White Houses

Chapter Four

Maybe you were all faster than me

We gave each other up so easily

These silly little wounds will never mend

I feel so far from where I've been

So I go, and I will not be back here again

I'm gone as the day is fading on white houses

Brooke pulled away from Lucas's embrace and smiled up at him, "Thank you," she said softly as she wiped a tear away.

"Don't let him get to you Brooke," Lucas stated, "He's not worth it."

Brooke shook her head softly, "That's the problem. He is."

"I wish I could stand here and tell you that everything's okay," Lucas began.

"Then you'd be lying," Brooke said sadly, "I'm finally understanding for once in my life that reality's a bitch and that when things are over then they're over, and there is nothing I can do about it."

Lucas sighed and dug his hands in his jean jacket, "I know that you and I don't know each other that well, but you seem like a great girl, and Peyton's told me a lot about you. If Nathan makes you this upset and this angry then he's one hell of a jackass," he explained.

"Thanks Lucas," Brooke said with a stifled laugh and then walked away.

Peyton walked up to Lucas and kissed him softly on the cheek, "That was really sweet of you," she said.

"It's the truth," Lucas said as he wrapped his arms tighter around Peyton.

"She loved him," Peyton stated.

Lucas nodded, "And I think he loved her."

Brooke walked along the small lake and looked at the half moon and the stars that were glowing in the sky. She had always loved looking up at the stars and moon, she wanted to be able to fly away and live on the moon. Brooke laughed at herself for thinking such dumb things as a kid, but she had an active imagination. The couch was her limousine, her bed was a spaceship, and her backyard was her dance floor. She could make her life seem so perfect when actually it was hell.

It was hell until she met Nathan. She remembered walking down to the park and seeing him shooting around. Brooke thought he was definitely cute, and walked over and watched him shoot. The first thing she noticed was his cockiness, and she loved that. They talked for what seemed like hours until the sun was starting to go down. They said their goodbyes and then a couple days later they were starting to hang out on a regular basis.

She missed those days. Brooke missed having Nathan there to hold her and comfort her when she was lonely or sad. He knew just the right things to say to her when she was sad. Nathan could make Brooke laugh even if she was in the worst mood ever at the time. He always brought a smile to her face and he would hold her for as long as she needed to be held. Nathan was just a great guy, and Brooke loved him more than anything in the world. Nathan was her family, her only family and she couldn't have been more pleased.

Brooke sat down and took a deep breath. All she ever wanted was to be loved and for someone to care about her. Her parents didn't care and up until Peyton and Nathan she never had any friends that were true. Brooke could have never run to Theresa's house at 2:30 in the morning, but she could do that with Nathan. He would always open his door willingly and hug her and made sure she was okay before he himself went asleep.

"Hey," she heard Nathan say as he walked towards the bench she was sitting on, "Is this seat taken?"

Brooke looked straight ahead, "Yes," she answered coldly.

Nathan sat down anyways and looked out towards the lake, "It's beautiful."

"It is," Brooke agreed.

"You were right Brooke," Nathan said his voice cocky free, "I can't forget about what we had."

Brooke looked at Nathan, "No, you can't."

Nathan cleared his throat, "I know that I completely screwed you over," he explained, "I was scared."

"Scared of what?" Brooke asked with frustration in her voice.

Nathan sighed, "I was scared because I was 15 years old and I was in love with my best friend."

Brooke's eyes got wide, "I loved you Nathan. You knew that, we told each other that we loved each other before we did anything," she said.

"I never meant to hurt you," Nathan said sincerely.

Brooke rolled her eyes, "But yet you did."

"Well, if it makes you any happier I was definitely pissed when you were hugging Lucas," Nathan admitted.

Brooke chuckled, "Good."

"Are things ever going to be the same between us?" Nathan asked.

Brooke shrugged, "Time will tell."

Nathan turned back, "It looks like the fire is dying down," he said as he got up from the bench.

Brooke stood up, "Do me a favor Nathan," she began, "Leave Lucas alone."

Nathan looked at her in confusion, "Why?"

"Because he's my friend and Peyton really likes him," Brooke explained.

Nathan walked alongside Brooke and let out a deep breath, "Fine, whatever."

Brooke smiled, "Thanks."

"You know," Nathan said changing the subject, "You really scared the one night when you collapsed."

"Why?"

Nathan looked at her with all seriousness, "I thought you might have died."

Brooke gave Nathan a crooked smile, "I'm sorry I scared you."

"I bet," Nathan said with a laugh.

Brooke stood in front of Nathan and patted him on the shoulder, "I'll see you around Nathan," she said and then walked towards Theresa's car.

Brooke and Peyton walked into school and Brooke told Peyton what had happened at the bonfire, "I knew you two couldn't hate each other for long," Peyton teased.

"It was just so nice of him," Brooke said, "It wasn't like him at all."

Peyton shrugged, "Maybe he's changing."

"For me?" Brooke asked in disbelief.

"You guys were best friends right?" Brooke nodded, "Well, then of course he's going to change for someone that knows some much about him," Peyton explained.

"Maybe," Brooke said as she walked towards her first period room, "I'll talk to you later Peyt."

Peyton smiled at her friend, "He cares about you Brooke," she said and then walked the opposite direction.

Brooke walked into the class room and saw Nathan sitting by a bunch of girls flirting like crazy. Brooke swallowed the lump that was creeping up in her throat and sat down at her usual seat. Class went by slow and the teacher had given up hope when he had to keep asking Nathan and his groupies to quiet down.

When the bell finally rang Brooke stormed out of the class room not caring who she ran into or who she pissed off. She went into the girls' bathroom and looked at herself in the mirror, "Jesus Brooke," she said out loud to herself. She walked out of the bathroom and forced a small smile on her face; she noticed that the only time she was really smiling was when she was with Nathan.

Brooke walked into the gym and walked over towards Peyton and Theresa, "Hey girls," she said as cheery as possible.

Theresa started jumping up and down, "Oh my god! Guess what?"

Brooke noticed that Peyton started walking away, but she brushed it off and focused her attention on the jumpy Theresa, "What Theresa?"

Theresa's smile had gotten ten times bigger, which annoyed Brooke. "Nathan asked me to go to Tim's party with him tonight!" She exclaimed.

Brooke didn't know whether to cry or get pissed, "Oh," was all she had to say.

"Oh?" Theresa questioned, "This is the best thing ever!"

Brooke nodded her head and let out a fake laugh, "I'm happy for you T, you're dream is finally coming true."

Brooke watched as Theresa looked at Nathan and waved to him, he smiled back at her and then looked at Brooke. Brooke crossed her arms and gave him an "I-Can't-Believe-You" look. Nathan turned away and put a jump shot and missed.

Brooke walked into the house with Lucas and Peyton, "People are going think we're going to have a threesome," Brooke said with a chuckle.

Peyton laughed, "Lucky us."

Brooke smiled, "Well I'm single so I'm going to go mingle. I'll talk to you lame lovebirds later," she teased.

Lucas watched as Brooke got out of ear shot, "I heard Nathan's bringing Theresa with him tonight."

"You heard about that too?"

"Yeah," Lucas said with a nod, "He was talking about it in the locker room."

"Please tell me you don't talk about me in the locker room," Peyton said disgusted.

Lucas laughed, "Of course not."

"Good," Peyton said. "I can't believe Nathan has the balls to be all sweet to Brooke and then bring dumb Theresa to this party."

Lucas shrugged, "He's an ass."

"I agree," Peyton said as she looked around the room.

Brooke mingled through the people and saw Theresa and Nathan all over each other. She rolled her eyes and walked past them. Theresa grabbed her by the arm and smiled at her, "Brooke!" She exclaimed.

"Theresa let go," Brooke said sternly.

Theresa laughed, "Don't be a bitch tonight Brooke because you don't have a date."

Brooke got up in Theresa's face, "If you're smart then you'll shut the hell up right now," she threatened.

Theresa looked at Nathan, "This is a perfect example of some slutty girl whose parents hate her," she said laughing at her own joke. Nathan saw the pain and anger in Brooke's eyes.

"Stop it Theresa," Nathan said trying to stop her.

Theresa scoffed, "It's fun!"

Brooke nailed Theresa in the face causing her to fall backwards onto the ground. A group of people circled the two and yelled, "You bitch," Brooke screamed as she got on top of Theresa and started pulling her hair and bitch slapping her.

Nathan picked Brooke up off of Theresa and carried her outside. He was followed by Peyton and Lucas who had seen half of the fight. Nathan set Brooke outside on the swing in his backyard, "Calm down Brooke," he said trying to stay calm her.

"I hate that slut," Brooke exclaimed as she help onto the swing.

Nathan kneeled down in front of Brooke and cupped her face with his hands, "Look at me Brooke. Theresa was being a bitch, don't let it phase you."

Brooke nodded, "Okay," she said still trying to calm down.

Peyton and Lucas watched the scene in front of them and walked back into the party so that they didn't disturb the two.

Nathan laughed, "You're quite the fighter."

"Thanks," Brooke said as she smiled. There he was putting a smile on Brooke's face just like he always did.

"Are you okay?"

Brooke nodded, "Yeah," she said softly, "Thanks for sticking up for me."

"What are friends for?" He said with a smirk.

Brooke sighed, "Why did you bring her tonight?"

"Because I'm a dumb ass," Nathan said, "I'm sorry," he said genuinely.

Brooke gave Nathan a crooked smile and rested her hand on the top of his head, "Let's try this friendship thing one more time."

Nathan nodded, "Friends that sounds good."

"Since we're friends now, can I sleep over?" Brooke asked.

Nathan laughed, "Sure."

Brooke hugged Nathan, "I'm so glad to have you back," she mumbled into his shoulder.

"What was that mumbly?" He teased.

Brooke broke the hug and smiled, "I said, I'm so glad to have you back."

Nathan grinned and grabbed Brooke's hand, "I'm done partying," he said looking towards the house, "Let's go home."

"Home," Brooke repeated, "I haven't been there in a while."

Nathan laughed and put his arm around Brooke, "Come on dork."

"Shut up nerd!" Brooke exclaimed as she slapped him playfully.

Brooke and Nathan walked into his room and Brooke jumped onto his bed, "Comfy," she said.

"Yeah," Nathan said as he took off his shirt and changed it.

Brooke looked down at her own clothes, "I need some clothes." Nathan threw her a pair of boxers and a t shirt, "I'm not wearing a pair of your dirty boxers," she said holding the boxers far away from her.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "They're new, so I haven't even worn them yet," he explained.

"Well if you put it that way," Brooke said as she took off her clothes and exchanged them for Nathan's boxers and shirt, "Now I'm tired."

Nathan got into his bed and pulled the covers up for Brooke, "I haven't had a snuggle buddy for a while."

Brooke smiled as she got into the warm bed, "Me neither," she said as she faced him, "Maybe this whole friendship thing will work out."

"It will," Nathan said confidently.

Brooke turned her back to Nathan and snuggled against his chest. They laid there quietly for awhile. Brooke sighed, "Do you still love me Nathan?" She asked quietly and apprehensively.

She felt Nathan's arm wrap tighter around her, "Yeah," he whispered into her ear.

Read and Review

A/N- Sorry if I'm taking so long to hook Brooke and Nathan up, but I want them to realize how good of friends they were. I'm trying to think of some future conflicts between the two, but right now I don't have any ideas. If you guys want to see them fight about something or whatever just review my story and tell you're ideas and I'll use them. Thanks!