Haley and Rachel had finally arrived at the hotel to pull Brooke out of her gloom. Lucas had been gone for over an hour and Brooke still had no news. She probably wouldn't hear from him tonight. Even if a small part of her continued to hope... Especially since she had just told her two friends everything.
BROOKE : There you go Rachel, you know everything...
Indeed, Brooke had informed Rachel of the latest events since she had only confided in Haley.
RACHEL : Wow! I have to say that's a lot to take in at once!
BROOKE : I wanted to tell you when we saw each other... And then, well, finally and given the situation, it's tonight!
HALEY : What a huge BITCH, still! I still can't believe it!
As usual, Haley didn't mince her words. Her concern did Brooke good and even entertained her a little.
RACHEL : If it's made up out of whole cloth, it's clear that it's really disgusting to do that to someone!
HALEY : What are you implying? I saw that girl! You can see from her face that she's disturbed!
RACHEL : I'm not implying anything at all... I don't know either of them and I would tend to base myself on Brooke's judgment...
Rachel looked at Brooke with a benevolent air but her eyes were inquisitive and slightly narrowed.
RACHEL : Do you believe him 100%?
The lump still in Brooke's throat spread again. She wanted to answer him yes with assurance...
BROOKE : He's a good man...
RACHEL : He's a good man to you... But has he always been?! Before, I mean... Listen, I know you're not good and really, I don't want to add to it but it's my role too... It's my role as a friend to advise you to be careful... Okay this girl is crazy... And you know Lucas much better than I do! But at the same time, you haven't been dating for that long...
HALEY : Make her doubt... Great technique to cheer her up!
BROOKE : Leave Haley, she's right somewhere...
Brooke turned her attention back to Rachel who seemed really sorry.
BROOKE : You're right, we've known each other for less than a month but I have to say that I feel like it's been years... I'm not saying that his words may not have gone beyond his thoughts... When he talks about getting together with me so quickly... But I think he's sincere when he says he doesn't want this life anymore and that he had this spark thanks to me... I'm not megalomaniac, I'm just repeating his words... And me, well... I'm completely addicted!
RACHEL : Do you love him?
The question... The fateful question had just been asked. Moreover, by her friends from whom she could not hide anything.
BROOKE : I think so! I think about him all the time... My stomach hurts before seeing him... I project myself with him...
HALEY : Ok, I think there is no doubt, indeed!
And while they were still installed on the magnificent terrace of the top floor, there was a knock at the door.
BROOKE : Don't tell me you already ordered a new bottle of champagne at room service, Haley!?
Haley raised both hands to signify her innocence in the face of Brooke's accusatory gaze. Brooke got up to open the door, and suddenly she thought it could be Lucas.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Oh! Maybe he came back because nothing more was possible at this late hour with his agent... He's giving me a surprise...
And while her heart wanted to believe it and warm up while beating with impatience, Brooke opened the door.
BROOKE : Felix!? What are you doing here?
Her disappointment was matched only by her professionalism when Felix took a quick look inside the room.
FELIX : Mr. Scott asked me to come stand guard here, is everything okay?
A discreet smile appeared on her lips, probably to relax the atmosphere on her nocturnal arrival. Lucas must have warned him that something was happening even if she didn't know what he had invented. Unless Felix's smile had nothing to do with it... But with Haley that he had just seen further away... This same Haley who, accompanied by Rachel, now approached the open door.
HALEY : Hey! Who's there...? Felix, the big biscottos!?
Brooke looked at Haley with her big eyes that didn't scare her at all, then she turned to the bodyguard. Felix arched an eyebrow as he lingered a little too long on Haley, he greeted Rachel as well.
BROOKE : As you can see, I'm already well surrounded ... Nothing can happen to me!
FELIX : I know you don't like my presence, Brooke. So I'm going to stay behind the door.
BROOKE : Seriously, Felix ...
HALEY : Yes, seriously Felix! You're not going to stay there, in the hallway, standing all night ...
Haley, already overexcited, grabbed him by the arm and pulled him until he was far enough away to close the door behind him.
HALEY : A little glass of champagne!?
FELIX : No, thank you. Never during the service.
And as Brooke signaled to her accomplices not to say another word about Lucas ... The evening continued. While Haley made conversation with Felix, Rachel and Brooke were having fun with the situation. They finally decided to enjoy the enormous bath in the bathroom, filled with foam. Before going to bed, Brooke couldn't resist the urge to send Lucas a message after having prevented herself from doing so all evening.
BROOKE'S MESSAGE : I hope you're already seeing things a little more clearly ... Everything will be fine. Good night and see you tomorrow.
And as she resisted the urge to fall asleep hoping to receive his answer, her cell phone remained unbearably and resolutely silent. She finally fell asleep.
The next morning, after breakfast at the hotel restaurant, Brooke had gone home. But Felix had walked her back to her door. He would meet her at her place at 6pm to take her to the Scotts. The day seemed endless to her... She didn't even want to work on her dress. She spent the day in bed, looking at pictures of Lucas and Peyton on the internet. She also looked for information on Lindsay Strauss... She found some information on her. Apparently, her father was a financial magnate who had recently moved to New York. His wife was a renowned lawyer, she lived in the U.S.A with her husband. They were clearly part of the New York elite. On the other hand, Lindsay didn't seem to have spent much time in New York if the internet was to be believed. After a year in Harvard, she had finally landed in Paris... For about two years if her calculations were correct. On the other hand, it was impossible to know what she had done in life other than taking pictures of herself everywhere. At parties, in the chicest bars in the capital, during her shopping trips... Anxious, Brooke did not stop checking her voicemail as if her cell phone was not going to ring to let her know.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : He told me he would call me this morning... It's 4pm and still nothing... I know what I'm going to do... I'm going to send him a casual message to see if I'm coming this Sunday...
BROOKE'S MESSAGE : Hi, is it still okay for me to come today around 6:30pm?
While placing her cell phone near her, she changed to go find him... Impatient.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Simple, chic and sexy! Perfect!
But just as she realized that it wasn't time to leave yet, Lucas's response arrived.
LUCAS'S MESSAGE : As you feel. It's tense here...
Brooke reread Lucas' message several times... No hello, no emotion, no tender or caring greeting...
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Just... As I feel... And him, does he want to see me or not!?
It was clear that she was a little annoyed... And above all, lost in the face of this distant and too neutral response. She answered him, in her own way... Even if she knew she shouldn't play this game, it was stronger than her.
BROOKE'S MESSAGE : I was simply asking about Sawyer... To do like the previous week...
And a few seconds later, when his heart couldn't get back to a normal rhythm...
LUCAS'S MESSAGE : Ok, for Sawyer...
THOUGHT'S FROM BROOKE : Ok? For Sawyer? And for you, then...? And these three little dots mean what!? Is it disinterest, nonchalance...? Or is it a knowing implication? In any case, I won't be able to wait until tomorrow... I have to go see with my own eyes what's happening! And Felix doesn't arrive until 6pm! I'm not waiting for him, too bad!
And Brooke set off...
Around 5pm, Brooke arrived on the street and walked towards the house. Her heart had still not calmed down. As she arrived near the gate, a man appeared out of nowhere... Followed by a woman...
MALE REPORTER : Miss, are you the new babysitter for the Scotts...? What is your relationship with Lucas?
FEMALE REPORTER : Did he try to force you too to obtain sexual favors!? Why continue to work for him?
Brooke did not understand what happened to her, flashes dazzled her and a third person arrived again. In addition to her heart rate exploding, it was stress and panic that took hold of her. She rushed to the gate bell, pressing several times in a row as if it would open faster.
FEMALE REPORTER : What can you tell us about Peyton's reaction? Is the couple about to break up!?
Brooke felt like she was in a movie... But a horror movie! All of this overwhelmed her and oppressed her. She felt that they were not respecting her bubble and were sticking to her, holding their dictaphones towards her face. When finally the two gates separated to finally open, she rushed to sneak inside. She ran without looking back, she was panting more and more. She heard them calling her and begging her to come back when they couldn't cross the private property. Brooke ran again while Julie held the door open for her and she arrived in the entrance hall, shocked.
BROOKE : What was that, Julie!?
GOVERNESS : That, darling... They're scumbags who want to add some scoop to the bullshit we're already saying!
Brooke looked at Julie as she approached her to place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
GOVERNESS : Are you going to be okay?
BROOKE : I think so... Thanks, Julie.
But deep down, it was a whole different story.
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : Actually, I don't think you're going to be okay at all... This is all getting out of hand I didn't expect!
BROOKE : Are Lucas and Sawyer here?
GOVERNESS : Sawyer's in his room... Lucas is downstairs, but I don't recommend you go see him... He's in a foul mood!