Where Are You Love?
Why can't I find you?
by: SamiJane
Disclaimer: Please see Author's bio
Summary: After the Leyton wedding, Brooke Davis and Julian Baker try to figure out what's next in their own lives.
A/N: THANK YOU so much Trish, princetongirl, miralinda, jess, BrathanBrucasBaleyBreyton, Iz-Belle91, GodessSiri, gigga, TvWeirdo07, cRiMsOnGoDdEsS01, tifa1984, xcgirl3, mickeiblue, toddntan, JJBrowneyes, pyrolyn-776, ok, brucas equals love, smc-27, brulian equals forbidden love, p0line, cutiekesi, flipflopgal, Olivia, ParadiseLost23, maiqu, PrincessOnyx, gigglingismylife, othlife, parrot06, Andi, nicolasdes, CoffeeWithCinnamon, bella, PeterClaire, divisionminuscula5, and Katy for your AWESOME, and LONG reviews!
I truly appreciate every word you guys write :) And a lot of them make me smile as much as some of my chapters make you guys laugh.
pyrolyn-776 - We have a deal :)
brulianequalsforbiddenlove and p0line - Wow, thank you for taking the time to write great reviews! I love that you love what's going on :)
othlife - no, you're awesome! lol
PrincessOnyx - awww thanks!
And to All My Kick Ass Readers: I know you're dying to read the next chapter, so before you do, please remember...
This is all drama. Not really any comedy, but you probably understand why. And if you do find something funny, it was unintentional but I'm glad I can still make you laugh.
Also, please keep an open mind throughout this whole chapter because this is four different point of views. And a warning to anti Peyton fans…one of the POV is hers, so bear with her. And by her, I mean me.
Anyways, here is the next chapter…hopefully it answers some questions and hopefully it's at leat half of what you were hoping to read.
Chapter 8: Shock Waves and Ripples Part 2: Cheery, Broody, and Peyt, Oh My
Naley Dining Room; BROOKE'S POV
"And then comes the time where you have to decide whether you want to close the box on Jack…or leave it open." – Brooke Davis (Chapter 7)
I told myself before that I would stop thinking and see where all of this goes. I guess I'm finally going to find out. I just hope it doesn't tear anybody apart.
"Lucas, Peyton, what a surprise," I give an uneasy smile as I make the first deep cut into the silence and eerie tension that might suffocate us. And shit, this was a surprise; and not the good kind. I could be optimistic and believe that Lucas and Peyton will be open-minded and hear my side…our side of the story; give everything and everyone a chance. But I haven't been optimistic in months. But I'm no pessimist, either. I'm a realist. And the thing with being a realist is that you know to prepare for the worst.
"I think you guys are the ones that did the surprising," Peyton uneasily jokes. Her hand slips uncomfortably away from Lucas' and I know she's scared…she's scared because she's confused. And she's scared because she's angry, but she doesn't want to express it. Confusion and anger are a deadly combination. Lucas and Peyton are both because they cannot understand why the one person they despise...or maybe the second person they despise...is enjoying themselves at my birthday party. And nobody bothered informing them about it.
"Just a little birthday party for Brooke. Too bad you missed it," Julian comments. My elbow nudges him in his side, but he doesn't flinch. In fact, his glare doesn't break away from Lucas. He's been ready for this confrontation for a while now. Just like the rest of us have been.
"I'm sorry. Did anybody ask you to talk?" Lucas snapped, his voice attempting to stay low.
"Lucas," Haley and I both scold him. Lucas rolled his eyes and turned angrily to Haley.
"Two weeks, Haley. I told you to look out for her for two weeks," Lucas whispers furiously to his best friend. But any background noise that might have covered his words is non existent. Anger begins to rise in me once I hear Lucas' request.
"She's a grown woman, Lucas," Haley defends me.
"Look out for me?" I ask making sure I heard him right.
"You asked Haley to watch over Brooke?" Peyton asks as well, genuinely surprised. But she's in love, so instead of being angry at her husband, she's confused.
"You looked upset at the reception; I was worried about you," Lucas focuses his explanation to me. He was worried about me? He was worried… about me? Damn it Lucas!
"Dude, you have a wife," Julian reminds Lucas of who should be first on his priorities list. I shouldn't even be second or third. I'm more like…seventh. Peyton, Lily, Jamie, Karen, Nathan, Haley, me. That's how his list should go.
"Brooke is a close friend," Lucas tried to defend himself, rubbing our history in Julian's face in the process.
"You have a wife, dude," Nathan loudly repeats Julian's statement, shocking Lucas.
"They're right, Lucas," I stood up for Julian and Nathan, as well as for myself, "You just don't ask Haley to baby sit me. I can take care of myself."
"I know, Brooke, it's just - "
"No, Lucas," I shake my head, my temper rising. "You need to stop this weird habit of yours. For once, can you just protect the woman that you're actually with and not the one that has already gotten over you?" I demand more so than ask. A rush of high school memories flood into my head and I know the same is happening in his mind, as well as Peyton's.
"Is that why he's here? He's protecting you now?" Lucas asks. He's trying to figure out what Julian's place in my life is. I'm silent; I don't know what to say. I haven't even figured that out for myself, yet.
"She doesn't need anyone to protect her," Julian states with a resolve I've never seen before.
"You stay out of this!" Lucas snaps.
"The hell I'll stay out of it!" Julian snaps back.
"You don't deserve to - " Lucas starts yelling.
"If she wants me to protect her; I'll step up," Julian interrupts him, "But she's doing fine on her own, so I don't get what you're so worried about."
"Then what the hell are you doing here if she doesn't need you?" Lucas yells, clearly aggravated at Julian's response and his faith in me. I'm pretty shocked at Julian's statement as well.
"Don't yell at Julian!" I immediately yell back at Lucas.
"Don't yell at Lucas!" Peyton now chimes in. "I warned you about him, Brooke!" her anger resonates in her voice. Yeah she warned me about Julian. The fact that he is standing next to me didn't mean that I didn't listen to her. It meant that I trusted him now.
"And I warned you about him back in high school, Peyton," I yell back and point to Lucas, "But that didn't stop you." It took everything I had in me to restrain myself from pointing out that she even had a bun in the oven with the guy I warned her about.
"You never warned me; you cut me out of your life!" she brings up the bad blood that I thought was sucked out of us.
"Are we digging into the porcelain throne and bringing this crap up again?" I furiously ask, "I cut you out because I felt betrayed by my best friend!"
"And you don't think that's how I feel right now?" Peyton yells back at me.
"Dude, you have a husband!" I throw the fact into her face.
"Ok, everyone stop," Haley shouts and raises her hands in the air. It takes a minute for all of us to calm down. "I think we should take this outside; I don't want Jamie to hear anymore fighting," Haley requests. Oh god, Jamie. I really hope he didn't hear us.
"Even him?" Lucas gestured toward Julian.
"Yes, Lucas, even Julian, but first," Haley looked towards Julian and I for help, "I think you two should check on Jamie and Sam. Make sure Chris isn't feeding Jamie anymore cake." She's asking us to make sure Jamie is ok, that he doesn't believe the members of his family are hurting each other.
But his family is hurting right now. Lucas and Peyton are hurting by the choice we made to let Julian into our lives. They are hurting because I kept Julian's box open. I am standing by him. Nathan, Haley, and I are standing by him. We feel slightly guilty, and we regret not fully explaining everything sooner.
But at the same time, Nathan, Haley, and I also feel hurt by Lucas and Peyton for not believing in us – not believing that we can make the right decision when it comes to letting a new person into our lives. After all the shit and drama we've been through, you'd think the five of us would have more faith and trust in each other to make the right decisions.
It's hard to believe the audacity of Lucas and Peyton have to show up, unannounced (despite their intentions), and go off on Julian and then on me. It's hard to believe that we immediately resorted to yelling and blaming now. We didn't even try to start this conversation like civil adults. But that's what confusion and anger does. It's like a horrible drug that eats up your judgement and closes your mind on new possibilities and compromises.
And now, everything will change in one instant if the wrong words are spoken and if the wrong decisions are made.
"How many moments in your life can you point to and say, 'That's when it all changed,'" – Brooke Davis (1.03)
Naley front yard; LUCAS' POV
"Do you ever wonder how long it takes to change your life? What measure of time is enough to be life altering? Is it four years like high school? One year? An eight week rock tour? Can your life change in a month, a week, or a single day? We're always in a hurry to grow up, to go places, and to get ahead. But when you're young, one hour can change everything." – Lucas Scott (4.13)
Julian Baker. Julian. Baker. Brooke, Nathan, and Haley are friends with Julian fuckin Baker. When I first saw him with Jamie on his shoulders, and Brooke following, I thought Brooke would be furious, irate even. I could even see her calling him a dingbat ass hole who should put her godson down and leave. But she was smiling, smiling in a way I haven't seen in a long time. And Nathan and Haley didn't bother to say anything about all of it. It's like they were used to seeing Julian carry Jamie like that. And Nathan agreed with Julian about the whole 'You have a wife' thing. Nathan agreed with his sister in law's ex boyfriend.
When the hell did all of this happen? How the hell did all of this happen? It was two weeks!
If Julian were any other guy; any other guy at all, I wouldn't feel so angry and hurt by all of this. But it was Julian – the arrogant producer who walked out on Peyton and left her heartbroken. And he lied to me about it when he first approached me for the movie. Brooke even agreed with me that he couldn't be trusted. What the hell changed between then and now?
What the hell changed that cause all of us to be on opposite sides of the fence. What caused Haley and Nathan to claim that it was wrong for me to be worried about Brooke? Yes, Peyton is my wife. And yes I worry about her. But I can worry about everyone else at the same time, can't I?
Everybody needs somebody to watch over them. I was doing that for Brooke until someone, other than Julian, could fill that spot. I can't help it; I'm used to being that guy for her. And I know that sounds wrong, but it's the truth. If Haley never found Nathan, I'd still be watching over her as intently I do Peyton and Brooke.
The most uncomfortable part about all of this is being on the opposing side of Nathan and Haley. Nathan, Haley, and I have been attached at the hip since college started. We had created a new kind of Scott family with the addition of Jamie. And now we were standing apart.
"You two really have to stop hurting Brooke," Haley chided Peyton and I as soon as the four of us gathered on the front lawn. We're hurting Brooke? Is she sure she doesn't have the wrong guy?
"How are we hurting her?" Peyton asks in defense. Like me, Peyton is not sure what our sister in law is talking about.
"Besides just now? A dance and a phone call ring a bell," Nathan mutters with crossed arms.
"First of all, I don't understand how any of that could hurt her. And second, if we did hurt her; she didn't say anything," I try to stand my ground.
"First of all, think about it. And second, of course she won't say anything; she doesn't want to interfere in your happiness," her tone is condescending, disappointed, and angry; and it pricks my heart. That can't be true. I would know if Brooke was hurting inside, wouldn't I?
"What about Julian? You don't think he's going to hurt her?" Peyton counters.
"If anything, he's been helping her," Haley insists. I don't want to believe what I'm hearing. I'm not going to believe anything until I hear it from Brooke.
"This just doesn't make any sense," I voice my thoughts; "It was two weeks, you guys. How the hell could everything have changed in two weeks?" My tone is frustrated and confused – a horrible combination.
"Gee, I don't know. Why don't you tell me Lucas?" Haley retorts. "The two of you sure haven't been around in a while for us to talk about things," she accuses. More accusations and more frustrations.
"We were on our honeymoon," I spell out for Haley. None of this was making any sense at all.
"I'm talking about before the honeymoon," she further explains.
"What are you talking about, Haley? We were here," Peyton asserts as she brushes her fingers through her curls.
"No. The two of you were in Lucas and Peyton La La Land," Nathan contends in a derisive manner.
"What is that supposed to mean, Nathan?" I question.
"Think about it, Luke," he repeats Haley's earlier comment to me. But before I can think about it, Brooke and Julian exit the house and join us on our little patch of lawn. Peyton's hand finds its way to my shoulder, warning me not to be impulsive or rash.
"Jamie and Sam are watching TV," Brooke tells Haley. Code for Jamie didn't hear anything.
"Chris is pretty dead though, he's already snoring on your couch," Julian smirks.
"Thanks guys," Haley smiles. Anger still boils inside me and maybe even jealousy.
"You're thanking him?" I say a little too loudly.
"Oh my god, Lucas. What is your problem?" Brooke huffs.
"I'd say he has more than one," Julian remarks. I scoff and walk up closer to him, shooting daggers his way.
"Did you weasel your way into their lives to piss me off?" I accuse, hatred dripping from each word, "Is this some grand scheme to take away everything I love because I took Peyton away from you?"
Julian scoffs at my loathing and accusation, "Dude, do you even hear the self-absorbed shit you are saying? And if I wanted to 'piss you off,' I would have done it by now."
"Then what are you doing here?" I ask with crossed arms.
"He's our friend, Lucas," Brooke admits and startles both me and Peyton with the painful truth. "And you two may not like it, but you're going to have to deal with it," she asserts adamantly. But I don't want to. I don't want to trust this guy who has somehow infiltrated his way into my family. Accepting him feels like I am accepting a replacement.
"You're asking me to be ok with him hanging out with Jamie," I inquire, attempting to keep the focus off of Brooke. I don't want that stuff to come up again.
"Jamie adores Julian. And he adores Chris; you're not going to take that away from him," Haley practically orders me.
"It's been two weeks, Haley," I complain, unable to think of a stronger counter.
"Julian has spent more quality time with Jamie the past two weeks than either of you have the past two months," it's Nathan's turn to make accusations. And this stabs my heart stronger than hearing Julian is their friend. That statement couldn't be true. I have been there for Jamie since he was born and I may have gotten distracted when Peyton and I got engaged. But I never stopped seeing him...did I? But when the truth is thrown at you like that, your mind shows you that in fact you have done something wrong…while your heart tries to deny it.
"Aren't you his godfather?" Julian scoffs. He's clearly entertained by all of this. He would be; my family is sticking up for him.
"Yes. And you're not, so stay away from him," I threaten him, despite Haley's previous request. It's the anger talking. I'm angry at Julian. I'm angry at myself. I'm very angry at myself.
"That is not your decision," Brooke reminds me.
"It may not be, but Julian is going to leave, once the movie is over," Peyton insists, trying to turn this around on him. "There's no use for Jamie to get close to someone who is leaving and never coming back," Peyton insists.
"From what I recall, you said the same thing about your brother back in high school, Peyton," Haley counters, "But your husband told you not to cut him out."
"People always leave, Peyton, but sometimes they come back," Nathan throws back Peyton's words from six years ago – when Haley left on tour and Nathan was losing hope.
"Are you going to come back, Julian? Leave the grandeur of Hollywood and come back to little old Tree Hill?" I sneer, trying to show Nathan, Haley, and Brooke that maybe Peyton is right; Julian is here for one reason only – his own personal benefit of making a movie and ruining everything I know.
"If people want me back, I'll come back," Julian shrugs.
"You didn't go back to Peyton," I remind him and everyone else.
"She didn't want me back."
While a part of me felt relief at hearing his statement, that Peyton didn't want Julian; another part of me couldn't help but fall apart. I could brush all of this off and open up to the prospect of Julian being an ok guy. But I can't. I don't want to. I don't want to become friends with somebody who was there to pick up the shattered pieces of Peyton's heart. I don't want to become friends with the other guy that supposedly loved Peyton. I don't trust him. And I don't want my friends to become his. But they are.
Less than an hour as passed since Peyton and I walked into my brother's home and we came face to face with the disbelieving truth. Haley had been trying to explain it me all week, but I kept cutting her off or putting everything off till our return. Haley never went into details; she didn't want to ruin mine and Peyton's honeymoon. "Just a little warning; we don't really hate Julian as much as you do," she told me the other day. I thought she meant that on the hatred meter, they were between orange and red, while I was at boiling point red.
I didn't expect this; I didn't expect this for our group. And I didn't expect Nathan to claim that I haven't been around for Jamie. But I can't argue it because right now, I can't remember the last time I had quality uncle-nephew time with him since Peyton moved in. Since Peyton moved in…according to Nathan and Haley, that's when everything started. Maybe it is. Maybe Peyton and I became so wrapped up and blind with love that we forgot about the rest of the world. But that's what happens, isn't it? It's not our fault...
And right now, I feel like I'm losing more than an argument. I feel like I'm losing my family to Julian Baker. And it only took him two weeks to achieve it. Whether all of it was on purpose or not, all I feel is hurt, perplexed, and jealous. I've broken three different hearts. Lindsay's once. Brooke's twice. Peyton's three times. And apparently, according to Haley, I hurt Brooke again. No, let me rephrase that. I did hurt Brooke, again. Maybe this is life's way of piling a fraction of all that pain on top of me in one night. Maybe the worst is yet to come.
"Brooke, I never meant to hurt you."
"That doesn't really matter, Lucas. Cause in the end it all hurts just the same." – Lucas Scott, Brooke Davis (1.19)
A window; SAM's POV
I thought my life had drama. A foster child moving from home to home, unwanted, and ultimately spending some nights in the school auto shop, I did not expect to land in Dramaville. Brooke and Mrs. Scott's lives have been crazy and full of crisis after crisis since they were my age. It's a little hard to believe. But it is pretty entertaining.
"We're supposed to be watching TV," Jamie walks in on my spying.
"This is more entertaining," I tell him tritely, not bothering to look back at him.
"Can I watch?" he asks as he takes a spot next to me. He watches earnestly, expecting some sort of comedic performance from his family. After all, that's how it's felt the past couple weeks, like one happy go lucky sitcom. But it isn't a sitcom. Reality was hitting now and I know Haley and Brooke would be upset if they knew Jamie was watching intently with a bag of popcorn.
"Actually, squirt, it might be better if you stayed with Chris," I try to convince him.
"His snores hurt my ears," he states. He's not whining like a regular five year old would. He just says it like it's a known, honest to goodness fact.
I chuckle at his complaint and figure nothing bad could happen if he just watched for a little bit. You couldn't hear what they were saying anyway. "Ok, fine. But only for five minutes," I tell him.
It's hard not to tell they're fighting. You can even see Lucas' vein popping out of his forehead from where we are standing. Meanwhile, Julian has as smirk on his face, probably laughing at Lucas' vein pulsating. "Why are they fighting?" Jamie asks me after a minute of watching.
"I don't know; I can't hear anything," I tell Jamie as Haley yells something incoherent. At this, Jamie then unlocks the window and opens it just enough for us to barely hear what is going on.
"For a squirt, you're pretty smart," I raise my brow at Jamie. I don't know why it didn't occur to me to open the window.
"I know; it runs in the family," he shrugs as we watch for a little bit longer. Seriously, this kid. I don't know where he gets it from. I hope I'm not making a mistake by letting "Little Scott" spy with me.
Naley front yard; PEYTON'S POV
"Do you know how terrible it is to be disconnected from your best friend? Look I really hurt Brooke and I just don't want her to be disappointed again." – Peyton Sawyer (1.17)
Tonight wasn't supposed to happen this way. Tonight wasn't supposed to end in strife or drama. Tonight wasn't supposed to hurt, pain, or sting.
As Lucas and the others argue, Haley and Nathan's accusations resonate in my head. Did Lucas and I really hurt Brooke has much as they claimed? Have Lucas and I been alone in our own little world, ignoring everyone else? What happened that Brooke and I have become as disconnected as Haley claims we've been? How could I have hurt her, again?
"So that's it. He's part of the family now? After two weeks?" Lucas asks Nathan and Haley. He still can't believe what has happened while we were away and I can't believe it either.
Julian is charming, yes. But the Julian I knew, his motives were not always genuine. If there was something he wanted, charm and tricks up his sleeves were his two greatest weapons. I wouldn't be shocked if Lucas' accusation was true – that Julian was becoming friends with everyone just to spite Lucas and me. I don't trust Julian. Not after he walked out on me. Once this movie is over, I don't believe that Julian will come back to Tree Hill for Brooke, Nathan, and Haley.
"Who cares if its two days or two years? The fact is, he's a friend and he's not going anywhere for now; so get over your selves already," Brooke stands up for Julian once again; something I am definitely not used to. How did this happen?
"If he were anyone else, Brooke - " I try to explain why Lucas and I feel the way we do, but she doesn't let me.
"Why? Because he's your ex, Peyton?" she inquires. She knows me too well. That's exactly what I was going to say.
"You're Nathan's ex; you're still here. I'm Lucas' ex, twice might I add, and I'm still here," she brings up three very valid points. I can't think of a rebuttal or any kind of argument.
"That's different; and you know it," Lucas counters. But I shook my head; no, Brooke is right, it's not different.
"How Lucas? How? And don't you dare say we were in high school," Brooke challenges him with a raised voice. Anger has been building in her for a while now, and it's finally being released. Only, I don't know if it's anger from tonight, or heartache that has accumulated over time.
"It just is." Lucas is lost in his argument.
"You can't think of any reasons? Well, I can. Peyton doesn't ask him if he misses her, five years later. She doesn't try to make his dreams come true with two tickets to Italy…five years later. And she sure as hell doesn't break his heart by yelling "We're having a baby!" over the phone," she screams. Lucas and I are taken aback by the pain swelling in her voice and her eyes. And we're taken aback by the fact that those moments hurt her. Haley was right.
"No, I take that back. Peyton's bundle of joy announcement did hurt someone - her best friend. And she didn't even realize it," she finishes with a sullen voice. Her hazel eyes stare disappointedly into mine.
"Brooke," I whisper. But I don't know what to say, because I still don't understand how.
"I have been hurting so much, Peyton. With Angie, my mother, and…the store…" she pauses, trying to control the sobs that might come out. 'The store' is the attack…I know that. I just didn't know that she had still been hurting over it. And I didn't know she had still been aching for Angie.
"Did you even think how your news would affect me?" Brooke asks me. I can't answer her. I didn't want to tell her the truth: I didn't think the news of a baby would affect her negatively. I believed she would be happy for us.
"And when I was hurting, the only people that saw it were Nathan and Haley. Even Julian saw it today," Brooke continued. "But my best friend didn't see it until I said something," tears stream down her face. Brooke turns and points to Lucas, "And you sure as hell have been blind since…" but she can't finish her sentence. I can. Lucas has been blind since her attack.
Nathan and Haley watch intently, but they don't seem shocked. Its as if they knew this has been building up inside of her for a long time. I can't say the same for Julian. His face is stoic...his poker face...but his eyes tell a different story. I wonder if he knows Brooke's recent history. He probably didn't. Julian was never told what had happened and he could still find the pain in her eyes. And I couldn't.
"We tried to help you, Brooke. But you said you were fine," my voice cracks.
"It's called being scared and closing off your heart, Peyton," Brooke states, controlling her sobs. She didn't get better after the night she confessed the attack to me? I thought she was fine since she never brought it up again. I thought she was ok because she didn't say anything. Oh god, I should have known. I should have seen it. My teenage years were all about closing off my heart. I know how it feels; I know what it looks like. And I didn't see it in my own best friend.
"You didn't say anything. How were we supposed to know?" Lucas asks.
"I told you five years ago, Lucas. You just are," Brooke restrains her self from breaking apart.
My heart is now breaking at the realization that I have been inadvertently hurting my best friend. And for so long she had been crying, aching, and I wasn't there for her. She had been facing everything alone. I never saw it because I was too busy. Too busy spontaneously flying to Vegas and LA. Too busy moving in with Lucas. Too busy working at my label. Too busy planning a wedding. Too busy being in love. Brooke had been keeping all of it in because she didn't want to ruin my happiness. And I never realized it. Lucas and I never realized it. I'm her best friend. I should have seen it.
"You know what; I've had enough of this. I'm going to get Sam," Brooke heads to the front door. I take this moment to glance at Nathan and Haley. And now I wish I hadn't. It's one thing to receive a look of disappointment from your parents. It's another to receive that look from your best friends that are parents.
"Brooke, wait," Lucas calls out and goes to follow Brooke, but Julian steps in his way.
Julian is really standing up for Brooke. What the hell changed him? I don't even know what Julian could be thinking about all of this. Brooke made it a point not to outright mention her attack, so he obviously doesn't know about it, yet. I wonder what he's thinking about all of this. The conversation started out about him and his sudden friendship with our family. But then it turned into one about Brooke and the shitty job Lucas and I were doing as Brooke's friends.
"Leave her alone, Lucas," Julian advises.
"You don't tell me what to do," Lucas raises his tone. Brooke's mini speech has evoked guilt, anger, more guilt, and pain. All of which are probably reaching a peak now. I notice Lucas' hand form into a tight fist. Oh no.
"I just did," Julian states. Before anybody could stop him, before I could stop him, Lucas' fist heads straight for Julian's jaw.
"Lucas!" I scream just as Lucas' fist comes in contact with Julian's chin. I grab Lucas' arm and implore into his eyes, silently asking him why he decided to turn this physical.
Julian loses his balance and falls to the ground as Brooke, Nathan, and Haley immediately head over to help him.
"You really need to get your head out of your ass, man," Nathan screams at his brother.
"Julian! Are you alright?" Brooke and Haley both ask him as they help him off the ground.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" Julian mutters as he brushes dirt off himself and tries to push Brooke and Haley away from him. "I'm fine, Brooke," he insists as she inspects his face.
"Come on. We're going home," Brooke tries to pull him away, but his feet remain planted.
"No. I want to stay here and pummel his ass into the ground," he makes his way towards Lucas with his fists ready to pound. But Brooke grabs his forearm.
"No, not now. I'm not letting you be like him. Besides, we don't have a camera with us," Brooke reasons with him. A camera?
But that comment seems to reside with Julian and he reluctantly agrees to walk away. On their way to Brooke's car, Haley assures Brooke that Sam and Chris can stay with her and Nathan for the night.
"I can't believe you guys are taking his side," Lucas says as soon as Brooke and Julian drive off.
"This wasn't about sides, Lucas. It never was," Nathan asserts, "But if you keep acting like this, it might be." Nathan shakes his head as he goes back inside to go put Jamie to bed.
"What about you, Haley, where do you stand in all of this?" I ask meekly, already knowing her answer.
"Look, it's late. We're all tired. I think you two should just go home and we'll all sleep on all of this," Haley insists. She's always trying to be the mediator.
"Hales - " Lucas starts.
"Don't 'Hales' me, Lucas," Haley interrupts angrily. She shakes her head once she notices Luke's shocked expression. "I'm sorry. It's been a long night. And I still can't believe you punched someone on my front lawn with your godson in the house."
"Haley," Lucas calls out to his best friend as she walks away.
"Go home, Lucas," Haley screams without bothering to turn around.
"What just happened?" Lucas asks me. His heart is broken, just like mine. Is it possible that we got married two weeks ago? Because it feels like another lifetime ago. It feels like that was someone else's life.
"I think we happened," I voice.
Nathan was right. This was never about sides. They didn't tell us about Julian for our sake. But what else did they expect us to do? We explicitly told them that we didn't trust him. And then we come back and see our enemy at home base. We throw fire balls their way because we're confused, angry, and hurt.
And it's only natural for our friends to fire back. And they fire back harder, stronger. Because their bonds are stronger. They've grown stronger while we've been away living in our own little world. And Brooke and I…we're disconnected, broken. She affirmed it with her speech.
And unless Lucas and I do something, this will be about sides. But I don't know how to fix this. I don't know how to fix this for Brooke.
Brooke Davis is my best friend. And for as long as I can remember, she has been there for me through thick and thin. Well…not counting the brief months in high school when I lied to and betrayed her. She lied to me once. But I lied more than once. She's been there at the drop of a hat. She's given me two second chances, forgiven me twice for having feelings for her boyfriend. Two dead moms, a school shooting, a psycho attack, psycho jail visits, Lucas' proposal to Lindsay, Lucas' almost wedding…and so much more – Brooke picked up the pieces. She was my glue and my rock.
And the past several weeks, where have I been for Brooke? Where was I? And what is going to happen now?
"Brooke, can we be friends…Like before?"
"I don't think so. Like before is gone, Peyton…But maybe we can be better." – Peyton Sawyer, Brooke Davis (4.17)
"Brooke, what am I going to do?"
"First, you're going to let go. Now we're going to sit, and you are going to cry on my shoulder for as long as you need to. Okay?" – Peyton Sawyer, Brooke Davis (5.08)
A/N: The drama doesn't end here…
But, now that this chapter is done, hopefully none of you hate me. I can see Leyton, Brucas, Breyton, and Laley fans hating me right now. And that's fine. Just don't get stressed…the gang is just incredibly mad and hurt right now…I didn't break any friendships…yet…
And those of you with ants in your pants for a huge Brulian hook up…there is a light at the end of this waiting tunnel.
So, please review and tell me how you feel about this chapter and let me know if the quality is still up to par. You guys are the most awesome readers ever and the story will continue…