One week later and things were starting to fall back into place for Peyton Sawyer. Jake didn't call, he didn't email her, and he didn't text. And for that, she was grateful. It was like she was forgetting he wasn't there anymore. She was putting her heart back together slowly, and she knows it's going to take time. But her friends are helping her out. Maybe things were going to be okay again.
She smiled at her best friends as they talked about random things. Oh, how she loves them.
Julian walked over to the table and sat down with a huff.
Brooke rubbed his arm comfortingly. ''What's the matter?''
''Jimmy,'' Julian said with a sigh. ''He's been talking to Mouth and Rachel more, I saw him with Grubbs this morning too. What if they changed their minds, Brooke? What if they kick me off the team.''
''They won't.''
''But-''
''They won't.'' Brooke repeated sternly, cupping his cheek with her hand. ''Listen to me. I'm not going to let them. I'll talk to Rachel, and see what's going on.''
Julian smiled, a real one. ''You're kind of terrific, Brooke Davis.''
Brooke smirked. ''So I've been told.'' she said. It seemed like that was becoming their saying, because it's just something that he ends up saying, and she always says the same words back.
''Do you want me to kick this Jimmy kid's ass?'' Nathan asked, joining their little conversation which all of the friends heard.
Haley slapped his arm. ''He's not kicking anyone's ass.'' she told them.
Lucas coughed. ''Whipped.'' he muttered, so Nathan would hear.
Unfortunately for Lucas, Haley heard. ''Peyton, get him.''
Peyton grinned devilishly and punched Lucas hard in the arm, causing him to wince in pain.
''Who's whipped now?'' Nathan chuckled and snorted.
Lucas looked at him in confusion. ''Still you.''
''Peyton, get him.'' Haley repeated. She had a feeling that this would be her new method of punching Lucas when she can't reach him.
Peyton smiled again and obliged.
''Okay, okay. I get it.'' Lucas sighed, rubbing his arm where a bruise would form over the next couple of hours. ''You guys are mean. Sorry Nate, I take it back.''
''Right, now we've gotten this sorted.'' Brooke said. ''P. Sawyer, Hales. I was thinking last night and I realised that we've not had a slumber party in forever. My parents aren't here again this weekend. So how about we have one at my house?''
''I'm in.'' they both said with big smile.
They've missed Brooke's slumber parties so much.
''Hey Broody,'' Brooke said, linking her arm through Lucas' as the walked to class. ''Can you do me a huge favour?''
''Depends what it is Cheery,'' Lucas answered in a bored tone. Brooke's 'favours' usually involve something that will irritate him. ''And if it's me painting your toenails again, then no.''
Brooke giggled at the memory. Lucas was hopeless at painting her toenails; he got the polish all over her foot which made her angry, causing her to hit him over the head with her shoe, repeatedly. ''No, it's not that.''
''Then what is it?''
''Well, you know how me, Hales and P. Sawyer are having a slumber party on Saturday?'' she asked him, even though she knew that he knew.
Lucas nodded. ''Yeah, I was there when you asked them.'' he chuckled.
''Well, how about you and Nate have a slumber party two...'' she trailed off, hoping that he would get where she was going with this.
''When we live in the same house?'' Lucas asked with a chuckle. ''I don't really see the point in that.''
''And invite Julian?''
Lucas groaned. ''Brooke, we hardly know him. And guys don't have slumber parties.'' he said, using air quotes.
Brooke pouted. ''Please, Broody. We've all known each other for years. Julian feels left out sometimes, you guys need to bond.''
''Nathan won't like it,'' Lucas warned her. ''It was a big deal for him, letting Julian sit at our table. Do you really think he'll want to 'bond' with the guy who is now part of our group?''
Brooke beamed. ''You think he's part of our group?''
Lucas shrugged. ''Um, sure.'' he said. ''Well, I know he can never be one of us, like; he's not had our ten years of friendship. But I have a feeling that you two will be together for a long time, so he is kind of in our group.''
''Which means he can sleep at your house on Saturday?'' she asked with a hopeful smile.
''Fine,'' Lucas gave in. ''But that's just me agreeing, okay? You'll have to talk to Nathan.''
Brooke scoffed. ''Please, I'll talk to Haley instead; she'll get him to say yes.''
''No.''
''C'mon, he's our friend now.''
''So?''
''You guys need to bond.''
''I don't want to.'' he said stubbornly, like a four year old as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Haley sighed. ''Nathan... I thought you liked him.''
''I do.'' Nathan shrugged.
''Then why aren't you making an effort to be his friend? Brooke's crazy about him, Luke likes him, Peyton said he's cool, I think he's great. So why can't you make an effort. For Brooke.''
Nathan sighed, but didn't say anything. He's actually coming around to the idea. He wants to know the guy Brooke's dating; he wants to be friends with him. He's just scared, in case his friends start to like Julian more, and then they start hanging out with him more. This means he has to share his friends with another person, he doesn't want that.
''For me?'' Haley tried.
''Okay,'' he gave in with another sigh. ''For you.''
''Rach-ho!'' Brooke called when she finally spotted her with Mouth at Rachel's locker. ''Or should I say Routh?'' she asked with a smirk once she reached the smiling pair.
''Hey slut.'' Rachel greeted, turning back to her locker and grabbing a math book from inside.
''Hi Brooke.'' Mouth said politely with a nod.
Brooke smiled her dimply smile. ''I'm so glad I saw you guys. Julian told me you were together last week, but I had to see if for myself. I can't believe I've not bumped into you two.''
''Maybe we've been avoiding you?'' Rachel teased.
''Okay,'' Brooke said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. ''Anyway, I need to talk to you guys about something.''
Rachel closed her locker and leaned against it. ''What is it?''
''This Jimmy Edwards kid,'' Brooke started. ''You're not going to let him back on the team, right? I mean, he shouldn't have left. He can't just come back and take Julian's spot. He loves this team, he loves you guys, well maybe not Grubbs, but the point is-''
''Brooke.'' Mouth cut her off with a chuckle. ''We're not kicking him off the team.''
Those words made Brooke feel all warm inside. ''Really?''
''Really.'' Rachel confirmed.
Brooke surprised them by pulling them into a group hug. ''Thank you!'' she squealed. ''He's been really worried. Don't tell him I told you that to, he'll go mental.''
Julian sat on one of the benches near the car park, waiting for his girlfriend so they could go to the movies together. Brooke always took ages coming out of school, Julian had no idea why, but he was used to it by now. Besides, he doesn't mind waiting. As long as he gets to see her soon.
''Hey loser.'' a voice said from behind him.
Julian turned around and saw his new rival, Jimmy Edwards.
''What do you want, Jimmy?'' Julian asked irritation clear in his voice.
Jimmy walked in front of him. ''I want you to quit the mathletes, we all know you're going to quit soon anyway.''
Julian's face scrunched up in confusion. ''Why would I quit?''
''Because you're part of them.'' Jimmy spat. ''You're dating Brooke Davis, which means you hang around with her friends, they'll convince you to quit. Sooner rather than later, huh?''
''They don't care about me being a mathlete.''
Jimmy rolled his eyes. ''Sure. You're going to quit soon, I know it.''
Julian shook his head. ''No I won't.''
''How about a bet?''
Julian's eyebrow rose. ''What kind of bet?''
''If you guys win the contest this week, then you stay on the team. When you lose, I take you spot.'' Jimmy offered.
''And why would I do that?'' Julian asked with a chuckle.
''Because you like a challenge?'' he suggested. ''I mean, you got Brooke Davis to go out with you. What did you do? Pay her?'' Jimmy laughed, causing Julian to stand up with his fists clenched. ''Wait, she's Brooke Davis, she'll sleep with anyone.''
That was it.
Julian's fist immediately connected with Jimmy's fist, causing him to fly to the ground. Anger spread through his veins. And it just completely took over him. He lunged onto him, hitting him again, and again. Until a pair of strong arms pulled him away.
''Leave it man,'' the voice said. ''You'll get suspended, I'd know.''
Julian then recognised the voice. Nathan.
''Let go of me, dude. He said something about Brooke.'' Julian said through gritted teeth, trying to break free from his grasp as Jimmy touched his face in pain by his place on the floor.
''By the look on your face, I'm guessing he did. But you need to calm down.'' Nathan told him calmly. ''Look, I've done things much, much worse to guys who have said stuff about Haley. And I don't regret any of it. But all this anger isn't good for you man, it messes you up. Go and talk to Brooke, while I make sure Jimmy doesn't get you into trouble, or you will be off the math team of yours.''
Julian took a deep breath and nodded. ''Okay, let me go.''
Nathan released his grip on Julian and kneeled down beside Jimmy, he pointed his finger at him warningly.
''You stay away from my friend, or I'll be kicking your ass along side of him if you say anything about Brooke again. So don't tell the principal, just get out here.'' Nathan demanded.
Julian smiled slightly at the sight of his new friend defending him, but then winced at the pain in his hand.
Brooke gasped when she walked out of Tree Hill High to the sight of Jimmy Edwards walking to his car, with blood coming out of his nose. While Nathan and Julian were stood with Haley, who was shouting, well practically screaming at Nathan.
''You said no more fights, and what do you do? Beat up an innocent kid!''
Nathan looked pissed too. ''It wasn't even me!''
Haley scoffed. ''It's always you. God, Nathan. When are you going to start thinking about how this might jeopardize your future, our future? You've almost been kicked out of here four times; you're on your last chance. How are you supposed to get into college with that record?''
''It wasn't me.'' Nathan said, a little more calmly this time. He knew she was right; all of those fights he got into took him one step back from a decent college. But that didn't mean he wanted to stop defending her, or his friends. ''This time. But all those other times I was defending you.''
''I never asked you to do that.'' she said softly. ''Did he hurt you?''
Nathan rolled his eyes. ''I told you, it wasn't me.''
Haley raised her eyebrow questioningly when she could only see truth in his eyes. ''Then who was it?''
''Me.''
''Julian?'' Brooke asked in shock, walking closer to them after hearing the whole argument. ''Why would you do something like that?''
''He just- I mean.'' he stuttered, unsure whether to tell the truth or not. ''It was nothing.''
Brooke scoffed. ''Of course it wasn't nothing, you don't get into fights. What did he do? What did he say? Oh my god, did he replace you on the team? Oh, I'm going to kill Rach-ho, and Mouth, and Chase and that stupid hairy-''
''Brooke.'' Julian interrupted. ''I'm still on the team.''
She almost smiled at that, but she still hadn't found out the truth. ''Then what happened? His nose is bleeding.''
Julian didn't want to say it. He didn't want Brooke to know what Jimmy had said about her, it was mean. So he stayed silent.
''He was defending you.'' Nathan told him, his arm now wrapped around Haley's waist.
Wow, they get over an argument fast.
Brooke looked at him in shock, already feeling the tears well up in her eyes. ''You don't have to defend me, I can look after myself.'' she told him shakily.
''You can't, not all of the time. And that's okay, because I want to defend you, no matter what. Even if it means breaking my knuckle.'' he joked, though he was serious. His hand does feel a little weird, and very painful.
Brooke took his injured hand in hers, feeling immediately guilty when he winced. ''Did you break a bone?''
Julian shrugged. ''I'm not sure, I think so.''
''Julian, you didn't have to do that. Now I feel so guilt-''
''But I don't care, don't you get it?'' he interrupted her again. ''I'd do this everyday if I had to. I'm not going to let some guy say mean things about you.''
''But why? We haven't even been dating long.'' she asked shyly, staring at his hand.
''Because I love you, Brooke Davis. I've loved you for months, I just didn't realise it until I met you again. That means what I said in my cheesy Glee speech was true, plus I'll do a lot more. I'm not going to sit back and not defend you. I'm going to look after you, and protect you. Because that's what you do when you love someone, right?''
Julian's heart was racing, he could barely feel the pain in his hand, and he could hardly hear Haley's aaw. He was just looking at Brooke nervously, because he was terrified in case she said that she didn't feel the same way, or she just wasn't there yet. What if she breaks up with him? What if he pushed her too far? What if this was all too much? Crap.
Brooke smiled a bigger smile than he's ever seen. ''I love you too, Julian Baker. I love you so damn much.'' she said honestly. She too had realised it when she hid under the desk after seeing him for the first time since L.A., she was just scared to say it first in case he didn't say it back. But he did, he loves her just as much as she loves him.
Julian's lips crashed to hers immediately, and she hungrily kissed him back.
When they broke apart they both grinned widely at each other.
''You're terrific, Brooke Davis.'' he said breathlessly.
Brooke smirked. ''So I've been told.'' she took hold of his hands, causing him to snatch his left one away. ''Sorry!''
Julian shook his head; the smile didn't leave his face. ''It's okay; I think I've broken my pinkie, and my index finger. Can we go to the hospital?''
'''Course, anything for you, Baker.''
AN: Sorry for the shorter chapter, but I did update really fast. I'm planning to update a lot over the Christmas holidays, but it won't be everyday like today. So the next update will probably be Thursday or Friday.
Oh! And the next chapter is the 'sumber parties', then the one after that is Julian's competition.
I'm ill:(. So please review to cheer me up?;-).