Lucas had just skillfully dodged Brooke's destabilizing question about the meaning and origin of his tattoo. Even though she wanted to insist, Haley brought the birthday cake and everyone started singing. Challenged by her allusions, Brooke felt Lucas throw her a few glances while he hummed at the same time. Sam brilliantly blew out all his candles in one breath, the applause followed. Haley approached her.
HALEY : Oh no, I forgot to take a picture of you!
SAM : It's okay, Haley, no need! I'm too old!
HALEY : No way, you know it's tradition and that I'll display it on the photo wall, after! Come on, smile for me!
Haley had already prepared her smartphone and held it in her hand to immortalize the scene.
SAWYER : Can we take a picture with Sam!?
HALEY : I'll take one of her alone first and then you can all stand next to her!
The younger ones rushed to Sam as soon as Haley waved to them. Quentin also joined in, smiling. Once they had taken several serious, friendly or downright crazy poses, Sam said to Brooke and Lucas:
SAM : Can we take a photo together!? It's not that I don't like these little monsters but it looks classier on my Facebook and Insta profile if I show myself with you, like "I have real friends" ...
She seemed a little embarrassed. Her status as a foster child must not have been easy to assume with young people her age.
BROOKE : But of course, my dear! We can even take several!
Brooke had already gotten up to approach Sam, who then had fun taking several selfies of hers. They laughed at the same time and put on a few filters, each funnier than the last.
SAM : Lucas, are you coming too?
LUCAS : You know I don't like pictures, Sam.
SAM : Yes, I know, but you'll make an exception for today, right? Come on!
LUCAS : I said no, Sam.
Sam and Brooke reacted at the same time... They turned to Lucas, surprised by his answer and the dry tone of his voice.
SAM : No!?
LUCAS : That's what I just said... I won't change my mind, Sam.
Brooke still looked at him, puzzled... Until she understood. She realized everything... First his knowledge of MMA at the gym, his departure from Corsica, the absence of any family around him... His tattoo of course, his way of holding a gun, his scar on his thigh, and now this...
BROOKE'S THOUGHT : He can't take the risk of having his picture taken and seeing it end up on social networks! It's also for the same reason that he doesn't have a phone and he simply doesn't want one!
It didn't take long for Lucas to notice that Brooke's face had completely changed expression.
LUCAS : Are you okay, Brooke?
She looked at him, dumbfounded. She felt like he was just a lie, an imposter. That he had betrayed her. Without answering him, she stared at him for a few more seconds, her gaze still lost, then turned to Sam.
BROOKE : I'm sorry Sam, I have to leave.
Brooke didn't have time to see their reactions and their faces filled with incomprehension, that she was already leaving. The garden being fenced, Brooke was forced to go back through the living room without hearing the voices that were calling her. She also didn't hear Lucas calling her from further away, who quickened his pace behind her to catch up with her. She had barely crossed the threshold of the door when she quickened again to escape Lucas who was getting closer to her.
LUCAS : Brooke, wait! Where are you going?
She kept walking, furious, shocked, sad and upset, until he grabbed her hand and held her back.
BROOKE : Let go of me, you lying bastard!
Lucas' face scrunched up in discomfort, embarrassment and distress, his eyes narrowing almost completely.
LUCAS : Calm down and explain to me because I don't understand anything here!
BROOKE : Oh no! I have nothing more to tell you!
LUCAS : What did I do? What did I say?
BROOKE : I don't know what you did and I'm not sure I want to know! Anyway, you're not telling me anything!
Lucas's gaze changed a little, his eyes rose in surprise then hesitation as if he understood her implication. But he said nothing, he knew that the only thing she was waiting for was the truth.
BROOKE : I'm going to leave and you're going to stop following me! Besides, you know what!? Don't talk to me again until you finally decide to be honest with me, do you understand?
Lucas bit his lip mechanically, Brooke could read the worry and emotion in the depths of his tormented eyes.
LUCAS' THOUGHT : I can't tell her that, not here, not like this... With the kids next door and in the middle of the street!
Lucas stared at the ground then slowly raised his head and eyes to Brooke.
LUCAS: Understood.
Brooke didn't need to run anymore but she couldn't calm down and slow down her pace, everything mixed up inside her. Her legs moved forward on their own and led her to the only place where she thought she belonged. She who thought she had finally found someone good, someone really good... She who thought she could maybe believe all his beautiful words about herself, about her future... She knew she might regret it but that was where her rebellious mind led her. To the chalet.
She entered without even knocking, Owen was there, sitting on the couch with his cell phone in his hand. He looked at her, surprised.
BROOKE : Would you agree to run away with me?
OWEN : Run away? Where, baby?
BROOKE : Anywhere! Far from here, far from our troubles, far from the police!
OWEN : You know I'd go anywhere with you, my dear!
Reassured by his answer, Brooke wanted to continue on her momentum to try to forget Lucas.
BROOKE : Make me love then!
Owen stood up, a hungry smile on his face and eyes filled with an imminent desire for lust.
OWEN : With pleasure, baby! I didn't believe it anymore!
He immediately removed her top and then rushed directly to Brooke's mouth, letting out greedy grunts. From Brooke's mouth, he went down her throat and neck to reach her chest, which he kneaded at the same time. While removing her bra, he licked her breasts and then nibbled her nipples while his other hand was already going down. Brooke undulated under his caresses trying to lose herself in her intoxicating sensations so as not to think about anything else. Owen's desire became more and more uncontrollable and he pulled Brooke into the bedroom, not letting go of his grip on his sex.
Owen undressed as quickly as possible and Brooke did the same with his clothes. Despite her efforts, the lump in her throat had not gone away... On the contrary. But she persevered.
BROOKE : On the other hand, put on a condom.
As she handed him the condom, Owen's face flushed with the beginnings of anger.
OWEN : Have you slept with someone else since then!?
BROOKE : And you!?
OWEN : Fuck, Brooke, do you really want to ruin the moment there!?
Brooke didn't realize at that moment that even if that was the case, she didn't give a damn.
BROOKE : I stopped taking the pill, so put it on!
Believing Brooke's lie probably because it suited him well, Owen quickly unwrapped the condom so he could continue. While putting it around his already hard and erect cock, he looked at Brooke, ready to jump on him.
OWEN : Get on all fours, I want to see your pretty ass!
His brutality didn't really bother Brooke that much... But she complied, maybe not seeing him will be easier. Owen barely took the time to rub his glans against Brooke's entrance then with a little grin on his lips... He began to pound her at a frantic pace, his thrusts were fast and deep. He grunted with each thrust.
OWEN : Mmmhhh oh fuck, yes!
Brooke's body swayed and she let herself be shaken by his thrusts while he continued to express his satisfaction.
OWEN : That's my wife!
Brooke, she, stared at the wall, completely elsewhere despite the fact that she was there by choice and completely consenting. Feeling a little dehumanized by the situation, she felt Owen already close to ecstasy and decided to change position.
BROOKE : Stop, I want to see you!
OWEN : Okay, baby! I want to see you cum and scream my name too!
Brooke turned around and Owen violently spread her legs to penetrate her again, with all his weight on her. Unperturbed, he continued his intensive pounding, the noise of his flesh against Brooke's continued, even intensifying. The pleasure rose mechanically but remained moderate. The repetitive noises of the springs and the sheets were already knew she wouldn't cum. Owen, himself, became more and more angry in her but also, against her.
OWEN : Damn, I missed you... Come on, move Brooke, do your part!
Brooke then forced herself to follow the synchronous back and forth but her mind was already gone, not with him anymore. She stared at the wall above her and she would swear that a tear even flowed down her cheek...
OWEN : Oooh! Oooh I'm coming my beauty, it's so good!
With a last powerful thrust, Owen spurted into the rubber of the condom and fell limply on Brooke. Brooke quickly rubbed the tears that had continued to flow despite herself on her face, Owen lay down next to her.
BROOKE : What if we leave tonight?
Owen just looked at her and laughed... As if he didn't take her seriously at all.
OWEN : We'll see about that later, beautiful! Now I want to do it again!
BROOKE : Owen stop, I'm serious... I want to leave and you said you agreed.
OWEN : You know... We say things, we do things and then we change our minds! Like you!
BROOKE : Like me, what?
OWEN : I had a blast, baby, but there's something I still don't understand... You came in here, hot as hell and in my memory, you were doing really hot stuff... But there, and especially at the end, I really felt like I was fucking a starfish slumped on its rock!
Brooke said nothing, unable to deny that she had been extremely passive, even waiting for it to end quickly. She had concentrated on getting into position and spreading her thighs, without passion, without sharing, without enthusiasm. She wasn't proud and finally, it was clear that she felt even worse... And that apparently Owen had no intention of running away with her...