Chapter 4

Brooke sat at the kitchen table, alone and depressed, the two worst things to be at the same time. She had so much going on in her head and she didn't know how to deal with it. She looked at Rachel's liquor cabinet. She couldn't. Could she? No one was there to stop her. Her parents had left her along time ago. Lucas was probably with Peyton. Haley had Nathan. And Rachel was probably out with Mouth. She had no one. She walked over to cabinet and pulled out a bottle of vodka. She poured herself a glass.

"One down. 500 more to go." she said as she continued to pour some in her glass until she finally passed out on the kitchen floor.

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Peyton was woken up by the shutting of a door. She opened her eyes to find Lucas standing in the doorway.

"Hey there sleeping beauty."

"Hi Lucas" she couldn't help but be nice to him even if she was still mad at him because deep down she loved him.

"Sorry to wake you but I have some things to talk to you about."

"Oh, that's fine. I only need 4 hours. I'm good." she said sarcastically

"So, how did the rest of your evening go with Seth? I'm sorry I left but Nathan said he needed me at the River court and…."

"Lucas, it's fine. It was good. I could see us getting along and then other times, it's just like he's another friend of mine, you know?"

"Yeah I know."

"So what did the guys want?"

"They want me to play again."

"That's awesome."

"Yeah, they even pitched in to buy my medications so I will be able to."

"Lucas that's awesome. I'm so happy for you."

"Yeah, but the next obstacle is talking to the mother. She might have different plans for me." he knew that basketball and a heart condition were at the top of her list of what her son would not be doing.

"I think Karen will understand that you really want to play and that you'll be fine as long as you stay on your medications. Which you will." she said as she gave him a smile

"Yes mommy"

"Wow, you've been good at the come-backs lately, what's up with that?"

"I guess I've been hanging out with you way too long." and they just smiled at each other

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"Good morning beautiful." Nathan said as Haley walked into the kitchen.

"Am I dreaming, or is my husband actually making breakfast."

"Well, I was going to surprise you with breakfast in bed but you seem to always mess up my cheesy surprises."

"Well maybe I'm just sleep walking and I'm gonna slowly turn around and head back to bed." she said coyly. She immediately turned on her heels and headed back to the bedroom where she was soon "woken up" by her husband. She just stared at him with so much love. How could she keep such a secret from the man she loved so much? Especially since it was about both of their future. A kid was a big deal, but she still felt that he wasn't ready to know. She fell into his arms, and let the feeling of safetyness encircle her. It still was not time to tell him.

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Peyton and Lucas were walking by the river when Lucas received yet another phone call. It was Rachel.

"Hello?" he said with confusion as to why she would be calling him.

"Luke, it's Rachel."

"Yeah I know. What's wrong?" he could tell she was a little emotional

"I have some bad news. Brooke is in the hospital. I came home to find her passed out on the kitchen floor, and when I couldn't wake her, I called the ambulance. They took her away and I immediately called you."

"How is she? Is she okay?" he was also getting very emotional

"I don't know. I didn't get there yet. I told you, I immediately called you. I'm heading over now as we speak."

"Okay thanks Rachel." and he hung up the phone.

"What's the matter?" Peyton asked because she had noticed the change in Lucas. He turned to her.

"Brooke's in the hospital."

"What?" she asked

"Yeah, apparently she was passed out on the floor. I'm gonna head over, are you gonna come with me?"

"How could even ask that question. Of course I'm gonna come." Even though they had not spoken to each other in a while, she had been her best friend for 10 years. That was just not something you forget in a few months. They headed to the hospital, together.

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There you go : )