I wasn't sure whether or not I should have gone to school. I wasn't in the right frame of mind to sit through classes and understand anything. But, I didn't even have the option to skip, with cheering and tutoring.
When I got there, I saw Lucas waiting in the spot I usually parked my car. You know, a year ago Lucas and I would get to school half an hour earlier and meet up. We would sit in my car and talk, make out sometimes and just cuddle. Some winter days it would be dark and we Lucas would get his hoodie for me just because he knew I never carried mine. I would pretend to be all bold and warm, but would be shivering in the cold. He always just laughed at me as he would quickly pull up his grey hoodie and make me wear it. He was the sweetest guy. But now, I really didn't want to see his face. It was just too hard.
I parked my car and just before I was going to get out, Luke barged in and sat on the passenger seat. He arched his body ahead, almost leaning on me. I swear my breath caught up in my throat in that moment. But he just went ahead and pressed the button that locked all the doors.
"So. What's wrong Brooke?" He went straight to the point.
"Nothing. Why?" I asked him trying to act all clueless.
"Don't even try Pretty Girl. I know you better than anybody. What happened?" He asked sternly.
"You said Pretty Girl." I mumbled.
"What?" He asked.
"You just called me Pretty Girl." I said, a little more strongly.
"Oh! Ummm... force of habit." He finished.
"I'm going to go now. Bye Luke." And saying that, I grabbed my bag and binder, and bolted out of the car.
The next time I saw him, he was late for class.
My phone started blowing up with messages. And yes, they were from Lucas.
'This isn't over.'
'I know something is wrong.'
'You hate running. Especially in the morning.'
'And running in pyjama shorts, barefoot I might add!'
'Brooke, meet me during lunch time.'
I was exasperated. My phone kept vibrating in my pocket, making it really hard to concentrate.
Before, I wouldn't have given a second thought to the teacher and would be happily talking to Lucas. But now... well.
After a couple of lectures, it was lunch time. I got out of my class, only to be grabbed by a someone and pulled into a storage closet.
"Lucas!" I yelled, knowing very well it was him.
"Hey. We need to talk." He said.
"You used to pull me the same way before. After classes. But that used to be for entirely different reasons."
"Yeah." He blushed. "Brooke. Where were you? Where did you go for that year?"
"Like I said before. It is none of your business Luke." I yelled, without even bothering about the fact that we were in a storage closet where a passerby might hear us.
"After all that went through, I damn well think it is Brooke!" He raised his voice as well.
"You lost that right the minute you jumped into bed with Peyton! Where is she anyway? I haven't seen her around school." I stabbed an old wound.
"And what about you Brooke. What you did, without even considering my feelings. Without even asking me!" He said icily.
"Thanks Luke. Thanks alot." I commented before walking out and slamming the door behind me.
I was sitting with Nathan and Haley. Lunch was almost over. Hales was explaining something from the homework she set for me which I had messed up. Nate was playing basketball on his phone.
"I'm sorry Brooke. I acted like a jerk." Luke said sitting on the table with us.
Nate and Haley immediately looked up, staring at us skeptically.
"No Lucas. You're right. I messed up. I ruined everything. And there's nothing I can do to change that." A tear slipped from my eye as I said that. "I wish I could. But I'm sorry."
I felt broken and lost. I didn't only mess myself up, but also the people around me. It was all my fault.
"Brooke, that wasn't your fault. Victoria forced you. She literally tricked you into it." He tried.
"No Nathan. I should have been more careful in the first place. None of this would have had to happen had I been more careful." I voiced my thoughts.
"Brooke. I forgive you for it." Lucas spoke up.
"I don't deserve it. Continue hating me Lucas, for thats what I deserve. You should hate me, I took everything from you. Besides, you forgiving me makes no difference as I can never forgive myself."