Empty Apartment

You're Gone

Brooke woke up with Nathan's arms still wrapped around her. Brooke saw him sleeping peacefully, and didn't want to wake him because she knew he was going to have one hell of a hangover. Brooke ran her fingers along his abs. She remembered the day Nathan ran over to her house at 2:00 in the morning just to show her that his abs were starting to really show. Brooke smiled to herself as she thought about everything the two of them had gone through. There were also the not so great times, like when Brooke's dad would yell at her, and she would run to Nathan's her eyes red and teary. He would hold her close and tell her that everything was okay.

Brooke felt Nathan move, and she saw his eyes slowly open. He looked at his watch and it read 9:00, and then looked down at Brooke.

"Good morning," Brooke said with her usual raspy, but sexy voice.

Nathan rubbed his temples and groaned, "Hangovers suck," he said.

"Sorry," Brooke said sympathetically, "I'll make you some coffee."

Nathan stretched out his arms, "I'll help," he said as he slowly got up. Nathan sat at the kitchen table while the coffee brewed, "Thanks," he said after the silence.

"I know you'd do the same for me," Brooke said with a smile.

Nathan took his cup of coffee from Brooke and took a cautious sip, "Why wasn't Peyton at the party last night?"

"She went to some concert with Lucas," Brooke answered quickly.

"Jealous?" Nathan asked with a cocky tone.

Brooke sat at the table, and tapped her perfectly manicured nails, "No, just lonely," she answered sadly, but truthfully.

Nathan looked at her in a way that made her feel like she was finally understood...Maybe even loved.

"I know what you mean," Nathan said, "About being lonely."

Brooke looked at him in confusion, "How can you, Nathan Scott, be lonely? You have so many girls that want to be with you, and so many guys that want to be you."

"Just because I have all these people around me doesn't mean I'm necessarily happy," he explained.

"I guess we're both good at pretending," Brooke said with a weak laugh.

Nathan gave her a crooked smile, "It's because we both fell into our little roles."

"Can I ask you a question?" Brooke said, "Why the hell are you friends with Tim Smith?"

Nathan laughed, "He's a fun guy to party with."

"He's an ass," Brooke pointed out.

Nathan shrugged, "He may be an ass, but he can throw a damn good party..."

Brooke threw back her head and laughed, "What the fuck happened to us?"

"We're difficult," Nathan said with a laugh, "We're just two whores looking for some love."

"Speak for yourself," Brooke said as she blew the steam that was rising from her coffee.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "We're two of a kind."

Brooke smirked at Nathan, and then realized that she was still wearing the dress she had worn to the party, "I've got to get a shower," she said in disgust.

"Yeah I know," Nathan teased.

Brooke pretended to pout, "Hey!"

Nathan got up at the same time as Brooke, and pulled her into a big hug, "I'm just kidding Davis," he said as he rocked her side to side.

"I missed your hugs," Brooke said into his shoulder, she could still smell his cologne.

"I've always been a good hugger," Nathan said confidently.

Brooke nodded and the hug broke, "Well I'm going to get a shower..."

Nathan cocked his brow, "Need any company?"

"I'll see you around Nate," she said with a flirty smile.

Nathan grinned, "Have a nice day," he said before heading out the door.

Peyton felt a warm, light kiss on her cheek. She opened her eyes and saw Lucas looking down at her.

"I guess you got more than a goodnight kiss," Lucas said with a cute smirk.

Peyton kissed Lucas passionately, "I had a great night," she said as she ran her hands through Lucas's hair.

Lucas's smile grew bigger, "I did too."

Peyton rested her head on Lucas's bare chest, "So what are we now?"

"Well," Lucas sighed, "We did sleep together."

"We did," Peyton stated.

Lucas laughed, "So are we boyfriend and girlfriend?"

"Like oh my gosh," Peyton mocked, "Now we can like give each other like little love notes!"

Lucas winked at her, "Now I have to join the football team."

"And I have to be a cheerleader," Peyton said, but then stopped, "Wait, shit, I am a cheerleader..."

Lucas laughed and rubbed Peyton's head, "I never want to leave this bed or you," he said as he pulled Peyton closer towards him.

Nathan walked into his house, and into his room. His mom was sitting on his bed, "What are you doing?" Nathan asked.

Deb turned and looked at her son, "I called Tim...You weren't at his house."

Nathan dug his hands in his pockets and looked around, "What are you talking about Mom?"

"Don't lie to me Nathan," Deb warned.

Nathan rolled his eyes, "Right, only you can play that game," he said coldly.

"Don't get this attitude with me Nate," Deb said with a deep sigh, "This is hard for me too."

"Whatever," Nathan said, "I need to get a shower, and then I'm going to bed..."

"Nathan," Deb said before she left the room, "I know you think I'm full of shit, but I love you and I would never try to hurt you."

Nathan took off his shirt, and hurled it into the hamper, "At least not intentionally..."

Brooke skipped down the stairs with her car keys dangling from her mouth. She pulled her semi wet hair into a pony tail and walked out to her car. She turned up the radio loud and rolled down her window. She was in the greatest mood ever, and everything seemed to be going good for her. Brooke stopped at a red light and drummed her fingers on the steering wheel.

Nathan sat on the end of his bed, and played NBA Live on his Playstation2. His cell phone rang, and at first he didn't know whether to answer it or not. He picked it up, "Hello."

"Nathan," a girly, but depressed voice said from the other line.

"Um yeah?" Nathan said as he still played his game.

The girl on the other line cleared her throat, "This is Molly. We hooked up like a week ago..."

"Oh yeah," Nathan said. He remembered talking to Tim about the girl.

"Well," Molly began, "I'm pretty sure I'm pregnant, and you're one of the guys I hooked up with recently..."

Nathan's jaw dropped, "So I might be the father?"

"Yeah," she said apprehensively. Nathan dropped his controller and stared at his shaking hands.

The light turned green, and Brooke accelerated and as she looked to her left she saw a speeding Mustang coming towards her. She screamed as the impact of the car hit her side, and as she flew out of her seat.

Peyton sat at her computer, and drew a picture of her and Lucas lying in bed next to each other. She smiled as she looked down at it. Her phone rang, and she picked it up as she closed her sketch book.

"Hello," she said nonchalantly.

"Peyton," an older man said form the other line, "It's Jim Davis."

"Mr. Davis," Peyton said in confusion, "Umm, what's going on?"

Peyton heard the ice clink in his glass, "You need to come to the hospital..."

"Why?" Peyton asked as she started to get up.

"Brooke's in the hospital," Jim said, "She was hit by a drunk driver..."

Peyton's eyes began to water, "I'll be there soon," she said and then hung up the phone and bolted out of her room.

Peyton ran into the hospital and saw Jim, Joyce, and Deb sitting in the lobby. Peyton walked up to them her eyes full of tears and her body shaking, "How is she doing?"

"She's unconscious," Joyce said as she bit her nails, "Those damn doctors can't do anything," she said and then broke down into tears.

Peyton sat down beside Deb, and put her head in her hands, "Is she going to be okay?"

Deb's eyes began to water, "Brooke's a strong girl, but right now they're not sure about anything..."

Nathan walked into the hospital and saw his mom. He walked faster towards her, "How is she?" He asked as he hugged Deb.

"She's not awake yet," Deb said, "Did Jim call you?"

Nathan nodded and then hugged Peyton, "Are you okay?"

"I'm shaking so bad," she said as she wiped a tear from her cheek.

The hug broke and Nathan sat down. Hours passed, and Joyce got up from her seat and sighed in frustration, "I need a cigarette," she said glumly.

Jim snorted, "That's right smoke yourself away."

"I don't have time for your little comments Jim," Joyce shot back coldly.

"You disgust me," he stated.

"Go have another drink," she said before barging outside.

15 minutes later everyone had fallen asleep, except for Nathan. A doctor walked out and Nathan stood up, "Excuse me. Do you know anything about Brooke Davis?"

The doctor looked through his charts, "I don't know if she's awake, but you can go and see her."

Nathan sighed nervously and followed the doctor to Brooke's room. He walked in, and looked down at Brooke. She had little scratches on her face, and a bruise forming around her eye, and on her forehead.

Nathan sat down in the chair that was placed beside her bed, and held onto Brooke's hand, "Hey beautiful," he said softly, "I love you..."

"Hi..." He heard Brooke say faintly.

Nathan looked back up at her, "Brooke," he said, "Should I get your parents?"

"No," she said, "They're probably fighting anyways..."

Nathan stood up and stroked her hair, "How are you feeling?"

"Pain," Brooke groaned, "Lots and lots of pain."

"I need to talk to you about something," Nathan said nervously.

Brooke smiled, "You have that look on your face..."

Nathan laughed nervously, "I, um, might be a father..."

Brooke's smile quickly faded, "A what?"

"Brooke don't get pissed..." He said.

"So I get in a fucking car crash," she said coldly, "And the first thing you tell me is that you've got some whore knocked up?"

Nathan knew he picked the wrong time to tell Brooke, "It's only a maybe."

"Do you expect sympathy?" Brooke asked sarcastically.

"No, I just need you to be here for me right now," Nathan said.

Brooke glared at him, "I've fallen for too many of your lies, Nate."

Brooke let go of his hand, "I love you Brooke," Nathan said genuinely.

"How can you say that to me when you know that you might be a father in 9 months?" Brooke asked sadly as she turned away from him.

"What do you want from me Brooke?" Nathan said as he threw up his hands.

Brooke didn't dare look at him, "I expected more from you..."

Nathan sighed, "I'm sorry..." He said and left the hospital room.

Peyton walked into the hospital room and smiled at Brooke as she walked in, "Hey best friend," she said as she gave her a tight hug.

"Hey Peyt," Brooke said.

Peyton sighed, "I saw Nathan run out of here like a neutered pup...What's going on?"

Brooke bit her bottom lip, "He might have gotten some girl pregnant..."

"Holy shit," Peyton exclaimed, "Are you going to be okay?"

Brooke shrugged, "I don't know. We were just starting to become good friends again...and that ruins everything..."

"I'm sorry," Peyton said genuinely.

Brooke nodded, "I've been hearing that a lot lately..."

Peyton stroked Brooke's cheek lovingly, "You're all I have Brooke...Don't get all depressed and moody on me now, I'm the depressed and moody one," she teased.

Brooke smiled, "I'm sorry P. Sawyer..."

Peyton looked at her in confusion, "Why?"

"I want to leave Tree Hill..."

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Taking steps back through the words I should've said to you
They all got lost, you went away
Well I feel sick, and you just don't care anymore, anymore
Hours to be with you
Minutes of me in you
And I can't feel this happening
So tie my hands back, and make me feel you coming down
I'm coming down