"Hey Lucas, sorry that I asked you to stay awake," Brooke said to him on the call once she had gotten ready for bed herself.
"Not a problem. I had a great time with Sam and Jamie, even though I only caught the second half of the day," he answered.
"Are you excited for tomorrow's swimming lessons?" she asked, to make small talk.
"Yeah, I get to have a first with Jamie. His first time in a pool! Sam's too! You should be there. I know how much it hurts that I missed so many of Jamie's firsts. You shouldn't have to. We can add this to your scrapbook!" He said but his voice got deep when he mentioned the firsts, making Brooke's heart constrict. He was clearly upset that he missed them and he would never get them. It pained Brooke that she was the reason that he wasn't going to get them. It was a regret that would haunt her for the rest of her life, kinda like the regret she had about breaking the one rule she had at the club, but she was working hard on shoving that memory to the deepest darkest corner of her brain.
"Hey, what happened? You got a weird look on your face, like you were about to get sick?" Lucas asked her with concern.
"No nothing. I'm fine. But you are right, we definitely should add this to his scrapbook, I have some other pictures that I have been meaning to add to it too," Brooke replied. She was thinking about the pictures on her phone of Lucas and Jamie. The first time they hugged, Jamie's first ever trip, which was to Tree Hill, his first plane ride and a few others she had stealthily clicked. Her mind went to how she had always done this, memories of the person she used to be in High School. Yes, she was different, but she was also the same. She remembered the photo wall on her apartment that said 'How I spent my Summer' and it had pictures she had sneakily clicked of her kissing boys. The centre one was Lucas and it was the only one that mattered. Because after all, she had spent her entire summer in California missing him and wanting him and writing to him. Brooke sighed and walked to the closet where she kept a shoebox full of letters. Letters that she had written to Lucas when he didn't know who Jamie was or what she was doing. All the way from the day she found out that she was pregnant to the day she took the job as a stripper, to when Sam joined their little family, every first, every small accomplishment of hers and Jamie's, she had written to him. It was her little secret.
Brooke opened the box and eyed the neatly stacked letters. The last one she had written had been on Jamie's first day of preschool. She had even added pictures. Now, the activity seemed futile. Yet, she was mesmerised by the memories. She lifted a random one out of the box and opened it.
Dear Lucas,
I finally made enough to rent an apartment for myself and Jamie. I finally have a house! It's not great by any means. It's small, dingy and cramped. The house has problems with the heating and the neighbourhood has people that work jobs like mine, but I am happy! It's not a castle, but it's my home. I paid for it on my own and I even splurged some to make sure that Jamie's bedroom was nothing short of perfection. He grows up to look more and more like you every single day. He's incredible!
It feels good to be able to do this. I spent so long sharing rooms with random strangers while being pregnant and the few months since Jamie has been born. I know that you won't appreciate the way I made rent, but now I get to build a real family for him and me, in a real home. As I sit and write this on my kitchen counter, I am beaming. I chalk this to be a positive day.
I hope that this house witnesses lots and lots of positive memories for me and Jamie and it becomes a homier everyday. I hope that Jamie is happy here and that it's good enough for us.
Love,
Brooke.
"Earth to Brooke. Are you there?" Lucas asked after receiving nothing but silence from me for a few minutes.
"Yes, sorry. I zoned out," she apologised.
"No problem. Uhh, we can talk tomorrow if you want," he replied, assuming that Brooke might be nodding from fatigue.
"No! I need to know what happened in Tree Hill," she said quickly.
"Uhh, I don't know whether you will like it or not, but I did everything I could," he began.
"Lucas, you're scaring me. Does Dan know about Jamie?" she asked.
"No, but he does know that I am adopting a child. When I went to Tree Hill, I had a meeting with Nathan and Haley's Lawyer. I explained that my fiance and I were adopting a child, but my father who is in jail for murder could cause a hindrance and I needed some paper that claimed that he wasn't involved in my life. They suggested I get an affidavit. Since Nathan has his emancipation papers, he can prove that he knew Dan was bad news and got out of there as soon as he could. We had to get the documents signed by Dan so I went to visit him in prison," Lucas narrated.
"You went to Prison to see him!" Brooke yelled on the phone, shocked to hear that.
"Yeah, I mean what choice did I have? Nathan was willing to come down to go with me, but I told him not to miss practice."
"How was it? Seeing Dan," Brooke asked.
"Like a raw wound had opened up again. I know it is wrong to wish this for anybody, but I don't understand how he gets to continue living after taking away the most important man in my life growing up. He should not be allowed to continue living. It's not fair," Lucas said emotionally.
"God Lucas, I am so sorry. I am so sorry that you had to go do that and see him. I mean it, especially knowing that if Dan signed the papers, he must have put forth a condition," Brooke said, knowing that the dreadful part of the conversation came then.
"Yeah, he did. He said that I needed to tell him why I needed legal documents to prove that he never claimed me. I had no choice, I tried to get him to sign the papers without telling him, but he wouldn't budge. I told him that it was so that I could adopt a child. I did not give him anymore details and he automatically assumed that Peyton and I were married and that we were having some difficulties conceiving. I did not try to correct him. He signed the papers and I left my lawyer to deal with the rest," Lucas finished his tale. "He believes that Peyton and I want to adopt a newborn together. So I do believe that we are safe on the knowledge front. Is this okay with you?"
"Of course it is, Luke! You went and faced Dan for me and Sam! I - I don't know what to say to that," Brooke replied sullenly.
"Nothing, I only hope that it works out and Sam becomes ours, safe forever," he replied, making Brooke feel wobbly inside all over again. "Jamie is sleeping well?"
"Yeah, he never woke up after he fell asleep in your arms. He was so happy that you came. He was brooding the whole way to the park because his dad wasn't with him," Brooke said, making it Lucas' turn to blush a deep scarlett. "Hey, it's getting late and I have an eight hour shift tomorrow. Thank you for everything that you did for us in Tree Hill. I can't thank you enough. Now all I pray is that like in High School, my parents don't answer their phones!"
"It will work out. Goodnight, B," he said.
"Goodnight," she said and cut the call. Brooke sighed, her mind was transported to when her heart would race with every call and every text that she received from him. Had she come full circle or was she still standing at the same spot when it came to him, she couldn't tell and she was too chicken to introspect about it.
"Hey Sampson, what time are you and Jamie dropping by?" Lucas called Sam up around noon to enquire. He was excited to have a pool day and get to see how Jamie felt about it. Would he be a natural? Would he be terrified of the water? He would definitely need coaching at first and Lucas was most excited for that. He wanted to teach his son all kinds of sports, basketball, baseball, football and he couldn't wait. Swimming was just the beginning. He wanted the chance to see the world through Jamie's eyes and see him discover the wonder and magic that basketball had offered him. It wasn't that his child had to love it or be the best at it, he was okay with anything. All he wanted was a chance to witness the magic unfurl.
"Oh uhh, I - I wasn't in the mood to learn swimming so I was thinking of skipping. But, uhh, you would want to continue your plans with Jamie, it's not fair for him or you to miss a day with his father. You're his dad. Umm, I can feed him his lunch and then drop him over," Sam offered.
Lucas was confused. Yes, teens were moody. He was one not too long ago, but he had seen first hand how excited Sam was about it. Something about Sam's sudden reluctance simply did not add up. "But why? You seemed so excited about it last night. Didn't you go shopping with Brooke and my mom to get a new swimsuit too? My mom told me how happy you were that day. She felt great to be able to experience that with you. So, what's with the sudden mood to not do it?" he asked.
"It's nothing. I'll drop your kid to you soon," she said and was about to end the call.
"Wait, you and Jamie are just going to stay at the apartment, right?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, not thinking much about it. She ended the call and worked on keeping her emotions in check. Brooke's words from the night before had her spiralling. She knew that Brooke was right and she cursed herself for being so transparent. That time with Lucas at the rollercoaster and the way that he helped her and held her hand had been so surreal. It was mighty stupid of her to think that that's how it would be from then on. Brooke was right, she had to guard herself. She could not let her heart be ripped by fantasies and air castles because when the castle broke and it would because it always did, she would be freefalling without a parachute. Sam quickly wiped the remnants of tears that seemed to have formed by the side of her eyes and proceeded on getting Jamie ready for his big pool day with his dad. Brooke had bought him a pair of swimming trunks and water wings. She had woken up extra early and blown air into them for Jamie to use in the pool. Brooke also had Sam's swimsuit out, but she just looked at it longingly.
Sam and Jamie were eating their lunch when the apartment doorbell suddenly rang. Both the kids looked up and stared at each other, unsure about what they were supposed to do. The doorbell barely ever rang because they never had guests over. Brooke and Sam used their keys and Mrs. Garcia usually called Brooke when she needed supplies or medicines.
"Who do you think it is?" Jamie asked Sam who stood up and walked towards the door. He was looking at it with a hint of confusion and shushed Jamie quickly, "Don't make a sound. Let me check it out." Saying that she tiptoed to the door. Looking out through the peephole, she gasped upon seeing who was on the other side of the door. Opening the door, she led her guest inside.
"Lucas, what are you doing here?" she asked. "I was going to bring Jamie by. I told you that on the phone, didn't I? There was no need for you to come down here."
"I didn't come here for Jamie. I came here for you. What's wrong, Sampson and don't tell me that it is nothing because it most definitely is not nothing," he asked simply.
Sam began to stutter, unsure on how she was to answer him. "Wh-what do you mean?" she asked, feigning ignorance.
"I saw you last night Sam. You seemed genuinely excited to learn how to swim and suddenly you're not feeling it? Why?" he asked.
"I'm allowed to change my mind and you have no authority over me to ask me any questions regarding it," Sam responded sassily.
"Hey Sam, I know that I have no authority over you, but I thought that we were bonding. I mean, when we went on that rollercoaster together, I believed that we were actually…." he struggled with the words, failing to articulate his thoughts well. "Sam, do you not want a relationship with me?" he asked with so much vulnerability that she was taken aback.
She did not know what to say. What was the right answer even? If she said no, it would be a lie and if she said yes, it would blow up in her face eventually. So, she decided to take the coward's route, "No."
It was Lucas' turn to be surprised. He thought that Sam would want a family. Yet, he had to keep in mind her history of abuse and how all the men in her life that preceded him had treated her. He looked at her with wounded eyes, "Why Sam? I - I am not like the other guys in your life, the ones you met before Brooke. I promise you that I will never hurt you. I want to protect you! I mean it."
"No, I know that!" Sam cried. Lucas' words made her want to beg Lucas to take care of her and be there for her in every possible way, all the way to adoption, but that was not going to be the case. Sam was aware of it all too well.
Lucas' heart melted upon seeing Sam cry. He looked at Jamie who was sitting silently at the kitchen counter, his food long forgotten, too stunned to eat. "Hey son, why don't you go build me something in your room with your legos? I will come to check it out after I have spoken to Sam, okay?"
"Sammy, do you want me to stay?" he asked her so innocently and so purely that Sam looked at him and cried even more vehemently. All he wanted was to be there for his older sister. Jamie loved Sam so much. He did not want to see her cry. He was too little to understand what was happening. He looked at his father, trying to figure out if it was him who was making Sam weep that way. He knew that his father wouldn't, but something was clearly upsetting his sister.
"No little heathen, you go in and do as your dad tells you to," she replied while wiping her stray tears away. Jamie sighed but hopped off the stool. He walked to Sam and gave her a hug, "I love you, Sammy," he said and went into his bedroom. Sam's heart melted and it only made her want to cry harder. Lucas offered Sam some tissues and waited for her to calm down.
"Why don't you want a relationship with me when you know that I am not going to hurt you?" Lucas pushed her to open up again once she had calmed down. "What are you afraid of?"
"Why would I want a relationship with you and what makes you think that I'm afraid?" She argued for the sake of arguing.
Lucas sighed. He knew that line of defence very well. It was typical Brooke Davis. It was never easy dealing with her when she got that way. She hated being seen as someone who was vulnerable, although vulnerable was all that Lucas ever saw her as. Sam had clearly learnt it from Brooke. In that moment, if he was being honest with himself, if he didn't know any better, he would totally suggest that Sam get a paternity test to prove that she was Brooke's biological child. The brunette hair and young scared face made it even more as if he was looking at a young Brooke. Sam did not have Brooke's natural beauty or features, plus her drug abuse could not have helped her, yet out there, with her vulnerabilities out that way, she was baby Brooke to him.
"Sam, come on. I meant it when I said that I would be there for you on an equal footing as I am for Jamie and I am trying my best out here. You have to meet me halfway! Besides, it would be an honour for me to teach you how to swim, maybe some sports or read your writings and give you suggestions," he offered.
"No thanks, I'm good," came her automated voice. "You can do all of that with your son."
"You're clearly lying to me," Lucas replied exasperatedly. "Learning how to swim cannot make you cry that hard or that much. Now, why are you so reluctant to have a relationship with me?" Lucas asked for the umpteenth time. If Sam was anything like Brooke, this was the only way in. This was the only way that it would work. He had to peel the layers slowly, one at a time, patiently and undeterred. He had to stick to his stance and repeat the question he needed an answer to over and over until Brooke, no, Sam had used every single one of her defences and was left with nothing but the naked raw truth.
"Because you're not my real dad! You're just putting your name on the papers so that you can get your son to live in the same town as you! And yes, you care right now but that's so that you can get Brooke and Jamie! Also, let's believe that you are the hero on the white horse, all of it is going to go away once Peyton arrives!" Sam confessed her insecurities.
Lucas stood silently for a moment, trying to register all the words Sam had used. It made sense, all except one thing, "Peyton? What? Where did Peyton come from? Wait! What the hell did Brooke say to you?"
"Nothing," Sam said quickly. She was scared. She didn't want to rat her fake foster mom out.
"No, not nothing, this has Brooke written all over it. You don't even know Peyton or anything about my relationship with her. This is Brooke's vulnerability. What did she tell you?" Lucas asked angrily. His anger scared Sam into being honest.
"She just told me to guard my heart because once Peyton came back, you would drop us like dust," she said.
"Let's take a rain check on the swimming lessons, okay?" Lucas said and headed towards the door.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Sam asked, feeling more scared than she had ever felt and Sam had faced plenty of things to feel scared. If she messed up Lucas and Brooke's relationship, it would be way worse than when Todd had made her strip and poured candle wax all over her privates.
"To the hotel," Lucas replied without looking at her.
"No, please. Please don't tell her that I told you that. Please! She was only looking out for me. Please forget what I said. I will go swimming. Please don't ruin things with her," Sam begged and cried. She was behaving as if she was Jamie's age as she tried to stop Lucas from leaving. She actually believed that if she just agreed to go swimming, everything would go back to how it was a day ago. It was like she was in foster care all over again where she was begging a parent to forgive her for spilling her juice and not beat her with a belt. She would promise to clean the mess and never drink juice again, but it was never enough. Parents always did what they wanted to do and children had no choice but to succumb to their beatings. Sam felt just as helpless in that moment.
"No Sam. This was not okay. I need to speak with Brooke," Lucas said a little more softly this time when he saw Sam's broken face.
"I don't want to lose her and I don't want Jamie to lose you," she whispered so softly that Lucas barely caught her words.
"Sorry Sam. I am tired of fighting with Brooke's insecurities. Now she puts them in your head! What's going to stop her from doing the same with Jamie next? I need to straighten this out with her. I don't need to keep having to fight and prove myself. When we were in High School and I gave up on her, she said to me that she wanted me to fight for her. She wanted you to say that there was no-one else that I could ever be with and that I'd rather be alone than without her. I didn't do it then, I didn't know. I was a kid. This time, I have been fighting, she needs to work on bringing down her walls too if she wants this to work out. Heck, she can keep her walls up, I can live with that. What I will not tolerate is her building them for you and Jamie. I'm sorry Sampson, but I am going to have to go but don't worry. This doesn't change anything for us. I still mean every word I said about wanting a relationship with you." Lucas walked towards a stunned Sam and kissed her hair like he used to kiss Brooke's. He went into Jamie's room and sat on the floor where Jamie was building a lego tower.
"What are you building out there, Jamie?" Lucas asked.
Jamie turned to look at his father's face with complete seriousness and genuineness in his eyes, he asked, "Is Sammy going to be okay?"
"Yes, she is going to be alright and so are you," Lucas said to him and lifted the boy up to cradle him in his arms and hug him. Jamie smiled and hugged him back, content with his father's words and promises regarding his sister.
"Buddy, I'm sorry but I have to go. Is it okay if we push swimming to tomorrow after school?" he asked the toddler.
"Is Sammy in trouble?" Jamie asked him sincerely.
"No honey. She absolutely isn't. There is nothing to worry about, okay? Sammy just needed to let go of some pent up emotions inside her. She is going to be alright," he promised. "I will see you soon, okay and Andy and Lily are coming in two days. You can play in the pool with her.
"Will Lily like me?" Jamie asked.
"Oh she already loves you. She is so excited to meet you," Lucas assured him. He said his goodbyes and left the room. Sam was sitting on the couch with her head between her feet. Her feet were tucked tightly between her arms.
"I love you, okay?" Lucas said to her.
"But how? You don't even know me. You just met me," Sam asked.
"Yeah, but still, I just do. Don't worry, okay? Things with Brooke are already fractured at best. Things between you and I will not change," he assured her once again and left.
"Housekeeping. How may I help you?" Brooke asked cheerfully on the call.
"Penelope?" Lucas confirmed.
"Yes, hi," Brooke replied, getting the cue that it was Lucas.
"Can you come upstairs to the room?" Lucas requested.
"Why? Are the kids scared of the pool?" she asked worriedly.
"No, we didn't have a pool day today. Sam and Jamie are still at your apartment," he said coldly.
"Huh? Why? They were so excited," Brooke said, genuinely surprised by what she was hearing.
"Is it possible for you to come up?" Lucas asked.
"I will be right there, Sir," Brooked replied chirpily as she saw her Manager walking in her direction from the corner of her eye.
Brooke grabbed the service cart to pretend like she had been called to clean a room. Room cleaning always took long, so she could conveniently get plenty of time to talk to Lucas about whatever it was that had happened. Brooke gave her manager a smile and rode the service elevator up to his room.
"Housekeeping," she said, knocking at his door and then she went ahead to look at her shoes while she waited for him to open it. Lucas opened it within moments and she walked in, her eyes still downcast until he closed the door behind her.
"Hey, what happened?" Brooked asked confusedly. "Was Jamie scared or was it Sam?"
"Neither Brooke. It was you," Lucas replied angrily, thoroughly confusing Brooke.
"Huh? What do you mean?" she asked, not getting the drift of his thoughts.
"Did you or did you not tell Samantha that she should not get close to me because I would break her heart once Peyton came back in the picture?" He asked, cutting straight to the chase. Lucas' words paralysed Brooke. She was stunned silent as she felt her body. It was like an imaginary bullet had been shot which had hit her right in the centre of her heart. Brooke was scared. What had happened? What had Sam told Lucas? What had Lucas told Sam? Brooke tried to look towards Lucas' face to decipher just how angry he was, but she couldn't move. Her body was not in her control anymore. She lacked the courage to meet his eyes. All she wanted to do was run out of there and never see him again.
"Brooke, I need you to answer me," Lucas said. His voice was calm but it was full of hurt and suppressed anger. A lethal combination.
Brooke began to stutter as she tried to buy some time to come up with a justification for the answer Lucas already knew. She opened and closed her mouth a few times before inhaling deeply and mustering some courage.
"So what if I did? It is true. I only said what I said to protect her heart," Brooke replied. Yeah, that was perfectly reasonable. However, her answer only angered Lucas.
"It is one thing for you to be insecure and afraid and flighty and stubborn, but it is a whole other thing to impose your fears on Samantha. What's next, are you going to ask Jamie to keep me at arm's length too?" Lucas sounded so angry when he said the last sentence that Brooke actually cowered at the sound of his voice.
"No!" she replied defensively.
"And the way you keep using Peyton as a crutch! God! She cannot be your shield forever. We tried to make it work, it didn't work out and none, I mean none of it involves you. If we do get back together, and it is a mighty big if… it still does not involve you! How can you insinuate even for a moment that I would be less involved in Jamie and Samantha's life?"
"Because of this!" Brooke replied. She pulled out her phone and tapped on it a few times before turning it so that Lucas could see the screen. It was a photograph of Lucas and Peyton. Lucas had his arm draped around Peyton and the two of them were walking out of the mall, grinning widely. "Do you remember this day?"
Lucas shook his head no. "This was my birthday. I spent it all alone because my best friend thought it was appropriate to kiss my boyfriend and then tell me that she had feelings for him. What is one supposed to do after that? And my boyfriend, well ex-boyfriend because I couldn't do it anymore spent the entire day hanging out with her. And it's not like my parents remembered. You both knew that, but you two were so wrapped in your own bubble and talks of tragedy that it didn't matter. So yes, I do believe that when she is around, everyone and everything else dissipates into the background and Jamie and Sam do not deserve that. They are the lead characters in my story and they deserve the spotlight front and centre every moment of their lives," Brooke seethed.
"Brooke, I forgave you for keeping my son away from me. That is way worse than what Peyton and I did to you in High School! You kept my child from me and I was able to get over that and find acceptance in the situation. I will never get those years back. Nothing can ever make up for that lost time! I mean Peyton and I were only together on your birthday because Peyton was trying to help me get you back. I was supposed to be doing the shoplifting thing that you and her always did. We believed that you never came to the mall. Now, I realise that you came, saw us together and left. She asked me who I saw standing next to me when all my dreams came true and you know what my answer was? It was you, Brooke. I said your name! The only time the answer changed was when we won the basketball championship because you said that you had stopped missing me and you kept pushing me away and into her arms. So, can you really stop hiding behind Peyton! It's getting irritating at this point. Yes, I screwed up but have I not paid the price? I missed almost 3 years of my son's life. I've paid my dues," Lucas replied angrily. "You cannot keep hiding your vulnerability using Peyton as a convenient excuse."
"I am not hiding my vulnerabilities. I am only trying to protect Sam and Jamie's hearts!"
"Dude! I am not a bad guy. You have been vilifying me for years. I am literally engaged to you so that you and Sam can stay together forever. I have been nothing but nice with Sam and Jamie. I am not breaking their hearts, Brooke. You are the one breaking it for them. You're the one who just won't let go of the past hurt and pain. You actively choose to not accept the good things in your life. You are the one sabotaging things for yourself and frankly, I am done. I am through caring at this point. I tried everything to help you. I got you to quit at the club and the diner and offered you help to restart your business, but you chose to take up this job instead. Although I can be fine with that, a job is a job and at least it doesn't demand what the earlier one demanded, but is it wrong that I see so much more in you? You have the potential to be great and we know that because you were. Victoria's Secret? Suburban Filth? Rogue Vogue? You did all of that! So, I decided to help you get back to the Brooke you loved being. The Brooke who told me in her vulnerable moment that I found most beautiful, that she loved being the girl behind the red door. I got your house back, a place you can call home with your family, where you can have safety and warmth, but no, that was also wrong of me. Do you have anything to say about that ring too? I am sure you do." He said and paused for a moment to wrap his brain around everything. He was beyond the point of pissed. He could disregard Brooke's insecurities. He knew that they were always going to stay, it was who Brooke was. He could also deal with Sam's own insecurities, her ominous and hidden past explained it all. But Brooke warning Sam to guard her heart was disappointing to him, more than he ever imagined himself to care. Sam was not his child, she was not someone whom Lucas knew well or since long. Yet, he couldn't imagine not being in her life. He could not imagine being cold and distant to her. In that way him and Brooke were the same, they both saved people. Only, Brooke didn't mind killing herself in the process of saving the ones she loved.
"You know what, I am tired of this. From now on, we only talk about what pertains to Samantha and Jamie, and I mean it when I say Samantha and Jamie. For now, my name is on the Adoption Papers and so, I will be in her life. I want to be there for her, but I am done being there for you. You can do whatever the hell you want, Brooke. I am through. We cannot exit each other's lives but we only communicate regarding the kids. Nothing more, nothing less. Andy is still willing to help you and the house in Tree Hill is still yours if you want it, but I am not going to push you for it. You can rent a place like you wanted, I am going to convert my mom's bedroom into a room for Jamie and Sam for myself. Congratulations Brooke, you got your wish."
Brooke stood there silently. Her heart was breaking into a million pieces which surprised her. Did she not want this? She had said to herself over and over again just how much she did not want Lucas helping her. So, now that she got her wish, why did she feel like somebody was draining the blood and life force out of her slowly but surely. It took every ounce of strength for her to not fall flatly on the ground in a heap and cry. She felt like her body was turning to dust. Her legs were wobbly and no longer in her control. She wanted to run out of the room and never return, but her brain was far too occupied to signal her feet to run.
Suddenly, she saw the door open and Karen entered the suite, she looked at the two kids and her eyes grew wide. Obviously, something had gone terribly awry between the young parents. She looked around for signs of Sam and Jamie but she found none. Were they at the pool? No, they wouldn't leave the two newbie swimmers alone. She was about to ask what had happened, but instead, she saw Brooke fleeing. When Karen entered the door, it was Brooke's cue to run. Lucas was looking at his mom instead of her. So, she ducked and pushed the service trolley before going around Karen and out of the door, slamming it with a resounding thud behind her.
Brooke ran towards the service elevator as her tears came out like hiccups. Her entire body was tingling with fear. She was shaking as all the emotions swept inside her like strong currents. She rode all the way down and took the back exit to the alleyways, avoiding the other staff members. Her legs gave way as she reached behind the dumpsters. There, she sat on the tarmac, listening to the sound of horns blaring in New York City traffic, clutching her legs wondering how she could have been that stupid to mess up that royally?