Brooke stretched out her long, tanned legs across the mat placed on the gym floor. It was minutes before cheerleading practice and the end of yet another long day at Tree Hill High. The last thing the pretty brunette was in the mood for was teaching a bunch of spins and kicks to her flighty followers of dance but the duty of a co cheer captain rang loudly in her ears. She didn't have much of a choice…especially with Rachel Getina as her co captain.

"Keep stretching, guys. Warm ups are over in five", she warned.

Not that any of them were paying attention. Half weren't even stretching. Instead the girls seemed happily lost inside their very own little worlds of teenage euphoria, a world Brooke hadn't happened to inhabit in a while. She sighed with frustration, looking over and seeing the huge lopsided grin on Bevin's face. She stared at her cell phone, giggling away, finally looking up when she noticed her friend's stares.

"What, Brooke?" she smiled.

Brooke rolled her eyes.

"You're the one laughing like a cracked out hyena over there. You tell me."

Bevin readily handed over her phone, grin on her lips, the look of love cast over her dreamy eyes.

"Look at this! Isn't he cute? Isn't this like the most adorable thing ever?" she gushed.

It was a picture on her phone of her boyfriend, Skills. He was handsomely decked out in a red and white suit, striking a fierce pose with a large hat and cane.

"Nice. Let me guess…Skills is auditioning to become a pimp."

"No, silly", Bevin continued to beam. "That's what he's going to wear to the formal. Doesn't he look gorgeous? We're renting a limo and everything! It's gonna be so exciting, I can't wait."

Brooke bit her lip. Ah, the formal. That stupid little dance she still dreaded deep down inside. At first thought, it the very prospect itself only brought pangs of teenage anxiety but lately Brooke had had an idea in the back of her head, one that had slowly crept in against her will…one that was a bright spot to an otherwise dreary night.

"Oh yeah", she cleared her throat. "That's totally hot."

"I know. We are so gonna have a blast that night! Brooke, you are riding in the limo with us, aren't you? It totally wouldn't be the same without you."

Bless Bevin's heart. If there was going to be a limo with Skills and Bevin and their closest friends, it would include the various and regular members of their usual gang. Tim, Teresa, Fergie, Nathan, Haley, Mouth, Rachel…and probably Lucas. And just like when there was shit, there was bound to be flies, with Lucas there was always bound to be Kelly. Just the thought made her want to scream with discomfort. Sure she was holding her head high and trying to handle the situation with the maturity and class of a lady but it was still hard and of course it hurt. For Brooke it was like sometimes her very own closest friends seemed to forget her own pain. Of all people, how could Bevin not understand?

"Um, I don't know. We'll see."

The half assed answer, for the moment, seemed to pacify Bevin, who went back to her own personal space to smile and gawk at her boyfriend's photos. Brooke looked away silently willing for the figure looming over her to disappear. No such luck.

"Yeah, Brooke, it won't be the same without you."

She rolled her eyes again.

"You're like herpes. Why can't I get rid of you?"

Rachel just laughed as she kneeled down beside her.

"I'm the gift that just keeps on giving."

"Lucky me", Brooke mumbled sarcastically. "You're worse than the socks my grandma used to give me every Christmas. Now what do I owe the displeasure? Don't you have someone else to go annoy? We start in a few minutes."

"Annoy?" Rachel pretended to scoff. "Well, Brooke Davis, I'm hurt! Annoying? I thought I was being charming."

"Far from it. I don't see how he does it, poor Mouth. How does he put up with your mouth?"

Rachel just winked.

"Oh my boyfriend has only good things to say about my mouth, trust me. And don't get your thongs all in a bunch. I couldn't help but overhear you and Bev talking about formal. She was all excited and as usual you're wearing your pouty, 'woe is me, world please feel sorry for me' face so I decided to be a pal and throw you a bone. By the way, you're welcome for the rescue"

"May you step in a massive pile of dog shit while wearing your most expensive Gucci pumps", Brooke gave her a huge, fake smile.

"Harsh words, Co Captain. I see the whole formal thing is still a sore subject. Never fear, though. Rachel is here."

"God save me."

"Actually, I'm going to. Even God needs a day off when it comes to miracles and this is gonna be a big one. But it's okay. I've found the perfect date for you."

Brooke raised one skeptical eyebrow.

"You found a date for me? Ha! This ought to be interesting. Interesting and scary. Thanks, Friend, but no thanks."

"Suit yourself. He's a real hottie, though. About six feet tall, lean and muscular with a set of washboard abs that make you want to slap yourself. He has wavy brown hair, green eyes, clean cut, he's nice and he can actually hold a decent conversation. His name is Spencer and you can thank me later for that one, too. Should I give your number to him or do you want his first?"

"Whoa, whoa! Hold your horses. First of all, I don't trust you. Second of all, why would of you of all people try to do something nice for me?"

Rachel just smirked.

"The trust thing hurts but the feeling is mutual, babe. And secondly, yes, I can be a nice person. I think you know that by now."

Brooke crossed her arms.

"Yeah, when it benefits you. Sorry, Rachel. You coming down with a sudden case of the niceness doesn't fly with me. I don't buy it."

Rachel sighed.

"I feel bad."

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. I said I feel bad. Look, I know you have your pride and stuff and probably the last thing you want is other people's pity, especially mine, but the truth is, I do feel bad. That whole Lucas and Kelly thing…well, I know it sucks for you. Most of the time you don't show it but deep down I know it still gets to you. Personally, you're a better woman than me. If my guy cheated on me twice and pulled the ultra humiliation by taking up with the brainless, blonde bimbo I had taken under my wing, I would have flipped out by now, I mean, totally gone off the deep end. I mean it. I wouldn't just get mad, I'd get even. No, I'd get crazy. I'd trick him into my car and scare the hell out of him and like drive us off a bridge or something."

Brooke made a face.

"That's original…and a definite attention getter. I guess Lucas is lucky I didn't think of that one."

"You're doing the right thing, I suppose. I'm sure taking the high road sucks, especially in this case but at least you come out of it smelling like a rose. But the pain is still there. I know it. I see it. And I can't help but feel bad. There isn't much I can do and I'm not exactly what you would call a mushy person anyway, but consider this the one great, unselfish deed in my life. It's the least I could do."

"Thanks but no thanks. I can do without the sympathy."

"Consider it empathy."

Brooke sighed, playing with her hands.

"Okay, not that I care or that I'm even considering this preposterous plan you speak of but back to this Spencer guy…"

"Yeah?" Rachel grinned.

"If he's such a dream boat, how come you never snagged him for yourself?"

She shrugged.

"I met him through people. Our families know each other and stuff. It's no big deal. He's fine and everything but we never hooked up. I never wanted to. Besides, now I have Mouth. So what do you say? I think you'll like him. He's a really cool guy."

"I appreciate the sentiment but I'm gonna have to pass, Rachel."

"Fine. Be that way. I won't force you. Personally, I think it's a real ballsy Cosmo thing to do to brave the waters and show up at the dance by yourself but just remember, it might feel a whole lot better with Spence on your arm when you walk through those double doors and sea of cheap balloons and the first thing you see is Lucas all cuddled up to the latest slow jam with Skipper the Slut."

"Your way with words never ceases to amaze me but uh, I have those bases covered."

"Really?" Rachel raised an eyebrow. "You've got my attention now. Speak."

"Wouldn't you like to know?"

"A new beau you're hiding? A mystery date, perhaps? How Danielle Steele."

"Let's just say I met a really hot guy who happens to be a sweetheart. We've spent some time together lately…"

"In the backseat of your Bug?"

Brooke rolled her eyes.

"No, dumb ass. It's not like that. Get your mind out of the gutter. I actually like this guy."

"So you're inviting him to the dance?"

"I didn't have to. Fate already sealed that deal for me. He's going to be there already."

Rachel frowned.

"I don't get it. Is it like a teacher or something? Principal Turner even?"

"Ha, ha but hell no. And it's not Whitey either. It's Cooper."

"Cooper?"

The very name seemed to radiate to all the girls and draw them towards their captains like moths to a flame.

"You mean Nathan's uncle Cooper?" Teresa asked.

"Oh he is so hot! Are you guys going out?" Bevin asked.

"No, we, I…"

"Dude, what the hell am I hearing?" Peyton joined in. "What's this thing with you and Cooper? He's like twice our age or something."

Brooke blushed.

"No, he's not, besides, age is just a number, P. Sawyer. And for your information, it's not a thing, Bev…yet. But like I said, we've hung out randomly a couple of times and I like him. It's cool between us. You never know."

"I think he's fine", Teresa nodded for emphasis. "Go for it, girlie."

"He is gorgeous", Bevin agreed. "A total UILF."

"UILF?"

"Yeah. You know. Uncle I'd like to…"

"We get it, Bevin! Geez!"

Bevin giggled and shrugged.

"You know, if I didn't have my Skills. Coop is way crushable."

"But we're not talking about just a crush here…are we?" Peyton inquired. "I mean, yeah the guy is good looking and he's a lot of fun and he is sweet but he is still way older than us and he's Nathan's uncle for God's sake. I mean, an innocent schoolgirl crush on a hot older guy is one thing. But if you're serious…"

"Relax, Pey. It's just a thought, you know. I have no definite plans or anything, I'm just looking to have some fun and you said so yourself…Cooper Lee is a lot of fun."

"Brooke…"

"No worries, Friend. I've got this totally under control."

"I hope so", Peyton mumbled uneasily. "Just be careful. You're a minor, he's not. He's related to one of our friends. He's just passing through town. Technically you're still kind of sort of on the rebound…I'm just saying this could get messy, Brooke."

The brunette smiled with confidence.

"It won't."

Noticeably quiet throughout the whole Cooper conversation, a shocked Rachel stood biting at her lip.

"Okay, girls, chit chat is over. Time to get to work."

Like obedient little children, the cheerleaders followed, taking their places. The music began but Rachel could barely concentrate on the steps. Something about the revelation of Brooke's little crush unnerved her. It could have been anybody but Cooper Lee. For some reason, it bothered her. It wasn't like she wanted him…after all, she was happy in her relationship with her own boyfriend but she just couldn't shake the Cooper thing. After all, she couldn't have him…why did Brooke have to?