Moving on, not that much Brooke in this chapter, just because she had her own last chapter. This one is kinda mainly on Lucas and his interactions with Nathan and Haley. Lucas has a conversation with Nathan followed by one with Haley afterward. Nathan has his own part and then his conversation with Brooke. Don't expect any Peyton in this chapter, maybe the next one but not now. Also Lucas is being reacquainted with something.
ENJOY AND REVIEW !!!
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When Lucas had first taken over Dan's business at Scott Motors, he didn't want anything to do with it. It was a piece of crap business that he'd had to deal with his whole life. The same business that supplied Dan Scott with money and privileges he had held over Lucas's head for years. He really didn't want it. Originially him and Nathan had planned on selling it or just closing it up, but Lucas dind't have a job, so the car business was it for him. He dind't have to like it, but it made him alot of money and nice things, so why not.
For years Lucas had been a workaholic, coming home after hours, sometimes not at all. Doing whatever it took to get people to buy from him, and make him number one in North Carolina. he had been successful, but it didn't mean he played fair. There were tons of people he had to manipulate and blackmail to get where he is today. Right about now LUcas Scott would be at his office, at the dealership, coming up with some plan to get a company to use Scott Motors as their official go to for company cars. Most likely he'd be watching footage of the CEO doing coke in his office, or going at it with his secretary. Either way he would find some way to get what he wanted. But not today.
Today was not a working day for him. Neither was the day before either. No, today Lucas was at the Rivercourt of all places. Ever since Brooke came back he kept on thinking about the run down court. He wasn't exactly sure why, but he didn't feel like working today, therefore he wasn't. Every man's dream, to be able to skip work whenever he wanted to and not worry about anything else. But today Lucas found it as an unkindness, because when his head wasn't on work, it was on Brooke.
It wasn't that he hated thinking about Brooke. It was his favorite thing, the reason he got up in the morning. Actually he really didn't mind sitting through boring propostiion meetings, that way he could daydream, about Brooke. Thinking about her was something that occurred alot in the past years, and normally Lucas would shake it off and be pissed at her all over again. But today he just wanted to think about her, just to think about her. It was foolish and childish and maybe even pathetic, but it gave him the feeling of being in high school again. In love and happy, which was something Lucas hadn't really experienced in a long time.
Neither was basketball. After his career was basically over, Lucas hadn't picked up a basketball in Lord knows how long. That night he had lost his two loves, basketball and Brooke. So he completely shut off both of those thigns. Basketball and Brooke were things that he thought would always be around. And then he had none of those things. Basketball made him angry at the world because it was something that was taken away from him in the most ironic way. His HCM, or Dan's Disease as he'd like to call it, was something that Dan had gave him and only caused him misery. Dan's fixation on Nathan playing basketball was in drive more than ever, and just when Lucas thought he could amount to Dan's prefereations, this happened. In all truth he'd not even picked up a basketball in years. It was hard not having it around, so Lucas just put his aggression into his work and towards Brooke.
Even though he hadn't had an emotional feeling to the Rivercourt in a long time, he always knew that this would be where it all started. And in a way it would be where it started again. Lucas didn't wanna keep doing the same thing he'd been doing for years, it was getting old and it just wasn't him anymore. And seeing Brooke made him realize that. Right now all he'd have to do was make sure that bad Lucas just stayed out of him, but things are easier said than done. There might've been that kind Lucas still in him, but that didn't mean the other side of him would just run away. Lucas had to face all his problems, but he never did. Instead he had run away from them, and evolved into someone he never thought he would be. He would like that it wouldn't, but he knew that he was a changed person. Reality had kicked his ass and sometimes you just can't change the way you think anymore.
If there was two people he'd knew who would understand, one person being Haley. Hales, his best friend. His encounter with her the day before Brooke's arrival had been the first time he'd talked to her in years. It was a significant piece of information, but it didn't mean it was a good thing. Him and Haley had been through alot of crap and alot of good times together, and Lucas remembered promising to always be there for her. Even thoug hshe had Nathan now, didn't mean that he was never needed, and he knew that now. But he didn't before, actually he hated them too, but he never knew why. If he could take a guess he'd say because seeing Nathan and Haley reminded him of Brooke, the old life he had, something he didn't want to go back to. BUt regardless, he knew that he could count on Haley, even now. He just hoped she knew she could count on him.
The other person would be his mom. He missed her so much. When she first found out about his escapade with Peyton and his break up with Brooke, she was more than disappointed. Karen loved Brooke like a daughter, and it broke her heart to see her son to stupid to let her go. Right after Brooke left, Lucas started changing and it got to the point where Karen couldn't handle it anymore. So she left, to France actually. She remembered how much she loved being there for culinary arts, so that's where she went. Lucas hadn't spoken to her since then. Every holiday or on his birthday, she would send him a card and a present. In the card she would say how much she missed him and loved him, but she couldn't watch him turn into Dan. Lucas had never called her or written her back. At the time he couldn't believe his own mother had abandoned him, but it took Lucas a long time to realize that he had abandoned her. He imagined she felt like a bad mother. But she was anything but. She just dind't want her son to turn into someone she dind't raise him to be. His mistake, his lesson learned.
"Haven't seen you here in awhile," a voice said from behind him.
"Actually i was just here the other day," Lucas said, turning around.
"Yeaa i know. Brooke said something about it the other day," Nathan said, shirt untucked, dribbling a basketball between his feet.
"Oh," Lucas said, disappointed. Sure, he and Brooke had fought that day, but it was a time when thigns got understood, he didn't think anyone should know. But then he remembered he had told Peyton.
"Don't worry. She didn't exploit you, although this whole town already knows about your scandals," Nathan commented, shooting right from his spot. The swish was heard throughout the river.
"Touche. I guess i deserve that," Lucas said, catching the ball. Even holding it in his hands was a weird feeling for him. Like he was a little kid holding a basketball for the first time.
"When's the last time you played ?" Nathan asked curiously.
Lucas laughed, "It's been a long time," and bounced it back to him.
"How long?"
"Hmm try five years. My last game was the last time i played in an actual game."
"Wow, how did you live that long without it?" Nathan laughed.
"I guess i wasn't living."
"It's not too late to start," Nathan said.
"I guess not."
"Listen, i heard about the argument between Brooke and Peyton. And that you were kinda there .."
"Yeaa is Brooke still mad at me for kinda defending Peyton? Because i know it was a bad move but--"
"Relax Lucas, Brooke's not really mad about that. I just think you should tell Peyton to kinda steer clear of Brooke for awhile. She was calm then but i'm not too sure what she's gonna do next time," Nathna warned.
"I couldn't believe how calm she was. It was like i was looking at a completely different person. The whole time Brooke was as cold as ice, every once in awhile i would see the fire, but she was just calm, no emotion."
"Yeaa well she's changed alot. She has friends in New York, but none she can call real friends. You think her trust issues were solid then ? Try now. Sometimes i dont' even think she trusts me. Just Haley."
"I really hurt her didn't i ?"
"Damn right you did," Nathan shot back.
"Okay i know that you're still pissed at me Nate but i'm sorry okay ?!! I'm sorry for turning my back on you and Haley. And i'm sorry for becoming Dan ! It wasn't something that i planned on doing. If i could take it back i would--"
"See that's the point, you can't take it back. Just like always, you think saying sorry solves everything. Well newsflash it doesn't ! You don't know how many times i catch Haley crying because she missed you so much. Sometimes i can't believe i'm looking at the same person. And i thought i would end up like Dan."
"I know i made mistakes, and i'm admitting to them. I sweeped my problems under the rug and i'm just now dealing with them. And i wanna make things right this time, with everybody. WIth you, Hales, Brooke."
"Looks like you have your work cut out for you. Do you honestly think that Brooke's gonna forgive you that easily? You think you know how much you hurt you, you don't have a clue man. And if you think for a minute i'm just gonna let you walk back into her life, in our lives, then you've got another thing coming. You might be my brother, but that doesn't mean i won't lay you out the minute you mess up," Nathan warned, dunking a shot.
"Fair enough," Lucas siad, holding his hands up.
Nathan dribbled the ball, twirling it on the tip of his middle finger before he got an idea.
"So, you say you wanna fix everything right?" Nathan asked, all anger suddenly gone.
"Uhh yeaa ? WHy ?" Lucas asked. Nathan threw the ball forcefully, Lucas barely catching it.
"Start with your game," Nathan smirked, walking toward his car.
"Wait what ?" Lucas called out, still confused.
Nathan turning around, hand on the car door, "Your game sucks. Fix it," he remarked, causing Lucas to laugh and remember the first game senior season. He was in a rough spot with Brooke, better yet Nathan was being an ass.
"Oh and my marriage is awesome by the way," Nathan called out, pulling out of the grass.
Lucas laughed while holding the basketball between both hands. The feeling was foreign but yet familiar. Kind of like the feeling you get when you go back to school after summer and try to hold a pen in your hand, but it feels weird and so new, but your mind still remembers it.
He dribbled the ball a few times before shooting it up towards the net. Air ball.
"Well, no one ever said it was easy," Lucas said to himself, then running to retreive the lost ball.
-
"You really said that to her ?" Haley exclaimed.
"I don't know why you're so surprised," Brooke said.
Ever since Nathan had left the two ladies had resulted to eating ice cream and watching all available talk shows in the morning. But instead of watching Jerry Springer, Brooke filled Haley in on her and Peyton's confrontation, if you wanna call it that.
"Well i'm not surprised that you told her off, but i am surprised by the fact that you were so calm about it."
"I'm sure alot of people think that now. I'm not the same person anymore Hales. I just didn't see the point in yelling at someone who doesn't deserve any emotion from me. I'm not gonna feel bad about it because i know i did the right thing."
"How?" Haley asked, taking a bite out of the tub.
"Just the fact that Peyton does screw up alot around me. We were in college for heaven's sake, and we all matured from all the crap that happened in high school. I would've thought that she'd be over Lucas, she had Jake ! ANd just because he left her for a very good reason, she just goes and sleeps with Lucas the minute he gets back to Duke ?" Brooke exclaimed.
"Yeaa i get what you're saying. I mean, yeaa i talk to Peyton sometimes, but things aren't the same. I'm sure she's more matured now and put together, but what happened was an issue that you can't put behind you."
"Pretty much."
"So, what was Lucas doing the whole time ?"
"He was just standing there, trying to look like he wasn't listening, but whatever he was standing right there," Brooke said, pointing to the opening of the living room.
"Poor Lucas," Haley laughed.
"I know i kidna felt sorry for him. I half expected him to defend her, good thing he didn't until after she left. But when i told Peyton that she was more important than Lucas, and that was why i couldn't forgive her, i could see his expression from the corner of my eye ! It was soo funny," Brooke laughed.
"At this point that's a good thing for him isn't it?" Haley asked, taking another scoop of ice cream.
"It should be. Or else i wouldn't even let him anywhere near me."
"You thinking about giving him a chance?"
"I don't know. I'm still reserved around him, and i think i always will be. But once again he weaved his way back into my good side."
"You should've known he was gonna find some way in," Haley smiled.
"My mistake believe me. BUt i can't think about LUcas and me being anything, i have a boyfriend that i love Hales. And i know what it feels like to feel cheated on, and it sucks."
"I understnad. BUt if you're not sure how you feeel about Lucas, maybe you should take a break with your boyfriend now. And if it turned out that you might have feelings for Lucas, you can either follow them and get back together, or somehow try to find closure and move on," Haley explained.
"How could i find closure with breaking up with Brian ?" Brooke asked, confused.
"Because, if you stay with Brian when you stll have some sort of feelings for Lucas, then that's just gonna give you that 'want what you can't have' feeling, because you're taken. BUt if your'e single, you can hang out with Lucas, establish you're feelings, somehow become friends, and move on. That way you'll move on to Brian with no regrets," Haley explained. "And if you move on, but still have feelings for Lucas, then Brian's probably not the guy for you," she added.
"What are you saying?" Brooke asked, accusingly.
"I'm not saying anything," Haley said innocently.
"Mmhmm," Brooke mumbled.
"OH crap!" Haley exclaimed, standing up.
"What?" Brooke said worriedly, "Is it the baby?"
"No it's not the baby, baby's fine. It's just that i'm late for work," Haley said, looking around for her purse.
"Work ? Haley your'e pregnant !" Brooke exclaimed.
"Thanks for pointing that out to me. BUt no i'm just overlooking stuff at the Cafe."
"Karen's Cafe?" Brooke asked.
"That's the one. There's alot more workers now, so all i get to do is sit behind the counter and greet people," Haley said sarcastically.
"Mind if i come with you?" Brooke asked.
"Sure, but could you just meet me there ? Because i have to be there like now."
"That's fine. I might be in later. I still have to shower and stuff," Brooke explained.
"Alright i'll see you there."
-
An hour and a half later, and Lucas had only made five shots. He didn't know if it was because he hadn't played in a long time, or basketball was coming back to bite him. There wasn't really a trick to the game, you just made the shot. Not long ago Lucas wouldn't even have to look to make a shot. He knew every single thing about the court, every dead spot, every crack, it was pretty hard to not make it. But now, it seemed like he had just come across this court, and he hadn't played in his life. It was a hard thing to understand. Basketball had been his life for so long, it'd only been out for a couple of years, and now he couldn't even make a single shot without trying really hard. He would always tell his old friends that basketball was something you felt, but at this point Lucas wasn't feeling anything but frustration and tiredness. If he remembered correctly, the perfect place to fuel up and rest would be Karen's Cafe.
Lucas never thought he'd be walking home from the Rivercourt to the Cafe ever again. BUt he had left his car behind, and decided to walk, which had been an ongoing routine the past couple of days.
Never in a million years did he think he wouldn't be close to his mom. But, he had changed, and not for the better, that was for sure. Karen wanted him to be better than that, she raised him better than that, but in the end it was never her fault. The one thing she had taught him was to be the best person you can, at all times. And it was Lucas that hadn't followed it, and now he was stuck in a life he didn't want. Nothing had gone as planned, but he hoped that they might be back on track, all he would need is Brooke to change. And he already felt the difference.
Lucas didn't know the seriousness of Brooke and her boyfriend's relationship, but one thing he knew was that Brooke would never find anybody that loved her as much as he did. He also knew that Brooke felt secure about her relationship, which would give her all the more reason to push him away and run. Brooke had changed alot, but some things will always be the same with her, like the ability to run when things get hard. Hence their whole situation right now. But with a little more time, maybe she would start to open up to him like before, adn then they could move on somewhere. But with Haley's due date approaching, LUcas didn't know what to do. He needed Brooke, but he didn't know if she needed him as much.
One thing that had never changed was Nathan's whole attitude. Still confusing, and an ass when he wants to be. It surprised him how Nathan could talk to him after not talking for five years, call it a brotherly bond or something, but Lucas knew that Nathan would always be around, no matter what happens.
The familiar ring of the door brought back tons of memories, running into the Cafe happy, or walking in heartbroken, it al depended. Truth was, Lucas hadn't been here in five years either. He would always drive by it sometimes, but would turn his head the minute he saw it. To him it symbolized what his life could've been, and before he had still been mad at hell, so he found it better not to bring up those memories.
He half expected to see his mom serving coffee to a customer or something, but he wasn't that far offf. He saw Haley wiping the counter down with a towel. Haley had definitely become more than Lucas could have ever hoped. Being married to Nathna was something he and probably and whole town didn't see coming, but it all worked out.
Haley finally raised her head up and saw Lucas staring reminiscingly at the Cafe.
"Wow, i'd never thought i'd see you walk through that door again," Haley smirked.
"Yeaa well, some things never change, and apparently my appetite doesn't. Ya still have those turkey sandwiches?" Lucas asked, sitting on a stool.
"Duhh, that's still the customer favorite around here. Some things never change," Haley repeated.
"So uh i ran into Nathan at the Rivercourt."
"Please tell me he didn't punch you or anything," Haley begged as she set his sandwich down.
"Noo it wasn't like that. He was kidna helpful actually."
"Hmm that's weird from the usual Nathan," Haley mused.
"Yeaa."
"So, i heard that you witnessed Brooke's quiet rage this mroning."
"Oh yeaa, it was pretty awkward with me standing there," Lucas laughed.
"She was really different wasn't she?" Haley asked quietly.
"More than i thought Hales," Lucas said. Haley smiled at her old nickname.
"Well you we've all been through alot of stuff. I guess Brooke finally realized that there was no more chances for Peyton, it hurts but we're adults now."
"Yeaa i know. But do you really think we've changed for the better ?"
"You, no, unless you fix your mess."
Lucas laughed, "Yeaa i know, and im correcting it right now. What about Brooke?"
Haley sighed ,"I'm still figuring that out everyday i spend with her. I'm proud of the person she is now, but Brooke's never gonna completely change. She's still Brooke no matter how you look at her."
"I wish you could've said the same about me," Lucas siad quietly.
"Me too. You just lost your way, or yourself i guess. You let your anger get the best of you."
"I know, i wish i could take all these years back. The minute i left the hospital i should've went to New York to find Brooke. But i didn't and that will always be the biggest regret ever. BUt i can't change the past, so the only thing i can do is find myself again i guess," he explained.
"You're gonna have alot of stuff to do if you want Brooke back. If you don't know she's already in a relationship."
"Yeaa, so what's that guy like anyway?" Lucas asked. If he could find out what kind of guy this dude was, maybe he could know what he was going against, so to speak.
"I know that his name is Brian Grant, successful business man, invests in about anything that makes alot of money. Brooke likes him, so that's gotta count for something," Haley shrugged.
"Is she happy with him?" Lucas squinted. This Brian guy seemed like the perfect guy, a little too perfect. He was rich, probably good looking, and came from a rich family.
"From what i hear yeaa. He's a nice guy LUcas," Haley assured him.
"I know, it's just that he seems so, mature. I mean i know we're 23, but there's gotta be some childish behavior around. It seems like he doesn't even have time for that. I just don't see what attracted Brooke to him," Lucas shrugged, trying not to sound too jealous.
"Hmm i could think of one thing," Haley said, taking Lucas's empty plate.
"What ? That he's rich, suave, charming ?" Lucas scoffed, because that was all the things that Brooke liked. He didn't know where he himself came in, but all Brooke ever used to talk about was marrying a rich heir or something. And Brian seemed like the perfect person. Lucas just didn't see Brooke with someone like that anymore. To him, she could've married a bum off the street, but as long as she loved him, that was all that mattered. That was the Brooke he knew and loved, but it seemed like things changed more than he thoguht.
"No, the reason that Brooke was attracted to Brian in the first place was because he had brown hair, hazel eyes, he's built..." Haley went on.
"Okay okay stop already !" Lucas exclaimed.
"Shut up or else your'e gonna miss the point," Haley said, hitting him with the towel. "The point is, Brian is everything you're not."
"Wait, what ?"
"Okay first thing being Brian looks nothing like you. He plays football, not basketball. He only reads books when he has to. He's nothing like you, and that's why Brooke likes him."
"How do you know this ?"
"Brooke told me. The day after her and Brian decided to be in an actual relationship, she called me and told me all this wonderful stuff about him. Lucas he's her first boyfriend after you, and she didn't wanna go through what she did with you. Brian's good for her because he helped her heal, from you. He knows all about her past, who she was before, and he knows all about you and Brooke's past relationship, and he doesn't hold that against her. Lucas you can say you love her and that you want her back, but it's not gonna be easy," Haley warned.
Lucas shrugged, "Good things don't come easy right ?"
-
Nathan couldn't help but laugh, like really laugh. Laugh so much that he cried a little bit. He forgot how much fun it was torturing Lucas. Well, in a nice way at least. Back in junior year, Nathna tortured LUcas because he had to, because he hated him. But this morning was really funny. He felt like he was looking at a man that had never played anything in his life. And in this case he might as well have. Lucas hadn't played basketball in five years, and Nathna kinda felt like punching him.
No one would ever understand the love of basketball as much as Nathan and Lucas did. From the time he was able to walk, basketball had been thrust in Nathan's face, his dad forcing him to be the best out of everybody. He didn't even learn, he just took it as it was given, and scored everytime. Lucas on the other hand, played all on his own, and it was something that meant something to him ever since he could remember. Basketball wasn't always something Nathan had wanted. At first he just did it because his dad made him, but somewhere down the line it was all he had. Seeing Lucas like this now, just made Nathan wanna help. But he never said he would be nice about it.
Things could change. Brooke could take Lucas back and he would get his divorce with Peyton. And the brunette and blonde would be best friends again. Everyone would've forgotten what had happened, and it was like nothing ever happened. But Nathan was never one to just let things go.
Ever since Brooke's arrival, it seemed like nothing was getting done. From what he'd calculated, Lucas hadn't been at work in a few days, he himself hadn't felt up to meetings with his agent that much either. It was like before, when all you wanted to do was hang out with friends and just do nothing. Yes, they were adults that actually had careers and such, but sometimes you just needed to be a kid again. And with everything that came with this town, some people deserved to be careless for a day. And bullying Lucas around was a start.
He didn't expect Haley to be home, since she Cafe couldn't run itself. And Brooke, well, she could be anywhere. But it appeared she hadn't even left the house yet. Never in a million years did he think he'd be friends with Brooke Davis, almost familiy at that. Sure, they had basically grown up together in Tree Hill, and hung with the same group of people. But they never had a friendship. The only kind of relationship they had was when they slept together five minutes after Peyton had broken up with him. But that was something nobody really liked to mention anymore. When Haley and Brooke had gotten closer, Nathan felt obligated to be a friend of hers, but now he realized how much he liked having her around. She made things interesting, and there would never be a boring moment with Brooke around, that was something he was sure of.
Nathan was kinda surprised to see her at the house, watching television. Knowing Brooke, she would've been out and about by now.
"Hey, what are you still doing here ?" he asked, sitting down next to her on the couch.
"I don't blowdry my hair unless i really have to. And i'm not really in a hurry, so i'm waiting until my hair dries naturally, then i'll leave," Brooke said simply.
"What's so wrong about blow drying your hair ?" Nathan asked, confused.
"Because it completely dries your hair up and gives you split ends," Brooke explained.
"Alright, whatever," Nathna said, rolling his eyes.
"So, what are you doing here ?Shouldn't you be doing commercials or something," Brooke smirked.
"Haha," Nathan said dryly. "But i didn't feel like making any endorsements lately. I planned on spending the morning at the Rivercourt, but Lucas beat me to it."
"He's still alive right ?"
"Yes, don't worry about that. I just kinda teased him a little bit, warned him, and then told him his game sucks," Nathan laughed.
"That bad ?"
"I wouldn't know. BUt basketball isn't something you can just get back. Lucas said he hasn't played in five years, his last time holding a ball being the night he had his heart attack. I'm pretty sure he sucks."
"Doesn't mean he can fix his game," Brooke said.
"I think he can. Basketball was important to him, i bet it still is, so it's only a matter of time," Nathan said innocently.
"Not if too much time has passed. Maybe basketball isn't as important to him as it once was. You can't force it upon him."
"Okay, something tells me we're not talking about Lucas and basketball," Nathan said, turning off the television.
"Then what are we talking about ?" Brooke asked.
"I don't know, you tell me," Nathan smirked.
"There's nothing to say Nathan. I admit, i kinda turned basketball into Brooke, but still..."
"Brooke do you love him or not ?"
"You can't just ask me that !"
"Uh i think i just did. Come on, you can't keep doing this dance with him forever. Haley's gonna give birth soon, so you and Lucas just need to get together again."
"Like it's that simple Nathan ! I have a whole other life, i have a job, a relationship, i'm not gonna give that up for Lucas !" Brooke spat.
"No ones saying you have to Brooke. Just, think about what's really important."
"What makes you think i'm not ?" Brooke scoffed,
"Because, you're running around pouting like a little girl. I can't tell you to let things go, because i don't do that. But Lucas is willing to fix things with you, he's CHANGING for you, that's gotta count for something."
"It does count for something.."
"Then why don't you show it ?"
"WHat do you think i'm doing now ? If i did what i wanted, i probably wouldn't even give Lucas a glance, i'd just avoid him and walk away the whole time i'm here. BUt i'm actually talking to him, and i know that might not seem much to you right now, but it's a huge step for me Nathan," Brooke said.
Nathan sighed, "Look, i know you're still hurt and battered from what happened before. I don't blame you, none of us do. But sometimes you just need to let yourself be vulnerable again because you never know what might happen. You have this relationship back home, but could you live without Brian ? Because from what i've seen and what i've heard, you haven't been living since you left Lucas. You're unemotional, cold, that's not the person we all once knew. It might be for the best, it might not be, but your'e not living Brooke. You're hiding behind Brian, telling yourself that you're happy with him, but you know you could never love him like you love Lucas. And he has alot of work to do, alot of things to fix, especially with you, so just let him."
"If i let him, i know i'm gonna be disappointed. He's gonna do something stupid, and even if i misunderstand, it's still gonna hurt, and i'm still gonna have doubts, and insecurities."
"Maybe, but that's something that you have to deal with."
"Okay, you basically threatened Lucas at the Rivercourt, and now you're telling me to give him a second chance? Why would you do that ?"
"I really don't know," Nathan sighed.
-
After her talk with Nathan Brooke was on her way to the Cafe. Apart of her was super pissed that Nathan wanted her and Lucas to get back together, but apart of her needed encouragement. Her and Lucas's relationship had always been one big mess, literally speaking. They would fight, one would screw up, and it would take alot to bring them back together. Brooke never thought she would be in the same situation outside their relationship. IN some respect she was acting like a little girl. It was never a good thing to hold grudges, but in this case she might as well. She had let Peyton and their friendship go years before and she wouldn't get into it now.
The jingling of the bells always gave Brooke a sense of comfort. She half expected Karen to come from behind the back room and offer her a piece of pie or something. BUt Karen wasn't there, and she had Lucas to thank for that.
Already talking was Haley and Lucas. It made Brooke think of the old times, when everybody got along, with no drama or tension between everybody. But those times ended a long time ago.
"Hey guys," Brooke greeted, sitting on a stool next to Lucas.
"Hey Brooke. Geez took you long enough," Haley smirked.
"Haley you know how i am with my hair."
"Uh huh, whatever."
"And Nathan came home the time i was about to leave, so we hung out for a bit. He's pretty annoying."
"What was he annoying you about ?" Haley asked.
"Ohhh nothing, just, stuff," Brooke said lightly. Haley caught on and gave her a 'tell me later' look before leaving to go refill a customer's coffee cup, which left Brooke and Lucas in awkward silence.
After what Lucas had told her earlier, Brooke didn't really take him all that seriously. Sure, he said he was always gonna be there, but was he ?
"So, what'd you do today ?" Brooke asked, trying to make convesation.
"I was at the Rivercourt most of the time, i also saw Nathan," Lucas laughed.
"Wow, he's really getting around."
"Yeaa, we talked, or more like he talked to me."
"What'd you guys talk about ? Or is it personal or someting ?" Brooke asked.
"No it's fine. He said that if i wanted to fix things with everybody i would have to work hard, like i don't already know that. He asked me how long has it been since i played, i told him five years, and he handed me a basketball. It was so weird, it felt like i'd never held one in my life. I started shooting for an hour or so, i really suck," Lucas laughed.
"Yeaa well it takes alot of work. You said you haven't played in five years, but you'll get it back." Brooke said encouragingly.
"I know i will," Lucas said, thinking about something else.
Brooke turned around, hoping to see Haley coming back, but instead she saw her talking with one of the customers. Brooke cursed her for being so friendly.
"So, is this awkward for you ?" Brooke asked, gesturing the space between the two.
"Sort of. It's not awkward being here with you, but it's just it's awkward because if what happened earlier."
"I agree. This morning was kinda uncomfortable for you. But you have to understand that i can't just forgive Peyton. Too much has happened, and i let our friendship go a long time ago, and i really don't wanna rehash old issues i had with her," Brooke explained.
"Yeaa i get it. But i remember what it was like watching you guys hang out and stuff, and it was so real, the friendship you both had. To me, i guess it's a shame to see something to good go to waste on account of my mistake."
"Not that you don't know, but it takes two to do it Lucas," Brooke said.
He chuckled, "Yeaa i know. BUt whether you've seen it or not, PEyton's changed, and i think being married to me helped her. I was so out of it, so mean. Peyton couldn't really go to me for help anymore. We weren't talking to Haley or Nathan, so she had to take care of herself, and she's done a really good job putting up with me. She's different now. I'm not trying to convince you or anything, i'm just letting you know because i know apart of you is proud of her, just like i know she's proud of you."
"Maybe, but we can't be the same anymore Luke. I can't even look at her the same way," Brooke shrugged. Lucas smiled, she called him Luke.
"Do you look at me the same way ?" Lucas asked, curious.
She looked at him, "I'm staring to."