Empty Apartment

Elsewhere (End)

"Leaving?" Peyton asked, "Why do you want to do that?"

Brooke sighed, "It's just time for a change Peyton."

"Everything's going good for you here," Peyton pointed out, "You're the most popular girl, and..."

Brooke cut her off, "Those things don't mean anything to me."

Peyton crossed her arms and looked down at the ground, "So this is it? You're just going to run away?"

"I'm not running away from anything," Brooke explained.

"Yes you are!" Peyton said, "You're running away from Nathan..."

Brooke bit her bottom lip, "I just need to get out of here Peyton...I'm sorry," she said sympathetically.

Peyton wiped a tear from her eye, "Who's going to be there for me when I'm in a bad mood, or when Lucas does something stupid, or when I'm sad? Who's going to be there for me, Brooke?"

"This is hard for me too," Brooke said sternly, "You have no idea."

"If this is so hard then why are you doing it?" Peyton asked, "Why are you packing up all your shit and bolting?"

Brooke looked away from her best friend, "Because I hate the life I've lived..." She said softly.

"You want to change," Peyton said, finally understanding.

Brooke nodded, "You have no idea what it's like to wake up every morning and put on a fake smile, and pretend everything's okay...Everything is not okay."

"I'll miss you," Peyton said as she gave Brooke a big hug, "I'll miss you so much."

Brooke let out a tearful laugh, "Our cell phone bills are going to be fucking crazy!"

Nathan drove to his house, as he blasted his music about not giving a fuck about anything or anyone. He had fucked up badly, and he knew it. Now Brooke hated him, and he didn't have someone to talk to, or someone to cuddle with at night. His cell phone rang, and his thoughts were interrupted.

"Hello," he said angrily.

"Whoa," Molly said, "Did I catch you at a bad time?"

Nathan gritted his teeth, "Just tell me if I'm the father or not..."

Molly sighed, "You're not the father. My ex-boyfriend is...You would've been a great father Nathan."

Nathan felt his heart finally relax, "I'm not ready to be a father," he said, "I've got to go...Bye." He said and then hung up the phone.

Days had passed, and Brooke was finally allowed to go home. She limped into her bedroom as her parents started packing everything.

"Honey," Joyce said as she poked her head in Brooke's room, "The maid is going to pack for you..."

Brooke nodded and laid down on her bed, "Thanks..." She groaned. Brooke got back up and walked past her mother, "I'll be right back..."

Joyce gave her a worried look, "Sweetie, you shouldn't be out."

Brooke ignored her mom and drove to the place where her and Nathan's clubhouse was. She parked her car and walked back into the woods. She was surprised that she had remembered the way after so many years. Brooke walked towards the picnic bench were her and Nathan talked about his parents, and sat down.

She listened to the wind blow and just listened to the silence. Brooke closed her eyes for awhile, and when she opened them she saw Nathan coming towards her. "Don't even try Nathan..." Was all she had to say.

Nathan still walked towards her, "I'm not the father," he simply said.

"Congratulations," Brooke said sarcastically.

Nathan looked down at his shoes and then back up at Brooke, "I heard you were leaving."

"Thank god," Brooke said with a dry laugh, "I finally get to leave this place."

Nathan sighed, "Won't you miss us?"

Brooke shrugged, "I won't miss you..." She lied.

"How can you say that?" Nathan said, "I'm going to miss you like crazy. I love you Brooke, and I know you love me back."

"We don't know what love is!" Brooke exclaimed, "We're 17 years old!"

Nathan threw up his hands in defense, "Brooke, we love each other! Get over this little feud you have with me and just let's kiss!"

"It's not always that easy," Brooke said as she started to get up.

Nathan grabbed her hips, "Marry me..."

"You're crazy," Brooke chuckled.

"I love you."

Brooke sighed, "Nate, again, we're only 17."

"I know Brooke," Nathan said, "And I honestly don't give a damn."

"What are people going to think?" Brooke said.

"Fuck them," Nathan yelled.

Brooke laughed, "This is too crazy..."

Nathan kissed Brooke passionately, "Will you marry me?" He asked after the kiss ended.

Brooke giggled and looked around, and then finally into Nathan's eyes, "Yes," she squealed and jumped into his arms.

They walked hand in hand to Brooke's house, where her parents were still packing, "Mom, dad," Brooke said as they both stopped packing, "I'm staying in Tree Hill..."

Joyce groaned, "You're going to unpack all that stuff yourself..."

"Keep it packed," Brooke said as she squeezed Nathan's hand harder.

Jim looked at her in confusion, "Okay...why?"

Brooke smiled up at Nathan, "Just keep it packed..." She said and left with Nathan.

"It's not going to be easy with my mom," Nathan said as they drove to his house.

Brooke rolled her eyes, "You're mom loves me. She'll be happy that we're getting married..."

"You're getting what?" Deb said, as Nathan and Brooke stood in front of her hand in hand.

"Married," Nathan said, "I know that we're not out of high school yet, but..."

Deb rubbed her eyes, "That's right; you're not out of high school yet."

"Deb," Brooke said, "We love each other, and it was just a matter of time before we got married..."

"I don't want to see you throwing both of your lives away..." Deb said. She looked at the two of them together and something inside of her told her to just let them be, "If you guys want this then...I guess I can't stop you..."

Brooke jumped up in down and hugged Deb, "I love you so much Deb!"

Deb smiled, "I love you too, my new daughter-in-law..."

Nathan put his arm around Brooke and smirked, "Brooke Scott...Has a nice ring to it."

"Do you Brooke Davis take Nathan Scott to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Brooke smiled at Nathan, "I do..." She said and then looked at Deb, who was the only one invited to the wedding.

"And do you Nathan Scott take Brooke Davis to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do..." Nathan said.

"Now I pronounce you husband and wife...You may now kiss the bride."

Nathan grabbed Brooke's face gently and kissed her passionately. Deb cried tears of joy as she watched the two of them kiss.

Nathan carried Brooke up the stairs of an apartment complex, "I can't believe your mom bought you an apartment!"

"It's our honeymoon," Nathan said once they got inside, "We need to spend it alone..."

They went into the bedroom and Brooke took off her shirt, "This is a first for both of us..."

Nathan laid her down and kissed her softly, "I love you Mrs. Scott..."

"I love you too," Brooke said as she helped Nathan with his shirt.

The sun woke Brooke up as she stretched and looked over to her new husband, "Good morning," she whispered.

Nathan smiled at her, "Good morning," he said and kissed her passionately on the lips, "How does it feel to be married?"

"Not bad," Brooke laughed, "My husband is fucking hot!"

Nathan laughed, "And I have the sexiest wife ever," he said and gave her another kiss, and then got up.

"Where are you going? Brooke whined.

Nathan groaned, "I have to go see my dad...He wanted to talk to me about this whole marriage thing I'm guessing."

Brooke sighed, "Do you want me to come?"

"No," Nathan said, "I don't want you to get dragged into this," he said and then kissed her forehead, "I'll be back in an hour or so..."

"I love you," Brooke said.

Nathan walked back over towards her and kissed her again, "I love you too," he said genuinely.

Brooke heard the front door of their apartment close and she spread herself out on the bed, "I need sleep," she said to herself. She fell asleep, and was woken up by her cell phone. She rolled her eyes, and saw that it was Deb, "Hey Deb," she said cheerfully.

She heard Deb sniff, "Brooke, I need to tell you something..."

Brooke sat straight up, "What's wrong?"

"Dan shot Nathan today..." Deb said sadly.

Brooke's jaw dropped, "Tell me this is some fucked up nightmare..."

"I'm sorry," Deb sobbed, "He's...he's dead."

Tears started streaming down Brooke's face, "But...me and Nathan we're married. We were supposed to have a life together!"

Funeral Home, 2 days later

Brooke sat in the front row next to Deb and Peyton. She listened to Lucas talk about how he never got the chance to know his brother. Brooke couldn't listen; all she could think about was the fact that the only person she ever loved was gone. Deb got up to speak and looked at Brooke most of the time.

"Thank you all for coming," Deb started off, "Nathan had to go through a lot of things with Dan and I," The mention of Dan's name sent shivers through Brooke's body, "But Nathan was the strongest kid I'd ever known. He was loving and caring, even though I know sometimes he could be a bit cocky at times. I know he's looking down at us right now and giving us that infamous smirk. For how much love Nathan didn't get from me sometimes, he gave twice as much love back..."

'Don't say it Deb,' Brooke thought to herself.

Deb smiled at Brooke, "He was in love with his best friend, Brooke Davis, well now Scott. Nathan came to me and told me he wanted to marry her..." Peyton looked at Brooke in disbelief, "They loved each other," Brooke felt her eyes starting to water more, "And they would go to the ends of the earth for each other..."

Brooke didn't hear the rest of the speech. She was too busy trying to control her shaking body. After Deb was done speaking they all passed the open casket. Brooke stopped and looked down at Nathan he looked the way he always did when he was sleeping. "I love you," Brooke whispered.

Brooke walked outside and saw Peyton coming up towards her, "You and Nathan got married?" She asked.

Brooke nodded, "Yeah," she sobbed, "Now he's gone..."

Peyton pulled Brooke into a hug, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was a real quick thing Pey," Brooke said, "I'm sorry."

Peyton kissed the top of Brooke's head, "Don't apologize Brookie...You did nothing wrong..."

"I love him," Brooke sobbed.

Peyton's eyes began to water, "I know honey, I know..."

Brooke walked into Nathan and her apartment. Well, now her apartment. She looked at all the things that belonged to him. His Playstation2, his basketball, his sweatshirt, the house still smelled like him. Brooke put on a pair of jeans and Nathan's sweatshirt and just soaked in his scent.

She walked around the house and saw that the bed was still not made. She looked in their bathroom and saw his hat sitting on the sink. Brooke laid on his side of the bed and cried softly. Without him this was an empty apartment. And without him she had an empty soul. RIP Nathan Scott.

Read and Review

I love the time and in between
The calm inside me
In the space where I can breathe
I believe there is a
Distance I have wandered
To touch upon the years of
Reaching out and reaching in
Holding out holding in
I believe
This is heaven to no one else but me
And I'll defend it as long as I can be
Left here to linger in silence
If I choose to
Would you try to understand?