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The next morning Kyle met his dad in the car. They were gonna meet Uncle Leo's and his family for breakfast. And maybe tell him that Kyle was gonna be in the mob. But he was trying to hold it off for as long as he could. Kyle realized that he should probably apologize for the way he's been acting lately, practically his whole life.
After a few minutes of silence KYle finally spoke.
"I'm sorry." Kyle said quietly.
"For what?" his dad asked, glancing at him.
"For thinking you were being selfish, i know now."
"Everything?"
Kyle nodded, "Pretty much."
"And you agreed to it," his dad stated.
"Yeaa. But i don't want you to get mad about this, nothing's gonna happen."
"But you don't know that KYle! I've tried so hard your whole life to make sure you never got wind of this. It's not the life you want!" his dad said frustratingly.
"Yea and you know so much about what i want. I go up to 6 months without talking to you and you say you know what i want?"
"Kyle no one wants the life of a mob family. It's dangerous, and it takes alot of giving up."
"I know that, and i'm still doing it."
"Why? Why do you feel like you wanna do this," he asked as they parked into the driveway.
"Because i was meant to do this if you hadn't cut ties with them. It's what grandfather would've wanted, and it's my decision that i've thought about. I'm not gonna get hurt, and i'll still get to finish high school and go to college. I'm not gonna let this thing take over my life before it has to."
"I could respect that. But you know you can back out anytime you want right?" his dad said as he rang the doorbell.
"I know, but im not going to," Kyle said as Aunt Vivienne opened the door.
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Whenever something was bothering Brooke, she found herself at the mall. Not surprisingly really. The mall was somewhere you could forget all your problems, and focuse on other things, like shoes or music or Brooke's personal favorite, clothes. When she had woke up this morning, for some odd reason, she felt down. WHich called for a trip to the mall by herself. She always liked to shop by herself, because that way she could go wherever she wanted and not go somewhere she didn't want to go.
She plopped down on one of the benches to rest her feet. She had been on the walk since this morning, and it was already lunch time. Brooke was just about to get up when she saw Nathan standing in front of her in amusement.
"Do i wanna know how long you've been here?" Nathan joked as he moved all the bags around so he could sit down.
"You really don't wanna know," Brooke laughed.
"So you're shopping alone, at the mall, with tons of bags. So there's gotta be something wrong."
"No, i just feel like shopping, though i do give you credit for knowing me so well."
"It's kinda hard to forget your habits, they're all very strange," Nathan laughed.
"I'm just gonna ignore that. Anyways, why are you here by yourself?"
"Well Haley's sleeping in, and plus i wanted to talk to you, so i thought about it, and came to the mall."
"Nate if this is about Kyle, i really don't wanna--"
"Brooke, you're gonna have to talk about it sooner or later."
"Well i rather have it later."
"Brooke, what's going on with you guys? It seems like you fight every week or something."
Brooke sighed, "I don't know. I overreact, then he gets angry, and it turned into this thing."
"You guys fought the other day over Lucas, correct?"
"Yeaa, i just really wanted them to be civilized, and maybe get along..."
"It's not bad for you to want that, but Kyle's just looking out for you. I mean, Lucas cheated on you twice, and has kept stuff from you. He's gonna wanna protect you, it shouldn't be a surprise that he doesn't like Lucas."
"But it doesn't give him the right to make threats to Lucas at all."
"What's with you blaming Kyle? Lucas was the one that approached him, asking him all these questions about you guys. Kyle just felt like you were biting his head off the other day in the gym. He came here to help you, not fight," Nathan said quietly.
"I know that Nate. But i just don't know how i can have Kyle and Lucas in my life without there being conflict."
"Maybe all you need is one of them," Nathan muttered under his breath. But unfortunately for him, Brooke heard it.
"Wait what?!?"
"Nothing Brooke, just forget i said anything."
"No! You and Haley have been hinting crap to me all week! I wanna know what you mean because it's really starting to bug me."
Nathan sighed. Yep, Brooke wouldn't quit now until he finally told her. He might as well, but he didn't want it to affect Kyle and Brooke's friendship, or what was left of it. But maybe if he did tell Brooke, then maybe she would realize it too? It could work, or it could backfire, but either way Nathan had to find out for himself.
"Brooke, have you ever thought about you and Kyle, like, a couple?"
She stared at him for a few seconds, "Umm sometimes, but not reallyy. Why?"
"Well if you really think about it ... maybe you should consider you and Kyle like..."
"Me and KYle? A couple? Nate where have you been all these years? Me and KYle are just frirends..."
"Brooke, seriouslyy? Are you that blind? Everyone already thinks you have something going on. He always saves you, he's there for you all the time."
"Yeaa, because he's my best frined!"
"Well why did you freak out so much when you found out Kyle slept with Rachel? HUH? And at the first game, why is it that as soon as you saw Kyle with Ally, you were right back with Lucas?"
"I wasn't like that. And plus Kyle said tht he would never get back with Ally, and there he is hugging her! I didn't get back with Lucas just because of that!"
"Oh yeaa, then that was totallyy tears of joy in your eyes," Nathan said sarcastically.
Brooke's started getting teary, "Why are you questioning me on this?"
"Because you're just as blind as KYle is," Nathan said gently.
"You told Kyle your little theory?"
"Yess, and he denied it over and over again. But i see it. ANd the sooner you both realize it, the better," Nathan said before patting her leg and leaving.
Brooke quickly got her bags and walked out to her car.
While driving, she thought back to what Nathan had said. Why was he making her question everything she ever had with Kyle? ANd Lucas was his freaking brother, why was he convincing her to be with another guy?
This was all too complicated for Brooke. SHe didn't want to think about this or consider it. He and Kyle were just frineds, always have been, always will be, despite their situation right now.
BUt she knew she was lying to herself.
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Manny was the cousin Kyle talked to the most, just like Leo and Vivienne were the uncle and aunt he talk to the most. He was just closer to them for whatever reason.
Kyle and Manny walked out to their deck and sat on the chairs.
"So, i heard you're gonna do the whole mob thing," Manny said lightly.
"Yeaa, i am. Why do you sound so easy about it?"
"Believe me i'm not. I know what this family comes with, and being a mob boss is just one of them. But there's a time to joke, and a time to be serious."
"Is it as hard as it seems?"
"From the business end, no, as long as you get an education, it's not hard. BUt the danger part, nothing about it is easy." Manny said seriously.
"Do you guys really have guards stationed around your houses, and follow you everywhere?" KYle asked curiously.
"Did you think they were joking? Of course we do. Just so you know, the second and third uncles you have, they're not your uncles. They were hired by grandfather to watch over this family when we come togeter," Manny smirked.
"Well that would explain alot," KYle said.
"Just watch your step at times, and you can live a long and successful. But one wrong move, and it all goes away," Manny said.
"Yeaa, i know what you're saying. Things can get dangerous. I think your father lied when he said that we wouold be protected until after we graduate from college. We're still gonna be targets aren't we?" Kyle asked. He was hoping the answer was no, that Leo was telling the truth, but he wasn't that naive.
"I'm afraid not. IF you can keep it on the down low, then no, you'll be safe. But it's not likely. The other famlies are gonna notice us and know."
"So it's family against familiy?"
"NOt all the time. We have allies, and enemies. It's not that different from countries."
Before Kyle could ask anything else Aunt Vivienne called them in to eat.
As KYle got up, Manny said quietly, "Look, i'm not trying to scare you or anything, but this is a hard and cruel business. It calls for sacrifices, whether it's giving up sports, or the person you love. Just, know what you're getting into."
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Brooke wasn't surprised when she saw Rachel painting her toes in front of the tv in the living room.
"Don't you have a social life?" BRooke asked as she dropped her bags down at the door and plopped down on the couch.
"Of course i do. BUt my toe nails need to be perfect, so i can go out and socialize," Rachel joked.
"Well i went out and shopped until i literally dropped."
"I can see by that pool of shopping bags by the door. DId you go by yourself?"
"Yeaa, but i ran into Nathan," Brooke said bitterly.
"Woah, bitchyy much. WHat did Nathan do?" Rachel asked curiously.
"He-- nevermind," Brooke said quickly. Rachel would only tease her about this. After all she did sleep with Kyle.
"Brookie! You can't do that! Tell me!"
Brooke sighed, "Okayy, fine i'll tell you."
Rachel put her nail polish aside, her attention directed to Brooke.
"Okayy. Umm, have you ever thought about me and KYle.. like together?"
Rachel smirked, "Yea, ever since i saw him. Is that what Nathan asked you?"
"Well yeaa, i denied it, but, i don't know now!" Brooke moaned as she buried her head under a pillow.
"So what you're saying is, you think you're in love with your best friend?"
"I don't know!!!!"
"Brooke, do you wanna hear what i think?"
"No but i bet you're gonna tell me."
"Aww you know me so well," Rachel smirked, "I've thought that you and Kyle had something ever since i slept with him honestly. I mean, no one gets that mad when their friend sleeps with their other frined. YOu guys definitely have a connection, everything sees it, well maybe except you, Lucas, and KYle. I even told him what i thought."
"What did he say?"
"He denied it, just like you did to Nathan."
"UGH! What the hell is wrong with me? I can't be tihnking stuff like this!"
"Well if you're in love with him, then it's alright."
"RACHEL! I can't feel this way! I'm with Lucas, i'm happy with him, he loves me! ANd plus me and Kyle got into a fight about LUcas.."
"Yeaa he's totally fallen for you. Of course he would get angry when you defended Lucas," Rachel laughed,
"This isn't a laughing matter! This is my life we're talking about!"
"Okayy sorry. But honestly, everyone knows, they can tell. Even that asshole Aaron saw it. Why do you think he was making eyes at you in the first place? He knew it would bother KYle, so he did it."
Brooke now had a few tears streaming around her face. Everything was becoming more clear, and more deep. It explained all the times he would take care of her, and the reason she cried for days when he left.
"I'm always gonna be here for you."
"You're always saving me."
"I came back to help you."
"You're a really big part of my life."
"I've only had one girlfriend since i left."
"I missed you so much."
She never really thought much of it when they would say stuff like this to each other. BUt hen she never really read into what anyone said.
Maybe Haley, and Nathan, even Rachel, were right.
She was in love with KYle.
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BUt Kyle had a whole other situation, one that he just could not let her be apart of.
After dinner KYle and Manny walked back out to the deck while Leo, Vivienne, and Michael were in the living room drinking coffee.
"So, is there a girlfriend back in Tree Hill?" Manny asked.
"Nahhh, no girlfrined. It's kinda hard for me to keep one actually," KYle said embarassed.
"Playboy?"
"No, well i used to be, but not anymore. There's this girl, Brooke, who's my best friend. And whenever i get a girlfriend, they're always intimidated by her and how close we are."
"SHould they be intimidated?"
"Not really. Me and Brooke have always been friends, that's it."
"Maybe there's something more."
KYle laughed, "You sound like my other friends."
"Well they're right as well," Manny smiled.
"Yeaa, but it's complicated. SHe has a boyfriend, and they're happy. Plus we kinda got into a fight before i left."
"So?"
"I don't know, it would mess everything up. It's making me question everthing."
"That could be a good thing. You need to question yourself, to find the answer. Maybe the answer's in Brooke," Manny shrugged.
"Maybe, but it's gonna be hard, now with this thing," Kyle said.
"You're right. It will be. BUt you might as well get it while you can. Because who knows when you'll need to start thinking about her safety."
"That's what i'm afraid of."
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After her little conversation with Rachel, Brooke decided to turn in early. Rachel, had other plans. She was out the door by six, and probabyl wouldn't come back until morning.
So that left Brooke alone in her bed, thinking about a certain boy.
To say Brooke was confused would be an understatement. She didn't know anything anymore. Just when she was about to fall asleep, Kyle popped into her head. SHe found herself thinking back to times when she would think about how hot Kyle looked, or the sweet things he would do for her. Every little memory she thought about, the more clearer everything was getting. She absolutely hated it when she saw Kyle hug Ally at the first game. It then hit her that that was the reason she was back with Lucas in the first place.
Lucas was great ever since they got back together. They hadn't fought, and never got even close. He loved her, and told her everyday how he felt. And there was no more Peyton around, and they were happy. It wasn't bad eiter that Lucas was adorable, and when he was broody, he was even cuter.
But then there was Kyle. He was basically perfect in every way shape, or form. He was always backing her up when she needed it, taking care of her, and saving her. He obviously valued her opinion, and was there whenever she needed him. And he was gorgeous. Somewhere between an Abercrombie model, and a greek god.
Lucas had made his mistakes in the past. Well, he made alot of mistakes in the past. Brooke didn't think she could ever be with him again. He had absolutely crushed her, both times. And the lying? Brooke felt her heart break.
When she really thought about it, Kyle didn't really do anything wrong. Whenever they got into fights, she was always the one in the wrong, and she admitted that, and he gracefully forgived her. There were times when he was an ass, but everyone has their moments. But she didn't want to risk their friendship for something she wasn't even sure of. Kyle was her rock, she didn't want to have to lose him.
Brooke tossed and turned until and finally gave up and laid on her back, staring at the ceiling.
She wanted to be with Kyle, but she had a good thing with Lucas already, why give it up?
After a few minutes of comtemplating, she decided her plan of action. She would continue to be with Lucas, and be friends with Kyle. If by some reason, he admitted his feelings to her, if he even had any, then she would think about it. Not now, when she wasn't even sure how Kyle felt anyway.
But deep down, Brooke knew the answer.