Chapter 14
Facing the Second Day Pt. 5
Disclaimer: I do not now nor did I ever own any of the One Tree Hill characters.
Kaiana pushed against the main doors and exited the school, a breath of air releasing from her lungs loudly. She bounded down the stairs and walked briskly to her truck. She was so tired and all she wanted to do right now was go straight to bed. The weariness from the day and the lack of sleep from the previous night was bearing down on her, making her feel sluggish and listless. She had barely managed to pay attention to her last classes because of how tired she felt. As she sat down in the driver's seat, she allowed her head to drop back onto the headrest for a moment. She grimaced, remembering she had done this exact thing just yesterday afternoon. If all her days at Tree Hill High were going to end like this, then she needed stronger vitamins.
She sat up straighter and placed her key in the ignition. She pulled out of the parking lot, reaching over first to turn on the radio, and began making her way home. Her fingers tapped on the steering wheel idly to the beat of the music pumping out of the stereo as she drove. Her mind began focusing again on her dilemma. What was she going to do? First, she had lied to the people who had befriended her when she was new to town, choosing not to tell them who she really was. And now she was involved in a fake relationship with a guy she had only known for about two days. How would they react when they find out about her? How would Lucas react? Would he be mad at her for keeping her real identity a secret? Of course he would. She knew she would have been if she was in his position. She hated liars and now she had become one.
Minutes later she pulled into the garage of her house and she jumped out of the vehicle. She entered the house through the door in the garage leading to the hallway in front of the den. She continued walking until she came to the stairs leading to the bedrooms. She sank down wearily on the stairs and leaned her head down on her knees, her body feeling too tired to attempt climbing the stairs at that moment. Why the hell did her life have to get so complicated? Wasn't losing her parents enough stress to deal with? Now she had all this stuff at school to put up with and there was no one home to complain about it too. She couldn't come home to her mom and tell her about her day. She couldn't ask her father for advice. For the millionth time, she asked God why he had taken her parents away from her. Why did she only realize how important they were to her after she had lost them? Tears rolled down her cheeks, the truth hitting her again that she was virtually alone.
The shrilling sound of her cell phone ringing awakened her. She released an audible groan, her hands automatically reaching under her comforter to unhook the phone from her jeans, if only to stop the incessant noise. "Yeah," she answered gruffly. Brookes' cheerful voice coming through the phone made her mouth lift in a small smile. "I'm at home Brooke," Kaiana said tiredly.
Brooke honked her horn at a particularly slow driver in front of her. "Are you all alone or is Lucas there," she asked slyly. The huge sigh that she heard in her ear caused a small laugh to escape her. "Is that a yes or no," she prodded. Brooke frowned at the answer. "Well why isn't he there," she questioned tentatively. "Aren't you guys supposed to be couple now?"
Kaiana sighed again and forced herself into a seated position, leaning her back against the headboard of her bed. "Brooke was there a point to this call," she asked bluntly, avoiding Brooke's question. "I'm kind of tired. It was a long day you know." She glanced over at the clock next to her, noting that it was only 6:00 p.m.
"Well actually I was calling to see if you came up with a routine yet," Brooke questioned eagerly. "Remember...try outs are on Friday and tomorrow is Thursday. Just checking to see if you're ready." Silence echoed through the line. "Kaiana you did at least think of a routine right," she pressed. Again she was met with silence. Brooke bit the inside of her cheek. "Did you change your mind about trying out for the dance squad?"
"No...no I didn't," Kaiana replied honestly, fingering one of her curls absentmindedly. "I just haven't had time. I was reading over the notes from English last night and today I just went straight to sleep as soon as I came home. I haven't even started my homework yet."
"Well, do you need some help," Brooke asked hopefully. "I'm doing anything now. I can come over and help you come up with a routine." Brooke raised a brow at the lack of response. "Kaiana....you there?"
"Yeah I'm here," she replied quietly. "Uhh...sure...come on over. Right now I'll need all the help I can get."
"Okay...great," Brooke answered excitedly. "I'm on the road now. Just give me your address and I'll be right over." Brooke adjusted the earpiece onto her ear as she listened carefully to Kaiana's response. "Umm...I think I know where that is. I should be there in there in 10. See you soon." With that Brooke reached over and clicked the off button on her phone, smiling to herself softly. She couldn't believe that they had a real life celebrity living in Tree Hill. Brooke still couldn't believe that she seemed to be the only one that recognized who Kaiana was. She knew Haley wasn't really into beauty and fashion magazines, but damn, did the girl live under a rock. And what about Peyton? The blonde sometimes read those types of magazines. Brooke knew this to be a fact, because she herself and laid down next to Peyton on her bed many afternoons discussing the various topics contained in the publications, ranging from fashion to hair care tips to the different celebrities that graced the covers.
And yet Peyton still seemed to be as clueless about Kaiana's identity as the rest of them...them being the boys. She didn't really expect them to know who Kaiana was. After all, how many guys read "Teen People" and "Marie Claire"? None that she could think of, not even sensitive guys like Lucas read those. Brooke smiled even wider at the thought of Lucas. It felt so great to be able to just hang out with him again without all the anger and resentment. Lucas had hurt her...very badly...back when they were dating, but with time and Haley's encouragement, she had slowly forgiven him. She knew he was genuinely sorry for what he had done with Peyton and that fact helped her to welcome him back into her life, even if they could only be friends now. She had long accepted the fact that they were just not meant to be and that they were better off being friends.
It was odd how the thought of him hooking up with someone else didn't bring forth any jealous feelings. She only now wanted him to be happy. It had been several months since Lucas had even looked at another girl. It seemed like he had cut himself off from the dating completely. A frown now crossed the pretty brunette's face. Lucas was too wonderful of a guy to be so alone. He had his friends and his new developing relationship with his brother, but Brooke was sure he needed more than that. That was why she had decided that she would help him find happiness. And she was sure he would find it in their new 'town member'. The tricky part was just convincing both of them...convincing both Kaiana and Lucas that their mutual attraction to each other was real and that it was worth attempting to explore that attraction. Brooke knew intuitively that Kaiana would be the hardest to convince, especially since she seemed inclined to hide her true identity from everyone.
Finally, Brooke drove up the driveway in front of Kaiana's garage and hopped out of the vehicle, first picking up her cell phone and grabbing her duffel bag from the back seat. Brooke jogged up to the front door and rang the bell. She tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for the door to be opened. She stood there for a couple more minutes, before she dialed Kaiana's number. "Hey I'm outside...can't you hear me ringing the bell," Brooke said into her earpiece. "Alright sorry...guess I'm a little impatient," Brooke responded dryly. She then said goodbye and clicked her cell phone off. Minutes later the door flung open revealing a very tired looking teenager.
Brooke walked past her new friend into the house, her brown eyes taking in the bareness of the living room area. Sure there was a scattering of furniture, but the room lacked something. It just didn't look homey. She spun around to face Kaiana, a frown coming across her face instantly. "Hey you sure you're okay," Brooke asked carefully. "I mean not to be a bitch, but you look like hell."
Kaiana chuckled. "Thanks a lot Brooke," she replied wryly, dragging a hand through her messy curls. "But to answer your question, no I'm not okay and I know I look like hell. I sure feel like it." Kaiana dropped down onto the couch and curled her feet under her. Brooke in turn dropped her duffle bag on the rug and plopped down next to her.
"What's wrong chica," Brooke questioned. "You've been a little out of it all day, especially at lunch. You barely spoke. Is it Justin? Did he start something again...well...since last time?"
Kaiana shook her head. "No it's not him," she answered, her eyes down on her lap. "It's just...a lot of stuff. You know...school...the move...being in a new place. I guess everything just feels like too much to handle."
Brooke nodded in understanding. "Yeah I get that," she replied. "But---," Brooke hedged, not sure if she should just take the leap and ask what she really wanted. "Could it be also the fact that you just moved to a new place....alone?" Okay it was out. She said it...and there was no turning back.
Kaiana's head sprang upwards, her eyes catching Brooke's gaze, the brown orbs showing signs of apprehension. "What are you talking about," she asked shakily.
Brooke sighed. "Kaiana, I think you know what I'm talking about," she told her softly. "I know. I know who you really are."
Kaiana closed her eyes briefly, before re-opening them. "I had a feeling that you recognized me," she said quietly. "I wasn't sure though." She stared into Brookes eyes pleadingly. "Please don't tell anyone...not yet. I just need to get myself settled before I can deal with any of the celebrity drama. I just want to stay a nobody a little longer."
"I won't say anything...I promise," Brooke said sincerely, placing a hand over Kaiana's hand. "But you know that it will be okay right. The guys won't treat you differently if they know."
"Really...isn't that the reason why you even introduced yourself in the first place," Kaiana remarked harshly, pulling her hand away. "You recognized me right off the bat. I saw it...in your eyes. Isn't that why you even bothered to speak to me...because I'm a 'supposed' celebrity?"
Brooke bit her lip nervously. "Yeah...that's why," she said reluctantly. "You have to understand. I'm a spontaneous, outgoing person. I saw a celebrity in front of me and I did the first thing I could think of...I went up to you and spoke. But I'm glad I did, because you are so down to earth." Brooke paused, searching for more words to reassure Kaiana. "Forget about the reason; let's just deal with the here and now. Right now at this moment, I'm just glad that you're my friend because you seem to be a great person. Yes it's still exciting for me to be even talking to you, but you're still just my friend Kaiana...at least I hope you are.
"Yes...yes I am your friend," Kaiana replied, sighing heavily. "Sorry I jumped all over you. I'm taking out my frustrations on you and you don't deserve it."
Brooke reached out her hand tentatively and took Kaiana's hand in hers again. "It's alright...I'll live," she responded, giving a warm smile. "It really will be okay you know. You may think you're alone, but you're not."
Kaiana turned her head away at that last statement. How did Brooke know what she was feeling? How did she know how alone she felt? "I kind of know, because my parents are always gone too," Brooke clarified. "It's not the same thing as your parents, but sometimes it feels like it." Kaiana returned her eyes to Brooke, seeing the sadness reflected in her eyes.
"It's so hard...so, so hard," Kaiana whispered, her eyes beginning to water. Brooke immediately pulled her into a hug, and Kaiana melted into the embrace. She cried softly on Brooke's shoulder, thankful for the warmth that her new friend was providing. After a couple more minutes, she pulled away and wiped her eyes hurriedly, jumping to her feet. "Sorry for blubbering like that."
Brooke got to her feet as well. "It's okay...really," she assured her. "Why don't you go wash your face and change into some comfortable clothes? And then we can start on that routine." Kaiana nodded, grateful for something to focus on besides her parents, and walked over to the staircase. She bounded up the stairs quickly, leaving Brooke standing alone in the living room, somewhat surprised at what had just happened. She couldn't believe how much she had changed. She used to be so hateful and self-absorbed. Now she felt like another person. She had just provided comfort to a girl who really needed it and she did it not because she was in the company of a celebrity, but because she really cared. Maybe Brooke Davis was finally turning into someone that she could actually be proud to see in the mirror.
Note: Finally, another update. I have to go work on my 'Charmed' story today too. Alright guys, please review. I'm going to start off the next chapter with the following day. I may finally bring Dan and Debra into the story now.
