Chapter Eight
Lucas woke up the next morning from the best night of sleep he'd had in a really long time. He realized that Brooke was already awake, he could see he picking at her fingernails.
"Pretty girl, how long have you been awake?" he said with a yawn.
"Just a little while. You were too cute, I didn't really want to move to wake you up." She smiled up at him, and then continued. "Lucas, my fingers are awful. Didn't anyone give me a manicure? Ever?" she whined.
He laughed. She was definitely the same old Brooke, and he was grateful for that. Here, awake in his arms, was the girl he was madly in love with.
"Well, I think Haley painted them once, but believe me, they definitely weren't the same." he joked.
She let out a laugh, but her smile fell quickly.
"What's wrong Brooke?"
"Lucas, I missed so much. Graduation, college. Senior road trips in the summer before college. All of it. This may sound stupid, but I even missed my Senior Prom. Who'd you even go with Luke?
"I didn't go. I went to the hospital to be with you." he said slowly.
"Aww Lucas, you should have gone."
"I don't regret not going. I know I was with the right person that night."
"Luke, I don't even have a place to live anymore. What am I going to do?"
"What about your parents? I thought you were staying with them for a while."
"I thought a lot about it this morning. I don't know if I will ever be able to accept them again as my family. Maybe I should do what Nathan did and emancipate myself. That way I wouldn't have to call them my parents."
"Well, I don't think it really matters anymore since you are a legal adult."
"Oh yeah, I keep forgetting that! I just don't know how to forgive them right now. I know I will in time, but if all of you had a belief in me, why didn't they?"
"I don't know Brooke, we all tried to convince them. I think it was hard for them to see you that way I guess."
"Yeah, and hard for them to waste that much money on a daughter in a coma."
Lucas winced. He knew that she had a point.
"I'll never get these two years back Luke. I don't even know what music is popular right now. I'm so behind the times, literally, and I'm homeless!"
"Hey, I'll make you a deal. Once you get out of here, you can stay at my place." She looked at him suspiciously. "And I'll even sleep on the couch if you want me to." He didn't want to blow the surprise of her room just yet.
"But what about my stuff. I don't want to crowd your place with all my things, Lucas."
"Don't worry, I'm sure there's room. It's actually a pretty big apartment. I really lucked out on it. I even have two bathrooms, so I'll give you your own bathroom." he winked.
"Ok, Lucas. As long as you promise I'm not a burden, and that you'll tell me as soon as your back hurts from the couch, or I've started to drive you crazy. Deal?"
"Pretty girl, you will never be a burden to me."
"Miss Davis?" a nurse walked in.
"Um, yeah?" she responded.
"We're going to start you're physical therapy soon. You should say goodbye to your visitors." she looked at Lucas.
"Oh Lucas, I'm sorry I-"
"It's ok, I actually better go to class today. I missed a lot lately. And I also have to drop in a story to work."
"Lucas Scott the writer! Who ever thought that'd be sexy?" she laughed.
He smiled and kissed her forehead. "Bye Cheery."
"I don't think I'll be so cheery after this therapy." she frowned at him.
"I'll stop by after I'm done with everything to see you."
"Well, then I can't wait until later!" she giggled.
"Me neither." He smiled at her and left. It had just hit him how behind he was on all his work. He had to run by his apartment to shower and grab a change of clothes. He was greeted by his mom and Keira.
"Lucas, I think me and Keira are going to go to the park today, and then swing by to see Brooke. Maybe bring her some lunch."
"I think she'd really like that Mom. She's starting physical therapy today, and I'm sure she's going to want all kinds of visitors after that."
"Well, I can't wait to talk to her. You're not the only who missed her you know? She's like a daughter to me."
"I know Mom, but I really gotta get going or I'm going to be late to class, and we can't have that now can we. Tell her I said hello for me please?"
"Will do Lucas, I'll see you later."
"Bye Mom, Keira."
He left and headed to class. He only had two classes on Wednesdays, and he only had to drop off a story to the paper, so it wouldn't be too long until he could be back with Brooke. It was still amazing to him that she was even awake.
- - - - -
"I still can't believe she's awake. It's like the best thing that's ever happened." Peyton said to Jake as they walked along the sidewalk, hand in hand.
"Yeah it's pretty amazing." he replied.
"Jake, what's up? You've been quiet all morning."
"Peyton, I've got to tell you something, but I don't want you to be mad, or weirded out for that matter."
"Uh, ok. What's up?"
"Just come with me ok?"
"Ok, sure. As long as you don't take me to a wooded forest and try to kill me!" she tried to laugh. In fact, she was frightened by what he could possibly have to tell her.
- - - - -
"Karen!" Brooke exclaimed. "I'm so glad you're here."
"Hello, Brooke. I brought you some chicken salad croissants, and I figured we could have lunch together."
"Karen, thank God! You saved my life. I was refusing to eat their food. Hospital food is so not appetizing."
Karen smiled at Brooke's comment. Brooke was definitely being Brooke again.
"So how did the physical therapy go?"
"It went well, although I'm so sore now! Who knew stretching could hurt so bad?" Brooke said in between eating her sandwich.
"Well, you have to think, you haven't used any of your muscles for almost two years now."
"Yeah, that's true. And who is this little girlie?" Brooke looked at Keira. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you have the same eyes as Mr. Lucas Scott himself." her eyes sparkled as she looked at the little girl.
"Wucas is my bwover! And yous a pwincess!"
"Wow! I'm a princess?!?"
"Brooke, this is my little girl, Keira."
"So is the baby dadd- Oh wait. KEI-ra. KEI-th. Got it, got it. Way to go Karen. Now you have two Scott children!" she teased.
"Aw you weally a pwincess?"
"What do you think Keira?"
"Wucas finks so."
"Well, then maybe I am a princess." She smiled at the little girl, then looked up a Karen. "Karen can I tell you something?"
"Of course, dear. What's on your mind?"
"I could hear him. Everyday, but I couldn't say anything back to him. Everyday I wanted to just tell him it's going to be ok. But I couldn't."
"He always said he knew you could hear him, Brooke."
"Yeah, I know. But now that I've woken up, and I've gotten my life back. I'm scared. I'm scared of jumping back into anything. Into school, work, or a relationship. I love him, Karen, I really do. He's the one I want to spend my life with. I know it. I'm just scared on how I should even handle anything right now. I don't want to hurt him either."
"Brooke. I think that's the most responsible thing I've ever heard you say."
"How?"
"Because you've always been the girl who does things on impulse, and we've all had some scares because of it. Remember the pregnancy ordeal when you two were Juniors? Just tell Lucas how you feel. I know he will understand. Just take things slow and figure out your life. I promise you- there's no rush. Once everything feels right, you'll know it. And I know for sure that Lucas will be there every step of the way to help you. He cares about you too much to let you go again."
"Thanks Karen. And I know you're right. I just hope that you know - you've raised an amazing son."
"Thank you Brooke. And if you and Lucas get to spend your lives together, I'll have two amazing daughters." She smiled. "I think me and Keira are going to get going. We've got to start packing."
"You guys are leaving?"
"Yeah, we came up to visit you. To give you strength. Lucas needs you just as much as you need him. I don't know what he'd do without you Brooke. I'll stop by tomorrow morning before we leave to say goodbye. Now get some rest, you hear?"
"Ok, Karen. Thanks again for lunch and the chat. Bye!"
Brooke laid back down in her bed and drifted off to sleep.
- - - - -
"Ok, Jake. This is really weird. What is going on? What are we doing here?" Peyton asked.
"Ok, this is my house." Jake said as they stared up at a two story brick house.
"What? I don't get it." Peyton asked confused.
"Ok, a year ago, my parents decided they were moving to New York. I was still living in Savannah at the time because me and Nikki were still waiting on the judge's verdict on who would get custody. It turns out that one of Nikki's drug and alcohol tests came back suspicious, and after they investigated it, they saw she was still drinking and partying. The judge granted me full custody. So I moved here to be with them. I work a part-time job, and I attend the community college nearby."
Peyton was in shock. "But, I picked you up at the airport. And what you said to Lucas the other day- I don't understand Jake.."
"Did you actually see me step off of the terminal Peyton?"
"Well, no."
"I lied to Lucas, because I didn't know how to tell you. I wasn't ready to tell you. I knew you were here in New York, and as badly as I wanted to see you, I knew you had to figure things out. I'm sorry for lying Peyton."
"So you live here. In New York." she said excitedly.
"Yeah, I do." he smiled back.
"And Jenny too?!?"
"Jenny too."
"Oh, Jake. Can I see her?"
"Sure Peyt. She's right inside." he was so relieved she hadn't freaked out on him. They walked up the steps to the front porch.
"Do you think she even remembers me?"
"I guess we'll have to wait and see." he said opening the doors.
"Jenny! Daddy's home!"
Peyton watched as the four year old came running in to greet her father.
"Peyton!" she shrieked and then giggled.
"I guess she does." Jake laughed.
They spent the next few hours playing with Jenny and spending time with Jake's parents. Peyton couldn't remember a time where she had been happier.
- - - - -
It was almost six thirty by the time Lucas made it back to the hospital. His English Literature teacher demanded he stay and take his midterm, and since he really didn't want to fail, he was obliged to stay.
Brooke was flipping through the channels when Lucas walked into the room. Her face lit up when she saw him.
"Lucas! I've missed you."
He genuinely smiled, his cheeks blushing a little bit. "I've missed you too, Pretty Girl. And I brought Chinese." He held up a brown paper bag.
"Oh goody!" she squealed and clapped her hands. "You guys are spoiling me rotten today!" He smiled, remembering his mother mentioned bringing Brooke lunch today.
"So, I head you got to meet Keira?" He opened the bag and handed her a carton of fried rice, and another of sesame chicken. She took it graciously, and started digging at it with her chopsticks.
"Oh my god Lucas. She is soooo cute! I bet she's so much fun."
"Yeah, she's pretty great."
"Is it weird? Going from being an only child to having a sister?"
"It was at first. But she is definitely worth it. She really is a blessing our family. Especially to my mom."
"Who knows-" she smiled. "Maybe she'll be my sister one day too."
This really caught Lucas off guard. Even when they were dating, they didn't talk about marriage or the future. Both of them knew they wanted it, but rarely said anything.
"Maybe." he smiled.
"Lucas, we need to talk."
"Uh. Ok." he said confused. 'Oh god, what did i do?' he questioned himself.
"Ok Lucas. Stop thinking you did something wrong. I can see it on your face. I just want to say I'm scared. The day of my accident, I turned around to come find you. To say I loved you and I was sorry -"
"Brooke.." he interrupted.
"Lucas, please listen. I just lost two years of my life. I have no idea what direction I should even head in to pick up the pieces."
Lucas lowered his head. Maybe things weren't going as well as he thought.
"Lucas, I love you. I just wanted to ask if we could take this slow. I need to put my life back together. But I want you there guiding me the whole way, holding my hand as I do it. You won't lose me again. I promise. I love you too much." She smiled.
"Oh, I love you too, Pretty girl." he kissed her forehead.
"Is this ok, Lucas?"
"Of course it is, Brooke. I'd do anything for you."
