Among The Shadows

Telling Nathan and Haley what had happened

Brooke was with Peyton on one of the couches, while Haley and Nathan were on the other one, Skills and Lucas were in the chairs. It was tough for her, trying to explain to her best friend and childhood friend that she got attacked.

'Everything okay, Brooke?' Haley asked, looking at Brooke all worried. Brooke looked at Peyton for some courage. She exchanged a glance with Skills, who also gave her a nod.

Brooke tried her best to ignore the dirty look Lucas was giving me, and honestly, she understood why he was upset.

'I don't know how to tell you guys without you freaking out,' Brooke said, taking a deep breath. 'I was attacked the other night in my store,' she said nervously, noticing her bruises were still visible but not as bad as before.

Brooke was watching their faces and trying to sink further into the couch to see if it could just swallow her whole, especially with the way Haley and Nathan were looking at her. 'Oh my god,' Haley gasped when she saw Brooke's face up close.

'Do you know who did it?' Nathan asked, his blue eyes filled with anger. 'No, he was wearing a mask. But he did steal some things from the store,' Brooke said, trying to keep her voice steady.

'What did they take?' Haley asked, her eyes shimmering with tears. Brooke shrugged and pushed a strand of hair out of her face.

'A few of my sketches and some money, but they mainly just trashed the store,' she said. If it weren't for Peyton placing a hand on hers, she would have broken down again, but she didn't want to cry.

"Hey, who else knows about this?" Nathan asked as he looked at Lucas, who seemed indifferent about what happened to Brooke. He was still upset that Peyton called off their engagement because of Brooke, even though she had nothing to do with it. 

"I went to the hospital with Brooke the day after it happened," Skills said. "Peyton also found out, even though I wasn't planning on telling anyone, but I couldn't lie to her because she wouldn't believe me," Brooke added with a grin.

Peyton nudged Brooke playfully. "Well, it sort of comes with being best friends for years," she teased, making Haley laugh.

"But you could have told us, I mean—" Nathan started, but Lucas cut him off, standing up to glare at Brooke. "Is there something else you want to tell everyone, Brooke?" he asked sternly.

Brooke couldn't help but frown at Lucas, wishing he would just drop it and move on already, but she knew what was coming. 'Luke!' Haley scolded the blond man.

'No, Haley! There's something they're not telling you, and I think they need to come clean,' snapped Lucas, earning a glare from Nathan. Peyton tried to speak, but Brooke cut her off.

'Back off, Lucas!' the brunette snapped, adamant that he had no right to speak to Haley like that. 'Peyton and I were getting there and weren't going to keep it from Haley or Nathan,' Brooke explained.

Taking a breath, she turned to Nathan and Haley, who were now both curious. 'Tell us what?' Nathan asked calmly, prompting Brooke to share with a smile.

"Hey, try not to freak out or hate us, okay?" Brooke started, glancing at Nathan and Haley who nodded in understanding. She took a deep breath and held Peyton's hand, exchanging a supportive look with Skills who gave her a nod as encouragement.

Brooke couldn't help but grin at Skills, appreciating his happiness for them. "Peyton and I are..." she paused, managing to finish without her voice trembling, a smile playing on her lips.

Nathan and Haley exchanged puzzled looks, then turned their attention to Peyton and Brooke. "So, what about Lucas? Weren't Peyton and him together?" Haley inquired, prompting a frown from Brooke. She didn't seem angry or upset, just confused.

Brooke was about to explain when Peyton interrupted her. "Lucas and I broke up. I called off the engagement yesterday," Peyton clarified, but Lucas interjected angrily, pointing at Brooke. "Peyton ended things because of this bitch right here!" He spat, glaring in Brooke's direction.

"I called off our engagement because my feelings changed and I realized who I really wanted to be with," Peyton explained, holding Brooke's hand. "I'm sorry for wasting your time and messing things up with Lindsay," Peyton added, looking directly at Lucas.

Brooke stood up and said, "I need some fresh air, sorry for all of this, Haley and Nathan." She then walked out of the house, leaving everyone behind.

As she sat by the pool, Peyton glared at Lucas, while Haley went to check on Brooke and Nathan and Skills reassured the situation by saying, "As long as you guys are happy, that's all that matters."

"Hey, I think you guys are right," Peyton said, glancing at the door where her girlfriend had gone before turning to Lucas. "I hope you'll forgive me eventually, but don't blame Brooke for everything, Luke," she said, looking at her ex.

Lucas couldn't help but scoff at how things were going, but he didn't want to start a fight and scare his nephew who was probably upstairs with Chester or playing games with Evie. "Okay, fine, but this doesn't mean it's okay!" he said, glaring at Peyton.

"I'll give it a few days, and then you'll come running back to me because Brooke won't stop fooling around," Lucas said. "She'll only bring you down with her." He walked out after finishing his statement.

Peyton watched Lucas leave and sighed, not happy with how the breakup was going. "Don't worry about what Luke says, Peyton. He'll come around," Nathan said with a small smile.

" Hey, I think Brooke needs you to take her home so she can rest. Haley and I will come check on you later, cool?" Nathan mentioned, making Peyton nod and smile before she went to get Brooke and head home.