I know when he's been on your mind
That distant look is in your eyes
I thought with time you'd realize it's over, over
It's not the way I choose to live
And something somewhere's gotta give
A share in this relationship gets older, older
Brooke sat on her bed picking at her toenails as she applied a fresh coat of red polish across them. Peyton sat at the opposite end of the bed with a mud green mask covering her face and fresh cut cucumbers blocking her eyes. Tonight Brooke had needed a girls night after the events of the day. She was mental spent and since Rachel was away the next best thing was the only other female that she was friendly with. She had known that everyone would know soon enough about her brother and she would rather tell Peyton herself.
Peyton stretched her legs out in front of her and pulled her hair back into a ponytail. "So how long will Nick be in rehab," she asked as Brooke finished putting her polish on and stuffed the cotton between her toes.
Brooke glanced up and sighed heavily. "At least six weeks. It's all up to the doctor. Because he is over eighteen he technically could walk out at any time he chose. But I really want to believe that he is going to get the help he needs and not leave until he is better," she said as she pulled her legs forward and rested her chin on her knees.
"Nick's a good kid Brooke. I honestly don't think he would have even gone to rehab if he didn't want to. I'm not sure if I ever told you this," she said as she shifted on the bed and sat beside Brooke. "My cousin Lexi well she died of a drug overdose three years ago. We were the same age and I didn't get along too well with her, but we tried to get her help so many times. She refused to admit she had a problem, she wouldn't go to rehab and one night she partied a little too hard," Peyton said with a shrug of her shoulders. She glanced over a Brooke and pulled her into a hug. "So see, Nick is already like three steps ahead of her and I'm pretty sure he actually cares about his family."
Brooke smiled a t Peyton. Sure at one time she had been insanely jealous of her but she had actually turned out to be a pretty great friend.
"Okay not to sound like I'm not enjoying myself because I am, but can I ask you a question?"
Brooke nodded her head. She kind of already knew what Peyton was thinking.
"How come you called me? Isn't Lucas like your best friend in the world? I would have figured that you would want him here over anyone else," Peyton asked curiously.
Brooke let out a half snort/ grunt sound. She looked at Peyton and threw her head back on the pillow. "I'm pretty sure Lucas is furious with me and I'm not sure if we are even friends after today," she said as she closed her eyes.
She knew Peyton was looking at her as if she had two head. As soon as she realized what Brooke said she finally spoke. "What? You and Lucas not friends... I'm pretty sure one of you would have to die before that happened," she said as she leaned on her elbow to face Brooke.
Brooke curled herself up on her side and tucked her pillow further under her head. "You know Lucas and I have always had such a dysfunctional relationship," she chuckled. "Even the first day we met we had a fight."
(-)
Brooke always knew when her parents were taking her to meet new friends. After her morning bath her mother would put her in one of her pretty dress and put her hair in pigtails. Even at five Brooke hated to have her hair up. At some point during the day she would pull the elastics from her hair and it would be a wild mess. Today was no different because her mother had put her in a pretty red dress with a bow on the back with her lace socks and her white ballerina shoes.
Brooke usually didn't mind going with her parents because she had her siblings with her. Nick would be coming but Rachel was at her friend Hilarie's birthday party. Her father was going to have lunch with his co-worker Dan and he had suggested that he bring the family. He had a son that was Brooke's age and another son that could play some video games with Nick. Deb was really looking forward to getting to know Karen. She didn't have many friends and Karen was in the same boat.
They arrived at the Scott house and Brooke thought she was at a castle. Of course her parents had a place of their own but this house was really big. The Scott family had met them outside and Nick and Nathan ran into the house right away to play a new video game that Dan had bought for the occasion. Dan had asked Lucas to take Brooke out back so they could play and after a conversation with his father he reluctantly agreed.
They got out back and Lucas walked away to go into the sand box. Brooke followed him and stood right before him.
"Hi, I am Brooke Penelope Davis," she said proudly.
Lucas stood up in the sandbox and pulled her ponytail. "You're a girl. You can't play because you have cooties," he said and ran away from the teary eyed child.
Brooke was angry that he was mean to her. She stomped over to the jungle gym and stood in front of him. He had a funny haircut so Brooke grabbed onto the little bit of hair she could and he let out a scream. "You are a mean boy Lucas," she said.
"Let go, let go," he yelled as he tried to pry his hair from he hands. Brooke stuck her tongue out at him and pushed him down the slide butt first.
(-)
You know I'd fight for you but how could I fight someone who isn't even there
I've had the rest of you now I want the best of you I don't care if that's not fair
Peyton and Brooke were laughing so hard that they had tears in their eyes. Brooke hadn't thought about that in so long. She went on to explain that both of their parents came out and they were both placed in a corner for twenty minutes. Lucas had been the first to march over and apologize. He had offered her a few of his G.I. Joes and they sat and played for hours before they sat on the floor and Lucas read her his favorite book. After that day both children had bothered their parents incessantly until another play date was set up. And then from that point on they became inseparable best friends.
"I can't believe he pulled your pig tails," Peyton snorted. "It seems so unlike Lucas," she said as Brooke shrugged her shoulders.
"Ehh nothing surprises me when it comes to him. I've been around him long enough to see all of his sides," Brooke said and shrugged.
Peyton was just about to say something when Brooke's bedroom door opened and Rachel appeared in her PJ's and with an overnight bag. She smiled when she saw how happy that made Brooke as she jumped off the bed and pulled her sister into a hug.
"What are you doing here? You and Coop are supposed to be on a romantic weekend away," Brooke asked as she pulled away.
Rachel grumbled. "For God's sake bitch you just ruined my top with your nasty face mask," Rachel said as she tried to brush it off.
"Cool it Rae. It's only a top you sleep in," Brooke said and smacked her ass as she went back to the bed.
"Yeah well when Coop and I are about to get it on I don't want him to get turned off from the green goo," she said as she threw her bag on the floor and sat on the bed. She looked at Brooke quizzically for a moment and then pointed to Peyton. "Okay awkward moment. I'm pretty sure you are upset about Nick but mostly Luke so you have his ex with you," she asked dumbfounded.
Brooke noticed Peyton shift uncomfortable. "Peyt is cool Rae. She already knows about how I feel and she came over to cheer me up," she said as she patted Peyton's knee. "And I must say she is doing a pretty kick ass job," Brooke said as she leaned back against her headboard. They all sat in a comfortable silence for a moment before Peyton spoke up.
"I'm pretty sure Lucas has feelings for you. Or he did when we broke up" she said before she realized what she was saying. She clapped her hand over her mouth and looked to see Rachel smirking and Brooke with her mouth hanging open.
"Oh this is rich," Rachel said and chuckled. "Now you have to finish this," she said as she sat beside the two girls on the bed.
"Okay so it was right around the time we broke up," Peyton said as she shifted on the bed to face the other two.
(-)
"Hey Peyt what's up," Lucas said as the curly haired blonde came through the door and plopped down on his bed. He closed his laptop and put his feet up on the desk.
"Okay so I need your advice," She said as she rested her head on her hand.
"This is totally hypothetical so keep that in mind," she said and he smiled and nodded. "If you were with someone and let's say the girl spent a lot of time with someone else and you questioned if she may have feelings for the other person would you bring it up or brush it off because she was with you," she asked and noticed how he shifted almost uncomfortably in his chair.
"Well I don't think I'd question it unless I was given a reason to," he said and pulled his legs down from the chair and leaned on his thighs. He noticed Peyton say okay and sit up. He knew this was a little more than hypothetical. "Hey Peyton, " he said and she looked up to meet his eyes. "What's this all about?"
She sighed deeply and opened her mouth to speak just as his phone went off. She noticed he glanced at it and then turned his attention back to her. "You need to get that?"
"Nah it's just Brooke. I'll call her back after," he said as he moved over to the bed next to her. "So what's up?"
"Actually that was perfect to lead into what I wanted to say," she said and played with her nail polish for a moment. She took a deep breath and looked over to him. "You like Brooke don't you?"
He laughed. "Of course, she is my best friend."
"No Luke. You like her more than a best friend don't you," she asked and noticed how he averted his eyes away from her.
"Peyt…I…Brooke and I are friends. It has never been anything more than that," he settled with.
"Have you ever wanted it to be more," she asked and noticed him hesitating. Lucas really was a good guy and he didn't like to hurt people. He would never want her to think anything more of his friendship because she knew he would never choose anyone over his brunette best friend. He looked at her and she didn't want him to feel like he had to cover anything up. "I won't be mad Luke. Brooke is amazing and I wouldn't be surprised."
"Okay to answer your question, yes. I started liking her when we turned fourteen and she started to get a more…um…well she looked more like a girl," he said and blushed. Peyton couldn't help but laugh at his modesty.
"You mean when she got tits and an ass," she helped him and noticed how he blushed profusely and nodded his head. "Okay well then why didn't you ask her out?"
"It's complicated. I didn't want to ruin our friendship and she started dating this Chase kid. I figured she wasn't into me so I just turned the feelings off," he said and shrugged.
"Can I give you my perspective," she asked and he nodded and took hold of her hand. "You have been different since Brooke started dating Felix. And I don't mean in a protective big brother type of way. When we all go out I notice that if he touched her your jaw clenched and when he kisses her your hands ball into fists. Sometimes you look at her like she is the only girl in the world," she said as she leaned into him.
"It's not like that. I just don't like him and I don't want her to get hurt. She's amazing and trusting and Felix isn't a good guy," he defended.
"Okay I can accept that," she said and untangled their hands. "What I can't except Luke is that when we were having sex the other night, when you hit your point, you whispered her name," she said and noticed the look of horror on his face.
"I…I," he tried to think of anything but failed to come up with anything worth explaining.
"Look Luke, you're a good guy. I just don't want to be in a relationship with someone who loves someone else. And if we are both being honest I think our hearts aren't in this relationship anymore."
"No," he said and leaned towards her. "I want you," he said as he pulled her into a kiss. She knew he didn't want to be alone and he wasn't ready to admit his feelings. She pulled away. "Luke I can't be in a relationship with you," she said as she cradled his face in her hands. "Yes, we have amazing sex but that's all it is anymore. Talk to Brooke," she said and noticed him shake his head. He was a stubborn boy and she knew she would have to work on Brooke to go for Lucas if he was ever going to admit his feelings for the beautiful brunette. She kissed him on the lips once more and then left.
(-)
There are times it seems to me
I'm sharing you with memories
I feel it in my heart but I don't show it , show it
Then there's times you look at me
As thought I'm all that you could see
Those times I don't believe it's right I know it , know it
"Hold on Goldilocks," Rachel said and turned towards Peyton. "Didn't you and Lucas continue to fuck around for months after this?"
"Yes. Because Brooke got serious with Felix, her and Lucas didn't talk much and the both of us needed physical release," she said and looked to Brooke who nodded understandingly. "When we had the pregnancy scare we stopped because he didn't want a baby and I definitely didn't want to be a teen mom and having a baby by someone who was in love with someone else."
"Can I ask something," Brooke whispered shyly and Peyton nodded. "What…what was it like being with him? When you guys had your scare how was he," she asked curiously. Lucas had talked to her about it but he was always very guarded.
Peyton chuckled. "If you are asking about the sex…well he is an amazing lover. I love Jake with everything I am and I've been with two other people and no one compares to him. As far as the scare, he was great. We cried together and he was there every step of the way. When we found out it was nothing he was just so sweet. He let his guard completely down for me during that time and I got to know a whole other person. That's why we were able to stay good friends," she said and shrugged.
"So in like inches what are we talking," Rachel asked and they all laughed and Brooke slapped her arm.
"I don't even want to know," Brooke said laughing. They all broke out into hysterics when Peyton hugely over exaggerated.
"Okay bitches you know what this slumber party is missing," Rachel said and arched her brow at the other two looked at her questionly. "Well actually it's missing two things. One is right here," she said as she removed a copy of Beaches from her bag and threw it to Peyton to pop in the DVD player. "And wait one second and I'll be back with the other," she said as she smirked over her shoulder and skipped from the room.
"What is that about," Peyton asked as she threw her thumb towards the door.
Brooke shrugged her shoulders and then squealed with delight when she saw Rachel come back in with Nathan behind her. She jumped up and gave him a hug. "What are you doing here," she asked when she pulled back and ran her fingers lightly over his bruised face.
"You mind if I crash? I got punched in the face and left behind while Lucas left and I was sitting home and moping like a little bitch," he said jokingly. "And you fine ass sister dragged me over." Brooke grabbed his hand and made a spot in the middle for him. He sat down on the bed and winked at Brooke. "Oh and Rachel and I came up with a great plan I'll fill you in on later," he said with a sneaky smile.
He patted the seat beside him in a friendly gesture for Peyton and she joined him. Rachel sat beside him on the other side and Brooke huffed. She put her hand on her hips and glared at them all comfy on the bed. "And where I am supposed to sit?" Rachel suggested the floor and Brooke bonked her off the head with a pillow.
"There's room right here," Nathan said and patted the spot between his legs. Brooke crawled up on the bed and snuggled up to him. "You know this is like every guys fantasy. In bed with three hot girls," he said and laughed as they all made gross noises at him as the film started. "Oh shit, Beaches. I think I should have stayed home," he grumbled and they all laughed.
(-)
Lucas was in Myrtle Beach with Lindsey and he was actually pretty relaxed considering the day he had. He had just finished having sex with her so maybe that had relieved some of the tension. He was absentmindedly stroking his fingertips up and down her naked back and she was asleep on his chest. He loves her, but for some reason his mind was miles away. He couldn't stop wondering how everything had turned out the way it did.
Cuz you and I
Could lose it all if you've got no more room
Nowhere inside for me in your life
Flashback:
"I'm in love with you Lucas," he heard and froze.
"What did you just say to me," he asked as he turned and faced the brunette girl.
She looked down from his gaze and picked at her nails before getting the courage to go over to him. She finally stood only inches from him and brought her eyes to his. "You have been so busy looking for reasons to fight with me lately Luke that you barely know me anymore. I have been in love with you for so long and you are clueless," she said.
He wasn't sure what to say to her. For a long time he had wanted her but his life finally had balance. He had his best friend and a wonderful girlfriend. He tried to come up with anything to say but he failed. Before he knew what was happening she leaned up and brought her lips to his. For a moment he was shocked and then he kissed her back. It was different kissing her but it made him feel something he knew was dangerous. She was one of the only stable things in his life and as she deepened the kiss his mind got clouded. He brought his hands up to cradle her face and after a moment more he pulled away.
"What are you doing Brooke," he asked trying desperately to read her.
She slowly stroked her hands over his chest and whispered again. "I love you Lucas."
He pulled back from her. He couldn't think clearly when she was that close. He took a moment and then spoke. "I can't believe how selfish you are being. You put all of this on me now. Brooke I have a girlfriend and I love her," he stated bodly and saw the hurt that spread over her entire body.
She was trying to be brave and she was embarrassed. "Haven't you ever wondered Luke," she said and walked back towards the couch.
"Of course I have Brooke, but that time has come and gone," he said and crossed his arms over his chest.
"I can't just be your friend Luke, not anymore. I've sat in the background for years and watched. Being around you hurts when I have the feelings I do."
"So what are you saying," he asked a little nervously.
"I want it all or nothing Lucas. I want to be with you and if you want to be with me fine, if not then I think it'd be best if we end this friendship."
"How can you do this? You are my best friend Brooke and now you are asking me to choose you or the girl I love?"
"Yeah Lucas that's what I'm asking," she said and looked him dead in the eyes. She knew that she was tearing him apart with this ultimatum but she couldn't just be his friend anymore.
He slumped his shoulders and turned towards the door. "I guess this is goodbye then," he said as he heard her cry and walked out the door.
He felt more lost in this moment than ever before. Lindsey had been a different girl lately and he wasn't sure if they would last. She had pretty much asked Lucas to choose between her and Brooke this afternoon and Brooke had done the same. As he layed here in bed he wasn't sure which decision was the right one anymore. Does he give up the girl he loves or the girl who has been beside him his whole life? Maybe he already made that decision when he walked out the door before he went to Lindsey. He didn't want to believe that he would never have Brooke in his life though. He sighed deeply, almost pained and tried to close his eyes. He knew sleep wasn't going to come for him though.
Cuz I want it all
Or nothing at all
There's nowhere left to fall
When you reach the bottom it's now or never
Is it all
Or are we just friends
Is this how it ends
With a simple telephone call
You leave me here with nothing at all
Okay sorry my updates are slower this week. Between work, the doctors and hospitals I have barely slept, let alone had much time to write. I had half of each chapters finished but I was having a hard time finding a few minutes to finish them up. Hope this didn't disappoint and I will have the chapter for my other story up by tomorrow! Review and let me know your thoughts! Sorry for the wait Tay and thanks for the shout out on Price You Have To Pay (such an amazing story everyone should read!) And thank you all for the reviews last chapter! You guys are so great!