4 Emotionally Shut Down

The constant ringing on the other end of her phone left no answer. She had been calling her mother for hours. "If you need anything Brooke, just call. We're only a phone call away." She remembered the day her parents left her alone in Tree Hill. It was surprising actually. She was always getting into trouble at her old schools. Now here she was 18, in Tree Hill doing it again.

She hated when she'd get like this. It was usually when she was hungover that she became so emotional. What was she going to do with her life? Where was she going to go when all of this high school drama ended? And the endless question she never had the answer to... who could she turn to when things were rough.

It used to be Chase. His bright blue eyes always had the answers when she needed someone by her side. Everything was shattered when she can pregnant her sophomore year. Chase convinced her the best option would be to have the baby. He promised to be with her, be by her side and take care of her every step of the way. And the truth was, he was. Only as soon as she had the baby he broke up with her for her best friend Nicola. Brooke's world came crashing down when she found out they had been seeing each other the whole time she was pregnant. Chase and his parents took her to court and they won full custody of her beautiful baby girl. Avaleigh Ryder. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by her phone ringing. "Mom."

"Brooke, I was in a very important meeting with my therapist. What possible reason could you be calling me over and over again?" her mothers voice rang out on the other end of the line.

"I'm in trouble." Brooke said honestly. Usually she would be so short with her mom that her mom would hang up on her. But this time, it was obvious she could hear the fear and sadness in her voice. "The house burnt down."

"What?" her mother yelled. "You better tell me this is a joke Brooke Davis."

"It's not." she whispered. "I lit some candles and they started the bathroom on fire." she explained. "In case you were wondering .. I'm okay." The other line of the phone went dead. Brooke knew that her mother was on her way and when she got there, things were not going to end well.

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Peyton's doorbell rang and Brooke contemplated getting out of bed to get it. Peyton had gone to school late along with everyone else once they got home from Charlotte. Brooke on the other hand decided she needed the entire day off to rest her hangover away. She stood up and looked out the window to see who was standing at the door below. It was Nathan. "Oh hell no!" she jumped for the stairs. "If that boy thinks he's coming in here while I'm here, he has something else coming." she threw the door open. "What do you want?"

Nathan looked startled at her anger. "I came to talk to you." he said nervously. "I came to say I'm sorry." he pushed the door open and invited himself in.

Brooke pulled her back into a low ponytail and sat down at the table. She was really mad at Nathan for what happened to her house, but she knew at the same time she was the one that lit the candles and she probably would have forgotten to blow them out anyway. "I don't know what to say Nathan. Everything went way too far. You shouldn't really worry about it thought. I'm sure as soon as my parents get back they'll ship me off somewhere else anyway."

Nathan felt horrible. What could he possibly say to make the situation any better. He just sat there staring at this once confident, once mean girl in awe. She looked gorgeous sitting there at the table in tears. All he wanted to do was kiss her. But he couldn't. "I'll give you the money for your house."

"What?" Brooke looked at him confused. "Like you can afford that."

"No, I'll talk to my dad and somehow find a way to pay for the house."

"That's absurd." Brooke laughed. "I'm sure my parents had insurance on the house. Plus, I don't really think your dad can afford to just buy a new house for them. And imagine the trouble you'd be in for that."

Nathan knew she was right, but he wanted to do anything he could to make it up to this girl. Sure she humiliated him in front of all of his friends at school, but what happened to her was far worse. "Anything you want, I'll make it up to you." he promised. "Anything."

Brooke thought long and hard for a few minuets before it came to her. "Maybe there is something that you can do for me." she smiled. If he did this for her, it would more than make up for the trouble he got her into.

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Peyton entered her house to find Brooke sleeping on the floor in front of the television. She had a smile on her face and was curled up with a blanket and a teddy bear. It was weird how different the two of them were but she really enjoyed Brooke's company lately. Her dad was away working and having someone in the house was kind of relaxing. Especially after everything that happened to her over the past couple months.

In only a matter of months, Peyton found out she was not only adopted but she had a brother. The first brother she met tried to kill her, and the second was overseas. Maybe having Brooke around would be good for her. In a weird way she challenged her. To step outside of her anger and give people a try. And if it weren't for Brooke, there would be no chance of her friendship with Lucas. And no possibility it could ever turn into more.

On the kitchen table Peyton noticed a piece of paper. She looked down at it and read the phone number out loud to herself. It was Nathan's. Why would Brooke have Nathan's number laying around? In some weird way Peyton could see Brooke with Nathan. They were so much alike, but so different at the same time. She just hoped that wasn't the case. It was too soon for Peyton to be okay seeing Nathan with someone else. Or so she thought? Would it be too soon for her to date Lucas if he asked her? Too many questions in her mind. As she went toward the living room to wake Brooke up she noticed something else written on the paper. Prices of two plane tickets to Las Angles. Now she just had to know what was up.