A/N: Glad people liked last chapter. I was hoping no one thought Raine Jameson would be a bad add in, but I needed someone that Brooke could at least talk to when she didn't want to talk to others even though her and Raine didn't get much talking done, just bickering. Raine will be in it more often, so yeah. Oh, and to clear up. Brooke, Lucas, Quinn, Peyton, Rachel, Jake, and Clay… oh and Theresa are all juniors. Nathan and Haley and Tim are sophomores.
Fearlessis having doubts. Lots of them.
-Taylor Swift
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
"Oh… my… god" Rachel said shocked once I finally walked back into the house.
"What?' I asked her as I started up the stair to my room.
"You… just made out with him." She stuttered which me let out a laugh.
"So?" I asked her nonchalantly not getting the big idea.
"And you liked it" She gushed and I will honestly say I have never seen Rachel so… giddy.
"So…?" I repeated still not understanding her smiling face.
"You do realize the events that have occurred?" She asked me once we reached the room.
"I realize that you were spying" I countered with a smirk in her direction as I lay down on my bed.
"Not the point. When are you seeing him again?" She asked me as she started through my closet.
"Hmmm… I'm guessing tomorrow at school. Maybe not though" I told her sarcastically.
"Bitch" She responded playfully, "Seriously, you don't even have to dress up for him. I mean you wore that and he still made out with you" She said as she looked over at me with a grimace.
"Who's the bitch now? I'm not going to change cause a guy kissed me" I shrugged.
"Well, you are going to that dance" She commanded walking out of the closet with her hands on her hips as I leaned up into a seating position.
"Umm.. No I'm not" I replied.
"Yes, you are. No ifs, ands, or buts" she once again commanded grabbing me and pulling down the stairs, "We are going to go pick up our friends and we are going dress shopping" She smiled as I growled and rolled my eyes but didn't protest, because I knew I wasn't going to win this fight.
"How about this one?" Haley asked us as she raised a blue halter knee length dress for us all to see.
"Too casual" Quinn commented as Haley sighed and raised another one. A floor length purple sequined strapless dress.
"Too formal" Peyton admitted.
"Too picky" I admitted with a smile walking over to a rack and rummaging through the dresses and trying to find the perfect one for Haley.
"Now Haley, you want a color that fits you and if you ask me that would be gold because it makes your hair seem a more golden blonde and makes your eyes pop and if I know one thing about Nathan he likes eyes." I told her as she nodded and I took that a signal to continue, "It doesn't need to be too short because that just doesn't seem you and you already have that guy. Let's see knee length, gold. Oh, and should have a little poof. Not too tight but it shouldn't be so loose it looks like a shimmery trash bag" I informed smiling when I found the right one, "So wear this" I smiled handing it to her. It was knee length like she need, a spaghetti strap gold with a satin bow wrapped around the whole waist to show little figure in a bubble shape design,
"Wow, Brooke. This is perfect" Haley gushed walking into the dressing room to try it on.
"Nicely done Brooke." Peyton observed standing next to me, "Now do me" She laughed.
"Fine, let's see" I said with a hum as I searched through the dresses once again to find a dress for Peyton, "You… want a black dress because you are one of a different kind" I smiled which made her laugh as she leaned against the rack, "I'm thinking short, to give it an edgy look. Hmm, a bubble and scrunchy look, and strapless because you always pull off strapless well and you want something a little sexy for Jake right?" I asked her as she nodded and I pulled a dress out, "So here." I smiled as grabbed it and headed towards the dressing room.
"You're good at this Brooke" Quinn told me as she sat down and I could tell she wanted me to find her a dress,
"Quinn, you want blue and something that flows." I hummed as I looked through the rack, "Something that is simple like you, but complex, elegant, but casual. Short, but long. So wear this" I smiled handing her a knee length navy dress with a drape front cascade. The back was open with two sets of straps that were buckled with rhinestone clasps.
"Ooh…" Quinn smiled going into another dressing room and then there was Rachel.
"I just don't get it" Rachel said with a shake of the head and I thought she was still going on about the kiss I had earlier.
"Why is it so hard to believe he kissed me?" I grumbled annoyed.
"No, I totally get that. I don't get that you hate shopping but you can pick out dresses for people like no one's business" She replied as she leaned against the rack and I absentmindedly searched for a dress for her.
"I don't know…" I shrugged, "Just because I don't like shopping doesn't mean I don't know clothes"
I watched her eye brow furrowed. "I still don't get it"
"Just go try this on" I laughed shoving a dress in her face.
"You know me all too well" She smiled as I nodded. The dress screamed Rachel. It was a teal spaghetti strap dress that hit mid thigh. It had a pleated bust. The straps were black and went through the front and there were two sets of them. The back made the straps an M and the top of dress started right under the shoulder blades.
"Go. I need to find a dress" I told her as she scurried off. I didn't want to show them the dress I wanted because I know they would say it wasn't me or that it was too slutty. For once, I just didn't want to hear compliments and everything else that came with it, I wanted it to be a surprise.
"How do I look?" I hear and turned to see Haley spinning around.
"Nathan won't know what hit him" I smiled genuinely. Haley, well all the James' minus Taylor made you always feel welcome and comfortable no matter what the situation.
"Thank you" She smiled while I just gave her a nod of the head.
"How's Nathan doing?" I asked her.
"Better, he had a hard week with Grey being here, but he is good" She told me.
"Any fights?" I asked her hating that I have to ask my brother's girlfriend about his life.
"Not a fight per se, he just had a punching match with a basketball pole in the gym during practice today and the pole won" She responded.
"Is he okay?" I asked her not wanting us both sporting a cast.
"Yeah, just was told to go home and cool off. His hand is going to have a bad bruise though" she shrugged.
"He is such an idiot. Do you know what could have happened if he would have broken something?" I asked her and watched her shake her head confused, "Mom would have to pay another load of hospital bill, he would have missed his whole entire season and he would have been crushed. He needs to not be so irresponsible because if he wants to get a scholarship he needs to stop being a baby" I yelled not mad at Haley but at my idiot little brother, "oh my god I am becoming Easton" I freaked throwing my hands over my face.
"Okay…" Haley laughed at my antics going back into the dressing room as I started to calm down my little freak out.
Flashback
"Do you have homework?" Easton asks as I started out the door to Grey's car.
"No" I replied quickly shutting the door and running to get in her car. Six hours later I sat in front of a computer working on my project as Easton paced in front of me.
"I clearly asked if you had homework" he snapped at me as he rubbed his jaw roughly.
"Technically this is a project not homework" I told him casually as he glared at me.
"This is very irresponsible of you. Do you not want to go to a good college? If you still want to go to Duke you have to be more responsible, Brooke. You knew you had this project due tomorrow and you still decided to go to the mall" He lectured as I rolled my eyes the project started to print out.
"Calm down, Dad. It's done and by the way, I'm twelve. Not really thinking about college" I snipped with a roll of the eyes as I started up stairs.
"You need to grow up, Brooke. I'm not always going to be here to hold your hand" He yelled after me probably waking up the whole house.
"Shut up" I mumbled under my breath hoping I never acted like him to someone who wasn't my kid.
Flashback over
"You look like you just saw a ghost" Peyton said from behind and I turned to see them all standing holding there dresses ready to check out.
"No…" I smiled as they all shook their heads and walked to the cashier, "I'm just acting like one" I whispered.
"Wow. You are seriously trying aren't you?" I asked from my window as I pulled my sweat shirt on over a simple tank top.
"Well…" He smiled as he leaned on the hood of his car while I shook my head and ran down the stairs to meet him. I swung the door open and walked down the steps and as my clumsiness got the best of me tripping on the last step and falling into Lucas' arms, "falling for me already, huh?" He smirked down at me as I wiggled out of his arms.
"Hardy har har. You are hilarious" I said sarcastically walking towards his car, but he gripped on to my arm pulling me back.
"I didn't say good morning" He whispered giving me a peck on the lips.
"You know I could get used to this" I responded giving him another small kiss before scampering off to his car, sitting on the driver's side.
"You know I drive a stick, right?" He asked as he sat in the passenger's seat,
I glanced at him confused. "And?"
"You can drive a stick?" he asked no convinced.
"Of course, Easton taught me when I was like thirteen in a really old truck" I shrugged as we pulled out of the driveway.
"How did you even get my keys?" he asked as I laughed.
"Babe, come on. Dan is my father." I told him with a smirk.
"I should definitely be more careful" He said with a shake of the head.
"Don't worry. I won't use my con ways against you… anymore" I told him as we drove down the road. The rest of the ride we sat in comfortable silence and when we pulled in I got out before he got the chance to be all gentleman like because he would then be trying too hard.
"I'm going to tell you right now, never open my door" I pointed out as we walked towards the school.
"You know, I'm starting to wonder if this is all worth it, Bob" he smirked glancing over at me as he threw his arm lazily around my shoulder.
I glared at him because of his statement. "Don't be an ass. I am so worth it"
"You know I think your right" he smiled down at me and before I could answer Jake Jacobs had almost rammed into us with his camera. I know what you're thinking; if your last name is Jacobs why name your kid Jake? Yeah, well the same reason one of my mom's closest childhood friends was Tommy Thomas. Best name ever…
"Everyone is talking about you two" He squealed as he took snap shots of Lucas and I. I slammed my face into Lucas' chest to hide my face from the flash of the cameras. I have always hated pictures probably because Dan would take pictures all the time while I was with him at his house or if I was at a game. He made me hate putting my face in front of a camera.
"Hey Jake, come on enough with the pictures" Lucas persuaded strongly.
"Sorry" Jake said dropping his camera to let hang around his neck, "But still, you two are the it couple"
"We aren't even a couple" Lucas informed quickly and I nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, so tell all your friends and Lucas Scott followers that Lucas and Brooke aren't a couple and even if we become one, we will not be put in a book as if we were a TV show, okay?" I questioned.
"Yeah" he said nervously before scampering off.
"You do realize you frighten people right?" Lucas asked me as I looked up confused.
"No they don't" I responded as I opened my locker.
"You broke Theresa's nose." He deadpanned and I snapped my head to look at him.
"I did not" I whispered shocked while he just nodded, "Huh; I guess Nathan didn't teach how to punch right. Well, now she has an excuse to get a nose job"
"See, no remorse" He teased as I shrugged.
"She deserved it… whore"
"Okay, so switching gears. I have a serious question."
"Okay…" I replied confused giving him my full attention as we headed towards first period.
"Dan is a lot of things. Bipolar, schizophrenic, sociopath, pathological liar" He listed off in a soft whisper.
"And?"
"Does it ever scare you that you could become him?" He asked.
"Nope" I responded without hesitating with a smile.
"Good" he said as we sat down in class waiting for the bell to ring which was a good ten minutes.
"Oh, Nathan can wink"
"What?" I asked confused.
"You told me Nathan couldn't wink, but if I remember correctly he winked at you at a game" He told me
"You ever think about college?" I asked changing the subject with a smile as he laughed before answering.
"I mean, I guess. Scouts are always at the games, but I got to get a diploma first."
"Yeah, I don't like to think about it" I sighed looking through my binder.
"Why?"
"I mean, I used to be a straight A student, but now; I don't think I could even get into a junior college"
"I could tutor you"
"You?"
"Wow, do you know you offend most people?" He asked as I glared, "You do realize I have all AP classes, right?"
I looked at him annoyed, "Yes, because I spend my time stalking you"
"Well, I am surprisingly smart and I could help you"
"Fine," I said flipping through the notebook absentmindedly when Lucas stopped me and grabbing the picture that laid there.
"Who's this?"
"Oh, umm… that's a friend"
"Oh"
We sat there for a few seconds before I spoke again. Something about Lucas' face made me want to change my answer.
"That was a lie. I lie a lot, but that is my brother"
"I've seen your brother and that's not him"
He examined the picture bringing it close to his face as I continued to explain, "My half brother, my mom had him in college and uhh… she gave him up for adoption. Apparently his foster family sent my mom this picture when he was four. I just keep it I guess… I don't really know why"
"He doesn't really look like you…"
"Yeah, I know. He has platinum blond hair." I smiled looking at it as the bell rang.
Kids filed in, but Lucas just kept talking to me and we didn't stop until Mrs. Hughes told us it was time to start class.
"Before we start, Brooke you're wanted in the guidance office" Mrs. Hughes informed me and I fought the urge to roll my eyes.
Why do I have the feeling this has to do with the fact Theresa is sporting a pink bandage?
I dragged my feet to her office and just like the day before slumped in the chair as I waited for her to start talking.
"You punched a student"
"She was begging me to do it, I promise."
"I could give you ISS for this"
I groaned in agony. "If you are going to do that, Raine. Can you at least make it OSS so I don't have to be here?"
"Cute, Brooke. No, I'm not giving you anything but a warning because like you said she did instigate the fight"
"Exactly"
"But Brooke, you need to have a better control of yourself and think about your actions."
I shrugged, "Raine, I got three days left. I think I will be okay"
"I don't mean in school, Brooke. I'm talking about the fact that you probably sit in your house wanting to scream at the top of your lungs or break old phones in half"
I glared at her before responding, "I'm not like that anymore Raine"
"You sure about that? I have recorded that since moving here you have gotten into twenty fights. This isn't you Brooke. I'm trying to figure out why they haven't kicked you out yet"
"I'm not a terrible person and I definitely don't need your sympathy"
She looked at me and sighed, "You still think about it, don't you?"
"Nope" I lied not wanting to get on the conversation.
"I know you Brooke. You have been like a sister and I know you want to know"
"I'm not the hopeless romantic anymore Raine. I honestly don't care"
"You're saying you haven't thought about it? You were thirteen, it's been what?"
"Three years"
"Yeah, so tell me the truth"
I sighed defeated feeling like I was thirteen all over again, "I just sometimes wish you and him were still together. Maybe he wouldn't have left if you guys didn't break up"
Raine sighed staring at her desk shaking her head, "You want to know why we broke up?"
"I know why-"
"Real reason, Brooke. Not the one he told your mom." She said strongly as I looked at her, confusion etched on my face, "He was leaving. He didn't leave because we broke up. We broke up because he was leaving. We were starting our lives together and he left. He left a family behind and do I still love him? Yeah. Do I forgive him? I did the second he said bye. Was I mad? Yeah, pissed as hell. I mean he left a pretty big hole in a lot of people's lives and he expected it would be fine"
"I guess I never thought he left you too. The most important person…"
She gave me a sad smile, "I don't know the point of this conversation other than to get some of that doubt out of your mind. You want to tell me what else lies there?"
"Look at me. I'm rude, angry, selfish… I'm steps away from my name becoming Dan…"
"Whoa…" Raine responded getting up from her seat and sitting next to me, taking my hands in hers, "You aren't going to become him. He is evil and bipolar and-"
"Yeah, I know. I act like I don't care, but Raine what if I become bipolar and evil and schizophrenic and everything else? I don't want to become him… I'm scared to…" I whispered staring at my feet embarrassed.
"Brooklyn Penelope Davis, you look at me right now!" Raine snapped at me as I looked up at her.
"You are the farthest thing from him. Dan doesn't understand he even has a problem and the fact you know is better than him. You are not going to let him control your world anymore because right now that is what he is doing and if you give up and let it happen you are letting I'm win. Trust me you do not want to give him that satisfaction. I know what it is like, okay. You know I had a bad relationship with my father and it is hard. You ask why? You want to throw things and hit people, but it gets better. I refuse to sit here and watch you do this yourself, this not letting people in and shutting down and being angry stops right now." She explained and I embraced her quickly.
"I love you, Raine. You know that right?" I asked her once we had pulled away from our embrace.
"Yeah, everything is going to be okay, alright?" She said as I nodded.
It was time I let go of this hatred I was holding over everyone. Truthfully being angry takes a lot out of a person.
Also, what does Raine mean when she said Easton left a family behind? Yeah, I know me and Nate, but she seemed like she was talking about her. She said they were starting a family... I thought about asking her, but I didn't want to open that can of worms just yet. Right now, I liked the thought of being happy.
Sorry, it took me so long to update…
I have had so much school work and sports going on. I guess that is what happens when you go from four periods to seven a day. So many projects, so little time…
Well review to let me know if you guys like the way things are laid out. Muchos gracias.
Adios Amigos!