Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill or any of it's characters.
Author's Note: I lied. It does not take place during season 2.. It is definitely season 1, but I guess the story kind of has it's own time frame. None of the new season 2 characters exist.. Nathan and Haley are not married.. The whole Lucas/Brooke/Peyton triangle thing did happen.. I guess that's pretty much the basics. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. I have decided that the pairing will most definitely be Nathan/Brooke, but they have a ways to go. Their relationship will develop... you'll see what happens. Oh, and I'm trying to include a variety of characters so it's not based solely on Brooke, although she might be considered the premise. Oh, and one more thing... PLEASE drop a review- just to let me know that you're reading, if nothing else. I don't know what to make of all these hits with a fraction of the reviews. Don't get me wrong, I did appreciate the reviews I received. Thank you guys so much! You're the best:) Sorry, this chapter came out a little later than expected, but I'm done with school now so I'll try and update more frequently.
Chapter 1: Merciless Slut
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"Come on, Brooke… You have to try to be open-minded." Peyton pleaded with her friend. They had been at the mall for hours and were so far unsuccessful. "These are… cute." she said, picking up a pair of wedges, ignoring the fact that they had 'cheap' written all over them.
Brooke looked back at her friend with a solemn expression on her delicate face. "Peyton, Peyton, Peyton…" she shook her head in disappointment. Had she not taught her anything? "Need I remind you that you found those shoes in a bin? That's just code for cheap garbage…" she glanced up to see a saleswoman standing directly in front of her. "Lovely shoes. Vintage is so in right now." without another word, she grabbed Peyton's arm and dragged her away.
"I don't see why you can't just wear one of your old outfits to Nathan's party." Peyton reasoned once they had left the store and were apparently on their way to another one.
Brooke laughed incredulously. "One of my old outfits? My parents gave my one-hundred dollars, Peyton, and I am going to spend it… before they take it back to buy food or something."
"Oh, come on. You guys aren't that poor."
"Did I tell you we're having a yard sale on Saturday?" Brooke replied, trying to prove her point. "We practically have to sell all of our possessions to keep from going bankrupt."
Peyton shook her head and laughed as Brooke stuck her lower lip out a few inches and her eyes widened. "Fine!" she gave in. "If you can find a dress for a hundred dollars, I'll cover shoes and accessories."
Brooke squealed with delight as she bounded into her friends arms. "Thanks, P. Sawyer! You are so my best friend."
"Someone's got to be." Peyton replied as she opened up her purse, retrieving some of her father's "emergency" money.
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Peyton couldn't hide her smile as she approached her clean-cut, drama-free boyfriend. Jake was standing at his locker, retrieving the materials needed for his next class.
His smile matched hers the moment he noticed her standing there. She was wearing her Tric promoting t-shirt- something that had never been buried in her closet for long, unlike the many items that Brooke had forced her to buy- and a simple pair of loose-fitting jeans.
"Hey," she said, breaking the ice. The two teens were still adjusting to the concept of dating.. Not "hanging out", but actual, full-on dating.
"Hi, Peyton," he replied, extending his open hand. She readily accepted it. She had always considered hand-holding to be a bit cliché, but now that she was with Jake Jagielski? It was something she could definitely see herself getting used to.
"So, um... what are you doing Friday night?" she asked, almost cautiously. "I don't know if you've heard, but Nathan's having a party at his parent's beach house." she caught his eye and comprehended his hesitant expression. "I know the whole party scene gets a little old, but I have to be Brooke's chauffer anyway. It could be fun if we went together..." she looked away in an insecure fashion, praying he would take a hint and save them from this awkward situation.
"I'm sorry, Peyton..." he replied, and she could tell he was sincere. Jake was always sincere. "But I, uh... sort of have other plans."
She nodded with a forced smile plastered on her face, hoping she had succeeded in masking her disappointment. Had she misunderstood him from the beginning? Maybe they weren't the "exclusive" couple she had thought they were... Or maybe she was just being paranoid?
It didn't take him long to read her expression. "No, no... it's nothing like that." he assured her. "There's just something that I have to do."
Again, she nodded the way any supportive girlfriend would, but for some reason she could not put an end to the paranoia. What was he not telling her?
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"Hey, tutor friend!" Haley turned to see Brooke, as expected, standing before her, flipping her voluminous hair behind her shoulder. She was wearing a typical Brooke outfit- a short skirt and slutty top- along with a mischievous smile.
"That's a step up, I suppose." Haley replied, referring to her new label. "What's up, Brooke?"
"Word on the street is you and Nathan are getting pretty serious." Brooke never was the type to beat around the bush...
"Are you talking about sex?" Haley asked, digging her hands into the pockets of her denim jeans. "Because rest assured that lingerie set is sitting in my closet untouched."
"Believe me," Brooke replied with the knowledge that they were talking her area of expertise. "You will both be thanking me one day."
Haley rolled her eyes playfully. "Is this what you came to me for?" Haley inquired. "To talk about my sex life? Or lack thereof..."
"Believe it or not, no. I'm afraid to say that I actually have an ulterior motive."
Haley waited expectantly, and somewhat impatiently, for her to go on. Moments earlier, she had spied Lucas via her peripheral vision and was eager to talk to him.
"Well," Brooke finally went on. "Seeing as how you're Nathan's girlfriend, I assumed you'd be at his party on Friday..."
"Actually, no." Haley stopped Brooke short. "I wasn't planning on it."
Brooke's dainty features were etched with confusion. "Why not?"
"It's not really my crowd." Haley replied truthfully. "And besides, I already promised myself to Lucas."
At the mere mention of his name, Brooke's previously perky mood deteriorated. The painful memories flooded back all at once. Despite the fact that all three of them had seemed to move passed it, it was still something she had to live with. She masked her pain with the title of captain of the cheer sluts and merciless bitch. "Of course you did..." Brooke began, having been reminded of her expected role. "God forbid Lucas spend an evening alone."
Haley folded her arms in annoyance and sent the brunette a warning glare. "That's not fair. Lucas is my best friend, and like it or not, he used to mean something to you, too."
Brooke watched as Haley walked off to the man himself and sighed. What wasn't fair was that Lucas had the ability to make any and all women come running. He could get anyone he wanted, and that wasn't because of his growing popularity. He was the complete opposite of his brother- the sweet, sensitive one. Yes, the Scott boys were something else. Besides their passion for basketball, they shared none of the same qualities, and yet it was impossible to determine which one was more desirable.
Brooke was embarrassed when Lucas caught her staring. She abruptly turned around and walked in the other direction, distancing herself from him. She spied Bevin talking to a freshman who didn't stand a chance and immediately linked arms with her, dragging her friend away in a hurry. No longer would Lucas Scott have that affect on her.
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"Good one, P. Sawyer." Brooke forced an uncomfortable, and somewhat shaky laugh. "You really had me goin'..."
Peyton sighed and looked up at her best friend apologetically. "I'm really sorry, Brooke. You know I'd do anything for you... It's just that-"
"Then don't bail out on me!" Brooke desperately pleaded. "Getting wasted will be no fun if you're not there to be my chauffer!"
Peyton bit her bottom lip guiltily. "You'll have Bevin..." she began to protest, but to no avail. Brooke was clearly incessant that she attend this party.
"It wont be the same!" the brunette dramatically cried.
Peyton sighed, beginning to consider the battle lost. And she had so badly wanted to surprise Jake... Then suddenly, it hit her. "Who paid for those seventy-five dollar heels you just had to have?" and she knew she had won. "Cut me a little slack, Brooke. I'm still your best friend... but tonight I really need to be Jake's girlfriend."
Brooke folded her arms stubbornly, and even attempted her famous pout.
"That wont work." Peyton said in a sing-song voice.
"Whatever happened to hoes over bros?" Brooke wanted to know. In turn, she received a stern expression on her friend's relentless face. "Fine," she gave in. "but if you two don't have sex after tonight, then so help me God..."
Peyton laughed and stepped forward to hug her best friend. "Don't worry... you'll be so drunk that you wont even miss me."
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Brooke impatiently refilled her plastic cup with the first bottle of alcohol she could find.
"Brooke!" Bevin scolded, half drunk herself. "Peyton told me to look after you, and I think you've had a bit too much to drink."
Brooke couldn't help but laugh at her current ally's slurring. Bevin definitely wasn't the best at handling her liquor...
"Hey Bevin," Brooke said, not bothering to wait for a drunken response. "I think Tim's waiting for you." she pointed to one of the bedroom doors with an approving smile, praying that her friend would comply... and ultimately lay off of her.
"Okay!" Bevin readily agreed, and stumbled off toward the given direction.
"Remind me to kill myself before ever coming to another party with Bevin." Brooke said, directing her comment to whoever was closest.
"And what a shame that would be."
Brooke turned to see none other than Nathan Scott standing beside her. She raised an eyebrow, intrigued, and smoothed the invisible wrinkles on her little black number. "You know what they say..." she started, placing a seductive finger on his chest and tracing tiny circles. "It's not who you arrive with. It's who you go home with."
"That sounds like something I used to say." Nathan replied, abruptly removing her finger.
"But you don't anymore?" Brooke laughed mockingly. "What, is tutor girl, like, expanding her horizons? You've mastered your fractions and are now on to morals?" she laughed some more, failing to notice the disgusted expression on his face.
He shook his head. She could be a real bitch sometimes. "I'm not going to listen to this." he began to maneuver his way through the crowd. He didn't get far before Brooke grabbed hold of his arm, stopping him.
"I'm sorry..." she said. It seemed as though she was actually sincere before she went on to say: "..sorry you aint gettin' any from tutor prude." she cracked up, not realizing how lame that sounded in her current frame of mind. Yes, as of right now, Brooke Davis was definitely living up to all expectations of her.
Nathan rolled his eyes and walked away, this time successfully.
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"See ya guys, thanks for coming." Nathan said routinely as the last of his guests stumbled through the open doorway. It was roughly four in the mourning, and he had insisted on kicking every last person out of his beach house. For some reason, the whole party scene just wasn't as appealing as it used to be... Neither was the cleaning, he noted as he stepped through the endless amount of garbage. He was looking forward to crawling onto his couch- perhaps the only place that people didn't have sex- and going to sleep.
Just one problem...
He walked into the main room to see a passed out Brooke sprawled across the floor, her plastic cup still seemingly attached to her hand. He shook his head and sighed heavily.
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Brooke awoke to a pain in her head like no other. She finally opened her eyes to discover that she was still at Nathan's... on his living room couch, to be exact. But she couldn't have possibly navigated herself... It was then that she noticed a faint voice coming from one of the bedrooms. She willed for the person to quit speaking. Her head was pounding enough as it is. But once she recognized her own name, she suddenly became very interested in what they had to say...
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"Yes, Brooke spent the night." Nathan confirmed, knowing that he had to be honest in order to gain any sense of trust. "But nothing happened, I promise you. She passed out... I slept on the floor."
"I don't want to sound like a jealous girlfriend, but I really don't like this, Nathan."
He could sense the disappointment in her voice, and it saddened him. He would do anything to gain her trust back completely. Anything. "The party went on for most of the night, anyway." he defended. "So, if it makes you feel better, she was only here a few hours longer than everyone else."
"That's comforting." Haley laughed. "Okay, fine. I'll let it slide... but just this once."
"I don't think you'll need to worry about anymore parties for awhile, Hales." he assured her. "And if I haven't learned my lesson yet, then I will by the time I finish cleaning this place up."
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Brooke effectively tuned him out with the help of a nearby pillow. She lost interest just as soon as her name was dropped from the conversation. She didn't need to hear Nathan phone flirting with tutor girl. There was just something wrong with that idea...
"You're awake."
Damn... "And you're half naked."Brooke noticed as Nathan walked into the room wearing only his flannel pajama pants. Why had she failed to notice his perfectly toned body before?
"So are you." he replied, referring to her dress, which was anything but modest.
"Look," she began, ignoring his previous comment. "I have no idea what I said or did last night, but I'm guessing that I probably left a path of destruction in my wake... I'm sorry if any of it was directed toward you."
He regarded her carefully, considering her apology for a moment before finally accepting it. "Don't worry about it."
She smiled, putting her signature dimples on display. It was impossible for him not to return the gesture.
"I hate to break this up," he said. "but as you can see, I have a bit of work to do."
She glanced around the beach house, which looked to be the victim of a tornado or something equally destructive. "Seeing as how most of this mess is probably mine... I'll help."
"Brooke Davis... cleaning up after herself?" Clearly, Nathan was utterly stunned. "I never thought I'd see the day."
"I'll have to get used to it sometime." she replied, referring to her current status. "I don't know if you've heard or not... but I'm poor."
And so she went into her dramatic tale as the two worked side-by-side.
Nathan didn't realize it then... but there would be other parties.