It was a brisk night as Cooper shoved his hands deep inside his pockets. A nice, long walk from the upscale neighborhood to picturesque downtown Tree Hill was a pleasant and good form of exercise but not one the handsome 29 year old had planned out for his evening. Shaking his head as he thought about it, he made his way alongside the Market Street Docks…

Cooper whistled as he made his way into the kitchen of Casa Scott, as always on the prowl for a snack. Grabbing a loaf of bread and some deli meat from the fridge, he licked his lips with a grin as his older sister walked in.

"Well, well, if it isn't my gorgeous and wonderful favorite big sister?" he teased, planting a kiss on Deb's cheek.

"I'm your only sister", she rolled her eyes.

"I don't care if I had a hundred sisters…you'd still be my favorite."

"Save it, Cooper."

"Somebody's in a bad mood. Old Danny busting your chops again?"

"Actually, it's you."

Cooper made a face.

"Uh oh. What did I do now?"

"We have to talk", she sighed.

"About?"

"About some things that I have noticed as of late…disturbing things."

"You mean about Dan being a jackass?" Cooper joked. "You're just now realizing that?"

"That's not funny, Cooper. This is no time for jokes. I want to talk to you about Brooke Davis."

Cooper cleared his throat.

"What about her?"

"I don't know. Maybe you should be telling me that. What's going on?"

He shrugged his broad shoulders.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"We're friends."

Deb let out a sarcastic laugh.

"Friends? Are you for real?"

"Yeah, I…"

"Oh please, Cooper."

"What?"

"Brooke is in high school. She may be pretty or mature or whatever but she is in the same grade as your teenage nephew. Do you know what that means?"

"No but I'm sure that you're more than willing to fill me in", he rolled his blue eyes.

"It means she is still a child. Friends? Are you on drugs? Tell me, what the hell does a 29 year old man have in common with a high school senior?"

"It's not like that. Brooke is cool and you're right, sis…she really is mature for her age. But she's fun to hang around and she's funny and nice and thoughtful…"

"Oh God, are you even listening to yourself? Do you know how you sound right now?"

"Deb, listen…"

"No, you listen, little brother!"

"But Deb…"

"Are you sleeping with her?"

"No. No way. Not that it's any of your business but no I am not."

"As long as you're in my town, in my house, it is my business. Look, Cooper, you're my little brother, my only sibling and I love you dearly but all your life, you've been causing trouble. You swore to me this time was different."

"It is, but…"

"No buts. Do me a favor. If it's innocent, keep it that way. If nothing is going on, then fine but you've got to stop hanging around Brooke. It doesn't look nice."

"Deb…"

"And I don't want her visiting you at this house anymore. Do I make myself clear?"

"Fine but you don't even understand what's going on."

Deb put up her hands and shook her head.

"And trust me, I don't want to."

"Not that it's like that but even if it was, she is 18 years old."

"And you think that makes it better? Well, newsflash…it doesn't. Use your common sense on this one, Coop, I'm begging you."

He sighed, realizing it was a no win battle on his end.

"Fine."

"Thank you. Hopefully, this is the last time we have to have this little conversation. Dan would have a seizure if he knew what was going on. Anyway, you can nix the sandwich. I'm about to start dinner."

Cooper looked around as he grabbed his jacket and brushed by his sister.

"Thanks but no thanks", he mumbled on his way out the door. "Seems like I just lost my appetite."

It was an awkward conversation to say the least with the potential to turn ugly but Cooper had defused the situation by agreeing to whatever Deb wanted and simply walking away. Talking to her would be like trying to explain his case to a brick wall. She'd never understand. He hardly could make sense of it himself. Sure she was just 18 and sure she was still in her last year of high school but amazingly, they did have a lot in common. Brooke was an incredible person on every level. After the formal, they had begun spending a lot of time together. Though nothing physical had transpired between them, they communicated intimately, the chemistry between them, undeniable. It was difficult to put into words even for the two involved but whatever it was, Cooper and Brooke both seemed to be enjoying themselves.

"Nice night for a walk."

Cooper looked up. He had just turned onto an alley that led him from the boardwalk to the streets of downtown. Deep in his own little world of thought, he had been oblivious to the people and surroundings before he found himself face to face with Rachel and her boyfriend, Mouth.

"Rachel…hey."

"Hey, yourself", she grinned, nodding over to her companion. "You remember Mouth."

Cooper extended his hand to the young man who reluctantly shook it.

"Yeah. Um, how's it going, dude?"

"Fine", Mouth curtly mumbled.

"Haven't seen you around much since the dance."

"Um, yeah", Cooper shrugged. "I've been around, just busy and stuff."

"I see."

"It's a nice night so I just felt like getting out and getting some fresh air, you know."

Rachel's smile turned in a smirk.

"I know. You must be waiting for Brooke."

"Let's go, babe", Mouth whistled in his girlfriend's ear.

"Brooke?" Cooper interrupted. "Why would you say that?"

"You two are Tree Hill's newest and hottest item."

Cooper rolled his eyes and laughed.

"Rachel, that's high school gossip."

"Well, that's what you get when you mess with high school girls", Mouth coolly said to no one in particular.

Cooper cleared his throat.

"Brooke and I are friends…"

"With benefits?" Rachel teased. "Aren't they all?"

"It's not like that."

"Then it's purely a coincidence that you're just strolling around town solo on a moonlit, romantic walk while she's waiting for you at the coffee house two blocks away?"

Cooper's eyes widened.

"Brooke is waiting for me?"

"Let's go, Rach", Mouth tugged at her arm.

"She sure is, like you didn't already know", the redhead ignored her boyfriend.

"I didn't."

"Whatever. Well, Mouth and I have to go. You better not keep her waiting a second longer. Brooke gets so bitchy when she's kept waiting. Well, actually she's a bitch all the time but whatever, right?"

"Rachel, now!" Mouth commanded in a more stern voice.

"Don't be a stranger, Coop."

"Yeah", he said uncomfortably. "Um, I guess I'll see you guys around. Good night, Rachel. Mouth."

Mouth nodded as they turned to leave.

"Hey, Coop", Rachel added, looking up at the sky. "Enjoy the walks while you can. Looks like it's gonna be unpredictable weather the rest of the week. I hear there's a storm coming in."

Cooper nodded.

"I know."

With that, she winked and she and Mouth were gone. Cooper just shook his head as he turned in the direction of the coffee house. He wasn't ashamed of his feelings for Brooke, even though he didn't know exactly what they were. It was complicated but she was a special girl and he cared for her deeply. Until they could sort out everything else, they would remain the best of friends, the only benefits being a solid and bonding vibe that they both felt. If things progressed into something more, eventually they would choose not to hide it but in the meantime it was unique and sacred and above all else, private. Their connection wasn't meant to be shared with the world and turned into annoying and spiteful in the petty dramatic world of teenage gossip.

Making his way to his destination, he saw her through the window. She looked absolutely beautiful as always, her aura so luminous that it was as if she was the flame and everyone else around was like moths drawn to her. She smiled and flipped her long, dark hair and he smiled as well.

"Flower?" a little old bag lady selling roses, offered Cooper.

He dug in his pocket for a few loose bills and gave them to her.

"Thanks", he nodded, entering the establishment with a single red rose in hand.

He walked inside, over to her table as his smile quickly faded. She was there, sitting a cross from another guy. Her legs were pointed towards him and their close and flirtingly playful body language suggested a relationship perhaps more than platonic. Cooper was stunned and speechless as Brooke looked up from her company and noticed him staring. Her eyes said a million words but her lips never moved. A waitress walked between them and smiled at Cooper.

"Can I get you a table, honey?"

"No, thanks", he found his voice. "I, I was just leaving."

The woman nodded.

"How sweet. You brought a rose. It's very pretty. Who is it for?"

Cooper swallowed hard as he looked right at Brooke and her eyes that had never left him.

"For you", he answered softly as he handed it to the stunned waitress before turning to leave."