The music could be heard from miles away and there were lights and for that matter, horny, drunken teenagers as far as the eye could see. It was a typical night on Wrightsville Beach at the house that faced the shore owned by Dan and Deb Scott. Parties thrown by their son had become legendary and with weather permitting only a few more weeks of outside fun and barbecues, it was one last chance to enjoy yet another big bash.

Standing on the deck that overlooked the docks and the crashing waves, Brooke continued to nurse the Mt. Dew and Malibu Rum cocktail Tim Smith had prepared for her. It had long since watered down, not that she had paid much attention anyway. It was just another drink, another party, another night. Even surrounded by her many friends and the ones lucky enough to be randomly invited that wanted nothing more than to be her friend, for Brooke so much had changed. The nights, just like the parties, all seemed to kind of crash into one another.

"This party blows", Rachel rolled her eyes, sauntering up to join her fellow cheerleaders. "Remind we why we're here again?"

Bevin Maskey grinned and wrapped her slender arms around Brooke and Rachel, two she considered among her very best friends.

"Because it's a Nathan Scott Beach Party. Because it's a can't miss."

Brooke wiggled out of Bevin's embrace.

"Actually, this one only classifies as a shouldn't miss. How many times have I told you to work on a new rating scale, Bev?"

Bevin frowned, looking hurt before rebounding in less than five seconds and returning to her normal cheery demeanor.

"Why so glum, chum?" Rachel teased.

Even when the two were at their friendliest, Rachel never resisted the opportunity to take a harmless or sometimes not so harmless dig at Brooke.

"I'm just bored", Brooke sighed to no one in particular, still staring off at the night's horizon.

"I know", Bevin piped in. "We could play some drinking games."

The rest of the crew let out a collective groan.

"Bev…"

"What? Oh come on. It'll be fun. We could play Asshole. That's always a good one."

"I'll pass", Rachel pretty much spoke for everyone around.

"Okay. How about I Never?"

"We always do that one", Brooke pointed out.

Bevin, refusing defeat, thought for a minute.

"Truth or Dare. What do you say, guys? That one never gets boring. You can't go wrong."

As they discussed ways to spice up the evening with various party games, Brooke tuned her friends out. She wouldn't have cared less if they had chosen to pin a tail on the donkey or however it went. Her mind was elsewhere and she was beginning to wish her body had followed suit as well. Truth or Dare. The classic all time drinking game for parties. Bevin had said you couldn't go wrong but Brooke begged to differ. She closed her eyes, the breeze blowing through her brunette locks. When she opened them again, she was still in the same spot but it was another time and place altogether…

Brooke, Tree Hill's cutest and most infamous social butterfly, mingled among the guests of peers as if she had thrown the party. But hosting duties went to Nathan Scott as the usual flock of the in crown had gathered at the beach house. Clad in a teeny but sexy black bikini, Brooke, towel loosely draped around her hips, flirted her way up the steps to the deck. Amid whistles and cat calls and stares of girls who simply idolized her, she walked up to her friends just in time for a game of Truth or Dare. Unfortunately, she had been a minute or two too early…just in time to see a plastered Tim Smith streaking.

"My eyes", Brooke groaned as Peyton giggled in her ear.

Finally he stopped, stumbling as he tried to step one foot at a time into his shorts.

"I told you!" he declared proudly. "See? I'm the man! The Tim never turns down a dare!"

"Yeah, yeah", Nathan shook his head in disgust. "By the way, no one ever dare him to do that again. And oh yeah, Dim? It's your turn, man. Pass it along. Truth or Dare."

"Oh yeah", Tim slurred. "I pick…um, let's see…okay, Pucas, I mean, Lucas. Sorry, dude. Old habit."

"Whatever", Lucas just rolled his eyes.

"Truth or Dare."

"Dare."

Tim thought hard but to no avail.

"Okay. Let's see…how about…nah! No, that one sucks, too. Um…well…"

"Tim, dude, before next Christmas", Nathan impatiently snapped.

"I'm thinking, I'm thinking."

"You know that's a task in itself", Brooke quipped as the others laughed.

Lucas just stared at her. Her creamy white skin was the perfect contrast to the dark bathing suit. He loved the way her wet hair hung down her back, the absence of make up only accentuating natural beauty. He had been trying forever to get back with her. He'd had his chance and like an idiot he had blown it. He had begged for more but Brooke had refused. She wanted to party, play the field. But he was in love and he knew deep down she was too. They were both just scared to admit it. But Lucas had had enough. Not anymore.

"Let me help you out with that, Tim. I have the perfect dare. I dare me to show the world how I really feel about Brooke Davis."

Her smile quickly faded when she heard him call her name. All eyes were suddenly upon them and before she knew it, he was marching towards her.

"Luke…"

But verbal protests were cut off when his lips crashed into hers. They kissed and kissed forever until she finally pulled away, breathless and madder than hell.

"Brooke…"

"What the hell was that?"

"I love you", he whispered.

She felt her cheeks burn as she gave him a violent push before storming off. He tried to follow her but she made her way to the master bedroom where she locked herself in Dan and Deb's bathroom for hours until the rowdy party finally winded down. It was shocking and humiliating all at once. How dare he embarrass her like that? She wanted to kill him. Lucas Scott had no right! How many times had she told him it was over between them? But he wouldn't take no for an answer. He was stubborn. A stupid, stubborn, cheating boy…a stupid stubborn, cheating boy she still had feelings for. When would it ever end? Brooke blinked back tears as it was hard enough to even admit the truth sometimes to herself. Lucas said he loved her and she knew she loved him. But would love ever be enough, despite all the pain he had already caused her once? Could she ever trust him enough, or any man for that matter, to unlock her heart and throw away the key? Could she ever love freely again?

"Brooke…you okay?" Bevin asked.

Brooke tried to shake the feeling off. Sometimes her flashbacks into a tumultuous past were so real, too real, just like how you saw in the movies and on TV. Sometimes, she felt like she really went back in time. The moment, that spot where the kiss had happened so long ago, or maybe not to long ago felt real. Not that night, but eventually again, she had given Lucas her heart…and he had broken it...again.

"I, I'm fine."

She looked down below and caught a glimpse of Lucas and Kelly walking by. They were hand in hand, giggling and whispering in each other's ears as their bare toes kicked up sand. The very sight to Brooke, that first initial feeling, always felt like a punch right in the gut. Sometimes acceptance followed, sometimes anger and mostly indifference. But nothing ever compared to those first few seconds of seeing the first guy she had ever loved so happy with the girl who had come between them.

"Well, it's your turn."

"Huh?" Brooke made a face.

Bevin just rolled her eyes.

"Duh! I just did truth, you know about the most orgasms Skills ever gave me in one night, seven might I repeat", she added again with a grin and a sly wink. "Now it's your turn. Truth or Dare, Brooke."

Brooke looked down, tongue tied as the others were oblivious. Only Rachel casually followed her gaze. Even she knew when enough was enough.

"That's lame. Game over."

"Aw, come on, Rach…" Bevin pouted.

"Truth or Dare is so ten years ago, besides, how are we gonna play a drinking game with no drinks?" she questioned, eluding to the fact that they had run out of alcohol almost an hour before.

"Relax", Nathan, Haley in tow, rolled his eyes as he joined his friends. "The booze is coming."

And suddenly the subject was changed and all attention diverted to the issue of liquor or lack thereof. Brooke, desperately trying to ignore the love scene taking place just a few feet below them, swallowed hard.

"Thanks", she muttered.

Rachel just gave her a smirk. Their relationship worked in the oddest way sometimes.

"No sweat", she whispered before turning back to Nathan. "Now when did you say the beer was getting here? I'm losing my buzz."

"Did somebody say beer?"

Everyone turned their attention to the lone shadow emerging towards them. Pretty soon a killer grin and even more killer set of eyes was facing them all.

"Coop", Nathan smiled, knocking fists with his uncle. "What's up?"

Cooper balanced two 24 packs.

"There's a shit load where these came from and the keg is up and running on the lower deck."

"You're the man", Nathan nodded with approval.

"And don't you forget it."

Rachel raised both eyebrows as she stared at the happy and handsome stranger before her. He looked like one of those male models in magazines, only with that surfer dude kind of attitude.

"You must be Cooper, Nathan's uncle", Mouth said, joining them and slipping an arm around his girlfriend's waist. "You remember me? I'm Mouth. Mouth McFadden."

"Mouth…Mouth…oh yeah. What's up, dude? Long time no see. How's it going?"

"Good", Mouth nodded as he proudly motioned to the beauty in his arms. "Coop, this is my girlfriend, Rachel Getina. Rachel, this is Nathan's uncle, Cooper Lee."

He extended his hand and Rachel accepted it, eyeing him up and down as their eyes met and her heart actually skipped a couple of beats.

"Nice to meet you", he poured on the charm.

She bit at her lip and gave him a flirty half smile.

"Likewise."

"And tell me this isn't little Brooke Davis", Cooper's attention turned a few feet away.

Brooke, recovered from her Lucas and Kelly moment gave a sexy stare to the man she had crushed on ever since he had visited his family in Tree Hill since his wild college days.

"Cooper, Cooper, Cooper", she licked her lips. "Still the hottie, I see."

"Not so bad yourself. You grew up."

"Too bad you didn't."

He chuckled as she relented and gave him a quick hug.

"Thanks again for the brews, man", Nathan told him.

"Don't sweat it. It's kind of like my job as the cool uncle. Tell me, would your dad get booze for your party?"

"Hell no."

"Then count on me anytime", he winked. "Alright everybody! This is a party, right? Well, let's act like it! Turn up the music and let's get wasted."

"How long you in town for this time, Coop?" Brooke asked.

Cooper shrugged.

"You know me, wherever the days take me but I think I'll be sticking around for a while."

"You want to take a walk down by the beach, babe?" Mouth whispered in Rachel's ear.

"Huh?"

"A walk. You want to…"

"Oh sure. Yeah. A walk on the beach sounds great, Mouth. Let's go", she managed a smile.

On the way there, she got another look at Cooper as their eyes met once again or more like crashed into each other. She quickly looked away, locking a tighter grip on Mouth's hand. With the arrival of the new stranger, why did she all of a sudden have the feeling that things were about to get interesting?