A/N Hi I haven't updated this book in a while and my friend asked for this.

This chapter is for BroadwayAddictedNerd

TW. Some Angst

Chloe POV

Saying I was nervous would be an understatement, like wearing sneakers with a dress or eye shadow with no lipstick. I was finally gonna tell Brooke how I truly felt and I was freaking out.

As I waited in front of the Pinkberry I fiddled with my jean jacket, occasionally taking out my vintage pocket-mirror and checking my makeup. Suddenly I spotted two familiar faces hanging out at the Game Stop, geeking out and holding hands.

"Micha! Jerry! Over here!" I called out, waving my arms in the air like a maniac.

Ever since the Squipcident I had been revealing my true self, not someone hidden behind gossip and pretty clothes, ya know, the me inside of me.

The couple saw me and grinned, rushing over. "Hey, Chloe!" Jeremy said happily. He had warmed up to me after Brooke and I helped him get over his breakup with Christine and realize his feelings for Michael.

Michael smiled and high fived me. He had warmed up to me after I comforted him on his long term crush on Jeremy.

"What are you geeks doing here?" I asked playfully, still fiddling with my jean jacket. "NES GAMES ON SALE!" the two said at the same time, still holding hands and slightly leaning on each other. They are the cutest! I thought, noticing their 'Player 1' and 'Player 2' bracelets.

I laughed "Cool, can I come over and play sometime?" I ask sheepishly. Another surprising thing about me, I love video games even though Brooke was way better than me.

The two nodded excitedly "Of course! My basement 5:00 today!" Michael said cheerily. I accepted and the two departed, jabbering on about their new games and something about chili fries.

Someone tapped my shoulder and I spun around holding my fists in front of me, I used to do karate so it was a reflex. Brooke stood there, her arm still outstretched and her mouth slightly open. "Oh! Sorry Brooke, habit..." I said, my words jumbling as I saw how pretty she looked.

Her blonde hair was in a messy side braid, she was wearing her signature yellow sweater and a light blue dress, her bluebell eyes sparkled in the artificial mall light. I was almost speechless but of course, I didn't deserve that mercy "Oh uh, I-uh wow I MEAN- I'm, uh, just gonna shut up now." I said and she giggled.

"Chloe your blushing like hell. I know what you need," she grinned "PIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINKBERRYYYY!" Brooke sang excitedly. I wanted to hug her so badly, she was so adorable! She pulled me into the Pinkberry and grabbed a big cup, filling it to the top with chocolate froyo and dumping a bunch of marshmallows and chocolate chips all over it.

I followed suit but, out of habit, chose the smaller cup and filled it with the dairy-free froyo and fruit. I had been very self-conscious for a while now and was slowly easing out of my strict diet and occasional days where I ate nothing at all.

I watch as Brooke shovels the frozen yogurt into her mouth and savors it happily and with her eyes closed in pleasure. I smile but it melts away as soon as it came. I suck in a breath "Hey, Brooke..." my best friend opens her eyes and looks at me with questioning eyes. "I have something to tell you."

Brooke puts her spoon down and purses her lips in concern, giving me all her attention.

I look down, suddenly very interested in my floral napkin. "I-uh, um." My cheeks warm. The voices in my head chant in unison Spit it out, Spit it out!

"I'VEHADACRUSHONYOUFORFOURYEARSA-A-and..." I trail off as my voice broke and keep my eyes squeezed shut. I was terrified of her reaction.

I hear her take in a breath and peek hopefully. Then the whole world falls on my shoulders and my heart sinks when I see her expression.

Brooke stares back at me with an angry face. Her eyes look shattered like someone had just cracked her heart in half. "Liar." she says in a broken voice "I can't believe you, I thought you were getting better." And that's all it takes for my world to fall apart.

"First, I live in your shadow for years feeling like I don't matter." Brooke says, tearing up "Like nobody even cares that I'm around and the only way to be noticed is to hang around you and act like a tool." Tears are now running down her cheeks and many people are staring at us, some in pity, some in confusion, and some in disgust. But that doesn't matter.

The only person I've ever truly loved is crying before me and telling me things I had never noticed. Things I should've noticed but didn't because I was a self-absorbed b#$!h who only cared about appealing to others instead of just making myself happy. And apparently, those around me. 

"And then, you go and play with my feelings?! I thought you accepted me!" By now Brooke is having a full on break down, the tears constant and her face blotchy red. Suddenly she stops and her face darkens as she looks down at the henna tattoo we had gotten together a week before at a local fair. "Rich told you, right?"

"W-what?"

Brooke looks up, her tearstained face cold and angry "Don't play dumb. Rich was the only one I told about my crush on you. He must have told you and now the both of you are trying to use my own feelings against me. Again." 

"N-no Brookie I-" I suck in a breath "I love you." 

Brooke just sits there and stares at the tattoo which was starting to wear out. The shop is silent and everyone is staring in our direction, whispering. Oh no, no no no no no no no not me, why were they talking about me? What did I do wrong? Is it the way I look? The familiar panic settles in my stomach and I shake my head.

Brooke is the only one that matters.

But then Brooke stands up.

And looks me right in the eyes.

"Well, I can't love someone who makes me feel like the world would be better if I just disappeared."

 Then she leaves, the last sight of her is a braid of golden hair swishing around the doorway and Brooke running with her hands over her face and her body shaking away from the Pinkberry. 

Away from me.

The whispers get louder and swarm all around me. I never wanted this to happen, all I wanted was for people to accept me. But then I notice the face of someone from school. I don't know his name but he's standing there with his phone pointed in my direction. He filmed the whole thing. 

My eyes widen and I hastily grab my purse. I run out of the froyo shop and keep running until I can't run any longer. I open my eyes and glance all around, hoping no one is watching me anymore. I can't do this. If I stay here I swear I'm going to have a panic attack. I can already feel my heart getting quicker. 

"Chloe?!" I turn and see Jeremy and Michael running towards me from a table with two baskets of chili fries. I never noticed that I was in the food court. The only thing I was worrying about was the eyes, watching me, judging me. And Brooke, the person I loved.

Gone

Gone

Gone

I let out a sob and Jeremy's face scrunches up in concern. Michael understands though, he remembers all those years he had to pretend while Jeremy mooned over Christine. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and whispers "You'll be okay." 

But I know I wont be. And he doesn't sound like he believes it either.

I let them lead me out of the mall though. Michael on one side and Jeremy on the other. I don't look where we're going, it doesn't matter. Brooke is gone and no place, person, or feeling will ever feel complete.

I know we get in a car and drive to Michael's house. I know we go down to his basement and they set me down on a bean bag. And I know Jeremy asks me what happened.

But I don't know how long I cried and I don't know if they heard the story through my continuous sobs. I didn't know if I would ever be okay again.

Jeremy had wrapped me in a huge hug and Michael had made me tea. They were both excruciatingly nice and treated me like I was glass, seconds away from breaking again. I don't remember what game they started playing. I remember they asked me if I wanted to play. I don't remember my answer.

But I do remember asking to use the bathroom.

I sat down on the ceramic floor, hugging my arms to my chest and barely hearing the video game music blasting through the door. My stomach lurched and I vomited into the toilet, letting the nausea consume me. Then I collapsed on the floor and encircled my legs so I was sitting with them up to my chest and leaning against the door. I closed my eyes and remembered the voices.

Why are you even here?

Nobody cares about you.

The only person who cared about you and even mildly liked you is gone.

You treated her like crap just to make yourself feel better.

Not only are you ugly but your a horrible person.

And you'll never get her back.

The world would be so much better off if you disappeared.

Not Brooke.

You

My breath began to slow and the air became thing. Panic rose like a tide inside of me and doused everything with anxiety and doubt. I don't deserve her, I don't deserve to be alive.

The eyes. The eyes are watching me and judging me and hating me. Every single part of me. I just want them to like me. Those voices in my head. But all they see in me is wrong wrong wrong.

I can never be what they want so maybe I should just.

Leave.

My hands shake as I open my purse and slip out the pill bottle I had been keeping for a long time. My breathing is shallow and I let out a wimper as I struggled to open it. "Stupid child proof caps!" I said in a frighteningly desperate voice.

Knock Knock Knock Knock

"Chloe? Are you okay in there?" Jeremy asked softly from outside the door. He's not my friend, he doesn't care.

Knock Knock Knock Knock

"Chloe, please! Say something!" Michael yelled. He's obviously just saying that because this is his house and he doesn't want to get into any trouble. He probably wants me to go home. Well, I won't go home but I will be out of their hands soon.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

I feel the pressure start to build up and I finally get the cap open. Michael and Jeremy's screams tune out as I look at the pills in my hand. My big mistake was living and now it was up to me to fix that. I threw the pills back and swallowed, surely the overdose would kill me.

You're don't deserve the dream

Your gonna die alone

Die alone

Die alone!

Then the last thing I heard was a big bang and Jeremy screaming "Chloe!" Before I blacked out and the voices in my head finally quieted.

○●○●○Time Skip●○●○●

Brooke POV

I have never cried so much in one day. First I convince myself through insecurity that the person I love is lying about loving me back. And then I get a call from Michael saying Chloe is in the hospital.

The emergency room.

And she might not wake up.

That's how I end up speeding to the hospital in my mother's car and collapsing into Jeremy's arms when I see him outside Chloe's room.

"How is she?! What happened?!" I sob as Jeremy hugs me tightly.

"Brooke, take a few breaths and calm down." Michael says, coming up behind me from talking to a nurse. He looks at me sadly "To answer your question, Chloe tried to commit suicide through overdose and almost succeeded."

I spin around and look at him in shock "No." I gasp "She didn't." But Michael just nods and I collapse again.

Hours pass and our friends arrive, Rich, Jake, Jenna, Christine, Jenna. All there in the waiting room, crying or thinking. But all of us worrying about the same thing.

Is Chloe alive?

My thoughts were scattered with memories of the years past. Going with Chloe to our first dance. Swimming with her at the pool. Shopping. Laughing. And her smile.

Her beautiful smile.

I let out a wail and bury my face in my hands. Christine walks over and hugs me.

She's a good hugger. She keeps me up and feels stable and strong. I cry into her Hamilton shirt and wonder,

Why? Why did she try to leave me? Was she unhappy? Was she hiding something?

Is it my fault?

I don't know how long it takes but eventually a nurse walks into the waiting room and all of us jump to attention, spouting out all of our questions.

The nurse raises her hand to silence us. "Your friend is okay, we just stabilized her and she'll be back to normal in a few days."

Everyone cries out in relief and we all form a teary group hug. I pull away and ask the nurse "Can I see her, please?"

My voice is crackly from hours of crying but the nurse nods and leads me into the room, telling the rest that only one person can see her at a time.

When I see her my heart jumps. Chloe is pale and ghostly and she's hooked up to a machine that helps her breathe. Her chest lifts and falls slowly and she's cold as ice when I hold her hand.

But she's my Chloe.

Mine.

And she loves me. Rich told me he never told her anything about my crush. She just made some mistakes but she loves me.

Her eyelids flutter open and when she sees me her expression turns to disbelief. "Brookie....?" She croaks.

I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear and then lay my hand on her cheek affectionately. "I'm here my love, I'm here"

Leaning forward I place a small kiss on her forehead and she squeezes my hand, looking at me with loving eyes. "Its not your fault." She says shakily.

I nod. I know it wasn't my fault. Chloe had a lot bottled up inside her for a long time. My rejection was just the last she could take.

We were both broken. Destroyed by the insecurities society thrust upon us. But we were going to help each other.

And maybe

Someday

Hopefully not long from now

We could be okay again.

A/N BroadwayAddictedNerd you asked for this. Anyways this one shot goes out to all the people who have been hurt by stereotypes and are struggling to love themselves how they are.

You're all beautiful and you should know that.

Love you!

~Prongs❤