While Felix, who Brooke had tried to hold back, had quickly left for the kitchen to let them talk... Lucas began to walk towards Brooke to join her, his eyes widening and darkening more and more. His expression of a fried blackbird with completely dilated pupils easily letting Brooke guess his fascination. Lucas swallowed with difficulty as he walked closer, Brooke was more and more beautiful in her little dress. It molded to his body and Lucas found it much too short for her to consider leaving his house like that. Miles of legs held and maintained all his attention and he believed that madness was taking hold of him. And while his gaze on her dried his throat a little, he finally couldn't help but say:
LUCAS : Fuck...
BROOKE : Thank you... I thought I had a classier compliment than that!
LUCAS : Oh no it's not... Sorry Brooke, I just didn't expect... That either!
Referring to earlier when she was only covered in a bath towel.
LUCAS : It's just that you're...
BROOKE : Ready?! Yes, indeed! I was about to leave...
Lucas tried at all costs to remain calm, as natural and detached as possible, but it was stronger than him. Jealousy took hold of him, the one towards the object of Brooke's date and towards all those who will lay eyes on her. And God knows there will be some with the outfit she was wearing.
LUCAS : At least tell me that it's with your friends that you're going out, right?
BROOKE : I shouldn't even answer this question, Lucas. Especially since the answer is not...
Brooke could easily observe his Adam's apple moving, his fingers and jaw clenching with nervousness.
LUCAS : A man?
Brooke could see that he was suffering, that he was getting hotter and hotter and that his distress seemed sincere. But out of the question to admit to him that he would have a much better chance than her of pleasing her date tonight!
BROOKE : A man who knows what he wants does not want to...
A flash of sadness crossed Lucas's irises.
BROOKE : And you're going to end up making me late... Do we agree that I can take back my freedom, Lucas?
LUCAS : I have no right to deprive you of it in any case...
BROOKE : That's one point on which we at least agree!
Taking advantage of the silence that followed, Brooke quickly called Felix to join her. She then stared at Lucas for a few seconds...
BROOKE : Good evening, Lucas... See you tomorrow.
LUCAS : Tomorrow!?
Brooke was going to drive him completely crazy and oddly enough, she loved it! She smiled while avoiding answering.
LUCAS' THOUGHT : So she's planning on spending the night somewhere else!? Or is she saying that because I better not wait for her...
When the door closed behind Brooke and Felix, Lucas could finally let his body and thoughts speak freely. He inhaled and exhaled several times to try to calm down but his whole body tensed up even more despite himself. The huge erection that had been pulling at him since he saw her contrasted with his heart and his agitated and scarlet mind. Possessiveness, jealousy, despair and anger at himself assailed him... But also desire, love and lack.
A little later, Brooke was in the car with Felix. He had been smiling since they left.
BROOKE : Tell me what you think, I'm listening!
FELIX : I don't think anything, I just notice...
BROOKE : And what do you notice?
FELIX : That you're both in a hell of a mess!
BROOKE : Speak for him, I'm taking back the rights to my life and moving on... It's doomed to failure anyway!
FELIX : It seems like that doesn't stop you from hoping for the opposite, Brooke...
BROOKE : What do you mean!?
FELIX : You have feelings for him, it's obvious as the nose on your face you know... You can try to seem detached and insensitive but me who has a little perspective... I can see it clearly.
Brooke looked at him with a half knowing and half blasé look, waiting for him to finish his thoughts.
FELIX : You found each other, both him and you... But the context is beyond you and prevents you from living this passion. I know Lucas and I can assure you that he is a good man, one of the best I have met in my life. Trust him, if you have something to live, he will do what it takes to give you a real chance...
BROOKE : Do you think he will even go so far as to leave Peyton? I have serious doubts, me!
FELIX : Give him time, Brooke... You can't solve seven years of your life with the snap of a finger...
BROOKE : I know that, but I would have preferred him to be sure and to explain it to me before he screwed me over... I won't go into the sordid details, but he hurt me terribly and I won't forgive him...
FELIX : You're saying that now but...
BROOKE : I'm saying it because it's the case! Too bad for him!
FELIX : Okay, stubborn girl! On the other hand, we've arrived...
Indeed, Brooke hadn't noticed right away that Felix had double-parked in front of the place where she was meeting.
BROOKE : The stubborn girl thanks you!
Felix laughed while Brooke took her cell phone to warn Chris but he beat her to it.
BROOKE : He's waiting for me right next to the line in front of the building... Apparently we can go straight up...
FELIX : It seems like your date has his entrances everywhere... Interesting!
Given that Lucas would not hesitate to ask Felix to watch over her, Brooke did not tell him that he was gay. Besides, she preferred to clarify things directly with him.
BROOKE : We agree that you're not going to stick to me like last time!?
FELIX : No, don't worry... On the other hand, I was instructed to just beat the crap out of anyone who dares to approach you!
Brooke made a face at him to show him that she understood that he was joking.
FELIX : I have to stay around, those are the real instructions. You'll see for yourself that he's making a hell of an effort!
BROOKE : Mmmh ...
She thought back to Lindsay, the main reason why Felix accompanied her almost everywhere. But she, like him, knew perfectly well that it wasn't the only reason.
BROOKE : Well, I'll let you know when I want to go home I suppose...
FELIX : You got it!
Brooke gave him a friendly and sincere kiss before getting out of the car. She crossed the street and just as she saw Chris waving at her, she heard Felix start the car.
CHRIS : Good evening my dear! You look GORGEOUS!
BROOKE : Thank you! You're super stylish too...
Chris pouted proudly at himself then took Brooke by the arm, pulling her towards the entrance.
CHRIS : Come on, the bouncer is a friend of a friend, we'll go straight to the elevator to go touch the stars!
Several floors later and a few minutes later too, they settled down on a comfortable bench. They sipped a delicious cocktail in the middle of a more than astonishing place with a unique view of Paris. The air was mild and luckily Brooke had been able to get in with Chris because there was a serious jostling at the gate.
BROOKE : This place is incredible!
CHRIS : I knew you'd like it... A little taste of Miami Beach in the middle of Paris!
BROOKE : And this view is crazy! And these garlands that light up the terrace... It's magnificent!
CHRIS : Almost as magnificent as you, in fact! So tell me everything!
BROOKE : Everything!?
CHRIS : Well, let's start with your studies in fashion design and your projects in this field...
BROOKE : I admit that I thought you would ask me to tell you about Peyton and what's going on at the moment...
CHRIS : We can talk about that too, even if I suppose it's always the same thing in the end!
BROOKE : What do you mean? Always the same thing...?
CHRIS : Peyton who is horrible and Lucas who threatens to break up with her... Which he never does in the end! Unless what this babysitter says is true and it's more serious than it actually is...
Brooke would really like to confide in him but it was too risky. After all, he worked with his boss. Even more than that, he owed her his entry into this environment that he coveted so much too. Especially since apparently it wasn't the first time he talked about divorce. It stuck a little in his craw.
BROOKE : You're right, I think I prefer to talk about our respective passions which also happen to be common!
CHRIS : Sold! So, how long have you known that this is what you want to do in life!?
And while she was talking to Chris, Brooke's cell phone started vibrating. She took a discreet look.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : It's him! I can't believe it!
Brooke couldn't help the smile that appeared at the corner of her lips but also her anger when she read its contents.
MESSAGE FROM LUCAS : I feel like an idiot there... Don't do anything you might regret, please.
Under the slightly bewildered eyes of Chris who smiled politely at her, Brooke decided to ignore her message.
Meanwhile, Lucas was like a lion in a cage. He tortured himself while waiting for Brooke's response, his cell phone in his hand.
As Brooke was struggling to resume the thread of her discussion with Chris, her cell phone vibrated again.
MESSAGE FROM LUCAS : At least tell me where you are ... Or I'll ask Felix ...
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : It's not true! What is he doing to me now!?
Brooke managed to read her message on her screen and tried to stay focused on her exchange with Chris. But it was complicated ... Especially since her phone vibrated again.
BROOKE : Chris I'm sorry but will you excuse me for a second!?
CHRIS : Of course, take your time to sort this out and then we'll be quiet ...
BROOKE : I'll sort this out and we'll definitely be quiet!
Brooke got up to go and isolate herself a little. She was going to call Lucas and put an end to all this immediately!
