Lucas drove Sam and Jamie to Nathan and Haley's place. Sam was once again impressed by the infrastructure. Their place was just between the size of Brooke's mansion and Andy's castle. It was obvious that Nathan earned well in the NBA.
They parked in their driveway and Lucas didn't even bother with ringing the doorbell. He fished for his keyring in his pockets and picked the one belonging to his brother's front door.
"Hey!" Lucas announced his arrival before ushering Sam and Jamie inside. Since Jamie had lived there the last time he visited, he quickly scampered ahead in front of his father.
"Uncle Nathan!" he yelled and flung himself into his arms.
"Hey!" Nathan yelled, equally enthusiastic to see his nephew and godson. "Hey Sam, welcome. Make yourself at home."
Sam silently uttered a wow as she walked through the majestic house. She looked out and there was an expansive backyard, a pool, giant grounds and a river with a dock behind it. It really was way too large for just two people. Sam had been to schools which were smaller than the size of Nathan and Haley's house but Tree Hill seemed like a land of the rich anyway. If she was being honest, she felt most at ease at Lucas' house. It was bigger than any house she had lived in, but it wasn't intimidating. It was inviting, warm and homely.
"Haley should be back from school anytime soon," Nate said and offered his brother and family some drinks.
"Uncle Nathan, can we play a game on the PS?" Jamie requested.
"Sure!" he replied gleefully.
"Sam, do you want to play too?" he asked. There were enough controllers for everybody. "We could play doubles but Jamie and I are a team."
"I am not that terrible!" Lucas argued to protect his pride.
"Sure, keep saying that and hopefully you'll fool somebody someday," Nathan teased and turned the game console on.
When Haley walked in, she could hear screaming in the den. It didn't surprise her that she walked into a heated battle on the console. Nathan loved to play with the boys and he rarely got downtime since Tree Hill was always a quick weekend stop to spend time with Haley and Lucas. Since he had taken a few days off, he was happy too. He would be leaving to return to Charlotte for training the next day, so Haley was happy that he had that occasion to play, even if Lucas was terrible at the video game.
"What's going on?" Haley asked, her eyes big and bright as she raised her eyebrows.
"They're cheating!" Lucas whined as if he was Jamie's age.
"Nuh-uh!" Jamie counter-argued.
"Nathan, don't cheat," Haley passed the verdict.
"Hey!" Nathan laughed and put down the controller to go hug his wife. "Hey, how was your day?"
"It sucks to go to work when you're here, but yeah, I'm finally getting to Quentin. Luke, he and the boys can't wait to have you back at practice tomorrow," Haley informed him.
"Is Q still giving you timely book reports?" Luke confirmed.
"Yeah, in fact, he is doing a great job. He is good at literature and basketball. Wait, isn't there someone else who is good at those two exact same things?" she asked, a teasing grin etched wide on her lips. Lucas smiled but kept quiet.
"Hales, can I talk to you about that?" Lucas asked, rubbing his sweaty palms on his pants with uneasiness.
"Yeah," Haley said, getting her serious face on.
"Hey, why don't we go set the table?" Nathan asked, ushering Jamie and Sam to the dining room to give some space to two best friends.
"So, what's up?" she asked when they were out of earshot, Haley wore a serious expression on her face. The tension in Lucas' voice was palpable. "Did something go awry between you and Brooke?"
"No, no. Brooke and I are fine, great even. But, it is something that she said that has thrown me down the rabbit hole again. She said that I should call Peyton and tell her about the book."
"Huh? She said what!" Haley said, flabbergasted.
"I know. She went on this whole rant about how Peyton would get offended if she learned that I published a love story about me and her after what happened. She says that she deserves to know before it hits markets because it's also her story as much as it is mine," Lucas explained.
"Lucas, I am going to ask this once and only once and you need to tell me the God-honest truth," Haley said, looking at Lucas' eyes with a serious expression on her face. She watched his face closely to find the truth. "Are you hoping that the book becomes a device to get Peyton back?"
"What?! No! I don't know!" Lucas said, his face changing expressions every millisecond.
"Luke! What is it? No, or I don't know?" Haley asked in a reprimanding tone.
"I don't know, Hales," Lucas replied irritatedly. "That is why I am asking you. You have always been a sounding board to me. What should I do?"
"Figure out what and who you want, man!" Haley yelled, getting a little irritated at her best friend.
Lucas rolled his eyes at Haley, annoyed by her line of questioning. "Do you think that I should call Peyton and tell her about the book?" he asked again in the hope that he would get a straight answer from Haley.
However, he had no such luck. "Are you also going to tell her about Jamie and Sam and the whole shebang with Brooke?"
"No, Brooke doesn't want her to know."
"God! What is wrong with that girl? On one side, she is shoving you in Peyton's arms and on the other side she is hiding the biggest truth from her! But, do you want to tell Peyton about Jamie and Sam?" Haley voiced her thoughts and concerns.
"I'm not embarrassed by either of them and yeah, Peyton is my friend, our friend, if not my girlfriend. She deserves to know that two of her closest friends have a child but I really can't afford stepping on Brooke's toes."
"Luke, I need you to figure out exactly what you want. It will all get really simple once you know what you want. Until then, you're going to be stuck running circles." Haley put it in the clearest manner that she could.
"What if she doesn't answer my call?" Lucas asked stupidly for the sake of stalling.
"Text? Email? Courier a copy to her? There are a hundred ways you can deal with this if you really want to but that is step two."
"Thanks Hales, although I still don't know what the heck it is that I am supposed to do, but thanks," Lucas huffed and rolled his eyes.
"Happy to help!" Haley replied in the most cheerful and sarcastic tone. She knew that it wasn't what Lucas wanted to hear, but it was what he needed to hear. Haley did not like how he was repeating his high school patterns again. He was playing house with Brooke while writing novels dedicating his love to Peyton. Haley was terrified that he would begin both relationships again and leave devastating blows to her close friends' already fragile hearts.
"Not on my watch," Haley whispered to herself as she made her way back to the dining room for lunch.
After lunch, the family hung out together until Lucas realised that Nathan and Haley deserved some time together, considering that Nathan would return to camp the next day. So, they bid farewell and Lucas decided to take Sam to the riverwalk and see the sites the southern town had to offer.
Sam didn't hate the old-timey charm the place held. It was like Tree Hill was in a bubble, separated from the outside world, but they were happy in that bubble. She walked by the river and saw the boats docked.
"Brooke's parents owned a number of boats out there. Her father had even named one after her. She and Peyton loved hanging out in the sea, sunbathing, swimming, being together," Lucas told her.
This time Sam wasn't as surprised. Mouth had said that Brooke's family was the richest in Tree Hill until billionaire Andy arrived and the Davis' moved to California. Of course they owned a fleet of yachts, because why not?
The family watched the beautiful sunset from the docks before heading back home. Lucas decided to start dinner while instructing Sam and Jamie to get ready for their first day of school. The two kids ran up the stairs and Lucas felt like the sound of their footsteps was music to his ears. Sam stepped down soon, she felt nervous about starting a new school although she had been to dozens of schools as she kept getting bumped to different houses. Yet, the first-day jitters never seemed to lose her. She decided that she needed a distraction and decided to help Lucas with dinner. Lucas smiled all too happily for the help and for getting to spend quality time with Sam. The two were just finishing dinner when Brooke entered the house.
"Hey, how did you get here?" Lucas asked, worried about her answer.
"Andy called a cab for me," she replied. "What smells so good?"
"You're right in time for dinner. Get washed up. Jamie! Get down here for dinner," Lucas called out to his son.
Brooke giggled hearing Lucas scream. They could never be too loud in the New York apartment. She did not want to answer the door to thugs complaining about the noise. Now, Jamie could freely be a kid. Brooke moved to the stairs to go to her room and wash up before dinner when she heard the pitter-patter of Jamie's little footsteps.
"Hi my Monkey!" she called out to her son, grateful to see him.
"Hi!" Jamie said and bypassed her to enter the dining room.
"Excuse me?" Brooke called out to her son sassily to let him know that she expected a better greeting. Jamie understood that voice all too well. He stopped dead in his tracks and turned around immediately to greet his mom in a better manner.
"I mean, hi Mom," he said and hugged Brooke's feet. Brooke crouched down to lift him in his arms and give him a proper hug.
"That's better," she said once she let go of the hug. She quickly washed up and returned to the dining area. Brooke couldn't help but smile at the spread. The food was not out of a can or a microwaveable meal. It was a proper home-cooked dinner. Lucas had made falafels. There was enough for all of them to eat till their bellies were full. She did not have to cook dinner because Lucas had taken care of it. The house was warm and the lights were bright. Her kids looked so happy and she did not have to eat quickly and run to do a job she despised. Evenings were now family time. What a treat that sounded like. Brooke felt energetic just thinking about that.
"How was your day sweet boy?" she asked Jamie after the family said grace and dug into their wraps.
"It was awesome! Dad showed pictures of you to Sam and I but they were all so weird. Dad made a mistake. He said that you never took showers!" Jamie said with an infectious giggle.
"Huh? What?" Brooke asked, totally confused. Sam and Lucas both burst out laughing, leading Brooke to cock her head in confusion.
"I saw that your yearbook said that you were a Clean Teen, but Lucas remarked that you were never a Clean Teen and Jamie wanted to know what a Clean Teen was!" Sam said between laughter and hiccups.
Realisation dawned upon Brooke who blushed at the thought of her Clean Teen phase.
"Why did you join Clean Teens anyway? Did you want to get 'Clean'?" Sam asked with air quotes. Lucas waited for Brooke's reply too. He barely hung out with Brooke after she moved in with Rachel.
"Uhh, Sam, what do I say? None of it paints me in a good light," Brooke sighed. "I did some ridiculous things in High School." Sam still continued to look at her expectantly.
"Rachel and I got caught in school after hours and we were doing something against the rules, and the Principal caught us. We said that we were in school to attend the Clean Teen meeting. It was our alibi. We would attend a few meetings until Turner's suspicions left and then we would drop it, but then I started liking a boy who was a Clean Teen and he was new in school. He thought I was a smart virgin, so I played along."
"What rules were you breaking?" Sam asked.
"One that I hope you never break," Brooke replied, still avoiding spilling the beans.
"Do you know what it is?" Sam asked Lucas.
"Yeah, only because Haley told me," Luke replied.
"That was worse than confessing to Turner," Brooke said to Lucas.
"Wait, after you alibied out, you still confessed?" Sam asked, surprised though she didn't know what Brooke had done.
"Of course. What I had done was wrong and it cost Haley. It cost her real money, money that she needed to run her house," Brooke said. "Karma does come back tenfold."
"Come on! You can't keep secrets! Please, I promise I won't do whatever it is that you did. Did you get caught sleeping with someone? Wait! Did you sleep with Haley!?"
"What! No! Sam! Oh God! Okay. I was failing Calculus. I tried studying, but no matter how hard I tried, I was not good at Math. So, to help me, Rachel took a tutoring session with Haley and -" Suddenly Brooke's eyes fell on Jamie who was also listening to her story intently. "And 'borrowed' her tutor centre key. That's where they kept the tests. I said no and made Rachel return the key, but I failed even the next test. So, to graduate with my friends, I used the copy of the key Rachel had and 'borrowed' the answers to the next calculus test. Turner got to know. Haley lost her job at the Tutor Centre and Rachel got expelled because she took the blame, all so that I wouldn't lose my contract with Victoria's Secret who wanted to franchise Clothes Over Bro's for their pink fashion line. Rachel and Peyton went out of their way to help me with that contract. But, then I confessed and Turner was sweet enough to let me graduate."
"Didn't you move with Rachel after you severed ties with Peyton?" Sam asked curiously.
"I had used Peyton's artwork while designing Clothes over Bro's. I needed her to sign off on me using it and she did, without any hesitation," Brooke explained.
"It's so hard to say whether you love her or hate her," Sam said with an eye roll.
"No, I don't hate anybody!" Brooke said, looking at Jamie again, but anyway, it was true. She didn't hate Peyton. She never could. Peyton had been there for her more than anybody when they were children. It was her and Peyton against the world.
"So did you date the virgin guy?" Sam asked.
"What's a virgin?" Jamie asked.
"A person who listens to their parents," Brooke lied. "And yes, I did date Chase."
"Were you clean with him or did you teach him how to get dirty?"
"Samantha!" Brooke retaliated.
"What? Wasn't he the rebound guy after Lucas?"
"A) There are some things that you do not need to know and that includes who and how many people I 'danced' with," Brooke coded for Jamie. "And B) no, he wasn't the rebound guy."
"What's a rebound?" Jamie asked.
"It means to bounce back sweetheart. When you face a challenge that throws you down, what do you do? You jump spring back up to your feet!" Brooke said, grateful that rebound had a positive meaning she could tell Jamie.
"You totally 'danced' with him," Sam said with a joke, "but who was the rebound?"
"Who said I needed a rebound?" Brooke asked, trying to remain aloof.
"Wait, wasn't it Chase? I don't remember you dating anybody before Chase," Lucas asked curiously.
"That's because we kept it a secret, whom I 'danced' with before Chase. I really did some stupid things after we broke up, Luke. Things I really shouldn't have," Brooke said guiltily.
"You seem to love to dance, momma," Jamie remarked, sending Sam into another round of hysterical laughter.
"Who?" Lucas asked with a serious expression on his face.
"It doesn't matter. Short Story, he cheated on me too, with my model from the Textile Art Road Tour," Brooke replied, her eyes glistening with tears that she tried to restrain.
"What? Was it someone at the show? You were the youngest there!" Lucas said, shocked.
"No, it wasn't at the show. Honestly, drop it," Brooke said, feeling embarrassed.
"What show was this? Where was I?" Lucas asked.
"Guarding Peyton. This was around the time Ian attacked her the first time and her real brother was finally in the picture," Brooke explained.
"Wow, yeah, it makes sense that I wouldn't know what was going on with you."
"Yeah, I kept regular tabs on P. Sawyer and I made sure that you were protecting her, although I never let her or you know about that," she confessed. "Peyton was so dark after that. She was a zombie at school, she wasn't sleeping and her skinny ass was even skinnier. If we weren't where we were, I would have been there all the way too."
"But you were too busy with the rebound guy named…" Sam teased.
Brooke was exasperated by Sam constantly dredging her past. She had her days in New York, but since Tree Hill, she had open access to information and she seemed to get hungrier for more and more by the minute.
"Sam, one more inappropriate question and I will drag you back to New York. You do not need to know everything. Are you ready for school?" she asked, in an attempt to change the subject.
Sam grew quiet instantly, feeling embarrassed at being rebuked by Brooke. "Yes," she replied meekly and kept her mouth shut.
"You're better than me and I am so happy about that. I have already told you about all the mistakes that I made that you can learn from. Some of them don't need to be told."
"Hey, I learnt that you got away with 'borrowing' but you still confessed because it affected your friends and it was the right thing to do. That taught me something," Sam said. It warmed Lucas' heart, hearing her say that.
"Yeah, Mr. Chavez does not teach any lessons," Brooke blurted out without realising what she had let slip.
"Mr. Chavez?" Sam asked, never having heard that name.
"Wait, wasn't Mr. Chavez also the name of that English teacher we had who suddenly resigned and - Oh my God!" Lucas said as he put two and two together, making Brooke slam her head against the table in exasperation.
"What! Your English teacher!" Sam yelled too.
"In my defence, Rachel set me up with him on a blind date before he started teaching. I did not know who he was but he was a - a not-so-nice guy and he got what he deserved," Brooke said, looking nowhere but at Jamie. "Jimmy Jam, are you done with dinner?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, why don't you and I play some games before bedtime and Dad and Sammy can do the dishes," Brooke said and lifted Jamie in her arms to walk away from the explosions she had left behind.
"The joke's on you! This place has a dishwasher!" Sam screamed, enjoying the new amenities, but Brooke did not look back and continued to walk towards Jamie's room.
Brooke inhaled and exhaled deeply a few times as Jamie picked out a game they could play. Brooke had clearly undermined and also partially forgotten about her crazy high school misadventures. She did not want Sam to think of her as a crazy teenage nymphomaniac. But so far all she had heard about was her scandals.
Suddenly, she heard a knock on Jamie's door.
"Uhh, Brooke, can we talk?" Sam asked meekly.
Lucas entered Jamie's room behind her.
"Why don't I begin the game with Jamie and you go talk to Sam in her room? Then you can continue with Jamie here," Lucas suggested.
Brooke gave a tight-lipped smile and got off the racecar bed where she was sitting.
"I'm sorry about the way I behaved and have been behaving. It wasn't cool to dig up your past that way and to keep pestering you about it," she apologised.
"It's fine. A part of me understands it. You don't know your history and where you come from and we are your family so it makes sense that you want to know everything about me, to have stories you can share about parents, family and experiences that make you you. I understand. I struggled about that too, but, my High School sex life and the mistakes that I made, I mean I have a child with someone who is in love with my best friend. I just really don't want all my stories to be about whom I slept with and what stupid mistake I made. I really wish I wasn't so 'friendly' in High School," Brooke explained her side, bringing her arms around her to metaphorically hide herself and her vulnerabilities from Sam.
"But see, that's not true. For every crazy story I hear, your friends have a dozen good stories to share about how you were so accomplished and how you always came through for your friends. As you said, even though you and Peyton were at war, you checked on her to make sure she was okay because you were worried about her."
"She was attacked and stalked by a person who needed psychiatric treatment after his girlfriend who looked exactly like Peyton died in a car crash that he caused!" Brooke explained.
"Yowza! But see, you helped. In fact, you saved her from the crazy dude. I saw your yearbooks, you had more laurels than anybody else and you did how many fashion shows? Victoria's secret? The Textile thingy! Rogue Vogue was said at some point, I don't even know. You even designed Haley's rockstar wardrobe."
"Haha! I even made her wedding gown, with the fabric I got to make Karen's wedding gown," Brooke lightly put in.
"See! It is amazing that you even had time for sex with all the activities that you did! What are you? The Flash?" Sam complimented her foster mother. Some days she forgot that Brooke was doing the best she could. "But all things said, I truly am sorry. Do you forgive me?"
"Of course. I love you, my little heathen," Brooke said and planted a kiss on Sam's head making the teenager hide the smile that crept up her lips.
"Now show me the outfit you have picked out for your first day at Tree Hill High!" Brooke asked excitedly, making Sam give her an eyeroll with a wide grin on her face.
"Good morning!" Lucas greeted as he entered Brooke's house for breakfast. Sam had her head down on the breakfast table and Jamie was making two action figures fight as Brooke cut some fruits for them to eat.
Sam groaned in response to Luke's greeting making Brooke chuckle at their antics.
"Here you go, fruit for Jamie with a Chocolate milkshake and coffee black with an unhealthy amount of sugar for Princess," Brooke said, laying the mugs and plates on the breakfast table. Lucas ruffled Sam's hair and took a place beside her at the table. Immediately Brooke placed a steaming cup of joe just the way he liked it in front of him with waitress precision. She brought some toast with baked beans next and then took her own place at the table.
Lucas and Brooke had already discussed everything. The Principals of Sam and Jamie's schools had been emailed and emailed as soon as Brooke pulled the two out of their schools in New York, but they still had to sign the forms to complete the transfer. Brooke and Lucas were first going to go to Jamie's school and get him settled in his new classroom before going to Sam's school and completing the formalities. Brooke would kill some time around Jamie's school until it was time to pick him up and then get him home. Brooke didn't mind the walk but Lucas was upset. He knew that a car would solve everything but he knew that after the house, he couldn't gift her a car.
Once the kids were ready, they got in the car and began to drive away. Both kids had been in good prep schools when in New York. Brooke wanted only the best for her children's futures. It was strange to them to not go to school in uniforms.
Sam decided to wait in the car and take a nap while Brooke and Lucas finished with her dweeb brother. Jamie eyed the building that would be his nursery school. It was much smaller than the school he went to in Tree Hill. Brooke stood by the tiny boy and watched him, giving him a few moments to collect his thoughts. He was, after all, a mini Lucas Scott.
"Are the kids in there nice?" he asked his mother, feeling fearful of entering a new territory.
"Yes, they are. You will surely make a lot of new friends as long as you smile, be kind and share," Brooke parented the toddler. "Are you ready?"
"Okay," he said and followed his parents inside.
They entered the school's office and the receptionist greeted them. They had been expecting the couple with the kid so she made them fill out and sign some forms before sending them to the Principal's office. The Principal was shocked to see the couple. They looked so young. She took the forms from their hands and read their ages. They were only twenty-one. Exhaling a deep sigh, she plastered a smile on her face and focused her attention on Jamie. She was happy to see that he was a happy, polite, well-mannered kid who had a good grasp on words and numbers. The young parents boasted about Jamie's affinity to reading and how his father was in the midst of publishing his book. The Principal was impressed and happy to see that both his parents seemed to be completely involved, although the mother had a different last name. She did clock the engagement ring on her finger. Brooke had slipped it on because they both had filled the forms as single, but she needed to keep the ruse of their engagement going for the adoption agency. It was better that the school believed that they were happy in love and living together.
Once all the formalities were over, Brooke and Lucas walked to Jamie's class. The teacher was a happy bubbly young lady with long blonde hair.
"James, this is Miss Lauren, your teacher," the Principal informed him with a kind smile.
"Hi Jamie, it is so good to have you here," Miss Lauren greeted. "Do you want to join us?"
Jamie looked at his parents sceptically and Brooke gave him an assuring nod. Easing his fears, Jamie gave his new teacher a smile and stepped closer to her. Brooke and Lucas stood at the door and watched, ready to storm in and pull their child away if need be.
"Children, we have a new student with us today. This is James Scott. Can we all say hi, James?" Miss Lauren coaxed the children.
A chorus of 'hi, James' reverberated through the room. "Now, I expect all of you to be good friends with him, okay?" she said and then helped him into an empty seat. "James, meet Andre. Andre, can you promise me that you will help Jamie out?"
"Yes!' Andre said in a happy voice, easing the parent's fears.
"He'll be okay," the Principal said and guided the young parents out.
"Please call us if there's any trouble. I will be at school myself, but I will have my phone close and Brooke will definitely be available if anything," Lucas said worriedly. Brooke couldn't help but be transported back to Jamie's first day of school in New York when she was a big ball of nerves. In fact, she had written all about it to Lucas in her box of letters.
'Dear Lucas,
I'm a mess. Truly. Who knew that the thing that would make me sob would be preschool? Jamie inherited your genes. He not only looks exactly like you, but he is also as smart as you. He loves to read and it was time that he joined pre-school. It works for me because I can work without the responsibility of a child for those many hours. I can do some waitressing and not just stripping, but man, I'm stressed. Will he be okay? Will he like it? Will he make friends? Will he get picked on? Will he have to face bullies? Will he need me and I won't be there for him? If you were in the picture, I would most definitely make you homeschool our son! You know what is even worse, the kid didn't even cry! He was scared, don't get me wrong. He held on to me and refused to let go, but then he got enticed by a damn book and went with the teacher to hear a story in the reading corner. He was enticed like the kids in the bloody pied piper of Hamlin. He completely forgot about me. Is it wrong that a part of me wished that he would cry so that I could tell the Principal, well what can we even do and hold my kid close and take him back home with me. I cried! I am writing this, standing outside this fancy preschool that I enrolled him in. It's pricey. It costs an arm and a leg, with their facilities and cute uniforms. But, he is so bright and his future deserves to be better than ours. The school means I have to work more at the club and accept every blow job, but it's for Jamie. It's okay. Unfortunately, that also means that I can no longer move to a better apartment.
It'll be alright. Someday, we will have a good home. Jamie will be happy and safe and everything will be alright. I am choosing to have hope and believe in the possibility of there being a good future out there for us.
I'm adding Jamie's first day of school pictures with this letter. He looks so cute in his plaid uniform. His hair is so stubborn. It sticks out no matter how many times I comb it, but Jamie is so happy and excited. Thank you for the most wonderful gift you ever gave me. I really love this boy.
Love,
Brooke.'
The parents exited and smiled seeing Sam lying flat in the backseat of Lucas' Mustang. They got in and Lucas drove smoothly to Tree Hill High to allow Sam to rest in the back. Brooke gently nudged her awake when they had made it to her new school.
"Wow, when did we get here?" Sam asked. She had wanted to track the road so that she could get back on her own, but sleep seemed to take precedence over that. She had stayed in her room all night. She wanted to learn to sleep alone. It was weird that having her personal space felt scary to her. However, it had taken a toll on her sleep.
The three exited the vehicle and repeated the steps. Principal Rimkus commended Lucas and Brooke on their generosity, fostering a teen and providing her with a good home. Brooke couldn't help but note the flirty tone in the Principal's voice. She definitely had a crush on Lucas. In fact, as she spoke, she only focused her attention on Lucas or Sam and more or less completely ignored Brooke. That was something Brooke was not used to. Heads always turned when she walked by, be it at school or at a club. The only heads that never turned for her were her parents' and now, the Principal. Principal Rimkus was also in an interrogatory mood.
"How did we not have your child on file?" she asked him.
"It's complicated. I was not involved in his life and Brooke lived in New York with our son," he tried to explain.
"Weird. But now she is back and you're fostering a teen?" she continued to pry.
"Yeah, we were stuck doing long distance for a really long time as we tried to figure everything out to get Samantha," Lucas explained.
"Oh, so you two were dating?" she asked.
"Yeah, we have been engaged for a while now," Lucas lied through his teeth.
"How come I never knew that?" Principal Rimkus blurted out, failing to keep her professionalism.
"Because it is my personal life. I don't bring personal into my work, ma'am," Lucas replied stoically, putting the lady in her place. Sam smirked as she watched the encounter. It was strange to watch Lucas get hit on. She was used to men throwing themselves at Brooke, ready to worship her feet, but Lucas had an equal number of girls ready to throw themselves at him, even in the tiny town of Tree Hill where everybody knew everybody.
The Principal finally completed the formalities and handed Sam her schedule and locker details.
"Oh perfect, you have English with Haley, right now," Lucas remarked happily seeing her schedule. At least Sam knew her and would feel at ease in her class.
"Thanks Principal Rimkus, I'll show Sam around and take her to her locker and then to class," he said and got up.
"Sammy, don't hesitate to get me or Haley if you need any help getting around," Lucas offered as he took Sam to the freshman locker corridor. I will be at my office in the gym. Also, I'm sorry but you will have to wait for me after school. I have a practice scheduled and you still don't know your way around town to go on your own."
"Maybe you can join an after-school activity?" Brooke suggested. Nostalgia was hitting her so hard, walking down the school hallways. Suddenly, they turned the corner to the hallway in which Keith was murdered. She looked at the glass door where Peyton had been shot. Her breath hitched as she looked for blood and shards of glass.
Lucas looked at her and knew exactly what she was thinking. He thought about Keith every time he stepped in that hallway too. "I'm there every single time I pass by too," he said, to let Brooke know that she was not alone. Brooke's expressions suddenly turned to surprise. She never expected anyone to be able to read her so plainly and know exactly what she was thinking and feeling.
"So, it never gets better, huh?" she squeaked. Sam was confused by their words, but she knew better than to dig in further. She continued to read locker numbers until she reached hers and memorised the combination before opening the space. Once she had what she needed, Brooke hugged her goodbye and Lucas manoeuvred her to Haley's classroom.
"Hi Sam!" Haley greeted, stopping her lecture when she heard a knock on the door.
"Everyone, we have a new student with us. This is Samantha Walker and she is from New York. Sam, do you want to introduce yourself?" Haley asked.
"No thanks," Sam said in an embarrassed tone and took a seat at the back of the class.
"Okay then," Haley replied, already used to mean teenagers.
"She'll be alright," she said to Luke with a chuckle. Lucas rolled his eyes and waved his best friend goodbye. The boys he coached were so much easier. If they were mean, he would just have them do suicides the way Whitey dealt with them when they were in school.
"Okay class, I want all of you to take some paper and begin with the outlines for your paper on this Chapter of the Catch-22," Haley instructed before moving to Sam.
"Hey, so we are in the middle of the Catch-22. I don't know where your school was and if you need help catching up, I can go through it with you so you are at par," Haley offered.
"Oh, it's fine. We covered that book already," Sam replied. "I can write reports on that book in my sleep."
"Wait, how? This is AP English for Freshman Class," Haley replied. She thought her AP English classes were rigorous.
"Thanks to Brooke, I went to a prep school in New York on a scholarship. The school was filled with rich trust fund kids with Ivy League alumni parents who expected their kids to follow in their footsteps. The school had middle school and high school. It luckily awarded scholarships so those seedy businessmen could show that they were charitable and hide their black money," Sam replied nonchalantly.
Haley was impressed. Sam was clearly at a higher level as her class struggled to understand and grasp the concepts of Catch-22. If it continued, she would have to go back to doing a classic like The Great Gatsby with them. "Okay, so what literature was going on at your school?"
"We were discussing the themes of Les Miserables," Sam replied.
"The Miserable ones. Hold on," Haley said and went to her desk. She got out her personal copy of the book and handed it to Sam. "Why don't you work on the themes and I will grade you for that paper."
Sam smiled, grateful for Haley's kindness and sweetness. It was a really great gesture. Haley got back to her desk and watched her classwork. Every single student was struggling, except Sam. She looked so happy. Brooke truly had done a fantastic job with her and given her a life with a very promising future. Sam wouldn't have even heard of The Great Gatsby without Brooke's intervention as she bounced from school to school where no teacher ever cared or took interest in her. School would be fine. Now all she was afraid of was lunch and particularly where she would sit for lunch.