XXX.
To say Lucas hadn't slept a wink last night would be an understatement.
He'd been up, tossing and turning, pacing his room, doing just about everything trying to get Brooke Davis off of his mind.
But he should have known from the past that once you're with Brooke Davis for even just 5 minutes, she'll be in your head for the next 5 years.
Finally however at 6 AM, he finally managed to pass out with one thought in his mind; he WOULD find out why Brooke left Tree Hill, and him.
XXX.
"Do you guys realize your son NEVER gets tired?" Brooke asked with a laugh as she joined Nathan and Haley in their kitchen.
The two had invited her over for lunch, but decided it'd be best not to bring up California with her. They knew Lucas was already pressuring her enough about where she went, and they were set on not doing that as well.
"Do you realize that's exactly how you were when you were a kid, Davis?" Nathan asked with a smirk as he closed the water bottle he'd just taken a drink out of.
Brooke rolled her eyes, letting out a giggle. Before she could respond, she heard two little feet pattering on the floor behind her. Turning around, she laughed as she saw Jamie with his jaw dropped, eyes big.
"Daddy! YOU knew Aunt Brooke when she was a kid?" He asked, very interested that his dad knew his new favorite person when she was his age.
"You bet! She used to live right down the street from us Jimmy Jam." Nathan told him son as he tried to hold back the laugh as he saw the excitement in Jamie's face.
"Was she as cool as she is now??" He asked right after, his eyes still excited over the fact.
"Please, I've ALWAYS been this cool." Brooke cut in, winking at Jamie who just smiled and nodded in return.
"I wouldn't go THAT far Brookie. I remember that bright yellow sweater you would ALWAYS wear." He reminded her, cracking up at the thought of it.
"Okay one; that was in what? Second grade? And TWO; my mom gave me that sweater and I thought she'd like it if I wore it. Besides, I've seen you in some not so fashionable clothes. 8th grade year anyone? When Nathan Scott thought it was cool to wear sandals with socks?" Brooke smirked, causing Haley to raise an eyebrow at her husband.
"Sandals and socks? And you used to make fun of ME for my poncho!" Haley reminded him, sitting up a little straighter as she glared at Nathan playfully.
Nathan gave Haley a sweet smile before looking down to Jamie. "Hey bud, NEVER try to take on two girls at one time. Got it?" He asked Jamie, who just shrugged in return.
"Even I'm not that dumb daddy!" He reminded his father, causing the three adults to crack up at his innocence.
"Ahem." The three stopped laughing as they heard someone clear their throat behind them. You could just feel the tension burning in the air.
"Uncle Lucas!" Jamie was the first to break the silence, running over to his uncle arms and jumping up in them.
Lucas spun Jamie around with a laugh. "Hi there, James Lucas Scott." Lucas said with a smile as he dangled Jamie upside down.
"Uncle Luccccccuas!" Jamie giggled, exaggerating the 'C' in Lucas as he tightened his arms around his waist.
Finally after a few more minutes of laughter, and a few 'be carefuls' from Haley, Jamie was back on his feet and headed to his room to find the new picture he had colored for Lucas, leaving the now four adults in the kitchen.
"Did Lindsey leave?" Haley asked as she walked over and gave him a hug, deciding to let the events of yesterday go. She could understand why he was upset, but part of her knows he isn't mad because Brooke is back. He's mad because he's still in love with her.
"Yeah." Lucas nodded as he walked over to the counter, not making any eye contact with Brooke, who was keeping her eyes elsewhere as well. "What're you guys up to today?"
"Nathan and I are going out for dinner later while Brooke stays with Jamie." Haley told him, although slightly scared to even the brunette's name.
"Are you sure you can handle that? I mean, you just got back and all…" Lucas said, finally looking over to Brooke.
Brooke's eyebrows perched up upon hearing Lucas' words. She should have figured he'd have a problem with something simple as her watching Jamie.
"I've been playing with Jamie since 11 this morning..I'm sure we'll be fine." Brooke replied, forcing a smile on her face as she really stared at him with cold eyes.
"I'm just saying…" Lucas shrugged, raising his hands in defense.
"And so am I." Brooke replied as the two continued their intense staredown, neither one of them wanting to break it.
"I've got an idea!" Jamie called out suddenly. "You guys can BOTH watch me! Yeah! Please Uncle Lucas! Please, Please, Please!" He begged as he ran over and hugged his uncle's knees. No one in their right mind would be able to turn that down.
"I'll tell you what." Lucas said, getting down on his knees to be eye level with Jamie. "If Brooke says yes; I'll stay. If not, then she's the babysitter."
"Please Aunt Brooke? It's be so much fun! Please!"
And that was all it took. Brooke gave a smile and nodded slightly, causing Jamie to throw his hands up in the air in excitement.
The night was sure be to interesting.
XXX.
"Damn it!" The younger Scott brother cursed to himself in the living room as he looked at the table.
"What's your problem?" Lucas asked, taking his attention away from the football game and on Nathan.
"Brooke's hotel key is still here…And she and Jamie were planning on stopping by there after the park to get her pajamas..." He said, letting out a frustrated sigh.
"I can run it by if you want." Lucas said, trying not to sound eager, although he really was. "I've uh—I've got to run home to get my laptop anyway. You know, in case I get inspiration to right or something…" He said, trying to come up with an excuse for why he'd happily take it.
"That'd be great man, here." Nathan said gratefully as he handed the key to Lucas. "If they aren't at the park..She's on the fifth floor…Room 505. They'd probably be trying to get a new key or something.." He said with a shrug.
"Awesome, I'll run it by right now." He told Nathan with a smile before standing from he couch. "Be back in a few!"
XXX.
Looking around the hallway one more time, Lucas slipped the hotel key into the door, smiling in relief as he saw the light turn green and hearing the door unlock.
Quickly, he made his way inside. Once in the door, Lucas looked around the somewhat big hotel room, making sure Jamie and Brooke hadn't showed up yet.
After not seeing anyone, Lucas made his way around the room, looking for any indication of reasonings for Brooke to leave, or why she stayed away so long.
10 minutes later, Lucas was about to give up his search when he saw a red book catch his eye.
On the front, the word 'Fighter' on the front. Lucas walked over to it slowly, as if something were to jump out at him from it.
As he picked up the book, he realized automatically it was a scrapbook. He'd seen Brooke make enough of these to know what one is.
But as he began flipping through the pages, it was nothing at all what he wanted to see.
There were 9 hospital bands all on one page, all with the name Brooke Davis on them.
As he flipped to the next page, he felt his stomach churn at the pictures of different bruises on her wrists, legs, neck. As he continued flipping, he found various pictures of a badly beaten Brooke; pictures that he could tell she took herself.
Soon he reached a note section, with notes like 'Dinner better be ready by 5.' And 'Be ready by 7, no later. I'm not fucking kidding this time.' And the one that made his fists clench, 'You know this is all just because I love you. You were meant for me. You ARE my girl.' With of course the same signature on all of them; Love you baby girl, Nick.
Lucas' face was red hot as he continued flipping. On the last page, he couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at a picture of a baby taped. It was a blue eyed, brunette boy, who looked around 4 years old, maybe three?
But why would that be there with all of this?
But that was the least of his problems right now. All of his suspicions had been confirmed, as much as he hated to admit it.
One thing was for certain.
The next time he saw Nick, would be the last anyone else did.
Thank you guys all SO much for your reviews! They keep me going with this story. I know it's been about 2-3 weeks since I posted, but I have SO many things I'm thinking of for my next chapter that it could even possibly get posted tomorrow!
Hope this chapter satisfied everyone!(: