Thanks to all of my readers who have kept in touch during my absence. I sincerely apologize to all of you. It should not happen again. Please read and review. Let me know what you like and what you don't (long absences...I know.) Oh and shout out to countrybutterfly who keeps the inspiration coming.
Chapter 9: Life is Plagiarized
"Being such a girl." I laughed.
"I am not a girl." He says grabbing the ingredients for the chocolate chip pancakes. I sit at the breakfast nook and just watch as he gathers the bowls, the griddle, and the flour. It was like he has lived here all his life. It felt good to watch him too. I noticed how much bigger he has gotten. His pants fit a little tighter; his arms bulge a little more. I'll be honest; I had a full on stare.
"What are you staring at?" He asked, continuing to look in the cabinets.
"How did you know where everything was? I asked my eyes squinting in their usual brooding fashion.
"You have everything organized the way your mom did. It was the same way at my house."
"I never realized before. Wait did you say was?"
"Yeah. I told you. I quit my job, sold the house, and moved everything into storage. Brooke told me that I needed to trust my heart, so I did.
"Why? Why would you risk everything?" I asked.
"Because…" He paused, inching closer to me. His eyes bore into my heart and soul. "Because, I needed you. I needed to be with the one person in the universe who made me feel complete, the one person who could look at me and see me. I needed you Lucas Scott. I love you and I can't live without you."
"I love you too." I said pulling him into me. My body melted against his. "Then move back in, and let us be the family we've wanted."
"Okay."
"But there is one thing I want to discuss with you." I said, sounding more solemn than I was hoping to.
"Are you trying to ruin the moment?" He asked looking down at me face, a grin sprawled across his face.
"No, but I want to adopt Jenny."
"Absolutely. As soon as we get married. It is cheaper that way." The grin on his face grew. I caught a devilish glint in his eyes.
"Someone's been doing their research." I said teasingly.
"Semper Fidelis."
"A marine, huh? You know how men in uniform get me going." I said rubbing my self against him.
"That's why I bought a marine outfit." He said before mashing his lips against mine.
"God, Jagielski." Haley said, from the doorway. "I swear you two still act like 17 year old horn dogs." Hearing her, Jake and I jumped apart.
"What about me?" Nathan asked walking into the kitchen.
"Not you…them." She said pointing at Jake and me.
"Please I doubt these two have even had time to…" Nathan said, as I began scooping pancake mix onto the hot griddle.
"No, they have. Twice. And I would venture to guess that they almost got caught." Haley replied with a smirk.
"How did you…" I stumbled, at a loss for words. How did Haley know?
"Please Luke. I know you. That look in your eyes says everything." I couldn't do anything except glare at her. This soon turned into a famous Luke and Haley stare down to the death.
I could hear Nathan and Jake in the background. "So how long are you staying for Jake?"
"Forever. Luke and I are getting back together. For good this time." He said. I could hear the smile in his voice.
Then, like every time before, Haley blinked. "Ha, you lose again Haley James Scott. The superior Scott wins again."
"Whatever. I actually came to steal your boyfriend. And your pancakes are burning." She laughed.
"Crap." I said, turning back to the blackened pancakes.
"You, Nathan, have your order?" Haley said pointing at Nathan before exiting with Jake.
"Yes ma'am." I heard him reply as I started the second batch of pancakes.
In a matter of minutes, the second batch of pancakes was cooked to perfection. I plated a set for Jenny and began pouring on the syrup, when Nathan cleared his throat. I ignored him and went to give Jenny her pancakes.
Upon return to the kitchen, I caught Nathan pacing back and forth. During my short excursion to the living room, I had run through a number of reasons why Nathan would need to talk to me sans Haley.
"Speak Nathan. I caught the ploy and now I 'm biting. What's up?"
"Dan." He said hesitantly.
"What now?" I said frustrated.
"He is up to something. He has driven by here at least three times a day since Jake came to town. He saw Haley and Jamie at the playground yesterday. He went out of his way to tell them how proud he was of me. That he enjoys seeing his son with a beautiful wife. That I came out right."
"Why won't he leave me alone? How crazy are we figuring he is going to get?" I asked, not really wanting an answer.
"Crazier than…well…Keith. Haley has a list of times that he stops by."
"You know what. This is good."
"Have you gone crazy, Luke?" Nathan asked, violently shaking me.
"No. Get me those times. I've got an idea." I said more cheerful than when this conversation started.
"What are you up to Lucas? He asked curiously.
"Sorry Nate. This is a strictly need to know plan. You don't need to know."
"I hope you know what you're doing." He said leaning against the doorframe.
"For the first time in a long time. I think I do little brother."
"Alright. Just be careful. Haley will kill me if something happens to you. I was going to take Jaime to the park. Do you want me to take Jenny?"
"That would be great. Gives me time to deal with Brooke."
"Brooke?" Nathan asked as he gathered Jenny's coat.
"Need to know."
"Okay. We're out." He said, holding Jenny's hand as they left for the park.
I watched from the living room as Jenny left with Nathan. My stomach twisted itself into knots as I thought about what I was preparing to do. I wrote a note explaining everything to Jake. I wrote his name of the outside of a plain white envelope, and stuffed the note inside. Once it was sealed, I folded it in half and shoved it into my back pocket. I grabbed my keys and made my way to Clothes over Bros. I knew that at ten o'clock on a Saturday, Brooke would be there. The walk took less time then I had hoped. I paced outside the store for nearly ten minutes before I even considered going in.
"Get in here. I've already heard." Brooke yelled, running out the front door of her store and roughly dragging me inside.
"Then what's your plan, Brooke?"
"Fake engagement. Which seems the only viable option?" She answered, her hands placed firmly on her hips.
"That could work. We could send mass text messages alerting everyone to my engagement. We could accidentally send one to Dan." I used air quotes to emphasize the word accidentally.
"Sneaky. I like it. We're gonna have to be to make this work."
"We will. That's why it has to be you. We have the most chemistry. Just about everyone will fall for it." I explained.
Once the idea fully sunk in, I saw Brooke's demeanor change. "But, what about Jake? People will notice when he's not upset. Right?"
"I'm not telling him beforehand. I need him to be as upset as possible."
"Poor guy. I do not envy him. How are we going to make him believe it?"
"You mean Jake?"
Shrugging her shoulders and giving me her worried smile, "Well yeah. We can't just decide we're engaged tomorrow. Not after you two had sex and I spent years convincing him to come back."
"Am I wearing a 'Luke Got Laid' shirt?" I asked in disbelief.
"First of, your hair is somewhat messy, only slightly worse than your usual messy 'do. Secondly, you look happy. And last, well that's the shirt Jake wore yesterday."
"I didn't know happiness equal sex. Anyway, enough about my sex life. I am going to spend tons of time with you. Put him off when he tries to get intimate. Then we send the emails listing the secret engagement of Lucas Scott. Dan will come. We'll send one to Jake, who will think that this is the reason for being distant..."
"But instead he'll be crushed when he finds out it's me." She added on. "Well not really crushed…pissed beyond belief is more like it."
"Kinda the point, Cheery. I am going to write him a letter explaining everything. Nathan will give him the letter and answer any questions he may have."
"Alright, let Operation Break Jake's Heart commence."
"Brooke?" I growled at her. Didn't she know this was hard enough?
"What? That is what we're doing."
"Just, it's bad enough. I don't need side comments." I explained, conveying my real emotions.
"Are you sure this is the right thing?" She asked, rubbing circles on my back.
"No. It just seems like a 'Romeo & Juliet' situation. Here I am trying to make plans so that Jake and I can be together, but with Jake not knowing I feel like something is going to happen."
"We'll do everything we need to do to prevent that."
Noting the somber conversation, I took no time in changing the subject. "So evil genius, how are we going to spend our time together?"
"Planning your wedding, of course. Kill two birds with one stone." There is was the trademark Cheery smirk.
"What are you planning Brooke? I know that look"
"You mean what have I planned? Hmm…everything!" She said jumping out of her seat.
I groaned know nothing good could come from Brooke's planning.