Dedicated to: cheeryxotigger: Wherever you are, I miss your reviews and the motivation you always brought me by making me feel proud of my work. This entire story along with What's The Difference? is for you.
toddntan: who makes me want to be a better writer and makes me giggle with his words.
B. DavisRules: For her reviews and I hope I make her proud with this chapter, along with the entire story.
Dianehermans: For reviewing and motivating me.
There's some back tracking in this chapter, just a heads up.
Two Months Later
Thursday
"One. Two. Three. Four. Go! Five, Six, Seven, Eight! Move it!" Brooke yelled as kept a count with her fingers as she snapped. "Again! One, Two, Three, Four! Five, Six, Seven, Eight!" She kept counting as she watched the girls move through the routine.
Watching every girl, critiquing everyone in her head as the finished the part of the routine that Brooke had taught them. "Bevin, its two kicks not three. Peyton and Haley, you have legs now use them to their full extent. Rachel a little less of whatever you're doing over there. Theresa- yeah we'll work on it. Everyone else you're doing... okay so far." Brooke told them, she knew that she was being bossy but she was captain and they had a game this Friday so the routine for half time had to be perfect. Just like every game.
"Okay, now the second half. Then we'll put it together and then to the music. This has to be-" The doors opening cut Brooke off as the basketball team started jogging into the gym right on cue as they had been for the past two months. Rendering the brunette speechless as her eyes landed on a certain blonde hair blue eyed boy who already had a smile on his face as they locked eyes.
"Take a break." She told them as she saw Lucas walking towards her. "Broody!" Brooke cheered as she launched herself into his arms and wrapped her legs around his waist.
Laughing, he wrapped one of his arms around her waist and placed one on her thigh. "Hi Cheery." He said with a smile as twirled her around in a circle eliciting a laugh from her. As he stood still,he leaned up and gave her a soft kiss. Leaning down, Brooke gently grabbed the hair on the back of Lucas' head as she returned the kiss.
Slowly breaking the kiss he looked up at her, "How's the new cheer coming along?" He asked as he glanced over towards the squad who all seemed to have amused looks on their faces before he turned his attention back to the bubbly brunette.
"Hmm... they could be doing better." Brooke told him. "Then again I could be doing better too." She suggested towards him.
"Anything I can do to help in that department?" He questioned.
Smirking, "You want to join the squad?" She teased. "I really don't think your legs would look good in a skirt."
Rolling his eyes, "You know I meant in the department of you Cheery." He clarified.
"I can think of a couple things, like meeting for a walk by the beach with two hot chocolates from your moms cafe?" She suggested.
"Crazy girl, it's like 80 degrees outside." Lucas reminded her as a smile graced his lips. She was the only girl that he knew that could drink hot chocolate in the middle of a heat wave. "You realize we've done that almost every day for the past few weeks right?" He reminded her, as if she could forget, that the two of them had set up their own routine.
Shrugging her shoulders, "Meet you there?" She said with a smile.
"I'll see you after practice." Lucas told her on cue as he reluctantly placed her down on the ground, seeing the rest of the team already starting to stretch for practice.
"Okay." Brooke pouted as she tapped her index finger against her left cheek. Knowing that she should get back to her own practice and teaching the squad the new cheer.
Shaking his head in amusement, he leaned down and kissed her cheek before moving his mouth to his ear. "You looked amazingly hot out there." Lucas whispered into her ear, his hot breath hitting her neck and making her shiver.
"Scott! Five extra suicides! Stop lolly gagging with your girlfriend!" Whitey yelled, causing the guys on the team to hoot and holler in Lucas and Brooke's directions.
"Totally worth it." Lucas said with a smile as he winked at Brooke who blushed even deeper, before jogging to the other side of the gym where the team was.
"Rachel and Cooper aren't even that bad." A pregnant pause. "Inside school." Nathan added as they started stretching. "You two aren't even dating and you can't go five seconds without having your hands all over each other."
It was true, they weren't dating. Lucas knew they weren't because she would've started calling him boyfriend by now even Brooke had told him that. He didn't have a label for what they were. He really didn't want to, there was only her for him and it was only him for her. It worked because they were happy and why would he want to put a label on happiness, so with a shrug he said, "So."
"So." Brooke said as she grabbed the c.d. from her backpack. Standing back up, she saw that she was surrounded by a curious looking Haley, Rachel, Bevin, and a bored looking Peyton. "What?" She questioned, since this ambush started happening once a day for the past two months.
"What was that with Lucas?" Bevin asked with a smile as she saw Brooke blush slightly.
"Nothing. I just hadn't seen him in a while." Brooke answered simply, she didn't want to complicate things.
Her sister and friends had been trying to find out what was going on between the two of them for the past two months, but Brooke avoided giving them a truthful answer. She herself didn't know the true answer, she and Lucas had talked about it and decided to take the time to get to know one another with the occasional perks of being a couple every now and then without actually being a couple.
"You just saw him at lunch, two hours ago." Rachel pointed out as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked at her best friend pointedly, only to have Brooke shrug.
"Come on Brooke, just tell us you two are dating so we can all yell 'finally'." Haley said as she looked at her sister, hoping that she would just say they were.
"Shouldn't I be asking the same thing about you and Nathan?" Brooke asked, effectively shutting Haley up.
"Brooke, you might as well admit that you two are dating." Rachel stepped in.
"If I did that, I'd be lying because we aren't dating, we're just Brooke and Lucas." Brooke told them simply, effectively ending the conversation. "Now back to practice." She told them, authority already back in her tone of voice.
Letting out a sigh as they watched Brooke head back over to the squad. "You do realize that if they aren't together soon we are gonna have to take drastic measures." Rachel said as she glanced over at Haley.
"I know." Haley agreed. "But what more can we do? Brooke said that they've talked about it and they're taking it slow. Then I try to talk to Lucas about it and he's even more vague."
"Fine, we're calling in reinforcements. The whore. I'm sure Theresa's up for some flirting, it'll probably be the push Brooke needs." Rachel said as she glanced over at Lucas who had his eyes on Brooke, causing her to roll her eyes.
"Or for Brooke to commit a murder." Haley told her. "You know how much she dislikes Theresa outside of cheering. Besides if you ruin the concert for us, I might actually hurt you."
Scoffing, "I love you midget but you hurting me- it's not gonna happen." Rachel teased. "I promise I won't ruin the concert, but it is so on after the concert." She promised before turning her attention fully to the short honey blonde in front of her. "So what's going on with you and Nathan?"
"Oh, we better get over there. Looks like Brooke's ready to start." Haley said, trying to avoid the subject while she all but ran over to the rest of the squad avoiding Rachel's gaze.
"Now put it all together." Brooke said as she stood in front of her squad once again. "One, Two, Three, Four! Stay with the beat!" Brooke hollered as they continued to move. Letting out a sigh, "Stop!" She yelled as she walked over towards the stereo and hit play. Walking back over to her squad, she stood in front of them. "And Go! One, Two, Three, Four!" She yelled as they started moving along with the music.
During the turn, she stayed facing their squad as she continued doing the routine with them while watching them at the same time. Nodding her head as she quit dancing and continued to watch the squad dance. Brooke had a small smile as she realized they weren't messing up. As the dance ended, Brooke went over to the stereo and paused the music.
"That was great girls. Really." Brooke said sincerely. "Just one more time and then I'm letting you all go for the day." She announced, surprising all the girls but none of them objecting to leaving practice early. Restarting the song, Brooke stood in front of the squad. "One, Two, Three, Four." She counted before they started their routine again from the beginning, gaining most of the basketball team's attention as they began swaying their hips to the beat.
"Davis!" Whitey yelled, interrupting the whole routine. Sighing, Brooke signaled for Haley to turn off the music.
"Yeah, Coach?" Brooke inquired as she placed her hands on her hips.
"Stop distracting my team or we won't be sharing the gym anymore." Whitey told her.
"Got it Durham." Brooke said with a wink and a dimpled smile.
Turning her attention back to the squad, "Keep practicing, that's it for today." She dismissed them. Walking back over to the stereo, she popped open the top and grabbed her c.d. placing it back in the case and closing the stereo top. While the rest of the girls grabbed their cheer bags and started leaving the gym in groups.
Standing back up, she noticed that Bevin, Peyton, Haley, and Rachel had already made themselves comfortable on the benches and taken up to watching the basketball team continue practicing.
"Peyton, any new art?" Rachel asked randomly, the two of the had become somewhat close since Rachel moved back. Which surprised and excited the Davis twins all at the same time. They could both be bitter and whiny, but also they could be outgoing and catch everyone off guard.
"No more than usual." The angsty blonde answered as she handed Rachel a few sketches she was still working on before she continued to work on the drawing that was beneath her fingertips at the moment. She openly trusted Rachel's judgment when it might as well have been a trip to the dentist for a tooth to be pulled when her parents asked to just see one drawing.
"These are good." Rachel said. "Are you going to use one solid color in different areas to accentuate the picture like the last one?" She asked, causing Haley, Brooke, and Bevin to gape at her like she had grown a third head. "Uhm, hello I did live in New York- one of the most popular places for art."
"This coming from the girl that will drink me under the table with jello shots alone." Bevin teased with a wink, causing the red head to stick her tongue out at her.
"Gatina!" Whitey yelled.
"What?" Rachel yelled in annoyance, causing the girls to laugh.
"Watch the tone." He said as he gave her a gaze that reminded her of a look her parents gave her when she was younger and in trouble, causing her to back down slightly. "Get over here."
Grumbling under her breath, she handed the sketches back to Peyton before she huffed her way over to him. "What?" She asked again, trying to hold back her boredom.
"I figured you could help finish this." Whitey said as he handed her the playbook that was already open to a page with an unfinished play written on it.
Slowly a cheshire smile came across Rachel's lips. "With pleasure." She told him, as she took the book and headed back over to the bench where the girls still resided.
"Oh that look is never good." Haley said with a smile.
Looking over at her, "Why's that?" Bevin asked curiously.
"Let's see, the last time I saw that look. We ended up at Blue Post for our birthday." Brooke told her.
"Sounds like fun." Peyton said. "We should go this weekend." She suggested, not once looking up from her picture.
"Can we invite Skillz?" Bevin asked, before shyly ducking her head once she realized that all the girls were looking at her curiously.
"Crush!" Brooke, Rachel and Haley yelled all at once, before falling into a fit of giggles as most of the basketball team looked over at them in confusion.
Brushing off the gazes from the basketball team, "Aww, this is so perfect. He was just saying how he was too scared to ask a cheerleader out that he liked." Brooke said as she hugged Bevin.
"Are you sure it wasn't Theresa?" Bevin asked. "She said that they've been texting one another."
Waving her hand in dismissal, "If that's even ten percent true, it's because he's trying to find a way to talk to you. Besides, you have nothing to worry about I mean it's Theresa." Brooke said with disgust, missing the wink that Rachel gave Haley.
"Oh, you guys can have a movie thing on Saturday. We'll set it up as a group thing but then we won't show up, leaving you and Skillz alone- it's perfect." Rachel said. "I'm sure we can find a scary movie that requires protecting you." She added with a wink.
"That sounds great, but what if he wants to bail when he realizes that none of you guys are coming?" Bevin says insecurely.
"Then we'll still show up, if he goes for it then we'll see a different movie from you guys." Brooke says.
"If he's a little overwhelmed and wants to chicken out, then we'll just say we were running late." Haley finishes.
"Freaky twin thing." Peyton mutters, causing the twins to laugh. "What? You guys have to admit it's a little creepy, right?" She asks as she looks from Bevin to Rachel.
Raising her hands, "You already know where I stand, I've already told you that we need to take them to Vegas to gamble." Rachel said.
"Back to the subject." Brooke said. "Saturday night, seven p.m." She told Bevin. "It'll be great, I promise."
Nodding her head, "Okay." Bevin said meekly, still scared on a level that Skillz wasn't into her at all.
"Or I can tell him to kiss you right now." Rachel suggested as she stood up and yelled. "Hey Skillz!"
Looking at her with wide eyes, she yanked on Rachel's arm and pulled her back down. "Rachel! Don't!" She exclaimed in a hush tone.
"Oops. Too late." Rachel said as she nodded her head towards the court, where Skillz was jogging over to them.
"What can I do for the lovely white girls?" He teased with a wink.
"Well-" Rachel began.
"Just setting up a group outing to see a movie on Saturday, we wanted to know if you were free." Brooke interjected as she gave Rachel a warning look to back off, to which Rachel just rolled her eyes and began talking to Peyton.
"Sounds good. Just let me know the details." He said with a nod before jogging off.
"Oh, I love planning." Brooke cheered as she turned her attention back to the girls as they started discussing ideas for Saturday.
"What'd my girl want?" Cooper asked, once Skillz had come back over to the group they had formed since Whitey allowed them a ten minute break as long as certain people didn't go over to where the remaining cheerleaders where at.
"To set up a date." Skillz said as he took a drink of his water which he almost choked on as Cooper shoved him in his chest. "A group thing you idiot, I'm sure your girlfriend," Skillz stressed the word. "will talk to you about it later."
Shrugging it off but secretly feeling a wave of relief wash over him, "Whatever dude. When are you gonna ask that Bevin girl out?" Cooper questioned as he started stretching his arms over his head.
"Once Theresa tells me if she like me or not." Skillz told them.
Shaking his head as he took a swig of his water, "You're even worse the Broody over here." Nathan teased, giving Lucas the nickname that was off limits unless it was Brooke.
Punching his brother in the arm, "I really don't think you should be giving advice, chicken boy." Lucas replied with a smirk.
"Shut up." Nathan said, trying to shrug it off as he shoved his brother. He had really tried to ask Haley out on a date, but someone or something always interrupted. When Haley tried to find out, Nathan would just play it off like it had something to do with school.
"I think I'm the only sane one here." Cooper piped in. "That's saying something."
"Shut up Coop." "Screw you." Nathan and Lucas said at the same time.
"Need I say more?" Cooper asked with a smirk as he looked over at Skillz, who just shook his head in amusement. "Okay, when I moved here Skillz had girls drooling over him and still does. And the Lucas and Nathan I knew back home would have already sealed the deal already. What happened to them?"
"Brooke's special." "Haley's different." "Bevin's hot as fuck." The three told him all at once, before glancing at one another trying to figure out what they had said.
"I have no words." He said with a smile, placing his hands over his eyes as he shook his head and let out a laugh. "Coach, can we go back to practice?" Cooper asked as he walked away from his cousins and friend over to Whitey.
"Not much more we can do, Gatina says the play won't be done until tomorrow." Whitey explained to him. "If I would've known she was going to take so long I would've finished it myself." He grumbled. "You've already learned the rest of the plays I've taught you so far. If one of my players gets hit in the face with a ball again because they're too busy drooling over a cheerleader, they won't have any brains left to actually play the game."
Nodding his head, "I'm doing my best, but look at them!" Cooper exclaimed as he gestured his hand over to where the guys were standing only to see the spot was empty. Looking around, he saw that Skillz was talking to Rachel and Bevin, Nathan was talking to Haley and Peyton, and Lucas looked like he was two seconds away from jumping Brooke . "Okay, now look at them!" He groaned as he turned his attention back to his coach.
Shaking his head in amusement as he glanced at his players, "Take a break Lee, I have a feeling you're going to need it." Patting him on the back. "Practice is over boys, hit the showers!" Whitey hollered.
Letting his head fall down, he wiped the sweat off his face and headed over to where his friends were at. "Practice is done, not that anyone would've noticed." He muttered exhausted. "Guys!" He yelled getting their attention, wanting nothing more than to just get out of there. "Let's go!" He said, as they got off the bench and followed him into the locker room.
"Hey Peyt." He said as he caught up with her on his way towards the parking lot.
Smiling, "Hey stranger, didn't I just see you?" She teased as they continued walking towards Peyton's car.
Laughing, "Yeah, I kinda have a favor to ask." He said as he leaned against her car.
"What's that?" She asked curiously, trying to hide the fact that she was nervous.
"Can you take me home?" Nathan asked, shattering any hopes she had. "It's just that Lucas and Brooke are doing their own thing and I kinda got out of helping out at the cafe so I have the afternoon free."
An idea springing to mind caused a smile to come across the blonde's face, "Afternoon free huh?" She reiterated. "Okay I'll make a deal with you."
Tilting his head, "A deal?" He questioned cautiously. "Okay, what is it?"
"I'll take you home." She reassured him. "If you go out with me tonight."
Feeling taken slightly off guard by her words he remained mute for a moment. Then he realized that Peyton had become one of his best friends and he didn't mind hanging out with a friend so without second guessing it, "Only if we get to eat." Agreeing to her deal.
"Hop in Scott." Peyton said in a satisfied tone as she climbed into the driver's seat, she had a feeling that this plan would work.
"No, it's fine. I wanted and needed to spend time with Cooper." Rachel told her.
"Are you sure? Because I can bail, it's just that Brooke and I offered to help Karen this week at the cafe since the guys are so tired from practice lately." Haley said, feeling really bad that they had to cancel their plans with Rachel once again.
Shaking her head, "I've been missing my boyfriend anyway." The red head reassured her. "Speaking of my sexy man." She said as she noticed Cooper walking out of the locker room.
"If you're sure." Haley said before waving goodbye and leaving the gym.
"Hi baby." Rachel greeted as she turned her attention to her mopey boyfriend, leaning up she gave him a kiss. "Why so glum?"
Wrapping his arm around her waist, he pulled her closer. "Nothing now." Cooper answered as he buried his face in her neck. Inhaling her scent, she had this unbelievable calming affect on him. He loved it when he was in moods like this because Rachel always seemed to calm him with a simple touch but hated it because it scared him all at the same time.
Nuzzling her face into his shoulder a smile crept over her lips. "Good." She replied back as the two of them stood there with their eyes closed in their own world.
"Wanna get out of here?" Cooper muttered softly as he pulled her closer.
Nodding her head, she leaned up slightly and captured his lips in a short kiss. "I have a few ideas on what we could do." She said mischievously, while slipping her hand into his and lacing their fingers together.
"If it involves you in less clothes, I'll take it." Cooper teased with a smile as they started walking out of the gym.
Shrugging slightly, "Maybe it does, then again maybe it really does." She told him, causing him to laugh as they walked to his truck.
"How about a movie?" He suggested while opening the passenger door for her. "Or we could finish that series you've been nagging me about?" Wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her softly before letting her go.
Climbing in, "Sounds good to me." She replied with a smile as she looked at him. Watching him close the door, knowing that it would surprise a lot of people how simple the two of them actually were. They usually spent their alone time on the couch watching movies and cuddling. She was a softy and so was he, a fact that only a handful of people knew. It was one of the reasons they worked, sure they were closeted softies but they had a fire and passion like no other person. They balanced one another out.
"Coop?" Rachel said, getting his attention away from starting his truck.
"Yeah babe?"He replied as he looked over at her with a smile.
"I..."She began only to stop herself. They hadn't been dating that long and to say something of this standard was a big deal. "You know I..." She tried again.
Sometimes she wished that she was more articulate with words, instead of sounding like the idiot she did at this moment. She knew how she felt about him, the way he made her heart race or how just a simple touch from him could set her skin on fire. Rachel just needed him to know how she felt, he needed to know that being with him was the happiest she had ever been. That she is more scared of losing him than falling in love with him like she had been in the past with other guys. He needed to know what he meant, truly meant to her.
"I know you do baby, I do too." Cooper said interrupting her thoughts and causing a smile to come across her face, knowing what she was trying to say even if she hadn't ever said it before. Leaning over, he gently grabbed her chin in between his thumb and index finger before placing a chaste kiss on her lips. "Let's get home and you can show me just how much 'you know'." He teased, earning a laugh from the red head before turning over the engine and heading out of the parking lot.
Taking his hand off the wheel, he reached over and laced his fingers through his girlfriends. That was another reason they worked, Cooper filled in the gaps that Rachel needed him too. Whether it was with words or laughter or anything else. He just seemed to unknowingly know exactly what she needed and surprisingly Rachel was the same thing for Cooper.
"Oh shit, I'm so sorry!" She exclaimed as she attempted to wipe the water off his shirt. "I wasn't paying attention to where I was going."
He couldn't help the chuckle that escaped his lips as he watched her frantic movements. Gently grabbing her hand, "It's fine." He reassured her. "I promise, it's just water."
Have a blush overtake her cheeks, "Sorry." She mumbled again before she felt his thumb stroking the outside of her hands softly.
"So I have a question." Skillz asked her. "The group thing we have going on Saturday..." He trailed off.
"Yeah, I haven't seen a movie in theaters in a while." Bevin said trying to focus on what he was saying and not the tingles he was causing her.
"I know it's a group thing and all." He began. "Do you wanna be my date?" He spit out before holding his breath in suspense of what her answer would be.
"Really?" She excitedly asked. "Yes!" She squealed in response but before she could stop herself she launched herself into his arms and knocking the wind out of him. Letting out a laugh, he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close.
"I'll see you Saturday then." She told him as they broke the hug before she happily grabbed her cheer stuff and began walking away.
Smiling at the blonde, "I look forward to it." He told her with a smile as he watched her walk away.
"So what are our plans Sawyer?" Nathan asked as he continued drumming his fingers on his leg to the beat of the song.
"Figured food and walking down the boardwalk. Then go from there." The curly blonde shared as she attempted to make it sound casual as they came to a red light. "Since it's a school night we can't be out too late, I'd prefer it if your mom didn't give me death looks every time I saw her for keeping her precious baby boy out late." She teased as she reached over and gave his cheek a soft squeeze.
Laughing as he pushed her hand away, "Just keep driving Blondie." He replied as he motioned towards the light that had turned green. "So seafood or just the safe hamburger and fries?" He asked as he saw the boardwalk in the distance.
"Since there's a game tomorrow, we're gonna play it safe." She answered. "Can't have one of our star players out sick with food poisoning."
"Or one of our star cheerleaders." He added with a smile, causing a light blush to spread across the blondes cheeks. "What? You act like you haven't heard that before."
Shrugging, "I'm just part of the group so we usually get counted as a whole." Peyton confessed to him, slightly lying. Of course the girls got complimented on their individuality but she needed to seem like the shy girl to win him over. "It's just nice to be seen as one person and not part of a group. It shows that I didn't just blur into a blob with the others."
"Sawyer, you're pretty amazing." Nathan told her sincerely. "Don't let anyone tell you different."
Looking over at the muscular brunette in utter amazement that she actually believed his words. "Thanks Nathan." The blonde said sincerely as she pulled her car into a parking space and parked.
"What do you plan to do with me after dinner?" He teased as he wriggled his eyebrows while looking at her as if to suggest they were planning on doing something else.
"Depends on if I want to spend anymore time with you than I already have." She rebutted with a cocky smirk.
Throwing his arm around her shoulder and pulling her closer. "I'm so sure that you could ever get seeing of me, I feel your wandering eyes on my body at practice." He joked as he started laughing, not noticing that the blonde beside him had tensed slightly for fear that she had be caught but relaxed when she noticed that he wasn't being serious.
"You wish." She nudged him slightly as they fell into their friendly routine.
"One hot chocolate." Lucas said as he came out of the cafe and handed a to go cup to the brunette.
Taking it from him gratefully she blew on it before taking a sip, "Hmm... your mom always makes the best hot chocolate."
"Oh I see what your using me for, to get to my mom." He teased as he placed a hand over his chest to show the pain.
"I'm over it, you should be too." She teased as she took another sip of her beverage.
Laughing, "I see how your true colors, Davis." Lucas responded as he reached for her free hand and laced his fingers through hers. "So how was practice?"
"Well I let the girls go early. If overwork them then they'll be horrible at the games and be burnt out by the cheer class. Since I plan on us winning this year, then that'd be horrible if they were too tired to perform." She announced while squeezing his hand gently, she liked when it was just the two of them. No pressure to label anything or question every gesture or movement. It was simple, effortless, perfect.
"I guess I'll have to agree with you there." He said with a smile as he took another sip of his hot chocolate, shaking his head that Brooke Davis could get him to do just about anything with a simple smile. "So what's this group thing we have going on? And having Cooper stress over thinking that Skillz was talking about him having a date with Rachel?"
Letting out a laugh, "Cooper is so much like Rachel it's ridiculous." Brooke said as they started heading down the boardwalk towards the beach. "Bevin has the hugest crush on Skillz. We're figured we could unknowingly put them on a date. If Skillz freaks since it's just the two of them that's when the rest of us will show up but if he is into the date then we'll just see something else." She said, letting him in on the plan that the girls had formed at practice.
Letting go of her hand, he draped his arm around her neck and brought her closer. "He does, that's what we were talking about at practice today. He's made it known to the entire team that no one goes near her. It's actually pretty funny." He said as they started treading their way through the sand.
Breathing in his scent as she leaned against his chest while they walked down the beach, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. "That's going to make things easier then, either way I'm still seeing a movie." Brooke said in a determined tone as they stopped a few feet from the shore and looked out at the horizon.
"Whatever you want Cheery." He responded, while moving his arm from down her neck and trailing his hand down her back before placing it on her hip. "So what movie are we going to see with Cooper and Rachel attending?" He questioned, both of them knowing that the couple would end up making out rather than pay attention to a movie.
"Hmm...I haven't decided yet but I'll let you know when a do." She said. "So broody boy...I've come to the conclusion that you, Nate, Hales and myself are attending a concert in about a week or so."
"Oh really, is that right?" Lucas questioned while taking a sip of his hot chocolate.
"Yes, The Stiff Dylans are coming to Raleigh and I'm so excited. I missed them when they were in Charleston because of school." She explained.
"Who?" His apparent lack of knowledge of the group written on his face.
"You don't know who they are? Who are you? I don't even know you right now." She said as she shook her head and began to walk away from him.
Laughing as he gently grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to him. "Someone that needs to broaden my music horizon, I promise but I need some help in that department Cheery." He admitted.
Smiling as she leaned into him, "I guess I could help you with that." She concluded. Turning her body towards his and looked up at him. "Do you think it's weird?" She questioned.
Confusion furrowed in his brow as he looked down the brunette. "What's weird?"
"Us. What the two of us are doing?" She clarified. "Acting like a couple but not actually being a couple, I know that's what we agreed on and I'm not changing my mind or wanting to speed things up, it's just that the girls keep asking me and I keep avoiding it." She rambled while waving her hand in the air. "I know they aren't part of whatever we're doing but they start asking questions I can't answer and that bugs me because I have an answer for everything, it may not be the right answer but still." She said, letting out a breath of annoyance.
Looking down at her with an amused smile on his lips, "You're cute when you're frustrated." He informed her, knowing that he had to compliment her before he could get her to calm down like he did every day. "Are you happy Brooke?" He questioned as he placed a hand on her cheek and gently rubbed his thumb across her skin.
"Very." She answered as she leaned her face into his hand and closed her eyes slowly.
"Then that's all that matters." He responded before leaning down and placing a soft kiss on her forehead.
"Are you happy?" Brooke asked curiously while opening her eyes and glancing up at him. "With our situation."
"I'd be happier if you were naked." He teased with a laugh, causing her to slap him on the arm.
"Lucas! I'm being serious." She told him.
"So am I." He replied with a smirk, before pulling her into a hug. "I'm extremely happy." He whispered into her hair as she wrapped her arms around his waist.
"Good." She murmured against his chest, before turning her head and looking out at the view. Pulling away from him, she placed her cup down and in the sand while she slipped off her shoes. Grabbing the end of her shirt, she pulled it over her head and tossed it on the ground, leaving her in her blue lace bra.
Gulping, suddenly feeling his mouth go dry. "Brooke...w-what are you doing?" He questioned confused, hoping that she knew that he had been joking about the naked part.
"Having fun, you should try it some time." She told him, while unbuttoning her jeans and shimming out of them and kicking them off her feet, leaving her in matching lace panties. Smirking as she looked up at him, she began skipping towards the water. "Are you coming?" She hollered in his direction.
Not needing to be asked twice, he tossed the cup down before pulling his shirt over his head. "Yeah!" He yelled back before pulling down his jeans, leaving him in his boxers. Chasing down towards the water after her. Grabbing her around the waist and lifting her up, eliciting a squeal from the brunette as he walked the two of them deeper into the water.
A/N- 13 pages even though originally this chapter was about 30 pages, but I decided to split it in two. So yay for you guys, you get two chapters as an update. Also I apologize if there are any mistakes, I've read and re read this chapter but even then I'm sure I still missed something. Chapter 11 will be up soon. Congrats, enjoy, and review. Thank you.