Authors Note- Sorry for the long wait! Took me a while to know exactly where I was headed with it but I hope you like this chapter!
--
Chapter 3
Brooke sat up in Lucas's bed for the 6th time that morning, it was 7 am. She couldn't sleep at all. All she could think
about was what happened the night before, it kept replaying in her head as tears glided down her cheeks. After a few
minutes she felt a pair of arms wrap around her protectively, but it scared the hell out of her and let out a loud sob,
trying to free herself from his grasp.
"Stop! Stop! Let go of me, please! Please!" She begged, while kicking and screaming, a fresh batch of tears flew down
her cheeks.
Lucas tried his best to calm her down. He had no idea that touching her like that would scare her, he was simply
trying to make her feel safe.
"Brooke, it's me. It's just me and I'm not going to let anything happen to you, ok?" He told her confidently, but she
couldn't hear him because she was still terrified and in her own thoughts. She kept screaming and begging, and
Lucas felt her small fists pounding into his chest, begging for him to let go. So he did, but kept whispering
comforting words into her ear until she finally heard him and broke down crying uncontrollably, her loud sobs
filling the room. Lucas grabbed onto her again, his heart breaking at the sight of his cheery friend having
an emotional breakdown in front of him. He held her as tight as he could as she grabbed the back of his
shirt with a firm hold, in fear.
"I'm here, Pretty Girl, it's okay." He whispered, as a tear fell out of his eye.
--
Brooke had been sleeping for the past few hours in the same position she was crying on Luke. He watched her
sleep, she looked so beautiful. He just started to notice the bruises on her face, and around her neck. He lifted
her shirt softly to see the bruises on her stomach. He clenched his fists in anger, coming to the conclusion that
the guy must have punched her in the stomach, and judging by the # of bruises, he did it more than once.
--
Nathan stepped into Luke's room. "Luke, it's noon, you.." He trailed off as he saw Brooke cuddled on Lucas's
chest, he didn't see the bruise on the other side of her face yet. "Wow, only in Tree Hill." He chuckled.
Lucas brought his finger to his mouth, hushing Nate. Nathan shook his head and smirked as he went to the
other side of the room. He got a closer look at Brooke and his smile faded.
"Dude, what the hell? What happened?"
Luke once again hushed Nathan and slipped out of the bed, managing to get out without waking Brooke.
--
Luke finished explaining the whole situation to Nathan, and Nathan shook his head angrily.
"Do you remember what he looked like?
Lucas nodded, confused. "Why?"
"Because you're gonna find him, and I'm gonna kill him." Nathan felt like it was his job to protect Brooke.
They didn't talk alot, but he had known her all his life and she was like a little sister to him.
Lucas looked back into the room to make sure Brooke was okay, and she was sound asleep.
"Has she been asleep all morning?"
"No, she woke up around 7 am. I put my arms around her to calm her down because she was shaking,
but I scared her and she started screaming. She broke down, Nate. I mean completely broke down. I've
never seen her like that."
"Neither have I." He replied quietly.
--
Just then, Haley walked in the front door. Luke shut his bedroom door quickly.
"Hey Luke, are you going to shoot hoops with Nathan? I'm keeping score." She smiled, but her smile
dissappeared as she saw their 2 sad faces. "What's going on?"
"Hales.." Luke started, but Nathan cut him off.
"Let me tell her."
Lucas nodded and walked quietly into his bedroom. He listened quietly as his brother broke the news to
his best friend.
--
"Hales, don't cry.." Nathan consoled a broken up Haley.
"Nathan, you're telling me that Brooke was attacked and beaten! I can't help it!"
"I know.." He sighed, being reminded about it just made him angrier.
"But Hales, you gotta be quiet. She's sleeping and I think we should just let her rest. Luke said she
woke up earlier and basically had a panic attack when he touched her."
"God, she must have been so scared.."
Nathan just nodded as Luke came back out of the room.
"She still asleep." As soon as he spoke, they all heard a noise coming from the bedroom and
immediately walked in.
Lucas was the first to speak. "Hey Pretty Girl." He smiled softly and walked more into the room.
Brooke looked down at the name. "Hey..." She said, shyly.
Haley couldn't take it any longer, so she ran past Lucas and to Brooke, pulling into a tight hug.
She was soon followed by Nathan, and Luke just sat on the bed.
"I'm so sorry Tigger.." Haley cried.
Brooke shook her head. "Don't worry about me."
When it was Nathan's turn to hug her, he leaned down to her ear and whispered, "I'm going to
kick his ass, Davis. You can count on that."
"Nate, thanks for the offer, but I'm fine."
"Right." He said sarcastically. "Well, we're gonna leave you two to talk, and we'll be by tomorrow."
He looked at Luke and whispered. "Take care of her man."
Lucas nodded. "Bye guys."
--
Lucas sat in front of Brooke on the bed after Nathan and Haley left. She was staring at the sheets.
"Talk to me." He said softly.
"I'm fine..."
"Brooke.."
"Lucas just..leave me alone." She mumbled quietly.
"No, I won't-"
"Lucas! Leave me alone!"
He was startled by her sudden outburst. He wasn't sure what to say or do next so he just gave
her a quick nod and stepped out of the room.
Yeah, she was definitely not ok.
Not at all.
