Chapter 10
So... I haven't updated this story in REALLY LONG time. And the reason for that was cause I've kinda been focusing more on my other fanfic "Sisters" as I had just kind of lost inspiration for this one. But I just read what I have written for this fic and it gave me a little boost and a couple more ideas on where I want to go with this story, so... don't worry. I will finish this fic. But I do want to warn you... it might take a while before I post the next couple of chapters. But here's a new chapter so I hope you all enjoy it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brooke woke up in what she would tomorrow call her old bedroom. Her eyes were red from all the crying she did last night and she had a splitting headache. She picked up her cellphone from her nightstand and saw that she had 20 messages, all from Lucas. She didn't know if she should call him, or just listen to one of the messages. In that moment, she didn't really have the strength to talk to him as she knew their conversation would end up in tears. So she listened to one of his messages instead.
Lucas: Hey, Brooke. It's me again. Listen, I know there's a reason you're not answering any of my calls, and I know this is like the 100th message I've left today, but I really just wanted you to know how sorry I am. I know I said some harsh things to you and I didn't mean any of them. I was just so frustrated, cause all I wanted to was be with you. But this whole situation I've put us in just messed it all up. I don't think it would be best if you had never come here, cause if you hadn't come here I would've never fallen for you, pretty girl. So, I just wanted you to know how sorry I am. And I hope you reconsider leaving, cause I really want to be with you, and I don't want to look back on this years from now and wonder "what if". And I hope you feel the same way. Bye.
Brooke had just finished listening to the message and tears were streaming down her face. She knew that Lucas was sorry and so was she. She did care a lot about him and she was also really starting to fall for him, but things were just too hard and too complicated.
A few minutes later Brooke came out of the shower. She had taken a long cold shower to think things through. And she knew what she had to do. She had to make things right.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peyton's room.
Peyton was sitting behind her computer busy with one of her sketches when she heard a knock on the door. Peyton turned around and saw her standing in the doorway. She was probably the last person Peyton wanted to face but she knew they had to talk about it, it was inevitable.
Peyton: What are you doing here?
Brooke: I thought we could talk.
Peyton: About what?
Brooke: Everything.
Peyton didn't answer. She just stared at her, waiting for her to say something.
Brooke: Look, Peyton, I know you're mad at me. And I can understand why, I mean, I wasn't exactly up for best friend of the year award. But, I just... I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry. Before I leave.
This news took Peyton by surprise and then Brooke realized that she didn't tell Peyton. But how could she, she just found out yesterday and her and Peyton weren't exactly on speaking terms.
Peyton: You're leaving?
Brooke: Yeah. I'm sorry I forgot to tell you.
Peyton: Yeah. Seems there's a lot you forgot to tell me.
Brooke: Okay, you know what? I get it, okay? You're mad and you're hurt and I get that. But I am standing here trying to make things right with you before I leave. I mean, who knows when we'll get to see each other again so I just thought it'd be nice to leave on good terms. And before you forget, Peyton, you're not exactly miss Perfect either. Remember Jake? The guy you cheated on Lucas with?
Peyton was now getting very angry. She couldn't believe Brooke would throw it in her face like that. She got up and stared furiously at Brooke.
Peyton: How dare you throw that in my face like that? That was completely different.
Brooke: How? Oh, right, I forgot. You did it after his uncle died, at least he had the decency not to do it after you lost a loved one.
Peyton was taken aback by this statement. Even though Brooke was right, hearing someone else say it really made it sink in. She was being a total hypocrite. She just stood there, tears starting to form in her eyes. And then Brooke realized what she had just said. She came here trying to make piece. This was not how she wanted her visit to turn out.
Brooke: Peyton, I --
Peyton: No. No, you're right. I, um... I have no right to mad at you.
Brooke: Yes, you do.
Brooke sighed. This was a lot harder than she thought it would be.
Brooke: We were best friends, and I basically helped your boyfriend cheat on you. And I'm sorry. Really, I am. I just thought we could... I don't know, make things right? Before I leave.
Peyton didn't say anything, she just stood there, trying to avoid Brooke's gaze. Brooke had then given up. It was obvious that enough damage had been done. So she just started to walk away.
Peyton: Brooke.
Brooke turned around. And her eyes were filled with some hope. Hope that they could make things right between them.
Peyton: Call me when you get to New York.
Brooke smiled. She knew things weren't instantly better, and that they weren't really what they used to be yet. But it was a start.
Brooke: I will.
And with those words Brooke left.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Naley's apartment.
Brooke walked towards the front door and knocked on it. It was only the second time she had been to their apartment. But after this whole thing her, Lucas and Peyton and Haley getting stuck inbetween, she kinda felt like she owed her an apology.
Nathan opened the door.
Nathan: Brooke.
Brooke: Hey, Nathan.
Nathan: How you doing?
Brooke: Not so great. I was kind of hoping to talk to Haley. Is she home?
Nathan: Oh, yeah. Come in.
Brooke walked in and Nathan closed the door. He then yelled Haley's name.
Nathan: Haley! Brooke's here to see you!
Haley: I'll be right there.
Haley came out of the bathroom and smiled at Brooke.
Haley: Hey, Brooke.
Brooke: Hey.
Nathan: Um... I'll leave you two alone to talk. I'll be in the bedroom.
Haley: Thanks, honey.
They kissed and Brooke watched them, a little jealous. She could have that. She could have that with Lucas someday. But considering the circumstances, that wasn't going to happen.
Haley: So, what do you wanna talk about?
Brooke: I wanted to apologize.
Haley: For what?
Brooke: For getting you into this whole mess.
Haley: Oh, please, I got into this whole mess before you even came to Tree Hill.
Brooke: So, you're not mad?
Haley: No! God, no.
Brooke: Oh.
Brooke sighed with relief. Relief that at least someone wasn't mad at her.
Brooke: Well, that's great! Than I guess this is goodbye.
Haley: What? You're leaving?
Brooke: Yeah. My, um, my dad got an emergency transfer to New York, so...
Haley: Oh, that's too bad.
Brooke: Yeah.
Haley: Well, we can still keep in touch, though.
Brooke: Of course. I'd love that.
Haley: Great.
Brooke: Well, um, I guess I'll talk to you sometime.
Haley: Yeah, definitely.
Brooke: Okay. Bye.
Haley: Bye.
They hugged and Brooke left. Happy that she just gained a new friend.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lucas' house.
Lucas was lying on his bed, trying to reach Brooke yet again. He had left her about a dozen messages already and she wasn't returning any of his calls. He had just left her one last message and for a moment there... he was starting to lose hope. Hope that things would get better, hope that he would ever get a chance with Brooke. He was lying there, thinking that Brooke had completely given up on them, when he realized that wasn't just supposed to lay there and be sad. He was supposed to make things happen. If things didn't happen on their own, he had to make them happen. He had to make Brooke realize that she can't leave and he had to make her realize that they needed a chance. He needed to fight for her.
He then quickly got off of his bed and grabbed his car keys on the way out of his room. He couldn't just let her leave, he needed to fight for her. He was going to fight for her.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tree Hill Airport.
Brooke had just finished checking in and was dragging her heavy luggage towards the gate. She sighed as she heard her flight being called. She couldn't believe this was it. Just a week before graduation, she was supposed to transfer to yet another school, make a new set of friends and have a new room to sleep in. But for her it wasn't really about what she was going to have to do... it was more about what she was going to leave behind. Even though she hadn't been staying in Tree Hill that long, it was really starting to feel like home. She reunited with her best friend, made a new friend, got a job for the first time in her life, and most importantly... she found Lucas. She never thought she'd find a guy so amazing... and who was so able to make her laugh and cry all at the same time. She never thought she could find a friend and a lover... but she did... she found that in Lucas. But now she had to leave it behind. And not because she wanted to... but because she got the feeling that she had to. When she just thought about how Lucas and her started out... it just didn't seem right to her. Even though she wanted Lucas so bad, and her heart ached for him... she knew getting with Lucas would mean hurting Peyton in the proces. And she couldn't do that. She wouldn't do that.
It was then that she had to face the moment. The moment she would leave Lucas and Tree Hill behind. She gave the flight attendant her ticket and boarded the plane. But before the door closed... she turned back around, hoping for a sign. Any sign of him. She was hoping he would come in and tell her that she couldn't leave, no matter how much she thought she had to. That they would work it out, and find a way... But he didn't. There was no sign of him anywhere. No sign of his dark blonde hair, or his piercing blue eyes. Nothing. Brooke then slowly turned around and took in a deep breathe, tears escaping from her eyes. This was really it. She was really leaving... and he wasn't there to stop her.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Somehere else at Tree Hill Airport.
Lucas was running towards the gates. Pushing past people, trying to get to her. He had probably already dealt out a million "i'm sorry's", and "excuse me's", to the people he was shoving away trying to get to his girl. His pretty girl. He couldn't even bear the thought of her getting on that plane. It made him angry, thinking that there was a chance that he could lose her, just like that. He saw a flight attendant and quickly made his way over to her.
Lucas: Miss! I'm sorry, miss.
The looked up at him, a little taken aback by his loud tone.
Flight attendant: Can I help you?
Lucas: I was wondering if the plane to New York has already left.
The flight attendant checked her computer and then looked back at Lucas.
Flight attendant: I'm sorry, sir, but the plane to New York has just left.
Lucas could then feel his heart sinking to his toes. He was breathing quite heavy, due to the fact that he had been running all the way over there since the parking lot.
Lucas: What do you mean it left? How long ago did it leave?
Flight attendant: Just a minute ago. I'm sorry, sir. If you had come a little sooner...
Lucas: No, I... it can't be gone. It can't -- I can't...
Lucas' eyes were now starting to well up with tears as the thought of Brooke leaving had finally become a reality. A reality he wasn't sure he was gonna be able to handle. He just stood there for a moment, trying to let it all sink in. He tried to stay calm, but the tears just kept coming and he couldn't stop. He came here to fight for her -- for them, but... all he did was lose her.