So let me first say THANKYOU all for the reviews. Their what keep me writing and I really apreciate them.
This is me finally updating 8 years.
I'm a little rusty but I hope you will like the ending to the chap at least.
You know the drill, I'd love it if you could let me know whatcha think.
Enjoy.
8 years, 5 months, 6 days
Chapter 4
"Memory is deceptive because it is colored by today's events."
- Albert Einstein
"Hey Brooke, you home?" Lucas peeked his head through the front door of the Davis household before letting himself in. He felt uncomfortable doing it but had seen the door was slightly ajar and wanted to check Brooke was okay. Walking forward into the kitchen, Lucas was stunned to see the brunette wielding utensils while a frying pan sizzled on the stove.
"Put down the spatula and step OUT of the cooking area." Hazel eyes rose in surprise before Brooke let out a raspy giggle.
"Hello to you too Lucas."
"I'm serious, should you even be allowed to have a kitchen in your house?"
"C'mon I'm not that bad."
"As I recall you nearly burnt down the school in your first cooking class."
"It was a stupid subject anyway and I got nervous."
"You were 'cooking' salad." Brooke rolled her eyes, shuffling the bacon and eggs around in their pan.
"Well things change." Lucas searched the ceiling with his eyes sceptically.
"Uh-huh, now you have a fire alarm right?" The brunette couldn't help but let out another laugh at the seriousness of his tone.
"Since you've known me I've become a mother. Mothers cook." She shrugged "So I learnt." Lucas frowned before nodding.
"Alright, I'll trust you then. Hey, you know you shouldn't leave your door open."
"Don't burn down the house, don't leave the front door open. What's next? Don't talk to strangers? YES MUM."
"I'm serious, anyone could come in." Brooke kinked an eyebrow at the basketball player.
"Anyone, like you?"
"Exactly."
"Well then a better learn to lock it, I don't want any of your kind around here." She joked "I always keep it locked when Kay's home anyway. I just forgot when bringing the shopping in." Lucas nodded "What are you doing here anyway?"
"Naley were being too much of a boring couple so I decided to ditch."
"Naley?" Brooke bit her lip in amusement
"Yes, Naley." Lucas said, defiantly "A certain brunette spent two years forcing me to call them that so it kind of stayed with me."
"Ha I told you I'd get you in the end. Even after eight years, and no forcing, it stuck."
"There's a lot that's been the same for eight years" Blue eyes met Hazel for a moment before Lucas looked down at the contents of the frying pan.
"Are you having company? Sorry, did I interrupt?" Brooke shook her head.
"No, It's kind of habit to make enough for Kay and Felix. I always end up with way too much." Lucas let out a small chuckle.
"You know, breakfast is my favourite meal of the day." Brooke hesitated. With Kayla having been in New York for the past week the brunette had spent a lot of time hanging out at the Naley residence, something Lucas chose to do also. The two had been friendly to each other yet they had never really spent anytime alone together. A soft sigh escaped pink lips as the fashionistta realised she didn't have much of a choice.
"Way to be discreet, sure, stay for breakfast."
"Don't sound enthusiastic Davis." The basketball player was well aware the designer was not exactly thrilled about spending time with him but he was sure she had warmed to him in the past week. Brooke served two plates, turning off the stove before heading to the kitchen table and sitting down. Lucas sat across from her, he picked up his fork before taking a hesitant bite of the food. He let out a moan. "Damn Brooke, this is actually pretty amazing."
"Told ya." She nibbled on her own food, a small smile gracing her face.
"You know my coach is going to kill me for eating this though right?"
"Well don't blame it on me."
"I'm not, this is totally worth it." He took another big mouthful, taking his time to chew.
"As is everything to do with Brooke Davis." She smirked, causing Lucas to chuckle.
"Very true. So what are you doing today?"
"I dunno, I guess I will get some sketches done, might go see Rach or maybe head over to Naleys-"
"Don't bother, their being boring today."
"Says you Mr. Hot Shot." Another laugh as the blonde studied his ex-girlfriend. It had pained him to find out in the last week that although she was more mature, more responsible and WAY more guarded. The brunette was still the bubbly, charismatic and independent girl he had fallen in love with years ago. He found that being held at arms length by her was torture. Somehow eight years had done little to quell his feelings. He still loved her and he wished above anything he knew how to stop. It hurt too much knowing she felt nothing in return.
"Yes, says me."
"So tell me, what would you be doing on a Saturday afternoon back in LA? Or maybe the question is WHO would you be doing?" Lucas laughed uncomfortably.
"I would probably be training. Or hanging with the boys. Or drinking. Or all three."
"Ah-ha. God I miss drinking."
"Wait, you don't drink anymore?"
"Only on special occasions. I never really get time."
"That's it, I'm taking you drinking." Lucas extended his legs into a standing position, masculine hand reaching for Brooke.
"No." The brunette stated firmly. "It's like nine in the morning and I am a mother, besides, I think I'm going to save the wild partying for my birthday." Lucas flopped back down into his seat.
"That's right, Miss Davis joins me in the big two-seven in two months. Nervous?"
"Please, my ass is plates perfect, I'm feeling pretty damn good about my age."
"So you should." He paused "Really no drinking till then huh?"
"Not for me."
"Okay, I'll make you a deal. You don't drink until your birthday and I won't either."
"Wait, why would you do that?" Lucas shrugged.
"It will make your birthday more fun for both of us."
"You really don't have to."
"I want to, I mean I shouldn't really be drinking too much in off season anyway. I'll just hate myself when I go back and I can't think of a better person to quit with."
"Alright then Scott, deal." She held out her hand and he readily shook it. "But what if you screw up and drink? Do I get to torture you or something?"
"Hmmm.. How about if either of us slips up, they have to be the other persons slave for a week?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't realise we were in junior high?"
"Okay, a little immature, I get it. Lets call it a personal assistant then."
"I already have one."
"So do I, but it would be much more fun watching you do my bidding."
"Ha. I think I really have an advantage on this deal but fine, if one person slips up, the other has to be their personal assistant for a week. Millie will enjoy the time off."
"So let me get this straight, you spent the day with Lucas? As in Lucas Scott? As in the love of your life yet mortal enemy Lucas Scott?" Brooke couldn't help but roll her eyes at her best friends dramatics.
"Yes Rachel. He came over for breakfast and then we took his dog for a walk. He's gorgeous."
"Your referring to Lucas as gorgeous now? Figures."
"No Rach, the dog. The dog is gorgeous." The red head let out a sigh of relief, taking a seat next to her friend on the sofa of her penthouse Tree Hill apartment. It was weird, even in such a small town Rachel refused to own a house. She had never been a fan of them, that's why she loved New York so much, not many houses yet so many apartment blocks. Brooke always figured it was because she hated the thought of settling down so much. Somehow owning a house put a certain finality to where you lived. Well, that's what the fiery model believed anyway.
"Did you guys make out or anything?"
"NO! Believe me, the 'Brooke and Lucas' couple ship sailed into the sunset along time ago. It's not coming back. But I dunno, maybe we can be friends."
"Please, you guys were never friends."
"We never tried to be."
"Okay tell me this then, the man is exactly what he was like in high school except he is more mature, famous, worth millions AND has a dog you have obviously fallen in love with. What's to stop you from falling for him AGAIN with all these added bonuses?" Brooke didn't even have to consider.
"He broke my heart Rachel. Shattered it. We have been over this a thousand and one times. I can forgive him but I will NEVER forget, how stupid do you think I am?" The model smiled in reassurance.
"Atta girl." The two sat in silence for a moment "You know I was a MASSIVE slut in highschool."
"Rach-"
"No, Brooke I was. I'm not saying it's a bad thing. I enjoyed sex, I still do, there's nothing wrong with that. But I have just NEVER been able to understand how you could have been with just ONE guy all that time."
"We were in love."
"I know but still. He was your first, you thought he would be your only. Dogged a bullet on that one by the way." Brooke chuckled. "Didn't you ever get curious?"
"Sometimes I guess I wondered what it would be like but I always knew meaningless sex would never be worth losing Lucas. Besides, it's not like we were exactly prude." Brooke couldn't help but smile as memories flooded back to her.
"I know, you were my roommate at one point remember? You guys went at it like rabbits." Both girls laughed. Brooke let out a sigh as she couldn't help but think of something else from her highschool years.
"Okay Rae, I'll tell you something you don't know about me in highschool." Rachel's eyes lit up.
"Goody, I love gossip. Even if it is outdated."
"First you need to promise me two things. One, you can't tell anybody."
"Brooke it happened years ago, who would I tell?"
"I'm just asking you not too."
"Alright, I won't."
"Two, you can't get mad I didn't tell you this back then."
"Fine, I forgive you. Now spill." The brunette sighed.
"Do you remember back in the summer between junior and senior year when Lucas and I broke up?"
"Your an asshole you know that?"
"Yeah, I'm the asshole because I want my girlfriend to stay with me for our last summer of higschool!"
"My parents are making me go! If I don't, it's BYE BYE credit card for next year" The seventeen year old brunette fumed at her boyfriend.
"It's always about money with you isn't it? What if some rich prick came riding into town next week, it'd probably be BYE BYE Lucas HELLO money then."
"Are you fucking serious? I need that money to live on! Or would you rather me be living on the streets?"
"Here's an idea princess, get a job."
"Here's an idea jerk-off, stop being a fucking jackass!"
"Don't leave." Lucas said through gritted teeth.
"Why not, why would I want to spend any time with the jerk your being right now?"
"Because your my girlfriend and I'm your boyfriend and it's the summer. Stay."
"You know it's summer in California too and I'm sure it's full of hot guys."
"Brooke." The blonde basketball player warned.
"What? It's what you said right? I'm sure one of those hot californians will have some money. I'm such a whore I'll probably just jump right in bed with the first guy to wave a black American Express in my face."
"I never called you a whore."
"No." Brooke said coldly "You just implied I would dump the guy I love for anyone with money. That's not calling me a whore at all." She hissed sarcastically.
"Don't leave."
"Stop fucking saying that! I have to go. I will be back in three months."
"Too fucking long!" Lucas bellowed.
"What is this really about Luke? I know there's some hidden reason behind this all."
"Fuck Brooke, why can't me wanting you to stay be the reason."
"Because your starting to sound desperate, why do you really want me to stay?"
"Because-"
"Because what?"
"Because I want you with me." Brooke let out a bitter laugh.
"And before this fight I wanted to spend the summer with you as well but now I'm kind of glad my so called parents are making me go." She turned on the spot in his room, heading for the door.
"If you leave for the summer, were done." Brooke turned around instantly.
"Are you kidding?" She looked at him bewildered. Lucas's mouth went dry, he almost didn't believe what he was saying.
"N-No." He stuttered before regaining composure. "You go away. Were over."
"Your going to break up with me for going on a holiday? Wow Lucas Scott you are not the man I thought you were." Realisation dawned on the brunette, anger taking over the ache in her heart. "But then again man is too strong a word. Your more like a scared little boy. How hard would it have been for you just to tell me you didn't want me to go because you can't stand living without sex for three months? I'm not worth waiting for am I Lukie?"
"That's not what any of this is abou-"
"Save it. Doesn't change anything. I'm going away, so I guess that means were though huh?"
"It's me or your fancy holiday. You have to choose." Hazel eyes narrowed.
"You just made the choice for me. I wanted to stay here with you, I begged my parents but they said no. Right now I'm so glad they did because I cannot stand one more minute being anywhere near you. Have a nice summer asshole. Fuck whom ever you like." And just like that she turned and was gone.
"Yeah, I remember cause Lucas got all down and depressive and tutor-slut was incredibly worried about him. Then the blonde got a genius idea to work double shifts all over town to afford a ticket to go see you. I practically had to slap him out of going, Haley too. It took a while to convince him to give you some time. It nearly killed him to agree, he was feeling pretty damn guilty. What did he spend that money on again?"
"After we made up, he took me away for a romantic weekend."
"Ah, that's it, he was adamant about doing something to make it up to you. He needed to bring himself out of that broody funk."
"Well I was pretty mopey that summer too."
"I got that, whenever we talked you were either crying or close to it."
"What I never told you was that I met a friend whilst I was away."
"A friend?" Rachel sat up, starring at Brooke.
"Yes, a friend. He was my next door neighbour while I was there. He practically forced friendship onto me. Even when I didn't feel like company he would come and sit with me or drag me out of the house to get ice cream or go cause havoc."
"Ah-ha"
"He became like my rock, whenever I needed anyone or anything, he was there. He was cocky but cute and so sweet. Then after a month and a half when I started feeling better, we went to parties and got drunk on the beach together. We were practically inseparable the entire summer."
"What happened?" Hazel eyes peered up to meet green ones.
"I-I slept with him."
"WHAT?" Okay the red head had seen this coming but it was still a shock.
"I had sex with him, after I had been there two months. We were drunk and it just-happened."
"Once?" Brooke shook her head.
"Up until that point we had just been really close friends and after we slept together we kind of started dating in a weird way. Everything was the same as before except we would sneak kisses and we would do more than sleep when we had sleep overs. It was... nice."
"Brooke-"
"You have to understand though Rae, Lucas hadn't called. None of you had spoken about him, I always thought he had moved on. I was fairly sure he was screwing everything in sight."
"He wasn't."
"Well, I know that NOW."
"Hey, I have no judgement, I'm just a little shocked. I mean, it almost sounds like you two were serious."
"He was."
"What?" Brooke sighed.
"About a week before I was supposed to leave, he told me he loved me."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. He told me he was in love with me, he said he had never been in love before but he felt it with me and he didn't care I was leaving. He would convince his parents to leave, he would runaway, he would wait until we finished highschool. He just wanted us together."
"Wow. Intense."
"I know."
"Did you love him?"
"I think, in someway. I did."
"So what did you say?"
"I told him I needed to go home. I might have loved him but I was still completely in love with Lucas, I didn't want to give up on him. I refused to believe we were really over."
"How'd he take that?" Rachel was asking all the generic questions but she was honestly shocked by Brooke's revelation.
"He told me he understood. He wanted me to be happy. Then he kissed me goodbye and we haven't talked since. It was too hard. I flew back to Tree Hill to find Lucas waiting for me at the airport. It didn't take much to forgive him, I missed him like hell and I felt sooo guilty."
"WOW Davis, I can't believe I'm only hearing of this now. Can you imagine how different your life might have been had you stayed with mystery man?"
"It's funny, about a year after the break-up with Lucas I started thinking about him, but I knew it was too late. I wasn't ready for a relationship and I didn't want to open old wounds."
"Might have been a good call, then you never would have slept with Felix and I wouldn't have my partner in crime."
"I thought I was your partner in crime?"
"Your daughter and nephew have stolen your spot." Brooke pouted before laughing. "Hey what did mystery man look like anyway?"
"He was cute and had an incredibly hot body, probably about six one, dirty blonde hair, blue eyes and the cockiest smile you will ever see."
"Dirty blonde? Blue eyes, you have a type. Felix must have been a shock to the system huh?" Brooke pushed her friend playfully.
"Shutup."
"Hey, I'm just sayin'. So what was mystery guys name?"
"Clay Evans." Rachel's eyes went wide before she let out a loud, almost hysterical laugh.
"Seriously?" She gasped through waves of laughter.
"Yes, what's so funny?"
"Have you honestly not read ANY sports news in the last five or so years?"
"No Rach, nothing, although I did read a few things on Nate." The model scrambled off the chair before walking over to her dining table which had magazines strewn across it.
"What are you looking for?" Rachel ignored the brunette, picking up a magazine from the bottom of the pile before smiling triumphantly. She turned to a page before holding out a picture of a man in a suit obviously at some sort of benefit, for Brooke to see.
"Is this your Clay Evans?" Hazel eyes went wide. Sure he looked more mature, he had put on a put on some weight, or what looked like muscle really, he looked good. She would recognise him anywhere. That was her Clay.
"Yes. What's he doing in the-" The fashionistta was caught off guard by another laugh from her friend.
"Oh my god, how fucking ironic. Slut, your about to hate me."
"What? Rachel, what is it?"
"This." She taped the picture "Is Clayton Evans, sports agent to the stars."
"Uh-ha?"
"And among many celebrity clients there is one you might be particularly interested in. Clayton represents none other than Lucas Scott." Brooke gulped "and that's not all." Rachel continued. "Clay might be Lucas's agent but-" She turned the page of the magazine "He's also his best friend." And all Brooke could do was stare at the picture in front of her. It was obviously at the same benefit, Lucas had an arm around Clay as Clay pretended to playfully punch him, both were laughing. She couldn't believe it, if anyone had asked her what was the one thing in this world she would never see. This would be it.