After feeling bad and a quick trip to the toilets, Brooke finally found a terrace. She took a deep breath to calm her nausea that still didn't leave her... She walked too. Tears were streaming down her cheeks and she felt a little ridiculous when in fact, Lucas was handling it like a boss. She trusted him and yet she felt a sharp pain. It wasn't jealousy but rather a blockage. She was already thinking about the moment when he would take her in his arms after all that... And she already knew that she would have a hard time slipping into it. And even if it wasn't infidelity in the strict sense of the word, she felt it as a deception, a disgust... She decided that it was ultimately wiser not to go back. Felix had joined her quite quickly.
FELIX : Oh my... Am I dreaming or are those tears I see there?
And while rubbing her cheek, Brooke didn't even try to deny it.
BROOKE : You're not dreaming... It's completely stupid but I don't know... It's flowing all by itself...
FELIX : You're on edge, it's not easy and your body is reacting in its own way...
BROOKE : And now, it's clearly taking over my reason... I can't wait for it to be over!
FELIX : Well, what if we took the opportunity to take your mind off things... What do you want to talk about to relax!?
BROOKE : About you and Haley!
FELIX : Haha! You didn't hesitate for a second about that one... What do you want to know?
BROOKE : Everything! Finally, whatever you want to tell me... If I can still trust my eyesight, you're together?
FELIX : It seems so, yes... Even if it's only the very beginning...
BROOKE : But the attraction between you was so obvious from the beginning that it wasn't going to be long anyway!
FELIX : With the way she came at me, I think I resisted for quite a while...
BROOKE : I admit it! When she wants something, she doesn't give up so easily, does she?
FELIX : That's the least we can say... But that's also one of the first things that attracted me to her!
BROOKE : If you like women with character and who know what they want, then you've found the rare pearl...
FELIX : I wanted to tell you... Don't worry, I know she's your friend. And if I waited, it's a bit for that too... I want you to know that I never play with women... And even less with her, given your friendship.
Even though he didn't have to tell her that, Brooke found his confession and his approach most touching.
BROOKE : Even though we haven't known each other for long, I already know that you're a good person, Felix... And as much as you're lucky to have found Haley, she's lucky to be with a man like you...
FELIX : Thank you Brooke ... And Lucas for being with you and vice versa. Trust in your destiny, in him, in you ...
Lindsay was glued to Lucas ... In his underwear. He was still dressed but he knew he had to speed things up.
LINDSAY : Don't tell me your brain still hasn't given permission to your crotch, Lucas ...
Lindsay swayed against him, she ran her fingers over the top of her breasts and her lace bustier. Lucas held his glass in front of him, like a protective barrier ... His man's body shouldn't react. He forced himself to look Lindsay in the eyes ... Eyes too made up whose naughty gleam reminded him of his disgust.
LUCAS : Just tell me one thing first, Lindsay ... Why did you make all this up!? Why did you make me out to be a pervert, a new Parisian Weinstein!?
To add to his credibility, Lucas decided to put his hand on her bare hip and pull her a little against him.
LINDSAY : And you, why did you draw me here to ask me all these questions!? Questions to which you know the answers! A woman hurt by the man she loves is capable of anything, Lucas. Even the worst, especially the worst.
Lindsay lightly rubbed herself against Lucas who was starting to lose patience.
LINDSAY : And judging by what's happening tonight, it was the perfect strategy for you to finally accept what you feel.
Without warning, Lindsay put a hand behind her back and unhooked her bustier.
LINDSAY : And it's time to show it now... Everything you feel, everything you really want to do to me...
Lucas understood that she was going too fast and that she wanted, too, proof of her total devotion. Lindsay seemed not to want to give up until she had gotten what she wanted, too... But Lucas would never cross that line... Never. And all his anger invaded him... But he had to stay calm. She couldn't imagine for a single moment that all this was just a trap otherwise she would understand about the microphones. Lucas put down his glass and focused on what he was about to tell her...
LUCAS : Listen, Lindsay... I think I was wrong after all... I thought you would respect me, that you would respect yourself a minimum... But look at you... You don't even respect yourself either... You're here almost begging me to fuck you.
Lindsay's face decomposed more and more. Lucas hesitated between incomprehension and shame.
LUCAS : I don't know what got into me to think that you and I had a chance, that you were ultimately a good person. I should have never come here, I should have never believed that you were worth more than I initially thought...
LINDSAY : But... But what are you talking about... If you're here, it's because you wanted to be, because you still want to be...
While gradually closing the buttons of his shirt, Lucas continued:
LUCAS : I wanted you, Lindsay. But because I thought you would take responsibility for what you did to me and that you felt bad about it... But you can't pretend to love me and behave like that with the man you love... I'm going to go now, Lindsay and let you think about all this...
Lucas looked at her, as if it was his last chance. Lindsay stared at him as well... She seemed to hesitate again. Lucas drained his glass and then tried the last strategy.
LUCAS : Goodbye, Lindsay... Take care of yourself.
And as he started walking towards the door, Lindsay finally realized what was happening, that it was slipping away from her.
LINDSAY : Don't go, Lucas! I love you! I'm so sorry for telling all those vile lies about you!
With his back to her, Lucas as a victorious smile. A smile that he hid as soon as he turned back to her.
LUCAS : You almost destroyed my reputation and my career... And I've always behaved well with you!
LINDSAY : I know, I know! But I wanted so much for you to see me as something other than a simple babysitter! It's the only way I found to get your attention... And I wanted so much for your relationship to explode... It made my job easier at the same time...
Lucas encouraged her to continue with his falsely soft and almost compassionate eyes. He picked up her dress from the floor.
LINDSAY : The more you rejected me, the more I lost my mind... I'm not that bad... You have to believe me.
LUCAS : Here, put your dress back on, Lindsay... And know that I would really like to believe you...
LINDSAY : What!? You're still going to leave!? You want me to get on my knees and beg you for forgiveness!?
LUCAS : Don't lower yourself to that, I think you've already humiliated yourself enough for tonight...
Lindsay's face then turned from pink to red... She was stung to the quick and her real face suddenly reappeared.
LINDSAY : Besides leaving me here, are you going to tell me that it's my fault!? When you turned me on like crazy!? I'm warning you, Lucas! If you walk through that door, I'll be happy to invent much worse things about you!
LUCAS : There you go... The real you is back. And I almost fell for it...
LINDSAY : You're the one who makes me like this! You make me go crazy and then you complain that I react!
LUCAS : You didn't need me to become so bad, Lindsay... I only regret one thing... That I almost realized it after sleeping with you... Lucky for me.
LINDSAY : Don't do that! You'll regret it!
LUCAS : I already regret it... For believing it... But I have a clear conscience, at least... Goodbye, Lindsay.
In order to play the respectable man to the end, Lucas turned around one last time.
LUCAS : I'm going to pay for the room, you'll have an hour to leave...
And he left.
Haley who had followed the rest of the conversation had come to get Brooke and Felix.
HALEY : He should be here any minute... And guess what!? He got her confession!
Brooke was partly relieved to hear it... But also anxious about the way he had finally gotten them out of her.
BROOKE : How far did he go?
HALEY : Honestly, he changed his strategy and he turned her over like a pancake without having to touch her... And god knows she was dying to do it, the bitch! She went crazy... She got it all out! It was enjoyable from here!
Arriving at full speed, they heard Lucas' running footsteps in the hallway. Brooke's heart was pounding hard in her chest. But as soon as he entered the room, his first look was at her... Concerned, questioning and attentive.
LUCAS : How are you feeling , Brooke?
And Brooke's discomfort dissipated, almost as if by magic. Him, his eyes in hers, his sincere love...
BROOKE : I just need you to hold me tight in your arms...
LUCAS : I didn't dare offer it to you and it's exactly what I need too... Come here, my dear!
Their arms opened to each other to embrace each other. It was so good, so sweet, so comforting. Lucas whispered in her ear:
LUCAS : Promise me you're okay, pretty girl...?
BROOKE : I love you so much...
LUCAS : Me even more...
Brooke inhaled deeply the scent of his neck, then his hair... But Lindsay's scent seeped in despite her.
BROOKE : Sorry, her perfume is way too sickening...
LUCAS : Who do you tell it to...
Nausea threatened to take over her but Haley's intervention caught their attention.
HALEY : Come over here! I don't think we've yet finished hearing the other nympho's rattle voice!
Haley turned up the volume and Lindsay seemed, indeed, to be in the middle of a conversation.
LINDSAY : I accept your offer...
Lindsay seemed to be having a phone conversation because there was some crackling in the recording.
LINDSAY : "Tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it" ... "I have my reasons too... But let's say I agree to do this for you for a fee" ... "I just don't want to file an official complaint because I'd have too much to lose..." ... "Okay, I'll wait to hear from you, then" ... "Thank you. It's a pleasure doing business with you Mrs. Scott, see you soon." ...
Brooke, Lucas, Haley and Felix's faces remained completely shocked for a few moments. Their mouths opened in surprise.
HALEY : Am I dreaming or was she on the phone with your future ex-wife!?
Lucas seemed to be the one who was having the hardest time realizing it. He took two seconds before formulating a sentence.
LUCAS : I heard the same thing as you...
Lucas became more and more agitated... His fists clenched and rose.
LUCAS : What a bunch of sluts!
BROOKE : Yes, but not very smart sluts who were recorded, Lucas... And that's perfect!
LUCAS : It may be perfect... But it's violent! Ah, if I had these two crazy people in front of me!
FELIX : Brooke is right, Lucas. And you too. It's a shock but it's going to backfire on Peyton... You're going to be able to use that to make her give in... Think about Sawyer, you're getting closer to her sole custody now...
LUCAS : You're right... Sawyer! She's the only one who matters...
Lucas turned to Brooke and grabbed her hand.
LUCAS : And you!
BROOKE : And I'm here for you, we're all here for you...
LUCAS : I really want to run away from here and spend the night in your arms... What do you think?
BROOKE : It's perfect, I just want to be close to you too... But I'm the one who will leave you tomorrow morning.
LUCAS : You're so professional...
BROOKE : It's because I really like my boss and his daughter...
HALEY : Brooke, can I have a word with you before you disappear? In private...
BROOKE : Oh uh... Sure.
Haley motioned for her to follow her into the hallway. Lucas winked promisingly at Brooke before she went out.
BROOKE : So!? You're scaring me now, what's going on? Is it Felix?
HALEY : No! Why!? Did he say something to you!?
BROOKE : Uh, yeah... Several things.
Haley seemed to have suddenly forgotten what she wanted to tell him.
HALEY : Tell me!
BROOKE : I'm just telling you that he's already hooked.
Haley smiled at her but Brooke then called her to order.
BROOKE : So what did you want to tell me that was so urgent!?
HALEY : Oh sorry... Well it's not really urgent but I know that you support Lucas as best you can... You too probably need a listening ear... And that I'm here for anything you want to talk about.
BROOKE : I know, my dear. But I thank you for letting me know just in case... I won't fail to do so, I promise.
HALEY : And you don't have anything to tell me now!?
Brooke looked at her, taken aback.
HALEY : Come on, Brooke... Okay, it wasn't easy what you went through today, but the way you reacted...
BROOKE : Oh, I guess the anxiety was probably out of proportion but it's better now... I assure you.
HALEY : I hear you but a normal person wouldn't have reacted like that, not so strongly...
BROOKE : What are you implying?! That I'm not "normally" constituted!? I'm in love, Haley...
HALEY : But could it be that in addition to being in love, you're also pregnant with Lucas?
BROOKE : ...