"And that's a wrap on Matt and Brooke!"
"Ok," Brooked dropped her emotion from the scene and hopped off the bed, holding the sheet close to her as the room started to clear out. "Thanks Matty," she took the white robe that was offered to her and pulled it over her nearly naked body.
"No problem," the older boy stood in his boxers as he reached for his own robe. "You did really well, B. I swear it's amazing your growth through the months."
"Thanks," Brooke gave a tight lipped smile. Some people might not but she took it as a compliment from him. Matt Patricks was a well-known actor and had been doing it since he was about two as Brooke only really got into it within the last four years or so. Though when she first moved to California the prospect of achieving her goals seemed far-fetched, she ended up landing the role of Katie Jones in the teen drama that was slowly growing large popularity.
It was weird at first, the fame part, because she couldn't figure out why people followed her around so interested in things like her eating habits or what she wore, but they did. In her mind she was just doing what she loved, the fact she got paid stupid amounts of money and people looked up to her so much was crazy.
Yet, Matt and their co-star Alex Dupree almost took her under their wing. Helped her get used to the change in life because though she thought it was impossible, it really did change.
"So excited for next season already," Alex bounced through the people and equipment that littered the set to reach her roommate and best friend. "Lina just told me some ideas they have for me and it's a totally new turn. Not at all cookie cutter like I've been doing. I'm getting some depth."
"That's awesome, Lex. Excited for you," Brooke slid her hand in her robe pocket and felt the crinkle of paper between her fingers. Cutting her eyes up at Matt, her brow arched and a small smirk danced across his strong jawline that made her eyes roll. "But if ya'll will excuse me."
"Ya'll?" Matt teased with a southern drawl shaking his head. "Brooke even as a good actress you can't hide where you are from."
"Well ya know me," Brooke pushed out an over exaggerated southern drawl and cocked her head to the side. "Us folk from the south can't help it breakin' through every now and again. Next hoe down we have at the cousin swap I'll tell my family all about you rich Malibu folk."
"Please never do that again," Alex laughed touching her friend's arm who released a small laugh, one that really didn't seem real at all. Alex taking note over the last few weeks her friend hadn't seemed too happy about anything. It was almost like she busied herself and when she wasn't busy her mind took over and she just spaced out. "But I'm ready to head home. Matt cast dinner later?" she asked slowly walking backward and he nodded. "Cool. See you at home, B."
"Later," Matt gave a wave and slowly swayed toward the young brunette. "So, maybe want to come hang out before dinner? A couple glasses of wine, maybe more than a couple…" he smirked causing the brunette to release a sly grin.
"Wine does sound nice…" Brooke moved toward him and slid her hand up his chest watching his eyes watch her every move. "Time together before having to spend time together?" her brow arched at him and he swallowed hard, Brooke Davis the only woman to ever make him nervous. "In your dreams Matty Boy," her lips grazed his ear as she gave him a playful shove back.
"One day, Brooke Davis!" he called as she moved away from him toward her trailer. "One day," he whispered to himself as he watched her go. The chill ran down his spine as he spun on his feet and headed toward his own.
Staring out into the night sky, Brooke watched the busy town fly past her as they moved down the street. The window cracked enough to let her smell the salt water and warm air slap her face, her best friend beside her humming to some song on the radio she hadn't heard in years.
"Where's your mind at, Davis?" Nathan's voice broke through her thoughts as she turned in the seat to face him. "I know you Brooke. I know when you're thinking. What's up?"
"Just a little overwhelmed I guess with everything," she shrugged and instantly he knew she was lying. "I mean with the show ending and the wonder if we will be picked up next season. Plus, I feel I haven't had time off in a while. I literally finished one movie and flew out to start shooting the show four days a week and then another movie I filmed between Christmas and on the other three days I'm just exhausted I guess."
"You have been working a lot," Nathan agreed as they pulled up to the nice restaurant. "Why not take a break? Get away from everyone," he suggested, Brooke turning to face him. "Rent a cabin in the mountains away or a beach front home on an abandon island."
"That could be fun. Or something like Italy, or Paris?" she perked up a little and bit her lower lip. "Oh maybe we could go to Hawaii for a while. Filming there was so beautiful Nate and the whole place just seems to stand still from the rest of the world," the idea almost exciting her as she twisted more in her seat almost like a small child and grabbed his arm. "Oh! We could even do Bora Bora and rent one of those little tiki huts in the water. Oh all the pineapple and chocolate we could eat."
"You would probably eat your weight in it," he laughed at the brunette's favorite midnight snack. "But I do think you should get away. You've been working hard and you need some Brooke time, but I…I'm not going to go with you," he told her slowly and watched her entire body deflate.
"Why? Don't you want to get away?" she wondered like a child who had disappointed a parent. "We can do the cabin in the mountains if you want. I know you've been wanting to go snowboarding."
"I do want to go snowboarding at some point and I do want to get away, and I am going to for a while," he said, her brows yanking together and lips parted not understanding. "I have three months before they want me back for training, B. I'm going to take those months and go home."
"Home? What do you mean home?" she sunk back in the seat hoping he didn't mean what she thought.
"I mean, Tree Hill, Brooke," he spoke slowly and her hands pulled back from his arm. "I'm going to Tree Hill."
"Why?" tumbled out before she could stop herself and he released a bitter chuckle.
"Because my family is there," he said like she was stupid. "I didn't hate it there, Brooke. I didn't run away."
"And what? I did? Just because I didn't want to be a housewife living and dying in that small town you say I ran away?" temper rose and Nathan knew he had to be cautious with his next words, knowing nothing could be scarier than a pissed off Brooke Davis.
"No, no I'm not saying that, but I am saying you don't ever go back. We've been gone four years Brooke and you haven't even thought about going back," he pointed out, Brooke crossing her arms with almost a small pout in the seat beside him as she stared out. "I miss home, I miss my family and friends and I…I miss Haley," he spoke and her head snapped over to look at him. "These monthly visits aren't working for me and if I can spend three months with her I will spend three months with her," he told her and though her face read something completely different, he knew she understood.
He missed Haley and though he loved his time in California he loved Haley more and he was going to do all he could to prove to her he was still the boy she loved all those years back.
"I agree you need some time, Brooke. You need to relax and honestly sleep, and I'm not saying don't do that, I'm just saying don't factor me in on the trip," he reached over and placed his hand on her leg. "Just do something that makes you happy and though I know it's extremely farfetched," he reached to open the glove box to reveal two tickets inside. "I have an extra ticket with your name on it," he spoke and her hazy eyes watched the piece of paper reading his flight leaving in the morning. "I'm sure there are many people who would love to see you."
"I'm sure there are many who wouldn't," she swallowed hard and he laughed.
"We both know you don't at all believe that," he kissed the side of her head and opened his door. "Now put a smile on that gorgeous face, because the girl who got everything she wanted doesn't get sad," he stepped out and buttoned his jacket as he stepped around to the passenger side. Cameras flashing at the young twosome as his hand slid in hers and helped her out, pushing out a fake smile, her hand ran across her slim stomach as they headed inside.
"Brooke!" Lina waved her over from the table they sat with everyone and their guests. "We have your seat!"
"Bubbles, bubbles Tigger," Nathan whispered in her ear making her neck snapped over at him. "Hales always said when you get stuck in your head to say that," he explained than offered a light shrug. "Never got it."
"Yeah," Brooke smiled fully and felt a peace wash over her. "God, I miss her," she released herself from his arm as she stepped forward to the empty chair and greeted each of her friends. Nathan doing the same on the other end before taking his seat beside where the young brunette was about to place herself.
"Brooke you look amazing," Janet, their hair and makeup artist gushed. "I love that dress."
"Thanks," Brooke looked down at the short dark blue dress and ran her hand across the smooth material. "Ben's company sent it over for me to wear."
"They always send you the best stuff," Steven, one of her co-stars and favorite gay man frowned. He himself looking amazing in his black dress shirt and bright pink tie with his black dress pants. "All I get is jeans."
"That's because you have a great ass," Alex took a sip of her wine casing the table to erupt in laughter. "You make any jeans look great."
"Almost as great as anything Scott wears," Steven winked at the ravened hair boy who awkwardly cleared his throat behind his drink. "Too bad Brooke has you on lock down."
"First he isn't on lock down," Brooke objected with a raised finger. "And second I'll tell you once I'll tell you a million times Steven, Nathan and I are not now nor will we ever be a thing," she used air quotes and instantly a few eyes rolled, no one truly believing the twosome so close were just friends. "We aren't!"
"If you say so doll…"
"We aren't Steven," Nathan spoke up, knowing that always made Brooke very uncomfortable. "I've known this girl since we were six," his arm wrapped around her shoulder and tugged her into him. "I love her, but like my little sister. My little sister's whose anyone's ass I'll kick for," his eyes scanned the table with a playful glare before settling on Matt when they narrowed just a fraction.
Both sharing a look that made Brooke a little uncomfortable and caused her to shift a fraction in her seat closer to her best friend.
"So what is everyone thinking on food?" Alex broke the awkwardness, reading her roommate's look instantly and knowing she wanted the conversation dropped. Brooke sending her a thank you look before looking over the menu.
"Oh my god, my feet are killing me," Alex kicked off her high heels and stepped inside her apartment, hitting the light. "Reminded me not to dance in these again."
"I do remind you and you still do it," Brooke pointed out, shutting the door and heading into the kitchen.
"True," Alex laughed collapsing on the couch. "But this time I'm serious. They are already swelling," she inspected her normally small foot and frowned. "May need to go get a massage soon," she mumbled more to herself, welcoming the glass of wine that appeared before her. "Thank you."
"No problem," Brooke fell on the loveseat across from Alex and stared out the glass patio door at the skyline.
"You ok, B?" Alex kicked her foot forward to tap her friend's leg and pulled her attention to her. "You seem spaced out."
"You ever feel like this is all too much?" she ran her finger along the edge of the glass and shrugged. "Almost like…like we are missing something?"
"Honestly?" Alex asked and Brooke nodded looking up at her. "No," she laughed a little and Brooke released a dry one. "But I can see you do," she tilted her head to the side, not getting when she saw a small tear dance in her friend's eye. "B…" she stood from the couch and moved over to her. "What's going on?"
"I don't know, it's so stupid," she knocked the tear and covered her hand to her mouth. "I just, I'm happy I'm really happy and things are so awesome. I mean we have everything we want and you are the best roommate ever," she grabbed her legs and Alex smiled giving a nod. "And I love you so much…but I just…something doesn't feel right. I feel like I'm missing something."
"Well what do you think it is? Come on talk to me. Tell me what you're thinking."
"Thinking maybe I need to get away for a while. Just take a time out from all this," she waved her hand at the city and shrugged. "I mean, I don't know where I'm going, but I just need to get away."
"Well I know Nathan is going back to Tree Hill."
"He told you?" Brooke asked shocked, not getting why he would tell Alex before her. Yeah, they got along but they weren't great friends, not like he and Brooke.
"He wanted me to watch after you. He was just worried leaving you alone for so long," she explained and Brooke slowly nodded that actually making sense. "But I mean, are you thinking of going back with him?"
"Oh god no," Brooke shook her head quickly, that idea not even playing in her mind. "No, no, no. I can't go back there. I left for a reason and I just…I'm not going back."
"Not even to see your family? Your brother? Brooke I know you miss him. Every time you hang up the phone you just look sad."
"I do miss, Tony, but Tree Hill I don't. And plus he does visit as much as possible, but I just don't think it would be a good idea to go back. I've been gone four years Alex. I just can't show up and be like oh hey guys, remember me?"
"It's home, you can always go back," Alex shrugged and gave her friend a small smile, resting her hand on hers for comfort. "But if you really don't want too, I'm not at all against some beach house far away for a while."
"I could totally be for the beach, margaritas and hot cabana boys," Brooke smirked and Alex laughed reaching over and grabbing her laptop.
"Alright, where to look first," she pulled it into her lap and both started to grow excited for their plans away, Brooke not wanting to admit she still felt like something was off, but really hoping she could get over it. Nathan was right, hell when wasn't he, but he was more than right this time.
Happy girls who got everything they wanted aren't sad.
Shorter than I like, but hope you all enjoy!
Next chapters when things pick up it will be longer!
Hope you're liking the new version!
Please review!