The sun was shining brightly, warming up Brooke's shoulders. It wasn't too hot and it was too cold. It was the perfect weather to be outside. She could hear the river washing up against the grass and the people walking on the bridge that was far away. She loved this place, she loved the river court. She slowly laid on her back and looked up at the clouds. She could lay here forever. The longer Brooke laid there, the more she became tired. Brooke closed her eyes and wanted to take in a deep breath, she wanted all the stress to go away. She wanted it all to escape. She didn't want this to happen, she never saw it coming. Brooke knew why Peyton was here, she knew what problems could happen. I walked up beside her, admiring her beautiful tan face under the sun. I laid beside her, looking at the clouds and wondering if I could shape them. Brooke always seemed to give me direction in my life.
"People always seem to shape the clouds but I could never do that." I confessed to her, telling her something about me. She looked over to me, blocking the sun from hitting her eyes.
"I know." Brooke told me, I wasn't surprised that she already knew that. I never told her before; it was like she already knew what happened to me or what I have been through. I liked that about her, she always knew. "It's because your stubborn." Brooke looked back at me, I chuckled. I couldn't believe that she would say something like that, I wasn't stubborn. If anyone was stubborn, it would be her. She hated to do things, she would always disagree with something I would say. "You have to open your eyes Lucas, look at your surroundings." She stretched her arm out, to show how big my surrounding are. I looked up at the clouds, trying to find a shape and suddenly, I could see one.
"Oh, I see one. It's a huge…blob of nothing. Just cloud." I told her, she tapped me on my shoulder. I laughed a little, I gave her hopes up. She turned over to her side, so that she could look at me better.
"How's that book coming?" Brooke raised her eyebrows. Sometimes Brooke could be lovely but this was not one of those moments. I have been stuck on a book for ages and she knows that. I didn't have a reason to write a book.
"I wrote the ravens, 'the girl of my dreams' but I can't write another one." I hated myself for not making another book. It was like I was stuck on something but I realized that I was just enjoying my life. I turned my side and stared into Brooke's eyes. I felt warm inside when I looked at her.
"Well, there is a publicist in town. I think you might know her, her name is Lindsay." Brooke squinted her eyes, I laughed again. She always seems to make me laugh at my worst moments, I didn't want to fall in love with her but I couldn't help it. I cleared my throat, trying to drown the thought. I have to remember that she didn't love me like that...she never will. I have waited all my life to love her back, for her to come back to me but it was never going to happen.
"You just need your inspiration, with Peyton and Lindsay back, I'm sure it would come fast." Brooke told me, we both frowned at each other. We realized that we had problems on our hands. Brooke must feel so bad about Peyton hating her. When Haley and I were at a disagreement, which was the worst week of my life. She never spoke to me and I missed my best friend. I'm sure that Brooke feels the same way.
"I'm sorry, Brooke." I apologized. I couldn't help but think that this all my fault. I was the reason why this was happening to her.
"Sorry for what?" Brooke smiled, looking up at me. She was smart, she knew why I was sorry. "None of this is your fault. Peyton and Lindsay are just physco." Brooke rolled her eyes. I had a short laugh, feeling good that Brooke was making a joke out of it, which meant that it wasn't bothering her like it bothered me.
"I'm glad you think of me like that." A familiar voice said, We both looked up. At first the sun blocked us from seeing who it was but then the clouds covered the sun and we saw her angry face. Peyton was standing over top of us with Haley by her side. "Hello, Brooke." Peyton didn't mean the hello; she didn't even want to talk to her. I helped Brooke up from the ground, it seemed like it burned Peyton's soul to see me with Brooke. My words were stuck in my throat. For a second when I was with Brooke, the stress was gone but now it's back.
"Hello, bitch." Brooke raised her eyebrows; she wasn't going to take Peyton's shit anymore. I couldn't blame her but I didn't want anything to happen. Peyton shook her head.
"I hope you're doing well, you know…stealing people boyfriends and all." Peyton told her. I huffed and Brooke rolled her eyes. I hated how Peyton had this allusion thinking that Brooke and I are together. I felt something for Brooke but I was sure she didn't feel it back. I can't tell Brooke the truth, I wouldn't know how to tell her. It could ruin our relationship. Peyton wanted me back, that's all I know but it was just going to take more to get back with her. I don't even know I want to.
"Aunt Brooke!" Jamie yelled, we both looked at Jamie running up to us. Brooke opened up her arms for Jamie to leap in. Brooke caught Jamie in her arms, picking him up. Brooke groaned like Jamie was a little heavy.
"Oh, man. Did you eat your father or what?" Brooke teased, Jamie laughed a little.
"I got some new toys, want to see them?" Jamie asked, Brooke put him on the ground.
"Sure buddy." Brooke smiled down at him. She looked up at Peyton. "Have a nice day, Peyton." Brooke said before Jamie dragged her off. So, it was just Peyton, Haley and Me. We stood in a circle, looking at each other. Peyton's smile came back and it seemed like she was a different person.
"Are you coming to the birthday party?" Haley asked me.
"Of course." I told her.
"Are you and Brooke competing again?" Haley raised her eyebrow.
"I'm winning this time." I told her.
"Okay, I'll just leave you two alone." Haley walked away with a smile. I could see what she was doing. Everyone wanted to leave Peyton and me alone. I thought it would be a good enough to understand what she has against Brooke. We walked over to the bleachers and sat down.
"Jamie's growing up." Peyton said like she was there for his whole life.
"Yea, it scares me a little. Brooke and I are worried that he's going to grow up too fast." I stared at her, she swallowed and her angry face was back. "What's the deal with you and Brooke?" I asked her, Peyton didn't know where to start.
"She was supposed to be there for me but instead, she was there for you. She was my best friend and now, I hear that she was the reason why you moved on from me. I felt like she didn't want us to be together." Peyton said what was on her mind, I could understand her but that wasn't the whole story. "She-" Peyton cleared her throat, she seemed like she had to tell me something but it was my turn to speak.
"When you left, I was completely heart broken. I felt like you didn't love me, you left me for someone else. Brooke was there for me…like a friend." I told her, making sure she understand what friend do.
"I guess that's what friends are for." Peyton shrugged her shoulders.
"Exactually." I chuckled, putting my arms around her and giving her a hug. "Me and Brooke are just friends." I laughed, I would have to put the imagination of Brooke and I being together forever. "There is nothing going on between us." We both looked over at Brooke who was sitting with Jamie and Haley. They sat down on the grass and smiled with breeze flowing through their hair. I could hear Brooke laughing with Jamie, it made me smile. It was like the world was okay, everyone was together.
"I'm sorry."
"You shouldn't say sorry to me, you should say sorry to Brooke." I advised. Peyton nodded, we both walked over to Brooke, Haley and Jamie. Brooke saw me coming and she smiled wide.
"Hey, Uncle Lucas." Jamie ran over to me, I quickly fell to the ground when he tackled me. I pretended like I was in pain, like he was the strongest person on the planet.
"You have to take it easy Jamie, you know your stronger than Uncle Lucas." Brooke said, I rose up and saw her laughing with Haley.
"Yea, your right." Jamie walked back over to his mother. Peyton looked down at Brooke but she didn't say anything.
"Jamie, get the car, were getting ready to leave." Haley stood up, Peyton and Haley walked over to the car and started to help Jamie into his carseat.
"What are you getting Jamie for his birthday, tomorrow?" Brooke raised her eyebrow, we always have this competition about who is going to give Jamie the best gift.
"Nice try Brooke but I'm not telling you." I chuckled, she was good at getting answers out of me.
"That's fine, my present is going to over run your present…literally." Brooke gave me a small hint of what her present is going to be.
"Uh, hey Lucas. Can I ride with you, my home is down where the school is…you're going to school right?" She quickly asked me. Brooke and I had this confused look on our faces.
"Uh, yea." I told her.
"Well, maybe I could see you coach or something." Peyton shrugged her shoulders. I looked down at Brooke, we were supposed to go to the school, she always went to the practices and sometimes she would help me.
"Umm." I looked down at Brooke, to see if it was alright.
"Uh, it's fine. I'll just…ride with Haley. I kind of miss Jamie. I should spend some time with him and see if I can't butter him up for tomorrow." Brooke winked at me playfully but she didn't smile. She looked like she was going to be sick.
"Brooke-" I tried to call her name.
"It's fine." Brooke quickly said but her voice changed. "You have a good time. Talk to her, try to forgive her."
"You always give me direction." I kissed her forehead. She quickly entered Haley's car and they drove off. I looked back down at Peyton and smiled, she smiled back.