Chapter Two

"Okay folks, we would appreciate it if you would kindly close your tray tables and return your seats to their upright position, we are beginning our descent into Kelowna. The temperature at Kelowna International Airport is minus 8 degrees Celsius and it is currently 10:26am. We hope you enjoyed the flight and have a wonderful stay. If you are returning home...then welcome home!"

I struggled to come to terms with where I fit in that last statement. I wasn’t visiting...but this wasn’t my home either. I decided that it’s going to be a sort of makeshift home, temporary.

The flight felt like forever and, to make matters worse, I had one of those bratty little kids sitting behind me that keep kicking my seat. The 3 hours in the air had given me a lot of time to think about what was soon gonna happen, and I couldn't get Rita’s (Luke and Brayden’s mom) last words out of my head. As I was about to enter the gate, she hugged me and said ‘he's gonna be so shocked when he sees you. Go easy on him Brooke. He loves you.’ Why does everyone feel the need to bring him up? Even my father called me last night and asked if he could tell him. Apparently he thinks my unannounced arrival will create some drama. But honestly, I don't care! And neither should he. I don't get it! Why was everyone so concerned about Luke’s feelings? I was the one who got her heart broken in all of this. I wasn’t the one who said we were better off friends...that was him. I wasn’t the one who said I loved him and then took it back...again, that was him! I wasn’t the one who ignored texts and phone calls for weeks, and I know he wasn’t the one who spent days in bed crying. I know that wasn’t him, because that was me! But yet everyone is quick to worry about their precious Luke.

"Brooklyn!" I turned to face the voice. "Hi sweetheart!" I was instantly attacked by one of my dad’s massive bear hugs.

"Hi Daddy."

"Look at you! You’re all grown up." He said as he ruffled my hair.

"I saw you in the summer dad." I pulled away rather annoyed.

"I know! I'm so happy you're here, kid! It’s gonna be great." Seeing how excited my dad was to have me here made me feel instantly guilty that I didn't share the same enthusiasm.

It’s a little bizarre being here. I've never lived alone with my dad and already I've noticed the little things that he does different than I'm used to. He's not overly tidy which will be nice change coming from a house where your mother is pretty OCD about cleaning. There's always noise in the house. Whether he has someone over or just the TV on...there’s always noise. That's something I'm not used to...our house back home was always quiet. I hated quiet. This may only be my third day here, and it may be too early to tell...but I was starting to think that maybe things wouldn't be so bad. My dad and I have always been more alike than my mom and I...hopefully that will make for happier living conditions.I sat and stared at the pile of boxes in the corner. I guess it’s time I began the task of opening them and settling into my room. It’s a little smaller then I’d like, the only good thing about it is the window. It’s one of those bay windows with a bench seat, when you look out there's a huge tree up the side of the house and a roof covering the front porch which happens to be under my window. I wish I had this back home...easy escape route. That would have made sneaking in and out so much simpler. Something tells me I'm not gonna have much use for this here. I left the window and went downstairs to get something to open some of these boxes with.

"COACH!"

"Ehhhhh!" Screamed a different voice.

"Coach!" What the fuck? I turned around suddenly hearing the door fly open and a handful of rambunctious male voices. All of a sudden I was wishing I had more on then my old High School gym tank top and these cut off jean shorts. The first two stopped immediately upon seeing me.

"Woah." Said the kind of cute blonde one.

"Helllllloooo!" Said the shorter dark haired boy; not that I had the right to call anyone short. He looked me up and down as he stepped forward and stuck out his hand. "I'm Jesse." I shook his hand. "Jesse Paradis. And you are?" That's when I saw him. Luke. At that moment I had to remind myself to breathe.

"Brooklyn!" My heart skipped. I've heard my name come out of his mouth about a million and a half times but every time I got butterflies. I hated myself for allowing him to have this effect on me...I’m supposed to hate him.

Luke’s POV

Oh my god. "Brooklyn!"

What the fuck is going on here?! Why is my ex-girlfriend...my gorgeous ex-girlfriend, might I add, here? Wow...wow. Wow, She looks amazing. God! I've missed those eyes. And that...why the fuck is Jesse still touching her?! "PARADIS! Hands off." They both looked at me. Shit...think of something. Quick! "Coach is gonna kick your ass."

"You're Coach Daniels daughter?" Why the hell did he care? Its not like he's got a chance. Tysen Dowzak is not her type. Not her type at all.

"Yeah." She replied, turning her attention to Tysen.

"You got a boyfriend? Wait! How old are you?" Tysen asked her.

"I’m 17."

"So...you got a boyfriend?" Jesse quickly continued.

"No. nope I'm very single." She said as she sent me a little glare.

"So, are you.." before I had a chance to think I shoved Jesse away from her.

"What are you doing here, Brooke?"

"Mom’s gone away for six months."

"And you're...you’re living here?"

"Uh huh. Do you have a problem with that?" she certainly didn't lose any of that attitude of hers.

"Nope. No problem."

"Good."

"Good." We were standing there staring each other down. I don't know what was going through her head but I was fighting the strong urge I had to grab her and kiss her. "Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Really?! Really, Luke?!"

"Did you not think I deserved to know?"

"HA! NO! No friggen way! Why the hell do you even care? You broke up with me, remember?" I put my face in my hands to keep them from pulling my hair out.

"Because I was leaving! I was.."

"Wait...you two..?"

"Yes. Stay out of this, Dowz." I turned back to Brooklyn. "I would have told you if I was moving back to Saskatoon."

"I'm not having this conversation with you, okay? I'm not doing this. I don't owe you anything." She turned and began to leave. No way! She can’t just walk away like that.

"Brooklyn! Don't walk away from.." I was stopped in my tracks by Coach Daniels.

"Leave her." I glared at him. Let her go, Schenn. "She'll talk to you when she's ready." I was suddenly so angry at him...I had to get out of here.

Chapter One

January 2nd 2008

I’m gonna miss this. I must have been here like this a million times in the last 17 years but I couldn’t help but wonder when things will be normal again. I looked at the bookshelf that is full of trophies and medals rather than books. I rolled onto my back and stared up at the star covered ceiling. Brayden and I spent a day painting them up there. We were 13 and had been planning to camp out in his backyard all week but of course it was pouring outside. Brayden, being that creative out of the box thinker he’s always been, came up with the idea to bring the outdoors to us...and by night time his ceiling was painted blue with glow in the dark stars. I think we had more paint on us then the ceiling. I grinned at the memory.

"What are you smiling about?" I rolled onto my side and looked at my best friend. He’s wearing his lucky shirt; the one he thinks is responsible for the many, many wins his team had last season. Because of how ridiculously superstitious he is, he wears it all the friggen time hoping that it’s so called good luck will rub off on him and become permanent. As if some henley could.."Brooke? You okay?"

"I don't want to go." I said, snapping out of my daydreaming. I really didn't want to go. What was I gonna do in Kelowna? My life is here! My friends, my school...Saskatoon is my home; it’s all I have ever known.

"You know mom said you could move in here until your mom comes back." I sighed, wishing I could stay.

"Bray, I tried but my dad isn’t having it. I did tell your mom to keep the offer on the table, though. Who knows...maybe I’ll get out there and hop on the next plane back." He laughed and that's when I realized that I won’t hear that laugh every day. It’s crazy the things that you take for granted. Hearing your best friend laugh, going down the street for breakfast when your mom got called into the ER in the middle of the night, knowing what every day was going to hold. All of my familiarities...are gone once I get on that plane tomorrow.

Why did my mother have to go to Africa for 6 months?! Couldn't she wait until I finished my senior year at least?! I would be out of the house then and her career choices wouldn't be royally fucking up my life. "So, have you talked to him?" By him he means my jackass ex-boyfriend...his older brother, Luke.

"No...and I don't plan on it." I refuse to open up the lines of communication again. Talking is not something Luke and I do.

"What are you gonna do when you get out there? It’s not like you can be in Kelowna and have him not find out."

"Maybe not...but I'm sure as hell gonna try."

"Brooklyn...your father is his coach! You won’t be able to avoid him for long." Thanks for reminding me. Jerk. I put my hands over my face.

"I know! I know, okay? I'm well aware of that, thank you. GOD! Why couldn't he play for a team in...in...Russia or some place?" He laughed again...good...I’m glad someone thought this was funny.

"Brooke, don't stress. The minute he sees you he's gonna regret letting you go." He said as he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me to his chest. I snuggled closer to him, breathing him in. I didn't feel like arguing with him, but I really doubted that.

"I'm gonna miss you, Bray."

"I'm gonna miss you too babe." He kissed the top of my head. "So much." I don't know how long I laid there before I fell asleep, but it was a long time. I just kept thinking about Luke...what the hell am I getting myself into?

Intro

Brooklyn Daniels has known the Schenn's her entire life; their mothers have always been best friends. Her childhood was filled with happy memories of their familes together but after her parents divorced three years ago, that changed...just like her whole life has changed. Her father took a job in Kelowna coaching the Kelowna Rockets and was gone. Like many mothers and daughters, Brooklyn and Jane didn't always get along so it caused for some nasty confrontations. Throughout all the drama occuring in her life there were always 2 things that kept her sane...Brayden and Luke Schenn. That too would burst into flames when Luke (whom she fell madly in love with) broke her heart and left without looking back. Now...five months after he broke up with her...she's going to have to face him again. Surely she could get through these next six months...right?

DISCLAIMER:I do not own Luke or Brayden Schenn (unfortunately) or any of the other people written about in this story. The only things I own are the fictional characters. To my knowledge none of the events written about have ever occurred.This is purely fictional for entertainment purposes only.