The Scars Behind My Mask
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone from one tree hill.
Nathan sat alone in the kitchen in the dark…he looked over at his clock on his cell as it read 12:02am. Sighing he put his head in his hands and wondered how his life came to this. It wasn't that long ago when it was just him and Brooke against the world, and of course Dan. Things sure have changed…and the sad thing was, was that it was all his fault, but Nathan would only admit that to himself though, he had his pride to think about, because even being a single dad Nathan is still an 17 year old boy who is trying to figure out life.
Nathan wished he was 10 years younger, when everything was fine. When he played basketball for fun with Cooper and his father…when he would deliberately cut the hair off Brooke's Barbie dolls then blame it on Cooper and when he thought that life was all about the living…and having fun. But as soon as Nathan hit middle school, things changed, basketball became a sport, and not a game, Cooper was the troubled teenager and Brooke suddenly became interested in boys, miniskirts and way too much makeup. Dan pushed and pushed for him to become the best, the best any guy could be at basketball, and it was hard, really hard, and he didn't blame Cooper at all for moving across the country, because if he didn't have Jessica and Brooke to look after, then he probably would have too.
Brooke. Nathan had preferred not to think about his twin sister for the past 24 hours, partly because every time he did he could see the hurt in her eyes when he made her choose between him and Lucas…and also the fact that she did indeed pick Lucas Scott, the guy he loathed and had no idea why. Maybe he was jealous because of his basketball skills, maybe it was his instant connection with Brooke…or maybe it was the fact that Lucas seemed to get everything he ever wanted, and now he even got his own damn sister. The sister that lied to him for months, the sister who looked him in the eye and promised that she would always put him first and that nothing or nobody would come between them…of course that had all been a lie.
Nathan had always been there for Brooke, he was there through her rebellious stage where she was always trying to break the rules, he was there when she was in trouble with their parents and even the law at one time, he was there when Cooper left, he was there when Felix and Peyton had an affair behind her back, he was there when Dan was being an ass, and he was there when Deb got sent to rehab. He was always there for her, and this was how she repaid him, running off with his worst enemy (with the exception of Felix).
When Nathan forced the question of choice on Brooke, he could honestly say that he thought Brooke was going to pick him, that's why it hurts so much…because he was wrong, he thought he knew her so well and then she just surprises him…in a bad way. She picked a guy over her own brother, and that's why Nathan couldn't forgive Brooke, at least not anytime soon, he knew that that may sound selfish but he believed that it was Brooke who was the selfish one, she didn't have to put up with Dan like he did growing up, their father constantly in his head about basketball and fitness, Brooke had it easy, at least that's what he thought.
When did his life become so messed up? Here he was sitting in a small apartment as a teenager with his baby girl in the next room. He was alone, he knew that, he made that happen…but he still wished Brooke had stayed with him, that she had picked him over Lucas, but that didn't happen, his pride took over him when he asked Brooke that question and now he has to deal with the consequences.
But he had Rachel…Brooke's best friend, the girl who he has been spending a lot of time with lately, and he was beginning to see her in a much different light, maybe it had to do with the support she gave with Jessica, or that she understand all of his problems, he didn't know what it was but what he did know is that his feelings towards her are much stronger than friendship, but the only problem was that they are just friends. Nothing more.
"Luke, what are you doing here?" Karen asked smiling as she watched her son take a seat at the counter of her café
"I'm meeting Brooke for breakfast" Lucas said picking up a menu "I mean, she doesn't want to have to eat at home" Lucas said, the last part with some bitterness in his voice
Karen sighed deeply "Look Lucas, I am sorry, but Brooke can't stay with us, sure she can come over anytime she wants but sleeping over and living with you are totally different matters"
"So you mean she can stay over some nights?" Lucas asked with a bit of hope in his voice
"Not at the moment no, but maybe sometime in the future" Karen reasoned
"Thanks" Lucas said giving out a small smile
"But be careful" Karen warned
Lucas nodded reassuringly "Of course"
They were both interrupted by the bell on the door as Lucas turned around to see Brooke come in with a smile on her face
"Hey Broody" Brooke smiled as she kissed his lips lightly before sitting on the stool next to him
"Hey babe" Lucas smiled back
"Hi Mrs. Scott" Brooke said politely as she noticed Karen standing there
"Good morning Brooke, and please, call me Karen…Mrs. Scott makes me sound old" Karen grinned
"Sorry…Karen" Brooke corrected
"I will leave you both too it, call me over when you need to order" Karen said before she walked off to serve some customers
"So…how was last night?" Lucas asked as he placed his hand on top of Brooke's
Brooke smiled, she didn't really want to talk about it to be honest but she knew that she pretty much had too, so instead of doing the hard thing Brooke decided to take the easy route out "Oh you know, nothing much…we ate then I just spent the rest of the night in my room" Brooke shrugged
"That's all?" Lucas asked suspiciously, from what he had heard from Jake…Dan Lee could be quite persistent and he didn't think he would just leave Brooke to herself
"Yep, quite a boring night actually" Brooke stated
"Yeah I know the feeling" Lucas replied deciding to leave the whole Dan thing for now…maybe he was wrong anyway, Brooke had once said that Dan had ignored her pretty much her whole life so this seemed pretty normal from what he knew
"Why did you miss me?" Brooke asked smirked
"No" Lucas lied grinning "I hired a replacement to keep me company for the evening"
"Oh really?" Brooke asked raising her eyebrows
Lucas nodded "Yep"
"Well was she as fun as me?" Brooke asked playing along
Lucas pressed his finger against his lip as if he was thinking about "Hmmm…No, she wasn't…nobody is as fun as you" Lucas smirked
"Glad to hear it" Brooke smiled as she pressed her lips against his softly
"Although…" Lucas started after pulling away from the kiss "I did get a visit from a certain fierce redhead last night"
Brooke looked at him confused "Who? Rachel?"
"Yep" Lucas nodded "She came to see you actually, she seem surprised that you went back to your old house"
"She did?" Brooke asked shocked
"Yeah, she always threatened to hurt me if I ever hurt you"
"Why would she do that?" Brooke asked completely confused
"Because she is your friend Brooke, and even though you guys aren't on the best terms at the moment maybe she still cares" Lucas shrugged
Brooke nodded "I guess that's a little bit of hope" Brooke said "But why are you somewhat defending her? I thought you didn't like her" Brooke said confused
"Oh I still don't like her" Lucas explained "I am just playing the part of the supportive boyfriend" Lucas smirked
Brooke let out a small laugh as she lightly hit his arm "You're not funny Broody"
"But you are laughing" Lucas pointed out
"I am laughing at you not with you" Brooke smirked
"Well that was a mature answer" Lucas laughed
"Shut up!" Brooke pouted as she hit him again on the arm, much harder this time
"Ow!" Lucas said clutching the spot where Brooke just hit "That hurt"
"Oh shush you big baby! You deserved it! Calling me immature like that!"
"Ok, Ok…I am sorry Cheery" Lucas smiled as he gently pressed his lips against hers as Brooke wrapped her arms around his neck and Lucas placed his hands round her waist
"Oh break it up you two, we have customers" Karen smiled as Lucas and Brooke pulled away from each other embarrassedly
"Sorry" Lucas mumbled
Karen nodded smiling "So are you both ready to order?" Karen asked
"Yep" Lucas nodded as Brooke leaned over and whispered something into his ear
"Apology accepted by the way, but you are going to have to make it up to me later"
"Hey Rachel, come on in" Nathan smiled as Rachel made her way into his apartment
"Hey Nate…I won't stay long but I thought there was something you should know" Rachel started
"Ok…?" Nathan said waiting for her to carry on
"Brooke has moved back in with Dan" Rachel sighed
"What!" Nathan said completely shocked "Since when?" He asked
"I don't know" Rachel replied "But I went to Lucas's house last night to see if she was there and he said he had moved back in with Dan"
Nathan shook his head "Well if it was Lucas who told you then he was probably lying, Brooke wouldn't go back there"
Rachel let out a dry laugh "Trust me Nathan, I was pretty sure he was not lying…and besides, she had nowhere else to go"
"That's not true, she has loads of friends who would let her stay with them" Nathan explained
"Stay with them part time maybe, but you kicked her out onto the street Nathan, she needs a home" Rachel said
"Yeah well I just assumed that she would just go and stay with Scott, I didn't think she would go back to our parent's house, I can't believe she actually went there" Nathan said honestly
"Well knowing Brooke she probably surprised herself by making that decision" Rachel sighed
Nathan ran his hand through his messy brown hair as he swallowed his pride before taking a deep breath "Well…cant she stay with you?" Nathan asked
Rachel looked at him, surprise evident on her face "Well, yeah, I mean of course she would but what about you? I didn't think you would like that idea…I mean…you know" Rachel explained
"I don't…I mean if it's her last option then I am sure she would prefer that then staying with Dan of all people"
"But what if she doesn't even accept my offer, I mean I haven't exactly been nice to her these past two days" Rachel sighed
"Yeah because of me, so maybe you could just try and make things right with her…so she will move in with you, I just…I don't want her living alone with that ass" Nathan admitted
"Ok" Rachel nodded agreeing "I will ask her" She said before walking towards the door to leave
"Oh and Rachel" Nathan said calling after her
"Yeah?" Rachel asked as she turned around
"Don't tell Brooke this was my idea" Nathan said
Rachel looked at him before shaking her head tiredly "Ok, I won't tell her" She sighed before leaving
Lucas and Brooke were walking to school hand in hand when Brooke cursed some inaudible word
"What is it?" Lucas asked
"I left my English assignment at home, I have already missed the deadline" Brooke muttered annoyed
"But we are almost at school, you will be late if you go back" Lucas stated
"I know that but I have Health Class first anyway so its not like its that important, unlike this assignment which pretty much sums up my whole grade…I better go back and get it"
"Ok, do you want me to come with you?" Lucas asked
"No its fine, I will see you back at school" Brooke smiled as she gave him a quick kiss before quickly leaving
Brooke quickly ran into the house and up to her room, she grabbed her assignment and as she was running down the stairs Dan appeared
"Great" Brooke mumbled
"Brooke, aren't you going to be late for school?" Dan asked smugly
"Yes, I forgot my homework so I had to come back to get it" Brooke said annoyed as she walked towards the door
"Well do you want a ride back?" Dan asked
Brooke froze and turned to look at him surprised "Did you just offer me a lift to school?" Brooke asked confused
"Yes" Dan said simply
"I…Uh" Brooke stuttered, she knew it wasn't a big deal but Brooke had been late hundreds of times before and not once had he offered her a lift, even when she had asked, begged he still refused, unless Nathan was with her of course
"If you don't want one then that's fine, I just thought I could help you out" Dan shrugged as he turned around to walk away
Brooke watched him turn and looked down at her watch, she was already failing some important subjects, and she didn't need her punctuality to suffer as well, even if it did mean receiving a lift from her self-centered ass of a father "Dan" Brooke called out
Dan stopped and turned back around "Yes?"
"A ride would be great, thanks" Brooke smiled
Dan nodded "Just let me get my keys" Dan said
"Lucas!" Rachel called over as she saw Lucas walking through the car park entrance
"What do you want now Rachel?" Lucas asked annoyed
"Have you seen Brooke?" Rachel asked
"Yes, she forgot her homework so she had to go back and get it" Lucas said simply as he carried on walking
"Well when you see her could you please tell her that I am looking for her?" Rachel asked
"Why should I?" Lucas asked coldly
"Listen buddy!" Rachel said glaring at him "I know you don't like me, and that's fine because I don't like you but this is none of your business, so why don't you just pass on the message like a good little boy" Rachel said in a tone that would make any little boy want to run home to his mommy, however, Lucas wasn't buying it
"You don't scare me Rachel"
"Whatever!" Rachel said annoyed "Will you just pass the message-" Rachel started but froze when she saw Dan's car pull up with Brooke in the passenger's seat
Lucas followed her gaze and was also surprised by what he saw
---
"Thanks for the lift Dad" Brooke smiled gratefully
"It wasn't a problem" Dan shrugged
"Yeah but thanks anyway" Brooke said genuinely thankful before opening the car door
"Brooke" Dan called
"Yeah?" Brooke asked
Dan looked like he was about to say something but then quickly changed his mind "Nothing, just try not to be late again, you don't want to miss out on your lack of education now do you?" He asked back to his smug self
Brooke laughed lightly "No your right, don't worry I won't be late again" she said before shutting the door and watched him speed away
"Brooke" Lucas said as he and Rachel approached her
"Hey Luke…Rachel" Brooke said confused as to why those too were together
"Rachel was looking for you" Lucas explained as if he read her mind
"Oh…" Brooke started as she turned her attention to the redhead
"Look…I know you and I aren't exactly on the best of terms lately but you are still my friend and I care about you…so…why don't you move in with me, I mean it should be better than living with Dan" Rachel said
Brooke looked genuinely surprised and happy by her unexpected offer and she turned and looked in the direction where Dan had just drove off too
"Thanks Rachel, I really appreciate your offer" Brooke smiled
"So you are going to move in?" Rachel asked smiling
"No" Brooke sighed
Rachel's smile faded "No?" She asked shocked, even Lucas looked confused "Why? If this is about Nathan or the way I have treated you lately then please don't decline because of that…I am trying to help you out here, as a friend"
"It's not about any of that Rachel, it's really not…and I am grateful that you have asked but I can't"
"Why not?" Rachel asked confused
Brooke looked back in Dan's leaving direction once more before turning back to Rachel "Because I made a promise" She said before grabbing Lucas's hand and walking away leaving a surprised, shocked and confused Rachel.
A/N: Well? What do you think? I hope you are liking the long chapters! I have been thinking lately about the stories I read and how I always like the chapters to be long, so I thought I should make mine long too because some of you would probably like that. Anyways, please Review! More reviews equals faster updates!