Chapter Seven: Secrets and Lies Don't Make it Right

Brooke decided to leave the two lovebirds alone. Peyton and I will patch things up later. I will talk to her. Maybe if I open up to Peyton she will open up to me. We got somewhere. She opened up to me about Jake. Brooke contemplated this in her mind for a very long time.

Brooke pulled into the parking lot of the closest mall because, what was the best way to shake off your slump? Shopping? Yes, that sounded about right. As she was finding a place to park she came across something that would spark back many memories that Brooke would definitely not be ready for. There was a mother and apparently her son. The mother was yelling at her son. The only thing she could hear was "This is all your fault." Those words were haunting, upsetting and most of all wounding.

"This is all your fault you spoiled little bitch."

When Brooke heard her mom come home early in the morning and stumbling to their red front door she knew that this was a bad combination. She ran quietly to her room. She was going to try and sleep, but not one eye would shut tonight.

"Brooke, get down here," slurred Mrs. Davis.

Brooke didn't move. She could pretend she was sleeping, ignore it, or go down there. It's good to know your options, but no matter what she did, she already knew what was going to happen to her that night.

She walked slowly up to her room. Brooke heard the footsteps. She sat with her knees up to her chin and closed her eyes.

"Think happy thoughts." Was all she could keep saying. "I'll be at Peyton's tomorrow."

She opened and slammed the door in a matter of one second.

"Why? Why were you even born?" she howled.

Brooke had realized that it was better to stay silent. She still kept her mind racing because without it, she would surely loose it.

"All you have given me is pain and heartache you slut."

Her mom stepped a couple inches forward.

"He left because of you, and I hope that you carry that with you till the bitter end."

Brooke could smell the strong scent of alcohol on her breath. She kept trying to think happy thoughts.
'Lucas

Peyton

School

Nathan

Haley

Mouth

My room

My bedroom with Lucas'

she almost smiled, but she knew better.

Here comes the worst part. Mrs. Davis stepped even closer now. She brought her hand back in a full swing and hit her right on the high cheekbone. It instantly became red and Brooke knew there would be a bruise there tomorrow.

After her mom yelled something that she didn't understand because she was trying to block it out. She grabbed Brooke by the shoulders and made her stand up. She slammed Brooke against the wall. Brooke knew she was useless after this happened. She could try and escape her mother's grip, but she knew it wouldn't matter.

Brooke started to feel pain on her back. She started to slide down to the ground. Her face was tear strained and puffy. Her mom just looked at her. If looks could kill this was surely one of them. Mrs. Davis turned around and walked out of her room.

Brooke heard the car and the garage door close. She started to fully breakdown. Brooke sobbed and once in awhile she let out a soft scream. After sitting there for a few more minutes she got up, but almost to fall down again because of all the tears in her eyes. She regained her composure and stood up. She got her coat and headed for the door.

Tree Hill was a small enough city that you can walk almost anywhere and not break a sweat, but the walk to Peyton's house seemed so much longer than usual to Brooke. Her beautiful face was still stained with tears. She got up to her best friend's porch. Brooke didn't even realize what time it was. She opened the door and walked up the stairs quietly. Peyton was sleeping, but Brooke needed her tonight.

"Peyton...Peyton." Brooke said while shaking her slowly.

Peyton opened her eyes and saw her best friend's tear stained eyes and cheeks. Those eyes held so much pain and it hurt Peyton to see those eyes. She automatically knew what happened because this was repeatedly happening almost every night.

"I know it's late but I really needed someone and there was no one else and just couldn't stay there any-."

Brooke was cut off by Peyton, slowly moving down and patting her hand on the bed, welcoming Brooke to sit. Brooke did as she was told.

"It happened again didn't it?"

Brooke sat there for a few moments saying absolutely nothing. She just sat there taking in the silence. Silence was the best sound she had heard all day. She was trying to keep her tears from pouring out and getting embarrassed in front of her best friend. All she could do was nod.

"Will you let me call the police Brooke?"

That did it. Brooke basically fell into Peyton's shoulders.

"It will be okay. Shh. It's okay. I promise it will be okay." Peyton said trying to be convincing

"You can't promise things like that."

Brooke picked her head up to turn around and Peyton finally saw the damage on the other side of her face.

"Brooke..."

"I know."

"Let me get you some ice for that."

Peyton came back with ice in a baggy.

"Please Brooke, let me report her to child services or the police." Peyton said this knowing it was pushing her friend's buttons.

"No it was my fault anyway and I won't let my mother go to jail or let my best friend turn her in."

Brooke turned around and walked out of the house. She started to walk towards Luke's house because she just couldn't bring herself to go home tonight.

She walked in through the back door of his, but he wasn't anywhere to be found. She figured that he was at the River Court playing basketball illegally. She didn't feel like walking anymore so she plopped her butt on his bed and stared at the ceiling. She almost drifted off to sleep when the door opened.

"Luke?" she whispered

"Brooke?"

Brooke stood up and threw her arms around him. Luke rubbed her back in little circles. They stood there for several long minutes before Brooke crashed her lips against his.

"Would you mind if I stayed here tonight Broody?"

"When have I ever minded?"

"Could we have hot chocolate and talk?"

"Of course, Brooke."

Brooke wrapped her arms behind his waist and smelled his scent of cologne. This is what she needed to make her feel better. They both were laughing uncontrollably. She finally let go when they approached the kitchen. Brooke sat in a chair while she waited for her hot chocolate.

"Brooke, what the hell happened to your face?"

"Oh that. I was at Peyton's and well, I tripped." she lied.

Luke made his way to her face and slowly planted kisses on her cheek and eye. Brooke enjoyed every minute of it.

"That better pretty girl."

"Yes, Thank you."

She got up and made her way back to his room. This was all getting too much. It made her not in the mood for hot chocolate and that got her cranky. Luke followed her because he knew something just wasn't right.

"Hey don't you want some hot chocolate?"

" Will you lie next to me and make me feel safe, Luke." she asked weakly

"Of course."

Would you lie with me and just forget the world.

"Lucas, I love you." she meant it with all her heart.
"I love you too."

Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough

They kissed before they both decided to drift off to sleep.

Brooke woke up and turned around to look at Luke. He had a sock on his mouth and Brooke couldn't help, but laugh. Brooke always took her socks off in the middle of the night. She swore to herself that she didn't mean to put it on his mouth. Brooke couldn't miss this opportunity to take a picture of him in his glory. She took out her razor v3 phone and was zooming in on his face when all the sudden her phone began to ring. The picture of Peyton sleeping with a sock on her forehead popped up. So Luke wasn't the first person to have a picture taken with a sock on their face for photo caller I.D.

"Hello?" she whispered.

"It's all over Brooke. She can't hurt you anymore."

"But I told you not to Peyton. Let me figure it out myself. What kind of friend turns their mother in for something that you have no idea what the hell is going on. You know next time you see me don't talk to me. Got it ?"

Brooke hit the end button on her phone before letting Peyton speak. She lost all desire to take pictures of Luke and his sock issues. She just laid there scared of what was to come.

Brooke now had her forehead against her steering wheel and was uncontrollably sobbing.

"If you only knew Peyton. It's not over and I am still hurting and I need you to help me this time." Brooke said weakly to herself.