„Grounded? I have never been grounded in my whole life", Brooke said back and did not understand quite well the situation she was in. Her world

was spinning around and she realized that she had too much alcohol last night. „Well, there is a first time for everything." Karen answered harshly „Now go

tobed.". Brooke could not even brush her teeth or think of getting undressed. She just fell to the bed and moaned „But I´ve been drifting.", with that she

closed her eyes but immediately opened them again and ran to the bathroom because she had to puke. Karen heard Brooke running to the bathroom and

went after her. „God Brooke.", she said while holding her hair „is this what you do normally?". Brooke could not answer because she was still puking. After a

while Karen sat with her on the floor and hold her tight. „Are you okay now?", Karen asked. She felt pity for Brooke. Not because she was puking. In fact

she thought that this served her right, but because she knew that this teenager had noone to look after her. So she did not scream at her for the moment

but let her head rest in her lap and caressed her hair. Brooke whispered „Sorry for the money." And Karen had to smile because she realized that Brooke did

not understand that she actually did not care about the money at all. „C´mon. Let´s get you to bed.", Karen helped Brooke getting up and tucked her in.

„We will have to talk tomorrow.", she smiled at the girl who was already asleep.

The next day Karen was at her café and saw her son coming in. „Hey Lucas. Are you hungry?", she asked him and gave him a little kiss on the cheek. „No

thanks mom. I ate at school." „Honey. Where is Brooke?", she then asked confused. Lucas shook his shoulder and said „I don´t know. She wasn´t at

school." Karen´s eyes widened immediately „She what?" Lucas did not understand her reaction „Calm down mom. Brooke skips school very often.

And I heard that there was a big party yesterday. So I guess she is still lying in bed." Karen looked shocked at her son. „Cover me, ok!", she said and went

furiously towards her home. Without knocking she entered „Brookes" room which once belonged to her son and opened the curtains and window. „Brooke

Penelope Davis.", Brooke immediately shot up in an upright position. She was still lying in bed with her street clothes. Her hair looked like a mess and her

eyes were black from the mascara. „Ouch", she said and touched her head. „Why weren´t you at school, young miss?", Karen asked. Brooke did not

understand her reaction. In fact she was not used to somebody asking her that question. „Sorry, I overslept.", she answered politely and wanted to rest

again but Karen took her by her arm and pulled her along with her into the bathroom. „Get fresh and then come to the café. Tonight we´ll have a talk.".

Brooke stayed confused in the bathroom but forget about all of it when looking into the mirror. „Oh my gosh", she said and decided to take a shower.

An hour later Brooke arrived at the café and sat down besides Lucas. „What happened to your mom. I thought she liked me.", she said confused but Lucas

couldn´t help but smile. „She likes you Brooke. It´s just a motherly way of showing it." Brooke rolled her eyes „Well, I am not really used to a motherly

way.", Brooke said back still feeling a bit sick.

Then Karen arrived with many papers. „Okay Brooke. I called at school and told them why you skipped classes. This is your homework. And the principle

wants you tomorrow in his buro." Brooke´s eyes were wide like a balloon. She did not know what to say, so Karen took the word „Just do it. And when you

´re finished we will have a talk at home."

Brooke looked at a smiling Lucas „If this is a motherly care. I am so thankful that mine never shows up." „I heard that Brooke. Do you wanna leave Tree

Hill. Cause you can do it every moment. You know that." „ No...I...Karen, it is just." „What is it?", Karen asked furiously. „It is no big deal you know. I have

skipped school before.", Brooke answered but knew this wasn´t the right answer. „I don´t care what you did before Broole. As long as you´re living under

my roof you have to follow my rules." „But...", Brooke tried to say „Brooke. Do you want to leave Tree Hill?", Karen asked harshly. „No.", Brooke whispered

and looked away. „Then do the homework and stop complaining." Karen and Lucas shared a small laugh which Brooke did not see. He was actually proud of

his mom and thought that she was the only person that could tame his pretty girl a bit.

„Haley.", Brooke whined. „What is it?", Haley asked while mopping the floor in the café.

„I have never spent so many time with my homework.", Brooke said annoyed and looke at her with her puppy face. „Okay, what is it?", Haley sat down

besides her and looked at her papers. „Math. I hate math." Brooke said and gave her the pencil. „But Brooke. You haven´t even started.", Haley answered

and widened her eyes when seeing only some drawn sketches from Brooke. „I know. I am just not a school type girl. You know that best. Even if I try I don

´t know the answer.", Brooke said smiling wildly. „I will not do your homework for you Brooke.", Haley then answered when seeing Karen coming towards

them. „Brooke", Karen said and looked over her shoulders. Brooke jumped up and looked up into Karen´s eyes. „Don´t tell me you spent the two hours

drawing this?", she looked at the sketches and was surprised how good they were „although they are great. Wow. Brooke. You are really good in drawing."

„Thanks", Brooke smiled wildly. „Well. Let me see this.", she took Brooke´s homework and realized that Brooke really had not done a thing. „Okay Brooke.

This is it. Haley you can go." Haley felt the tension and it was the first time she looked at Brooke and actually saw her getting smaller than she was and

pleading her to stay with her eyes.