It had been 3 weeks since the accident and Brooke hadn't gotten any better. In fact her attitude was getting worse and worse. She had gone back to her old ways of drinking, being a bitch and flirting with random guys. There seemed to be no signs of her memory returning. Although everyone still hoped that she would get better, they didn't know how much more they could take.
Haley and Brooke hardly spoke. Actually they never spoke. Brooke just ignored her and pretended that she wasn't there. Haley just didn't know what to do anymore. She tried everything but Brooke didn't want to know. Haley resigned to the fact that Brooke didn't want to be her friend anymore. This hurt her a lot and she often cried on Nathan's shoulder. She was pregnant and hormonal and wanted her best girlfriend back. Although Peyton and the rest of the cheerleaders were there for her, nobody could replace her friendship with Brooke. The worst part of it all was that she knew that the Brooke she knew and loved would be soo excited for the baby and would want to be there for her. They would be going shopping together, Brooke would probably be making some clothes for her. But most of all she would be there as her support and someone Haley could talk to.
The same went with Mouth. Brooke wouldn't even look at him most of the time, so he stopped trying with her a long time ago. He came to the conclusion that one day Brooke would need him and want to be friends with him again and he would wait for that day. He knew this wasn't the Brooke he loved so he tried not to take offence too much. Actually the Brooke he knew would kick someone's ass for treating him the way she was treating him at the moment. It still hurt though.
The one person who Brooke didn't seem to mind was Rachel. They had become fairly close actually. Although Rachel felt bad that she was the only one Brooke would really hand out with, everyone realized that although they hated it, Rachel was a good friend to Brooke and she would keep an eye on her, along side Peyton.
It was lunch time at school and Nathan, Lucas and Haley were standing outside their lockers in the hallway.
"So how you feeling Hales? Any morning sickness yet or silly cravings" Lucas asked his best friend
"It's not morning sickness Luke, its all day sickness. I don't know how much more I can take-its driving me insane"
"Babe, I am sure it will get better at some point." Was all Nathan could really say without feeling guilty that his wife was going through this.
"Well of course you would say that-your not the one who spends most of their time with their head stuck in a toilet nowadays" she replied sarcastically.
Nathan just looked at Lucas and rolled his eyes. Haley's hormones were going crazy recently and he knew that whatever he said would always be the wrong answer. Lucas looked at Haley and smirked a little.
"Oh, you think this is funny do you Lucas?" she said with annoyance in her voice.
"No no no, of course not Hales, I know it must be hard for you, its just I have never seen you like this before and it's a little bit funny. I mean come think about it, you're the one who is always so under control about everything, and to see you liked this is strange that's all. But you know that I love you and that i am always here for you" he managed to say without bursting out in laughter.
"He is right you know Haley" Nathan said while trying to hide behind Lucas. They all just burst into laughter. Haley was just glad that she had the support needed. All of a sudden Brooke appeared next to them as she was getting something out of her locker. They all stopped laughing and fell silent.
"Hey Brooke how you doing?" Haley asked with some nervousness.
"I am doing great thanks" she replied without even turning her head.
"So what have you been up to lately? We haven't really seen or spoken to each other since you came out of the hospital?" Nathan and Lucas didn't say anything and just listened. They both knew that Haley missed Brooke a lot and that she was trying to form some of conversation so they both just stood back to see what would happen.
Brooke turned around to face Haley and spoke "Look Haley, I know that apparently I have been friends with you in the past, even though I can't imagine it, but anyway that was the past and this is the present. I have nothing in common with you, I don't even know Nathan anymore. The Nathan I know would never marry at 16, let a lone someone like you. Why don't you just get on with things and forget we were ever friends ok?"
This really cut Haley up and tears started forming in her eyes. Where did her Brooke go? Nathan put his arms around her to comfort her.
"That is enough Brooke!" Lucas spoke in anger towards the brunette.
Brooke then turned her attention to Lucas. "Don't talk to me like that, who do you think you are? And I can say what I want and how I want to"
"Not when you are hurting someone else's feelings you cant. What has happened to you? Haley was only trying to be nice to you" he shot back
"Well how many times do I have to make it clear that me and her aren't friends anymore? In fact I am not friends with any of you. I don't know you. Why can't you all just leave me alone? You mean nothing to me, why is that so hard for you to understand?" she was shouting back and didn't care who else was listening
"Don't you get it Brooke? We care about you. Haley cares about you, Nathan cares about you. I care about you. We are only trying to look out for you, but you are making this very difficult for us." He was trying desperately for her to understand.
"Well you can just stop caring. I don't care about them, and especially I don't care about you. You mean nothing to me ok, nothing. So just leave me alone" she slammed her locker door and just walked away. Everyone just stood their in silence. Haley was crying in Nathan's arms and Lucas was just heartbroken. Brooke went into the toilets and just started to cry. She didn't know what she was feeling but felt overwhelmed. Why couldn't they just understand that she can't remember anything? That' she is not the same person they remember. Why couldn't they just leave her alone and why did Lucas look so broken when she said he meant nothing to her, were all the thoughts going through her head as she sat on the floor and wept.
Lucas walked into his bedroom, threw his bag on the bed, and kicked his bed in anger and frustration. He wanted to punch something but realized that it would solve nothing. He collapsed onto his bed, with his hands over his face. He was lost, hurt, angry and frustrated all at the same time. How could Brooke speak to him like that? Who did she think she was? He is only trying to look out for her and this is what he gets in return were all the thoughts rattling in his brain. At that moment Karen walked in his room.
"Lucas, are you ok sweetheart?" she asked as she walked over to bed and took a seat next to him. Lucas started to cry and Karen immediately put her arms around her son. "What's wrong Lucas, please tell me?"
"I just don't know what to do anymore mum, with Brooke. I love her so much, she means everything to me, but she doesn't seem to want anything to do with me" he replied with so much sadness in his voice that it broke Karen's heart. "The day of the wedding when she told me that she wanted to end things for a while, I thought that was the worst feeling in the world you know. I could feel my heart breaking every time she pulled back from me. But I was wrong mum, that wasn't the worst feeling. This is, her not knowing me, her not even acknowledging me or wanting anything to do with me. Today, she told me that I am nothing to her, nothing at all. I could cope with her not wanting to be with me, because at least then I knew it was because she still felt something for me and there was always a chance to get her back. But this I cannot handle and is much worse. When she looks at me there is nothing there mum, I am a complete stranger to her. There are no feelings for me there at all, and this I can't take anymore. I feel like I have lost her and this time I don't know what to do to get her back. She is breaking my heart piece by piece and she doesn't even know it" he said with a defeated attitude, tears still rolling down his cheeks.
"Lucas, I know that this is hard on you, but Brooke isn't herself at the moment. She doesn't know what she is doing or saying, and I am not making excuses for her, but this is not a normal situation you both are in. It must be hard to on her to realize that she has lost more than a year of her life"
"Mum, I know all that and I understand all of it. That's why we have tried not to force things on her and crowd her all the time, but that doesn't give her the right to treat people the way she has been. She has hurt Haley and Mouth as well and it's not fair on them. I want to help her mum, but I can't if she won't help me."
"She will come to you when she is ready Lucas, you just have to give her time. You have to believe in the Brooke you all know and love. She is still there, but Brooke needs time to find her that's all. I promise it will get better, just wait and see." Karen said reassuringly to her son. She knew it was hard on Lucas, he loved Brooke more than anything.
"I know you are right mum, thanks. I just want to be alone for a little while if that's ok?" Karen kissed him on the forehead and left the room. He lay back on the bed and just thought about what his mum said. He knew she was right about everything, it was just that he didn't know how much more his heart could take that's all. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.
It was one week later and they were all at a basketball game. Haley wasn't feeling too well and was in the stands watching. Brooke and Peyton were both cheerleading, along with Rachel. David, a player on the other team, was flirting with Brooke all night and she was flirting back. Lucas was getting very irritated and angry at this, but there was nothing he could do. He tried to focus his attention on just winning the game and beating David.
"He is so cute Peyton, and I know he is hot for me" Brooke said whist keeping her eyes locked on David
"Brooke he is a player and he is not that cute" Peyton was saying not very convincingly. She could see the frustration in Lucas's face all night and was trying her best to stop Brooke flirting all night, but it wasn't working. She knew David was a player and a flirt, he had already tried it on with Brooke a few months back but of course then Brooke knocked him back. She knew telling this to Brooke however would make no difference.
"Peyton stop being so prudish. He is so cute and I really like him. There is no harm in having a bit of fun". Peyton just sighed and pretended to agree. After the game finished David walked over to Brooke and started to talk to her. Lucas could see Brooke laughing and flirting with him and it was getting on his last nerve.
"You ok man?" Nathan questioned his brother. Of course he knew he wasn't ok, Seeing Brooke flirting with another guy right in front of him was eating his brother inside, but the problem was what could anyone do?
"Doesn't she know he is a jerk? I mean seriously what does she see in him anyway?" the jealously was evident in his voice
"I don't know Lucas, but we better keep an eye on him. I remember the last time he tried it on with Brooke" Nathan replied with a slight concern in his voice. David had always taken a shine to Brooke and tried it on with her when he had the chance. Brooke always just ignored him, but the problem this time was that Brooke doesn't remember any of that.
"Yeah I know. I didn't like him then and I don't like him now. Peyton said they are going to meet at Tric later. Shall I meet you there?" Lucas asked without once taking his eyes off Brooke and David
"Yeah, I just have to go home with Haley first and then we will meet you guys at Tric. I know it's not easy, but remember she doesn't have her memory back yet, otherwise she wouldn't be going anywhere near that guy." Lucas just nodded and continued to watch David try it on with Brooke. He knew it was going to be a long night.
Everyone was at Tric later that night. Lucas arrived about an hour ago and was with Haley, Mouth, Peyton and Nathan. Brooke had been drinking and hanging out with David all night. Once in a while Peyton and Rachel would try and get her to hang out with them, but Brooke just did what she wanted and wasn't taking any notice to what they were saying to her. Rachel walked over to them.
"Hey guys" the redhead spoke as she walked towards them.
"Hey Rachel. Where's Brooke?" Lucas asked as he looked around the club.
"She is on the dance floor with David. I can't keep up with that girl anymore" she replied with the exhaustion clear in her voice.
"Do you think it's wise to leave her alone with that guy?" Nathan addressed.
"But what do you suggest we do? I have tried to keep her at a distance from him all night but she won't have any of it and he keeps on hanging around like a bad smell." Rachel replied with a questioning look.
"Rachel is right guys. We have tried, but when Brooke is like this she only does what Brooke wants." Peyton said to the group. She didn't like Brooke flirting and being with David but what could she do. She warned Brooke about him but she didn't listen. The problem was that only she and Nathan knew what the old Brooke was like and when Brooke wanted someone or something she would always go for it and get it. She gave a concerned look to Nathan.
"Look lets just keep an eye on her ok. I don't trust that guy and Brooke has already had quite a lot to drink" Nathan spoke and everyone agreed. Lucas could see Brooke on the dance floor, her body so close to David. He could see David put his hands on Brookes back. The anger was building up inside of him and he just couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't watch Brooke be like that with anyone else and he just walked out of the club for some fresh air to clear his head.
"You ok buddy?" Haley asked her best friend. Of course she knew the answer but she had to ask anyway.
"Not really no. I can't see her like this Hales" he replied with hurt, jealously and sadness in his voice
"I know, none of us can. But what choice do we have?" she asked with a blank expression on her face. "Brooke is just being who she thinks she is and although we all know who the real Brooke is, she doesn't yet. I can't even begin to imagine what you must be feeling Lucas, but just know that we are all here for you. We all want her back just as much as you do" she said as she put her hand on his shoulder. Lucas just looked at his best friend and nodded.
"I know you are right and I know that Brooke doesn't know who she is. But it still doesn't make it any easier you know. I love that girl in there Haley but she doesn't even know me or even wants to get to know me. How am I supposed to watch her flirt with another guy and him have his hands all over her like that? I just can't. It's too much to take. But the worst part of all of it is that I can't stop her, I have no right. Even before the accident, she told me that she wanted a break from me and she didn't want to be with me anymore. I feel like I lost her a long time ago, before the accident." he spoke with tears forming in his eyes.
"Listen to me Lucas" Haley spoke with assertiveness in her voice "that girl in there loves you, she always has and always will, she just doesn't know it yet. I know you have made some mistakes, and I do not condone those mistakes, but I know that you love that girl more than anything else. You haven't lost her Lucas, Brooke has just lost her way for a little while that's all. But I do know that she will find her way back to you. Although it hurts me to not have her in my life at the moment I do know that we will be friends again. We can't give up on that hope, that's all we have" she said with tears flowing down her cheeks. Lucas knew that Haley was right and reached out and hugged his best friend. They just stayed out there for a few minutes.
Lucas and Haley entered back into Tric and were met by a concerned Nathan, Mouth and Peyton. "Guys we lost Brooke" Nathan spoke to them
"What do you mean you lost Brooke? How the hell could you loose Brooke?" Lucas quickly responded with concern in his voice.
"Me and Rachel went to the bathroom and Nathan and Mouth went to get a drink. She was still on the dance floor. When we came back she wasn't there anymore and we couldn't see her anymore" Peyton spoke frantically.
"Ok listen she couldn't have gone very far. Let's just spread out and find her. We will meet back here in 15 minutes" Lucas said and with that they all spread out and started searching for Brooke.
Meanwhile outside Tric in the back alley a very drunk Brooke was leaning against the wall.
"David, why are we out here? I want to go back inside and dance, the music was really good?" she slurred out.
"Baby, we get to be alone out here for a little while. Just me and you" David spoke whilst stepping towards Brooke. "Where's Peyton?" she questioned with her eyes only half opened.
"Oh don't worry about her Brooke, she is inside having a good time with her friends. Let's just concentrate on you and me right now" he said as he put his hands on her waist.
"My head is spinning. I just want to go back inside and sit down for a little while ok?" she wasn't feeling too good. She needed to sit down. She stood up and tried to push David's hands off her waist but didn't seem to have the energy to do so.
"Come on Brooke don't spoil the moment. You know you want this, you have been teasing me all night" David said as he started kissing her neck. Brooke tried to push him of her with her hands but nothing seemed to be working.
" David please, just stop. I want to go back inside, I want to find Peyton" She was feeling more and more light headed and her head was spinning more and more. She wanted to get him off her but she didn't seem to have any energy left in her. She started nodding her head from side to side but David didn't seem to stop. His hands were moving over her stomach and then onto her chest. Inside her head she was screaming no but for some reason nothing seemed to be coming out of her mouth. Her eyes were feeling heavy and tired and she didn't have the energy to push him off her. David was holding onto her tighter and his lips were moving onto hers. She couldn't move.
"GET THE HELL OFF HER"
David turned around and saw Lucas standing a few inches away from him.
"Hey listen, why don't you just go away and leave me and Brooke to it. Cant you see we are busy" he said with annoyance in his voice.
"I said get the hell away from Brooke. I won't say it again" Lucas spoke, the anger raging inside of him as he stepped nearer towards David and the drunken Brooke.
"Look man, this is none of your business. Me and Brooke are just having some fun, so leave us to it"
"It doesn't look like that from where I am standing. Brooke looks like she is too drunk to know what she is doing and from what I saw she was trying to get you to get off her."
"So what you were spying on us. What kind of sick pervert are you anyway? Look I know what this is ok. Listen after I've finished you can have your turn ok, I mean its Brooke Davis after all" he said with a smirk on his face.
That was it, the anger in Lucas just exploded. He grabbed David and pushed him against the wall. "Don't you ever speak about Brooke like that again, do you understand me." he shouted out to David, with his face just a few millimeters away from him. "And if I ever see you go near Brooke again I will break every bone in your body, do you understand me?" David just nodded frantically and Lucas let go of him. David ran back inside of Tric. Lucas turned around and saw Brooke slouched down on the floor, with her back against the wall and her eyes closed. He didn't want to wake her so he picked up her in his arms and walked back into Tric to find the others.
"Oh my god, there's Lucas and Brooke" Mouth spoke as he pointed to Lucas walking towards them with Brooke in his arms. The others all turned round.
"Lucas is she ok, what happened?" Peyton asked with concern in her voice
"Nothing, she has just had too much to drink that's all. I told David to stay away from her. Listen Peyton, I know she is meant to be staying with you but I am going to take her home to mine tonight ok? I just want to keep an eye on her tonight?" Although he knew Peyton was capable of looking after Brooke, he just needed to know she was safe. He wasn't sure how much she would remember and wanted to be there if she got scared or had any questions. But most of all he just wanted her near him. Peyton understood and just nodded.
"Thanks. Ill see you guys tomorrow" and with that he walked out of Tric. Once he got home he picked her up and laid her on his bed. She was sleeping on the whole journey home and didn't awake once. She put the covers over her and made sure she was comfortable. He just stared at her for a few minutes. She was so beautiful and he just wanted her back in his arms. He walked towards the door, switched the light off, closed the door and leaned against it. He took and deep breath and one single tear rolled down his cheek.