Woo, because of all of your amazing reviews, I've tried updating soonerthen usual! I really hope you all like it, I'm still not exactly sure how everything will unfold with this story, but I do have a pretty good idea.

And as mentioned in one of the reviews, there WILL be a Brathan friendship in this story since I just simply adore them:)

So here it is, Chapter 4!

XXX

I kept my mouth shut from the start

I guess I left you in the dark

"Well look who's back!" Rachel greeted sleepily on Monday morning as she watched the brunette enter their room.

"I left you a—" Brooke started, but was cut off by Rachel.

"A note? Yeah, I got it. Since when do you have an Aunt Judith from…Texas?" She asked curiously. She knew it was a lie. Lucas told her he knew Brooke's family and she for sure didn't have an Aunt Judith. If it wasn't for the text she'd gotten from Brooke about an English assignment she would've sent out a swat team.

"Uh since my dad's parents decided to get freaky and have another kid…" Brooke smirked, giggling a bit as she watched Rachel continue to stare at her. As she saw Rachel's face not even smile after what Brooke had said, her smile faded as well. "What the hell is your problem today?"

"My problem is the fact that we leave Bevin's house, you crying your eyes out. So then the next morning I come in to see if your okay and I find a note saying you'd be gone til Monday, leaving me to tell Lucas every god damn hour that you still weren't home!" Rachel argued. After seeing the bruises Brooke had it made her worry about her 10 times more.

"Whoa, calm down. I was just having a bad night…and my Aunt called and wanted to see how I was doing…" Lies; that's all they were. But that was Brooke's way of dealing with things, to keep people in the dark. "Why did Lucas care so much? I thought I made it perfectly clear at the party that I wanted—"

"Him to stay out of your life…" Rachel interrupted, sighing as she did so. "Trust me, I've already heard this story from Lucas ten times. One you might not have heard, Lucas came here after you passed out and helped you out. You know; the whole night in shining armor thing? Made sure the guy didn't hurt you, held your hair back while you puked, got you into bed;; that kind of thing.." Rachel said with a shrug as she opened her closet door, looking for an outfit.

"He did that?" Brooke asked. Suddenly she felt bad for flipping out on Lucas. The last thing she remembered doing was arguing with him about staying out of her life. But now, things were different.

Brooke sighed and walked over to her suitcases. She knew she was being naïve not to unpack yet, and she really did love living with Rachel. Yet she wished she could just get out of here at times. Living with her parents and being unnoticed had to be better than watching the love of your life with your ex-best friend, or having to face a criminal every day in class.

XXX

I kept my mouth shut for too long

All this time you got me wrong

And now I'm in this way too far

"Well if it isn't the runaway.." A deep voice stated behind Brooke.

Brooke smiled as she turned around and enveloped Nathan in a hug, followed by Haley. "God, why does everyone think I was running away? I was simply visiting a family member…" Brooke told them with a nod, a smile forming right after it.

"Yeah, try telling that to Lucas who seemed to call us every other hour to see if we'd heard from you…" Haley said, entering the conversation with a smirk. "I gotta get going to the tutor center. See you guys at lunch…" She said with a smile before walking away, leaving just Brooke and Nathan.

"So really, where'd you go?" Nathan asked as soon as he thought Haley was gone. "And don't tell me you were at your aunt's cause we both know that's a load of bull…" He said, narrowing his eyebrows as she waited for his answer.

"Honestly? I didn't want to deal with all the questions after the party. So I stayed in my parents' beach house…Or…our old beach house. It's sold to some other family now, but the back window's loose so I just climbed in…" Brooke replied, laughing a bit afterwards realizing how bad it sounded.

Nathan nodded his head understandingly. After getting to know Brooke, he really couldn't believe how strong she was. The way she didn't break down in front of people, she kept a strong front. But that did worry him at times; it seemed she held her emotions in too much.

"You are okay though, right?" Nathan asked, staring her straight in the eye to get her honest reaction.

"Nate, I'm fine. But I love you for caring…" She said with a laugh, looking away a bit. "I'll see ya later, kay?" Brooke gave Nathan a quick hug before catching up to Rachel.

"Ready to go see Nicky Poo?" She smirked, linking arms with Brooke. As far as Rachel knew, Brooke just didn't like Nick for cheating on her, which was completely understandable.

Brooke rolled her eyes as the two girls neared the classroom. "Please, I'm praying this class flies by.." Brooke smirked as they entered the classroom.

The second they entered, Brooke didn't even make eye contact with Nick. She walked directly to her seat, keeping her eyes planted on the floor.

Rachel noticed this weirdness and immediately looked to Lucas, who was letting out a sigh of relief that Brooke was okay.

Lucas looked at the time before getting up and walking over to Brooke. They still had three minutes before the bell rang, which meant they were still allowed to leave their seats.

"Glad to see your okay…" He told her, leaning down next to her desk as she looked up from her hands and to him, a smile appearing on her face.

"Yeah…Listen Luke I heard you helped me out after Friday night…so thank you…" She told him, offering a small smile as he let out one as well. It seemed she wasn't holding him to the 'stay out of my life' comment she'd made earlier.

"Anything for you pretty—" Lucas started, but was cut off by the bell.

"Well well, Lucas Scott. And Miss. Davis? I thought you would've learned your lesson on Friday Brooke. Scott, you'll be with Whitey in room 56 tile four. Brooke, you'll be with me again." Nick said with a smile as he waited for Lucas to get back to his seat.

"Listen Mr. Chavez, Brooke didn't do anything…I was the one out of my seat.."

"Scott! I said in your seat!" Nick yelled, startling the whole class.

Brooke sunk down lower in her seat. She knew Nick wouldn't budge on this if he was expecting the same thing from Friday; and he certainly was. Brooke could see it in his eyes.

'I thought you said you had Turner on Friday..' A note read, appearing on Brooke's desk. Brooke sighed as she realized it was from Rachel. She hadn't even realized Nick had mentioned the two of them being there Friday until now.

'Yeah well I lied.' Brooke write, short and sweet. Okay, well not very sweet.

'Why? You two still hooking up? Brooke, why would you do that after he cheated on you with that skank?'

Brooke sighed once again as she began writing. 'NO! We are not hooking up…Can we please just leave it at that?

'Cut out the crap—how'd he win you over? Give you an A?'

The second Brooke read Rachel's not, her stomach dropped an eyes widened.

"Can you ever just mind your own god damn business? Whatever happened doesn't involve you—So stop assuming that I'm a slut like you are!" Brooke yelled, not realizing the entire class was watching, including Nick.

"What the hell is your problem? It's not my fucking fault your two naïve to get back with a guy after he cheated on you. Boy Brooke, first Lucas now…"

"Miss. Gattina that's enough!" Nick interrupted, knowing his name would be coming up soon.

Brooke's eyes filled with tears as she noticed everyone had just seen her meltdown. Without another word, Brooke ran out of the classroom, letting the tears fall down her face. She had no

idea where to go, she couldn't go back in…not after that. So instead she decided she'd go home… at least where she felt home was.

XXX

Coz I'm feeling lost

When I'm in your arms

The reasons are gone

For why I was holding onto you

I tried so hard

To be the one (be the one)

I don't like who I've become

But I'm sorry it's too late

Just as Brooke reached her car, she felt someone grab her arm and start to spin her around.

"Please! Don't do anything I'm Sor—" Brooke started before she saw those baby blue eyes staring back at her.

"Brooke…" Was all Lucas was able to say before pulling her into him, just letting her cry. Brooke tried pulling away for the first few seconds, but eventually just gave in. She needed someone there.

"Let's get you out of here…Come on…" Lucas said as he opened her passenger side door, setting her in it gently before walking over to the driver's side. After getting in, Lucas set his hand on Brooke's lap for support before pulling out of the school parking lot and off to his house.

I've kept my mouth shut for too long

And now I know that it was wrong

I wish I told you from the start

That this was never meant to last

We should've never gone this far

Song: Mouth Shut-The Veronicas

Next Chapter: Brooke and Lucas interaction:)