This is a very VERY short update! I have an idea and I'm getting there, but I also need sleep... oh sweet, sweet sleep! I hope people are enjoying the updates and miss our old Brulian as much as I do. Thank you so much to everyone who continues to read and support this little story!!! Your reviews and alerts mean the world. I truly appreciate it!
The subtle stench of stale cigarette smoke and alcohol alerted Brooke to Rachel's arrival. After so many years, Rachel knew that Brooke was aware of her presence, but Brooke was flexing her power and making her wait for an acknowledgement. Rachel knew this was serious as she watched Brooke's fingers fly across her laptop with a ferocious intensity she hadn't seen since she spilled red wine on one of her designs.
Brooke nodded her head, indicating to Rachel to come further into the room and closer to her confinement in the bed. Rachel cautiously moved towards Brooke's bed and sat on the side, bracing herself for the impact of Brooke's wrath.
After hitting send, Brooke continued to focus on the screen of her laptop. She wanted to avoid looking into the eyes of the woman in front of her. She reminisced about their high school friendship and time together building Clothes Over Bros. Brooke had changed during high school, and hell knows she changed after graduation. Finally looking into the eyes of a person she had considered a close friend, she realized Rachel never evolved past the hurt and rejection she experienced as a young girl. How can you be angry at a person you feel sorry for? Brooke silently asked herself.
Finally, Brooke's eyes met Rachel's. Both women's eyes were filled with sadness. But their eyes were filled with more, an understanding that things would always be different from this point forward in their friendship. Brooke cleared her throat and took a deep breath. Her entire plan, she spent an hour creating, rested on Rachel's agreement.
"Did you call your regular boy?" Brooke asked quietly.
The words took Rachel by surprise. Those were definitely not the words she expected Brooke to say first. She blinked several times and tried to grasp the meaning of the question. Where the fuck is Brooke going with this?! Rachel thought. Realizing that Brooke was not going to give any further explanation without an answer, Rachel cleared her throat as well and attempted a chuckle. Her weak laugh only provoked a scowl from Brooke. Rachel quickly asked for clarification, "Regular boy?"
Brooke Davis did not tolerate individuals wasting her time. She personally loved being coy with people, especially men, but despised in others. Particularly people who stripped naked and jumped on her man. "Your regular BOY, Rachel." Brooke hissed in anger. "Did you call your regular guy that you always call when you're in Tree Hill?"
"You mean like a booty call for after Julian brushed me off?"
Wow! Brooke can still slap a bitch! Rachel's hand flew to her stinging cheek and she could feel the startled tears escape her eyes. It was amazing the amount of strength Brooke could deliver in her slap, even though she was confined to her bed with a plastered leg. "Yeah, I called Diego."
"I'm really glad to hear you say that." Brooke reached across and grabbed Rachel's hand. She gave a small smile as she squeezed Rachel's hand, "Let me tell you what's about to happen."
Julian and Nathan finally made their way back to the house and were surprised by the number of strange cars and apparently buzzing activity inside. Exchanging anxious glances, Julian swallowed and asked, "Do you think the story already broke?"
Nathan squinted towards the house and shook his head. "Nah... Believe man, you know the paparazzi. They'd be swarming like roaches and you'd hear it all the way at the beach. No this reeks of corporate, big business."
Nathan nervously opened the front door to his house. Before he could call out to Haley, one of Brooke's assistants nudged him towards the kitchen with Julian right behind. Both men were relieved to see Haley sitting at the kitchen counter sipping a glass of wine, seemingly oblivious to the frantic commotion surrounding her.
"Uhhh, babe? Something you'd like to share with me?" Nathan placed his hands on either side of Haley, blocking her in her seat against the counter, and kissed the top of her wavy auburn locks.
"Hmmm... yeah." Haley lifted the glass of red wine to Nathan. "This wine is amazing! One of Brooke's people brought it in from France!" Nathan began to chuckle and kissed the top of Haley's head again. After nearly a decade of marriage, Nathan knew when his wife was tipsy and always loved to see a slightly inebriated Haley.
"Haley? Haley?" Julian began snapping his fingers in front of Haley's face, "Haley , I need you to focus. What the hell is going on around here?"
Haley began to giggle a little and then gave Julian one of her signature evil looks. "Julian, I'm so disappointed in you. You've been bad. Detention!"
Julian took a deep breath and was about to start again, but stopped short when he heard Brooke's voice say his name. Her voice was barely audible over the fairly loud din of PR executives. His ears immediately strained to try and detect her voice again. He said a silent prayer that he wasn't hallucinating, and that Brooke was really trying to talk to him.
"Julian is that you?" Julian had confirmation that Brooke was calling for him and he was beaming, literally beaming with a megawatt smile the stretched across every square inch of his face.