The Other James ~~ One Tree Hill FanFiction

Season 7, Ep 13&14

No A/N:

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--6 weeks later--

I stood near baggage claim, waiting for the one and only Vanessa Pierce to find me. I was playing around on my phone when a voice made my heart sink into my stomach.

"Tobin..." she spoke, and I stood to see Brooke standing there.

"Brooke... hey." I stammered, and then just stood there staring at her.

"Hi! I'm Alexander." The blonde next to her spoke, reaching out for a hand shake.

I accepted and shook his hand, "Tobin James."

"Its... its been..." Brooke started.

"6 weeks." I smirked, and taking a breath, "We haven't spoke in six weeks. But, who's keeping track, right?" I teased.

"How did you know I was coming back today?"

"I didn't..." I sighed, looking at the people around us.

"So, why are you he..." She started, but at that moment Vanessa had found us.

"Alright, all set!" She chirped, and then calming down when she noticed Brooke.

Brooke just bit her lip, nodded, and then walked away with the blonde boy right behind her.

"She'll come around..." Vanessa breathed, giving me a squeeze on the shoulder.

***

I found Brooke once again in the back of her store.

"Welcome back, by the way." I stated, getting her attention, "Would have been nice to be taken off radio silence."

"We needed space, remember?"

"I know, but it's been six weeks... we have a lot of things to talk about."

"Like Vanessa?" She snapped, "You must be with her a lot."

"It isn't like that, Brooke." I started, "Plus, you show up here with another guy? Is this a game?"

"No, this isn't a game!" She shouted, holding back the tears in her eyes, "My mother hired him so he can help me get the men's line going."

I nodded, "Okay and I believe you! Imagine that, right?"

Finally, the tears became too much and some fell down her cheeks. "You think this has been easy for me to do?" She cracked.

"I wouldn't know, Brooke! You don't reach out to me and talk to me anymore!" I shouted.

"I tried! Look, I have work to do so we can't do this right now..." she said, shaking her head and looking down.

I nodded and took a breath,"Okay... well, I love you. How about that... But, I forgot, it's 'Clothes Over Bros'." I said as I turned and left.

***

I sat at a bar drinking, yet again. I probably have been here so much that they wrote my name on this bar stool.

"How many of those have you had?" She asked. Victoria.

"Well, I've been divorced for six weeks with the one person I love... so, you do the math." I stated and took another sip.

"What happened to fighting for her?" She snapped, and I immediately looked at her.

"I have been fighting for her!" I said, "Ever since high school, it has always been her... but, I can't fight for us by myself."