Old Friends - Brooke

Fandom: Popular

Series: Three Times Table

Title: Old Friends - Brooke

Author: Carla

Rating: PG-13

Pairing: B/A

Disclaimer: Still not mine. Though this fictional work is mine. The title Old Friends is from the Simon and Garfunkle song of the same name.

Archiving: This and all my other flights of delusion may be found at http://www.realmoftheshadow.com/carla.htm

Feedback: If you are inclined to give it, I am inclined to receive it wither on-list or off at cmfloresfd@yahoo.com

Summary: It's fair to say that Nicole and Brooke have a complex friendship that's about to become even more so.

Enjoy

I was right of course. Nicole has come back like I knew she would. Though she’s held out longer than I expected, three days. Or perhaps I’ve given in sooner than expected. Either way there she sits opposite me. The rest of our group is here too. Mary Cherry, Popita, Josh and Sugar have not abandoned me. They’d been shocked of course and MC had muttered something about my immortal soul and the wages of sin but other than that nothing. Sam and her crowd have been supportive though I do on occasion catch Harrison sending disbelieving glances my way. As for the rest of the school, what can you do there are always going to be a few ass wipes. Most people could care less.

So now Nic is sitting opposite me. The smile on her face is the same one I remember from when we met in third grade, shy with an underlying openness and just a hint of mischief. I haven’t seen it in a long time and I’m surprised to find how much I missed it.

Now, like then, I’m the first to speak.

"It isn’t lost on me that you chose today."

April isn’t sitting with me today, like she has for the last two. I asked her not to, Nic needs to see that I can bend as well.

"Well you know me…" Nic’s voice trails off one eyebrow cocked knowingly.

"I know my best friend well enough to know her pride wouldn’t allow her to sit if my girlfriend were here."

"Someone sounds bitter."

"Someone has a right to. Best friends are supposed to accept you as is, no questions asked."

"Touche", Nicole concedes with a wry smile and a nod of her head.

"Bitch." I pass Nic the small container of milk I’d bought earlier in the hopes she would be joining me at lunch today. I’d managed to snag the last chocolate one, her favorite.

"Dyke." Nicole pulls a plum out of her bag, puts it on my tray. I pick it up and take a bite. The plum is juicy, sweet with just a hint of tartness.

"My favorite" I say as the juice runs down my chin.

"I know." Nicole takes a sip of her chocolate milk and smiles, "My favorite."

I catch Nicole’s blue eyes gazing intently into mine and it dawns on me that perhaps she is referring to more than just the milk and that maybe, just maybe, Sam and April are right. I hadn’t wanted to believe them, chalking up what they were saying to April’s insecurities and Sam’s just being perverse, but perhaps they are right.

"Can we talk, just you and me after school?"

Nicole’s smile, the look in her eyes pushes aside any doubt. It’s the same look I see reflected back at me when I see myself in April’s glasses in the library: adoration and acceptance and love.

~ She’s radiant ~

"S-s-s-sure" I manage to stutter out.

"Good."

I need to talk to Sam.