It was Monday morning and Brooke was walking down the hallway toward her locker. As she walked through the crowd of kids she was vaguely aware of them whispering and pointing at her. She was about to round the corner when Peyton fell into step beside her.
"Brooke, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" Peyton asked as she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
Brooke assumed she had heard what had happened with Felix so she shrugged her shoulder non commit ally. "I'm fine Pey, I'm not going to let what happened with Felix bother me anymore." In reality, Brooke had spent her weekend secluded in her room crying and depressed. Her friends had tried to call and check up on her, but she just didn't want to be bothered. She knew they meant well, but she just wasn't ready to face them all yet.
Peyton stopped her in her tracks. "Wait, Felix? What happened with Felix?"
"Isn't that what you were talking about?" Brooke looked at her questioningly and started to panic when Peyton avoided her look. "Peyton, what the hell are you talking about? What's going on?"
Peyton looked like a deer caught in head lights. She didn't know what to do. "You mean you haven't been to your locker yet?" Peyton asked with a pained look.
"Why? What's at my locker?" Brooke didn't even wait for an answer, she ran toward her locker only to stop abruptly in front of it.
"Brooke! Wait!" Peyton yelled, trying to stop her but was too late, she had already reached her locker.
Brooke stood there, shocked by the writing sprayed across the front. "Slut" she read as she reached out a tentative hand to touch it.
"Oh my God, who would do this?" She asked, bringing her hand up to her mouth as tears sprung to her eyes.
Peyton grabbed her friend in her arms, trying to absorb some of her pain. "Brooke…" she whispered. "I'm so sorry!"
"Who would do this Peyt? Who?" Brooke glanced at the crowd of kids that were now gathered around her. She watched as they whispered to one another. "I have to get out of here." Brooke jerked out of Peyton's arm and ran out of the school.
She ran out to her car crying and dropped her keys in the process of trying to unlock her door. She bent down to retrieve her keys only to see a pair of shoes step up beside it. Brooke's gaze traveled up the length of the person's body only to come face to face with Felix.
"Told you it wasn't over slut! Nobody plays me for a fool." Felix stared cold heartedly at her, and smirked at the realization that flittered across her face.
"You!" She said, pointing an accusing finger at him. "How could you do this to me?"
Felix crossed his arm across his chest and leaned against her car lazily. "The way I see it Brooke, you had it coming to you. I figured I had a duty to our fellow peers to let them know what kind of a person you are."
"You arrogant son of a btch," Brooke took a step toward him, her arm raised in motion to slap him across the face.
Felix saw what she was about to do, and grabbed her hand in his before it could connect with his cheek. "I wouldn't do that if I were you. I've never laid my hands on a girl before, but that doesn't mean I won't." He pulled her arm down and yanked her close to his body. "Don't let yourself be the first." He whispered before pushing her away from him.
Brooke opened her mouth to retort, only to be stopped by the sound of running feet. She turned to see who it was and saw Nathan, Haley, Lucas and Peyton running towards her. A look of panic across all their faces.
"I would take a step back from her if I were you." Lucas threatened, being the first to reach her side.
"Oh, if it isn't St. Lucas, coming to the rescue of his damsel." Felix threw his arms up in mock fear.
Peyton and Haley surrounded Brooke with their bodies, shielding her from further abuse. Brooke allowed herself to be enveloped in the safety of their arms. Her body was shaking with pain and outrage. She had never been treated so callously, by anyone. And she was shocked to the core by Felix's cruelty. This was definitely not the same guy she was dating.
Nathan stepped up beside Lucas, offering his body also as a shield between Felix and Brooke. "I told you a$$hole, if you hurt her one more time, you would be dealing with me." Nathan took a threatening step in his direction only to be stopped by Lucas' hand on his arm.
"We're on school property Nate, don't get yourself in trouble." Lucas released his arm, and stepped in front of Felix's face, his own face a mere inch away from him. "And besides, if I were you, I would think about moving again."
Felix cocked his head back and raised his eyebrows in bemusement. "And why would I be thinking that?"
"Because, as of five minutes ago, you've been expelled. You and your sorry excuse for a sister." Lucas informed him smugly.
"On what grounds? We didn't do anything? At least not anything they can pin on us." Felix started to tap his foot against the pavement nervously. Wait, he thought, what did Anna do with the can of spray paint they used that morning?
"On the grounds of school vandilization. Apparently, you and your sister really are that stupid. Why would you leave the evidence in your lockers? Anyway, Anna is in with the principal as we speak, and believe me, you'll be in there next." Nathan happily informed him. Satisfied with the look of fear that flashed across his face.
They watched as Felix ran out of the parking lot. As he disappeared from sight, they turned their attention back to Brooke. They looked at the fallen girl in front of them, and sighed deeply. Nathan was the first to approach her.
He gathered her into the protection of his arms. "I'm sorry B. You don't deserve this." He whispered into her hair. His heart broke at the gut wrenching sobs coming from her. His gaze traveled from Haley's sad face to Peyton's. He knew they were thinking the same thing he was. If they could take some of the pain away from Brooke, they would do it in a flash. "Do you want us to take you home?" He asked as he forced her gaze to meet his.
Brooke offered him a watery smile as her hand reached up to wipe her eyes. "No, thanks Nate, but I just need to be alone right now." Brooke turned to look at Peyton. "You can take care of cheerleading practice today can't you?"
"Of course Brooke, just feel better okay?" Peyton knew it would be a long time before Brooke got some of her spark back. She walked over to hug her friend. "I'll check on you later okay?" She whispered into her ear before breaking the embrace.
"Brooke, I'll check on you after school. I'll make sure to let your teachers know you went home sick and get the assignments you missed." Haley also hugged her.
"Thanks Hales. Okay, you guys get back to classes. Don't worry about me, I'll be okay." Brooke attempted to form a brave smile for her friend's sake and smiled softly when she saw their reluctance to leave her. "Seriously, go!" Brooke pushed them back towards the school and watched their retreating forms.
Lucas had stood off to the side, unsure of what to do. They hadn't spoken since that disastrous night in her bathroom. He wanted to reach out to her and gather her into his arms. He wanted to let her know that he was there for her, but he was afraid to. He watched as she said good-bye to their friends.
Brooke turned back to her car, only to stop when she noticed Lucas standing off to the side. His hands were tucked away in his pockets, and his shoulders were hunched forward. She met his gaze, and could read the sorrow and uncertainty in them. She hadn't returned any of his calls this past weekend and she knew it was killing him.
They both took a tentative step toward one another and stopped when they were no more than a couple of feet away.
"Lucas I…"
"Brooke I…"
They both laughed self consciously. Neither anticipated the encounter to be as awkward as it was.
Lucas shuffled his feet around him. "I'm sorry, you go first."
"Look Luke, I'm sorry I haven't returned your calls. It's just…" she waved her hand helplessly. "I guess I just needed some time alone."
Lucas took his hands out of his pocket only to run them through his hair. "I can understand that. Brooke, I really am sorry about the crap that's been happening lately. You don't deserve it. If I could take even an ounce of the pain you've been inflicted with, I would in a second."
Brooke was touched by his words. She knew he didn't intend for any of this to happen when he broke up with Anna. She reached out a hand and caressed the side of his face and smiled when he turned it into her hands stopping her from pulling it away. "I know Lucas. I want you to know that I don't blame you. But the end result is the same, and we can't change that. I just need some time to sort this out and figure what I want to do next. I hope you can understand that."
Lucas placed his hand over hers and pulled her into his embrace, a part of him scared that she would pull away when he felt her stiffen in his arms. He let out a sigh of relief when he felt her body relax against his and she laid her head against his shoulder. He breathed in the scent of her and smiled softly. "I understand Brooke. Take all the time you need. I'll still be here when you're ready." He whispered into her hair.
Brooke smiled against his shoulder. He always knew the right thing to say to her to make her feel better. She loved that he understood her needs. As different as they were, when it came to the things that counted, they knew they could count on one another. She pulled out of his arms and leaned on her tip toes so she could softly kiss his lips. "Thank you! That means a lot Luke."
Lucas licked his lips, savoring the taste of her. He was shocked that she had kissed him. It had been such a long time since they'd kissed and he was afraid he would forget what it was like. But, one couldn't forget a kiss from Brooke Davis.
"I'll see you later Lucas." Brooke turned and got into her car. She took one last look at him before starting the car up to drive away.
Lucas watched as her tail lights disappeared from sight before turning and heading back to his class. He looked at his watch as he ran into the building and realized he had already missed a good portion of his morning classes.
Peyton walked up to the door and knocked gently. She stood out on the stoop as she waited for it to be opened. She stuffed her hand nervously in her pockets when she heard the sound of the door being opened from the other side. And smiled at the person looking back at her.
"Peyton? What are you doing here? Is Brooke alright?" He asked her, worried something else had happened.
"Hey Lucas, no Brooke's alright. I just left her house before coming here." Peyton rolled her eyes at the look of relief on his face. She had no idea that he would feel this strongly about her. "Do you mind if I come in?"
Lucas stepped to the side to allow her entrance into his room. As he closed the door behind her, he couldn't help but wonder what brought her to his house. They hadn't really talked much since the cheating fiasco, and than Anna happened. "So, what's up?"
Peyton walked into the middle of his room, looking around curiously before taking a seat on his bed. "Not much, I just wanted to see what you were up to. You know, we haven't really had a chance to talk since you've been back. I mean, really talk."
Lucas took a seat across from her on his desk chair. "Yeah, I know what you mean. So many things have been going on lately. I guess we fell out of touch."
"How come you're sitting all the way over there?" She asked as she patted the spot beside her on the bed. "Why don't you sit over here?"
Lucas scrunched his forehead in confusion. Wondering why she would want him to sit next to her when he was perfectly fine on the chair. "No, I'm fine over here. What's going on Peyt?" He had a feeling there was more to her coming over than she was letting on.
Peyton, seeing he wasn't going to make it easy for her, got up from her seat and went to stand in front of him. She grabbed his face in her hands, and leaned her face toward his. "Alright Luke, I have a confession to make. I didn't come here just to talk."
"Than why did you come here?" Lucas reached up and removed her hand from his face. He suddenly felt uncomfortable being in such close proximity with her.
"I've missed you Lucas. I've missed us. Haven't you?"
Lucas jumped up from his seat and started pacing around the room nervously. He didn't like the direction she was taking with this conversation. "Specify what you mean by "us" Peyt." He stopped pacing to look at her again.
"I mean "us" Lucas. Don't you want to see what it would be like for us to be together. First, there was Nathan, than Brooke, than for a brief second there was us. We didn't get to give a relationship between you and me a chance. I figured now that Anna was out of the picture, you could be open to the idea again."
Lucas looked at her in surprise. This, he was not expecting at all. He couldn't believe it was happening. "I thought we agreed to be friends. I mean, after what happened between me, you and Brooke, we agreed not to try and complicate things again."
Peyton lifted her hand in frustration. "I know Luke, but I can't help that I still have feelings for you. And I think you still have feelings for me too." She walked over and stood before him. She reached for his hand and placed it over her beating heart. "This is what you do to me Lucas. Do you feel that? Do you feel my heart beating a thousand miles a minute when I'm with you? Now look me in the eyes, and tell me you don't feel anything either."
Lucas could feel her heart beating beneath his hands, and for a second, he was in awe of the erratic rhythm. Got, he thought, what was he supposed to do? He didn't want to hurt her feelings, but he couldn't lie to her. He looked directly into her eyes before saying "I'm sorry Peyton, I don't want to hurt you, which is what I'll do if I told you I still had feelings for you. But I don't, I'm sorry." He pulled his hand away from her body, and felt helpless at the hurt look on her face. Knowing he was the one that put it there.
Peyton could feel her eyes sting from the tears that wanted to escape. "I see. Well than, this is awkward. Um, than I guess I'll just go. I'm sorry for coming over like this." Peyton turned to leave, but was stopped by his hand.
"Peyton, please don't go like this. I don't want you to hate me." Lucas pleaded, afraid he was losing a friend.
Peyton could feel the tears rolling down her cheeks freely now, but didn't want him to see them. "I don't hate you Lucas. Don't worry about it, but I have to go now, okay?" She said, her backed still turned to him.
Lucas released her arm, his shoulders slumped in remorse. "Okay, but I'll talk to you later alright?"
"Yeah, I'll talk to you later." With that, Peyton pulled the door open and quickly ran out of the house. Her hands wiping away her tears of rejection.
A/N: Hey guys, sorry for the delay in updates. FanFiction was having a little virus troubles so they disabled the uploading section. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. The ending to this story is a few chapters away, and I look forward to reading how you guys, as the reviewers, want me to end this story. I have a couple of ideas, but want to see what you think. Thanks, as always for the reviews, they've been great. I got one long one in particular that was great. Long reviews are always appreciated, that means you like the story, and you're offering me your opinions for improvements. My goal is to update daily, but I have to hear from you guys first, before doing so. Alright than, hope you enjoy this chapter. I tried to make it a little longer so you would have more to read. Thanks!