„Okay Brooke. This is it. Haley you can go." Haley felt the tension and it was the first time she looked at Brooke and actually saw her getting smaller than she was and pleading her to stay with her eyes.
„Karen I...", Brooke tried to defend herself but was surprised when Karen stayed calm besides her and took her papers. „Okay, let me see. So math isn´t your favourite subject, right?", Karen asked and looked at a suspicious Brooke. „Right?" Brooke then answered „No. I am not really good in it." „Well I wasn´t either.", Karen smiled back and then layed the paper in front of it. „Well, just try getting through with it."
An hour later Karen smiled at Brooke and pushed her hand. „Finished.". Brooke smiled back and said „Cool". „Well lets go home.", Karen suggested and was surprised when Brooke hugged her tightly „Thanks Karen."
At home Brooke fell exhausted on her bed. She had never been so tired in her whole life.
Karen sat besides her „Okay Brooke. So here are some rules I want you to follow."
Brooke nodded her head. „No party during the week. No drinking at all since you´re not 21, no skipping school, no boys in the room and homework has to be done." Karen smiled „That´s it for the moment" Brooke laughed shyly „Wow." „What?", Karen asked confused. „You could have just said „no Brooke"", Brooke smiled weekly „Brooke. You are more than that." Karen then left the room „now get ready for bed."
The next morning Karen made breakfast for her son and Brooke. They were sitting at the table and talking about the big game today. „I am so excited.", Brooke said but coughed between every sentence. „Brooke just eat up,okay.", Lucas answered, knowing that when Brooke would continue talking so much they would never get to school. „I am not really hungry.", she answered telling the truth but asked surprised when Karen looked at her a bit furious. „What?", not knowing what happened. „Breakfast is important.", Lucas then smiled and laughed at his mother. Brooke envied them a bit and smiled back and began to eat. Her throat hurt like hell and it was actually a bit difficult for her to eat. But finally Lucas and her were standing at the door. Karen gave her son a kiss on the cheek. „Mom. When will you stop doing this?", he asked and rolled his eyes. Brooke smiled wildly „Well you´re her baby boy.", with that Karen gave her a kiss on the cheek too but immediately realized how warm Brooke was. „Bye Karen.", they said but Karen took Brooke´s hand and pushed her on a chair. „You are staying home.", she said to Brooke who looked shocked at her. „What? Why?", Brooke and Lucas asked confused. „Well, cause you are sick.", Karen said. Brooke tried to protest „But I only have this cough and...", meanwhile Karen took the thermometer and put it into the protesting mouth. „Brooke" Karen said frightened „you have 100 °F." Lucas looked at the thermometer and hold his hand to her forehead. „God Brooke. You´re far too hot." Brooke smiled at his comment and he smiled back. But she just stood up and wanted to walk out with Lucas. „What are you intending to do Brooke.", Karen asked harshly and knew that a fight between them would begin. Even Lucas could feel the tension in the air and he knew how emotionally Brooke reacted when she was sick. „Karen. I am sorry but I have to go to school. Today is a big game and I am the captain of the cheerleaders and cannot miss that. It´s not like it is the first time that I´ve been sick at school. So don´t worry, ok." Brooke thought that she had won this argument but was surprised when Karen dialed a number and said „Wait a minute." „Good morning. This is Karen Roe." she said. „Good morning", the principal answered. „Well, like you know I am the legal guardian at the moment for Miss Davis. Miss Davis is sick today but nevertheless wants to come to the game today. I assume you cannot aprove that, right?" The principal laughed at the other end and said „Karen, just gimme the kid." Karen gave the phone to Brooke who did not know what to say. The principal tried not to laugh and said seriously „Miss Davis you are not allowed to enter the school until Karen Roe calls me and tells me that you´re healthy. If you do so you will be fired as the cheerleading captain." „What?", Brooke answered not believing what she just had heard „But..."
„No buts Miss Davis. Go to bed and get well soon. Now let me speak to Mrs. Roe again." Brooke could not say a word and gave the phone to Karen while tears of fury appeared in her eyes. „Thank you.", Karen said „No problem Karen.", the principal answered. Lucas stood a bit shocked at the door and didn´t know what to do „It´s ok. Just go Lucas." She did not have to say that twice to him. So Karen turned around and went after Brooke who had closed the door very loudly.
It was a strange situation for Brooke. She knew that Karen could easily tell her to leave Tree Hill and she had to cooperate but on the other hand she was used to being „responsible" for herself and could not help but being so angry. But she was smart enough not to scream at Karen but let her fall onto her bed and screamed into her pillow loudly. Her whole body ache and she felt exhausted. How could Karen made her stay at home at such a day. She didn´t stop screaming until she felt a hand on her back and looked up for a minute shocked because she had not heard the door. Brooke then stopped screaming but still cried heavily. She was not used having someone telling her what to do and although she always wished for it. At the moment she hated it. Karen just sat besides her and caressed her back like she always had done with Lucas when he was younger. „Kiddo. Will you suffocate yourself with that pillow", Karen finally asked a little later „C´mon. Get up." Brooke just shook her head and said „I don´t want to." Karen knew that Brooke was a stubborn teenager but had never imagined that she would be this stubborn. But Karen also knew that she was stubborn herself and just pulled Brooke up into her arms and looked into her red and puffy eyes. „You have to breath some time", Karen smiled and pinched her nose a little. Brooke looked away but then said „You should have let me go." „Brooke. I know that in your world going sick to school is no big deal. And I am really sorry that you miss this game. I know how important it is for you. But in my world going sick to school is a big deal. I know that you are used to being responsible for yourself and handling everything on your own. But you´re a teenager. And it should not be this way. I am sorry to say that but you do not take the best care of yourself.", she smiled and looked down at Brooke who still avoided looking into her eyes but let her head rested in Karen´s lap. Karen could feel that Brooke was burning up even more. „You know Brooke. I care for you." She shifted Brooke´s head a bit so Brooke had to look into her eyes „You know that right?" Brooke´s eyes immediately were filled with tears again but she nodded. „But I wanted to be at the game", Brooke whispered. „I know honey. I know." Karen just said back and caressed her hair. It did not take long for Brooke to fell asleep in Karen´s arms.