Thanks guys for all the amazing reviews. I hope you continue to like where this story is heading. Please continue to R&R because they provide the umph I need to keep writing. So without further ado...

Chapter 20

Lucas had come over after school, along with Peyton. Brooke had tried to convince them that she was fine, but neither of them were buying it. For some reason though, Brooke couldn't tell them. Peyton was going on about how she really liked this guy, and Justin was Lucas' childhood friend. There was no way she could tell them that he had raped her. After what seemed like hours, she finally convinced them that she was okay, and they had left shortly after. Brooke walked over to her box that she kept in her closet, the one marked Someday. She opened the dusty lid and began flipping through it. At the bottom of the box, was a hemp necklace.

"Get out of the car" Justin yelled after it was over

Brooke had tried to gather her clothes and herself to get out of the car. She hobbled out as he quickly pulled away. She walked for what seemed like miles before she came to this place on the beach. It was a little more secluded than the other parts.

She sat down on the sand and stared at the clothes in her hands. She cried frantically as she tried to put them on.

She looked down at the last thing in her hand, a hemp necklace she grabbed from inside the car. She wasn't thinking, all she knew was that she wanted something to remind her of it. She folded the necklace in her hands as she sat there and cried, on her spot of the beach.

She stared at the necklace in her hands. Could she actually get the revenge she's been wanting to get?

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Peyton answered her door when she heard the doorbell ring.

"Hello Peyton" Justin said when she opened the door.

"Hey. I'll be ready in a minute"

"That's fine. Take your time" he smiled as he walked inside and waited for her to get ready.

"So where are we going anyways?" she yelled down the stairs

"this little café on the river" he shouted back up at her

"ooo, sounds romantic"

"It better be"

Peyton came walking down the stairs and Justin grabbed her and brought it to his lips.

"A gentleman I see" she smiled as he smiled in return.

"we better get going"

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Lucas heard a knock at his door.

"Brooke. Is everything ok?"

"no, not really" she cried, still standing in the doorway

"come here" he said softly as he wrapped his arms around her. "shhh" he said trying to calm her down as she cried uncontrollably "it's gonna be alright"

She shook her head against his chest. As far as she was concerned, things were not gonna be ok.

"tell me, what is going on?" he asked her as they sat down on the bed.

"I have to tell you something" she said between sobs

"what is it?"

"I don't want to hurt you"

"Brooke, you're not gonna hurt me. Just tell me what it is"

"It's Justin"

"what about him?"

"He's not a good guy" she said, starting to calm down a little bit

"yeah I know" she looked up at him confused "everyone knows Justin's not the greatest guy, but he would never hurt anyone"

With this said, Brooke knew she could never tell him the truth.

"I mean do you think I would let Peyton go out on a date with him if he would hurt her" he added

Brooke looked at him, her eyes grew bigger.

"What?" she asked

"Peyton, on a date with Justin" Lucas repeated

"Where?"

"how would I know" Lucas muttered smiling. His girlfriend was so protective of her friends, it was so cute.

"Lucas, I need to find them."

"Brooke, breathe. Everything's fine." he said as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. She couldn't tell anyone. The secret she thought could finally be revealed now had to remain a secret for much longer. Justin was right, he had all the power, and no one was going to believe her over him. She remained in Lucas' arms for a while before she decided to go home.

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"so what do you think about Peyton and Justin?" Nathan asked as they sat on the couch watching a movie.

"I knew they would hit it off right away. I mean they're so a like"

"True. What do you think about Brooke running off like that?"

"hah" Haley laughed "if I ever knew an ounce of what was going on in Brooke's mind I would be the smartest person alive."

"Haley"

"Don't defend her Nathan. She earned her reputation. That's not my fault."

"Yeah but that doesn't mean we have to be mean"

"after what she did?"

"Haley she apologized for what she did. Don't you think it's about time you forgive her?"

"I cant believe you're taking her side right now" she said angrily as she pushed away from him

"I'm not. I'm just saying. She's been through a lot."

"So have I"

"I know, I'm just saying" he said defeated. He knew he wasn't going to win this argument. "Let's just drop it"

"sounds good" she said as she turned her attention back towards the television.

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"Justin this is amazing" Peyton said as she looked at the candle-lit restaurant.

"It's one of my favorite" he said

"Didn't you just come to town like 2 days ago"

"Yeah, but I've visited here before"

"gotcha" she smiled "so what's good here?" she asked as she looked through the menu

"they have really good soup here" Peyton laughed "what?" he asked

"I just wouldn't have picked you for the soup kind of guy" she continued to laugh

"well you don't know me all that well"

"no I don't" she smiled.

"Hey Peyton" Jake said as he stumbled upon them

"Jake" Peyton said surprised. "Hey, how are you?" she asked

"Good" Jake responded as he looked at the guy she was sitting with.

"Oh, um. This is Justin, Haley's cousin" Peyton answered Jake's unspoken question.

"Hey" Jake said

"Hey" Justin responded

"well, I better get going" Jake said as he turned to leave

"Bye" Peyton said sadly

"was that an old boyfriend?" Justin asked

"who Jake? No, just a friend"

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There was a knock at Lucas' bedroom door and Keith and Karen appeared in the doorway.

"Do you got a sec?" she asked her son

"yeah sure" he answered as he put away the book he was reading

"Keith has been offered a job in New York City" Karen began

"ok" Lucas answered

"and, I want to go with him." she continued "we want to be together Lucas"

"ok" he answered again, unsure of where this was all going

"we want to get married Lucas" she finished

"That's awesome" Lucas replied

"but, we're going to be moving to New York" Keith interrupted, all of it hitting Lucas.

"if you two are moving, does that mean I have to go too?" Lucas asked

"well that's why we're here. That depends on you. Obviously I want you to come with, but I understand if you don't want to because of school and everything" Karen continued

"mom, I don't know what to say"

"you don't have to make a decision now of course. Just think about it for a little and you can give us an answer later" she replied, kissing him on the head, before they left the room. He didn't know what to think. He was so happy that they were going to move on with their lives together, but he didn't want them to move away.

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"Thank you Justin for this" Peyton smiled as they reached her doorstep.

"It was my pleasure" he smiled

Brooke drove up to the house and parked out of the light so they couldn't see her.

"Peyton" he began as she turned to leave. He leaned in and touched her lips with his. "I'll see you tomorrow" he smiled as he walked to his car and drove away

Peyton smiled as she watched him leave, and then she noticed Brooke walking up the sidewalk.

"Hey there" she said to her brown-haired friend

"Hey" Brooke said softly

"what's up" she asked as they walked inside

"I have to tell you something Peyton. And you're not gonna like it" Brooke began as they sat on the couch.

"what is it?"

Brooke closed her eyes as a tear trickled down her face. "I have to tell you something about Justin"