Author's Notes: YES! It has been a while and I apologize, sincerely. My computer broke down so I had to get online from my kindle. Then my stepdad finally let me use his laptop but I didn't want my stories on there so I had to wait for mine to be repaired and now it finally is. I'm in the writing mood tonight so the third chapter should be up sooner than you know.
Summary: Stupid mistakes, lies, and betrayal can make it hard to remember the ones you loved, fought for. Under cover of darkness, was where their love lay. It'd take years to peel back the layers and find it again – but who said they were above trying?
Disclaimer: You know what OTH sounds like, some kind of medicine. "I'm taking OTH for my cold." LOL, I crack myself up! Or, some kind of disease. "I'm sorry ma'am, you have OTH disease." Anyway, I don't own any OTH, so head on down to the pharmacy.
Under Cover Of Darkness
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Chapter Two: My Neck of The Woods
Lucas comes to a slow stop as they pull up in front of the house. He sees her shudder out of the corner of his eye and he snorts in annoyance. "You really still thinkin about the plane?"
"Shut up!" she snaps. "You know how I get when we take planes, my claus–"
"Please Brooke, we've all heard the little sob story about how Mrs. Davis locked poor little Brookie in a closet as a child whenever she would do something bad and now she's so messed up, she freaks out whenever she gets on a plane." Lucas smiles somewhat mockingly. He knows this is a sore spot for her but he convinces himself that he doesn't care. Not about her anymore. "Yes it's a fascinating story that you've recounted about a thousand times since I've known you. Do something for me sweetheart, get over it."
Brooke feels tears gather in her eyes as she listens to his cruel tone. Her mouth stays shut as she observes their surroundings, anything to distract her mind but she can't stop the images that start clouding her brain. The memories of all the times she's told him that awful story. The caring and compassionate way he'd wrap his arms around her and tell her everything would be okay. That no one would ever hurt her again.
"This is rather secluded." She finally mumbles after a silence that seemed to drag on forever. There are trees everywhere around them. Not a house in sight except the one their in front of.
"Yeah well I couldn't make it too easy for the police. We're basically the only ones out here so get used to it."
Lucas flexes his fingers resting on the steering wheel and glances in her direction.
"Nate's gonna shit a brick when he finds out you spilled coffee on the floor of his jet."
"Lucas! I didn't do it on purpose, you know how I get–" she stops herself before she can get into her issues again. Taking a deep breath, she settles a glare on Lucas. "I still don't know why we couldn't take a boat."
"I still don't know why you won't stop complaining." Lucas opens the door and steps out, going around to open the trunk. "I don't remember you being this annoying five years ago."
Brooke scurries out and follows, determined not to stay in the car alone. "Oh trust me, I was." she smiles sardonically, barely catching the suitcase he tosses in her direction. "But you were too busy getting high with your crack buddies to notice."
Lucas slams the trunk closed and leans down on it, breathing in and out, reminding himself why exactly he's putting up with her. She always knew how to get his blood boiling. And despite the obvious hair difference, she hasn't changed one bit.
They walk down the pathway to the house in silence. Once Lucas reaches the door, he hears Brooke take in a sharp breath and he knows she's nervous about facing the people she left behind. And no matter how hard he tries to convince himself that he doesn't care about her, it takes all his strength not to turn around and gather her into his arms.
He steps inside the large house and places his suitcase down on the floor. He takes a couple of steps and when he doesn't hear the door close behind him, he turns around to see Brooke still standing on the porch.
He scoffs. "Never pegged you for the nervous type, Davis."
Brooke bites her lip. "Do they know I'm coming?"
He smirks at her statement, curling his upper lip to one side. "Of course they know."
Brooke narrows her eyes. "I don't believe you."
"Frankly, I don't give a shit. You either get your ass in here, or freeze all night outside."
"It's spring." She states.
"Fine, stay out here and get all dehydrated and sweaty and shit."
He slams the door to the house and there's a silence in the air. It takes Brooke a minute to realize he isn't coming back out. She hears a ruffle in the woods behind her and turns around promptly.
Nothing but trees and more trees.
Brooke gets slightly rattled and a creepy feeling settles over her. She can feel her claustrophobia flaring up by her swift heartbeat and she begins banging on the door. She tries wiggling the knob but it's locked. She starts to bang again.
"Lucas! Lucas!" she wails. "Don't you dare leave me out here!" Her breathing picks up speed and she feels her hands begin to tremble. "Lucas!"
The door swings open but it's not the blonde boy she was expecting to see.
His steely blue eyes settle on her and she visibly shivers. She watches as he takes in her appearance. He makes a sort of grunting noise before taking a swig of his beer and just stares at her. The silence drags on and she begins to pull at the sleeves of the shirt Lucas packed for her, feeling uneasy. He doesn't look like he's aged a bit. Then again, it's only been five years.
She does notice some obvious differences though. Like the way muscles that were never there before peak out of his shirt. The short way he's wearing his hair now. His tense shoulders that make him look as if he's always watching behind his back. His silence is such a contrast to the way he was years ago.
His eyes.
The seriousness they seem to carry within them when before they were filled with such childlike life. Brooke feels a small sad smile come to her lips because she feels like she's missed so much.
He checks his watch. "Three minutes. That's the longest you've ever went without talking."
Brooke smiles a full real smile for the first time in what felt like years, dimples in tow. She's missed him. "Nate…"
She reaches up to hug him but he walks away before she gets the chance. She quickly follows, not wanting to get stuck outside again.
"We've only got three bedrooms here so you'll either be staying with Lucas or Haley." he starts.
"Haley's here?" Brooke says in surprise, running to catch up with him and lugging the suitcase behind her. He's walking so fast she has to pick it up and carry it with her.
"Yes." He states robotically. Brooke frowns because he sounds like a military officer. "She doesn't know you're here, or that you were even coming. Living room." He points into the room before walking off again.
"Wait, Lucas said you guys knew."
"I know. Haley doesn't." They stop at another room. "Dining room. Next to that is the kitchen."
Brooke decides to abandon the heavy suitcase somewhere on the floor. "Where is she anyway?" she asks breathlessly.
"Shopping." He darts up the stairs and Brooke has no choice but to follow. "Bathroom. Don't leave your shit lying around in there." He declares pointing to the room.
"Why doesn't Haley know?"
"Don't ask me why Lucas does what he does." he mutters and suddenly stops at a room and Brooke almost runs into his back. "That's Luke's room, which you don't go in." he motions to another closed door. "That's my room, which you don't go in and...that's Haley's room."
Brooke glances down the hall to see a purple door with the words HALEY on it in pink. She smiles to herself. Some things never change,
She notices a door between Nathan and Haley's with a DO NOT ENTER sign on it. "What room is that?"
"Gun room."
Brooke's eyes widen. "You have a gun room?"
"Where else are we going to put them?" he doesn't wait for her answer. "Anyway, you don't go in there. You'll be staying with Haley."
Brooke squints her eyes. "Why can't I go in Lucas' room?" she demands, challenging him.
"Because it's restricted, especially to you."
"But you said I'd be staying with Lucas or Haley."
He stares at her for a moment before his lips curl into a slow smirk and he chuckles. "Like Lucas would want to be sleeping next to you."
Brooke turns her head as if she had been slapped. He blames her too, just like Lucas. She tries hard to push the tears back before they fall but one makes it past her eyes anyway and falls on her cheek.
He brushes past her and gets halfway down the steps before turning back to her. He walks back up and they stand at the opposite ends of the hallway. "It's doubtful you'd want to stay with him too, right?"
All Brooke can do is nod meekly. She lifts her head and their gazes lock. She opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. "Nate," she finally croaks.
His eyes close and his jaw clenches as if he's in pain. "Don't do this, Brooke."
But she doesn't listen. She takes fast steps to get to him and in the next second she's wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her head in his chest. After a minute she feels his hands hesitantly come up and stroke her hair.
"I missed you." She mutters.
"Yeah" he whispers. "Me too."
She pulls her head away and looks up at him. "You think I'm a horrible person for doing what I did?"
Nathan steps out of the hug completely and turns away from her. "I think…you were a lost girl with no options left."
Brooke feels disappointment settle in her. "That doesn't answer my question."
"Frankly Brooke, I don't care." He snaps. Moment gone.
"You did what you did; now it's done. You gotta live with it."
He descends the stairs again and Brooke follows silently until they get to the kitchen. Lucas is sitting at the table nursing what looks like his third beer. His eyes darken once they land on Brooke.
"Nathan," he grunts. "I thought I told you to take out the trash."
They both share a laugh.
"You bastard." Nathan grins, sitting down at the table.
All Brooke can do is stare at the scene before her. She doesn't feel comfort. The two people who used to make her feel at ease, like home – she doesn't feel that anymore. It's almost as if they're all strangers.
She doesn't recognize them anymore.
Part of her feels like it's her fault – knows it's her fault. Maybe if she had just held out a little longer, had a little more faith, all of them would have totally different lives right now.
She definitely didn't expect to be welcomed back with open arms. But she didn't expect…this. Everything feels so different, changed – as if she doesn't belong here anymore. In this place. With these people.
She can only hope Haley's reaction will be much different. She doesn't know what she'd do if she lost her too.
"Make yourself at home, Princess." Lucas pipes up, eyeing her over his beer. "You're gonna be here a while."
Brooke rolls her eyes at the smug expression on his face. "What Fernando's plan?"
"Even if I knew I wouldn't tell you."
She doesn't believe him. "You were around him for five years, he must've told you something.
"All he told me was that in due time, one of his men would capture you, hold you 'till he got out and then he'd do the honor himself of slicing your throat." He pauses and then lets out a chuckle. "He was pretty sick."
"You're sick for getting involved with him in the first place!" Brooke scowls as she plops down on one of the chairs.
Lucas rolls his eyes. "Yeah, yeah Brooke. It's all my fault right? All this shit that happened is because of me, right?"
"Maybe if you had listened to me back then, you wouldn't have wasted five years of your life."
"You know Brooke, maybe that is my fault. Maybe this entire thing is my fault!" Lucas snaps as he slams his beer down on the table. "It's my fault that my mom couldn't pay the bills and we needed money, it's my fault that I wanted to take care of you, it's my fault because I went to Fernando for help and I offered my services to him but I never screwed over my friends. I didn't screw over my family, no Brooke, you did that!" He gets to his feet now and close to her face. "You screwed over Jake, you screwed over Mouth, you screwed over Peyton and you screwed over me!"
It's the first time he's actually came right out and said that he blames her for everything. Brooke feels the weight of his words on her chest, making it tighten and she feels like she can't breathe. She wraps her arms around herself and curls into the chair, looking smaller than she ever did in her teenage years.
"How does it feel to know, you fucked up the lives of everyone who counted on you, huh? Tell me Brooke, how does it feel!"
"Lucas." Nathan cuts in, seeing the toll his words was taking on Brooke.
Lucas takes a deep breath to calm himself. "You know Fernando actually asked me if I wanted to be a part of the little execution team he had brewing for you. Said I would love it, said I would relish in the opportunity to kill the little bitch who ruined my life."
Brooke swallows and her words come out shaky and low. "Then how do I know you're not just keeping me here until he gets out?"
Lucas' deadly gaze meets hers and she knows she said the wrong thing. He lets out a harsh laugh and chucks his beer bottle into the wall. Brooke lets out a scream and Nathan rushes to cover her from any falling glass.
"I could never actually kill you." Lucas' words come out despondent and slow but Brooke hears them loud and clear and they tear a hole through her. "I could never do that to you."
He's resolute in his response and Brooke feels like killing herself for actually doubting him.
...
"Brooke, what is it?" Haley's hand cups her face and wipes away some stray tears as she stares into her eyes. "What is it, what's wrong?"
"I –" she struggles to say it. To actually say the words. To make it official. Saying it out loud and actually admitting it to another person as well as yourself was the hardest thing the brunette had to do.
"Brooke." Haley's voice is firm, determined to find out the truth. "You're scaring me. What's wrong?"
"Haley," she cries, holding her hand for strength. "It's bad. Really bad."
"Brooke, whatever it is we'll get through it. We always do," her blonde curls bounce around her face. "but you have to tell me what's wrong."
"I-I'm pregnant."
"What?" the blonde inquires.
"I'm pregnant." Brooke whispers, falling on her bed in despair.
Haley sits down next to her and a silence falls upon them. "I'm sorry, I don't know what to say. I mean, are you sure?"
"I took five tests Haley. Four were positive."
"H-How could this happen Brooke? I thought you were on birth control."
Brooke scoffs. "We both know none of that birth control is 100 percent effective. I guess I was that one percent."
Haley sighs. "What are you gonna do?"
"I'm only eighteen Haley; I don't know how to raise a baby." Brooke grimaces at the thought of being a mom now. "I'm still in school."
"Have you told Lucas yet?"
Brooke goes rigid and stands from the bed. "No, um I haven't. You're the first person I've told."
"You know you have to tell him, right?"
Brooke stays silent.
"Brooke Davis!" Haley scolds and stands up. "Do not tell me you are thinking of keeping this a secret!"
"I'm not Haley, I'm not I just–" Brooke pauses, thinking of the best way to word her next sentence. "You know what he's doing right now. I tell him I'm pregnant, he's not gonna quit because then he'll think he needs to make even more money to take care of this baby."
"Brooke, he's not going to be doing what he's doing forever."
Brooke paces the room for a minute before sitting back down on the bed. "Haley, as much as I hate to say this, part of me thinks he's starting to like it."
Haley's eyebrows furrow. "What do you mean?"
"At school yesterday," Brooke takes a deep breath. "he was high."
Haley's eyes go wide. "Lucas? Lucas Scott taking drugs?"
Brooke nods. "I wouldn't have believed it either if I hadn't seen it for my own eyes."
Haley struggles to make sense of what she's hearing and takes a seat on the bed again. "Well, he's around it all the time maybe…he just inhaled too much." Her efforts to defend her friend don't go too far as she hears the shake in her own voice and the disbelieving look the brunette gives her is a clear indication.
"Haley. Don't try to sugar coat this." Brooke states firmly. "We both know what happened. I can't raise a baby in that kind of environment."
"Ok Brooke before you go making any decisions you need to talk to Lucas so you both can figure this out together." Haley advises.
Brooke winces and it doesn't go unnoticed by the blonde.
"I know this may seem scary, ok?" She grabs her hand and squeezes. "But whatever you decide, I'm here for you. No matter what."
The girls come together in a hug. Brooke finds comfort in it momentarily but it's not enough to distract her from all the thoughts swirling around in her head.
xXalienatedXx - Glad you are confused and interested :) There will be many more flashbacks to come though.
BpDs89 - Honestly I had no idea either when I started this, lol.
fireangel08 - Thanks! Hope you like this chapter.
boothimyours - Lol here's the second chapter. Hope you like it. And the history WILL. BE. REVEALED. (Gosh I sound like a PLL promo)
VIVA Youngblood - Thanks for the review!
CaseyJr - I'm glad you are interested. And I hope I didn't make you wait that long. I didn't want to become one of THOSE people who make you wait a year for an update but I'm afraid I have.
dianehermans - Thanks for the review!
fanficcraze001 - Glad you like it but Brooke's not a prostitute. She's a ..."dancer". Special dancer, if you catch my drift.