(Prom: Brooke and Mouth are closely slow dancing to Look After You by The Fray)
Brooke looked up at Mouth who had her in a close embrace as they danced,
"Thank you Mouth."
"What for?"
"For everything. You've always been there for me even when you've had your own problems. You've never cared what I've done in the past, what mistakes I've made, you still stand by me unconditionally. I've really needed that these last couple of months."
Mouth looked at Brooke, and saw that she had tears in her eyes, and seeing her then broke his heart. Mouth hadn't been expecting this at all. Only moments earlier, Brooke had stepped into the black light and discovered what Peyton had written on her prom dress. She had been so happy then, for reasons he didn't altogether understand. Now however, Brooke looked fragile. Only once before, had he seen her look this way and it scared him now as it did then.
"Brooke, I'm always going to be there for you, nothing you could do would surprise me. Everybody makes mistakes, Brooke; it's part of what makes us human. Believe me, I've made some, but I think it's how we deal with those mistakes that matters."
Brooke looked up questioningly at Mouth. "What do you mean?"
"People make mistakes all the time, but what matters is that you learn from them. They teach us not to make them again and that we need to consider every choice we make carefully because it isn't necessarily going to be the right one."
Brooke placed her head onto Mouth's shoulder and was quiet for a moment, and Mouth worried he'd said something to upset her further. Finally, he broke the silence "I've made a big mistake this last year Brooke, one that I can't change." Brooke looked up at Mouth, who continued, "I forgot about one of my best friends Brooke. I was so caught up with everything that was happening to me since Lucas joined the team, that I left Jimmy behind. That's a mistake that I can never change."
"Mouth," Brooke started, but Mouth cut her off.
"We shouldn't forget our friends Brooke, no matter where life takes us. Things are always going to change, both for the better and the worse, but friends should always be there for each other to share those high's and bring you through the low's, otherwise what's the point of it all."
As Mouth finished he realized that he hadn't been looking at Brooke.
"Mouth, I'm so sorry. I should've have been there for you more after Jimmy's death, like you have been for me."
"Please, don't apologize Brooke. What happened with Jimmy, it's part of my past that I can no longer change. I'm telling you this because I don't want you to make the same mistakes that I did."
Brooke looked at him, knowing what he was getting at, "You mean with Peyton?"
"You've both hurt each other Brooke, both of you have done the wrong thing by each other and you need to admit your mistakes and apologize. Make things right with her Brooke, before it's too late."
"You sound like Rachel."
"Well, Rachel's right, Brooke. Peyton's been through a lot lately, and what probably made it harder for her was not having you there to lean on like she used to. You need her too Brooke, you can't do this on your own anymore. You need to tell her the truth about what's been going on with you. She should know what you told me that night after Tric."
"You're right, she should know Mouth, but I can't tell her that. Not right now." Brooke said quietly, sorrow in her voice.
Mouth looked at Brooke sadly. He knew why she didn't want to tell her, he understood. After all, he wished that Brooke hadn't confided her secret in him, but at the same time he was glad that she had. She had been dealing with it alone for a while now, and Mouth was happy to help share the burden with her, because he couldn't bear the thought that she was suffering on her own.
Brooke placed her head back on Mouth's shoulder and they continued to dance slowly.
