Chapter Two - "My Songs Know What You Did In The Dark"
"We're going to do what we do every game," Brooke said her cheerleading squad. This was the first game since Rachel returned to school and everything had gone down with her and Peyton. She just wanted to get through the night and not think about the past.
"And what would that be Brooke?" Peyton said coldly. She didn't want things to turn out the way they did, she told Brooke to be honest with her. If she knew it would back fire this much, she wouldn't have said anything. "You hitting on every guy that breathes?"
"You must have me mistake for you, the boyfriend stealing two face bitch," Brooke said. She tried to hide how Peyton's words affected her with deflection. She just needed to get through the night.
"Guys," Haley said stepping in and stepping between the two.
"As I was saying," Brooke said. "These are the last games of the year. So we need to make them count. So cheer loud and cheer proud. We want to make sure they win the State Champions. So lets go out there and cheer like we've never cheered before." They all headed out to the gym and got into their positions. Brooke in the center with Haley on her right followed by Peyton and Rachel on her left followed by Bevin.
Brooke, Haley, Peyton, Rachel, Bevin and the rest of the cheerleaders along with the basketball team lined up in preparation for Dan handing out the award to Nathan. The lights were dimed and everyone was cheering in anticipation for the game. The Ravens were so close to that State title and they wanted it badly. Haley leaned over to Brooke.
"You're still okay with meeting up after the game right?" Haley asked Brooke.
"Yeah," Brooke said to her.
Dan walked out on the court and gave his speech before giving Nathan his award, much to Nathan's dislike, and announced a celebration this weekend in his honor, than the game started. As the game got underway things were starting out good. The team was doing well and they were winning. Sometime before half time it all feel apart. By the time Half time rolled around they were down by 5 and Whitney wasn't too happy.
Everything picked up again when the boys came back onto the court. Skills, who was added to the team after Lucas had stepped down, was put on the court and was scoring most of the points. Between Nathan and Skills the team was sure to win the game and that was just what they did. After celebrating the win with the fans and fellow teammates, the team headed back to get changed while the girls packed up their cheer bags.
"I know it's horrible to say, but I was I was worried there," Haley said to Brooke. "I didn't think they'd win the game."
"You doubting the Ravens?" Rachel said. "Or you doubting Nathan?"
"Rachel," Brooke said.
"I just feel like he's so distracted and I don't know what to do," Haley said to her.
"If you rather go home we can talk another night," Brooke said. She honestly just wanted to go home. Thankfully she was able to find a place on short notice after she moved out of Peyton's house. Rachel had offered Brooke to stay with her, but Brooke just needed to be on her own and now she had better reasons to be on her own.
"No, it's okay. Nathan and I can talk later. I'm sure I'm smothering him enough as it is," Haley said. "Plus, there are some things I really rather talk to you about first, before bringing them up to Nathan."
"Of course Haley," Brooke said. Just then the guys started coming back out on to the court. Bevin went running over to Skills, while Nathan and Lucas walked towards Brooke and Haley. Nathan wrapped his arms around Haley and gave her a kiss. "I'll just meet up with you in a bit," Brooke said before taking off.
"That is my cue to leave too," Haley said. "I have a few more details to work out. Lucas I will see you later and Nathan great game." Haley said. She game him one last kiss before running off.
"Why am I suddenly worried," Lucas asked.
"You should be," Nathan said to him and the two took off as well.
Brooke walked out of the building and headed right for her car. As she was walking to her car Dan tried to stop her, but Brooke just ignored him and continued to her car. As she was about to get into her car Dan grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"Don't touch me," Brooke said ripping her arm from his hand.
"I didn't mean to startle you, I just wanted to say what a great job you did cheering for the Ravens tonight," Dan said to her. "It's because of Cheerleaders like you that they win these games."
"Go to hell," Brooke said. She turned back to her car and got into the front seat. She tried to close the door, but once again Dan stopped her by putting his hand on it. "Why won't you just leave me alone?"
"I can't comment on what a good job you're doing?" Dan asked as he moved closer to her. "I mean after all the cheerleaders just don't get enough credit for the job they do. I mean the way they really go all out for the team."
"Please just leave me alone," Brooke said. She hated having Dan so close to her. She wanted to just close the door on him and run him over.
"You have a good night then Ms. Davis," Dan said to her with a wink. He took his hand off her door and walked away. Brooke closed the door and locked it, before starting to cry. She quickly recomposed herself; wiping the tears away and making it look like she never cried before pulling out and driving away. She wanted to forget the past, but it always had a way of coming back.
Lucas walked into the café and there was Haley setting up a table with two plates and flower in the center. Lucas was still unsure of this, but he figure Haley knew what she was doing. If it got him a chance to talk to Brooke without her walking away or someone interrupting, then it would be worth it. He didn't want lose Brooke, not yet. He would do whatever he needed to, to prove that he was the one for her.
"I'm almost done," Haley said and she walked into the back
"Haley," Lucas started to say.
"No need to thank me," Haley said as she walked back into view. This time she was holding a radio and placed it on the counter. "By the end of tonight Broke will know you are not giving her up without a fight."
"Or this could end badly," Lucas said. "I do thank you for all you're doing Haley, but ambushing Brooke like this. I don't want her mad at you too."
"Don't worry about me and Brooke," Haley said to him. "She knows this is coming from a place of love. She helped me when everyone else wrote me off. She didn't let me give up on Nathan, I won't let her give up on you."
Brooke pulled up to the café and when she got there she saw through the window Haley and Lucas. She couldn't believe Haley would set her up like this, but at the same time she thought it was clever on Haley's part. Brooke got out of the car and headed into the café. Once she entered Haley and Lucas turned to face her.
"This would be my cue to leave," Haley said. She grabbed her bag and started to leave.
"I hope you know I will get you back," Brooke said as Haley left. Brooke turned back to Lucas and just looked down. She didn't know what to say, part of her just wanted to leave. He chose to come in and now she needed to find out what he had to say.
"I'm glad you could come," Lucas said not sure what to say. He had so much he wanted to say and yet he couldn't think of a single thing.
"I thought Haley needed to talk to me," Brooke said. "Things haven't been easy for her and Nathan and I'm just trying to do what I can. They deserve their happy ending."
"They do and I'm glad Haley as you," Lucas said.
"She still has you," Brooke said. "It's just…."
"Easier to talk to you then me," Lucas said finish her sentence. "I'm not upset. I'm just glad she's talking to someone. Sometimes she bottles things up inside."
"Or tries to help out to avoid things," Brooke said using what Haley did for them as an example.
"She's not the only one," Lucas said.
"I now what Haley is trying to do, but I don't know what it can do," Brooke said. "We've been done this road before Lucas. I can't… I won't be that person again."
"I meant it when I told you that you were the girl for me," Lucas said to her. "That hasn't changed and it won't."
"I don't know what else to say," Brooke said to him. "We have been fooling ourselves thinking this was ever going to work out. In the end there was just nothing left."
"To say or between us?" Lucas asked her.
"Both," Brooke said. "We're going in two different directions and we shouldn't be trying to make this work when it's not."
"Brooke you can't mean that," Lucas said. "We should be trying to make this work. I don't care how long I have to wait or how much I have to prove it to you, but I will prove it too you."
"There is nothing left to fight for Lucas," Brooke said to him. "I should go." She turned and started to leave, but just before she left Lucas grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Brooke wait," Lucas said softly to stop her. Brooke ripped her arm away from him and moved over. "I'm sorry." Lucas said thinking he hurt her when he didn't mean too.
"I… I really should go," Brooke said before rushing out of the café.
"Brooke," Lucas called out after her, but she was already gone.
