A/N- Hi everyone, I must start by apologising. I know I said this would be up by Friday but due to the stresses of me being in the middle of applying to uni and feeling really hung-over on Friday I didn't have it finished in time. But it's done now and I'm pretty happy with it, and I made it extra long- the longest chapter yet- as a way of making it up to you guys.
Once again thank you so much for the amazing reviews if you go to the trouble of writing me a long review I always try and write a message back as a way of saying a personal thanks. That said I love all my reviews, even the idty bidty ones, so make a girl happy and hit that purple button!
Chapter 6- Betrayal can only happen if you love
Brooke's cell buzzed on her night stand. She discarded this month's issue of vogue, rolled over and retrieved it. Her face broke into a smile seeing the name on the screen. Fred.
The coasts clear. I'm waiting…
She jumped up from the bed and walked over to her closet pulling out a pair of chocolate coloured boots. She grabbed the strawberry lip-gloss off her vanity and applied it quickly before turning towards the door. It was after ten on a school night, her dad would be in his study doing paper work, her mom in front of the TV accompanied by a bottle of chardonnay. It was safe. Last time she had checked Nathan was staying at Rachel's but it seemed unbeknownst to her, his plans had changed. This was clear by the head on collision she encountered when she stepping out of her room.
"Wow. Brooke slow down" he said reaching his arms out to steady her.
"Sorry Nate, I wasn't expecting to see you" she said glancing at her cell furtively.
"Yeah well I wasn't expecting to be here. Me and Rachel had a huge blow out. Sometimes I think she says things to purposefully annoy me. Where are rushing off to so late..?" Nathan asked leaning up against the wall.
"Oh…I was having major ice cream withdrawal. You know what I'm like if I don't get my daily fix…" she lied.
"Brooke we have a freezer full of ice cream" Nathan said narrowing his eyes.
"We do? We do. But we don't have mint choc chip. I ate the last bit yesterday…" she improvised praying that he would believe her.
"You're crazy you know that? Don't be long, you know how dad gets when you're late home" he said following her down stairs. Thank god he believed her. Then again why wouldn't he? She was his sister, he trusted her. A twinge of guilt found its way to her chest but she pushed it back down, thoughts of Lucas waiting for her replacing it.
"I won't be." she said giving him a kiss on the cheek and turning towards the door. Letting out a relieved breath.
"Brooke!" he called after her. What now?
"Your keys" He said dangling her cars keys that hung from her pink key chain in front of her.
"You wouldn't get far without those hey?" Nathan said throwing them to her, shaking his head.
"Right. Thanks I'm such an airhead. I'll catch you later" she said turning around and walking out the house. She really had to get better at this lying thing.
"You know it wouldn't hurt you to set a ladder up here" she grumbled as she pulled herself through Lucas' bedroom window, dusting off her jeans.
"Nice try cheery you know you love it, all this secret relationship stuff." He said looking up from the book he was reading from his place on his bed. Her face softened into a smile as she saw him propped up in bed wearing a white wife beater and joggers. She took off her jacket flinging it over his chair before walking over to his bed and crawling up it seductively.
"There are some perks" she said lifting her leg over him, to sit in his lap.
"What took you so long?" he asked running his hands down her lower back cupping her ass.
"Nathan caught me. I had to make up an excuse" she said raising her hands to his neck, running her fingers through his hair.
"What did you say?" he asked pulling her forward a little.
"I was going to get ice cream. I had to drive my car round the block, he was watching from the window. I hope you appreciate the lengths I go to to see you." she said leaning in to kiss him. She still wasn't used to the feeling of kissing him, she had never felt anything quite like it. He had an indescribable way of knowing exactly what she needed; it was the most sensual thing she had ever experienced.
"Oh yeah much appreciated." He said breaking their kiss.
"When are your parents back from NYC?" she asked kissing down his neck.
"Tomorrow" he answered huskily.
"I guess we'll just have the make the most of tonight then" she said kinking her eyebrow.
"Ice cream run doesn't exactly give us much time…" he said pulling her face back up to his and capturing her lips in another searing kiss.
"Hey! No dissing my excuse, I was under pressure…" She said pulling back from his kiss.
"…I could call Nathan and tell him I'm staying with Rachel tonight. How's that sound?" she rasped as his hands danced under the fabric of her silk camisole.
"Perfect" he said before tugging at the edges of the cami and pulling it straight over her head, pausing to stare at the flawless sight before of him.
"Goddamn perfect"
Lucas slammed his front door and leapt into his truck. He was very uncharacteristically late. His cell rang on the dashboard. He didn't need to look at the caller ID to see who it was.
"I'm coming hales" he said tired.
"You better be. I've been waiting for over 30 minutes Luke. What happened? Sleep through your alarm?" Haley asked annoyed.
"Not exactly…" he said fighting to keep the grin of his face.
"Lucas Eugene Scott please do not tell me you made me late for school because you were too busy getting your morning quickie with which ever bimbo you have warming your bed this week" she asked angrily.
"Okay…I didn't?" he said smiling into the phone thinking about this morning's activities. And last nights and the day before that. This whole week had been amazing.
"Lucassssss…" Haley whined down the phone seeing through his weak answer.
"Come on Haley don't start! Besides we wouldn't be having this conversation if you had your own car fixed and stopped using me like your personal chauffer" Lucas said into the phone.
"Fine. But if your not here in 5 minutes I'm taking you out of my will" Haley said hanging up the phone.
Lucas laughed at his cousins temper tantrum. Nothing was going to ruin his mood today.
Rachel took out her history book and sighed seeing Nathan walking towards her in the mirror that hung in her locker. Last night was nasty. They'd had one of their infamous fights. They didn't argue very often but when they did they were pretty unforgettable. They would scream mercilessly at each other until one of them could take it no longer, usually Nathan. It was exhausting but they always made up in the end. However seeing him walking towards her simply confirmed the fact she wasn't even nearly ready to talk to him yet.
"Unless the next words that come out of your mouth are 'I'm sorry' than I don't wanna know." She said slamming the door of her locker and walking down the corridor.
"Where's Brooke?" Nathan asked following her down the hall.
"What are you retarded? I just said…" Rachel said flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"I heard you I just don't give a shit. Just answer the question Rachel" he said aggressively
"Oh so you do know my name. I got so used to you calling me 'crazy bitch' last night I was beginning to wonder…" she said ignoring his question and carried on walking down the hall. Nathan wasn't in the mood for her games to day. He stopped, grabbing her arm forcefully, causing a few people to stop and stare.
"Where. Is. She." He said in a low voice, his eyes narrow and angry.
Rachel snatched her arm back.
"Jesus Nathan I don't know! I'm not her keeper; I don't know her every move"
"Well she stayed with you last night. My dad was fucking furious when she didn't come home…" he said sighing.
"What are you harping on about?" Rachel asked completely confused. After Nathan had left last night she had tried calling Brooke to bitch about him, but her cell had been off. Last time she spoke to her was at cheer practice the day before. Why did Nathan think she had stayed with her last night?
"Brooke. She said she was staying with you last night, right?" Nathan asked his eyebrows rose.
"Right. I just haven't seen her since this morning…" Rachel covered for her, thinking on her feet.
"What's your problem Rachel? I swear you get pleasure from pissing me off. Why couldn't you have said that when I first asked..?" Nathan asked her.
"Do me a favour Nathan and stay away from me for a while. I'm sick of you treating me like crap" Rachel said before walking into her history class. She had covered for Brooke after all what were best friends for? But she was determined to find why she had been lying to her brother in the first place. Brooke had been acting odd this past week. She was never around, whenever Rachel called she seemed distracted or in a hurry. Rachel knew her best friend, she new something was up and she was going to find out what it was, even it killed her. She had a feeling it was going to be good.
"Lucas where are my panties?" Brooke said desperately searching the floor, hurried on by the loud ringing of the school bell signally class was due to start.
"Brooke its pitch black in here, how am I supposed to know?"
"You could at least help me look. This was your idea after all." She said as she searched the wall of the janitor's closet for a light switch.
"I didn't hear you protesting a minute ago" he said zipping up his fly. The light went on to show a frenzied Brooke scanning the cramped room for her missing under wear.
Her cell beeped from her bag. She stopped her search to retrieve the message.
We need to talk. Meet me after school. R x
"Here" Lucas said handing her the hot pink thong he had fond hanging off a broom handle.
"Who was that?" he asked reading over her shoulder slipping his arms around her waist. She began texting back.
No can do. Study date. Sorry bf x
"Just Rachel. Come on we have to go. Algebra awaits" she said turning around to give him a slow kiss on the lips. She went to move away but his firm grip around her waist wouldn't allow it. She giggled as she loosened his hands despite his protests.
"I'll see you after school" she reasoned.
"You will?" he asked surprised.
"Study date, in the library?"
"Three times in one day. This sneaking around stuff isn't that hard really." He said buttoning his shirt.
"You do realise this time we actually have to study?" she said reaching for the door handle.
"You say that now…" Lucas said reaching out for her, a naughty smile on his lips.
"Try and keep your mind out the gutter" she said smiling before slipping out the room.
Rachel entered the library covertly. She scanned the few people gathered around the heavy mahogany tables; Brooke was nowhere to be seen. She turned around and walked towards the other study room not giving up that easily. She hadn't been able to find her all day plus she was ignoring her calls something was definitely up. Rachel was determined to find her. Too bad she had the patience of a two year old. She would ask someone if they'd seen her, all this looking was tiring.
"Excuse me…nerd?" a wimpy looking boy looked up form his book, clearly shocked that someone of Rachel's position would talk to him.
"Me?" he asked looking over his shoulder to see if she was talking to any one else.
"Yeah, have you seen Brooke Scott around here?" she asked tapping her foot impatiently.
"No, she's not been in, I've been here all afternoon…" the boy stuttered.
"I bet you have…" Rachel said turning back the way she came frustrated.
"Well this is a rare occurrence. Rachel Gettina in the library, what happened? You get lost?" Haley James voice rang out from the World History section.
"Funny. Believe it or not some people actually have lives outside of school. You haven't seen that loser of cousin of yours have you?" Rachel asked looking at Haley scornfully.
"Yeah and those people aren't getting into college. What do you want with Lucas any way? Your obnoxious pig of a boyfriend not enough for you?" Haley asked scowling.
"I'm looking for Brooke, they had a study date. Or at least she said they did…"
"I wouldn't worry about it she's probably too busy making her way through the entire basketball team." Haley said turning back to the book case.
"You should work harder on tuning out the bitterness in your voice Haley. Jealousy isn't a good look on you. Oh and FYI Brooke doesn't even like Basketballers" Rachel said before walking out the library doors leaving an annoyed Haley behind her.
"Lucas we shouldn't be here" Brooke said following him into the bar.
"We just spent two hours working, I think we deserve a little break" he persuaded her, taking her hand in his pulling her towards the bar. After school he had spent a good 15 minutes convincing her to study somewhere more private than the library, they had spent the last couple of hours curled up in the lifeguard station working on their English project. Alright so they had stopped occasionally to make out but for the most part they had worked pretty hard.
"I guess, but we can't be long. Nathan's been calling me all day." Brooke said signalling to the bartender, who grabbed them two beers.
"We won't. Besides there's something I need to talk to you about." Lucas said cryptically.
"What is it broody?" she asked concerned seeing his body language change.
"I need your help. With my mom. I have to know what happened between her and Dan." Lucas said his face becoming pained at the subject.
"You want me to do some stealthy digging?" she asked unable to hide the excitement from her voice.
"I know it puts you in a kinda awkward position…" he said looking at her intently trying to work out her feelings on the matter.
"Stop. You know better than anyone I have less then fuzzy feelings for my dad. If it's something you have to do, I understand. I'm a little curious myself. Leave it with me I'll be like your personal Veronica Mars only much hotter…" she said smiling her dimples showing, sipping her beer.
"So much hotter" he said pulling her towards him and leaning in to kiss her passionately.
"Thank you" he whispered, looking into her beautiful eyes.
"Anything for you…." she said not breaking his gaze.
"But now I have to go. I'm sorry…" she said picking up her purse of the counter.
"When am I gonna see you next?" he asked toying with her hand.
"Soon. Watch your cell" she said leaning in to kiss him hard on the lips.
She walked out the bar looking over her shoulder to give him a tight smile. It was getting harder to leave him. Every time she had to sneak back out or watch him leave it made her heart ache a little more. There was no question, she had it bad.
It was just after ten by the time she got back. She turned the handle of the back door slowly. It had a habit of creaking nosily; she tried her best to be quiet as she prized it open. She looked around the dark kitchen, it was clear thank god. She turned to close the door and started off up to her room. In her haste she walked smack bang into a hard chest.
"You should know by now, nothing gets by me in my house" Dan Scott's harsh voice rang out through the silent kitchen.
"Dad! You scared me." She said moving back from him slightly.
"Where have you been Brooke?"
"I uh stayed with Rachel last night, I told Nathan, did he not tell you?" she said nervously.
"He told me I'm just not sure I believe you, what with your history can you blame me? In future I would appreciate if you called me personally not Nathan." He said walking towards the kitchen cupboard and pulling out a bottle of Whiskey.
"Whatever dad. I've got home work to do so I'm gonna just…" she said pointing upstairs, giving him a fake smile.
"Not so fast Brooke. I think it's about time we talked properly. Tomorrow family dinner, 7 O'clock…"
"Well would you look at that, I have plans so I guess you'll just have to play happy families without me…just pretend like I don't exist, shouldn't be too hard you've had plenty of practice." she said sarcastically. To Brooke nothing sounded worse than enforced family time.
"Oh believe me I wish we could. I have something important to talk about so unless you never want to leave this house again you'll be there, smiling." Dan said smugly.
"Fine" she said storming off upstairs pondering to herself; was it even humanly possible to be related to the devil?
Lucas woke with a start. The sound of a power drill filled the Roe mansion, puncturing the vivid dream he was deeply submerged in. He rolled over glancing at his alarm clock, the face read 5.30 am. He picked up a pillow and desperately tried to drown out the racket echoing through the house. It was no use. He threw the pillow off him and rolled out of bed,
"MA!" Lucas bellowed as he stamped downstairs dressed in just his boxers.
"Lucas, you're up early." His mother said as she walked out of the kitchen carrying a cup of coffee, not at all phased by the intense drilling noise coming from the lounge.
"Not by choice! What is that hellish noise?" he asked infuriated.
"That? Oh it's just the contractors retiling the roof" she said casually, sitting down on the couch, opening her newspaper.
"Now? Ma its 5.30 am! What was wrong with the old roof?" he asked throwing his hands in the air.
"Oh it was getting a little old, a bit scruffy didn't you think?" She asked flippantly. Lucas just looked at her in disbelief.
"What is this crazy obsession with fixing our house? It's perfect the way it is. Why isn't any one happy with what they've got?" Lucas asked, watching a burly contractor carry materials out the front door.
"There's always room for improvement Lucas. People settle for fine, but you have to strive for greatness" Karen said not looking up from her paper.
"No matter the costs?" Lucas asked realising her attitude to renovation must be pretty similar to her attitude to relationships, the image of his mother and Dan flashed into his mind.
"What are you talking about sweetie?" she asked looking up.
"Are you saying that if you want something you should just go out and get it, no matter the consequences or the people you hurt in the process" he asked he voice cutting. She looked up at him her face a mixture of confusion and fear.
"Sometimes you have to be selfish" she said slowly.
"You'd know" Lucas spat.
"That's enough" Lucas turned to see his father standing on the bottom stair.
"Dad you don't even know what we're talking about…" Lucas said seeing his opportunity to tell his dad what he had seen on that TV screen weeks earlier.
"I don't need to. Quite frankly Lucas I'm sick of your attitude at the moment. You're coming home late, drinking; now you're being rude to your mother? We haven't even seen you in a week the least you could do is show some respect." Keith scolded.
"Dad please just listen to me for a minute…" Lucas pleaded trying to explain himself.
"No you listen to me; your college prospectuses arrived yesterday do something useful with your self for once and go and read through them." Keith interrupted him, picking up the mail off the dresser.
Lucas shook his head and laughed bitterly,
"Whatever you say" he said pissed. He walked back up stairs and got dressed, he needed a run. No one could accuse him of not trying.
Brooke walked down the empty hallway towards the bathroom. She should have been in 5th period but she had got so bored she had resorted to a bathroom break to pass the time. As she rounded the corner she was pleasantly surprised.
"Fancy seeing you here" she whispered into Lucas ear wrapping her arms around his waist. He spun around to see her grinning like a Cheshire cat.
"Perfect timing. I was just thinking about you" he said raising his hand to her hair tucking it behind her ear.
"Really? Was it dirty?" she asked running her hands up his chest. However she stopped short, the sound of heels echoed through the halls, she pushed him thorough the nearest door, falling in after him. Luckily it was the empty girl's bathroom.
"Ow. You do realise this is the girls bathroom?" Lucas asked getting up off the floor, helping Brooke up to.
"Well it was either girls bathroom or inside of a coffin if Nathan found us out there" Brooke defended herself.
"Brooke that person was wearing stilettos unless there's something you're not telling me about Nathan than I think we can be pretty sure it wasn't him" Lucas said leaning up against the basin.
"Ha ha. It doesn't matter who it was, news travels fast in this town. You know that" she said seriously.
"I know, I was kidding. What's up? You look tense?" Lucas said pulling her towards him.
"I'm sorry it's my dad, he's really getting to me" she said snuggling into his embrace.
"I know how you feel" Lucas said sighing.
"Why? What happened?" she asked raising her head. As far as she knew Lucas and his father got on ok, the usual disagreements between fathers and sons aside Keith Roe was a decent guy.
"I almost told him this morning, about the affair." Lucas said quietly.
"Lucas that's huge. Why didn't you say something sooner?" she said pulling away from him a little.
"Because I didn't actually manage to tell him. He wouldn't listen. He never does, always far too busy with the next big business deal. You know I've been thinking about it and part of me doesn't actually blame her for having an affair. He's so wrapped up in his own world; it must be pretty lonely for her." Hew said looking down at Brooke.
"I'm sorry Broody" She said quietly, raising her hand to his cheek cupping it.
"Hey everyone families fucked up right?" he said looking away.
"Mine is that's for sure. Speaking of which, I can't see you tonight I have a family meal" she said annoyed.
"Is that a joke? I thought you guy's didn't do family things?"
"We don't. Personally I think its part of my dad's evil plot to make my life as miserable as humanly possible"
"Sounds like Dan. Call me after? Fill me in on any new methods of torture he's come up with?" Lucas said leaning down to kiss her.
"Will do." She whispered before meeting his kiss. They stood in the girl's bathroom completely oblivious to the outside world and all its problems. Why couldn't life just always be like this?
Brooke sat at the dining table staring at the plate that had been placed in front of her. She checked her watch, 7 o'clock on the dot. Nathan entered through the back door, dropping his bag onto the floor.
"Son! Just in time" Dan said from his place at the head of the table. Brooke just shook her head in disgust. She was certain if it was her who had turned up just as dinner was being served she would have been shown a completely different kind of welcome.
"Sorry dad. Just had some stuff to deal with" Nathan apologized vaguely.
"You're here now that's what matters." Dan said happily.
Brooke snorted unable to control herself. It was beyond humorous how spoilt Nathan was. Whatever he did was right. He came home at 1 o'clock on a school night, it was fine. He was just 'letting off some steam'. He had various women stay over and sneak out first thing in the morning. It was fine he was just 'sowing his wild oats'. Brooke was 99 sure that he could come home and confess that he had murdered their sweet elderly next door neighbour, Mrs. Biggins and would receive no more than a slapped wrist.
Nathan slid into the seat next to Brooke, looking at her unimpressed.
"You're here then" he stated, before picking up his knife and fork and digging in.
"Where else would I be?" she asked out the side of her mouth.
"You tell me. I've barely seen you all week" he muttered.
"I've just been focusing on school that's all" she said avoiding his gaze.
"You'd think with all those extra hours you've been putting in we'd see some improvement hey Brookie? Ah well you can't expect miracles" Dan said cruelly.
"How's practice going Nathan?" Deb asked across the table, finishing her wine.
Brooke sighed, and so it begins. The Nathan appreciation dinner, she eyed the bottle of chardonnay on the kitchen counter wondering if she could possibly get any of that.
"Well this has been fun, really it has but I've got stuff to do. So if that's everything…." Brooke said pushing her chair back from the table. Her head was about to explode, she had put up with over an hour of her parents sickening praise of her brothers every move. It had taken every bit of self control she had not to respond to every single one of her fathers sly digs directed at her. Enough was enough.
"Actually there is. This involves you particularly Brooke…" Dan said sipping his wine.
"Okay spill. What's the deal?" she said stopping what she was doing.
"Your mother and I wanted to tell you both that after a lot of careful consideration I've decided to take my career to the next level." Dan said looking between Brooke and Nathan.
"What are you talking about dad?" Nathan asked intrigued. Brooke just sighed unimpressed by her fathers drawn out way of telling his story.
"I'm running for mayor." Dan said proudly unable to hide his nauseating grin.
"Wow dad that's great!" Nathan said excitedly.
"I'm glad you think so because this decision affects all of us. This campaign is going to take a lot of hard work from the whole family. I need your support all the way" Dan said.
"You got it dad. Whatever you need." Nathan nodded.
"Thank you son. I knew I could count on you."
Brooke just sat there in shock. She was used to her dad ruining her life she couldn't escape it, but pretty soon he would be mayor and he would be ruining everyone else's too.
"What do you say Brooke?" he asked looking across the table at her.
"I say this is just another way for you to control this town. You're obsessed with power! How about you do whatever you want, just keep me out of it." She said pushing her chair away from the table.
"That's not gonna work. My campaign is based around the strength of family, as much as I wish I didn't, I need you. Everyone in Tree Hill knows you're a loose canon. You're the weak link Brooke I need to present a united front. I don't have a shot at winning without your support" Dan admitted.
"Lying already? Looks like you'll fit in perfectly in politics…" Brooke laughed, shaking her head.
"ENOUGH! You will be a part of this campaign. You will smile for the cameras and answer questions politely and dress like a proper society girl. No more of this high class stripper wear. You will stop partying, drinking and sneaking out. You will not even date unless I approve. Do I make myself clear?" Dan bellowed.
"What makes you think I'm going to listen to you?" Brooke shouted furious.
"Because if you don't, you won't ever make it to college. No trust fund, no credit card, nothing. You'll be dead to me. If you don't, you might as well leave now. I've worked too damn hard my whole life to get to this point. You're out of control Brooke! You think I don't see you sneaking out every night, stumbling in drunk. I'm not letting my pathetic excuse for a daughter ruin everything…."
"Dan that's enough I think she understands" Deb said getting up to get another bottle of wine.
"Nathan, help me out here. This is crazy! Surely you see that?" Brooke pleaded to her brother who had been silent up until this point. Nathan sat at the table his head in his hands, taking a deep breath before he spoke,
"He's right Brooke. I don't know what's been going on with you these past couple of weeks but some thing has to change. I love you too much to watch you destroy yourself. Dad's just trying to help; he just wants what best for you. We all do." Nathan said looking up at her finally. Brooke couldn't believe what she was hearing, an all too familiar stabbing feeling in her chest made it hard for her to catch her breath; betrayal.
"No Nathan, he wants what's best for him. He always has. How can you be so blind?" she asked tears filling her eyes. Her dads attack on her was one thing, but Nathan taking his side, abandoning her, that was something she never thought she'd see. He was her crutch, her comfort, how could he forget all that. She turned away from the table not willing to let them see her tears.
"One day you'll thank me for this Brooke" Dan said haughtily.
"For what? Taking control of and ruining my life? What do you expect me to do? Stay at home and knit?" she yelled.
"You will study, get your grades up. More importantly you'll learn how to be a lady." Dan said drinking his drink.
"You know, I didn't think I could hate you any more than I already did. I guess I was wrong" she said before running out the house.
She got in her car and drove. She didn't know where she was going but she couldn't stand to be in that house a minute longer.
She drove aimlessly; tears falling down her cheeks no matter how hard she tried to hold them back, alone, her emotions got the better of her. She pulled over and turned off the ignition. Taking her cell out of her purse she dialled quickly, resting her head on the steering wheel exhausted. After a few rings he picked up,
"I need you" she sobbed into the handset.
"Brooke..? Where are you?" he asked worried.
"I'm not sure… near the bridge I think" she said looking around trying to get her bearings.
"Meet me at the river court. I'm leaving now….okay?" he said scrabbling for his keys off the counter and opening his front door.
"Okay… Lucas? Thank you…" She said quietly.
"Anything for you"
They were sitting side by side on top of the picnic bench. Brooke had stopped crying around ten minutes ago but was still visibly upset. She had told him everything, starting right from the beginning of the evening. He had listened patiently not interrupting once as she rambled on about how her dad was an evil bastard and how Nathan had deserted her, just squeezing her hand in encouragement.
"What am I gonna do Luke? What are we gonna do?" she asked in despair.
"It's not too late to back out you know, you've got so much shit going on I'd understand…" He said quietly, he wasn't sure if his heart would take it if she gave up on them now.
"I'm not sure I could even if I wanted to" she said looking up into his eyes.
He bent down placing a tender kiss on her lips.
"Then we'll get through it, I promise" he assured her, putting his arm around her shoulders.
"How? If I move out he'll cut me off. I don't even have enough money for rent let alone college!" she said her voice wavering.
"Don't do any thing rash. I know you don't want to stay there tonight but you have you to go back at some point…"
"Don't. I can't think about that right now" Brooke said holding up a hand to silence him.
"Think of it this way. If you don't go back you don't get to sabotage your dad's campaign." Lucas said trying to lighten the mood.
"I'm past the point of caring. I just want to get out of that freak show you know? I actually feel sorry for the people of Tree Hill. I know my dad, when he gets an idea in his head he'll do what ever it takes to achieve it. He's ruthless. I have no doubt he'll make mayor. I'm not going home till he realizes what a complete asshole he's being" she said stifling a yawn
"Brooke it's late you should get some sleep, you're exhausted. You could stay at our beach house if you want…" Lucas offered, hating the thought of her alone and having no where to go.
"Thanks but that's probably not the best idea. I'm just gonna crash at Rachel's" she said getting up off the bench.
"You need me to drive you?" he asked standing up mirroring her actions.
"No it's fine." She said walking towards her car slowly.
"Call me if you need anything, I mean it." He said as she reached out for the door.
"I will. Thank you so much for this tonight Luke. I don't know what I would have done without you" she said turning to face him.
He smiled genuinely happy to hear those words, and placed a kiss on her forehead lovingly.
"I'll see you tomorrow." He said, knowing that particular promise meant a whole lot more in light of recent events.
"Night Broody"
Rachel was sat on her kitchen counter drinking coffee when Brooke finally woke.
"Good morning sleeping bitchy" she said before jumping off the counter and placing her cup in the sink. Brooke had turned up on her doorstep after midnight last night, tear stained cheeks, hair dishevelled asking to stay with her. Rachel took in her broken appearance and opened the door to her, no questions asked. When she had tried to wake her this morning, she had received a less then friendly response involving a series of curse words and a pillow being thrown at her. Nathan had left her a string of messages asking her to call him; she had no doubt they linked to Brooke's impromptu stay.
"Hey. I thought you'd be at school by now…" Brooke admitted sheepishly.
"You're not getting out of it that easily. You turn up at my house in the middle of the night, looking like somebody just died and I let you stay because what kind of best friend would I be if I didn't, but now I need answers…what happened last night B?" Rachel said searching her friends face for some kind of clue. Rachel had to admit she looked like shit; Brooke made her way over to the table and sat down her normal excess of energy missing.
"It's my dad…"
Brooke had been at Rachel's house all week. Although it had to be said she was barely there. She woke up early, left for school, had cheer practice, and then spent most the evening with Lucas. One good thing about not being at home was that she had no one to answer to, no one to ask where she was going. Apart from Rachel that is, but she was happy to give her space thinking that Brooke was still upset about the whole Nathan/Dan situation. Well she was still hurt but Lucas definitely helping to heal the pain. He was amazing; he had the ability to make her forget all her shit with just one kiss, touch. He made her laugh even when minutes earlier she was close to tears. As trite as it sounds she actually felt he was her other half, like she couldn't be completely happy without him, she couldn't sleep properly unless she had spoken to him, she couldn't do anything without thinking 'I wonder what Lucas would do?'. A small part of her felt angry with herself for being so dependant on him but the main part of her was so thankful to have found him.
It was Friday afternoon, she was getting ready to leave the house to meet Lucas at the beach, it didn't bother them that it was the end of October and the wind had changed to the north; they just took a blanket now. She picked up her keys off the chest near the front door.
"I'm going out Rach" she called up the stairs, opening the front door as she spoke. There on Rachel's front step stood an awkward looking Nathan. She paused for a moment surprised by his unannounced appearance, but quickly regained her wits.
"Rachel's upstairs" she said her voice void of emotion before walking past him down the steps of the porch.
"I'm not here to see Rachel" he said nervously.
"Well you're sure as hell not here to see me" she said walking towards her car. He simply followed her, not getting the message.
"Brooke, please. This is killing me. You're ignoring me at school, not answering my calls…" he said tugging at his hair.
"It's killing you? What about me? Did you even think about how this has been for me?" she said spinning around to face him.
"I know you're hurt Brooke and I'm sorry…" he started.
"Hurt? Hurt doesn't even begin to cover it. You have no idea what it felt like to have the one person you thought loved you most in the world, the one person I trusted the most, the one person I thought knew the real me sit there and tell me, 'You know what Brooke? You are the heartless slut with no future that everyone always said you were.'…" she spat coldly.
"Brooke I never said that…" he tried to explain his face screwed up ashamed.
"By agreeing with him you might has well have. As far I'm concerned you lost me when you sided with him." She said honestly.
"Brooke don't so this. Don't make me pick between you and dad…" he pleaded.
"I'm not making you do anything. Besides you already made your choice…" she said turning back towards her car.
"Brookie please, I'll always love you, you know that" he said his voice thick with emotion.
"Don't call me that. It's easy to say Nathan, but it's how you show it that counts. I can't trust you anymore, I never thought I'd be saying that but truly, I can't…" she said her voice wobbling for the first time unable to hide her emotions.
"Please Brooke just give me a chance to make it up to you. Tomorrow's the Black and White Ball, you know the hospital benefit? Dad's gonna be promoting his campaign. I want you to come, we all want you to come…" he rushed getting desperate.
"After everything that's happened this week, how could you think I would want to go there? Besides dad wouldn't even let me take a date, I'm not turning up like a loner" she muttered thinking up any excuses she could not to attend.
"He will. He even found someone to take you and before you say it, he's not a freak I checked him out. Dad's really sorry about the way he acted. He just wants this so much, he got a little crazy. Please Brooke, for me…I miss my sister…" he said reaching out for her hand.
Brooke racked her brain for another excuse, zilch. She knew she was going to regret this but looking at Nathan's pained face, his beautiful blue eyes dull for once in his life, she couldn't say no.
"Fine, I'll be there. Tell this guy to pick me up at 7…" Nathan's face lit up, he let out a sigh of relief. She turned back towards her car but stopped when she reached the door,
"I'm doing this for you Nathan, don't screw it up…" she warned before jumping into her convertible and speeding out of the driveway.
"Hey" she said climbing the slope of the lifeguard station, Lucas stood leaning up against the balcony, staring out to sea.
"Hey. I was getting worried, I thought we were supposed to meet at 6?" he asked turning his head towards her. She ducked under his arms, which were propped up on the rail. Snuggling her back into his chest, he wrapped one arm around her waist.
"We were. I'm really sorry. I had a visitor" she said watching the wave's crash on to the shore.
"Nathan?" he asked, she nodded in confirmation.
"I wondered how long it would take for him to come round. How was it?" he asked tightening his grip on her waist.
"Painful. He's sorry. Like that makes it all better. I just can't forgive him, I want to but I can't. I can see how much he's hurting but some little sadistic part of me wants him to. I want him to understand what it felt like for me…" she admitted.
"It's understandable it's still raw. It takes time to heal to forgive, you have to take baby steps" he said his chin rested in her shoulder.
"Hmm, I agreed to go to the Black and White ball tomorrow, it's like the launch of my dad's campaign" she said unenthusiastically.
"Okay…that would be a giant baby step…" he said smiling.
"I know but Nathan begged me, he might not be acting like it at the moment but he's still my brother. I miss him Luke" she confessed.
"I know cheery. Well, I'll be there too, you know my dad organises it every year; if it all gets to much maybe we can find a quiet corner and make the night a lot more interesting…" he said running his fingers under the fabric of her shirt, drawing patterns on her bare stomach, playing with the top of her jeans.
"Yeah about that. I kind of have a date…" she said turning her head to look at him.
"I'm sorry what?" he said raising his eyebrows, unsure how she managed to get a date to an event she had only just agreed to go to.
"I was trying to come up with an excuse to not go, and mentioned something about not going without a date and Nathan told me my dad had already sorted it. I blanked I couldn't think of a way out of it. I don't even know him; it's probably just some loser. I mean what kind of person doesn't have a date the night before the event?" she said trying to reassure him.
"Me…I didn't ask any one I was just thinking of going stag, to be honest I couldn't image being with anyone but you" he said shaking his head at how pathetic he sounded.
"Lucas, I'm sorry I didn't think. It's just one date, you know I'd rather be with you but I have to do this I'm not ready to give up on my family yet" she said reaching up to his face, stroking his cheek.
"I'm sorry. I understand, I really do. You don't need me acting like an ass on top of everything else" he said snaking his arms around her waist bringing her closer to him.
"Hey don't apologise, the jealous boyfriend act got me kinda hot and bothered" she said wiggling her eyebrows and leaning in to kiss him.
Her hot tongue made its way into his mouth, massaging his. She moaned as he leant against her, push her back into the balcony rail, his growing arousal digging into her.
"How'd you feel about an alfresco situation?" he said into her neck as he bit down gently on her pulse point. She mewled in appreciation, her hairs standing on end.
"I say let's embrace our inner Italian"
Brooke added the final touch to her make up, her smokey eyes looked stunning. She and Rachel had been to the salon earlier that day; her hair was pulled back, loose curls falling out of the chignon at the base of neck. All she had left to do was get dressed, she needed a little assistance.
"Rach! Get in here and zip me up" She called out. Her friend walked into the room dressed in a short white Grecian style dress showing an impressive amount of cleavage. Stilettos on her feet making her legs look never-ending.
"Wow. Nathan is going to die, you look amazing." Brooke said looking at her friend appreciatively.
"I know, but thanks anyway. Don't go spreading it around but I was beginning to doubt my fineness, Nathan hasn't wanted to have sex all week, which, believe me, is historic for him…"
"Nice. He's probably just had other things on his mind…" Brooke said trying to separate the image of her brother and Rachel from her ability to comfort her friend.
"There's no 'probably' about it. He hasn't stopped talking about you. I never thought I'd see the day that Nathan Scott would rather talk than have sex. Anyways once he sees me in this outfit he won't be able to say no. Now let's get you dressed, Felix will be here soon" she said taking the dress bag off the back Brooke's bedroom door.
"Oh joy. The blind date, you know there's a reason they call them that. Poor eye site is essential, the people who go on them must be the ugliest people alive." She said slipping into her dress. It was a jet black, fully sequined strapless number, with a slit up one leg. It looked fantastic on her.
"You're chirpy today. I take it you had fun with your mystery man?" Rachel asked zipping her up.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Brooke said turning to pick up her clutch avoiding her gaze. Rachel had been dropping subtle hints all week, but Brooke just thought she was just teasing she didn't expect her to confront her outwardly.
"Relax Brookie, I wont ask details but only because you're being a secretive slut. I would have to be completely brain dead not to notice that you're seeing someone, all the signs are there. You're living in my house for Christ's sake, did you really think you could hide it from me…"
"Please don't tell Nathan. If it gets back to my dad…" she begged turning to her best friend, feeling sick thinking about Nathan's reaction to her and Lucas.
"Your secret's safe with me. Now come on let's go down stairs I just heard a car pull up" Rachel said changing the subject quickly.
"Already? Do you think it's too late to cancel..?" Brooke asked half serious. Rachel just gave her a look.
"I'll take that as a yes"
Brooke felt all eyes on her as she entered the ball; the dress was definitely a hit.
The venue looked amazing, a blur of lavish black and white silk however none of this really interested her. She scanned the room looking for one person in particular; she caught sight of his blue eyes over by the bar, with Peyton. She saw him sip his drink and listen to her chat away in his ear, his face lit up at some private joke. Peyton placed her glass on the bar and leant forward and straightened his tie taking more time than necessary, her hand brushing imaginary fleck of his jacket. Brooke's attention was disturbed by the irritating voice of her date.
"Damn girl you look sooo fine…" Felix said placing his hand on the small of her back but let it graze her ass occasionally.
"Button it Ricardo I'm not your girl" Brooke said out the corner of her mouth. Since the minute he had picked her up he had been spurting slimy comments like his life depended on it. By the end of the car journey she was about ready to gag him, after all he wasn't bad looking, he was well dressed he might have been bearable if he couldn't open his mouth.
"You're feisty too. My perfect women" he said guiding her across the room to where Nathan and Rachel sat at the Scott table.
"Please god, kill me now" She prayed to a highly unreliable source as they arrived at the table.
"Brooke you made it!" Dan Scott said in a sugary voice, he really was a convincing liar, to the everyday Joe this would look like a father genuinely happy to see their daughter, too bad she knew better.
"I sure did" she said sitting down next to Rachel.
"You look beautiful, and you must be Felix, you make sure you tell your father we're well over due a poker game…" he said before getting up, having spotted an important business associate.
"Will do sir." Felix said smiling.
"Will you excuse me, I've got some networking to do…" he said before walking off across the ballroom. Brooke caught Nathan's eye across the table.
"See that wasn't so bad was it?" he asked trying to make her smile.
"The night is young" she answered looking away.
"Brooke…" Nathan tried not expecting her to be so cold. He thought getting her to come here was the hard part he hadn't banked on her being just as distant as she had been all week. Rachel looked at her, her eyes pleading with her to give Nathan a chance.
"You wanna dance…" Brooke asked turning to Felix desperate to be any where else but at that table.
"Hell yeah" Felix answered getting up from the table offering her his hand. She took it gladly.
"Later man" Felix said smarmily slapping Nathan on the back as they walked past.
"Hey! Unless you're looking to loose a limb you better move your hands north a little" Brooke said as she felt Felix's hand move from resting on her lower back to gripping her ass. They had been dancing for a bout 10 minutes and she was already regretting asking him, he had taken it as some kind of open invitation to grope her.
"Don't worry baby I could take your brother. You don't have to deny the sexual tension between us" he said confidently.
"You couldn't but it's not my brother you have to worry about…" she said searching the crowd for Lucas, she hadn't seen him since she had arrived the thought of him spending the evening with Peyton unsettled her.
"Really? So you have a honey huh? Tell me does the old man know that? Because he practically begged my dad for me to take you, of course if he had provided a photo it would have been an easy decision…" he said winking at her.
"You really are an intolerable son of bitch, you know that? I'm gonna go get a drink; can you do me a favour? Try and get involved in a fatal accident whilst I'm gone, that would really make my night" she said breaking his hold and walking towards the bar. She didn't get far before she felt a hand grab her waist and whisk her behind a pillar,
"Don't you ever get the message..?" she said thinking Felix had come after her.
"Lucas, I thought you were my slime ball of a date. Boy am I pleased to see you." she said her face softening taking in the sight of him in his tux.
"You two looked pretty cosy" Lucas said leaning back on the pillar.
"Not really. His hands have a mind of their own but you know me, I can look after my self, I put him in his place…" she said looking over her shoulder to see if any one could see them.
"That's not it looked like from where I was standing" he said stubbornly, seeing that guy with his hands all over her made his blood boil.
"Don't start with me Lucas; I'm not the only one making friends, or in your case better friends" Brooke said she knew it was petty to bring Peyton up but she couldn't help herself, he was acting like a complete ass.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked unsure of what she was referring to.
"You and Peyton"
"Not this again! You're being irrational…" he said regretting bringing up the subject in the first place.
"Come on Lucas she was all over you like a rash! I'm not saying you have feelings for her but I can't believe you're naïve enough to think that she just wants to be your friend, I've seen the way she looks at you, I know that look, hell I've given that look!" Brooke explained, raising her voice unintentionally.
"We can't do this here" Lucas said rubbing his head.
"No your right we can't. I have to go back to my sleazy date, and take family photos with sociopath father, alcoholic mother and back stabbing brother. But you have a good night now; say hi to Peyton for me" she said before turning around and heading back to the bar. He sighed realising what an idiot he was being.
"Brooke wait up…" he said following her through the crowd.
"I can't believe she's still being like this. I told her I was sorry what more does she want?" Nathan asked rhetorically. He had been going on like this the whole night, Brooke this Brooke that, Rachel was this close to falling asleep in her Champaign glass.
"I mean it Rach, what can I do to show her that I really mean it?" he asked his part time girlfriend from their place at the bar.
"Just give her time Nate. You know how stubborn she is… now can we please go and dance? I've got a ridiculously expensive dress on and according to 98 of the men in here I look hot as hell and we've been sitting at this bar for over an hour…" she moaned getting up from her seat and puling him to his feet.
"An hour? Shit I have to find my dad; he needs me tonight I have to help get people on bored 'Dan Scott for mayor'…sorry babe I'll find you later" he said before weaving through the crowd off to look for his father without a second look.
"Alone again?" Haley James asked. Rachel turned to see her standing to the left of her in a floor length black dress, her honey blond hair in curls cascading across her shoulders.
"At least I have a date, who did you come with? And just so you know your cousin doesn't count, unless you're into that kinky shit…" Rachel said smirking.
"I'd rather be alone then put up with the way your so called boyfriend treats you. Every one laughs at you behind your back, you know that right? Your pathetic, you walk around school like your god's gift to men when really you're so insecure that you'd rather put up with being treated like a cheap hooker than be alone." Haley said turning around to walk away.
"I understand why you're angry Haley, it must suck to be a fat girl with a little head" Rachel said to Haley's retreating form.
Haley spun around ready to reply but was unable to due to the silence that had fallen over the room. There in the centre of the stage stood Keith Roe. Both girls turned to face the stage, their argument postponed for a minute.
"Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, sorry for the interruption I just have a few words to say. First of all I would like to thank everyone for coming tonight, through your generous donations alone we have made over 2 million dollars for the children's hospital…" the crowd clapped appreciatively. Lucas was still in the process of worming through the crowd when he heard his dad start his speech, assuming it to be the same as every other year he continued following Brooke as she tried her hardest to make it to the exit on the other side of the colossal room.
"…I'd also like to take this opportunity to tell the people of Tree Hill some exciting news. It is my pleasure to inform you that as of today I will be running against Dan Scott for the position of mayor of Tree Hill. This is a position I have been striving for my whole life, I love this town with all my heart and I hope I will have all of your support in my upcoming campaign." The room exploded into deafening applause as Keith broke the unexpected news.
Lucas stopped where he was, his search for Brooke forgotten, unsure that he heard right. His dad was running for mayor, this was the first he had heard of it. He looked up, somehow after a good ten minutes running in the opposite direction from him; Brooke had found herself in front of him.
She didn't have to speak to work out what he was feeling, his face said it all. She looked at him the shock and anger clear, she signalled to the door motioning for him to follow.
Could their lives get any more complicated?
There it is a pretty drama filled chapter, what can I say I love angst! Please review K X