The eatery Kate had picked out was an old-fashioned diner called the Two Whales. Brooke knew a lot of the students at Blackwell used the restaurant as sort of a local hangout, but she had never been there herself.

It was sad to admit, but Brooke had never been off campus before. She only left her room to go to classes or to eat at the cafeteria, nothing else. I mean it wouldn't have killed her to go out and do something, but there was always that uncertain risk that Brooke hated. She shifted uncomfortably between Max and Kate. Even though the other two weren't in her personal space that much, it was still tight and it made Brooke's latent claustrophobia flare up.

Kate seemed to catch onto this and put her hand on Brooke's thigh, trying to put her friend at ease. Brooke sat up straight and smiled at Kate, she really didn't want to freak out in Chloe's truck. Speaking of the blue haired punk, her and Max were talking about something and paying their passengers no mind.

Probably for the best.

Any awkward conversations could wait for dinner, where they wouldn't be packed together like sardines.

After what seemed like an eternity the truck lurched into the Two Whale's parking lot, with Brooke impatiently nudging Kate to get out. The blonde quickly vacated the vehicle and extended a hand out, which Brooke accepted gratefully.

"Come on people, move it, I'm starving!" Chloe announced, practically leaping out of the driver's seat. Max rolled her eyes and slid out right behind her.

"When are you not hungry?" The brunette asked sarcastically. Chloe snorted, but then held out her hand with a dramatic bow, which Max took blushing.

Should I offer to hold Kate's hand?

It was at this point that Brooke realized she had never let go of Kate's hand from earlier. Kate didn't seem to mind, so Brooke decided to press her luck and kept holding on.

The two couples made their way up the steps and entered the diner. The establishment was surprisingly empty, there were a couple of truckers seated at the bar, and only one other person in the booths. Some generic country song was playing on the jukebox which gave the place a very homey vibe.

Chloe and Max led the way to a booth stationed at the back near the jukebox. The two slid in on the side against the wall, while Kate and Brooke sat down across from them. Kate insisted Brooke have the window seat, which Brooke appreciated. Looking out the window was a good excuse for not engaging in conversation, and was less rude than being on your phone.

"Now order whatever the hell you want, my mom works here, and even though she's not on her shift right now I still get a discount." Chloe offered, leaning back in her seat. "One of the waitresses should be coming by any second now." As if on que, a waitress did emerge from the back and stepped up to the table to take their order.

Brooke assumed that they would be given some time to deliberate, but everyone else at the table rattled off their orders in rapid succession, like they've been doing this for years. The waitress then turned to Brooke expectantly.

"Um, I'll have cheeseburger and a water, I guess." Brooke tensed up, hoping that she hadn't ordered something they didn't have, but the waitress just scribbled in her notepad and excused herself to the kitchen.

The air was silent again, with Brooke worrying what kind of awkward conversations they would have.

But they didn't.

Chloe asked how things at 'Blackhell' were going and Kate and Max chimed in about various school topics. The two began talking about the upcoming Thanksgiving break, the stress inducing tests, and other bits of trivial gossip. Brooke didn't interject much, it felt nice not being pressured to talk about anything. Besides, she liked listening to Kate, the way she clasped her hands when she was saying something happy, how she giggled at every little thing, it was really endearing.

The waitress came back with their drinks, Chloe and Max both got sodas, while Kate got a mug of some hot tea. Kate took a few sips before she excused herself to use the bathroom.

This left Brooke alone with the other couple.

Oh Kate why have you forsaken me?

Chloe leaned forward with a smirk on her face. "So, what's the deal with you and Kate?"

"What?" Brooke asked, she knew what Chloe meant, but still wanted to confirm it.

"I mean like are you two dating, or friends with benefits?" Max jabbed Chloe with her elbow, but the punk didn't retract the question.

Brooke should've been super embarrassed, but she found herself growing angrier than anything else. "Are you actually suggesting all I see Kate as, is some doting fuck buddy?"

Chloe and Max's eyes went wide, obviously not expecting Brooke to fire back with such intensity.

"Woah, not like that, it was a joke, my bad." Chloe held up her hands apologetically.

"I honestly have no idea what we are, we were supposed to talk things over at dinner, but now we've got company so that doesn't exactly work now." Brooke was still upset, she tended to get salty when things didn't go the way she wanted.

"It's okay Brooke, I'm sure you and Kate will talk it out later." Max offered, clearly not wanting things to escalate any further.

"Yeah, just focus on eating some food, and worry about serious relationship shit later." Chloe added. Brooke wanted to fire back with some retort, but she realized they had a point. The dinner wasn't going to be ruined because Kate and her couldn't have a serious discussion.

I hate it when other people are right.

"Fine," Brooke relented. Chloe and Max began smiling, very glad that she didn't snap at them any further. Kate soon returned, but she looked a little off, she seemed very distant for some reason. Brooke was going to ask what was up, when the waitress appeared with their food. Max had gotten a simple club sandwich, while Chloe had gotten a giant stack of pancakes.

I didn't know they served breakfast at dinner.

Brooke's burger was set down in front of her, while Kate opted for a plain looking salad. Brooke slowly bit into her burger. Not the best one she had ever eaten, but she'd be lying if she said it wasn't juicy and delicious. Kate also seemed to be taking her time with her food, picking at the lettuce leaves one by one. The blonde still seemed distracted, like something was on her mind, Brooke would have to ask about this later.

It was the exact opposite situation for Max and Chloe. The bluenette was already halfway through her pancakes, and showed no signs of stopping, while Max took big bites out of her club sandwich. It was pretty entertaining in a weird way.

Thankfully, food had a way of stopping conversation, so Brooke could save her minimal social skills for later. She stole another glance at Kate, who had pushed away her salad and was scrolling through something on her phone.

Brooke still worried, but didn't inquire further.

For now.

The rest of the meal had gone off without a hitch. Brooke had expected it to be more chaotic, or some drama to happen and one of them would start crying, but it was just a normal dinner for the most part. Brooke needed to stop worrying about everything, in fact maybe if she did she could have some fun for once.

Chloe paid the discounted bill and the four left the diner into the brisk night. If it was cold earlier it was freezing now. Brooke found herself shouldered up against Kate trying to keep warm, which the holy girl reciprocated well.

The ride back was oddly silent. Whether it was because they were full on food or that they had exhausted most small talk, Brooke didn't know. The night scrolled by outside the window of the truck, Arcadia Bay was dark, save for the light blur of street lamps and distant cars. It was small, yet serene, it also helped that this time Brooke didn't find the close proximity of other persons uncomfortable.

It was warm.

Sooner than she expected, Chloe pulled into the Blackwell parking lot and looked over at her passengers.

"Well, this is your stop, parting is such sweet sorrow and all that." Chloe projected, shifting the truck into park.

"Thank you so much for driving Brooke and I." Kate thanked graciously.

"Ditto" Brooke added.

Chloe gave a proud grin. "No problem, you guys have fun doing whatever it is Blackwell nerds do."

"Actually Chloe, could I go home with you?" Max asked her blue-haired girlfriend, sporting her signature doe-eyed look.

"Aw c'mon Max, don't pull that face on me, you know I never turn you down anyway." Max just giggled and nuzzled up to Chloe, a content look on her face. Kate nudged Brooke and understood that they should probably get out and let the other couple have their moment. Chloe gave a silent wave goodbye as the two exited the vehicle.

Once they were fully outside, Chloe pulled out of the parking lot with a lot more grace as opposed to her usual recklessness. Brooke looked over at Kate, she had that spaced out look on her face again.

Brooke didn't like that face.

"Hey Kate, you wanna talk now, I know we really didn't get a chance at dinner." It seemed to take Kate a few moments to register Brooke's statement.

"O-Oh yeah, sure Brooke." Kate replied, shifting awkwardly.

"Kate is there something wrong, you've seemed kind of off."

"Yeah I've just been thinking about things."

"Us things?"

"Yes."

Brooke gulped. This was about them, and it didn't sound good. Kate collected herself and looked at Brooke with one of the most serious and stern looks she had ever seen on the petite blonde.

"I need to ask you something and you need to be one hundred percent honest with me."

Brooke couldn't form any words, it was like her throat was caught in a vice. If she had tried to speak she probably would've choked out desperate noises. Instead she decided to give a nonverbal nod.

"Brooke, do you continue to hang out with me… and like me… because you feel sorry for me, and what I went through?" The words looked like they pained Kate to say, and it pained Brooke even more to hear them.

This must be what she was thinking about at the diner.

Brooke wanted to immediately refute Kate's statement and tell her how wrong she was.

But she would be lying.

Brooke pitied Kate.

All the shit the girl had gone through, and all of it undeserved. I mean, she even said she only went to help Kate initially to make herself feel better.

Selfish.

But did she continue spending time with Kate because she felt bad for her, or because she actually enjoyed her company?

Both.

But how could she tell Kate that?

Brooke had hesitated too long and Kate now had a subtle scowl on her face.

"Oh… I see, you don't have to say anything." Kate said dismissively, a hurt look on her face, and began to turn away before Brooke placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Wait, I…" Brooke closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Yes, I do pity you." Kate's face flushed with shock and anger, but Brooke continued before she could get a word in.

"But that's only because of how much I like you, how could I not. I mean I did only care about myself at first, but after that I spent more time with you and learned what a wonderful person you are. I can't help feeling bad about what you went through and I just wanted to help you, but I swear Kate I have honestly loved every moment I've spent with you and… I just want you to be happy…" Brooke poured her entire soul into that explanation, she hoped Kate would understand what she meant, there was really no other way to phrase it.

Kate's expression was now one of contemplation, like she was unsure of how to even dissect Brooke's jumbled mess of a statement. The girl with the glasses couldn't even look at Kate anymore, choosing to stare at her shoes, wishing she could just melt into the pavement.

Kate still wasn't talking.

"I get it." Brooke began, catching Kate off guard. "This can't work." Admitting this made her feel sick, but she knew on some level it was true.

"I just fuck things up, I only care about myself to do anything right for you."

Brooke was crying, because of course she was crying.

Pathetic.

"I'd just end up insulting you again somehow, or maybe you'd realize how this is against your faith or something, and decide to forget me."

Brooke began shaking, but not because of the cold.

Wow, can't even keep your cool for one night, can you?

Selfish.

Pathetic.

Terrible.

"Just go Kate, I don't deserve someone as kind and gentle as you, I'll just hole up in my room again and you'll never have to look at me, which is probably for the-"

Brooke's tirade was interrupted by something soft and tender on her lips.

Lips.

Kate's lips.

Kate was kissing her.

This wasn't a simple peck, this was an actual kiss. Brooke was confused, startled, uncertain, but as Kate pulled her closer those emotions began washing away.

Brooke returned Kate's passion as the two embraced under the cold atmosphere of the Blackwell parking lot.

It was unexpected.

But it was good.

Brooke felt good.

And she decided not to question it.