Chapter Seven: Till You Let Go

"They said … I lost the baby." Brooke sighed as Salma handed her some flowers. "I don't want those. As a matter of fact, I don't want any of this. What are flowers gonna do?"

"People care about you Brooke. That's why they're here." He offered.

"Not enough people care." Brooke looked around to an almost empty room. "If I was still in Tree Hill, this place would be full."

"You're thinking about going back? How?" Salma wondered.

"I didn't say anything about doing it, but I never wanted to end up here. Florida? No one and nothing that I know is here." Brooke sighed.

"You're avoiding the real issue."

"Would you speak English?" She looked up at her cousin confused.

"How did you fall Brooke? It looks like you did it on purpose."

"You can't be serious. You know I didn't."

"You wanted an abortion." Salma shrugged.

"I want you out. Now." Brooke crossed her arms firmly.

"See you at home."

"What did she do to you?" Felix waltzed into the room happily, still unaware of the news and Brooke was not about to tell him.

"Nothing. I just think we need to take a visit to Tree Hill soon honey, you know see everyone and share our good news." Brooke lied, secretly wanting to see if that was Lucas. She just needed to know … if he was the cause of everything being ruined again.

"Peyton." Lucas rushed back to the room the next day, but she was already gone. All of her things were gone from the hotel room. He knew it was wrong to bounce back and forth between her and Brooke, but he just had to make sure that Peyton was okay … and he knew exactly where to find her.

"Is Jake there?" Peyton asked even though she knew he was. Maybe if she was lucky she could see Jenny too.

"Yeah, who is it?" A male voice asked behind the closed apartment door.

"It's me." She squeaked, unable to hide her nervousness.

"Peyton?" Jake opened the door immediately as the two just stared at each other.

"Wow. She's really got the place done up with you on lock-down." Peyton joked.

"Actually, we decorated it together. We've been doing a lot of things together."

"And you're still alive." Peyton smiled again. "Well come here. Give me a hug, a kiss, something."

"How did you find me?" Jake asked as Peyton shrugged.

"You know I'm a closet internet hacker. I can find out anything." She hugged Jake tightly.

"There's something I need to tell you Peyton. I really think Luke would be great for you."

"Are you serious? He called didn't he?" She wondered as Jake nodded. "He told you about the hospital? That was one time Jake. It won't happen again."

"You're telling that to the wrong person. I have to do whatever I can to stay with Jenny, you understand that don't you?" Peyton nodded dumbly as Jake held out a black box and opened it for her.

"You want to marry me?"

"Not you." He whispered quietly as Peyton slammed the box closed and rushed out of the door. "I have to protect Jenny."

"And you fell in love on the way. Thanks!" She called back running as quickly down the three flight of stairs as she could and right into Lucas.

"I can't believe you entered me into the freestyle contest. You know I can't rap and that was sooo embarrassing." Haley yelled over the music.

"But you placed, didn't you?" Chris smiled back, handing her a drink.

"I can't."

"Sure you can. Let's do a shot too …for old times sake." He suggested downing one before Haley could agree or not.

"Chris, I don't want you drinking. You can't hold your liquor." She protested as Chris downed one more.

"We're celebrating. Take a jell-o shot with me and I promise that'll be it." Haley agreed reluctantly as Chris started chugging another beer before taking the shot. "Ready?"

"Whatever." She laid down on the counter waiting for this to be over … why was she even here in the first place?

"You taste good!" Chris yelled as his tongue met hers.

"Get off her!" A male voice yelled behind Haley who sat up. To her horror, it was Nathan.

"Nathan, I--"

"Haley, just get in the car. Go!"

"No." She whispered quietly. Haley knew the truth was going to have to come out somehow. "We need to talk, all of us!" She yelled as the two men ignored her, Chris throwing weak punches against a sober Nathan.

(A/N: Not much, but after such inspiring reviews this is all I could come up with … maybe I should watch another One Tree Hill… Just review and I may update next week too, but NOT in two weeks. –NL)