Author's Note: Hi, everyone. I wanted to warn you guys about something. I won't be able to update this fic for about a month or so. But stay cool, because I'll keep writing. And as soon as I get Internet signal again I'll update it again. Anyway I hope you guys enjoy this chapter.


Back To Myself ((Chapter Three))


Nathan parked Brooke's car close to his parents place and jumped out of the car.

"Sure you're okay to drive, Brooke?" Nathan said, with a smile.

"What do you mean? Nathan Scott, don't you piss me off or you'll see what I'll do to you."

"What about you show me now?" Nathan said, showing Brooke her car keys in his hand. "Without these you can't get out of here."

Brooke stared at the keys in disbelief and then jumped out of her car, running until Nathan. "Give me this keys right now!"

She pushed Nathan and he felt to the floor. "Give me!" Brooke screamed, fighting him for the keys. Both of them were laughing and then Brooke jumped up. "I got it!"

"No, you didn't." Nathan pulled her down as she screamed. Nathan tickled her and she stole the keys from him.

Dan was watching them from the door. He smiled. That was the kind of girl he wanted Nathan to have. But then Nathan was thinking about get married to another girl. Dan sighed and screamed Nathan's name. "Son, I know you and Brooke are having fun, but you still have pratice!" Brooke and Nathan looked at him. Brooke got up and cleaned her jeans. She looked at Dan. "Hi, Mr. Scott." She said and waved to him.

He waved back to her and smiled. "Hi, Brooke."

Brooke smiled and turned to face Nathan, who was still in the floor. "Thanks for giving me my keys back, Scott." She held her hand to help him get up.

He got her hand and looked at her. "So, see you in the game?"

"Of course." Brooke kissed his cheek and walked in her car. "Bye, Mr. Scott!"


Nathan held the ball in his hand, watching his dad stretch himself.

"So, son, what's up with you and Brooke?" Dan asked, looking up at Nathan.

"What you mean, what's up with me and Brooke?"

"It's just that I don't see her around much." Dan replied.

"I didn't even though you knew her name, dad." Nathan said.

"Well, I think she's a good girl."

"Why? Only because she's the cheerleader's team captain?"

"Nope. Because I think she's more you than that Haley girl."

"That 'Haley girl' will be my wife."

"I know, son. I only think people change their minds."

"What, like you did to Karen? And Lucas?" Nathan shouted. "Don't worry, dad. I won't do it to Haley."

"All I'm saying is that this girl would be better for your image to college." Dan said.

"Brooke is my best friend, dad. Not my girlfriend. And besides, I would never wear a girl to go into college. I want to go into college for who I am, not for who I date." Nathan said, mad at his dad for speaking of Brooke and Haley as two girls that should be used to get what Nathan's dad wanted.

Nathan dropped the ball to the floor and walked in the house, heading to the door.


Brooke knocked on Lucas's door. He opened the door a few seconds later.

"Hi, Luke." Brooke said and smiled. "So, you still need help to invite Peyton?"

"Yeah, I think so." Lucas said, looking at Brooke's face. "What happened to your face, Brooke?"

"Just the usual. Me crashing against something." Brooke said with a little laugh.

Lucas laughed and held the door open so Brooke could come in.

Brooke walked in and looked around Lucas's house. It was a mess. "Your Mom left about a week ago and the house already is like this?"

Lucas looked around too. "Hey, it's not that bad." He said, though he knew it was as bad as she had said. Brooke laughed.

"Hey, I got Peyton's dress in the trunk. Will you help me to get it?"

"Of course." Lucas walked out and got the pink dress out of the trunk. He handed it to Brooke. She walked in carefully to don't let the dress touch the walls. "So, what do you think?" Brooke said, showing Lucas the dress. "You think Peyton will like it?"

"Yeah. By the way, all your dresses are amazing. How could Peyton don't like them?"

"Thanks." Brooke said and looked down, her cheeks blushing. Lucas watched her as she looked up again.

"Where should I put it?" Brooke asked.

"In the closet. I think Peyton won't find it there."

"Okay." Brooke found a place to put the dress inside Lucas's closet. She looked at her job and then back to Lucas. She smiled. "What?" Lucas asked.

"Nothing." Brooke laughed. "I only can't believe you're scared of inviting Peyton to the prom."

"Well, I don't know if she'll want to go with me."

"Of course she will. And you know that."

"I'm not sure."

"Don't worry about it, Luke. She's in love with you." Brooke said and saw Lucas smile. He was quiet for a while and she Brooke couldn't stand stay in silence for one more minute.

"So, ready to the big game tonight?" She asked, cheerfully.

"I hope so." Lucas said.

"Well, your father is killing Nathan with pratice. Why don't stop by the Scott's place and keep Nathan from dying before the game, Luke?"

"I already took care of that, Brooke. Dan is not going to the game."

"Wow!" Brooke screamed. "Why is that?" There was an evil smile crossing her face.

"Because he and Deb will take Haley to the hospital." Lucas said, not so cheerful anymore. As Brooke heard that, she looked straight at him. "What? Why?"

"Nothing serious. Just some check-up stuff."

"Why Nathan is not going with her?"

"Because Dan wants him to be in the game. Nathan said he would go if he and Deb take Haley to the hospital."

"Oh, my god." Brooke finally though about a reason to make Nathan's mood be so weird in the night they spent together.

"What?" Lucas asked.

"Nate is gonna be upset during the game, right?"

"Yup. He really wanted to go with Haley…" Lucas started and then he saw Brooke's face change like if she had a great idea. "Brooke, what?"

"Nathan's not going to the game." Brooke said and got her purse, heading to the door.

Before she leave, Lucas wanted to have a clue of what she was planning.

"Brooke, what you're going to do?"

"Don't worry! No damage will be done!" She jumped the stairs steps. "I'm pretty sure you can take care of the game yourself!"

With that, Brooke walked in her car with a smile on her face, driving away before Lucas could make more questions.


Nathan knocked on Peyton's door three times before she open it. She was wearing make-up and the cheerleader outfit.

"Nate!" Peyton was surprised with his visit. "What are you doing here?" Nathan didn't smile at her. That meant that Nathan wanted to talk about something serious.

"I need to talk to you." He replied. "About your brother."

"Sure. Come on in." Peyton opened the door and let him in.

They sat together in the table and Nathan kept quiet for a while, thinking about how he could tell Peyton about his theory that Derek was abusing Brooke without hurt her feelings.

"So, what you wanted to ask me about my brother?" Peyton asked, interrupting all his thoughts.

"Well…I think that Brooke's bruises have something to do with him." Nathan said.

Peyton didn't move. "What do you mean?" She asked. Nathan could clearly that she wouldn't believe him.

"I think he's abusing her, Peyton." Nathan tried to avoid her after he said that. When he finally looked at her, he saw that she was looking scared. As scared Brooke was when they talked about Derek. Peyton composed her expression.

"Nate, of course he isn't." Peyton said. "I don't know what's happening to Brooke, but I'm sure that it's not Derek's fault."

Nathan took a deep breath and looked up at Peyton. "Peyton, there's anything I need to know about Derek?" He asked, looking in her eyes.

Peyton looked away before answer him. Nathan saw fear cross Peyton's face again.

"Peyton, you can talk to me." He said, touching her hand.

"I…I don't…know…" Peyton said, staring at his hand in hers. She was thoughtful for a while, completely lost in her thoughs. She sighed and meet Nathan's eyes. "There's nothing wrong with Derek, Nathan." She said in a confident tone of voice.

Nathan took his hand away from hers, being sure that she was lying. He had seen the look in her face. The same look Brooke used when they talked about Derek.

"Really. There isn't." Peyton said again. "And Brooke's bruises are probably just because of accidents she had. She's don't been lucky lately, you know." Peyton let out an nervous laugh, looking for some sign on Nathan's face. There was nothing.

He hadn't believed her at all. He knew there was something Brooke and Peyton were keeping to themselves. He had no clue if it was a secret between both of them or if it was a secret that only they knew. He was almost sure that Peyton never told Brooke what she was hiding about Derek. Nathan said bye to Peyton, walking out of her house.


Nathan parked his car close to the river court. He had to think. He wanted to find a reason, besides Derek hurting Brooke. Or maybe even Peyton. Nathan only found that reason to make Peyton get so scared.

Suddenly, a memory flashed in his mind. Brooke kissing Derek and running to talk to Peyton about it. He saw Peyton's worried expression. Thinking about it now made more sense to him. He matched Peyton was trying to make Brooke stay away from Derek.

*flashback*

Brooke screamed Peyton's name and she turned to face her friend. Brooke was so happy. She had just kissed Derek.

"Peyton, I kissed Derek! I kissed Derek!" Brooke screamed and jumped around Peyton, looking like a child. She looked at Peyton waiting for her to say something. Brooke got worried when she realized Peyton was looking scared.

"Peyton, are you okay?" Peyton blinked and looked at Brooke.

"You…you kissed Derek?" Peyton asked, ignoring Brooke's question.

"Yes, I did." Brooke replied, still worried. "Aren't you happy for me?" Brooke asked, smiling now.

"Brooke, I…I got go." Peyton started to walk away, but Brooke got her arm.

"What happened, P. Sawyer?" Brooke asked, worriedly.

"Nothing. I just have to go home." Peyton said.

"Peyton, you can talk to me. Is it because I kissed your brother? If you want, I can come back there and slap him." Brooke said.

Peyton laughed. "It's just…it's just that I don't think you should get out with Derek." Peyton finished.

"Why not?" Brooke asked.

"Because…because you shouldn't."

"Wait. DO YOU LIKE HIM?" Brooke asked, loudly.

"NO. OF COURSE NOT." Peyton said, smiling to the though of date Derek. "He's my brother, Brooke."

"Half-brother." Brooke said. "Maybe you have a secret crush on him, and if you do, you can tell me because I'll just give him to you." Brooke said, cheerfully.

Peyton's smile faded. "Actually, it's exactly the opposite…he's the one with the secret crush…" Peyton whispered, more to herself than to Brooke.

"What?" Brooke screamed. "Stop whispering like that, P. Sawyer! I can barely hear you!"

When Peyton finally realized what she had said, she felt relief because Brooke was drunk and would probably forget about that in least than one minute.

"Nathan, come here!" She screamed, jumping as she screamed.

*ends flashback*

Nathan felt a hand on his shoulder and opened his eyes, jumping at the sight of Brooke by his said.

It was night already, he realized. "What are you doing here, Nate?" She was sit over the table of the river court by his side.

"I think I must had fallen asleep…" Nathan said, sitting on the table.

"Well, it's time for us to go." Brooke said and touched his arm. "Come on."

"But…shouldn't we go to the game first?" Nathan asked.

"Change of plans." Brooke said.

"What?"

"Well, sense that you're dad doesn't wants you to go with Haley to the hospital, our trip is going to be earlier." Brooke said with a smile.

Nathan was quiet for a while, thinking about what Brooke had said. They walked in her car and Nathan kept lost in his thoughs.

"Brooke, shouldn't we stop by at my place so I can get some clothes?" He asked her, after remembering all about the road trip.

"Oh, I took care of that. Haley told where the hidden keys are."

"Okay." Nathan said and closed his eyes, feeling a little tired.

"Nate, you can sleep if you want." Brooke said. "Let's just stop by to eat something, okay?"

"Okay." He said. Brooke parked her car close to a diner.

Both walked in, feeling the smell of food.

They sat down on a table in the back. A man came to get what they wanted.

"So, what do you want to eat, Nate?"

"Brooke, the question is: What do you want to eat? You chose, I pay."

"Okay." Brooke smiled and looked at the guy by her side. "So, can you get us some ice cream please?"

"Okay, miss. What kind of ice cream you want?"

"Hmmm…" Brooke though for a few seconds and then looked at Nathan.

"What ice cream you think I should pick, Nate?"

"I think you should choose flakes ice cream." He said, after a few seconds thinking.

"Okay. Flakes ice cream, please." She said and smiled at Nathan. He smiled back at her and then looked down.

"So, will you explain to me what were you doing sleeping at the river court and not getting ready to the game?" Nathan chuckled and looked at her.

"Well, I didn't went to the pratice. I went to talk to Peyton. She spoke some stupid stuff and I was angry when I left her house, so I decided to spent some time alone. I matched the river court was the best place to do it." Nathan finished. "Now, you're turn." He said. "Why you decided to leave town earlier?"

"Well, first because I decided that you're dad was an idiot not letting you go with Haley to the hospital and because I was bored after I left Lucas's place."

"Um." Nathan nodded.

The guy gave Brooke her ice cream and she took her spoon, getting a little of her ice cream. She saw Nathan looking at her ice cream. "Do you want some?"

"Yeah, sure." Nathan said. "I'll just ask the guy for another spoon." Nathan started to walk away, but Brooke stopped him. "Use mine. I'll get the new spoon." She said.

Nathan sat in Brooke's sit. When she came back, he gave her some space by his side.

Both of them kept eating in silence, when Nathan suddenly touched his forehead.

"Are you okay, Nate?" Brooke said, leaving her spoon on the unfinished ice cream and touching his shoulder.

"Yeah, just a little tired." He replied. "But you can finish eating the ice cream."

Nathan shook his body a little, feeling cold. Brooke realized that and walked away from the table to pay for the ice cream.

She walked back to the table and touched Nathan's shoulder.

"Come on, Nate." She helped him get up. "I'm done with the ice cream." She said, looking at the unfinished ice cream over the table. She knew Nathan wouldn't leave if she said she wouldn't eat the rest of the ice cream.

Brooke closed her convertible on the top. Nathan helped her and the both of them walked in the car.

"Will we stop by to sleep in some road place?" Nathan asked Brooke, turning to look at her.

"Not really. I was thinking we could sleep in the car." Brooke replied.

"In the car?" Nathan was surprised. He never though Brooke would agree with sleep inside a car.

"Yeah. In the car." Brooke said, confuse. "Why? What is wrong with sleep in the car?"

"Nothing. I just though you refused to sleep inside cars." Brooke laughed.

"Well, there's a lot you don't know about me, Nathan Scott." She said.

"Well, I want to find out these things." He said. Brooke felt a smile crawl on her face and her cheeks blushing.

Nathan smiled at her. She smiled back and kept driving as Nathan closed his eyes to sleep.