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Chapter Thirteen

"Guess what?" Brooke said to Nathan as they left the class their last class of the day. "I just heard that auditions for the play are going to be next Friday."

"That's kind of soon, isn't it? When is the play going to be?" Nathan wondered.

"I'm not sure. They'll probably tell us at the auditions. Bevin thinks that they'll have it at the end of the semester so it'll be at the start of Christmas holidays."

"And you don't?"

"Well, they could have it then, but it depends on what kind of play it is – like if it's going to be really grand or not. At my old school we used to start work on our plays early this semester and then put them on at the end of the year," Brooke explained. "But, then again, our drama teacher always did really elaborate musicals."

"You sing?" Nathan asked.

"God, no. I was always a semi-important female who didn't sing since all the really important ones did. That's kind of why I'm hoping this won't be a musical. It'll be fun to be a lead. If I get it, that is. I'm a little nervous to be honest."

"Still? But you've been in so many plays."

"Yeah, but, like, before whenever I auditioned I knew I couldn't get a main part because I couldn't sing. This time if I don't get lines or something it'll be like they're saying that's because you suck," Brooke clarified.

"What sucks?" Lucas asked coming from behind them.

"Brooke's nervous about the auditions."

"They're on Friday right? I'm sure it'll be fine," Lucas said easily.

"What's got you so calm Mr. 'I get stage fright'?" Brooke wondered.

Lucas shrugged. "How hard can it be?"

Brooke and Nathan shared a look before Nathan turned to Lucas. "So are you ready to go home?"

Lucas nodded. "Do you need a lift?" he asked Brooke.

"No, I'm going home with Bevin."

"So you two are gonna paint your nails? Go shopping?"

"Firstly, Lucas Scott, don't be so sexist. Just because girls are getting together doesn't mean we are going to be shopping or painting our nails."

"Exactly Lucas," Nathan chided. "They might be going to gossip or talk about boys."

Lucas chuckled at that, causing Brooke to punch his stomach lightly. "Hey! Nathan was the one who said it."

Brooke ignored him. "Secondly, I wish that's what we were doing!" She actually sighed at the end, prompting the boys' curiosity.

"What are you going to be doing?"

"Bevin and I need to have a very serious talk."

"You're breaking up with her?"

"Okay, what's with the smart mouth today, Nathan? And, it actually is serious."

"Well what is it?" Lucas asked.

Brooke sighed again and seemed in heavy contemplation as she glanced around them. Since the final bell had gone more than a few minutes ago, the hallway was practically deserted. "Okay, I'm gonna tell you," she said finally, "but only because it's the two of you and you're not going to go around telling a lot of people right?"

Slightly worried now, Lucas and Nathan both nodded.

"Bevin is thinking about taking drugs," she said softly.

"What? Even after what happened to you?" Lucas exclaimed.

Brooke nodded and then added bitterly, "Someone has convinced her that it's the cool thing to do. And that what happened to me was a freak accident and never happens."

"That's not true –" Nathan began.

"I know it isn't, I'm going to explain that to Bevin today. As well as many other things."

"But who's the 'someone'?" Lucas inquired.

Brooke rolled her eyes. "The Evil Snow Queen – Rachel."

"So Rachel does drugs?" Nathan prodded, just as Lucas asked, "Why Snow Queen?"

"Because she's cold. Duh."

"Does Rachel do drugs?" Nathan repeated.

"Well, she - don't you know?" Brooke said to Lucas. When Lucas gave her a 'Know what?' look she carried on, "She's practically an addict. At least she's got a never-ending supply of them, according to Bevin."

"So…is she…" Nathan checked again that no one was anywhere near them before continuing, "Is she, like, a dealer?"

Brooke thought for a moment. "I don't really know. We're not exactly tight, ya know. But, ask Bevin or any of the other cheerleaders – she's almost always got something on her. Anyway, a lot of the cheerleaders get stuff from her and Rachel's convinced Bevin to try so now I'm going to try and un-convince her. Or whatever you call it." Neither Lucas nor Nathan said anything and Brooke observed that both seemed deep in thought. "Well, I have to go meet Bevin…"

"Right," Lucas replied. "See you tomorrow."

"Okay, Bye."

Nathan gave her a small smile, then whipped his cell phone out of his pocket the moment she was gone. "Hey, it's me. Can you meet me out in the playground?"

Jake walked up and down the playground as he tried to process the information Nathan had just given him. There was next to no one around and as Whitey had assigned him as Nathan's counselor they had a good excuse for talking. "Are you sure it's her? Brooke never explicitly told you she was dealing."

"She's always got drugs on her and all the cheerleaders – and who knows who else – go to her. How can it not be her?" Nathan argued.

"What about what happened to Brooke last weekend? What reason would Rachel have for giving her that?" Jake wondered.

"Rachel and Brooke hate each other," Nathan said as if that explained everything.

"Brooke was given a date-rape drug. She can't hate her that much. Besides if Brooke hated Rachel why would she be drinking with her? She wouldn't, right? So then it must have been someone else."

"Who got the drug from Rachel," Nathan suggested.

"Or had it themselves."

"So you don't think Rachel is the guy – or girl, rather?"

"I think she could be. But she might not be the only one involved," Jake told him.

"Well, there's only one way to find out."

"Exactly. And I have an idea."

"What kind of idea?"

"Well, it seems like Rachel having drugs – although on the low – isn't quite Tree Hill High's best kept secret."

"What's your point?"

"Since some people know about it, that'll probably mean that if, say, she was on a date and the guy asked her if he could have some…"

"You want me to date her!" Nathan realized.

"Not date her. Just ask her out once and when she's going to make out with you or something, ask her about it."

Nathan's stomach turned. "She's 17, Jake."

"Don't make out with her!" he said quickly. "Just let her think you're going to. I know that you don't really know each other so you may have to try to hang out with her crowd a little more – and possibly less with Brooke – before she'll go out with you, which will take more time, but I don't really see another way. It's not like I can take her out on a date."

Nathan pondered this and then remembered something. "No. But Lucas can."