Here you go! Hope you enjoy! Let me know your thoughts in a review. Love y'all!
The car ride was silent. Tense. Lucas was driving while Brooke stole glances of her children from the rearview mirror. Riley and Carter were sitting next to each other hand in hand. Carter in the window seat and Riley in the middle. Riley's head leaned on Carter's shoulder. Solidarity.
The office of the private school couldn't assure Brooke and Lucas that the debacle wouldn't show up on social media since some students had their phones out to record, but did let them know it was cut very short by a security guard nearby. Brooke had alerted her publicist that this might turn into a fire. At the least it would be circulated between the school and at most a tabloid would pick it up. She hoped it was the former, but right now her mind and eyes went to her two kiddos in the back.
Carter looked so much like Lucas in Brooke's eyes. But his heart always shone on his sleeve like her. Right now though, the boy's jaw was tight. He was trying not to cry. And that, well that made Brooke worry even more.
"So you're not going to say a word about it, huh?" Lucas broke the quiet startling almost everyone in the car, save himself.
Carter glanced at his father and gave him a single curt shake of the head, laying his head back on the window. Eyes misting more. Brooke could see that he was miserable.
Riley tightened her hold on Carter's hand while Brooke murmured to Luke to wait until they got home. He didn't need Luke's anger to make things worse between the parents and a clearly furious Carter. Brooke caressed her husband's arm, The man turned and looked at her, a weary but grateful smile on his face. His anchor. His Brooke. Yet it was in that short interaction between wife and husband that they missed Carter slipping his hand away from Riley and nudging her head gently off his shoulder. They missed the glint of confusion that crossed the girl twin's eyes. They missed her hand that slunk away back towards herself. A chasm appearing between the two siblings.
Both kids tried to disappear as soon as the engine of the white Range Rover cut off. Swirling emotions of confusion and anger were thick inside the car and all involved were trying to get away from it. The twins zipped to the stairs as quickly as a speed walk could take them.
"Carter," Brooke called before Lucas could say anything, "Living room, please."
For a split second both parents see the hint of rebellion in the boy's eyes. Brooke put a hand to her hip, was he really going to disobey them? But without mincing words Carter dropped his hand from the banister and walked back towards the living room, falling onto the right side of the couch, leaning his head onto a bent arm. "Stay there until mom and I get back." Lucas grabbed Brooke's hand and headed with her into the kitchen.
"You notice what's missing from the picture." Lucas asked his wife while leaning on the island, feeling like he desperately needed an anchor.
Usually Riley would be defending her older brother, asking to stay with him. Usually they'd have to tell her at least twice to go to her room while they talked to Carter when he was in trouble. And like his sister, Carter always did the same for her. But this time, Riley had disappeared to her room without issue, a door closed harder than usual in the process. What the fuck had happened?
"Riley not asking to stay down here." Brooke massaged her left temple while Lucas nodded in affirmation, glad they both thought the same thing, "Do you think she's somehow involved in this?" She peeked into the living room where their son hadn't moved his spot on the couch. One of his cheeks slowly turning a deeper purple. " I don't know, but I need to get him ice." She pulled some from the freezer and placed it onto a towel. The pair headed straight back, Brooke placing the ice into Carter's lap, "Put this on your cheek because it's clearly bruising."
"Carter, you have to tell us what happened." Luke spoke, trying to stop himself from begging his kid to speak, "We know you and you're not like this. You're not violent."
"I already TOLD you at school," Carter's head shot up, his posture straightening. He was going to war with his father whose anger was growing by the second. "I'm not saying anything. I got suspended at school for a week so I already got a consequence there, can't you just punish me and let me go to my room already?"
Shake. Lucas felt himself shake. "Oh, little boy. You are pushing it. Who do you think you're talking to?"
"You! I'm talking to you!"
"Okay!" Brooke spoke up over the both of them. Battles between Lucas and Carter never went anywhere besides the land of hurt feelings and silent treatments, and Brooke was not up for diffusing either. She guided her extremely irate husband to take a seat in the reclining chair, "Everyone needs to calm down." She ordered both of the men in her life, "We're not going to get through anything like this. Carter you know better than to speak to your father that way."
Carter glowered as he forced himself to breathe; before he dug a deeper hold for his inevitable grave if he kept going the way he was. The parents waited until Carter's defensive pose gave some slack.
"Sweetheart." Brooke sat on the arm of the chair by Lucas, trying the good cop approach, "Your father and I are worried. You're not the type of person to just fight someone for no reason...to hurt someone."
Carter's face softened. "I-I'm not."
"We know you're not." Lucas was calmer now, "Which is why you need to tell us what happened. Did he threaten you? What did that boy do?"
"Why can't you just trust that I fought him for a reason and leave it at that?" Carter didn't want to talk to his parents about this. He wanted to wallow alone. He was feeling rather sorry for his situation and was sure that no one in his family could understand him.
Luke shook his head, tousling his hair in the process. Carter was by far his hardest child to understand. Brooke had a way with him that he simply didn't. He loved the boy to death, but sometimes their differing ways of moving through life really made them butt heads. "You know that's not how this works. We do trust you. And we want you to trust us enough to tell us the truth."
"Did he hurt your sister?" Brooke inquired further. Carter looked down and away, "No."
They were at a standstill. The boy was refusing. Lucas felt that his son had more than earned a spanking over the seat of his khakis. Carter could never hold up his insolent walls when his father had him over his knees. But Luke's parental instinct was telling him that a bottom warming was not what Carter needed. "I can tell this is bothering you big boy." Lucas spoke kindly, "We want to help."
"No, you're bothering me." Carter was not letting up and it was Brooke who surprised both father and son. She stood up from her perch on the chair and strode towards Carter, bending in her heels and cupping his cheeks so their eyes could meet, "You are allowed to be angry. But you do not get to talk like this. Do you hear me? Your father and I are not the ones that should be receiving this displaced anger. Is that understood, young man? You got the wrong ones if you think that's the case." Her eyes dared him to disobey and Carter knew that if he kept pushing his bum would suffer a few smacks. "Answer me."
"Yes, okay." His voice sullen. He hated being scolded by Brooke. It was Riley that got the brunt end of talks like this one. Carter would joke that the girl got told off by their mother at least once a week. Which, lately, hadn't been a totally untrue statement. Mother and daughter were at each other's throats. They would argue over the smallest things and Lucas would often have to intervene. Usually Brooke had the most patience with him, and Carter was not a fan of this change in events. He was a mama's boy through and through.
Lucas let out a deep breath, "Just go upstairs. Don't come down unless you're ready to speak about what's bothering you and what really happened at school. One of us will bring you dinner and more ice for your cheek."
"Gladly." Carter mumbled, tears jumbled in his eyes before scampering away. A sight that made Brooke's heart sag. What was wrong with her sweet son?
… … ….
"Babe when are Haley and Nate getting here?" Brooke heard Lucas ask from the kitchen. She'd gone into the living room to try and decompress from the day with a bit of wine.
"She said in an hour." The fashion mogul sipped the bitter liquid and laid her head onto the couch, deep breaths making her chest rise and fall. Thank God her friends were coming over, maybe they could get her mind off of her worries.
"Mom! Dad!"
Brooke's eyes popped open, but she made no move to lift her head.
"In the kitchen, Riles! Mama's in the living room." Lucas yelled through the sound of the sink faucet. Brooke closed her eyes once more.
A plop on the couch. Brooke turned her head, surprised that Riley had chosen to talk to her over Lucas. She felt tired and in no mood to converse, but would take the moment of communication with her youngest, "Hi love. What do you need?"
Brooke gazed at her daughter for a moment. Her hair, dark brown waves that cascaded down her back. The palest of her ragtag crew, but it only made her green eyes that more expressive. They were calm today however, not dilated with anger like they so often were, not large and sad orbs. Instead, they were just looking up at Brooke, brightly. They were the same eyes that would look up at her while nursing all those years ago. It brought the mother a sense of peace. The woman put her wine down on the side table.
"Can I go over to Em's tonight? Her and her mom are nearby and they can pick me up in like 30 minutes."
"You need to be back by curfew."
Riley grinned a toothy smile, "I will. Thanks!" she was about to hop off the couch but was caught in her mom's hold, "Mom wha-"
Brooke pulled her down into her lap and hugged her tightly, kissing her cheeks over and over again. Riley chuckled, but accepted the love. It was a nice change of pace for them.
"Do you need me because your favorite twin is mad at the world, which includes you too?" Riley asked jokingly once her mother stopped the barrage of kisses, though she still held her. The girl's legs spilled over Brooke's lap.
"Riley come on." Brooke spoke with an indignant tone. She hated when the girl said things like that. "Why would you say that? You know that's not true."
Riley pushed herself off with a scoff, "It was a joke mom. You always have to get so serious about things and ruin the moment."
"Hey." Brooke stood up and put her arm out, stopping her daughter from moving past the couch. Part of her wanted to leave it and let the teen sulk away, but the mother didn't want two upset children moving around the house the rest of the evening.
" Wait. Hold on Riley." For every joke there was a kernel of truth and Brooke was well aware of when Riley's insecurities bubbled up in more discreet ways. Riley paused her steps. She figured her mother would've said something snarky back to her and let her go, not stop her and try to have a heart to heart.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come off like that. I just don't like when you say those things. Your brother is not my favorite twin. You know that, ladybug. At least I hope you do. I have two beautiful children that annoy the hell out of me day in and day out and whom I love equally."
She saw the frustration in her daughter's eyes slowly melt away. The girl tried to look away, "No, Riley Davis-Scott. Look up here." Brooke waited patiently for her daughter's stubbornness to wane. A trait all her kids had inherited. "Look at mama." Sweet words and tone that would disarm her children.
Green eyes finally met.
"Okay mom. I hear you." Came a quieter voice. Brooke smiled at Riley's sudden timidness, and brought her in for a final hug, "Okay. And don't forget that."
There was something about her mother's fierce words that always brought Riley reassurance. And she would've never admitted to it, but it's exactly what she had wanted to hear. "I won't."
"Have fun tonight." She watched the girl trot up the steps before grabbing her wine once more and sitting, "Hello Merlot, my old friend."
…. …. …..
Brooke had gone into the kitchen to help Lucas finish dinner about 15 minutes later. It was peaceful between the two as they worked in tandem. That is, until a screaming match was heard above.
"It's ALWAYS you Riles!" They heard Carter yell, "I don't wanna talk to you, get out!"
Both parents stole a glance at each other and dropped what they were doing, Lucas shutting the burner off, before taking the steps two at a time.
They found their children in Carter's room squaring off. Carter sat on his bed, changed out of his school uniform and into a pair of sweats and a hoodie. Riley stood by the mounted TV, already dressed to meet up with her friend. They only felt their parent's presence but did not acknowledge it.
"You're being ridiculous!" Riley crossed her arms, "I don't know what you're talking about or why you're even so mad at me! I don't understand, how is it my fault you punched that dumb ass?"
"That's exactly the problem! You don't understand anything. You're so smart, you're stupid!"
"CARTER!" Two voices came from the door. The blonde haired boy's head whipped around to take in his shocked parents, "Watch your mouth." Brooke stepped further in with Lucas behind, "Riley come sit down so we can-"
"No!" Carter stood up, and cut his mom off, "I don't want to talk. Don't you guys get it? Not to you, not to her."
Lucas rubbed his face, finding it difficult to empathize with his upset son, "Carter why can't you just explain to Riley what the issue is instead of insulting her?"
Carter groaned loudly, clenching his fists. He looked at his twin's hurt eyes, hating that he had been the reason for her unshed tears. Deciding it would be easier to look at his parents he turned back towards them. "I'm tired of being her protector! That's why I'm upset, okay?!"
Two shocked looks.
"Why do I always have to be that for her? You two have always told me to protect her, well guess what? Now she can't protect herself! I can't do this forever, you know! I have my own life too. I have things to worry about too!"
Brooke stole a glance at her husband who looked just as dumbfounded, at a loss for words.
"I'm not her babysitter. I-I'm just not." Carter shook his head.
Riley stood frozen. Shock written all over her delicate eyes as well. What the hell was her brother talking about? "What're you saying Carter? You don't need to protect me. I'm fine with or without you."
The boy wasn't having it however, "You've never even heard of the Double F list, right?" The girl shook her head.
"Of course not, because you don't pay attention! It's the Freshman Fuck list. And guess what? You're number 2. That stupid kid that's been calling you number 2 and you go along with it, and he laughs. That's why he's laughing, Riles! So of course I punched him! You're people stupid Riley! You had no fucking clue! I'm tired of having to explain things to you because you don't care enough to pay attention!"
Lucas immediately rounded on the boy, pushing him back towards the bed without needing to lay his hands on him. Carter was cornered. Either he sat down on the bed or would have to blitz past his father, which was easily impossible.
The teen sat down while his father loomed over him, "Enough." Lucas' voice was complete steel. A finger pointed right at Carter's chest, "That. Is. ENOUGH. out of you."
It was looking at Riley's hurt eyes and his father's blazing ones that made Carter realize what had just come out of his mouth. He hadn't meant to be so spiteful. Word vomit. Who did he inherit that from? Truly, it was just the teenager in him.
The boy's eyes skitted to his sister. He swallowed the nagging lump in his throat, "I-I'm sorry Riley." He tugged at the tips of his shirt, "I didn't mean to say it like that."
Riley went back to all those moments with that kid. Alec. He was a sophomore with the locker above her. They would have some short conversations. All the chuckles his friends let out in the mornings when he would say 'Sup Riles. My number 2." She sometimes laughed along with them, unaware of the why. It was all recontextualized with Carter's admission. She didn't need to hear anything else.
Leave. That's what she had to do. Just leave. She shook her head at her brother's apology barely croaking out a 'it's fine.' then disappeared out of the room immediately, rushed down the steps, grabbed her phone from the charger in the living room along with the bag she'd dropped by the landing and walked out the front door. Letting out a breath she hadn't known she was holding. Fuck school. Fuck that kid. And Fuck Carter. She found some form of peace as she sat on the steps of the patio.
"Riley."
Of course it was Brooke. She restrained an eye roll.
"I'm fine, mom." Riley's voice harsher than Brooke had expected, "I don't even care about a stupid list made by boneheaded backwards ass boys. I don't."
"It's sexualizing girls without their consent. You should care." The mother spoke tenderly. Brooke sat next to her on the steps, while Riley's mouth went agape at her mother's comment. If it weren't for the situation Brooke would've chuckled, "See I listen when you talk to me. You're the one that always tells me to be aware of -"
"The patriarchal structure." Riley finished her mom's sentence making Brooke smile. The mother kissed the side of her forlorn girl's head. "Exactly...so I know you care, lovebug."
"I don't want to care." Riley looked back away and towards the street. Her friend should've picked her up already. She was itching to leave.
Brooke slid an arm around her daughter and felt immensely happy to see the girl allow herself comfort and lean her head into Brooke's shoulder, "These things hurt baby girl. Being a woman is hard." And it was then that Riley felt understood by the parent she constantly butted heads with.
"It sucks when it happens to you."
Brooke squeezed her youngest, "It's never easy. I know your friend is picking you up soon, but I think you and I should talk more about this. Sexual harassment isn't right in any context and I refuse to normalize this for you."
"You and dad are gonna bring it up at the school aren't you?"
Brooke hadn't come outside with the plan to talk about that now. She just wanted to check on her daughter. A child that would soon be a fact, a child that this misogynistic world already considered a woman. Riley would face so many more moments like this one, and it weighed heavy on Brooke's heart. This conversation between mother and daughter was overdue. "I think so babe. We'll be discreet. But you and other girls should not be subjected to something like this."
The girl burrowed into her mama's shoulder blade, wishing, for a fleeting second, to be small again, "I get it. I think it's the right thing to do." Brooke let out a deep sigh. The world was so cruel and Riley was so beautiful. It scared her. It scared her and in her worry to protect her daughter, she ended up hurting her son. Again, parenting was her hardest job. Nobody could ever tell her otherwise.
"Can we get boba tomorrow?" Riley reached for Brooke. She took in her mother's hands for a moment. A bit veiny now with age, but still smooth to the touch. Nails a deep red, almost burgundy. Riley thought her mother's nails always expressed power. Always made her mother seem so regal. Yet, despite this, Brooke's touch was never short of soft and comforting. As if to remind the girl that Brooke was always 'mama' to her children. "Just you and me?"
Brooke had originally planned to do some sketch work but she couldn't turn her lovebug down. It was Riley's way of saying she also wanted to talk more about this. "Okay. Just you and me, Riles."
Riley sniffled a bit and sat in the comfortable silence with her mom for a moment. Both Davis women were playing and replaying all that was said in Carter's room. Tears misted in the older woman's eyes. How long had her son been struggling with what he'd told them?
"Don't be mad at Carter." Riley's voice is a saving grace from her embattled mind.
"We're just going to talk to him."
"I can take care of myself and I think he's dumb for saying that, but don't be mad at him. I mean, I'm mad at him, but I don't want him to get in trouble." Just then a silver Subaru SUV settled into the driveway. Riley stood up and received a kiss from her mother on the cheek, "Be good, okay? And I promise dad and I will listen to your brother before giving any evil prison sentence out."
Riley rolled her eyes but nodded and gladly went towards the car, happy for the welcome distraction.
Brooke watched her daughter go and felt a throbbing pain in her temples. Jesus Christ. Fridays were supposed to be relaxing! She went back inside and was surprised to see Lucas sitting on the couch, the news on quietly in the background, and a beer in his hand.
"Babe?" Brooke didn't know what she expected after that Carter blowout but Lucas sitting in the living room was not it.
"I told him he's still grounded tonight, not like he would've left anyway. Pretty sure he'll just stay in his room. I didn't know what else to do." Brooke sat by the man and laid her head on his lap, "We need a vacation."
Lucas laughed and bent down to give his beautiful wife a kiss, "I agree with that completely."
"How's he doing?"
"After you left to check on Riley, I calmed down and so did he. I told him that my anger was about what he said to Riles, but not about what he admitted to us and that we should unpack that. I immediately apologized too. Telling him we never meant for that to have happened. He cut me off and just said he didn't want to talk about it anymore."
Brooke sighed and nodded, taking a momentary look up the stairs, "I didn't realize how much we hurt Carter by always telling him to protect Riley. He's a kid just like her, and I don't know...just because he's a boy. God, why did we do that? " The woman sat up, looking to Lucas for an answer.
"I know babe. I've been replaying all the times we've put that on him." The man shook his head in frustration with himself. Parents were supposed to protect their kids from hurt. He knows that they can't be perfect, but right now it really felt like a glaring, glaring mistake. "And then to top it off that fucking kid being an asshole to my little girl. I'm glad Carter punched him. Was she okay when you checked on her? We're going down to that school Monday because that shit is ridiculous."
"I'm taking her out tomorrow so we can talk more, but she agreed that we should go down to the school. I was worried she'd throw a fit about us making a 'big deal' out of this."
Lucas relaxed back onto the couch taking in what Brooke had just said.
"Carter also said he had things to worry about too." Brooke racked her brain. Was her child hurting? When had the transition happened? When did Carter start hiding things from her? He was always so open. Or so she'd thought. "Do you think something's going on with him?"
Lucas scratched his head before taking another swig of his beer, "Maybe babe. Hopefully he's more open to talking to us tomorrow or later tonight after Nate and Haley leave"
…. ….. …...
It was nearing 8 pm and Brooke and Lucas were enjoying the company of their friends. They were all playing Banangrams in the dining room and rather focused on the game in front of them when the alarm system let the know that the front door opened. "Riles is that you?" Lucas called out while putting together the word 'tax'
"Peel." Nate called out. They all grabbed a new tile to place onto their board. "Fuck I got a z" Haley breathed out.
Rebecca, who had joined them about an hour ago empathized with Haley, "Z's and J's are my mortal enemy in this game."
"I can't concentrate with all of you talking!" Brooke complained, making Nate chuckle as he struggled to find a place for three of his tiles, "Consider it a strategy because we're tired of you always winning!"
"Riles?" Lucas called again having not received a response. Brooke looked up as well too, realizing they hadn't received a response. "Not Riley! Sam!" They all heard. The game paused and two excited parents got up to greet their oldest.
"What're you doing here, champ?" Lucas asked after giving his girl a kiss and a good once over. She hadn't visited them that week and it was nice to see her.
Sam also accepted her mother's proffered hug and the loving rub on her back, "Carter called. He asked if he could stay with me tonight. I told him I'd pick him up on my way back from dinner with Liz."
Both parents took a look at each other knowingly.
"Wow all of you are here!" They heard Sam say. She hugged all of the adults in the room.
"Is Lizzie in your car Sam?" Rebecca asked, "Her car is in the shop today."
"Yep. I'm stealing her to come to my place." Sam joked, "Hope that's okay."
Rebecca rolled her eyes, "Steal her as much as you want as long as she's good for work on Monday." Elizabeth had recently started work for B. Davis as a stylist and both mother and daughter were still navigating that relationship. It was odd for Liz, and sometimes a little embarrassing. Sure the older blonde did well on giving her space and privacy, but she was still a mother and sometimes it was hard not to hover despite Liz's 27 years of age.
It was an adjustment for Liz who had spent a few years in New York as a stylist for a much smaller company. She found much success at the small but mighty fashion line. Unfortunately, her personal life was filled with much strife. Her live-in boyfriend had cheated on her, which sent the young millennial reeling. Time back home was what she had decided she needed. And so, although most of the stylists for Brooke's company were housed in the New York office, there was a small number that advised Brooke in North Carolina. Brooke very easily made the decision to bring Liz right over after hearing what had happened and knowing the girl's abilities as a stylist, "I'm glad I poached you." She jokingly told the forlorn Lizzie over a facetime call.
"Liz, honey, did you eat?" Rebecca walked over to the girl's desk within the open space office.
Liz looked up at her mom, the COO of the company, and noticed the apprehensive looks of the employees surrounding her. They didn't know Liz was related to Rebecca, much less her daughter. In fact, Liz was hoping it'd stay that way. She'd managed to keep it on the down low for the past two weeks. But that was mostly because her mother had been out of the office and in New York having only come back a few days ago.
She shifted in her seat, "Umm, no. Not yet."
"Well, come on. Take a break and we can grab some food."
Liz quickly grabbed her purse and left the desk to follow her mom trying to avoid the impending questions of those around her. "Mom can you not do that next time?" She fiercely whispered as they walked towards Rebecca's office.
Rebecca looked quizzically at her daughter, "Do what?" She ushered her daughter in and closed the door, "Let me finish this email real quick then we can head out. I was thinking Thai." She looked back up, "What did you not want me to do anymore, Elizabeth?"
Liz leaned into the large office window, looking out, "They don't know I'm related to you, mom."
Rebecca stopped busily typing and let out a sigh, "Lizzie."
"You know they're going to start talking about the fact that I got this job because I'm your daughter."
The mother scoffed indignant. "Your sketches and proofs speak for themselves. You were a prized asset for your last company. It would've been foolish for us to not hire you."
"Yeah, but mom, I did kind of get it because I know you. If I had gone through the normal application process-"
"You would've been hired." Rebecca firmly responded, pushing her glasses up, feeling rather protective.
"I mean probably, but definitely not for this office, more like the New York office."
"And your work would've spoken for itself and you would've been asked to come to this office to consult with Auntie Brooke. The way I see it we just sped the process up. Look, I'll be more thoughtful about how I address you around the other stylists, but Liz, they're going to find out sooner or later."
Rebecca watched her daughter's shoulders fall as she wrapped her arms around her waist, "I should've just stayed in New York, just figured everything out."
The mother felt her own heart fall. She went to the door and locked it, then carefully turned her daughter's shoulders so they could face each other, "I know you've been thinking about everything that happened lately."
"No, mom. I'm o-"
"No." Rebecca squeezed the girl's shoulders, "I've heard your sniffles and the conversations you've had with Sam at night. You are strong. You made the decision to leave a place that gave you too many memories and was not conducive to your mental health. Lizzie that's strength. I'm proud of you."
Liz felt her lips quiver and she threw her arms around her mother's neck. Rebecca just held her daughter, praying to God that nobody outside of the office could hear her cries. She smoothed her hair over and over, "Shhh. I'm here Lizzie. I'm here."
"I-I hate him!" Liz sobbed, "I loved him mommy. I loved him!"
"I know you did buggyboo. Shhhhhh."
That night Liz curled into her mother who offered her a warm cup of milk with honey before bed. A soothing balm.
"Can you stay with me tonight mom?"
"My answer to that is always, yes."
"I promise, she'll be in excellent condition on Monday." Sam whipped up a debonair smile for her aunt. The woman went over and gave the girl a strong hug, "Thank you for helping her through all of this."
"Of course auntie."
"Sam, what exactly did Carter tell you over the phone?" Brooke inquired as the young woman let go of Rebecca.
Nate and Haley poured everyone in the room another drink. Seemed like everyone needed it.
"Samantha don't take that drink, you're about to drive." Brooke scolded, her hand automatically going to her hip.
Sam frowned and put it on the table, "I was just going to take a sip or two and give it to dad to finish. Geez."
"Please tell me this isn't a regular occurrence of you taking a few sips and heading out?" Brooke narrowed her eyes at her 26 year old child. Lucas grew curious of his daughter's answer as well.
Sam felt cornered much like Carter had felt up in his room. She rang her hands together, "ummm...N-no?"
Shit! She had not planned to get scolded today, lord! Uncle Nate came in to save the day however, "Mellow Brooke. Retract the claws. You already have one child under the microscope."
Brooke eyed her friend and Haley who gave her a subtle nod, as if to say she agreed with her husband. "We'll have this conversation later, young lady." Brooke meant absolute business and everyone in that room knew it.
The younger Davis rolled her eyes hard, "But mama I didn't do anything! Come on! And Liz is in the car she could drive anyways! I'm not being irresponsible." There was something about being under her parents roof that seemed to shed her adulthood away.
The mother put a firm hand up, "End of discussion."
Lucas mouthed an "I'll talk to her." towards a sullen Sam, easing the girl's whine, though the tension still hung. Haley broke it however, bringing the family back on track, "But, Sam really, what did Carter tell you?"
Sam thought back to the short conversation she had with the boy, and was thankful for her aunt's redirection, "Just that he wanted to hang out and that he may have gotten into a bit of trouble with y'all but that was it. I could tell something was wrong though so I said I would come over and see if it was okay with you two first."
Nate and Haley shook their heads, "Sammy a whole lot happened today." Sam furrowed her brows and sat down when her parents gave a somber look in response, "Oh shit. Maybe I should call Liz in?"
"I'll get her." Rebecca offered, already heading towards the door.
Brooke beckoned Sam with her hand, "Come on Sammy. Let's go up and talk to Carter."
….. ….. …..
"Carter, your face! What the fuck happened?" Sam exclaimed the moment she saw the blackened cheek which he was nursing with an ice pack.
Carter, who was watching tv jumped at Sam's voice.
"Sammy!" He ignored the fact that his parents had also walked in. Sam went to hug him immediately and kissed the side of his face that wasn't hurt, "Thing 1, seriously what happened? Mom? Dad?"
"I got into a fight after school with some kid that was being gross to Riley but can I explain everything to you later?" He finally paid heed to his parents, "Please let me stay with Sam tonight." Carter pleaded, "I just want to hang out with her and Jack. It's like staying home if they lived with us anyways."
"I don't understand why you decided to call her before letting us know young man." Lucas crossed his arms against his chest.
"I dunno." He shrugged his shoulders and gave both his parents puppy dog eyes, "I wasn't thinking I guess. My bad, really. But does that mean I can't go with Sammy?"
"I can just stay here." Sam offered, "I don't mind. I'll just call Jack."
"No, it's fine." It was Brooke who spoke. It was clear to the mother that her child needed this, "Carter, you can go.". Lucas couldn't help that his eyes bulged slightly but said nothing. "I want him asleep by 11 pm not staying up late watching movies with you. We also will keep his phone tonight."
The boy restrained an eye roll, but was happy that no further persuasion was needed.
"Alright, cool. Pack a bag Carter and I'll wait for you downstairs." Sam left the room to give her parents space with their son.
"Thanks." Carter mumbled, shifting a bit in the bed, though not looking directly at his mother and father. He felt awful for calling Riley 'people stupid' and he was unsure of what his parents thought of him after all he said, luckily he didn't have to wait for reassurance.
"Your dad and I want you to know that we're sorry for how long you've felt like it's your job to take care of your sister. We never meant for it to be such a heavy burden on you."
Carter nodded, "O-okay."
"This weekend we want to spend some time to talk to you about what you've been feeling. We love you and don't just want to leave things like this." Lucas took a step forward and pulled his son up, "I love you son. You're sisters and you are my world."
The boy did his best to keep his tears at bay, "I-I know." He spoke into the crook of the man's neck, although taller than his twin sister and his
oldest sister he still didn't reach Lucas' full height. Brooke smiled at the boy and beckoned him over. She kissed his forehead and cupped his face, "You are still my baby boy. Nothing you do or say will change that. Okay?"
The 14 year old swallowed hard and nodded. His mother's sharp green eyes looked right through him, "Okay mama."
"We'll let you get to it." Brooke left the room first and found Sam coming out of the upstairs bathroom nearest Carter's room, "Come here Sam."
The younger Davis restrained a groan, closing the bathroom door. She followed her mother into her parent's bedroom. "Take a seat." Brooke patted the bed and stood by the spot patiently waiting for Sam to follow her instruction. Sam looked at her mother curiously, but decided to pay heed. Was she being led to the gallows or something? Jesus! All for not remembering where she was and deciding to take a stupid sip of a drink.
Brooke finally sat next to her, making Sam feel a little less tense. She didn't like when her mother stood over her like that it made her feel like she was in trouble.
"Be honest with me." Brooke spoke.
Sam sighed heavily, "Yes mom. Alright? I've drank a few sips and gone driving before." She saw her mother's darkening eyes. Her lips forming a tight line. Sam's explanation spilled from her mouth, knowing that look all too well. "But for the most part, I don't do it! I've probably done it like a handful of times at most. I'm sure I've never been drunk while I drive. I know that mom. Swear to god."
There was silence between the two. Sam swallowed the ball in her throat. Unsure of what her mother was thinking. To this day, she still hated any feeling of uncertainty that hung between her and her parents. This moment was no different.
"I can't control what you do." Brooke said softly while maneuvering her daughters chin to look at her, "It's your life. But you are still my child. I want you to hear my voice in your head the next time you even think about drinking before driving. What you've done, even a handful of times is incredibly dangerous. I don't care if you think I'm being dramatic or paranoid. I'd rather be careful then have you dead."
"Mooooommm."
"I'm serious Samantha. Stop. doing. it. There's too much life you still have to live to be putting it at risk like that. Let this be the last time I even get a whiff of you trying to do something like that. I know it doesn't seem like a big deal, but it could easily become a tragedy."
Sam let out a breath, unused to the feeling of being scolded. It still brought her to tears so easily. After all, she was still their most sensitive child. "Y-yes ma'am." She looked up at her mother, a blush tinging her cheeks, her eyes glassy "I-I'm sorry."
Brooke rubbed the back of her neck. All her children cried today. As a parent that wasn't easy.
"Hug?" The mother offered. Sam chuckled and quickly wiped her eyes to stop any tears that thought to get out. She cleared her throat and shook her head to get herself together. She then turned and wrapped her arms around her mother, laying her head on the woman's shoulder blade, like she was so apt to do whenever Brooke carried her, or sat her on her lap all those years ago.
"Don't be mad at me mama." Sam whispered, when Brooke kissed the top of her head. The vestiges of Sam's trauma. It was something that she could never really completely shake off.
And it was like Brooke was holding her little girl all over again, "No one is mad at you princess. Just worried."
Sam nodded, grateful that she could always air her vulnerability without shame.
…. ….
Jack opened the door to his and Sam's home when he heard the cacaphony of voices right outside.
"Jack put some pants on!" Liz gawked, "Nobody wants to see your knobby chicken legs."
"Liz they're loose boxers. It's like I'm wearing shorts!"
"Well your legs are not meant for shorts sir. Sorry to tell you."
Jack rolled his eyes as he gave his fiancee a kiss and grabbed Carter's duffle bag, though his mouth gaped when the boy's blackened eye came into view, "What in the fuck?"
Carter ducked his head, forgetting that his face looked pretty messed up, "I sort of got in a fight."
"Yeah, clearly kid." Jack mumbled, "Did you win?"
"JACK!"
"BABE!"
The man lifted his arms up in surrender, "Okay, okay. My bad." He lifted the boy's chin rather impressed however and gave the boy a wink. "I did win." Carter whispered low enough that the women in the room wouldn't hear. He did not need a lecture. "He probably deserved it, huh?"
Finally someone that got it! Carter nodded, "Yeah, he did." The boy kicked his shoes off and went straight to Sam's fridge for a soda. He knew his sister always had the good stuff. Meanwhile Brooke always kept their fridge stocked with health everything!
Liz went to their bar cart, trying to figure out whether she wanted a margarita or wine. "So my vote is still a Twilight marathon. Jack I know you're a hater, but it's a classic."
"Hunger Games Liz!" Jack argued, "That shit is fire."
"My vote is Hunger Games too." Sam cut in after directing Carter to put his stuff in the spare bedroom. Jack and Sam had moved into a two bedroom condo at the start of the year. Finally deciding to stop paying rent and have something more permanent. Brooke and Lucas were over the moon when they found out Sam would be moving a little bit closer to their neck of the woods. A midway point between Southside and North Tree Hill.
"Sammy is there a bed in there now? I'm not trying to sleep on the floor."
"Yes there's a bed!" Sam ruffled his hair, "Did you already eat?"
"Yeah, I ate at home." The boy took a large gulp of the Dr. Pepper in his hand. A sweet tooth just like Sam's.
"Good. Then just go put your stuff in there including your shoes that you left at the front door and come back out." She shooed him off with a gentle butt pat that the boy was used to receiving from his parents. He looked back at her with a hint of mischief in his eyes, "Okay MOM." Carter spit sarcastically, "It's like you're her clone."
"Keep it up and I'll give you a few smacks for your lip." She leaned against the counter and raised an eyebrow, looking, as one would guess, scarily like Brooke.
Carter was completely unbothered by the threat, "Just get your own kid to torture! You're getting old anyways!"
Sam scoffed, "Asshole!" She yelled at his victorious retreating form, though she sighed internally thinking about the idea of having a kid of her own. Her and Jack just didn't feel ready yet, but Sam knew having a child was a dream for both of them.
'I wanna be the best dad Sam.' Jack expressed during one of their late night conversations. 'When we have a kid I want them to feel so safe with us. I've learned so much with Addie and now that she's 18 and a whole adult I just- I want that for us."
"I want that too."
"I know you do that's why I'm so happy that my dream can be a reality."
"But Jack you know Addie's not really, really an adult. Remember being 18? What a mess that was."
Jack laughed, "Yeah I guess so. But the other day she said that the whole, "I'm not a kid. When I tried telling her to go to bed because she seemed cranky when I was over at their house. It just got me thinking about it."
"I mean maybe a bed time at her age is a bit much Jack." Sam chuckled, "I would've said the same thing at 18."
The man shrugged, "It was just a suggestion! And if it's any consolation I told her to lay her head on my lap if she didn't want to go to sleep, and sure enough she was conked out like ten minutes later."
Sam smiled as she moved closer towards Jack. Lucas had pulled that move on her many times.
"Hey champ. How was school?" Lucas said one day when picking her up from Southside. Sam was less than a month into staying with them. Lucas was still getting used to being a father and Sam to being a daughter, but they couldn't help but feel so immensely pulled towards one another's affection at times. It was a visceral reminder that they were each other's blood.
"Shitty, per usual." She said rather coolly but a yawn escaped her a few seconds later.
"So is that a run of the mill shitty? Or did something happen to make it shitty?"
"No, just run of the mill."
Lucas hummed in response. Unsure of what to say. He was so new to this. God, what would a good father respond to that?
"I just wanna relax."
"No homework?"
"I'll get to it."
Lucas swallowed hard, wishing he could be more firm, instead he said, "Just make sure you do."
When they got home Sam sat on Lucas' couch and began watching a rerun of Law and Order. The father sat in the other end and noticed his daughter yawn three times within a span of five minutes. He paused the show, making Sam turn to look at him, "What'd you do that for?"
"You've been yawning a lot kiddo. Why don't you go take a nap?"
"Because I'm not five years old."
Lucas chuckled, "Well tell Brooke that because she's a whole adult and loves naps. Seriously, just go lay down in your bed or my bed. I'll wake you up in a bit."
"But I don't wanna take a nap." Her voice went higher, sounding very whiny to the father. He had heard Jamie five Nate that same tone. "I wanna watch Law and Order, Luke."
Actually, he was pretty sure that Nate and Jamie had a similar conversation just last week. Except the show was Danny Phantom and instead of 'Nate' he was called 'daddy.'
"I hear you." Luke nodded and patted the space near his leg, "How about you lay here instead then? You can feel more relaxed and still watch your show."
"I can put my feet up on your couch?" In other homes, there were always so many rules regarding the furniture. So many rules surrounding the whole house, honesty, and it was exhausting just to think about. So Sam tended to err on the side of caution.
Luke tried to will away the sadness that he felt with that question, "Our couch. And yes, you can. You can lay anywhere you want in this house."
Ten minutes later Sam's eyes were fluttering closed as her head laid close to Lucas' lap.
"Sweetheart, you want to lay your head on my lap? I put a pillow here for you. I think it'll be more
comfortable."
Without saying a word Sam sleepily trudged to do exactly that and within another five minutes she had fallen completely asleep. Her legs curled as close as they could to her dad and she felt little rubs to her back. It lulled the young teenager into an easy sleep.
Now at 26, Sam could see Jack's glimmering eyes in the twilight of the moon. She envisioned Jack doing the same with their kid, "You're going to be an amazing father."
"Sam, how many sodas can I drink before you tell on me to mom?" Carter ripped her from her memories. She watched the boy drop his empty soda can into the recycle bin, "Hold up, you just got that soda!"
"Yeah and I already finished it." He shrugged.
"Three. That's your limit."
"Cool. Cool." That was already two more than Brooke would've let him indulge in anyways.
"You want another ice pack bud?" Sam was leaning on the kitchen island, still clad in her work clothes of office polo and black skinny slacks, and she did not like how purple her brother's cheek was looking.
"Maybe later tonight. My whole face feels numb from icing it so much."
"Alright, makes sense." While Carter went to grab another soda Sam could see that Liz and Jack were occupied by arguing with each other about God knows what. She took the moment and grabbed Carter by the elbow,
"Come outside with me for a bit."
Although slightly reluctant but not completely turned off, he followed his sister. The boy sat on one of the deck chairs and popped open his soda. The fizziness tickling his lips just the way he liked it. He heard the click of the sliding door and glanced over at his older sister, watching her take the seat by him.
Sam had been filled in for the most part by his aunt and uncle while her parents were up in Carter's room, and all she wanted was to make sure her baby brother felt supported by her.
The elephant in the room loomed in the space between them, The boy shuffled his feet under him, hoping Sam would break their silence first.
Sam observed the freshman. She thought back to her teenage years. She thought back to how tumultuous her life was up until age 14. She found structure in Brooke and Lucas. She thrived in and needed their overprotectiveness, unlike her brother and sister. Her issues at 14 were so different from her siblings. She sighed internally.
"So C, I know this day was one for the trash instead of the books, but how was the rest of your week?"
Carter took in a deep breath, "It's been...weird, I guess."
"Wanna tell me why it was weird?"
"I dunno. We started conditioning for basketball and-" He stopped his sentence to put his drink down and clear his throat, "I don't think I'm having fun with it. Dad's so excited about me being a freshman on varsity though. I've just been thinking about that."
Again, Sam thought back, realizing that at 14 her parents didn't have to worry about these sort of things for her. Their worries for a 14 year old Sam were more trauma based.
Sam stared at the TV, her mouth agape. "Oh Shit. Ohshit. Shit. Fuck." She had just come back from school and was headed to her room when she had seen that Luke left a basketball by the couch. Sam had attempted to kick the ball up towards her hands, but being unskilled in the sport led her to kick the ball right at the man's television. Now half of the large screen was filled with lines and black.
Her heart was beating almost out of her chest. She was so scared. A memory of a horrible beating her 8 year old foster brother received once for a similar transgression flashed through her mind. How he was thrown all over the room with the words "naughty," "stupid," and "bad" shot at him. How Sam was made to watch as a warning. Suddenly she felt like she couldn't breathe.
Luke was also right outside, grabbing his playbook out of his truck. Brooke was coming to pick up Sam soon and he figured he'd spend the rest of the night doing some work.
"Sam you left your bag in my car. I got it!" She heard him yell through the door.
RUN. RUN! Her mind screamed, but her feet felt like sludge.
"Where you at Sa-" Luke froze when he came into the living room. The T.V. screen was broken, the basketball was nearby, and Sam looked glued to the floor.
He saw the terrified look on his daughter's face and he knew what that meant.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Sorry!" Her tears pooled over, and her hands went up, almost in half surrender, and half to protect herself from any pending blows.
Luke took one step forward and Sam flinched.
"Please don't be mad. Don't be mad at me, Luke. I dunno know why I played with the ball."
"Hey, Sammy." He walked closer again and Sam backed up until she reached the wall. She slid down and hugged her knees, hiding into herself. She wanted to disappear. She was scared and embarrassed. Her body felt like she couldn't control herself and all she wanted to do was cry.
Luke looked on in disbelief and hurt. The girl wouldn't stop apologizing and she was shaking like a leaf! This was a far cry from Sam's normally sarcastic, playful self.
"Champ, I'm not mad at you." He decided to walk over softly and sit down in front of her, although Sam made no move to look up.
"Are you listening sweetheart? I'm not mad at you. You're not in trouble. Accidents happen hmm?"
"Y-you're not mm-mad?" She still didn't look up, scared that it was all a trick.
"No baby girl. I know you wouldn't do this on purpose. We can just make it a rule now, no playing with the ball in the house. That's it."
"I-I don't wanna get hit. I'll b-be g-g-good. I don't wanna be naughty!" Sam sobbed, "It was an accident!"
Luke tightened his fists, knowing that all those statements were things drilled into his sweet child "I won't hit you baby. I never would hurt you like that."
After five minutes of coaxing, Sam finally looked up. She saw her father's compassionate eyes and all she did was break down crying again.
"Shhhh, honey. I won't hurt you Sam. I'm your dad. You're my sweet little girl."
Lucas stood up and helped his daughter back up, without hesitation Sam was lifted up into strong arms. She wrapped herself around his torso and neck, like her life depended on it.
"I got you. I won't ever hurt you. You're safe."
Now, in the present, Sam looked at her Carter and realized that the hurt her brother had was just as visceral and real as her own fears and worries at 14.
"Does any sport make you happy?" She asked him.
His lips slightly curled up, "Yeah soccer. I had the time of my life this fall during soccer season."
"Are you scared of what dad will think?"
"Not scared. But I don't know, We just bond over basketball, you know?"
The young woman frowned, "I get that bud. I'm sure it's been stressing you out too."
"Yeah, and then that dumb kid with Riley. I just, I freaked out. And now Riley might be mad at me too, but I'm just tired. Maybe I should text her and apologize."
"Hey, can you look at me for a second?"
Carter forced his eyes to meet his sister's and could see the same compassion that he usually saw in Brooke's eyes.
"Your feelings matter too buddy. You matter. You are so selfless, it hurts kid."
Carter chuckled, "I forget sometimes."
"I know you want that bonding experience with dad, but Lucas Scott is a ball of fluff and he'll find other ways to bond with you. You know that."
"Yeah, he would."
"And if you really want I can be there if you decide to talk to him about you quitting basketball."
"You would do that?"
"Duh, C. I love you."
"I don't know, I hafta think about it. It's good for me to stay in shape for soccer but it's not my thing any more."
The older sister moved in closer and smiled at her brother, "And that just means you're growing up and figuring things out for yourself. Basketball was something dad put you in, and when you're a kid you just kind of go with the flow. But, you can think for yourself now,and you know what you like and don't like. Stick to those instincts. Trust them."
Carter swallowed. He was older now. And Sam was right. He was realizing a lot about himself lately. It sometimes scared him, "Thanks Sammy."
Carter was elated. The soccer coach had put up the list of people who made it onto the team and Carter had been chosen as a midfielder for the JV team. He didn't care that it wasn't varsity, the fact that he would play soccer was enough. The school was known for having the best soccer team around and Carter would now be a part of it!
He looked for Peter but couldn't find him anywhere around. "Hey! Hey Riley!"
Riley turned around from one of her friends she was talking to.
The boy looked over at his sister's friend. The one that he knew had a crush on him. He plastered a smile, hating that now he had to say something, not wanting to be rude. "Hey Kayla."
"Hi C. How's it going?" She fumbled with the tip of her binder while looking at the boy.
"I've been cool. Just, you know, hanging out." He turned back to his sister, avoiding Kayla's looks, "Have you seen Pete?"
"He was actually looking for you. Told me to tell you that he was going to be in Ms. Robinson's class this morning."
Riley quirked her eyebrow while she studied her brother. "You look stupid happy. What happened?"
"I'm on the soccer team!"
Riley hugged her brother, "I told you! You had nothing to worry about."
Carter held her tight before letting her go to find his best friend. "Go to Ms. Robinson's class. He's definitely there." Riley reminded him.
Peter was, in fact, in the teacher's class. He came in and found the two of them looking over the boy's most recent essay.
"I know y'all are probably doing something important, but Ms. R can I just tell peter something real quick?"
Peter looked intrigued and gave the teacher a pleading look as well. "Of course, Carter."
"What is it?" Peter asked.
"I got onto the team dude! JV, I'm their midfielder!"
Peter ran over to his friend and picked him up, swinging him around, both lost in their boyish excitement. "I knew you would!"
The moment ended and suddenly, Carter felt the boy's arms around his hips, holding him securely. They looked at each other, slightly embarrassed, but also curious of the feeling of being so close to one another. Pete gently put him down, giving Carter a sheepish look, "You're um, you're gonna be so good and you'll be in varsity next year. Watch."
Carter scratched the back of his head, "Yeah, I just really wanted to tell you."
"Alright boys." Ms. Robinson spoke up, "Carter I'm really happy for you, but can I steal Peter back so we can finish looking over this before the bell rings?" Even the teacher could sense their unease and decided to be the one to help end it.
Carter swallowed, "Yeah. Yeah. Sorry. See ya second period bro."
Peter nodded, "Cool. See you."
That whole day Carter kept going back to that moment. What it felt like to be hugged by Peter. To be held and to be secure.
It was becoming harder and harder for Carter to lie to himself. Peter made him feel a way that no girl ever made him feel.
"Just know that mama, dad, and me all support you. No matter what, bud."
Carter wrung his hands together, but what about his friends? The rest of the world?
"But also C, going back to what happened today, I know that you and Riley are thick as thieves. But you are not her keeper. You said what you were feeling and there's no issue with that. Okay? I'm proud of you actually."
"Wait, really?"
His surprise made Sam laugh, "Yes! You spoke your truth. That takes guts."
Carter leaned back on the chair and smiled to himself. Meanwhile Jack opened the door, "Listen Davis Scott siblings, please come inside now because Liz and I are going to kill each other soon."
"You put sweats on?" Sam raised her eyebrow, "My girl convinced you?"
Jack took a swig of his beer, "Yes, yes demon Liz did convince me."
"Come on buddy." She put an arm around her brother who was already taller than her, "How the hell are you taller than me?"
"I got good genes."
Carter felt a sharp spank to his butt, "HEY!"
"Don't fuck with me little brother."
"Whatever." He mumbled, rubbing his bottom dramatically.
… …. ...
Carter was put to bed that night at 11 just as his parents had instructed. They embarrassingly called Sam to make sure he was in bed and so they could say goodnight to him. Despite his blush and protest though, the boy was happy for his parents' actions.
"Mom?" Carter asked a little shyly before hanging up, "Is Riley still really upset at me?"
"I think more about what happened at school, then you honey." Brooke assured him. "She'll be okay buddy, as long as you apologize." Lucas chimed in.
Carter took in a breath. His support system was strong. He wondered what would happen when he was finally honest with them all.