BMC Oneshots

Healing takes Time

I normally don't write about Brooke and Chloe or Pinkberry as a whole, as I very much dislike this ship and their toxic friendship HOWEVER I do love redemption arcs and honestly, why I haven't written this yet is surprising.

Requested by unattractive_walnut

Brooke shifted uncomfortably in hee seat as she stared at the oak door in front of her.

Chloe was supposed to come over at any moment now, to talk, as she had basically pleaded to the blonde girl.

Brooke, while annoyed at the time, had agreed, wanting to see what Chloe had to say. They weren't friends anymore as Brooke had made clear and Chloe would normally act as though she didn't care, as though it were fine.

So why was she asking to talk then?

She was taken out of her thoughts by a knock at the door. Brooke stood up and opened the oak door, making her way out into the hall and down the stairs to the front door.

Brooke eyed the door suspiciously as she made her way too it, time seemingly slowing down as she got closer to her destination. Thankfully though, Chloe didn't knock again like she usually would when Brooke wasn't hustling to open the door in their friendship.

Finally, Brooke thought as she grasped the knob and twisted it, pulling the door open to reveal...

Woah.

Chloe had changed.

She had cut her hair, Brooke noticed, along with a few streaks of purple in the wavy locks as she donned a hoodie and some sweatpants.

"Damn Chloe..." was all Brooke could mutter as Chloe looked away, seemingly in shame.

"Hey..." Chloe muttered, her feet tapping the ground impatiently. A quirk only Brooke seemed to notice.

She quickly remembered what they were supposed to be doing and stepped to the side to allow the taller girl in. Chloe cast her a look of thanks as she walked inside and settled down on the familiar couches.

Brooke closed the door and followed, sitting across from Chloe and waiting for her to speak.

Chloe seemed to struggle to say some, as witnessed by the extra fidgeting.

They sat in awkward silence for a while.

Brooke, attempting to level her annoyance, spoke first.

"So..."

"I'm friends with headphones kid, Michael." Chloe blurted out, staring at the ground.

"What?"

"Michael, he uh...he's a great friend." Chloe contiuned. "He helped me out a lot, taught me more than I thought he would."

Brooke was plain confused at this point.

"He's actually quite cool! Along with Christine, they helped me realize a lot of stuff."

"Like what?" Brooke asked, now captivated with what Chloe was saying.

"Like how comfortable hoodies are, how there's nothing wrong with different sexualities...how I was treating others..." Chloe seemed to quiet down at the end, looking to Brooke to see her reaction.

Brooke nodded, slowly. "Right..."

Chloe frowned. "I realized I was treating you horribly, like to the point that I...that one Halloween..." she trailed off, ignoring the hateful glare she got from the shorter.

"And that's why I wanted to talk. I wanted to apologize and ask what I could do to make it up to you. Believe it not, I've hated how things have been without you around."

"I don't believe it at all." Brooke replied coolly.

"Fair, but I'd rather apologize and say I tried than ignore it any longer."

Brooke sighed and shook her head, motioning for Chloe to contiune when she heard a sharp inhale.

"I'm sorry," Chloe started. "I admit that sorry won't change things, but I'm still sorry nonetheless. Truth was...and still is, I was jealous of you. Like, really jealous. You didn't let much get to you and I took that as a reason to be harsh, because I thought you wouldn't care but I was so wrong." She took a depe breath.

"The week after the play? It was well deserved. Honestly, I'm glad you yelled at me that day because if you hadn't I would probably not have changed and I would've never changed and you would still hate me and I-I...I don't..." Brooke's eyes widened as she watched Chloe have a breakdown right in front of her.

The all mighty Chloe, most popular girl in Middleborough, crying because of her?

If the situation wasn't so serious, Brooke would've laughed.

She slowly stood up and made her way to Chloe, frowning slightly when the girl flinched away from her and buried her face in her hands as she cried.

Brooke slowly wrapped her arms around Chloe, much to the brunette's fear and surprise.

"I don't forgive you...yet, but I think we can work something out, you think?" Brooke asked quietly and proceeded when she felt a nod on her shoulder.

"Good. How about, for now, we watch a movie in my room. We can have blankets and popcorn and snacks, like old times..." Brooke offered, pulling away.

She was met with the hopeful eyes of Chloe.

"R-really..?" Chloe asked quietly. Brooke ignored the pang of guilt she felt foe brunette.

Sure, Chloe had hurt her a lot, but she also never told Chloe anything she knew she could've. Chloe had even told her to and Brooke had brushed it off. Partially, it was her fault too for the fall of their friendship.

No matter though, she concluded as she nodded and helped Chloe stand. They could work on it.

As Brooke led Chloe up the stairs, she smiled, feeling the familiarity of her friendship swirl through her.