I Won't Let You Close Enough to Hurt Me

Chapter 10

     "Hi guys," Brooke whispered. She was afraid of what Brandon would say to her about their conversation last night, but she was even more afraid that he would find out about her "date" with Nick. 

     "Brooke, I think we need to have a little talk," Brandon said harshly. He reached for her arm and started to drag her out of the dancers den, but Nick stopped him.

     "Listen Brandon, I don't care how mad you are. You will NEVER grab Brooke again. She doesn't deserve that," Nick scolded.

     Brandon got an evil look in his eye and started to smirk. "Oh, so that's what's going on. You have a little crush on Brooke. Well Nick, that's really cute and all, but I'm sorry to say that she's not available. Everybody in the studio saw how much chemistry we had when we danced yesterday, and you guys didn't have any at all. Once we get a chance to talk things out, I'll prove to Brooke how sorry I am. Then, she'll take me back, and you'll be out of the picture for good."

     Nick looked devastated, but just for a moment. Then a look of rage came over his face. "Well I wouldn't be so sure about that, Brandon. After practice today, Brooke is coming over to my house, and whatever happens there stays between me and her." Brooke cringed. She knew that Nick had said that out of anger, but she also knew that Brandon wouldn't take it very well.

     Brandon's face turned five different shades of red. This was the angriest that Brooke had ever seen him, and it scared her.

     "Brooke I can't believe that you're going to hang out with this DOUCHE BAG. I don't understand how you could be so stupid. It's obvious that all he wants is to hook up with you. You've always been such a little whore," Brandon screamed.

     At this point, Brooke was so hurt that she started to cry. She had never seen this side of Brandon, and she hated it. Nick noticed how much she was shaking, so he wrapped his arms around her. This just made Brooke cry harder. She wanted so badly to be able to stop her tears, but she couldn't. It just hurt too much.

     After a few seconds, the three teens heard footsteps rapidly coming towards the dancers den. Kelly and Christi burst through the door to see everything that was going on. Brandon had been screaming so loudly that everyone in the studio could hear him. Christi immediately walked over to Brooke and pulled her into a giant hug, while Kelly dealt with Brandon.

     "How dare you say those things to my daughter. She doesn't deserve any of the shit that you have put her through. I don't care if it's the last thing I do; Brooke will not be doing the duet with you this weekend. End of story," Kelly barked. After she said what she needed to, Kelly grabbed Brooke's hand and walked her into the front lobby.

     Abby was sitting at the front desk, and saw Kelly enter the room with a devastated Brooke.

     "What is going on in there?" Abby shouted.

     "Abby, I know that you love Brandon. But after the way he just behaved, there is no way that I'm allowing my daughter to dance with him," Kelly told her. "I don't want Brooke anywhere near him."

     "Kelly, you have to understand that I'm running a dance studio here. I can't plan my numbers around all this teenage drama. Brooke, I can see that you're very upset. Take a few minutes to pull yourself together, and then meet me in studio A. Group rehearsal starts in ten minutes," Abby ordered.

     Brooke felt a huge knot forming in her stomach. She had no idea how she would be able to concentrate on the dance after everything that had just happened.