Chapter Four
Brooke was at war with herself. She wanted to go to Haley's concert, to see her friend perform, but the other part of her was torn to be there for Nathan. She knew he wasn't going to go to the concert. She was pretty sure Lucas wasn't going to go either for that matter. She still had time to decide what she was going to do she thought as she grabbed her car keys to go meet Lucas for lunch.
When Brooke got to Karen's Café Lucas was already there waiting for her at their table by the window. Karen smiled and waved at her from behind the counter as Brooke made her way over to Lucas. With a smile Brooke waved back before she wrapped her arms around Lucas' neck from behind him.
"Hey Pretty Girl," Lucas said taking Brooke's hand in his then kissing it.
"Sorry I'm late, I lost track of time," she said letting go of him and sitting down across from him at the table.
"No worries, practice was cancelled today because of the concert. A lot of the kids are going apparently."
"Are you going to go?" Brooke asked hesitantly as Karen set a glass of diet Coke in front of her. "Thank you Karen," she said with a smile.
"Two burgers and fries?" Karen asked.
"Yea mom, that's fine, thanks," Lucas said smirking. His mother really did know them too well. She always knew what they were hungry for, even when they didn't.
After Karen walked away they were both silent for what felt like an eternity before Brooke broke the silence, "Well? Come on Luke, are you going to go?"
"Honestly? I'd like to but what does that say about how I feel? I'm not okay with the way she left, I'm not okay with how badly she broke Nathan. He hasn't been the same since she left him. I'd like to go but if I do I feel like it tells her I'm okay with what she did, and I'm sorry but I'm just not," Lucas said in a rush.
Taking a minuet to let everything Lucas just said sink in, Brooke took a sip of her drink before replying, "I agree with you, what she did was wrong, and I love Nathan but I'm not sure if I can banish Haley."
Before Lucas could respond Karen came to the table and set their plates down in front of them. "I wasn't trying to listen in on your conversation but did you say Haley was back?" Karen asked.
"She's here for the charity concert, I doubt she'll stay long mom, don't worry," Lucas said unsure how his mom was feeling.
"If you see her before she leaves asks her to come see me," she told them before walking away. Haley had been like a daughter to her. It killed her how she had just left without saying goodbye and breaking her once vibrant son.
"I think you should go," Lucas said to Brooke once him mom was gone.
"Are you sure? What about Nathan?" Brooke asked still feeling conflicted.
"Yea, I'm sure Pretty Girl, go and have a good time. You're right, we can't totally abandon her. I can't go but you can."
"Do you know how amazing you are Lucas Eugene Scott?" she asked smiling.
"I have an idea Brooke Penelope Davis," he replied laughing.
"I love you Luke," Brooke said getting up and giving him a kiss.
"I love you too," Lucas said pulling her back for a longer kiss before letting her go.
"I'll see you at home tonight, I'm going to go get ready for the concert," Brooke said giving him one last kiss before she left.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As Haley looked out at the crowed of people she was surprised to see Brooke standing in the front row. It didn't go unnoticed to her that Lucas wasn't there standing with her. She wasn't shocked though, she knew he'd stand by his brother, and even though it hurt she was glad Nathan had such an amazing brother.
"You have been an amazing audience! It was an honor to perform for such as a worth while cause! Lets hear it for the Police and Firefighters of Tree Hill! My last song of the night goes out to a dear friend from high school who came tonight despite the mistakes I've made! This ones for you B Davis, I need you!" Haley shouted into her microphone before she began singing.
"I'm standing on a bridge
I'm waiting in the dark
I thought that you'd be here by now
There's nothing but the rain
No footsteps on the ground
I'm listening but there's no sound
Isn't anyone trying to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home?
It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand?
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you
I'm looking for a place
I'm searching for a face
Is anybody here I know
'Cause nothing's going right
And everything's a mess
And no one likes to be alone
Isn't anyone trying to find me?
Won't somebody come take me home?
It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand?
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you
Oh why is everything so confusing
Maybe I'm just out of my mind
Yeah-he-yaa, yeah-he-yah, yeah-he-yah, yeah-he-yah, yeah!
It's a damn cold night
Trying to figure out this life
Won't you take me by the hand?
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you
Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you
Take me by the hand
Take me somewhere new
I don't know who you are
But I... I'm with you
I'm with you
I'm with you…"
As Haley finished the song she couldn't hold her tears in any longer. Letting them fall freely she blew the crowed a kiss before walking off the stage and leaving a stunned Brooke in the audience.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Brooke watched as Haley walked off the stage speechless. It was clear Haley was crying out for help the only way she knew how, but she for the life her didn't know how to help her without hurting a lot of people she loved and cared about.
The Haley Brooke watched perform tonight wasn't the same Haley she seen perform in California a year ago. Something changed and she could only hope whatever it was it would heal her broken friends.