A/N: I'M BACK!!!!!!! I know that this update should have come a lot sooner but I am very sorry. Thank you to all of you that are sticking with me, I promise to update sooner.
Nathan sat on his bed, flipping his cell phone over and over in his hand waiting for his daily phone call from his girlfriend, a routine that he had become dependent on within his first week at Duke.
"You know you could always call her." Luke stated from his desk working on homework and talking to Peyton. Nathan ignored him, knowing that he could very well call her, but Brooke had told him that she would call him since she had a meeting. Finally Nathan grew restless and got up from his bed and grabbed his sweatshirt before heading outside to get some air.
Nathan had been walking around campus for about 10 minutes before his cell phone began to ring in his pocket. Grabbing it immediately he flipped it open not bothering to look at the caller I.D. "Hello?" He asked sitting down on one of the benches closest to him.
"Hey Nathan, sorry I'm late in calling but my meeting ran longer." Brooke apologized falling tiredly back onto her bed.
"It's fine; how was your meeting?" He asked making small talk, watching kids walk past him.
"I think it went well, they like the samples so far, and we've picked a logo design." Nathan smiled happy that everything was going okay.
"That's great Brooke." Nathan replied leaning back against the back of the bench.
"What's wrong Nathan?" Brooke asked sitting up taking in the tone of Nathan's voice.
"My first game is next week and I didn't know if you were coming or not." He replied sighing, hoping that she would have remembered and had already made plans to come down and see him. It had been a very long time since he had seen her; it had been 78 days since Nathan had last seen Brooke.
"I have a meeting that morning and I'm going to try and get a flight later on in the afternoon, I don't know if I'm going to make it but I'm trying. I'm so sorry Nathan." She replied knowing that he was not going to take the news well. She hadn't taken the news well that she had a meeting that morning.
"It's okay, I mean you just can't stop with everything you have going on and I'll have more games." He replied his shoulder slumping and a frown etched on his face. Getting up from the bench he slowly began making his way back to his room.
"No it's not okay Nathan. It's your first game and I should be there and I'm going to try everything I can to get there okay?" She asked sitting up in bed anxiously playing with a piece of her hair. In all honesty, she had almost forgotten about Nathan's game on Monday what with everything going on and all the things that she was currently trying to get done. Exhaling slowly she rubbed her temples feeling a headache coming on, she was a horrible girlfriend.
"If you really can't make it then I'm not going to be upset Brooke, I know how busy you are and how hard it is to drop everything you have to come to my game." He replied stopping in front of his door part of him not really wanting to go back into his room and possibly be met with Luke gushing on the phone with Peyton about how awesome it would be to see after the game on Monday, hell Peyton was probably flying in the next day to spend the weekend with Luke. Sometimes he wished that he and Brooke could have the relationship that Peyton and Luke had. Taking a deep breath he opened the door and was surprised to see Luke almost sulking on his bed his phone in his hand. "Hey Brooke I'm going to call you back, okay?"
"Okay, love you." She replied looking at her phone slightly confused after Nathan had replied and hung up.
Walking into the room he pulled the chair from Luke's desk over towards Luke's bed and sat on it waiting for Luke to tell him what was wrong. "She's not coming." He muttered moments later, still looking at his phone in shock. "She has too much to do and can't make it. I told her about this when we got the schedule and she promised that she would be here; I mean it's our first game and she can't make the time to at least come watch part of it. I wouldn't care if she showed up and left at halftime at least she would be here supporting me!" He vented slamming his phone down on the soft bed, Nathan watched it bounce back up and land a few inches in front of Luke.
"I know, Brooke's probably not coming either she's so busy with work." Nathan replied disappointment filling his voice. Luke shook his head feeling angry at Peyton.
"I love Peyton, I really do, but this is bullshit. I'm her boyfriend damn it! She should be supporting me as best she can and with her in New York going to art school it's hard to support each other. I don't know how you and Brooke do it so well." Luke replied finally looking up at Nathan, who was shaking his head.
"It's not as easy as we make it look. I mean you've seen Peyton at least twice since school started and I haven't seen Brooke since July. Plus I have to support her because she's doing what she wants to do and she's trying to support me while trying to get her line off the ground. I love Brooke and already know that I want to spend the rest of my life with her and right now we're just laying the foundation for the rest of our lives." Luke looked at Nathan with his mouth wide open in shock. "What?" Nathan asked looking at his brother confused.
"Who are you? The Nathan I know would never say anything that remotely deep about a relationship. Where did Nathan go?" Luke asked shaking his head, thinking that he was imagining the whole conversation he and Nathan were having.
"Actually Cooper said that to me when I talked to him the other day so be shocked that Cooper said that not me." Luke laughed picturing Nathan's shocked face when Cooper told him the words of wisdom. "Dude, let's get out of this depressing room and go to John's or something." Luke nodded and got up grabbing his phone and following Nathan out of their room.
Brooke sat on her bed toying with her new shiny blue cell phone furiously thinking about how to get out of the business things she had to do on Monday, it was Nathan's first game and she really wanted to be there to see him. Sighing she dialed Peyton's number hoping that she would come up with a plan for Brooke.
"Hey B. Davis." Peyton greeted after only two rings.
"Hey Sawyer." Brooke replied leaning back in her bed starring at her ceiling thinking that maybe the answer to her dilemma would be written in the white paint.
"What's wrong?" Peyton asked dropping her pencil and paying full attention to the conversation.
"So it's Nathan's first game on Monday right? Well I have a ton of meetings that day and on Tuesday so I can't go, but I really want to be there in support of him and it's been so long since I've seen him that I really want to be there."
"So why don't you just call everybody and explain the situation to them. I mean they should understand, right?"
"I don't want them to think that I'm not serious and ditching important meetings to go my boyfriend's basketball game, it seems a little bit irresponsible to me." Brooke replied feeling tears welling up in her eyes. Peyton sighed rubbing her temples lightly trying to make the answer magically appear in front of her.
"Look don't stress about it right now and I'll fly down after my last class Thursday and we'll come up with something, but for right now don't let Nathan or Luke know that we're trying to get to their game okay?"
"I won't say a word."
"Alright now get some sleep and I'll call you later."
"Thanks Peyton." Brooke replied feeling a little bit better that Peyton was going to try and help her.
"No problem Brooke." Brooke hung up her phone and quickly sent off a text message to Nathan before turning over and falling into a fitful sleep.
Nathan sat in John's dorm room watching John and Luke go at it in Guitar Hero when he felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Pulling it out he smiled when he saw a text message from Brooke, no matter how hurt he was that she couldn't come to his game he still loved her and still loved getting text messages from her. I love you Nathan and don't let my insensitivity of planning ruin your first game. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Nathan sighed part of him still holding out that Brooke would somehow be able to make it his game. Quickly replying with an I love you Nathan slipped his phone back into his pocket and stood up taking the guitar from Luke stepping up and ready to completely demolish John.
The next morning Brooke woke up and slowly got out of bed. Her fitful sleep had done nothing but give her a horrible pounding headache and feeling as she had been run over by a Mac truck a million and one times. After successfully starting her beloved coffee maker she threw herself down on the couch and closed her eyes trying to catch some sleep. If she continued on this path she was going to burn herself out before her line even hit stores. She desperately needs a break, she thought to herself as she switched on the morning news, but how could she possibly take a break. Just as the news anchor started a story about some socialite someone knocked on the apartment door and Brooke thought briefly about not answering it and making the person think that she was still asleep. Against her better judgment she slowly got up and called out that she was coming and made her way to the door. Swinging it open Brooke was not expecting to see Cooper standing on the other side of the door.
"Cooper! What are you doing here?" Brooke exclaimed completely forgetting about her headache and jumping into Cooper's arms.
"Well I was in New York and thought that I would stop by and see my favorite soon to be niece. Wow, Brooke you look a little worse for wear, what's wrong?" Cooper asked making his way into the apartment.
"I'm just a little burnt out I guess. I'm working almost 24/7 and in my frenzied life I completely forgot that Nathan's first game is on Monday and I can't make it because I have so much to do, but I really want to go and be there for him." She ranted looking at Cooper's smiling face and suddenly became confused. "What?"
"You need a vacation."
"I can't just take off, that's unprofessional. I'm trying to show people that I'm serious about this and not just some teenager, Cooper."
"That's all well and good Brooke, but everybody needs a break every now and then. I still take breaks so I'm forcing you to take a break, now pack some clothes because you're coming back to Tree Hill with me. I'll explain everything to Bill and them and make them understand, plus who knows taking a break might help you become inspired enough to finish the designs that you're having some troubles with. Now hurry up, you're chariot waits to take you to your love deprived boyfriend!" Cooper explained pushing Brooke up from the couch motioning towards her bedroom before turning the channel to ESPN.
Brooke walked into her room and shook her head at Cooper sitting in the other room. As she threw clothes in a bag she wondered why she hadn't called Cooper in the first place, he was one of her main investors and had a lot of power over the rest of them. Yet again shaking her head she hopped in the bathroom for a quick shower reminding herself to call or text Peyton about the change in plans. Twenty minutes later Brooke emerged from her bedroom smiling and gladly accepting the coffee that Cooper held out to her. "So I talked to Bill and he agreed that you need a break, so you have until next Wednesday off. I told you that I could handle it, why you don't call me with these problems is beyond me, but I digress and we have a plane to catch so move it!" Cooper exclaimed gently pushing Brooke's towards the door.
Getting off the plane an hour later Brooke smiled letting the slightly warm North Carolina sun wash over her. She grinned over at Cooper and looped her arm through his, finally feeling a million times better. She was going back to Cooper's house to hang out until Peyton's flight arrived and together they were heading over to Duke, to hopefully give their boyfriends a great surprise. Thanking Cooper for the millionth time she followed him into the house to take a nap before Peyton arrived and they headed over to see the boys. It took Brooke only minutes to crash on the nearest couch and drift off to a much needed peaceful sleep.
Nathan walked out of his last class of the day exhausted and wished that he could go back to his dorm and just crash but feeling Luke fall in step with him, he knew that the only thing he was going back to his dorm for was his bag and then he was off to practice. Sighing he picked up his pace he and Luke falling into place with Elliot Williams another member of the basketball team and easily worked his way into the conversation as they made their way back to their dorms.
Brooke woke up feeling well rested and like a weight had been removed from her shoulders. Sitting up she strained her eyes to see the clock and almost screamed it was already 4 o'clock in the afternoon! Quickly getting up she haphazardly folded the blanket she had been using and rushed into the guest room where her things were and jumped into the shower. Just as she was getting out of the shower Peyton walked into the room looking as if she had just gotten off the plane. "Hey Brooke, where's the fire?" Peyton asked sitting on the edge of the bed watching Brooke sort through her clothes.
"You and I are going to surprise the boys at practice and practice ends in like an hour and a half so we need to hurry up because it's going to take like 45 minutes to get the campus and then find our way to where they have basketball practice, so hurry up get a move on it!" Brooke exclaimed stopping and looking at Peyton who was not moving.
"How about we just go to their dorms and wait for them there I mean that will gives us more time and plus I just got off the plane I really don't want to get in a car right now." Brooke mulled the idea over in her head and nodded suddenly coming up with the perfect way to ensure that Nathan and Luke would be in their dorm rooms. Smiling she picked up her phone and quickly began moving her fingers over the keys. After she had finished texting she set her phone down and began slowly going through her clothes. Peyton sighed in relief and fell back against the bed deciding that a shower could wait until later.
"So how are you P. Sawyer I barely get to talk to you anymore?" Brooke whined having thrown on some shorts and a tank while she still figured out what she was going to wear.
"I know I've been so busy and I usually only have time to talk to Luke. I could also say the same for you." The blond replied peeking through her half-lidded eyes resting her head against the pillows at the top of the bed.
"I feel really bad about not calling you more often but everything's been so crazy and I'm working pretty much 24/7 and I feel really bad that I can't be there for Nathan like he needs me to be."
"Whoa, Nathan's a big boy Brooke and he's probably kicking himself for not being there like you need him to be. So we're going to enjoy this weekend as much as we possibly can, get all decked out in Duke Gear for the game and cheer our heads off for the boys, okay?" Brooke smiled nodding her head as she finally picked out what she was going to wear. Peyton laughed at the smile on Brooke's face as she began getting ready leaving Peyton to get a little shut eye before they left.
After two hours of practice Nathan tiredly fell back onto his bed his body sinking into his mattress. He turned his head watching Luke do the same and softly laughed. "We're pretty lame dude." Nathan joked, turning on his side to look at his brother who was laughing as well.
"Well we did just get through a killer of a practice and a full day of classes so it's completely normal for us to be tired." Luke reasoned also turning on his side to face Nathan. "So I think we should just pop in a movie or something and relax because tomorrow's going to be just as bad." Nathan nodded and started to get up to find a movie to watch. Just as he was about to reach the DVD rack a knock stopped him from grabbing a random DVD. Looking over at Luke who shrugged his shoulders Nathan made his way to the door. Upon opening it his mouth fell open.
"Surprise!" Brooke exclaimed she and Peyton laughing at Nathan's reaction. Luke sprang up in .5 seconds flat when he heard Brooke's voice and his jaw dropped also when he saw Peyton standing next to Brooke.
"Well aren't you boys going to let your girlfriends in, or should we go find some other boys to stay with?" Peyton asked sharing an evil smile with Brooke. Nathan shook his head no and moved from the doorway motioning for them to come in. Brooke smiled and stayed where she was, waiting for Nathan to say something.
"Do you possibly want to take a walk with me?" She asked toying nervously with the hem of her shirt watching Nathan nervously. Nathan nodded turning to grab his sweatshirt before following her out of the resident hall and out into the night. They walked in silence for a little bit before Nathan stopped pulling Brooke into his arms. "I missed you." She whispered wrapping her arms tightly around Nathan.
"I missed you too. I honestly can't believe that you're here." Nathan admitted sitting down on a nearby bench.
"Well you can thank Cooper for that. He saw how burnt out I was when he stopped by this morning and decided that I needed a break, so here I am." She replied sitting down next to him and lacing her fingers with his. Nathan smiled tightening the hold he had on her hand.
"I don't know how I made it this long without seeing you or even holding your hand." Nathan whispered turning so he was facing her.
"I know we have to come up with a better plan. I've been running myself ragged thinking that if I keep busy and keep working that I won't realize that you aren't there and it's just not working for me anymore." Brooke honestly replied looking down at their entwined hands. Nathan sighed reaching up with his other hand and lightly cupping her cheek.
"We're trying the best that we can and we both knew that times were going to be hard. We're going to get through this and I think it's time we make a rule." Nathan said lifting her chin with his index finger.
"What kind of rule?" Brooke asked releasing Nathan's hand and turning to face him.
"I think that every three weeks we should try and see each other, and we'll alternate so you're not always flying down here."
"I think I should just fly down here during the basketball season and afterward we can come start alternating. You have to focus on basketball and your grades; I have a more flexible plate of responsibilities." She looked up at Nathan and smiled leaning in and pressed her lips forcibly against his. Nathan immediately responded and lightly cupped her face. "It was been way too long since I've been able to do that." Brooke joked resting her forehead lightly against Nathan's. "What's your schedule tomorrow?" Brooke asked standing up from the bench and extending her hand to Nathan.
"I don't have class until about 11." Brooke nodded and pulled Nathan back towards his dorm.
"Good because we're spending the night at Cooper's." Nathan smiled and laughed at Brooke and fell in step in with her trying to get to the car as soon as possible, happy to get to spend some alone time with his girlfriend.
That Monday Nathan and Luke played their first game against Presbyterian. Nathan played for about 10 minutes and Duke ended up winning. Brooke and Peyton were there to support their boyfriends decked out in Duke blue from head to toe, it almost like high school all over again. After the game Nathan looked up at Brooke in the stands and smiled up at her. "We're gonna be just fine." He mouthed before going into the locker room with Luke. Brooke smiled watching him before exiting the stadium with Peyton; both on their way to the airport both had to get back to their hectic lives. Boarding the plane Brooke promised Peyton that she would call more often with Peyton doing the same. Settling into her seat Brooke pulled out her sketchbook her inspiration hitting her full force, the weekend had proved to do wonders for her. Picking up her phone to shut it off she smiled at the background picture of her and Nathan before the game with Brooke decked out in her cheer gear and Nathan with his jersey. They were going to get through it just fine; it was just going to take a lot from both of them.
A/N: I have finally updated! I am so sorry that I took FOREVER to update but I did not successfully master the art of going to school and having a job. However, since it is the summer and I only work about two days a week I'm going to try and update more often.
