Wow. I am so surprised that you guys love this story that much. I love waking up to an inbox full of reviews and such! Rose, who wrote half of this chapter, turned 17 today. I dedicate this chapter to her. It's all hers. :D

She wants to thank all of you that wished her a happy birthday. :D

Other than that, nothing new is going on except for the extremely suck-ish sixth season of One Tree Hill. But, this one may seem boring but Brooke just keeps piling on all those problems. Enjoy!

Doubts and Lies

"I just don't know Hales," Brooke explained. She had been trying to explain her problem to Haley for an hour but it wasn't working; Haley was too stubborn to believe her reasoning.

"You can tell Peyton. She's your best friend."

She shrugged. "Lucas probably already told her."

"I wouldn't be so sure," Haley replied before laying her hand softly on Brooke's shoulder. Brooke just smiled and leaned onto her.

"Thanks Haley. You know, for being here for me. I didn't want anyone to know but I guess it helps when one person knows." Haley laughed when she emphasized one. "What?"

"I know you want me to be the only one but I think it would be good if you let others know. Maybe at Skill's birthday this weekend?"

"It's Skill's birthday?" Haley nodded. "I forgot you guys were close."

Haley nodded once again. "Do you want to come?"

Brooke coughed lightly. "I look horrible H-hales. I would scare everyone off."

Haley laughed before Brooke tried her best to glare at her. "Brooke, you look beautiful. Just because you have a few scratches and bruises doesn't mean you'll scare everyone off."

"I just..."

"What? What is stopping you? Are you afraid that something will happen again if you let other people know?"

"W-hat if someone told the police?" The whole stuttering thing was driving Brooke crazy but it was hard to talk with a sore throat.

"I don't think they would but it couldn't hurt."

"Haley..."

"I know, I know, you don't want the police involved but why not?" Brooke looked down at the ground and didn't say anything. Haley stared down at the ground and for the first time that night recognized Peyton's painting.

"It's amazing."

"What?" Haley asked, looking over at her distraught friend.

Brooke pointed to the ground. "Her painting. I know it was for Lucas."

"Yeah, me too. We talked about him and her a week ago and now their getting married."

Brooke raised her arms slightly, wincing. "Surprise!"

Haley caught onto her sarcasm. "Brooke, are you happy for them? Do not lie to me either."

Brooke put on her best smile. "Yeah, I am. They deserve each other." Lie. You're just full of them these days aren't ya Davis? "Why?"

"I was just wondering." Haley saw Brooke look through her phone before she stood up. "You have to leave?"

"I have a few things to do."

"Be careful."

"I'll try," she joked before hugging Haley as tightly as she could. "Thanks again Haley."

"Anytime."

Brooke let go and went straight for her car before Haley looked down at the ground. She scowled at the writing and grabbed her phone before going back to her home.

She didn't know why she was here again. She didn't understand why she would even want to come back to this place; it reminded her of her nightmares and that night. She took a seat in the dark store before pulling out her phone. She pressed a single digit before she put the phone to her ear and waited.

"B. Davis Designs, how may I help you?"

"Hi, this is Brooke Davis. Is my mo- Victoria there?" She caught herself. She tried to make the workers believe that she wasn't related to the witch.

"Yes, please hold Ms. Davis." Brooke waited until the line went from music to an actual voice. She could almost feel the venom slipping through the phone.

"What do you want Brooke?"

"It's nice to talk to you too mother," she said slowly.

"What's wrong with your voice? Are you sick? I swear, you are so useless sometimes."

Brooke wanted nothing more than to smash the phone but she chose to ignore the comment. "Why are you still at B. Davis? I fired you weeks ago."

"Why did you call then?"

"To make sure your nip and tucked ass was gone but I guess not."

"Sorry but I'm not going anywhere until the board tells me too."

Brooke groaned. "It's my company!"

"Our company." Brooke hung up quickly. She didn't know why she even called the awful woman. She couldn't ask her if she robbed the store because if she didn't then she would contact the board about it.

She was in deep shit and she didn't know how to dig herself out of it.

"Peyton?" Lucas called from the bedroom. "I'm in your room." He heard her heels click on the floor until they stopped in front of the bed.

"Did you see Brooke today?"

Lucas thought back to what Brooke had said earlier. "No." He had lied straight to her face. To his fiance's face.

"I wonder why she isn't coming around." Peyton threw her shoes off and crawled over to Lucas before laying her head on his chest.

"Maybe she's sick. I heard her coughing this morning after you left." It was partly true. "I mean, maybe she doesn't want to make the bride-to-be sick."

"Maybe..." she said before leaning up to peck him on the lips. "Do you think she's mad at me?"

"Why would she be?"

"She called that one time and I couldn't talk. Maybe she was in serious trouble. I know Victoria has been on her back a lot lately."

"I don't know but don't stress it. She'll come around when she's ready." Or when those bruises heal. He just smiled down at Peyton until she smiled back.

For some reason, he felt uncomfortable. He remembered his dream when he was at the airport. The man and the cards had all seemed so real but it wasn't. Was Peyton the right choice? He shook his head. Of course she was. He loved her more than anything or anyone.

Then why was he suddenly doubting it?

"Thanks." Brooke grabbed the white flowers before she walked across the street to her car. On her way, she heard a familiar ringing.

"Hello?"

"Brooke?" Brooke smiled when she heard her ex-assistant's voice. "How are you?"

"Good. What about you?" Another lie.

"I've been fine and Omaha is great but I have a surprise."

She coughed. Maybe she could get her throat looked at or something. "Oh, what is it?"

"I know I just moved here and all but I miss you and I want to help you through this time with Victoria, so I'm gonna come down and visit."

"W-what?"

"I'm gonna come and visit."

"That sounds great Millie."

"Alright, well I have to go but I'll call you when I know all the details. Bye Brooke." The phone went dead before Brooke could squeak out another word. That was just great! Another person that she had to hide it from.

She sighed and got into her car just as rain began pouring down. "That was lucky." One lucky thing you've gotten so far.

She pulled away from the curb and headed towards home, praying that Peyton wasn't waiting up for her.

"Pretty purple button!" "Pretty purple button!" Click? Yes, I think so! But, only if you want to. :D

Okay, so Brooke has a lot on her plate: Her mother won't leave the company, Lucas knows, Haley wants her to tell other people, Peyton is misunderstanding, she might lose her company, and Millicent is coming into town. Poor Brooke. We're so mean in the story. :D But, now that all this is going on, will Brooke break down and tell other's?

By the way, it killed us to write the Leyton but we had to in order to write the story. There will be more tiny (Pucas) moments unfortunately. Brucas will prevail though!

Game: We're going to be bringing back an old character. It could be anyone that was important in the show. If you can guess who we're bringing back, then you get a chapter dedicated to you and maybe something else. I'm unsure what that "something else" would be. :D Good luck.

P.S.- I'll explain the flowers in the next chapter!