Author Note: Thanks to those who reviewed: Mac, Em, Sarah, Mildly Bizarre, Lisa2302, OneTreeHillFan213, and IHeartTomFelton.
Chapter 7
Lauren studied herself in the foggy mirror in the guest bedroom. She must have looked good on the outside because no one was complaining. She wished that she could feel on the inside what she looked like on the outside. Her heart was hurting and she was tired, mentally tired. She was the only person who knew what she felt like. Hell.
It had been happening for as long as she could remember. As a child, she was loud, rambunctious, and obnoxious even. She would mouth off and her father would put her in her place. As she grew older she learned her lesson, to avoid him at all costs.
She remembered how angry he was when she left home, but she knew she had to. Then she met Nathan. He was the first person she had ever met who didn't know about her secret life. He didn't feel sorry for her. He was the first person who made her feel worthy of living.
Running her fingers through her hair and over the permanent bumps and bruises, she cringed. She knew where every bruise came from. A fist here, a piece of glass there, she knew them all.
Her studying was interrupted by a voice. Lauren quickly threw a shirt on and wrapped a towel around to make sure no one saw her secret. Someone peered into the bathroom and Lauren turned around. It was Haley James, another one of Nathan's friends. "Sorry to just barge in here Lauren, but Nathan wanted to know if you were almost ready."
"Oh um..." She walked into the guest bedroom and looked over the piece of luggage on the bed, "Tell him I will meet you all in the foyer in ten minutes." She watched Haley nod and leave the room. She opened her luggage and searched through the endless amount of clothing.
Slipping her favorite Paper Denim jeans over her legs, she looked to the door. Brooke stood in the entrance, staring at her upper body. Shocked she said, "Lauren?" She walked closed and tried to touch a softball sized bruise on her abdomen.
Lauren quickly pulled away, "Its nothing. Just a little bruise." She turned away from Brooke and slid on a BCBG chiffon halter top. She raced back into the bathroom and styled her hair.
"I would hate to see what you called a big bruise." Brooke went into the bathroom and stood behind Lauren, "No really Lauren." She began to whisper, "Is it Nathan? Did Nathan do that to you?"
"Oh god no. He has never touched me like." She shook her head and turned to Brooke, "Please Brooke. It's nothing." She stepped into her Kate Spade high heeled sandals and stood in the doorway, "You coming?"
"Oh, yeah." Brooke followed Lauren down the stairs. Half way down the steps, Brooke noticed Haley James and Lucas Scott sitting at the bottom of the stairs. She took a deep breath and stopped.
Lauren looked back up at her, "Come on. No one will bite. You know them better than me."
Obviously she hasn't heard the story, Brooke thought to herself. She smiled at Lauren and continued down the stairs.
Nathan watched his old girlfriend move so gracefully down the steps. He couldn't help but watch her. Her Earl Jean pleated mini skirt swayed with every step she took. The presence that Nathan always talked about was definitely still there. He could tell she was dying inside from nervousness, but her confidence still oozed out of every inch of her body.
Haley looked up at Brooke. Brooke felt like she was standing in front of a different person. Her hair was a lighter brown and she appeared more grown up, like she had actually experienced something in her life, something of importance.
She stood up and hugged Brooke. It was awkward hug, considering that the two had never been close friends. Haley knew this and said, "I know we weren't the best of friends when you were here but that doesn't mean that I'm not glad you are home."
Brooke gave her a dimpled smile, "Thanks Haley that means a lot to me."
Lucas stood up next and the first thing Brooke thought when she saw him was how good he looked. She had heard his voice but seeing his face was different. He had always been an attractive guy but four years of growing older had done him no wrong. "Brooke Davis." He embraced her.
Into his ear, she whispered, "Thanks." He nodded and winked at her. Lucas was the only person from home she had talked to. He hadn't told anyone because he didn't want to make a big deal about it. Brooke felt that Lucas understood her. He knew that she was still hurting from what she did years before. He had been there for her when she needed him and he had been there when he didn't need her. That was what made him a true friend in her eyes.
Brooke looked across the foyer. Peyton Sawyer stood silent staring at her former best friends. She looked exactly the same as the last time Brooke had seen her minus a few inches of hair. Her hair was straightened and her skin was tan. Brooke walked in her direction. She stood in front of her and waited for her to speak just as everyone else had done. She said nothing. Brooke began chewing on her bottom lip.
"Well that hasn't changed." Peyton said.
"What?"
"Lip Chewing 101 taught by none other than Professor Brooke Davis."
"Oh, yeah well I have tried to quit."
Peyton reached into her pocket and pulled out a tube of Chap Stick. She applied it and handed it to Brooke, "I've tried too."
They stood in silence for another minute until Nathan said, "Okay, we should probably leave." Brooke watched him put his arm around Lauren's waist. She smiled at Brooke and sat down her martini.
Brooke walked over to her and took a sip from the glass, "Sometimes I just can't wait."
Lauren laughed, "I couldn't." She finished off the drink and said, "That's why I was drinking that one."
The girls walked out of the house hand in hand. Peyton stared at them jealously, thinking that if Brooke hadn't left that could have been them. She caught Jake's eye and motioned for him to come toward her. She patted him on the back, "Long time no see."
Before Jake could speak Nathan butted in, "Better not get to cozy Pey, that's Brooke's boy."
Peyton gave him a confused look and got into Jake's car. "You're driving right?" She asked him through the open window.
He shrugged his shoulders and yelled at Nathan, "How many can you fit in there?"
"I can take you two if you want."
Jake nodded his head not wanting to sit in a car with Peyton Sawyer. The awkward silences would be unending. Jake climbed into the Mercedes G55. He sat next to Brooke and put his hand on her bare knee. He kissed her on the cheek and her face flushed.
She kissed him back, "Hey." She said quietly. She leaned close to him and whispered in his ear, "Having fun yet?"
He winked at her and rubbed her knee, "Now I am."
Peyton crawled in. Brooke was sandwiched between the two. She felt nervous. She turned to Jake and rested her head on his shoulder; all of a sudden the butterflies were gone. She smiled at herself and Jake caught it. He kissed her on the forehead once more.
The car ride was quiet most of the way, but it was pleasant. That was until Lauren turned on the radio and she and Brooke began to sing as loud and as off key as they could.
"Are you trying to be bad?" Nathan asked them.
Brooke and Lauren yelled over the music, "No!" The two friends laughed at themselves and continued dancing.
Nathan pulled into the parking lot, followed by Lucas and Haley. Lauren and Brooke exited the large SUV and continued to dance into the streets. "There's no music!" Nathan yelled to them.
"We don't care." Brooke yelled back. Lauren turned around, winked at him, and latched her arm with Brooke's. The two girls showed the bouncer their IDs and entered the club. "I like not having to worry about getting carded."
Lauren laughed, nodded, and took Brooke's hand leading her to the bar. "Two shots." She said to the bartender. He sat the shot glasses in front of the girls. Lauren took one and handed the other to Brooke. She held it up and said, "To a great, new friendship." The girls clicked glasses and took the shot.
"Okay, let's go." Brooke strolled into the middle of the dance floor.
Nathan, Jake, Lucas, Peyton, and Haley finally entered. Peyton and Haley went out to dance. The guys were left alone at the bar. They were approached by girl after girl, but each of them declined. After the girls dance for an hour or so, Lauren and Brooke retreated back to the fellows.
Brooke winked at Jake and said, "Get me a drink." He got her one and handed it her. She sat on his lap.
After a couple drinks, none of the guys were thinking straight. "Brooke you never said anything about you and Jake dating."
"Guess I never..."
"What?" Nathan interrupted.
"What?" Lucas said to his brother, not understanding what the problem was.
"You talked to Brooke?" Nathan asked getting off the barstool and standing next to Lucas.
"Yeah." Lucas said, calmly.
"Come on, Nathan why is that such a big deal?" Lauren asked, putting her hand on her boyfriends arm to calm him down.
"Because they date..." Jake tried to stop himself.
"You dated?" Lauren asked.
"Guess there's no hiding it now, huh Nate?" Brooke asked him, adjusting herself on Jake's lap.
"Is Brooke the girl you always talk about?"
"I don't always talk about her." Nathan replied.
She looked at Brooke, "He always talks about his ex-girlfriend..."
Nathan looked to Brooke, "Why didn't you ever call me?"
"What was there to say Nathan?"
"There was a lot to say Brooke. Just to hear your voice and know that you were okay would have been fine with me. I didn't even know what happened to you."
"You knew nothing bad happened..."
"No," He interrupted her, gradually becoming angrier at the situation, "No I didn't. You're parents wouldn't even tell me what happened to you. I had to find out by rumors."
"Nathan, listen..."
"No, you listen to me. I loved you Brooke! I did."
"I was scared Nathan! Do you know what its like to love someone so much but know that you can never be together?" She jumped off of Jake's lap and stood in front of Nathan.
"Yes, Brooke I do. I knew that we could never be together." He felt like he was going to cry, "I just wanted to see you..."
"Nathan I was doing just fine until you called. I was doing just fine! I was almost over you!" She began to cry and ran out of the club.
Jake looked at Nathan and ran after her. Peyton took a sip from the drink that Brooke had left. She looked at Lauren, "Well let's just say that went better than I thought it was going to."
Author Note: So what did you think? Enough drama? Not enough? What should happen? Who should be together? How did you like it? Just tell me and maybe I will do it!
Chapter 7
Lauren studied herself in the foggy mirror in the guest bedroom. She must have looked good on the outside because no one was complaining. She wished that she could feel on the inside what she looked like on the outside. Her heart was hurting and she was tired, mentally tired. She was the only person who knew what she felt like. Hell.
It had been happening for as long as she could remember. As a child, she was loud, rambunctious, and obnoxious even. She would mouth off and her father would put her in her place. As she grew older she learned her lesson, to avoid him at all costs.
She remembered how angry he was when she left home, but she knew she had to. Then she met Nathan. He was the first person she had ever met who didn't know about her secret life. He didn't feel sorry for her. He was the first person who made her feel worthy of living.
Running her fingers through her hair and over the permanent bumps and bruises, she cringed. She knew where every bruise came from. A fist here, a piece of glass there, she knew them all.
Her studying was interrupted by a voice. Lauren quickly threw a shirt on and wrapped a towel around to make sure no one saw her secret. Someone peered into the bathroom and Lauren turned around. It was Haley James, another one of Nathan's friends. "Sorry to just barge in here Lauren, but Nathan wanted to know if you were almost ready."
"Oh um..." She walked into the guest bedroom and looked over the piece of luggage on the bed, "Tell him I will meet you all in the foyer in ten minutes." She watched Haley nod and leave the room. She opened her luggage and searched through the endless amount of clothing.
Slipping her favorite Paper Denim jeans over her legs, she looked to the door. Brooke stood in the entrance, staring at her upper body. Shocked she said, "Lauren?" She walked closed and tried to touch a softball sized bruise on her abdomen.
Lauren quickly pulled away, "Its nothing. Just a little bruise." She turned away from Brooke and slid on a BCBG chiffon halter top. She raced back into the bathroom and styled her hair.
"I would hate to see what you called a big bruise." Brooke went into the bathroom and stood behind Lauren, "No really Lauren." She began to whisper, "Is it Nathan? Did Nathan do that to you?"
"Oh god no. He has never touched me like." She shook her head and turned to Brooke, "Please Brooke. It's nothing." She stepped into her Kate Spade high heeled sandals and stood in the doorway, "You coming?"
"Oh, yeah." Brooke followed Lauren down the stairs. Half way down the steps, Brooke noticed Haley James and Lucas Scott sitting at the bottom of the stairs. She took a deep breath and stopped.
Lauren looked back up at her, "Come on. No one will bite. You know them better than me."
Obviously she hasn't heard the story, Brooke thought to herself. She smiled at Lauren and continued down the stairs.
Nathan watched his old girlfriend move so gracefully down the steps. He couldn't help but watch her. Her Earl Jean pleated mini skirt swayed with every step she took. The presence that Nathan always talked about was definitely still there. He could tell she was dying inside from nervousness, but her confidence still oozed out of every inch of her body.
Haley looked up at Brooke. Brooke felt like she was standing in front of a different person. Her hair was a lighter brown and she appeared more grown up, like she had actually experienced something in her life, something of importance.
She stood up and hugged Brooke. It was awkward hug, considering that the two had never been close friends. Haley knew this and said, "I know we weren't the best of friends when you were here but that doesn't mean that I'm not glad you are home."
Brooke gave her a dimpled smile, "Thanks Haley that means a lot to me."
Lucas stood up next and the first thing Brooke thought when she saw him was how good he looked. She had heard his voice but seeing his face was different. He had always been an attractive guy but four years of growing older had done him no wrong. "Brooke Davis." He embraced her.
Into his ear, she whispered, "Thanks." He nodded and winked at her. Lucas was the only person from home she had talked to. He hadn't told anyone because he didn't want to make a big deal about it. Brooke felt that Lucas understood her. He knew that she was still hurting from what she did years before. He had been there for her when she needed him and he had been there when he didn't need her. That was what made him a true friend in her eyes.
Brooke looked across the foyer. Peyton Sawyer stood silent staring at her former best friends. She looked exactly the same as the last time Brooke had seen her minus a few inches of hair. Her hair was straightened and her skin was tan. Brooke walked in her direction. She stood in front of her and waited for her to speak just as everyone else had done. She said nothing. Brooke began chewing on her bottom lip.
"Well that hasn't changed." Peyton said.
"What?"
"Lip Chewing 101 taught by none other than Professor Brooke Davis."
"Oh, yeah well I have tried to quit."
Peyton reached into her pocket and pulled out a tube of Chap Stick. She applied it and handed it to Brooke, "I've tried too."
They stood in silence for another minute until Nathan said, "Okay, we should probably leave." Brooke watched him put his arm around Lauren's waist. She smiled at Brooke and sat down her martini.
Brooke walked over to her and took a sip from the glass, "Sometimes I just can't wait."
Lauren laughed, "I couldn't." She finished off the drink and said, "That's why I was drinking that one."
The girls walked out of the house hand in hand. Peyton stared at them jealously, thinking that if Brooke hadn't left that could have been them. She caught Jake's eye and motioned for him to come toward her. She patted him on the back, "Long time no see."
Before Jake could speak Nathan butted in, "Better not get to cozy Pey, that's Brooke's boy."
Peyton gave him a confused look and got into Jake's car. "You're driving right?" She asked him through the open window.
He shrugged his shoulders and yelled at Nathan, "How many can you fit in there?"
"I can take you two if you want."
Jake nodded his head not wanting to sit in a car with Peyton Sawyer. The awkward silences would be unending. Jake climbed into the Mercedes G55. He sat next to Brooke and put his hand on her bare knee. He kissed her on the cheek and her face flushed.
She kissed him back, "Hey." She said quietly. She leaned close to him and whispered in his ear, "Having fun yet?"
He winked at her and rubbed her knee, "Now I am."
Peyton crawled in. Brooke was sandwiched between the two. She felt nervous. She turned to Jake and rested her head on his shoulder; all of a sudden the butterflies were gone. She smiled at herself and Jake caught it. He kissed her on the forehead once more.
The car ride was quiet most of the way, but it was pleasant. That was until Lauren turned on the radio and she and Brooke began to sing as loud and as off key as they could.
"Are you trying to be bad?" Nathan asked them.
Brooke and Lauren yelled over the music, "No!" The two friends laughed at themselves and continued dancing.
Nathan pulled into the parking lot, followed by Lucas and Haley. Lauren and Brooke exited the large SUV and continued to dance into the streets. "There's no music!" Nathan yelled to them.
"We don't care." Brooke yelled back. Lauren turned around, winked at him, and latched her arm with Brooke's. The two girls showed the bouncer their IDs and entered the club. "I like not having to worry about getting carded."
Lauren laughed, nodded, and took Brooke's hand leading her to the bar. "Two shots." She said to the bartender. He sat the shot glasses in front of the girls. Lauren took one and handed the other to Brooke. She held it up and said, "To a great, new friendship." The girls clicked glasses and took the shot.
"Okay, let's go." Brooke strolled into the middle of the dance floor.
Nathan, Jake, Lucas, Peyton, and Haley finally entered. Peyton and Haley went out to dance. The guys were left alone at the bar. They were approached by girl after girl, but each of them declined. After the girls dance for an hour or so, Lauren and Brooke retreated back to the fellows.
Brooke winked at Jake and said, "Get me a drink." He got her one and handed it her. She sat on his lap.
After a couple drinks, none of the guys were thinking straight. "Brooke you never said anything about you and Jake dating."
"Guess I never..."
"What?" Nathan interrupted.
"What?" Lucas said to his brother, not understanding what the problem was.
"You talked to Brooke?" Nathan asked getting off the barstool and standing next to Lucas.
"Yeah." Lucas said, calmly.
"Come on, Nathan why is that such a big deal?" Lauren asked, putting her hand on her boyfriends arm to calm him down.
"Because they date..." Jake tried to stop himself.
"You dated?" Lauren asked.
"Guess there's no hiding it now, huh Nate?" Brooke asked him, adjusting herself on Jake's lap.
"Is Brooke the girl you always talk about?"
"I don't always talk about her." Nathan replied.
She looked at Brooke, "He always talks about his ex-girlfriend..."
Nathan looked to Brooke, "Why didn't you ever call me?"
"What was there to say Nathan?"
"There was a lot to say Brooke. Just to hear your voice and know that you were okay would have been fine with me. I didn't even know what happened to you."
"You knew nothing bad happened..."
"No," He interrupted her, gradually becoming angrier at the situation, "No I didn't. You're parents wouldn't even tell me what happened to you. I had to find out by rumors."
"Nathan, listen..."
"No, you listen to me. I loved you Brooke! I did."
"I was scared Nathan! Do you know what its like to love someone so much but know that you can never be together?" She jumped off of Jake's lap and stood in front of Nathan.
"Yes, Brooke I do. I knew that we could never be together." He felt like he was going to cry, "I just wanted to see you..."
"Nathan I was doing just fine until you called. I was doing just fine! I was almost over you!" She began to cry and ran out of the club.
Jake looked at Nathan and ran after her. Peyton took a sip from the drink that Brooke had left. She looked at Lauren, "Well let's just say that went better than I thought it was going to."
Author Note: So what did you think? Enough drama? Not enough? What should happen? Who should be together? How did you like it? Just tell me and maybe I will do it!