I Want To Save You

Chapter Four


Brooke looked up at her ceiling as she thought about what Nathan had said to her. He wanted to save her; nobody in her life had ever wanted to save her. Nobody ever cared. Peyton walked into Brooke's room and sat down on her bed.

"What's up?" Peyton asked as she rubbed Brooke's shoulder.

Brooke looked up at Peyton and shrugged, "Well…My boyfriend cheated on me with hookers, I found out that Nathan isn't the nice guy I thought he was, and Anna went behind my back after she said she would stop hooking up with Nathan," she answered sarcastically.

"Are you into him?" Peyton asked; Brooke looked at her in confusion, "Nathan…Are you into him?"

Brooke sighed, "I thought I was…"

"Brooke," Peyton comforted her, "I know that you're going through a really tough time right now, but…"

Brooke looked out her window, "I just thought he was different, Pey," she began, "I mean, when we talked after I found out about the Tim incident it was like I was talking to another guy…He was charming, he was sincere, he was understanding."

"Maybe he is different," Peyton offered, "I mean…You can just see it in his eyes, he cares."

Brooke got up slowly, "I've got to get off my ass," she said with a weak laugh.

Peyton smiled and put her arm around her best friend, "How about a little shopping trip?" She asked.

Brooke's eye lit up and she clapped her hands excitedly, "I so love this whole moping thing!"

xxx

Brooke walked into Anna's room and saw her modeling dresses in front of her mirror. Brooke took a deep breath, "I like the blue one," she said with a smile.

Anna turned to Brooke and smiled softly, "Me too…" She said as she laid the other dress on her bed, "I didn't think you were going to talk to me again…"

"Yeah," Brooke said, "I was a little drunk so…I blame half of that on the influence of alcohol."

"And the other half?" Anna asked as she changed the CD in her player.

Brooke shrugged, "Jealousy I guess…"

"Why are you jealous of me?" Anna asked, "I mean…You're so much prettier than me, and so much more popular."

Brooke smiled sincerely, "After I found out about the Tim thing…Nathan gave me a ride and we talked and I found out that he was a really great guy…"

"See, I told you that there was more to him then being a jerk," Anna said.

Brooke sat down on Anna's bed and looked down, "Yeah…I know."

Anna sat down beside Brooke, "Oh," she said; realizing what Brooke was saying, "You like him don't you?"

"I felt something Anna," Brooke began, "Maybe it was because I had found out about the Tim thing or maybe it was because he was just being really great to me…"

Anna bit her top lip, "I'm sorry, Brooke," she said, "I had no idea that you had feelings for him."

"That's the thing," Brooke said as she wiped her tears, "I don't know what I have for him."

"I don't know what to say Brooke," Anna said as she let Brooke rest her head on her shoulder, "Because…I really like him."

Brooke looked up at Anna and felt her heart drop, "That's good hun…" She said and then got up from the bed and headed towards the door.

"Brooke don't leave," Anna said as she stood up and stood in front of Brooke, "I had no idea that you ever would have these feelings!"

"Neither did I!" Brooke exclaimed, "But sometimes things just happen, you know?"

Anna ran her fingers through her hair, "I'm sorry Brooke…"

"No, don't be," Brooke said with a fake laugh, "I mean, you know for sure that you have feelings for Nathan…I'm just confused cause I've been having a tough week."

Anna sighed, "Are you sure?"

"Positive," Brooke said with a smile and then walked past Anna. As soon as she got outside she burst into tears.

Anna looked at the space Brooke was occupying and then looked at her blue dress.

xxx

Brooke drove down to the river court and sat down on the bench that overlook the river. She watched her breath leave her mouth and then disappear into the air. Brooke heard a basketball, and turned around to see Nathan standing there.

Nathan sat down beside her and followed her gaze to the river, "I've been trying to call you…"

"My cell's crap," Brooke lied, "Sorry."

Nathan nodded his head, "Don't worry about it," he said, "I just wanted to say that I meant what I said…About saving you."

"Why are you doing this?" Brooke asked finally, "Why are you breaking my heart like this?"

Nathan looked at her in surprise, "Breaking your heart was not in the plan…I never expected you to care!"

"Surprisingly I did," Brooke said as she looked into Nathan's eyes, "You turned out to be one of the nicest guys I've ever met…And that scared me because I didn't realize that after we talked I'd be thinking about you day and night."

Nathan smiled sincerely, "I thought about you too…"

"Then why are you still with her?" Brooke asked.

Nathan sighed, "Anna?" Brooke nodded, "I didn't think you would ever want a guy like me. We always hated each other, Brooke…I didn't think one decent conversation was going to change that for you," he explained.

"It did," Brooke said as her eyes glistened, "It mattered so much to me, Nathan."

Nathan wiped Brooke's tears and looked back out towards the river, "I promised Anna I would take her to the dance…"

"I know," Brooke said sadly, "And I want you to have a good time with her…Even though we'll both know that the girl you should be taking is me," she said softly.

Nathan placed his hand softly on Brooke's cheek and looked into her brown eyes, "Would kissing you make this situation worse?" He asked.

"Yes," Brooke said truthfully as more tears streamed down her cheeks, "But I want you to."

Nathan leaned in and kissed Brooke softly on the lips. He pulled away and Brooke leaned and kissed him passionately. Nathan kissed her back and rested his hand on her thigh. The kiss broke and Brooke bit her bottom lip and turned and faced the river.

xxx

Brooke sat on Peyton's bed as Peyton modeled dresses for her, "They all look hot on you P. Sawyer," she said.

Peyton smiled, "Thanks," she said, "What's your dress going to look like?"

"I don't think I'm going to go," Brooke replied.

Peyton's jaw drop, "Shut up! Why not?"

"I don't have a date, for one," Brooke began, "And I'm just not in the mood to get all glammed up and gorgeous for no reason."

Peyton sighed and sat down beside Brooke, "Is this about Nathan…"

"No," Brooke said, "Maybe…We kissed."

Peyton chuckled to herself, "And it was?"

"Amazing," Brooke said with a shy smile.

Peyton rubbed Brooke's arm and then walked over to her CD player, "Have you ever heard a song from long ago, with so many memories tied to it that makes you cry? And didn't you wish that you could go back into time when everything seemed so much simpler and carefree? Those are the songs that are the soundtracks of our lives…the ones that bring back childhood memories, best friends, first loves, first heartbreaks…the memories!"

Brooke smiled, "I love you Pey!"

"You too best friend," Peyton said with a wink.

Anna walked into Peyton's room and knocked softly, "I'm not interrupting anything am I?" She asked apprehensively.

Brooke looked at Peyton and then back at Anna, "Actually I was just leaving," she said and walked out of Peyton's room.

Anna watched Brooke walk out of the room and then looked at Peyton; Peyton shrugged and changed the song on the CD.

Read and Review.