Chapter 4 - Reaching Out

-Haley's POV-

It was an ordinary evening at home when my phone rang. Nathan and I were in the living room, wrapped up in our own thoughts. Our kids, Jamie and Lydia, were upstairs, probably causing some sort of mischief.

I glanced at the caller ID and saw it was Brooke's number. My heart immediately jumped into my throat. Why would Brooke be calling me so many times in one day? Something must be wrong. I quickly answered the call, my voice filled with worry.

"Brooke? Is that you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

The voice on the other end of the line was not Brooke's, but a man's voice. It was deep and unfamiliar, sending shivers down my spine.

"No, this isn't Brooke. My name is Julian Baker. I'm at the hospital, and I'm with Brooke. There's been an incident, and she's not in a good condition," Julian said, his voice carrying a mix of concern and urgency.

My heart sank, and I felt Nathan tense beside me. I had so many questions, but the urgency in Julian's voice made me focus on the most important one.

"Is she okay? What happened to her?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from trembling.

Julian explained the situation as best as he could, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me as he described Brooke's condition. Nathan could see the worry on my face and took the phone from me, asking Julian for the hospital's address.

"We're on our way," Nathan said firmly before ending the call.

We rushed to get ready, our minds racing with thoughts of our dear friend, Brooke. We hadn't seen her in a while, but she was still an important part of our lives. We couldn't let her go through this alone.

-General POV-

Julian stood in the hospital room, his eyes fixed on Brooke's unconscious form. He had done the right thing by calling Haley and Nathan, but he couldn't help feeling like an outsider in this moment. He barely knew Brooke, and he couldn't begin to understand the depth of her trauma.

As he waited for Brooke's friends to arrive, Julian couldn't help but think about the tangled web of emotions and relationships that surrounded her. Lucas, the man who had called earlier, was obviously someone important to her. And from the sound of it, there might be a showdown between him and Julian in the future.

But right now, all that mattered was Brooke's well-being. Julian hoped that Haley and Nathan's arrival would bring some comfort to her, that they could help her heal from whatever had happened to her. He may not have known Brooke well, but he knew that she deserved all the support and love she could get.

And as he looked down at her, still holding her hand, he silently promised himself that he would do whatever he could to help her through this difficult time, even if it meant facing his own insecurities and uncertainties.

To be continued...