A/N: Wow thanks for all the reviews! I'm glad more people are starting to review and tell me what they liked and stuff. Just so you guys know, I'm accepting criticism, and if I don't have any, then I guess I'm doing something right lol. But once again, thanks a lot for all the reviews, and I hope they keep on coming!
This chapter is kind of a filler and the almost return of an old Tree Hill hotspot. I don't want to give too much away, so I'm just going to leave it at that, although you guys can probably figure it out that easily lol. Brian is in this chapter, and you can kind of see how he reacts to the town and how he reacts to Brooke being back home. Brooke's not exactly the same person in New York as she is back in Tree hill, so it's bringing back out the old Brooke Davis that she kind of left behind.
In the actually show, I'm kind of disappointed in the way the writer's portrayed the Brooke now. Although I think it's kind of a smart move kind of bring Brooke back to Tree Hill, because once again she's trying to find herself all over again. I can't wait to see her latest love interest, rumor has it it's a bartender? That should be interesting. I was checking in on the next episode's trailer, and in it I saw a clip of Brooke and Lucas making out. I ALMOST got my hopes up and thought that it was a Brucas reunion, but that was just a clip in the past, or 'what would've been,' or something like that. Whatever, I can hope lol. I just Googled Joe Maganiello, who's playing Owen the bartender, and he is so hot lol.
Anyways, I'm rambling. Thanks to everyone once again for all the reviews, and I hope they keep coming!
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Chapter 19;; I'll Always Be Waiting in the Back Room.
The news of Brian Grant coming to town had sprang up and around Tree Hill like wildfire, and it seemed to be even more scandalous and unperpetuated than the time Brooke Davis had slept with Chris Keller when she was 'friends' with Lucas Scott. Try that scenario times a hundred billion million. Why was it such sweet gossip around the small town? Nobody in the inner circle really knew, but if they had to guess, of course it was just the fact that you were adding Brian to the Brooke and Lucas mess that had been brewing for the past couple of weeks. Just Brooke and Lucas causing scenes around town was enough, leaving news for people to converse about for weeks. Time could only tell what would happen with Brooke's newest beau.
And if it didn't concern the people around town, it certainly wouldn't be so easy to ignore like they didn't know what was going on with their boss. What with his sour expression that he had come in and out of work with for the past week and a half, they were sure that Lucas Scott did not want to be bothered at the moment, and they prayed for the people that HAD to talk to him, even if it was just a newly issued meeting that he had to attend. And to think, they thought their boss was starting to be a wee little bit nicer to them. But there was only so much to believe.
It was one thing to be out of the mix and looking in, but it was another to actually be somewhat involved, and Lucas was not liking his new status as the 'other man,' or at least, trying to be the other man. Everywhere he went, he was looked upon in a weird manner, like they knew something, but they didn't think he knew what they knew, when in thought he knew far more than they could ever come up with in a week. Although in reality, there wasn't that much to talk about or even tell. Things had been slow, unrequitted. In other words, nothing was happening.
Lucas hadn't talked to Brooke since that day at her house, and it had already been more than a week. The way he saw it, he was going to let her have her fun with her 'boyfriend,' so she could figure it out, that she didn't like the guy. It had been quite a few years, but Lucas knew what Brooke liked in guys, and this Brian guy just wasn't cutting it. Or maybe Brooke had changed beyond belief, maybe that girl that he once knew wasn't the same girl she was now, which would be the reason why she wouldn't admit their feelings, because she didn't have any for him.
"Yeah, right," he snorted, continuing to type on his laptop, replying to annoying e-mails from different companies.
Of course she was the same Brooke Davis. You can take the girl out of the honky tonk, but you can't take the honky tonk out of the girl, and you certainly couldn't take the drama out of Brooke Davis, and she was certainly playing to her cards. It sounded arrogant and asshole-ish, but Lucas knew that Brooke was still not over him. It was something that he felt deep down in his soul, something that he knew no one else would know except for himself. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, it didn't matter. Lucas was going to make her see that it was him, not Brian. He was sure Brian was a nice guy, basically there was nothing wrong with him, but he wasn't the guy for Brooke, and Brooke wasn't the guy for him. They just would never work.
First off, Brooke was far ahead of her time, and there was no way Brian would ever be able to control or simmer Brooke down. And Brian seemed like the guy that wanted to settled down and not go out and stay in and read a book about chivalry or something. Brooke was NOT like that. She liked to have her fun, and she needed someone that could keep up with her. Hypothetically Lucas probably wouldn't be able to keep up with her too, but he was someone that would be able to stick with Brooke, Brian couldn't. It was just that simple, btu she couldn't see that at all.
"Mr. Scott?" a muffled voice said from behind his office door. Before walking into his office never to be seen for the rest of the day, he had laid out strict instructions to not let anyone come into his office before knocking and making your presence known, all OUTSIDE his office door. Not exactly kind or polite requests, but he wasn't a nice person today.
"Yes?" he asked, not really caring what they wanted at this point.
"Your brother is here to visit you," the voice said, hesitant in their excuse for disturbing him.
Lucas sighed, "Alright, let him in." He slowly closed his laptop, starting to massage his temples. If his brother was here, this would only be more headaches, and even more issues.
Nathan entered his office, "Hey big bro, haven't seen you in awhile." He collapsed into the chair across from him.
"Woah, now you want to admit that I'm the oldest? I've been a bit busy with stuff. I can't just call only one person and have five jobs up that will land me millions like you can," Lucas commented. True, it wasn't mature to envy siblings, you should enjoy and appreciate the things that you have. But let's face it, Lucas didn't have shit going for him except for his looks and being a wealthy guy in town, even though in Tree Hill it wasn't that hard. Lucas didn't think he could ever get over envying Nathan, period. But he loved him all the same.
"Actually it's only a couple of hundred thousand," Nathan smirked. "But actually I was here to see what all went down last week at the house." There it was. Nathan just went straight out and admitted what he was here for. Lucas would've thought that he would've beat around the bush for a couple of minutes before he actually came out and asked it.
"Brooke didn't tell you?" Lucas asked, writing something on his calendar.
Nathan shook his head, "I asked her once, but she wouldn't tell me, and I haven't had time to talk to her about it. Brian's been attached to her hip since he got here, but it's probably because she doesn't want me to get on her ass about it any more than she knows I want to."
"And you want to know what happened?" Lucas asked, or more of assumed.
Nathan shrugged, "In other words, yeah. And believe me, I wouldn't be here if I really didn't want to know."
"It's really nothing worth coming all the way over here though," Lucas said, logging off his laptop.
"Yeah, well, I'm here anyway. So let's hear it, what did you do this time to royally piss Brooke off?" Nathan asked.
"Nothing I haven't done before," Lucas admitted. "Think of the beach party before we became seniors, and that's pretty much it, man."
"But that is something within itself," Nathan said. "I mean, she wasn't exactly heated when you said it to her in high school, but this time you had Brian like, right there."
"Well I didn't say it when Brian was there, but like, just when I thought she was going to say something that gave me hope, the fucking doorbell rang," Lucas said frustratingly.
Nathan looked at him, "So you pulled that whole 'I'm the guy for you' thing?"
Lucas grinned, "Something like that. I mean, I wasn't throwing false pretenses or anything. I know me and Brooke are meant to be, she just has to realize that.
"That's the spirit," Nathan said. "Hey, want to get out of here? We can go grab something to eat and head over to the Rivercourt?"
Lucas gestured to his office, "Uhmm, I'm kind of here at work you know?"
Nathan snorted, "Cut the shit, Lucas. You run this freaking company, you can leave whenever the hell you want."
"Nathan I don't know. I mean, I haven't been into the office in a couple of weeks, and I'm pretty far behind in meetings..." he trailed. He was interrupted by his intercom set by his desk.
"Mr. Scott you have a meeting in five minutes in the conference room," a robotic voice said.
Lucas pressed the button, "Alright, I'll be there in a couple of minutes," he said, causing Nathan to slump down in his chair. He let the button go, already heading to the door. He swung it open and looked back at Nathan.
"Are you coming?" he asked, already rolling his sleeves up. "Because I'm starving."
Nathan smirked and jumped up after him.
-
"I told you there wasn't much to see about this town," Brooke said as she drove around town, pointing out different places and spots.
"If that's the case, then why do you love it here so much?" Brian asked, taking looks out the window every so often.
She shrugged, "Tree Hill's my home. Some of the worst and best things have happened to me here."
"I could understand that," he said. "So where are we going now? You said a lot of stuff happened to you here, so what else is there?"
"Yeah, a lot of crap has happened to me here, but honestly there's no much to show you," Brooke explained. "I mean, we could go to Karen's Cafe and have lunch there since Haley's working today. And then I could take you to the high school where I went."
Brian nodded, "Yeah, that sounds fine. So the owner of the Cafe is Lucas' mom, right?"
"Yeah, Karen opened the cafe when she was really young, it was always her dream. Plus they have really good hot chocolate," she added with a smirk.
Brian turned around in his seat to look at her, "Okay, so are you ever going to tell me what happened the day I got here?"
She looked straight ahead of her, wondering what she was going to do. Ever since Lucas' weird but angering departure the week before, Brooke had been in high alert to not mention Lucas or any form of Lucas, not even anything that was tied to him, and it was a mutual but silent understanding that Nathan and Haley were to do the same thing. So far they were all Brian had met, but time would only tell when he would encounter the other people in her life.
"There's nothing to tell Bri, Lucas came over to visit Nathan and Haley. They are related, you know," Brooke explained.
"But that doesn't explain why Nathan and Haley were upstairs while you and him were downstairs," Brian added, not wanting to let this go. "And if there's something going on between you and Lucas, I would appreicate it if you would let me know what exactly that 'something' is."
"Look," Brooke began. "What me and Lucas had or didn't have was in the past. We're over, and we have been for a long time, Brian. He came over to borrow some taped basketball games from Nate, which was why he was upstairs when you got here. Haley ushered me downstairs to keep Lucas company since she has this thing about hospiality, and that's it."
"And what about Lucas' greeting to me. I've only heard of the guy and he already knows my name?" Brian challenged.
Brooke scoffed, "In case you haven't noticed, we're in Tree Hill, where nothing stays secret. I was hoping to keep your visit under wraps because I know how this town gets. And since me and Nate are local celebrities around here, it shouldn't really surprise you in the future that everyone here knows your name."
Brian sighed, "Well, in that case, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions so soon. It's just that I'm a little uncomfortable with your ex lover here."
"But that's the point Brian, you don't need to feel uncomfortable..."
"I know I shouldn't, but I do. This guy once had your heart, and that's something really hard to compete with. I mean, there's got to be something about him if he had you for so long," Brian explained as Brooke pulled into a parking space in front of Karen's Cafe.
Brooke grabbed his hand, "And there's got to be something about you if I'm with you instead of him. Me and Lucas, we never made sense, and we will never make sense. And I'm with you because I want to be, THIS is where I want to be."
Brian smiled at her, "Since when did you get to sentimental?"
She shrugged, "Since I got back here. It's amazing what people back home can do to you."
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "In that case, do you forgive me?"
She looked up briefly, "I'm not so sure. You might have to work for it."
"Then what is it that I have to do?" he asked, opening the door for her. They stood in front of the entrance, Brooke still wondering if she could actually get away with it, and Brian wondering what him and Brooke were going to do for the rest of his time there.
"I don't know, maybe pay for my lunch," she stated, wrapping her arms around his neck.
He stared at her, "But, I was going to do that anyway."
"Well then it looks like you don't have to do anything. I forgive you," she simply said before kissing him in the middle of the chaos.
The sound of jingle bells were heard before a voice interrupted them, "Okay, so are you going to come in and eat, or is the whole cafe going to be turned around watching this sight."
Brooke rolled her eyes, "Whatever Haley, you and Nate had sex on top of a car one time, so don't even go there."
Haley smiled tightly, "Yeah? Well I could think of A LOT more things about you, but I won't in the presence of Brian here, so just get your fat ass in here."
"Who are you calling fat ass?" Brooke asked, one eyebrow cocked.
"Unless you want your damn food, I suggest you shut the hell up Brookie," Haley said, leaving a trail of smoke behind her as she made her way into the kitchen.
"So, I can see why you two are best friends," Brian said with an amused face.
Brooke shrugged, "Well, we don't usually talk this much crap, but she's pregnant, and I'm me, so it ends up this way."
"But was it always like this, well, kind of, when you guys were in high school?" Brian asked, sliding into a booth, seated across from her.
"Hmm you could say that. There definitely wasn't a dull moment with Haley, that's for sure. But we weren't close in high school as we are now."
"Because Peyton was your best friend," Brian said. Brooke had filled him in of everything in her past, including her never ending friendship based on lies and not enough truth. It was something really hard for him to understand, but noting about Brooke and Peyton was someting ever easy to comprehend. They didn't match up, and that's why they meshed up well in the first place.
Brooke nodded, "Exactly. Now with me and Peyton not really being anything at all, me and Hales are as close as ever."
"Have you run into your old friend?" Brian asked, looking down at the menu. Brooke quickled grabbed it from him and shut it abruptly.
"Yes I have, and there is no way you're going to need that," she said, gesturing to the menu.
He chuckled, "Why not?" Brooke cocked her eyebrow as Haley came up to their table.
"You know," Haley began. "I don't even know why I'm over here, I can basically recite what you want."
Brooke smirked, "Well, I'll tell you anyway. Give us two double bacon cheeseburgers with chilly cheese fries. Two glasses of water and two glasses of Coke, mine being diet, and then on our way out can we have two large hot chocolates, please?"
Haley rolled her eyes, "Of course Brooke. I don't even know why I brought this either," she said, shoving her notepad back into her apron.
Brian looked at her in amazement, "You do realize that's a lot of food, right?"
She shrugged, "Yeah, so?"
"Uhm, nothing I guess," he said. "It's just that I've never seen you really eat since I've met you, and you know I can eat for days."
"Well, there's a lot of things you don't know about me. And like I said, being back home kind of brings back the kid in me," she said.
"I think that happens to everybody that goes back to their home town," Brian said, sitting back and looking out the window.
"I can tell you one thing, it's really great to be back," she glanced out the window as well, memories of times she had looked out the exact window running through her mind. It was surreal being back, and it was a whole other thing to actually have Brian here with her, seeing all the places she went and the things she did. But there was only so much she could tell him about the stuff she did, because if he did now, he would've been back in New York already. She was just about to tear her eyes away from the window until she saw a bush of curly blonde hair crossing the street, seemingly heading towards the Cafe.
"Oh gawd," Brooke groaned, craning her neck in time to see Peyton crossing the sidewalk, only a few feet from the entrance.
"What?" Brian asked, trying to see what Brooke saw.
"Peyton," Brooke stated, her eyes narrowing and her claws proverbially out. Brian just sat back, watching the scene unfold. From what he had heard of this Peyton, she was a shitty friend at that. Sure, he heard of times when Peyton had helped his girlfriend through the toughest times, and Brooke did the same in return. But it always seemed more one sided, and he would see first hand just how much time had passed between the two friends.
"What should we do?" Brian whispered as Peyton entered the Cafe.
"Just act like you don't know she's here," Brooke asked, pulling out her iPhone and acting like she was texting somebody.
"Uhmm, okay," Brian said, looking around before pulling out his Blackberry also, checking his e-mails.
Brooke skillfully turned her phone around, seeing her reflection. It was times like these when Brooke was thankful she was so in touch with technology. She turned it at an angle, revealing a reflection of Peyton at the counter talking to Haley. She was talking frantically but excitedly, and Brooke was suddenly interested to see what the commotion was about. Tearing her eyes away from her phone, she lifted her head slightly, seeing Brian giving her a smug smirk.
"Okay, so much for wanting nothing to do with her," he sang, exiting from his e-mails.
Brooke rolled her eyes, "Please, you shouldn't believe me. Sure, I don't want anything to do with her, but I still want to know what's going on with her."
"But don't you feel the least bit bad about spying on her?" he asked, sitting back and crossing his arms.
"Please babe, I did way more worse stuff in high school. This," she said, holding up her iPhone, "is nothing."
"I'd put that away. Looks like she spotted you," Brian said, holding his smirk as Brooke frantically went back to her phone.
She heard the click clacking of heels, but she refused to pay attention. The smell of her perfume and the awkwardness that she carried everywhere came near. Brooke kept her eyes on her phone, trying to avoid talking to Peyton until the last minute. The last time they talked to each other, it was at the baby shower, and she didn't want Brian to see the OTHER Brooke Davis, and she was hoping he would never have to for as long as he was staying in Tree Hill. The town brought out the best and worst of her, or maybe that was just Lucas.
"Hey Brooke," Peyton said, an awkward tight smile on her face.
Brooke faced Peyton, smiling politely, "Hey Peyton."
Peyton smiled back, and then turned her attention towards Brian, who looked on in a somewhat amused but guarded expression, expecting Brooke to do something.
Brooke looked at him, "Oh, this is my boyfriend, Brian."
"Nice to meet you," Brian said, holding his hand out for her to shake.
"You too, the news of your visit has been headline news around here," Peyton joked.
Brooke looked at Brian, "See? I told you, you can never get away with anything here."
"That's too true," Peyton said. "Anyways, I just came by to talk to Haley about this idea I had about opening Tric back up."
She raised her eyebrows, "Tric? But, don't you need the approval from Karen?"
Peyton shook her head, "Actually when Karen left Tree Hill to open the restaurant in Italy, she left the Cafe and Tric to Haley and Nathan to run it since Lucas was too, busy, to do it."
"I'm sure he was," Brooke mumbled, but kept her polite smile.
"Anyways, I haven't done the whole music thing in awhile, and I thought it would be fun."
"So when are you planning on opening it up?" Brian asked.
"Within the next couple of days I hope. Haley already cleared it, and I'm sure Nathan won't mind. So maybe next week, you'll still be in town right Brian?" She asked.
"Yeah, he's staying for a couple of weeks," Brooke answered quickly.
"Okay good. I'm making posters right now for the opening, so hopefully you guys can make it?" Peyton asked.
"It sounds fun, I'm sure we'll be able to," Brian answered.
Peyton nodded and smiled. She turned around to leave before nudging Brooke, "He's a keeper Brooke."
Brooke looked up at her, that devilish smile on her face, "Then I guess I'll have to watch my back, huh?"
Peyton held her smile before walking past them and back to the entrance to the Cafe. Brooke scoffed and leaned back in her booth, pulling out her phone again and continued to check all her messages as if nothing had really happened. Brian continued to look at her, but she had failed to look up at him since Peyton had first came up to them.
"That wasn't mean," she finally stated, eyes still glued to her phone.
"What was that?" Brian asked.
"I know what you're thinking, and no, that wasn't mean," she answered, setting her phone down on the table and looking at him.
"Actually, it kind of was," Brian smirked.
Brooke chuckled, "Believe me, that's nice for me and Peyton."
"I don't think I want to know how you are when you guys are mean."
"Believe me, you don't," Brooke assured him as Haley came up carrying their plates.
"So, exchange any catty and/or bitchy remarks with Peyton?" Haley said, setting their food down.
"Nothing you guys haven't heard before," Brooke said. "So what's this about Peyton opening Tric back up?"
Haley shrugged, "Nothing much. She wants to re open it, with my permission of course."
"You think it'll be a good move?" Brooke asked, popping a fry in her mouth.
"I think it will, and if you and Nathan show up, it would REALLY encourge people to go," Haley said sweetly.
Brooke groaned, "Ugh, being famous kind of sucks. So is this all I'm good for, making appearances so you guys earn more money?"
Haley smirked, "That's right, Brookie." A teenager came up behind her and set their drinks on the table. She gave Brooke a nervous smile before returning back into the kitchen.
"Haha go away, Tutormom," Brooke said, sticking her tongue out. Haley shook her head laughing before walking back behind the counter.
Brian picked up his burger, "So I'm guessing it's a hate/love relationship, right?"
"That's right. Although her hormones are going crazy at the moment, which is probably why we're arguing so much."
"You're right," Brian said, his mouth full, "this is REALLY good."
Brooke smiled in accomplishment, "I told you, Bri. And don't even get me started on the hot chocolate."
"You have some sort of emotional connection to this hot chocolate?" Brian asked jokingly.
Brooke looked at him, "You could say that."
-
"Okay, I have to ask," Lucas began, biting into his pizza as Nathan dribbled the ball, "do you want me and Brooke to work out, because it seems like you don't want that."
Nathan shrugged, "Of course I want you and Brooke to work out. But you need to know that this isn't high school anymore, and I don't want to see Brooke hurt like last time."
"But that's not going to happen. I love Brooke and I want to be with her, and you're going to realize that," Lucas said
He held his hands up, "Hey, you don't have to prove that to me, I already know you love her."
Lucas scoffed, "Yeah, if only she would realize that." Nathan bounced the ball to Lucas, who held it, that awkward feeling still in his hands. He dribbled it a couple of times before throwing it up into the air, it immediately hit the rim and bounced off. Lucas sighed in frustration.
"Don't expect to get it back all at once," Nathan commented, taking the ball back into his possession.
"I don't expect that," Lucas said. "I just thought it would be a bit easier since basketball kind of used to be my life."
Nathan chuckled, "That doesn't count for shit. You havent played in years, so it's going to feel new to you."
"Well whatever happened that one time you told me you broke your arm or whatever?" Lucas asked. "You were already back to playing pick up games in a couple of weeks."
Nathan shot the ball for a three pointer, "That's COMPLETELY different from your situation. I never quit basketball altogether. I still planned on playing. Plus, it was a measly couple of weeks, you can't really do much harm to your game in that."
He nodded, "Yeah, it's kind of not the same thing when I think about it like that." The sound of a roaring car filled his ears, and he knew his wife was somewhere in the area. Her old comfortable raced towards the backroads, some kind of new band pulsing from the speakers. You would think that after all these years, Peyton would've changed in the slightest bit, but in reality all that had changed was her choice of wardrobe, and that was because of where she worked.
"Looks like your wife's here," Nathan sang, chuckling at the same time.
Lucas rolled his eyes, "Why does everybody keep calling her that?"
"Uhm, because she IS your wife," Nathan said obviously. "Speaking of wife, when are you guys' getting a divorce?"
Lucas shrugged, "I don't know, I haven't really been thinking about that."
"Well, you might want to get on that," he said as Peyton pulled up on the grass. "Brooke will never consider you if you're still married to her ex best friend."
"That is true," Lucas admitted as Peyton came up to them.
"Hey guys," Peyton said, sitting on the old bench.
"Hey, what are you doing here? No wives allowed," Nathan stated, rolling the ball on his finger.
"In case you haven't noticed, I'm hardly a wife," Peyton answered. "And I came here to talk to you guys about something."
Lucas took a swig of his drink, "Alright, shoot."
"Okay, so I already went over this with Haley, and I was thinking about opening Tric back up. You know, for old time's sake."
Nathan's eyebrows rose, "Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me. And you already went over it with Haley?"
Peyton nodded, "Yeah, and she thinks it's a pretty good idea."
Lucas nodded, "Yeah, it does sound like a great idea. So when are you thinking about opening it?"
She smirked, "Well, I was thinking about hiring some people to clean it up this week, and have it ready for opening night by next weekend."
"Wow, that's not that much time. You think you'll be able to pull it off? And what about the music, don't you need a band playing or something."
Peyton kept her smirk, "That's the beauty of it gentleman. I happened to already have a band arranged to play next Friday night at Tric."
Lucas looked at her, "You ALREADY have someone to play? Who is it?"
"That I cannot tell, but I will tell you that it's going to be crazy," Peyton answered.
"I think that's a pretty sweet thing, Peyt," Nathan said. "Does anybody else know about it?"
She nodded, "Well you guys, and Haley, since I had to ask her. Then I saw Brooke and Brian over at the Cafe also and I kind of let them in on it."
Nathan whistled, "Man, that HAD to be the funniest thing to watch: you and Brooke having a conversation with her boyfriend right there." Lucas glared at Nathan, who didn't seem to pay him any attention.
"Well, it's Brooke," Peyton chuckled. "She tried to be nice throughout the whole thing, but she just had to leave a little comment as I was leaving. It's no big deal though, I was kind of expecting it. But they think it's a pretty cool idea too, so hopefully Brooke will show up, then more people might want to go."
"You don't need Brooke to make everybody come to Tric next week," Lucas said. "Tric hasn't been opened back up in years, people are going to be curious as to how the place is going to be when it opened back up after what, six years?"
"You're right, but Nate and Brooke should come just in case. I'm in the process of sketching some flyers for this thing," Peyton said, checking her phone.
Nathan looked at her, "We live in Tree Hill, why the hell would you post flyers out?"
Lucas laughed, "Yeah, you can just get in your car and start yelling out the time and place around town."
She rolled her eyes, "You two are so weird. I can't believe you would think I would actually do that. I know you would, but I guess that's why you're a retired NBA player after only five years and are now living off endorsement deals, and you are running a stupid car dealership for some man that never wanted you and treated you like crap."
Lucas smiled at her, "Thanks for the reality check, Peyton."
"Hey, at least I'm honest," Peyton pointed out, getting up from the bench. "Well I have to get back to work and make some calls. Look out for the flyers though."
"Will do," Nathn said, watching her retreating form. Lucas just shook his head.
"She just had to bring that up, now I feel even more pathetic," he said as her engine revved and was out of sight.
"It's the truth, isn't it?" Nathan asked. "But I think this whole re-opening of Tric will be fun. Just like old times."
Lucas snorted, "Those old times are long gone, Nate. I mean, what am I supposed to do now? Brooke's obviously comfortable showing her boyfriend around town, how the fuck am I supposed to react when she brings Brian to Tric? I can't look stupid like that in front of them. No, I refuse to."
"You'll react like any other person would react," Nathan answered. "You're going to be nice to BOTH of them, and you're going to leave them alone for the night. I know that's a hard task for you to follow, but it has to be that way, unless you want to cause a scene or something. And Brooke really wouldn't want anything to do with you then."
"I guess I'll just have to be nice, there's not really any other way I can go," Lucas admitted.
Nathan shook his head, "Yeah, there really isn't." He had already been reassured by Nate that he was rooting for himself and Brooke to reunite, but it was definitely times like these when he thought that his brother was just as indecisive as he was. Sure, there were good and bad things that were playing, but damn, he didn't have to make him feel like shit everytime he talked.
Lucas shoved his hands in his pockets, "So, you've met this Brian guy, he's been at your house for a week and a half now. I'm guessing you guys like him, right?"
Nathan shrugged, "There's not really anything to hate about him. All in all he's a pretty nice guy."
He sighed, "That's what I didn't want to hear. The guy seems too good to be true." Lucas made it sound casual when he told Peyton he had done some research on this so called Brian Grant. No doubt though, the guy was a freaking genius. His grandfather had gotten the company on it's feet, but Brian had made it grow into one of the most powerful companies in the Unites States. Plus it didn't really surprise him that Brian was young and had enough money and resources to do just about anything he wanted. If he wanted to go out and get something, he could, it was just that simple. It really made Lucas wonder if that's the type of notion that went along with being able to date Brooke Davis.
"I don't know, he could be, but Brooke never wanted the perfect man. But hey, she's not the same Brooke." That was too true. At first glance, of course she was the same Brooke Davis that he had last seen, except a little more put together, and her make up wasn't running down like a river on her face. If anything she was even more beautiful than Lucas could have ever imagined. But something was off now, like the fire and passion that he used to see all the time only came out in times of need, or when she was pissed off. There was playful banter, and there was still that bitchy claw-your-eyes-out catfights, but there was still something missing, and Lucas could not figure out for the life of him what that thing was.
What ever happened to that girl that took chances in just about every aspect of her life? The girl who never let anyone or anything tell her what she couldn't or couldn't do. The Brooke that know and went after what she wanted, even if it killed her ass, and the Brooke that wore her heart on her sleeve, the lovable mess, he liked to think of her. If you didn't know her that well, you probably would have never noticed anything, but Brooke Davis wasn't Brooke Davis anymore. Lucas would leave it alone for the time being, but he didn't know how long he could keep it in.
"So like, what have they been doing like, around the house?" Lucas asked awkwardly.
Nathan smirked, "No Lucas, they're not having sex. At least I haven't heard anything."
"I felt so weird asking that," he said, shutting his eyes.
"I felt weird answering," Nathan said, dribbling the ball between his legs. "It's going to take time you know. With basketball, and with Brooke."
Lucas nodded, "I know, I just wish I would make progress with that time."
"Well, you say you and Brooke are meant to be together, right?" Nathan asked, tossing Lucas the ball.
"Of course."
"Okay then, if you are, it'll happen. Don't try to stress so much on the matter. If it's meant to happen, you guys will be together in the end."
"Since when did you get so mushy?" Lucas asked.
Nathan shrugged, "Since Haley's hormones began hitting me in the face."
Lucas laughed, "But thanks Nathan. I know the last thing you expected was me trying to fix things, but I appreciate you and Haley trying to give me the chance."
"You didn't TRY to do anything, you're changing already, and I don't know, something told me that things would turn around. Lucas you were never a bad person, and I knew that whatever you were going through, I knew it wouldn't last for long."
"I never thought it would end to be perfectly honest. I was stuck in this black hole that I just could not get out of."
Nathan smiled, "Well, it looks like you found a way out." Lucas continued to dribble the ball, wondering what was going to happen then next couple of days. He positioned the ball in his hands before raising it behind his head and letting it roll off his hands. It flew through the air, but he didn't expect it to go in. The sound of metal chains entered his ear drums as he saw the ball drop through the hoop and bounce on the hard cement. He stared at the ball in amazement.
"Okay," he started. "What the hell just happened?"
Nathan smirked, grabbing the ball, "Looks like you just made a three-pointer. What's next? You happen to make out with Brooke at Tric?"
Lucas looked at him, "God's not THAT nice to me."
"Maybe not, but that would be a real treat for you," he laughed, checking his watch. "Hey, you want to go home and change and meet me back here in twenty minutes?"
"Why? What's going on?" Lucas asked.
"Skills arranged a pick up game later on today with the guys, and that oh so happens to be in twenty minutes," Nathan explained.
Lucas shrugged, "You think they would mind letting me?"
"They didn't chew your ass out last time. What makes you think they would now?" Nathan asked.
"I don't know Nate, it was pretty awkward and weird the last time I hung out with all of them."
"Come on Luke, it'll be like stage 2 of the Lucas Scott reformation," Nathan stated. "Plus, you're in your element right when you're on the court."
"What WAS my element," Lucas corrected. "But yeah, I guess I'll head home and change real quick."
Nathan grinned, "Alrighty then. I'll see you in a few," he said, heading to his his car.
"But if something happens, I'm blaming you," Lucas yelled.
-
"He's coming isn't he?" Jake asked, or more of stated, as him and Skills dribbled the ball lazily, waiting for the others to show up.
Skills shrugged, holding the ball on his hip, "I don't know dawg, but if I know Nate, then yeah, his ass is probably showin' up."
"I just don't get it. Why now is he wanting to get in touch with everybody," Jake asked, shooting the ball skillfully through the hoop. "You think it has something to do with Brooke being in town?"
"I don't know bout that either. But what I do know is, Luke's gettin' a little sweet on B. Davis, with her beau in town at that."
"Brian," Jake nodded. "I heard he's a pretty good guy. Doesn't really surprise me that Brooke's dating this awesome guy or whatever. I bet Luke's on the brink of giving up."
"But he always stands his ground," Skills said. "I ain't never seen Lucas give up on Brooke. Except that one time that is," he added.
"Yeah. But I think he really does want to change. It's just kind of weird that he's doing it all right now," Jake said, running up for a lay up.
Skills chuckled, "Well if you're so damn curious, then why didn't you ask him yourself? You did talk to him last week at Karen's, right?"
"Yeah, but we were talking about what he can do, not WHY he's doing it," Jake answered as Mouth's car pulled up. It was a bit of a reality check when Mouth had a wife and a child. It just goes to show that high school didn't mean shit when you were out there in the real world. If anything, Mouth was living the ultimate dream along with Nathan and Jake. Having a family was probably the best thing that could ever happen to somebody, and it put those high school labels to shame at how mature and successful Mouth had turned out to become.
Skills on the other hand, well he was just trying to figure out where he was going to find a chick who would put up with him. Things with Bevin hadn't quite went as planned, well, it was starting to go as planned, but things happened, which resulted in them being on a break at the moment. He still talked to her almost everyday, but she had her hands full with business school, of course, a shocker, and well, he was in Tree Hill, playing ball with the boys just old times.
"Now explain something to me Skills," Jake said. "Why the hell is Mouth here?"
"I know," Nathan said, shutting his door, "we all know he can't play for shit."
"Yeah, but the dude sure can annouce a thing or two," Skills chuckled, slapping Mouth on the back.
He rolled his eyes, ignoring their playful comments like he had always done. "I know I can. Now are you guys going to get to playing or what?"
"Junk and Fergie aren't coming," Skills said, twirling the ball on the tip of his finger. "Fergie had to work, and Junk, yeah I don't know what the hell Junk's up to."
"Probably taking a bath," a voice said from the end of the court. "Jimmy wasn't the only ripe one." Lucas was standing at the end of the court in black basketball shorts, a plain white t shirt, and old sneakers. A worn out ball was in his hands and a old ratty grey hoodie was draped over his shoulders. It was like they had seen the old boy from before.
"Yeah, he sure wasn't," Mouth said quietly, him obviously being the only one who had no idea Lucas was going to show up.
Lucas threw his hoodie onto the old bench before dribbling the ball slowly. He felt kind of weird since everyone was watching his every move it seemed.
"Stil a little rusty?" Skills asked.
Lucas laughed awkwardly, "Yeah, a little bit. Actually I haven't really held a basketball in my hands until a couple of weeks ago."
"Yeah, so we're going to have to go a little easy on him boys," Nathan said, shooting the ball, smirking as it sinked through the net.
"If I remember correctly, Lucas kicked your ass one time on this same exact court," Jake said, stomping his right foot on the concrete.
"And I don't recall you even being there," Nathan stated.
"Either way man, Luke smoked you that night, even with a bloody ass nose," Skills added.
Nathan rolled his eyes, "Whatever, the past is the past. Can we just play now?"
Jake nodded, "Alright, let's start. Me and Skills against the Scott bros?" Nathan and Lucas both shrugged.
"I don't think I'll be that much of a contribution," Lucas admitted, barely making a lay up shot.
"Who cares, we're just playing this time around," Jake said.
"Alright are ya'll just gon' bitch and moan, or are we actually playin'?" Skills asked, hands on his hips.
Nathan shrugged, "Whatever Skills, you know we're going to smoke your ass anyway."
-
Water and soap suds made their way all the way to her elbows as she scrubbed at the left over food, quickly rinsing and then handing them over to put into the dishwasher to dry. There had been a weird, but not awkward silence that enveloped the two friends. It wasn't that Haley didn't want to say anything, it's just that she didn't know if she should.
"Thanks for dinner Hales. You didn't really have to go all out for the past week and a half," Brooke finally said, receiving a plate from Haley.
Haley shook her head, "Oh shut up Brooke. It's been nice havin Brian around, and if it makes you happy, then I'll cook a five course meal."
"That's the thing," Brooke grimaced, "I don't know. I'm kind of finding myself rethinking this whole Brian situation."
Haley looked at her, "What Brian situation? I didn't think there was one."
"Well, there's not, not really. I just don't really know if being with him is something that I need for me right now. And I'm not sure if Nathan told you, but I was kind of thinking about moving back over here..." Brooke trailed.
Haley shrieked before throwing her arms around Brooke, even though she still had soap and water all over her. Brooke reciprocated, not really caring that Haley was getting her shirt and hair completely soaked.
"No he seemed to forgot to mention that," Haley said, sending a glare out of the kitchen and towards Nathan, even if he probably didn't know it.
"It's not exactly certain yet, but I was thinking about opening up a Clothes Over Bros store here in Tree Hill. I don't know, probably at the mall or something, but like, without all the hot couture pieces, since we're in Tree Hill and all," Brooke smirked.
Haley grinned, "Personally I think it's a great idea. What better place to have a C/B store other than your hometown? Have you talked to anybody other than Nathan?"
"See that's kind of the thing. I'm leaning more towards opening a store here, I just have to run it by everyone else up in New York, which will kind of be a problem, since the main person who I need to approve will in no doubt have a bitch fit," Brooke said, dreading the name on the tip of her tongue.
"Victoria," Haley stated, feeling the sort of nervous and anxious feeling that Brooke felt boiling in the pit of her stomach.
It was safe to say that Victoria Davis re-entering Brooke's life just when she was getting big in the fashion industry was a bit fishy. It occurred to everyone several times that maybe VIctoria wanted to re-connect with her long lost daughter, something that she had ignored for most of her life. But it also occurred to everyone else, and Brooke being included, that her mother just wanted to control her. Either of them were strong and accurate, but also up for debate at the same time.
Victoria's quick wit and annoying bitchiness put Brooke's attitude to shame. If anything, Victoria was the epitome of all thinks evil and dark, or at least that's what Peyton had liked to say. Only a mere couple of months after Brooke's career really took off, Victoria showed up all high and mighty, like she had a right to be involved in one of the biggest times of Brooke's life. Some people would scoff in shock, or not even say anything at all, but there was no doubt that Victoria would always hold some sort of power over Brooke, no matter what it was.
There were tons of things that Victoria and Brooke just didn't agree with, because let's face it, if Victoria wasn't going to let up what she wanted, what made people think that her own daughter would? So that led to fights and fights, and usually it was an equal amount of compromises and empty promises. And one thing that Victoria would just NOT have, was Brooke opening up a store in Tree Hill of all places. Tree Hill was where Victoria and John Davis had lost basically everything, not exactly something you'd like to remember.
"Yep," Brooke nodded, wondering how the hell she was going to pull this crap off. Things is, she couldn't pull this thing off.
"Now that right there might not be so easy," Haley said, handing the last dish to Brooke.
She scoffed, "You're telling me. It's going to be nothing short of impossible. You know how much Victoria hates this town."
"And only because it made her broke for a couple of months," Haley answered.
"That's exactly why she hates it here," Brooke said. "I don't know how I can make this happen."
"Well does she really have a say in what you do with your company?" Haley asked, sitting down at the table.
"She's the CEO," Brooke said, sitting down across from her, "so she has an opinion in just about everything I do with C/B. So I can tell her I'm going to open up shop here, but something tells me that she's going to make it her mission that nothing works out."
"What makes you think that?"
Brooke rolled her eyes, "Because she ALWAYS does that. Whenever I have an idea or something I want to do, she makes sure that it's a disaster. But this is something that I really feel strongly about, so if this goes through then I'm going to make sure she does nothing to ruin it."
"That's good you're taking initiative," Haley pointed out. "But what does this all have to do with your relationship with Brian."
"Just the fact that I want to live here and run my company from here," Brooke shrugged. "I don't think I can handle long distance shit." Haley continued to look at her with a weird gleam in her eye, so weird that it almost made Brooke a little uncomfortable, and that took a lot.
"Sure, if that's what you're going with," Haley finally said, looking at her nails.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
She snorted, "It means, that's not the real reason you want to split from Brian."
Brooke narrowed her eyes, "Oh really? Then what's my real reason?"
Haley sighed, "Well, do you really want to know?"
Brooke batted her eyelashed, "Does it matter? You're going to tell me anyways?"
"Maybe you're right," Haley shrugged. "But honestly Brooke, I don't think you would break things off with Brian unless you thought that you were going to end up with him. So in all truth, you DON'T really have strong feelings for him, which means that you could break up right this second and it wouldn't be that big of a loss to you. That's exactly why you're going with the excuse that it would be a long distance thing, but in reality, you know he's not the one for you."
Brooke smirked at her, "You just have everything figured out don't you?"
Haley shrugged and leaned back in her seat, "You can tell me if I'm wrong."
"I'm not going to tell you shit. One being you're probably right. The other being because I know what you're going to say if I admit it."
"Okay," Haley nodded. "So I'm just going to assume that you already know what I want to say. And if you want to 'wind down' or something like that, I'll let you, just for tonight though."
Brooke raised her eyebrows, "You're actually going to let me get drunk?"
"You can do whatever you want, this whole realization might be a shock for you," Haley said, standing up. "I'm turning in, so I'll see you in the morning, or afternoon."
"Haha," Brooke said dryly. She considered Haley's proposal, or rather joint suggestion. It was very tempting at that, having a chance to just do whatever she had to do to tell herself that she wasn't feeling all these things that she had tried to avoid for the past five years. Now it was even harder to be around this town, almost like it was taunting her in it's own right.
"Hey babe, what are you doing out here by yourself?" Brian asked, coming into the kitchen.
Brooke smiled, "Nothing, just trying to figure out how I'm going to tell Victoria that I'm opening a store here."
"You want to open up a C/B store here?" Brian asked, it obviously being news to him.
She nodded, "Yeah, it's been something on my mind for awhile, and I'm just kind of why not?"
"I think it's a good idea," he said, kissing her head. Brooke nodded, knowing that she was making the right decision.
She stood up from her chair, "I have to run to the store real quick. I promised Haley I was going to go out and buy her some ice cream for tomorrow."
"Do you want me to go with you?" Brian asked.
She shook her head, "Nah it's alright, I got it. I'll only be a few minutes." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before grabbing her purse on the counter. She walked past Nathan who was entranced into a basketball game as usual. He didn't even turn his head to acknowledge her, but Brooke didn't expect him to.
The chilly air pierced her body as she walked town to her car. If it wasn't for her urgency to get out of there, she would've walked back in to crab a sweater or something. But something told her if she were to go back into the house, she would never leave. Starting the engine, Brooke pondered as she drove, wondering what it was she was supposed to be running from, because it would've made a hell of a lot more sense. But nothing ever completely made sense in her life, and something told her it never ever would.
It wasn't until she was out of the neighborhood that she realized that she had no idea where she really wanted to go. When she really thought about it, drinking wasn't a pretty smart option. If Brian wasn't in town, she probably would not have given it a second thought. That was how Brooke learned to deal with her problems. Wasn't really affective, but she went with it for awhile.
Her eyes didn't seem to grow tired as she drove through the different streets. Frankly Brooke had no idea where she was going to go. After not being back for awhile, she kind of lost track of what neighborhood was what, but she found some familiarity as she drove through one street that sent flashbacks running through her brain so fast that her head spun.
It was a road that she had took a lot of times, some for happy circumstances, some unfortunate, and some completely heart wrenching. Slowly she eased the break, stopping in front of a familiar house where Brooke had some of the best times of her life, and some the most horrible. Unbuckling her seat belt, she opened her car door and shut it behind her. She wrapped her arms around herself, cursing herself for forgetting a sweater.
The door was still red. Sure, there was the casual paint chip, but it still held something in her heart and in her memories. Brooke sat down on the stairs leading up to it. She was in the exact spot where Lucas first said he actually cared about her, and the stairs that she had stopped to catch her breath from crying when Lucas first broke up with her. And it was also the stairs that she had ran from to a taxi that would take her to the airport, on her way to California, scared shitless of Lucas' confession to her. And to think, this was supposed to help her, but all it did was make her relive the moments that ruled her life, and tell her exactly why she could never be with Lucas Scott.
Brooke felt like she had just turned back time as she heard a basketball bounce from the beginning of the street. She quickly shook her head, assuming it was just some kid that was coming home after another late night of basketball with his buddies, and it sounded way too familiar for her own good.
"Brooke?" a voice called from the darkness. She perked her head up, fear creeping on the inside. Maybe if she didn't move, they would think nobody was there.
"I can see you, you know," the voice said again, this time the voice closer and closer, and Brooke knew who it was. If things weren't the way they were now, she wouldn't think it was weird that Lucas was wondering around at night in his old street.
Brooke continued to stay quiet, waiting for Lucas to come into view so he could see how she so didn't want to talk to him right now. But she almost lost her completely train of thought as the sight of him. Maybe she HAD stepped back in time, because the Lucas she saw now was the Lucas she knew years ago, and he looked like the Lucas she fell in love with, and that wasn't good. He was wearing his grey hoodie, the hood over his head, and his black shorts hung loosely on his hips. If she squinted her eyes good enough, she could see headphones in his ears.
He chuckled, holding the ball on his hip, "Well, are you just going to sit there and not talk to me?"
She narrowed her eyes, gaining her composure, "That would be the idea." The closer he walked towards her, the more internally frantic she had became.
"Aren't you cold?" he asked, sitting on the stair step next to her.
"That's really none of your business Lucas," Brooke stated, wrapping her arms tighter around herself.
Lucas shrugged, "Fine, you can freeze to death."
"Why are you even here anyway?" Brooke asked.
"I could ask you the same thing."
"But I'm not the one who hasn't spoken to my mother in six years, and all of a sudden I end up at her old house."
"I'm trying to get back in touch with her," Lucas stated. "I e-mailed her, I'm still waiting for a reply."
"Well, good for you," Brooke said, not really knowing what to say.
"So, are you going to tell me why you're here?" Lucas asked.
Brooke shrugged, "I just had to get out of the house."
"A little too much Brian for you?" he said sarcastically.
"That also happens to be none of your business," Brooke snapped.
Lucas shook his head, "Why are you doing this?"
"I'm not doing anything Lucas. All I'm doing is clearing my head."
"What's there to clear if you're supposedly 'happy'?" Lucas quoted.
Brooke groaned, "I don't even know why I'm having this conversation with, no wait, I don't even know why I'm TALKING to you right now!"
"Maybe you're talking to me because you WANT to talk to me," Lucas suggested.
"I wouldn't be talking to you right now if you hadn't gone to the Rivercourt to 'attempt' to play basketball."
"Actually I was at the Rivercourt with Nate, Skills, Jake, and Mouth playing a pick up game," Lucas corrected.
"And I'm guessing Nathan carried your ass the whole time."
"You're right," Lucas nodded. "I suck, but it's a start. At least they're talking to me. Now all I have to worry about is you."
Brooke scoffed, "In case you forgot, you CAN'T worry about me, I'm with Brian."
"I'm getting really tired of hearing about you and Brian all the time. Yes, I know he's your boyfriend. Do I like it? Hell no!" Lucas exclaimed.
"Well my whole being doesn't center around you anymore Lucas," Brooke said. "And frankly I dont give a shit if you like it or not."
"You sure about that? Because you know, that we have a little bit of unfinished business," Lucas hissed.
"It's finished Lucas," Brooke began, "and as far as I'm concerned, we don't have anything anymore."
He chuckled, "As far as I'm concerned, that's a load of bullshit. Now if you would just admit it, then we could move on."
"Oh no, there's no moving on. See Lucas that's the problem with you, you just can't listen when I tell you that we will never move on."
Lucas shrugged, "If that's what you need to believe." He slipped his hoodie over his head, his white t shirt riding up, giving Brooke a full view of his abs, something she hadn't seen in a good five years. It was times like these that the old Brooke Davis came into full view.
"What are you doing?" Brooke asked cautiously.
"Here, put this on," he said, handing her the grey hoodie. "You're going to get sick."
She glared at him before snatching the sweat from him, slipping her arms into the sleeves, "I don't even know why you care," she mumbled.
Lucas leaned his elbows on the top step, "I'll always care about you Brooke, whether you know it or not."
"Well if that's the case then why did you let me go?" Brooke challenged.
"We're back to this again," he muttered gruffy.
Brooke snorted, "You didn't exactly give me a logical reason the last time."
"Fine. I don't know why I let you go. I was so mad at what had happened to me, I let my selfishness get in the way. But if I could turn back time, I would and we wouldn't even be having this conversation right now," Lucas explained. "But I can't, and all I can tell you right now if that I want to be with you, and I know you want to be with me. But you're scared."
"Ugh, I can't believe we're talking about this again."
"You brought it up. I'm just answering your question," Lucas defended.
"Did you just forget everything I told you almost two weeks ago?" Brooke exclaimed. "I said to never do something like that again, and for some odd reason I feel like you're about to do it, again, when I clearly asked you not to if you wanted to be friends."
"But I don't want to be friends. I CAN'T be friends with you," Lucas said helplessly.
"Why not? It's not that hard," Brooke said innocently.
"It might to you," he said quietly. "But it's hard sitting here right next to you when your perfume is practically slapping me in the face. Not to mention the fact that you always look beautiful, and tonight is no exception. Then there's the fact that I have to use just about every ounce of self control in me to avoid kissing you."
Brooke looked at him disbelievingly, "I can't believe you would say that to me right now!" She stood up and baracaded towards her car. Lucas groaned before running after her. She was just after to shut her car door shut when he held it open.
"Why wouldn't I say that?" Lucas asked. "Brooke you know how I feel, why do you continue to act like I just spent the last years hating you--"
"Because you did Lucas! You did," she said frantically, tears threatening to fall down her porcelein cheeks.
"No I didn't," he answered back, desperate for her to believe that. "I spent the last five years missing you, and wanting you, and loving you. I want us to be together Brooke. That family and house with the red door that we always talked about? I WANT that, and I want it all with you. I just, I don't know what else to do for you to believe me."
"Lucas, I believe you," she said, looking at him. "But I didn't WANT to believe you, and I didn't want you to try to convince me, because I already knew that in my heart. And I really wish you would've just let everything alone, because I'm right back where I was all those years ago."
He dropped his body so that he was eye level with her. "You're NOT where you were that night. I'm not going to let you go."
How the FUCK was she supposed to respond to that?? The answer: she couldn't. There was no right way to say anything, it was better to say nothing at all. Now she was completely regretting ever leaving the house, because then she wouldn't be in such a big predicament. Lucas was right there, looking at her with adoring eyes, blue eyes to be exact. The eyes that had once made her legs turn into jelly, and tonight was no exception. If it wasn't for the fact that she was in the driver's seat, she might've just collapsed into a ball. The old Brooke Davis would've brushed off this charade and turned it into something a little bit less serious, but the Brooke right now just wanted to give in after years of refusing to. It was a losing battle for her.
So what should she do? She should drive off into the night, and then the next morning arrange a flight to take her and Brian back to New York and try to forget that she had even come to Tree Hill. Or, she could try to avoid the fact that this was a BIG deal, and that her heart WAS aching for him.
Brooke smiled, starting up her car. "I guess we'll see about that."
Okay, so this wasn't exactly flabbergasting or even shocking for him. Actually, apart of him was kind of expecting her to play it off. He thought that was the old Brooke move, but it seemed that whenever she found herself in a familiar situation, she locked back into the old Brooke. It would've been a huge turn on for him, if he had not completely poured his secrets of the past to the person that was never supposed to find out.
So what should he do? He should turn around and walk away, and then go on being the most hated man in town, refusing to talk or even speak of Brooke, and try to forget that she had even came to Tree Hill. Or, he could go along with her little act, knowing that if he was going to get any closer to her, he would have to play along.
"I guess we will. I'll see you and Brian at Tric," he called behind him, walking towards the darkness, but knowing where he was going.
"Wait, what about your sweater!" Brooke yelled after him, completely forgetting her cover, but remembering she was still wearing his hoodie.
He turned around, smirking. "Give it to me some other time. I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other a lot more."
She snorted, "Don't hold your breath."
"Oh I won't. See you around Pretty Girl."
Brooke didn't even watch him fade away before resting her forehead on the steering wheel. What the fuck did she just get herself into? She knew this game, she invented it. But the only problem this time around was that Lucas knew her. Not only that, but he was playing along too, which would only just pull her in, only she didn't know it. But this time around, Brooke knew he was pulling her in, and for some odd and foreboding reason, she didn't really care.