Brooke laid her black purse on her bed, she was overwhelmed with excitement. The entire first day of school was wonderful. She made new friends, she finally spoke to Julian and she still had her best friend. She couldn't complain that today didn't go the way that she planned. This morning, she told herself that she would at least wave to Julian instead of just staring. She did more than just wave, she spoke to him. Usually they only talk about was the basketball team and Julian's hopes for going to the NBA. Brooke didn't mind talking about Julian, she believed that his life was more interesting than hers. What could she talk about? How her parents are never home? How her mother pressures her to become successful? Brooke walked down the marble stairs, seeing her mother on her laptop in the living room. Victoria was focused in her work, she didn't even noticed that her daughter was home. Victoria scrolled down the fashion sight, trying to find inspiration for Brooke's clothing line sight. Victoria was ready for Brooke to graduate high school, so she could be successful and carry on the Davis name. The files and papers surrounded Victoria, showing that she was drowning in dreams that weren't hers. Brooke was afraid to speak because she didn't want to talk about work, all she wanted to tell her mother was her day at school. Victoria saw a shadow in the corner of her eye, wondering if it was her husband lingering over her. Victoria turned around, curious to know who was behind her. Brooke stood there, placing a fake smile on her face to show that she was happy to see her mother. Victoria smiled, happy to her daughter emerging into the light. Victoria turned back around, scrolling through the pages.
"I was wondering when you were coming downstairs," Victoria chuckled. Brooke took in a deep breath, she walked over to the couch across from her. Brooke wrapped her arms around her, waiting for her mother to ambush her with comments about her clothing line. "Did you sleep in?" Victoria raised her eyebrow, her eyes glued to the laptop. Brooke narrowed her eyebrows in confusion, did her mother think that she was home the entire time? Brooke wasn't surprised.
"No, Mom," Brooke was surprised that her mother didn't realize that school had started. "It was the first day of junior year," Brooke informed her. Victoria continued to tap on the keyboard, not saying a word to her daughter. She was completely ignoring her. "…remember?" Brooke was afraid to ask, she was choking on her own tears. She didn't want to cry, she had cried so many times that she didn't believe she had any tears left.
"Of course, I did, sweetheart." Victoria said as if it was obvious. "Do you have those sketches for me?" Victoria asked her. Brooke huffed, rolling her eyes in annoyance. Brooke had been drawing her sketches, hoping that her mother would approve but Victoria would just tell her to start over. Brooke loved her art, and the clothes.
"Why? So, you could just throw them away again?" Brooke mocked her mother, standing up from the couch. Victoria could see the disappointed look on her daughters face but she felt like she was doing the best for her daughter. Victoria believed that Brooke didn't understand that everything she was doing was for her, and soon she would understand that.
"Brooke, I'm doing this for you. So that you can have a successful career. Isn't designing clothes your dream?" Victoria placed the laptop down, giving her daughter her complete attention. Brooke huffed, it was her dream but it didn't feel like it.
"I do, but these are my designs-" Brooke tried to explain to her mother that she should choice what she liked and what she didn't like. Brooke loved every design that she made and her mother would just tell her to do better. Brooke didn't want to argue, she looked at the clock above the fireplace. It was thirty minutes until she had to go to practice. "I have to go to practice," Brooke grabbed her dufflebag that was near the door. Brooke was expecting this conformation when she came home, that's why she prepared herself for a quick leave. Brooke placed the string over her shoulder, Victoria sat back down on the couch and looked down at the laptop. Brooke was disappointed that her mother wasn't even going to stop her, she didn't even care. Brooke didn't expect anything more from her mother, she opened the door and slammed it behind her. She took in a deep breath of fresh air, she didn't want her mother to ruin her day. Brooke and Peyton meet outside of the gym. Peyton leaned against the gym doors, waiting for her best friend to leave the restroom. Brooke walked out, drying her hands off.
"What's going on?" Peyton asked her, knowing that something was wrong with Brooke ever since she walked in. Brooke frowned, walking into the gym with her best friend. The basketball team filled the court, doing drills and practicing their routines. Brooke saw her squad on the sidelines, stretching as they were getting ready for their practice.
"My mom was home," Brooke placed her dufflebag on the stands, as she looked at her curious best friend. Peyton could only imagine what her mother putting Brooke through. Peyton would hear the stories that Brooke would tell her, she once didn't believe that it was that bad, and maybe Brooke was being over dramatic. Then, Peyton had meet Victoria. Victoria adviced that Peyton should die her hair blonde, and put a smile on her face so that boys would like her more. Peyton was only nine years old.
"Brooke-" Peyton tried to apologize for what Victoria had done, and hoped that Brooke would feel better.
"It's fine, Peyton." Brooke assured her best friend. Brooke didn't want to Peyton to worry about her, Brooke wanted Peyton to focus on the junior year, having fun and finding love. The word love crossed her mind, she turned around to look for Julian. She scanned across the room, seeing the familiar and new faces of the basketball team. Julian emerged from the boys dressing room, running onto the court. Julian saw Brooke's gaze, her gave her a smirk. Brooke gushed, trying not to show he was getting to her. Julian ran over to Brooke, wanting to give her a compliment.
"Lookin good, Brooke." Julian ran past her, giving her a quick wink. Brooke smiled brightly, feeling overwhelmed with the compliment that he gave her. Peyton smiled, seeing how Brooke was falling for Julian.
"And just like that, my day is better." Brooke told Peyton, so that she wouldn't worry about her. Peyton would have to believe Brooke because she wouldn't confess when she was feeling down. Peyton felt a buzz in her pocket, she looked down at the number that she hasn't seen in a while. It was her father, he was home.
"Oh my god," Peyton gasped. Brooke looked at Peyton, wondering what she was so happy about. Brooke hoped that something exciting was happening. Brooke had always wanted to see that happy smile on Peyton's face for a long time now. "My dads back home," Peyton informed Brooke. Brooke was surprised, she didn't think that Peyton's father would come back until the summer. He would always leave, leaving Peyton by herself. Brooke would almost spend every day with Peyton while her father was away, it was nice.
"I thought he wasn't coming back until the end of the school year?" Brooke smiled, wondering what changed his mind. Peyton didn't care, her father was back and she missed him so much. She was so excited, she grabbed her bag and keys.
"I don't know but Brooke, I have to go." Peyton wondered if it was okay.
"It's okay, go!" Brooke pushed Peyton playfully towards the door. "I told you Peyton Sawyer, this year is going to be epic." Brooke smiled at her friend. Peyton was starting to believe Brooke, that this year could change their lives forever. Peyton nodded, accepting Brooke's wise words. Peyton had so many question going through her mind, she wondered what her father was going to look like. Would she be able to reaqonize him? Brooke watched as Peyton skipped out of the school with a bright smile on her face. Brooke turned around, her squad was talking amoughst each other. Brooke clapped her hands, giving them attention. Everyone looked up, standing up from the bleachers. "Alright, girls! Let's go!" Brooke demanded of them.
It was the end of practice and Brooke was extremely tired. She had been working hard to build her team and having everyone work together. She knew that her squad would win championships and become the best cheerleading team that there is. Brooke walked out of the school, feeling the cold breeze brush against her sweat. Brooke glanced around, her squad walked out, running into their cars and with the basketball team. Bonnie walked up beside Brooke, almost startling her. Brooke yeeped, jumping up from Bonnie's touch.
"Jesus," Brooke gasped, placing her hand over her chest. Bonnie laughed, not meaning to scare Brooke half to death. Bonnie thought that Brooke would like to know what was going on after practice, Brooke was always the one to party. Bonnie hoped that she would say, at least try to go. "What do you want?" Brooke chuckled, trying to understand what Bonnie was such in a rush to talk about.
"A few of us are going over Julian's house for a 'first practice' party." Bonnie shrugged, she didn't care about the title, she just cared about the party. Bonnie wanted to meet the new basketball players, and just enjoy her junior year. "Want to come?" Bonnie continued to ask her. Brooke was tempted, but she promised herself that she wasn't going to go to a wild party and Julian was known for those. First, it would be get together, then the whole school would show up and Brooke would end up drunk in someones bed. Plus, Brooke wasn't comfortable going without Peyton. Peyton would always be there to make sure that Brooke was okay. Brooke wanted this year to be epic but she wanted to mature and become a better woman. She wanted to do things that other girls wouldn't dare to do. This year was about being epic, and becoming someone more.
"Sorry, I have this test tomorrow." Brooke lied, acting like the test was such a drag. Bonnie pouted, curious to know why Brooke would turn down the party. Brooke was changing slowly and Bonnie could tell. She wondered if Brooke was still going to the same person that she knew and loved. "And I haven't studied all week," Brooke shrugged her shoulders, trying to find an excuse. Bonnie could tell that Brooke was lying but Brooke made her own choices. Bonnie wanted to have fun and party with people that she didn't know. She wanted to build her name in high school, she wanted to be another Brooke Davis.
"Whatever, see you Wednesday." Bonnie walked past her, getting into her friends car as they drove off. Brooke watched as her team drove off, playing loud music and screaming at the top of her lungs. Brooke laughed, she was happy that her friends were having fun. Brooke just wanted to do her own thing and see what she would have to expect. Brooke took in a deep breath, she didn't have car and now she didn't have a ride back home. She didn't care, she needed the time for herself. She wanted to figure out how she was going to tell her mother that she didn't want design anymore, at least, not with her. Brooke felt like Victoria was strangling her with her own work, Brooke felt this pressure of trying to be perfect. Brooke continued to walk down the street, wondering what was going to be in store for the rest of her year. She couldn't help but think about her mother, until she felt the tears stream down her face. Lucas saw a young girl walking in the dark, hallow sidewalks. Brooke Davis, the beautiful head-cheerleader of the ravens. That's all he knew about her and she was best friend of the love of his life. Lucas pulled over, close to Brooke.
"Brooke?" Lucas rolled down the passenger window, wondering if he was seeing the right person. Brooke looked over at Lucas, tears still her eyes. She quickly whipped them away, hoping that he didn't seem them but it was too late. Lucas sat back, wondering what Brooke was crying about. She hasn't seen a frown on her face but only a smile. Lucas realized that Brooke was a human being, she hurts like everyone else unlike she plays in front of everyone. "Do you need a ride?" Lucas asked her. Brooke shook her head, she wanted to be alone and she didn't want to be questioned on why she was crying. She didn't want to be vunerable, espiecally not in front of a stranger.
"No, my house is right down the street." Brooke tried to assure Lucas. Lucas knew that she was lying because he knew where Brooke lived. It was the same street that was around the corner of Peyton's house. It was a few miles down the road, it was going to take her thirty minutes to walk down.
"Come on, Brooke. I just want to give you a ride home." Lucas tried to assure her. Brooke scoffs, knowing what the boys wanted. Brooke rolled her eyes, not paying attention to Lucas. Brooke had dealt with basketball boys like him and the only one that she wanted was Julian. She didn't know more of Lucas Scott, only that he was best friends of the guy that she has a crush on. "We can even get a cup of coffee at my mother café." Lucas tried to prosway her. Brooke was curious, the only café that there was in Tree Hill was Karen's café. Peyton and Brooke would always spend time there after school and she never saw Lucas. Brooke stopped and so did Lucas.
"Karen is your mother?" Brooke asked him. Karen was the sweetest person that Brooke had ever meant, Brooke sometimes wished that she had a mother like Karen. Once, Brooke was saddened from her mother leaving town and she felt like she was alone. Karen talked to her, telling her that she would have to live her life for herself. That's why Brooke told herself that this year was going to be hers.
"Yea," Lucas smiled, seeing that Brooke was easing herself. Brooke didn't think that Lucas would be bad since Karen was his mother. Brooke could go for a really nice coffee and try to clear her mind. Without saying another word, Brooke jumped into the truck with Lucas but kept her eyes on the road ahead. Lucas sat back, driving down the road to café. Lucas didn't know but tonight was going to be the moment that he would really get to see who Brooke was.