Memories of Us Chapter (7/13)

Chapter 7
‘Forgiveness Means Letting Go’

“Forgiveness is the answer to the child's dream of a miracle by which what is broken is made whole again, what is soiled is made clean again.” - Dag Hammarskjold -

Beach
Tree Hill- 2005


Brooke dug her feet deeper into the sand as she looked out onto the ocean. Her dress was going to be full of sand when she finally decided to get up. The water looked beautiful rushing against the shore. She only wished her night has gone better. You would think by now, with everything she’s been through she’d be able to spot a loser when she saw one.

Apparently her radar was still off. She should have never gotten involved with Felix. After all the benefiting she finally decided to open up, let him into her heart. He wanted to be her boyfriend. She let him and this is what she gets for it. Lies...She glanced up when she saw Lucas making his way towards her, hands in pockets.

“Is this beach taken?”

She looked away from him and turned her attention back to the water.

“There’s plenty to go around.”

Lucas groaned as he sat down in the sand next to her. He turned his head and glanced at the water with her.

“Don’t worry; I’m not gonna ask you if you’re OK.”

“Thanks.”

He sighed and paused before he glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

“Know any good jokes?”

Brooke let out a miserable laugh, but didn’t turn to face him.

“You’re looking at one.”

Lucas frowned and looked at her. He didn’t like the sound of that. Before he could say anything she continued speaking.

“Why does everybody lie? You know, the bad guys lie to get in your bed…and the good guys… lie to get in your heart.”

She looked at him pointedly and he turned away. Lucas remembered how bad he hurt Brooke when he cheated on her and he’d do anything to take it back, but it wasn’t that simple. Lately though, he’d realized how wrong he’d been. She threw her hands up in the air and Lucas realized she was still talking.

“And I’m the idiot that falls for it every time!”

Lucas tilted his head in Brooke’s direction and spoke softly.

“Hey… Brooke, you are not an idiot. Not even close. You know who you are. Most people don’t, you know. I mean, that’s why they lie.”

He paused and she turned back to face him again.

“They’re afraid people might find out who they are before they figure it out themselves.”

Lucas nodded and Brooke smiled. They looked back out at the water and there was a long pause before Lucas spoke again.

“Let me take you home.”

He should have known that, that was the wrong thing to say. She made a face and spoke in a defensive tone.

“I can get home without a guy, thanks.”

Lucas swallowed hard, but smiled and nodded.

“OK.”

He stood up slowly and started to leave when she called out to him.

“Wait!”

Lucas turned and raised an eyebrow. There was amusement on his face. She gave him a sheepish look and shrugged.

“I really don’t wanna walk.”

He smiled as she turned to get her bag. He held out his hand and Brooke looked at it, slightly stunned. She waited a beat before accepting it and letting him help her up. They made their way to Lucas’ car and headed to Brooke’s house.

*****

The sun was coming up as Lucas pulled into the Davis driveway. He put the car in park and shifted in his seat so he was facing Brooke. She grinned at him.

“So, thanks for breakfast...we should do this more often.”

A look of confusion settled on his face.

“Do what?”

Brooke fidgeted with the bag in her hands and shrugged. If Brooke was honest with herself, she really did miss Lucas. She missed how easy he was to talk to and how he encouraged her to be more than just a party girl. She wanted those feelings back.

“Be friends.”

Lucas gave her a warm smile. It meant so much to him to hear her say those words. He had been trying ever since he came back from Charlotte to get her to be his friend.

“We are friends.”

She nodded, but persisted as she looked him in the eye.

“But we should be friends.”

He nodded and his voice was soft when he spoke.

“I’d like that.”

She gave him a playful smile and nodded

“But no benefits!”

Lucas chuckled and Brooke opened the car door and got out. She closed it behind her and waved as she made her way up the walkway to her house. Lucas waited until she got inside, before shifting the car in gear and heading home.

When everything went down last year, Lucas didn’t think Brooke would ever forgive him and that hurt, because it wasn’t until after she was gone that he realized how much he cared about her. But now, things that were broken before are finally on their way to being mended.

Chapter 8