Chapter 2: Time to get started
The next day…
Brooke, Peyton, Haley and Nathan were all at their lockers talking to each other when Lucas walked up holding the school newspaper.
"hey guys, check this out. The paper's starting this new column called 'Dear Miss. Mysterious'. It says people can email this person and the advice will be posted the next day in the paper. It says she's sworn to secrecy." Luke said laughing a little at the last part.
Everyone huddled around him, trying to get a peak at the article. Brooke pretended to be interested, even though she knew more than anyone else.
"who would write into this?" Nathan asked.
"hey, you don't know this person, they could give good advice…" Brooke said defending her self.
"what ever, it's probably just some loser who thinks their good at giving advice" Nathan said harshly.
"Nathan!" Haley said hitting him in the chest.
"look, all I'm saying is that it's just a waste of time"
"wow Nate, sounds like you got problems… maybe you should write in" Luke said as he passed the paper to him and walked behind him, with Peyton in hand.
Haley gave him a disappointed look, and Brooke took it as her queue to leave. Maybe she really did have a problem with her marriage; maybe Brooke really did have a chance with her.
Later that day Brooke made it home and instantly ran for her computer. School got out almost 2 hours ago, so that would give people a chance to write in. Brooke opened the email account and saw she had already received a few messages. She gave out a loud squeal and clapped her hands incessantly.
She had gotten a couple messages about stress, and people who couldn't stand their teacher or fake friends. But then she came across one email that particularly interested her.
Dear Miss. Mysterious
The guy I have been with for a couple years now is changing. We've been serious for a while and we haven't had many problems about it, but lately I've been finding him getting angry easily and I constantly wonder if it's something I'm doing. Not to mention I keep asking myself if he's really the right one for me. What should I do?
-Dazed&Confused
Brooke took a second to think about this message. She figured maybe the words would just come out as she was writing in.
Dear Dazed&Confused
Talk to this guy, talk about how he's been changing, he might just change back to that guy you used to know. If not, maybe he isn't the one for you. Just remember everyone has someone out there, this guy… doesn't have to be him.
-Miss. Mysterious
She closed the browser and smiled. If she could just give some good advice she'd know she wasn't a complete idiot like everyone thought.
The next day Brooke showed up at school praying to god that no one was bashing the advice column just yet. She opened the doors and walked down the halls to see a few people reading the school paper, more people than usual. As soon as Brooke saw this a smile spread across her face. Maybe this would work out. She walked up to her friends to see Haley and Peyton reading the paper together.
"uh oh, better not let Nate see you guys reading that thing" Brooke said jokingly. Haley and Peyton looked up.
"it's actually pretty interesting. I mean people actually write in with their problems and concerns and they actually get advice back" Peyton said.
"yeah Peyton, that's usually how it works" Brooke said. Peyton rolled her eyes.
"do you think you guys are going to write in?" Peyton asked.
"doubt it" Haley said handing the entire paper over to Peyton. Peyton looked from Haley to Brooke.
"Nah… I've got my own solutions to everything" Brooke said with a cocky tone.
"what about you?" Haley asked Peyton.
"I don't know… my problems are pretty heavy… you know me"
"it's true, between psycho stalkers and secret relationships, you could have your own advice column for emo kids" Brooke said as a joke.
"ha ha" Peyton said sarcastically. All of a sudden Lucas walked up behind Peyton and wrapped his arms around him
"hey you" he whispered into her ear. She turned around still in his arms.
"right back at ya" she said with a goofy grin and kissed him.
"hey you" Brooke said in a manly voice to Haley.
"right back at ya" Haley said in perky, giddy way back at Brooke as she batted her eyelashes. The two girls laughed at their teasing of their friends.
"hey, I can't help it if I'm in love" Lucas said from behind Peyton. Peyton froze for a second at the word of love. Lucas didn't noticed since he was behind Peyton. Haley didn't really notice, but Brooke saw, but didn't bother to question it. "so I'll walk you to class?"
"yeah, sure" Peyton said as she took his hand and walked to her class.
"they're so cute" Haley said as she turned around to go to her locker.
"yeah… do you think they're happy?" Brooke asked.
"of course… just look at them, always smiling"
"… on the outside" Brooke muttered, but Haley didn't hear.
"what?" Haley asked.
"nothing. So where's Nate today?"
"um, I don't know" Haley stated "we haven't talked in a while…"
"how come? You two are married"
"I'm not sure. So hey want to go over to Karen's for lunch today?"
Brooke noticed the rapid change of subject, but didn't want to interrogate Haley, so she just went along with it. "sure, I'll see you then" Brooke said and walked away as the bell rang. Brooke went to class, and by the middle already found her self bored out of her mind. So she pulled out her laptop that she brought today and pretended to be working on her class work, but instead went to check her secret email.
She saw that she only had one email, which wasn't really surprising considering it was only 9:00am. She opened it up and started reading.
Dear Miss. Mysterious
My boyfriend and I have only got together recently, but we've been through so much. Today he said he loved me for the first time since we got together, I love him too, but the thing is he's pretty important to me AND so is my best friend, and to tell you the truth, I kind of stole him from her. She said that she is okay with it, but I'm not sure I believe her, and the thing is I don't want to say I love him, unless I know my friend is over him. I've put her through enough drama, I don't think she could handle anymore.
-a fiendish friend
Brooke immediately got writing, she knew who it was, and she was surprised that Peyton would write into her column, but she was even more surprised at her problem. She hoped Peyton would come to her with her problem, but either way Brooke was going to help.
Dear Fiendish Friend
You and your boy toy sound pretty happy, but you're right, your friends are important too. That's why you need to talk to your friend. If you don't you'll just keep wondering how they would feel about the whole relationship the whole time. But you know what? If this person is a true friend, they'll be able to see you are in love with this boy and no real friend would stand in the way of that.
-Miss. Mysterious
Brooke closed her laptop at the sound of the bell and couldn't help but think, that Peyton was probably going to talk to her later today about it and she was happy. Peyton should have come to her in the first place, but Peyton's a complicated person, it's just the way her life works. So when Peyton does come talk to Brooke, she'll know exactly what to say. Peyton should be with Lucas, they deserve each other. It wouldn't be right of Brooke to stand in the way of their relationship. Plus, Brooke's in love with someone else.
As soon as the lunch bell sounded Brooke jumped from her chair and ran out of the class room to go find Haley. Today it was just her and Haley having lunch, no one else to interrupt. That was until Peyton found Brooke.
"Brooke!" Peyton called out from down the hall. Brooke craned her neck to see Peyton walking over to her. Of all the time she chooses to talk she chooses now.
"hey can we talk?" Peyton asked. Before Brooke could answer Haley stepped up.
"hey Brooke ready to go?" Haley asked. Brooke looked back and forth between Haley and Peyton.
"Hales, can you hang on for a sec, I just want to have a quick word with Peyton."
"alright, meet me at my locker" she said and walked away.
"so… what do you want to talk about"
"okay listen, I've been meaning to talk to you about this for a while now" Peyton said, Brooke nodded. "okay, so you know how me and Luke are dating…?"
"I vaguely remember it" Brooke said sarcastically.
"okay, well I know everything between us was pretty rough, and we're starting to get really serious, and I could never live with myself if I knew you still had feelings for him, or was uncomfortable with me dating him"
"Peyt, I told you I'm over it"
"are you sure? Cause you always say that, but I never seem to believe you."
"okay, look, yeah I loved Lucas, but I love you too Peyton. And it doesn't take an idiot to see that you guys really love each other. What I'm trying to say is I don't have feelings for Lucas, and I am completely comfortable with everything"
"thank you Brooke, you have no idea how long I've been waiting to here that" Peyton said as she pulled Brooke into a hug.
"Peyton, I just want you to know, you can come to me with any problems or what ever. I can handle drama" Brooke said unknowingly quoting Peyton.
Peyton gave her a weird look but shook it off "Okay, thanks B. Davis"
"no problem P. Sawyer"
"so you're okay with everything?" Peyton asked for reassurance, which Brooke found a little annoying.
"yes… plus… I think I'm starting to fall for someone else" Brooke said quietly.
"what? Who?!"
"I'll talk to you later, I've got to go find Haley."
"alright, but I want details!" Peyton yelled to Brooke's back. Brooke ran through the hallways and just before she was about to turn around the corner, she stopped and took a breath and started walking casually.
"Brooke!" Haley called out. Brooke walked over to her.
"ready?" Brooke asked.
"yeah let's go." When the two girls got to the café they chose a booth to sit in and gave their orders to Karen.
"so this is nice, being able to eat with you… alone" Brooke said.
"yeah, it's been a while since it's just been you and me"
"yeah, by the way, where's Nathan? I haven't seen him all day"
"I don't really want to talk about it" Haley said bowing her head.
"Haley is there something going on between you guys?"
Haley scoffed "not anymore"
"what do you mean?" Brooke asked looking deep into Haley's hazel eyes.
"Nathan and I are… getting a divorce" Haley finally said.
"what? Why?"
"Brooke you've seen him lately, he's always moody, never happy… I don't know, he's just changed" Haley said.
"so then what's going to happen with you two?"
"well, we have to be separated for a year before the divorce is official, so I'm going to go back to my house, and Nathan's going to move back in with his mom after he sells the apartment"
"I'm really sorry Hales, I know you loved him"
"and I still do, but I don't think things are ever going to be the way they used to be" Haley said as she started to cry a little but didn't want to. Brooke scooted to the other side of the booth to comfort Haley. She pulled her into a hug and let Haley cry on her shoulder.
"you shouldn't be alone right now…" Brooke said trying to soothe Haley. Then it hit her, the most brilliant plan Brooke had ever come up with "why don't you come move in with me?"
"no Brooke, I couldn't do that"
"come on Hales, you don't want to be alone and I live in a big empty house, it'd be perfect" Brooke said, she desperately wanted Haley to move in, it would be so amazing if Brooke could spend every night with Haley.
"are you sure? 'cause I don't want-"
"-I'm sure"
"thanks Brooke" Haley whispered, as she finally settled down from crying.
"of course, no one upsets my tutor girl" Haley laughed a little at the fact that through all this time Brooke still calls Haley 'tutor girl'. "so how about after my cheerleading practice and your tutoring we head over to Nate's and pick up all your stuff?"
"okay, sounds good"
During last period Brooke happened to have Law with Peyton. The teacher had an overhead sheet on the projector and Brooke was starting to nod off, that is until something hit her in the head. Peyton had thrown a crumpled up note at Brooke. Brooke opened it trying to make as little noise as possible.
Who is it? Peyton wrote, she really wanted to know who Brooke was in love with.
I'm not writing it down on paper! Brooke wrote and tossed the paper back to Peyton. Peyton frowned and waited to talk to Brooke after class. When the bell rang Brooke tried to run out of class before Peyton could get to her but it was no use, she would see Peyton at cheerleading practice.
Outside of the class Peyton was waiting for Brooke.
"so?" Peyton said as she walked up beside Brooke and the two went to Brooke's locker.
"I don't want to say it in school"
"you're making excuses" Peyton sang
"no I'm not" Brooke sang back as she closed her locker and walked towards the gym. The whole practice Brooke was too busy bossing everyone around that Peyton couldn't get a word in. As soon as practice was over Peyton ran over to Brooke to talk to her again.
"hey Brooke" Peyton said. Brooke was about to say hi back, or make up an excuse when Haley walked into the gym.
"sorry Peyton, gotta go" Brooke said as she nodded to Haley.
"but what about the-"
"sorry, tutor girl needs me" Brooke said and ran off to link arms with Haley.
"Hales, how much crap do you have?" Brooke said as she brought in yet another box from her car. They had already made 3 trips and they were still unloading. Haley was up in Brooke's spare room unpacking her things.
"Hales?" Brooke asked again, Haley didn't reply. She walked into the spare room to see Haley sitting on the floor surrounded by a few photo albums. Haley was crying over all of the memories she had with Nathan.
"oh Hales" Brooke said as she sat down beside Haley taking the album out of her arms. She had the book opened to a picture of Nathan giving Haley a piggy-back ride. Brooke closed the album and put it aside. "come here" Brooke said as she pulled Haley into a hug.
"Brooke, am I an idiot?"
"what? No, of course not"
"then why am I 18 years old, and divorced?"
"because you were in love"
Haley scoffed "love. I don't even know what that is anymore"
Brooke felt horrible for Haley, not believing in love was like saying the sun won't come up tomorrow. Maybe Brooke could change Haley's mind over time.
"Hales, just promise me you'll keep an open mind. I'm not saying wear your heart on your sleeve or anything, but don't let this discourage you to fall in love"
"what?"
"just promise"
"alright, I promise"
Later that day Brooke and Haley had gotten settled in for the most part, and Haley had fallen asleep from all the crying. Brooke was sitting next to Haley on the bed just watching her peacefully sleep, as she was quietly snoring. If Brooke ever mentioned it she was sure Haley would immediately deny it, but it was cute. Brooke decided that instead of just sitting there like a creepy stalked she would get some work done, so she pulled out her lap top and started working on her column again. She was working her way through all the emails, and was surprised at how popular her column was becoming. Everything was going fine, until she came across a certain email from her best friend.
Dear Miss. Mysterious,
I know I just wrote in with my boy problems, but there's something else I have to get off my chest. Lately I've been kind of depressed, I'm not sure why. But I find I need that certain boost, so I've been doing a little cocaine and some E, in addition to the weed I've been smoking. And let me tell you this stuff does not come cheap, so I've kind of been sleeping with a few guys to pay off the debt. Have any good advice?
- a Fiendish Friend
Brooke immediately flipped out. How could Peyton do such a stupid thing?! Again!? After the whole drug thing before she thought Peyton had learned her lesson, but she hadn't. Brooke slammed the computer shut, hoping she didn't wake up Haley and grabbed her purse. She was about to run out the door to go over to Peyton's house, when she opened her bedroom door to already see Peyton standing there.
"what the hell is the matter with you!?" Brooke yelled as loud as possible. She shut the bedroom door and turned back around to Peyton. "you've been doing drugs again and sleeping with random drug dealers?!"
"so it is you!" Peyton realized.
"what?"
"You're her! I knew it!" Peyton said pointing her finger in Brooke's face.
"you just set me up?!" Brooke asked in anger.
"well duh, I wouldn't do drugs like that… you know me"
"Peyton, you bitch! I just nearly had a heart attack!"
"well I still can't believe you didn't tell me you are Miss. Mysterious!"
"Peyton, I'm not allowed to tell anyone, even my friends."
"well you're not exactly the best at hiding it. 'I can handle drama'" Peyton mocked Brooke.
"well if you had just come to me in the first place, none of this would have happened" Brooke commented.
"so what's it like?"
"what's what like?" Brooke asked
"being Miss. Mysterious. Like what kind of problems do you get?"
"everything, boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, financial issues, drugs, depression… you name it I got it"
"really?" Peyton asked in disbelief.
"yeah, you'd be surprised at how screwed up our school really is"
"so who else knows?"
"no one, well except the school editor and you, but that's it"
"any send you an threatening emails because of your bad advice yet?"
"no! and what do you mean yet?" Brooke asked angrily.
"I'm kidding B. Davis, and don't worry I'll keep your secret"
"alright, thanks P. Sawyer" Brooke said as she pulled Peyton into a hug.
"so tell me why exactly Haley James-Scott is sleeping in your bed" Peyton said as she lightly pushed the door open to see Haley sleeping.