Set at the end of Season Four, Chase did return but couldn't get past the sex tape so he and Brooke never got back together. Peyton was never offered the internship in LA and so neither her nor Brooke left for the summer.
Summary: As a graduation present, Karen and Deb rent a house by the beach for the group. They also rent a smaller one a few minutes away for themselves. Mostly Brooke/Lucas, but also Nathan/Haley, Lucas/Peyton, Jake/Peyton, and possibly Rachel/Mouth, although I'm not yet sure about the last one. Basically, the story follows the events of the holiday… it's pretty straightforward really! Oh, and don't be put off by the boring first chapter, I've posted the second one too so hopefully you'll see an improvement! All reviews/criticisms are welcome
Chapter One
'Nate, you know I love your mom and Karen for organising this trip for us and all, but why did we invite Rachel?' Haley whined, as she clambered into the back of the minivan Lucas had borrowed in order to transport the seven teenagers, one baby, and lots of luggage to Portlyn, a small town on the North Carolina coastline.
Nathan laughed, completely used to his wife's hatred of the beautiful redhead. 'Well I don't think we did Hales,' he pointed out, 'I think you can blame Brooke for that one.'
'Blame Brooke for what?' the brunette asked, bounding up beside the back of the van followed by Mouth, who was practically buried beneath a small mountain of matching pink luggage. 'I already told you, the sex tape was all Nathan's idea, in fact you even saw him turn the camera on, there's no way he's blaming me for that one.'
'Okay, thanks for reminding me of that image,' Haley sarcastically rejoindered from her seat in the back, 'but we were actually talking about you inviting the W-H-O-R-E.'
'Two things tutor-mom,' Brooke rebutted as she climbed into the bus and took her place in the seat in front of Haley, dropping a kiss on James's forehead as she did so. 'One, I don't think my beautiful godson here has quite got the language skills to understand swearing yet, so the spelling was probably unnecessary, and two, you told me I could bring a date.'
'So Rachel's your date?' Nathan raised his eyebrows. 'Hmmm, this trip just got interesting!'
The two girls shot him twin looks of disgust, as Nathan held up his hands in defeat and returned to helping Mouth with Brooke's mountain of luggage. 'Well, no,' Brooke continued her explanation, 'but seeing as of the two men I've ever actually loved, one is dating my best friend and the other refuses to have anything to do with me because I slept with the ex-boyfriend of said best friend, aka the brother of best friend's current boyfriend, while they were dating, my love life is somewhat non-existent at the present time, hence Rachel. And besides, she's actually been a good friend to me, even if she is a bitch to 99 of the population. Plus, she has good shoes, meaning I didn't have to bring as many.'
'Well I for one am glad she's here,' Mouth joined the conversation as he jumped into the middle passenger seat, whilst Nathan made his way to the back next to his son, who was fast asleep in his baby seat next to Haley. 'If Brooke had brought any more shoes I think we'd have needed another van.'
'Hmmm, you've got a point there man,' Nathan agreed as Brooke stuck her tongue out at Mouth's comment. 'Okay, Rachel can stay.'
'Aww, Nate, I knew you wanted me,' Rachel smirked in Haley's direction as she bounced into the seat next to Brooke.
'Ugh, kill me now', Haley moaned, smacking her head against the window in genuine disgust.
'Well, that could be arranged', Rachel taunted back. 'I could totally go for the hot-single-dad thing. Manly man, taking care of his little baby, such a turn on, right Pey?' This last aimed at the curly-haired blond who had just entered the van, joining Brooke and Rachel on the middle row.
Peyton rolled her eyes. 'Did I mention how glad I am that you're joining us on this trip?' she asked sarcastically.
Rachel smiled sweetly. 'It's always the same,' she announced to no one in particular. 'Guys want me right here right now, girls want me as far away as possible. It's tough being as hot as me. But don't worry, I promise to stay away from the Scott brothers. Can't promise they can resist me though.'
'Oh, I think we'll survive, right Nate?' Lucas asked his brother as he got into the driver's seat. 'I mean, I did manage to resist the sight of you naked, if I remember rightly.'
Rachel grunted in annoyance and sat back in her seat as the rest of the group laughed. 'Right then, we ready to go?' Lucas continued as he stuck the keys into the ignition. 'No one's forgotten anything?' As a chorus of 'no's' and 'ready's' met his questions, Lucas nodded and started the engine. 'Okay, then, Portlyn here we come.'
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One hour and five Rachel-Haley spats later, Brooke was beginning to get cold. 'Hey, Nate,' she whispered, trying not to wake either James or his now-sleeping mother, 'can you see if anyone has a sweater near the top of their bag? I'm fricking freezing here.'
Nathan turned round to examine the pile of bags behind him. 'Uh, the bags at the top are all yours,' he answered. 'Any idea which one's got a sweater in?'
Brooke sighed exasperatedly. 'I didn't bring one,' she answered, 'I mean, we're going to the beach, it's supposed to be hot.'
Rachel laughed in disbelief. 'Davis, there is no way you haven't brought a sweater. What about that stupid grey hoodie you always wear? Okay, I know it's ugly and about ten sizes too big even for your fat ass, but you use that thing like a security blanket, there's no way you didn't bring it.'
'Got it,' announced Nathan who had been rummaging around in the topmost of Brooke's bags as Rachel spoke, as he pulled out a grey bundle and shook it slightly. 'Man, you're right, this is huge, why do you even have this Brooke?'
By this time Peyton and Rachel had both turned round to observe the proceedings, whilst Lucas watched through the rearview mirror. Sighing, Brooke reached over and grabbed the hoodie out of Nathan's hands, hoping to avoid the inevitable. But no such luck. With one final shake, Nathan passed over the sweater, its logo clear for all to see: Keith Scott Body Shop.
For a second there was total silence as the group simultaneously assessed the situation and its implications. Then, silently, Nathan carefully lifted the incriminating hoodie from Brooke's hands and zipped it back inside her bag, before removing his own sweater and passing it over to her, with a look of sympathy mixed with apology.
'Thanks,' she mumbled, as she pulled it over her head, her eyes meeting Lucas's reflection as she did so. He gave her a small, sad, smile, and she sighed again, leaning her head against the window, trying to regain some sort of equilibrium.
'Okay, seriously, what's the big deal?' Rachel asked brightly. 'So Brooke likes to wear Lucas's sweater, it's not like it means she's still in love with him, right?'
Brooke glanced back up at Rachel, catching the look of bewilderment on Peyton's face in the seat next to the redhead's. 'Hardly,' she snorted, as convincingly as possible, 'it's just comfy that's all.'
The words sounded hollow to her own ears, but a look of relief passed over Peyton's face and Brooke smiled, knowing she'd been believed. But as she settled back into her seat her eyes caught Lucas's again and his piercing blue eyes burned straight into her heart. Dammit Luke, I don't love you, she told his reflection silently and vehemently, and for a moment she almost believed it. Almost.
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'So how far is your mom and Deb's cabin from here?' Mouth asked Lucas as they helped Nathan carry the bags into the house. The two older women had decided to spend their own vacation close by, with Lily, as neither was entirely ready to return to work following the events of the last few weeks.
'Just a few minutes down the road, right Nate?' Lucas answered as his brother grunted in agreement.
'Yep,' the younger Scott concurred, 'free babysitters on tap.'
Mouth laughed, shaking his head. 'Yeah, like there's any chance either you or Haley are gonna let that baby out of your sight!'
Nathan grinned, knowing full well his son had already got both his parents wrapped around his little finger. 'Okay, so maybe we won't make full use of their services,' he admitted, 'but I somehow think we might have to let his grandma look after him sometimes. Brooke and Rachel are part of this trip remember, and I'm pretty sure they've got plans that James isn't quite ready to be part of!'
'You may have a point there', Mouth agreed, as Lucas picked up the last bags and carried them inside. 'Hey, do you think she's alright? Brooke, I mean? That thing with Lucas's hoodie was a bit odd…'
Nathan shook his head slightly. 'I dunno man,' he said, 'sometimes I think she's still into him, but you know Brooke, she'd never admit it even if she was. I'm sure she's okay though.'
'Yeah,' Mouth nodded 'I'm sure she is. I just worry about her though you know?'
Nathan slammed the boot of the van shut and locked it. 'Yeah, me too, Mouth' he muttered as the two made their way into the house. 'Me too'.
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'Why is it that rooms with twin beds always have less wardrobe space than those with doubles?' Brooke whined as she tried to cram another hanger into the already overflowing closet. 'Surely it should be people who actually have a sex life who don't need clothes?'
'Firstly, don't tar us all with the same brush. You might be a born-again virgin, but me? I don't think so. And secondly, hello, what about lingerie? I bet Peyton's side of the closet's full of sexy outfits to lure Lucas into bed,' Rachel countered from her place on one of the beds in the room the two girls shared.
Brooke shot her a dirty look and continued to unpack. 'I'm choosing to ignore that comment on the grounds that I've seen P. Sawyer in lingerie and she doesn't have the chest for it. Plus, Lucas prefers his women to go without wherever possible, easier access that way.' A saucy smile crossed her face as she remembered the numerous times she and Lucas had got so horny they had had no choice but to take care of it right there and then, be that in the car, in the locker rooms, or in Karen's Café. Underwear was a real hindrance in those sorts of situations.
'Ugh, you're thinking about sex with Lucas whilst he's probably fucking your best friend in the next room, how warped is that?' Rachel's whining cut through the images that were currently running through Brooke's head, and she glared at her friend in annoyance.
'I am not thinking about sex with Lucas,' she protested feebly, before remembering that she was supposed to be mad at Rachel for events in the car, 'although everyone probably thinks I am now that you've told them all I wear his hoodie like, what was it? A security blanket? He probably thinks I'm still in love with him for fuck's sake!'
'Uh, hate to tell you this Davis, but you are' Rachel announced matter-of-factly. 'Yeah, yeah,' she continued, as Brooke opened her mouth to protest, 'I know, you don't love Lucas, you love Chase, and he's the reason you're such a miserable bitch, blah blah blah. I've heard it all before, but that doesn't make it any less bullshit.'
Brooke glared furiously at her friend, struggling to think of a comeback, but desperately unable to do so. 'Well at least Lucas didn't refuse to sleep with me,' she finally scoffed feebly, turning and storming out of the room, as Rachel's laughter followed her.