Hello lovelies! First I want to say thank you to everyone that's reading this story. You all are amazing! Second I have loved reading all of your reviews, I am liking all the enthusiasm towards the non OTH characters. As I mentioned before I haven't decided yet who Brooke is going to choose, I have a few things written down, but nothing set in stone yet. I am going to use your feedback throughout the story to determine who will win Brooke's heart in the end. Another thank you to everyone that reviewed (peridot moonlight, dianehermans, callison, paganraimi, mileycfan4eva, thibbs65, inyouratmosphere23, clavyus, naley23alwaysforever, and the guests). A couple shout outs:
Guest: I love that you are a Ryan Atwood fan.. I recently rewatched The OC and I couldn't agree with you more. Ryan got the raw end of the deal as far as girlfriends were concerned. I am looking forward to incorporating him into this story, hope you will enjoy it too.
Callison: Thank you for your review. I love Tim Riggins! I do have a soft spot in my heart for Brooke and Clay...
Peridot Midnight: Writing all of the bios was probably the coolest thing I've written for this story so far. I won't be incorporating the supernatural in this story so I wanted to write in subtle nods to their "super" attributes in their bios. And girl you take your time with your story, you know I'll read it whenever you update it. ;)
Thanks for reading!
-Krystal
*TG&AG*
Chapter 4:
"I was looking for you," the man grinned down at her, "creepy Chris Keller... it's nice to officially meet you Brooke Davis. I have heard so much about you."
"Ummm," Brooke's cheeks burned and she backed up out of his reach, "I didn't say creepy did I?" Brooke extended her hand and reminded herself that this was the man from the network, not the creepy guy that opened flirted with Haley in front of her husband and didn't care who noticed his eyes lingering on her breasts, "Brooke Davis, nice to meet you."
He looked at her pert and toned body, practically naked in a small red string bikini, "the pleasure is all mine. My, my, this season is going to be sensational - how is it possible that you're single Miss Davis?"
Brooke's cheeks burned for a second time in as so many minutes, it felt like such a personal question, and to be asked by a complete and total stranger… Brooke blinked back to reality and lifted her shoulders, "I haven't met the right guy I suppose. Are you single Mr. Keller?"
"Hell no," Chris chuckled, "unless you're interested doll face." Brooke didn't seem amused by his remarks, "only a joke sweetheart. I am in the middle of my third divorce, such a mess. Actresses always expect you to fork over the biggest alimony checks. But that's enough chitter chatter, Keller doesn't bother listening once the documents are signed, that's what high powered attorneys are for - amiright?" Chris cleared his throat when his remarks didn't even garner the weakest of sympathy laughs, "where is Nathan Scott? He knew I would be dropping by."
Brooke heard the sound of the front door and in strolled Peyton and Rachel, each of them armed with several garment bags. "P. Sawyer, Rach," she hurried to greet them, "I'm so glad you made it." She turned her attention back to Chris and flashed him a megawatt smile, "you will find Nathan out back with the contractors, it was nice to meet you but as you can see I have my hands full-"
Haley entered the commotion and finished hastily, "-with the photo-shoot and two network interviews she has scheduled before we get out of her hair for the night." Chris stared at the bevy of beautiful women in awe, "Nathan is just out back Chris, please excuse us."
After Chris left the house Haley, Brooke, and Peyton exchanged knowing glances and giggled, "he's sort of hot in a narcissistic playboy kind of way," Rachel smiled coyly, "who is he again?"
"Seriously?" Peyton questioned, giving Rachel a side eyed glance.
"What? Did someone already call dibs?" Rachel responded, without so much as an eye flutter.
Haley wanted to slap some sense into Rachel but a quick glimpse of the time told her that they were already behind schedule, "did you bring the contracts?"
"Of course I did, do you think I would have made the drive to Malibu without them?" Rachel tossed the thick vinyl bags into a waiting club chair, and reached into her messenger bag, "here you go slut, all the places your herbie hancock is needed is marked with these festive blue tabs."
"I think you mean John Hancock," Peyton volunteered. "I swear Rachel how did you get through high school, let alone college?"
"Enough Bitch Sawyer, I am dying to know what is in these garment bags." Rachel kicked the chair with a thump. Spending an hour and a half in her tiny two seater convertible with Peyton complaining about the drive the entire time from the passenger seat had put the redhead in a foul disposition. She needed something to snap her out of it and Rachel Gattina had always had an affinity for high fashion.
"Formal wear for the shoot, come on we don't have much time." Haley sighed as she looked at her watch again, "hair and makeup will be here shortly, the look we are going for is romantic sunset rendezvous. Nathan and the guys just finished the altar, it will make the perfect backdrop."
Brooke loved seeing Haley so excited about something, she wished in that moment that she had actually taken the time to watch the previous seasons of the show so she knew what was coming up. No sense throwing myself a pity party now, this is all going to be trial by fire and I just need to roll with it. Brooke unzipped the first bag, "you have got to be kidding me Haley Bob, are these wedding dresses?"
"Yes, but I had Peyton go through all of them beforehand." Haley answered before sticking her tongue out, "the entire point of the show Brookie is for you to make a love connection."
Brooke stared down at the first gown, it was an ivory structured strapless mermaid dress by Zac Posen. It was simple, elegant, classic and beautiful. Oh Lord, what have I gotten myself into? "You have done like 5 seasons of this show right?" Peyton pulled her sunglasses from her wild curly hair and nodded, "so how many of those love connections made it down the aisle?"
"Technically two," Haley said with a huff.
"Technically two?" Rachel repeated.
"One couple got married in Spain, but they never went to a courthouse here so the union wasn't recognized in the United States. Jeff and Michelle have since parted ways so we don't count them." Peyton answered as she hung the garment bags on a rolling clothing rack and opened each of them, "hey our record is better than the juggernaut over on ABC, we are also on a cable network - smaller budget. Smaller budgets mean less flashy dates, which means less opportunity for contestants to become jaded by the entire process. Our love stories happen more organically, less producer influence." Mostly… Peyton added to herself. "I will say though B. Davis you are the biggest pull that's been on any of the dating shows on any of the networks bar none." After Peyton unzipped the last bag and sat down on the chaise she continued, "now put on the dresses. I am dying to see my bestie in a wedding gown even if she doesn't have a groom."
*TG&AG*
Almost two hours later Brooke headed downstairs with the girls following closely behind. After much back and forth it was decided that Brooke had to wear a blush colored chiffon off shoulder sheath dress with a ruched sweetheart bodice. The hair and makeup team styled Brooke's hair in natural waves and light sunkissed makeup. "It's official, you are a gorgeous bride Brooke." Rachel scoffed, "I detest you. This was all thrown together with very little effort, I can't imagine what you would look like had you all been at 100%."
"Enough Rachel," Brooke hissed. "This is just for the optics." Brooke gathered up the gauze-like skirt and stepped out to the back patio and gasped. "Wow, that's one hell of an altar. You outdid yourself hotshot." Brooke looked out at her picturesque view now framed by a driftwood pergola covered in jasmine and twinkle lights. "Do you have to take it down when we're done filming?"
"If you want to keep it Davis it's yours." Nathan smiled as he straightened down the lapel on his navy blue tuxedo jacket.
Brooke whistled, "what's with the suit Scott?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Nathan spun around, "we're getting married," Nathan laughed. "Our male model got stuck on PCH, Jake wasn't the right size, so it had to be me. How do you feel about polyamory?"
"Jake's here?" Brooke looked at the few unfamiliar faces, but she didn't see the one she was looking for. After the awkward conversation on her doorstep last night and the late night phone call that ended abruptly in the early hours of the morning she really hadn't wanted to see him today… especially not dressed like a bride.
"Yes, Jake is here." Jake called out from behind her, "but not for long, Jenny has a dance recital in a few hours. I just wanted to make sure the contracts were signed. If those are ready I am going to grab them and drop them off with the stiffs at legal on my way back to the city." His heart quickened at the sight of her, if Brooke Davis was good for only one thing it was certainly commanding a room's full attention, "so did you get to them Brooklyn? If not I need you to handle it before we lose the light."
"Rach!" Brooke screams without meaning to. "Rachel has them." She turned her attention back to Nathan before the uncomfortable moment with Jake made her lose her nerve, "so why are you in the shoot again?"
"Easy," Nathan clapped his hands together, "come here and I'll show you." Brooke took his hand, and he led her down to the pergola. "I'm going to stand in front of you, facing the water, and extend my left hand backwards, you're going to take it, and look back at the cameras with one of those ridiculous smiles of yours. In editing they are going to make me an 'everyman' type, what do you think?"
"You couldn't blend in with us mere mortals if you tried." Brooke giggled softly. "I mean look at you, you're practically Adonis, it hurts my eyes."
Nathan heard Brooke talking, but she wasn't looking at him, she was clearly staring at Jake as he spoke with Rachel. Brooke turned back to him when Jake gave them a short look, "what's going on in that pretty little head of yours Davis?" Nathan pulled Brooke close to him, "do I need to be worried about you and Jagielski?"
"Me and Jake what?" Brooke asked innocently.
"Nathan, Brooke, are you guys ready." The photographer barged right into their private exchange. "I don't want to lose the light. By my math we have less than fifteen minutes to get the perfect shot... so no pressure."
"We will talk about this later?" Nathan didn't wait for Brooke to answer before he directed his full attention to the photographer, "let's do this."
*TG&AG*
Brooke shuffled her feet slowly down the hardwood stairs, she was exhausted. After the photo-shoot, she had to sit through two, hour long interviews, and answer questions she normally would have excluded in her actress's rider. She walked into the kitchen and headed straight for the refrigerator.
"I have been in this house for over twelve hours," Nathan scowled before rubbing the matted raven colored hair on his head, "have you seen my wife? We need to look over your list, it will determine which guys get access to the hot mics and order of arrival."
"I can get the list for you," Brooke answered with her face still inside the fridge. "Haley went home to relieve Deb, take a shower, and make sure Jamie and Lydia went to bed on time." Brooke yawned, "that was a few hours ago, maybe she fell asleep?" She shut the door and opened a drawer next to the sink, "here you go, I thought Haley gave it to you already."
Nathan read over the handwritten list of names and grinned at Brooke's little doodles and pictures scattered from top to bottom. "This list is a good start, but there are a few names that need to be added. Some of these guys are going to need to be chopped."
"What's wrong with my list? I did exactly what you asked me to do, Haley helped me pick my top ten for crying out loud. How could it be wrong?"
"Where's the fucking sizzle Davis?" Nathan snapped, before he could take a deep breath. "No one on this list is going to make good tv." Nathan pulled a pen from his front pocket and scribbled a set of names at the bottom, "these guys need to find a way into your top ten."
Brooke snatched the piece of paper from Nathan's hands, "no way Nate, it's not going to happen. This is half my list," the list included Lucas Scott. "You can't tell me with a straight face that your vanilla author brother has the right sizzle. There's something going on here and I am not agreeing to anything until you explain yourself." Brooke sat down at the counter and folded her arms across her chest, "I'm waiting Nathan, I've got all night."
Nathan reached in his pocket and pulled out a strip of gum, "I could really use a cigarette and we haven't even started filming. Haley's going to be so mad at you."
"Tell me Nate or I'll walk."
"You can't." Nathan dismissed her words without a second thought, "you signed the contracts. There's no backing out now Davis."
Brooke narrowed her eyes in his direction, "watch me hotshot. I have two rabid attorneys on speed dial, I pay them to eat jerks like you for breakfast." Brooke scanned the list again, "tell me the truth."
Nathan didn't have the energy or the desire to go to war with Brooke Davis tonight, there was no going back. There weren't any other options, he had to just come clean, "Luke just finished his latest book. I agreed to fast track his application to be on the show and guaranteed him a finish in the top five and a positive edit." Brooke punched him in the arm, "for what it's worth I do really think you two would like each other. He is the only guy that knows about the bachelorette change and he was thrilled when I told him you were stepping into Autumn's place. He was sweet on you when we were kids," Nathan lied to sell the story. Hell it could be true, "how about I let you keep six guys and you give me four."
Brooke studied the other names, "is there a story with Felix, Tim, Max, and Skills?"
"No, not really." Nathan checked his phone and there were three text messages from Jake, "Felix and Tim didn't get along during pre-production, Skills will appeal to the black viewers and Max is just odd." Looking through the messages reminded him of the terse exchange of words he had to diffuse between Chris and Jake the night before and the fact that they had both been on set this afternoon and not a single word was uttered between them, "is there something going on between you and Jake that I didn't see before?"
"No, we've been over this." Brooke said curtly, "Jake and I have history, that's all. There is no future there." Brooke opened her bottled water, "Can't we just add those five names to my list and make it top fifteen? I am so tired Nate, in addition to look-books, photo-shoots, and interviews I moved the rest of my personal belongings to the pool house." She tossed a key to him, "Haley said you needed a key to the pool house, you're the only one with access to my space while we're filming. I don't want some weirdo filming me while I'm sleeping and I don't want those guys thinking they can just pop in to the pool house for some private one on one time."
"We have a deal as long as you promise me conversations with each of the guys I selected. If their only interactions are with the other men it will be too obvious that you weren't interested in any of them and the illusion that you're here for the right reasons goes out the window. It is important that the audience falls in love with you right along with the guys in the house. I saw some snippets from your interviews, you looked sincere. Sincere sells magazine covers, ad space, merchandise, and everything in between."
"I was being sincere. This isn't just my life Nate, you guys are my family… I won't be the reason your show isn't a success." She yawned again, "I read the bios. Some of the men have real potential, I have never dated that many guys at one time before. Honestly, it's giving me a little bit of anxiety but I won't let you down."
Nathan came around the counter and brought Brooke into his warm embrace, "I just want you to have fun with it all Davis." He kissed her forehead and dropped his arms, "I'm going to head home, I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight Nate, drive safe."
*TG&AG*
Brooke stood in the sand transfixed by the crashing waves, it was taking everything she had not to run out into the water, the last 24 hours have been a total blur, she needed to see if this was all just some vivid dream. The last time she checked in with Peyton and Haley the guys were arriving shortly and she didn't feel ready for the show to start. Why did you agree to do this again?
"Brooke we need to fit you for your mic," Haley said from behind her, "I thought you were going to get dressed?"
Brooke's eyes widened, "what's wrong with my dress? I thought it was pretty, an independent designer sent it to me a few months ago and I didn't have any place to wear it, I thought tonight it would be perfect. You don't like it?"
Haley gulped as she gave Brooke a once over, she looked like she was wearing lingerie or a swimsuit coverup. The dress was mustard colored, embroidered lace, with a plunging V neckline and ¾ length sleeves. It was seethru except for the lined panels covering Brooke's breasts and the mustard yellow hotpants underneath. Haley didn't have one nice thing to say about the dress, "I don't know where we're going to place the microphone."
"It is a bit much isn't it?" Brooke crossed her arms across her chest, her normal confidence quickly faded away. "I can go change, I have another dress."
"No," Haley ordered, "this is your style. You look great, the point is to be yourself."
Haley and Brooke walked back to the house and Brooke's dress was already causing a stir around the cameramen. Peyton saw her and whistled, "now that is a first night dress."
Jake walked onto the porch and dropped the mic packs in his hands when he saw her, "damnit Brooklyn you gotta fix this cobblestone before someone gets hurt and sues you." Jake disappeared back into the house without uttering another word.
Haley clipped the nude colored mic pack to the belt around Brooke's waist. "I just hate you tigger," Haley muttered while she fastened Brooke's microphone to a piece of piped lace at her collarbone.
"What did I do now? I was just standing here."
"You aren't wearing anything under this so-called dress, I could never get away with something like this. At the very least I would need double sided tape to keep these babies in." Haley blushed when she realized she was rambling on about her best friends perky breasts. "I've nursed two children, I need layers and lots of support."
"Shut up tutor mom," Brooke pinched her friend, "you have the perfect life. I would trade you all of this for your beautiful life." For the first time since the shit show started a few days ago Brooke found herself wanting to find her special someone in the sea of men about to take up space in her living room. She knew this was all unconventional but as long as she had hope she had nothing to lose.
Nathan, Jake, Peyton, and the camera crew met them outside with a bottle of Champagne and glasses for a toast, "here's to a great season." Nathan raised his glass, "we were blessed with an absolute picturesque beach house this time around, thank you Davis for buying this place. I think when production wraps the Scott family is going to move in and never leave." He paused for the few chuckles from the crew, "we have a great group of men, Sawyer made sure none of them were crazy." Peyton tilted her glass at Nathan and saluted him, "the network fully supports our vision, Brooke I want to wish you luck on your search for love. If you decide halfway through that none of these guys are the one for you please please fake it, put all those acting classes to work." Peyton put her arm around Brooke's shoulder. "Jake when we pitched this concept I didn't think we had a snowball's chance in hell of getting an offer, yet here we are 5 seasons later and we're still kicking." Nathan drank in the salty ocean air, "lastly I want to thank my wife - Haley James Scott. You have stood by me when you should have left, I love you and thank you for taking this journey with me." Haley blew him a kiss, "let this season begin…"
*TG&AG*
So there's chapter 4... Questions? Comments? Concerns? I know I said filming would begin this chapter but when I read everything through I thought ending it right as filming was about to start worked best... Upcoming: Brooke meets all of her suitors in the flesh and some of them recognize her. Nathan, Jake, and the others realize early on that this season is going to be anything but conventional. Brooke picks the first 3 guys to go on dates with her.
Who would you like to see receive Brooke's first date invitation? Review and let me know your top 3.
Thanks again for reading!
Krystal
