"Brooke you are requested," Ron walked in to the back room to tell her. "Table six," he doesn't say anything else just walks back out making Brooke groan.

She hated when people requested her, she hated having to dance up all on some dirty man she didn't know and hated that everyone watched. Yes of course they watch her dance on stage but she almost blurs them out, however when she is actually in someone's lap, rubbing her body against his makes her feel the whore part she desperately tries to convince herself she isn't. Then add to the fact that the men actually touch her she always feels like she needs to scrub herself clean when she gets home.

Fixing the smudge makeup from where she sweated a little on stage, Brooke pulls down her lace top to expose more of her cleavage and stands up walking in the room. The place smelled in her mind terrible, it was the mix or sweat, booze, sex and smoke and all of those things made her cringe. Even when she is somewhere else the smell of smoke makes her feel nauseated and she very rarely drinks in the company of men being as she has seen some things, which still confused her why she was so comfortable with Lucas the night before.

Lucas. She frowned thinking about the blonde who had incased her thoughts all day, who for a short period of time made her smile and made her feel like a real person again. There was no way Lucas Scott would approve of her and what she did.

"Hello," she made her voice extra raspy to mix with the dark night lights. "I'm Penny," she held up her hand to the dark stranger. He looked different here than most the men. He was younger and though this was a strip club most the men here did come from money and were normally older and this guy didn't look to be that much older than Brooke.

"Hello Penny," he leaned back stretching his arms along the back of the booth. His dark eyes roaming all over her barely covered body, licking his lips as the narrowed in on her breast. "I'm Mike," he smirked making her shiver a little.

She always wondered if they gave their real name, she knew she never did and never would. Only the people she worked with knew her name was Brooke everyone behind the red curtain referred to her as Penny, the nickname her older brother gave her when he was younger. She felt wrong to a point using the name but when someone over heard her get called that over the phone it stuck.

"Well hi Mike," she grinned climbing up into his lap. He had on a suit that was unbutton around the neck, the black jacket had been removed and placed beside him and the white shirt was rolled up on his arms to his elbows showing off a natural dark tan.

He leaned back with an uncomfortable smirk on his face that made Brooke cringe. However she couldn't let it show, she wasn't allowed to let it show. Instead she closed her eyes and moved to the music, rocking her hips against him as the song thumped through the room.

"No…" her body jerked when a hand came around her neck. Her eyes flying open as her heart raced, his eyes were dark, they were cold and for the first time in a long time she felt fear. "Keep your eyes open," his mouth twitches at the corners and his grip loosened, stroking his thumb across it. "I want you to look at me," he ordered and she knows he feels the lump she swallows in her throat as she nods.

This is the moment she hates, the power she knows that they know they have over her. To them she is nothing but trash, beneath them and this man quickly made her feel like nothing but a whore.

"You're home early," Quinn commented as soon as her brunette friend walked into the apartment.

"Yeah," Brooke kept her head down as she put her purse down. "But I need a shower," she moved quickly down the hall.

"Brooke you ok?" she called but only got the answer of a closing door.

Taking her coat off Brooke looked at her neck. There was a clear bruising around it, along with a small pain and bruise on her wrist. Why do they have to grab her? There is supposed to be a rule of no touching like that but when the big money spenders come in and they get set in the private section it's like everyone forgets.

She wants to cry, she wants to climb in the shower and cry her eyes out for the next few days but she can't. Having her own little pity party again won't change a thing so all she does is strip off her clothes, climb into the shower and wash away the shame that Mike made her feel.

Quinn left while she was in the shower. She knew her best friend saw something wrong but she also knew when not to push it. After getting out Brooke walked into her room and climbed into her bed. It felt so warm and comfortable at the time she ignored the usually annoying lumps. She had spent all day on her feet and she was exhausted. All she wanted was to sleep the next year away.

"Mommy…" his little whisper in the room made her head shoot up to the little boy standing by her bed.

"Baby what are you doing up?" she sat up on her side to look at him, his normally sparkling blue eyes looking sunken in.

"I don't feel good," his bottom lip quivered making her heart stop.

"What is it? What doesn't feel good?" she swooped him in her arms, pulling him into the large bed. Pressing her lips to his forehead he didn't feel warm but he didn't look right. His look pale and had dark bags under his eyes. That was always her clue he was sick, his eyes. The would turn super light, they would get a sunken look like they had lost all their life in them and then dark, dark bags would form along his gorgeous face.

"My head hurts and tummy," he curled his little body into hers. "Can I sweep with you?" he pushed out his bottom lip.

"Yeah baby," she pulled the sheet down for him to climb in, then tucking them under it. "Just sleep sweetie and we will see how you feel in the morning," she stroked her hand through his hair, him nodding as his eyes drifted close.

This was when she lost all faith in everything. When Easton was sick or hurt or anything and she couldn't do a thing about it. Her life was because of her and she hated everything for Easton being punished because of it.

"And here is your lunch," Brooke sat the bowl down in front of him, his little nose scrunching.

"Mommy what is dis?" Easton lifted his spoon and stirring it around.

"Baby its cereal," she told him, watching as he investigated the colorful loops. "It's good I promise," she grinned watching as he would pick one piece at a time and look at it. This morning he woke up feeling a lot better, his smile was back, his eyes were full of light and he was hungrier then she had ever seen him. She wasn't sure what last night was but was happy that he was over it this morning.

She hated him being sick.

"I try it," he lifted a green loop and looking at it before crunching it between his little teeth. "I like dat," he grinned grabbing another and doing the same.

"I thought you might," she ruffled his hair with a smile. Easton wasn't that picky. Now if he didn't like something he let you know quick but he was one to try anything. If she promised it was good it was like his little mind convinced him no matter what it was that he would like it because his momma said so. He was such a great baby. "What some juice?"

"Choc milk?" he tilted his head, with a grin.

"Oh right what was momma thinking," Brooke slapped her hand to her head with a laugh. She was sure Easton got his love for chocolate milk from his dad because she was never a milk person. Yes of course as she grew older she would enjoy a small glass every now and then but Easton drinks it like it's the gift to the world.

"Mommy you so silly," he giggled taking a purple loop and eating it. "Momma!" he squealed and she spun around to look at him worried. "Dat one different," he told her.

"What one gorgeous," she walked over to look at his bowl of different colors.

"Dis one," he grabbed a purple loop and before she can comment pushes it in her mouth.

"Hmm…"

"Swaldo…" he pointed at her and she swallows and opens her mouth with a laugh. "Now dis," he shoves green one in her mouth and she again chews.

"You know…" she pondered the taste. "I think you are right, that one is different," she looked down at her little genius never as a grown woman realizing that purple tastes different from the rest. "My little smart boy," she kissed the top of his head and sat down his milk.

"Tank you," he sung out grabbing his cup.

"Oh no problem," she laughed reaching over to make her a cup of coffee.

"I get it!" Easton jumped when her cell went off on the counter. "Helldo?" he answered still chewing on his cup. "Rachie!" he squealed excited. "It is me!" he told, "I promise its Easton!"

"Give me that," Brooke grabbed her phone and holding it to her ear.

"I just don't believe this is my gorgeous little boy. He sounds too grown up."

"That's because it's his momma and not him," Brooke teased into the phone, making a mental note not to let Easton just answer the phone anymore.

"Oh well I liked talking to East better. He is a looker," she joked, moving around her apartment and getting dressed.

"Yes he will be a heartbreaker very soon," Brooke looked at her son who went back to eating. He was gorgeous, the most gorgeous little boy she had ever seen and she was not at all bias anyone would admit that he was. "But is there a reason to this call? I mean other than you being creepy with my child?"

"Oh shut up," Rachel rolled her eyes and pulled on her shirt. "But I do have some bad news. I know I was supposed to watch Easton tonight but my dear old dad called and summoned me to his house. I tried to get out of it Brooke I really did."

"Oh that's ok," Brooke shrugged the disappointment clear in her voice. Tonight was the night she was supposed to meet Lucas. He called last night but she was at work and missed it, then she tried calling him this morning and now they have entered a friendly game of phone tag. She was actually looking forward to seeing him but she figured it was just fate saying how stupid she was to think she should get involved with someone.

"B I'm really sorry. I'll try to leave early and if I can I will call you and if it's not late ya'll can still catch a late movie or something. Or even drinks," the red head said truly feeling bad. She promised to watch Easton, one because the kid was a blast to hang with but also because Quinn was heading out of town tonight helping her sister get ready to move and Brooke had no one else.

"Rach really it's not that big of a deal. I haven't even talked to him tonight so he probably just got bored already and doesn't care anymore."

"Well I don't believe that," Rachel mumbled more to herself then to her friend. If a guy in her mind sits at a crummy restaurant to get a girl's number he isn't going to just dismiss her that quick.

"Just have a good time tonight Rach. Try not to fight with daddy dearest and I'll see you Thursday at work."

"You don't work again until Thursday?"

"No, you know how it goes. Some weeks you work every day some you only work three or four," she shrugged.

"Yeah," Rachel frowned. "Ugh! He is calling again I'll talk to you later Brooke. Again I'm really sorry."

"Ok its fine I'll talk to you later," she said, shutting her phone and sitting it on the table.

"Momma you sad?" Easton asked, a trail of milk running down his chin.

"No baby I'm not sad," she gave a weak smile. She wasn't sad. She had nothing to be sad about. It wasn't like Lucas was anything serious, they hadn't even been out or talked that much anymore since that night but she couldn't help the feeling inside. The feeling that made her believe in a way that he was the start of everything. That this guy who so far seemed to be great really wanted to get to know her and that somehow her life was maybe turning around.

She knew that was unfair, to put so much on this guy that hasn't even taken her out yet but she was so tired of things being hard that she would take the little things and run hoping it would end up how she wanted, how she hoped.

"Come on," she leaned on the counter. "Let's see if we can find another loop that is different."

It was six when her phone rang again and when she looked at the ID her heart sped up. Easton was sitting happily in front of the TV, waking up from his nap about an hour again and was now in his stage of wanting food and Brooke was in the process of making said food at six when her phone rang.

One, two, three, four rings and still she watched it. Watched as the phone sat on the old counter and vibrate around with a little ring and light.

"Mommy you ringing!" Easton sucked on his milk eyes still glued to the TV.

"I know," she chewed on her bottom lip grabbing her phone and slowly hitting talk. "Hello?" she answered nervously.

"Brooke," he smiled as he signed off on a few more things at his desk. "I think we have been playing the phone game all day," he laughed, standing up and slipping on his jacket.

"I know, I have become very good friends with you voicemail," she joked again earning a deep chuckle from the other end.

"I'm sorry. It was like I would be just about to grab it when you hung up then I would go to call back and someone would ask for something."

"Yeah I know what you mean," she agreed, her lip almost feeling sore by how much she was biting it.

"So tonight," he headed out of his office, saying a bye and giving a wave to his secretary. "I was thinking that maybe we could go to a movie and maybe dinner?" he thought walking to his car.

"Lucas…" she frowned tracing words over her counter with her finger.

"That's lame isn't it?" he let out a nervous laugh. He didn't know why he suggested something so simple. Brooke clearly knows he has money she a movie and dinner to her probably seemed cheap. She was probably use to more but he didn't like that stuff. He didn't like the expensive dinners and suit and tie things. He wore a suit and tie all day he didn't want to do it when he wasn't working. And there was also a part of him that was so sick of the woman he took out who wanted him because of his money. "I should have thought of something different."

"What? No!" Brooke told him quickly, feeling guilty she made him think it was wrong. "Luke I would love to see a movie and go to dinner with you. I just…"

"Oh that's never good," he sat in his car staring at the parking garage filled with expensive cars. He always though his truck looked odd here. It wasn't anything to sneeze at, he did spend a good amount of money for it but it never seemed right when it sat in the sea ofMercedes and Lexus's. Yet he liked what he has, he goes with what he likes not with what is expected. "When a woman trails off its never good," he tried to joke but knew Brooke was serious.

"I'm sorry…" she frowned dropping down on the stool.

"No reason to be sorry. Not being interested is not your fault. I just sorta pushed it on you," he straightened up in his seat. He didn't know why he focused so much on Brooke. There was just something about her that night that made him feel relaxed, made him feel alive again and not robotic. He hadn't felt like that in a real long time and a part of him was afraid to lose that feeling.

"Lucas I am interested, I mean of course I'm interested. Why wouldn't I be interested?" she asked resting her chin on the palm of her hand. "But Lucas there…there are things I didn't tell you…" she chewed harder on her lip.

"Oh god are you a man?" he questioned and let out a grin when he heard her laugh. "Don't laugh this thing happens. One minute you are laughing and talking and enjoying each other's company the next you reach down and find you aren't the only one with a penis in the room."

"Sounds like you have had some experience in that," she laughed, really liking how he seemed to relax her.

"Well no but doesn't mean it doesn't happen and if you are a man I'll kick your butt," he teased knowing full well there was no way Brooke Davis was a man. That would just be a cruel joke to the world.

"I am not a man," she stated making him let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. "But there is another man in my life," she told him, looking over at a giggling Easton. "Lucas I have a son," she did it like a ripping a band aid knowing there was no use to hide it.

"Oh…" was the only responds she heard and she let out a dry laugh knowing that would be a deal breaker. Why guys always freak when they hear that is beyond her. It's not like she said she had a disease she said she had a child, a living breathing thing.

"Well…" his voice trailed back into the line. "Are you saying I need three tickets?" he wondered.

"What?" Brooke sat up in her chair confused.

"Well there is three of us instead of two so I need another ticket right?" he said, knowing that the movie they go to will have to change. He can't take her to a scary movie or something not child appropriate being as she was not that old so clearly her son can't be that old.

"Lucas I…" she trailed off not knowing what to say. That was not a responds she was expecting.

"How old is he?"

"Oh umm…two…he is two."

"I have a three year old sister," he randomly stated not sure why he said that.

"Oh…really?" Brooke asked feeling this whole conversation weird, she wasn't sure how to hand someone who didn't run as soon as they heard that.

"Yeah. I mean she leaves with my mom in that small town we talked about but I do visit her a lot."

"Luke…"

"Yeah?"

"Why are you ok with this?" she whispered low into the phone.

"What do you mean?"

"People...well guys normally freak when I tell them about Easton. They don't- I mean…" she trailed off not wanting to tell him they never ask about him or if he wants to join the movie.

"Brooke…" he rested his head against the head rest of his car. "I enjoyed talking to you the other night and I enjoyed the few text messages we have had since then…"

"I did too…"

"And you having a son doesn't really change that. It's not like you just magically got him yesterday and now all of a sudden not the person I spent the night talking to. I think I could like you Brooke, and I know that seems weird coming from a guy you only met a few times but I do think I could and I don't know… All this is coming out as creepy…" he shook his head at how weird he sounded. He knew he sounds strange but he thought maybe he would have gotten at least one date before they got into a deep conversation but he panicked that might not happen at all.

"Pizza…" she smiled looking up at Easton. "He likes pizza."

"I like pizza…" he sounded like such a kid it made her smile more.

"Maybe would you want to meet for pizza in like half an hour?" she suggested knowing they couldn't be out to long since Easton would be getting tired soon.

"Yeah, there is a place off of 57th street. Its small but its good I promise," he grinned cranking up his car.

"Ok," she stood up a smile plastered on her face. "We will meet you there."

"Easton…"

"What?"

"You said his name was Easton?" he asked hearing her say Easton at one point.

"Yeah, his name is Easton," she told him, something about him asking that making her heart skip a small beat.

"Well I will see you and Easton soon."

"Ok," she bit her bottom lip but now not as intense as before. "Bye Lucas," she grinned, hearing him say bye and hanging up. "Easton…" she moved to him sitting in the living room.

"Yeah Momma?" he lifted his head to look at her.

"How you would like if we went and got pizza?"

"Pizza!" He jumped up, his little blond curls bouncing. "Momma I looove pizza!" he drug out love making her laugh.

"I know baby, but we are meeting a friend of mommy's is that ok?" she asked knowing she wasn't big on Easton meeting new people, especially people that might not stay around long.

"Ok! I go get my shoes!" he ran passed her to his room and she couldn't stop smiling. Maybe she was wrong, maybe this was a start of something good, something better for them. She wouldn't read too much into it yet but for some reason her stomach was getting all these warm butterflies and she had a feeling something good was about to happen.

All the reviews so far are making me smile like I dork! I hope you enjoyed the new chapter and please!

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