the bet so you owe me. Why don't we get together tomorrow?"
"Can't. I'm leaving town tomorrow, remember?"
"Right. I forgot. When will you be back?"
"Two weeks."
"I'll have to come find you then."
"You do that. I hang out here all the time."
"Good to know. So you have a name?"
"Yeah, it's Rachel."she lied. She had no intention of ever seeing this guy again. They did what they did and now it was over."What about you, you got a name."
"Lucas."
"Well Lucas, I'll be seeing you around."she gave him one last smile before walking over to a near by taxi. It sucked that she was leaving him behind, but she had Nathan waiting for her.