Chapter 11

"The Desperate Kingdom of Love"

"Stop pounding on the door Nate" Lucas said dryly, "You can't get out. Conserve your energy."

"Let me out Lucas."

"No."

"Let me the hell out."

"No."

"Lucas stop fucking around man."

Lucas laughed, "You'll thank me for this."

"Thank you?" Nathan screamed, "No, I'm going to kill you."

"Harsh," Lucas chuckled, "I'm going for a swim. No need to tolerate this abuse."

x-x-x

"Can I borrow your phone?" Brooke asked the driver. The heavy-set man shrugged and turned the radio to a country station and advised them to relax.

He handed her the phone. Lucas answered, "Scott."

"What the hell are you doing Lucas?" she asked, "where is Nathan?"

"He is indisposed at this time," Lucas said curtly, then hung up.

She turned to Haley, "Don't cry Hales. Your make up will run."

x-x-x

"Lucas," Nathan yelled, "What are you doing?"

Lucas looked up at the closed door, then looked back at the novel he was reading, "I'm reading chick-lit. I think there is something to it."

"Let me out."

"No."

"Let me the fuck out."

Lucas sighed then shouted, "Not yet."

Then he looked up at the maid and smiled, "Sorry for the language. He just might miss the most important event of his life."

x-x-x

Brooke fumbled with the keys.

"What's the number for Sandals…the hotel?" she asked the driver.

"Don't know. Call 411."

So she did.

"Hi," she said breathily, "Can I have the number for Sandals please?"

Two minutes passed. Four minutes. Five minutes.

"Give me a few more seconds." the attendant finally told her

"No," Brooke said angrily, "I cannot give you a few more seconds, I need the fucking number. Right. Now."

She softened her voice and looked over at Haley, "Don't cry babe. You're going to ruin your make up."

She was going to kill him. She swore.

x-x-x

"Luke," Nathan said, "you're my brother, I'll forgive you for this if you let me out."

Lucas laughed, "Forgive me? Nah, you'll be paying for this."

"Hey Nate," he said, "So Eliza had sex with Johnny who turned out to be her best friend's Ex-boyfriend who took her virginity in high school and her mother's husband's estranged wife's son. Isn't that funny."

"Lucas" Nathan shouted.

"Fine," he said with a little smile, "It's three o'clock. I guess I can let you out now."

He opened the door and Nathan stood there, looking raggedy for a few seconds before he tried to punch Lucas

"Black belt remember," Lucas teased, "don't let me hurt you."

Nathan said nothing but rushed for his bedroom murmuring something about getting dressed. Lucas decided that it was a good time to shower.

x-x-x

Brooke turned to Haley, "Don't cry. Makeup."

Haley smiled weakly.

"Hi," she said, "There has been a delay with the Scott wedding."

"Scott?" the woman sounded confused, "that was cancelled a couple days back. According to the woman, the bride had second thoughts."

Brooke started to swear. He. Was. Dead.

x-x-x

Nathan ran out of the room, dressed in his jacket and tie and struggling with his shoes.

Lucas was immaculately dressed.

"The wedding was supposed to be at two Luke," Nathan said angrily, "how are we gonna get to Sandals in time."

Lucas looked at him blankly, "There isn't going to be a wedding at Sandals today."

"What?" Nathan said softly, angrily and Lucas had a sneaky suspicion he was going to hit him.

"Come here, I want you to see something"

x-x-x

After some seconds the driver finally got the call he was supposedly waiting for and began driving. But after a while they realized they were going back to the villa.

Brooke couldn't think straight and only stopped cursing every so often to warn Haley not to cry. When they finally pulled up to the villa, she stalked outside with Haley close behind her. Lucas' back was turned to her but she tapped on it. When he turned she said, "You're going to pay for this you sorry son-of-a-bitch."

He smiled, "No foul language in front of my father princess."

She looked up to see a tall, man standing in a white suit next to him. "Damn it" she muttered.

Haley was close behind her; the man turned to her and extended his hand, "I was thinking you might have wanted someone to walk down the aisle with."

Lucas grabbed on to Brooke's hand and she could hear the light strains of Cannon in D Major as they descended the stairs.

Then she saw them.

Over a hundred people, carefully seated in the garden area of the villa. Rose petals were sprinkled on the white aisle way. And when they started playing the bridal march and she saw Haley walking up that aisle, smiling broadly – despite Lucas' warnings, she went ahead and ruined her makeup.