Disclaimer : It's kinda obvious, but I don't own One Tree Hill or anything that has to do with it. Also, later on in the chapter I use 'Always and Forever' which I don't own, and the 'rats ass' line that was used in season 1…I don't own that either.
What is Love? – Chapter 8
BROOKE's POV
I pulled up to Tree Hill Ballet Company a sense of relief washed over me. My tears had stopped about ten minutes ago and my hands are no longer shaking. I pull into my normal parking spot, turn off my car and take a deep breath in, exhaling slowly. I grab my messenger bag, sling it over my shoulder and slid out of the tan leather seat. I walk over a small mound covered in grass and jump onto the sidewalk. I look both ways before crossing the empty street and grab for the black pull handle on the glass door, to the opening of the studio. It's locked, so I knock on the glass knowing Rae, the girl at the front desk, would be there to open the door for me.
She usually came in around noon everyday and lets me into the studio whenever I come around. She's about twenty and a high school drop out with bleach blonde hair. She's really cool and always offers me a smoke when I get there, because I sometimes forget my own. I cross my arms over my chest as I wait for her to open the door. She emerges from the dark studio behind her with a cig already in her hands and unlocked the door.
"Hey Brooke, the normal studio right?" she asked in her monotonous voice.
"Yea…um thanks." We both walk up the small, carpeted staircase, then part ways. I head into the dressing room and she slowly walks into the closet and grabs the broom. She always sweeps up the place even if it's already spotless.
I didn't have dance class today, so I didn't have my leotard or tights. I sat down on one of the grey benches, with the peeling paint and sighed. I slid the vans off my feet and stood up. I un-do my black shorts and they effortlessly fall to the floor. I rummage through my messy bag and find a black pair of spandex that I slip on. My Pointe shoes are in a small locker that's located right around the corner, next to the snack machines. I grab the satin shoes and make my way to the studio closest to the entrance.
The old wooden door is in my line of vision and I reach for the brass doorknob and pull it open. I flick the light switch and watch as the ceiling lights slowly turn on one by one. I keep the door propped open in case Rae needs to tell me something. Walking across the flat, grey floor towards the small speakers, I can already feel some of the anger and stress, leave my body. I plug my I-pod into the speakers and close my eyes as I let the music of Bach and Mozart fill my ears.
I slide my Pointe shoes over my bare feet and lace the thin pieces of satin around my ankles. I walk over to the bar and stretch my legs and arms, then start working on pliees, so I don't injure myself. Then I make my way over to the center of the small dance studio, feeling this energy pulse through my body. I let the music take over my limbs and started to dance just to dance. I was just making up steps as I went along. I was so carefree and concentrated that I was startled when I saw a dark shadow stretched across the grey floor.
I took a step back, my palms were becoming sweaty and I could no longer hear the music because my heart was beating so loud. My breaths became shortened and strangled as I questioned who this stranger was. It wasn't Rae because she would just walk in and the shadow looked as if it was a man. I heard footsteps and the shadow grew, I knew who ever it was, was walking into the studio. Frozen in my spot, I tried to make no sudden movements and closed my eyes, hoping he would just go away.
I felt breathing on my face and I let a small squeal escaped my lips and my body tensed as I felt a hand cup my cheek. Opening one eye I saw that it was Lucas, so I opened both eyes and jumped into his arms, wrapping my arms around his neck. When I feel into his embrace more tears started to pour down like Niagara Falls. I once again soaked his shirt with my salty tears. While loosening my grip around his neck I pulled out of his embrace, but kept my gaze on his gorgeous face. We kept our gaze locked for a while before I heard him whisper my name, "Brooke."
Wiping the tears from my cheeks with the pads of his thumb, I started to breathe normally again. The tension from my shoulders being released as I lifted his hands and wrapped them around his, linking our fingers together and bringing them down to our sides. "You know, I didn't know you could dance like that baby." I laugh a little and squeeze his hands, letting him know that I appreciate him coming after me. "So, are you gonna tell me what has got you so upset, Pretty Girl?" My gaze reaches the floor then back up to his ice blue eyes that I know are filled with concern.
"I…I…it's nothing Luke. Don't worry about it." Well, that's a lie. One of his hands moves up the smooth skin of my forearm and cups my check once again, rubbing it with his thumb.
"Are you sure? Some guy didn't hurt you did he?" I can here the tone of his voice change.
"No, No, babe, it's nothing like that. Really I'm fine, I just got into it with some people today at school and it was emotionally draining, but I'm fine now so don't worry baby, you don't look good with wrinkles." I smiled at the end and heard him laugh a little. God, I love that smile.
He pulls my body into his, wrapping one of his arms around my waist and the other placed on the back of my head, by the nape of my neck. He kissed my forehead and I smiled against his strong chest.
"You know…right when you drove off I went looking for you and the first place I went was the lifeguard house. I was shocked that I didn't see you sitting there with your legs dangling over the wooden platform, gazing out at the ocean while the waves crash against the sandy beach. I stood there for a while lost in my own thoughts while the sun beat down on my back and then I remembered the night you were so frantic about getting to dance class. So, I figured you would probably be here. I'm glad you're safe." As he whispered his last words I felt his grip around me tighten, as if he thought he thought he was going to lose me.
"You're not going to lose me Luke, I promise you that." I lifted my head from his chest and stared into his eyes, before moving forwards and placing the most gentle of kisses onto his luscious lips. Sliding my hands up his strong torso, I felt him shiver beneath my touch and I wrapped my hands around his neck and clasped my hands together.
We made out for a little bit before Rae came in and told us to leave because a class was coming in soon. I dragged Lucas out of the studio and made him wait for me outside the dressing room and I changed back into my school clothes. When I opened the door I saw him leaning against the old brick wall and he looked so damn hot I just had to kiss him one more time before we made our way to the sidewalk outside the studio. I spotted his bike parked right out front and let out a small squeal, I'm still getting used to the fact that he has a freaking Harley. "Hey Luke, baby, can you drive me home, cause I'm way to tired." I said with my signature pout that used to get me everything and anything I wanted.
"Of course Pretty Girl." Right when those words came out of his mouth I rushed over and sat on his bike, if you can even call it sitting, I was pretty much just leaning on it.
"Hey Luke?"
"Yea"
"Thanks," I replied, a small blush tinting my cheeks, his eyes penetrating my soul.
"For what?" He asked so innocently as he stood right in front of me, holding my hand in his much larger one. God, this boy doesn't even know how he's saving me from the sinking ship I was on and have been on for so long.
"Actually giving a rat's ass about me." I answer in such a soft voice that I thought he didn't even hear me because once the words escaped my lips I suddenly found the floor very interesting.
I noticed that he got down on his knees and placed his rough fingers under my chin gently pushing my face up to meet his. Those glass blue eyes get me every freaking time.
"I'll always give a rat's ass about you Brooke, always." He leaned in and kissed my lips once again. This time it turned into a very heated make out session. Our tongues battling with one another, while my scantily clad body was pressed up against his Harley.
We finally pull back so we can catch our breaths and I say to him, "Always and Forever?"
"Always and Forever Pretty Girl."
He kissed me one last time and then we drove away. When we made it back to my house we went inside and did just about everything. We pigged out on junk food, watched TV, talked, a lot, and just enjoyed each other's presence. Luke was in the middle of telling a hilarious joke when I heard the door slam. I jumped a little at the loud noise and looked at the clock it was 2:30, I wonder who that could be.
"Brooke! BROOKE! You better not be with that punk." His booming voice echoed through the house.
"Shit, shit, shit," I said as quietly as I could, "Lucas um go hide in my closet." I said frantically pulling him off my bed and pushing him into my walk in closet. "Be quiet you can't make any noise."
"But Brooke…" He doesn't finish what he's saying cause I place my finger on his lips.
"Luke you seriously can't say anything, okay?"
"Okay." He backs into my closet and stands there with his hands in the pockets of his dark wash jeans. I almost lost my train of thought, while looking at him, but heard footsteps on the stairs and remembered who was here. I shut the door to my closet and turned on one of my All Time Low albums, while flopping onto my bed, trying to make it look like I was here by myself the whole time.
I hear the steps stop at my door and then I hear the handle twist and see an angered, but worried Nathan rushing into my room. "Hey Nate. What's up?" I ask hoping he will leave soon and not check my room for a certain hottie in my closet.
"Brooke! Seriously don't what's up me right now, okay? I mean I see you leave school crying your eyes out and then some guy chasing after you. God, first of all you had me worried sick and then I see this punk running after you. Who is he Brooke? Please don't tell me it's that Lucas punk. God, I'm gonna kick his ass! He's here isn't he? Come out bastard I'm gonna give you a beat down!" His voice turned from caring to enraged in a split second. We just sat in silence for a few moments, before I spoke up.
"Nate, I'm fine ok. Don't need to worry about me, it was nothing ok. Just me being a baby, sorry I worried you. And no it wasn't Lucas's fault ok, he was just trying to help me. Also he's not here so, no one is going to get a beat down or an ass kicking. I know you worry about me but seriously I'm fine, so I'm just gonna skip the rest of school, but you should get back cause," I was cut off my a noise coming from the closet.
"Oh really Brookie? There's no one here. OK then you wouldn't mind me checking your closet now would you?" He's taking huge strides so that he can get to the closet before me, but I jump over my bed and stand in from of the wooden doors. My back is pressed against it and my breath is ragged. I'm so freaking nervous. "Please Brooke move out of my way. If there is nothing to hid, then you will let me check your closet. He was right so I slowly moved out of the way.
"You know this has got to be illegal or something. You can't just look through my," He whipped open the door, "stuff." Nothing was there. "See Nate I told you there was nothing to worry about. I'm here all by myself." Both my hands are on my hips and I shoot him the infamous Scott smirk.
"Ok Brookie Cookie, I guess you were right. Sorry, I just don't want you to get hurt, especially now…"
"Yea, yea, I got it Nate. But you should be getting to basketball practice," I interrupt him because I know Lucas is somewhere in my closet and I don't want him hearing about my mom.
"Mhm. Bye Brookie, I'll see you soon." He leans over and kisses my cheeks before leaving my room. When I hear the front door close, I let out the breath that I was subconsciously holding.
"Ugh," I run over to the closet and swing the door open to see a tall, hot Lucas standing there, scratching the back of his head. "God, where did you go? How did you not get Nathan to see you?" I am seriously flabbergasted as to how he pulled that off.
He took a step out of the closet and wrapped bout of his arms around my waist and pulling me closer to his body. He placed his mouth by my ear and whispered, "I'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." Letting go of my body, he walked over to my bed and flopped onto his back. "Nice CD choice by the way."
"Oh really? I didn't know you liked them," I was seriously shocked. So far I haven't met anyone with same taste in music as me. I mean Nathan love his rap, you know, NWA, Tupac, Lil Wayne, etc. and Haley loves country music, Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, etc. So it's nice to talk great music with someone else.
"There's a lot you don't know about me Brooke…" and he paused. Wow, I just realized that we didn't even know each other's last names.
"Scott." I reply and stick my hand out to him. He places his hand into mine and we shake hands.
"Lucas Roe. Nice to meet you Brooke Scott."
"You too Lucas Roe." I smile and he gently pulls on my hand. I find myself laying on top of him, our faces so close I can smell his cologne and I can hear his heart beating.
"You're so beautiful," He whispers and I can feel his warm breath on my skin. That's all I need to hear before I lean up and claim his lips with my own. I once again feel his tongue slip out of his mouth and against my bottom lip. I slide up his body and straddle his waist. I hear a groan come from his mouth as I catch my bottom lip between my teeth. He flips me over and I giggle.
"Aggressive move Broody," I smile up at him, showing that I'm only playing around and pull his face down to mine. All my attention is on Lucas that I don't even notice the door being swiftly opened and a baffled Nathan saying,
"Brooke, sorry I forgot my…" what a mood killer. "Brooke, this is Lucas isn't it. God, I knew you were here." He walks over to my bed and grabs Lucas by the collar of his jacket. Pulling him to his feet.
"Nathan. Nathan! Stop ok. I can handle myself. Lucas is a good guy, just leave him alone. You don't know him Nathan." I plead as I see Nathan push Lucas into one of the walls of my room. He brings his hand back to punch Lucas square in the face, but Luke ducks and his hand goes straight into my wall. Then Nathan is tackled to the ground. They roll around a little longer, punching and kicking each other. God, I freaking don't know what to do, um..ugh, I got it! I fall off my bed with a thud and pretend that I fainted.
I can hear that both my brother and Luke have stopped fighting and are arguing? "God you idiot! Look this wouldn't have happened if you were trying to get in my sister's pants. Which you never will." I hear Nathan spit at Lucas.
"You know what. You don't know anything about me or my intentions towards Brooke. Ok, god, just back off." Awe he really is sweet. I start to smile and realize that my cover is probably blown. So I sit up and see Nathan and Lucas both staring intently at one another.
"Hey guys!" I give them both a shy smile.
"Brooke, oh my god! Are you ok?" Nathan places both his hands on the side of my face and looks deeply at my features.
"Yea, I'm fine. I didn't really faint. That's just the only thing I could think of to do to get you guys to stop fighting," I close my eyes as I feel Nathan's hands drop from my face and slowly open one of my eyes and then I realize I should have just kept them both shut. Nathan is pissed.
"Brooke are you kidding me! Do you know how freaked out I was? I thought you I don't know were hurt or something! Don't ever do that again! OH and while were on the topic, you can tell Lucas that you are never seeing him again, while he's here." By now he's already standing with his hands crossed over his chest and Lucas is standing also, looking at Nathan like he is crazy.
I push myself up off the ground and let out an angered huff. "Nathan don't be ridiculous. You can't control my life ok? So no I'm not going to listen to you request and yes, I am seeing Lucas again. You know, these past two years have been miserable for me and I'm finally starting to be happy again. Lucas makes me happy Nate," my voice is now soft, "And I just thought that you wanted me to be happy again."
"I do Brooke, you don't know how badly I've wanted that for you, but this guy, can't make you happy Brooke. He's not good enough for you."
"How can you say that Nate! You don't even now him. If you can't except my relationship with Lucas then I guess you aren't the person I thought you were."
"I'm sorry Brooke, I just don't want you to get hurt. But this guy isn't the right guy for you and don't say things like that Brooke. Have you forgot how I've always been there for you to protect you, threw mom's death and the taunting. I thought you had my back and I had yours, but if you're gonna let something like this punk get in between that then I guess you aren't who I thought you were either."
"Ok. Now that's out in the open. If you can't accept Lucas than I guess you can't accept me. I can't be around people who can't do that, so I guess I'll be moving out by the end of tonight."
"Brooke…" Lucas's voice comes out strangled and I almost forgot he was still there.
"It's ok Luke. So I guess this is goodbye Nate," I stick out my hand, and I look Nathan in the eyes, willing myself not to breakdown in front of him.
"I guess so Brookie," I almost start crying when he uses my childhood name, but he sticks his hand in mine, giving it a squeeze then leaves, slamming my door behind him. When Nathan left, tears started to slowly slide down my cheeks.
"Brooke, I'm really sorry, I" I can tell that he feels uncomfortable and really guilty about the fact that I basically picked him, who I've know for a couple days, over my brother, who I've known my whole life. But, he doesn't realize that I can't loose him, he means too much to me.
"Luke it's ok. Really." I say as I make my way over towards him and kiss his lips lightly. "You know how much I care about you, I just can't loose you." Laying my head on his strong chest, I let more salty tears fall down my face. His arms snake around my shaking body and squeeze lightly. I pull back and look into his sad eyes, "I hate to do this Luke, but I kinda want to be alone right now." I feel his arms fall to his sides and concern fill his eyes.
"Are you sure Brooke? I mean I can stay if you want me to?"
"No, it's ok. I have to pack anyways. Um, just call me later ok?" I felt another set of tears about to come out of my already red and puffy eyes.
"Yea of course," He says and kisses my forehead before leaving, the same way Nathan just did.
Not only is it the second day of school, but it's also the day my mom died and now I'm homeless. My life rocks!
Wow! Totally drama filled right? Well, I'm very proud of this chapter, even though Brooke and Nathan are fighting. But I love this chapter. Anyways I bet you weren't expecting that were you…so please review. I would love to hear your guys's feedback on this chapter and if you have any suggestions for the next chapter you are welcome to voice them! : D