Chapter 5

Author's Note: Hey, guys, a little author's note here. I was re-reading the first chapter and noticed that I said that Lucas was helping his mother in the café with his best friend Michelle. Well, it's supposed to be his best friend, Haley. I was on the phone with my cousin Michelle when I was writing it so... silly me:P.

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Karen's Café.

Brooke walked in and saw Lucas sitting at the counter talking to a dark haired woman. She was very pretty. Brooke felt a little nervous walking towards them. She was still thinking about yesterday when Lucas brought her home. For some reason she just couldn't get it out of her head. But she had to. Brooke then approached Lucas and the woman.

Brooke: Hey, Lucas.

Lucas: Brooke, you made it. Great.

Brooke: Yeah.

Lucas: Um, Brooke, this is my mom, Karen. She owns the café.

Lucas introduced her to the pretty dark haired woman.

Brooke: Hi.

Lucas: Mom, this is Brooke. She just moved here from California.

Karen: Hello, Brooke.

She gave her a warm smile and they shook hands.

Lucas: Mom, Brooke was looking for a job and I told her we could use some help here, so...

Karen: Oh, yeah. We could definitely use some help around here. But, first, do you have any experience waitressing.

Brooke: Not really. You see, I've never really had a job before, this would be my first. But I could learn.

She really wanted to get this job. Seeing as her parents wanted her to become an adult, and raise her own money instead of spending all of theirs, she was really eager to get this job.

Brooke: And I could really use the money.

Karen was a little hesitant but then Brooke gave her a pleading face and she gave in.

Karen: Okay.

Brooke: Does that mean I have a job?

Brooke started to get a little excited. She had never really liked working, but for some reason she was excited about this.

Karen: Yes, it does.

Brooke squealed in her natural cheery way and hugged Karen. This took Karen by surprise a little but she just hugged her back and smiled at her.

Karen: Well, Lucas can show you the basics and, um, I'll leave you kids to it.

She smiled at them and walked towards the back. Brooke squealed again and this time hugged Lucas. Lucas smiled. He was enjoying the hug. He was enjoying being so close to her.

Brooke: God, my first job. This is so exciting.

Lucas: I take it you've never worked a day in your life before.

Brooke: Hey!

She punched his arm.

Brooke: I happen to be excellent at washing the dishes, thank you very much.

Lucas laughed at this.

Lucas: Well, around here, you're going to have to do a lot more than washing the dishes.

Brooke: No problem. Whatever it is, I'm sure I can pull it off.

Brooke said that in a very confident way.

Lucas: Okay. Whatever you say.

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A few minutes later.

Brooke: Lucas!!

Brooke was behind the counter trying to please all of the customers, with no luck. After Lucas had showed her the ropes, the place was starting to ger swamped. Karen had taken a break and it was Haley's day off so Brooke was all on her own. Even though Lucas was there, he wasn't helping very much. He was just enjoying the sight of Brooke royally screwing up. She was trying to please everyone at one time, with no succes. And at this time she was pleading for Lucas to help her. At first he could just laugh, but he gave in and decided to help her. After things had settled down, Brooke was a little mad at Lucas for leaving her hanging like that. She was ignoring him.

Lucas: Well, I think that went well.

She was still ignoring him.

Lucas: Brooke, come on. You can't ignore me forever.

Brooke: Wanna see?

Lucas was laughing at Brooke who was sounding like a four year old.

Lucas: Oh, come on. You know you can't resist me.

Even though he was joking, he was right. She couldn't resist him. And when he flashed her that handsome smile of his, her heart just melted.

Brooke: Fine. But you totally left me hanging out there!

She hit him with a cloth that was hanging over her shoulder.

Lucas: Ow! But you have to admit, it was funny.

Brooke: Maybe for you, but not for me. I was dying out there!

She hit him again, this time he just laughed. Karen entered the café.

Lucas: Hey, mom.

Karen: Hey, honey.

They hugged and she kissed him on the cheek.

Karen: So, how did your first day go?

She looked at Brooke. Before Brooke could say anything, Lucas answered the question for her.

Lucas: It went very smoothly.

Brooke glared at him and the looked back at Karen and smiled.

Brooke: It was... fine. Just fine.

Karen: Great. Then you can come back tomorrow?

Brooke: Yeah, definitely.

Karen: Okay, great.

Lucas then noticed that his mother came in with shopping bags.

Lucas: So, what's in the bags?

Karen: Oh, I treated myself to a little shopping spree.

Lucas: Well, that's great mom. You deserve one.

Karen: Thanks, Luke.

They hugged and Brooke could tell he and his mom were close. That made her like him even more, which was not a good thing.

Karen: Well, I think I'm gonna head home. You coming?

Lucas: Yeah, I'll be home in a little bit. I'm just gonna close up.

Karen: Okay. Bye, Brooke.

Brooke: Bye.

She waved at Karen and Karen left.

Brooke: So, you and your mom seem pretty close.

Lucas: Oh, yeah, we're close. We're all each other has.

Brooke: Where's your father?

Lucas: My father left us when I was a baby. He still lives in Tree Hill, we just never talk to him. My Uncle Keith was more of a father to me, but he passed away not too long ago.

Brooke: Oh, God, I'm so sorry.

Lucas: Thanks.

Brooke: That must've been really hard for you guys.

Lucas: It was. But we take comfort in knowing that my mom's carrying his child.

Brooke: Your mom's pregnant?!

Brooke was a little shocked by this news. She didn't even notice.

Lucas: Yeah, but she's not showing yet. So it's hard to tell. What about you? You're not close to your parents?

Brooke: If you can call spending all of their money close, than, yeah, we're pretty close.

Sarcasm was dripping from her voice when she said that.

Brooke: No, but, we've never been close. For my dad work always came before me and for my mom her social life always came before me. I could pass out on the street right now and they wouldn't care.

It was then that Lucas noticed a little sadness in her voice. Brooke always acted like she never cared that her parents didn't spend any time with her, but she did care. She cared a lot. She just never showed it. Until now. She liked this, confiding in him. It felt right. He also liked the fact that he could confide in her. It was something that he was definitely missing with Peyton.

Lucas: I'm sure that's not true.

Brooke: If you dropped dead on the street right now, do you think your father would care?

Lucas: No. Honestly, I don't.

Brooke smiled and nodded at him, sadly. He then hugged her. They stayed like that for a while and just held each other, both not knowing that someone, someone they both knew, was standing outside watching them through the window.

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So that was chapter 5. Hope you guys enjoyed it. R&R.