The Masquerade - Part 21
Walking closely behind Brooke, Nic exited the elevator on the first floor and followed until they were both outside the hotel. The sounds of the reunion on the roof were just barely filtering to them on the ground.
After a few moments of nothingness, where one, gathered her thoughts and the other grew impatient the silence was finally broken.
"What are you playing at Nic?" Brooke finally asked, turning to face Nicole with a glare.
Scoffing in disbelief, Nicole could barely reply. She was nearly sputtering with sudden anger stemming from rage she felt envelop her at Brooke's audacity. "Excuse me, Brooke? What am I playing at?? Perhaps you could clarify before I call bullshit and send that question back at you. What was I thinking about WHAT exactly!? By showing up to the high school reunion that I was obviously not invited too? By sending you away from my friends and I last night after you insulted one of them in MY club? By CLAIMING what I nearly LOST after three years of heartbreak, BECAUSE OF YOU? Really Brooke, PLEASE. Clarify to me what you're asking me, so that I can have my chance to ask you what the fuck YOU think you're playing at."
If Brooke was taken aback by the intensity of Nic's reply, she didn't show it. In fact, the tall blonde remained silent for a short moment before she finally opened her mouth to give her former best friend a piece of her own mind. "That's exactly what I'm talking about! You act like you actually care about Sam when we all know that you are physically and emotionally incapable of having genuine feelings for anyone but YOURSELF!"
The look on Nicole's face after listening to Brooke's reply was clearly of shocked disbelief. "I'm incapable of feelings?! Brooke I NEVER would have done to you what you did to me! You've known how I felt about Sam since freshman year! You knew I was in love with her and yet you still tried to take her away from me. But I'M the one incapable of feelings? Sweetie have you looked into any mirrors recently? Or is too hard to look into your own soulless eyes every day?"
"Satan, you seem to be forgetting a very important detail here." Brooke started with a sneer, "You already have done this to me. In fact, I thought you'd be able to appreciate the level of turnabout I afforded you."
"Brooke, I've never betrayed you like this. I don't know if you're now confusing your nightmares with reality, but you're just…" Nicole's reply was cut off by a now shouting Brooke.
"Never BETRAYED me Nic?! What was JOSH then!? How is actually SLEEPING with my boyfriend NOT a betrayal of my feelings?"
For a moment Nic simply stared at Brooke. Finally she shook her head in disbelief before speaking more calmly then she actually felt. "Brooke. In order to have betrayed your feelings, you would have had to have them to begin with. And I'm not exactly sure when you started lying to yourself so completely, but you told me plenty of times back then that the only reason you were with Josh was because he was the captain of the football team and you were the head cheerleader." Pausing only to let some of the anger seep back into her voice, Nic finished with, "Kennedy High needed a Royal Couple after all. Right Brooke?"
A gasp was heard from behind where both Brooke and Nicole were speaking. A quick glance behind proved the gasp to have come from Josh. Who was standing with the Carmen, George, Lily, Dave, Harrison, Mary Cherry and Sugar Daddy.
Brooke slapped Nic…
…And then immediately received a slap of her own from an outraged and screaming Samantha.
"How dare you?!"
Placing a hand on her rapidly swelling cheek, Brooke gave Sam a shocked yet almost pleased smirk while replying with, "Resorting to violence now Sam? Nicole would never approve. She hates violence you know."
Fortunately for Brooke, as soon she opened her mouth to resume speaking after being slapped; Nic wrapped an arm around Sam. Because, no sooner had the last syllable of `approve' left Brooke's mouth before Sam was lounging back at her. Only to feel Nicole's grip tighten around her waist and Nic's voice in her ear.
"Don't Sam. As much as she deserves it, you would only be giving her what she wants by stooping to her level." Pausing for a moment to let her words sink in through Sam's rage, Nic continued, "Can I let you go now?"
Slightly calmer than she was not even a full moment before, Sam gave a brief nod, prompting Nic to hesitantly release her from her hold.
Taking a deep breathe Sam was preparing to speak when Brooke started to chuckle and clap.
"Bravo Nicole! I can see how Sam might actually believe the bs you feed her about actually having feelings for her." Now laughing with a hint of desperation coloring it, Brooke continued to speak. "Has she told you she loves you yet Sam? What am I saying, of course she has! And you know what? I don't even blame you for believing her. The Bible does say that SATAN was good with words. I mean she even has Mackenzie eating of her hands."
Then with a sneer Brooke spat, "Or do you not know who I'm talking about unless I call her your `Mini-me'?" Quickly letting go of the anger at being considered second best by her younger sister, Brooke continued, this time with her anger once again directed at Nic. "She's selfish Sam! Nicole is nothing but a user! She uses people to hurt others! Ask Josh! She slept with him to try and get back at me! She betrayed me! But you know what? I was the bigger person and I let it go. However once I over heard her asking you to Grad night… Well, I realized that I could love you! And once I realized that I knew you deserved the chance to be with someone that could love you eventually. Rather then someone who never would or could. So yeah, I kissed you when I knew there was a chance Nicole could see, but it was for YOUR OWN GOOD! You deserved someone better then her! And really why would you want her once you realized you could be with me! I mean, I love you now, there's no need or room for Nicole when you belong with me!"
The stunned silence following Brooke's extended outburst was full of disbelief.
Shaking her head, Nicole was the first of the group to regain her bearings. She was after all, one of the few who knew this side of Brooke. "I wish I could be selfish. I wish I could be just as selfish as you are Brooke, and yet still able to sleep at night. After all, you pull it off so effortlessly that it looks highly satisfying."
Brooke tilted her head as a devilish smirk contorted her face. "Oh and it absolutely is Nic; however, I did learn from the best. Do I make you proud?"
Once again the shorter blonde was torn. She couldn't deny that she had been a selfish bitch in high school; however, she'd never pretended to be anything she wasn't, which was a lot more then her former friend could say with any sort of honesty.
It was obvious Brooke believed everything that was coming out of her mouth. There had already been plenty harsh words and far too many slaps, in reality that is, not nearly enough in her imagination. And yet, no matter how much crap they done to each other while at Kennedy under the guise of friendship, she would not let Brooke continue on blaming her for how she'd always been.
"Brookie, if you call yourself trying to imitate my perfection you're quite a bit behind. After all, the selfish bitch routine is SO 11th grade!" Nicole spat out in a sickeningly sweet contempt filled tone.
Pausing to take a centering breath, Nic continued with the contempt still heavy in her voice. "Princess the difference between you and I, is while I grew up, you haven't. The difference is, I've stopped using people like pawns with no feelings, and you haven't. These are our differences Brooke. Having your heart broken does that to you. Have you ever had your heart broken, Brooke? Have you ever even truly loved someone? Something tells me you haven't. There's nothing I could do or say, that would convince you of my very real feelings for Sam. And you know what? Even if there were a way, I wouldn't waste my time. My heart, Sam's heart our feelings…They're OURS! They're private. And we wont be justifying them to anyone. But what I will say to you Brooke? Is that you need to let this go. Let us go. I love Sam. I can say with absolute certainty that I love her with my entire being. And so knowing how I feel for Sam, I can also say with absolute certainty that you don't." The word don't hadn't completely crossed Nic's lips before Brooke attempted to interrupt.
"Don't attempt to…" Brooke started, only to be abruptly shocked into silence when Nicole simply raised her voice to a level just below shouting.
"SHUT up, Brooke! You DON'T! If you loved Samantha at all, you'd be able to walk away. You would walk away, even though it would break your heart, simply because Sam was happy. And when you love someone Brooke? The only thing you want is their happiness.
And since you seem to think what happened between Josh and I in high school is your ticket to getting away with murder now, let's address that as well. You say what we did betrayed your feelings? Those feelings I'm assuming you meant were love? Then why didn't you talk to me about it then? Why didn't you talk to Josh? Can you answer that question for me Brooke, because I could answer it for you. Do you remember what you said after Josh and I told you about that night?"
"I remember." Josh suddenly said from the background. "And I'd rather not repeat it; neither of us would look good in the light it paints us. After all, I WAS your boyfriend. But you know what Brooke? You were using me, and it's ok, in a way I was using you as well. You used me to cement your place at the top of the school popularity ladder, and I used you to create the picture of the all American boy my dad so desperately needed his son to be. So like I said, no big deal. But DON'T use me to justify what you did to Sam and Nic. You used Sam to get back at Nicole for sleeping with me. The end. Admit that much to yourself Brooke."
Staring between Josh and Nicole, Brooke wanted to be surprised that he had taken Nic's side. However, in the world that she was now inhabiting, it made all the sense in the world. "You know what Josh? I loved you! And just because…"
"Jesus! Give up already! You've thoroughly embarrassed yourself and accomplished little else, unless you count completely annilating yourself from the only people who might have cared about you.
I'm you sister Brooke. I think of you as a sister. I'll admit that at the moment, I see you as the crazy relative that I'll publicly deny having, but a sister none the less. I'm not in love with you. And I never will be. You need to understand that even if, God forbid, Nic and I ever break up… It'll never be your arms I run to for comfort.
Right now, Brooke? I'm… I'm almost beyond angry. Can you believe that? I'm almost passed the anger mark at the 3 years wasted for Nic and I. Now? I'm just a little sad. For you. Because, despite all of your machinations to keep us apart, you failed. I feel sorry for you. Sorry that you had to orchestrate a High School Reunion to surround yourself with people you don't even care about just so for one night, you could be the center of attention again."
Last night, you apologized to me on the street. I told you that not only did I not believe you to be genuine, but that I wasn't the only one you needed to apologize to. However, clearly I was wrong. It's not that you weren't genuine in your apology. The problem, Brooke, is that you are a child in a 21-year-old body. You never left the `me' stage in life. And you know what? Until you do... I'd prefer it if you stayed away from me."
Hearing the utter seriousness in Sam's voice, the impassive shell that had been hiding Brooke's true emotions broke. Truly looking at Sam and beyond her at all of their friends and the looks they were sending her way caused Brooke's voice to waver when she spoke. "But Sam..."
However, before she could finish whatever she was going to say she was once again cut off by the woman she was addressing. "No Brooke... I almost feel bad for you, because you really do need help. I just can't allow you anywhere near me or my life until you grow up. I can't give you a chance to try and fully destroy what you almost did three years ago. What's more, I don't think you could fully grow up if I was around you. And you know what? Once you've finally matured and worked on this obsession you have with me, I'd gladly accept your apology. I can't speak for Nicole, but I miss the person I used to know. I just... like I said, I can't be around you until you change.
For your sake, I hope you do."
When Sam finished speaking there was silence. No one spoke as Sam maintained eye contact with Brooke for a few more moments to try and convey how serious she was being. And when eye contact finally broke, Sam turned and let Nic hold her while the rest of the group alternated between watching Sam in Nicole's arms and watching Brooke and her reaction to the scene.
As one, both Sam and Nic turned to leave. Only to be halted by Brooke's desperate yelling.
"NO! You can't just…" Brooke paused, choking in her haste to stop the two girls from leaving. "You two can't just leave!
"Brooke…" Nic started, thinking this was going to quickly to degenerate into more name bashing on all sides. However, Brooke had obviously reached her breaking point and would not be stopped.
"No! Nic, no! You can't… neither of you can just LEAVE! Didn't you… I mean didn't you ever wonder why all of this started?! You were MY best friend! You were Satan, and you were MY best friend! I was the only one you were ever nice to! I was the one you paid attention to! I was the only person you ever cared about! And Sam!" This time, Brooke's desperate wild eyes landed on a shocked Samantha. "You were mine as well! You were my enemy! My opposite! I was popular and you weren't! I was the center and you, made sure things stayed that way by paying attention to me! When we called a truce, well then it was obvious that we were supposed to follow things through! I mean, sure Nic had feelings for you, but it didn't matter in the long run. It wouldn't have been right! I was the center! And you two… You two were supposed to… To realize that! But no! You… you…"
"Brooke, just…" This time, the interruption came from a troubled looking Josh. However, his interruption went unnoticed.
"YOU TWO WERE LEAVING ME!" Brooke sobbingly finished, screaming her desperation all the while. "You two were leaving me for each other! That was unacceptable! Don't you see that! It never would have worked! You two had no center and it was all wrong! I was only trying to recreate our balance and you all hate me for that and it's not FAIR! And still, you both are being so SELFISH!"
Heaving deep rapid breathes, Brooke collapsed on the ground shaking, while mumbling how everything was; `all wrong,' how `Sam and Nic NEEDED her,' and how `selfish they were for attempting to leave her behind.'
And there it was. With sudden realization everyone realized what the very sad crux of the matter was. Brooke was being left behind and she couldn't handle it.
A heartbeat after the taller blonde's mumblings reached her ear, Nicole found her voice. "Jesus, Brooke… You, did all of that… Simply because you weren't the center of our attention anymore? Brooke…" Nic was in shock. Her former best friend had caused so much heartache… And all because, "You felt like we were abandoning you? Brooke you could have TALKED TO ME! I would have listened!" Nicole was shaking from all of the emotion running through her; when she realized she would be able to get no more words pass the emotion swelling in her chest she simply turned and walked away.
Sam, hesitated before following Nic, much like when Brooke stormed off at the club, Sam knew she had to say something. "Get help Brooke. Who knows what you might actually ruin the next time a situation like this comes up." And with that she turned to catch up with Nicole, who had stopped a few yards away. Wrapping her arms around her smaller girlfriend, they stood there for a moment; long enough for a concerned looking Dave to catch up.
"You ok Mistress?" He asked with a frown, when he felt the minute shaking still coursing through her body. "I'd offer to kick the pixie's ass but that would just be cruel at this point. Even Minions have morals… Well all of us except Bella, so it's kind of good she isn't here right now."
When Nic, pulled out of Sam's arms to let out a chuckle and a grin, Dave let out a sigh of relief. He hated when his Mistress was upset.
Letting out a deep breath and running one hand through her hair while the other sought out one of Sam's, Nicole addressed her still worrying friend. "I'm fine Dave. But how would you like opening for me tomorrow?"
With a nod, Dave was agreeing before the request was even fully out of Nic's mouth. "Not a problem Mistress, I'll always look out for the Lair."
Grinning Nic was about to respond to Dave when Sam suddenly spoke to someone, the other two hadn't noticed approach.
"Hey Harrison… Someone taking her home?"
"Yeah, Josh and Lil." Pausing to look back on the scene they had left, Harrison continued. "Carmen and George are taking off as well. SD just said, he was to sober for all of that and went back into the hotel." Grinning a little at the way Nicole rolled her eyes at Big D's plans, Harrison finished. "So what's on the agenda now? It's still kind of early after all."
Looking from: Harrison's expectant face, to Dave's still slightly concerned one, to where Josh and Lily were basically carrying Brooke away, before finally resting her gaze on Nicole, Sam paused. And with her next heartbeat said simply, "We're going to go."
Short and to the point; she said nothing else after that, simply wrapped an arm around Nicole and started walking towards the shorter girl's car.
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