This is for ILOVENATHAN23, otherwise I might not have updated. I've been super busy with work and school. This chapter may be short, but it's got the drama!
Another Kind of Green
Leave the Pieces
Lucas looked down the hallway and saw Brooke standing at her locker. After debating the idea back and forth, he approached her. As he neared her, he could sense a feeling of sadness in her entire demeanor- her expressions, her body stance, and her appearance. She wore a t-shirt that said "UCLA" across the front, jeans, and tennis shoes. Her hair was pulled back into a simple pony tail. This took him by surprise. Sure, he had never been close or even friends with Brooke, but he had always known of her. It was common knowledge that she came from a poor family, but she always carried herself and appearance with dignity. In fact, Lucas had always admired that she displayed so much pride in herself, and he really admired the confidence she had in herself.
Realizing what he was thinking, Lucas stopped in his tracks. How stupid had he really been. Why was he realizing now that he had always admired Brooke? Had he always had these feelings for her? Why hadn't he realized this sooner? Better yet, why did he ignore these feelings?
Shaking his thoughts, Lucas continued to walk over to her. He was going to tell her how he felt. He no longer cared about what other people thought. If Nathan and Haley could do it, so could he and Brooke. He loved her, and he knew that now.
"Hey, Brooke." he said.
She shut her locker, and turned to face him. She didn't say anything, and just stared at him. Lucas looked deep in her eyes, and saw pain and sorrow.
"I, uh, got our grade from our Chem Project." Lucas said, hoping this would grab her curiosity.
Still, Brooke said nothing.
"Uh, well we got an A. I guess we even got the highest grade in the entire class." He smiled.
"Oh, that's great." she said her voice cold and flat. She turned and walked away leaving Lucas standing there dumbfounded. He realized that getting Brooke to trust him was definitely going to be a lot harder than he thought.
- - - - -
Nathan stood outside the tutor center, watching the clock, waiting for it to strike 3:00. He had arranged to meet Haley every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 3:00 for his "tutoring." Whitey had actually agreed to allow him to miss the first thirty minutes of practice as long as he made it up after practice after everyone else left, and worked harder during the official practice. Whitey knew that Nathan's grades weren't excellent, and he couldn't risk losing a player, especially his star player, to ineligibility. He was grateful Nathan had looked for help.
Nathan noticed it was three, and stepped through the tutor center doors.
"Hey." Hey said softly. Haley turned to face him, a smile illuminating her face.
"Nathan, hi!" Her smile grew. Nathan's heart flipped over seeing her smile at him. He walked over and sat next to her, and then leaned over to give her a kiss.
"Are you ready to study?" She smiled at him.
"I never thought I'd actually want to study."
For the next thirty minutes they studied, talked, laughed, kiss (a reward for Nathan getting a question right.) Neither of them realized how fast the time had passed, or even that it was time for Nathan to leave.
"Ok, so x equals 6, y equals 5, and k equals, k equals." he paused looking at the problem. "k equals 12."
"Good job!" Haley gave him a kiss. They parted, their foreheads still touching, both of them smiling at each other.
"Hey, Nate! Whitey sent me to get you!" Tim busted through the doors. Haley and Nathan separated quickly, but not quickly enough as Tim had noticed how close they had been.
"Man, what's going on? Are you guys like, dating or something?" Tim asked.
"What?" Nathan laughed nervously. "Haley's my tutor, Tim. That's all. She's nothing to me."
He looked over at Haley, who was looking away from them both. He saw a tear slide down her cheek.
"Well, thank you. I gotta got to practice. I'll see you on Wednesday." He got up and left. After he had left, Haley broke into harder sobs.
- - - - -
Brooke was happy that her father was passed out on the couch. She didn't want to have to face him today. She walked to the fridge grabbing the gallon of milk. She smelled it, and realized it had gone sour. She would have to go shopping soon. She set the milk aside, and saw the note from her mother.
Brooke,
I can't stay here anymore Brookie. I'm finally living the life I want to live. I've met a man named Roger, and I've fallen in love with him. I'm sorry I couldn't stay with you, but me and Roger are getting married, and we're going to start a family. Watch over your father, Brooke. He's your family now. I'll always love you.
-Mom
Brooke felt tears in her eyes.
"Thanks, Mom. I'm glad you want me to be apart of your new family." She whispered quietly.
She walked over to the sink, pouring the milk down the drain. She noticed there was a message on the answering machine. She reached over and pushed play.
"James, this is Rick. I need the keys back to your truck. I told you I'd give you three days, it's been almost a week. I've filled your position and I need the keys. I'm sorry things had to be this way, James, but I couldn't rely on you anymore You need to straighten your act up."'Great.' Brooke thought. 'My mother abandoned me and left me with an unemployed drunk of a father.'
"Thanks, Mom." She looked into the den where her father was passed out on the couch. She saw him mumble something in his sleep, and turn to the side.
Life just wasn't getting any better.
- - - - -
Brooke walked over to Haley's, knowing that she needed her best friend more than ever now. Haley could always help her when times got rough.
She approached the front door, and knocked slightly.
Haley's mother opened the door. "Oh, thank God! Haley's been up in her room sobbing since she got home. I'm so glad you're here."
Brooke immediately ran up the stairs to Haley's room. She saw her friend lying in a huddle mess on her bed. She walked over to her, and rubbed her back.
"Haley?"
"Br-Br-Brooke?"" Haley sobbed and rolled over to look at her friend.
"Yep. Haley what's wrong?"
"He-he-he's ashamed of me." She cried even harder at this. Haley didn't need to say more, she knew who 'he ' was.
"I'm sorry, Haley. They're all jerks." Haley continued to sob, and Brooke pulled her into her arms and let her cry for almost an hour. She noticed that Haley had fallen asleep. She gently let of Haley, and pulled the covers up around her. Saying goodbye to her parents, Brooke left.
- - - - -
Nathan heard a knock at his front door, and paused his play station and walked over to answer it. He was surprised at what he saw.
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Brooke said angrily.
""Excuse me?"
"Don't play stupid. I know you're the reason I just sat with a sobbing Haley for over an hour. What the hell did you do?" She glared at him.
"We were at the tutor center, we were kissing, and Tim walked in on us. I panicked, Brooke. I wasn't ready for them to know." Nathan said guiltily.
"No, this is my fault. I should have warned her more about how big of an ass you are." She spat out. "I want you to leave her alone. Better yet, tell your entire group to leave us the hell alone."
Brooke stormed off, leaving a very sad and guilty Nathan. As she got farther and farther from his house, the tears began to fell.
What had her and Haley done to be hurt so badly?
- - - - -
Brooke walked through her front door, and stepped into the den. She looked at the couch and noticed her father was gone. She thought that maybe he had left to bring the keys back to his former boss.
She stepped into the kitchen to be proven wrong. Her father was hunched over a note - her mother's note - on the table. He stood up when heard her step in and turned to face her. His faced was etched with rage.
"You whore! She left because of you!" He slapped across the face. Brooke stepped back, feeling her cheek burn from where he had hit her.
"She didn't want you! She never did, you little bitch. And now she's gone and it's your fault." He hit her again, this time much harder. Brooke started to cry.
"Dad, I'm sor-"
"Don't you apologize you little whore. You wanted her to leave. You wanted to ruin all our lives. You were just a stupid mistake." He punched square in the eye. Brooke fell to the ground.
He walked to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of Corona, and walked into the living room turning on the TV leaving Brooke laying unconscious on the kitchen floor.
