Waking up Rachel slowly opened her eyes, she rubbed her eyes, the spot next to her empty. She didn't worry since she heard movement in the bathroom. Getting herself up she made her way to her bathroom smiling when she saw Brooke who was sitting on the countertop looking at the ground. She looked so sweet. She stood infront on her, putting her hands on the top of her thighs.
"How come whenever I wake up, your never next to me." She said before placing a light kiss on her bare shoulder. "It's better when you are."
Brooke smiled but didn't look up "Clearly."
"You not going look at me?" Now noticing the reason why she wasn't looking up, she was crying. She frowned and brought her hand to her cheek to wipe away the stray tears. She then took the smaller girl in her arms smiling when Brookes arms went around her neck, her head to her shoulder "Baby please don't cry."
"Sorry." She mumbled.
"And stop saying sorry."
All night long Brooke had been saying sorry for all the stuff that happened. Which was crazy to Rachel since she had nothing to be sorry for, it wasn't her fault it was his. How was she to know that he would turn out to be a total nutcase. It didn't matter how much everyone was telling her that it wasn't her fault she still felt like it was. She kept saying to herself that if she was a better person he wouldn't have done the things he had done to her. And she knew that this was going to get out and that was hard for her. It was hard enough to deal with herself and it would now be worse with everyone asking questions about it. She used to love being center of attention but when it's for reasons that she didn't like, she didn't like it. She really would be fine if no one gave her a second glance.
"I guess I should get ready." She said pulling away but still not looking at her.
"You don't have to go, I'll stay with you."
Brooke was touched at her girlfriends sincerity but she knew that she had to go. Looking up for the first time and meeting Rachels gaze with her teary eyes, she shook her head "I'd rather get it over and done with." She looked back down and put her hands together fumbiling with them.
Rachel brought her hand up to Brookes arm and ran a finger down it, carefull not to hurt her. Seeing the bruises made her hate for Lucas even higher, especially when she heard Peyton describe what had happened, atleast what she saw. Brooke asked to be alone when she did her statements, she was gratefull that she would stand by her side as she spoke to them but she didn't want her to be there when she described it, it was too painful and Rachel knew that and was fine with it.
"Where does it hurt?"
Slowly she slid off of the countertop, turning around she lifted up her pink tank top. Rachel examined her back, there were no cuts or bruises on her back but when she touched the skin Brooke flinched. Pulling her back she put her arms around her waist, leaning them on the counter. Brooke smiled and intertwinded their fingers together, kissing Rachels hands.
"So you want to get ready for this?" Rachel asked stroking her hair.
She nodded "Mhm."
She was ready as she would ever be. Even though all she could remember about Lucas was him breaking her heart she was still falling apart over this. She didn't know why she was so sad.
"It's ok to be happy when your happy and sad when your sad." Rachel spoke as if she was reading her thoughts.
Brooke smiled and turned slightly in their embrace leaving a lingering kiss on her cheek. "The same for you."
The time for school had approached and Brooke sighed as she walked to her first class, dressed in a a pair of jeans and a black long sleeved top.Thankfully no one seemed to know anything about the previous night just yet, she knew that wouldn't last. By lunch the news would probally be out. To her disapointment Rachel wasn't in her first class of the day, of course it had to be that way. Luck was never on her side. When she got in the class she was greated by a very concerned Haley.
"Oh my god, I heard are you ok?" She asked crushing her with a hug.
She laughed "Yeah ouch, my arm your crushing me."
She pulled back and smiled "Sorry, how are you?"
"I'll be alright, nothing I can't handle." Brooke smiled softly then looked around the room "I'd just like to keep it down for as long as I can."
"Of course, I can't believe it, Karen told me all about it this morning."
"Do you know whats going to happen to him?" She asked reluctantly
Haley shrugged "Not yet, she got to talk to him last night at the station but he didn't want to talk to her so he didn't say much."
"I'm sorry."
"Why are you sorry?" She asked putting her hand on her shoulder
"I dunno, hes your friend."
"I'm still in shock, he has been acting weird for awhile now but I never thought he would be capible of that."
"Me either." Brooke mumbled looking at the ground.
As more people arrived in class Brooke and Haley sat down in their seats. Brooke looked infront of her and sighed, that was the seat that Lucas sat at. Haley who was sitting alone since he wasn't here saw this and smiled sadly, how could Lucas do all of those things to her. Her attention went to Peyton who walked in the class looking dazed out. She made eye contact with her and smiled weakly before sitting down next to Brooke who wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to anything other than the window to the side of her. Most of the seating was asigned and in every class they had together, Brooke and peyton were next to each other.
She had spent most of the night at the hospital with Brooke and Rachel giving statements. Luckily for her Rachel had retracted the claws and was nice to her and Brooke was too out of it to care. She hated having to go over every detail over and over again. She couldn't imagine what it had to be like for Brooke. She just wanted to be there for her but she couldn't she knew she had blown it and she wasn't going to follow her around saying she was sorry. She had Haley and Rachel, who seemed to be more than just a friend. After last night she saw their relationship differently. It was clear that there was something going on, or something was about to.You could tell by the way they looked at each other and the way Rachel wanted to look after her. Brooke deserved to be happy and she was happy for her, she only wished she could tell her that. If Brooke didn't want to be her friend then she would accept that.
Brooke did want to be her friend though she was just affraid to let her in again, she gave her a second chance and look what happened. No matter how much she tried she couldn't be mad at her, that had passed along time ago. Peyton was one of those people Brooke needed in her life, if she went a day without speaking to her or seeing her it just wasn't a good day. For aslong as she could remember Peyton was in her life. It would be easy to forget her but that wasn't possible. She knew that their friendshp wouldn't be the same, not without alot of work. Things couldn't just pick up from where they were before and she wasn't sure if she wanted to have that.
Although she was lost in space with her thoughts she had noticed that Peyton was next to her after awhile. Aware of the gaze she had on her, she turned and gave her a small smile before turning her attention back outside. She looked at the sky, it was clear but there were signs of grey, typical she thought. It was probally a warning of things to come. She let out a small sigh and looked to the front of the class as the teacher walked in. His moany voice filled through the room and she slide down her chair not in the mood.
"I hope everyone remembered to study for the test today."
Groans were heard throughout the room and Brooke mumbled curse words under her breath making Peyton laugh as the teacher walked up to them putting paper down on the table. He gave them a look which got a small smile from Peyton and a roll of the eyes from Brooke.
"Now don't worry, it's all in your own words. I want you guys to write about what would make you happy, find your bliss."
"I know what mine is, not being in this class." Tim said causing the class to laugh.
"Tim watch it." He warned "Alright guys, calm down or I'll be forced to fail you all."
Everyone settled down and started to write, amazingly Brooke knew what she was going to write about. She knew what would make her the happiest. Sometimes tests weren't that bad.
The rest of the day went well, noone knew about Lucas so Brooke was enjoying it while it lasted. A few people asked about the cut on her lip and her arm but she managed to shrug it off. It was the first time in along time where she actually didn't mind school. It was now night and everyone was in the gym hall for the school basketball game. Brooke couldn't cheer so she was sitting on the bleachers with Mouth who setting up getting ready to do his commentary.
"You look so hot in your suit." She said smiling at her friend.
"Thanks." He said bashfully.
She giggled and looked around "Hey, do you know who they are bringing in?"
Mouth shook his head "I have no idea."
Since Lucas wasn't there they were brining a new guy in to take his spot on the team, no one seemed to know who it was since he was a transfer. As the team were practicing Whitey walked in with someone with him. Answering their questions, he was the new guy to the team. Sitting down next to them Rachel smiled pom poms in her hand.
"Have you seen the new guy?"
Brooke smiled "Yeah, hes cute."
"Thanks." Rachel replied sarcasticlly.
Carrying on Brooke flahsed her dimples "And in that uniform."
Rachel shook her head and Mouth laughed "Do we have a name for him yet?"
"It's Derek."