Chapter Four - What I deserve

"Are…are you sure this is right?" Lucas stuttered, his eyes caught on the first paragraph of the newspaper article his brother had just brought to his attention.

The paragraph that read…

In the newest celebrity scandel; Brooke Davis tells us how she seduced soccor ledgend, Harry Grey into sleeping with her just a day after he wed his high school sweetheart.

"It looks pretty valid. They got photo's of her, they got all the details right…" Nathan pointed to the printout in Lucas' hand as he spoke "This looks like a genuine kiss and tell story, man"

"Well, what the hell am I suppose to do now?" Lucas raised his voice with panic before Nathan quickly hushed him down.

"Its okay, Luke. I mean, you didn't do anything with her…she's got nothing on you…" he reassured his brother, oblivious to the fact that Lucas and Brooke and kissed the previous night "She cant go to the papers because she's got no scandel"

Lucas' fists clenched and his body became rigid, as anxiety started to creep in. And, after a few seconds silence, with his eyes focused on the ground, he murmured the words "We kissed last night"

Nathan closed his eyes tight, and dropped his head as his brother's words echoed in his thoughts.

"If she goes to the papers, I'm finished"

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Lucas spotted her at the top of the street. She was dressed in tiny denim shorts, with her hair tied up in a loose bun. The silver stiletto's that graced her feet snapping sexily with her every step, as she strutted toward the alleyway where he sat in his blacked out BMW.

He'd called her up that morning, telling her he needed to see her, but not once did he mention the reasoning behind his want for a sudden meeting. Not once did he tell her that he'd found out about the story she'd sold to the papers.

So as she walked across the street, oblivious to the bombshell he was going to drop; he sat and waited, the anger building inside of him, the fear of losing his career the only thing on his mind.

She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one could witness her getting into his car, before she did exactly that; quietly shutting the door behind her. And, before she could say a word, he threw the printout of the newspaper article into her lap.

"What's this?" she frowned before beginning to open out the sheets of paper

"Your past"

Brooke's stomach knotted as she came face to face with the kiss and tell story she'd sold just over twelve months ago. A lump forming in her throat as she read through the words she'd spoken to the paper's editor and her eyes closing as she wished for this moment to end.

"So, how much they paying you?"

"What?" Brooke answered, unable to understand the meaning behind Lucas' words

"The papers" he turned to face her, his eyes narrowed and his posture cold "I mean, you must be getting, what?…fifty grand for a story on me"

A sadistic smile crossed her lips, as she shook her head "Wow" she breathed, finally realising the thoughts that were going through Lucas' head "So, I guess this is when the real Lucas Scott comes out, huh?"

"I think you're the one that's being outed for what you really are right now" he scoffed

"Your just like the rest of them" her hazel eyes tightened, and her nostrils flared with anger at how he could ever think he had the right to question her about her life "You think your some kind of fucking god, with your superstar career, and your squeaky clean reputation…" she got more infuriated with every word that passed her pursed lips "You think if someone shows an interest in you, they're out to fucking ruin you"

"Well, its true. You are out to ruin me, aren't you?" he stated with his teeth gritted

She turned to face him for the first time since she'd gotten in his car, her eyes getting lost in his for a split second "If I told I wasn't, would you believe me?"

Silence.

He didn't say a word.

He couldn't. Not when it would be a lie. No matter what she said, he wouldn't believe her. He couldn't believe her.

"I didn't think so" she looked away

"What do you expect, Brooke?…you kiss me when I have a wife and then I find out you've been doing the same thing with other guys, and selling the stories to the papers for a shit load of cash"

"It was one story…one time…one mistake!" she retorted

"So, you gave the money back then?" he asked, as Brooke's expression became confused "When you realised it was a mistake?…you gave the money you earned back, and you fixed the marriage you ruined" he asked, knowing she'd done no such thing

"Did you ever think that there might just be something more to this? That I might have actually had a reason for selling this story?" she waved the papers in his face

"Well, if there is…tell me"

"You wouldn't understand" she breathed

There was a second of silence in which he looked her dead in the eye, and she did everything to avoid his gaze "Try me"

In that moment she thought about letting him in, about telling him the truth. But the moment soon passed, and she'd built the walls around her back up "I shouldn't have to explain myself to you"

"You should, when its my career your planning on ruining"

"You know what? I don't have to listen to this" Brooke grabbed her bag, and opened up the car door before getting out "Oh, and fyi, you were the one that kissed me" she told him viciously before mumbling some unknown words; the only one of which Lucas could make out was "Jackass"

And, then the door shut in his face.

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Brooke sat alone on the huge black leather sofa in the comfort of her luxurious LA penthouse apartment. Her tiny legs wrapped up in her breathless chest, and her hazel/green eyes watery with tears. Only when she was alone could she allow herself to be this weak. Only when she was alone was she forced to drift into thoughts of the events of the night before.

Only when she was alone could she stop pretending.

Stop pretending that she was hiding something inside.

Stop pretending that someone would save her from the life she'd convinced herself she deserved.

It had now been six days since she'd heard from Lucas. Six days since she'd stormed out of his car. And, out of his life.

Six days since she'd given up all hope that he was the one that was going to rescue her. That he was the one that was going save her from it all.

Broken glass laid scattered across the glossy magnolia floors. Tables where left turned on there tops. Numerous draws of cutlery were still open. Doors where left hanging by there hinges.

And it was all her fault.

If she hadn't had disagreed with Nick on what dress to wear to the launch of his new nightclub, none of this would have happened. If she hadn't gone against his advice, he wouldn't have laid a finger on her.

But, she had.

And, this is what she deserved in return.

Or so she told herself.

She clasped a hand around her bruised stomach as she got up off of the sofa and began clearing up the mess Nick had left before storming out of the apartment, and most definitely into the bed of another peroxide blonde that worked in one of his many lavish nightclubs.

Dragging her feet across the cluttered floor, Brooke picked up a broom and began sweeping up the remains of the chaos of the night before. And, that's when her eyes shifted to the huge mahogany framed mirror hung on the wall opposite. That's when she caught sight of her frail body, and her swollen skin.

That's when she came face to face with her reflection.

Before she had chance to let it sink in. Before she had chance to really realise the damage Nick had been capable of, she'd looked away. She'd blocked out all thoughts of the broken shell of a woman she'd become.

He'd been fine at the beginning of their relationship, he'd been better than fine. He'd been romantic. He'd been loving. He'd been caring. But, then after a year, she'd come home early after a night out with friends, and found him in their bed with another woman. At first she'd understandably freaked out and immediately packed up her things and left. But, then in classic Nick Chavez fashion he'd talked her round. He'd charmed his way back into her life.

And, she'd fallen for it. She'd fallen for him.

And, for a while things where good between the two.

But, somewhere along the way things had changed.

Somewhere along the way, he'd started controlling her into doing things she didn't want to do. Namely selling a kiss and tell story on Harry Grey; a guy Nick hated.

Somewhere along the way the Brooke Davis that was once strong, independent and honest, had began living a lie.

And, she just couldn't seem to find an escape no matter how hard she'd tried.

So, she'd simply stopped trying.

She'd simply given up.

The way she saw it, this was her fault. She'd been foolish enough to take him back. In her eyes this was the least she deserved. In any case, without him she was nothing. Without him she was just another fashion designer struggling to make ends meet.

"Brooke!"

Nick's deep voice echoed on the other side of the front door. That's when Brooke realised she'd been so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn't even heard him banging his fist against the door for the last five minutes.

"Open up, I forgot my key!" he requested with some amount of politeness. An exact contrast to the tone of his voice the last time she'd spoken to him the night before.

Suddenly feeling a little uneasy that she hadn't yet cleaned up the mess, she reluctantly unlatched the door, and kept her focus on the ground as he gave her a quick peck on the cheek.

"What took you so long?" he made small talk as he grabbed a soda from the fridge

"I, I was just-" she began to stutter. What could she say? She took so long to answer the door because she was thinking about how he beat her last night? That would only result in more pain "I was just clearing up"

Nick's eyes scanned the apartment, a huge lump forming in his throat as he witnessed the damage he'd caused. And, that's when she saw that look in his eyes, that look of guilt when he spotted the bruises up and down her arms.

"Brooke, I-" he stuttered, stepping towards her "I-I didn't mean to" he hesitated in his words, disgusted at his own behaviour "I'm sorry" he ran his fingers across the blue area on her arm

"Its okay" she whispered, her eyes never leaving the floor. She knew it wasn't okay. She knew it was anything but okay. But he was sorry. She could see it in his eyes.

Or so she told herself.

She straightened herself out and took a deep breath, wishing herself to be anywhere but here, wishing to have any other life than the one she had.

Wishing on something that would never happen.

"I said I'd go see Peyton…"

It was an excuse to get out that place. He knew it just as well as she did.

"I'll only be an hour or so, I'll clean up when I get back" she grabbed her cell off of the counter

"It's okay, I'll do it. Take as long as you want"

She offered him a false smile, as she put a sweater on to cover the marks, and headed for the door.

"You love me, right?" Nick asked, just before she could leave

"Yes"

"Say it…say you love me?" he begged.

Maybe hearing her say that she loved him would make him feel less guilty about what he was doing to her. Maybe all this was to ease his guilt. Or maybe it was just to let her know that he was the one with the power.

She stopped in her tracks, her back facing him as her hand rested on the latch of the door, her hazel/green eyes watery with tears as her lips choked out the three words she'd least wanted to use.

"I love you"

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And, the award for the longest review ever goes toooooooo...

chadandsophiasgirl - I'm not really sure if its a good thing that my story kept you from doing your school work lol no actually, scratch that...of course its a good thing haha reading about BL is always a good thing lol. Thanks for the extra long review...it made my day!

Anyways, I hope you guys liked the new chapter...I tried to get it up as fast as I could because I dont like to keep you guys waiting haha. And, again I hope it didnt dissapoint.

Pweassseeeeee review!

Love you guys! Sophia x