Chapter 2 Never-ending questions.

Nathan lived in a boring routine. From work to home to a wife who always wanted him to change, and never accepted him for who he was. He could not take the sight of the sad , broken Brooke Davis out of his mind. While he ate breakfast , while he played basket ball , while he lay at night. Months passed like a blur , and he would go everyday to the river court expecting to see her.

One day , the door knocked , and Jamie opened the door. He heard him screaming excitedly:" Brooke ! Brooke!" Nathan and Hailey ran to the door to greet her. She looked gorgeous.

She smiled at him attentively and he looked into her deep brown eyes. Then his wife and Brooke hugged each other. Guilt flood over him and he had to look away though he did not do anything wrong.

As Brooke was telling Hailey that she was passing through town and is going to spend a few days , and Hailey telling her to sleep over here rather than in an hotel , Nathan was lost , lost in those deep brown eyes. Brooke was so animated , so full of life , and he wondered for a feeing moment in the back of his mind , how would his life be if she were in Hailey's place. Then he snapped out of it , bothered from himself , and reminded himself that this was the maid of honor in his wedding , the God mother of his son.

****

Brooke was staying over at there house for a while , so that evening he decided to check on her . He opened the door of the guestroom , and saw in horror that she was cleaning the makeup off her face . Without the make up their was bruises all over her face. She watched as he closed the door behind him , and she did not say anything.

He said :" Brooke , what is happening to you?"

Brooke said :" This is none of your business."

They stood there face to face , she wanted to leave , but the look in his eyes made her stand her ground.

He said , again , as if he didn't ask before :" What is happening to you?"

She said :" Nothing."

Nathan said :" I know someone is hitting you. I guess it is your husband."

Brooke nodded :" What is your point?"

Nathan said , angry at the callous way she was acting :" When did you turn into that weak person who lets her husband hit her? You are Brooke Davis!"

Brooke said ,silent tears forming in her eyes :" You may see me as weak or stupid , but I know what I am doing. He is an alcoholic, he doesn't know what he is doing , but when he is sober , he is the man I love again. He loves me , and when he is sober he is disgusted from himself for what he did. H always promises himself it wont happen again , and it happens which lead him to drink more ,and lose it more. I am always around at the bad time , I guess."

"You are blaming yourself for this?" Nathan asked , in shock.

Brooke said , the tears finally falling , but her voice having a weird coldness :" No I am not. But I don't blame him completely. He had a tough childhood. He got addicted to drugs then pain killers and now alcohol again. Once an addict , always an addict. I knew that when I married him-"

"Oh my God! You married Owen , Owen is doing that to you? Why didn't you tell us?"

"We got married quickly , then things started to fall apart. I forgot about Tree Hill. Life in New York was so different…"

"When are you going to divorce him?"

"I am not going to…. I am going back to him."

"Brooke , what is wrong with you? You are the strongest person I know. Why in the world would you go back to him?"

"Because when I look into his eyes I still see him. He will get better , we would get through this. I vowed for better or for worse ,and later we would be happy."

Nathan said , in a shaking voice :" I would rather see you dead , then going back to him."

Brooke said crying but still detached , as if she was talking about someone else ,and is sad for that person :" You really don't understand."

She saw him looking at her bruised face, so she started putting make up on. He asked her :" How long?" She did not reply , and he got the message. She couldn't remember anymore.

He tries again :" Tell me about the first time."

Brooke entered her house and saw Owen again drunk out of his mind. There was empty bottles of Vodka and Whiskey and beer all over the beautiful furniture. She remembered hoe happy they were when they chose them. She started screaming at him to stop , but he would not listen . She kept on trying to take the bottle from his hands , until he slapped her. The next day he got her flowers and he begged for mercy. The next time it was harsher. He cried and kissed her scars. The more time passed the more the apologies lessened, till no apology was said anymore. It would be in his eyes. When he was sober , he would get on his knees and cry as a baby. When he was sober which was very rare.

Brooke did not tell him that. She just stood there silently putting make up on. He tried again : " What made you leave , what was the last straw?"

He felt her tense up as if he hit a sore spot , and she said :" enough already! Leave me alone !"

He said :" What are you hiding?"

Then Brooke starts crying , and becomes Brooke again ,and not that detached person.

She says :" I cant talk about that. (sobs) you always make me cry in front of you ,and I hate it. And somehow since high school , its always been you I am connected to. Only you saw through my fake smile. I did my best to look happy , but all i ever wanted was for someone to notice.."

He held her protectively. Bruised , crying, and broken Brooke Davis was perfect in his eyes.

He was scared , scared for Brooke , scared for himself , scared from the unhealthy hatred he has for Owen and the desire to kill him.

As they hugged , they both didn't hear her cell phone ringing , and the caller was Owen in Tree Hill , or Hailey calling them for dinner. They were lost , lost in their world.