"So this is Tree Hill huh?" Brooke looked around her new home. It wasn't bad, it wasn't California but it wasn't bad. It felt homey.
"Yeah," Quinn dropped another box down on the floor. They finally arrived here about an hour ago. With some talking and convincing Brooke's parents agreed to the move, Felix told them it was all a mistake and they would hate it, and their friends didn't even know until Monday morning they were gone.
Though Brooke was still scared she wouldn't admit it. She wouldn't tell Quinn the thought of someone getting ten feet of her makes her skin crawl, that his scent still seemed to cover her body and when she closed his eyes the image of him was there. His cold eyes, the empty feeling he gave her, the hole in her chest where a heart had once been. She wasn't Brooke Davis anymore; she really didn't know who she was.
"I think I could like it here," Brooke served the apartment. It was smaller than her house, about four bedrooms smaller but to her it felt comfortable. The two bedroom apartment that they signed for a six months lease was going to hold them there for awhile. School was going to be weird being as she didn't know a person but again it was a fresh start.
"I do too," Quinn smiled looking at her friend who finally seemed to be relaxed. She was trying really hard to help out her best friend. She knew moving wasn't her number one want but Quinn wanted out, she needed out. Brooke didn't know what really happen still; she didn't know the full story of the guy at the party and Quinn was going to do anything to make sure she never did.
"So I think we should paint," Brooke grabbed a box taking it into the room that would be hers. "I want mine room to be completely different then back home. I want tans, and dark reds, maybe some browns," she dropped the box and surveyed her room. It was a good size room she thought, enough for her at least. Her bed was in the center, her dresser next to the door and her mirror covered in pictures, her lap top on the desk next to the window and her lamp between the desk and a small couch she has had since she was little. So far she really loved this room.
"That sounds like a plan but I actually have to go see my mom," Quinn said a little nervous to leave Brooke alone in the town she didn't know.
"Oh well that's cool," she shrugged pulling some clothes out of her suitcase and put it in her dresser. "I can just unpack everything and we can go apartment shopping when you get back."
"You sure? You can come if you want?" Quinn asked but Brooke shook her head no. "Ok well then I will only be a couple hours. I will grab some pizza or something on the way home."
"Alright sounds good. Tell your mom hello and thank you," Brooke flashed a smile, her first real smile in over a week.
"Ok well I have my phone," Quinn gave her brunette friend a hug. "Things are going to get better," she promised pulling out of the hug. "Soon it will all be better."
"I know," Brooke nodded giving a sad smile. "Just takes time, but go ahead. Go see your family."
"Alright be back soon," the dark haired friend grabbed her purse off the stool before walking out.
"Ok," Brooke looked around the apartment all of a sudden it feeling extremely lonely. Making sure to lock the door, she put the chain on before going back to unpacking.
It was weird how familiar this small town still felt. Nothing had seemed to change over the years, not that Quinn thought it might. A town as small as Tree Hill doesn't change; the people do but the town doesn't. Driving passed the familiar court by the river she saw the group of people tossing the ball back and forth only guessing who it was. The tall built blonde who laughed as he faked passed the familiar looking brunette. The laughing girl on the picnic table and the all too familiar red head who tried to pull of the 'too cool to be here' look but knowing secretly loving it. Yup she knew that scene and she really didn't want to partake in it. Not before she had to, not see him before she must.
Then the left turn at the oak and right at the tree house she use to love playing in she pulled up to the house she use to love. The old one story house with the front porch with the white wicker swing, the chipped potted plants and the welcome doormat; then the icing on the cake was the laughter she heard sent the feeling of relaxation. The feeling of knowing things were going to be ok.
"Momma?" Quinn pushed old glass door open and stepping inside; the smell of cookies hitting her in the face. "Mom?" she called again as she walked through the home she would never forget, turning the corner seeing the woman who could always protect her from everything. "Is there one for me?" she smiled leaning against the door frame as the older woman turned around.
"Would I ever not make enough for you?" the sparkle in her eye making Quinn's water. "Come here," she held her arms open to the little girl crumbling in front of her. "Oh my little, little girl," she held her close as her oldest girl broke down in her arms. "It's ok, it's going to be ok," she soothed running her hand slowly up and down her daughter's back.
"I've missed you," she whimpered in her mom's arms.
"I've missed you to my little thing," she pulled back tucking her hair back behind her ears. "How's Brooke?" Lydia asked as she grabbed Quinn a cookie and poured her a cup of tea.
"She's…ok," Quinn said slowly knowing Brooke was far from ok. "This is the first time we have been apart since it happened," she told her as she slid into a stole, leaning on the counter.
"Have you told her-"
"No," Quinn shook her head. "Brooke doesn't' need to know that. Felix said while we are here he would take care of all the stuff going on back at home so Brooke doesn't find out and then he will come here," she growled at the latter part.
"We don't like Felix?" Lydia questioned getting her daughter's tone.
"Felix, Felix is Felix and I only put up with him because the last few days he has been really good to Brooke. If it wasn't for that then no we don't like Felix," Quinn explained as she took a sip of her tea. However she would admit what she said was true Felix lately has been pretty great with Brooke. He has been sweet, caring, supporting her with most things, minus the moving here; he wasn't excited about that, but he had been pretty descent to her even if he made Quinn feel like complete shit.
"Good to know," the older woman slid a cookie in front of her daughter. "Your father and I have you both set up at the school. All ya'll have to do is go in on Monday and pick up your schedules. However since Brooke is only seventeen we had to put our address on her stuff so all things Brooke will come here," she explained and Quinn nodded as she ate her cookie. "Also how is Brooke a senior? I mean she is only a few months older then Haley but Haley is just a junior."
"Oh," she swallowed what was in her mouth. "In California we have seven period days instead of four, so Brooke has enough credits to technically be classified as a senior here."
"Oh, well then doesn't that mean you should be done with school?" Her mother asked but Quinn shook her head.
"I came to school the end of my sophomore year so I was actually a little behind with my credits that transferred over. I caught up but now I only am like two ahead of everyone else. I actually get to leave early each day at school because I only have three classes instead of four."
"Oh well that's nice," she nodded as she finished cooking. "Here," she handed over a couple of plastic containers from the fridge.
"What is this?"
"Well I figured you both have too much on your mind now anyway and cooking was never your best skill so I made ya'll some meals for the next week or so."
"Mom you didn't have to do that," Quinn smiled placing the plastic containers on the counter.
"You're my baby Quinn and you are going through some hard times. I don't need to worry that you aren't eating right."
"Thank you," she smiled standing up and walking over to her mom giving her a hug. "Thanks for everything."
Brooke drummed her fingers on the couch as she flipped through the channels. How was it nothing was on? Her and Quinn had about a million channels but it still had nothing on. She had finished unpacking, she had even cleaned some, put Quinn's clothes away and then put the kitchen appliance up.
Now. She. Was. Bored.
"Ok this is crap," she threw her legs off the couch to sit up right. "I have to do something," she stood up, grabbing her purse, jacket and slipped in her shoes then leaving.
She wasn't sure where she was going, she really had no clue being as she had no clue a thing about this town but she figured she would look for paint, then maybe go grocery shopping and if she really got bored might drive by the school to see the place of what will be her home for next half of the year.
Driving around town she realized the place was nice. It was a small town and that was cool being as she is use to a big town but it was weird seeing all the trees, the beach with people in shorts and t-shirts even though to Brooke it was freezing out and then the fact there were like no one on the streets. Yes you passed a few walking but it was like a quiet little place that she was sure she would either love it, or hate it. However this place she hoped she loved because she couldn't help but want something new.
"Hmm…" she glanced at the small café feeling a little hungry. Quinn and her had not eaten anything that day other than some plane food they had the day before on the plane ride and she was starving! "This will work," she grabbed her keys, purse and skipped towards the small little place.
The bell rang above her head when she entered, making every eye turn to look at her and make her fidget a little. It was weird how someone who was so for life, so for being the center of attention now just wanted to be ignored. Brooke wanted to go through life without people seeing her, talking to her or ever asking about her life.
"I will be right with you," Brooke looks up to see a girl moving around the hard wood floor with ease.
"Ok," Brooke smiles as she slow walks over to the counter waiting. Looking around the small diner she realized nothing back home was like this. There weren't little cafes that were around and there weren't couples who sat down for a cup of coffee laughing and there weren't places people regularly went to; she liked this place.
It felt comfortable.
"God Hales you are the biggest tease!" Her head shoots up to see a dark headed boy at a small booth laughing at the waitress she had spoken to just a few minutes ago. His tone was playful as he tickled her sides and her laugh seemed real as she fought him but for some reason the whole scene made Brooke feel uncomfortable.
"You really are a tease."
"I deserve something out of it!"
Brooke's chest tightened as her mind raced once again with the thoughts. Closing her eyes she felt his hands on her again, his lips rubbing against her neck and his smell; god he smelled so bad. The way he smelled like cigarettes, beer, weed, he tasted so gross when his tongue shoved in her mouth. She needed to get out of there, she felt like her throat was closing up or something, her heart started racing and all she wanted was to crawl into her bed and hide.
Spinning on her heels, quickly over the idea of eating she prepared to take off before her body collided with a hard chest sending her flying backwards, "Shit!" she heard the hard object curse as she fell on her butt and a hot liquid spilt all over her pants, "God you ok?" the voice once again asked, Brooke feeling as napkins started dabbing at her leg. "I'm sorry I didn't see you," the voice kept apologizing.
"Why don't you lie down for a few minutes? There is a room just upstairs and I will find your Tilley whatever that is."
"Well you did drink me under the table."
Brooke's breathing became faster as she tears watered in her eyes and they still stayed slammed shut.
"Are you ok?" The voice asked again but Brooke focused more on what the hand was doing. As it went up on her leg, soaking up on her knee and the feeling made her scared more.
"Don't touch me," she jerked her leg back. "Please don't touch me," she begged as the tears started to trickle out of her eyes. Finally opening them to see the blurred figure of the boy in front of her, his sandy blonde hair, his face of concern and how he sat way to close for her liking.
"I'm sorry I was just trying to-"
"I'm sorry," Brooke jumped up grabbing her bag of the stool next to her. "I'm sorry," she repeated the hot sticky feeling on her leg making her pants feel tighter as she jumped passed the blonde boy and out of the small diner.
"Wait!" she heard the call behind her but didn't stop to listen as she moved towards her car. "Hey!" she heard as she shook with her keys trying to open the door. "Hey," a hand landed on her shoulder and on instinct Brooke freaked spinning around and slapping him before she even realized what she did.
"Oh my god," she covered her hand to her mouth, guilt instantly taking her over. "Oh my god I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to; I-"
"It's ok," he laughed a little rubbing his stinging cheek. "I guess I deserve that after pouring coffee all over you."
"No, no you didn't. I didn't mean to do that I just…" she trailed off not wanting to say what she was really thinking. "You scared me; I'm sorry."
"It's fine really," he laughed again. "I just wanted to say sorry again about spilling that coffee. I really didn't see you."
"It's fine I promise. I was not watching where I was going," Brooke waved it off her heart starting to slow down. "I can pay for that pot I spilled if that's what you want? I mean I don't know how much a whole pot of coffee is…" she dug through her purse for her wallet.
"What? No!" He shook his head, "I just wanted to make sure you were ok. I saw you looked like you were crying and I didn't want to have burnt you."
"No you didn't," Brooke shook her head brushing her hair behind her ear.
"You sure because…" he trailed off when he noticed a purple mark across her wrist.
"Promise," she nodded not getting his look until she followed his gaze to where her shirt had moved up a little high on her arm. "But I uh have to go," she awkwardly pulled her sleeve down and grabbed her keys, her hands not so shaky.
"Alright," he nodded still staring at where her arm looked a little discolored.
"Ok well bye," she climbed into her car shutting the door.
"I'm Lucas," he randomly states when she cranked her car. "I mean…I'm Lucas," he had the cutest grin Brooke has seen in a long time. It seemed sweet, a little innocent and his look seemed like someone who really felt bad about what had just happened yet also wanted to figure out what was with her arm. His mind clearly seemed to be trying to figure that out.
"Brooke," she smiled for the first time in awhile. "Well bye Diner Boy," he let out a small laugh as she put on her seatbelt and the car in drive.
"Bye Slapping Girl," he joked seeing her blush a little before slowly pulling out.
"B!" she heard the familiar voice ring through her ears as she sat on the couch flipping through the channels "Brookie I'm back," she heard her best friend drop down some bags before leaning over the couch looking at her, "You doing ok?"
"Yeah," Brooke nodded. "Did you lock the front door?"
"Yup. I locked the front door and even called the landlord about getting an extra lock." Quinn told her as she watched Brooke staring off clearly thinking.
"Thanks."
"It's going to be ok Brooke," Quinn promised wrapping her arms around her friend. "Soon everything is going to be ok."
"I think your right," Brooke nodded in agreement thinking about her day. About how the people she ran into even if it was for a second were nice. The woman at the store, the man who helped pick out her paint and then the boy she embarrassingly slapped, it was like the whole town was full of nice people and what happened back home wouldn't happen here.
"Well mom gave me some meals to freeze," she stepped back and walked back into the kitchen. "It's nothing big just some stuff to get by this first few weeks until we are settled. Oh and did I tell you with school we are registered we just have to go in Monday and…" and Brooke heard her friend go on behind her but she didn't listen so much as she sat thinking.
She didn't know what happened, she didn't know why but for some reason she for the first time in a long time felt content. Felt like this move wasn't such a bad idea and that maybe if she let it she could have fun again, be 'Sky' again. However that feeling lasted as long as it could until she closed her eyes. Then once she did she saw it again, saw him again and then she felt like nothing was going to be the same again. That he took away the feeling off ever feeling safe again.
It was a slow. It was going slower then she wanted but she had to believe soon that would fade to because if it didn't she didn't know how she would go through each day.
Sorry I haven't updated in awhile but things have been going nuts! I know you didn't get much Brucas this chapter but I really wanted some more of what was going on before all that happened so I gave a little sample. I hope you all like it!
Review!