White Houses

Chapter Two

Maybe I'm a little bit over my head

I come undone at the things he said

And he's so funny in his bright red shirt

We were all in love and we all got hurt

I sneak into his car's black leather seat

The smell of gasoline in the summer heat

Boy, we're going way too fast

It's all too sweet to last

Brooke walked into her house and groaned she heard her parents fighting in the other room. Just as she was about to escape up to her bedroom her mother called for her. "What?"

Her mom held up Brooke's report card, while her dad drank his scotch, "What the hell is this?"

"My report card," Brooke mumbled.

"Three C's and a D, Brooke?" Her mom asked as she shook her head, "That is pathetic."

Brooke rolled her eyes, "Whatever," she answered back, not looking at her dad or mom.

"You know doll face," her dad said as he refreshed his drink, "You need to start trying. I mean, if cheerleading was a school subject then you'd be doing great..."

Brooke cut him off, "How would you know? You've never seen me cheer once in my life."

Her dad shook his head and rubbed his eyes, "You need to try Brooke," he said continuing where he had left off.

Brooke's mom crossed her legs and sighed, "Look at you Brooke, darling, you're a mess. You're gaining weight; you come home drunk every night."

"Gaining weight?" Brooke asked looking down at herself, "That's real nice mom."

"Brooke..." Her mom started.

Brooke stopped her, "Just save it, okay?" She said and then walked out the door. Brooke drove to Tim Smith's brother's apartment and knocked on the door.

"Yeah," he said answering the door. He looked different then Brooke had remembered, Tim's brother, Jay, has graduated two years before all of them and was an amazing basketball player and not too bad on the eyes. Brooke looked at him now and he looked like he had lost about 30 pounds, and definitely looked like a stoner.

"Jay," Brooke said as sweet as she could, "Looking good."

Jay laughed, "I'm living, aren't I?"

Brooke laughed along with him, "You're still selling right?"

He nodded, "Of course I am, especially to a pretty girl like you," he said with a wink.

"I've got five hundred dollars," Brooke said as she got out her purse.

Jay whistled, "What do you need?"

Brooke sighed, "Something that will make me happy and do better in school and cheerleading."

"I see," Jay said nodding, "Hold on," he said and then went in his apartment. A few seconds later he came out with a bottle of little white pills, "Here," he said handing them to Brooke and taking the five hundred dollars.

"And these are?"

Jay squinted, "Think of it as Prozac with caffeine," he said.

Brooke nodded her head and smiled, "Nice doing business with you Jay."

"My pleasure," he said undressing her with his eyes.

"Let's keep this our little secret," Brooke said with a seductive smile that could drive any man nuts.

Jay winked at her, "My lips are sealed," he said and then walked back into his black and dirty apartment.

Brooke got into her car and popped a pill in her mouth and drove back to her house. She got back and saw that her parents had already left, again. Brooke shook it off and walked back up to her room. She hid the bottle of pills under her bed and looked at herself in the mirror, "I hope these pills are diet pills as well," she said to herself with a little laugh. Brooke's laugh was interrupted by her cell phone, "Hello," she answered cheerfully. The pills were working all ready.

"Are you going to Tim's party tonight?" Peyton asked in her usual flat voice.

"Don't sound too excited about it," Brooke teased.

Peyton noticed her friend's cheeriness, "You're quite the little care bear today aren't you?"

Brooke laughed, maybe a little too hard, "I'm just...Happy!"

"Okay," Peyton exclaimed, "I'll pick you up?"

"Sure," Brooke said, "See you soon!"

Peyton turned off the phone and shook her head. Peyton walked into Brooke's room and saw her applying the last bit of her make up, "I think you have enough on," Peyton said as she rolled her eyes at her friend's attempt to do herself up every time they went out.

Brooke smiled, "Come on Peyt, the whole fun of being a girl is getting to put on make up and dress up in slutty clothes."

Peyton sighed, but smiled at Brooke, "Whatever you say Brooke. I'll meet you down in my car."

"You do that," Brooke said with a wink. She watched and listened as Peyton walked down the stairs. She got her knees and searched under her bed; Brooke saw the pills and smiled to herself. She brought them out from under the bed and popped on in her mouth, "Tonight's going to be a fun night," she said to herself and then ran downstairs and out the door into Peyton's car.

Brooke and Peyton walked into Tim's house and Brooke sang along to the music and swayed her hips, "Where's the beer?" Brooke asked as she made her way towards the keg.

Peyton sighed and dug her hands into her pockets and looked around the room, "Hey," she heard a voice behind her say.

"Hey," Peyton said with a little smile to Lucas, "Sorry our plans got kind of ruined for tonight."

Lucas shrugged, "It happens," he said, "I forgive you."

Peyton smiled, "Thanks," she said sincerely, "So, Lucas, do you want to go out tomorrow night after the game?"

"Depends," Lucas said catching Peyton off guard, "Are you going to ditch me?" He teased.

Peyton smiled with relief, "Of course not," she said flirting with him.

Brooke got her cup and started pouring her beer in it, she looked at Tim and winked at him, "Hey Tim," she said smoothly.

Tim looked at her in confusion, but then smiled in satisfaction, "Brooke," he said seductively, "Looking hot as ever."

"I know," Brooke said with a little smile. She got closer to Tim and kissed his cheek softly, "You want to go up to your parent's bedroom with me?"

Tim smiled, but it quickly faded, "How many drinks have you had tonight Brooke?"

"None," Brooke answered truthfully, "This is my first one and I haven't even had a sip of it yet."

"Okay," Tim said, his smile quickly coming back onto his face, "Let's go," he said as he took her hand and led her up to the bedroom.

Peyton had gotten more relaxed around Lucas and was laughing out loud at some of his comments, "So you've streaked before?" She asked.

Lucas blushed, "Yeah, it was a dare..."

"Who would think you'd be a wild boy?" Peyton asked as she bit the rim of her cup, "I guess I have to find out more about you."

"I guess you do," Lucas said in a husky voice.

Peyton looked around and saw that Brooke was nowhere in sight, "Shit," she said to herself. "I can't find Brooke," she said off Lucas's look.

Lucas sighed and looked at his watch, "I'll help you find here," he offered.

"No, it's okay," Peyton said, "If you need to be somewhere then you can go, I'll talk to you tomorrow after the game," she said with a smile.

Lucas smiled back and kissed her softly on the cheek, "See you later."

Peyton walked around the living room and weaved through the many dancing kids. She looked around and saw Nathan leaning against the wall, "Nathan," she said, "Have you seen Brooke anywhere?"

Nathan shook his head and took a sip of his beer, "No."

Peyton rolled her eyes, "Could you help me find her or something?"

"No," Nathan answered.

Peyton was about to say something but was cut off by Brooke wrapping her arms around Peyton's neck, "Hey bud," Brooke said with a crooked smile.

"Are you drunk?" Peyton asked as she held her friend up.

Brooke shrugged, "I don't know," she said and then laughed. Brooke fell to the floor and laughed again at herself.

Peyton groaned, "Brooke please get up."

"Okay mommy," Brooke said laughing again and getting up. She looked over at Nathan and stuck out her tongue at him, "You're mean!"

Nathan rolled his eyes, "Go home Brooke."

Brooke pretended to be offended and gasped, "Why Nathan Scott! You're being quite the ass today."

Nathan looked at Peyton, "Take her home," he demanded.

Peyton helped Brooke get up the stairs of her house and set Brooke down in her bed, "What's up with you tonight Brooke?" Peyton asked.

Brooke grabbed her head, "Nothing," she said, "Just...nothing."

"It seems like something," Peyton pointed out, "You're not acting like yourself."

"You don't know who the hell I am," Brooke snapped back.

Peyton sighed and gave up, "I'll see you tomorrow at school Brooke."

"Whatever." Brooke said and then turned over and fell instantly asleep.

Brooke woke up and got ready, she reached under her bed and took a pill and then put them in her purse. She walked into school and got into her locker. She saw Tim coming towards her smiling; Brooke turned away and ignored him.

"Brooke," he said trying to act as suave as he could.

Brooke rolled her eyes, "What?" She asked in annoyance.

Tim laughed and stroked Brooke's cheek, "You can't pretend that you don't remember what we did last night."

"Oh I remember," Brooke stated, "I'm just trying to forget," she said coldly and walked past Tim.

Peyton walked alongside Brooke and sighed, "Are you feeling any better?"

"Yeah," Brooke said with a shrug, "I'm feeling great."

Peyton smiled, "I'm glad."

Brooke nodded, "Yeah me too," she said with a fake smile, "See you later," she said with a wink. She walked into the restroom and saw that she was the only one in there. Brooke opened her purse and popped another pill in her mouth.

Nathan walked towards the locker room and saw his dad coming towards him. Nathan groaned, "Dad, I already know what you're going to say."

Dan crossed his arms, "Nathan this is a very important game."

"I know."

"Scout's are watching," Dan pointed out.

"I know."

Dan sighed, "Nathan...Just, don't let Lucas steal the spotlight away from you. You have a lot going for you."

Nathan shook his head and looked down at the ground, "Yeah I know. I'm you're son so I sure as hell have a lot going for me," he said sarcastically and walked inside the locker room.

"Go Ravens!" Brooke cheered as the game started, "Give me an R," she screamed, "Give me an A! Give me a V! Give me an E! Give me an N! Give me an S!" She screamed along with the other cheerleaders, "What's that spell? Ravens!" Brooke threw up her hands and shook her pom-poms and screamed loud.

Peyton laughed at Brooke, "You're in the mood to cheer aren't you?"

Brooke nodded vigorously and smiled, "Tonight is my night," she exclaimed with a smile plastered on her face. She saw that Tim had been fouled and she went up to do a cheer for foul shots. Brooke screamed and did a back handspring, she jumped up from her back handspring and the room started spinning. The next thing she knew Brooke was in a hospital bed with Peyton standing over her crying.

"Nurse," she heard Peyton say, "She's awake."

The nurse walked over and took Brooke's blood pressure, "Sweetie, you passed out during one of your cheers."

Brooke nodded and looked around the room and saw Peyton and her parents standing around her, "Yeah," she said to herself.

"Were you taking any drugs?" The nurse asked.

Brooke's mom stepped in, "If she were taking drugs she would have told us, she's our daughter for Christ's sake!"

A single tear rolled down Brooke's face and she sighed, "I want to go home," she said, her voice raspy and soft.

Peyton held onto her hand and smiled, "You'll be out soon," she whispered, "Don't ever scare me like that again," she sobbed.

"I won't," Brooke said as more tears came down her face, "I'm so sorry Peyton."

"Shh," Peyton said comforting Brooke, "Don't apologize you didn't do anything wrong."

Brooke sighed as her lip quivered, "Yes I did Peyt," she whispered.

Brooke walked into her house, her parents close behind her, "I can't believe this Brooke," her dad exclaimed, "You collapsed.

"I'm fine," Brooke lied.

Brooke's mom crossed her arms, "Your dad and I are going up to bed, but we'll be leaving tomorrow morning."

"I was in the god damn hospital!" Brooke exclaimed.

Brooke's mom sighed, "I'm sorry Brooke, it's important."

"It always is," Brooke said as she swallowed the lump in her throat. Brooke went up to her room and listened for her parents to close their door. She walked quietly out the front door and drove to her best friend's house. Not Peyton, but Nathan. She felt like it was a good time to be cuddled in his big arms again.

Brooke walked into the house and walked into Nathan's room and saw him sitting on his bed, just the way she had seen him two years ago, "Nathan," she said as her voice cracked.

He turned around, "I was just going to call you," he said. His voice was different it was filled with sincerity and concern.

"I'm sorry I showed up like this," Brooke said putting her hands in her back pockets.

"It's okay," Nathan said as he looked around his room, "My parents aren't home."

Brooke sighed and wiped the tear that came down her already tear stained cheek, "Can I stay here for the night?" She asked apprehensively.

Nathan nodded his head and got into his bed, "Of course," he said softly.

Brooke took off her shoes and crawled into the bed that she had crawled into so many nights before, "Thank you," she whispered as she curled into a ball.

"You're welcome," Nathan said as he put his arm around her, "Are you okay Brooke?"

Brooke nodded and sobbed quietly, "Just hold me," she said, and he did as he was told.

Nathan rubbed Brooke's arm and sighed, "I'm here for you Brooke."

"Do you remember everything we had Nathan?" Brooke asked.

"I remember..."

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