Brooke was at home, in the middle of a rehabilitation session with Debie, her occupational therapist.
_ DEBIE : Come on Brooke, that's good ! One more time and I'll leave you alone for today !
_ BROOKE : You say that every time and then you make me do one last series !
_ DEBIE : It's for your own good ! Your legs will thank me in a few months...
In a few months... This deadline already seemed much too long for Brooke. And her wheelchair next to her was there to remind her... Because it was counted in years... The story of a year or two years if her operation worked.
_ DEBIE : Come on, you did a good job ! Let me help you sit back in your chair...
_ BROOKE : You're especially going to help me grab the box of cookies from the kitchen cupboard, I'm sure Lucas put them up high !
_ DEBIE : After the effort, comfort! Come on, take advantage of having a driver to take you to the kitchen...
They started laughing, Brooke not reluctant to let Debie push her because she felt tired. Debie had been Brooke's in-home occupational therapist for almost six months and they had formed an almost friendly bond over time. And even though Brooke knew she would be in physical pain, she still awaited his arrival with some enthusiasm. Since her accident, she didn't have many opportunities to see people and Debie was a bit like a breath of fresh air.
_ DEBIE : Do you know if your sister is coming home soon ? I can wait for his return if you...
Debie handed Brooke the box of cookies, and she thanked her and took the opportunity to cut her off in mid-sentence.
_ BROOKE : Thank you but it will be okay now, Debie ! I may be disabled but I still know how to take care of myself !
At the same time, Brooke's sister came rushing into the house, clucking like a turkey. Brooke rolled her eyes.
_ BROOKE : There she is... And it looks like Lucas is there too given his stupid laugh !
_ DEBIE: Is it me or do you not really like his handsome, sexy artist !?
_ BROOKE : I'll stop you right now ! Sexy, if we want and if we like this genre... Artist, that still remains to be proven...
_ DEBIE : Admit that he's still really handsome...
_ BROOKE : If we like the rocker style, the smell of cold cigarettes and leather... And if we are masochistic, too ! So, very little for me !
_ DEBIE : You're tough ! Me, I think I could have fantasized about him if I had been ten years younger !
_ BROOKE : I didn't know that you were a fan of the groupie boy band or emo genre...
_ DEBIE: You're exaggerating there ! And then, not everyone reveres Beethoven or Mozart... Like you !
_ BROOKE : Say instead that not everyone is capable of appreciating real music...
_ DEBIE : Anyway, if your sister likes Lucas, that's the main thing, right !?
_ BROOKE : Exactly !
But they no longer had time to debate when Lucas entered the kitchen.
_ LUCAS : Hello disabled lady ! Hi Debie ! How are you ?
_ DEBIE : Hello Lucas !
Brooke didn't answer him because he was staring at her in a way that she didn't like.
_ LUCAS : Reassure me, are there still cookies left !? he asked, noticing the box in Brooke's hands
_ BROOKE : If you want some, I suggest you go buy some !
_ LUCAS : Come on, let me take at least one !
_ BROOKE : You're dreaming... There are only three left, so forget it !
_ LUCAS : You really are a bad girl !
_ BROOKE : I'll point out that you practically live here without paying rent so I wouldn't bring her back too much if I were you !
_ LUCAS : You're tough, Brooke ! But I see that your session brings out your bitchy side even more... And that's a good sign, Debie... No ?!
_ DEBIE : I would say that it's not a bad sign in any case... Even if it's you who pays the price !
_ LUCAS : It's always me who pays the price... Isn't it, Brooke ? The question on my mind is why... ?
_ BROOKE : Ask yourself the right questions... Maybe your fried brain will eventually find it ! Or do you find an adoration for a slightly more virile food ?! I don't know... Hamburgers !?
_ LUCAS : Ah, how I love this spicy retort... Grrhh... You and me it's so electric !
Lucas gave him a most provocative wink and, it had to be admitted, one of the most irritating too.
_ PEYTON: Hello sis ! How are you doing !? Oh, hello Debie !
Peyton had just entered the kitchen. Fortunately the space was spacious enough for them all... And for good reason, Brooke and Peyton had moved into the family home after the death of their parents. Their parents had died in a car accident that left Brooke disabled. After a few days in a coma, Brooke finally emerged safely from this tragedy. But their parents weren't so lucky.
_ PEYTON : We're just passing through, I brought you something to eat this evening...
Peyton opened the fridge door while talking to Brooke, putting away the groceries she had just done.
_ BROOKE : I could have ordered something, you know...
Brooke still hadn't gotten used to having to depend on her sister for such basic things.
_ PEYTON : I know, but fresh vegetables won't hurt you !
Even though they were very different from each other, Brooke was happy that Peyton was there for her. If only her boyfriend didn't hang out at their house so often... And above all, if he respected her a little more. But Peyton loved him more than anything and accepted all his mistakes.
_ PEYTON : Are you coming, Lucas ? Shall we go up ? I want to take a shower...
_ LUCAS : Only if it's a nasty shower you want...
Peyton chuckled harder. Debie and Brooke watched them go up, seeing Lucas pinch Peyton's butt on the stairs.
_ DEBIE : They don't seem bored in any case!
_ BROOKE : I can confirm it ! My sister is completely crazy about Lucas... despite all his infidelities.
_ DEBIE : How can she accept this without flinching ?
BROOKE : I just told you ; she is crazy about him. And then, I also think that she doesn't really have a choice... She knows that this is the price to pay if she wants to stay in his life. I don't understand how she can accept that... But it's a topic of conversation that doesn't go down well...
_ DEBIE : I imagine and I tend to agree with you... But what do you want, the heart has its reasons that reason ignores as they say...
_ BROOKE : That doesn't stop her from throwing a fit every time she discovers things.
_ DEBIE : I suppose his pride and self-esteem take a big hit each time.
_ BROOKE : But she loves him ! So according to her, that excuses everything...
_ DEBIE: Well... It's his life after all. And you, how is your love life doing !? Still dead calm ?
_ BROOKE : Being cooped up at home all the time doesn't really help with meeting people... But I finally followed your advice.
_ DEBIE : Did you register on a dating site!?
_ BROOKE : Yes... But the precision " moves in a wheelchair " seems to put some off...
_ DEBIE : In the end, the best will remain ! You are already doing a famous sorting at the base !
_ BROOKE: Sure... And I started talking to two of them... They're pretty interesting.
_ DEBIE : Oh Brooke, I'm happy for you !
_ BROOKE : I'm not getting too excited, we'll see what happens... And in the meantime, my vibrator does the trick !
_ DEBIE : With Lucas and Peyton making love like rabbits next to you, I can imagine how frustrating it must be !
Brooke didn't dare tell her but the fact of being partially paralyzed from the waist down scared her. The idea of being in her bedroom with a man and being dependent terrifies her. She knew it was only temporary but it was so hard to face it so young. It was all the harder because his biggest dream was to travel around the world. At the end of her tourism license, she planned to explore the world for a year... A year on the roads and in the air. It was all the harder because his biggest dream was to travel around the world. At the end of her tourism license, she planned to explore the world for a year... A year on the roads and in the air. It was all she wanted before launching into working life. But the accident had somewhat disrupted his plans. And she had to make up her mind. No more world tour. Instead of his large travel backpack, it was his computer that accompanied him daily. She worked as a communications manager for a travel agency specializing in ecotourism. Fortunately, teleworking was possible and videoconferencing had become normalized with the Covid crisis. She could therefore work from home and occupy her mind so that the days were shorter. Especially since she loved what she did and it was a way of traveling, certainly different but that was already it...
A few days later...
Brooke was working on an article promoting a new eco-lodge in Kenya. She was concentrating on writing when her cell phone began to vibrate next to her. She took a quick look at the screen to see who it was and if it could wait.
_ BROOKE : Hey ! Hi Julian ! she said after picking up
_ JULIAN : Hi Brooke, are you able to get by with the article ? Do you need help ?!
Julian was one of his colleagues. Brooke may have been disabled but not yet blind. He had a crush on her. It started with emails and casual exchanges after video meetings. He had been at the company she worked for for three years already and he was very inspiring. Handsome boy, too. And at least she had already seen him in the flesh a few times... It scared her less than a stranger on a dating app.
_ BROOKE : I'm making good progress but thank you for offering... And you, how are you ?
_ JULIAN : I'm fine ! Look, I might sound a little blunt to you, but would you like to go out for a drink this weekend ?
Brooke read the message twice in a row, her heart racing. Of course she would be happy to go for a drink with him! But she quickly became disillusioned when she imagined having to get ready and then join him in the city in his armchair. It wasn't that she never went out but she didn't go out in the evening anymore... No more bars, no more parties. She was uncomfortable. However, with Julian, Brooke said to herself that there was really something to explore... He was so considerate.
_ BROOKE : If you have a bar that welcomes disabled people and you don't plan to dance, then I accept !
_ JULIAN : Cool, it makes me really happy that you accept ! I will pick you up at 9 p.m. Saturday evening.
_ BROOKE : It's perfect...
_ JULIAN : It's even more than perfect! And by the way, I'm so bad at dancing that it suits me that we don't go to a place where we should have danced. he said laughing, making Brooke laugh at the same time See you Saturday then !?
_ BROOKE : See you Saturday, yes. Bye !
Brooke hung up and put down her phone, smiling. She tried to get back on track with her article but the concentration was no longer there. She looked at the time... Past six o'clock. She decided she could stop for today. She wheeled her wheelchair out of her bedroom and into the living room to watch the rest of her series on Netflix before her sister arrived. She had barely started the episode when she heard the front door open. She immediately recognized the heavy sound of Lucas' leather boots on the wooden floor.
_ LUCAS : Hello grumpy girl! What are you looking at !?
Brooke gave him a dark look that meant " leave me alone " but Lucas pretended not to see it. Worse still, he had slumped next to Brooke on the sofa, taking off his boots as if he were at his home.
_ BROOKE : I dream where my sister isn't even with you ?
_ LUCAS : You're not dreaming... We had an argument and I left her in the lurch...
_ BROOKE : And it's you who goes home to her !? But without her !? You two are really crazy !
Lucas laughed and took something out of his inside jacket pocket which he held out towards Brooke.
_ LUCAS : Hey, it's for you !
He handed her a small package of cookies. Brooke's eyes lit up at the sight of the packaging. And as she held out her hand...
_ BROOKE : It's empty, motherfucker ! I can feel it by its weight !
Lucas then began to laugh harder at Brooke's incendiary and clearly disgusted expression.
_ LUCAS : You should see the look on your face ! It's epic ! Come on, I was just kidding... There you go, a brand new one for you !
This time, it was indeed a small intact package that he took out of his other pocket.
_ BROOKE : I didn't know you could be nice... she said surprised and disconcerted
_ LUCAS : Is that a compliment ? he asked with a smirk
_ BROOKE : It's not a compliment strictly speaking...
_ LUCAS : So what is it?
_ BROOKE : More like politeness...
_ LUCAS : Politeness would have wanted you to thank me but I suppose that would irritate your mouth too much...
_ BROOKE : Are you the one who's going to give me lessons in politeness now ? she said with a sarcastic laugh
_ LUCAS : You deserve that I take back the packet of cookies right away, you insolent little girl !
Lucas playfully lunged at Brooke and she pushed the package of cookies aside as quickly as possible with her arm.
_ BROOKE : Giving is giving !
_ LUCAS : And taking again is stealing, I know... Pff ! So, I'll take this !
And taking advantage of Brooke's loss of concentration, Lucas grabbed the remote control.
_ BROOKE : Don't you dare change!
_ LUCAS : It depends, what are you looking at !? An ultra romantic series, I bet !?
_ BROOKE : Absolutely not ! And anyway I can look at whatever I want, what does that matter to you !?
_ LUCAS : I don't want you to have false ideas about life and love, Brooke... I'm watching over you.
- BROOKE : Are you watching over me ? It's the joke of the year... It's you who's squatting in our house and emptying our fridge...
_ LUCAS : I'm not just doing that... I'm fucking your sister, too !
_ BROOKE : Very classy, Lucas ! Really very classy ! And don't worry, you're making so much noise that I'm well informed !
_ LUCAS : It's your sister who's screaming... What do you want me to tell you !? Unless you're jealous ?
_ BROOKE : Certainly not ! On the contrary even...
_ Lucas : What is the opposite of jealous, you intrigue me !?
_ BROOKE : Applied to my point of view, I would say disinterested or totally indifferent...
_ LUCAS : I know that I don't leave you indifferent.
_ BROOKE : No, it's true, I admit... You annoy me so much ! Let's say disinterested, or rather disgusted !
_ LUCAS : If we stick to the definition in the strict sense, if I disgust you it's because I lift your heart... Interesting, that !
_ BROOKE : You especially make me nauseous !
_ LUCAS : And what exactly disgusts you about me ?
_ BROOKE : So many things ! But I would say that the worst thing is the way you treat my sister !
Lucas observed her silently... As if he was waiting for her to elaborate further.
_ BROOKE : She does what she wants. After all, she is an adult and vaccinated but your behavior is horrible towards her !
_ LUCAS : I have always been clear with her, Brooke. Either she takes the whole package, or I make my own way.
_ BROOKE : But you're going to live like this indefinitely !? Don't you want something serious sometimes !?
_ LUCAS : Listen, it's a much too complex conversation that starts there... I'm like that, that's all. It's take it or leave it... And as you say, your sister is capable of making her own choices. If, in your eyes, that makes me a total asshole... Well, I guess I'll live with it.
Brooke could sense that the subject seemed to be a bit sensitive when she tried to dig into it. She didn't insist any further.
_ BROOKE : Okay then, are you watching my series with me !?
_ LUCAS : Ok. But if I find it rubbish then we'll change, okay ?
_ BROOKE: Okay !
And Lucas had finally started the episode.
The next two hours had been pleasant... And for good reason, Lucas had ended up falling asleep after thirty minutes. Brooke then found herself observing him, asleep and silent... The features of his face, perfect and well defined. Her luscious lips, her red and fleshy mouth which for once uttered no rudeness...His closed eyelids under which were hidden his piercing eyes which always shone with a mischievous glow... His smooth forehead, his perfectly straight nose and his square jaw... He was so beautiful when he slept. If only his eyes had stopped there. But they had to descend on his body. This body that she imagined naked, his sculpted abs that she guessed under the white fabric stuck to his body. His massive pectorals, his muscular arms... The color of his skin, tanned. Her hands, her fingers... But the image of her sister enjoying this perfect body forced Brooke out of these indecent thoughts. And then, she couldn't just be attracted to a body or a face... Lucas was so annoying.
However, Brooke managed more and more to detect the tortured soul that hid deep within him. The groans he uttered in his increasingly restless sleep confirmed all this to him. Maybe this man wasn't the dark bastard he was playing after all. He had not imposed this lifestyle on himself without reason... Without an injury, a gaping weakness. At this point, the only thing Brooke was able to admit to herself was that he intrigued her a lot... More than she dared to imagine.