Guilt was not an emotion Brooke felt often.

Honestly, there were very few things that she ever thought she should feel guilty about. She kept to herself mostly, either staying in her room, or going outside to fly her drone, nothing that would really spur any guilt. Despite this, she still felt a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach that she should feel bad about something.

What that was she didn't know.

Currently Brooke was mulling over this feeling in her room. She didn't leave it often unless she had classes or wanted to take her drone out for a spin, it might not be a healthy lifestyle, but Brooke didn't mind, it was what she was comfortable with. She was sprawled out on her bed, absent mindedly scrolling through some random social media posts when she saw a comment by Stella saying she was happy that Kate had decided to come back to Blackwell.

Oh, that was right, Kate was back.

The last week had been pretty insane, to say the least. Kate almost jumping off the roof, Mr. Jefferson getting arrested for kidnapping girls and taking them to this creepy photography room to take photos of them, and of course the bizarre weather and dead animals. Despite all this, things seemed fairly normal after Friday. No strange events or any other notable happenings.

Brooke's phone buzzed, rousing her from her thoughts. Looking back at the device she saw there were several messages from Warren. She sighed and let the phone fall to rest on her chest. Brooke had kinda liked Warren, they both shared similar interests and he had a dorky, albeit persistent charm.

But Warren wasn't into Brooke, he was into Max.

Brooke supposed she felt a little bit of guilt about that she supposed. She acted really snarky and rude to Max just because Warren was trying to date her, even though they sort of made up at the End of the World Party.

Was that why she was feeling this way? Maybe.

Brooke picked up her phone again and resigned to reading Warren's texts. All apologies, saying how he was sorry for trying to use Brooke. One of the reasons Brooke no longer cared for Warren was because she had found out his recent invitation to the drive in had been an attempt to make Max jealous.

Because of course it was.

Brooke put down her phone again, she really didn't feel like talking to Warren, she was still trying to deduce why she was feeling this uncomfortable feeling in her concious.

Of course, her treatment of Max could be it, but there was more than that. She desperately racked her brain for an explanation, hoping something would pop up.

Kate. Came the singular answer from her mind.

But why Kate?

Sure, Kate had gone through some pretty horrid things, getting drugged, having that disgusting video of her going viral, and being pushed to attempted suicide. But none of that was Brooke's fault, she didn't play a part in any of those terrible things.

But you didn't do anything to help. Came her thoughts again.

This was true. Brooke had posted thanks to Max on social media for saving Kate, and had signed her sympathy card as well as changed her slate to "We'll wait for Kate".

But you didn't visit her in the hospital, you didn't get her any gifts, and you haven't even talked to her since she got back. These new thoughts made the disparaging feeling in her stomach get worse, thus successfully pinpointing why she felt this way. Brooke felt out a remorseful sigh, nothing she could really do about it now.

She paused for a moment.

Kate wasn't really her friend or anything, but she could at least talk to her.

Brooke paused nervously outside of Kate's room. All she had to do was knock, ask how Kate was doing, and leave. It was so simple.

So why did it not feel like it? Maybe Kate wasn't even there.

It's only 7:00 in the evening, where else would she be? Brooke groaned inwardly at her annoying, yet often correct thoughts. Gathering herself she gently knocked on the door.

"It's unlocked, come in," Kate called out in a light voice. Brooke slowly opened the door and saw Kate seated at her desk, drawing something in a sketchbook. Her room looked very nice. Everything was very organized, flowers and deflated balloons from the hospital were scattered around, and a rabbit moved about in a cage up against the wall.

"Oh, hi Brooke!" Kate greeted, breaking Brooke away from her observations. Kate was dressed in her usual attire and had a soft smile on her face, but her eyes looked sunken and tired.

"Hey Kate, how's it going?" Stupid, you know exactly how it's been going for her.

"O-Okay I guess, the last week has been… difficult" she paused, a look of sadness in her eyes. "But I'd like to think I've been doing better, everyone's been really supportive to me, which has really helped."

And you weren't one of those people. Brooke thought bitterly.

"Is there something you wanted to talk about?" Kate asked, tilting her head to the side.

"Yeah," Brooke began, "Look I know we aren't really friends or anything, but I kinda wanted to apologize for, not actually bothering to see how you were doing till now." Kate just gave her a small grin.

"Oh Brooke, you don't have to apologize for that, besides you're here asking me how I'm doing now, right?" Kate was so nice, despite all the shit she's gone through she still managed to be so polite and understanding.

"I guess that's true, well good to know you're doing alright considering… Uh, well you know," Brooke replied, catching herself at the end. She didn't really want to bring up the roof or the video.

"Well thanks, it means a lot to me that you came to check up on me." Kate gave her another reassuring smile. Which caused Brooke to feel an undeterminable emotion, but she dismissed it as she tried to come up with something else to say. Kate held the smile, seemingly understanding what Brooke was thinking.

"It's okay if you don't have anything else to say, it was nice getting to talk to you Brooke."

"Oh yeah, you too Kate, take care and uh if you wanna talk or do whatever I'm right down the hall." Brooke offered.

"Thanks Brooke, I'll see you later."

"Same to you," Brooke concluded awkwardly before backing out of Kate's room and closing the door. That had gone, decently she supposed, she did feel a little better. But it wasn't enough.

She had to do more than this.