This is an idea I've been toying around with for awhile. What would have happened if Brooke had come from a large, loving family? What if Karen had allowed Dan to be a part of Lucas' life as he grew up? Would they still be the same people? Alternate universe; relationships will become apparent as the story progresses. Let me know what you think!

Chapter 1 - I Remember You

"Woke up to the sound of pouring rain. It washed away a dream of you. But nothing else could ever take you away, 'cause you'll always be my dream come true..." - Skid Row

Don't stop, make it pop; DJ, blow my speakers up. Tonight I'm gonna fight 'til I see the sunlight. Tik tok on the clock, but the party don't stop –

Brooke Davis groaned and hit the snooze button on her clock radio. It was 5:15 in the morning - still much too early. She rolled over and curled up under her wine-coloured comforter, thinking back to the last time she heard that song. She'd been dancing on a beach under a starry night sky...that's when she met him. The incredibly hot guy she ended up making out with. At least she thought he was hot; she was pretty wasted by that point. But she did remember his eyes...amazing ocean blue eyes which seemed to pierce her soul. And he was amazing kisser. Brooke sighed and closed her eyes, smiling at the memory.

3 Months Ago

The thumping bass pounded in Brooke's ears as she kicked off her flip-flops and danced in the sand, surrounded by a bunch of drunken sweaty strangers. Her friends had gradually drifted off over the last few hours. Nathan and Rachel were bedding their respective conquests, Jake left a couple hours ago since he had to work early the next day and Haley had wandered off to find an old friend of hers she was supposed to meet up with. Brooke didn't mind being alone right now. She loved the beach and she loved dancing. That was all she needed for the perfect summer kick-off. After finishing up her freshman year at Duke, she deserved to let loose. The next three months, all she had to worry about was finding the hottest parties and getting a tan.

She sighed contentedly and looked up at the sky. Was it her imagination, or did the sky suddenly seem much lighter? Brooke wracked her brain trying to remember if she'd called home. Even though she was nineteen-years-old and technically an adult, her parents still expected her to check in if she was going to be out late. "Nothing good ever happens after two a.m.," was one of her father's favourite sayings. Brooke begged to differ; some of the best times in her life had occurred after two a.m. Slumber parties, playing 'I Never', skinny dipping, the first time she had sex – all of those things happened after two a.m. and they were pretty great.

She was lost in this train of thought when she spun around and collided with a guy. She stepped backwards and looked up at him. The first thing she noticed was his clothes; she always noticed everyone's clothes. He wore a tight black t-shirt and a pair of worn jeans. He was tall – at least 6"2. Brooke couldn't help gaping at him: he had an amazing body. But what really caught her attention were his eyes. They were the deepest, bluest eyes she had ever seen in her life. She could so drown in those eyes...

"Sorry about that." She apologized, smiling up at him.

"Don't worry about it." He returned her smile and caught her by the waist, as she stumbled, nearly falling over on her ass. "Careful – are you okay?"

Brooke could feel a hot flush sweeping across her cheeks. "Let's just say I'm feeling no pain," she replied, with a laugh. Suddenly, she realized that his hands were still on her waist and they were standing very closely together. Normally, if a strange guy put his hands on her, she had no problem giving him a hard slap across the face. But this guy...he was different. She liked being in his arms; she felt safe with him. It just felt right. Maybe it was the alcohol coursing through her veins or maybe it was those gorgeous eyes; but Brooke Davis was about to do something reckless and she didn't really care.

She slid her hands up his chest, biting her lips as she felt his rock-hard pecs beneath his shirt. He looked down at her questioningly, with the hint of an amused smile on his face. She stared at his lips for a second before returning her gaze to his eyes. They glimmered with interest and desire...but she could see another emotion beneath the surface. Maybe sadness? All she knew was that she wanted to make it go away. Before she lost her nerve, she stood up on her tiptoes and kissed his hard on the lips. He didn't seem to mind; in fact, it was almost like he expected her to kiss him. He pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms tightly around her. She ran her fingers through his hair and gently bit his lower lip. She smiled slightly as he grunted and slipped his tongue inside her mouth. Brooke forgot about everything – the party, the music, her friends, the approaching daylight. She lost herself in that kiss; she lost herself in him.

Finally – it could have been minutes, it could have been hours; time had lost all meaning to Brooke – he broke away from the kiss. Still, he held her closely; as if he worried she would slip away. They stared at each other in the early morning light. He smiled almost shyly and touched his swollen lips.

"Where did you learn to kiss like that?" he asked, his eyes twinkling.

Brooke just shrugged and tilted her head. "Maybe we should find somewhere private to get to know each other better?" she whispered in his ear.

His smile widened and he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as he looked her up and down. "Meet me in the boathouse. I just need to run back inside – to grab us something to drink."

Brooke hesitated for a moment. She heard her father's voice echoing in her head: "Nothing good ever happens after two a.m." She looked up into those blue eyes and she was a goner. Her uncertainty melted away and she nodded, biting her lower lip. "Don't keep me waiting."

"You won't even notice I'm gone, Pretty Girl." He grinned at her before turning away and jogging back towards the house.

Brooke's heart was pounding as she watched him climb the stairs to the back deck. He paused and she could see him looking at her. She felt a grin spread across her own face as he disappeared inside the house. She bent down to pick up her flip-flops and nearly fell over when she heard someone call her name.

"Brooke, there you are!" She turned to see her friend, Haley James, approaching. "I've been looking all over; it's almost five in the morning, Tigger. We've got to go."

Brooke groaned and stamped her foot. "Hales, don't be so mean! I just met a gorgeous guy and he is an amazing kisser."

Haley crossed her arms and stared at Brooke disapprovingly. "What's his name?"

"Uh...I don't know," Brooke admitted. "We haven't exactly been chitchatting, if you know what I mean." She giggled.

"You're wasted, Brooke. It's a good thing I found you before you did something stupid." Haley rolled her eyes and grabbed Brooke's hand. "Besides, Ma and Pa Davis aren't going to be too impressed that their precious princess spent her first night home from school partying until the crack of dawn."

Brooke sighed and relented. "Fine, let's go," she grumbled, as she followed Haley up the path to the road. She cast one glance backwards at the Scott beach house, before turning away with another sigh. It was probably for the best – the booze was wearing off.

"It's okay, Tigger. Nate'll be throwing tons of parties this summer. Maybe you'll find your mystery man at the next one." Haley reassured her.

Brooke smiled at her friend."You're right – I've got all summer to find him again."

Except, she never did see the boy with the brooding blue eyes again. Even though Nathan threw many parties that summer, she never did attend another one. She thought of him nearly every day; the boy on the beach was a reminder of what her life used to be, how she used to be. Whenever things got depressing, she would think of him and remember how alive he made her feel, even if it was only for a little while. How she was on the brink of giving him everything she had; heart, mind, body, soul.

But that couldn't happen now, not with him, not with anyone, not ever. That morning was the best and worst morning of her life. That morning, everything changed.

Brooke squeezed her eyes shut against the tears threatening to spill over. This happened every morning when she woke up and realized the last three months weren't a horrible dream. It was reality; her new reality.

She choked back a sob, remembering the girl she used to be: a fun, joyful, spontaneous cheerleader who sought excitement and generated positive energy wherever she went. But that girl was long gone – summer was now over and the girl she used to be had faded away.

She swallowed her tears and fought to regain control of her emotions. She needed to be strong; for them. They depended on her so much – they drew their strength from her. 'It just isn't fair,' Brooke thought. Then again, since when had life ever been fair?