A/N: So, I had an idea of a one shot Brooke story set fours year later and when I suggested the idea to a friend who also likes writing, she said it sounded like a good plot for a story. Once I had the story written, I showed it to my friend to read before I posted it just to get a second opinion to know whether or not I should post it. Anyway, it turned out that my friend wanted to see it posted so here it is for you all to read and hopefully you'll enjoy it. As of now, it's purely a one shot story of Brooke with a dash of Haley and James. I also plan to post a 3 part story involving Peyton and Lucas which should be up within a couple of days. I'm finding time to write but I didn't want to give up completely so I just cut down to minimise my time writing here. Anyway, enjoy this one shot and I'm open to reviews and/or constructive criticism.
Disclaimer: I don't in any way own One Tree Hill or its characters except for my own.
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The Start of Something New
Standing adjacent from the wire-framed mirror in the back room of the 'Clover Bar' stood Brooke Davis. At twenty two years of age, she had fully pledged into a mature young woman the past four months. Then again after everything that Brooke had endured these past months, it was no surprise that she had matured beyond her years.
She adjusted the waistband of her black pants along with white shoulder top – her standard work outfit – and headed into the muggy air of the club. She made her way through the forming crowd to the bar where she slipped behind the counter and gave a small smile to her work mate Anna. Facing the back wall, she pinned her chocolate brown hair up into a high ponytail leaving a few wisps of hair out allowing them to fall around her face.
"Hey! What are you doing here tonight? Isn't Sunday your night off?" Anna asked Isabella wide-eyed as she filled a glass with beer.
"Yeah," Brooke scanned the crowd that had formed around the bar. "But then our sour boss called to ask if I could come and fill in tonight. If I didn't come in, I'd be out of the job and since this job helps to support not only me but also my prosecutable future, I didn't really have a choice."
"I don't get it," Anna shook her head. "Why don't you just tell him your situation? I'm sure he'll see you with leeway."
Brooke turned her head to the end of the bar where there was a fair-haired guy sitting, gaining her attention to be served. "Please! This is the one place where sympathy doesn't follow me. That's the way I want it to stay."
She turned on her heel towards the guy waiting to be served and smiled.
"Hey! What can I get you?"
The guy looked her up and down, flirtatiously as he took in her sexy outfit. "Hey, baby. How about a date?"
Brooke laughed. "No seriously. What can I get you?"
The guy's cheeky smile dropped into a slight smirk. "Oh, I see we're playing hard-to-get. I'll take two mugs of beer please sexy."
Brooke nodded and grabbed two glasses from the shelf below the counter. She placed a glass at the beer nozzle and filled it then did the same to the second one. Once they were done, she slid them towards the guy who in return handed her a ten dollar note. She punched the numbers in at the register and the cash tray spat out at her.
"Keep the change," he winked at her and stood up from his stool.
A tall muscular guy with fairy dark hair and tanned skin wandered up to his apparent friend and muttered something to him while Brooke watched on observantly. The fair haired guy grabbed his beer and stumbled away while his friend briefly looked up in Brooke's direction flashing her a grin that made her blush rather noticeably. He picked up his beer and turned into the crowd, leaving Brooke to shake off her slight embarrassment and return her attention to an impatient customer.
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No later than 11pm that night, Brooke had clocked off her shift. With her beige overcoat buttoned over her work clothes, she headed outside into the cold August night air.
"Hey! You're leaving already?" called a deep voice from behind her. She turned around, surprised to see the dark-haired guy she had seen earlier in the night.
To be precise Brooke, he's the guy who had made you blush, she thought to herself.
"Yeah, I'm finished for the night," she spoke softly, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her coat.
"Oh," he paused, unsure of what to say next. "So I didn't get your name before."
"It's Brooke."
She began digging her hands deeper into her pockets. Was it the fact that it was cold tonight or was she beginning to feel uncomfortable, she couldn't distinguish the difference. One thing she did know – she wanted to run and be rid of this awkwardness she was feeling all of a sudden.
It wasn't like her to feel obligated around a guy. She'd normally have no trouble striking up a conversation – she'd be the girl of everyone's envy, the centre of the universe. Now it seemed to have faded away – the day she received the news that her fiancé Adam had been killed in a car accident. It had only been five months earlier that she assumed that she'd be destined to find guys who'd only end up breaking her heart after she and Chase had called it quits.
And then when Adam waltzed into her life, she imagined it was some whirl wind affair that only happened to her when she closed her eyes at night. The two of them had instantly connected more so than when she briefly dated Lucas and Chase. This time, it felt different for Brooke. She fell head over heels in love with Adam as he did for her and she knew he'd never intentially go out of his way to break her heart.
The day that Adam had been accepted into Harvard Law School, Brooke graduated from fashion school and they both had equal more to celebrate – Adam had proposed marriage and Brooke had blissfully accepted without having to ponder over the question. They had set out their lives together.
Until Brooke received the devastating news confirming Adam had been killed in a car accident. She dealt a devastating blow and lived her days confined to her room bottling up her emotions – before she found out she was pregnant and decided that she had to remain strong for not only her sake but her unborn child.
She never felt incredulous for a moment wondering whether she should have this baby or not. To her, it was a miracle. She knew Adam would hate to see her the way she used to be so she carried on with life, as best as she could – determined to keep Adam's legacy alive in her and her child. Her fun-loving social life merely appeared as a distant memory pictured in her head.
"Well, it's nice to meet you Brooke. I'm Nick."
She smiled and stared down at the ground where she began to scuff her heeled shoe as a way of contentment.
"So, I don't do this very often but…"
"I find that hard to believe," Brooke cut in, raising her eyebrows slightly.
He's at a bar for Christ's sake and he's telling me he doesn't ask women out. Geez, I must have made a good impression on him.
"I was wondering if you'd like to join me for a drink."
"Actually I've got somewhere else I have to be…" Brooke saw the look of disappointment in his eyes. Damn, I would have loved to get to know you better too.
"Another time then," he said with a glimmer of hope.
Brooke nodded and then they both exchanged their good byes and headed into different directions.
When she made it to her car, she unlocked her door and got in. Sitting in the car, she sighed heavily and rested her head on the back of the pink seat cover, looking out to the lightly dimmed street ahead through the wind shield of the car. It had been a long time since she'd seen affection from a guy. Too long and she'd forgotten how much fun it could be. Especially when the guy had picked her of all people and it was flattering to think that he found her attractive especially in her condition.
Don't think about it, she told herself. There's some one else to consider. Like your unborn child. So get him out of your head Brooke. She shook off her dreary thoughts because she had no intention of beginning a relationship – none at all.
----
The following Monday afternoon, Brooke had embarked on a shopping trip – maternity style – Brooke was almost two months along – accompanied by Haley and four year old James who were visiting Brooke in Los Angeles for the weekend where Nathan had a game of basketball. Their shopping was complete and had decided to each get an ice-cream for their efforts. Paying for their ice-cream, they sat down at a table with an umbrella.
"Mmmm," Brooke said, swallowing a mouthful of ice-cream. "This is good."
Both Haley and James nodded in agreement, with ice-cream covering James' face that made Brooke and Haley cackle to themselves.
James gazed towards the park where there were children playing ball games. He looked back to his mother with an intent look on his face like he was inching to get to that park. She nodded in response to him and he hurriedly finished his ice-cream so he'd get to the park to play leaving Brooke and Haley to eat their ice-cream.
"Hey! Are you stalking me now?" called Nick from behind Brooke.
She turned around and was surprised to see Nick dressed as a police officer.
"It is a surprise but I should be saying that line to you Officer," she laughed.
Nick raised his eyebrows and sighed. "Officer Nick Holtz – I am indeed."
Haley studied them both, intrigued and curious to know where they knew one another from. As if on cue, Brooke turned to Haley and introduced her to Nick as she did the same with Nick to Haley. Both greeted one another in the usual way while Haley continued to study Nick's actions towards Brooke.
It had occurred to her from the moment he appeared that Nick was interested in her friend. She was also well aware that Brooke was into him although she knew her sister all too well to know that she was holding back her true emotions for the sake of her existent dilemma.
And for that, Haley knew that she may have to assist her friend in letting her know that it's okay for her to act on her pre-existent feelings and invest in a relationship with Nick. She had to give credit to her friend – Nick was handsomely gorgeous.
James ran back towards Haley and Brooke where he stood close to Brooke grasping her hand with his and giving Nick a look of wariness. He gripped Brooke's hand with an urge of cautiousness. James had formed a close bond to Brooke since she and Haley regularly saw one another and James was usually with Haley on ever occasion that they visited her.
She loved her moments when she had the opportunity to play with James as much as he enjoyed being with his godmother or Aunty Brooke as he called liked to call her. He had developed an increasing case of security towards Brooke since Adam's death although he didn't understand it but from his mother's report to him, he liked to help his mother in protecting Brooke.
Nick crouched down to his eye level, clasping his hands together. "Hello, what is your name?"
James looked to Haley who encouraged him to speak and then peered back to Nick.
"I'm James."
"Well James, it's nice to meet you," he said smiling.
James loosened his grip of Brooke's hand. "You're a police man. I've got a toy police car that I like to play with."
Nick's eyes beamed. He was genuinely interested by James and seemed to like children. "Really, well I'll have to take you for a drive in my police car. Would you like that?" James eagerly nodded enthusiastically.
"James, what would you say if I were to ask your mom out on a date?"
Brooke rolled her eyes. "Please! He's my god-son and he's four years old. I'm twenty two and barely pregnant now – he's Haley son."
"I think that would be okay," James shrugged. He was increasingly keen on the idea of being in a real police car to worry about a potential date for his god mother.
"Thank you James. You've been very helpful," he stood up and eye-balled Brooke intensely, obviously searching for her pregnancy – she was just beginning to show a small tummy.
"Your god son says yes. So what do you say?"
"Are you always this persistent?" Brooke questioned him with intensity as she tried to stall for as long as she possibly could in hope that Nick would disappear.
"Only when what I want plays stubborn which enriches me to try harder," he paused. "Besides, I'm a police officer – it's my job to serve and protect the community, so sue me."
Brooke laughed. At least an advantage was his sense of humor – that counted for something. But she wasn't convinced she should say yes.
He wants me, that is a plus, she thought to herself. And he doesn't seem fazed by the pregnancy factor.
"I don't know..." Brooke started.
Haley stood up from her chair and walked to stand beside Brooke where she pulled her up to her feet and nudged her with arm as if to say don't be daft – we'll all be right. Go for it!
"My friend says yes," Haley cut in sounding all too perky for Brooke's liking. Brooke gave her an irritated look which prompted Haley to add. "Pick her up at seven o'clock tonight. She'll be ready – I'll make sure of it. In the meantime, you just worry about where you're taking my friend," Haley wrapped her arm around Brooke's shoulders grinning from ear to ear. "It better be good."
Haley took hold of James' hand and scribbled Brooke's address down on a scrap of paper and handed it to Nick.
"See you tonight, I'll be waiting," Brooke smiled, this time feeling more energetic about her date tonight.
"Okay, I'll see you tonight."
Before she turned she saw Nick break into a wide grin and she herself was beginning to smile again too. She hadn't realized it before but Nick was extremely good looking. He hadn't been wrong to keep pursuing her.
There, she thought, that wasn't so hard. Sure, her blood pressure had risen and her palms were sweating already at the thought of dating Nick but overall, moving on was beginning to feel right. She was beginning to feel better than she had in a long time – it was the start of something new.