A/N: Yeah so I only got one review. I understand that I haven't updated in awhile, but come on people! I get my inspiration from what you guys think and what you want. So whenever you post a review, give me advice of tell me something that you would want to happen so that I can get some sort of idea.
My other story, Where I End & You Begin is kind of lagging behind, mainly bcause i've been so busy with coming up with ideas for this story. But for the readers out there, just sit tight and hopefully i'll have a new chapter out within the next couple of weeks.
OTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTHOTH
Chapter 16: Someday We'll Know
It was been two hours and about twenty four minutes, and he had yet to make a shot. Not even a lay-up, and Lucas didn't know what the hell to do. He had perfect form, perfect alignment of his finger and arm, but nothing.
For the second time in his life, Lucas was convinced that he was losing it, although this time around he didn't need anything telling him. He knew himself that he had lost his skill, his past, his compassion for basketball. Lucas had been standing there forever, and he could not change the fact that he now lost his talent.
"Don't let him take it."
But he had someone take it, but it was never Nathan, or Dan. Lucas had let he himself take his love and his talent of basketball away from him. Now, he had nothing but a sad memory of the person he once was.
He stood there, staring at the old hoop, just like he had so many times before. Originally Lucas was looking forward to sleeping in for the weekend, mentally and physically drained from all the excitement and nervousness of last week's beach house adventure, if you wanted to call it that.
Then he had the distinct reminiscent urge to just get up at 6 o'clock in the morning, throw on his old basketball shorts and white tee, and go somewhere. He almost got all the way down the street until he realized that he didn't have a basketball. So he ran all the way back into the house, and spent half an hour looking for one that he had found in the attic.It still felt weird dribbling it around, although the ball had been in his hands for the past two hours straight. Maybe he would never get it back. Just like he would maybe never get his friends back.
Ten minutes, ten long minutes, and no one had talked to him except for the occasional nod when he entered the living room, Nathan too engrossed in the video game to even notice.
Mouth was sitting on the couch by himself, while Lucas sat in the love seat on the complete other side, looking intently at the game. Lucas smirked, he could see the wheels turning in Mouth's head, annoucer words threatening to dispense themselves out.He slowly got out of his seat, not wanting to attract attention. He wandered into the kitchen, memories washing over him. Lucas had his first ever high school party at this beach house. It didn't exactly end well, and he had a feeling this wasn't going to end well.
"Hey Mouth, play for me for a minute. I'm going to go to the kitchen and grab a beer," Jake said.
"Jake come on, you know how much I suck at this. Then you're going to yell at me because you're losing," Mouth complained.
"Whatever man, it'll just be a minute," Jake brushed, his voice getting closer and closer.
Lucas sat down quickly at a barstool, trying to be as casual as possible.
Jake walked in, seemingly startled at Lucas' presence, like he forgot that he was here.
His expression read solemness. "You hiding out in here?" He pulled open the fridge and grabbed a beer. "You want one?"
Lucas shook his head, "No, I'm good. Not exactly hiding. It's kind of hard being here, actually."
Jake chuckled, "Of course it would be. It's kind of hard being with you here also."
"I didn't expect it to be all smiles and have you guys glad that I was here. Believe me, that wasn't what I was thinking," Lucas explained hastily. To his surprise, Jake sat down at a barstool next to him, his beer still in hand.
"So why did you come? If you knew that this was going to be weird, then why did you come?" Jake asked curiously.
"Honestly? I wanted you guys to see that I wasn't that horrible guy you've heard about for the last five years. I wanted to make things right with everybody, so I thought that this was the thing to do. Plus the fact that Peyton was on my ass about it," Lucas said.
Jake tensed, he hadn't heard of Peyton in years. Even when he had moved back to Tree Hill, Peyton's name was kind of under wraps, Lucas' name and scandal overshadowing his something of a wife."That kind of makes sense. I guess we're not really doing a good job of trying to hear you out," Jake admitted.
Lucas shook his head, "No it's cool, I understand that I have a lot of making up to do. I don't blame you guys for not talking to me."
Jake rose from his barstool, "It's not that we don't want to talk to you. We just need to know if you're for real. You've done some horrible things, and that's not going to be brushed away that easily. Stick to your guns, and we just might come around."
"Might?" Lucas asked.
"Well we can't give you that much slack," Jake said from over his shoulder.
Lucas nodded his head, at least Jake talked to him. He got up and went back into the living room, where everyone was exactly where they had been a couple of minutes before.
Jake had already reclaimed his controller back from Mouth, who was back on the couch, this time with a bowl of chips in his lap. Lucas walked back over to his love seat, where he would probably remain for the rest of the night.
"Luke. Here, take my place," Jake said before Lucas' butt even hit the seat."Let's see if you still got it."
Everybody looked over at him, some with expectant looks, others with apprehensive ones. Lucas stood there for a second, wondering what the fuck he was supposed to do.
"Yeah, let's see," Mouth said from his spot on the couch. Lucas looked at him, not knowing if he was being encouraging, or if he was trying to test him. The others glanced at Mouth before their eyes went back to Lucas.
He walked over to Jake's spot on the floor, awkwardly plopping down next to him. Even the video game controller felt weird in his hands."Are you sure about this? I mean, I haven't played this in awhile," Lucas said. Jake looked at him, half his face reading amusement, the other reading encouragement, and then a third reading seriousness.
"I don't think that'll be a probem. You sucked before too."
And the rest of the night went a bit better. Of course, they kept to themselves most of the time, but every once in awhile they would compliment him, whether it be the worst or best of terms, Lucas took it. Nathan continued to watch on, not wanting to get involved, just like he had said.
He dribbled the ball a couple of times before shooting it over his head. He watched it soar through the air, and successfully bounce off the rim and fly to his right. Lucas sighed and chuckled harshly. "Karma is such a bitch."
"Talking to yourself?" a raspy voice said from behind him.
Lucas turned around to see Brooke standing there with his ball in his hand. It had been years, but Brooke could not have been any more attractive than she was.
She was wearing pink sweatpants pulled up to her shins, exposing a little bit of her legs, still as tanned and smooth as ever. Her white tank top clung to her body snugly, Lucas not being able to keep his eyes off her cleavage. An Apple athletic iPod holder was wrapped around her bicep. White headphones were visible in her ear, her hair tied back into a messy ponytail.
Lucas gulped, trying to regain his composure, "Since when does Brooke Davis run at eight o'clock in the morning on a Satuday?"
She shrugged unfazed, handing Lucas back the ball, "I don't know, since when does Lucas Scott miss a shot?"
He smiled, "Yeah, I guess there's a first time for everything." Brooke still had a way of one-uping him, and it was known fact that Brooke always had the last laugh. Always.
She walked over to the old rusty bench, Lucas sitting down next to her. "Okay, so I know that you haven't held a basketball in years, but damn, you really suck. Like, really suck."
Lucas scoffed, "Wow, thanks Brooke. Of course I suck, I'm a sucky person. Plus, I think karma's finding it's way back to me."
"Believe me, I don't think karma has anything to do with it," Brooke laughed, rubbing her arms with her hands.
"Okay, maybe it's not karma," Lucas admitted. "But it's something else. I mean, I've been here for two hours, and I haven't made a single shot Brooke. I'm even worse than when I choked on my first varsity game."
"Maybe, but you got to work at it, just like you have to work at everything else," Brooke said. "Oh speaking of everything else, how was hanging with the guys?"
"I would've thought Nathan would've told you all about it," Lucas said, looking at her.
Brooke shrugged, "Well, Nathan can only tell what Nathan knows, and as much as I love him, he doesn't know that much. Twenty bucks says that he spent 94 percent of the time immersed in his stupid video games."
"Well, when you put it that way, it probably would've been a waste of time to ask him," Lucas laughed.
She nudged him with her elbow, the old tingly feeling resurfacing over his body. "So? Are you going to tell me?"
Lucas shrugged, "There's really nothing much to tell. I mean, it was awkward. I talked to Jake for a little bit, he let me play a couple of games. There's nothing else to it."
"Did it go as well as you hoped it would?"
"Not exactly, but you got to start somewhere right?" Lucas asked, looking at her again. Her olive eyes read curiosity and understanding.
She shook her head, breaking out of his gaze. "Yeah, absolutely."
He nudged her, "So? How did the baby shower go?"
Brooke shrugged, "It was alright, Haley had a good time. I would've thought Peyton would've told you all about it."
He smirked, "Well, Peyton can only tell what Peyton knows," he repeated. "And that fact that I asked her and she was as vague as possible. Something told me to not push it."
Brooke sighed, "Well, it started out okay. I mean, I was so busy running around the house making sure everything was in the right place.
"So far, she had counted thirty two gifts. Thirty two gifts that Haley would have to open, and thirty two gifts that would never top Brooke's gift for Haley, but that was for a different time, when the baby was born to be exact.
Smiling at passer by's, Brooke walked to the kitchen, wondering if she could get some time alone before the party really started going, because it would definitely be something to talk about if Brooke was throwing it.Sighing in satisfaction, she sat down at the kitchen table. All she needed was a couple of minutes to get her brain together and get on with the baby shower.
The revolving door swung open to reveal Peyton, someone that Brooke did not have in her mind at the moment, but was suddenly rushed to the thought of spending an entire evening with her.
"Hey," Peyton said awkwardly, balancing on her other foot.
Brooke smiled politely, "Hey, glad you could make it."
"I'm glad too. So, what are you doing hiding in here?"
"Not exactly hiding. I just need a moment to gather my thoughts so to speak. Who knows when I'm going to have time to do that when the party really starts going," Brooke explained.
Peyton nodded, "I know what you mean. I heard Bevin talking about there still being a dozen more people on their way."
"Probably.."
The two sat in a quiet, awkward silence. Brooke didn't want to talk, period. But that seemed all that Peyton wanted to do. But Brooke knew better. Talking would lead to arguing, and she could not stop herself when she got started.
"So, Lucas told me that you invited him to the beach house tonight. That was nice of you," Peyton said.
"Yeah, well I figured that if Lucas wants to make things right he better get his ass in gear," Brooke stated.
Peyton chuckled quietly, "Yeah, that's what I've been trying to tell him for years, but I should've known better. He will always listen to you."
Brooke sighed, once again she was reminded by just about everybody just how crazy Lucas was about her, and it really didn't make her feel less comfortable, or even that flattered."Yeah, well, Lucas had his chance," she said confidentally. Peyton hadn't even mentioned her and Lucas' relationship, but Brooke wasn't stupid, she knew what Peyton had meant.
Peyton raised an eyebrow, "Did he?"
Brooke rolled her eyes, "Yes, he did. He had about a dozen chances already, and he blew them all over you."
"But I'm not there any more. I've accepted the fact that me and Lucas weren't meant to be, and that there are other people out there in the world for us.""
Then he needs to start looking for them instead of fixating himself on someone of his past. It's not good for him and it sure as hell isn't good for me," Brooke said.
"Brooke, if that were true, you wouldn't be here in Tree Hill," Peyton smirked. "And maybe, we'd be friends."
Brooke looked at her, "No offense Peyton, but no matter what happened, I would've been here for Haley, and me and you would still not be friends. You snuck around my back with someone that had my heart, and I can't find forgiveness for that."
"Have you tried at all? Because I'm sure if you did, you would find it somewhere," Peyton said hopefully."I wouldn't know, I've mentally blocked myself from you for the past five years."
"I deserve that, I know. But everyone deserves a second chance Brooke, and I'm not saying we have to be best friends, I just want to be forgiven."
"Probably so you can go on with your life living in absolution, maybe seduce Lucas some more."
Peyton shook her head, "No, not that. Plus, I already filed the divorce papers earlier this month. Believe me, me and Luke aren't like that."
"What? Did the romance die out when you realized that you had been caught? Wasn't that fun anymore?"
"Actually no. It was because it was something stupid. Me and Luke were looking for different things at the time, and somehow we found each other. By far the biggest mistake I made."
"But it's too late," Brooke finished. "And you'll have to live with that."
She shrugged, "Yeah, I guess I will, but not forever. Just until we've been seperated for a year."
"Peyton I don't think you understand how angering that is for me to hear," Brooke began. "You slept around with Lucas for weeks, and I had to hear it from Haley. Not Lucas, not you. So I come back to Tree Hill to hear that you and Lucas are Dan and Deb Scott reincarnated, and now you tell me that you guys are getting a divorce, and that you weren't meant to be? That's bullshit Peyton, because you guys weren't meant to be together, but you took him from me anyways. And I hoped that it worked out for you guys, because I wanted it to be worth it in the end. If I lost Lucas, I wanted it to be to someone that he belonged with. But I was wrong."
"It was a waste. I should've just left him alone, so he could win you back. But that's my fault, and that's something that I'll have to live with. But I didn't mean to hurt you Brooke, and neither did Lucas."
Brooke got up, pushing her chair in, "That doesn't really matter Peyton, because in the end it all hurts just the same."
"I'm sorry," Lucas stated, staring out into the sky. Now that he thought about it, it made perfect sense why Brooke would be mad. Him and Peyton had snuck around Brooke's back for weeks, and for what? Just to get a divorce? It wasn't fair.
"For what?" She looked down at her hands, not really expecting an apology in the first place.
"For, everything," he said, looking at her. "For, cheating on you, and for not fighting for you. There's so much stuff I wish I could've done differently, but the one thing I wish I could take back was letting you go."
She shook her head, "It's all in the past now Lucas. We can't look back on that and think about all these things we could've done, because it doesn't change where we are now."
"Yeah, but if we learn from what we did in the past, we can change where we are now."
"Would you have let me go?"
"What?"
She looked at him, "If you knew that things would turn out this way, would you have let me go that night?"
"I didn't want to let you go in the first place. I was so angry with having to always be the one to fight for you, but I realize that I didn't need to be fought for, because I knew that you would stick by me no matter what. You were the one that needed fighting for. But when I finally understood that, it was too late. But I always wondered what it would be like if I had just went after you."
She smiled sadly, "I guess we'll never know, will we?"
"Who says?"
-
"Yes, tell Cameron I'll have the party room ready to go by the time he gets here tomorrow morning for the overview," she said boredly, as her assistant stood there with a notepad in her hands, scribbling feverishly.
"I'm sure that will fly by with him. It's his first gallery party," Mary remarked knowingly, capping her pen and closing her notepad.
"I'm sure it will," Peyton answered back boredly as Mary walked out of her office. Peyton rolled her eyes, wondering when she let her assistant talk to her like she was the boss. Maybe when you stopped acting like one.
Ever since the baby shower, Peyton had been, distant. Well, more so than normal. Her talk with Brooke had really put some perspective into her, as well as guilt.
'That's bullshit Peyton, because you guys weren't meant to be together, but you took him from me anyways.'
She seduced Lucas, who was heartbroken from him and Brooke. For so long, Peyton had been convinced that her and Lucas were meant to be, so convinced, and now she knew that she and Lucas were so wrong for each other. Talk about wrong timing. They sneaked around, and for what? Just to get a divorce.
Then she started feeling even more bad, because she knew that if she had not come along, Lucas and Brooke would've found their way back to each other in the end. But she didn't know if they would ever get the chance. Too much had happened and everyone had changed so much. Was it possible?
"Oh god Peyton, get it together," she groaned, burying her head in her hands. Life for Peyton had always been hard. But at least when she was married to Lucas, things were a little but quaint and calmer, than hideous and out of hand. Now with Brooke in town, and Lucas going through his transformation, things would only get even more busy and drama-filled. Especially if Brooke Davis and Lucas Scott were around.
Speaking of Brooke Davis, it seemed the stunning brunette had let herself into Peyton's office, still in work out clothes with a pissed off look on her face. Peyton quickly scanned her brain, wondering what she had done this time, only to realize that it was nothing, which only meant it was probably something Lucas did.
"What can I do for you Brooke?" she asked. Brooke stood with her hands on her hips directly in front of Peyton's desk. She wore an angry expression.
"You want to know what you can do for me? You need to stop putting the idea into your husband's head that me and him might possibly be getting back together, because guess what Peyton? It ain't going to happen!"
Peyton nodded, "Okay so basically you're getting angry because Lucas wants to get back together with him, you want him back too, but you're too stubborn to just give in?"
Brooke laughed, "Oh that's just great coming from you. Look, I didn't come here for advice or any shit like that. I'm just telling you to tell Lucas, to fucking stop. Just stop. I can't deal with that anymore. Me and Lucas are over."
Peyton stood from her desk, "Whatever you need to believe, Brooke. But you and I both know that it will never be over between you and Lucas."
"It was over the minute he cheated on me with your skinny ass. Lucas can beg and beg and hope and pray, but it won't change the fact that I'm over him, and that I'm with somebody else. So tell him if he expects to remain friends, he'll get that idea out of his head and quick."
"Fine, I'll tell him, but it won't change anything. You should know more than anyone that Lucas doesn't give up."
"Well he gave up on me didn't he?" Brooke asked, raising an eyebrow. "So remember to tell Lucas when you get home from work, I wouldn't want you to forget or anything."
Peyton sighed, "Brooke, you can deny it all you want, but who do you think you're fooling?"
Brooke just turned around and shot her another look before shutting the door behind her. Peyton shook her head and chuckled silently to herself. This was going to be interesting.
She scrolled down her Blackberry, looking for her oh-so-charming husband. Also known as her worst nightmare, or the problem of her day.
"What the fuck is it, Peyton? I'm not in the mood."
Peyton smirked, "I would think so, since Brooke just stormed in and out of my office within five minutes."
"She was there? So she's okay?"
"Yes Lucas, she's fine, although pissed to say the least. Now what the fuck did you say to her?"
"Something that I probably shouldn't have said."
Peyton rolled her eyes, "That doesn't surprise me. What? Did you declare your love for her again?"
"Kind of but without going too much into it. She kind kind of remarked how we would never know what would happen if I had gone after her, and I kind of implied that there was a possibility...?"
"Oh gawd Lucas, you should've known better," Peyton said.
"I know, I know, I probably shouldn't have said anything. But, what the fuck am I supposed to do now?"
She snorted, "Don't ask me what the hell you're supposed to do. You better figure that out by yourself because I've been given strict instructions to get the idea of you and Brooke out of your head."
"Well it's a little too late for that isn't it?"
"Hey, don't talk to me about this shit. You should really be talking to Brooke."
"Yeah, like that's possible right now. I keep on screwing up over and over again."
She sighed, "Just learn to keep some things to yourself. Not everything you say is going to melt her heart anymore."
Peyton ended the call, not wanting to hear any more of Lucas' excuses. It didn't really surprise her to know that Lucas had suggested a future with Brooke already. He always was kind of an idiot when it came to Brooke. But that man seriously needed to stop talking if he know what's good for him. When Brooke gets pressured, she shuts down, and out of everybody Lucas should've known that.
She scrolled down her contacts once again before bringing the phone back up to her ear.
"Hello?"
"Hey Haley," Peyton greeted, leaning back in her seat.
"Oh hey Peyton. What's going on?"
"Nothing, just letting you know that Hurricane Brooke is going at about 100mph and the eye is coming towards your house within the next couple of minutes," Peyton explained.
"Oh gawd, what happened this time?"
"Lucas happened," she stated, feeling like she didn't even have to go into detail."
"Well that explains everything. Now on a scale of one to ten, how pissed is she?"
"Given the fact that she stormed into my office and demanded that I tell Lucas to get the idea of getting back with her out of his head, I'd say maybe a nine, eight if she's calmed down in the slightest."
"Great. Well, thanks for letting me know," she paused. "Yeah, I better go, I think I just heard the front door slam."
"Yeah, that's her," Peyton nodded.
"Alright thanks for calling," Haley said before hanging up abruptly.
Peyton set her cell phone down, smirking to herself. "Hey, don't say I didn't help."
-
"Woah, wait a minute. She says 'I guess we'll never know,' and then you have to open your fucking mouth and say 'Who says?'" Nathan said incredulously.
Lucas ran a hand through his hair, "Well it sounded like the right thing to say at the time. Now I might've just screwed up the friendship that me and Brooke were starting to have."
"Lucas, you can't just expect her to feel the same way you do. Plus you should've known right from the beginning that it wasn't going to be that easy," Nathan explained.
"I know that now. Do you know if there's anything I can do to get her to forgive me?" Lucas asked.
Nathan shrugged, "I don't know about this one, Luke. You might've went a little too far this time. But if I had to tell you anything, it would be to just give her some space, let her get over it on her own, because let's face it, no one tells Brooke what to do."
"But the longer I spend away from her, the more she'll want to pull away from me.""Then what are you going to do? Go back to the house and try to make it up to her? The most you should expect is her slamming the door in your face."
"You're supposed to be helping me," Lucas said aggravatingly.
"I am helping you, I'm giving you advice so you don't get your balls chopped off," Nathan said, walking around the counter to refill his cup of coffee.
"But this doesn't help me in the least bit. Staying away from Brooke won't improve my chances what so ever."
"Well that sounds like something you're going to have to figure out for yourself," Nathan answered, grabbing a chocolate biscotti as well.
"Nate lay off all the food, seriously. Before you know it there's not going to be any more food left, then you're going to have to make everything your fat ass ate."
"Hey, I'm a man, so I'm entitled to eat as much as I want. And why do you care? It's not like you're running this place," Nathan said, sitting back down.
"That was a low blow," Lucas mumbled, staring down at the counter.
"Have you even talked to your mom?" Nathan asked.
Lucas shook his head, "Not since she told me she was traveling around to Italy. She sends me Christmas and birthday cards, but I never reply back or anything."
"Maybe while you're waiting for Brooke to come around, you'll do that."
"I don't think she'd want to talk to me anymore," Lucas said.
"You don't know that, you haven't talked to her in years, Luke. Your mom loves you, and I know for a fact that she'd be so happy if you'd just call or e-mail her."
"It's not that easy Nathan," Lucas answered.
"That's the thing, it's that easy. All you have to do is sit at your computer, and just start typing," Nathan explained.
"I don't know what I would want to say to her, there's just so much," Lucas said, wondering about all the things he wanted to say, but didn't have the courage or the opportunity to.
A customer walked in, seemingly waiting for a table. Nathan raised his head, grabbing a notepad, "Well, you have all the time in the world now."
Lucas watched Nathan escort the customer to a table before finishing off his coffee in one gulp. The bells chimed again, signaling another customer walking in.
"Wow, you're just full of surprises aren't you?" a voice said from behind him. Lucas turned around to see Jake standing in dress pants and a dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He looked like he just got out of work.
"How is that?" Lucas asked, looking back at his cup as Jake sat in the seat next to him.
"I never thought you'd want to make things better with everyone, but there you were last week. And now, I never thought you'd set foot in Karen's Cafe ever again either, but yet, here you are," he gestured.
Lucas smiled sadly, "Well, I did tell you guys I was looking in to change completely."
"Yeah. So I'm guessing you're here to talk to Nathan?" Jake asked.
"Basically, also because there's no where else I need to be right now. Where do you work anyways?" Lucas asked.
"Well after I left with Jenny, I had to find something to do, so I decided law was my thing. I went to a law school up in Georgia, so now I'm working as first degree attorney," Jake explained.
"That sounds like a cool job. I wish I was doing anything other than selling cars like Dan. Even Peyton's got a kick ass job," Lucas remarked.
"What's she doing anyway?" Jake asked, looking around the Cafe.
"She owns an art gallery in town, and it's doing pretty well. Art's kind of been Peyton's thing, so she's doing what she loves," Lucas explained.
"Sounds like she's happy," Jake stated, staring at the counter. Lucas glanced at him. It had occurred to him more than once that Jake could possibly still have some sort of feelings towards Peyton. After all, Jake and Peyton did end under weird circumstances. Either they had some unfinished business, or they were just unfinished.
"Yeah sometimes, although being married to me doesn't really help matters," Lucas said.
"Jake hey, when did you get here?" Nathan asked, walking back around the counter.
"Just a minute ago actually. I was just going to stop by for some dinner and then head home," Jake said.
Nathan rolled his eyes, "Then why didn't your ass just get up and get it yourself? You know this place."
"But it tastes so much better when you make it," Jake said sarcastically. "And what is with this rude attitude? I'm a customer, damn't, you can't just talk to me like that."
"Fuck you, man," Nathan laughed, heading towards the kitchen.
Jake shook his head smirking. Lucas tapped his fingers against the counter, not really knowing what else to say. Back when he had just joined the basketball team, Jake the the first friend he had actually made on the team, and it was incredibly easy to talk to. Now, Lucas couldn't even come up with a conversation starter. But that's what five years did to you.
"So thanks for not busting my face in last week," Lucas said out of nowhere.
Jake looked at him, "Your welcome, but it's not like it was a hard task to follow."
"Come on, you know you guys wanted to do something to me," Lucas urged.
He shrugged, "Of course we did, we woudn't be guys if we didn't. You did things, yeah, you were bad. But we saw something in you Lucas, and we can't want to beat your ass for that."
"Then how come you guys didn't really say anything to me?"
"In case you forgot, we haven't talked to you in five years. Now I didn't really know what to say to you, but just the fact that you were there was a conversation started within itself," Jake explained.
"So you're saying make more of an effort?" Lucas asked, taking mental note.
Jake laughed, "What are you going to do? Study how to be a better person?"
"Not really, I just want to know what I have to do to prove myself. I mean, I'm supposed to already know, right? I've been trying to prove myself my whole life. But with this, it seems like there is no clue for me."
Nathan came back from the kitchen with a big brown bag and set it on the counter. Jake was already pulling out is money.
"Okay, asshole, here's your food. Now give me the money," Nathan demanded. Jake slammed a twenty dollar bill on the counter and grabbed the bag.
"This better be good," Jake said, standing up. "Lucas, just commit to it. Don't give up."
Lucas nodded, finally knowing what he would have to do. Commit. If he committed in changing his ways, then other people would see it, and instead of thinking of it as some stint, they would know he was in it for real. If he committed in trying to win Brooke back, she would finally understand that he wasn't playing any games, he wasn't indecisive. He knew what he wanted, and maybe then the brunette would be more ensured that he wasn't going to let her down anymore.
"You and Jake had another conversation?" Nathan asked.
"Yeah, it was actually pretty helpful for me, and I get the sense that he still has feelings for Peyton," Lucas said.
"Doesn't really surprise me. Jake and Peyton have some unresolved issues they need to take care of," Nathan said, knowing what Lucas was talking about.
Lucas stood up, "I think I'm going to take off. You sure you don't need help closing or something?"
Nathan shook his head, "Nahh, I'm good. You just go home and figure out what you're going to say to your mom."
He groaned, "I guess I will. I'll catch you later, man."
-
She stood in front of the refrigerator, waiting for the water to fill up the glass, although Haley wasn't looking forward to going back out in the living room, mainly because Brooke was there, and she was pissed. Figure it out. Although she was glad that Peyton had called her before hand, it didn't help that she would have to help Brooke deal with this. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but everything that had to do with Brooke and Lucas was just so confusing and out-of-this-world that someone as smart as herself could never completely wrap her head around it.
"Okay, now help me understand why you're so pissed," Haley stated, setting the glass of water down on the coffee table.
"Why? Why?" Brooke exclaimed, kicking her shoes off. "Haley! He freaking wants to get back together with me, and I can't go there again! And he knew that! But there he goes, continuously implying that we're getting together."
"And did you make clear to him that you weren't going to get back together?" Haley asked calmly.
Brooke scoffed, "Of course I did, the second day I got here I told him that. But you know Lucas, he ignores whatever he doesn't want to hear."
Haley chuckled, "Wow that sounds familiar. Brooke, just keep on telling him that. Yes, I know Lucas, and I know that he doesn't give up that easily if it's something he feels strongly about, and I know he's feelings strongly for you. So you can either do two things."
She leaned closer, "I'm listening..."
"Okay, one, you can either accept that fact that Lucas wants you back, and maybe learn to embrace it. Who knows what might happen. Or two, you can keep on reminding him that until the day you leave."
Brooke nodded, "Thanks Haley, I think I'll go with the second one."
Haley groaned, "Brooke, you know that's not the right answer."
"Then what is?! Because 'opening my heart' again to Lucas is definitely not an option Haley. I promised myself that I would not go down that road again."
But who says you are?" Haley asked.
Brooke smiled sadly, "Because that's where I always end up when it comes to Lucas."
Haley looked at her best friend. She herself completely understood what she meant. It wasn't like Brooke and Lucas always had a happily ever after ending. No, it was never like that. In fact, it either ended with the shit hitting the fan, or it was just dropped like a ton of bricks, never to be talked about again.
"Sometimes, you just have to give things a chance. And I would hate for you to leave and regret not giving it a chance," Haley said caringly.
Brooke shook her head, "No, I can't Hales. I have someone back in NY that I really care about, and he cares about me too. I can't do that to him, and I can't do that to myself."
Haley nodded, "Alright, we won't talk about it any more."
There was no point in trying to convince Brooke any longer, things just weren't going to be resolved in just one day. So she would sit tight, watch closely, and hope that things looked up. Time was pretty much running itself out.
"Speaking of someone, when's Brian supposed to be visiting?" Haley asked, trying to stir the conversation.
"In a couple of days actually. But once again thanks for letting him stay here, I know it's a handful with just me here..."
"Brooke shut up, I love you. It's no problem that Brian's staying here. And if you and Brian have any future, it's good that he stays so we can get to know him better."
Brooke smiled, "He's really great Haley, you and Nate are going to love him. I've never dated anyone like him."
Haley smiled, "I'm sure." Everything that Haley had ever heard about Brian was nothing short of wonderful, and Haley didn't doubt that. But the fact of the matter was, Brian was everything Lucas wasn't, and Haley was interested to see how it all turned out by the time Brian left. No doubt that Brooke and Brian were going to run into Lucas some time.
"But I swear Lucas better not mess up Brian's week here. It's bad enough I have to deal with him, but I don't want Brian to have to," Brooke said, leaning back on the couch.
Haley chuckled, "Not to kill your hope or anything, but what do you expect? Either Lucas is going to cause a scene, and we're going to have to stick a bag of frozen peas on someone, or Lucas is just going to sit there staring at you with this broody look on his face."
Brooke sighed sarcastically, "And if I'm really lucky, both will happen."
She shrugged, "I'd bet on that."