A/N: Hey guys! Okay so before you read this chapter, I need to point a few things out. One, I don't know if it is capable to overdose like I did for a character in this chapter. I used my imagination. Second, there probably isn't a real place called North Carolina State Institution, or a maximum security rehabilitation center. If there is, I didn't know. Once again, I used my imagination. Third, police probably wouldn't do what I had them do in this chapter. Again, my imagination!
Thanks to all my readers and reviewers! And Morgan, this chapter probably wouldn't get done without your encouragement. And you all should thank my incredibly boring history teacher. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have gotten this done!
Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or its characters. I just like to play with them!
"So I've heard rumors about these bad ass parties yall used to throw. Apparently they are no more?" Jake asked. Nathan, Jake, and I were hanging out on my driveway. It's Tuesday night. Haley and Peyton are having girl time, which I opted out of, and God only knows where Luke is. There was nothing better to do so Jake and Nate were tossing the football back and forth while I painted my toenails.
"Yeah they were pretty legendary! Of course, any party thrown by the Chosen Five is gonna be!" Nathan laughed.
"Chosen Five?"
Nathan and I just grinned at each other.
"That's what they call us. Me, Luke, Peyt, Hales, and Brooke. Used to just be Chosen Four til your sister showed up and stole our hearts!" he joked.
"Stole your heart? More like placed a bet you couldn't resist!" I laughed before clamping a hand over my mouth. I really need to learn that whole thinking before speaking thing people tell me about.
"What bet?" Jake questioned, catching the football.
"Nothing. It's nothing Jake!" I stammered, Nathan laughing.
"Bullshit B! I know you're lying!" he said. I quickly stood from the ground as he threw the football into the grass. Nathan just stood there twiddling his fucking thumbs like a jackass.
"Jake, it's not a big deal. Just a stupid bet!"
"Just tell me what the bet is Brooke!" Jake demanded.
"Oh you haven't heard this one yet?" I heard Luke ask from the street. I hadn't even heard his car pull up.
"Luke, just go inside!" Nathan told him, not wanting a fight.
"No, it's okay Nate. Let him talk!" Jake said, pushing past me.
"Brooke bet Nathan that she wouldn't fuck me. It ends at the Christmas Eve party," he explained before looking at me, "Better be ready Brookie, I'll be bringin my A game!"
I narrowed my eyes at him, hoping Jake would keep his temper.
"You son of a bitch!" Jake growled, punching Luke square in the jaw.
"Oh don't bring my mom into this Jakey!" Luke laughed, swinging at Jake, his fist connecting with Jake's cheek.
"Jake stop!" I screamed, thankful my parents weren't home to witness this.
"Lucas quit!" Nathan shouted. After a few more punches we were finally able to pull them apart. Jake had ended up being pulled away by Nathan; one of Nathan's arms around his waist, the other around Jake's shoulder from behind him. Luke ended up being pushed back by me once Nathan got Jake away from him.
"Nathan, take Jake inside. I need to talk with jackass here!" I said loudly, keeping one hand on Luke's chest.
"Are you sure B?" Nathan asked. I kept my hand on Luke's chest, turning my head to look at Nate and Jake. Jake had a split lip, blood trickling from his mouth.
"Get him inside and cleaned up before my parents get home!" I ordered. Nathan pulled Jake by one arm into the house. I watched them until the front door closed before turning on Lucas.
"You asshole!" I yelled. He pulled the bottom of his shirt up to blot at the cut on his eyebrow.
"He hit me first!"
"And I told you to leave him alone! Damn it Luke! For once, why couldn't you listen to me?"
"Why are you so protective of him?" he asked.
"Because no one else will protect him!" I answered, realizing I was gonna have to tell Luke Jake's story now. Otherwise, he wouldn't leave him alone. I took a seat on the concrete, pulling my cigarettes and lighter from my pocket. I knew I would need something to get through this story. I lit my own before handing Luke the pack and lighter.
"What are you not telling me Brooke?" Lucas asked quietly. I took a drag of my cigarette before turning to glance at him.
"Jake didn't just come back from military school," I whispered, knowing already how hard this was gonna be.
"What do you mean? Where was he?"
"Okay, Luke, I'm telling you this so maybe you'll cut him some slack. But this information goes nowhere. If I ever hear a whisper of you telling anyone about my brother, I will kill you. And I'm not joking. This is serious shit Luke. Got it?"
"What did he kill someone or something?" he asked, trying to make a joke.
"He almost killed himself," I answered, not in the mood for jokes. I glanced at Luke and he just stared at me, wide eyed.
"He wasn't trying. Look, Jake and I, we were always close growing up okay? So when we got to high school and he started hanging out with the wrong crowd, he didn't hesitate to take me along for the ride," I laughed bitterly.
"We were a pretty bad crowd too. Drinking, sex, all types of drugs. I mainly just stuck to drinking and smoking pot. Popped a few pills every once in a while. But Jake," I said, taking another drag, "Jake liked to party; hard. His favorite drug of choice was cocaine. But only after he had popped a few pills first. Didn't matter what they were; uppers, downers, anything.
"So one weekend when our parents were away, we partied nonstop. Jake spent all day and night Friday drunk. Late Friday night he started taking some pills. Kept going til Saturday afternoon. Hadn't slept in almost two days. Saturday night he did a few lines of coke at this party. That's when Jimmy showed up. He had some crack with him, decided to smoke it. Offered some to Jake. He was so strung out already that he took a hit. Nothing happened at first."
I started to choke up at this point. It was hard for me to remember that night.
"Brooke, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to," Luke said, almost in a whisper, rubbing my back.
"No I have to. You need to understand," I mumbled.
"An hour or so later, Jake decided to do a few more lines. I told him not to but he never listened to me. After his third line, his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he just collapsed. For a minute or two no one moved. Then it was full on panic. Everyone just ran out. Me and our friend Bobby were the only ones left. Bobby called 911 while I stayed with Jake. He was barely breathing and he wouldn't wake up."
By this point, tears were rolling down my cheeks. I took a long drag on my cigarette, not chancing a look at Lucas. It was hard enough having to tell this story. I didn't want to see the look of pity on his face. Jake and I never asked for anyone's pity over this. Jake is strong, he's a survivor. And I couldn't be more proud, even if I am just as fucked up as he is.
"By the time we got to the hospital, he was still unconscious. They said he overdosed, almost died. The hospital staff was forced to involve the police since drugs were involved. When he was released, cops were waiting for him. They arrested him. The cops made a deal though. Instead of going to jail, he was required to spend 90 days in a maximum security rehabilitation center. Once he completed that, he had to spend eighteen months at the North Carolina State Institution. It's like the druggie's version of a mental hospital," I explained. Lucas just kept rubbing my back, letting me talk.
"Jake spent eighteen months locked in some institution with other recently rehabilitated addicts. Kind of like a halfway house without as much freedom. It was to make sure he had enough time to recover without the chance of a relapse. When he got home last week, our parents sat him down and told him, very bluntly, that if he fucks up again, they'll send him back there until his 25th birthday," I said. Flicking my cigarette into the street, I stood and faced Lucas as he stood up as well.
"Now do you understand? If Jake touches any drugs, gets into trouble at school, or gets into any fights, I'll lose my brother. Again. I can't lose him again Luke. I won't!" I stood in front of him, feeling completely vulnerable, wringing my hands.
"Okay, okay, I get it B!" Luke said, taking my hands in his, trying to calm me down.
"I'll leave him alone. You have my word!" he said, pulling me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around his waist, holding on tight.
"Don't make me regret trusting you Luke," I whispered.
"I won't. I promise," he whispered back, placing a soft kiss to my forehead.
"Thank you," I murmured, my cheek pressed against his chest.
"For what?"
"For just being here. I needed this," I said, unsure if I should have said that out loud.
"I needed it too Brookie," he whispered, kissing my forehead again.
"Come on, let's go clean you up!" I pulled away from him, pulling him by the hand towards my front door, "Maybe you could apologize to Jake while we're at it!"
"Hey, I said I'd leave him alone. I didn't say I would be nice to him!" Lucas joked, bringing a smile to my face. I stopped right before we entered the house, one hand on the door knob, the other still in Luke's.
"You better be nice to him or I won't do this again," I said, kissing him slowly, twirling my tongue in perfect sync with his.
"Jake is my best friend now," he whispered against my lips with a smirk.