"There has to be another way," she said with a shake of her head. "There's always another way."

She had no idea how she had gotten to this point. Every instinct she had was screaming at her to get rid of him, to push him out her front door and forget about him. And yet, when he talked about not being able to stay, she found it a little hard to breathe.

Then he had to go and actually admit, in so many words, that he cared. That he didn't want to leave her. It wasn't him trying to make her feel better - at least, she didn't think it was because it certainly didn't - and it wasn't some vague hint at his feelings. It was Dean, telling her what she'd longed to hear since that stupid phone call that nearly ruined everything.

Brooke watched him for a moment before she finally broke down, her hands moving to cover her face. It was too much; it would've been easier for him to come here, explain his crazy take on life and leave her thinking he hated her.

Leave her thinking he didn't want her.

"Don't go," she choked out, her voice muffled by her hands. "Please. Just... don't."