Thanks to those who gave me reviews. As a writer you want to know what people think and what direction people want the story to go in.

That being said I give you forewarning that ALL possible couple pairing will probably be in this story. That does not always mean in the present. It could mean they had some past or something else. So I give you forewarning that you can expect a lot of pairings in this. I am however a CC shipper, so don't expect it to end any other way.

Anyways, I decided to make this a bit longer in response to a request. I know everyone is anxious to see some Brucas and I will definitely have some in the next chapter. If I get enough reviews I might update sooner rather than later, so please get on those keyboards and tell what you love… hate… want… don't want. No promises, but it is good to know.

Anyways, here is chapter 3.

CHAPTER 3

She couldn't breathe.

There was a familiar feeling in her chest that she had only felt twice in her life, yet having experienced it before did nothing to help ease the pressure now. The first time had been when she was only 7 years old. It was Christmas time and all week Brooke had been decorating the Den for when her parents would return from their business trip. The Sawyers had taken her to the mall and she had found the most wonderful gifts for her parents. She had saved up her allowance for weeks and managed to get her father this great watch that matched the bracelet she had for her mother. She had chosen the perfect wrapping paper and everything. It was now Christmas day and she sat waiting patiently in the Den for her parents. There was no tree this year since her parents had been to busy going on business trips to pick one out, but Anna had given Brooke a small pine tree about as tall as her. Brooke had made all the decorations by hand and placed her parents' gifts beneath the tree lovingly. She had taken over an hour getting ready. She had her nanny curl her hair and wore a brand the brand new dress her mother had given her earlier that year. Now she just had to wait.

Hours rolled around until it was 11:58 pm and her parents had still not showed up. Anna had called her earlier that day to invite her to their house but she had refused. Her parents had promised her. Brooke stayed up that night until the next morning, worried about her parents. Maybe they had been in a car accident. Maybe they were delayed. Endless possibilities went through her mind.

Finally at 4:35 am, she heard the front door open. Brooke ran towards it, a smile coming to her face. THEY WERE HOME. SAFE. ALIVE. But her smile quickly began to fade when she noticed her parents were laughing… Her mom was teetering on some stiletto high heels, giggling like a school girl, a half empty martini glass in her hand. Her dad was supporting her and babbling on about how second rate some party had been. They were both dressed to the nines and seemed oblivious to Brooke's presence.

"Honey, enough alcohol," Brooke's dad replied as they watched her mom finish off what was left of her martini.

"All done," she said with a giggle. "C'mon we have to get packed for the flight." She began wobbling towards the stairs with her father in tow.

"Mom," Brooke whispered, not wanting to believe that her parents had been in town all night, yet had chosen to go to a party even though they promised to be home.

Brooke's mom turned around and saw Brooke standing there in the doorway of the den and squealed. "Brookie!" She wobbled over to where Brooke stood, frozen in place. Her mother was about to hug her when she stopped and looked at Brooke quizzically. "Where did you get that hideous dress?"

Brooke felt her lip quiver as she replied, "Y-You gave it to me. Remember? On my birthday?"

Her mother looked puzzled for a moment and then disgusted. "I need to get a better shopper. Alan," she turned to Brooke's dad. "Remind me to fire whoever got Brooke this dress." Her dad nodded half-heartedly, already preoccupied with the pilot he had gotten on the phone. Her mother turned back to Brooke who looked about ready to cry.

"Awww, honey," she said, "Its okay. We'll get you a new dress that isn't ugly. After all, appearances are everything." She fumbled around her purse a bit before handing Brooke some hundred dollar bills. "There, now. All better." She patted Brooke on the head, gave a quick look in the den and began to climb the stairs again. "We have to go on another trip Brookie. Just ask the chauffeur to take you to the mall… And clean up the Den. It looks like someone threw up red and green in there."

Brooke just watched, as her vision blurred with tears as her parents disappeared. She didn't see them again until sometime in February, but by that point she didn't care. She did what her mother said. She had the maids take down all the decorations and bought not one, but three new dresses and put all her effort into looking good. Her mom actually hugged her when they got back the next time. Her dad had asked how much the dressed cost. It wasn't the attention most kids wanted but they were at least talking to her. She spent every holiday since with the Sawyers… the next year Anna died.

She learned true disappointment that night. She had built a wall around her heart and only let two people in since then: her best friend and her boyfriend. The two people who had broken her heart and gave her that same disappointment long ago; the two people breaking it now.

Brooke was sure she had been there forever, but somehow was able to will her legs to move her away from the scene. She found her way into a hospital room and took a couple deep breaths. It was only then she realized that she was in Rachel's room. She was about to quietly sneak out.

"Whore," said a soft voice.

"Bitch," she countered.

"Slut."

"Tramp."

She made her way over to the bed where Rachel lay, finally getting a good look at her. She had a couple scratches on her arms and face, her hair was a mess, and she had the hideous hospital gown on her.

"If I look the way you seem to feel right now, just shoot me now," Rachel said, propping herself up into a sitting position in the bed.

"Yeah well, I do feel like vomiting and that puke green outfit you have on is a valid reflection of that." Brooke took a seat besides Rachel's bed.

"I think they are this color so if you actually vomit it just blends right in." They both gave a small smile at this and fell into a nice silence.

"How are you?" Brooke asked, surprising both her and Rachel that she genuinely seemed to want to know.

"As well as you can expect having gone off a bridge in a limo," she said ruefully. "Teaches me to drink and ride." She gave Brooke a smile that Brooke immediately recognized as fake. She had given them all her life.

"Well at least you made quite a dramatic exit," Brooke quipped. Rachel paled immediately at this and Brooke couldn't help but feel for her. She looked much like Brooke did a year ago. "Rache-"

"It's all my fault," Rachel interrupted, her eyes slightly welling up with tears. "Cooper… we were fighting. I wanted to get out of the – I grabbed the wheel –" She couldn't finish.

Brooke took Rachel's hand in hers and looked her straight in the eye. "It was an accident. You couldn't have known it would turn out like this."

"I told him I was pregnant." A heavy silence fell upon them as Brooke took this information in. She was about to open her mouth when Rachel continued. "I lied… I just – I wanted to hurt him… or get him to talk to me..." She looked down at her hands. "Maybe love me again. That is if he ever did."

Brooke's already broken heart went out to her. She knew all too well what it is like, wanting someone to want you. Wanting to hurt them just as much as they are hurting you. Wanting them to just talk to you like they used to.

"You probably think its stupid right?" Rachel said sadly. "It's pathetic I know –"

"No," Brooke interrupted. "It's really not… well not any more pathetic than your usual self anyways." The heavy air left them immediately and they smiled at one another.

"How's Cooper?" Rachel asked quietly. Brooke gave the girl a sad smile.

"Honestly, I don't know. I just got here."

"And you visited me first? Are you going to kill me?"

"I was thinking about it, but now that you are expecting it, it won't be as fun."

"Oh well, you'll probably have to fall in line."

"Yeah, but I was there first so I get first stab."

"I didn't think you'd want to get your hand dirty. I always saw you are a more poison girl."

"Well, I was going to get you a soda, but I figure I didn't want your ass to get any bigger when they buried you. It might break the casket." They smiled at one another again. Brooke couldn't believe she was here comforting Rachel, a girl she hated for majority of the year, and she actually could understand her. What are the odds?

"You know, you are the only person who came to see me." Brooke looked up to see Rachel stare at her. Brooke was a bit surprised. She had at least expected Mouth to show up. "Am I really that horrible a person?"

"You're not that bad… sometimes." There was another pregnant silence.

"Do you think people can change?" Rachel asked.

Brooke took a deep breath. Change. She had changed, more or less. She wasn't a hook-up get drunk and get laid kind of girl anymore. She was student body president and she actually had a steady boyfriend… at least she thought she did. That made her think of Lucas and Peyton. They swore they changed and would never hurt her again.

"I would like to think people can," She started. "But I think most people don't. Not really. Because it's easier to stay the same then it is to change." Rachel seemed let down by the answer, but Brooke figured they had always been honest to one another to a fault, why start lying now. "You don't have to be most people." She gave Rachel a small smile and gave her hand a squeeze before standing up. "I better – "

"Yeah, Haley and Lucas are probably waiting for you." At the mention of Lucas' name she felt the pressure come back.

"Yeah. I'll see you around Rachel."

"Of course. You can't get rid of me that easily." Brooke gave a small wave and walked towards the door. "Oh and Brooke… thanks." Brooke just gave her a smile… a real one and went to face the music.