A/N - I know it's taking me forever with these updates. I apologize. It's just school's been so rough, and I would've updated earlier this week but the whole time I was working on an eight-page research paper. Hopefully I'll be able to update "Finding My Way Back" and "Searching For What We Lost" either tomorrow or Sunday. I'm hoping for tomorrow, but we'll see. 'Cause I have a test on Monday that I absolutely need to study for...and another on Tuesday. Like I've said...school's been extremely rough. Lol.
I want to say thanks to: TeamxxBrucasxx, Boyfriend-PrettyGirl, Mosie1213, onetreefan, onetreehillgirl066, Brucas3Naley23, brookenlucas4eva03, bella, NYGIRL09, brucas333, IamCaroline, MissUnderstood92, Brucas2006, Brooke D., Brook-Lucas-Fan-23, BDavis427, CheerandBrood323, and brookedavis23 for their reviews for the last chapter. I try and personally respond to each and every review I get, so please let me know if you don't get one...sometimes I miss a few.
Thanks again and please enjoy this chapter!
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What's True
Chapter 14 -
--2010--
She had been successfully avoiding Lucas for several hours, and she could tell he was getting irritated about it. But it wasn't her fault. He was the one that said those words, and whether he realized it or not, and whether he did it on purpose or not, he still shouldn't have said what he did.
It was a small, simple comment, however to Brooke it was much more.
They weren't together anymore, and hadn't been for a while. For him to say something like he did wasn't fair to her.
"Look I'm sorry." He walked into the living room unannounced and spoke.
She stayed silent and he sighed dramatically.
"Brooke, don't be immature about this." By saying so, without realizing, he was just digging himself into a deeper hole.
She scoffed, shaking her head, as she kept her eyes directed on the carpeted floor. She couldn't look at him right now otherwise she'd break. All the anger and vulnerability she was keeping locked up would burst out and she couldn't have that happen.
"God, Brooke. Say something."
"What do you want me to say, Luke?" Her voice cracked mid-sentence, and she still didn't take her eyes off the floor.
Finally hearing her speak, he moved to where she was, and took a seat next to her on the couch. "Anything." He placed a hand on her thigh, and she flinched from his touch. He pulled away. "Just...tell me what you're feeling."
They hadn't had a lot of time to talk due to their newborn, so now that Rylie was finally asleep, it was the perfect time for a confrontation.
"What I'm feeling?" She asked incredulously, for once picking her eyes up from the floor. "You wanna know how I feel? Maybe I feel like the life I'm living in now is so screwed up...and that's how it's gonna stay. We messed up, Lucas. Badly. And us being together right now...living together like this..." She trailed off, trying to piece her words together. "It just doesn't make sense."
"Well what can I do to help make it make sense?" He knew it was a lost cause because everything Brooke had just said to him was true.
"There's nothing you can do, Lucas." Her voice sounded so weak, like she was just ready to give up. But maybe she was. Or maybe she had already given up.
"So you're saying we can't ever go back to what we were like before? That we can never make this work?"
"I-I think too much has happened...between us..."
"So what exactly are you saying?"
"I was talking to a real estate agent the other day...and I found a house—." She began to explain.
"Brooke—."
"I think it's best if I move out...with Rylie."
--2015--
"Aunt Haley?" Rylie looked away from the pile of toys that had been keeping her occupied for the past hour or so.
"Yeah, sweetie?" Haley turned away from the t.v. and looked down to the floor where Rylie was sitting.
"Where's mommy?"
Haley was surprised the question had not come out of her niece's mouth earlier.
"Well..." Haley started. She really didn't want to say that Brooke had gone to go see Lucas, because that would cause a whole new round of questions to come out of Rylie's mouth. "Your mommy just had some things to take care."
"What kind of things?" Rylie became interested and got up from the floor. She walked over to the couch and took a seat on Haley's lap.
"Well aren't you a nosey little girl." Haley tickled her sides, causing Rylie to erupt into a giggling fit.
"I'm...sorry...I-I'm sorry." She tried gasping out, pleading for Haley to stop. "I won't be a nosey little girl anymore."
Upon hearing those words, Haley stopped. "You're too cute for your own good, you know that?" Haley said before kissing Rylie's cheek.
She loved the little girl to death. While she felt bad that her parents were so estranged, she also understood why Brooke and Lucas were like that. She just didn't like how it effected Rylie so much. Rylie deserved more than that. And truthfully, so did Brooke and Lucas.
"Why don't you go back to playing with your toys? Or do you want to watch some t.v. with me? I'm sure mommy will be back soon." Haley lifted her off her lap and placed her on the ground.
"Wait." Rylie turned around. "Aunt Haley, do you and Uncle Nathan love each other?"
"Of course." Haley nodded, curious as to why Rylie would ask such a question.
"Then why don't my mommy and daddy love each other like you and Uncle Nate love each other?"
"Rylie." Haley sighed. What was she to say to this precious, innocent five-year-old.
"And mommy says that she doesn't hate daddy, but why doesn't she love him then? Sometimes she tries to ignore daddy, and then I don't see him for a while...and I miss him. A lot."
"I know you do, sweetheart. But you know your mommy and daddy both love you."
"Yeah." Rylie shrugged. "But I don't like when they fight with each other. It's scary sometimes."
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"So are we ready to do this?" Brooke asked as she and Lucas stood outside the front door of her house. "I mean, we're not making a mistake, right?"
Lucas gave her a look and she sighed.
"I'm sorry..." She gave him a small smile. "It's just...this is really new to me...we haven't really officially been together since what? Highschool? 'Cause college certainly doesn't count."
"I know but—." He began to speak but was cut off by her lips on his.
"You're right." She pulled away and smiled. "I'm ready."
She took her keys out, stuck them in the door, and then pushed the door open.
It didn't take too long for Rylie to come running through the foyer.
"Mommy!" She stopped running when she saw her father. "And daddy." Well that was a surprise.
"Hey, Brooke." Haley followed behind. "And Lucas." She was just as shocked as Rylie had been.
"Hey guys." Lucas was the first to speak out of he and Brooke, and then he picked Rylie up from the ground into his arms, giving her cheek a kiss. "How are you, babe?"
"Um, Brooke can I talk to you in the kitchen?" Haley asked. She wanted details. Now.
"Sure." Brooke excused herself and left the room with Haley.
"What's going on?" Haley immediately asked.
"Well..." Brooke paused and couldn't help the smile that was emerging on her face. "Lucas and I are back together."
"Oh my god!" Haley squealed. "Brooke, that's amazing!" She hugged her best friend. "I'm so happy for you guys."
"Thanks."
"Rylie's gonna be so happy." Haley smiled.
"I know...and I sort of feel bad for everything that has happened to her just because of me and Luke, but...things are gonna be different now."
Haley nodded. "Okay, well I'm gonna go so you three can be a family again."
"Thank you so much for taking care Ry while I was gone earlier."
"Don't worry about it...but I'm gonna call later...and I expect details!"
Haley left through the back door of the house and Brooke returned to Lucas and Rylie with a smile on her face.
Lucas was still holding Rylie and it looked like they were both deeply engrossed in a conversation.
"Sorry to interrupt." Brooke said, entering the room.
"Oh, That's alright."
"Yeah, it's okay, mommy."
Lucas smiled at Brooke and she nodded before his eyes went back to his daughter. "Uh, Ry, your mom and I have something to tell you."
"What is it?" The young girl asked excitedly.
"Well." Brooke picked up from where Lucas left off. "Daddy and I are back together..."
"Do you know what that means, Ry?" Lucas asked Rylie who he was still carrying in his arms.
At first her face was blank, but then something in her head went off. "So that's why you two are being nice to each other now?" She looked back and forth between Lucas and Brooke. It was a new concept for her to see her mother and father in a room together without screaming. "I think I got it...But...do you two love each other like Uncle Nate and Aunt Haley love each other?"
Lucas laughed at his daughter before responding. "I think it's always been like that, babe." He looked over to Brooke with a smile before continuing. "It just took a few people a little longer to realize it."
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A/N - Aww! ;) lol. Cute or what?
Okay for the next chapter I plan on like skipping ahead a month or so...And the story's coming to an end shortly...I'd say only a few more chapters...maybe three...four...not sure yet.
Also, OMG the season finale preview is killing me! Lucas better be taking Brooke to Vegas! Please let me know if anyone has spoilers on this whole Vegas storyline; I'd love you forever (that is if the spoiler is good and says that he takes Brooke ...lol...if it says he takes Peyton, well, I'll hate you! Lol).
Please REVIEW!
Thanks!
–Melissa