AN: Thank you to all who have read, reviewed and added me to their story alert list. I greatly appreciate it. I am anxious to see and hear what you all have to say about this chapter. I hope you all like it. It will be Brooke's POV. I am sorry I am so late in posting this chapter, I've been sick with the flu. Without further ado…Enjoy!
Who does he think he is? I bet he expected me to just launch myself into his arms and call him my savior for finally telling me the truth; well he got another thing coming. I still can't believe no-one even thought to tell me the truth. It's been a couple weeks since I've been out of the hospital at least 4 weeks since I've been awake, why hasn't anyone thought to tell me the truth? They were all going to let me go on assuming it was Chase who was there for me?
All these thoughts keep running through my head as I make my way up the stairs to the front door of Deb's house, which is Naley's temporary home as well; I knock on the door and patiently wait for someone to answer. Nathan greets me with a smile and informs me that Haley just stepped into the shower; he excuses himself to let Haley know that I am here.
As I am waiting for him to return I walk around the living room and admire all the photos of Nathan as a child, he was such a cute little boy. I have so many memories with the boy in the photos; there are actually a couple pictures I see here with myself and Peyton. Ugh, I don't even want to think about her; that is a subject for Hales and I to talk about, once she's done with her shower.
I walk out the back door; over to the patio set and set my butt on one of the reclining chairs. Nathan spots me and comes walking over, a small smile on his face. "What are you so happy about?" I ask him as he sits down next to me.
"Nothing in particular, do I need a reason to smile Brooke Davis?" He asks me, smiling even brighter this time to make his point. I can't help but smile back at him; he always knows just how to make me smile, even when I'm being a frump.
"No you don't need any particular reason. It's actually nice to see you smiling; I bet Haley missed seeing it." I tell him with a wink. "How are you two doing by the way?" I ask, placing my hand on his forearm.
"We're good; actually better than good, great!" He exclaims with a far off look to his face, a sweet smile playing on his lips. I can't help but feel profoundly happy for my favorite married couple. "How are you doing?" He asks me taking on a serious look now. "Let me rephrase that, how are you and boy wonder doing?" He asks sarcastically, his face looking quite hostile now.
Hearing that brings back my previous anger. "We're doing fabulous; I mean why else wouldn't we be so great, he did stick by my side the whole time I was in the hospital." I tell him, putting a bit more emphasis on the word "whole." "Yeah I am so grateful to him for doing that, it just goes to show how much he loves me." I add on, waiting to see his reaction.
He seems to be restraining himself to his chair, the hostile look returning with every word I speak about how wonderful Chase and I are doing. I decide it's time to end his torment. "Although I just wish someone would have had the balls enough to tell me sooner about him." At his confused look I continue; "Oh you know about how he wasn't the one that was actually with me the entire time I was in the hospital." I say to him pointedly, looking straight into his eyes.
A look of shame automatically replaces his hostile and confused look. He hangs his head in his hands and mumbles something under his breath. I watch as he stands and kicks the patio chair, walking over to the brick wall, he punches it. I immediately go into worry mode. I jog over to him and place a delicate hand to his red bruised knuckles. I wrap him into a bear hug and apologize for making him angry.
"It's not your fault Brooke, I just feel like I've failed you somehow. I should've told you sooner, I know that; the doctors just kept insisting on us not telling you." He says hiding his head in the crook of my neck; we must've looked silly, with him being so tall and all. "I'm sorry Brooke, I really do wish I could've told you sooner." He apologizes to me as I rub my hand in a circle on his back, trying to soothe the taller boy from the heartache he's feeling now.
"It's alright Nathan; please don't worry about it. I understand why you guys couldn't tell me. I just wish I would've known when I got out of the hospital is all." I admit to him, hoping he'll calm down. I immediately spot Haley coming out of the house, her hair in a loose bun and her face scrubbed clean. She shoots me a worried look and gathers Nathan into her arms. I look on at the two love birds and can't help but feel envious of what they have. She kisses him gently and tells him to go cool off in the house; that his mom wanted him to move something into the attic.
She stares after his retreating figure and a small smile is playing on her lips. I plop back into my recently occupied seat and patiently wait for the mom to be to sit down. Once Nate is back in the house she turns to me and wraps me in a hug. "I missed you tigger, why don't you come by more often?" She asks giving me a "you-have-no-excuse-now" look.
I just roll my eyes at her playfully and return her hug. "I'm sorry I've been busy..." I trail off, looking up at the big blue sky. It's such a beautiful day today. She just snickers at me and sits back in her chair, lounging back.
"I missed you to tutor wife. Chase and I aren't doing so well." I tell her, wanting to get this latest drama off my chest, yet not wanting any pity from anyone. "If I tell you something Hales, you have to promise me you will not say anything to Lucas." I look at her from under my sun glasses. At her nod and an offer of her pinky I go on. "He's been very possessive of me lately." I state, snaking a glance her way, she is still lounging back, only this time she's on her side facing me. "I am going to break up with him; I just need someone to be there with me when I do. I am sort of scared of him Hales." At this confession she sits up and takes my hand into her own.
"What do you mean scared of him Brooke? What has he done to make you feel that way?" She asks holding tightly to my hand; looking me straight in the eye. I take off my sunglasses and she sees the faint color of black & blue around my eye; the makeup smudged from the tears that previously occupied my eyes. She gasps and jumps out of her seat, rushing over to my chair and tugging me towards her. As she's inspecting my eye I go on, before I lose my nerve. "He was really mad at me one day about me staying at Luke's. He kept insisting on me coming to stay with him. I repeatedly declined his offer, saying how I promised Karen I'd stay with her. Well he didn't like that at all." I tell her looking down at my hand in hers.
"What's your problem Brooke? You just don't care to stay with me at all? I don't like you staying with Lucas, that guys an ass." Chase says pointing harshly at the door; as if he's pointing at Luke.
"I'm sorry Chase, can't we just drop the issue? I already told you I promised Karen that I would stay with her, besides my parents wouldn't allow me to stay with you anyway." I tell him grabbing his hand in mine, he of course yanks it away. He always seems to be so angry now, what with the whole Lucas and me living together situation. "Don't you trust me Chase?" I ask him looking him in the eye, not wanting to miss the response to my question.
"Your parents?" He scoffs loudly, "What does it fucken matter what your parents think?" He asks raising his voice. "They never cared for you Brooke, ever. You never gave a rats ass before about what they thought, what makes you suddenly have a change of heart?" He asks me pointedly, with every word he spoke he backed me up into the corner. I am starting to hyperventilate now, this situation is taking me back to Psycho Derek. Can't he see what he's doing to me? I think to myself as I try to control my breathing.
"What are you doing? Your scaring me Chase." I plead with him, hoping a light will go off in his head, telling him this isn't right. My pleading is to no avail, he is leaning closer towards me, so close that I can feel his breath on my neck.
"Huh, seems you like that, being scared. What are you going to do now? Run to your precious Lucas? Hoping with all hope that he'll come to your defense? I don't think so Brookie. It's just me and you here, just as it always has been." He sneers, snatching my lips onto his, forcing his tongue down my throat. I try to push him away but he's to strong. He pulls away and looks me dead in the eye. "He will never pick you, it will always be Peyton. In fact he's on his way over to her house now as we speak. So sorry, looks like you'll be missing movie night." He says pushing away from me.
I start crying and asking him why he's being this way, doesn't he love me? He starts to shout at me. "Of course I love you, why else do you think I sat with you the whole time you were in the hospital? It was only me there, visiting you, besides the married couple." He says referring to Nathan and Haley. "He never once came to see you, he was too busy visiting with his love, Peyton." Chase says so harshly, at the sight of my unshed tears he swipes the back of his hand at my eye.
A horrified look comes across his face; he immediately starts to apologize to me. I just push his hand away and my tears free fall down my face. I run out of the gym and towards the safety of the student council room; as I am running though I am not paying attention and run right into a brick wall, or so I thought, it ended up being Lucas. I can't stop and explain, I just run towards the stairwell and sit, my ankles hurting. I can hear Lucas' footsteps come up from behind me.
The memory quickly fading away as I explain what happened to me today. As I look up into the pitiful expression in my best friends eyes I slowly start to regret telling her. I don't like being pitied; I am stronger than this weepy-woe-is-me girl, that is Peyton's department. Haley suddenly jumps up and shouts for Nathan. I am so lost in my thoughts about the curly headed blonde that I don't realize what is happening until it is too late. Nate is looking at me in a very over protective way, nodding at something Haley is saying and running out the back door. I turn to see Haley pulling me into the house and leading me towards the couch.
"Brooke, snap out of it. I'm sorry Tigger I had to tell him, there is no way that Chase should get away with what he did to you. I did keep my promise; I didn't tell Luke, although that doesn't mean Nathan won't..." She trails off and walks towards the kitchen. I hear the fridge open and close and the patter of her feet hitting the ground gets closer with every step she makes.
"Haley, what is Nathan going to do?" I ask her as she sits back down and hands me a glass of water. I don't know why I even asked that silly question. I know exactly what he's going to do, something foolish. "Hales, you have to stop him." I say through my teeth, at her I-don't-know-what-your-talking-about look I repeat myself. "You have to stop him Hales!" I exclaim, standing up and stomping my foot. "This is not funny, I told you something and I didn't want you to tell anyone else. You know that!" I shout at her, not meaning to be so loud, just wanting to get my point across. "He's gonna do something foolish Haley, something you'll both regret sooner than later." I say to her, my voice rising with every syllable, urging her to call her husband off the hunt of one Chase Adams.
She doesn't seem to be listening to me; just keeps insisting that he won't do anything he shouldn't do. "Brooke it's okay, everything will be okay. He won't do anything stupid I promise you." She says patting the spot next to her on the couch, expecting me to sit down.
"I can't sit right now Hales, especially knowing Nathan is out there doing God knows what to Chase Adams, my boyfriend or soon to be ex boyfriend." I ramble on throwing looks her way every now and then. "Please Haley tell him to come back." I plead with her, hoping she'll take pity on me now; I guess it worked, for she is pulling her cell phone out of the pocket of her shorts.
"Only because it's you Brooke and your looking at me with your puppy dog eyes." She says to me, shooting me a look filled with laughter mixed with worry. Once she's done convincing Nathan to come home I finally sit down in the empty spot next to her.
"Hales do you think it's wrong of me to be upset with Peyton?" I ask my now best friend, honestly she's been much more of a friend to me in the little time that I've known her than the years that I've known Peyton.
"Awe honey, what are you upset with her about?" She asks me with a look of concern, patting me on the hand. I have to force myself to talk with her about it. You see I'm not one to let everyone know my business, I don't like feeling vulnerable.
As soon as I gather up my courage I continue with my confession. "She has everything Hales, I guess what I am saying is; I am more jealous of her than upset. I guess being envious makes you upset though..."I ramble on, I shake my head to clear my rambling thoughts. "Larry is staying with her till graduation. When my parents couldn't even come back to see me out of the hospital or even to see me when I was in the hospital; I guess it was too much of an inconvenience to them." I say looking down at my lap, inspecting the microscopic lint on my jeans. Haley the ever patient being sits there quietly, waiting for me to continue.
"She hasn't even visited with me the entire time I've been out of the hospital. I've seen her in passing at Karen and Luke's house but that was only because she was visiting Lucas. Once I came home she quickly darted out the door, claiming to have something to do with Larry." I tell her grabbing my cup of water and taking a few sips from it.
Once I've bathed my mouth with some water I continue to tell her about my troubles with my once best friend. "She has the love of many friends, one in particular who is or was very special to me. So much so that he continues with his hero complex of her." I say rolling my eyes towards the heavens.
Sensing that I have completed my envious tirade of all things Peyton Sawyer she offers her opinion. "Brooke for one we all know it's not your fault when it comes to your parents, some people were just not meant to have children and your parents are one of them; besides they have no idea of what they're missing out on. Your a smart, funny, kick-ass, beautiful girl." She says giggling and nudging my shoulder with her own soliciting a smile of my own from my traitorous mouth.
"I can't explain why she hasn't come to visit with you. Maybe it has to do with 'Psycho Derek' and that situation, by being with you it brings back memories she wants to forget; I don't know. All I know is that there is no excuse to not visit with you. For that she is in the wrong." Haley says taking on an angry look to her face.
"About you thinking that she has all of our love. You don't know how wrong you are. While you were in the hospital everyone came to visit you Brooke, practically the whole of Tree Hill High. You were the one they made that huge card for..." She trails off at my blank look. "You know the one that was signed by basically everyone in the school; even the freshman?" She says gesturing wildly with her hands.
At my nod she continues with her explanation. "Everyone loves you brooke, for gosh sakes the whole high school loves you, especially us." She says taking my hand in hers. "I don't ever want you to doubt yourself in thinking that we don't love you. Your like a sister to me, you hear!" She exclaims, pulling me into a hug. "I would've been lost without you girlie. I am so glad you came back to us and that you were there for me when no one else was when I got back from that tour." She says hugging me even closer to her.
"Your so underappreciated and I undestand how you feel. Just know that Nathan and I love and appreciate all that you do for us. I wasn't supposed to say anything just yet but now is the perfect time to ask since your feeling blue, we wanted to know if you would like to be our babies godmother." She asks wrinkling her nose up and smiling. I am speechless; I don't know what to say. To think that the two most dearest people to me are trusting me with their most precious gift is an honor to say in the least.
"Oh my God, of course; I'd be honored Ha-ley!" I exclaim jumping up out of my seat and bringing her along with me to dance with joy. I am so elated at this very moment all thoughts of P. Sawyer extinguished. "Oh Hales, you've made me so happy. Thank you soo much!" I tell her pulling her into a hug and suddenly bursting into tears.
"Oh Brooke don't cry, we wouldn't have had it any other way. You were the one and only person we thought of for this special job. I am so delighted that you agreed." She says squeezing me tighter. We've both settled back on the couch, me in her arms crying still while she soothes me by speaking quietly and rubbing circles on my back. "About Luke, yes I know it is him you were talking about." She says when she feels me stiffen a bit.
"He was the one that was their for you the entire time you were in the hospital Brooke; not Chase. He was there once the sun came up until the sun went down;msometimes he even stayed the night just holding your hand and talking to you about the day, week, or month." She says softly patting my back now. "He was there with you even more than he was with Peyton. If I know anything and that's saying something considering I know everything." She says giggling, making me crack a smile through my tears. "It is that he loves you Brooke Davis; he just doesn't want him being with Peyton to have been in vain. He chose her over you at that championship game, something that I know he regrets but had to do." At my confused looks she explains. "He had to see if things with Peyton were real Brooke. He had to make sure that by the time he really gave you his heart it would be the real deal, he had to make sure his heart wasn't conflicted anymore." She confesses, shocking me into real silence for I wasn't expecting that. "I know this because he confessed it to me, one night when he was drunk, it was a few nights before you woke up. He was so scared that you wouldn't, starting to lose hope."
My crying has finally stopped. "I don't know what to say Hales." I tell her looking into her sad eyes.
"Those are 2 things I wasn't supposed to tell you yet." She says under her breath. "Please Brooke give Lucas some time. He'll come back to you when it's the right time for both of you." She says giving my leg a pat.
"I don't know about that Haley, I pretty much went off on him today after practice. He's probably really upset with me now, speaking of that I better get home to check on Karen and to talk to him, apologize." I tell her standing up and grabbing my purse from table by the door. "I'll see you tomorrow at school. Thank you for the information about Luke, now that I have some new perspective towards things I can finally get myself together." I tell her giving the mom to be one last hug before walking out the door.
"Bye Brooke and remember to go easy on him." She says laughing knowing how I can be; once she sees me enter my car and drive out of the driveway she then steps back into the safety of her home.
"Time for me to make things right with Luke." I say to myself as I turn up the volume on the radio and make my way to my temporary home, anxious to see him. Hoping with all hope that he'll forgive me and that we can move on from this mishap. Little do I know is that said boy is on the front step of his girlfriends house, not thinking of me at all, already making plans to see her tomorrow to once again consumate their "love."
AN: Thank you all once again for reading. Please review it is greatly appreciated. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I had fun writing it especially the moment Haley asked Brooke that oh so special question :) Now onto my personal Thank you's!
CaseyJr: Thank you so much for the review, I love recieving them from you. I am planning on bringing Xavier into the picture, probably in the next chapter he'll be introduced. I have a lot in stored for that. I hope you liked this chapter!
dianehermans: Thank you for the review. I love seeing what you wrote, you have been such a faithful reviewer I greatly appreciate it. I know Pucas sucks, but it makes for great drama ;) You were right Chase did hurt our dear Brooke :(
Isabel camilla Scott: Thank you for the lovely review you personally sent to me. You were right as well; he has hurt her a couple times, once that we know of and another that we haven't seen, maybe I'll show it in a flashback. I hope you enjoyed what little Brathan we had in here :) I love them as well. They are my fave friendship that I wish we actually had.