"I asked you not to make a big deal out of this, Luke."
Lucas turned around and came face to face with his current fiancé, the scowl from moments before still plastered across his own face. The look softened when he took in her tortured expression. Wordlessly, he opened his arms to her, and she stepped in willingly. His hand cupped the back of her head, pulling her tighter into his embrace. "I wasn't intending to. I just wanted to talk to her myself."
Peyton remained motionless in his arms, her eyes shut as he swayed them from side to side. "I know, but why? She's upset, and she's not going to talk to me until she calms down."
"Well, maybe I can speed up the process in the meantime," he told her, releasing her from his grip. His hand instinctively moved to the side of her neck, his long fingers wrapping around her delicate skin. "She's our friend," he reminded her softly.
"Yes, but she's my best friend," Peyton countered.
"Right, and had the roles been reversed? You'd be doing the exact same thing, and you know it."
Peyton sighed at his assertion, her head slumping downwards in defeat. If Haley and Luke had a falling out, she would assign the role of mediator to herself and try to mend the fences for the man she loved and his best friend. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that the altercation she witnessed from across the park had very little to do with her. "That conversation with Dean looked pretty intense from where I stood."
Luke scoffed and averted his eyes from her line of vision. His gaze unintentionally fell on both Brooke and Dean… and the casual arm he'd slung across her shoulders. "And just where were you standing?" he asked.
"A good distance away," Peyton answered, rubbing her hands down the length of his arms. "I could practically feel the tension between you two from across the park."
He shook his head and stared at the blonde beauty before him. "It was nothing." When Peyton did nothing but raise her eyebrows, he sighed and broke away from her. Luke reached down to grasp her hand and guided them towards their group of friends. "He's very protective of Brooke."
She laughed at this and searched his eyes to see if he was serious. "Isn't that a good thing? Brooke needs someone to take care of her, and from the looks of it, he's doing a pretty damn good job."
Luke silently nodded his head and tried desperately not to react to the way Brooke leaned into the curve of Dean's arm, resting her head on his shoulder as they followed Nathan and Jae towards the potato sacks. "I'm just saying…"
"…saying what?"
"He shouldn't be so defensive towards her friends," he quickly explained. "The guy doesn't even know why I wanted to talk to her or what I was going to say. He should've just minded his own business."
Luke continued walking, never once noticing the way Peyton fell behind at the abrasiveness coated on his voice. Instantly, her worry transferred from the deteriorating friendship with her best friend, to the not-so-solid impending future with the love of her life.
"So that was a nice thing you did back there."
Dean shrugged and withdrew her hand from the crook of his elbow. Smoothly, he wrapped his arm around her, his hand dangling lightly in the air past her shoulder. "What can I say? I'm full of surprises."
She nodded her head, the smile on her lips not quite reaching her eyes. "That you are, Dean Winchester." Her attention quickly flew to the twosome walking ahead of her. Jae and Nathan were in a heated debate over the best all time player of the NBA. Never in her life had she seen a woman so passionate about basketball. One thing was certain; the girl would definitely fit into their inner circle.
"You wanna talk about it?" Dean quietly asked beside her.
Brooke groaned softly and lulled her head onto his shoulder dramatically. "If I don't talk about it, can we pretend it never happened?"
"Sure," he said, resting his cheek on the top of her head momentarily. "But you know I'm just gonna bother you about it later, so you might as well tell me now."
She pinched him on the side and felt satisfaction when he yelped in reaction. "You're such a punk."
"Then, why do you keep me around?" he joked, pulling her closer into a headlock as they got closer to Nathan and Jae. Brooke squeezed his sides once more, startling him enough to loosen the hold he had on her head. She wiggled free with little effort and sprung forward, determined to put the detective in his place—party or no party.
"You better run!" she yelled after him as he circled a picnic table to keep himself safe from harm. She knew they must've made quite the scene to both the adults and kids of the party, but none of that mattered. She was hell bent on evening the score and just as determined to make her roommate pay for messing up her hair.
As if he'd read her mind, he pouted and placed his hands on his hips. "I don't see why you're so upset. Your hair was a mess before I even touched it."
And with those last words, he ran for his life… knowing very well that the punishment would be worth the look on her face.
Across the park, Jae picked up a potato sack and frowned in the direction her new friends had run off to. "How hard is it to find a decent pair of hands to help me in this town?" she said jokingly.
"Hello?" Nathan asked, clearly offended as he waved his hands in the air. "What do you think these are?"
She shook her head from one side to the other and laughed at Jamie's father. "Present company excluded of course."
"Of course," he mocked her, placing a hand over his chest. His eyes followed Brooke as she chased his brother in law around the park. He took note of the genuine smile on her face. Though a part of him was glad that she was opening up to another man, Nate couldn't ignore the nagging feeling in his gut that told him she wasn't out of the clear just yet. Her earlier confrontation with Luke was a big indication of what was to come—that he was sure of.
"They're cute together," Jae observed from afar. He looked towards her and realized that they'd both been looking after the twosome with matching grins on their faces. Brooke had finally caught up to Dean after the man had tripped over his own two feet. She launched herself on top of him, moving frantically to grip his hands between her own before he maneuvered his way out of her hold.
"He makes her happy," he agreed.
Jae raised her eyebrows and studied them more before a light smile graced her own lips. "Looks to me like she does the same for him."
At her analysis, Nathan took a closer look at Dean with suspicious eyes. For the first time, it seemed like Dean had his guard fully down. He looked as if he was allowing himself to be happy, carefree and have fun. He lacked the sour face expression that seemed permanently stamped on his face. His eyes lit up in a way he'd never seen before. "Well, I'll be damned," he muttered underneath his breath.
Jae snorted at the epiphany that he had, and they laughed at her unladylike mannerisms. "What's the matter?" she pressed on after the moment passed them by. "Don't tell me you have some secret crush on your son's godmother?"
"What? No!" Nathan reassured her instantly. "It's nothing like that. She's been a good friend to all of us throughout the years. It's just nice to see someone making her feel the same way Haley makes me feel."
Jae smiled sadly, shaking her head when Dean had Brooke pinned underneath him. She squealed relentlessly as his fingers dug into her sides repeatedly, causing Brooke to beg him for mercy. "I know what you mean," she said gently.
He mentally kicked himself in the ass for his insensitive slip up. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to—"
"Oh, don't you dare apologize for being loved by your wife," she told him sternly. "It's a blessing to share your life with someone who accepts you and loves you for you. Someone who stands by you when you can't even stand the person you are," she said sadly. "Don't ever apologize for that."
Nathan paused for a moment, taking her words into consideration. "He sounds like a great guy." When she gave him a curious look, he elaborated his thought. "Your husband," he commented. "I'm assuming you were talking about him."
She nodded her head as the corners of her lips pulled tightly at the ends. "Tommy," Jae referred to her husband, "was my everything before Robby was born. And I was an impossible girlfriend at times, but he never left my side. He was the most patient man I've ever known, even to this day."
Subconsciously, he reached out and placed a consoling hand on her shoulder, massaging the skin beneath his fingers as he offered as much comfort as he could. "I'm sorry he's gone," he offered politely.
Jae blinked back unshed tears as she nodded her head vigorously. She sought her son out of the crowd and her eyes remained riveted to the little boy. "Yeah," she breathed out. "I'm sorry my son has to grow up without his father."
The thought struck a chord in Nathan's heart as he moved his gaze from the woman before him to his own son. The thought of Jamie growing up without his father literally broke his heart. He could only imagine how Haley would carry on had she suffered the same fate as the single mother. Jae was absolutely right; each and every day with both Haley and Jamie was a blessing in which he was forever grateful.
Nathan decided then and there that he needed to show his family just how thankful he was for the both of them.
"Are you two done molesting each other yet?" Haley asked both her brother and best friend.
Brooke's mouth hung open at her words while Dean appeared to think the question over. "I don't know. What time is it?" he asked seriously.
Nathan, Haley and Jae laughed at the annoyed expression on Brooke's face. The pink of her cheeks deepened to a darker shade once she became the butt of the joke. She glared at Dean—a face she'd been making towards him a lot lately—and sulked under his dancing eyes. "Keep it up and all your stuff will be out on the street before the night is over."
He didn't seem a bit perturbed by her threat. "You wouldn't do that to me," Dean said without doubt.
"Oh, I would," she reassured him vehemently.
"Guys, can we pause this lover's quarrel and get down to the business at hand?" Nathan asked unapologetically. Before Dean could send death glares his way, he turned to Jae. "Do you want me to get everyone's attention?" he asked helpfully. When she nodded her head yes, he turned away from the group and cupped his hands over his mouth, his fingers forming a makeshift megaphone. "Listen up grownups! We're having a contest for the adults so all who want to participate or watch, come on down!"
"Nice, sweetie," Haley said sarcastically as she grinned at her husband. "That's the way to get them over."
"Don't tease him," Dean scolded his sister, coming to Nathan's defense. He cocked his head towards the direction of the parents that were making their way over to the group. "He got the job done."
Haley rolled her eyes while her husband nodded his head appreciatively at his brother in law. "Thanks, man."
Dean smiled back in return. "Don't get used to it."
Brooke scoffed from beside him and slapped his shoulder softly with the back of her hand. "Would it kill you to be a bit nicer?"
"Yes," he answered gravely.
The group, Nathan included, laughed at his answer just as Peyton and Luke made their way to the forefront. "What's so funny?" Peyton asked.
"Oh, you know, the usual," Haley informed her friends. "Dean's picking on Nathan."
"You still haven't let up on that?" Peyton asked after she chuckled at the idea.
"Nah. It's too much fun."
"Yeah, well, it's getting old," Luke declared.
Everyone was surprised by the attitude that carried his words to their ears. Brooke blinked in astonishment while Haley looked as if she'd been physically slapped. Peyton's eyes shot up to her fiancé's instantly, and Jae looked like a deer caught in headlights. Nathan shook his head at his brother's plain resentment for Brooke's roommate. However, Dean kept perfectly still until his lips formed a slow, lazy grin. "Well, I don't hear anyone complaining. Do you?"
Luke found himself in a quandary that he'd set himself up for. If he carried on, the conversation would definitely turn into a scene that would cause many—if not all—of his friends to come down on him. If he acquiesced to Dean, the older man will have won.
"I'm not," Nathan answered jovially. When Luke glared at him, he returned the look with a firm shake of his head. He mouthed the words knock it off to his big brother, sighing only when Lucas rolled his eyes. "Jae, why don't you explain the competition?"
Jae clapped her hands once and smiled at the mob of parents before her. "All right everyone. Now that the kids have had their fun, I've put together a little contest for the grownups. In my hand, I hold three small ropes for three teams. It's your typical relay race with a slight twist." She waved her hand behind her as if she were modeling an expensive sports car. "You've gotta find your way through the obstacle course."
The crowed fawned over the not so difficult obstacle before them. The teams would have to maneuver their way around a picnic table, weave through a set of orange cones and end the race by pacing themselves through netted squares that were raised six inches from the ground. The older parents all fought over who would be the first to participate before coming to the conclusion that the group of friends should give it a shot.
"We're too old to be falling over ourselves," one parent joked while the others agreed happily.
At the instance of the mob before them, the small group began making teams.
"Brooke, why don't you team up with Peyton?" Luke suggested, never being one for subtlety.
"Lucas…" Peyton started.
"Sorry, Peyton," Dean cut in slickly. He hooked an arm around Brooke's waist and pulled her to his side. "She's stuck with me whether she likes it or not."
"Something tells me she likes it," Nathan joked while Brooke tried her best not to blush.
She turned her face into Dean's shoulder so only he could hear her hushed words. "There you go again, saving me in just the nick of time."
He tightened his grip on her waist, emitting a small gasp from the woman who stood partially in his arms. "What can I say? You're not the only hero in Tree Hill now, are you?"
She preened under his teasing eyes, the glow on her cheeks deepening only when he smiled at her.
"Well, family or not, we're taking you down," Haley said smoothly as she wrapped an arm around Peyton's shoulder. The blonde woman smiled appreciatively at her friend for saving her from embarrassment.
"Great, so who am I gonna be partnered up with?" Nathan asked his wife.
All eyes automatically turned to Lucas. His eyes widened when he realized their intentions and he backed away with the palms of his hands facing his friends. "Don't look at me."
"Why don't you partner up with Jae?" Brooke asked.
"I can't," she said sadly. "Who'll be the judge if I participate?"
"I'll do it," Luke offered readily. "How hard can it be to stand here and declare a winner?"
Jae didn't seem convinced. "I don't know you guys. I don't feel right entering my own contest."
"Oh, be quiet," Nathan hushed her protests. "Come on, live a little. Unless you just don't want to be paired with the most sexiest competitor," he said, rubbing a hand down his chest. "If that's the case, I completely understand."
The group laughed while Dean stared at his brother in law as if the man had just grown another head. "I think he's serious," he whispered vehemently to the woman he held onto. Brooke's own chuckle deepened at her friend's analysis.
"Maybe I just don't want to be paired with the crippled," Jae replied lively, her eyes twinkling in mischief as she jabbed a finger into his chest. The girls giggled at the insult, and Dean let out a low whistle in reaction.
"Well, this cripple is gonna help you win the race. So what do you say?" Nathan asked her, his arms spread apart.
The woman in question volleyed her attention from one friend to another. Finally, she sagged her shoulders in defeat and acquiesced to his request. "Fine, I'll join. But if I end up looking like a total ass on the field, I'm caking you later."
"Promise?" Dean inquired happily.
"Let's get started already!" Haley pushed the group. Everyone cheered in response and the three teams used the rope to tie their legs together by the ankle.
"I hope being paired with the detective will pay off," Brooke said coyly.
Dean shook his head as he fastened the knot on the rope. "Yeah, well, let's hope your coordination isn't restricted to the clothes on your back," he teased in response.
She threw her head back and let out a loud laugh, surprising everyone that lined up to start off the race. "Can you please stop hitting on her for more than five minutes so we can get this thing started?" Haley asked her brother.
Before he had time to react, Luke sounded off the blow horn that signaled that the race had begun. When he turned his eyes to glare at the guy, Lucas smirked in response. "Come on!" Brooke urged her partner when she realized he wasn't moving.
They were a few feet behind but managed to catch up easily as they ran in sync towards the picnic table. Nathan and Jae struggled happily as the smaller woman seemed to hold up a lot of his weight. When Dean and Brooke zoomed past them, they could hear her scream jokingly out to the two teams ahead of them. "I told you guys I didn't want to be stuck with the handicap one!"
Brooke couldn't help but laugh, throwing the two of them off balance as they struggled to find their footing. Ahead of them, Haley and Peyton were halfway through the orange cones, the crowd of both adults and kids cheering them on. "This is ridiculous!" Dean exclaimed through his own laughter as they continued to stumble over their feet. "I should've left you with Peyton!"
Brooke was laughing so hard she couldn't catch her breath. Finally, her free foot collided with his and they tumbled to the ground, their limbs tangled within one another. They couldn't control their laughter as Brooke lay on top of him, her free leg wedged in between his two legs. Her forehead rested on his chest and her chuckles continued as her head bounced off his rumbling skin.
"I can't believe you said that," she scolded him as she attempted to regulate her breathing.
"It's true!" Dean insisted from beneath her. "I'm too old for this crap."
"Oh, please," she said as her laughter finally began to die down. Brooke looked up as Nathan and Jae hobbled past them, the two trying desperately to run in coordination towards the end zone.
"Talk about sweeping a girl off her feet!" Nathan taunted the two as they zoomed past as fast as they could.
"You already lost, dude!" Dean yelled after him, the victory screams of the two girls reaching them from afar. "Give it up already!"
Brooke couldn't shake the smile from her face is she tried. She folded her arms on top of his chest and peered down at him, happiness glowing all over her face. "Thanks."
His eyebrows rose high on his forehead. "For?"
She bobbed her head from side to side as she thought of an appropriate answer. When Brooke brought her attention back to him, her eyes glimmered with contained delight. "For not leaving me with Peyton."
His small smile lit up his face as he nodded his head beneath her. "Anytime."
They stayed like that for a moment, their bodies pressed against one another as the silence loomed on. Brooke became nervous once she realized how close their faces were towards one another. If he raised his head just a little bit higher, or if she lowered her lips just an inch down…
"Are you gonna kiss her or not, Uncle Dean?" Jamie asked from a few feet away. The kid tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for them to notice he was there. "Cos seriously—that'd be an awesome birthday present!"
Dean struggled to bring his gaze towards his nephew. Once he took in the boy's smiling, eager face, he shook his head in awe, mesmerized by his nephew's bluntness. "It's not your birthday, kid."
Jamie shrugged nonchalantly and dared to take a step closer. "True. But you missed the last one," he countered, his eyebrows rising in triumph.
Before either adult could reply, Nathan jogged up to them partner free. He stood beside his son and placed his hands on his hips. "Seriously guys. We're at a party for kids. Can we cut the PDA down until after the cake's been served?"
The rosy tint of red on Brooke's cheeks darkened instantly as she moved to untie the knot on the rope. She quickly freed herself and offered a small, shy smile to the boys before walking off in the direction from which Nathan came.
Jamie threw his hands in the air and frowned at his father. "Good job, Dad!" He carried his little legs over to Brooke's side, clasping his hand in her larger one as he made small talk with his godmother.
Nathan stared off after them, completely unaware of his brother-in-law until he felt him slap a hand on his back. "Yeah, good job dad."
"So, you and Brooke have been getting along pretty well lately."
Dean groaned and closed his eyes at the nagging sound he'd mentally replaced in his head as Haley's voice. "Don't you have a son to take care of or something?" he asked annoyed as he piled food onto his paper plate.
"As a matter of fact, I do," Haley answered too brightly. "Lucky for me, I also have a husband to help out with that when I want to bug my big brother."
"You must get that irritating gene from your dad's side cos we definitely don't share it."
She laughed once she realized he truly did believe his own words. Haley reached over and looped one arm through his, hugging the bicep she cradled between her hands. Her head automatically found its way towards his arm and she leaned on him easily, just as she had many times when they were younger. "Seriously, though."
"What?" he asked as he put extra relish on his hot dog. "Dude, you're annoying."
She smacked him on the back of the head, satisfied only when he scowled down at her. She smiled brightly despite the glare that appeared to deepen as the seconds passed on. "Oh, stop it. You look like a bulldog."
"What can I say? You bring out the best in me," he muttered.
"No, I think you're mistaking me for Brooke," Haley teased him.
Again, he groaned and rolled his eyes to the heavens above. "What did I do to deserve this?" he said to the sky.
"Stop avoiding the subject and talk to me about Brooke." She actually stomped her foot in determination when she said this. Dean couldn't help himself from chuckling at her impatience.
"There's nothing to talk about."
"Wrong answer," she insisted.
"Well, whatever answer it is you're looking for, you won't find it with me," he told her stubbornly. He bit into his hot dog, moaning in satisfaction as he chewed around the good in his mouth.
But Haley wouldn't be easily thwarted. "So, are you saying that if I want to know anything, I should ask Brooke?" When he continued to ignore her, she allowed her imagination to run with the idea. "Or maybe you want me to ask her, just so I can gauge her own reaction to my question… and report her answer back to you."
His eyes narrowed in her direction as he promptly ceased from chewing. "Seriously?" he asked. "How old are you?"
Haley shook her head and ran a frustrated hand through her short hair. "Yeah, I know. It sounds a little farfetched, but you aren't exactly giving me any information here."
"Most people take that as a sign to drop the conversation all together," Dean told her. "But then again, you've inherited that abnormal gene from your dad."
"Can you please stop insulting my father?" she asked.
"Leave it to you to completely ignore the fact that I'm insulting you," he said mockingly.
"You're such a jerk, Dean."
"And you're ugly," he replied quickly before tossing a potato chip in his mouth. He smiled enthusiastically when she fumed at his slick comeback. Leave it to Dean Winchester to render you speechless.
"Fine, we'll change the subject," she relented. "If you intend on beating the crap out of my best friend, could you give me a heads up in advance?"
He shook his head at his sister's inability to accept the fact that he was past the age of ten. "I'm not gonna threaten to kick his ass by the monkey bars at three o'clock if that's what you wanted to hear."
"He's just jealous, Dean. He's not used to seeing Brooke lean on any other guy but him. It's going to take some getting used to, that's all," she defended her best friend.
"And that shouldn't be my problem," he retorted. "Come on, Haley. He takes a shot at me every single time he gets a chance. The little punk is practically begging me to put him in his place."
Haley quickly quieted beside him. She withdrew her arm from his and clasped her hands together on her lap. "Things are such a mess," she said forlornly. When he ducked his head to catch her gaze, she shrugged and sighed at the same time. "You guys used to be so close. I remember all those summers when you taught him how to play basketball."
When he didn't make any move to share the memories with her, she continued on. "You know he remembers those times, don't you? He even remembers Sam Montgomery. The four of us used to have the best times together," she recalled, pastimes from years ago playing in her mind. She turned to look at her brother then, her eyebrows pulled up in genuine wonder. "Speaking of Sam, how's he doing?"
A distant look clouded the color of his eyes as the one question he'd been dreading since coming home was finally asked. Haley remained oblivious to his reaction and continued speaking of her brother's best friend. "Last time I saw him was the last summer I saw you. When you and mom were fighting, he sat with me on the front porch and told me about how much he admired you for having these big dreams and goals for yourself." She swung her gaze towards him and nudged him on the shoulder. "He really looked up to you, you know."
Dean nodded his head once, a somber smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "Yeah," he croaked incoherently.
"Hey," Haley's instincts kicked in immediately. "Dean, what's the matter?"
He closed his eyes and shook his head once, trying desperately to grab hold of his emotions so he can say what he needed to say without failure. When he opened his eyes once more, his hazel green orbs found hers instantly as he answered her question. "Sam's dead. And before you start asking a million questions, I'm not ready to talk about it."
Her mouth hung open in shock, and before she could compose herself to be strong enough for her big brother, he was gone.
"You gonna avoid me all day?"
Brooke sighed patiently and cursed her luck at the man that stood behind her. "Luke, I really don't want to get into this now." She turned around to face him and visibly deflated before him. She took in the stubborn set of his jaw and the determined look that gleamed in his eyes. "But of course, you want to do this now so I have no choice, right?"
"I just want to talk," he said objectively, his palms faced forward as he took in the contained anger that flickered in her eyes. "That's all."
"Fine," Brooke said sternly. She put down the slice of cake Jae handed to her earlier and placed her hands on her hips. Where was Dean when she needed him? "Talk."
Luke wearily stepped closer to her, his hands still in the air as if he were preparing for her to explode. "Listen, I don't know what exactly went down between you and Peyton, but you've gotta talk to her. She feels terrible about the fact that the two of you are fighting."
She nodded her head once and titled her head to the side. "I'm sorry that she feels that way, but I can't bring myself to talk to her. Not right now."
"But why?" he asked bewildered.
"Because I can't," Brooke repeated firmly. "And seriously, I'd really appreciate it if you stayed out of this."
"Well, I can't. She's my fiancé and you're my—"
"Please," she interrupted him abruptly, placing one hand in the air to stop him from going any further. "Spare me the reminder that I'm just your friend. Your friend who at one point in your life used to be 'the one' for you. I really don't want to hear it."
Luke stood speechlessly, not knowing what to say. "Where the hell did that come from?" The woman in question turned her body away from him, offering nothing more than a glimpse of her profile. Her chin was lowered to her chest as she shifted her head from side to side, wishing to be rid of the man who constantly came back to the forefront of her mind and heart. He mistook her silence as a sign to continue speaking. "We haven't been together in years, Brooke. Why would you say something like that?"
"I don't know," she answered swiftly. She faced her body to his just as quick and squared her shoulders as her arms crossed against her chest again. "Why would you take the time to be there for me when I was having a hard time with Angie? Why did you make yourself readily available to me each and every time I needed you?"
He wanted to scream the right answer to her, but deep down, they both knew he'd be lying. Yes, he was with her every step of the way because they were friends, but really… he wanted to help Brooke in the same way she'd helped all of them so many times. Though there were many things he'd been unsure of during that time, the one thing he didn't question was the fact he liked the person he became when he was with Brooke. She held no expectations for him, nor did she ask for anything that he possibly couldn't give her. She needed him, not some fabrication of a man that both Lindsey and Peyton craved for.
And because of that, he found himself slowly falling back into the motions of caring for Brooke Davis in the exact same way he never thought possible.
"That's what I thought," she said calmly, breaking him from his thoughts.
"What are you getting at, Brooke?" he asked patiently.
"I don't know!" she yelled unexpectedly. "I don't know. I'm angry, Lucas. I'm pissed off that you and Peyton get to be together while I'm still alone. I hate that you were there for me when I had Angie, and now it feels like I've lost you all over again. I'm mad that Haley and Nathan get to live out their happily ever after!" she inhaled deeply, trying to catch her breath. "I'm mad as hell that a nameless face broke into my store and took away my sense of security! I'm upset because I feel so damn powerless, and I'm slowly losing control over my life—yet no one gets it!"
Shame quickly coursed through his veins as he caught a glimpse of the girl whose heart he'd broken not once, but twice all those years ago. Here was the vulnerable, fragile girl she hated displaying to the world, yet the only time she showed her face was with him.
"You all walk around on eggshells, careful not to say the wrong thing, always offering to listen and be there when I need you—but nobody hears me," she said painfully. The tears had yet to fall from her eyes and she dared to glance at him, pure pain and anguish radiating through the hazel of her irises. "You wanted to know what I'm getting at?" she said quietly this time. "Now, you know."
Brooke turned on her heel and stomped away from him so suddenly, he almost stopped himself from reaching out to her. "Where are you going?" Luke called out to her.
"I'm going to find Dean," she said decisively. Brooke had her back to him as she reached for her designer purse left on the picnic table before her. She missed the way his face pulled into a tight scowl, his disapproval evident on his face.
"He's not good enough for you."
His words had the opposite effect on her as she turned around and shook her head at his stupidity. "And who is, Luke? You?" she asked in mild exasperation. This time, she didn't wait for him to continue, nor did she turn around when he repeatedly called her name.
Unfortunately for Lucas, his heated conversation with his ex-girlfriend wasn't as private as they thought it was.
Peyton Sawyer placed her delicate hand over her chest as she stood a good distance away. She was far enough to be unseen and close enough to hear each and every word.
Dean stood quietly and scrutinized the little boy as he communicated with the kids that surrounded him. Robby wore his birthday crown proudly, delegating to his friends the roles they would play for the duration of the party. A smirk touched his lips as he deemed Jamie with the role of first knight. Robby explained his nephew's duties as if he truly were a noble king. He was more and more like his father than he could've ever imagined.
Behind him, Jae walked up silently and stood beside him. She folded her arms across her chest and looked out towards her son wordlessly. A million questions raced through her mind at that very moment, yet she didn't know which one to start off with. Luckily for her, Dean broke the silence between him.
"He's getting so big," the detective said in awe of her son.
Jae's heart swelled with pride at the mention of her baby boy. After her he passed away, she focused all of her attention on raising her son to be the kind of person her late-husband Tommy would be proud of. Her life revolved around the happiness of her little boy, and it showed immensely to those who crossed her path. A lump formed in her throat, and she found it hard to speak. "Yeah," she said roughly.
Dean recognized the catch in her voice but refused to take a look at her. Jae was a strong woman who'd been dealt a whole lot more than any person should handle at such an early age. Yet and still, she overcame every obstacle with little to no complaints, always looking for the sunlight during the storm. Neither breaking down nor being emotional was a common characteristic of the young woman so he spared her the embarrassment of acknowledging her suffering and continued on. "He looks so much like his father."
A fresh coat of tears lined her eyes as her throat burned with thickness. It'd been a while since anyone—besides her mother in law—had made that same reference. Not that it was impossible to notice. Her little man was looking more and more like Tommy every single day. It was both a blessing and a curse at the same time. "He throws temper tantrums like him, too," she joked hoarsely.
He smiled at that thought and shook his head softly. "Man, don't tell me he inherited the crybaby Andrews gene," he asked begrudgingly, swinging his eyes towards her when she chuckled.
"You'd be amazed the things he inherited from Tommy's side of the family," Jae told him proudly. They watched silently while Robby switched a tree branch from one of Jamie's shoulders to the other, knighting the young boy as his first in command. "Look at him," she laughed breathlessly. "I don't think I've ever seen him this happy since…"
Dean nodded his head as he swallowed past the ball caught in his own throat. He'd been avoiding this subject since he'd laid eyes on her earlier. Truth be told, he'd been avoiding this conversation with anyone and everyone who wanted to talk about the events that took place months before he returned to Tree Hill. And now, whether he wanted to or not, he would have to come
face to face with reality… with the one person who might understand his pain more than anyone he knew. "I didn't know that you were here," he said finally. "In Tree Hill, I mean."
She waved a hand away, shrugging off the apology without a thought. "No one does, really. Ever since Tom passed away, we've all been laying low. Gramma Jean's still taking it pretty hard."
"Gramma Jean," Dean repeated in awe. "Man, it's been a while since I've seen Aunt Jean," he shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry I couldn't make it to the funeral."
Jae nodded her head once more, never taking her eyes off her son. "It's okay. Sam explained that you were in the middle of a high profile case—"
"Still," he replied firmly. "I should've been there. I wanted to be there."
"Just like I wanted to be there for you." She found the strength to meet his eyes then, her eyes expressing the sorrow she felt for the man before her. "I'm so sorry—"
He thwarted her apologies with the palm of his hand, stopping the heartfelt words from tumbling from her mouth. "Please," he told her earnestly. "You don't owe me any explanations." When she moved to speak further, he quickly turned on the Winchester charm and attempted to change the subject. "Besides, I'm sure you're full of questions that you're dying to ask me, so why don't we let the interrogation begin?"
Her eyes shifted their focus once she realized that Dean was done talking about the ghosts from his past. Jae chose not to press the subject any further and opted to shelve the conversation for another time. "To be honest, I only have one question."
Dean raised his eyebrows in mild suspense, urging her to continue.
"Earlier, when Nathan was making the introductions… Why did you act like we've never met before?"
"Hey," Brooke interrupted them at that very moment. The two turned to face her with wide-eyed expressions. Neither one had heard her approach, and judging by the way her eyes darted from everywhere but directly at them, Dean figured she hadn't heard their conversation. "I don't mean to be rude," she said this to Jae. "But I really need to get out of here."
She looked promptly at Dean, her eyes pleading with him to help her.
Without hesitation, he nodded his head and held out his hand to her. She visibly relaxed and took his outstretched hand within her own. "We're out of here," he said assuredly, directing them to his car. He turned around once to share a silent message with Jae, promising an explanation as soon as he made sure Brooke was okay.
Judging by the look on her face and the death grip she had on his hand, he figured that conversation would be on the backburner for a while.
Author's Note: SO. Originally, I wasn't planning on having Dean having any sort of relationship with Jae Andrews. However, a review from miralinda put the idea in my head and I sort of took it and ran with it. The character of Jae will play a significant role in this story as her life will run in parallel with the other characters. This note is to inform you all how serious I am in regards to your feedback. Your suggestions and kind words not only encourage me to write more, but it also trickles ideas I never would've formed had it not been for your reviews. So incase I haven't said it enough, thank allof you for taking the time to review my story.
Also, I created a credit reel for the characters in the story. If you're interested in viewing it, please go to the youtube website and search for my username: FOREVERTWENTY2. The video can be found under my profile with the name: Collide - The Credit Reel attached to it. Thanks!