You guys are going to hate me for this and I am so sorry but I had this mapped out even before the Lindsey storyline. I almost scrapped it but then, I had so many ideas on where I wanted to take them all from here and the kids deserved some spotlight too before the happy ending. So, just bear with me and I promise you all the happy joys after this storyline.
Things were looking up everywhere. Lindsey left us immediately and an insane amount of things ensued in the next month. We moved into our new fully done-up house. The kids were in love with the place. Karen and Andy loved the cottage, but unfortunately, they saw it over a video call since they had returned to New Zealand. The day we moved in, we hosted a party to celebrate our engagement and all the good things we had going on. It was lovely. The Clothes over Bro's office got made in time and I was officially running operations from Tree Hill. Lucas' new book hit the market and it was selling well. Peyton and Jake had returned to LA and I was in withdrawal from baby fever. Nathan was killing it with the Bobcats which I officially owned partially. Haley's new album was out too but since school was still in session, she was waiting for summer break to go on tour. Lucas and I had settled into life together and we were ridiculously happy because things were great.
We had begun planning our wedding. We had settled on the Hamptons and the date of our first wedding. I was sewing my wedding dress myself in the office and Lucas and I were in touch with our wedding planners to host our dream wedding. We wanted the media attention that we were bound to get to help the world, so our wedding day would see the launch of the Davis Scott Foundation for Progress as a family foundation to support organizations and individuals working for equity, social justice, and progress. I was already working hard and strong with advisors to set it up. We planned on asking all our guests to not give us any gifts but help us support global causes instead. We were also bouncing ideas for our honeymoon and were currently thinking of going to Africa and helping build a school there, also helping with some water conservation efforts in the area since there was so much water scarcity in the nation. The ceremony would be small and intimate, full of family and warmth. We had a guest list of about 250 and I had rented out the neighbouring villas to accommodate everybody. We still needed to do in-depth planning but we were solid on what message we wanted to give the world as a result of our wedding and the fact that he was as into social causes as I was made my heart melt. I was deeply in love and I couldn't wait to give him more.
"Hey, morning," I said when I woke up to the sound of my alarm. Lucas stirred beside me, still not ready for the day. I scrolled through the notifications on my phone and suddenly my eyes grew wide.
"Aaah!" I screamed, making Lucas sit up straight.
"What's wrong?" he asked, alert and looking around the room, expecting to find a masked intruder.
"I got nominated for the CFDA Awards!" I yelled, bouncing on the bed with so much happiness.
"The what?" Lucas asked, not getting anything I was saying.
"The CFDA Fashion Awards stand for the Council of Fashion Designers of America. They honour and showcase the excellence in fashion design in America. It has been called "the Oscars of fashion". It's like if you got nominated for a Pulitzer Prize or like how a musician wins a Grammy! They are the biggest deal in the Fashion Industry ever and I am nominated!" I explained.
"Congratulations Brooke!" he said, pulling me into a deep bear hug.
"Will you and the kids come with me? The award ceremony is on Saturday night. We could fly on Friday after the kids get done with school and return on Sunday. It's at Casa Cipriani in Manhattan," I asked.
"Of course, we will be there to celebrate your win!" Lucas said, kissing my forehead.
"Still only nominated," I blushed. The thought that I could win the award felt bizarre!
"You will win, I just know it!" he winked.
"Omg! I need to call my stylist and book my makeup and hair artist! We all need outfits and the event is in two weeks! Oh there, Victoria is calling. Hi mom!" I greeted her happily on the call.
"Brooke, did you see! The CFDA nominations are out!" she sounded so happy too.
"Yes! I got an email from them!" I grinned. Whoa, I was nominated for the biggest award in my industry. I pinched my arm discreetly, thinking that all of this must be a dream. How could life be so great? I was getting married to the guy of my dreams and then I planned on expanding my family with him, the thoughts of having another baby with him making me five shades of pink. But I was so ready to marry the shit out of this man! We were doing so well! I had never been happier.
The kids were excited that I was taking them to an award show. I designed dresses and suits for all of us. The happiness helped and Sophia was bursting at the thought of being featured as best dressed in Vogue. I designed a silver gown with a long train. It was backless with spaghetti straps that crisscrossed in the back to keep the bodice in place. The fabric had some subtle sparkly detailings making it glitter under the light. Lucas wore a tux with a bluish-grey tie to match his eyes. Jamie picked a grey suit with a black tie and Sophia wanted to look like a sparkling starlet so I designed her a disco ball-inspired short dress which she said was the best dress she had ever seen and I should have submitted that dress for the award.
"Luke, I need to get to New York a little earlier. There are interviews set up since I'm a nominee. I'll have to go two days early," I called Luke from my office and informed him once Millie updated me on my schedule.
"Oh, okay. The kids and I will see you there then," he said with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"I'll miss you too much, but well… I've already got Millie to change my flight. You guys are still booked for the one Friday night. I know the kids wanted to use the jet, but that's terrible for the planet. I can't bear the emissions I'm creating flying just us!" I was so bugged about using the jet. It was so bad for the environment.
"You are right and it's getting to their head. We got to tighten their spending, put them on a budget in New York!" he joked.
"So no Fifth Avenue shopping?" I pouted.
"You spoil them and then complain that they are acting rich and priss!" Lucas complained.
"They're my only children, what do you expect!" I laughed.
"We need to put a limit to your spending first! You are a designer and yet, you keep wanting other designer wear!" he mocked me playfully.
"Scouting the competition?" I tried to defend myself.
"More like in love with the competition!" he continued to banter.
"But, don't you love me in those clothes? The outfits right off the runway? The Valentinos that just hug my body perfectly?" I whispered, my voice getting raspier.
"Not as much as I like you out of them," he said, making me turn red and cough as my breath hitched suddenly.
"Okay, we need to stop or I will find myself driving home right now! Hell, I still want to, especially since you have to decide on the book tour," I whined.
"I could always not go or do a really really short one," he said.
"Nah, this is your work. You do what is right for you and what you want. I'll be the housewife and take care of the babies while you are away," I said, making it sound like we were living in the 1960s.
"I'm not going to war, my love. I could always do what Haley is doing and tour in the summer, after our wedding. That way the kids could come too and if you had time, you could come…" he suggested.
"This is your decision and I will support whatever you want, whenever you want it. Okay, I have a zoom with the head office now, bye!" I said before cutting the call. Boy, I was lucky. I loved that boy.
LUCAS' POV
"Kids! We should have left fifteen minutes ago!" I yelled, standing in the foyer of our new big house. I wondered if my voice travelled all the way up to their rooms. The new place was elegant, but it was also a home. Brooke had ensured that it was warm and inviting and just right for our family.
"Kids! I'm going to leave you right here and go to New York! What is taking so long? I thought that both of you were done packing!" I yelled again.
"Jeez! Calm down, we will make it," Sophia rolled her eyes from the top of the stairs. "Jamieee! Can you get my bag down? It's too heavy!"
Jamie lifted both his and Sophia's bags while the princess skipped down the steps.
"What are you carrying in that bag? We are only going for the weekend. Besides, you have a closet full of things in New York!" I was so astonished.
"Dad, these awards are a big deal. Besides, aren't we late? Let's go! We don't want to miss our flight," she said waving her arms to usher us out. My children so had me wrapped around their pinkies, especially my daughter. But what could I do? She looked just like Brooke, with my melting baby blue eyes. How could I ever deny that face anything?
If Brooke and I have more, please don't let it be a daughter! Girls are so much harder than boys. But, another kid that looks like her and behaves like her? That would be the most incredible thing ever! Wait, what am I thinking? Snap out of it!
I spent the entire duration of the flight imagining what Brooke would look like pregnant that day and how incredible James and Sophia would be as older siblings. What would the gender be? We got so lucky to have one of each with the twins. What if it was twins again? They were a lot of work, but they were so worth it.
We landed in New York quite late, but Sanjay was waiting for us.
"Hello, Scott Family. Let me help you with your luggage," he said and quickly took our bags out of our hands and placed them in the boot of the limo.
"Hi Sanjay, Sophia and I were cleaning out our closets when we moved into the new house and we have some things for your kids. It's that large bag. Will you take it home with you?" Jamie said to him, making my heart fill with pride. They both had their mother's large heart and I could not be prouder of them.
"So, where is your stuff?" I asked her, considering how the large bag was for Sanjay.
"Mom took my dress and shoes with her. Her hair and makeup artist is going to do mine too so I didn't have to carry any of that and as you said, dad, I have a closet full of things at the penthouse here. I tossed some basic things that I needed with my electronics in Jamie's bag," she smirked at me.
I kissed her head, "You make me really proud, Princess."
"Sanjay, is mom home?" Jamie asked him.
"She will be by the time we get there. She wanted me to come and pick ya'll up so she decided to take a cab back to the apartment," he informed us. "She can't wait to see all of you though. She told me to rush and get ya'll home so that she could be with you."
"Mom is such a dork," Sophia laughed.
We got to Brooke's apartment building and walked in. However, the penthouse was completely dark and empty. We went around and surely, Brooke was not there.
Sophia picked up the intercom and dialled the reception. "Hey Greg, has my mom returned from work?" she asked.
I looked at Sophia who shook her head no. So, I called Brooke's cell. It rang but went to voicemail eventually. Huh, strange. Maybe she didn't hear it ring. Next, I called her office extension. There was no answer. Now, that was odd.
"It's almost midnight. She can't be in a meeting or anything and she texted me while we were flying that she couldn't wait to see us and that she would be home before we got here. Something is off guys," I told the kids. My palms were sweaty with worry.
I called Sanjay who was still very close. The kids and I headed down to go to Brooke's office. En route, we constantly tried her phone but she did not answer.
We stopped at the main entrance where there Security was guarding the doors. "Hey, is Brooke still inside the office?" I asked them.
"Yes, Mr. Scott. Ms. Davis hasn't left yet," one of them answered, Luckily, they recognised us.
"Is there anyone else working with her? Maybe her mother, Victoria Davis?" I continued.
"No, Sir. Just her. I personally checked all the other floors and turned off their lights and air conditioning," he informed us.
He allowed us in and we went to the top floor to Brooke's office. We walked inside. The lights in her office were on, but there was still no Brooke. Her bag was there, her laptop still had the lid open on her desk with her iPad and phone next to it. Her salad takeaway box was half eaten and that was scaring me further.
"Sophia, check the restrooms. Jamie, check the Board room. Call if you spot her," I said worriedly.
"Brooke! Brooke!" I began screaming, looking for my girl.
Jamie and Sophia flung into action with Jamie proceeding towards the staircase to go down towards the Board Rooms. I followed him out to check the other offices on the floor. That's when I saw him freeze and his breath hitch.
I ran towards him and was greeted with the most horrific site. Brooke was on the landing of the stairs, battered, bruised and fainted.
"Brooke!" I screamed, pushing my son away and running towards my fiance.
"Jamie, call 911 and ask for an ambulance! Now!" I screamed with tears streaming down my face.
I started to shake the girl I loved and then gently slapped her face in an attempt to wake her up. "Brooke! Come on! Come on, wake up baby! Come on, wake up!" I cried. "Jamie, how far is that bloody ambulance?
"Uhh, five minutes," he replied, shaking at the top of the stairs.
"Brooke, help is on the way! Just open those pretty eyes of yours, please!" I cry, pulling her into me.
Soon, paramedics emerged from the elevator and met us at the stairwell. They pulled Brooke away from my arms and began attending to her. They put an oxygen mask around her and placed her on a Board. Taking her down, they wheeled her into an ambulance.
They did not allow me and the kids to ride with her so we followed them to the hospital in the limo. When we reached there, Brooke was already being attended to by some doctors.
"Sir, you are the one who found her, right?" the cops asked me.
"Yes, our son was the first to spot her," I said, broken-hearted.
"Do you know who did this to her?" he asked me.
"Huh, what do you mean by who did this to her? Didn't she fall down the stairs? Wait, do you think she was pushed?" I asked, alarmed.
"Sir, based on what the paramedics informed us, we believe that Ms. Davis was attacked and then pushed," he said. "We are very sorry."
"What? How? How can you be so sure?" I asked, unable to stomach what I was just learning.
"Staircases don't leave handprints, sir," he said softly. "We will be back once Ms. Davis wakes up to ask her a couple of questions."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. What?
I needed to see the doctor. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long.
"Who is here for Miss Davis?" A doctor asked, looking around the waiting room.
I looked at him and he nodded his head, walking towards me and the kids.
"So, first of all, Ms. Davis is fine. She is healing. She was attacked first which resulted in some bruising. She was punched repeatedly in her face and her stomach. She also has scratch marks on her back and thighs. Then she was pushed down the stairs, where she suffered a concussion and fainted," he informed me.
"Doctor, was she?" I asked, completely terrified of the answer I would receive. I could not even get the word 'rape' out.
"No, we performed a kit and there were no indications," he said, making me sigh in relief. "However, we regret to inform you that she did lose the baby. The blows to her stomach and the fall made her miscarry. I am deeply sorry for your loss."
"What!" I screamed and stilled as if a bullet had been fired at my brain.
"Dad? Was Mom —" Jamie began to ask.
"I don't know. I mean, I didn't know. Huh?" I cut him off. "Are you, are you sure?"
"Yes, she was bleeding when she got here. We performed an ultrasound and confirmed that she was having a miscarriage. We put her under anaesthesia and performed a dilation and curettage. We also administered some medicines to slow the bleeding. Again, I am very sorry, there was nothing that we could do," he informed regretfully.
"Huh. Uhh, can we go see Brooke?" I asked, scratching my head which was in denial.
"Yes, but she needs to rest and it's not exactly visiting hours so keep it short. She is sedated with painkillers right now. She'll be up soon though," he replied.
"Does she know about the, uhh, about what you just told us?" I asked.
"No, we will tell her when she wakes up," he said and then left us.
Shit, Brooke was pregnant and we lost the baby. I did not know what to make out of that information. Did Brooke know? We sat there, watching Brooke sleep. Eventually, she stirred but was completely disoriented. She was squinting to look at us, shaking her head, unsure about her surroundings or her levels of pain.
"Can one of you get the doctor?" I asked and saw Sophia run out from the corner of my eye.
The doctor came in and checked her. I saw him listen to her heart with his stethoscope and move his flashlight in front of her eyes. He counted her pulse and then read the monitors, writing some information down. Brooke was silent and limp through it all. "Hello, Ms. Davis. Do you know where you are?"
"Yeah," she says hoarsely.
"Do you remember what happened?" He asked.
A single tear fell from her eyes as she nodded her head affirmatively.
"Okay good, the police are outside to take your statement but that can wait until you feel better. Ms. Davis, you suffered some bruising on your face, near your eyes and your stomach. You also have some scratches on your back and thighs. You suffered a concussion from falling down the stairs and we regret to inform you that you suffered from a miscarriage and lost your baby," he repeated what he had said to me.
"What? I had a baby? How? When? I didn't know," she said, equally surprised by what he had just said.
"The baby would be at about 6 weeks," he informed.
"And I lost the baby?" She asked, looking towards her stomach and touching the flat surface she was met with.
"Yes, there was nothing we could do. The fall blows you received were so hard," he repeated.
"I was pregnant!? It would make sense, she was in Tree Hill. I did mess up the timing of my pill on a few occasions." Brooke was so lost, so confused and so disoriented. "Did I kill the baby?"
"Ma'am, you suffered major injuries and the pregnancy was still at a very early stage," he explained.
"Lucas?" she asked, looking at me like a helpless child. All this while she hadn't stopped rubbing her stomach in an attempt to feel something.
"I'm so sorry Brooke," I said brokenheartedly.
"Lucas!" she cried as grief settled in. "No! No! No!"
Brooke was inconsolable. She was crying and throwing a fit. "No! Save it! Please, please do something! Do anything, please! No, it can't be! Please!" she begged the doctor.
"I am so very sorry ma'am," he said.
"No!" Brooke was hysterical. I tried to go hug her but she pushed me away. She just moaned and sobbed chanting the word no repeatedly.
"Ma'am, you are scaring the other patients. You need to calm down," a nurse stepped into the room.
"No!" Brooke was livid. She was clutching her flat belly and the languishing sobs seemed helpless.
"Okay, I need help in here," the nurse called and two more walked in.
"Ms. Davis, we are going to sedate you. Would you just lie down, so we can give you the injection?" she asked. Brooke was not having it. She was a mess. Sophia was crying and she ran to me and hugged me as we watched two nurses pin Brooke down while she screamed with all her might and a third nurse inject something into her system.
"No, no, no," her chants and her sobs became quieter until they stopped and she passed out as a result of the effects of the drugs.
"All of you need to leave," the nurse said, pushing us out of the room.
I peered inside and the sight haunted me. Brooke's face was a deep purple. I could barely spot her eyes which were swollen. I had no idea how she was even clutching her belly because that was every shade of red and purple too. Her skin looked so tender that one would hiss even if the wind made contact. Her face was wet with the tears that she had cried.
Brooke had been pregnant! We had made a baby together! She really had a child, my child growing inside her! Who could have been so cruel to have done this to her?
When Brooke woke up again, the Detectives went to speak to her. Brooke was still crying.
"Hello, Ms. Davis. We are so very sorry that this happened to you. We want to catch the person who did this. Any information you provide us with can help us find the culprit," the said to her.
"It was Lindsey Strauss and Samuel Cross. They barged into my office and shoved me and beat me up and then dragged me to the stairs and kicked me down. I didn't hit back because Lindsey was pregnant. I was afraid to hurt her child so I took the punches. I-I-I-I I didn't know that I was pregnant or I would have defended myself, I didn't know or I would have done anything to save the baby. I didn't hurt them to save their baby and in the process, I killed mine! I killed my child! I killed my baby! How could I have done that? How could I have not known? How could I be so careless! I-I- I killed," Brooke started hyperventilating.
"I am so sorry, Miss but you have got to know that this is not your fault. Thank you for all the information you have provided us with. We will do our best to catch them," he said and walked out.
That night, we skipped the award show. Brooke won, but it didn't matter. We had all lost.
Two Months Later
Julian's POV
I was excited. I hadn't seen Brooke and the kids in a while, but I finally had some time off before the next project and I couldn't wait to see my favourite teenagers. I saw Brooke's house and remembered seeing it on the cover of Elle Decor. It looked better in person. I rang the doorbell and waited.
"Huh? Julian!" Sophia screamed, surprised to find me at the door when she opened it. Her face looked pale which was weird. Was she still not feeling better? The shooting had taken place months ago.
"Hii! Surprise! Special delivery from LA! I got you and Jamie those strawberry doughnuts you two love and are crazy about. I'm sorry for being so late in visiting. I wanted to come while you two were in the hospital after the shooting but I had 2 back to back films in LA to produce and since you two aren't technically my kids, I failed at convincing them to let me fly here. I just got a few days off before the next project and I hopped on the first flight here," I grinned. "I also saw the news about your parents getting engaged again. Figured I offer my congratulations to the happy couple." I scratched the back of my neck, feeling awkward.
"Where's everybody?" I tried to peer into the house around when Sophia continued standing at the door in radio silence as if she had had my brain lobotomised.
"Soph, what's wrong? For somebody who got their wish of their parents getting back together… you don't look too happy," I commented in an attempt to make the scared teen smile. However, I got the complete opposite reaction. She burst out crying in front of my eyes upon hearing me say that.
"Soph!" I screamed, walking closer to her and looking over her to find signs of what was wrong.
"Everything is shit, Julian! Everything is so bad on every level!" she cried and flung herself into his arms.
"What happened?" I asked, alarmed as I hugged her back in a super confused manner. Nothing made any sense.
Sophia continued to tremble in front of my eyes. "Why don't we go inside and then you can talk to me? By the way, where are your parents?"
She tried to choke the sob that escaped when I mentioned Brooke and Lucas and that had me really really worried.
"Sophia, I need you to tell me everything that has been going on. That is the only way that I can help you. Do you understand that? I will try my best to help you but you need to talk to me and tell me everything about what is wrong," I said slowly.
She hiccuped a few times but nodded her head affirmatively.
"Remember Lindsey? Dad's ex-girlfriend? She came and said that she was pregnant with dad's baby," she started. I gasped at that.
"She wasn't. She lied about the baby's paternity to get money out of mom and dad. They caught her and things were so good after that. They were closer than ever, so romantic, it was gross. Then mom was going to win this award, so we went to New York, all of us. Mom was at the office and Lindsey got there. She blamed mom for ruining her life and mom didn't want to hurt her because she was pregnant. Then she and her boyfriend Samuel, beat her and pushed her down the stairs. Mom didn't know at that time but she was six weeks pregnant. She lost the baby." Sophia explained.
I looked as if somebody had punched me in the gut multiple times. My eyes were bulging and red and I could not fathom what I was just hearing. I stayed quiet while Sophia continued.
"Mom was scared, sore. Lindsey and Samuel fled. We still don't know where they are. The news of losing the baby broke mom and dad. Mom blamed herself. She locked herself in her room for like a month. She refused to eat and refused to talk and dad didn't do anything about it because he blamed himself for what happened. She got really passive, depressed, and dead. They didn't tell anybody about what happened, not even Aunt Peyton and Uncle Jake or Uncle Nathan and Aunt Haley. When Jamie and I tried to talk to her and help her, she lashed out at us and completely lost her sense of self. Once, I tried to grab her and get her to leave the room and eat something, but she pushed me and told me to get out. She said that she couldn't see me. I-I know that it was because seeing me reminded her of the child she lost, but, does that mean I am never to see my mom again? I've never felt so lost. I miss my mom. I didn't even miss her like this when she was away in New York or whatever other part of the world because she was still with me. We still spoke every day. She was right in front of me and still, she wasn't there. She has always been such a superwoman. Mom was strong. So strong and I took all that stability and strength for granted. Now, I don't know what to do. She continued to get resentful and despondent. One day she walked to her study and there was this scented candle on the desk. I guess she was trying to work. Victoria had been screaming. She also didn't know anything about it what happened wasn't having it. She started yelling at mom for being lazy after going to Tree Hill and shirking her work responsibilities and going back on her word. So she went to her office and lit the candle. She sat on her desk and tried to work. She had some alcohol with her to drown the pain. She must've spilt her drink and then she tipped the candle and set her desk on fire. The paper and the wood were quick to burn and she sat there. She just sat there and watched the flames. She made no effort to get up or stop the fire from spreading. She was so numb. I saw her and pulled her away and put the fire out. Her office still has a semi burnt desk. Then that night, she purposefully let herself fall into the pool and tried to drown herself. I heard the splash and pulled her out while she struggled and cried, begging me to let her go. She sobbed to just let her go. I tried to distract her by telling her that my teacher said I had a gift for writing and my essay was going to be featured in the school newspaper. Her response was, 'What do you want? A gold star?' Then she just left the house and walked away. All this while, all dad did was spend all his time searching for Lindsey and Samuel. Dad slept in his study because he couldn't face mom. Eventually, Victoria got to her, but she was different. She started travelling for work although I really doubt she is doing much work. She went to charlotte since she invested in the Bobcats and pretended that the black eye and marks on her body from being brutally attacked that she was sporting were only because she clumsily dropped laundry, got wrapped in the sheets and fell off the stairs. But, stairs don't leave handprints, that's how the cops broke the news to us that she had been attacked. Sadly, Uncle Nathan bought her story and if she looked sad, he just chalked it to physical pain and not depression. Then she went to New York. She is in LA right now for Sports Illustrated's modelling since her scars are finally healed. They had to postpone because of her "fall". Also, Zendaya's dress. She had promised us that we could come with her for that and meet Zendaya. Then she forgot about it and I didn't have the heart to remind her. I just don't get it. My whole life, no matter how tough things get, my parents have been nothing but consistent and sweet. And now, I'm losing my belief in 'In sickness and In Health. For better or worse.' Maybe it's a good thing they aren't married yet." she finished.
"Oh, God! How had things gone so awry? "Sophia, I'm so so very sorry. Where's Lucas? Why isn't he helping?"
"He is in Omaha, I think. He is on a book tour. Once mom started travelling for work, he did too and he took the longest one he could. Although he also scouts each state for her, has a PI travel with him or whatnot. I'm honestly not too sure where he is currently though," she replied.
"And Jamie?" I asked. Was this girl living alone?
"He's somewhere. I honestly don't know. He has been distant," She said looking down.
"So what, the two of you are all alone? They let you stay alone!" I was livid.
"No, they told us to stay at Aunt Haley's. But mom thought dad spoke to her and dad thought mom did and Aunt Haley is busy with her kids and her record that just came out. She is promoting it online by doing zoom interviews that she hasn't noticed that the two of us are alone," she said, not meeting my gaze, knowing that she had faltered there.
"That's not okay! Why didn't the two of you go? You should have! It's not like Haley would say no," I chastised her.
Sophia just shrugged, "We wanted the space too."
"When are your parents returning?" I asked, deciding to be more solution oriented.
"Mom's returning in a week. Dad will still be out for three more weeks," she counted on her fingers.
"What about food!? Have you and Jamie been cooking? Are you hungry?" I asked.
"I don't know what Jamie does. I just make some stuff sometimes from what we have. Cereal goes a long way or I order in. I have their credit card and it's not like they are checking the transactions on that thing," she said offhandedly.
"What do you mean about Jamie?" I was worried about him and I could tell that Sophia was hiding something.
"He- uh- he's - he's been very off. He doesn't eat. He sleeps a lot. He is always irritable and he wants nothing to do with me. He's gone a lot too and he's just different," she sighed. Jamie had been there for her through everything. In the tumultuous relationship of her parents, he was her only constant.
"Okay, I'm here now. Im going to have to move some things, but if you don't want to go to Haley's, I can stay with the two of you until Brooke returns and then I'm having a serious discussion with her because this is unacceptable. Also, your parents need help from a professional or someone who has been through what they are going through. I'll help you, don't worry Soph," I promised.
"Really? You'll stay and help?" she asked, hopefully.
"Yes. Let me make some calls," I said. Sophia showed me to Lucas' office and I made those calls. I saw her sigh from the corner of my eye, in the hope that things would get better.
"All sorted. I'm yours for the week!" I declared happily. She did not need to know how difficult it had been to get those off days. Tree Hill was supposed to be a weekend pit stop for me. But, how could I leave knowing how bad things were? My dad had onboarded the next film to produce with me so it was even harder to get him to understand. But, there was no way that I was leaving the kids like this, so I stuck to my stance and he agreed to let me join in a little later.
"Can you not tell mom and dad about this, please? I don't want them to worry. They have way too much going on," she said. Her face was scrunched up and her eyes were closed while she said that.
"Yes, I promise. But don't they call to check in?" I asked. They had to have called, right?
"They text," she responded flatly.
"Okay. Also, let's go get some groceries. You need real meals. Come on." I said once I had opened the refrigerator to find it bare.
We took her car and went to the grocery store. I asked her about school and things to keep the conversation light. She answered as much as she was asked, not providing any additional details and that was so not Sophia. She was always shy, but when she opened up, it was hard to stop her from talking.
"Soph, where is Jamie? When will he return?" I asked once she and I had finished making dinner, eating it and cleaning up. It was late.
"I don't know," she said sadly
"He does return every night, right?" I asked, afraid of the answer. "And you are not covering for him?"
"Yes," she answered monosyllabically.
"Does he come to school?" I continued to interrogate.
"Yeah, but he has skipped quite a few times in the last couple of weeks."
Soon, it got close to midnight. "Soph, I'm worried. Is he with his girlfriend? The one he has been dating forever?"
"He broke up with her actually," she informed me.
"What!?" She and Jamie had been together forever!
"Yeah, Maddie has been a mess ever since," there was so much hurt in her voice when she said that.
"What time does he usually get home?" I was fearful at that point.
"Usually around now," Why did she have any solid answers?
"Okay, do you have any idea where he is?" I asked, seriously.
Sophia shook her head no. "He is not with any of our friends, that's for sure."
"Let's go find him," I announced.
"Where?" she asked.
"I don't know. We'll drive around," I said. Unfortunately, I didn't have the answers either. I didn't know what it was to be a dad. We again took Sophia's care and started driving the streets.
"How the hell did your parents let everything go to shit? I've seen them, and even with a divorce, they managed to be great parents, it's so not like them to not pay attention," I voiced my opinions, slamming the steering wheel in anger. They had messed up so horribly and Sophia was a mess and I didn't even know how or where Jamie was! Sophia sniffed but remained quiet.
"You do know that this is not your fault right? They have messed up big time. This is on them," I reminded her, watching her ashen face. Tears slipped out of her eyes and she faced the window to try and hide them.
We checked the river court and then went to all the bars. We drove around the back alleys and reach an abandoned park. I spotted some boys drinking and smoking weed. I just had a funny feeling so I stopped the car.
"Sophia, stay in the car. Don't you dare step outside. Let me check this place," I warned. She nodded her head and vowed to stay put.
I walked towards the boys in the park, "Hey, do you know a guy by the name of James Scott?"
"Who are you, man?" One asked in a hazy stupor. He was clearly high.
"James Scott, come on focus! Is he here?" I asked again, snapping my fingers in front of his face to try to get him to pay attention. The boys just stood there, giving me goofy grins. They were useless.
I started scanning the park and walked towards a clump of trees. There, I saw Jamie, passed out. He looked pale, too pale. I checked his pulse, it was there but it was weak. Then I placed my head on his chest. His breathing was shallow. Shit! I picked him up. It was not easy, but I seemed to have gained strength due to the adrenaline. I ran towards the car and deposited him in the back seat.
"Julian? Julian? Julian, what happened to him?" Sophia was panicking beside me.
I remained quiet and began driving like a maniac towards the hospital.
"Julian! Please tell me! Is he dead?" she cried, her eyes not leaving the body of her brother for even a second.
I continued to remain quiet. We reached the hospital and I drove drives to the emergency gate.
"I need some help!" I scrambled and guided a bunch of doctors and nurses towards me.
"This is James Scott, he seems to have overdosed on drugs," I briefly explained.
"Okay, any idea what he was on?" one of the doctors asked.
"No," I answered.
"Are you his father?" he asked next.
"No, his parents aren't in town. I'm a friend of their parents. I am taking care of them while their parents are gone. That's his twin sister," I said, pointing towards Sophia so he knew I was legit and not some kidnapper.
"Okay, we need you to call the parents," he said and wheeled him in.
"Yes, please help him," I called out to him as he sped away from me.
"Will he be okay?" Sophia asked aloud.
"We'll let you know. He needs to get his stomach pumped," the doctor said, still moving away from us.
It was 1:00 a.m. in Tree Hill, but with the time difference, it was only 10:00 p.m. in LA. I called Brooke but she didn't answer. I called her repeatedly, but still nothing. "Sophia, call your mother and hand me the phone if she answers." Sophia did as she was told.
"Hello?" Brooke said on the line, picking up Sophia's call.
"Brooke!" I yelled, pissed at her.
"Julian?" she asked, startled. "What? Wait, Sophia? Where are you?"
"Brooke, I'm in Tree Hill. Listen, it's Jamie. He is in the hospital," I explained.
"What!" she shrieked.
"I don't know how to tell you this, but I found him overdosed in an abandoned park. The doctors are pumping his stomach as we speak. How soon can you and Lucas get here?" I asked.
"Overdosed! On drugs?" she asked, unable to believe what she was hearing.
"Yes! Call Lucas and both of you, get here!" I continued.
"I'm on my way," she said and the line went dead.
They pumped Jamie's stomach. Then, they gave him naloxone to reverse the effects of the opioids. Then they administered fluids. Jamie was unconscious for all of it but began stirring after a few hours. Sophia was at his side the minute he woke up.
"Jamieee!" She cried and then began to punch him. "How could you? How could you do that?"
"Sophia, why don't you go outside and call your parents, see where they have reached? Your mom must be on her private jet which means she will be able to answer calls. Why don't you let them know that Jamie is awake?" I suggested.
She stomped her foot but did as I told her to.
"Jamie, I'm not your parents. What is going on?" I asked with more worry than I knew I had the bones for.
