So I thought I might try something new. It starts off 4 nights after the attack.
Lyrics are Help by the Beatles.
I hope you enjoy
He rolled over to face the alarm clock. His eyes struggling to open wide enough to focus on the red digits facing him.
1:13 am
He groaned and sat up in bed as he contemplated switching on the lamp. But then reality dawned on him that he was not alone. For the past few days he had been joined by his girlfriend Peyton Sawyer and his former girlfriend Brooke Davis.
As he carefully repositioned himself and his covers he turned to check over the two girls like he had done several times over the past few nights. Only much to his confusion there was only one laying beside him.
Worry consumed him. And as much as he wished he could just layback down on his bed and sleep he knew he had to find the missing girl.
As he shifted himself from the comfort of his bed he was careful not to wake the remaining sleeping girl. She hadn't been sleeping well either as of late and he for one did not want to be the cause of anymore lost sleep.
The last few nights had been tough on all of them, obviously the two girls more than himself, but it hadn't been easy for him by any means. After the incident Peyton has asked to stay at his, which of course he had agreed to, he had extended the offer to Brooke also but she had declined. Peyton had been insistent that Brooke had to be with her and that Brooke shouldn't be on her own but Brooke had maintained that she would be fine. He wasn't surprised. Brooke hadn't set foot in his house since the day when she has asked him to the banquet. And even given the situation he had still expected her to decline the offer.
He had helped Peyton pack some of her belonging and they had driven back to his. Once inside it had already turned midnight but Peyton clearly had no intention of sleeping that night. Just like any normal person would he had offered keep her company.
They stayed up talking, that was until there was a knock at the door. He remembered the look on Peyton's face vividly, one of complete fear and terror. It was understandable under the circumstances and even though the police now had Derek in custody it didn't stop the fear from taking hold of the blonde. Lucas made his way to the door and slowly opened it, even feeling fear himself.
As soon as he saw the brunette standing on his doorstep he relaxed, not just because of the relief that was now flooding through him but because he was genuinely pleased to see her. Even though they were no longer a couple, it didn't mean he stopped caring about her, it wasn't something you could just turn off. And knowing she was all alone with no one to take care of her only made him worry more.
His eyes soon fell on her attire, she was wearing a pair of white fluffy slippers and her pink pyjamas. The brunette hung her head low as if in shame, she had a bag hanging on her right shoulder. The second she had looked up he knew she had been crying, he could still see where her tears had rolled down her cheeks, her eyes were puffy and the usual immaculate make up was no where to be seen, all that remained was the black smudged mascara.
He quickly opened the door wider and guided her in. She still was yet to speak. Peyton had leapt to her feet and pulled the brunette tightly to her, clearly pleased and relieved to see her. After five minutes and a cup of coffee Brooke had finally spoke. She had tried going back to Rachel's empty house, pretending like everything was ok, but it wasn't, she wasn't. And when she had climbed into her bed and switched off the light it was a matter of seconds before the light was back on and Brooke was out of bed packing her bag as quickly as she could.
And here they all were 3 nights later. That night's events still fresh in their minds.
He slipped through his open door looking for the missing girl, he made his way to the seating area but there was no one to be found, not even a sign anyone had been there, he then proceeded onto the kitchen, flicking on the light as he entered but only to reveal once more an empty room.
He was about to turn and head back but then he heard it. It was only faint, but it was loud enough for him to hear it.
He made his way over to the end of the kitchen and there she was. Tears rolling down her face. Her head resting against the wall for support.
"Are you ok?' He asked but quickly realised that was not the question to ask. Of course she wasn't ok, why would she be up at this time, crying alone in his kitchen if she was ok.
She gave no reply, just continued to sob.
Help, I need somebody,
Help, not just anybody,
Help, you know I need someone, help.
"You're going to get through this, we all are" Lucas soothed as he attempted to comfort the brunette. Seeing her like this broke his heart. Since she had arrived he had only seen her cry twice, then, and now. She had been at Peyton's side saying and doing all the right things, giving her hugs when needed and listening to her every word. It hadn't occurred to him that Brooke was struggling. She seemed to be ok, maybe not her usual bubbly self but not many people would be after going through something like that.
Again no reply.
He wished he knew what to say, but no matter how hard he searched for the right words they just weren't coming. He was totally lost. What was he meant to do? She wasn't like other people, she worked in a whole different way, he used to think he understood her and knew how to deal and help her through things like this, but staring at the fragile brunette in front of him now he knew that he no longer did.
"Do you want me to get Peyton?' He asked rising to his feet. Not sure what else to do. Part of him wanted to wrap his arms around her and just hold her but he knew he couldn't.
He turned to leave and fetch the blonde but then her weak fragile voice sounded.
"Don't"
One word. That's all it was. But it was enough to make him turn back round.
He made his way back to the brunette and crouched down so he was on her level.
"I don't know what you want me to do" Lucas sighed helplessly, clearly frustrated with himself and his failure to help the brunette.
When I was younger, so much younger than today,
I never needed anybody's help in any way.
But now these days are gone, I'm not so self assured,
Now I find I've changed my mind and opened up the doors.
They sat in silence for what felt like fifteen minutes, but in reality was only five.
"Don't tell Peyton" Brooke said breaking the silence.
He looked at her confused, hoping for a little more.
She takes in a deep breath before continuing. "She's going through enough right now, I don't want her to worry about me" Brooke shrugged as if it was no big deal.
He nodded his head now realising what she meant. An overwhelming sense of guilt rushed through him. He had never meant to come between the two friends. It had just happened. And yet Brooke's love for Peyton seemed stronger than ever. He didn't know many friendships that could survive what they had, it only made him admire them more.
"Look at me. I'm a mess" She attempted to laugh but the boy sitting before her did not join in.
"You're not a mess, you're just going through a rough time"
She didn't respond. She didn't know how to. She had been through rough times before, but there had always been some sort of light at the end, something giving her a bit of hope or faith. But she didn't have that now. It was weird, breaking up with Lucas had been hard but right now she could honestly say she felt worse.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.
"I'm sorry" Brooke spoke causing Lucas to bring his eyes away from the kitchen furniture and back to the brunette.
"What have you got be sorry for?" He asked. Brooke wasn't really the 'I'm sorry' kind of girl, so when she did say it you knew she meant it.
"Imposing on you like this. It's not fair on you. You have Peyton to look after, the last thing you two need is me around." She knew what it was like to have your boyfriend hang out with an ex and she was not about to put Peyton through that.
"Brooke. I am glad you're here. So is Peyton. In fact I would be hurt if you weren't here." And that was the truth. He wanted her here, he wanted her close to him, so he knew she was safe, same with Peyton.
"You know even if I had outstayed my welcome you probably wouldn't say anything. You're just too nice. You always were." Brooke recalled as her finger traced round one of the reminders of that night, a dark blue bruise on her leg.
"Is that a bad thing?" He asked as he watched her every move intently.
"No. God knows I wish there were more like you." She huffed as she remembered Chase's behaviour and how he had dumped her before Prom. She couldn't say she blamed him but it still hurt nonetheless. She was meant to be moving on but to her it seemed she was just moving back.
And now my life has changed in oh so many ways,
My independence seems to vanish in the haze.
But every now and then I feel so insecure,
I know that I just need you like I've never done before.
"You know Brooke, if you ever need to talk I am here right" He said gently rested his hand on her knee.
"I know. But it's probably best I go to Haley or someone" Brooke answered as she removed his hand from her knee and placed is on the floor.
"I don't understand"
She hesitates not sure she should explain. Should she tell him how it felt to have Peyton always coming between them and how she didn't want to be the one to come between them now or did she tell him something else. "You and Peyton are so happy, I just don't want to get in the way."
She went with something else.
She looked across at the boy, but he wasn't looking in her direction. She knew he didn't understand.
She brought her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.
"Why were you crying?" He asked catching her a little off guard as he turned to focus on her once more.
"You know me. I'm an emotional wreck." She answered but as soon as the words left her mouth she knew her answer was not good enough, at least not for the boy sitting with her.
"Come on Brooke. I know you better than that, why were you really crying?" He persisted. It probably would have been easy to just go back to bed rather than question her, but he just couldn't, he couldn't leave.
"I'm scared" She spoke, almost in a whisper.
"Scared? Of what? Derek?" He questioned.
"Yeah him……. being alone, life. I just feel so weak, so helpless you know."
Her answer startled him a little. This was a girl who loved life, she didn't want to miss a second, always on the go, trying something new, and now she was scared to live her life?
"You're not weak. You're one of the strongest people I know" He reminded her. When Keith had died she had been the one by his side, when he was in hospital, again she was by his side. Even when she had been hurting too, she didn't let it show, she held him together, she held Peyton together. But what he had always wondered was who was holding her together?
"I'm not strong. You all just think I am. Trust me on that. Look at me Lucas, I am sitting on your kitchen floor crying. Does that say strong to you?" He heard her ask but he knew he wasn't meant to answer. He wasn't sure when he had ever seen the brunette like this, he had seen her cry, he had seen her angry, but he had never seen her so…..broken.
"Brooke no one expects you to be strong all the time, it's ok to be like this."
"You should go back to bed, I've get you up long enough." Brooke said signalling that this conversation was now over.
"Are you coming?" He asked as he pulled himself up from the cold floor.
"I'll be there in a bit"
"Well I'll stay too then" He said, about to sit back down but the girl's words stopped him halfway.
"Really Lucas you can go. I'll be fine. I'm Brooke Davis remember." As much as he wanted to believe she was ok, he knew she wasn't. He didn't object though. He was tired and there wasn't much point in him staying with her when she clearly did not want him there.
She flashed him a smile but unlike her usual smile there was no spark. It was simply ordinary.
"How could I ever forget," He said returning a smile. She wasn't ok, she knew that and he knew that but now apparently was not the time to discuss that.
"Lucas" Brooke spoke as he approached the door. She clambered to her feet and rested the palms of her hands over the back of a nearby chair.
"Yeah" He turned back. Part of him hoping that she was going to ask him to stay.
"Thanks"
She didn't.
Help me if you can, I'm feeling down
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me, get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me, help me, help me, oh.
She could already feel the tears threatening to fall before he had even left the room. She heard his footsteps as he walked away, and the tears wasted no time as they began to trickle down her already tear-stained cheeks. Her eyes stung, her cheeks were sore, and her heart, well that remained in pieces. And the worst part was, she didn't see it get any better anytime soon.
It took her seven minutes and thirty-three seconds before she decided to return to the bedroom. She silently made her way back to the bedroom making sure not to wake anyone, as she edged his bedroom door a little wider she could make out the sleeping shapes that were her former best friend and ex boyfriend. She slid her way back into her side of the bed and pulled the heavy covers tightly over her small frame.
The rain could be heard falling outside, she could hear it pattering on the roof above. The room was dark, the only light came from the alarm clock and when a car drove by, it's headlights filling the room with light if only for a second. She lay there still. She could feel Peyton shift her weight beside her. She knew she should probably sleep but her eyes remained wide open.
She didn't want to sleep. Sleep meant either reliving it all over again and having countless nightmares, or the alternative, dreams, which simply didn't come true
And that was worse than any nightmare.
I really hope you liked it, please review so I know if I should continue or not.