A/N: So i know this isnt the most interesting chapter but i had to introduce Brooke's friend into the story because she will be important in later chapter, so bare with me because after this it will get better.

Chapter Four

It had been an eventful night for Annaliese and me and by the time we walked home from Nathan and Haley's the little girl was too tired to even stand, so I told her she could take a bath tomorrow. I helped her into her pajamas and she was asleep the minute she hit the bed. I kissed her gently on the forehead and walked out of the room, turning off all the lights, but leaving a crack just how she liked it at home.

I made my way to the bedroom where I was staying. I lied on the bed thinking about everything that had gone on that night. In a way it didn't even feel real, like I was dreaming all of this up. I knew I needed to talk to someone about it so I got out my cell phone and called my best friend from California, Jenna.

5 Years Before

It was my second week of school in California and people were already saying I was pregnant. I guess I was starting to show more than I though. All well, I thought. I'm not here to make friends; I'm just here to have my baby so I can go home.

I walked into my English class and saw the girl who had been extremely nice to me last week. I figured she had heard the news and probably didn't want to be my friend anymore, so I made my way to the back corner of the room and sat down. I opened my book and was surprised to find that when I looked up the girl, with her extremely long, blonde hair and deep blue eyes was standing right in front of me.

"Hey, I waved for you to come sit by me, but I guess you didn't see," she said in her sweet, gentle voice.

"Oh, yea, sorry, I didn't see," I said amazed. Maybe no one did tell her. So I moved my seat next to hers and when she me over after school to help pick out an outfit for her date on Saturday, I thought I would ask her about it.

"I've noticed your style is so great," she said to me as we entered her enormous room. I used to have one of these at home, in Tree Hill, I thought. "Not what I would expect from a girl who is from a small town."

"I usually like to go out of town to places like New York and stuff to get my clothes," I answered. "Tree Hill didn't have the best stores. But what I'm wearing now I made myself," I said. She looked at me in amazement.

"You made that?"

"Yea, I make a lot of my own clothes," I answered.

"You've got to show me some of the stuff you've made," she gushed. "Tomorrow you're going to show me everything." I nodded.

But today it was her turn to show me her clothes so we could pick out an outfit for her date. As I was going through her color- coordinated I hesitated on asking her the question. Finally it came out.

"So, Jenna, I was wondering," I said holding to sleeve of a shirt. "Has anyone said anything to you about me?"

"I mean I've heard some stuff, but they're just rumors," she started. "I chose not to believe rumors, all they do is bring people down and ruin their lives." I sighed. How naive she was. Didn't she know that rumors weren't always false?

"What if the rumors are true?" I asked her.

"Then it's the persons business, not the whole schools," she answered and she did have a point there. It was the whole school's business that I was pregnant. They were just bored with their own uninteresting lives and had to feed off the interesting ones of others.

"Why are you asking?"

"Well, because, what people are saying about me might happen to be… true," I stumbled. She looked at me not really with a face of sympathy but with a gentle face that showed me it was going to be alright.

"I had a feeling it was," she answered honestly. "And I guess this is the part where you think I'm going to ditch you as a friend." I just put my head down; I couldn't even look her in the eyes right now. "Brooke if anything you need friends right now. Yea, people are going to talk behind your back and maybe even in front of your face, but it's your job to ignore them." I nodded.

From then on Jenna and I were best friends. I told her the story of Lucas, Peyton, and I and how my mom sent me here to live with my aunt until the baby was born. When Annaliese was born and I kept her she helped me babysit when I needed it and was like a second mother to her.

Present

"Hello," said a voice on the other line.

"Hey, it's me," I said holding back the tears. I didn't really know why I wanted to cry. Maybe because I missed her soft, gentle voice that could always calm me down, or maybe I was just overwhelmed by the day I had.

"What's wrong?" she said detecting the sadness.

"Nothing," I lied.

"I don't believe it. Spill."

"I just had the weirdest day. First when Anna and I went to McDonald's we ran into Lucas." I explained and I heard a small gasp on the other end of the line.

"You mean THE Lucas?"

"Yes, THE Lucas," I answered. "Then if that wasn't weird enough he told Haley we were in town and she and Nathan invited Anna and me over to dinner. I mean it's not that I don't like Haley or anything because I don't have anything against her it was just weird. But she and Nathan got married junior year and they have a three year old named Jamie."

"That's good. At least they're doing well," she answered.

"Yea, but that's not the whole story," I said.

"Of course not."

"Apparently Haley didn't tell her neighbor that she was having people over for dinner because when we were socializing she came over to borrow some sugar. And do you want to know who that neighbor was?" I didn't wait for her to answer my question, "Peyton."

"Oh, no, what did she do?"

"She was just like shocked. At first she kind of stared at me then she got what she came for and left," I answered.

"And did she see Annaliese?"

"No, she was playing with Jamie somewhere, but Lucas did earlier," and for some reason I was unaware of I started to cry.

"Maybe you should just come home."

"I can't," I answered. "He will find me there. We all agreed it would be best if we came here where he couldn't find Anna and me, remember. No matter how weird or awkward this is I have to stick this out because I can't let him find us."

She sighed a deep breath that made a huge static in the phone. "Well, maybe I can come there and help you with all of this?"

"No," I said. "Besides the first thing he is going to expect is for you to come with us. I have to do this on my own Jenn."

"I know," she said sadly. It was one of the few times I've heard her sound sad. She was usually the one keeping my spirits up when I needed it.

"So, please continue to watch out for the store. I've got to go, but I love you."

"Will do. I love you too Brooke. And Brooke, please be careful."

"I will I promise," I said. I heard another sigh and the line was dead.