The next morning, like clockwork, Nathan Haley and Lucas made their way to the hospital. I was grateful for the change of clothes that Peyton carried with her for me.
Lucas kept slipping in and out of consciousness. Whatever they had him on was strong. Peyton and I were texting each other across the room where she was asking me about Dan's whereabouts. Unfortunately neither of us could tell when the bomb would drop. We just had to brace ourselves.
I could see the confusion on Nathan's face. He had told himself that he was just being designated driver to drop the two girls over. Peyton had called him in the morning asking for a ride to the hospital and he had texted Haley offering one to her. He himself wondered what force had dragged him out of his bed and out here where he was waiting. He had never before shown an iota of concern for his brother.
"Anyone want coffee?" He asked aloud trying to figure his feelings out.
"I could do a cup," Haley answered.
The two looked visibly smitten as they blushed and left toward the cafeteria. Peyton was sketching in a book that she had brought with her and I just stretched out on the couch scrolling through my phone.
"Brooke! That's Dan! Come on, we need to hide!" Peyton said five minutes later as she nudged me and pulled me off the couch.
We ran out in the nick of time, crouching behind the nurses' station placed right in front of Lucas' room. The place seemed busy and nobody was manning the desk.
We saw Dan Scott enter the room and smile as he looked at his unconscious son. He sat at the chair where I had spent the entire night praying that he would get better as he fingered the tubes that went to Lucas' nose.
"Peyton, text him now," I whispered, hitting her arm for emphasis.
She quickly sent out the pre drafted text. We heard Lucas' phone chime and saw Dan direct his attention towards it. He almost looked like a tiger who had found his prey for the day.
Exactly as anticipated, he managed to unlock Lucas' phone and read the text chain Peyton and I had created. He put down Lucas' phone back on the table by his bed and brought his own cell out.
"Hey Cathy! I need you to book me a hotel in Seattle. I don't know how long I will be staying. Also, book me on the first flight out there from Tree Hill. I have some urgent business to attend to," he said.
At that time, Nathan and Haley entered the room again.
"Oh, hello Nathan. What are you doing here?" He greeted as if the uncle and nephew were close.
"Came to check on Lucas after you couldn't be bothered to," Nathan back-answered. It was obvious that the two of them didn't see eye to eye.
"I didn't know, Nathan. Otherwise I definitely would have been here for my son," said Dan. His concerned acting face was so stellar, it made me want to barf. "Also, can you thank Keith and Deb for me? The hospital staff told me that they took care of everything."
"Somebody had to," Nathan countered with a straight face.
"Who is this young lady you have with you?" Dan asked as he eyed Haley up and down who simply moved to hide behind Nathan's large frame from Dan's uncomfortable gaze.
"A friend," he replied, not giving Dan any details.
"I would love to sit and chat, but I have a pressing matter to attend to," he said before leaving the hospital.
"God, no wonder Lucas was extremely strict about me not coming over to his place. His father is just, well, creepy," Haley remarked as she shivered, trying to get the creep out of her body.
Once it was safe Peyton and I re-entered the room to be engulfed again by an awkward silence.
"So Haley, tell us all about you!" Peyton said, trying to break the ice. I could tell it was more for Nathan's benefit than ours.
"Umm, I have 2 elders sisters. I tutor at school and well, I can sort of carry a tune, I guess," she answered.
"You should tutor Nate here. He has had to almost leave the team a couple of times because of his poor grades. Whitey has been behind his life to get extra help but he won't. Maybe you can knock some sense into him," I remarked.
"Drop it B!" Nathan said, rolling his eyes. He hated asking for help much like the other Scott I was getting to know.
"Nathan, there's no shame in asking for some help with school. We all struggle with different things. I mean I almost failed Physical Ed. I cried at the River Court trying to make that stupid ball pass through that stupid hoop. Lucas helped me and although I still didn't make it through, the ball did touch the rim giving me a pass," she said.
"Why don't you and Tutor girl meet up tonight at your house, Nate? You can try a session before making up your mind about whether you need the help or not," I set it up. "Does that work for you, Tutor Girl?"
"Uh… umm, yeah I can make time tonight," she stuttered.
"Great, so that's settled!" I said, clapping my hands together.
"Your grades aren't great either, Penelope!" Nathan tried to ease out of the fix I had put him in.
"I'm sure Haley can help me after she is done with you!" I laughed. Oh, this was going to be fun to watch. Peyton chuckled in the corner as well.
"Hey Guys!" Lucas suddenly said from the bed. We hadn't been paying attention to him while I tried to set Naley two up.
"Oh my God, Lucas!" yelled Haley, turning towards the bed. She put her head on Lucas' neck while he put his arm around her head.
"I'm fine Hales, don't worry," he smiled.
He looked at me next and I gave him a weak smile. He quickly shuffled his eyes to Nathan's. They both nodded their heads acknowledging each other and that was it.
He tried to sit up and Haley was quick to help him as he seemed in a lot of pain.
"Hey guys, you really don't need to be here. It's fine. I appreciate it but I'm good," he responded.
"Do you need anything, Lucas? I mean we met your father but he left for some work, I am not even sure," Haley said.
Lucas had no time to hide the visible shock on his face. He never intended for his father to see anyone and he assumed the worst.
"He met with all of you?" He asked. I knew that he was trying to see if Dan had laid his eyes on me again.
"No, just Nathan and Haley, I guess. Peyton and I were out," I said, jumping quickly into the conversation.
Some relief filled his face but he was still very visibly worried.
"You sure, Luke? I mean if not all, at least one of us can stay," Haley spoke on behalf of the group. She looked up towards us and was met with a series of nods.
"I mean as handsome as I look when I'm sleeping, it is weird. Besides Nate, you need to be on the court. Until I get the clear, you have to carry the whole team and that's gonna be difficult!" he said.
"Oh, looks like they repaired your sense of humour out there too while fixing your lung!" Nathan joked. "The team was planning to come see you tomorrow after school. We planned on asking Whitey for permission to end practice early. Meanwhile, feel better, bro." The two brothers clapped their hands and Nathan moved to the back. Peyton gave an awkward wave to say goodbye and Haley gave a final hug to him.
"Hey guys, I actually have some errands to run. The Davis' are coming home for the weekend. Peyton, is it okay if I use your car? I'll get it to pick you up for school tomorrow. Nate, can you drop the girls again?"
"Yeah yeah, any bags for this chauffer to carry too for you Madam?" Nathan smirked. I punched his back in a friendly manner as they left.
"You guys go, I have to grab all my stuff," I said, shooing them away and pretending to be folding the hoodie Nathan had given me.
"So, your parents are coming over!" Lucas remarked once we were sure our friends were at a distance.
"Haha, god no! I just lie to Peyton and Nathan now saying that they are coming for the weekend every once in a while. It keeps them from worrying too much," I answered honestly.
"Brooke, what did he do to you?" He asked me. His eyes squinted as a single tear fell.
"Luke, I'm fine. Seriously," I tried assuring him.
"Brooke, I saw him, drunk and angry, looking at you, screaming at you and then I passed out. I need to know exactly what happened," his voice was hoarse, almost sounding like a growl.
"Uhh, he started yelling and then he moved towards me but then Peyton came and hit him hard with a baseball bat. He passed out and we got you here," I answered. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry but Peyton knows now. Not about us, well yeah that we have sex but she knows your end of the bargain."
He wasn't listening to me though. His fingers moved up to my cheek, tracing the mark I had there and then going to the red print on my arm.
"Lucas, Lucas! Look at me! I'm fine. Hey! You really got to listen to me. The police will come to take your statement. You gotta corroborate. And Peyton and I gave you a temporary fix from Dan," I tried to get his attention.
"What did you do!" His eyes shot wide like the size of basketballs.
I was glad to get his attention away from my encounter with Dan. I refused to tell him that his father had almost raped me. He would not be able to bear it and I refused to look any more wounded than I already did in front of him. It was a secret I planned to carry to my grave. I would make sure that Peyron kept her lips sealed as well.
I told him about the River Court mugging and about how we had sent Dan to Seattle. Lucas' face was a bag of mixed emotions. He let his tears stream down, unable to decide whether to feel relief or worry or what.
"Brooke, can I have some space? I just need to process it all," he asked.
"Of course," I answered even though it was crushing me to be away from him.
"Come back for the night," he said just as I was exiting the door.
"I-I'll let you know," I answered from the door. I felt like a lost puppy, dependent and it horrified me that that was who I was.
"No Brooke, I didn't mean it like that," he tried to rectify his error.
"I'm sure," I said, looking up at the sky and shaking my head before finally walking out the door.
—- —- —
Getting home, I just slumped on the couch for a while, feeling too tired to move. Then I felt all my pent up emotions come out and they needed constructive release. Usually, that would mean sex. But I needed to find another alternative even though Lucas and I were never exclusive.
I took a scalding hot shower and got into some sweats. Walking into my ginormous walk in closet, I started tearing through it, pulling stuff from the racks.
I got a carton from the garage and labelled it goodwill. Dumping all the things I had decided to part with in the box, I placed it in the corner of the kitchen island for the house helper to find it. She knew what to do.
I organised the rest of my stuff until I had freed a part of my closet space. I felt my stomach lurch so I went down and made myself a salad. It still felt weird because I could not stop thinking about Lucas and worrying about him, but I also felt so mad at him.
I knew that as much as I was telling myself that I was organising my closet because I needed to, I knew that I was actually doing it to make closet space for Lucas, because I did not want him to have to lay another foot in that god forsaken place with that awful man!
Stabbing my fork into my lettuce, I quickly forked it down before deciding to go to Peyton's for the night. I refused to let myself look that needy to Lucas. He could spend the night thinking it through after all I did was save his damn life!
Getting through the always unlocked door, I bounded up the stairs to Peyton's room to find her and Jake sitting on her bed, sucking each other's faces! Baby Jenny was in her car seat, facing the other side, her pacifier and a set of keys keeping her occupied.
"Oh my god!" I yelled as soon as I saw the sight. Turning 180 degrees I began to giggle. "Just so you two know, this makes me so happy! I'm gonna go but Peyton, text me with the details will you!"
The two quickly pushed away before asking me not to leave.
"I was scared of those men near the river so Jake stayed over, last night and this is new. It just happened," Peyton explained.
"As long as it did, I am happy!" I smirked. "But seriously, were the two of you planning to have sex tonight with a baby watching!"
"Brooke, we were not going to have sex!" Peyton laughed.
"If you want, I can babysit Jenny," I laughed.
"Come join us," said Jake. "Okay wow, that sounded horrible. What I mean is, stay and hang out with us, B. You don't need to be alone right now,"
We saw a movie before falling asleep there. Peyton and I slept on the bed with baby Jenny between us while Jake crashed on a mattress on the floor.
I went back to the hospital after school. There was no cheer practice so I beat the boys to get there to see him. I stood a little farther away watching him. He was reading a book and brooding. I contemplated whether or to go in or just leave. But fate decided for me because something made him look up and he pierced into my hazel orbs. He smiled and beckoned me to his room.
"I'm sorry, Brooke. I messed up," he said as soon as I entered the room. "I really am very sorry. What I should have said was, you saved my life! Thank you!"
My eyes grew red with unshed tears. He raised his arms for me to go closer to him. His ribs were hurt so I knew better than to hug him. He scooted on the bed with alot of pain and patted the tiny spot he had created for me to get into bed with him.
"I didn't sleep at all last night. I kept missing my Girlfriend," he said to me holding my hand.
"Girlfriend?" I asked, raising a brow.
"Yeah, I want you with myself always at all times to be only mine," he said with a big grin. "So will you join me, so I can finally sleep?"
"Sure, Boyfriend!" I squealed like a five year old and got into the bed, making sure I didn't hurt him.
— — —
"Look at this!" I heard someone scream followed by a series of hoots. I shot up, confused and rubbing my eyes.
"Huh?" I said, I was certain my blurred vision was making me see things because I saw the entire basketball team standing there, looking at me and smirking.
That's when my brain kickstarted and I realised how bad it looked. I had fallen asleep in the hospital bed with Lucas for the world to see.
Lucas was holding his head and shaking it, not knowing what to say as I was pulling on his blanket to hide my embarrassed face. Jake began laughing and I could see some anger in Nathan's eyes. The rest of the team were too busy catcalling Lucas for getting me in the sack even though that was not going to happen in a hospital.
I made a pleading face at Nathan, almost like I was pleading him to approve of our relationship. His eyes eventually softened from cold silver, to the trademark Scott back to his baby blue. Relief swept over me as I climbed out of the bed.
"Okay guys, nothing to see here," I said as they kept eyeing me like eye candy. "Lucas, I will see you later and Jake, make sure Nathan and the rest of these dimwits don't blow this out of proportions."
I hugged Nathan and whispered a thank you to him. Nathan's protective instincts for me were super strong. I was his first girl. Nobody could take that away from us and we had been friends forever. He rubbed my back and gave me a kiss on my cheek.
I got out into the hospital parking lot and immediately called Peyton!
"P. Sawyer, guess what just happened! Okay, you're never going to be able to guess it, it's too good to be true! Lucas asked me to be his girlfriend! I have a boyfriend, P! Aaaah!" I squealed.
"This makes me so happy, B! Listen, can I ask you a favour?" she said to me.
"Anything for my favourite girl!" I smiled as I got into my car.
"Jake wants to take me on a date, but there is nobody to watch Jenny…" she trailed.
"Say no more, Aunt Brooke will be there! Tell me when and I'll get her," I replied before she had a chance to ask.
"Thank you, Brooke," said Peyton. I could tell she was beaming even though I could not see her.
"Look at us all getting into relationships! All we gotta do is play matchmaker for Nathan and Haley and then we can well, triple date I guess," I said. However, it sounded so funny even putting it out.
Instead of going home, I went to Lucas' house instead. I peeped through, there was nobody at home. I searched around the side door which led to Lucas' room and food an extra key under a flower pot.
I didn't even know where to look but I searched until I found their suitcases. Pulling them to Lucas' room, I just started pulling his clothes from the rack and tossing them in the bags. Once his closet was completely empty, I continued around the room. It took me two trips from Lucas' house to mine but I managed to not move all his stuff to my place. I was so pumped that I even set up the whole place, arranging his outfits and shoes and other stuff in the closet space I had created. His cartons of books went into my already crammed bookshelf. I had clicked a picture of the order he placed them in at his house so that I could recreate it. It felt strange having his stuff there, placing his aftershave near my deodorant, having two toothbrushes at the sink, and basketballs in my balcony, but this strange felt nice.
It was late by the time I finished. I started heading out of my house, ready to go to Peyton's to crash for the night but there was something that drew me to Nathan instead.
"Hey, where are you?" I asked him on the call.
"Home," came his reply. "Was just shooting some hoops in the backyard."
"Can I come over to sleep? Just for the night," I asked him.
"Whenever you need, Penelope," he said. I could hear him dribble the basketball ehile still talking to me.
I entered the familiar room behind Nathan. It was close to 2:30 am by then.
"Thanks Nathan," I smiled before hopping onto the bed.
"So you and my brother, huh?" He asked, bringing up the elephant in the room.
"I think I really like him, Nathan. I know how it looks to you, that it's fast, but I don't know, he makes me feel happy and smile. Please Nate? Nobody has cared to date your Brookie yet…" I pouted.
"Fine, but if he hurts you, I'm going to break his face. At this point, you're more like my baby sister than he is my brother," he acquiesced.
"Nate, you do know we have had sex like twice, right?" I said shrivelling my nose.
"Twice?" He asked, not remembering our second time.
"The only game you lost, you go ridiculously drunk and I am always ridiculously drunk at those beach house parties. You had a fight with Theresa and then you can remember the rest," I reminded him.
"Right, I had forgotten that," He said as blurred visions of that night clouded his memory. "But I care about you much more deeply, Penny."
"Thanks hotshot!" I said, yawning and lying on the bed. He patted my back before falling asleep as well.
