A/N - Hello!! I wasn't expecting to update until this weekend, but I figured this would be more fun than studying, don't you think? Lol.
Thanks: othfan326, Brooke D., Brook-Lucas-Fan-23, CheerandBrood323, hiddenxtalent, BDavis427, ReadtheLyric09, brookenlucas4eva03, brucas333, Brucas2006, TutorWife, and onetreehillgirl066.
Thanks so much you guys!
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What's True
Chapter 6 -
-----2014-----
"Chase? As in Chase Adams, highschool?"
"Yes, Lucas. Is that so hard to believe?"
"Well how did that happen?"
"I ran into him last week and then we just sorta hit it off..." She trailed off. That was it...end of story.
"So, ... you and Chase."
"Yes, Luke. God. It's okay for you to be engaged to somebody but if I want to start dating it becomes a problem?"
"No, it's just—."
"Okay, look, I gotta get to work. So maybe you should...ya know, leave."
"Fine." He sighed. "Tell Rylie I'll call later to talk to her."
Brooke rolled her eyes and nodded. A few seconds later, the front door closed and she inhaled deeply. She wasn't making a mistake, right? Moving on was for the best.
-----2015-----
"But I don't want you to leave." The young girl cried, holding on to her father. Lucas looked over to Brooke, who was across the room, for some help.
She looked at Lucas and Rylie...and Lindsey was there, too...unfortunately. "Rylie, daddy has to go."
"He always has to go!" The five-year-old stomped her foot. Suddenly, her tears had vanished and an angry expression took over her face. "It's not fair!" She placed both hands on her hips and stomped all the way to the staircase, up to her room.
"I'm sorry..." Lucas started, looking at Brooke.
Lindsey stood up from her seat, a small smile on her face. "I'll go and check on her."
"Actually." Brooke cut in. "I think I should."
Who did Lindsey think she was? That she can just go butt into other peoples' businesses.
Once Brooke was up the stairs, Lindsey turned to Lucas and frowned.
"I was just trying to be nice. I mean, we're getting married soon and I just want Rylie and Brooke to like me."
"They do, they do." He said, though the hint of uncertainty in his voice definitely didn't go unnoticed. "It's just, Rylie's the only thing Brooke has, and they're really close. That's all."
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"Hey, baby." Brooke entered her daughter's room. The room was painted with pastel colors, pictures were hung on the wall, and stuffed animals were all over the place. A certain little girl who wore a frown definitely didn't fit in, in such a happy room.
"It's not fair." She sniffled, hugging onto her teddy bear. "He always has to go."
"I know it's hard, Ry. But you know that daddy loves you, right?"
"I think so..." She mumbled. "Can you come sit with me?" Rylie asked, moving closer to the edge of her bed, patting a vacant spot next to her.
"Of course. You wanna talk?" She joined her daughter on the comfortable bed, and wrapped one of her arms around her.
"I miss him a lot."
"Yeah. But you had a fun day with him today, didn't you?"
"A lot of fun."
"So why don't you just think about all the fun times you have together whenever you miss him."
"Will that work?"
"It might." She whispered, stroking her daughter's hair.
"Is that what you do when you miss someone, mommy?"
"Sometimes."
"Who do you miss?"
The answer was quite simple; Lucas. It was Lucas that she missed. Not his presence, though. Because she'd seen him at least once a week lately. But she missed the feeling of happiness, the feeling of safeness, the feeling of being content and having no problems in the world. And all those feelings, she'd felt when with Lucas. When he'd just wrap his arms around her and hold her close, kissing her hair. Or when he'd call her 'pretty girl'. Or when he'd kiss her passionately and hold her tight.
"Mommy?" Rylie waved a hand in front of her mother's face. "Who do ya miss?"
"No one in particular." She finally replied, snapping out of her daze. "No one in particular." She repeated.
"Am I gonna see daddy again before the wedding?" The wedding was in two days and Brooke was getting more uncomfortable as each day passed.
"Actually, daddy and I have a surprise for you. Tomorrow night you can go sleep over at daddy's house; the night before the wedding. Just the two of you."
"What about Lindsey?"
"There's this thing, that the bride and groom can't see each other the night before the wedding. So Lindsey won't be there."
"Just me and daddy." She smiled at the thought of that.
"Yup. But you have to be a very good girl for mommy tonight and tomorrow afternoon if you really want to go."
"I'll be very, very, very, very good!"
"I'm sure you will. Now let's go downstairs and say goodbye to daddy."
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"So, are you ready for tomorrow?"
Brooke rolled her eyes and groaned. She was definitely not ready for tomorrow at all.
"I'll take that as a no." Haley answered for Brooke, looking towards Peyton.
"Yeah, I'd say so, too."
"You guys are so lucky you aren't bridesmaids. I mean, I hate the girl and she asks me to be one."
"Now Brooke, hate's a strong word."
"'Brooke, hate's a strong word.'" Brooke mimicked Haley. "What are you, five?"
"Someone's grouchy." Peyton whispered to Haley.
"I heard that, P. Sawyer!" The two friends looked at Brooke. "Ugh, I 'm sorry. I'm just really stressed."
"That's alright, that's what we're here for. Release all your stress and anger out on us. I mean, we wouldn't want a cat fight at the wedding between the bride and bridesmaid, now would we?" Peyton smirked.
"Ha ha, very funny. But seriously guys. I don't even want to go tomorrow. Lucas is just gonna dig himself deeper into this hole."
"What 'hole' are we talking about?"
"Oh, I don't know. The 'my daughter's gonna hate me soon' hole. Rylie ends up missing him more and more each day. He's just making a huge mistake."
"You think he's making a mistake by marrying Lindsey?"
Brooke sighed, examining her hair for any split ends. "I don't even know any more."
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"So you're all tucked in? You're comfortable?"
"Very." She nodded, giving her father a smile.
"We've got a big day tomorrow. Better rest up, babe. I'll see you in the morning." He leaned in, kissed her forehead, then walked towards the door, shutting off the light.
"Daddy?"
She heard his footsteps return into the room, and the light went back on.
"What's wrong, princess?"
"Do I have to call Lindsey mommy?"
"What?" He was taken aback by such question.
"Well you're marrying her, and she's gonna be my step-mom. Is she gonna replace mommy?"
"No one is ever going to replace mommy, Ry. Okay? And if you don't want to call Lindsey mommy, then that's fine. Okay?" He knew that if Brooke heard Rylie ask that, her heart would break. Lindsey would never be able to replace Brooke's role as mom in Rylie's life. Ever.
She nodded. "Do you still love mommy?"
Lucas sat on the bed, shocked. "That's an awfully big question for such a little girl. What do you know about love, huh?" He tickled her a little and was able to get out a small laugh.
"Well mommy always says that when I'm older, I'm gonna find a boy who I'm going to fall in love with. And he'll be everything in my life. Do you love mommy?"
"Your mommy and I will always care about each other. But it's different with us..."
"Why is it different, daddy?"
"I think that's enough questions for one night, missy. You have to wake up early tomorrow to get your nails done and your hair done. It's time for bed."
"Alright." She sighed. "I love you, daddy."
"Love you too, baby."
Lucas shook his head as he walked out of the room. Those were some awkward questions his daughter just asked.
He yawned as he walked into his room and smiled upon seeing a picture on his night stand. It was Rylie, who at the time was only a month old.
He picked up the picture frame and peeled back that picture, revealing a totally new one. What most people didn't know, including Lindsey, was what was behind the picture of Rylie. He smiled as he saw the bubbly brunette he used to call his girlfriend. Her dimples shined through radiantly in the picture, and she looked absolutely gorgeous.
"No." He mumbled to himself, placing the original picture, Rylie's, over Brooke's. This was wrong.
He was going to be marrying Lindsey tomorrow. She was going to transform from Lindsey Strauss to Lindsey Scott. And Brooke Davis would remain Brooke Davis. It was that simple.
And it was the right thing also, at least he hoped so.
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A/N - Next chapter: The Wedding! ... Uh Oh!
Btw, 'Finding My Way Back' will be UDed on Friday!
PLEASE REVIEW!
Thanks!!!!
–Melissa