An Innocent Victim: Ch.2

Haley hung up the phone, confused. It wasn't like Peyton to bail, but her "stuff she needed to handle" did sound important, and Peyton did seem upset. She wondered what was going on.

Nathan walked out of the bathroom, after having a shower. "So,are you going shopping with Peyton and Brooke today?"

Haley shook her head. "No, something came up."

Nathan smiled. "Great, now I have you all to myself today." He hugged her.

Haley sighed a bit. "Yeah, that's great." Her voice had an uncertainty to it, though.

Hours had passed since Brooke had told Peyton the news. They both lay on Peyton's bed, and neither of them had talked much, just took comfort in eachother. Every time the phone had rung though, they both jumped.

Peyton spoke. "So, what are you going to do?"

Brooke laid her head on Peyton's shoulder. "Nothing?" she said.

"I don't know, there's nothing really I can do. I'm afraid if I break up with him, he'll do something worse to me."

Peyton hesistated before asking Brooke a question. "How many times has he hit you?" She was afraid of the answer. Brooke pulled her shirt up to reveal her stomach, and Peyton gasped. There were at least twenty bruises, in different stages and colors.

"God, Brooke. You have to tell someone other than me. You have to break up with him.. I mean, you can't let yourself get hurt again." Peyton said softly. This wasn't fair. It wasn't supposed to happen to Brooke.

"Who am I going to tell?" Brooke was getting upset. "Who do we know well enough that could actually do something?"

Peyton thought for a bit. "Karen?"

Brooke thought about it tooh. "I don't know. Maybe." She shrugged. "Let's figure it out tomorrow, okay?"

Peyton nodded, and threw Brooke some pj's. They both crawled in bed, and Peyton turned off the light. Both girls were silent for a few minutes, until Brooke said, "Thanks Peyton, for everything. I wouldn't know what I would do if you weren't here."

"I'm always here for you," replied Peyton as she hugged Brooke to her. "You know that. 'Night Brooke."

" 'Night Peyton."

Brooke entered the coffeehouse the next morning. She was literally shaking. Brooke wasn't the kind of person who would accept help that easily, but desperate measures cost for desperate needs. Brooke recoiled. Instead of Karen behind the counter, it was Lucas. She sighed. They were friends now, but each were being careful with one another. Lucas was being especially careful not to hurt Brooke again.

"Hey Brooke," he said as he handed her a cup of coffee.

Brooke accepted it, as she said teasingly, "You're working here now?"

"Helping Mom out today- she's out with Andy today." Lucas replied.

Brooke opened her mouth, and then closed it again. Lucas looked at her oddly.

"What's up?" he asked.

"Nothing you need to know about," she replied, keeping her guard up.

Brooke looked upset. "Come on Brooke. Tell me. We're friends now, you know you can tell me anything."

He was gazing at her arm. A large bruise was starting to form there. Lucas came around the table, and pulled her by the hand to the back.

"How did this happen?" he demanded. "Who hurt you?"

Brooke hesistated. "It was Felix," she admitted. "He's been doing this for awhile."

Lucas closed his eyes. This couldn't be happening. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Brooke asked, confused.

"I should have known. I should have done something."Lucas said.

Brooke shook her head slightly. "It's not your fault. No-one knew. Not even Peyton, I just told her last night."

"Does anyone else know?" Lucas asked.

"Haley is going to, soon. I was thinking of maybe telling Karen too, I'm not sure though. Anyways, Luke, I've gotta go, Peyton and I are going to go tell Haley."

Lucas hugged her closely to him. He wanted to be with her so badly, but he knew how important Brooke and Peyton were to eachother, especially at a time like this. After it was all over he would go for it, but right now friendship was more important.

(NEXT! – Haley finds out)