A/N- No response:( Well almost. So last night's episode but me in such a good even though OTH's future is more limbo than it has ever been, along with pretty much everything else I love watching. I am very mad about the merging. The episode yesterday was so great, it was feel good one, I couldn't stop laughing, and I never laugh that hard in One Tree Hill, Keith, I love sarcastic humor. One Tree Hill officially has the most misleading previews; for one thing they use the same "he doesn't deserve to die for that" again and again. But next week's preview looks good and actually goes with the episode. Routh (Rachel and Mouth) can you say ew? Gross!

I love One Tree Hill but I'm scared. As you probably have figured I'm a huge Brucas fan and I have been looking on so many boards and they are so-anti Brucas. They don't know what they are missing. Anyways, let's get on with the chapter. I got the inspiration from last night's episode, I had no idea what do next and I was looking at my outline, the original one I made that basically outlined everything that had gone on in grade eight and I saw this thing that happened and with last night's show I was like this is going to work.

Chasing Dreams

Chapter Seven

Possibilities

On January 6th everyone returned from their vacations and was sitting in the classroom, all in new outfits and chatter was heard throughout the room. No one had seen much of each other all of vacations in various places and groundings that lasted through the holidays. Their projects had been due on the last day before Christmas break, but were to be presented today. Mr. Ward, their science teacher entered the room, "Students," he simply said, he was the vice-principal and everyone with the exception of a few people respected him. "You guys know how after this school most of you go to St. Joseph's or THHS for the tenth grade," he began, "well last year a couple people left after grade eight and that's not good for the school we were wondering if any of you were considering that option."

Brooke raised her hand and quickly said, "You mean leave here a year early and go to Tree Hill High School?"

"Yes," he replied, "are you considering that option?"

"I am taking that option," Brooke said, "I have the papers and I'm applying."

"Really," Mr. Ward said nodding his head and looking around the room for others.

"I'm leaving too," Nathan spoke up, "basketball."

"Me too," Peyton spoke up.

"We are too," said the group of Tara, Kylie, Kaitlyn, and Megan.

"I'm thinking about," Haley said looking at Nathan.

"Me too," Lucas said.

Mr. Ward quickly counted the people that had spoken up, there were nine of them. He was worried about two or three leaving, that was going to hard enough on the school. The public system hard some major problems a few years back and hard decided to start in grade nine rather than ten. Daniel Johnston Middle had decided to continue to go up to grade nine because so many of their students would then decide to go the Catholic route and go to St. Joseph's. "You guys do realize the benefits of staying here?" asked Mr. Ward.

"I realize the benefits of leaving," Brooke said. Two years ago when the old homeroom grade nine teacher had gotten a job at THHS, he was a great teacher, her and her parents decided that it would be to her advantage to go THHS a year early, when everyone else from the other schools went.

"Small schools offer many things that large schools don't," Mr. Ward explained.

"Such as," Peyton spoke up so Brooke won't have to take all of the heat.

"All of the teachers know you already, it's a very stable environment," Mr. Ward preached.

"We have to move on sometime, we have all been babied way too long," Brooke argued.

"You guys have no idea what you are talking about," Mr. Ward said starting to get angry.

"It's our decision, do you think it is an easy one to make," Brooke said angrily, "we are choosing to leave some of our best friends, leave this comfort zone and actually venture out of the group of people that we have been secure in since we were in kindergarten, personally I'm over this little fake world we have made for ourselves, so now mind your own business and let us make the decision we think are best for us."

"Brooke!" yelled Mr. Ward, "you can never talk to me like that."

"I just did," Brooke responded cockily.

"Go see Mrs. Kentwood," Mr. Ward smirked, "now!"

"Whatever, I will tell her the same thing," Brooke said as she got out of her desk and walked to the door. Brooke never got in trouble she was a good girl to the core, she never yelled except to her parents, and now, Serena. She had never been to Mrs. Kentwood's office unless it was for some award or something about her parents. As she began walking down the hallway, she could hear Mr. Ward to continue to yell at the class, she could hear pieces of the rant, anyone want to join her, do you have any respect, do have school pride, then she heard the sound of a slamming door. Brooke whipped around to face Lucas. "Lucas?"

"Yeah, my mom and I decided a long time ago to leave this school and go to high school when we should," Lucas explained.

"I know!"

"I know they want the money and everything," Lucas sad, "but what about what we want."

"I know," squealed Brooke again, someone actually knew what she was talking about.

"This is so stupid," Lucas mumbled.

"I know," Brooke said, "like why should we get in trouble all we did was answer his question, we won't get in trouble anyways, as soon as she sees it is me, we'll be fine."

"It is kind of pathetic how secure you are with your parent's position with the school."

"Well," Brooke said, how could she explain being a spoiled, given everything, little princess."

"Have nothing to say to that," Lucas laughed as he gave her a slap on the back.

"Another reason to leave this school," she said returning the slap on the back. The two got to the front office and the secretary had already been alerted to the arrival of the pair.

"Lucas Scott? Brooke Davies?" she asked. The pair just nodded their heads in response. "She'll take you now, together."

"Okay," Brooke responded grabbing Lucas' arm and leading him into the office. Once inside the small office Lucas sat down in the chair in front of Mrs. Kentwood's desk and Brooke took the arm of the chair. Mrs. Kentwood's back was turned looking at her computer. Mrs. Kentwood was reading an email that Mr. Ward at sent her stating the incident that Lucas and Brooke were involved in.

"Brooke, Lucas," she began, "I don't know where to start." Brooke Davis, the top student in her class, never got in trouble and Lucas Scott, another honors student, who also never got in trouble. Brooke's grades had been dropping though, although she still achieved some of the top marks in her classes. Lucas as far as she could see was behaving completely normal.

"Aren't you going to ask what happened?" Brooke asked.

"I know what happened; Mr. Ward sent me an email."

"What happened then?" Lucas said.

"You both yelled at Mr. Ward for no reason," said Mrs. Kentwood.

"He was questioning our decisions," Brooke said, she could feel the anger building back up inside her.

"Brooke, control yourself!" Mrs. Kentwood demanded.

"Oh my god," Brooke said, "all we said is that we were considering going to THHS next year rather than here. It's not a big deal."

"Lucas, do you have anything to say?" asked Mrs. Kentwood.

"Brooke has it covered."

"Thank-you Luke," Brooke said.

"No problem," Lucas laughed.

"Brooke, do you have any problems going on at home," asked Mrs. Kentwood.

"No!"

"Why have your grades been dropping then?"

"Because this year has been hell compared to my cake walk that has been so far," Brooke said, "I ended a four year friendship, half of the class hates me because of it, stupid guys being stupid causing more drama with that stupid girl, my classes getting harder, and this school being so cake walk for the last seven or so years I have never had any good study habits formed, and pretty much everything sucks." Brooke had broken down; she broke down in front of Lucas and Mrs. Kentwood. She never broke down in front of anyone, not even Peyton.

"Brooke, you need something better to whine about," Mrs. Kentwood said rudely, "as far as I know you have been spending day and night with Kady O'Grady and Alexis Mackenzie and I know for a fact those are the most popular girls in school, and your best friends with Nathan Scott, and as far as I can see those are the major changes in your life, possibly being the change in personality."

"Oh my god," Brooke screamed, "I know what my own problems are, don't tell me what they are, and if you want to know that change in my life, it's Tia Brown, she is bad influence and Serena, my former best friend, is now her best friend and they enjoy making my life hell."

"I think you have been going out too much and that's the reason for your changes," Mrs. Kentwood said, sticking to her theories.

"I can't believe you don't believe me," Brooke said, shaking her head slowly, "Lucas, tell her what happened the last time we hung out, you know before Christmas when we were at the park in the middle of the night." Brooke had to add in that last bit, she couldn't believe that the principal had no idea what was going on.

"When Serena and Tia were screaming at you about Eric," Lucas questioned.

"That's all," Brooke said sweetly.

"Brooke, I don't agree with your reasoning for her change in behavior," Mrs. Kentwood said, "but I know you screamed at me and Mr. Ward and I'm giving both of you three day suspensions."

"What," yelled Brooke, "Lucas doesn't deserve anything for this, I yelled at you."

"He yelled at Mr. Ward," She replied, "you can leave." Mrs. Kentwood dismissed them and called both of their parents. Lucas and Brooke made their way back to the classroom to grab their and stuff and leave.

"Sorry Luke," Brooke apologized, "I didn't mean to get you into trouble too."

"Its okay, Mrs. Kentwood was being a bitch," Lucas said. Lucas had always seen Brooke as this tough, beautiful girl, who showed zero emotion in front of people and now he saw a totally different girl, a girl who was scared and hurt by everything that had happened in the first four months of school. Lucas stole a quick look at Brooke she looked like she was about to cry; he pulled her into a hug, and whispered, "It's okay."

"I never get in trouble, I never do anything wrong," she cried.

"Brooke, its okay, it will be fine," he said in a soothing voice.

"Yeah," she said separating herself from Lucas and tucked her hair behind her ears and continued walking towards the classroom. They slowly opened the door and looked at their classmates, who were eager for information, Brooke went to her desk and quickly wrote a note and grabbed her books and as she left the folded piece of paper on Peyton's desk. Once outside the classroom again, Brooke asked, "Want to go to your house, or your mom's café? I don't want to be alone; my parents are out of town again."

"My mom is going to be pissed at me, but she likes you so she won't mind," Lucas said, "she might be able to give some advice on how to deal with bitchy girls." Brooke laughed and opened her door to her locker and got rest of her stuff.

"Nate," Peyton whispered, "read this." Peyton handed the note that Brooke had left her. Nathan quickly read the note; it was the short version of what happened in the office.

"They got suspended!" exclaimed Nathan.

"I know," Peyton whispered, "and the fact that Mrs. Kentwood made Brooke cry and doesn't believe her that she is a little messed up from Serena."

"I know," Nathan said as the bell rang, it was mid-morning break.

"Nate," Haley called, "what happened to them, I know Brooke gave Peyton a note."

"They got suspended," Nathan explained.

"Why?"

"Brooke yelled at Mrs. Kentwood in the office and she just suspended Lucas because she could," Peyton joined in.

"Nice," Haley said, "like why?"

"Mrs. Kentwood was being a bitch according to Brooke." Peyton said.

"Girls, quit talking about things you don't know about unless you want to join your friends at home," Mrs. Kentwood said approaching the group. She had come down to explain the situation to Mr. Ward personally.

"Whatever," Haley muttered.

The rest of the day went by quickly, everyone was gossiping about Brooke and Lucas, one of the popular ones was that they did it on purpose so they could spend the next few days together alone. Peyton, Nathan, and Haley joined Brooke and Lucas at Karen's Café after school. They at one point enemies were a fast pace were becoming a new group of friends.

A/N 2- So Nathan is going to something stupid in the next chapter, I thought about leaving it out but I think it is important. I don't really know how it had affected our friendship when my Nathan inspiration did it, but it did something. One part of it being our closeness but the other part it I'm not sure it had to have affected somehow because it was absolutely stupid. Anyways the next chapter is the next trip in grade eight, it was so fun. I'm going to have them travel far, even though when I did it wasn't but this going be a fun chapter and likely long.

-Lauren

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