So I rewrote this chapter 3 times and each time I wrote about each day of the tournament. I really wish I never even wrote that this stupid tournament was coming up! lol I know I've had some frustrating chapters before, but this one tops them all! So here is my 4th shot at writing this chapter! Not a lot happens, a lot (and I mean a lot) of dialogue, all of the characters sort of catch up with their friends in this chapter. And I warn you, lots of cheesy, sentimental moments!

Now for Chapter 22!

"Not too much makeup Brooke," Haley warned as the short brunette insisted on doing her makeup.

"Don't worry, I've got this." It was New Year's Eve. The tournaments were over and everyone was getting ready to celebrate the end of 2005 and the beginning of 2006. The Ravens won each of their games leading up to the big champsionship which was held earlier that day. After defeating the opposing team, the Ravens were named champions. The girls' cheerleading competition had been held 2 days ago, but they didn't place once again. They didn't mind that much, the only competition that mattered was the Classic and they still had a few months before that. Now they were all getting ready for the big party held at the hotel and all the teams were invited.

"What time are we meeting the guys again?" Peyton asked.

"In the lobby at 7. Okay, done tutor girl! You can look in the mirror now," Brooke spun the chair around so Haley faced the mirror.

"Wow," Haley gasped. "Brooke, it's perfect!" Her hair was lightly curled and hung around her shoulders while her makeup was light and subtle.

"You look great Hales," Peyton complimented her.

"Thanks!"

"So are we ready to go ladies? Our men are waiting," Brooke said.

"Hey, you're the one that said we had to be fashionably late."

"Well we're late, let's go!" The girls headed down to the lobby where the guys were waiting. As they stepped off the elevator, all 3 of their jaws dropped.

"Wow, Brooke, you look amazing," Lucas said taking her hand.

"You're not too bad yourself, Broody."

"Hales," Nathan said in awe.

"Do you like it?" She asked shyly.

"Like it? I love it, you look beautiful."

Jake greeted Peyton with a long kiss. "Hello to you too," she giggled.

"You look gorgeous."

"Thanks."

"Ready to go in?" Lucas asked and the 3 couples walked into the ballroom. They joined Erica and Mouth at their table.

"Erica, you look great," Haley said.

"Thanks, so do all of you!"

"The first slow song of the night," Brooke announced as the music slowed down. "And as usual, the first dance goes to Mr. Bond. You don't mind if I borrow Mouth for a song do you Erica?"

"Go right ahead." The other couples proceeded out onto the dance floor as well.

"So how are you Mouth?"

"I'm great. I've got Erica and about a month ago I got an acceptance letter to Yale."

"Mouth! That's awesome! What did Erica say?"

"I actually haven't told her yet," he smiled sheepishly. "I'm working on it, waiting for the time to be right. I just hope that she gets in too, or at least a school near me."

"It'll work out, don't worry."

"Thanks Brooke, you and Lucas doing okay?"

"We're great too," she smiled just thinking about him.

"I'm happy for you guys. After all, it was me who said that if anyone could work it out, you two could."

"I remember that night," she said remembering back to the cold night of the Boytoy Auction. "We had fun, didn't we?" He nodded. "Yeah, we need to hang out more often."

"I would like that," he said. "Thanks for everything Brooke."

"Um your welcome? What exactly are you thanking me for? She laughed.

"Being my friend. I've never been the popular guy and being friends with you has been fun."

"Aw, Mouth, I love you in the friendship sort of way," she said. "I'm lucky to have someone like you as a friend. Promise we'll keep in touch even after you take over the world?"

"Well, I don't think I'll take over the world, the United States maybe…"

"Promise?"

"I promise Brooke," he said as they continued swaying to the music.

-OTH-

"Mind if I cut in?"

"Sure," Jake said. "I'm just going to go get something to drink."

"Did I mention yet how beautiful you look tonight?"

"Yes, but a few more wouldn't hurt Luke," Peyton winked at him.

"Well you look gorgeous. How have you been?"

"Good. This last year has been amazing. And I have you to thank for that."

"Yeah, having a hot stud like me in your life must be nice."

"You hang out with Brooke too much!"

"Well that tends to happen when you have a girlfriend."

"I wouldn't know since I never had one!"

"I would hope so," he chuckled.

"But seriously," she said. "If you hadn't called him when you did, he might still be running. Thanks for bringing him home."

"It was no problem, but your welcome. I want all my friends to be happy."

"Are you happy?"

"Yeah," he sighed his gaze drifting over to Brooke and Mouth. "I really am."

"Have you heard from any colleges yet?"

"I've gotten a few letters, but I haven't opened any yet. Don't tell Brooke, I'm waiting for hers to come so we can open them together."

"My lips are sealed."

"What about you?"

"Well," she said not really sure what to say. "I got into NYU."

"Peyton that's great!"

"Is it? I mean, yeah it's a good thing. But what about Jake and Jenny? And all of my friends? I can't just leave you all here."

"You have to go Peyton. And not all of us are staying here. Nathan and I both applied to colleges like UCLA and if we get accepted, that's a lot farther than New York."

"But what about Jake? He has Jenny to think about."

"You'll always have your friends. We'll help out in any way we can."

"Thanks Luke, you really are the greatest," she said resting her head on his shoulder.

"I am, aren't I?"

"There you go again!"

"In all seriousness though, I mean that. I'll always be here for you as well as everyone else. We love you guys."

-OTH-

As Haley and Nathan danced, Haley spotted Jake headed for the bar. "I'll be right back," she said as she walked over to Jake. "Hey Jake," she smiled. "Do you want to dance?"

"Sure," he said walking back out onto the dance floor.

"You know what I'll miss most when we all leave Tree Hill," she asked. "Open mic nights at Tric."

"Yeah, but I might still be here for those open mic nights."

"What do you mean?"

"With Jenny and everything, I think it's just best if I stay here. I'll have my parents and I can just go to the community college."

"Are you sure about that? You know all of us will help out in any way we can."

"I know, and I'm so thankful for how helpful you all have been over the last year, but I can't depend on you guys forever."

"Well, whatever you decide, we're always here for you and Jenny."

"Thanks," he smiled. "So what school are you going to? Having trouble deciding between Harvard and Princeton?"

"Stop it," she laughed. "I don't know what I'm doing yet, I haven't decided. I guess I'm waiting to see what Nathan gets."

"And you and Nathan are okay?"

"We're better than okay, we're great."

"I hope one day Peyton and I will be like you two."

"Trust me, you guys pretty much already are. In fact, you are one step ahead of us with the baby."

"Maybe so, but who knows what the future holds?"

-OTH-

When the next song started, Peyton and Nathan began dancing together.

"Well this is weird," he commented. "Who would have thought that just over one year ago that we would have ended up like this?"

"Things definitely have changed. You know I'm proud of you, right?" He nodded. "I really am. Like I've said before, you turned into the kind of guy I always knew you could be."

"Hey, I'm not the only one who's changed, Mrs. Jagielski," he smirked. "You really love him, don't you?"

She nodded. "Isn't it a great feeling, Nate? Always knowing that your wife or boyfriend or whoever will be there for you, to hold you when you're sad and celebrate when you're happy…"

"Yeah, it is great. I can't even imagine what I used to be like anymore. I can't believe I was that guy."

"But you're different now, we all are. At the risk of sounding cheesy, which I think I sounded cheesy a few sentences ago, love really did change us all."

"Yeah that was pretty cheesy," he smiled. "But I agree."

"Moving on before you make fun of any more of my cheesy lines, what have you heard about college?"

"I've heard from a few places. High Fliers really helped me out. I've gotten letters from UCLA, Duke, and UConn so far.

"Wow, that's awesome Nathan! Have you told Haley yet?" He shook his head no.

"And don't tell her yet either, I'm waiting to see where she gets in first."

"Where do you want to go?"

"Honestly, I don't really care as long as I'm with Haley. I would kind of like to stay in North Carolina, but then again I think it would be good to experience a totally different environment like California."

"Yeah, I know exactly what you mean," she sighed. "I got into NYU."

"Congratulations Peyt. Not that I had any doubt that you wouldn't! You've always wanted to go there."

"You remember that?"

"Of course I do. I may have been a sucky boyfriend at times…" She scoffed at that. "Okay, most of the time, but I paid attention. I really do care about you Peyton. I'm always here for you."

"I know you are. Thanks Nate."

-OTH-

"Mind if I cut in again?"

"What is with you stealing my women Luke?" Jake asked.

"Last time, I promise."

"Okay, but only because it looks like Peyton and Nathan are done."

"Thanks Jake. Hey buddy," he said as he started dancing with Haley.

"Hey Rocket Roe," she smiled.

"How are you? We haven't talked in like forever."

"It's been like 6 hours."

"You know what I mean."

"Yeah I know. I'm fine, great actually."

"Things okay with Nathan?"

"Perfect. Brooke still pitying you by sticking around?"

"Ouch Hales, that one hurt," he mocked. "But yeah we're good. And now onto the topic of the night, college. Heard anything yet?"

"A few places. You?"

"Gotten a few letters, just waiting for Brooke so we can decide together."

"Nathan and I really haven't talked about it much."

"Well where all did you get in?"

"Florida State, Ohio State, those were kind of random, I don't really remember why I applied there."

"Well that's nice," he chuckled.

"Shut up. Florida because of the weather, duh. And Ohio, I don't know, remember my friend Nicole before she moved to Ohio a few years ago? We always said we would go to college together…I haven't talked to her in like a year, I should call her. But anyways, I also got into Duke and NYU."

"I'm so proud of you Hales. A lot of things have changed, haven't they?"

"Yeah, remember when it was just the 2 of us against the world?"

"And then I joined the basketball team…"

"And our lives changed forever," she finished.

"Wow we could write for Hallmark," he chuckled.

"Always have to ruin the moment don't you?"

"It's what I do. Just promise me we'll always stay friends Hales."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

-OTH-

"Hey superstar," Brooke said to Nathan. "It's your lucky night, since your wife stole my boyfriend, you get to dance with me!"

"What did I do to deserve such an honor?"

"Just lucky I guess," she shrugged.

"How are you?"

"I'm great. We all are, I think that's pretty obvious."

"Yeah," he agreed. "So what about college? What have you heard?"

"I'm going to Duke, definitely. Don't tell Broody yet because he doesn't know. I think he is still waiting for my letter to come. Both my parents went to Duke. Between the money they donated and me busting my ass over the last year, that's where I'm going. Actually I got a partial scholarship for cheerleading."

"Wow, congrats Brooke!"

"Thanks, but what about you superstar?"

"The usual, UCLA, Duke, and UNC."

"The usual huh?"

"Usual basketball schools, Brooke."

"Oh, right. Well if you go to Duke, I'll be cheering for you!"

"Do you mean that in the literall sense or the fact that you hope I do well," he laughed.

"Both," she smiled. "How long have we been friends Nate?"

"Since like 5th grade I think."

"And to everyone's surprise, we never hooked up."

"Thankfully."

"Hey!"

"What I mean is that we're friends Brooke."

"Yeah, and I know I tease you sometime but you know I care about you, and Haley too."

"I know," he said. "I love you too."

"Aw, is superstar going all sentimental on me?"

"I'm a changed man."

Their dance was interrupted by the DJ. "Less than 5 minutes until midnight everyone. Ring in the New Year with the people you love." The 4 couples all congregated in one area, each couple pairing off just waiting for 2006 to come.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Happy New Year!" Everyone cheered as they each kissed their loved one.

"I love you," Haley said to Nathan.

"I love you too, only 3 weeks until our wedding."

"Can you believe we're almost at our 1 year anniversary?"

"I can't wait," he smiled.

"You know the way you spend New Years Eve is the way you spend the rest of your year," Peyton said.

"Think they'll notice if we go back to the room?" He laughed.

"Yes and Brooke will kill us. Just in case, I love you Jake."

"I love you too Peyton. You're amazing and Jenny loves you."

"I love her too, I wish she could be here with us!"

"Happy New Year Broody!"

"Happy New Year Cheery! I love you."

"I love you too Luke."

"Happy New Year Mouth," Erica smiled. "Now give me some.. Mouth!"

"Group hug," Brooke yelled to the other seven and they all hugged each other. "Love you guys."

"Love you too," everyone responded back.

"Any room in there for the Tim?"

Brooke looked up from the large embrace. "Of course there is, unless you grab my ass in which case Lucas will be all over you."

"Got it," he said as he joined the hug.

"To new beginnings," Peyton said.

What parts did you like/didn't like? Comments please!

Coming up: The Wedding

Yeah I warned you guys that there was a lot of cheese! Oh well, I think we're going to be in need of cheese once the new season starts... Sighs This chapter was like the definition of filler chapter. lol I really wish I never had the idea of 'Holiday Tournament' And did anyone notice the shout out to myself in there? lol!