Who: Brooke (+ Jake) and Ben What: Brooke dealing with two ghosts. When: Saturday late afternoon Where: The Streets Rating: low but brief mentions of death and dead body. Status: Completed Gdoc
Brooke was all over the place when it came to her emotions and how she was feeling. The dome once again felt like smacking her back many steps when she was making progress in herself. Jake being here was something she never ever thought she’d have or see. Even if it seemed like he was a ghost, Jake was still here. The image of his dead body in front of her had never left her thoughts just like the feelings she had for him were always something she was going to have. No matter what, Jake was always going to be someone who played an important role in her life even if she might never admit it. His ego did not need that type of stroking.
As much as she HATED with a capital H the times he spoke about himself in third person, Brooke couldn’t help the sad laugh on hearing him refer to himself in the third person. The part that was annoying her was how he couldn’t help himself on making comments about anyone flirting with her or her flirting back. Always having to throw his two cents in, knowing only she could hear him or at least so far. “You know the only reason I’m not going out is because I don’t need you being a perv in my ear,” she growled at him, leaving the house in jeans and a top that showed off a bit of her stomach and for once, she had flats on rather than heels. Ghost Jake was really cramping her style, and she wasn’t even in the mood to be her childish self of making him jealous. No, she had outgrown that, which was surprising, but also she didn’t want to see him hurting when she loved him.
Running her fingers through her blonde hair, she couldn’t help but think how much this was going to hurt when he vanished again. Brooke made a mental note to text Sara later on how she’d need the day once the ghosts were gone so she could drink her feelings. Jake’s voice dragged her out of her thoughts, “I was thinking…” He started and Brooke couldn’t bite her tongue quick enough before firing her one of the many comments that would come when he said that. “That’s new. Did you hurt yourself?” She asked, turning to face him with a smirk, forgetting for a moment how no one else saw him. Remembering after a moment how this probably looked and pulling out her phone so it looked like she was doing something.
Ben wasn’t quite aware of what was happening. He saw ghosts all the time so he didn’t notice, necessarily, an ‘uptick’. What he did see as he turned the corner was Brooke which instantly put a smile on his face. Then he noticed the dude beside her and he could tell the guy was a ghost. It was a weird sort of ability, but he could look at someone and tell if they were a ghost or not. Not necessarily the best superpower, but helpful sometimes. What was even odder, though, was it seemed like Brooke was talking to the ghost? When could she do that?
He found himself walking up to them, his attention on the guy. Brooke looked annoyed. “Is she talking to you?”
Jake had always had a way of getting under her skin even as kids and even now, but only now it hurt more because she was sure the dome was going to make him vanish at some point. His ego, that cocky smile of his, and just everything about him both the good and bad were things Brooke missed and knew would never see again back home. Though if she was honest, Brooke would prefer this bantering rather than the conversation she knew they’d need to have at some point. To open that wound and find out what happened that night, especially when she blamed herself and her father even more for Jake’s death.
Brooke rocked back on her heels as she spoke again. “Got nothing? Someone has lost their touch,” she teased, the smirk turning to a smile. Jake opened his mouth to speak when some dude approached, Jake looking at him with a ‘what the fuck’ type of look. “Why is that any of your business?” He asked the guy, looking at the stranger. Brooke’s smile quickly vanished to a confused look at Jake talking to someone or so she assumed but when looking at the spot, it was empty.
“Who the hell are you talking to?” She asked, glancing again in the spot he was looking when one person came to mind as being the stranger. Though before she could ask or say anything, Jake was already speaking again. “Some nerd who thinks he has any room in this conversation,” he said, motioning his head to tell him to get lost.
“Is that Ben? If so, be nice!” She glared at Jake, knowing he knew that look and that she meant it or else he’d get the side of her that he hated dealing with. But his eyebrow raised curiously, looking at her before him, trying to get a better handle on what this whole thing was.
Ben was a little surprised at the reaction, but he also had to admit it was a little random for him to ask that. Of course, he didn’t have too much experience talking to ghosts unless it was Eve and Xavier and Xavier was gone now. Eve was technically an angel now, though she could still talk to him, which was nice.
He looked a little sheepish when Brooke realized who it was, though he had to wonder - Do I really look like a nerd? He’d have to ask Klaus. The sheepishness only lasted a little bit as then he went back to being confused.
“Wait, so she can see and hear you, but not me?” How was that fair? “Sorry - I just thought she couldn’t talk to ghosts.” Yes, at the moment, he was going to try to be nice to this guy who seemed to have a chip on his shoulder.
Brooke didn’t think Ben looked like a nerd, but the process of elimination along with how Jake was acting pretty much gave away who it had to be. There weren’t many people who she knew who she couldn’t see, making Ben the only reasonable answer. He wasn’t her normal type, and maybe that was why she liked him considering her usual type didn’t seem to be going well for her. Brooke had to be careful on what she said or did, knowing Jake and how well he knew her along with how he could be. Last thing she needed or wanted was for Ben to find out how horrible of a person she had been in the past because Jake got pissed off. She loved Jake; however, she knew how sometimes when pissed he spoke without thinking and usually his asshole side came out.
“Guess she doesn’t feel like trying hard enough to hear or see you,” he taunted, holding his hands up when he saw the glare from Brooke who caught his end and had a feeling she wasn’t going to be happy with the reason for him saying that. “Jake, don’t be an ass to him. He’s sweet so either pull your head out of your ass or you’ll be dealing with me.” Brooke almost said cute, but she knew that wouldn’t go over well, leaving it the way she did.
Sighing, he turned his attention back to Ben. “She can’t normally unless she picked up some weird tricks since I was killed.” She shook her head no as if confirming no new tricks or abilities. Sadly, since it’d be nice to chat with Ben and not need her phone to hear his replies. “For some reason, she can see me but no one else can see me other than you and her. Shame I can’t do more than just talk to her. Why do you care if she can only talk to me in ghost form? Feeling left out that you can’t do it?” Jake wasn’t as stupid as some people thought, and he could see from both of them, but more Brooke that there was some interest for one another. In what way or how much, he was still trying to figure out.
It was a bit of an ego boost to hear Brooke call him ‘nice’ even if there were a lot more flattering words to be used to describe someone. He’d take ‘nice’ especially considering he was a ghost who had a hard time communicating with someone. “Because Brooke’s my friend.” Obviously. Definitely not because he thought she was pretty and wanted to go on a date with her as soon as he could figure out how to be a ‘real boy’.
He paused, then concentrated hard until he sent a message to Brooke’s phone. Hey. So this is someone from home? I wonder if you’re the only one.
Ben looked back at Jake. “Sorry… I guess we started off on the wrong foot.” Probably. He extended his hand in a peace offering, though he wasn’t sure he could actually shake another ghost’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”
There were few people who Brooke would watch what she said to avoid hurting them. Jake was always going to be one of those people. Well, he hadn’t been, but after everything that had happened and the bit of guilt that she put on herself along with some directed at her father, Brooke felt it was the least she could do. There was no way she was going to say what she really thought of Ben.
“Is that all?” Jake asked Ben, a skeptical look on his face. “Guess it would be hard to be anything else when you’re dead like us, huh?” Jake had been ready to say something else, but he wasn’t in the mood to piss Brooke off…not yet anyways. Nah, he’d save it a bit longer.
Brooke was watching Jake since she could see him unlike with Ben. While it was great seeing Jake, she wished that she could also see Ben; however, the dome wasn’t that nice. Hearing her phone, she pulled it out, smiling without even thinking at the sign of a text from Ben.“Yeah, he’s a friend and also my ex who was brutally murdered by a friend of ours,” she said, noticing the change in Jake’s face without even having to say Kieran’s name. Brooke had informed him earlier on who had done it and she knew he was still angry over it and rightfully so, but even the thought of Kieran had Jake ready to hit something. “I have no idea. I can’t see you but I can see him. You’d probably be the better one on finding that out,” Brooke said, glancing in what she figured was Ben’s direction.
Jake had tried to push out the whole thing with Kieran from his mind, but hearing it again only caused all that anger when he heard it the first time to come rushing back. The fucking asshole. He wanted to know how the group found his body, and yet, he kept avoiding that question, knowing he might not like the answer. “Yeah, sure, whatever. It’s fine, nice to meet you,” Jake hadn’t meant to take his frustrations out on Ben, but it had come out without even thinking this time. To make amends or try anyways, he did extend his hand only to find they weren’t able to touch, Brooke was impressed to see Jake even attempt that. “What killed you? Friend turned asshole took you out? Hot girlfriend in the middle of having sex decided to off you?” And there was Jake, Brooke made a face at Jake who laughed. “Ignore him, he’s a perv as you can see,” Brooke said to Ben, shaking her head.
That was a lot to process, though perhaps he gave himself away a bit by blushing at the mention of sex. "No… it was an accident actually. While my siblings and I were trying to save someone." Someone Ben had strong feelings for and that had been why he died. It's why people called it the Jennifer Incident now.
"I've had a long time to deal with being dead, though. I died at 16… so I get still being angry." Ben was still trying to play nice. "But it's not Brooke's fault, right? So maybe give her a break…"
Brooke hated not being able to see Ben, and was settling on watching Jake to try to understand what the heck the two were talking about. At least, Jake couldn’t say anything about her without her knowing. It was already awkward with her ex talking to a guy she was maybe interested in, then adding in any dirty secrets Jake could spill about her, knowing he knew more than enough. “Someone you knew or some stranger? Because I’m with you on the first one more than the other.” He was honest, and usually that got him into trouble because of it.
Jake gave him a confused look before laughing at the comment. “It’s cute how you think you need to stand up for her, but I don’t blame Brooke at all for what happened to me. The only one who blames her is herself because of what happened the night I died,” Jake opened his mouth to finish. He knew he was going for a low ball move to try to cause friction or some issues between what he was sure he was reading correctly between the two. Brooke quickly cut him off, knowing Jake and how he said stupid shit when he wasn’t thinking or feeling jealous. “This is how Jake is. He went from childhood tormenter, to best friend, to boyfriend and he’s more bark than anything.” Jake faked a bite at her causing Brooke to sigh in frustration. Jake left what he was about ready to say before alone for the moment. “Of all our friends, the only one I wanted to survive was Brooke. The world shouldn't miss out on seeing someone this hot. Though man to man,,” Jake couldn’t help himself with the digging of his grave. He knew Brooke would give him hell later, but at least, she couldn’t actually do anything to him, “from what I see of you, I doubt you could handle a woman like this one. Maybe go for someone a bit more tame.”
Her eyes widened before turning to a glare. “Jake! Really?!?!” He held up his hands quickly, “What? I wanted to give him a heads up. Was I lying?” Brooke could kill him, and she was pretty sure that would be the last she’d ever hear of Ben, knowing he seemed a bit more innocent than her. Not that she was ashamed of anything she had ever done other than being a bitch, but that was something she wanted to say on her own terms. “Ben, if you’re still here, ignore him. He’s not one for thinking before he speaks and then wonders why I was pissed.” So much for the first person she might actually have possible feelings for around Madison.
His reaction was more visceral than he expected it to be. Ben didn’t notice it, but he flickered into existence for a blink of an eye. “You shouldn’t say that about Brooke. She’s a real person.” Ben got ahold of himself and it helped that Brooke was diffusing the situation too. Also maybe Ben also felt a little worried he wasn’t ‘enough’ for Brooke. Of course it was all moot at this point because he couldn’t even turn corporeal for a moment. Plus he was dead - was that any kind of life for Brooke?
He didn’t know.
He exhaled. “I should go.” He also texted Brooke with I should go. Let me know if you need help with Jake though..
Brooke was a bit surprised to see Ben even for a moment to come into view. Maybe if she wasn’t ready to kill Jake, knowing exactly what he was doing then she’d be more impressed. But instead she wanted to murder her ex for deciding to come across as a giant asshole. Nothing new since that had always been their thing with pushing buttons and annoying one another before they fully got together. “Jake, watch it or I’ll find a way to bring you back and cut something off,” she warned him, not in the mood for his shit.
Jake knew he was going to feel Brooke’s anger later for going a bit too far with his comments, but he’d try to charm her after. Knowing it was unlikely to happen, but he’d try to avoid the anger that he could tell from coming from her. As much as he was about ready to fire something back at Ben, he saw the look on Brooke’s face and decided not to dig his grave any deeper. “Oh come on, Brooke. I’m just screwing with him a bit.” Brooke nodded, looking as if she was thinking over what he said before her phone went off. Glancing at what Ben said, sighing because she knew Jake was going to be reminded what she could be like when pissed.
Though she wasn’t one for letting anyone tell her what she could or could not do. While she was normally not the type to ask anyone out, leaving that to them. Brooke was annoyed and even with how this probably wasn’t the best time to do it, she didn’t really care. She wanted to, and she didn’t give a damn about the timing. “Ben, I hope you’re still here. I know you’re still working on the whole being visible, but when you finally get the hang of it, would you want to go out?” Brooke crossed her arms, holding her phone so she could see the message. Ignoring the look from Jake who she knew would have something to say since she had the men always come to her and ask her, never the way it just went down.
The question surprised him and he stilled for a moment, then blinked. It took him another second to remember how to do the whole network thing and finally managed to text back I’d like that a lot.’ Maybe he could have thought of a smoother line to say than that, but he was more worried that Brooke would think he left before hearing her question. He tried not to pay attention to Jake either so not to ruin the smile that was on his face.
See you soon, I hope.
Even though Brooke wasn’t surprised at the acceptance to her offer, it still caused a smile. It had been a long time since she went on a date, and even though she had no idea when or even if it’d happen, it was a nice thought for the moment. Before remembering what Jake had tried to pull just to be a shit starter and her briefly went to him before back in what she hoped was Ben’s direction from where Jake had been looking. “I hope so as well, Ben.” And she really was, which was weird considering she wasn’t sure if she’d ever even think about going out with anyone ever again. Then again Ben was dead so he couldn’t die a second time, right?
“Now you, I’ll deal with when we get back to my place,” she hissed at Jake before walking back towards her place. She was furious at him for how he acted, and was planning to bite his head off. Which Jake knew and he was now regretting the choices he made to push buttons because he didn’t want to deal with her anger.