Lucas felt conflicted. He wanted to follow Sam but he had to stay with Jamie too. Choosing to be with Jamie, he sent a prayer to God that Sam return home before the curfew that Brooke had set for her. Lucas looked at Jamie and he looked a little scared. His face clearly showed that he missed Brooke and Sam as he eyed the door. The toddler let out a sigh and did not complain. Lucas did not know how to feel about Jamie's maturity. His head was proud of his child's acceptance but his heart wanted him to be allowed to just be a kid.
"So we have half an hour before your bedtime, do you want to play or do you want me to read you your storybook?" Lucas asked him.
"I'll just head to bed," Jamie said quietly and walked to his room. He slipped into the covers and Lucas sat on the chair beside his bed. He saw a book on the nightstand and began to read it to him. Jamie looked sad. Lucas did not know what he was doing wrong. He felt like he had agreed to go skydiving and had forgotten to put on his parachute.
Eventually, Jamie just rolled to the other side, facing Sam's empty cot and sullenly fell asleep. Lucas felt a pang of jealousy. 'It was all because of Brooke that he did not know how to be with his son,' he thought.
Lucas proceeded to turn off all the lights and his eyes went to a night light. He turned that on and went to the living room, leaving the door ajar in case Jamie needed him. At that moment, he missed his mom. Karen would know exactly how to make Jamie feel comfortable. He needed to tell her that she had a grandson, but everything was so up in the air. He could not just spring a baby on her.
Lucas then went on to pace around the living room as he waited for Sam, but she never returned. He washed the dishes in the sink for Brooke and folded the laundry in the basket, tidying the tiny apartment to the best of his abilities. He wished to call Brooke or the Dana girl she had mentioned but he still didn't have any of their phone numbers. He checked on Jamie several times and thankfully, he was soundly sleeping. He checked his phone and the time that flashed back indicated that it was late. Sam had broken Brooke's curfew and unfortunately, there was nothing that he could do about it. He thought that Brooke would kill him for letting Sam go, but what was he supposed to do? How was he supposed to know anything? Eventually, fatigue took over his body and he fell asleep sitting on the couch, waiting for the arrival of anybody.
Brooke returned home close to 3:30 am. Lucas was asleep on the couch in a very uncomfortable position. She was confused as to what he was still doing there. She had expected him to help Sam in getting Jamie to bed and then leave. She was not ready to still find him in her home. She was counting on him to have been gone. She sighed and decided that Lucas was a later problem. She walked into the kids' bedroom to check on them and saw Jamie sleeping but he wasn't tucked in like he usually preferred. So she went and tucked him in well to ensure that he was warm enough given the heat situation in the apartment. She softly kissed his cheek and then turned to look at Sam's bed, only to find it empty.
Panic shot up and down her spine as she freaked out. "Lucas, where is Sam?" Brooke screamed, shaking him awake.
"Brooke! Finally, you're home!" Lucas yelled, waking up in a moment.
"Where is Sam!" she reiterated hastily.
"I-I don't know. She was in a really bad mood after you left and she just left suddenly. I tried asking her where she was going but she wouldn't give me any straight answers. I didn't know whether this was a regular thing for her to do but as time went by, I grew worried. I wanted to call you but I didn't have your number! I didn't know what to do!" Lucas said in one breath to get it all out quickly. He saw the colour drain out of Brooke's face.
Brooke grabbed her phone and called Sam, she willed her to answer but was met with the phone going to voicemail.
"Sam! Where are you? Please call me back immediately," Brooke cried to her voicemail.
"Oh, God! Oh God! This is not good! Umm! Uhh! Can you stick around with Jamie for a little longer, please?" she requested, afraid for her pseudo-daughter.
"Yes of course!" Lucas said, the words shooting out of his mouth before he had even thought of them.
"Okay, good. I have to go," she said.
Lucas saw the worry in Brooke's eyes as she grabbed her things and took off once again without thinking for even a second. Lucas was wide awake then. He paced around the tiny room waiting for Brooke, praying that Sam was fine and she was safe. Where would Brooke even go looking? New York was humongous! How had he messed up so badly to let her go and do nothing until it was 3:30 in the morning? He waited and waited. Finally, close to 4:30 am, Brooke returned home with a pissed-off Sam. Brooke didn't look too happy herself either.
Brooke struggled with the door lock and then giving a cold look to Sam said, "Couch. Now." She was livid. It was amusing to see her in parent mode to a defiant teenager. She was so different with Jamie.
Sam huffed but obeyed Brooke's order and sat on the couch. Her arms were folded in front of her chest in an air of defiance as she refused to look at Brooke, choosing to look out of the window instead.
"Now explain yourself, young lady!" Brooke yelled angrily. Sam, however, remained quiet.
"What the hell were you thinking? And to return to that junkyard! Did you take any drugs from Pete this time?" Brooke continued to yell when Sam showed no signs of opening her mouth.
"No, I didn't, okay! I only had a couple of beers," Sam quickly defended herself.
"Sam, are you lying to me? I cannot help you if you lie. It is okay to have a slip but lying makes it a fall," Brooke said emotionally, scared of her falling back to her old habits. "We can look into rehab again, it is okay."
"I am not lying, okay! I did not take any drugs. I only had a couple of drinks," Sam yelled as two tears spilled from her eyelids.
"I love you and so you are going to take an at-home drug test tomorrow. I need to make sure Sam. I cannot have you go through that again," Brooke said, although it was emotional instead of being stern. She seemed ready to cry too as she watched Sam's face contort in pain.
"Fine. I'll give you my pee, happy? Now can I go?" Sam wanted the interrogation to end. She was yet to look at Brooke but her eyes were brimming.
"No! What the hell made it okay for you to leave the house, not inform me where you are going and with whom and not return till I come searching for you?" Brooke yelled with concern. She needed to know what was going on. It had been ages since the last time Sam had acted out. She was doing so well. It made no sense to her.
"Jamie was taken care of! He had father of the year to read him his bedtime story," Sam argued, folding her arms tighter around herself.
"So? What does that have to do with anything? Sam, I have always told you that I will figure something out for Jamie when you want to be a kid and hang out with your friends. But that is for you to go to the mall or the movies or have coffee with your friends. Not junkyard parties with drugs and alcohol! Plus, aren't you always supposed to inform me about your whereabouts at all times? I need to know where you are, with whom and that you're safe. Those are the rules of this family! This is very like the old you and we progressed from that stage. What happened Sam?" she asked.
"How does it matter? I'm just gonna go to bed. At Least until I have one that is," she said the last bit extremely softly as she stood up to proceed to her room.
"Huh? What is that supposed to mean?" Brooke halted her, catching her whispers.
"Nothing," she said, covering her slip up. "I'm just gonna go to bed now. I'm tired."
"No Sam. What did you mean when you said that?" Brooke asked with worry. She was afraid that she already knew the answer, but she needed to hear it.
"Nothing! Just that, now that Lucas is here, he will save you and Jamie and take you back to Tree Hill and I will go back to the pound! Everyone wants the cute puppy and not the mutt. I know the drill. So I might as well figure out a new place to crash. The junkyard has lots of cars that I can sleep in. I went to check them out and there was a party so I stayed," Sam confirmed Brooke's suspicions.
"Sammy! None of that is happening! What! Why would you think that!" she said, incredulously. No force in the world could allow her to leave her.
"Lucas told me. He told me that he was going to take you and Jamie back home! Which only means one thing! I go back to Mike and Norma," Sam said and she burst out crying. Brooke broke down seeing the girl she loved like a daughter struggle too.
"I am never. Ever. Ever. Going to leave youSam. Ever. Don't you ever think that I will," she said, grabbing the lean girl's body and squeezing her in a tight bone-crushing hug. She cupped her cheek and looked into her eyes so that Sam knew that she meant her words.
"But Brooke, you have to! This is not your life and this shouldn't be Jamie's life and he said that too. That this is not your life or the one you deserve and Jamie is his kid! And and…" Sam expressed her fears but suddenly began hyperventilating.
Brooke rubbed her back and tried to get her to calm down. She ran and grabbed a glass of water for her. Sam hiccuped as she tried to down the contents and struggled to breathe. Foster care had been horrible and with Brooke, she had finally escaped the nightmares. She could not go back. She had her dream life. She was struggling to accept the fact that she would have to kiss all the incredible stuff in her life goodbye. To an ordinary person, her life with Brooke looked nothing like incredible, but to Sam, it was beyond incredible. She had everything that she had ever dreamt of with Brooke. She had familial love and she could not do without Brooke anymore, even though she would never admit that to her.
"Sam, I love you just as much as I love Jamie. You are mine just as much as he is and I am never leaving you just like I am never leaving that boy. I am here for you and you are grounded until the day I die for this stupid thing you just did, so too bad, kid! You're never allowed to leave me either," Brooke said between tears, her voice coming out so strained from worry.
Sam laughed and had snot coming out of her nose which she quickly wiped away while Brooke continued to hug and hold the adolescent. "Now. Bed. I will get a drug test in the morning which you will do before school. Non-negotiable. Don't break my trust, please!"
"But Brooke, you have to go back. Don't give up the fairytale for me," Sam argued. Brooke was finally going to achieve her dream. She had never said that Tree Hill was the dream, but it was obvious. Body Language never lied and ever since Lucas was back in the picture, as much as Brooke pretended that things were the same, they weren't. She was behaving differently and Sam was great at catching lies.
"I am not. You and Jamie are my fairytale and I am my own knight. I prefer doing it alone. That way there is nobody who can break my heart and my trust," she admitted. Lucas felt like an imaginary bullet had hit him in the chest but he stayed mum.
"But Brooke!" Sam was stubborn. She wasn't going to back down that easily.
"Now get to bed. You have to wake up for school in less than 3 hours!" Brooke exclaimed.
"Okay. Good night," Sam acquiesced.
"Hey, I'm sorry about that. But shit, it's too late for you to go to your hotel. You can't be down in this neighbourhood this late. You might get mugged or pickpocketed in the least," Brooke complained as she began thinking of possible solutions to the situation. "Umm… we have never had guests over actually! I'm sorry but the best I can offer you is the couch."
"Shit, No. I'm sure I can figure it out. I used to be an athlete," Lucas was quick to say. He did not want to put Brooke on the spot like that.
"Lucas, Basketball training doesn't stop knives or guns," she rolled her eyes at him.
"You were just out!" Lucas reminded her, pointing at the door.
"Yeah, because my kid was missing," Brooke answered curtly. She was not going to explain herself at 4:30 in the morning.
"You work till late, every day!" Lucas continued to remind her.
"Because my kids need food," she answered, crossing her arms and raising her eyebrows as if she was silently telling Lucas 'Try me. I can go on all night.'
"Brooke!?" he said, not knowing what else to say in his defence. Brooke was being ridiculous.
"Lucas, please just. I know my way around here and I have mace and shit on me all the time. I have to wake up in 2 hours, make the kids their breakfast and lunch, get them to school and then work a double shift at the diner. I can just crash with Samantha. I'm sorry but the couch is really the best that I can offer," she sounded so tired at that moment that Lucas almost caved.
"I can sleep on the floor. Sam's bed is a single," he tried to be the martyr.
"Umm… we have issues with the heating. You will freeze to death on the floor. Just please sleep. I'm gonna be in the room," saying that she put out her pillow and thick blanket out for Lucas. Lucas followed her with his eyes as she went into the bathroom and took a shower. Once she emerged sans the stripper make-up, in a sweatshirt and fuzzy pants.. she took her jacket and walked inside without a goodnight.
Lucas returned to the couch but he didn't sleep. He couldn't. Brooke was right, it was cold out there. He needed to save Brooke. He wanted Jamie to have a good home and he wanted to be around him. Yet he could never ask Brooke to abandon Sam. Plus this was Brooke, the girl who whined and sold her blood to buy a new dress for a club opening when she became poor but didn't think twice about having to sleep in her car when Nathan and Haley needed an apartment, giving them the space she was renting to be together or when Peyton backstabbed her with him… yet again. He was consumed with memories of the past that painted Brooke in every shade of good and bad. Sometime later, he heard whimpers coming from the room, the walls were paper thin.
Lucas quietly opened the bedroom door. Jamie's night light was still on and in that soft hue, he saw a bundled-up Brooke sitting on the ledge of the window weeping inconsolably. The kids were fast asleep. Her cries were soft and silent despite the heavy sobs that racked her body. Lucas couldn't help himself as he walked up to her. She looked at him and quickly tried to flick her tears away and pretend that she was okay.
"Brooke," he whispered. "Come on, it's me!"
That made Brooke's face fall as a fresh batch of tears threatened to make their journey down her face.
"Come on, let's go out. We don't need them seeing you this way," Lucas extended his hand out for her to grab.
"You shouldn't either," she argued. "I'm sorry Lucas. I know I have done the worst thing I could ever do by keeping Jamie a secret and that you hate me and can never forgive me. I would not have been this understanding if the tables had been turned. I can never forgive myself."
"Shh, Come on, Pretty Girl," Lucas said.
Brooke froze upon hearing her former nickname. "No. No. Just no! None of that! I can't go back to this! God why does everything have to be so complicated! Please just go. Please let me be alone. I have to be able to do this alone. I cannot trust you again! It hurts so much too! God, why did you have to come here? The ache was just diminishing. I was starting to get okay with getting by even though it sucked for the two of them. They deserve better than leftover diner food or an apartment with no heating and that is the best that I can provide." Brooke felt that they were better off with Lucas, but she could not live without them. She could not even bring herself to say that.
"Brooke, they won the lottery because they got you! They are well cared for and so happy. The other stuff is just that… stuff. You give them love," Lucas replied.
"I don't want them to live a curbed life! I don't want them to live like this or be embarrassed by me. They deserve more. Anyway, that's for me to figure out. Why are you still awake?" she asked.
"Brooke, I am going to help you. That is obvious," Lucas said, his eyes showing the obviousness.
"No, it's not and absolutely not. I will be dead before I take your help!" Brooke steeled herself. Why was she talking in circles? One minute she was apologising, the next she was saying that she could not provide the life the kids deserved only to not want any help from Lucas!
"Brooke! Jamie is my kid!" Lucas made his stand clear. He was going to be in his life forever, whether Brooke liked it or not. "And you kept him from me. You are the reason my son doesn't know his father. I could have been there. I could have helped! You kept my child, my child, Brooke! You kept him away from me. I resented Dan for not wanting me. What, you were going to do the same to Jamie? Did you want him to grow up hating me? Your life did not have to be this way! You chose it!"
"And there it is! I knew it. Why don't you call CPS while you're at it huh?" she screamed. "You want a custody battle?"
"Okay, now you're yelling and blowing stuff out of proportion." Lucas was so exhausted by how bipolar she was acting.
"Me!" Brooke almost screamed, making Jamie stir with the loud sounds. Her eyes widened immediately and she was by his side soothing him in a second, not leaving his side until his breath evened out again.
"Let's go out please," Lucas begged once Jamie was okay. Brooke bit her lip in reluctance but walked out behind him. She crossed her arms around her and looked at her feet, refusing to meet his eyes.
Just then Lucas felt all words fail him. There was no way to get it right. She looked like a terrified child in front of him. A young girl who had been forced to grow up and make absolutely impossible choices. Yet she exuded such strength and grace. He couldn't avert my eyes from her.
"Oh, Brooke!" Lucas felt himself break down. What was he supposed to do? Yelling at her and berating her for her choices was not going to get him anywhere. She looked more fearful of him than all the sleazy men at the strip club combined and she was. Lucas couldn't help himself and went towards her and hugged her. She winced in his arms as this time Lucas sobbed, surprising both of them. He sobbed for the girl he used to love. The girl who meant so much to him. He sobbed for the son he had that he didn't know about and he sobbed for not knowing, not helping. Why did he never try hard enough to check in with her in the last 4 years? Why had he given up so easily? Why did he believe that Brooke must be okay in the big apple, living the life? He was in touch with Nathan, Haley and Peyton.
"Brooke, I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry that you were alone and that you had to go through all of this all by yourself. That I broke your heart and your trust so badly that you would rather take jobs you don't want than ask anyone for help. I am so sorry. I am so sorry," he chanted repeatedly. "Still, what you did is unforgivable. There is no way to get back that lost time. I did not witness any of his firsts. I never got to hold him in my arms as a baby! Shit!"
Brooke's eyes began leaking too as she gripped Lucas' arms. However, she remained completely silent. Lucas went to rub her arm to soothe her but she hissed out in pain. "Huh? What- what happened?" he asked, alarmed and looking at her jacket-covered arm.
Brooke jerked her arm back as if she was a kid hiding candy in her fist. Lucas huffed before beginning to take Brooke's coat off.
"Lucas, what are you doing!? Let go of me!" she screamed. "Ahh! Ow ow ow!" Brooke cried as Lucas managed to get her arm out. There was a purple gash on her arm. It didn't look too bad but it was swollen.
"Brooke! How did you hurt yourself?" he asked.
"Nothing. I was just… uhh… clumsy. I slipped while - err - dancing and hit my arm against the pole," Brooke said with as much casualness as she could.
"Pretty girl - sorry -Brooke. You got to take care of yourself," he said before going to the fridge and getting Brooke some ice. He wrapped it in a towel and placed it on the swelling. Brooke hissed in pain when it made contact.
"Wait, you actually buy her bullshit? Brooke, you told me this guy was smart!" They heard a surprising sound in the background. Both of them turned around to see Sam standing in the doorway.
"Sam? How long have you been up?" Brooke asked, closing her eyes as if she was living her worst nightmare. "How long can one night be? Jesus!" She stomped her foot.
"Wait, what do you mean?" Lucas asked. How many things could he go wrong about?
"Look at the bloody swelling, Lucas. A guy did this to her, not a pole. While you're at it, check her wrists or her shoulders, maybe her chest, I can bet there are marks. Handprint marks. Brooke, was it that same guy who always hurts you? What did I tell you about saying no to that guy?" Sam chastised.
"Sam, you haven't even seen the scar. How can you know anything?" Brooke tried to cover her secret. She could not have Lucas know. She didn't want Sam to know either. She wanted her scars to be just hers. She needed that to be private so that she could bury them down and forget about them, at least try to.
"I don't have to. I see it written on your face. Why don't you try telling the truth for once?" Sam scoffed and coaxed.
"I am! I am! It was a pole. It was just a stupid pole," she repeated. Tears started welling in her eyes.
"Are you trying to convince us of that story or yourself?" Sam was not letting go.
"Sam you have school. You need to sleep," Brooke tried to change the topic.
"Stop deflecting," Sam argued.
"Look, it doesn't hurt all that bad. I just need to ice it and I am so just let me be," Brooke begged.
"Brooke, did someone do this to you?" Lucas joined in. She hated this two vs one tactic Sam and Lucas had going on. She knew that she was fighting a losing battle.
"Yeah okay fine. It was him, happy knowing? How does it change anything? He paid me a big tip and that is all that I care about," Brooke said passively. Her eyes were dead as her memories took her back to the club and the guy in the room. She knew he was rough. She knew that he was bad news. But she also knew that he was loaded and if she took it, she would come home with twice the earnings.
"Sammy, you were asleep. It takes an army to wake you up. What happened?" Brooke switched to a concerned parent again.
"I needed water?" She said with a comical shrug.
"Now who needs to spill the truth?" Brooke turned mother mode on so effortlessly with a raised eyebrow and her hands on her hips.
"Fine, I dreamt that you left me for him," She mumbled. "And I woke up to find you two hugging."
"Oh, baby. Okay, we are going to go to bed. Right now. Everyone. Sam, why don't you skip school tomorrow and catch up in your sleep? Only this one time. I mean it. I'll call the school pretending to be Norma and tell them that you're under the weather," Brooke concluded their fictitious trial. She then looked at the time. "Great, I have 30 mins before I need to start getting your breakfast and lunches ready. It's cool. Sam, I love you. Not leaving you ever. I mean it." She said, looking straight at her. Sam was not convinced.
"Okay, I know what you want. Luke, you look like shit. You need to sleep too. But hey, I never asked what you're doing here in New York?" she suddenly remembered.
"Oh, yeah. Umm… I'm actually getting my book published. The one I wrote in school. An Unkindness of Ravens finally got picked up for print. A publishing house here in the city agreed to publish it and yeah, I got a good advance. Once we go through the edits, then the book will go into printing," he explained.
"Oh my god, Luke! That's great!" Brooke exclaimed and she meant it. Her eyes showed genuine happiness for her friend.
"Yeah," he blushed. He was still not used to the idea that he was making it as an author.
"What's the book about?" Sam asked. She wanted to be a writer when she grew up, so Lucas was all shades of fascinating to her. She secretly hoped that he would want to spend time with her too and not just her dweeby brother.
"Brooke and Peyton," Lucas said with a snort. "Umm, my life in Tree Hill. My dad refused to claim me but he was an involved father to my 9-month younger half-brother. He also killed my uncle, the only father I have ever known and how my world changed when I joined the basketball team. Everything that happened," he explained the premise.
"Boy, your life sounds dramatic! Anyway, does it have dirt on Brooke?! I can't wait to read it," Sam exclaimed. "Could I get an advanced signed copy? That shit sells on eBay for a tonne of money."
"You're never allowed to read it and what have I told you about worrying about money?" Brooke said coldly.
"What, why! You can't stop me from reading, it's knowledge!" Sam exclaimed. Maybe the book would finally give her some answers about Brooke. She knew about Brooke's friends more than she knew about Brooke. She had no idea how Brooke had grown up and she had no idea that Brooke had once been filthy rich, living in one of the biggest houses in the bougiest neighbourhoods of Tree Hill, getting whatever she wanted, courtesy of her Daddy's limitless credit cards.
"Yeah, no chance," Brooke scoffed. There was absolutely no way Sam was reading about High School Brooke.
"But why!" she asked. Brooke was a pretty rational person, but Lucas had rattled her and made her a little unhinged.
"Because you are never allowed to meet high school Brooke," she answered truthfully.
"Why? Are you afraid I'll become like her?" Sam joked.
"Yes. Yes, I am," Brooke said with so much genuineness, it surprised her.
"What! That raises so many new questions. What was Brooke like back then Lucas?" she asked him, knowing Brooke was going to be completely unhelpful.
"She was actually pretty amazing even back then. He said with his hands in his pockets," he believed this to be true. No, he knew this to be true.
"The dirt Lucas! I haven't even seen a high school picture! I knew nothing about what you looked like! It took me a year to get her to spill just your name and where the two of you were from. There was never any mention of brothers killing brothers. All I know is that you broke her heart, her best friend turned out to be a backstabbing bi- backstabbing bad bad person -" Sam counted.
"Nice save," Brooke laughed. She had to train Sam to stop spilling curse words in fear that Jamie would begin using them casually.
"Thanks and yeah, she made a mistake at the graduation party and then she was in New York," she said, that being all she knew.
"Hey! I also told you about how I was the President of the Student Council and Captain of the Cheerleading Team by Junior Year!" Brooke reminded her of her achievements, in hopes that Sam would get involved in school activities as well. Maybe not cheerleading, though.
"Yeah, you did mention some drama like how Squirt's godparents got married in High school!" Sam remembered. The topic of Brooke's former life came up so rarely.
"See you know everything! How are Nathan and Haley by the way?" Brooke asked.
"They are Jamie's godparents?" Lucas remarked, surprised to hear that.
"Yeah, not that they know… hehe! But they used to be the most stable couple I knew. They gave me hope that true love can exist and it can make you feel so safe," Her voice quivered and her lip trembled as she mentioned true love and how it was supposed to feel. "I hope they still can give me that hope or let me imagine it anyway."
"Yes, they are fine. They are thinking about starting a family but it's hard with Nathan playing for the Bobcats and being in Charlotte so much. He wants to be there for the baby when the baby arrives. Currently, they cannot decide whether to move to Charlotte full-time or do what they have been doing. Haley teaches English at the school but she is also considering working on a record. She is just afraid to bring Chris up to Nathan again," Lucas filled her in.
"Oh wow! Chris is still around! Things haven't changed all that much! But at least they are together. A Naley kid will be a cutie! I'm shocked that Haley hasn't had a kid yet. I mean they literally married at 16! I can never forget how much I annoyed her with baby presents and maternity clothes during her reception. I just couldn't believe that they did it for love. That anyone could believe in love that strongly at 16. I was so certain that it was either so that she could sleep with him or because she already had and was secretly pregnant. But I was wrong," she said. For Lucas, he thought she meant Haley being pregnant at 16, but what Brooke actually meant was about feeling real true deep love at that age. "Oh wow! I just realised a Naley kid would be Jamie's cousin!"
"Yeah," he replied, suddenly feeling that his family was growing. Nathan and Haley had been more of a family idea for Lucas than Jamie.
"Aww, look at the love!" Sam said sarcastically. "But back to the book! OMG, I cannot believe I am talking to an actual writer, a published one!"
"Not yet, it's not even in the works yet" Lucas replied.
"Yeah yeah," she shook her hand and shrugged his insecurities.
"You mentioned you wrote this while in High School! How did you do that? What was your process? How did you know when to stop? Ooh, Brooke, have you read the book? You seem to know about it," Sam was filled with questions.
"No, I haven't. I knew that he wrote it. I knew that it was about his life, but I haven't read any of it. He wrote it after he and Peyton got back together. And I've read enough letters to know just how much of a romantic he is so it has to be a coming-of-age love story… of him and Peyton. I'm sure it's a great love story though…. What was it that Haley used to say? Tortured athlete meets tortured artist, a match made in heaven!" Brooke attempted to say nonchalantly, but it wasn't doing her any favour as Sam looked at Lucas to verify Brooke's statement.
"Uh well… uh… yeah, it is romance fiction. But Brooke's in there too! I mean she was my first girlfriend, my first love and my first everything!" He tried to defend his book.
"Yeah, I am not proud of some of the firsts I caused. I can never forget the disappointment in Keith's eyes when he saw that tattoo or when Deb caught us at the store… shopping," Brooke rolled her eyes at herself.
"You're not giving me the full story here! Who are these people?" Sam inquired.
"Yeah, it's better that you don't know everything, trust me!" Brooke said to Sam.
"Brooke, I don't regret any time I spent with you," Lucas said to her.
Brook snorted in response. "I bet you wished the last one didn't happen. Besides, all I ever was was the footnote in your and Peyton's love story. The girl who prolonged your happy ending and kept you from your true love. If Dan wasn't Dan, I could fill the role of the villain! And now I messed up for life by having your baby! I'm so sorry. Peyton is never going to forgive me for this."
"Brooke, you're not the villain! Also, Shit, I haven't even thought about Peyton since yesterday," he said, just realising that he had proposed to her and seen a future with her. Now he had a baby instead of a fiance.
"Well, Peyton is all I have been thinking about for nearly 3 years. This triangle from hell has been our death doom and demise. Anyway, I really don't want to argue with you. The whole situation is a shitty dumpster fire strong enough to scorch me to ash. Sorry for ruining your life. I really didn't want to," she summarised her feelings. Her lips twitched to the side saying 'What can I even do?'
"Brooke, you really think you ruined my life?" he asked her.
"Come on Sammy, I'll lie with you until you fall asleep," Brooke said, pretending to not have heard Lucas' question.
"What! No, Brooke, stop deflecting," he tried to stop her.
"Sam, start walking…" Brooke instructed.
"No, Brooke, you need to address this!" Lucas stomped his foot. Brooke, however, remained silent.
Sam rolled her eyes at Brooke's childishness. "Lucas, let's give her a minute to articulate her thoughts. Until then, I want to know more! Was Brooke a mean Queen Bee? I'm inferring she was a socialite given she was Head of the Cheerleaders and looked like well, that!"
"Yeah, she was the most popular girl in school. She won Prom Queen but the highlight of that night was that she almost died to save her best friend. She, the exact opposite of a mean Queen. She was selfless and kind. Don't get me wrong, I used to think that she would be terrible. I mean she was the protege of the former Queen Bee, Morgan Finley, who used to haze my friends and me every single day until she graduated our junior year. We were sure that she would pass the baton to Brooke and kept away from her. I remember when my misconception broke. Once, she and Peyton were at a college party and some guy slipped the date rape drug into Peyton's drink. Brooke single-handedly managed to save her and called me to help her get them home and just take care of Peyton in general. She was such a good friend to her that night, she researched the net, made sure that she did everything to help her and stayed awake by her bed the entire night. That night I spoke to her for the first time, like really spoke to her and I got a glimpse of the real Brooke. It was also that same night that I knew that I could fall in love with the girl with the biggest heart. Brooke, you could never ruin anybody's life, especially mine," Lucas confessed.
"What wow!" Sam exclaimed. She did not know so much about Brooke. She was only beginning to realise that Brooke really had a whole life full of incidents and stories before she took her in.
Brooke looked at the floor silently through this. What was she supposed to say?
"You never loved me, Lucas. Not really, anyway. It's fine. It was High School. What can we know about love at that age? With Peyton that night, umm, it wouldn't have been the case if I hadn't dragged Peyton to the college party in the first place to drown whatever miserable sorrows I was nursing. I went to the party to flirt and hook up with boys. I left her as soon as I found a cute one I liked and the only reason I realised that she was in that room with Gabe the psycho was because some college guy told me that we had slept together before and I didn't remember it because that is what I did and that was what I was known for… at the College Campus. Not just THH. I had a rep there for being easy and he wouldn't mind doing me, the whore, again because being with Brooke Davis also had brownie points in college. Yeah, I was doing a worse job in High School than I am right now. Anyway, that is the reason I wanted to leave the party and went looking for Peyton. Had I stayed and agreed to hook up with him, who knows what would have happened to her!" Brooke's voice quivered as she said that. "It was not because of a quote-unquote big heart and I definitely ruined a lot of lives only the night before that college party. Remember how I pushed you and Peyton with Never Have I Ever at the dumb party Dan hosted for the team the previous night or how I broke Nathan and Haley that night, reading Haley's notes out loud and making it look like Nathan shared them with us mocking Tutor Girl! Thank God they figured their way out of the mess that I created. Guess, I'm still paying for my accumulated bad karma."
"If I remember correctly, it was Your treasure hunt the night of the college party that got them back together. You fixed it, Brooke. And Peyton and I broke your heart a lot worse and a lot more times than that one night that you literally pushed us together and Peyton said no to me," Lucas said, both having forgotten that Sam was in the room listening or that she was the one who had initiated the conversation in the first place.
"See, she said no and then came after you anyway. Hold onto that ring for her. But you might want to get it resized. Peyton has boney fingers. Also speaking about the lives I ruined besides yours because yours went to shit when you walked to see my show yesterday. Look at my two kids! This apartment has no heat! I can't give them decent meals! It's a shit neighbourhood and I have to strip to afford this dump!" she yelled, pointing at her surroundings.
"Hey, Brooke! Quit that! I know all about the big heart okay? You took me in, you wanted me when nobody else did. I pushed you to your limits, even tonight and here I am grounded instead of being kicked out to the streets. He got that one right, Brooke," Sam interjected, making Brooke look at her. She had not wanted Sam to hear those stories. Sam did not need to know how 'friendly' she used to be.
Brooke kissed her hair. "I love you, Sam!"
"Yeah, yeah you cheesy old hag!" Sam was so terrified of admitting love that she did not do well with hugs and kisses of affection. Years of Foster care had trained her that if someone came close to her, it was to beat the shit out of her, not to show affection. Brooke understood and never pushed her, yet she tried to show her love because she needed Sam to be able to have physical intimacy in the relationships she would go on to build.
"Now, Sam, you need to sleep. That is enough rehashing of the past for one night," she said, not waiting for an answer and gently nudged her pseudo-daughter through the door.
She gave Lucas an awkward wave smile and went inside. Luke was fully awake now so he stood at the door frame and watched. Brooke sat on the bed and Samantha was sprawled on her lap. She was humming softly as she fondled her hair. She kept a steady pace and fifteen minutes later, Sam was out. Brooke got out and proceeded to the kitchen with a sigh.
"You haven't slept a wink, is it possible to take the day off?" Lucas asked her.
"No, but I have the day after tomorrow off. I will catch up on my sleep then. I get the kids to school, pick up groceries and things and then just sleep until they come back. I can't get weekends off as they are the busiest nights," she informed him of her schedule.
Lucas wanted to ask her how she was talking about her job as if it was a regular kind of job but he held his tongue.
"Do you need any help? The Brooke I knew set off the fire alarms in her apartment every time the stove was on," he joked.
"Haa haa! No, it's fine. I'm just making them oatmeal for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch and coffee. I am going to need all of it. I can't do a better job than this," she said apologetically with a guilty expression on her face.
Lucas got up and started to lather the bread with peanut butter while Brooke stirred the oatmeal. "Lucas, you really don't have to. Also, Uhh, how long are you here for? In New York, I mean."
"I took a week off from coaching but Skills is the assistant coach. He can go on longer. I have a meeting with the publishing house to go over the various timelines of things and then it's all via emails I can send from Tree Hill until the book goes to print. I might have to fly in for a couple of meetings. Then they suggested that based on initial reception and reviews, they would send me on a book tour," he answered, still unused to the idea of having his work out there. He had a bad case of nerves with both the book and being a father.
"Not bad, writer boy. I'll bring Jamie to see you if New York is a stop," Brooke smiled. She wanted Jamie to be proud of his father now that he knew him.
Lucas' heart broke hearing those words. He couldn't bear having his son so far away from him.
Brooke caught Lucas' expression. "Lucas, do I have to worry about custody?" she asked with so much fear, her voice sounded all ragged and hoarse. There was sweat on her forehead despite it being so cold in there.
"No no!" Lucas said all too quickly. "Uhh, I just, how does this work?"
"I want to get to know him. I want him to be able to see me regularly. I want to be a fully involved dad," he expressed his wishes. He could not be the Dad whom Jamie barely saw. He could not be an acquaintance in his life. He wanted to be around him full-time!
"How? We live in different states!" she reminded him.
"I don't know but we got to figure something out, Brooke! We have to. I missed three years, I am not missing more," he put his foot down.
"Okay, tomorrow in the morning when the kids are at school, we could meet and discuss this if that is okay with you?" Brooke asked him, needing time to think. She did not have time, she had way too much work. However, if she thought about it then, her body was shutting down and she had to get Jamie to school and then herself to work. She did not have the luxury to feel.
"Yeah, it's fine by me," Lucas agreed.
"Okay, I'll come into the city. That is where your hotel is, right? We could meet at a cafe or your hotel," she suggested. Lucas nodded, agreeing to her plan.
"Okay then. I'm going to go wake Jamie up so he can start with breakfast and then go get dressed for work real quick. I hope oatmeal and coffee are fine for you too. Jamie is grumpy in the mornings like me, you could try to help me get him up and ready," she smiled. Brooke wanted Lucas to get to be a father. She knew he would be a great one. There was never an iota of doubt in her about that. She just could not live without Jamie. He was her everything.
Lucas smiled at that. He was getting so many firsts in and he wanted to have them all. They quietly walked into the bedroom.
"Hey Jimmy Jam, time for school," Brooke gently shook the sleeping boy.
"No, five more minutes," he groaned.
"Come on, open your eyes. See who is here to wake you with me?" Brooke tried to entice him.
"Sammy, five more minutes please," he begged, pulling the comforter all the way to the top of his head.
"It's not Sam, my love. Come on, you will be late otherwise," Brooke gently coaxed him again.
"Mom pleaseeee! I'll wake up 5 minutes earlier tomorrow," Jamie whined.
"Jamie, I'm gonna count to three or I'll bring out your water gun and have some fun with it!" she warned him. "One-Two"
"Oh no! I'm up! I'm up!" he cried, raising his arms in the air and pushing himself up.
"Good morning, Jamie!" Lucas greeted him.
"Wow, you're here. Mommy, is he going to be here every day? Like Brianna's parents and Tyler's? Actually, many others," Jamie asked her.
"No, Jamie. your dad doesn't live in New York. He lives in North Carolina and he has to go back there in a week," Brooke answered apologetically.
Jamie's lip curled into a pout as his eyes became watery. "But why?" he asked, finding the world unfair.
"Hey, Jame! I forgot to tell you though! Your dad is going to come with us to drop you to school! Hey Luke, what time is your meeting at the publishing house?" She asked in a quick attempt to distract him and stop him from crying.
"Uhh, 10," Lucas answered her.
"Great. Do you want to pick him up from school? We can clear it up with them so they allow you to get him. He gets done at noon. One of the mothers drops him off at the diner when she goes to pick up her son and I keep him there till three. That's when Samantha gets him on her way from school. If you have other work, I can send Sam to get him directly. My boss doesn't like him being at the diner but I usually have no choice on most days. Jamie isn't a fan either. I try to schedule playdates for him. It's, well it's not an ideal set-up," she explained.
"Yeah, I would love to," Lucas smiled.
"Jaim, you wanna hang out with your dad today after school? Maybe you two can go to the library or play basketball at the park? I am sure he is a much better teacher than I will ever be. Sammy will come and get you after a few hours when you want," Brooke suggested.
"Yeah Mom, your jumpshots suck!" Jamie laughed.
"Hey! They do not suck okay! Then just require improvement," she smiled and winked at him.
"A whole lot of it!" Jamie said with a mocking tone and smile.
"I am not liking this James Lucas Scott! You must be punished with tickles!" She said and began to tickle the little boy who squealed and had the most infectious laughter Lucas had ever heard. He smiled and beamed with pride at his son. How could laughter fill anyone with pride? How could hearing one person's laughter be the most precious thing on the planet? It did not make any sense but that was how it was to Lucas and it was the most obvious thing in the world to him. How had that little boy already stolen his heart?
Jamie walked to the table to eat breakfast with Lucas and Brooke couldn't help but look at how similar they looked as they blew on their spoons to cool the hot goo. She shook her head and went to the bathroom to put on her waitress uniform.
Jamie was next to get dressed and Brooke multi-tasked with getting him ready and cleaning the kitchen. She sent a text to Sam with instructions, called the school to let them know that Sam would not be attending that day and walked out the door. Lucas didn't like that Brooke had to lie and pretend to be Norma - Sam's foster mom.
They headed out to Jamie's school and when they reached, Lucas admired the building. "Wow, this looks like a good school."
"Yeah, thanks to your genes, he is really smart. So, I could get him into a very good school, even though it is just Pre-K right now. He loves to learn. This is where most of my money goes. Hence the dumpster apartment. Even Sam goes to a good public high school. I had her transferred there. We had the papers sent to her social worker under Norma's name. Sam knows how to forge a signature! Haha!" Brooke answered. "Come, let's just let them know that you will be there to collect Jamie. We can go in and meet Evelyn at the office."
"Hello Ms. Davis," Evelyn greeted them when they had entered the large school office.
"Hi. I just wanted to add one more name to the people allowed to pick Jamie up. Is that possible?" Brooke asked her.
"Yeah, of course. We just need their name, contact details, relation and identification," she answered.
"Sure. Uhh, Lucas Scott, Jamie's father," Brooke answered. She found the words funny in her throat for some reason.
"Wait, I might have his father's details on the system. Let me pull them up. Oh, I see, his father's name is mentioned but there are no contact details. Do you want me to update them?" Evelyn asked. She was pretty non-judgemental about the situation. It was quite cool. Small town Tree Hill would have led to quite some head turns at the entry of a surprising father.
"Yes," Lucas answered quickly, needing every bit of evidence he could get to show that he was Jamie's dad.
Evelyn noted down his phone number, email and other details. They confirm his ID and added Lucas' name to Jamie's pick-up list.
"Okay, thanks. Lucas, why don't you note down Sam and my number? Just text Sam where you are with Jamie and she'll get him from you when you're done. I will see you tomorrow and we can talk and figure out how we want to go ahead. Text me the address and once the kids are dropped to school, I will see you there," she confirmed with him once Jamie was in class.
Lucas shoved his hands in his pockets feeling so confused. He felt like he had no control. It was like he was floating and being swept away by currents. What choice did he have but to acquiesce?
"Tomorrow." That was all he said.
He went to his hotel room and couldn't help but notice the difference. He wasn't up at the Plaza, but it wasn't a motel either. Suddenly tears pricked Lucas' eyes and he wept. He wept for the one he cared about, he wept for the son he never knew, he wept for the sacrifices the girl he once swore to protect had made and he wept for never being able to keep up his promise to her. Eventually, he wiped his eyes, took a shower and got ready for his meeting with his editor.
"Hey Lucas, did you get a little something from Penelope?" Chet asked with a smirk once Lucas had entered his office.
"Oh I got a lot more than something, alright," he said more to himself while thinking about his mini copy.
"Sweet! Are you ready to discuss timelines?" He asked him excitedly.
The next hour went by and Chet and Lucas froze on the editing due dates. However, the whole process was a blur. Lucas was glad that Chet was feeding in the data to an Excel because he was certain that he couldn't remember a word he had said or agreed upon. Once his meeting was over, he wondered what he could do. Just then, his phone rang…
"Hey, Luke! Where are you? The last thing you told me, you were going to visit Peyton in LA. I waited and waited for an update but you didn't respond and well, neither did Peyton. You two lock yourselves in a room and shut the world out?" Haley asked chirpily on the phone. They were each other's only constant in Tree Hill.
Lucas chuckled. That seemed like such a lifetime ago. "Actually, I'm in New York."
"What?" She exclaimed, not understanding why Lucas had suddenly switched coasts.
"Uhh, things didn't work out with Peyton and I guess it is for the best. I- I don't know," he answered truthfully.
"What are you doing in New York? Finding a rebound?" Haley asked with a bit of judgement in her voice. She rolled her eyes at Lucas and his games with women. He was a great guy but a little dumb when it came to his girlfriends. "What went wrong with Peyton? I knew that it wasn't a good idea to storm LA and just ask her to marry you when the two of you weren't even exactly together. Yes, you two spoke and exchanged emails but come on Luke!"
"Uhh, uh, I actually got a call from a publishing house. They want to publish my book. That is in New York," Lucas answered, not wanting to explain the Peyton situation.
"What! Omg! Lucas! Wow, that's amazing!" Haley's tone changed to complete excitement immediately upon hearing that. Her condescending tone about Lucas' impromptu proposal was forgotten.
"Yeah, it is," he answered with a smile.
"For a guy who fulfilled his next big dream, you don't sound too happy. I mean I get it, it's Peyton you want by your side when all your dreams come true. What did she say? What happened?"
"Uhh, Hales, it's been a lot. Can we talk about all of that some other time please?" he begged.
Haley caught the memo that Lucas wanted her to change the topic. So she did. "Brooke's supposed to be in New York. But I don't know…. it's like her existence has been wiped off the face of the earth. Her old number has not been in service for years and she hasn't even tried contacting us. I worry about her sometimes." Haley said to him.
Lucas felt a punch to his gut. Why was a conversation with his best friend so difficult to get through?
"I miss Brooke. She is my best friend, after you of course. At least she used to be. Also, I'm mad. It doesn't make sense. Why would she change her number and not give us the new one? Anyway, I got to return to class soon. Good luck with the book! Keep me updated on the details! We will celebrate once you get back. Don't let Peyton bog you down. She'll come around," Haley continued when Lucas remained mum on the phone.
"Love ya, Hales," he greeted.
"Love you too, Luke," she answered before ending the call.
'Oh Brooke, we have to get you back home. Somehow.' Lucas said to himself. By then it was time to pick Jamie up from school.
When he got there, he saw his kid run up to him excitedly. "Guys, this is my dad! I have a dad! Look!" He said to his friends. Lucas was suddenly surrounded by a bunch of children, all of whom ogled him.
"Hi Jamie," Lucas said, all out of his wits regarding children. He didn't have a lot of experience with them. He had spent time with Lilly, but not that much considering how she was born 18 years after him and how his mother and sister had moved to New Zealand soon after.
"Are you really Jamie's dad?" One kid asked with a straight face. "Because my mama said that Jamie is a bastard and when I asked her what that meant, she said it meant that Jamie does not have a father." Lucas was absolutely shocked when he heard that. He looked at Jamie whose face had shrunk.
"Hey, kid. Uhh, you and your mom should not say things like that. Those words can hurt the opposite person's feelings. You should tell your mom not to say words like that either. And yes, I am Jamie's dad." His chest swelled up saying that. "Ready to go shoot some hoops, Jimmy Jam?"
"Yes!" the toddler answered excitedly, feeling powerful because his dad had his back and had stood up against the school bully.
Lucas lifted him and deposited him atop his shoulders. Jamie waved to all his friends whose mothers were picking them up and it was a scene alright as all the mum's stopped to stare at the new father-son duo.
"Cory's parents are getting a divorce, Miss Margaret told us. That is why Cory is behaving rudely with everybody. She told us that a divorce is when your parents don't live together anymore. Did you and Mom get a divorce, Dad?" Jamie asked him innocently.
"Uhh, no we didn't Jamie. You see, to get a divorce, you have to be married first. Your mom and I were never married. We just couldn't wait to bring you down to us from heaven so we skipped had you before that," he tried to explain to the almost three-year-old. "Are you hungry kiddo? Do you want something to eat before we head to the park?"
"Yeah, I can eat," Jamie giggled.
"Sure, what do you want?" Lucas asked him, curious as to what his son would pick. Was he a fussy eater? Did he have a sweet tooth? He couldn't wait to find out everything!
"Can we go to Mom's diner?" Jamie requested.
"I think that is a great idea. Do you know the way?" Lucas asked him. He had a strange fear that if he let Brooke out of his sight, she would vanish into thin air again. So, the idea of seeing her at work felt great. Besides, he was curious about the diner she worked at.
Jamie shook his little head no regarding the route.
"Okay, do you know what it's called?" he asked him.
"Yes. It's called Fiona's Diner," Jamie answered. He was gleeful to have been able to answer correctly. Lucas quickly searched for the address on his phone and the two headed that way.
Lucas wanted to ask Jamie so many questions but he didn't want to overwhelm him so the pair walked in silence. He had his whole life to get to know the boy. He would make sure of it, although he didn't know how. All he knew was that he would figure something out.
"Mommy!" Jamie ran to Brooke as soon as he and Lucas had passed through the door.
Brooke swerved to balance the plates she was carrying as the little boy ran to hug her feet. "Jimmy jam! What are you doing here? Didn't your dad pick you up?"
"Yes, he is right here!" he answered, pointing behind him where Lucas was walking towards them. "Dad said that we could grab a bite before heading to Central Park."
"That is actually a wonderful idea. Why don't you show Lucas your favourite booth and I'll put these plates away and come see you," she suggested.
"Okay, momma! Come on Dad! Let's sit," Jamie guided the new father.
"Hey," Brooke said going to their table and filling their glasses with water. She handed Lucas a menu and looked at Jamie. "So what do you want today, little man?"
"Two pieces of chocolate pie?" He asked coyly.
"Nice try. I'm sending you a bowl of beans and rice," Brooke smiled at him.
"Can I also have a milkshake? Pleaseee?" He asked closing his eyes and crossing his fingers for additional luck.
"Jamie, what's the rule?" Brooke asked him, not wanting to say no, but needing to.
"I can only get one thing," he said in a sad tone.
"Hey, if you still want the milkshake after you finish your meal, I'll get one for you okay?" Brooke bargained.
"Thanks, momma!" Jamie was quick to bounce back to cheerfulness.
"Lucas?" she asked, bringing her notepad up to take his order.
"Uhh, the same?" he answered. The truth was that he hadn't even looked at the menu. He was more enamoured by Jamie and all his interactions.
"Coffee?" she suggested.
"Yes," he answered. He hadn't slept the previous night either and he could do with a caffeine kick.
Brooke wrote it down and walked into the kitchen area to submit their order. "Here you go," she said walking to their table fifteen minutes later. "Remember to blow before you eat, okay?" she instructed the kid.
"Yes. Mama, did you know what Cory said today? I told my friends at school about meeting my dad and Cory just wouldn't believe me. So I showed dad to them when he came to pick me up and Cory said that his mom said that I was a bastard which means that I don't have a daddy. But I do," Jamie filled her in.
"She said what! Jamie, that word is a bad word. I never want you to say that word, okay? And Cory's mom shouldn't be using that word either. I'll call Carol up and straighten things with her," Brooke was seething.
"Miss Margaret said it's because of a divorce that his parents are getting. Daddy explained what a divorce is to me," Jamie continued.
"Oh, did he now," she remarked, raising an eyebrow at Lucas. "Don't worry Jaim, Cory will never be using that word ever again. I will make sure of it. I'll have a word with Miss Margaret tomorrow as well as the Principal."
"Brooke, the order's up for table 7," she got called. So, she quickly scrambled away to avoid Fiona's wrath.
Once the boys had finished their meals, Brooke went over to clear their plates. "You still want that milkshake, Jimmy Jam?"
"No, I'm full," he answered.
"I'll send one over," Brooke said with an eye roll, lighting up the boy's face. "Lucas, should I get anything for you?"
"Answers," he said simply. "Like is James named after -?"
"James Steinbeck. The one and only," Brooke finished his sentence for him. "It felt right to name him after your favourite author."
"Whoa. Uhh, how did you know?" he asked.
"Don't you remember? You made me read The Winter of Our Discontent in exchange for going on a date with you. You gave me your heavily annotated book, Luke. I may not have been into the same things as you, like Peyton was, but I did try my best to get to know you. You talked about him the night we stayed up taking care of Peyton after I got her drugged at that college party and then a bunch while we dated. I used to read Stienbeck to Jamie when I was pregnant with him. I would borrow his books from the library. They would put calm him down and stop him from jumping on my bladder. He seemed to be keen and curious about those stories so, it only felt right," she answered.
"Wow!" Lucas remarked.
"Yeah, I'll go get that chocolate milkshake," Brooke said and scurried away.
Once it was ready, she handed the tall glass to Jamie who was quick to gulp it down. "Uhh, can I have the bill, Brooke?"
"No, it's on me," she said with a shrug.
"What, Brooke, No," Lucas cried.
"I can feed my kid, Lucas. I don't need any money from you. I just want jamie to be happy; he always wanted to know his dad. Go enjoy Central Park with him. Sam will come and get him later," she answered with a smile.
"Does he know about his family? Nathan, Haley? My mom and Lilly?" Lucas continued to ask her.
"No. I never even told him your name. I was afraid that the more he knew, the more he would want to meet them and it would suck to tell him that he couldn't," she replied.
"Can I tell him now?" Lucas asked. He wanted to tell his mom about Jamie but he wanted Brooke's approval first.
"Luke…. He - I. I can't come back. I can never show my face in Tree Hill and I can surely never meet your mother's eyes. Heck, I can't even meet yours. You know what I do for work," she whispered. "How am I supposed to answer where have I been and what have I been doing and how I hid your child from you? Oh god! What have I done? Dammit!"
"Yeah, you should have thought of that before you hid him from me! I have to tell my mom that she has a grandson! She deserves to know!" Lucas bellowed.
"I know," Brooke said, trying to calm him down.
"I don't know what to do about this. It was so much easier when you didn't know," she sighed.
"Brooke," he said sternly.
"I'm sorry! Let me think about this. We'll talk tomorrow. I promise I will have answers for you," she promised.
Lucas wasn't sure what to say or do. He was mad alright. He was mad about a lot of things that she had done. But currently, she held all the cards and he also felt guilty. He had cheated on her twice and hence she didn't feel comfortable telling him. He could never separate Brooke and Jamie. Jamie wouldn't be able to take that separation either. Brooke was his whole world just like he was Brooke's. And to add to that there was the Sam dilemma. There had to be a way to fix this. Yet, he had to fix this. He had to make things better. But how?
Hey Guys, I know it is John Steinbeck and not James Steinbeck, but I wanted Jamie to be named Jamie so just pretend that his name is James while reading this!