CHAPTER TEN:ABOUT YOU NOW

"You're right." – she whispered. – "You deserve to know that."

Blair sat on the small sofa, Chuck and Nate surrounded her. Dean didn't move for a while but when Brooke went and sat on her bed, he sat next to her.

"When i lived in Tree Hill i used to be ..hm.. pretty famous there. I mean everyone knew who i was. But i changed, thanks to a boy... He changed me completely. I didn't believe it, but i wasn't the same anymore..."

Chuck looked at Blair.

"... but as it usually happens he broke my heart. He cheated on me with my best friend Peyton..."

"Peyton? What kind of name is that?!" – Blair laughed. Dean looked angrily at her, but Chuck chuckled. He knew she was defective.

"Yeah i know" – Brooke laughed too. – "Anyway... after that we distanced... But then he said he want us to be friends only. So at one period, things were simple – Peyton was my best friend again, Lucas was just a friend. At that time i met Felix. We were more like friends with benefit... At my school there was a project – time capsule. 50 years ago, the kids who studied in our school, had a video of them talking about their lifes. We watched it and made a great difference between the life then and the life today. So the idea was that each student make a personal video where he talks about his life. And i did something which i honestly regret about now... I made a striptease..." – Brooke blushed – "...it was just a joke, but someone released the time capsule earlier – the next year of its shooting. At that time i was dating Lucas again. The whole school watched my video and it was uploaded on the internet. This is how Derek learnt about me... He watched that video, and since i wasn't in Tree Hill he didn't find it difficult to find me... Gossip Girl..."

"Ugh" – Blair rolled her eyes – "They should really close this site..."

"But who is Derek?" – Nate said still a bit confused.

"Peyton's brother. Now actually he is not her brother but he pretended to be..."

"Didn't she check that? How come she believes someone is her brother?" – Dean said unbelievably.

"Obviously" – Brooke said – "I don't know what happened after that... I received a call from Peyton while we were in Blair's villa. And tonight after going in my room, i received a text message with picture of him. When i tried to escape he has probably noticed i was acting suspicious."

Dean stood up. He walked around nervously.

"Okay how could this boy possibly hang out on freedom?! He tried to rape two girls so far, i don't want to think about the period of his life before meeting you and your friend."

"Dean, do you think..." – Blair started and looked at her boyfriend – "Do you think he may come back and try to hurt Brooke?"

"He will not dare" – Brooke said. "But on the other hand is crazy..."

"Yeah" – Blair agreed – "You should ask your mother to hire you a bodyguard..."

"A bodyguard?" – Brooke laughed – "I think you watch too many movies. This boy isn't okay, and i feel sorry for him more than mad at him... "

"How can you feel sorry for someone who tired to rape you just like hour ago?!?" – Chuck said loudly.

"I think in a different way Chuck. See that boy... I don't think how many bad things he has done... No, i think how many bad things have happened to him, to become so desperately trying to hurt other people... I think they're not a few."

Chuck stared at Brooke. Dean chuckled, Blair didn't like that.

"Shall we go now Dean? It's late." – Blair said loudly.

"Yeah" – Dean said abscently. – "But you Brooke lock the door. And don't go anywhere alone."

Brooke looked at him. It sounded more like order.

"I will lock the door and will not go out alone." – Brooke repeated. – "Thank you for everything."

She smiled at all of them.

"Anytime" – Blair smiled and left the room, followed by Nate and Chuck.

Dean was about to leave, but Brooke prevented that by holding his hand.

"Wait."

Brooke kissed him on his cheek. – "Thank you Dean."

Dean smiled: "It's okay Brooke."

Brooke watched him leave her room and when that happened she quickly closed the door. The entire atmosphere changed when she was alone.

Silence. Tear drops. Fear. Brooke sat on her bed and wrapped hands around her legs. She was crying. Her body trembling in a slow and rythmic movement. She was sick of holding it all inside. But she has to be strong. First rule: Don't show what you really feel. And till now, Brooke had no problem following it. But that night changed everything. Someone tried to rape her. Someone did actually hurt her. But someone helped her. And someone was there for her. Someone told her it was okay.

Brooke took her cell phone from the floor.

"Hey... Sorry I call. Just to tell you i am coming in Tree Hill tomorrow. Call me back when you hear that, okay?"

"You are going in Tree Hill?" – Victoria walked in. – "Why?"

Brooke looked at her. She was waiting for her mother to see her daughter not beeing alright. Nothing happened.

"Yeah. I have to finish some things there." – Brooke said quietly.

"Daughter, why do you go back there? Why do you walk all the way back!"

"Mom, it's not about that. I will never stop thinking about Tree Hill and my life there. The only way to do that is to get myself back there, and face up my fears. To say goodbye in person to everything i had there."

Victoria smiled at her daughter. "I am proud of you. Just so you know."

When Brooke was left alone again, she quickly text messaged someone and was staring at her phone, expecting it to ring, informing she has received a text message. It happened a minute later and she smiled. She liked the answer to her question, and quickly wrote back: Meet u in the morning. THANKS.

After 36 seconds she received the final messgage for the evening: It's okay Brooke.Meet u tomorrow.