Thanks everyone for the great reviews. Some of the next few chapters follow the script of the show but I go off on my own tangent soon...
Nathan was looking throughout the school for Haley. He knew she'd be here somewhere. "Where d'you think she is?" he asked Lucas impatiently.
"I don't know," Lucas said. "Maybe in the tutor center? Especially if she was there before school started."
"Okay," Nathan said. He moved across to the other side of the corridor. "Lucas?"
"Yeah," he replied slowly. "Good luck." They stood staring at each other for a long moment, all sorts of things said in the silence between them. "If you find Haley, take care of her."
"Of course I will." Nathan held his baseball bat tightly in his hand as he left Lucas alone. Lucas had a look around the school halls warily. He did not want to be caught by surprise. He was by the library when he saw it. Blood on the carpet. It was a lot of blood too. He quietly opened the library doors and had a look around. He couldn't see anyone. He wanted to call out but didn't dare, just in case the gunman was anywhere close. Slowly working his way through the bookcases he was following the drops of blood. He walked around one corner and heard a muffled cry as Brooke came into view, huddled on the floor, her gorgeous dark hair messed up.
"Shh," Lucas said as he bent down to her level. "Sh, it's okay." He had a look at her stomach and felt his heart flip when he saw the blood so thick that it looked almost black. He stroked a hand through her hair lovingly. "Where does it hurt?" Lucas asked.
"Everywhere," Brooke said breathlessly. "I've been shot."
"I can see that," Lucas said quietly, trying to reign in his terror at seeing his girlfriend in this state.
"Peyton, I lost her. I don't know where she went," Brooke said with fear coming through every part of her body. "God, I hope she's okay."
"She's fine," Lucas reassured her. "I saw her running out of the school earlier."
"Good," Brooke said. She closed her eyes for a second and Lucas shook her painfully. "Ow!" she said in a horrible whisper.
"You cannot go to sleep," Lucas said firmly. "Do you hear me? You are not to go to sleep."
"I know, but it hurts," she whispered.
"Yes, but keep those gorgeous brown eyes open for me. Pretty girl."
"I love the way you call me that," Brooke said with a small smile. "Keep talking to me then."
"Okay," Lucas said. And he began talking about something and nothing. Just to keep her mind off of the pain.
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