"Carter, wake up!" An 11 year old Riley shook her brother's shoulder. Her mom had tasked her with waking him up, and that was definitely easier said than done.
"Go 'way." She heard him mumble.
The girl twin rolled her eyes, "Mommy's been trying to wake you up for like ten minutes from downstairs. Come on, we're gonna be late for school because of you!"
When no peep came, Riley decided to take matters into her own hands. She jumped atop him and shook him with both hands, "Let's go!"
The boy groaned and gently got up, easily moving his smaller statured sister off of him, "Okay, I'm up! I'm up!" He rubbed his eyes and yawned, annoyed at his sister, but one look at her smiling face melted those thoughts away.
"Morning princess."
She rolled her eyes. He'd gotten into the habit of calling her all the pet names that their parents and Sammy called her. She kissed his cheek and hugged him tight anyway. She loved him to death. Her twin. Her best friend.
"Hurry up and get ready. I'll tell mommy you're up."
"Bug, is your brother up?" Brooke asked when she heard her daughter's dainty steps come back into the kitchen.
"Yeah mama. He's getting ready right now."
She saw the french toast her mom had put on the table for her and happily went to devour it. French toast was her favorite. Her daddy said she got her sweet tooth from him.
About 10 minutes later Carter came down all ready to go. He wore his navy slim pants, white buttoned down shirt, and a tie. Their private school's required uniform. A uniform he hated because the tie felt stifling, but one that his mother thought made him look cute as a button...Whatever that meant.
Once in the kitchen he caught sight of his mom looking at her Ipad on the island. He hugged Brooke from behind tight, "Morning mommy."
The mother jumped slightly, then smiled as she turned around and leaned down to kiss his head, "Hi big boy. Did you sleep well?"
He nodded quickly, "Yup!"
"Good. You have about ten minutes to eat. Then we really gotta go. Alright?"
Lucas had been leaving early for zero hour practices at the high school, so for the past week, it'd been Brooke who had taken the kiddos to their school.
"Where's Riley?" He thought she already would've been down here.
"She's packing up her stuff upstairs. Are you going to want to wait until after her art club? Dad wanted to know if he should pick you up and take you to practice with him."
Carter thought for a moment, "I don't wanna stay with art nerds. But can I walk with Dave and Johnny. We wanna play xbox at Dave's."
"Carter!" Brooke scolded.
He shrugged, "it's not a bad thing to be a nerd! I'm just saying."
Brooke eyed him as he scarfed his breakfast down. It worried her how different the twins were becoming. Carter was the epitome of Brooke. Popular. Athletic. Life of the party. Riley was studious, an observer, much more of an introvert. They were still close, but she wondered how school and peer pressure would change that. She hoped it never would.
"Yes, you can walk with your friends. Just let your dad know."
"Riley, let's go, bug!" Brooke yelled up the stairs a few minutes later.
Soon enough the fashion mogul had her two twins side by side ready to go. She smiled at them both and led them out the door.
"Bye mom!" Carter and Riley both said in unison about to open the car door once in front of their school.
"Wait, Carter hold on a minute." Brooke called after him. Both of them stopped. The mother looked to her smallest, "Go ahead sweetheart, I just need to talk to your brother really quick."
"I-is everything okay?" Riley asked, not sure why her mother only wanted Carter. It made her nervous for some reason.
Carter shrugged and Brooke nodded with a reassuring smile, "Yes princess. Gimme a kiss and go on into school. Okay?"
Her mother's sweet voice allayed her. She leaned over her brother and kissed her mom's cheek, "Bye mama."
"Bye baby girl. I love you."
Carter and Brooke watched Riley go out. The mother's stare lingering for longer.
"What's up mom?" Carter finally asked, "I'm not in trouble, am I?"
"No kiddo." She shook her head, "I just wanted to know if Riley's talked to you about what happened-"
"No." Carter's face darkened.
In reality, he knew exactly what Brooke was talking about. A group of girls that had made fun of Riley for being such a nerd and "accidentally" spilling chocolate milk on her at lunch two weeks ago. Carter hadn't been there to protect her because he was making up a test in one of his classes. But he'd been called down to the office and saw the result. The secretary led them into an empty office and there was his broken baby sister crying in their dad's arms.
"What-what happened?" Carter rushed over.
Riley looked up when she heard her brother's voice. She hid her face back into her dad's chest and shook her head.
"I wanted to ask you the same thing, bud. She won't talk to me." Lucas said sadly, looking down at the child in his lap, "I just know that she's drenched in milk."
"Who-who did it Riles?" Carter asked, feeling angry.
Riley refused to talk though. She just wanted her father's comfort. Eventually Lucas had to let her go. He only had so much time because the substitute was only available for two periods.
"Baby, daddy has to go. I brought you a new set of clothes like you needed." His heart broke knowing that he had to leave her like this. He had asked if she wanted to go home but she just meekly said 'no.'
"Do you need help changing into it honey?" Lucas cooed. Riley took a deep breath and lifted her head off her dad's chest, "N-no. I got it."
Lucas helped the girl off his lap. "I'm sorry princess. I wish I could stay with you."
"It's okay." She whispered.
Carter jumped off the chair he was in and grabbed the clothes "Here Riles. I'll stay with you and we can walk out together."
Lucas went to give his girl a hug.
"It was an accident." The 11 year old finally said, "I dropped milk all over myself, and, and, people started laughing and I got really embarrassed."
It was a lie. Everyone in that room knew it. But Carter and Lucas also knew that Riley wouldn't budge. She was a stubborn child when she wanted to be.
The father waited outside the office for Riley to change, but Carter had refused to step out with him. She sat and waited for his sister to change her shirt.
"Riles-"
"It was nothing Carter."
"You're lying."
"I just don't wanna talk about it right now." She finally told him.
The boy crossed his arms in defeat, "Will you at least tell me later?"
Riley finished buttoning her shirt and opened her hand for Carter to grab, "Promise I will."
The boy picked up her sister's dirt shirt and grasped her hand, "Fine. I'll drop it."
But at home, the outrage that Brooke felt when she found out what happened to her daughter was palpable.
"WHAT?!" Carter and Riley heard her mother yell from the kitchen when Lucas told her what had happened. He'd decided to wait until Brooke got home and had a chance to relax from work to tell her.
Riley had called him for a reason. She knew Brooke would turn into a mother bear and not leave until she got answers. And the small 11 year old didn't want that. All she wanted was a lap to cry in.
The twins had been watching TV together. Riley leaning closely onto Carter. When they heard Brooke's surprise she curled in closer knowing that her mother was most likely about to stalk into the room. Carter put an arm around her, "She's just being mama." He assured her.
"Why didn't she call me? Why didn't you call me?" Brooke needed answers. How was it possible that she had been left in the dark for so long? And she'd asked the kids how school was and they both said fine. What in the actual hell?!
Carter would've told her, but Lucas had asked him to wait until he had talked to her.
"Brooke calm down!" Lucas uttered sharply, "They're in the other room! And I didn't want you to get like this, which is why I waited to tell you."
"Like what, Lucas?" Brooke narrowed her eyes.
"You're demanding answers babe. She didn't want to talk. She just wanted comfort." He explained.
"Are you saying I can't comfort my daughter?!"
Lucas rubbed his neck. This was not going well. "I'm not saying that. I'm just, well-you push her! She didn't want to be pushed."
"So what you're telling me is that you're just going to believe what she told you and move right along? You know damn well that Riley didn't spill milk all over herself and cry about it. Somebody did that to her!"
Lucas groaned in frustration, "Of course I don't believe her! I just wanted to give her time. Brooke, Riley's not like you. She needs time to deal with things internally before she talks."
The mother let out a breath and moved a hand through her hair. She felt a little hurt that her baby couldn't tell her this. That Lucas was her confidante and she wasn't. It hurt her a lot if she was honest with herself.
"I don't want her in that school if she's going to be getting bullied." Brooke spoke icily. She gave Lucas one look then walked towards the living room decisively.
The father rolled his eyes, trying to pull her back."Brooke wait!"
Too late.
Brooke walked into the living room and saw her two babies cuddled together. Riley's legs folded into herself as she leaned onto her brother's side. Carter's arm wrapped securely around her.
"Riley, honey?" She spoke softly.
The little girl sighed and met eyes with her mom.
"Why didn't you tell me about today, munchkin?"
"Nothing happened mommy. It was my fault." The 11 year old answered, sitting up.
Carter and Riley had heard most of their parents' conversation.
Brooke rose an eyebrow as she sat down by them, "Riley, are you lying to me?"
Her mother's unimpressed look sent a small shiver down her spine. She was never a good liar.
"I-" She bit her lip and shook her head, "N-no."
"Riley Marie." Brooke gave her another chance, "Who did that to you? I can't help you, if you don't talk to us."
But this time the girl felt a surge of anger. She didn't want to talk about this.
"I'm not lying to you!" She yelled, "Just leave it alone! Don't do anything mom!"
"Riles, upstairs. Now." Came Lucas's stern voice from behind.
She looked up to her dad with sad eyes, "But-"
"I know you're upset honey, but you know better than to talk to us like that." He pointed to the stairs, "Up those stairs, Riley."
The girl huffed and glared at her parents, but got off the couch and ran up the stairs. Carter looked at both his parents for a split second before following his sister.
Brooke and Lucas let it happen, knowing Carter could comfort her. "No TV, and no games while you're up with her!" Lucas called towards him.
And Carter didn't ask her about it when he got to her room. He just laid on her bed, his head on her pillow. They didn't talk much, just let themselves be. For Riley her brother's presence was enough, and Carter knew that. Twin intuition.
It was about half an hour later that both Brooke and Lucas walked back into the girl's room. His father signaled Carter to leave. The boy sighed, but did as he was told.
When Brooke sat on the bed Riley gave her mother the guiltiest of eyes. "I-I'm sorry for yelling. I didn't meant to get so mad."
Brooke opened her arms, a sign of forgiveness.
But the brown haired girl looked at her mother skeptically. Brooke Davis usually wouldn't forgive before at least scolding about respect.
Not unless, of course, Brooke felt she was at fault as well, "I'm sorry too princess. Can you come here?"
Riley shyly crawled over to her mom, melting as two soft kisses were placed on her head.
"I know I push a lot." Brooke whispered into her daughter's hair, "I just worry. You're my shyest baby when it comes to what you're thinking about."
Lucas sat by them and smiled sadly at Brooke's words.
When Sam was a teenager she confided in them so much. She needed them for so much, especially Brooke. For Sam, her parents were her emotional outlet. Sometimes it was through tantrums, and yells. Sometimes through crying. Other times it was just cuddling. But the parents could always manage to get their eldest to talk to them about how she was feeling.
Flashback
It was Sam's sophomore year at Tree Hill. It was a Thrusday, and the week had gone by quickly, but unfortunately for her a day that seemed pretty normal, did not have such a good ending.
Brooke had just picked her up, having to leave work because the principal had called letting her know Sam was suspended for fighting. Lucas was there but couldn't to take her home as there were no substitutes available to take over his class.
By the time Brooke had gotten there the "victim", Mary Lewis, had already been taken home. The principal gave her the rundown of what had happened, according to Mary.
"She just snapped and punched me!" Mary cried once her mom got there, demanding answers, "So I had to hit her back!"
Ms. Lewis hugged her daughter, "Oh baby, it's okay."
Sam was sitting on the other end of the table with a swollen lip, scowling at Mary, but not saying a word. She only scoffed at Mary's huge lie.
Mary's mother turned to Sam, " Do you have something to say? How about you start explaining why you did it?"
The principal looked at Sam to see if they'd get an answer. Nothing.
Ms. Lewis took one look at Sam's ratted converse, and beanie. She had Jack's Southside shirt on and the woman immediately assumed, "You scoundrel. Don't you ever touch my daughter again. Do you understand me? Go back to the side of the tracks that you belong in!"
Sam felt her whole body twitch, but she restrained herself.
"Ma'am I think it's time that you leave." The principal immediately stopped the woman. "I understand you are angry, but Samantha is my student and I won't tolerate adults talking down to them like that."
So the principal explained that as far as he knew Sam grew upset at something and hit Mary in response, Mary then retaliated. But because Sam started it she got three days worth of suspension.
"Let me take you to her." He told the fashion mogul.
Sam had refused to talk to anyone. She hadn't said a word, up until Brooke walked into the conference room that she was waiting in. In reality she had been mulling over Ms. Lewis's words. The way she wrote her off when she thought she was from Southside. The way she looked down on her. As if they were better.
But Sam's steel exterior waned when her mother's stern expression directed herself towards her. She always thought her mom looked more intimidating when she was wearing her heels, and work clothes.
Brooke stood by the door and crossed her arms across her chest, "Your stunt got you suspended. That includes Glee, young lady."
Sam looked at her lap and nodded lamely. "O-okay."
The mother took a deep breath and walked over to her daughter. Brooke knew that Sam wouldn't have hit the girl had she not been provoked.
She sat down and let her daughter squirm for a bit.
"Can you tell me what happened, Sam?" She finally asked her voice much softer, "I know you must've done it for a reason."
Sam looked up, eyes glistening as she nodded hurriedly. Glad her mother understood. Not like everyone else who started their questioning in an accusing way. "She-she called Jana fat, mom. She kept doing it. And I came over and told her to stop, but she just cracked another joke. I-I lost it."
She wiped some of the tears from the emotions she was holding in since entering the school office. She didn't wait long to feel warm arms hug her.
"Shhh."
"I'm sorry mama." Sam whimpered, hiding into the crook of Brooke's neck. She hadn't wanted to start crying but she was happy that her mom wasn't mad right now.
"You're okay. Just deep breaths, little one."
Sam followed her mom's directive and calmed herself down. She blushed when she saw that the door was open and knew that anyone passing by plus the secretary saw her being comforted by Brooke. She was sure they got a kick out of it considering how cold and serious she'd been since entering the office.
Brooke took a deep breath and sighed. "I know you did it for a good reason sweetheart, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. You know that violence isn't something daddy and I condone, so you're grounded for as long as you're suspended. No TV, computer, or phone."
"But mom!" Sam whined.
"Samantha, don't whine." Brooke warned her, "Now hand over the phone."
The 15 year old pouted. How was she supposed to talk to Jack?
"Can I at least text Jack and T. that I'm grounded?"
The woman sighed, "Alright, text them now."
She watched the girl do so and waited patiently for the phone to be slipped her way. She placed it in her bag and stood up, "Come on. You'll be coming back to work with me."
The girl rolled her eyes behind her mom's back. On top of being grounded, she was going to be so bored at her mom's office. Millie would probably put her to work!
"Your dad's going to call to talk to you during his conference period." Brooke looked over to her sulking daughter at a stop light.
"Great." She mumbled.
"Hey, you got yourself into this mess. So watch that attitude."
Sam hadn't said another word in the car. She kept thinking about stupid Ms. Lewis and Mary. She hadn't realized they made it to her mom's office until Brooke spoke up once again. The mother had been collecting her own thoughts in the car.
"Come on peanut. We're here."
The 15 year old undid her seatbelt and climbed out. She took her mother's outstretched hand to walk in.
Sam took a quick look at herself and then at her well put together mom. If it weren't for the fact that people knew she was Brooke's kid, everyone would just think of her as some poor kid from Southside.
The thought saddened Sam. She was so different from her mom and dad.
When they got into the office, Brooke's employees greeted Sam happily. The girl rolled her eyes but greeted them all back.
"Sam, go into my office and get started on any homework you have." Brooke directed her before talking to Millie.
"How many days did she get?" Millie asked.
"3." Brooke sighed, "That girl she punched called another girl fat, apparently."
The secretary couldn't help but smirk amused, "So Sam's a vigilante now?"
"Something like that." Brooke muttered.
While Brooke figured out the rest of her to do's with Millie Sam took her shoes and beanie off and got comfortable on her mom's couch. She was going to grab her phone to listen to music, but groaned when she realized her mom had taken it.
"Damn it."
By the time Brooke came back into her office the girl was laying on her stomach with her binder open, a page of equations in front of her.
"Sammy did you get to eat lunch, or would you like me to get you something?" Brooke asked taking a seat at her desk.
Sam shrugged, "I didn't eat, but I'm not really hungry right now."
Brooke looked over. Her little one did as she was told. Her homework was out and she was working on it. But she looked unfocused, and maybe even a little sad. The mother wondered if she was feeling guilty.
"Sweetheart?"
Sam looked over to her mother whose reading glasses were on. Probably gonna read emails, Sam thought.
"Yeah?"
"I want you to know that although I'm unhappy that you fought, I know that what you did came from a good place. That Mary girl is the mean one. You, Sam, your heart is gold, and you protect the underdog. I'm proud of you because of that."
Sam smiled slightly and sat up. She wasn't sure why she cared so much for what Ms. lewis had said to her, especially when her mom, Brooke Davis of all people, loved her so unconditionally.
Brooke could see it in Sam's eyes. Something was still bothering her. She walked over to the couch and sat down, "Peanut, what's wrong?"
The 15 year old bit her lip. "It's stupid." She mumbled.
She felt her mother's arm go around her, "I promise you it's not."
"It's just something dumb Mary's mom said. I-I don't know. It shouldn't even matter."
Brooke kissed her girl's forehead, "What'd she tell you sweetheart?"
Sam shrugged and hid her face into her mom's shoulder, "She-she just told me to move back to the other side of the tracks. She saw my shirt and I guess thought I lived in the southside. And you know, people, people always think less of me when they think that I'm from there and they don't know you and dad are my parents. And I'm not- I just don't look or act like I belong in Tree Hill sometimes and it bothers me."
Mary Lewis. That was the girl's name. Brooke would have no problem figuring out who the mother was, and boy was she going to regret hurting her baby girl's feelings.
Brooke embraced her kid, "Oh sweetie. That woman is just a bigot. Her whole life has been Tree Hill, and she can't see past status. So many people are idiots. But you prove them wrong daily peanut. Every. Single. Day."
Sam couldn't help but feel proud when her mom complimented her. She hugged her mother tighter. Brooke held her and rubbed her back for a few moments before letting her go, "You are my pride and joy, Samantha. You always will be. You can dress how you want. Look how you want, and enjoy the things that you do. I don't care that you're not prim and proper. Dad and I love you for who you are."
"I love you mama." The small teenager whispered, making Brooke's heart soar, "I love you too little one."
It was around 4 o' clock when Lucas walked into Brooke's office to pick Sam up. Brooke would get out later and didn't want Sam to be stuck with her at work for that long. That would just be cruel. The twins were already on their way home with Karen so he would have to make their trip back home quick.
When he walked in he saw their daughter peacefully asleep, curled into herself on the couch. A throw blanket lovingly placed atop her.
"I see she didn't last." He joked sweetly walking over and kissing Brooke on the cheek.
Brooke smiled deeply, "She fell asleep about an hour ago. I took her phone so she couldn't really entertain herself once she finished her work."
"Was she upset that we grounded her?" He asked.
"No." Brooke shook her head, "But I'll talk to you about everything at home."
The father walked over and knelt down, "Sammy, buddy, time to wake up."
Sam felt the nudges on her shoulder and groaned, "No." She mumbled annoyed, "Le-me-alone."
Lucas rolled his eyes. He grabbed her bag and swung it on his shoulder, then took the blanket off the girl. Carefully, he placed his hands under Sam and picked her up bridal style,
"Okay lazy, time to go home."
End of Flashback.
With the twins, things were different. Carter tended to be an open book. He was level headed and energetic. When asked about his thoughts the boy could easily pinpoint his emotional and mental state. Everything seemed to be on his sleeve. With Riley that wasn't the case. She was never one to talk about her emotions. She was an introvert through and through. She kept herself so guarded. And if she were to talk it was usually Lucas who was the first to hear about it.
Brooke rubbed her youngest's back, "I-I'm fine mama." Riley said nuzzling into her mom, "It was...it was an accident."
The mother bit back her worry and her frustration. She looked to Lucas who only shook his head. He had practically begged Brooke to just leave it and let Riley take the lead.
'She's not Sam.' Lucas had told her, 'We can't deal with her the way we did Sammy, babe.'
Not wanting to push her youngest daughter away any further, she ignored the voice in her said that she needed to go down to the school and raise hell, the voice that told her to question Riley further.
She pushed some of her daughter's hair behind her ear and lifted her chin,
"I won't say anything about it anymore after this. But if you ever feel like you don't like that school anymore, you can tell us. We have other options."
Brooke had spent the rest of that evening watching TV with the twins, her hand stroking Riley's hair as her head laid on mama's lap.
"So she hasn't talked to you?" Brooke asked again.
Carter shook his head.
Another lie. She had. That same night it happened Riley walked into his room after they were both tucked in and kissed goodnight. She told him everything. Sarah Peters and her friends had gotten mad at her for calling a discussion point she had "archaic and patriarchal." Their teacher had latched onto Riley's idea and praised her for it. Sarah already not a fan of Riley had become livid at the thought of getting shut down by her.
But she asked Carter to keep it a secret because she didn't want to make a big deal out of something so small. The boy reluctantly agreed after Riley begged him.
But he had a little talk with Sara at lunch, warning her to stay away from his sister. He hoped he had it handled.
"I don't know mom. She didn't talk to me."
"And you haven't noticed anything?"
Carter sighed, "She's not being bullied mama."
The mother wished she could just be a fly on the wall for her kids when they were at school, "Okay. Just watch out for you sister kiddo, alright?"
He smiled, "I always do."
She kissed his forehead and sent him out, only leaving when she saw him go all the way in.
"What'd mom ask you about?" Riley had waited for him by the door.
Carter put an arm around her and led them towards their locker, "About you and whether you've talked to me about Sarah."
The girl turned to him, "You didn't say anything, right?"
"Of course not. I got your back. But she hasn't been bugging you, right?"
Riley shrugged, "No, not really."
He knew he had to keep an eye on her sister. She was so opinionated, but also super sensitive. Those two traits didn't really bode well.
'Riles, look! Look what my parents got me!" One of Riley's friends, Addie, ran towards them.
"Hi Carter." Addie quickly said looking back to her friend, "Check it out Riley."
She opened up a Ziploc bag and showed the brunette the reason for her excitement. "They got me a whole set of charcoal sticks with different tips and stuff, so we can use it for art class today. I think it'll be cool to make the portraits with this stuff."
Riley examined them and nodded, "Oh that's so cool. I bet it'll add so much dimension to them. Do you think Mrs. Carr will let us use them?"
Carter raised an eyebrow and rolled his eyes. BO-RING.
"See ya 'round Riles. Bye Addie." He said, being waved off by both girls before going in search of his own group of friends.
He was greeted by Johnny and Dave, his two best friends. All three of them played sports together and were the attraction of many of the girls at St. John's Academy. But Carter didn't really care for the attention.
"Yo Carter, we've been waiting for you. Guess what?"
The dark blond haired boy sat down, "What?"
Dave showed him a snap that Chloe had posted. She was doing a "Ask Me Anything" and someone had asked her who she had a crush on at school.
She responded by saying "That Scott kid is kinda cute. Don't know him though."
Carter looked to his overexcited friends and shrugged.
"Dude, she likes you!" Johhny responded.
"I don't really know her though. Don't you have to know someone to like them?"
Both boys looked at each other and shrugged. How were they supposed to know? None of them had a girlfriend either.
Chloe was the grade A hottie of the sixth grade. She had just moved to Xavier prep a few weeks ago from one of the local public schools.
"Doesn't she have the high school guy?" There were rumors that she had a 15 year old boyfriend who she went to third base with.
"Well, who cares!"
"I don't know guys. That's weird."
The bell rang and they all groaned, "Don't be such a scaredy cat. If she talks to you, you gotta talk to her back." Dave told him. All the things Dave knew about girls was through his older brother anyway, so he had the inside scoop.
Carter tightened his hold on the strap of his backpack. If there was one thing he couldn't truly understand about his friends was there growing attraction to girls. He just felt, well, indifferent.
He passed by Riley's first period and craned his head to see if she was in there. He could see her sitting next to Addie. He smiled and kept walking before Riley noticed him. She always shooed him away when she caught him doing that.
The boy always just felt this overwhelming need to protect her. He really couldn't help it. He suddenly felt Dave elbow him, Carter was about to elbow him back when he caught sight of the reason.
There was Chloe walking towards them. She made eye contact with Carter and smiled. The boy smiled back, and Dave and Johnny's eyes both widened.
"HO-LY SHIT BALLS." Johnny exclaimed, "DUDE!"
Carter just laughed and shook his head, "She just smiled at me. Calm down."
"Hi. I'm Chloe." Came a voice from behind Riley. The brunette turned around and rose her eyebrow. She knew who Chloe was. There were rumors about her. Looking at her, Riley could definitely see why. Chloe looked 14!
"Hi?"
"I just never said Hi to you, so yeah."
"Oh." Riley said, still not sure why this girl was talking to her.
"Hi, I'm Addie." Riley's friend extended her hand, "And that's Riley."
Chloe smiled sweetly. "You're Carter's sister, right?"
"Yeah, he's my brother. Why?" Riley, the ever skeptic wasn't so sure of this interaction.
"He seems cool. And so do you. I saw you were holding those charcoal sticks. I love to use those when I draw."
"You like drawing?" Addie asked excitedly.
Riley looked to her friend. Addie literally did not know the definition of 'be cool.'
"Not that good at it, but I like doing it. What about you Riley?"
"I'm alright. Are you taking art? Mrs. Carr teaches us a lot of cool stuff."
"Yeah, I have her sixth period."
"Alright ladies and gentlemen. The bell has rung, class has started! Go to your seats and get your journals out!" The girls heard their teacher say.
"We should talk during lunch." Chloe got up to move to her assigned seat.
Addie and Riley turned around and looked at each other. "That was weird." Riley whispered to Addie.
"She seems nice." Her friend added in.
…. …. ….
When lunch rolled around Riley went to her brother because he had forgotten to give her half of the lunch money that Brooke handed him.
She found him with his jock group of friends. They were kind of bone headed in her opinion, but nice.
"Hey Carter do you have my lunch money?"
Dave and Johnny waved at her, "Hey Riley!"
"Hi guys." She smiled.
"Yeah, I got it. But I was gonna get in line too. Come with me?" He asked her. She nodded and walked side by side with her brother. Dave and Johnny had sped up when they found out they were serving tacos.
"Hey Riley!" Both Carter and Riley turned around.
"You know her?" The boy asked turning to his sister. It was Chloe, yet again.
"She started talking to me in first period." Riley informed him, "She asked if I was your sister."
Carter narrowed his eyes, not liking the possible idea of this girl using his baby sister to get to him.
He grabbed Riley's upper arm, "Come on Riley, let's go to lunch."
Riley pulled her arm away, "Hold on Carter. She's coming too. But you can go if you want."
He crossed his arms across his chest, still not happy, but waited with Riley anyway.
Chloe finally caught up, "Hey! Mrs. Carr told me about art club. She said you and Addie are in it." She then looked to the taller dark blonde haired boy, "I'm Chloe by the way."
"This is my brother." Riley smiled, grabbing onto Carter's hand and squeezing it. The boy squeezed back, loving the feeling of comfort and safety that holding hands with Riley still brought him.
"You're on the soccer team, right?"
The boy nodded, "And basketball."
Chloe giggled a bit and smiled at Carter, "Cool."
"Yeah, it's pretty cool….Ummm, can we go now, I'm hungry?" Carter added. For some reason her presence made him uncomfortable. He wasn't sure how to act now that he had it in his head that this girl liked him.
Carter stayed quiet as Riley and Chloe talked. He paid attention to how the girl treated his sister. She seemed nice enough and it looked like she enjoyed art the way Riley did.
"Here, have an orange." Carter heard Riley tell him, the bright fruit plopped onto his tray. He groaned loudly.
"Mom says you need more fruit in your life. So you better eat it." She stuck her tongue out at him as he groaned.
Chloe was the first to grab her lunch and waited for the other two. Carter was next.
"So have you been at this school all your life?" Chloe asked him.
"Mhm. Since kindergarten." Carter smiled, "It seems nice. I kinda miss my old school though."
"The public middle school right?"
The girl nodded in the affirmative.
"I think you went to the middle school my parents went to."
"Oh, that's cool! My dad's been wanting me to come here, and once him and my mom divorced I moved in with him and he got to choose where I go."
Carter frowned. That didn't sound very fun. In many ways, Riley and him were lucky. So many of their friends parents' were divorced. He always felt weird when his friends brought it up though. He wasn't exactly sure how to empathize.
"That-that really sucks."
The tall sixth grader shrugged, "It's whatever."
Riley walked up to them and the trio split up. Chloe sat with Addie, Riley, and another two of their friends, while Carter walked over to his very excited buddies. They'd been watching the interaction the entire time.
Carter honestly just felt happy to be sitting back with his friends, although he kept looking over, trying to read his sister's emotions on her face.
Chloe seemed nice. But, he had a small seed of doubt.
… …. ….
Sam walked out of her office in the Southside Group home in a maroon polo with the group home logo and her slim black pants. She was now a full time program manager there. Her job consisted of implementing constructive day programming for the girls in the home. It was challenging, often draining work, but at 24 almost 25 years old, Sam felt fulfilled with her position. She was giving back in the only way she knew how.
The girl was walking to her car heading home to meet up with Jack and Tamara. The trio had gotten used to eating dinner on Mondays and Fridays together.
"To break up the monotony of the week." Jack would say. And Tamara would roll her eyes and ask him who taught him that "stupid ass SAT word."
The girl was driving out of the parking structure when she received an incoming call from Carter of all people.
"S-sammy?" She heard his voice come through her car speaker. She immediately pulled to the curb. His voice as wobbly, and she could tell he wanted to cry. Something was wrong, but she couldn't jump to conclusions just yet.
"Hey big boy, what's wrong?" She asked clearly concerned.
She heard him sniffle. Oh God. Her perky, little spitfire was sad!
"Carter, talk to me bud." She tried again.
"Can you, umm, can you pick me up?"
Alarm bells rang in her head. Something was definitely off. She was all the way in Southside. Carter would never just call her to get picked up so far away.
"Bud, where are you? What happened, and have you called mom or dad?"
Carter rolled his eyes. He should've expected that line of questioning, but still hoped if he was honest his big sister would pull through.
"I'm at Tree Hill park, and I-I was walking after school with the guys, but I, umm...I sorta fought with Dave."
"You FOUGHT him?! Like, physically?"
"Y-yes? Sammy, please come get me!"
"What the hell Carter. Dave's your friend! Are you okay? What happened?"
Carter couldn't stand all the questions. He was upset and confused himself. Why did he punch his friend in the first place? He'd just gotten so mad.
"Sammy, p-please. Just come. I-I don't wanna talk to mama or daddy right now. Please!"
Knowing the feeling of needing to talk to someone but not necessarily your parents Sam sighed and nodded, "Alright. Okay. Are you good to wait for me? It'll take me about half an hour to get there."
"Th-that's okay. I can wait."
… …. ….
"So let me get this straight. You pushed him because he was messing around about you and that Chloe girl? Then y'all started to throw punches."
Sam could see a slight bruise forming on his left jaw. Brooke was not going to be happy about this at all.
Carter frowned, "He just kept going, asking me if I was gonna talk to her. And I don't, I don't know. I don't like her! Why should I want her to be my girlfriend? Then he was like, well you don't like anyone because he has a crush on Caroline and Joey has a crush on Lizzie. And it just got me mad! Why do I have to have a crush on someone?"
The older sister could see all of the young boy's emotions bustling in his eyes. She gently put an arm around him and let the boy lean into her side.
His insecurity about not liking anyone had manifested itself as defensiveness, Sam could tell that much. "You don't have to like anyone. There is no rule about when you need to start liking people, big boy. You're only 11. I don't think I liked my first boy until I was 12 or 13."
Their moment however was cut off by Carter's phone ringing.
"Oh no. Mama's calling me. Do you think she knows?" His eyes widened, feeling panicked.
Sam felt for him. An angry Brooke and Lucas had the potential of being very intimidating.
"H-hello?"
"Carter Davis Scott. Where are you?!"
Sam could hear her from where she was sitting. Yep. She knew.
"I-I'm at the park."
"Dave's mom just called me to tell me that you and him fought?!"
"Mom I-I'm sorry-"
"I'm coming to pick you up." She cut Carter off, "You and I can talk then. Don't move from where you are. Do you understand me?"
"Sammy's here though. She can take me home."
Sam bit her lip. Oh shit. Now she was going to get an earful.
"What do you mean, Sam's with you? Young man you have so much explaining to do." Brooke was set to keep on scolding, but Sam took the phone from Carter, "Mom, hold on. Carter's pretty upset. I'll take him home and maybe you two can talk then."
"Samantha, what are you doing all the way over here? And how long have you been with Carter?"
Did her children just decide to drive her crazy today?! Dear lord.
"He called me. He needed to talk to someone so I came over. Plus it'll give you a chance to calm down a little, you know?"
Brooke took a deep breath, not liking how in the dark she felt with the situation. "Get his little butt home right now. We need to talk to him."
Carter heard his mom and gulped, hoping that wasn't a euphemism for a spanking.
Last time that happened was last year. Riley and him had both been on the receiving end because they had gone off on their own while on vacation. The duo ended up getting lost, neither with their phones. Luckily, Riley was pretty level headed and thought of walking into one of the local stores and asked if they could look up the number to the hotel they were staying at. The front desk then let the worried parents know where the children were.
A relieved Brooke and Lucas hugged their children tight and kissed them multiple times, thanking the store owner for his help. But the kids learned their fate in the car.
Two very contrite fifth graders were shuffled into the hotel room and led to their own corners. Riley went first and Carter had to deal with listening to his little sister cry over their dad's lap in the other room, while he and his mother talked about why they can never do something dangerous like that again. When it was his turn, Luke stood up with a crying Riley in his arms.
"I-I'm ss-so-so-rry daddy!" Came the little girl's words through hiccups. "It's all over princess." He cooed, "You're forgiven."
He set her down gently on the ground once her crying had calmed down and pointed to Brooke who was in the living room of their suite with a weepy Carter sat on her lap, "Go to mama, baby. I have to talk with your brother now."
Brooke set Carter down with a kiss, "Go on big boy. It'll be okay."
The twins looked at each other sadly as they crossed paths. Luke's firm but gentle hand grabbed onto Carter's and led him into the bedroom. The door closing for privacy.
When Riley made eye contact with Brooke, she felt herself want to cry all over again. She rushed over to her mom and lifted her arms, wanting to be picked up and cuddled, "M-mommy." She cried.
Brooke obliged and put her hands under Riley's armpits, "Shhh. I've got you sweetie."
"We won't do it again!"
The mother softly patted the girl's warm pantied bottom, "I know you won't Riles. You're okay now. It's all over." Brooke soothed her until Riley's cries turned to sniffles. None of her children were immune to Brooke's cuddles. There was something about mom's warmth that eased them.
Both twins were put to bed early that night, but by the morning the parents were pleasantly surprised when they woke up to small weights on their chests. Brooke had a cuddled in Riley with her hippo, and Lucas had Carter. They had both gone to bed with pajama bottoms on and large tshirts, but had shed them at some point, so their now pink bottoms were sticking out from under their shirts.
They looked like the definition of innocence and the parents held their babies tight so glad that they were safe and sound.
"You'll be okay. Just be honest about everything." Sam advised him, holding her hand out for Carter to take.
The car ride was shorter than Carter had hoped and now they were in the driveway of their home. "She was so mad." He mumbled, "I'm super dead."
Sam sighed, "I think that they'll be upset that you fought, but if you tell them why they'll at least somewhat understand."
Carter wanted to stay in the car with Sam for longer, but that really wasn't an option so he walked with his big sister up the front steps.
"Here fix your shirt and make it seem like it wasn't that bad." Sam winked, tucking Carter's shirt in for him. She then did her best fixing is hair.
"We're here." Sam called out as she unlocked the door.
"In the kitchen." They heard Luke say.
Sam walked in with Carter and the two parents immediately fussed over him.
"Oh my god Carter. You're bruised!" Brooke exclaimed.
Sam slowly eased out of the scene and decided to wait to greet her parents. Looked like she was going to miss dinner with Jack and T. this time around.
"Sit." Luke told him pulling a stool out as Brooke grabbed some ice to put on his face.
His dad crossed his arms over his chest and towered over him. It made the still young boy squirm in his seat.
"Ah! That's cold!" He shrieked when he felt the ice come into contact with his jaw."
"Oh hush." Brooke shushed him, "If you hadn't fought, this wouldn't have happened. Now stop moving."
Carter pouted and held the ice pack after his mom situated it.
"Carter, you need to tell us what happened. Because I'm not too keen on seeing my son with a bruised up face." Brooke stated, leaning on the counter by Lucas.
Sam was right. Their mom had calmed down since the phone call. Thank God.
"We, we were at the park and Dave kept talking about how this girl likes me and bugging me about it. I told him that I didn't like her, and then he was like well you need to like someone. Everyone on the team likes a girl, so you have to like someone too. He said I was weird if I didn't.." Carter felt his eyes sting. "I-I don't know. I got mad and I pushed him. Then he got mad and tried to hit me but I moved and then we just started trying to hit each other. He caught me once and then I caught him. After that he started crying and just ran home."
Luke rubbed his hand with his face, "Bud, why didn't you call one of us?"
"I-I called Sam."
"But Sam lives far away. She had to drive all the way from Southside. Mom and I were 10 minutes from you."
The boy shrugged, readjusting the ice, "I guess, I didn't want you to get mad at me." He lowered his head and sniffled.
Brooke sighed. She couldn't really blame the boy. At least he called someone, right? And thank God that person was Sam.
"Carter, why do you think you got so mad?"
The boy rolled his eyes. How was he supposed to answer that when he himself didn't even know?
"I don't know. I just did."
"Did pushing him help you feel any better? Did it clear up any of your frustration?" Brooke pushed him to think about it a little bit more.
He bit his lip, "N-no. I just wanted him to stop."
Luke raised an eyebrow, "There were better ways of making that happen. And if he didn't listen you could've walked away, young man."
The boy looked at the Nike shoes on his feet, "Yes sir."
"So he didn't hit you first?" Luke asked.
A shake of the head.
"You weren't in danger?"
"No."
"Your sister wasn't in danger?"
"No."
"I see." Luke added, letting the moment sit.
He sighed and lifted his son's chin, his voice a bit softer,
"I know it's hard sometimes, but you have to take the high road son." Luke told him, "This is your pass. Unless somebody hits you first, I don't want to hear about you inciting a fight. again"
"Yes sir." The boy dutifully answered again.
"Carter?"
He looked up at his mom's concerned voice, "Do you want to talk about it some more. Why him asking about liking someone got you mad?"
The mother had a fleeting thought. A possibility that maybe Carter wouldn't grow up to like girls.
The boy shook his head, "No mama. He was just being dumb, and I lost my temper. I'm sorry. I promise I won't do it again."
The mother looked to Luke and then back at their boy, "Give me the phone, then right upstairs. We'll call you for dinner. You're heading to bed early tonight."
The boy sullenly handed the phone over, "How long will you have my phone for?"
The parents hadn't thought that far through. Honestly, not that long, maybe a day or two, but they'd make him wait it out.
"We'll think about it." Brooke told him.
Carter nodded without hesitation.
"Riley's staying at Addie's house." Luke said before Carter could ask the questions. The boy frowned he really wanted to talk to his best friend tonight, "But she said she'd call us to say goodnight."
The boy got up, and went up to his room quickly. Glad that he only received a scolding, and got the chance to be alone for some time. He honestly just needed time to himself. He was getting tired of answering questions.
Brooke and Lucas looked at each other. Their boy usually wasn't violent. He was a lover. They hoped it was a one time thing, and they wouldn't have to deal with something like this again.
Meanwhile Sam was in the living room. She'd turned on some TV while she waited for her parents to finish talking with Carter.
"Peanut, thank you for coming to get Carter."
Sam turned around at the sound of her mom's voice. "He seemed really upset. It was no problem, I had just gotten off work anyways."
Both parents sat on either side of their eldest child. A woman now. A thought that brought both pride and a bit of sadness to the parents' hearts.
"Where's Riles? I went up to look for her but she wasn't in her room."
"Staying at a friend's house." Luke explained.
Sam nodded in understanding and leaned onto her dad's shoulders. The man smiled and kissed her head. Still his baby.
"How was work, sweetheart?" Brooke asked as their daughter got even more comfortable between them. Sam's legs went up onto the couch. Her head moving to lay on her dad's lap.
Luke moved his hands through her hair to relax their eldest girl.
"Good." Sam sighed as she thought about it a little more, "Well, tiring. One of our girls had a breakdown today. She wouldn't leave the shower. We had to break the lock to get to her."
Lucas frowned as he looked at Brooke. He was never a fan of the fact that Sam had to deal with the harsh realities of other people, when her own past was so harrowing. He couldn't understand how his baby girl had so much mental energy and compassion for it all.
Then again, Sam had always been compassionate for others. It was one of her trademarks. Always thinking about others.
Flashback
Lucas sat on the couch anger coursing through his veins. Him and Brooke had gotten into a stupid argument over Peyton and Julian. Yet again. He was tired of this weird love game they had going on, and didn't know if he could keep it up.
"Just make your decision Brooke. I can't be in your life and not in your life at the same fucking time!"
Jesus why had he said that?
"Oh fuck this shit!" Lucas said exasperated, throwing his phone onto the cushion and getting up to grab a cold beer from the fridge. He stopped himself. He didn't want to drink in front of Sam. Ms. Thrice had said it was okay, but Lucas knew that some of the past guardians had been alcoholics and he didn't want Sam to be able to make any sort of comparisons between them and him. She'd gone to bed already, but he wouldn't risk it. He forewent the alcohol and turned his tv on low.
"Lucas?"
The man turned and saw his small daughter swallowed whole in one of his t shirts, as she played with the ends of the gray material.
"Hey Sammy." His voice came out soft, the anger in it no longer there. He never claimed to be a tough guy but any small ounce that he might've had just melted when it came to Sam, "Is something wrong?"
"My stomach hurts." Her voice sounding a little bit teary, "And I don't-I don't know where your medicine is. Brooke made me tea last time and I felt better, but I don't know what tea she uses. I'm-I'm sorry."
Sam hated that she was bothering Lucas. Night time was meant to be a time for adults to do as they please, especially the dads. Kids weren't their responsibility like that. She would never ask the question at any other past home she'd been in, but Lucas was much nicer than most. She hoped she hadn't overstepped.
If only she knew that Lucas turned to putty for her. Just putty.
"Come sit on the couch. I'll bring you some medicine and tea, okay?"
Sam did as she was told. Lucas situated her on the couch and kissed her forehead. "Give me five minutes champ."
Sam gave him a small smile and held her stomach. When Lucas came she grit her teeth and took the pebto bismol, at least that stuff didn't taste like cold medicine.
"Here, I made you some peppermint tea. My mom used to make it for me when I was a kid and my stomach hurt."
The 14 year old took it and whispered out a 'thanks.'
"Can I sit here with you even when I finish the tea?" She asked just as Luke took a seat by her.
The father smiled and put an arm around her, loving the feeling of Sam cuddling into his side, "Of course champ. You can stay down here with me as long as you want."
The pair stayed quiet. Lucas's focus cut between the fight he and Brooke had, the little girl snuggled into him and the game on the tv. The pain in Sam's stomach was starting to ease with the tea and medicine. But her eyes kept glancing up at her dad.
"Umm, Luke?"
His eyes went back to his child.
"I-I heard you arguing on the phone with Brooke." She started slowly, "Are you, ummm..are you upset at her?"
She wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do. But she could tell that her father was still thinking about it, and it made her kind of sad to see her dad like that.
Luke sighed, "I'm sorry bud. You shouldn't have heard that, and it has nothing to do with you."
Sam nodded, "I know, but you and Brooke work so hard and I don't know, it's not fair that you have to worry so much about me too. Ms. Thrice says stress makes people snap at each other, and I know kids bring stress. So I'm sorry. You and Brooke don't deserve that. You're too good and nice of people."
By the end of it her eyes were glistening with tears. She hadn't meant to say so much, but it all came out. She bit her lip. She had to go back to her room. She shouldn't have said anything.
Sam made a move to get up but felt Luke take the cup out of her hands and place it on the table. 'No Sam. Stay here. Let's talk."
The girl gulped, but nodded.
He smiled at her, "Champ, your mom and I are okay. Your presence isn't a burden. Your presence is a blessing."
The girl blushed. She'd never been called a blessing before.
"But-"
"What we argued about had everything to do with stuff that we've had to deal with for years. You, Sam, are the brightest part of my life right now."
"Are you sure you and Brooke are going to be okay?"
The father chuckled. Romantically speaking? Who the hell knew. But as parents to the bundle of love sitting with him. Yes. They'd be okay.
"Yeah baby. We're gonna be okay."
It wasn't too long after their talk that Lucas had the little girl's head laid on his lap. She'd fallen asleep and he didn't have the nerve to send her to bed when he noticed her eyes fluttering closed.
Lucas found himself crying as he looked at his sleeping child. He hoped that he could have her in his lap like this for years to come.
End of Flashback
"Did she manage to calm down?" Lucas asked Sam, his hand still running through her hair.
The young woman nodded and yawned, "I held her for about half an hour but she finally came back to us. It was pretty intense."
Brooke caught the yawn and the tiredness in her daughter's voice. She silently motioned for Lucas to grab the blanket nearest to him that hung on the couch.
The mother opened the dark purple blanket up and gently covered Sam with it as Lucas kept talking to her. Brooke knew it wouldn't be long until Sam ended up taking a nap.
And she wasn't wrong. Ten minutes later their daughter was out.
"I don't like our little girl having to deal with all of that."
"I know she's our baby, but she's an adult Luke. We can't stop her."
"I don't want her to burn out."
Brooke looked at their daughter. Her features more matured. Her hair now cut shorter and sleek, her nails painted a deep red and just the right amount of makeup on her face.
When had that happened? When had their little one grown up so much?
"We can talk to her if we see it happening, but I don't think she will babe. It's her passion."
The father sighed. God, kids no matter what age were so hard.
Both parents carefully moved off the couch. Luke adjusting the blanket once more. Brooke kissed Sam's cheek, "Have a good nap, peanut."
…. …. …..
By eight o clock Sam had gone home to Jack. She was sent home with many hugs and kisses. By both her parents and Carter. The boy was glad he got to come down to say bye to Sam. Meanwhile Brooke and Lucas were already excited for Sunday when they'd have their weekly dinners together, all their kids in one spot. It was bliss for the parents.
By eight thirty Carter was told to turn his lights off and stay in bed. There were a few grumbles, but he did as he was told. And the 11 year old couldn't help but smile when his mama came in five minutes later.
"Still awake baby?" Brooke asked closing the door softly.
She sat by him and put a hand on his thigh, "It's 8:30 mommy. I'll probably be away for another two hours before I'm actually tired." He grumbled.
Brooke raised an eyebrow, and the boy immediately backtracked, "Sorry. It's just...early."
She looked at his green eyes deeply, "Carter, you know that dad and I love you no matter what. You and your sister are allowed to feel, and love, and think whatever you want. And there is nothing wrong with that. Dad and I will have your backs 100 percent."
The boy looked at his mom confused. He had no idea what she was talking about, but he could tell that his mama was serious so he nodded solemnly, "Yes ma'am. I know that."
She leaned in and kissed his forehead. Brooke knew that as the twins grew up they'd be faced with so many decisions, heartbreaks, and heartache. She didn't know who their children would decide to love. The twins were far too young right now. She didn't know if they'd be straight or gay. But the situation that Carter was in that afternoon brought the mother a sober reminder that they could easily go either way, and she wanted to make sure Carter and Riley knew it was okay.
"Why'd you tell me that mama?" Carter innocently asked.
The mother moved and laid down next to her little boy. Carter wrapped an arm around her mother's waist. He loved mom cuddles at night.
"I just want to make sure you know that you and your sister are loved unconditionally by daddy and me."
He nodded, "We know. I promise you we do."
Brooke felt herself breathe a little easier. As a mother, all she wanted was for her children to know they were loved and loved so deeply.
Hope you liked it! Please review. I appreciate every single one of your thoughts.