Chapter 2: Closer to the Edge
I woke up the next morning with red and swollen eyes, I must have been crying the whole night. I rolled over to turn on my phone and I saw that I had a text message and a few missed calls from Haley saying Hey, something came up today but I can't come out. Call me when you get this, it's important. That was at 8:45, and it was now 10; wondering what Haley wanted and what happened to cause our plans to be canceled.
"HALEY" I practically screamed into the phone after a couple of rings because she wasn't answering and that wasn't normal for her.
"Yea…" she said in a low tone. Something was definitely wrong, Haley is never like this; the normal bubbly girl I knew was gone.
"What's the matter?"
"Nathan got a call at work today and found out that he has to go to England for two and a half weeks for some work thing; he just came back here, packed and left for the airport..." Upon hearing that, I let out a little sigh because I feared the worst. But she wasn't done talking. "And to make matters worse, my doctor called and told me that he wants me to come in and 'chat' with me concerning something he noticed in the blood work we took for the wedding. I'm so scared to go B, what if something is wrong with me?" she said, crying in a similar manor to the way I was crying last night.
"Haley, listen to me calm down. There is nothing seriously wrong with you because if there was he would have wanted to come in right now. Does Nathan know?" It seems as if the roles were reversed, I was the one consoling Haley, instead of the opposite a mere ten hours ago.
"I guess your right. I'm just so scared now. And no, Nathan does not know, I found out after we said our goodbyes and left."
"Ok, listen to me. I am going to be with you for every part of this, no matter what. You understand that? I know that the next couple of days are going to be hard with him gone and the added anxiety of waiting to go to the doctor, so anytime you need me don't be afraid to call me, no matter what time of day it is. I'm not going anywhere, I promise you that." Before I said that I had to take a deep breath because I remembered the last time I said that was to Peyton who also went through a similar situation, reminding me of past events with her and the events of the previous night flooding into my head.
"Ok." Haley barely got out through sniffles.
"I won't break it, I swear. Now, where are you?"
"Home. Why?" she asked, still crying.
"Don't go anywhere. I'm coming over, you need me. I'm leaving right now, no ifs ands or buts."
"Fine." Haley said after sometime. "I'll text you directions to my house from work."
"Ok, see you in a bit."
Within a sometime, I was at Haley's house. It was an extremely nice house for the newlyweds, and I was kind of excited to see the inside since I've never been there before. After getting out of the car, I turned my phone off and left in there. Haley really needed me and she deserved all of my attention. My parents were obviously out doing whatever they normally do without me, as always, no one important really needed me, besides Haley of course. So I rang the door bell and Haley opened the door, tears still coming down her face and she was still in her sweats.
"Come here you." I told her and embraced her in a big hug, which caused her to cry even more, but she really needed someone right now and I was that someone, and deep down I needed her too, but I wouldn't let that show; this morning is all about her.
"I called the doctor."
"And?"
"The earliest appointment he had is for Tuesday at 7."
"Ok, I'm coming with you."
"What about school and work?"
"You are more important. I want to be there for you, and I promised that I would be there every step of the way and I am not going to break that promise. I told you that I'm not going anywhere, believe me when I say it."
"Ok." Haley replied, still crying. She must have been so scared; I know I would be if I was in her situation. After sometime I pulled away from Haley because she stopped crying, and I moved the hair out of her face.
"Promise me something."
"Anything, you know that." And when she said that I almost myself to tears, because that too reminded me of things Peyton and I did, and the things Peyton would say to me, which where similar to the words currently coming out of Haley's mouth.
"No more crying. It is not worth your tears."
"I know, but it is so hard not to. I really can't control something like that." It was then that I started to loose it, tears slowly started rolling down my face. And Haley realized that I was crying. Being the good friend she is, she realized that if I didn't mention why I was crying that it must have been really hard to deal with because I normally deal with hard things on my own, since I hate people seeing me so vulnerable.
"Ok, but try really hard not to. Now go clean up, and remember no more tears."
"Ok, while I'm gone you can go explore the house and do whatever, my house is your house."
"Okie dokie" I replied, hoping to get a smile out of Haley, which I did; it was small but it was progress.
"And Brooke?"
"Yea?"
"Thank you so much for coming over today, it really means a lot to me. You are such a good friend."
"Thanks Hales, you too." I replied, almost fully crying.
While Haley was in the shower, I walked around the house a little bit and I was right it was an amazing house for the newlyweds, just the right size and everything. At the end of my journey I found a patio out in the back, so I went out there and was leaning against the railing crying. I was thinking about Peyton and the time that she went through almost this same exact thing and almost all of the same words were exchanged. I was so deep in thought that I didn't even hear Haley come up behind me and stand against the door fame, taking in the way I looked. She must have realized that something was seriously wrong: me, Brooke Davis, a normally strong person, fully immersed in tears and shaking. She cleared her throat and sat down on one of the chairs, knowing that we needed to talk, but not pushing the subject giving me the time I needed to compose myself I guess.
"What's wrong?" She asked after a good 15 minutes of silence and me not moving from my position.
"Nothing."
"Brooke, I know you. Something is wrong, I can tell, so spill."
"I'm just still upset about the whole Peyton situation. And I kind of went through this same situation with her before, so it's bringing up old feelings and memories."
"Is that why you crying before when I said some of those things?"
"Mhm." I said and I started to cry a little bit, breaking my number one rule of that no one can see me cry because it shows that I am weak, which I am not.
"Why didn't you say something?"
"I don't know, it's hard for me to fully open up to people because of the heartache I've gone through in the past and currently going through now. And you were so upset, it just didn't feel right. I didn't want to you to worry when you had so much else going on,"
"Well, I'm not going to hurt you ever. I promise that, and I will never break that promise. I don't care, I want you to come to me. I've been there before you know."
"Really?"
"Mhm, so I know exactly how you are feeling. But you have to believe me when I tell you that it will get better, just give it time. I caught my fiancé in bed with my best friend. In the mean time I'm always here for you, I'm on your side."
"Thank you, I don't want to hurt again. Hales, I'm so sorry, this must hurt you to think about it." I started to cry harder.
"It's ok, that's what I am here for, I'm always gonna be here, promise."
I'm sorry I didn't say something, it is just hard. I promise that too, and I will also never break that promise."
"Have you heard from Peyton since last night?"
"No, and I turned my phone off once I got here, which was about two hours ago, so I have no idea if she or as a matter of fact anybody texted me or something."
"Maybe you should talk to her and try to fix things because she obviously means a lot to you. And you can do it right now, don't worry about it being rude, I don't care; I'll be right there next to you, lending a helping hand whenever I can." Haley said, obviously changing her feelings about the situation once she saw how much it truly affected me.
"Ok, I will. Thank you so much for this, I really appreciate it."
"That's what friends are for." Haley pulled me into a embracing hug, something I desperately needed.
Hey guys, hope you enjoyed this chapter. I know a lot of you were asking if this was going to be a Brooke/Lucas, which I am known for, or a Brooke/Julian. It will be a Brooke/Lucas all the way, but he will not show up until about half way through the story.