Callison: Very good point, Brooke is a proud mom and she loves Jude and Davis very much, but she's a little scared to let people in right now (especially someone who could be a potential father figure) and you will learn more about that in the next chapter, when you find out what happened to Julian! J
Brooke paced around Haley's kitchen, glass of wine in hand and extremely nervous about Jay coming to the barbeque. Stupid Haley, she thought. Haley was the one that had Brooke invite Jay in the first place. She had told her, "If you're not going to, I'll do it myself." Brooke didn't understand why everyone could just let her be single for once in her life. She needed it, after Lucas, after Julian. Her heart had gone through enough breaking.
She turned around after hearing footsteps, praying that it wasn't Jay, she wasn't ready to see him just quite yet. Fortunately, it was only Peyton. "Brooke, what's going on? You're gonna burn a hole in the floor!"
Brooke stopped pacing, and glared at Peyton. "You know why I'm pacing! I'm nervous!"
Peyton had yet to meet the mysterious Jay that her best friend was so infatuated with, but she had a feeling that this one was going to be different. "Honey, listen to me. I get why you're nervous, I really do, but, I think this Jay guy might just be a good thing for you, okay? If you want to let loose tonight, I will be sure to keep an eye on the boys, just promise me you'll relax?"
Brooke took a heavy breath and sighed. Peyton always knew just what to say, probably because of what they've been through together. She looked outside and saw her boys playing happily with Peyton's daughter, Sawyer, and Haley's daughter, Lydia. Taking in another breath, she looked at Peyton "I'm scared, P, I don't have the best track record in this area."
As high school as it seemed, Peyton decided the only way to get Brooke to lighten up was to get her a little tipsy, "Don't be scared, it's a barbeque, not a marriage proposal," Peyton took Brooke's hands in her own, "here, have another glass of wine. You'll be okay, I promise." After getting more wine, the girls walked outside to where everyone else was enjoying the sun.
Jamie Scott was the first to reach the door after hearing the doorbell. All of his parents' friends were already there, so he wasn't sure who it would be. The boy unlocked the door, and opened it slightly, "Uhh… Who are you?" He asked when he saw the tall man with a bag in his hands.
"I'm Detective Halstead, I heard there's a party going on here, thought I'd come and check it out." Jay thought he was being funny, but it only confused the youngest Scott boy, so after a few moments of awkward silence he added, "Brooke invited me."
Just then, Brooke walked up behind Jamie, "James Lucas Scott, are you supposed to be answering the door?"
Jamie was still confused, and with a little bit of hesitation he said, "Sometimes I can.. And this guy says he's a detective, do I believe him?"
It was then when Brooke looked up to see a grinning Jay, holding a mysterious bag. She bent down to Jamie's eye level and whispered to him, "I don't know, maybe you should let me talk to him." She smiled as the words came out of her mouth, talking to Jamie, yet looking straight up into Jay's eyes. Jamie walked away, leaving the two adults alone in the doorway. "Well, you gonna stand outside all night or are you going to get in here and give me a hug?"
Jay could tell she was a tad bit tipsy already. He walked right in and squeezed her tight, smelling the light scent of alcohol her breath left behind. After they broke apart, Brooke asked what he was holding, "I didn't want to come empty handed, so I brought some fireworks for the kids, and some beer for the adults." He lifted both hands, revealing the items in each.
Brooke laughed, and dragged him outside, where all of her high school friends were chatting amongst themselves. "Everyone, this is Jay, Jay, this is, well, everyone!" Brooke drunkenly shouted the minute they stepped foot outside.
All of the guests waved to Jay, and Jay waved back. He didn't get to keep his hand in the air for long though because Brooke had taken hold of it and led him to a small group of people on the patio. He recognized Haley and Alex from the Café, but they were the only ones. Brooke stopped in front of a leggy blonde, "Jay. This is my best friend in the whole world, Peyton Elizabeth Sawyer!" Brooke stated very enthusiastically while releasing Jay to give Peyton a love filled hug. Jay shook her hand and quietly asked how much Brooke has had to drink after she walked away to talk to Haley.
"You mean, Peyton Elizabeth Scott" Peyton glared, then looked at Jay "So she was a little nervous about you meeting everyone tonight and got a little carried away, but if I counted right, she's had 2 glasses of wine and a margarita Alex made- and I have no idea how much alcohol she puts in those things." Peyton laughed with that last bit, but took note of Jay's worried face, "Don't be worried, she'll be fine, just stick by her side."
Jay nodded and went to find Brooke, he spotted the boy who answered the door playing with some younger blonde boys, whom he assumed were Brooke's boys. When he found her, he placed an arm on the small of the back so she would know he was there. Brooke stopped talking to Mouth mid-sentence and turned around to face Jay. She leaned into his ear and whispered, "Come with me, I want you to meet some people."
Brooke introduced him to Jude and Davis, and they really seemed to take a liking to him. Brooke was glad, but it also scared her.
A couple hours later, after burgers and hot dogs, and fireworks and football, the women watched as the men played with the kids in Nathan and Haley's huge backyard. Brooke watched as Jay played with Jude and Davis. It was the perfect sight to see. She couldn't but chuckle at the girls' comments about how attractive he was, his great body, because she thought the same exact things.
Nathan decided to take a break, with Jay following in suit. "So, you've known Brooke for a while, right?" Jay asked Nate, out of breath from spending hours chasing after kids.
"Yeah, we've been through a lot, have a similar backgrounds." Jay looked at him and nodded, and took a sip of his beer. Nathan kept talking, and Jay heard the change of tone in his voice, "She's been through hell, you know? Twice. She's like a sister to me, so if you hurt her, you better bet I'll be at your door in a second."
Jay looked to the ground, then at Brooke, then back at Nathan, "If I blow my chances with her, you better bet I'll leave that door unlocked for you."
A few moments later, Jay walked up to where to girls were sitting, with two very worn out toddlers in his arms. He took the final few steps to the also worn out Brooke, lounging on a pool chair. "I think it's time we get going." He whispered. "We can take my car." Brooke mumbled something that Jay didn't really hear, and struggled to find her balance as she stood.
Jay handed the twins to Haley and Peyton, so he could get Brooke to the car and move Jude and Davis' car seats. After getting Brooke settled, he walked back though the house to grab the boys. "Do you need any help?" Both Haley and Peyton asked in unison.
"No, I think I've got it, I'll holler if I need anything though." He said with a silent chuckle, "Thank you, for having me. You have a beautiful house, and I had a great time."
Jay made his way back to his car, strapped the boys in, and drove to Brooke's house. By the time he got there, all three of his passengers were asleep. He carefully dug through Brooke's purse so he could find her keys, and after he did, he carried the boys in the house.
He returned a minute later for Brooke. He didn't want to wake her, so he cautiously unbuckled her seatbelt and lifted her up into his arms. She shook herself awake half way between the car and the front door. She looked around and noticed she was in Jay's arms, suddenly wishing she hadn't woken up, "Where are we?" she asked, her voice extra raspy.
"I drove you home, you were a little tired," Jay laughed, and after a minute, so did Brooke. He gently set her down so she could walk, but kept a tight grip on her waist, as he walked her to the door. "The boys are in bed, don't be worried." He smiled and looked down on her.
"Thank you for this, for caring." Brooke looked at him, and their eyes met.
Jay's voice was quiet, almost silent, "Anytime." He cupped her face with one hand, while the other found its way up her back. As started to lean in, Brooke's eyes closed and she noticed the gap between their faces get smaller.
Their lips where millimeters apart, when they heard, "Oh, my God. I am so sorry!" Both of their heads snapped over to the direction voice. Jay didn't recognize the girl, but he noticed the light in Brooke's face when she saw her.
Brooke instantly ran over to her and nearly squeezed the life out her, "Sam! Hi!"
A/N Sorry to end on a cliffhanger! I hope this chapter was good for you guys! I feel like there wasn't enough detail at the barbeque scene, but I also think I covered it okay. And I know I said that Jay would catch "The Replacer" but I decided to save it for next chapter. I felt like this was getting too long, so I ended it here! Unfortunately though, this means that Julian's fate probably won't be revealed until chapter 5, since next chapter will mainly focus on Jay and his work. Please please review! Nothing excites me more than when I see that I have a new review! Also, the Jay/Jamie thing, was that weird? Was Jay being creepy, I NEED to know those things haha!