I know I say this everytime, but thanks again for the reviews. I really do appreciate them.

Kristin

Brooke slammed the door behind her and quickly brushed away her tears as she headed down the stairs. She found Lucas sitting on the couch watching a movie. She sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.

"Everything okay?" He asked as Brooke bit her lip to stop the tears from coming down.

"Yeah, everything's fine." She said in a rush. "Could I get a rain check on the movie?"

Lucas nodded. "Are you sure everything's okay? You seem like you have something on your mind."

Brooke forced a smile. "Really I'm fine. I just need some time alone, to think about things. Like new cheers." She quickly added in when Lucas gave her a look.

He kissed her on the forehead. "Okay, well I forgive you, but I don't know about Keanu." He winked and Brooke laughed.

"Thanks. I'll see you tomorrow." She walked him to the door and waited until he was in his car to shut it. She quickly darted up the stairs, into her room and onto her bed.

Once on her bed, Brooke let her tears fall down her pale face. She reached under her bed and pulled out a shoebox and a black notebook. She opened a shoebox and took out one of the numerous pictures she had of her parents. She couldn't help but smile at the picture. It was taken on Christmas Eve. Lydia and Jimmy were kissing under the mistletoe, while a very disgusted 6-year-old named Brooke stood behind them.

She reached over to her nightstand and opened the drawer. She took out a pair of scissors and a glue stick. Brooke opened the black notebook and pasted the picture on a new page. No one had known about her "parents album." She had dozens of pages filled up with their pictures and lyrics scribbled underneath them as a caption. She fished through the box again and pulled out a picture of Haley. She pasted it on the corner of the page and took out a pen. Underneath the picture of her parents, she wrote:

I'm all alone since you've been gone
I can't keep myself from asking why
Just wanna see my reflection
in your eyes

I'm feeling lately
I'm going crazy
Wondering how I'll go on without you
I keep on trying
Slowly dying
Thinking about how I need you here with me

Underneath Haley's picture she wrote:

Just know that I'm with you
and what you feel
I feel it too

If you think it's easy for me
Well, you're wrong
Sometimes I'm weak and baby you know
I'm not that strong

Brooke wiped away the tear or two that fell on the page. She gently ran her thumb over the picture of her parents, wishing they were still here. She went into a deep thought when she heard a knock on her door.

"Just a second," she yelled out as she throw the shoebox and book under her bed. She rubbed her eyes one last time. "Okay."

Moments later a coy looking Haley appeared in the room. She gave Brooke a little wave. She had covered up her bruises with makeup.

"I'm really sorry, Brooke. I, I don't know what happened to me." Haley said as Brooke shook her head.

"Don't worry about it, Haley. I deserved it."

Haley sighed. "No, Brooke you didn't. I should be thanking you for sticking up for me. I really did appreciate it."

"Is she really bothering you?" Brooke asked as she motioned for Haley to sit on the bed. Haley didn't answer for a minute.

"She doesn't want me to go near her brother. I don't understand why. I mean he is old enough to make his own decisions for himself." Haley shrugged as Brooke bit her lip.

"Claire's a weird girl. She was nice to me one summer and then the next summer she turned into a total bitch. I would say keep on talking to her brother and if she bothers you, she'll have to answer to me." Brooke said with a smile.

"Oh, Brooke where would I be without you?" Haley laughed. She lied down next to Brooke.

"I don't know, but that's something you don't have to think about. Ever."

"Thanks," Haley whispered as Brooke smiled.

"Hello?" They heard a voice call out from downstairs. They both sat up and looked at each other.

"Taylor?" They said in unison as they got up and ran down the stairs.

Sure enough there stood Taylor, dripping wet from the rain. Haley and Brooke stared at for a few minutes.

"What's the matter? You girls don't recognize your own sister?" Taylor asked as the girls continued to stare.

"Taylor?" Brooke finally said. "Is that really you?"

"Well it's not Madonna. What are you two standing there for? Give me a hug!" Taylor exclaimed as Brooke and Haley awkwardly embraced her. "Man, it feels so good to be home. I missed you two brats."

"So, where have you been?" Haley asked. They hadn't seen Taylor in almost two years. She was always on the run from something. Last they knew she was a full time student in South Carolina. But you never knew with Taylor.

"Well before I answer that, can you lend me some dry clothes? I don't want to catch ammonia and then drop dead." Taylor said with a laugh. Haley looked shocked and Brooke raised her eyebrow.

"Yeah, you can borrow some of mine. Top drawer." Brooke said as Taylor smiled and disappeared upstairs.

A wide-eyed Haley stared at Brooke. "What do you think she wants?" Usually when Taylor came back she wanted money or a place to stay for a few weeks.

Brooke shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe she's back for good." Haley snorted at that idea. Taylor reappeared in dry clothes, a towel wrapped around her hair.

"So, where are Mike and his woman?" Taylor asked as she glanced around the house.

"They went out to dinner," Brooke said as Taylor nodded. "So, how long are you back for?"

"I don't know really."

Haley shot Brooke an I-told-you-so look. "What about school?"

Taylor sighed. "I put school on hold for a while. What's with the third degree, Mom?" Brooke and Haley felt a shiver go down their body. They felt uncomfortable with her words. Taylor never cared much for their parents and wasn't really affected by their death. Two less people to stand in her way she thought. "Look, all that matters is that I'm here right now." She said as she put her arms around her sisters. "Now come on, tell me what I missed."

The thunder boomed and the lighting lit up the semi-dark house. Haley jumped at the thunder.

Taylor laughed. "You're still scared of thunder storms, little sis? I guess some things never change." She walked out the living room as Haley groaned and buried her head into Brooke's shoulder.

A few hours later Brooke was lying on her bed talking to Peyton on the phone. The storm still in affect.

"So, I heard what happened to Haley. Is she okay?" Peyton asked as Brooke sighed.

"Yeah, she'll survive. I don't see why Claire hates her so much. She hasn't done anything to you."

"I don't know. Maybe she's just having a mid-life crisis at an early age." Peyton laughed on the other end.

"Probably." Brooke said as she heard distant mumbling coming from the other end. "Am I interrupting something?"

Peyton covered her laugh with a cough. "No, no. Jake's just messing around."

"Oh god. Just please tell me Jenny is in another room."

"Brooke!" Peyton howled.

"What did she say?" Jake's distant voice said.

Brooke was about to say something when she heard a knock on the door. She knew who it was. "Peyton, I have to go. Enjoy your little fore-play and you're telling me everything tomorrow."

Peyton laughed. "Bye, Brooke."

"Come in, Hales," Brooke called out as her door opened.

"Sorry," Haley said, clutching Mr. Waffles in one hand and a blanket in the other.

Brooke put her hand up. "Say no more. Come on," she said as she opened her bed covers. Haley tip toed over to the bed and got in next to her sister.

"Really, I am sorry. I know I do this every time it thunders. It just reminds me of the accident.." Haley said, her voice trailing off.

Brooke put her arm around her and gently rubbed her shoulder. "I know it does, no need to be sorry."

The evening of April 16th was a dark and stormy one. Everyone was advised to stay indoors if they could. But Jimmy and Lydia James had to make one last errand that ultimately ended their lives.

Brooke glanced at the clock, which flashed 12:07. "We should probably get some sleep, we have school tomorrow."

Haley sighed as Brooke shut off the light. She rested her head on Brooke's shoulder and grabbed her arm as the thunder boomed. "Actually, I think I'm going to stay home. Lord knows I'll be the talk of the school."

"Haley, if you stay home then she'll win. You can't give in to her like that." Brooke said as Haley's position shifted.

"Oh well," Haley mumbled as she shut her eyes, gripping Mr. Waffles tightly.