So here it is, the last chapter of Red Light Until Sunset. I hope you enjoy it.
-o-
Fall at your feet
Whenever I fall at your feet
Would you let your tears rain down on me
Whenever I fall, ever I fall
-o-
Brooke still couldn't believe where she was.
Surrounded by her friends, she realised that this was what people must call happiness.
They all sat down and as they were handed their menus, Nathan gave her a small wink. If she wasn't right across the table from him with eight other legs blocking her path, she would have kicked him. She knew he had enjoyed keeping this little secret from her. And she bet that he was the one who broke into her house.
"So Brooke," Haley spoke up above the chattering of the other diners, "What's your birthday wish?" The brunette thought for a moment before saying,
"Well-"
"Shhhh!" She was cut off by a frantic looking Haley. "You can't tell us your wish! You have to wait until you eat cake!" Brooke narrowed her eyes.
"First of all, why ask me my wish if I couldn't answer the question? And second, what happens if I'm not going to be eating cake today?" She was met with silent, innocent looks from her friends. "Oh no you haven't. You haven't ordered a cake from the restaurant, for them only to switch off the lights and get everybody to sing for me, have you?"
-o-
That was exactly what they had done. She knew she shouldn't have trusted them when they had assure her that no, they just thought she liked cake.
As soon as the lights went out, she knew. And when the singing started - her friends (minus Haley and Jake) singing wildly out of tune - she could have died.
Instead, she laughed. She laughed until the tears were coming out of her eyes and she could hardly blow out her candles and make her wish.
But luckily, she managed to make it and didn't let the others know what it was (even when threatened). The cake however, was beautiful. The base of it was white, but there were blue, yellow and pink swirls all over the top. Not to mention the ten cupcakes that laced the outside of the plate. She loved it. It wasn't sophisticated, nor very "Brooke Davis", but that wasn't what she wanted and she was thankful her best friends had realised it. This birthday was about making up for lost time and if that meant her going back to her childhood roots then so be it.
Putting the sponge cake in her mouth, Brooke was sure she was tasting perfection. It melted in her mouth and made her simply want to devour the entire thing. It was unfortunate that there were five other hungry faces around the table, ready to attack it too.
Embarrassingly for her, after the cake had settled and a nice conversation had developed, Nathan decided it was time for the speeches.
Jake stood, and in doing so made Brooke realise that she was going to have to have a lot of tissues on hand. Luckily Lucas, sitting next to her, pressed some into her hand.
"So maybe I don't know you as well as the others Brooke Penelope Davis, but don't forget that I have seen you around for the past four years. Don't think I haven't seen you when you're shaking your little butt at me out on the court. But shh, we'd better keep that a secret." He smiled at her and she winked back, the others laughing hysterically. "But what I have noticed the most of all is that you're a pretty amazing person. I just think that you need to realise that too. And then, the world's going to fall at your feet, they won't know how to stop you."
And the first tears began to fall. But there wasn't time to collect herself, as Haley was ready to go next.
"Well well Brooke, what can I say about you? First of all, I'm just sad that we didn't get to know each other earlier. I hope you know I blame that stupid thing you had going on with Lucas for that. Although, that isn't the point. The point is that over the last few months I've got to know you, I've met one of the best friends I could ever hope for. And if you ever try to get away from me, I swear to you I will hunt your little ass down and drag you back, kicking and screaming."
Brooke was sure she looked ridiculous now, with messy tears smudging her make-up all over her face. Then she felt the curly blonde haired girl beside her stand up, and Brooke knew she was done for.
"So B.Davis, 18, huh? What the hell can we think of to get up to now? It seriously seems like we've done everything we shouldn't have already in our lives. But I'm going to keep this short, because I think I might," She lowered her voice, "cry, and I know we'd both hate that. But I can't say anymore than I love you B, and yeah, Breyton forever, right?"
Brooke giggled whilst crying this time, as she thought back to a time when she and Peyton had both thought that name was the coolest thing since sliced bread.
She looked across at Nathan and glared. She knew he was next and she tried to telepathically tell him that she would kill him if he shared anything embarrassing right now.
"So I remember when I was the only guy who would dare share a bath with Brooke Davis." He. Was. Dead. "My, how things have changed. Now I'm the one fighting you off and every other guy is fighting to get in there. But seriously Brookie Cookie, so much stuff has happened in between then and now which I can't even begin to talk about… I just want to say thank you. For being there and for being you. And hey, now you're 18 I won't have to protect you anymore! Naw, I'm only kidding. I see how much you need me as your elder brother and I am willing to sacrifice my own freedom in order to keep you safe from harm and all those pretty little hairs on that pretty little head of yours." To signal the end of his speech, Nathan blew a huge kiss towards her. She caught it and initially pretended to throw it away before bringing her hand to her lips and kissing it, to show it was well received.
Lucas now stood, diverting the attention off her stupid best friend on the opposite side of the table. Brooke took a large gulp, finishing her glass of wine in order to prepare for the words that were about to come.
"So not long ago I thought I hated you Brooke. I thought we hated each other. All I can say is thank god that ended. Things may not have gone so well for us all the time and I know we've both been hurting badly; but I can honestly say that I couldn't live without you… Brooke?"
Her head had started to spin and she could no longer concentrate. At first, she thought she was seeing things: nightmares of a long ago time. But after a quick shake of her head she realised that she wasn't.
Brooke had no idea how to react. With her head spinning, she could no longer focus and although she knew that her friends were trying to speak to her, she couldn't hear them. Her body was limp and she knew had Lucas not dropped down to hold her, then she would have fallen to the floor. She could just about make out his face, and she knew he was deadly worried.
"It's him." She whispered, so quietly, before she managed to gather the strength to leave the table and make it to the girl's bathroom.
Behind her, Lucas looked around wildly, trying to figure out what had sent this night so horribly wrong. Then his gaze connected with a face and he realised he recognised him from somewhere. A terrible sinking feeling overcame him when he remembered where from.
It took all he could not to go up and kill him. Instead, he tried to bury it inside of him, tell the others they should go and he would look after Brooke, before heading off to the toilets in search of her.
-o-
"It's him Luke, I saw him. It's him." She sobbed through the restroom door, and it broke his heart that he was seeing her this way yet again.
"I know baby. But he's out there; he's not going to hurt you again. I'm here, Brooke, and let's face it, I am like superman." His attempt to make her smile only led to a gut wrenching laugh before she continued her sobbing.
"I thought that that… I thought that part of my life was finally gone."
"It can be Brooke. I just need you to do one thing for me. I need you to open that door and come out; then we can both go home together. I promise you, I won't let him get anywhere near you."
He was met with silence, and Lucas could only think of how this night had been ruined. It had been perfect: Brooke hadn't stopped smiling, although in the speeches she had cried too. And now, the fucking guy who attacked her in the alleyway, who started all of this just had to come back and haunt her. Haunt them.
"I can't Lucas."
He understood.
"Okay, that's fine. I can wait here as long as you need me. I'm just going to sit down outside the door, and you can just come out whenever you want."
He began to slide down the door and onto the floor when he felt it open behind him - sending him flying, onto his back at the feet of Brooke Davis. Even her tear stained face couldn't help but giggle slightly.
"I'm so sorry Luke! I just didn't want you to have to sit on this icky floor." His lip quirked from his place on the floor.
"You do realise that that's kind of where I am now, don't you?"
"But that's only because you were so stupid as to slide down the door." She smirked, and held her hand out to help him up. "Anyway, I didn't want you to have to sit down there, just because of me."
He held her hand, securing her in the knowledge that he wasn't going to let go.
"But you know; I'd do anything for you."
She blushed, and she wasn't sure she'd ever stop, rather like the tears that still wouldn't either.
"Take me home, Luke."
-o-
He held her close and on the side farthest away from the man when they hurried through the restaurant. In the time it took for him to hail a cab, get them in it and back to his house, he never let go.
For that, she was grateful.
He gave her a large white t-shirt and his huge grey hoody (her favourite) for her to wear that night.
Settling her down, she pulled him next to her before he could leave her alone. Not that he was going to anyway. He had just thought of taking the chair that night. But instead, he was able to pull her close against him and he relished the feeling of her skin on his once again.
"I'm sorry. For everything." He whispered softly into her ear.
He just wasn't sure if she was already asleep.
-o-
She awoke suddenly and her breath caught in her throat when she realised somebody's strong arms were wrapped around her body. With relief - although her heart still continued to beat fast - she turned around to face him. Prodding him in the chest, it only took a few seconds for him to begin to stir. Once he had come around, neither really knew what to say. Instead, they both just looked at each other.
They had come such a long way, she realised. No longer did she feel dislike, or even distrust when she was this close to him. Now, it simply felt comfortable. Yes, that was the right word. It was as though she would never feel the need to pull herself out of his arms. They could just be there, together, without any sort of pressure as to what had to happen next.
Though she knew it couldn't always be that way. She wasn't stupid; they were going to have to talk. Spending the night in his bed didn't give her a free pass to leaving him without a word. It gave them a guaranteed chance to talk it out.
But at the same time, Brooke didn't really know if she wanted all that. They had so many fights, so many tears, so much hurt already. She knew what he was trying to say to her.
She had heard him just before she fell asleep.
-o-
It felt comfortable with his arms wrapped tight around her. If he could have, he would have reached out and kissed the tip of her nose.
Yet he shouldn't do that. Not yet, in any case.
Today was going to be the day when it happened, he hoped. When she could forgive him, he could forgive her and they could move on.
To be fair, he had forgiven her a long time; they just needed to get everything clear so they could get through it. Together.
His thoughts were disrupted by a giggle, and he looked down with a confused look upon his face.
"I'm sorry, I was just thinking. What would we have said if last year we'd been told we'd be lying in bed together, not doing anything?" He let a smile pass through his lips as well, realising that it was strange. Last year he would have probably told himself to fuck off. In no way would he ever share a bed with Brooke Davis.
It was funny what a year could do. How much it had changed. And Lucas realised he had to take his chance.
"I know Brooke, this year we have come further than I ever thought possible. I've hurt more, even cried more than ever before. But I'm still here. And so are you. Me? I think that means something."
She had gone quiet. She knew it was true, in a way. But Brooke wasn't sure whether they had yet come far enough. She was sure that she could trust him; everything he had done for her the night before had proved that.
When she was in the bathrooms, her first thought was that she wished it was Lucas who walked through the door. It shocked her, at first. She hadn't realised that she needed him that much. But when he entered and told her he wasn't going anywhere, somehow her body which had been freezing cold with fear suddenly began to warm.
She couldn't really explain or describe how she felt. But it was better.
Brooke hadn't replied, and so Lucas decided to continue.
"I know what I want now Brooke, last night made me see through everything that has been stacked up against us." Brooke suddenly tensed, sensing what he was about to say. "I want this to work, you and me. We tried it before but I don't think we were ready. Maybe we are now."
She wanted to say yes, she really did, but she wasn't sure how - though that was stupid - and instead stammered out:
"I think I need to take a shower."
-o-
In the time it took for her to take a shower, Lucas must have paced his room over a hundred times. He knew she was scared, god he was too, but he really thought they had a chance.
And whilst Brooke was in the shower, she had a lot to think about too. She wanted to just say yes, completely and utterly. But she wasn't sure if they had been through too much together. Some of the things she was trying so hard to forget - she just couldn't.
After around 10 minutes of pain for the two of them she emerged from his bathroom in just a towel which made him want to run across the room and kiss her right there and then. Luckily, he managed to stop himself with the thought that that might ruin everything.
"I don't know if I can just move on from what's happened Lucas." Her voice was tiny and quiet, but he heard every word as though she was screaming it to him across the room. His legs gave from beneath him and he fell down onto his bed.
"What?" He replied, weakly. He had actually thought she might say yes, and give him another chance.
"We'd have to completely start over Luke." His head snapped back up again, realising that there was some sort of hope still left,
"I can do that. We can do that, Brooke."
"Can we?" She sighed. Then he realised how desperate she must have been to get away, as she headed towards the door just wearing a towel.
He closed his eyes gently as he watched her walk away. How could he have been so stupid as to think that she could ever forgive him, that they could ever get past everything that they had been through?
Opening his eyes, just to check that it was real, he noticed a certain spring in her step as she retreated and wished that that skip could have been because of him. She had obviously let go, and she would finally be happy. She could finally be happy without him. He knew that he should feel happy because of that; the girl he loved being content, but it was goddamn hard. Sacrificing his own heart for hers, he'd never done something like that before. He guessed it must have been how much she actually did mean to him; an amount that she would never know. He couldn't ever let her know because she needed to get on with her life. Brooke Davis was destined for great things, and if they were only to be without him then he would have to deal. She was too beautiful for the world to pass by.
The last view he got of her, in his large and fluffy white towel, made his heart want to jump out and catch her. He realised finally what he was letting go and the quiet shutting of the door showed the end of that part of his life. The part that had her in it.
He collapsed backwards onto the bed, ready for yet another day of thinking, of trying to forget her. He knew it could never happen because of how she was, but it didn't mean he couldn't try.
A noise alerted him from his left and he sat up sharply to see her entering his doorway once again, a huge smile on her face. His face looked enquiringly at hers, confused at what she was doing and she stopped as she came close to his bed, reaching her arm out in front of her. He stared at it, alien in his bedroom, as he tried to figure out what the hell she was doing. He looked to her eyes and saw hope inside them, a hope which he hadn't seen or felt in so long. Lucas noticed her try to keep her smile in check, to make her expression serious, but fail miserably. She was almost giggling as she pushed her hand forward, encouraging him to shake it.
"Hi my name's Brooke Penelope Davis."
And then he understood.
"I'm Lucas E - uh - Scott."
She stifled a giggle as the two of them stared into each other's eyes, him seeing a sparkle which he didn't think would ever be placed there because of him. But it had, and she was there, with him, and they were beginning again. Her smile widened, never letting go of his hand and her dimples appeared, as she interrupted the contented silence with a quiet squeal.
"Yay!"
THE END.
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Oh my effing god. I cannot believe this story is actually over; it's taken a helluva long time. But I want to say the biggest thankyou to every single person who reviewed this, it has made me SO happy to have my inbox with reviews in every time I post a chapter. I think I'm going to miss that.
But again, THANKYOU. To all the people who have stuck with this from beginning to end (wow!), who started to read but gave up, and to the people who have just started to read. You're all super-fantastic.
So I really want to put up more fics, but I also want to make sure that I can update more frequently, which sadly isn't possible right now. But maybe, in the future. I don't know, I feel like I have a kickass plotline :
Brooke&Lucas forever! (hahh, I'm sorry, I just had to say it!)
Hannie xx